204 BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 



ing two bands on the wing. Primary quills clove-brown, edged with 

 paler. Tail-feathers blackish-brown, the two outer on each side with a 

 white patch on the inner webs near the end. A broad band of white 

 crosses the cheek, and all the lower parts are of the same colour, an in- 

 terrupted line of black spots running down the sides of the neck and 

 breast. 



Length 5^ inches, extent of wings 8^ ; bill along the ridge -f *j, along 

 the edge j''^, ; tarsus ||^. 



Adult female. Plate CXXXIV. Fig. 2. 



The female has the whole of the upper parts oil-green, tinged with 

 grey, with central blackish-brown spots on the feathers, the rump and 

 tail-coverts with the dark spots inconspicuous. Wing-bands tinged with 

 yellow, as are the sides of the breast. The sides of the head, neck, breast, 

 and flanks, marked with blackish-brown spots. In other respects the 

 colouring is similar to that of the male. 



Length 5i inches. 



The Black Gum Tree. 



Nyssa AauATiCA, Linn. Sp. PL 1511. Mich. Arbr. Forest, vol. ii. p. 265 pi. 22.— 

 N. bifloha, Willd. Sp. PI. vol. jiv. p. 1113. Pursh, Flor. Amer. voL i. p. l^^. 

 PoLTGAMiA MoNCECiA, Linn. El^agni, Juss. 



The Black Gum is seldom found of a greater height than from fifty to 

 sixty feet, with a diameter of about three. The wood is of little use, even 

 for firing, as it takes a long time to consume, affords no blaze, and burns 

 dismally. A trunk of this tree falling into the water immediately sinks 

 and remains. Its foliage is pleasing to the eye, and in many parts of 

 the Middle Districts some are kept standing as shade-trees for cattle. 

 The berries, which hang in pairs, and sometimes three or four together, 

 at the extremity of their slender peduncle, are eaten in great quantities 

 during winter by various species of birds. 



