358 YELLOW-RUMP WARBLER. 



month they appear in Pennsylvania, in full dress, as represent- 

 ed in the plate; and after continuing to be seen, for a week or 

 ten days, skipping among the high branches and tops of the trees, 

 after those larvae that feed on the opening buds, they disappear 

 until the next October. Whether they retire to the north, or 

 to the high ranges of our mountains to breed, like many other 

 of our passengers, is yet uncertain. They are a very numer- 

 ous species, and always associate together in considerable num- 

 bers, both in spring, winter and fall. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight inches 

 broad; whole back, tail coverts, and hind head, a fine slate co- 

 lour, streaked with black; crown, sides of the breast, and rump, 

 rich yellow; wings and tail black, the former crossed with two 

 bars of white, the three exterior feathers of the latter spotted 

 with white; cheeks and front black; chin, line over and under 

 the eye, white; breast light slate, streaked with black extend- 

 ing under the wings; belly and vent white, the latter spotted 

 with black; bill and legs black. This is the spring and summer 

 dress of the male; that of the female of the same seasons differs 

 but little, chiefly in the colours being less vivid and not so strong- 

 ly marked with a tincture of brownish on the back. 



In the month of October the slate colour has changed to a 

 brownish olive, the streaks of black are also considerably brown; 

 and the white is stained with the same colour; the tail coverts, 

 however, still retain their slaty hue, the yellow on the crown, 

 and sides of the breast becomes nearly obliterated. Their only 

 note is a kind of chip, occasionally repeated. Their motions 

 are quick, and one can scarcely ever observe them at rest. 



Though the form of the bill of this bird obliges me to arrange 

 him with the Warblers; yet in his food and all his motions he 

 is decisively a Flycatcher. 



On again recurring to the descriptions in Pennant of the 

 " Yellow-rump Warbler,"* "Golden-crowned W."t and "Belt- 

 ed W."J I am persuaded that the whole three have been drawn 

 from the present species. 



* Arct. Zool p. 400, No. 188. f Ib, No. 294. J Jb. No. 306. 





