340 ZOOLOGY. 



two most common in the United States are the common tit and the 

 Carolina tit (P. atricapilbis and carolinensis) . 



There are several European species, of which the common titmouse, 

 Parus major {pi. 102, fig. 4), and the European crested tit, P. crislatus 

 {pi. 102, Jig. 3), are well known. 



About fifty species of these pleasant little birds are distributed over the 

 various countries of the globe, and are generally very similar in habits to 

 those more particularly enumerated. 



Sub-fam. 6. Sylvicolince, or American Warblers. Bill straight, more or 

 less conical, sides compressed ; nostrils basal, with the opening rather large 

 and exposed ; wings rather long, generally pointed ; tail moderate ; tarsi 

 and feet rather long and stout. Size small ; colors generally gay and 

 agreeable. 



This sub-family embraces all the American warblers, of which there are 

 about one hundred species described, and several genera of similar birds 

 which are natives of India and Africa. 



The species of the United States are amongst the most beautiful and 

 lively of our birds, though, on account of their living almost exclusively in 

 the woods, they are little observed. A few species reside exclusively in 

 the South, but the greater number breed in all the Northern States and 

 British territories adjacent. 



One of the most common species is the summer yellow-bird (Sylvicola 

 cestiva), a beautiful little bird with bright yellow plumage, striped on the 

 breast and belly with a deeper orange yellow\ It is a very lively and by 

 no means shy little bird, often seen in the garden or among the blossoms 

 of trees in the spring, and makes its nests in bushes or shrubbery. 



The magnolia warbler {S. maculosa) is a beautiful species, though never 

 venturing far from the woods. It is black above and bright yellow below, 

 with black stripes. It breeds in the far north, migrating only through the 

 middle states in the spring and autumn. 



The yellow-crowned warbler, or yellow rump, as it is mostly called 

 (8. coronata), is a very common species in the spring. It is dark-colored 

 above and white below, with a bright golden yellow crown, and with the 

 rump yellow. 



The golden-winged warbler (-S'. chrysoptera), the black-throated green 

 warbler (<S. virens), the blackburnian {S. blackburnicB), the yellow-throated 

 {S. pensilis), the bay-breasted (S. castanea), the chestnut-sided {S. icteroce- 

 phala), the Maryland yellow-throat {S. marylandica), and some others, are 

 more or less frequently met with every spring ; sometimes very common, 

 at other times very rare. 



The Connecticut warbler ('S. agilis), the Cape May warbler (S. ?nari- 

 tima), and the mourning warbler {S. pkiladelphia), have hitherto appeared 

 but rarely in any part of the United States or elsewhere. 



The genus Zostercps comprises about twenty birds of India and Africa. 

 They appear to bear considerable resemblance to our warblers, being 

 mostly observed in the trees or bushes actively engaged in searching for 

 insects, which constitute their only food. 

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