64 THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WOOD-WARBLER. 



parents in the colours of their plumage, which, however, is mixed with 

 duller tints, the differences indicative of the sex being already observable. 



The Black-throated Blue Warbler is an expert catcher of flies, pursues in^ 

 sects to a considerable distance in all directions, and in seizing them snaps its 

 bill so as to produce a clicking sound. It now and then alights on a low 

 plant, such as that represented in the plate, and moves along the branches 

 searching for pupae, ants, and insects. I have never heard its love-song, but 

 its common note is a rather melancholy cheep. I am inclined to believe that 

 it breeds in the State of Maine, having seen several individuals of both sexes 

 not far from Eastport, in the beginning of June 1833, when several other 

 species had nests. 



The birds represented in Plate 148 of my large edition as Sylvia sphag- 

 nosa, are the young of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, the female of which 

 resembles them so much that I looked upon it as of a species distinct from 

 the male. I have no doubt that this error originated with Wilson, who has 

 been followed by all our writers. Now, however, the Sylvia or Sylvicola 

 sphagnosa of Bonaparte, which he altered from Wilson's & pusilla, must 

 be erased from our Fauna. This bird extends to the head waters of the 

 Missouri, but is not mentioned as occurring in the Fur Countries. I found 

 it abundant on my way to the Texas in the beginning of April; I have also 

 seen it plentiful in June about Boston, where, however, it does not breed. 

 Of this fact also I gave the first intimation to the Prince of Musignano. 



Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 334. 



Black-throated Blde Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 115. 



Male. 

 Sylvia canadensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 84. Male. 



Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 398. Male. 

 Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 309. 



Male. 

 Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 100. Young. 

 Sylvia sphagnosa, Bonap. Syn., p. 85. Young. 



Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia sjjliagnosa, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 406. Young. 

 Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia sphagnosa, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 279. Female and 



Young. Vol. v. p. 453. 



Wings rather long, with the third quill longest, the second almost equal, 

 the fourth longer than the first; tail even. Male dull light blue above, white 

 beneath; frontal band, cheeks, throat, and sides, black; a white patch on the 

 wing formed by the bases of the primaries; outer three tail-feathers with a 

 patch of white on the inner web near the end, all the rest with a touch of 

 the same. Female greenish-olive above, light dull yellow below, with a less 

 extended white patch on the wing, the white on the tail unconspicuous. 

 Youna; similar to the female. 



