OF NEW ENGLAND. 89 



motionless, in a manner closely resembling the Thrushes. If 

 not farther disturbed they immediately returned to the ground, 

 * * *. If greatly startled they took a long flight among the 

 bushes, and could rarely be found again." 



(d). I have heard them utter only tsips and chirps whilst in 

 their usual haunts, namely, swampy thickets, and shrubbery 

 near them. I have never heard their song, nor read any de- 

 scription of it. 



IV. HELMITHERUS 



(A) VERMIVORUS. Worm-eating Warbler. 126 



(Though found in Maine, this species very rarely comes so 

 far to the north-eastern part of the United States as to reach 

 New England.) 



(a). About 5] inches long. Greenish-olive above. Head 

 and under parts, buff. The head is marked with two dark 

 stripes bordering the crown, and two running from the eyes. to 

 the back. 



(b). The nest is placed on or near the ground. The eggs 

 are described as averaging about '70 X '55 of an inch, and 

 being pure white, minutely spotted with reddish-brown, chiefly 

 at the larger end, where lilac is intermixed. 



(c). The Worm-eating Warblers so seldom come to this 

 State, that, I regret to say, I have never seen them here. 

 The various accounts of their habits and notes which I have 

 read are more or less conflicting and unsatisfactory ; but from 

 them I have gathered that the Worm-eating Warblers inhabit 

 both woodland and shrubbery, and usually feed on caterpillars 

 and spiders, which they find on the ground, or "among the 

 dead leaves of a broken branch," being very nimble in secur- 

 ing their prey. They are never gregarious, but, even during 

 their migrations, travel alone or in pairs, sometimes, however, 

 with their young in autumn. 



(d). Their notes are "a feeble chirp," a "complaining call" 



28 The closely allied Swainson's Warbler (H. Swainaoni) has been erroneously 

 reported from Massachusetts. 



