SPECIES 30. SYLVIA PETECHM. 



YELLOW RED-POLL WARBLER. 



[Plate XXVIII. Fig. 4.] 



Red-headed Warbler, TURTQN, I, 605. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 



7124.* 



THIS delicate little bird arrives in Pennsylvania early in 

 April, while the maples are yet in blossom, among the branch- 

 es of which it may generally be found feeding on the stamina 

 of the flowers, and on small winged insects. Low swampy thick- 

 ets are its favourite places of resort. It is not numerous, and its 

 notes are undeserving the name of song. It remains with us all 

 summer; but its nest has hitherto escaped me. It leaves us late 

 in September. Some of them probably winter in Georgia, hav- 

 ing myself shot several late in February, on the borders of the 

 Savannah river. 



Length of the yellow Red-poll five inches, extent eight; line 

 over the eye, and whole lower parts, rich yellow; breast streak- 

 ed with dull red; upper part of the head reddish chestnut, which 

 it loses in winter; back yellow olive, streaked with dusky; 

 rump and tail-coverts greenish yellow; wings deep blackish 

 brown, exteriorly edged with olive; tail slightly forked, and of 

 the same colour as the wings. 



The female wants the red cap; and the yellow of the lower 

 parts is less brilliant; the streaks of red on the breast are also 

 fewer and less distinct. 



* Motacilla petechia, LINN. Syst. i, p. 334. GMEL. Syst. i, p. 983. Sylvia pe- 



techia, LATH. Ind. Orn. u, p. 535. VIEILL. Ois. de 1'Jlm. Sept. pi. 91 Ficedula 



Pensylvanica erythrocephalos, Bmss. in, p. 488, 49. Figuier d Me rouge de Pen- 

 sylvanie, BUFF. Ois. r, p. 286.- Red-headed Warbler, PEJOT. wfrcf. Zoo/. 11, M>. 

 289. LATH. Syn. iv, p. 479, 39. 



