PALM WARBLER. 235 
exquisite semi-tropical trees and shrubs, in which these ornamental plantations abound. 
Like all the members of this highly interesting family they are, wherever they occur, of 
the greatest importance to the gardener, the farmer and fruit grower. They subsist 
exclusively on injurious inse¢éts which infest the bark, leaves, blossoms, and the fruit of 
trees and shrubs. The question of protection of these and all other small native birds 
should, therefore, be a matter of the maturest deliberation at all meetings of our agri- 
cultural, horticultural, and humane societies. At our common and high schools children 
ought to be taught not to disturb our birds and their nests, but to protect them, and 
to view these charming songters, which contribute so much to our happiness, with love 
and tenderness. 
The Red-poll Warbler is not known to breed south of latitude 44°. It has been 
found in summer in the Red River Settlement, at Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort 
George, and in the Hudson Bay Territory. Mr. G. A. Boardman, of St. Stephens, N. B., 
says that in his locality the Yellow Red-poll is one of the ‘““most common Warblers, and, 
unlike most other Warblers, spends much of its time feeding upon the ground. It is not 
an uncommon thing to see a dozen or two on the ground in my garden at a time, 
early in spring. Later in the season they have more the habits of other Warblers, and 
are in summer expert flycatchers.... They breed in old brushy pastures, and very early, 
’ nesting alongside some little knoll, and always upon the ground. The nest is very 
warmly lined with feathers.’ In other localities the Palm Warbler usually selects for 
the site of its nest the edge of a swampy thicket, more or less open, placing it invariably 
on the ground. Mr. Kennicott met with a nest June 18. It was on the ground, on a 
hummock, at the foot of a small spruce, inaswamp. The materials consist chiefly of fine 
dry grasses, slender bark-strips, hypnum and other mosses, with a warm and soft lining 
of down and feathers. The ground-color of the eggs is creamy-white, spotted chiefly 
about the larger end with purple, lilac, and reddish-brown.—The song is said to be 
grasshopper or cricket-like and very feeble. 
NAMES: PaLmM WarBLER, Red-poll Warbler, Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Red-poll. 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Motacilla palmarum Gmel. (1788). Sylvicola palmarum Rich. (1836). DENDROICA 
PALMARUM Bairp (1858). [This is the western form.. The eastern form of the Atlantic States is 
known as the YELLow Pam WarBLeER, D. PALMARUM HYPOCHRYSEA Ripeway (1876).] Sylvia 
petechia Wils. (1812). Sylvicola petechia S. & R. (1831), Aud. 
DESCRIPTION: ‘Head above, chestnut-red; rest of upper parts, brownish olive-gray; the feathers with 
darker centres, the color brightening on the rump, upper tail-coverts, and outer margins of wing and 
tail-feathers, to greenish-yellow. A streak from nostrils over the eye, and under-parts generally, 
including the tail-coverts, bright yellow; paler on the body. A maxillary line; breast and sides, finely, 
but rather obsoletely streaked with reddish-brown. Cheeks, brownish (in highest spring, plumage 
chestnut like the head); the eyelids and a spot under the eye, brown. Lores, dusky. A white spot 
on the inner web of the. outer two tail-feathers, at the end. Sexes, nearly alike. 
“Length, 5 inches; wing, 2.42; tail, 2.25 inches.” (Ridgway.) 
