BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. 245 



ern extremity of the Union by the first approach of spring, it 

 is now seen searching for its insect food on shrubs and plants 

 in moist places, by the borders of lakes and streams. In this 

 vicinity it is not common ; but as it was singing as late as the 

 2 2d of May in the woody solitude of the Blue Hills of 

 Milton, it must undoubtedly breed there. 



The notes of this species resemble those of the Prairie 

 Warbler in some respects, though sufficiently different; the 

 tones, rising from low to high, are rather weak and insignificant. 



In Nuttall's day this dainty bird was named "Party-colored War- 

 bler " and " Finch Creeper." It is now considered a rather com- 

 mon summer resident in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and breeds 

 northward to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The nests have been 

 found also in northern Ohio and southern lUinois, and in winter 

 the birds range through southern Florida and among the more 

 northern West Indies. 



The Parula is associated in my mind with secluded woods on 

 cool and shaded hill-sides bordering a stream, and the song comes 

 to me from amid the top branches of tall trees, — birch and poplar. 

 It is an attractive song, though it has little theme, — merely a 

 rapid trill of some twenty sibilant notes delivered with a rising in- 

 flection ; but the tones are sweet, and the effect is pleasing. The 

 song is clearly an outburst of jo3'ous emotion. 



BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. 



DeNDROICA C/ERULESCENS. 



Char. Male : above, dull blue, back sometimes streaked with black ; 

 sides of head, throat, and chest rich black ; remainder of under parts 

 white; white spot on wing; tail wnth large white blotches. Female: 

 above, dull olive; beneath, dull greenish yellow; white spot on wing. 

 Length 5 to 5^4 inches. 



Nest. In deep woods amid thick underbrush or on high branch ; of 

 grass, twigs, vines, and lichens, fastened with insect silk, lined with roots 

 and hair. 



F'SS^- 3-5 ; w'hite, with green or buff tint, often, when fresh, tinged 

 with rosy, marked with large spots of reddish brown; 0.70 X 0.50. 



Of this uncommon species we know very little. It appears 

 only as a transient visitor in the month of April, in the Middle 



