The Birds' Calendar 



to a flock of brilliant warblers that I had been 

 several days looking for the black-throated 

 greens. Blue yellow-backs were fluttering here 

 and there, while a single Canada nuthatch 

 looked quite out of place amid the gorgeous 

 array. At a short distance was the Maryland 

 yellow-throat, the black-throated blue, and the 

 golden-crowned warbler or oven-bird. Four 

 species of sparrows, three of the thrushes (the 

 Wilson and wood thrushes having just arrived), 

 and many of the usual varieties made the num- 

 ber twenty-three that I saw that morning. 



Fortunately most of the new arrivals were not 

 yet in song, which would have made the effect 

 a little too luxurious. The mere sight of all the 

 gay throng was quite sufficient for one day. 



On the same morning a large flock of purple 

 finches were discovered, mute and motionless in 

 a tree. There was no excuse for their silence, 

 as they were already in song nearly three weeks 

 before. 



The most abundant warbler is the yellow- 

 rump, and quite conspicuous with the two gold 

 badges on the breast ; while a more dashing 

 beauty is the black-throated green, its throat 

 and breast like black velvet, the sides of the 

 head a deep rich yellow, the back olive-green 

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