360 WOOD WARBLERS. 



most slender and wiry in all our forests, and as distinguishable as the 

 hum of the cicada or the shrilling of the katydid. " Tree-tree-tree-tree- 

 tree-tree-tree-tree, rapidly uttered, the monotonous notes of equal length, 

 beginning very softly, gradually increasing to the middle of the strain, 

 and then as gradually diminishing, thus forming a fine musical swell, 

 may convey a fair idea of the song. There is a peculiar soft and 

 tinkling sweetness in this melody, suggestive of the quiet mysteries of 

 the forest, and sedative as an anodyne to the nerves." 



662. Dendroica blackburnise (GmeL). BLACKBURNIAN WAR- 



BLEU. Ad. $ . Center of the black crown, a line over the eye, patch behind 

 the black ear-coverts, throat, and breast beautiful rich orange ; back black, 

 streaked with whitish ; wing-coverts white, forming a large white patch on 

 the wing; inner vane of most of the tail-feathers almost entirely white, ex- 

 cept at the tip; the outer vane of the outer feather white at the base; bellv 

 tinged with orange, sides streaked with black. Ad. 9 . Resembles the $ , 

 but the orange markings are duller, the upper parts are ashy olive-green 

 streaked with black and whitish ; the white on the wings an J tail is less ex- 

 tensive. Im. $ . Resembles the 9 , but has the orange markings dull yellow, 

 the crown-patch nearly absent. Im. 9 . Similar to the ira. $ , but the yel- 

 low markings much paler, nearly buffy, the back browner. L., 5-25; W., 

 2-71 ; T., 1-96 ; B. from N., -31. 



Remarks. In connection with other markings the large amount of white 

 in the tail, appearing on even the outer vane of the outer feather, is charac- 

 teristic of this species. 



Range. Eastern North America: breeds from northern Minnesota and 

 southern Maine northward to Labrador and southward along the Alleghanies 

 to South Carolina ; winters in the tropics. 



Washington, common T. V., May 5 to 20 ; Aug. 20 to Oct. 5. Sing Sing, 

 common T. V., May 10 to 29 ; Aug. 15 to Oct. 15. Cambridge, uncommon 

 T. V., May 12 to 22; Sept. 15 to 30. 



Nest, of fine twigs and grasses, lined with grasses and tendrils, in conifer- 

 ous trees, ten to forty feet up. Eggs, four, grayish white or bluish white, dis- 

 tinctly and obscurely spotted, speckled, and blotched with cinnamon-brown 

 or olive-brown, -68 x -50. 



The Blackburnian is uncommon enough to make us appreciate his 

 unusual beauty. Coming in May, before the woods are fully clad, he 

 seems like some bright-plumaged tropical bird who has lost his way 

 and wandered to northern climes. The summer is passed among the 

 higher branches in coniferous forests, and in the early fall the bird 

 returns to surroundings which seem more in keeping with its attire. 



Mr. Minot describes its summer song as resembling the syllables 

 wee-see-wee-see-wee-see (wee-see-ick), while in the spring its notes may 

 be likened to wee-see-wee-see, tsee-tsee, tsee. tsee, tsee-tsee, tsee, tsee, 

 the latter syllables being on ascending scale, the very last shrill and 

 line. 



