49 



21. Parula americana, (Linne). BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WAR- 

 BLER. Exceedingly numerous during migrations ; a few breed. I 

 have never discovered its nest, but am indebted to Mr. W. C. Osborn 

 for a very young bird, shot near his residence, on the opposite bank 

 of the Hudson, in Putnam county, where its nest was previously dis- 

 covered, as recorded by DeKay in the Zoology of New York, Part II, 

 p. 97. Giraud also observes : 3 "I am informed that its nest has been 

 found at the Catskill Mountains." 



It arrives early in May (12, 1874; 12, 1875; 5, 1876; 11, 1877; April 

 27, 1878; May 8, 1879), remaining till October (8, 1874; 8, 1876). I 

 have heard quite a varied and pleasing song from this little bird ; but 

 succeeded by a rapid succession of harsh, filing notes. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of seventeen specimens : 

 length, 4-73; stretch, 7-54; wing, 2-40; tail, 1-76; bill from nostril, 

 32; gape, -54; tarsus, -68; middle toe, -40; its claw, '16. 



22. Helmitherus vermivorus, (Gmelin). WORM-EATING WAR- 

 BLER. A rather common summer resident; breeds. Arrives about 

 the middle of May (15, 1875; 9, 1876; 11, 1878; 8, 1879), and remains 

 through the summer. 



There is a singularity about every attitude and movement of this 

 bird, that at once attracts attention. Chiefly seen upon the ground, 

 scratching amongst the leaves, and uttering a sharp chirp at intervals, 

 it suddenly surprises you by flying high up among the branches in 

 pursuit of a moth; then it alights upon a branch, and makes quite a 

 successful attempt at a song ; later, you may see it climbing upon the 

 body of a tree, apparently as much at home as a Nuthatch would be ; 

 it even pauses occasionally to utter a few feeble notes of a song. It 

 is sometimes found in the open woods, on its first arrival from the 

 South ; but later, when it has settled to its summer quarters, it is 

 seldom seen outside of its favorite swampy thickets, where it breeds 

 and passes the summer. Wet places, grown up to huckleberries, 

 just such spots as delight the Woodcock are its usual resorts. Its 

 note is sharp and metallic ; and the bird is shy and difficult to capture. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of ten specimens: length, 

 6-51; stretch, 8*75; wing, 2-78; tail, 2-05; bill from nostril, '39; gape, 

 64; tarsus, '70; middle toe, -50; its claw, '18. 



23. Helminthophaga pinus, (Linne'). BLUE-WINGED YELLOW 

 WARBLER. A summer resident; breeds. I found a nest, built in a 

 tussock of grass, on Constitution Island, in the Hudson River. I saw 

 another set of eggs, taken in a similar situation and said to be those 

 of a "yellow bird," which agree very well with the eggs in my collec- 

 tion; but they maybe those of the Nashville Warbler (H. ruficapilla). 



Birds of Lonjf Island, p. 60, 1844. 

 ESSEX INST. BULL. XI 4 



