270 BLUE YELLOW-BACK WARBLER. 
feeding on small shell-fish, snails, &c. I have. also often found 
broken pieces of oyster shells in its gizzard, which, like that of the 
other, is covered with fine downy hair. 
The nest of this bird is most commonly built in a cedar, much 
in the same manner, and of nearly the same materials, as that of the 
other ; but the eggs are smaller, usually four or five in number, and of 
a rather deeper greenish blue. 
This bird is likewise found in the state of Georgia, and has not 
escaped the notice of Mr. Abbot, who is satisfied of its being a 
distinct species from the preceding. 
Nov dave Pay ca 
BLUE YELLOW-BACK WARBLER.—SYLVIA PUSILLA. — 
Fie. 129. 
Parus Americanus, Linn. Syst. 341. — Finch Creeper, Catesb. i. 64. — Lath. ii. 558. 
— Creeping Titmouse, Arct. Zool. 423, No. 326. — Parus varius, Various-colored 
Little Finch Creeper, Bart. p. 292.— Peale’s Museum, No. 6910. 
SYLVICOLA AMERICANA. —Swainson.* 
Sylvia Americana, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 520.— Bonap. Synop. p. 83. — Sylvicola 
pusilla, Sw. Synop. Birds of Mex. Ann. of Phil. p. 433.— Zool. Journ. No. 10, 
p: 169.—The Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, Aud. pl. 15, male and female ; 
Orn. Biog. i. p. 78. 
Notwitustanpine the respectability of the above authorities, | 
must continue to consider this bird as a species of. Warbler. Its 
habits, indeed, partake something of the Titmouse; but the form of 
its bill is decidedly that of the Sylvia genus. It is remarkable for 
frequenting the tops of the tallest trees, where it feeds on the small 
winged insects and caterpillars that infest the young leaves and 
blossoms. It has a few, feeble, cheruping notes, scarcely loud enough 
to be heard at the foot of the tree. It visits Pennsylvania from 
the south, early in May; is very abundant in the woods of Kentucky ; 
and is also found in the northern parts of the state of New York. 
Its nest I have never yet met with. + ; 
This little species is four inches and a half long, and six inches and 
a half in breadth ; the front, and between the bill and eyes, is black; 
the upper part of the head and neck, a fine Prussian blue; upper part 
of the back, brownish yellow ; lower, ard rump, pale blue; wings and 
* There is nothing more annoying than the unravelling of names. That of Ameri- 
cana, without doubt, seems to have been the specific appellation first applied ; and 
if we are to adhere to any given rule in nomenclature, that should be now adopted. 
The present cieen has also been made typical of the group which is confined to 
the New World. — Ep. 
+ According to Audubon, the nest is small, formed of lichens, beautifully arranged 
on the outside, and lined with the cotton substances found on the edges of different 
mosses ; it is placed in the fork of a small twig, near the extremity of the branch. 
The eggs are pure white; with a few reddish dots at the longer end. Mr. Audubon 
thinks two broods are raised in the year. — Ep. 
