166 WARBLERS. 
lower growth; thickets of cat-brier are his favorite 
haunts. He is therefore nearer our level, and seems to 
address us more directly than do the birds that call from 
the tree tops. If you linger near his home he will inquire 
your business with a vigorous “I say, who are you, eh?” 
and if you do not take this hint to move on he will 
doubtless follow it with a scolding whose intent is unmis- 
takable. He has a variety of exclamatory calls, and 
sometimes may be heard softly singing a song composed 
largely of imitations of the notes of other birds. 
The White-eye can easily be known from the Red-eye 
and Warbling Vireos by the narrow white bands across 
the tips of its wing-coverts. In this respect it resembles 
the Yellow-throat, from which it is to be distinguished 
by its smaller size (length 5°25 inches), white iris, and 
white breast, only the sides of the breast being tinged 
with yellow. It winters from Florida southward, and 
reaches us in the spring about May 1, to remain until 
October. 
WARBLERS. (FAMILY MNIOTILTIDZ.) 
Warblers may be described as among our most abun- 
dant, most beautiful, and least-known birds. Of the 
thirty-five species regularly found in the northeastern 
States, only three or four are familiar to the casual ob- 
server. The presence of the others is unsuspected, and 
when some chance brings one of these exquisite little 
creatures into our lives, the event is attended by all the 
excitement of an actual discovery. We never forget our 
first Warbler. 
It is because we do not see Warblers unless we look 
for them that they are strangers to so many persons who 
go to the woods. They are, with some exceptions, small - 
birds of limited vocal powers. They live in the tree tops, 
