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AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vol. II.— JUNE, 1868.—No. 4. 

THE WARBLERS. 
BY T. MARTIN TRIPPE. 

OF all the various tribes of the feathered race that pour 
into the Northern and Middle States every spring, there 
is not one that will compare in beauty of plumage, and 
exquisiteness of form, with the family of the Warblers 
(Sylvicolide) . Combining all that we admire in birds, and 
Visiting us only in the most delightful season of the year, it 
1S ho wonder that they have been so much praised and ad- 
mired. And yet they are very imperfectly known; even 
the Specific rank of some of them seems scarcely to be 
established ; while the breeding habits of many are as little 
known now, as they were in the days of Audubon and Wil- 
son. Of late years, however, much has been accomplished 
In this direction ; and, before long, we may hope to become 
as well acquainted with all of them, even the rarest, as we 
how are with the common yellow warbler. 
Although some of the warblers are undoubtedly very rare, 
their general scarcity has been much exaggerated. That this 
should have been so, fifty years ago, is not surprising, when 
we consider the extremely short period during which most 
e them are found with us, sometimes not exceeding two or 
three days. In some instances, I have known a particular 

Entered accordi i s 
ng to Act of Congress, in the year 1 or tiet Massach s 
SCIENCE, in the Clerk's Office of tne Lictriet oust of the District of Mas marr 
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AMER. NATURALIST, VOL, II. 2% 8 
