155 



length, 5-65; stretch, 9-01; wing, 2-85; tail, 2-25; bill from nostril, 

 29 ; gape, -51 ; tarsus, -71. 



33. Dendrceca blackburniae, (Gmelin}. BLACKBURNIAN WAR- 

 BLER. Very common during migrations ; not seen in summer. Ar- 

 rives from the South before the middle of May (10, 1875; 9, 1876; 15, 

 1877; 7, 1878; 14, 1879), and, like the Bay-breasted and Black-poll 

 (Z>. D. castanea and striata), passes rapidly through before the first of 

 June; seen as late as May 28 (1876). In autumn it appears in Sep- 

 tember (20, 1875), and passes southward before the middle of October. 

 It favors us, in the spring, with a very sweet song; is found in all 

 kinds of woods, but, like D. virens, is partial to the hemlocks. It is 

 seen actively searching for insects among the branches, sometimes 

 following them to the ground, where it often spends considerable 

 time. It is gentle and unsuspicious ; when it flies towards the obser- 

 ver, thus exposing the glowing orange-red color of its breast, it 

 resembles a moving ball of fire. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of thirty-one specimens : 

 length, 5-25; stretch, 8-12; wing, 2-71; tail, 1-96; bill from nostril, 

 31; gape, -55; tarsus, -72; middle toe, -39; its claw, -17. 



34. Dendroeca striata, (Forster}. BLACK-POLL WARBLER. Com- 

 mon during spring and fall migrations. Arrives about the middle of 

 May (20, 1874; 23, 1876; 19, 1877; 9, 1878; 14, 1879), remaining till 

 about the first of June (May 29, 1874 ; 28, 1876 ; 28, 1877) ; in the fall 

 it reaches us early in September (10, 1874; 9, 1876), remaining till 

 late in October (16, 1874; 14, 1876). 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 5-56; stretch, 8-90; wing, 2-92; tail, 2-05; bill from nostril, -30; gape, 

 55; tarsus, -75; middle toe, '45; its claw, *17. 



35. Dendroeca castanea, (Wilson). BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. 

 A regular and abundant spring and fall migrant. It passes rapidly 

 through, between the middle and last of May (19 to 29, 1874 ; 16 to 28, 

 1876; 18 to 26, 1877; 22, 1878; 14, 1879); returning in autumn it 

 passes us during the last half of September and the first days of Octo- 

 ber (September 19, 1875; Octobers, 1876). The autumnal plumaged 

 birds are generally indistinguishable from the preceding (D. striata), 

 when seen in the tree-tops ; but I have never seen any specimens that 

 were doubtful upon careful examination. The darker legs of this 

 species may, I think, be taken as diagnostic, and they are otherwise 

 distinguished by the colors of the throat, sides of the breast, and 

 under tail-coverts. Its habits are very similar to those of the Black- 

 poll. It is usually seen in the tree-tops, where its movements are 

 rather heavy, and slow. It seems to be especially fond of bathing in 

 the brooks. Both sexes possess a very sprightly song. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of twenty-four specimens : 



