BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 311 



on his high authority that this is set down among the birds of 

 our State. 



The Prairie Warbler, Sylvia discolor, is a small and quiet, 

 but fearless bird, which comes to us about the middle of May. 

 Nuttall found one of their nests at Mount Auburn, in a low 

 barberry bush, formed very much like the nest of the yellow- 

 bird. The proprietor eyed him with much curiosity but with- 

 out any appearance of fear, and when he approached the nest, 

 the female kept her station. There is considerable difference 

 in the accounts given by him and Audubon, of the nest and 

 the song of this bird. The latter describes the nest as covered 

 with lichens, like that of the humming-bird. ^ The one found 

 at Mount Auburn did not answer at all to his description. 



The Particolored Warbler, Sylvia Americana, is not 

 common, but several specimens have been obtained by Mr. 

 Samuel Cabot, Jr., and as its song has been heard here as late 

 as the close of May, there seems reason to believe that it 

 sometimes breeds in the State. It comes in May and returns 

 in October, on its way to its winter home in the West Indies. 

 Few of the warblers are more beautiful than this. 



The' Black throated blue Warbler, Sylvia Canadensis, 

 is a wayfaring and unfrequent visiter, which appears in April, 

 on its way to the north, and returns late in the fall. It is not 

 known where it rears its young. Its winter quarters are in the 

 West Indian Islands. The Pine Swamp Warbler, Sylvia 

 sphagnosa, is now believed to be the young of this species. 



The Maryland Yellowthroat, Sylvia trichas, is one of 

 our most common birds, found among the alders of almost 

 every brook, from the beginning of May till the leaves fall. It 

 is quiet, humble, and never ambitious to be seen ; still it shows 

 no distrust nor fear of those who visit its retreats in shady hol- 

 lows, except when they go so near the nest as to create appre- 



