1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



253 



hair. The female lays four, and sometimes six 

 eggs," says Wilson, "sprinkled with specks of red- 

 dish." It hunts for its prey among bushes, and 

 tall weeds, and grass, seldom flying farther than 

 a few yards at a time, and seldom seizing its prey 

 on the wing. Its song is described as lively and 

 agreeable, resembling the words ticeedle, tioeedle, 

 tweedle, uttered rapidly and with emphasis. 



Length, four inches and a half; alar extent, six 

 and a half; upper parts olive, with streaks of red- 

 dish on the back ; under parts, rich yellow, with 

 streaks of black on the sides ; spots of white on 

 the tail. 



The Black and White Creeper, {Mniotilla 

 varia, Vieillot,) enters Louisiana in February 

 from the southward, as the buds on the trees are 

 expanding and unfolding into leaves, and in its 

 migration northward keeps pace with the advance- 

 ment of vegetation, and spreading over the Unit- 

 ed States, reaches New England about the first 

 of May, many still passing farther north. They 

 breed throughout the whole of this extensive re- 

 gion. In its scansorial habits this bird greatly 

 resembles the true Creepers, (Certhice,) but more 

 nearly resembles the Warblers in the form of its 

 bill, and in many other points. It seldom perches 

 on the twigs, but runs over the trunks of trees, in 

 every du'ection, with great facility, and traverses 

 the under sides of the larger limbs, back downward 

 with perfect ease, carefully searching the bark and 

 every crevice for its insect food. When it first ap- 

 pears in the spring, from the south, it sometimes 

 frequents the orchard, but generally prefers the 

 forest, where it spends the summer and rears its 

 young. Its nest is "generally found in the hole of 

 a tree ; and is composed of dry moss, lined with 

 downy substances. The eggs are four to seven, 

 white, with a few reddish dots disposed ai'ound 

 the larger end." 



Length, about five and a half inches ; extent, 

 seven and a half. Whole plumage, alternate 

 streaks and spots of black and white. Female 

 considerably paler than the male. 



The Yellow-throated Warbler, or Mary- 

 land Yellow-throat, (Trichas personatus, 

 Swain.,) is one of our most common species, ap- 

 pearing from the south in the early part of May, 

 and continuing with us through the season. It 

 prefers low woodlands, swamps, and swampy 

 hedges and thickets, where it rears its young, 

 placing its nest on the ground, usually concealed 

 in a thick tuft of grass. It is composed of fine 

 grass, lined with horse hair, and sometimes arched 

 over. The eggs are four to six, white, with a few 

 reddish specks around the larger end. It is not 

 at all shy or suspicious in its behavior, but bold- 

 ly scolds the intruder, especially during the sea- 

 son of incubation, as he chances to venture upon 

 its favorite, secluded retreat. Though not prop- 

 erly to be included among our birds of song, its 

 simple lay and oft repeated lohitititee are far from 

 disagi-eeable. It inhabits the whole eastern Unit- 

 ed States, and considerably to the northward, but 

 is said to be particularly numerous in the swampy 

 districts of Maryland and adjoining States. 



Length, four inches and three-quarters, breadth 

 of wing, six and a half ; upper parts, greenish- 

 olive ; beneath, deep yellow, lighter on the belly ; 

 front, sides of the head and neck, black. The 

 female is somewhat paler and has not the black. 



The Mourning Warbler, {Trichas Philadd- 



pJiia, Aud. ; GeotJdypis Philadelphia, Baird,) 

 was first introduced to public notice by Wilson, 

 who only met with a single individual, a male, 

 which Wilson says "had a sprightly and pleasant 

 warbling song, the novelty of which at first at- 

 tracted my attention." So scarce is it that no 

 other was seen by ornithologists for several years, 

 and it began to be conjectured that the specimen 

 described by Wilson might prove to be merely 

 an accidental variety of some other species, as 

 perhaps of the preceding, {T. personatus,) to 

 which it is related. It has, however, been occa- 

 sionally met with since, in various parts of east- 

 ern North America, and it afi'orded me not a little 

 satisfaction a few months since, (Sept. 12th, 1861,) 

 to meet with one of these birds, though in its 

 autumnal or immature dress. From its excessive 

 rarity but little is known of its habits. The in- 

 dividual above alluded to was darting about with 

 great agility after flying insects, among the alders 

 and low trees in the swamp where it was obtained. 



Length, five inches ; extent, eight and one- 

 fourth ; above, uniform greenish-olive ; cheeks, 

 throat and breast, buff", inclining, on the breast, to 

 dusky ; rest of the lower plumage, bright yellow ; 

 tail emarginate, and with the wings, strongly 

 tinged with greenish-olive. J. A. A. 



Cambridge, March, 1862. 



EXHIBITION OF FRUITS AND FLQ-WTEJRS. 



We are glad to learn that the Concord Farmers' 

 Club has decided to hold an exhibition of Fruits 

 and Flowers in that town on the third Saturday of 

 June, the third Saturday of July, and the third 

 Saturday of August, ensuing. But this is not, 

 if we understand the matter correctly, to be done 

 exclusively by the Club, as it is expected that oth- 

 er citizens will be joined with the members of the 

 Club appointed to carry out the plans, and that 

 contributions to the exhibition are expected from 

 the citizens generally. With this view, we sug- 

 gest to the good people of that town to make such 

 preparations now as will enable them to assist in 

 gracing the show vnth the productions of their 

 flower-beds and gardens. 



The occasion is to be open and free to all, either 

 to contribute to or to visit. We predict that these 

 exhibitions will be creditable to the citizens of the 

 town, and occasions of interest to all, but espec- 

 ially so to the children. 



A Fox Story. — One day last week a party of 

 sportsmen belonging in this city and Boston went 

 on a fox hunting expedition to Chelmsford. On 

 "Thanksgiving Ground" they ran a fox into his 

 hole, and then commenced to dig for him. After 

 working smart a number of hours, they came upon 

 a nest of young fo«es, not having their eyes open, 

 one of which was brought away. One of the party 

 having a litter of young kittens at his house in 

 this city, placed this young fox with them, and it 

 takes its nourishment with the rest, and is now 

 doing M'ell. The old cat purs over the little stran- 

 ger, and does not seem to notice any difference 

 between it and her own family. — Lowell News. 



