OF NEW ENGLAND. 99 



(d). The Black and White "Creepers" have a very great 

 variety of notes, and perhaps utter more distinct sounds, exclu- 

 sive of song, than any other of our birds, though it is very 

 possible that other warblers, with whom I am less familiar, 

 possess the same power. The notes of the so-called "Creep- 

 ers" are a weak but pure tsfp, a harsher tsip, much like that of 

 the Chestnut-sided Warbler, a loud chick, which sometimes 

 becomes a chink, an alarm-note, chick-a-chick, chick-chick, a 

 chant, if it can properly be so-called, of tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee, which 

 is uttered in another tone so as to sound more like chee-chee- 

 chee-chee, and their rather feeble and unmusical refrain of wee- 

 see, wee-see, wee-see, wee-see, icee-see. To the last and most 

 frequently repeated chant a few sweet and musical notes are 

 generally added in May and June, and these combined form 

 their only song. 



There are hardly any birds more familiar to the ornithologist 

 in the woods than the Black and White "Creepers," since they 

 are common, are free from shyness, and usually remain near 

 the ground, with their boldly marked plumage in conspicuous 

 contrast with the bark of the white oaks and chestnuts, to 

 which they so often turn their attention. They are eminently 

 useful, and few creatures do more good in protecting the 

 growth and life of our forest-trees, and the trees of woodland 

 freshly sprung up to supply the place of a former growth. 



VIII. PARULA 



(A) AMERICANA. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. "BlueYelloiv- 



(A summer-resident in northern New England, and usually 

 a common migrant through Massachusetts, where a very few 

 breed.) 



(a). About 4^ inches long. Above, blue, ashy- tin ted, with 

 a yellowish patch on the back. Lore black. Throat and part 

 of the breast, yellow, with a rich, dark brownish patch. Upper 

 throat immaculate. Other under parts, wing-bars, and tail- 

 spots, white. 9 rather duller, with less distinct markings. 



(Details omitted.) 



