178 WORM-EATING WARBLER. 



moving about, rustling among the leaves, and scarcely ever removing 

 from one situation to another until after they have made a full inspection 

 of the part in which they have been employed. 



This species reaches the Central Atlantic Districts in the middle of 

 May, and breeds there, as well as farther northward. I have found them 

 more numerous in the Jerseys than in any other portion of the Union. 

 In Kentucky and Ohio I have seen only a few of them ; nor have I ever 

 foimd their nests in either of these States. 



The plant on which you see a pair of Worm-eating Warblers is well 

 known throughout the United States by the name of Poke-berry. It grows 

 in every situation, from the tops of the most af id mountain-ridges to the 

 lowest and richest valleys ; and it is almost impossible to follow a fence 

 for a hundred yards without seeing some of it. Its berries are food 

 for numerous species of our birds, and produce a beautiful dark 

 crimson juice, which is used instead of red ink by some of the coun- 

 try people, although it does not retain its original colour for many 

 days. This plant grows to the height of four or six feet, and is eaten 

 when it first shoots from the ground as a substitute for asparagus, quan- 

 tities of it being not unfrequently exposed in the markets. The juice of 

 the berries is taken in cases of ague and continued fever, but requires to 

 be used with judgment, as too large a doze proves deleterious. 



Sylvia vermivora, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 544 — Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of 



Birds of the United States, p. 86. 

 AVorm-Eating Warbler, Sylvia vermivoka, Wils. Americ. Ornith. voL iii. p. 74. 



vol. xxiv. fig. 4. 



Adult Male. Plate XXXIV. Fig. 1. 



Bill longish, nearly straight, rather strong, elongated-conical, as deep 

 as broad at the base, with sharp, nearly straight edges. Nostrils basal, 

 oval, half concealed by the feathers. Head rather large, neck short. 

 Body short and fuU. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus 

 compressed, covered anteriorly with a few long scutella, acute behind, 

 longer than the middle toe ; toes scutellate above, free ; claws arched, 

 slender, compressed, acute. 



Plumage blended, soft and tufty. Wings of ordinary length, con- 

 siderably cvirved, the second quill longest, the first little shorter. Tail 

 rather short, a little rounded, of twelve rather narrow, obtuse feathers. 



