Species XXXI. SYLVIA STRIATA. 



BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 



[Plate XXX. Fig. 3, Hale.] 

 Lath, ii., p. 460.—Arct. Zool. p. 401, No. 290.— Tubton, 600.* 



This species has considerable affinity to the Flycatchers in its habits. 

 It is chiefly confined to the woods, and even there, to the tops of the 

 tallest trees, where it is described skipping from branch to branch in 

 pursuit of winged insects. Its note is a single screep, scarcely audible 

 from below. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the twentieth of April, 

 and is first seen on the tops of the highest maples, darting about among 

 the blossoms. As the woods thicken with leaves it may be found pretty 

 generally, being none of the least numerous of our summer birds. It 

 is, however, most partial to woods in the immediate neighborhood of 

 creeks, swamps, or morasses, probably from the greater number of its 

 favorite insects frequenting such places. It is also pretty generally 

 difiTused over the United States, having myself met with it in most 

 quarters of the Union ; though its nest has hitherto defied all my 

 researches. 



This bird may be considered as occupying an intermediate station 

 between the Flycatchers and the Warblers ; having the manners of the 

 former, and the bill, partially, of the latter. The nice gradations by 

 which nature passes from one species to another, even in this depart- 

 ment of the great chain of beings, will for ever baffle all the artificial 

 rules and systems of man. And this truth every fresh discovery must 

 impress more forcibly on the mind of the observing naturalist. These 

 birds leave us early in September. 



The Black-poll Warbler is five and a half inches long, and eight and 

 a half in extent ; crown and hind head black ; cheeks pure white ; 

 from each lower mandible runs a streak of small black spots, those on 

 the side larger; the rest of the lower parts white; primaries black, 

 edged with yellow ; rest of the wing black, edged with ash ; the fii-t 

 and second row of coverts broadly tipped with white ; back ash, tinged 

 with yellow ochre, and streaked laterally with black; tail black, edged 



* Motacilla striata, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 976. — Sylvia striata, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii., 

 p. 527. 



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