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MOURNING WARBLER. 

 SYLVIA PHILADELPHIA. 

 [Plate XIV.— Fig. 6.] 



I HAVE now the honor of introducing to the notice of natu- 

 ralists and others^ a very modest and neat little species^ which has 

 hitherto ehided their research^ I must also add^ with regret, that 

 it is the only one of its kind I have yet met with. The bird from 

 which the figure in the plate was taken was shot in the early part 

 of June, on the border of a 'marsh, within a few miles of Philadel- 

 phia. It was flitting from one low bush to another, very busy in 

 search of insects ; and had a sprightly and pleasant warbling song, 

 the novelty of which first attracted my attention. I have traversed 

 the same and many such places^ every spring and summer since, in 

 expectation of again meeting with some individual of the species ; 

 but without success. I have, however, the satisfaction to say, that 

 the drawing was done with the greatest attention to peculiarity of 

 form, markings and tint of plumage ; and the figure on the plate 

 is a good resemblance of the original. I have yet hopes of meet- 

 ing, in some of my excursions, with the female, and should I be so 

 fortunate, shall represent her in some future volume of the present 

 work, with such further remarks on their manners, &c. as I may 

 then be enabled to make. 



There are two species mentioned by Turton to which the 

 present has some resemblance, viz, Motacilla mitrata, or Mitred 

 Warbler, and M. cucullata, or Hooded Warbler, both birds of the 

 United States, or more properly a single bird; for they are the 

 same species twice described, namely, the Hooded Warbler. The 

 difference, however, between that and the present is so striking, as 



VOL. II. c c 



