210 THE INVITATION. 



slight chirping, semi-musical sounds in the trees over- 

 head. In most cases these sounds proceed from the 

 warblers. Throughout the Middle and Eastern States, 

 half a dozen species or so may be found in almost every 

 locality, as the redstart, 1 the Maryland yellow-throat, 

 the yellow warbler (not the common goldfinch, with 

 black cap, and black wings and tail), the hooded war- 

 bler, the black and white creeping warbler ; or others, 

 according to the locality and the character of the woods. 

 In pine or hemlock woods, one species may predominate; 

 in maple or oak woods, or in mountainous districts, 

 another. The subdivision of ground warblers, the most 

 common members of which are the Maryland yellow- 

 throat, the Kentucky warbler, and the mourning ground 

 warbler, are usually found in low, wet, bushy, or half- 

 open woods, often on, and always near the ground. 



The summer yellow-bird, or yellow warbler, is not 

 now a wood-bird at all, being found in orchards and 

 parks, and along streams and in the trees of villages 

 and cities. 



As we go North, the number of warblers increases, 

 till, in the northern part of New England, and in the 

 Canadas, as many as ten or twelve varieties may be 

 found breeding in June. Audubon found the black- 



1 I am aware that the redstart is generally classed among the 

 fly-catchers, but its song, its form, and its habits are in every re- 

 spect those of a warbler. Its main fly-catcher mark is its beak, 

 but to the muscicapa proper it presents little or no resemblance 

 to the general observer. 



