194 USEFUL BIRDS. 
The food of the Chestnut-sided Warbler is such that the 
bird must be exceedingly useful in woodland and shrubbery, 
and in orchard and shade trees as well, whenever it frequents 
them. It is probable that at times it destroys considerable 
numbers of parasitic hymenoptera, as it is rather expert as a 
flycatcher ; but itis very destructive to many injurious beetles 
and caterpillars, being one of the most active consumers of 
leaf-eating insects. Small borers or bark beetles, plant bugs 
and plant lice, leaf hoppers, ants, and aphids are eaten. 
In seasons of great want it eats a few seeds. Audubon 
says that he once shot several birds in Pennsylvania during a 
cold spell and snowstorm in early spring, and that the only 
food in their stomachs was grass seeds and a few spiders, but 
the birds were emaciated and evidently half starved. This 
Warbler is almost entirely insectivorous, and for this reason, 
perhaps, as soon as its young are well able to travel both 
young and old begin their southern journey. In September 
a few birds, probably from farther north, may be seen in 
autumnal dress, gleaning insects from the tree tops, and no 
more are seen until the following spring. 
Yellow Warbler. Blue-eyed Yellow Warbler. Yellow Bird. Summer 
Yellow Bird. ‘Wild Canary.” 
Dendroica wstiva. 
Length. — About five inches. 
Adult Male.— Yellow; back a rich yellow-olive, occasionally streaked with 
orange-brown; breast also streaked narrowly with the same color. 
Adult Female. — Similar, but duller; breast generally unstreaked. 
Nest.— A deep, soft cup five to ten feet from ground, in a bush, or higher up in 
orchard or shade tree, or in a fork of small sapling or shrub. 
Eggs.— Either bluish-white or greenish-white, with obscure lilac markings, and 
brown spots grouped around the larger end. 
Season. — May to September. 
The Yellow Bird is the most familiar of all our Warblers, 
for it has forsaken the woodlands for orchards and shade 
trees near dwelling houses. Jt arrives in May, when the first 
young leaflets begin to clothe the trees with verdure, and 
plays about like a rich yellow flame among the pink of the 
apple blossoms. It is often confused in the popular mind 
with the Goldfinch, which is also called the Yellow Bird, 
but which may be distinguished at once by the black of the 
