236 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



tops of the tallest trees, where it is descried skipping from branch 

 to branch in pursuit of winged insects. Its note is a single screep, 

 scarcely audible from below. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the 

 20th of April, and is first seen on the tops of the highest maples, 

 darting about among the blossoms. As the woods thicken with 

 leaves, it may be found pretty generally, being none of the least 

 numerous of our summer birds. It is, however, most partial to 

 woods in the immediate neighborhood of creeks, swamps, or mo- 

 rasses, probably from the greater number of its favorite insects 

 frequenting such places. It is also pretty generally diffused over 

 the United States, having myself met with it in most quarters 

 of the Union, though its nest has hitherto defied all my researches." 



He then says of the female Black-poll, 



" From its habit of keeping on the highest branches of trees, it 

 probably builds in such situations, and its nest may long remain 

 unknown to us. 



" Pennant, who describes this species, says that it inhabits, during 

 summer, Newfoundland and New York, and is called in the last 

 Sailor. This name, for which, however, no reason is given, must 

 be very local ; as the bird itself is one of those silent, shy, and soli- 

 tary individuals that seek the deep retreat of the forest, and are 

 known to few or none but the naturalist. 



"Length of the female Black-cap five inches and a quarter, 

 extent eight and a quarter; bill brownish-black; crown yellow- 

 olive, streaked with black ; back the same, mixed with some pale- 

 slate ; wings dusky-brown, edged with olive ; first and second wing 

 coverts tipped with white ; tertials edged with yellowish-white ; 

 tail coverts pale-gray ; tail dusky, forked, the two exterior feathers 

 marked on their inner vanes with a spot of white ; round the eye 

 is a whitish ring ; cheeks and sides of the breast tinged with yellow, 

 and slightly spotted with black ; chin white, as are also the belly 

 and vent ; legs and feet dirty-orange. 



" The young bird of the first season, and the female, as is usually 

 the case, are very much alike in plumage. On their arrival, early 

 in April, the black feathers on the crown are frequently seen coming 

 out, intermixed with the former ash-colored ones. 



" This species has all the agility and many of the habits of the 

 Flycatcher." 



