SYLVICULID.E — THE VVAUULER8. 299 



s.arne garden nine or ten successive sunnuers. It is also more generally found 

 in low lands than in high, and is prolja!)ly attracted to moist tliiekets of 

 briers and underbrush by the greater abundance ot its favorite food. This 

 Warbler is eminently terrestrial in its habits, never l)eing found among higher 

 limbs, but always either on the ground or among the lower branches of 

 bushes, vines, and weeds. It is a diligent rather than an active or nimble 

 bird, is always on the move, and incessantly in search of its food. This con- 

 sists of insects in all their forms, but more particularly of larva}, small 

 beetles, and sjiiders. They are of great service in the destruction of several 

 forms of injurious grubs, and but that their mode of life exjjoses them to 

 destruction by prowling cats, I doubt not they would readily adapt themselves 

 to living in our gardens. Occasionally they are found in iields of grain, 

 where their i)resence is due to the abundance of destructive in.sects. 



The Yellow-Throat ap])ears shy and retiring because it prefers to move back 

 and forth among low shrul)s and brambles, where it most readily procures its 

 food, but it is not a timid bird. They are unsuspecting, and will as readily 

 permit as fly from the near presence of man. I have frecjuently had them 

 approach within a few feet, especially- when at rest ; and even when in mo- 

 tion they will continue th(iir lively song, as they move about from twig to 

 twig. Though aide to capture an insect on the wing, they are not expert fly- 

 catchers, and chiefly take their prey when it is at n-st. 



Their song is a very lively and agreeable refrain, easily recognized, though 

 exhibiting at times marked dilferences, and occasionally clo.sely resembling 

 the song of the Summer Yellow-lJird. The same brief series of notes, usually 

 sounding like lohi-ti-tee-fT'?, is constantly repeated at short intervals, while 

 the singer continues his perpetual hunt for insects. 



The male is very affectionate and devoted to both mate and offspring. The 

 pair are never far ajtart, and during incubation the male is assiduous in the 

 collection of food, feeding its mate, and afterwards assisting in collecting for 

 their young. They rely upon concealment for the protection of their nest, and 

 rarely show any open solicitude until it is discovered. Then they will make 

 the most vehement demonstrations of alarm and distress, flying about the 

 intruder and fearlessly apin-oaching hira to within a few feet. In Mas.sachu- 

 setts they rarely, if ever, have more than one brood in a season. The young 

 are able to take care of themselves early in July. At that time the song of 

 the male ceases, or is abbreviated to a single v:hit, and parents and young 

 form a family group and together hunt in the more secluded thickets, the 

 edges of wooils, and other retired places, for their food. Early in September 

 they take their dei)arture. 



The Yellow-Throat is distributed, in suitable localities, over a large area, 

 and wherever found is apparently e([ually common. Dr. Gerhardt found it 

 quite abundant in Northern Cleorgia. Wilson and Audubon thought it more 

 common in the ^liddle States than farther north, but I have found it quite as 

 numerous about Halifax and Eastport as 1 have at Washington. Dr. Cooper 



