204 BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 



•witli ash, the three exterior feathers marked on the inner webs 'with 

 white; bill black above, whitish below, furnished with bristles at the 

 base ; iris hazel ; legs and feet reddish yellow. 



The female differs very little in plumage from the male. 



SYLVIA STRIATA. 



BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 



[Plate LIV. Fig. 4, Female] 



This bird was shot in the same excursion with the Cape May War- 

 bler {Sylvia maritima), and its history as far as it is known, will be 

 detailed in the history of that species. See page 209. Of its nest 

 and eggs I am ignorant. It doubtless breeds both here and in New 

 Jersey, having myself found it in both places during the summer. From 

 its habit of keeping on the highest branches of trees it probably builds 

 in such situations, and its nest may long remain unknown to us. 



Pennant, who describes this species, says that it inhabits during 

 summer Newfoundland and New York, and is called in the last 

 Sailor. This name, for which however no reason is given, must be very 

 local, as the bird itself is one of those silent, shy and solitary indi- 

 viduals that seek the deep retreats of the forest, and are known to few 

 or none but the naturalist. 



Length of the female Black-cap five inches and a quarter, extent 

 eight and a quarter ; bill brownish black ; crown yellow olive streaked 

 with black ; back the same, mixed with some pale slate ; wings 

 dusky brown, edged with olive ; first and second wing coverts tipped 

 with white ; tertials edged with yellowish white ; tail coverts pale gray ; 

 tail dusky, forked, the two exterior feathers marked on their inner 

 vanes with a spot of white ; round the eye is a whitish ring ; cheeks and 

 sides of the breast tinged with yellow, and slightly spotted with black ; 

 chin white, as are also the belly and vent ; legs and feet dirty orange. 



The young bird of the first season, and the female, as is usually the 

 case, are very much alike in plumage. On their arrival early in April, 

 the black feathers on the crown are frequently seen coming out, inter- 

 mixed with the former ash-colored ones. 



This species has all the agility and many of the habits of the Fly- 

 catcher. 



