

















178 THE WARBLERS. 
beautifully with the pure white, or delicate pink, of the f 
flowers. In autumn, it is one of the first, if not the first, t 
leave its northern abode and pass through the Midi | 
States, appearing in my locality about the second or thini | 
week of September. After haunting, for a few weeks, the. 
white-birch swamps, it moves southward, just as the black 
throated blue warbler is arriving. The song of the blue ye 
low-back is a little sharp and lisping, yet quite varied, anl 
very pleasant to be heard. E- 
The Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitherus vermivorus) i 
one of the very few warblers that are plainly attired, yet evel 
it can make some pretensions to personal beauty ; for it 
four bands of jet-black on its head, and a dainty suit of light 
buff on its back. It is not at all common, arrives in D 
middle of May, and has at that time a rapid, chattering nk 
It always keeps near the ground, is fond of rustling amott 
the dead leaves of a broken bough, and, besides its chattet 
ing song, has, in June, a series of odd notes much like tut 
of the white-breasted nuthatch, but more varied and music 
though hardly entitled to be called a song. It remains j 
us during the summer, and although I have seen it a 
the breeding season evidently collecting food for its your 
have never been able to find its nest. . : p 
The Hooded Warbler (Myiodioctes mitratus), is selit 
seen as far north as the neighborhood of New York; 
England it is very rare. I have only observed two oF om 
individuals ; these were in low bushes, and seemed we 
larly active and restless. They are said to have a lively : 
of warble, though I have never heard their notes. a 
the Prairie Warbler (D. discolor) I know but 
It is said to be abundant in many parts of New Jone 
Long Island, and to breed in those sections. It ariv® 
the neighborhood of New York in the first week in May 
remains till the autumn, frequenting, in spring, the Y 
and gardens, and, in summer, the open, deserted fields 
pastures. It has quite a variety of notes, some of which’ 
very pleasing. 
