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THE WARBLERS. 171 
Soon after the pine-warbler has arrived, generally not 
more than four or five days, the Yellow Red-polled Warbler 
(D. palmarum) makes his appearance. Not very familiar, 
and yet not shy, they betake themselves to the decidu- 
ous woods, where, in numerous companies or small parties, 
they spend a couple of weeks, and then pursue their journey 
north. Ihave never heard them utter any other notes than 
a sharp “chuck,” and a low chirp, which seems to be com- 
mon to all the family, and can scarcely be distinguished in 
the different species. Unlike the other members of the par- 
ticular subdivision of the family to which they belong, the 
Wood-warblers (Sylvicolee), they often descend to the 
ground, where they run about with as much agility as the 
Maryland yellow-throat. Another peculiarity which char- 
acterizes-them is the habit they have of jerking their tails, in 
the same way as the pewee, though they do not do it nearly 
so often as that bird does. In October, they return in large 
numbers, dwelling now in the open fields and woods indiffer- 
ently. They are the last of their tribe to leave us in the fall. 
The Yellow-crowned Warbler (D. coronata) arrives about 
the time that the preceding species is leaving us, from the 
fifteenth to the twentieth of April. This is one of the most 
abundant and familiar of the class. It has a very sweet 
song, or warble, which it utters at short intervals in the 
early morning ; its habits are too well known to require any 
farther notice. 
Another bird of this family, differing in name as well as 
in general appearance from its associates, is the Black and 
White Creeper (Mniotilta varia), which, although a creeper 
y name, is a true warbler. It arrives about the twentieth 
of April, and although most of them pass farther north to 
, many spend the summer with us. Its breeding habits 
are well known; and, from various causes, it is one of the 
most favorite of the cow-blackbird’s adopted nurses. I once 
found a nest of this bird with eight eggs in it, five of which 
Were those of the cow-bird, and the other three her own. 

