OF NEW ENGLAND. 99 
(d). The Black and White “Creepers” have a very great 
variety of notes, and perhaps utter’more distinct sounds, exclu- 
sive of song, than any other of our birds, though it is very 
possible that other warblers, with whom I am less familiar, 
possess the same power. The notes of the so-called ‘‘Creep- 
ers” are a weak but pure tsip, a harsher tsip, much like that of 
the Chestnut-sided Warbler, a loud chick, which sometimes 
becomes a chink, an alarm-note, chick-a-chick, chick-chick, a 
chant, if it can properly be so-called, of tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee, which 
is uttered in another tone so as to sound more like chee-chee- 
chee-chee, and their rather feeble and unmusical refrain of wee- 
sée, wee-sée, wee-sée, wee-sée, wee-sée. To the last and most 
frequently repeated chant a few sweet and musical notes are 
generally added in May and June, and these combined form 
their only song. 
There are hardly any birds more familiar to the ornithologist 
in the woods than the Black and White “Creepers,” since they 
are common, are free from shyness, and usually remain near 
the ground, with their boldly marked plumage in conspicuous 
contrast with the bark of the white oaks and chestnuts, to 
which they so often turn their attention. They are eminently 
useful, and few creatures do more good in protecting the 
growth and life of our forest-trees, and the trees of woodland 
freshly sprung up to supply the place of a former growth. 
VIII. PARULA 
(A) americana. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. ‘Blue Yellow- 
back.” 
(A summer-resident in northern New England, and usually 
a common migrant through Massachusetts, where a very few 
breed.) 
(a). About 43 inches long. Above, blue, ashy-tinted, with 
a yellowish patch on the back. Lore black. Throat and part 
of the breast, yellow, with a rich, dark brownish patch. Upper 
throat immaculate. Other under parts, wing-bars, and tail- 
spots, white. 9 rather duller, with less distinct markings. 
(Details omitted.) 
