WARBLERS. 95 



try, combined with their general adherence, while traveling, 

 to the higher branches of the pines, chestnuts, oaks, and 

 maples, which they usually prefer to other trees, often render 

 it difficult to detect their presence, even when they are quite 

 abundant. They travel singly or in pairs, and remain long in 

 one tree or cluster, not being easily frightened. The two 

 great difficulties in studying the habits of our Warblers are the 

 almost nondescript coloration of some species in autumn,. and 

 the fact that many kinds, even in spring, can only be identified 

 by most naturalists upon a close examination, to obtain which 

 it is necessary to shoot the birds, when, of course, their habits 

 can no longer be studied. It is for these reasons that it is 

 important to know the minor notes of various species, for by 

 these one often can easily distinguish two species otherwise 

 closely alike, especially if such notes are associated with other 

 more marked characteristics. One can in this way always dis- 

 tinguish " Yellow-rumps " at a great distance, for though their 

 ordinary " chuck " is very much like that of the " Black-polls " 

 (who are here in autumn at the same time), yet their manner 

 of flight is different. 



d. The ordinary notes of the Nashville Warblers are a sim- 

 ple chip, a loud chink, and a peculiar alarm-note (?) entirely 

 characteristic, which is hardly, I think, as Wilson says, much 

 like " the breaking of small dry twigs, or the striking of small 

 pebbles of different sizes smartly against each other for six or 

 seven times," though it may be recognized by that description. 

 It is " loud enough," as that author says, " to be heard at the 

 distance of thirty or forty yards." 



Their song is simple but pretty, more resembling that of the 

 common Summer Yellow-bird (Z). cestiva} or Chestnut-sided 

 Warbler than that of any other species. It may be represented 

 by the syllables wee* -see-wed -see, wit f -a-wit f -a-wit r . 



D. CELATA. Orange-crowned Warbler. This species was 

 reported from Maine by Audubon, and a specimen was shot 

 by Mr. Allen at Springfield on the 15th of May, 1863.* 



* Of rare but probably regular occur- autumn, when most of the known spe- 

 rence during the migrations, at least in cimens have been taken. There is a 



