250 N'OKTll AMI-;i!l("AN HIHDS. 



Iifinictt (HI ]\romit Ildlycikc (huiiiu' llic lnccdiiijf-st'iisdii, find liv Mf. 15. llos- 

 I'ord oil llio westoiii lidgcs during tla' .siinie ])ei'iiMl. 'I'iicy uru L'ouinion, Mr. 

 JJdindnian .stiiU's, in tlic tliick wimhIs idHHit Caliiis, tlimiigli id! t!ie hrewling- 

 siiiisdii. 



In Jamaica, during tlu; winter, it exclusively Ireriuents tiio edges of tall 

 ■\vo(ids in unl'reiineiited iiioiiiitainnn.s idealities. Tliey are t'oiiiid in iliat island 

 t'rfini Octolier 7 until tiie '.Hli ol' Ajiril. Mr. (Josse, who has closely ohservd 

 their liahils during winter, s]ieaks of tlieir jilaying together with inucli spirit 

 lor hall' an hour at a tiiias chasing each other swii'tly round and nuind, occa- 

 sionally dodging tiirnugh the huslies, and uttering at intervals a pelihly flici'p. 

 They never remain long alight(Hl, and are diliicult to kill. Ue.stlessness i.s 

 their great characteristic. 'I'hey often alight transver.scdy on the long pendent 

 vines or slender trees, hopping up and down without a moment's intermission, 

 jieckiiig at insects. Tliey are usually very plump and fat. 



De la Sagra states that this hird occasio'udly breeds in Culta, young birds 

 iiaving lieen killed tliat had evidently lieen hatched there. The record of 

 this Warhler, as ](resented hy ditferent authors, i s ajiparently inconsistent and 

 contradictory: rare with sonu' observers, alaindant with others; rcMuaining 

 in -lamaica until well into .\j>ril, yet common in South Carolina in March, 

 and even ai)pearing in ]\Iassachu.setts in mi Iwinter; suj)])osed to breed in 

 the highlands of Cuba, yet, except in the case of the nest taken near Halifax, 

 its manner of breeding was uukuown until lately. It is jirolialily rare in hiw- 

 lands e\ery where, and nowhere common exce])t among mountains, and, while 

 alile to endure an inclement season where food is alaindant, is intlueneed in 

 its migratory movements liy instinctive ])romptings to change its quarters 

 entirely in reference to a supply of food, and not liy the temi)erature merely. 

 It jiresence in i)ostoii in winti'i' was of course a singular accident; but its 

 jilunip condition, and its coiiteiiti'd stay so long as its supply of food was 

 abundant, suHiciently attested its ability to endure severe weather for at least 

 ii limited period, and while its I'ood was not wanting. ^Ir. Tri]ipe states that 

 these birds reach Xorthern New dersey during the first week of INIay, and 

 stay a whole month, remaining there haiger than any otiier species. At lirst 

 they have no note but a simjile iliirp; but, before they leave, the males are 

 said to have a singular drawling song of tour or five notes. 



Mr. I'aine states that this Warbler is a resident, lait not very common bird, 

 in liandolpli, Vt. Ke has usually noticed it in the midst ol' tliii k woods, 

 not generally in tall trees, l)ut among the lower branches or in Imshes. The 

 song he descril)es as very short and insignitieant, its tones sharp and wiry, 

 and not to be heard at any great distance. He knows nothing as to its iie.st. 

 They arrive at liandolpli from the South ai)out the middle of May. 



We are indebted to Mr. John IJurroughs for all the knowledge we ]ios.se.ss 

 in relation to the nest and eggs of this sjiecies, which had previously baf- 

 fled the search of other naturalists. He was so fortunate as to meet with 

 their ne.st in the summer ol' I.S71. Karly in July, in company with his 



