BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 279 



;iin ranges, as some seasons none of this species are to be observed. 

 From reports received from observers in the western counties of Penn- 

 sylvania beyond the Alleghanies, i find that the Tennessee Warbler is 

 mentioned as a regular migrant both in the spring and fall. When 

 found here these warblers are seen generally in flocks and are often in 

 company with other species. In addition to feeding 011 different forms 

 of insects, especially plant-lice and small beetles, the Tennessee Warbler 

 also occasionally eats small seeds and berries. 



GENUS COMPSOTHLYPIS CABANIS. 

 Compsothlypis americana (LINN.). 



Parula Warbler ; Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 97). 



Bill rather stout, conical and acute, and gently curved along culmen ; maxilla 

 mostly blackish, but its edges and the mandible paler or yellowish (in dried skins) ; 

 legs yellowish-brown ; the indistinct notch of mandible is best seen with a magnify- 

 ing glass ; rictal bristles inconspicuous. General color above blue ; a triangular 

 greenish or brownish-yellow patch on middle of back ; wing-band white ; two outer 

 tail feathers on either side with white spots on mner webs; chin, throat, breast, yel- 

 low the breast in some individuals reddish-brown ; rest of lower parts white. 



Habitat. Eastern United States, west to the plains, north to Canada, and south 

 in winter to the West Indies and Central America. 



Summer resident from early in May until about the last week in 

 September. Although this species breeds quite generally throughout 

 the state in damp forests and swampy wooded thickets, where the long 

 tufts of gray lichens ( Usnea barbata and its varieties), in which it builds, 

 are abundant, I have observed these pretty little warblers to be more 

 plentiful in the northern and eastern portions of the state during the 

 summer than elsewhere. When migrating the Parula Warbler is fre- 

 quently found in orchards and gardens as well as in woodland. This 

 species feeds largely on spiders, caterpillars, small flies, and coleopterous 

 insects, and they also devour numerous aphides. 



GENUS DENDROICA* GRAY. 

 Dendroica tigrina (GMEL ) 



Cape May Warbler. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length 5] ; extent 8| ; wing 2? ; tail 2.15. Bill and legs black ; the lower mandible 

 in autumnal specimens (dried skins) is somewhat paler than the upper ; bill rather 



* This genus is the largest, as regards the number of species, of any in the state. All of these birds, as 

 far as is known, with one exception, nest in trees and bushes. The Yellow Palm Warbler nests ' on the 

 ground in open situations." Many of these small, sprightly and ever active insect hunters, are among 

 our most beautiful and pleasing visitors during their vernal and autumnal passages, to and from more 

 northern breeding grounds, or In the summer months. The Yellow Warbler (Dendroic.ii (estiva) has Inner 

 webs of outer tail feathers yellow ; the other species of this group have rectrices (tail feathers) blotched 

 or spotted (usually only on inner webs) with white. The coloration of the sexes in a number of species 

 is greatly different ; the adults of the same species in some instances are not only different in both the 

 spring and fall attire, but some of them differ considerably from their young. 



