OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 165 



the capture of insects upon the wing, the represen- 

 tatives of this group, accomplish the task with 

 special address, for which reason they were for- 

 merly placed in the extensive old genus Muscicapa. 

 The Sctophagina are mainly developed in Central 

 and South America, where they embrace three or 

 four genera with more than forty species. As 

 some of them closely resemble the Tyrannidcz, the 

 presence of only nine primaries and the oscine 

 character of the tarsi will clearly distinguish them 

 from these clamatorial birds. 



Myiodioctes mitrat^is, Aud. 



The Hooded Warbler is almoust exclusively a 

 southern species, being found in South Carolina 

 in greater abundance than in any other State. It 

 makes its appearance early in May, but does not 

 remain to breed. It leaves us about the i5th of 

 May. It is fond of sequestered situations, and 

 has been observed by us both in high and low 

 grounds, in the laurel thickets of the Wissahickon 

 hills, and in the dense undergrowth of many of its 

 valleys. It is an expert flycatcher, pursuing its 

 prey with spirit and activity until captured, and 

 catching the greater part upon the wing. It is 

 the liveliest of its tribe, and is almost constantly 

 in motion. While gambolling from tree to tree, 

 it has a peculiar graceful fashion of opening and 

 closing its tail, which clearly distinguishes it from 

 any other species. 



