Species XXIII. SYLVIA VERMIVORA. 
WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
[Plate XXIV. Fig. 4.] 
Arct. Zool. p. 406, No. 300— Edwards, 305.— Latham, n., 499.— Le Demi-Jin 
mangeur tie. vers, Buffon, v., 325. 
This is one of the nimblest species of its whole family, inhabiting the 
same country with the preceding ; but extending its migrations much 
farther north. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of May ; 
and leaves us in September. I have never yet met with its nest ; but 
have seen them feeding their young about the twenty-fifth of June. 
This bird is remarkably fond of spiders, darting about wherever there 
is a probability of finding these insects. If there be a branch broken 
and the leaves withered, it shoots among them in preference to every 
other part of the tree, making a great rustling in search of its prey. I 
have often watched its manoeuvres while thus engaged and flying from 
tree to tree in search of such places. On dissection I have uniformly 
found their stomachs filled with spiders or caterpillars, or both. Its 
note is a feeble chirp, rarely uttered. 
The Worm-eater is five inches and a quarter in length, and eight 
inches in extent ; back, tail, and wings a fine clear olive ; tips and inner 
vanes of the wing quills a dusky brown ; tail slightly forked, yet the 
exterior feathers are somewhat shorter than the middle ones ; head and 
whole lower parts a dirty buff ; the former marked with four streaks of 
black, one passing from each nostril, broadening as it descends the hind 
head ; and one from the posterior angle of each eye ; the bill is stout, 
straight, pretty thick at the base, roundish and tapering to a fine point ; 
no bristles at the side of the mouth ; tongue thin, and lacerated at the 
tip ; the breast is most strongly tinged with the orange buff ; vent 
waved with dusky olive ; bill blackish above, flesh colored below ; legs 
and feet a pale clay color ; eye dark hazel. The female differs very 
little in color from the male. 
On this species Mr. Pennant makes the following remarks : — " Does 
not appear in Pennsylvania till July in its passage northward. Does 
not return the same way ; but is supposed to go beyond the mountains 
which lie to the west. This seems to be the case with all the transient 
vernal visitants of Pennsylvania."* That a small bird should permit 
* Arct. Zool. p. 406. 
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