234 PALM WARBLER. 
tints. Asters and golden-rods are still flowering in profusion, but the crowning glory 
among the last flowers of the year is the deep blue fringed gentian, which is abundant 
everywhere in rich deep soil. The days are clear and brilliant. Every friend of nature 
who has an eye for beautiful colors must ever admire the scenery of this last month of 
foliage and flowers. Birds of many species on their way to their winter home skip 
through the branches of trees and shrubs or hurry over the ground. At this time I 
always expect in our Northern States the Myrtle Warblers, Juncos, White-throated and 
White-crowned Sparrows, and especially the Red-poll, or Palm Warblers. In their habits 
they differ decidedly from other members of the tree-loving Dendroica-group, being 
always seen in loose flocks of from five to fifty and more, and spending much of their 
time on the ground and among low shrubs. Their most noticeable habit, one which 
distinguishes them from other Warblers, is their Phoebe-like flirting of their tails, 
which is displayed usually when on their perches. During the bright days of Indian 
summer they are exceedingly happy, darting gracefully and with great dexterity from 
one tree or bush to another, often catching inseéts in the air. Their favorite haunts 
are orchards and gardens, where groups of ornamental shrubs, such as snow-balls, 
weigelias, upright honey-suckles, mock-oranges, kerrias, golden bells (Forsythia), exo- 
chordas, and trees abound. The bushy woodland border, swamps and hedgerows, 
are also favorite resorts, where they frequently congregate with Myrtle Warblers, 
White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, and Juncos. They linger leisurely through 
October and part of November, before taking final departure to their winter home, 
the South Atlantic and Gulf States. Like the Pine Warbler and Myrtle Bird, it 
may be associated with frozen ground and snow storms. Dr. C. H. Merriam says, 
that it may be seen in Connecticut in spring with the species just named “long before 
the hosts of other Warblers make their appearance. It is also one of the last to depart 
in the fall, at which time it is found along fences, and among low bushes, by the road- 
side and in open fields. In early spring, before the snow has quite all disappeared, 
large numbers of them may sometimes be seen, in company with the English Sparrows, 
running about on the plots of bare ground, and the roots of the elm trees, on the City 
Green, in the heart of New Haven. In fact, they seem to pay but little attention to 
the weather, as may be seen from the circumstances that they were really numerous 
on the 18th of April, 1875, at a time when the ground was covered with snow 
nearly a foot deep, with only here and there a bare spot; while none were seen this 
season (1877) till April 13, notwithstanding the fact that the ground had been bare 
since the latter part of March, and the weather unusually mild.” 
‘The Palm Warbler winters abundantly from the Carolinas southward to Texas, 
and even many spend the winter in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and San Domingo. 
In the Gulf States they are exceedingly abundant in suitable localities from the latter 
part of November to the beginning of April. Evergreen trees and thickets, consisting of 
hollies, wax myrtles, youpons, magnolias, loblolly bays, cedars, and palms, are prefer- 
ably their abiding places. An abundance of insect food and an excellent protection 
against the inclemency of the cold winds are afforded them by such localities. During 
fine weather they frequently, in company with Myrtle Birds, Pine Warblers, Nuthatches, 
and Brown Creepers, visit the beautiful roseeembowered gardens, gleaning among the 
