Birds of Massachusetts. 135 
if this be impracticable, it feeds and protects the 
foundling with as much kindness as its own young. 
In its migrations, this little bird travels by night. 
The 'Srorre» WansLEn, Sylvia maculosa, is a 
beautiful bird, which passes through the State in 
May, on its way to the north, where it rears its young. 
Here they are always rare; but in Maine they are 
sometimes exceedingly common, being detained 
there, waiting till the season is sufficiently advanced 
to permit them to go farther. This bird excels in 
song as well as in beauty of plumage ; its motions are 
graceful, and, when on the ground, it holds its wings 
drooping, as if to display their markings to advan- 
tage. They pass but a few days with us, and, on 
their return, do not visit us ; they probably, in return- 
ing, avoid the coast, and make their way along the 
course of the great western rivers. 
The Brack-rHRoATED Green WARBLER, Sylvia 
virens, is not common in Massachusetts. It comes 
from the south in May, and may be seen searching 
the blossoms of the apple tree for food, so intent upon 
its employment as to pay no regard to the presence 
of any observer. Sometimes the chipping-sparrow, 
delighted to find a bird weaker than itself, puts on 
airs of state, and orders the little warbler away from 
the tree. A few spend the summer in the northern 
states. Their nests are not easily discovered, but 
Nuttall met with one in a juniper, on the Blue Hills 
in Milton. It was made with strips of bark, horse- 
hair, and feathers, and contained four eggs, inclining 
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