18 C. H. Merrimn — Birds of Coiinectkut. 



45. Dendrceca palmarum (Gmelin) Baird. Red poU Warbler. 



A common spring and autumn migrant. Arrives, in spring, about 

 the middle of April (13, 1877; 18, 1875), usually remaining but a few 

 days ; in fall I have taken it from Oct. 18th to Nov. 4th. But few were 

 seen this spring (1877), and they straggled along in the most unaccount- 

 able manner. I shot one as late as May 5th ! Along with D. piniis and 

 D. coronata it may be seen, in spring, long before the hosts of other 

 warblers make their appearance. It is also one of the last to depart 

 in the fall, at which time it is found along fences, and among low 

 bushes, by the road-side, and in open fields. In early spring, before 

 the snow has quite all disappeared, large numbers of them may some- 

 times be seen, in company with the English Sparrows, running about 

 on the plots of bare ground, and the roots of the elm trees, in the 

 City Green., in the heart of New Haven, In fact they seem to pay but 

 little attention to the weather, as may be seen from the circumstance 

 that they were really abundant on the 18th of April, 1875, at a time 

 when the ground was covered with snow nearly a foot deep, with 

 only here and there a bare spot ; while none were seen this season 

 (1877) till April 13th, notwithstanding the fact that the ground had 

 been bare since the latter part of March, and the weather imusually 

 mild. Apparently in great haste to reach the breeding grounds, 

 their stay witli us, in spring, is generally brief — a kw days and all 

 are gone. During the autumnal migrations, however, the case is 

 quite diiferent. Having safely accomplished a long and perilous 

 journey to the far north, and having successfully struggled with the 

 elements and the hungry animate world in rearing and ])rovidiiig for 

 a family of children, its anxiety is over, and now it lingers, for two 

 or three weeks, in its favorite haunts l)y the road-side, before taking 

 its fiiuil departure for Cuba or the Bahamas ; or, )>erchance, it may 

 not pass beyond our own limits, but, finding some suitable spot in 

 the Gulf States, concludes to go no farther, and winters there. 



The abundance of this species during its migrations varies con- 

 siderably in difterent years. Thus in the spring of 1875 they were 

 very numerous, wliilc this season (1877) less than half a dozen 

 were seen. This remark applies with e(jual force to D. 2^f»"S and 

 several other species, 



46. Dendrceca pinilS (Wilson) Baird. Pine-creepinp Warbler. 



A summer resident; tolerably common during migrations. It 

 luH'eds in [lines, and is more often heard than seen. .Vrrives before the 



