264 THE INVITATION. 



by keeping in mind a few general divisions 

 and observing the characteristics of each. 

 By far the greater number of our land- 

 birds are either warblers, vireos, fly-catchers, 

 thrushes, or finches. 



The warblers are perhaps the most puz- 

 zling. These are the true Sylvise, the real 

 wood-birds. They are small, very active, 

 but feeble songsters, and to be seen must be 

 sought for. In passing through the woods 

 most persons have a vague consciousness of 

 slight chirping, semi-musical sounds in the 

 trees overhead. In most cases these sounds 

 proceed from the warblers. Throughout the 

 Middle and Eastern States half a dozen spe- 

 cies or so may be found in almost every lo- 

 cality, as the redstart, 1 the Maryland yellow- 

 throat, the yellow warbler (not the common 

 goldfinch, with .black cap, and black wings 

 and tail), the hooded warbler, the black and 

 white creeping warbler ; or others, according 

 to the locality and the character of the woods. 

 In pine or hemlock woods, one species may 

 predominate ; in maple or oak woods, or in 



1 I am aware that the redstart is generally classed among 

 the fly-catchers, but its song, its form, and its habits are in 

 every respect those of a warbler. Its main fly-catcher mark 

 is its beak, but to the muscicapa proper it presents little or no 

 resemblance to the general observer. 



