12 THE HOODED FLYCATCHING-WARBLER. 



faint notch close to the slightly deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge 

 indistinct, the sides rounded, the edges somewhat involute, the tip narrow, 

 not ascending. Nostrils basal, oblong. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck 

 short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus pretty stout, 

 much compressed; scutella blended, excepting the lower three; toes of mode- 

 rate length, very slender, the hind toe proportionally large, the third and 

 fourth united at the base, all scutellate. Claws moderate, extremely com- 

 pressed, well arched, very acute. Bristles at the base of the bill elongated 

 but slender. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest, 

 the first scarcely shorter than the fourth. Tail moderate, slightly rounded. 

 Name from m«i, an insect, Ai»xr»e, a pursuer. 



THE HOODED FLYCATCHING-WARBLER. 



+Myiodioctes mitrata, Lath. 

 PLATE LXXL— Male and Female. 



In many parts of our woods, the traveller, as he proceeds, cannot help 

 stopping to admire the peaceful repose that spreads its pleasing charm on all 

 around. The tall trees are garlanded with climbing plants, which have en- 

 twined their slender stems around them, creeping up the crevices of the 

 deeply furrowed bark, and vying with each other in throwing forth the most 

 graceful festoons, to break the straight lines of the trunks which support 

 them; while here and there from the taller branches, numberless grape-vines 

 hang in waving clusters, or stretch across from tree to tree. The underwood 

 shoots out its branches, as if jealous of the noble growth of the larger stems, 

 and each flowering shrub or plant displays its blossoms, to tempt the stran- 

 ger to rest awhile, and enjoy the beauty of their tints, or refresh his nerves 

 with their rich odours. Reader, add to this scene the pure waters of a rivu- 

 let, and you may have an idea of the places in which you will find the 

 Hooded Warbler. 



The Southern and Western States are those to which this beautiful bird 

 gives a preference. It abounds in Louisiana, along the Mississippi, and by 

 the Ohio nearly to Cincinnati. It is equally plentiful in the northern parts 

 of the Floridas, Georgia, and the two Carolinas, after which it becomes rare. 

 None, I believe, are ever seen east of the State of New York. It enters the 

 lower parts of Louisiana about the middle of March, and by the beginning of 



