SYLVICOLID.E — TIIK WARBLERS. 229 



This AVarbler is an expert flycatcher, feeds chieHy on insects, and is a great 

 devuurer of small cateri>illars ; hut in the winter its food is hirLjely c(>iii|k)sc(1 

 of ])erries, especially those of the Mjirini nri/tra. It will also feed on «,'rass- 

 seeds. In tlie warmer wintry days in Fhnida, when insects are almndant, 

 Mr. Audubon states that these birds are i)arlicularly active in their pursuit, 

 and the trees seem full of them. At this time they emit, at each movement, 

 a single note, ticetty so very peculiar that tliey may be at once rec<jgnized by 

 the cry. 



Wilson states that these War1)lers a]>pear in Pennsylvania, from the Xorth, 

 early in October, and stay there several weeks. Some of them remain in 

 the Southern States all winter. They feed with great avidity u2)ou the ber- 

 ries of the red cedar. 



In Western ^lassachusetts it is a very almndant spring and autumn visit- 

 ant, making but a brief stay ii si)ring, but passing northward in large num- 

 bers. In autunni it remains longer, and passes south more leisurely. ^Ir. 

 B. P.Mann found its nest and eggs in Concord, but tliis was ])rol»ablv an ex- 

 ceptional instance. In P^astern Maine it arrives May 25, and, as Mr. Board- 

 man thinks, remains to breed. Both Dr. Suckley and l)r. Cooper met with 

 this species in Washington Territory, wheie it is very rare. 



Xo writers have observed or noted the song of tliis bird, except Mr. T. M. 

 Trippe (American Xat., II. p. 171), who states that during its spring migra- 

 tions it has a vorv sweet song or warble, uttered at short intervals. 



It reaches the high northern latitudes late in Mav, and leaves that region 

 in Septend)er. The observations of Mr. McFarlane show that the nests of 

 this bird are moderately common at Anderson Biver, and are generally built 

 in low spruce-trees four or five feet from tlie ground. In one or two 

 instances it was placed on the ground. 



The eggs of this Warbler vary from .72 to .(SO of an inch in length, ar 

 from .50 to .5") in breadth. Their ground-color Is white, often tinged . ' i 

 bluish shade, and blotched and si)otted witli reddish-brown, [airple, an*' Ker 

 shades of brown. They are of a rounded oval shape. 



Dendroica auduboni, P>aikd. 



AUDUBON'S WABBLER; WISTEBN YELLOW- BUM k 



Sijliua nutJt(hm!, Townskxd, J. A. X. Sc. VII, ii, 1S:J7. — In. Nan-ativo, 1839, 342.— 

 Aru. Oru. |Ji.>^'. V, ls:5y, r»-2, \A. trix<v. Snlck-nla nndiihnii, P>«>n. List. 1S:J8. — Am. 

 Birds Am. 11, 1841, 2<), ]>I. Ixxvii. Itnidrnira mnlnlMnii, Haiki*, Uirds N. Am. IS.'.S, 

 273; Kov. 188. — ScLAiri:, P. Z. S. 18.')8, 2;>S (Oaxii.-a : ()»-tol..T) ; 1860, 2ri(h(MizahiO. 

 — S(i.ATKn& Salvin, Iliis, isr.d, 273 (Siui (itroniTiio, (Jnat.). -("<><hm;k i^ Sn klkv, 

 I'. K. W. i;.'i). XII, II, 18r)<>, 181. -S< L.VTEI:, P. Z. «. 18t)4, 172 (City of Mo.xico). — 

 t'ooi'Kii, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 88. 



Sp. Char. Above l»biish-ash, stivakod with l»l:u'k. most markjMl on tlie initMle of the 

 back ; on the head and neck bhnsh-a.<li. Middk' of crown, nimi). chin, and throat, and a 



