SPECIES 21. SYLVIA AUTUMNALIS. 



AUTUMNAL WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIII. Fig. 4.] 



THIS plain little species regularly visits Pennsylvania from 

 the north in the month of October, gleaning among the willow 

 leaves; but what is singular, is rarely seen in spring. From the 

 first to the fifteenth of October, they may be seen in considera- 

 ble numbers almost every day in gardens, particularly among 

 the branches of the weeping willow, and seem exceedingly in- 

 dustrious. They have some resemblance in colour to the Pine- 

 creeping Warbler; but do not run along the trunk like that 

 bird; neither do they give a preference to the pines. They are 

 also less. After the first of November they are no longer to be 

 found, unless the season be uncommonly mild. These birds 

 doubtless pass through Pennsylvania in spring, on their way to 

 the north; but either make a very hasty journey, or frequent 

 the tops of the tallest trees; for I have never yet met with one 

 of them in that season; though in October I have seen more 

 than a hundred in an afternoon's excursion. 



Length four inches and three quarters, breadth eight inches; 

 whole upper parts olive green, streaked on the back with dusky 

 stripes; tail coverts ash, tipt with olive; tail black, edged with 

 dull white; the three exterior feathers marked near the tip with 

 white; wings deep dusky, edged with olive, and crossed with 

 two bars of white; primaries also tipt, and three secondaries 

 next the body edged, with white; upper mandible dusky brown; 

 lower, as well as the chin and breast, dull yellow; belly and 

 vent white; legs dusky brown; feet and claws yellow; a pale 

 yellow ring surrounds the eye. The males of these birds often 

 warble out some low, but very sweet notes, while searching 

 among the leaves in autumn. 



