106 



structure of the tongue. A very common migrant ; in tree tops in spring ; on its 

 return voyage found almost anywhere in company with Dendroeca pahnarun, whose 

 fall habits and movements it closely resembles. 



7. DENDRCECA. Gray. Wood Warblers. 



This large genus has about thirty little bright-colored warblers, all American, 

 and very abundant in the United States during the migrations. They are difficult 

 to identify, unless in full plumage. Length usually five or six inches. The tail 

 feathers are always blotched with white or yellow ; the bill is but moderately 

 pointed, notched and with evident bristles at the rictus. They nest in trees or 

 bushes, with rare exceptions. The eggs are white and spotted. Their generic 

 name signifies a " tree tenant," and the numerous species are conspicuous ornaments 

 of our forest scenes. In the south they pass the winter; some in the West Indies, 

 some in Mexico, and many even in Central and South America. As the advancing 

 sun stirs to life the insect world, they pass across the United States, most of them 

 to British America; their movements, as regular and periodical as the opening of 

 flowers, so that one may almost tell the day of the month by the coming of the 

 successive species ; flying, as most warblers do, in the night, feeding in the early 

 morning and evening, resting at noonday, and then pushing on ; unless stopped by 

 the busy collector to whom these little sprites so various in color, according to age, 

 sex, and season, are an annual prize. Thousands fall a prey to the mere collector 

 and milliner, or dealer in bird skins; the thoughtful and less greedy naturalist finds 

 ample scope for his time and abilities in studying their habits and hunting their 

 homes, of which too little is even yet known. 



The accompanying key to the species is taken from the vade-mecwn of the ama- 

 teur student of American birds, Dr. Elliot Coues' Key to North American 

 species. The better way for the student is, however, to satisfy himself first that the 

 bird is a warbler, and then read the successive species until the one is found that 

 tallies with the bird in hand. 



DIAGNOSTIC MARKS OF WOOD WARBLERS IN ANY PLUMAGE. 



A white spot at base of primaries. . . .... CcEnilescens. 



Wings and tail dusky, edged with yellow. ..... ALstiva. 



Wing bars and belly yellow. ........ Discoloi . 



Wing bars white and tail spots oblique at end of two outer tail feathers only. 



Pinus. 

 Wing bars brownish ; tail spots square at end of two outer feathers only. 



Paimarum. 



Wing bars not evident (?); whole under parts yellow; back with no greenish. 



Kirtlandi. 

 Tail spots at end of nearly all the feathers and no definite yellow anywhere. 



CcErulea.. 



Tail spots at middle of nearly all the feathers; rump and belly yellow. Maculosa. 

 Rump, sides of breast (usually) and crown with yellow; throat white. Coronata. 



Throat definitely yellow; belly white ; back with no greenish. . Doi?nmca. 



Throat, breast and sides black, or with black traces ; sides of head with diffuse 



yellow ; outer tail feathers white-edged externally. .... Vire7ts. 



With none of the foregoing special marks; then it is . Striata or Castanea. 



Throat yellow or orange; crown with at least a trace of a yellow or orange spot, 



and outer tail feathers white-edged externally. . . . BlackbiirnicB. 



Wing bars yellow and belly pure white. ..... Pennsylvanica. 



