THE WORM-EATING SWAMP-WARBLER. 87 



they raise only a single brood in the year. They are ever amongst the 

 decayed branches of trees or other plants, such as are accidentally broken off 

 by the wind, and are there seen searching for insects or caterpillars. They 

 also resort to the ground, and turn over the dried leaves in quest of the same 

 kind of food. They are unsuspecting, and will suffer a person to approach 

 within a few paces. When disturbed, they fly off to some place where 

 withered leaves are seen. They have only a few weak notes, which do not 

 deserve the name of song. Their industry, however, atones for this defect, 

 as they are seen continually moving about, rustling among the leaves, and 

 scarcely ever removing from one situation to another until after they have 

 made a full inspection of the part in which they have been employed. 



This species reaches the Central Atlantic Districts in the middle of May, 

 and breeds there, as well as farther northward. I have found them more 

 numerous in the Jerseys than in any other portion of the Union. In 

 Kentucky and Ohio I have seen only a few of them; nor have I ever found 

 their nests in either of these States. 



According to Dr. Richardson, this species visits the Fur Countries, 

 where a single specimen was produced at Cumberland House, on the banks 

 of the Saskatchewan. It is found in the State of Maine, and in the British 

 Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but I did not meet with it 

 farther eastward. None were seen on the Rocky Mountains, or about the 

 Columbia river, by Mr. Townsend. My friend Dr. Bachman says that it 

 breeds sparingly in the swamps of Carolina. He observed a pair followed 

 by three or four young ones nearly fledged, all of which already exhibited 

 the markings on the head. 



The eggs of this species measure five and a half eighths of an inch in length, 

 and half an inch in breadth; the smaller end is rather rounded; its colour 

 and markings as already described, though I have seen some more copiously 

 marked than others, and the cream-colour of their ground tinged with a 

 rosy hue. 



The plant on which you see a pair of Worm-eating Warblers is well 

 known throughout the United States by the name of pokeberry. It grows 

 in every situation, from the tops of the most arid mountain-ridges to the 

 lowest and richest valleys; and it is almost impossible to follow a fence for a 

 hundred yards without seeing some of it. Its berries are food for numerous 

 species of our birds, and produce a beautiful dark crimson juice, which is 

 used instead of red ink by some of the country people, although it does not 

 retain its original colour for many days. This plant grows to the height of 

 four or six feet, and is eaten when it first shoots from the ground as a substi- 

 tute for asparagus, quantities of it being not unfrequently exposed in the 

 markets. The juice of the berries is taken in cases of ague and continued 



