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CHILDREN'S WARBLER. 



Sylvia CniLnnENii. 



PLATE XXXV. Male and Female. 



This little bird so much resembles the young of that called, I know 

 not why, the Blue-eyed Yellow Warbler, that I was at first inclined to 

 think it the same ; but, recollecting that the latter acquires the full co- 

 louring of its plumage, in both sexes, before the return of spring, and 

 finding some material differences in their habits, I have not hesitated in 

 presenting it to you, kind reader, not only as a new species, but as one 

 extremely rare in the United States. 



I shot two of these birds in May 18^1, near the town of Jackson, in 

 the State of Louisiana. They were sitting amongst the stalks of the 

 plant, on which they are represented. Their wings were constantly 

 drooping by the sides of their body, their tail spread out like a fan, and 

 they uttered a low tweet note, which was very soft and sweet. They now 

 and then chased small insects on the wing, but more commonly searched 

 for them amongst the leaves and blossoms of the plants on which they 

 •were. After a few minutes, I discovered their nest, which contained five 

 young ones nearly fledged. It was attached by the sides to two twigs of 

 the plant, and was formed of the dried bark of the same plant, mixed 

 -with skins of caterpillars and some silky substances. The lining consist- 

 ed of goat's or deer hair, I think the former, as there were some tame 

 goats in an adjoining pasture. I shot both the parents, and took the 

 young under my care, but they would not receive any food, and died to- 

 wards the end of the second day after their removal. I have never seen 

 another of these birds since. 



The scarcity of this species in the United States putting me in mind 

 of that of true friendship among men, I have named it after my most es- 

 teemed friend, J. G. Children, Esq. of the British Museum, as a tri- 

 bute of sincere gratitude for the unremitted kindness which he has shewn 

 me. 



The plant is known by the name of the Wild Spanish Coffee. It 

 grows very abundantly in almost every field in the Uplands of Lower 

 Louisiana. The smell of its flowers, as well as of its leaves, is extremely 

 disagreeable, if not nauseous. 



