314 



INSESSOKES. 



having different tribes of insects allotted to them respectively, 

 and showing a correspondent diversity in their favorite haunts. 



(1.) THE GOLDEN CRESTS, Sylviadce, and WOOD- WARBLERS, 

 Sylvicolidce, are the true warblers, confining themselves mostly 

 to the taller trees, where they search for winged insects among 

 the leaves, or capture them, like the Fly-catchers, when attempt 

 ing to escape. Of these, the Gold-crested Wren, or Kinglet, 

 Regulus, (Lat. dim. of rex. king;) cristatus, (see Chart.) is one 

 of the most attractive species, and the smallest of the European 

 birds, three and a half inches long. 



The Golden-crested Kinglet, of America, Regulus satraps, is 

 half an inch longer than the European species,yet agrees with 

 it in its general appearance. The color is olive green ; beneath 

 whitish, but the crown is orange, or gold colored. It is an active 

 and restless bird, generally found in groups, on the extremities 

 of twigs and bunches of leaves. The Blue Bird, Erythaca, or 

 Sialia Wilsonii, or Blue Robin, as it is called in some districts 

 of the Union, bears considerable resemblance to the Robin Red 

 breast, of Europe. It is a lovely warbler, found in all parts of 

 our country, appearing in New York early in the spring, 

 (March,) but leaving in November for the South, as far as Mex 

 ico. It is very useful as a destroyer of multitudes of noxious 

 insects. The Myrtle Bird, so called from its feeding in autumn 

 and winter on Myrtle-wax berries, (Myrica cerifera,) or the Yel 

 low-crowned Wood- warbler, Sylvicola coronata, is perhaps the 

 best representation of the Wood-warblers, it is very common 

 in the State of New York, and ranges from Mexico to 65o N. 

 Lat. 



The summer YELLOW BIRD, Sylvicola astiva, (Lat. of sum 

 mer,) so called to distinguish it from the Common Yellow Bird, 

 (Carduelis tristis,) is &quot;remarkable for its instinctive sagacity in 

 getting rid of the eggs of the Cow Black Bird, (Molothrus pecoris.) 

 As the egg is too large to be thrust out, this Yellow Bird com- 

 mences a new nest above it ; thus almost horizontally closing it 

 up, and then proceeds to deposit her own eggs.&quot; 



The TAILOR BIRD, Silvia, (Lat. a tit-lark,) constructs a nest 

 of a curious kind, by sewing leaves together. (See Plate 

 XI. fig. 8;) 



(2.) THE REED-WARBLERS and NIGHTINGALES, of Europe, 

 PhilomelincB, which haunt the vicinity of waters, or the more 

 dense foliage of hedges, for insects found in such situations. 

 These are larger than the true Warblers, and live partly upon 

 fruits as well as insects. 



(3.) THE STONECHATS, Saxicolina, (Lat. saxum, rock; colo, 



