OF NEW ENGLAND. 129 



notes of complaint, but at other times, mindful of household 

 cares, continue to collect insects among the bushes and lower 

 limbs of the surrounding trees. I remember watching one, 

 who in fifteen minutes, during my presence, collected as many 

 moths and caterpillars, continually uttering his loud chuck, 

 and yet I could not find his nest, so well did he avoid indicat- 

 ing its immediate whereabouts. I have known Cat-birds, in 

 a like way, to sing even whilst holding in their bills a worm, 

 or perhaps material for their nests, though it certainly seems 

 a difficult performance. 



(d). The Canada " Flycatchers" have a very sweet and 

 agreeable song, which unfortunately is not often to be heard 

 here. It is simple, like those of the other warblers, but is 

 rather more pleasing than those of the Yellow Bird or Red- 

 start, which it usually resembles. Their ordinary notes are a 

 soft and loud c/i(p, and a chuck, which is almost exactly like 

 that of the Maryland "Yellow-throat." 



(B) pusiLLUS. 34 Green Black-capped (Flycatching Warbler 

 or) "Flycatcher" (Wilson's) "Black-cap." 



(A migrant through Eastern Massachusetts in spring.) 



(a). Five inches long, or less. Olive above. Bright yellow 

 beneath. Crown, black ; but in 9 obscure, or simply olive. 

 Forehead, yellow. 



(b). The nest is built in a bush or shrub, and near the 

 ground. The eggs average -63X'48 of an inch, and are white, 

 marked with reddish-brown at the larger end. 



(c). Dr. Brewer says that the "Wilson's Black-cap is found 

 throughout the United States from ocean to ocean, and as far 

 north as Alaska and the Arctic shores, where, however, it is 

 lot common." I know no instance of these birds passing the 



34 The Hooded Warbler (AT. mitratus) never, so far as I know, strays to Mas- JL 

 sachu-setts or any part of New England, though vaguely reported to do so. I have, 

 therefore, omitted it. Description : 5 or more inches long. Olive above, and 

 bright yellow beneath. Tail-feathers with a few white blotches. Male with head 

 blai-k, except on the sides and forehead, which are golden-yellow. The Small- 

 . Flycatcher (Musdcapa minuta) is an entirely apocryphal species. 



10 



