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334 



WOOD WARBLERS. 



Several species have remarkable vocal ability, but, generally speak- 

 ing, they have rather weak voices, and take low rank as songsters. 



Warblers are at once the delight and the di'S{)air of field students. 

 To the uninitiated their existence is unknown, and when search reveals 

 the before unsuspected fact that our woods are thronged with birds as 

 exquisitely colored as the daintiest tropical forms, we foel jis though a 

 new world were opened to us. 



Absent to-day, present to-morrow, the Warblers come and go under 

 cover of the night, and we may give a lifetime to their study, and then 

 know we have not mastered the laws which govern their movements. 



Entering an apparently deserted bit of woods, we hear faint voices, 

 lisping tseeps, and soon discover that the tree tops are animated with 

 flitting forms. What limitless possibilities there are in a flock of 

 Warblers ! Who can say what rare species may be among them ? — per- 

 haps the bird we have long vainly looked for; perhaps a stranger from 

 another clime! 



KEY TO TIIK ST ECIE8. 



First Group.— Throat yellow, yellowish, or oraiigo. 

 I. Under jmrts without streuks or spots. 



II. \Vitk black or brown streaks on tlie t)rea.st or sides, or (in one species) a 

 blaekish brown band across the throat, or (in one species) a black patch 

 on the breast. 

 Second Group. — Tlircat black, pray, asliy, white, wliitisli, brown, or butty. 

 I. Tliroat and upper breaxt one color, black, gray, ashy, or brown, very dif- 

 ferent from the wliitc or yellow belly. 

 II. Throat wliite or wliitish, with or without streaks or spots; rest of under 



parts Ktreaked or Kpottiil with black, bluish, chestnut, or yellow. 

 III. Under parts white, whitish, or butfy, tvithout streaks, si^ts, oi patches. 



First Group. 



I. Under parts without streaks or spots. 



1. Tail with conspicuous white spots or patches. 

 A. Wings with wliite wing-bars. 



a. Under parts entirely pure yellow. 



a». Forehead yellow ; a black line through the eye ; rump same as 



back 641. Bue-winoeo Wauiu.kk. 



«•. Cro'nashy; rump yellow . 057. Magnolia Wauiilek (Im.). 



b. Throat bright yellow ; belly white or whitish. 



/»>. Back olive-grceni.sh 671. Pine Warbler. 



6'. liack bluish, with a yellowish patch in the middle. 



648. Parila Warbler (Im.). 



c. Under parts pale yellowish white or bufty ; throat not brighter than 

 belly. 



c>. Back olive-green, slightly streaked with black, 

 t". Under parts pale cream-butt, stronger on the flanks. 



6C0. Bay-bukasteu Warbler (Im.). 



