142 



THE MYRTLE WARBLER. 



splendor. Upon 

 his appearance 

 the winged voy- 

 ageurs of the 

 night descend, 

 and mingle 

 their lispings 

 and trillings 

 with the full 

 tide of song. 



The Myrtles 

 are usually the 

 first of the 

 Warblers to ar- 

 r i v e in the 

 spring, as they 

 are the last to 

 depart in the 

 fall. For a week 

 they are abun- 

 dant, and their 

 sturdy chip be- 

 comes easily the 

 most familiar 

 of Warbler 

 notes. Other en- 

 terprising War- 

 blers not a few 

 a c c e pt their 

 promise of safe 

 conduct, but 

 one scrutinizes 

 a dozen of the 



Myrtles to find one of another species. During the first ten days of May 

 the order of abundance is reversed, and the last dilatory matron'has disap- 

 peared or every lazy Black-poll comes. 



Myrtle is a handsome fellow, but he is too sensible to put on airs. Trees, 

 bushes or fence-rails are alike to him, and he is not above alighting on the. 

 ground to secure a fat grub. Now and then a pleasant song is heard, a dainty, 

 silvery warble, rather light, and, one suspects, since the singer is so far from 

 home, not full-voiced vet. 



Photo by the Author. 



A FAVORITE WOODS-EDGE. 



THE TREES ARE ONLY HALF DRESSED WHEN MYRTLE COMES. 



