THE INVITATION. 



jow 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- 

 poll warbler breeding in Labrador, and congratulates 

 himself on being the first white man who had ever 

 seen its nest. When these warblers pass north in 

 May, they seem to go singly or in pairs, and their 

 black caps and striped coats show conspicuously. 

 When they return in September they are in troops 

 or loose flocks, are of a uniform dull drab or brindlish 

 color, and are very fat. They scour the tree-tops for 

 a few days, almost eluding the eye by their quick 

 movements, and are gone. 



According to my. own observation, the number of 

 species of warblers which one living in the middle 

 districts sees, on their return in the fall, is very small 

 compared with the number he may observe migrating 

 North in the spring. 



The yellow-rumped warblers are the most notice- 

 able of all in the autumn. They come about the 

 streets and garden, and seem especially drawn to dry, 

 leafless trees. They dart spitefully about, uttering a 

 sharp chirp. In Washington I have seen them in 

 the outskirts all winter. 



Audubon figures and describes over forty different 

 warblers. More recent writers have divided and sub 



