304 YELLOW-RUMP WARBLER. 



am indebted to his liberality for a nest with four eggs, which formed part 

 of his fine collection. Although they are abundant in Labrador, we did 

 not find any of their nests ; but we had the good fortune to procure 

 several voung birds scarcely able to fly. The nest above mentioned was 

 placed near the extremity of the branch of a low fir-tree, about five feet 

 from the ground. It resembles that of the Sylvia astiva of Latham, 

 being firm, compact, the outer parts formed of silky fibres from diff*erent 

 plants attached to the twigs near it by means of glutinous matter, mixed 

 with stripes of the inner bark of some tree unknown to me. Within this 

 is a deep and warm bed of thistle-down, and the inner layer consists of 

 feathers and the fine hair of small quadrupeds. The eggs are rather 

 large, of a light rosy tint, the shell thin and transparent ; they are spa- 

 ringly dotted with reddish-brown near the larger end, but in a circular 

 manner, so that the extremity is unspotted. 



This species feeds on insects, is an expert fly catcher, and a great 

 devourer of caterpillars. During winter, however, its principal food con- 

 sists of berries of various kinds, especially those of the Myrtle and Poke- 

 weed. They also feed on the seeds of various grasses. When, at this 

 season, a warm day occurs, and the insects are excited to activity, the 

 Warblers are sure to be seen in pursuit of them. The rows of trees about 

 the plantations are full of them, and, from the topmost to the lowest 

 branches, they are seen gliding upwards, downwards, and in every direc- 

 tion, in full career after their prey, and seldom missing their aim. At 

 this time of the year, they emit, at every movement, a single tweet, so 

 very different from that of any other Warbler, that one can instantly re- 

 cognise the species by it among a dozen. They rarely enter the wood- 

 lands, but prefer the neighbourhood of cultivated or old fields, the nur- 

 series, gardens, and trees about towns, villages, or farm-houses, or by the 

 sides of roads. They are careless of man, allowing him to approach 

 within a few yards, or even feet, without manifesting much alarm. As 

 they breed so far north, it is probable that they raise only one brood in 

 the season. They return south early in September, already clad in their 

 winter dress. 



