PARULA WARBLER. 61 



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PARULA WARBLER. 



Some thirty species of the warbler family build their nests in 

 these Eastern Provinces, and most of them come in such abundance 

 that the family rival the sparrow tribe in numbers. One or the 

 other, and sometimes many, of these warblers may be found in any 

 city park or suburban garden, in country lane or grove or woodland 

 — almost anywhere that trees grow or the shrubbery is dense. I 

 have met them in quite deep forests, though they are more numer- 

 ous near the settlements ; but they are birds of the trees and 

 not of the fields or moorlands. Sylvia is the genetic name of a 

 group of old world forms, and wood wai "ers is the book name for the 

 American species. Their partiality for the trees will explain why 

 they are not more generally known. As a rule they place their nests 

 on the branches and amid the denser foliage — a few species only 

 build on the ground, — and as their food is the small insects and larvaj 

 that are found on the bark and leaves, the birds are almost con- 

 tinually hidden from observation. Their size also helps them to 

 escape notice, for they are small birds, smaller, most of them, than 

 the average sparrow. , 



In appearance the warblers are among the most attractive of our 

 birds. None of them are plainly costumed, while all have graceful 

 forms, and some of the clan can be fairly classed among the great 

 beauties of ths avian race. The present species, the parula, will 

 serve as a type of the group. The adult male is a daintily dressed 

 fellow. His back and winga are of a light shade of blue which, 



