IN THE CATSKILLS 



as if they had always worn silk stockings and satin 

 slippers. High tree warblers have dark brown or 

 black legs and more brilliant plumage, but less 

 musical ability. 



The chestnut-sided belongs to the latter class. 

 He is quite common in these woods, as in all the 

 woods about. He is one of the rarest and hand- 

 somest of the warblers ; his white breast and throat, 

 chestnut sides, and yellow crown show conspicu- 

 ously. Last year I found the nest of one in an up- 

 lying beech wood, in a low bush near the roadside, 

 where cows passed and browsed daily. Things 

 went on smoothly till the cow bunting stole her egg 

 into it, when other mishaps followed, and the nest 

 was soon empty. A characteristic attitude of the 

 male during this season is a slight drooping of the 

 wings, and tail a little elevated, which gives him a 

 very smart, bantam-like appearance. His song is 

 fine and hurried, and not much of itself, but has its 

 place in the general chorus. 



A far sweeter strain, falling on the ear with the 

 true sylvan cadence, is that of the black-throated 

 green-backed warbler, whom I meet at various 

 points. He has no superiors among the true Sylvia. 

 His song is very plain and simple, but remarkably 

 pure and tender, and might be indicated by straight 



lines, thus, V~> ^ e fi rst two marks 



representing two sweet, silvery notes, in the same 



pitch of voice, and quite unaccented ; the latter 



110 



