THE WARBLERS 67 



could see no difference between the male and female from 

 the distance of a few feet. Some live in the tops of ever- 

 greens and other tall trees; others, like the Maryland yel- 

 low-throat, which seems to prefer low trees and shrubbery, 

 are rarely seen more than twelve feet from the ground. A 

 few, like the oven-bird, haunt the undergrowth in the woods 

 or Hve most of the time on the earth. With three or four ex- 

 ceptions all the warblers dwell in woodlands, and it is only 

 during the spring and autumn migrations that we have an 

 opportunity to become acquainted with them; when they 

 come about the orchard and shrubbery for a few days' rest 

 and refreshment during their travels. Fortunately the 

 cheerful little yeUow warbler stays around our homes all 

 summer long. Was there ever a family so puzzling and 

 contradictory as the Warblers? 



The great majority of these fascinating and exasperating 

 relatives are nervous, restless httle sprites, constantly 

 flitting from branch to branch and from twig to twig in a 

 never-ending search for small insects. As well try to 

 catch a weasel asleep as a warbler at rest. People who live 

 in the tropics, even for a httle while, soon become lazy. 

 Not so the warblers, whose energy, like a steam engine's, 

 seems to be increased by heat. Of course they do not 

 undertake long journeys merely for pleasure, as wealthy 

 human tourists do. They must migrate to find food; and 

 as insects are most plentiful in warm weather, you see why 

 these atoms of animation keep in perpetual motion. They 

 are among the last migrants to come North in the spring 

 and among the first to leave in the autumn because few in- 

 sects hatch out in cool weather, and the birds must always 

 be sure of plenty to eat. Travehng as they do, chiefly 

 by night, they are killed in numbers against the light- 



