76 BIRD-SONGS ABOUT WORCESTER. 



(parula americana), which is said to be 

 common in hardwood groves. I am sure 

 it would amply repay any of my readers 

 to visit the Natural History rooms and 

 inspect the beautifully mounted specimen 

 of this bird, which the society is fortunate 

 enough to possess. The blue yellow-back 

 is the smallest, the daintiest, and most ele- 

 gant of our warblers. 



The black-poll warbler (dendroeca striatd) 

 is chiefly interesting as being, with the ex- 

 ception of the cuckoo, the last of our birds 

 to usher in the spring. The insect-like/^, 

 jee.jee of this warbler is heard everywhere 

 during the last week of May, and the tardi- 

 ness of his arrival would seem to justify us 

 in supposing that he had come to stay; but 

 he is only a migrant, and in a week or two 

 he has left us as suddenly as he came, and 

 taken wing for the far northern forests, 

 where he breeds. Audubon, who found 

 this bird breeding in the wilds of Labra- 

 dor, congratulates himself on being the 

 first white man who ever saw its nest and 

 eggs. 



