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THE YELLOW RED-POLL WARBLER 



Sylvia petechij, Lath. 



PLATE CXLV. Male and Female. 



I MOST willingly acknowledge the error under which I laboured 

 many years, in believing that this species and the Sylvia palmarum of 

 Bonaparte, are distinct from each other. To the sound judgment of 

 my good friend John Bachman, I am indebted for convincing me that 

 the figure given by the Prince of Musignano is that of our present bird, 

 at a different period of life, and therefore with different plumage. I was 

 not fully aware of this, until the 6i3d plate of my second volume of Il- 

 lustrations had been delivered to the subscribers, bearing on it the name of 

 Sylvia palmarum. That plate, however, will prove useful, as it represents 

 both sexes of the Sylvia petechia in full summer plumage, while the 45th 

 plate shews them in their first autumnal dress. While at Charleston, 

 in the winter and spring of 1833-4, I became convinced of my error, 

 after examining a great number of specimens, in different states of plu- 

 mage, corresponding to the figures in my two plates. All these individuals 

 had the same habits, and vxttered the same notes. I may here remark, 

 that the true Sylvia palmarum has not yet been met with in the United 

 States. 



The Yellow Red-poll Warbler is extremely abundant in the Southern 

 States, from the beginning of November to the first of April, when it 

 migrates northward. It is one of the most common birds in the Floridas 

 during winter, especially along the coasts, where they are fond of the 

 orchards and natural woods of orange trees. In Georgia and South 

 Carolina, they are also very abundant, and are to be seen gambolling, 

 in company with the Yellow-rumped Warbler, on the trees that orna- 

 ment the streets of the cities and villages, or those of the planter''s yard. 

 They approach the piazzas and enter the gardens, in search of insects, 

 on which they feed principally on the wing, now and then securing some 

 by moving slowly along the branches. It never removes from one spot 

 to another, without uttering a sharp twit, and vibrating its tail in the 

 manner of the Wagtails of Europe, though less frequently. I never saw 



