64 



WARBLER--KINGLETS--FLY-CATCHER. 



utter its drawling note, " zee-zee-zee-zee," or " dee-dee-dee-dee. " 

 This song is easily recognized from that of any other Warbler. 

 In its migrations to the north, it passes through the Middle States 

 in May, and returns in the fall to winter in Central America and 

 Cuba. " The nest," sa}^s Maynard, "is composed outwardly of 

 large oak-leaves of the previous year and grape-vine bark, and is 

 lined, not very smoothly, with fine grass and a few horse-hairs. 

 It is large for the size of the bird, quite deep, and slightly smaller 

 at the top than in the middle. . . . The eggs, four in num- 

 ber, . . . were white, spotted and blotched with reddish- 

 brown thickly at the larger end, where in one example the spots 

 formed an irregular wreath, more sparsely elsewhere." The food 

 of this bird consists of small insects and their larvae. The length 

 of this species is five inches, and the extent about seven inches. 



The Worm-eating Warbler. (Helmitherus vermivorus.) 

 Fig. 4 . 



This is one of our most industrious species of Warblers. It is 

 not a very abundant bird, and is distributed more in the warmer 

 parts of North America. In New England it is regarded only as 

 a straggler. Audubon, in describing its habits, says: "It is an 

 inhabitant of the interior of the forests, and is seldom found on the 

 borders of roads or in the fields. In spring they move in pairs, 

 and, during their retrogade marches, in little groups, consisting 

 each of a family seven or eight in number; on which account I 

 am inclined to believe that they raise only a single brood in the 

 year. They are ever amongst the decayed branches of trees or 

 other plants, such as are accidentally broken off by the wind, and 

 are there seen searching for insects or caterpillars. They also re- 

 sort to the ground, and turn over the dried leaves in quest of the 

 same kind of food. They are unsuspecting, and will suffer a 

 person to approach within a few paces. When disturbed, they fly 

 off to some place where withered leaves are seen. They have only 

 a few weak notes, which do not deserve the name of song. Their 

 industry, however, atones for this defect, as they are seen contin- 

 ually moving about, nestling 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." 



The American Naturalist contains an article by Mr. T. H. Jack- 

 son, describing the nest and eggs of this bird as follows : 



" It was placed in a hollow on the ground, much like the nest 

 of the Oven bird (Seiurus aurocafiillus), and was hidden from 

 sight by the dry leaves that lay thickly around. The nest was 

 composed externally # of dead leaves, mostly those of the beech, 

 while the interior was prettily lined with the fine thread-like stalks 

 of the hair-moss (■fiolytrichiuni) . Altogether, it was a very neat 

 structure, and looked to me as if the owner was habitually a 

 ground-nester. ... So close did the female sit that I cap- 

 tured her without difficulty by placing my hat over the nest." 



Mr. J. H. Batty discovered a nest of this species containing 

 eggs, on the eastern slope of the Orange Mountains, in New Jer- 

 sey. "The eggs," he says, " are four in number, spotted and 

 dotted, most thickly at the large end, with reddish-brown, and 

 measuring 0.73 by 0.56." The length of this species is five and a 

 quarter inches, and the extent about eight inches. 



The Golden-crowned Kinglet. (Regulus satrapa.) 



Fig. 5- 



This is one of our attractive and industrious species. During its 

 migrations it may be said to be, in most parts of North America, 

 a common bird. It usually arrives in the Middle States from its 

 winter-quarters in the south as early as March, and may be seen 

 again in the fall more numerous than in the spring, and when the 

 winter is a mild one they are met with as late as December. In 



summer it is a rare bird in the Middle States, at which time they 

 are to be found at the far north where they breed. It is generally 

 accompanied in its migrations by the Titmice or Chickadees 

 Brown Creeper, Nuthatch, and various Warblers. The food of 

 this bird consists of insects and their larva?, especially those that 

 so numerously infest the apple and other garden and orchard trees 

 in search of which it is very active in motion, skipping and per- 

 ambulating about the various branches, uttering its weak warble. 

 It is also said that they feed on flies, which they seize on the wing ; 

 small berries, and some kinds of seeds, which they break open by 

 pecking with their bill. Late in the winter they may be found, 

 mostly among the evergreens, such as the pine, spruce, cedar, 

 juniper, etc. Whilst fluttering in the air, this bird is often seen 

 exposing the golden feathers of its crown, which are opened and 

 shut very dexterously. This species is about four inches long, and 

 six and a half in extent. 



The Ruby-crowned Kinglet. (Regulus calendula?) 

 Fig. 6. 



This species, in its habits, manners, and general appearance, 

 is very closely related to the preceding, and is usually to be seen, 

 in the fall, in their company and with the Titmouse ; the whole 

 forming quite a group, busily and silently gleaning their scanty 

 food, which consists of insects and larvae in the woods and orchards. 

 In spring, during their migrations, it is first seen in evergreen 

 woods ; but later in the season it is usually to be observed among 

 the opening foliage and blossoms of forest and orchard trees, such 

 as the oak, elm, maple, apple, etc., frequenting the topmost 

 branches, as well as the lower ones, remaining on a cluster of 

 twigs until it is completely cleared of insects. It is not a shy bird, 

 but, on the contrary, will permit one to approach very near to it. 

 On bright days in spring, this bird may be heard uttering a very 

 beautiful and pleasing warble. It also has a queer call-note, which 

 frequently precedes the warble. 



The Ruby-crown makes his winter-quarters in the Southern 

 States and along our southern border and in Mexico. In summer 

 they retire to the north, Canada, Labrador, etc., to breed. This 

 species is about four inches long, and six inches in extent. 



The Canadian Fly-catcher. (Myiodioctes canadensis.) 



Fig- 7- 



This beautiful species may be found abundantly in the wood- 

 lands of the eastern United States and Canada, where it may be 

 met with through the entire summer. It usually arrives in the 

 Middle and Western States from the south about the 1st of May, 

 and again in autumn from the north, when it breeds. This bird 

 is chiefly to be met with near the mountains, busily engaged in 

 darting after and feeding on small insects, which it catches entirely 

 on the wing, snapping its bill with a smart clicking sound. It 

 also frequents the borders of the lakes and streams bordered with 

 bushes, from which it may be observed to sally forth, pursuing its 

 insect prey for some distance, and again returning to its favorite 

 resorts. Its flight is rapid, and the movements and actions those 

 of the true Fly-catchers. " Its note," says Samuels, " is a shrill 

 weechy, w'eechy, which is uttered at short intervals by the bird, both 

 while on the wing and when perching." "About the first week in 

 June," says the same author, " the nest is built. This is fixed in 

 a fork of a low cedar or pine bush, very near the ground, and is 

 constructed of pine leaves, fine roots and grasses, and a few hairs, 

 It is loosely put together, and is lined with fine pieces of the same 

 materials and lichens. The eggs are four in number. They 

 are small and abruptly pointed; of a grayish-white color, with 

 a slight roseate tint, and are marked with spots and fine blotches 

 of lilac and brown, usually thickest nearer the larger end." In 



