358 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



strain just like an oven-bird ! I have noticed that when 

 it drops down into the woods it darts suddenly one side 

 to a perch when low. 



Aug. 5, 1858. While passing there, I heard what I 

 should call my night-warbler's note, and, looking up, 

 saw the bird dropping to a bush on the hillside. 

 Looking through the glass, I saw that it was the 

 Maryland yellow-throat ! ! and it afterward flew to the 

 button-bushes in the meadow. 



May 8, 1860. The night-warbler's note. 



May 18, 1860. The night-warbler is a powerful 

 singer for so small a bird. It launches into the air 

 above the forest, or over some hollow or open space in 

 the woods, and challenges the attention of the woods 

 by its rapid and impetuous warble, and then drops 

 down swiftly into the tree-tops like a performer with- 

 drawing behind the scenes, and he is very lucky who 

 detects where it alights. 



Aug. 28, 1860. Hear the night-warbler and the 

 whip-poor-will. 



AMERICAN REDSTART 



May 10, 1853. I hear, and have for a week, in the 

 woods, the note of one or more small birds somewhat 

 like a yellowbird's. What is it? Is it the redstart? I 

 now see one of these. The first I have distinguished. 

 And now I feel pretty certain that my black and yellow 

 warbler of May 1st was this. As I sit, it inquisitively 

 hops nearer and nearer. It is one of the election-birds* 

 of rare colors which I can remember, mingled dark and 

 ^ [Birds shot on election day. See p. 32G. ] 



