SVI.VICOLID.E — THE WAliULKliS. 233 



Habits. The lilack iind Yellow WavMei', one of the most boiiutit'iil of this 

 attnu'tive family, was siip})osc(l l)y our earlier writers to be exceedingly rare. 

 Wilson never met with more than two specimens, — one in Ohio, the other 

 on the Missi.ssij)j)i, — and spoke of it as a very scarce species. In regard to 

 its song he was quite at fault, denying to it any notes deserving the name 

 of song. Niittall, who had only seen it occasionally in ^^as.sachusetts, in 

 the middle of ^lay, regarded it as rare, and was unacquainted with its 

 notes. Its history is now much better known, and neither its great rarity 

 nor its deficiency ,is to melody can any longer l)e admitted. 



At certain seasons and in i)arti(uilar ])laces it is a very common species. 

 It may be found during the breeding-season throughout Xorth America east 

 of the Great i'lains, between latitude 44° and Fort Simpson in the fur 

 country. During its migrations it may be met with in most of the Eastern 

 States, in Eastern Mexico, and the northern portions of South America. It 

 has been found in the liaiiamas, and also in (.'ul)a, wlien; it is not connnon. 

 Specimens ha\e been received from Mexico, Guatemala, and ranama, and 

 from P\irt liesolution, llupert Housi', and Fort Simpson, in iVrctic America, 

 and as far to the west as the mouth of Vermilion River. Dr. Ih-yant 

 met Avitli it in the Bahamas as early as .the loth of March, where it was 

 (juite common. M. IJoucard found it at I'laya Vicente, in the hot portion 

 of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. 



In "N'estern Massachusetts, Mr. Allen found it a common spring and 

 autumn visitor, occurring in its nortliern llights from the middle of ^May to 

 the first of June, and in the autunm as late as Sejjtember 20. Professor 

 Verrill ibund it in Western ^laini', but not common, both in s])ring and fall, 

 but had no reason to beli(!\-e that it l)red there. Mr. Uoardman does not 

 include it in his list of Calais birds, and 1 did not iind it among the islands 

 in th(^ I5ay of Fundy. In the vicinity of Halifax, during the months of 

 June and July, it is one; of the most common of the Warblers, occurring in 

 ever}' ilircction. 



Mr. Audubon o1)served these Warlilers in Louisiana, in their migmtions, as 

 early a.s the middle of Mantii ; luit its appearance there, as well as in Kentucky 

 and Ohio, a])peared to be occasional and accidental. In autumn he has met 

 with tiiem in large nundiers among the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. 

 Tlu^y were jjassing soutiiward with their young. AVhile on his way to Lali- 

 rador he noticed them in Maine, near Eastport, in May, very abundant along 

 the roads, the fields, and the low woods, as well as in the orchards and gar- 

 den.s. The season was thi'n not advanceil, the weatiier cohl ; and these birds 

 sheltered themselves by night among tlu^ evergreens, and were often so chilled 

 as to be readily taken l)y tiu' hand. He also met them wherever ho landed 

 in the neighltoring islands in the Bay of Fundy and at Labrador. 



The song of this Warblci' is clear and sweetly modulated, and surpasses 

 that of most of this family. It seems to ju'efer the interior of low woods, 

 where its notes may chielly Ix; heard during the early summer, as it sings 



