WARBLERS. 



63 



the female, the black on the forehead and along the throat is indis- 

 tinct. The length of this bird is four inches and a half, and in 

 extent seven and three-quarter inches. 



The Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. {Helminthofhaga pinus.) 

 •Fig. 8. 



This species and the prothonotary Warbler bear a very close 

 resemblance in their colors, and are very often mistaken for each 

 other. Wilson says: "It comes to us early in May from the 

 south ; haunts thickets and shrubberies, searching the branches for 

 insects ; is fond of visiting gardens, orchards, and willow trees, 

 of gleaning among blossoms and currant bushes, and is frequently 

 found in very sequestered woods, where it generally builds its 

 nest. This is fixed in a thick bunch or tussock of long grass, 

 sometimes sheltered by a brier bush. It is built in the form of an 

 inverted cone or funnel — the bottom thickly bedded with dry beech 

 leaves, the sides formed of the dry bark of strong weeds, lined 

 within with fine dry grass. These materials are not placed in the 

 usual manner, circularly, but shelving downward on all sides from 

 the top ; the mouth being wide, the bottom very narrow, filled with 

 leaves, and the eggs or young occupying the middle. The female 

 lays five eggs, pure white, with a few very faint dots of reddish 

 near the great end. The young appear the first week in June." 

 This bird will permit one to approach very near, so that good ob- 

 servations can be made. It is usually very busily employed in 

 catching flying insects. The length of this bird is five and a half 

 inches, and in extent seven and three-quarter inches. 



The Cape May Warbler. (Dendroeca tigrina.) 

 Fig. 9. 



This is a beautiful little species of Warbler, and in most parts 

 of North America it is uncommon. It is to be met with near 

 swamps, and in the pine, fir, cypress, etc., forests. Maynard, in 

 his valuable work, entitled " The Birds of Florida," says : "Upon 

 visiting the extensive coniferous forests of Northern Maine, in sum- 

 mer, I was much surprised to find these beautiful little Warblers 

 abundant there. They frequented the tops of the huge spruces 

 and pines, often more than one hundred feet in the air. The birds 

 were ever busy in searching for insects among the thick foliage, 

 so that it was almost impossible to see one. But the lively and 

 varied songs of the males, which came floating downward through 

 the perfumed air, and mingled with other harmonious sounds, 

 which are constantly heard in these sylvan retreats during the 

 pleasant June weather, informed us of their presence, even 

 though we could not see the author of the melodious strains. 

 The Cape May Warblers doubtless breed in the tops of these 

 densely foliaged trees, for we shot several females which bore 

 signs of incubation. . . . They were very abundant at Key 

 West in November, frequenting the gardens near the houses, where 

 they were searching among the tropical trees and shrubs for in- 

 sects. The birds were very unsuspicious, often clinging to 

 branches which overhung the sidewalks, within a few feet of pas- 

 sengers. They appeared to prefer the inhabited portion of the 

 Key, for I rarely found them in the wooded districts. The majority 

 left the island before the 1st of December, but a few remained all 

 winter. They are common, however, throughout the state in the 

 spring, and may be found in almost any hummock in company 

 with other Warblers." 



A peculiar feature of this species is the construction of its bill, 

 which is curved downward. The tongue is also singular, being 

 more deeply cleft than is usually noticed in Warblers. This species 

 winters in Key West and the West Indies, and breeds in Jamaica 

 and in the more northern sections of the United States. Its length 

 is five and one-half inches, and in extent it is eight and three- 

 quarter inches. 



The Tennessee Warbler. {Helmznthophaga peregrzna.) 

 Fig. 10. 



This may be considered another rare species of Warbler, and 

 the appearance of its coloring may be said to be plain. It was 

 first discovered by Wilson on the banks of the Cumberland river, 

 in the State of Tennessee. It was actively engaged hunting 

 among the opening leaves in spring. "The Tennessee Warbler," 

 says Coues, " appears to be rather rare in the Eastern United 

 States, but more plentiful along its line of migration in the interior. 

 I observed it in great numbers in Minnesota and Eastern Dakota, 

 late in May and early in June, where it was moving along the 

 Red River of the North. Standing in the heavy timber, near the 

 bank of the river, I easily procured a dozen specimens in an hour, 

 without moving from my tracks, as the birds came fluttering past 

 in the tree-tops, almost in a continuous band, associated with sev- 

 eral other Warblers and with small Fly-catchers. They were ex- 

 tremely active, skipping through the foliage and fluttering through 

 the air, pursuing their insect prey, and uttering a sharp screeching 

 note." The nest of this species consists of fine dried grass-stems, 

 loosely interwoven together. The length of this Warbler is four 

 and three-quarter inches, and in extent it is eight inches. 



The Golden Warbler, Blue-eyed Yellow Warbler, Summer Yellow-bird. 



(JDendroica cestzval) 



Fig. 11. 



A brilliant and numerous little species of Warbler, that may be 

 met with throughout the whole of North America, and, during the 

 winter season, through Mexico, Central America, and into South 

 America. 



"The Yellow Warbler," says Maynard, "is one of the most 

 familiar summer residents in New England, frequenting the or- 

 chards, gardens, and fence-rows, but is seldom seen in the deep 

 woods. They build their nests in every available situation — some- 

 times in a barberry-bush in the open field, on the limb of an apple 

 tree, or among the ornamental shrubbery, beneath the windows of 

 the farm-house. They are very unsuspicious, and a pair con- 

 structed their domicile last summer in a little plum tree which 

 stands within the garden, within five feet of an arbor, in which I 

 kept two tame White Herons. These fine birds attracted many 

 visitors, who constantly passed under the nest, which was only 

 about seven feet from the ground, yet the female Yellow-bird would 

 sit upon her eggs with the utmost composure all the time, and suc- 

 ceeded in rearing a fine brood of young. These Warblers breed 

 during the first week in June, and the song of their males is ut- 

 tered constantly at this season. It is loud, clear, and divided into 

 two parts, the first of which consists of three or four quick chirps. 

 The latter portion is more continuous, but is somewhat varied. The 

 force with which these notes are delivered causes the little perform- 

 er's body to quiver all over, quite to the end of the tail. While 

 singing, the head is raised, the bird ceases its search for insects for 

 a moment, and gives its entire attention to the song, then will 

 pursue its avocations. Thus these little birds are constantly pour- 

 ing forth their lays at intervals through the day, and continue to 

 warble until late in the summer." 



Nuttall says: "This is a very lively, unsuspicious, and almost 

 familiar little bird, and its bright golden color renders it very con- 

 spicuous, as in pursuit of flitting insects it flies and darts among 

 the blooming shrubs and orchards. It is particularly attached to 

 willow trees and other kinds in moist and shady situations, that 

 afford this and other species a variety of small larvas and caterpil- 

 lars, on which they delight to feed. While incessantly and busily 

 employed, it occasionally mounts the twig, and with a loud, shrill, 

 and almost piercing voice,. it earnestly utters,, at short and. irregular 



