SONG-BIRDS. Warblers 



A most abundant and sociable bird in the spring migra- 

 tion, the Chestnut-sided Warbler becomes shy and retiring 

 in the breeding-season, and in the fall journey keeps well 

 in the protection of the trees. 



During the second week of May, 1892, after a storm 

 which had lasted three days, a perfect swarm of Warblers 

 appeared in the garden, among the evergreens and on the 

 walks, and, after arranging their wind-beaten plumage, dis- 

 persed to satisfy appetites that seemed to have been tried 

 by a long fast. Upon going to the door about seven o'clock 

 in the morning, I was greatly surprised to see a dozen or 

 more of the Chestnut-sided Warblers, chiefly males, feeding 

 eagerly upon some minute insects that they picked from 

 the gravel, while among them were several Redstarts, mov- 

 ing backward and forward with the airy motion which is 

 peculiarly theirs, and which seems as if they were propelled 

 by a puff of wind rather than their own volition. The War- 

 blers were so fearless, owing to their hunger, that they only 

 moved a few yards away when I went out to see what they 

 were eating. Upon scanning the gravel on the path, I found 

 that it was literally plastered together by myriads of dead 

 ants, which had been drowned out of their hills at the roots 

 of some large trees, and washed down. The same condition 

 obtained in other parts of the garden, and these ants, together 

 with the abundant earth-worms and various seeds in the lawn 

 and many low-flying insects, brought together such a carni- 

 val of migrants as I had never before seen outside of the 

 cases of a museum, — Thrushes, Warblers, Flycatchers, and 

 Finches of all descriptions, that seemed to have been swept 

 into the garden shelter by the fury of the storm. 



Bay-breasted Warbler: Dendroica castanea. 



Length : 5.25-5.75 inches. 



Male: Above streaked with black and grayish olive. Forehead, 



cheeks, and sides of head black, enclosing a chestnut patch. 



Chin, throat, upper breast, and a streak along the sides dull 



chestnut. Below buffy. White cross-bars on wings and white 



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