40 



BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 

 SYLVIA STRIATA. 

 [Plate XXX.— Fig. 3.] 



Lath. II, 460. — Arct. Zool. 401 Tueton, 600. — Peale's Museum, No. 7054. 



THIS species has considerable affinity to the Flycatchers in 

 its habits. It is chiefly confined to the woods, and even there, to 

 the tops of the tallest trees, where it is descried skipping from 

 branch to branch in pursuit of winged insects. Its note is a single 

 screep^ scarcely audible from below. It arrives in Pennsylvania 

 about the twentieth of April, and is first seen on the tops of the 

 highest maples, darting about among the blossoms. As the woods 

 thicken with leaves it may be found pretty generally, being none 

 of the least numerous of our summer birds. It is however most 

 partial to woods in the immediate neighbourhood of creeks, sw amps 

 or morasses, probably from the greater number of its favorite in- 

 sects frequenting such places. It is also pretty generally diffiised 

 over the United States, having myself met with it in most quarters 

 of the Union; tho its nest has hitherto defied all my researches. 



This bird may be considered as occupying an intermediate 

 station between the Flycatchers and the Warblers, having the man- 

 ners of the former, and the bill, partially, of the latter. The nice 

 gradations by which Nature passes from one species to another, 

 even in this department of the great chain of beings, will forever 

 baffle all the artificial rules and systems of man. And this truth 

 every fresh discovery must impress more forcibly on the mind of 

 the observing naturalist. These birds leave us early in September, 



The Black-poll Warbler is five and a half inches long, and 

 eight and a half in extent; crown and hind head black; cheeks 



