124 LAND-BIRDS. 



quite certain that there are bachelors among birds. 51 The 

 Pine Warblers are not only extremely useful in protecting 

 our evergreens, but are also very charming, partly, no doubt, 

 because there is a spice of " something " in their character 

 which we cannot altogether sanction from a moral point of 

 view. 



d. Their note is as deliciously drowsy as that of the 

 " Black-throated Green," but is not so often repeated, though 

 heard both earlier and later in the year. It is apparently a 

 delicately trilled whistle, but really a series of fine notes, as is 

 proved by the fact that the birds open and shut their bills 

 whilst emitting the sound. It closely resembles one of the 

 Snow-bird's whistles, and also the trill of the Swamp Spar- 

 row. The Pine Warblers have also a chip, and a few weak 

 notes, such as chip-a-see, and we-chee-we-chee-we-chee, which 

 are not very expressive, or often heard. 



K. PALMARUM HYPOCHRYSEA. " Red -poll " Warbler. 

 Palm Warbler. " Yellow Red^poll" A common migrant 

 through Massachusetts.* 



a. About five inches long. Dull olive above, (obsoletely) 

 streaked. Crown, reddish crimson (or " chestnut "). Beneath, 

 yellow, inconspicuously streaked on the breast with bright 

 reddish brown. Tail-feathers with a few white blotches. (De- 

 tails omitted.) 



b. The nest is said to be placed on the ground, usually in 

 a swampy locality. The eggs of each set are four (?) ; average 

 about .70 X .55 of an inch ; and are (creamy) white, with 

 purplish, faint lilac, and reddish brown markings, chiefly at 

 the larger end. 



c. The Yellow " Red-polls " pass the summer in the north, 

 almost entirely beyond the limits of New England, and the 



1 There is other evidence that such only as a common spring and autumn 



is undoubtedly the case. An interest- migrant, but it breeds sparingly and 



ing article on the subject has been writ- locally in eastern Maine, and rather 



ten by Mr. Abbott of New Jersey. commonly and generally in New Bruns- 



* Throughout most of New England wick and Nova Scotia. W. B. 

 the Yellow Red poll Warbler occurs 



