Polloptlla caerulea . 

 Copy of a letter from Annie L. Warner to Bradford Torrey vho 

 says she is a person "in whose caution and knowledge I have 



great confidence. Miss Warner is a teacher and has been 



doing good work for the birds for sone years past". 

 Salem, llass. 



1397. Dear IJr. Torrey:- I think an experience of mine to-day 



May 12. raay be v^orth telling you. In our garden, among the fruit trees 

 I saw a bird which I took for a Ruby-crowned Pliight, from its 

 general appearance. I went out to look at it, and v/as non- 

 plussed at finding it blue instead of olive, with no wing -bars 

 and white outer tail-feathers. I could not inagine what it 

 could bo, but a look into Chapman suggested the Blue-grayjonat- 

 catcher. Still, I never allow rayself to expect anjrthing re- 

 markable, so reluctantly decided that ray eyes had deceived ne. 

 I should have said that the bird soon flew away. A little 

 later, I went upstairs and took another look into the garden, 

 and there was my bird again. This time, I had hira under uy 

 glass for fully fifteen minutes, and saw every feather, and it 

 v^as a Blue -gray Gnatcatchc^r ', As all my books indicate that he 

 is rare hereabouts, I thought his presence might interest you. 



Only tvio days ago, I saw my first Virginia Rail, in an 

 alder swamp, so this, is a memorable week for me. 



Sincerely yours 

 Salem, May 12, 1897. Annie L. Warner. 



