Species XXXI. SYLVIA STRIATA. 
BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 
[Plate XXX. Fig. 3, Male.] 
Lath, ii., p. 460.— Arct. Zool. p. 401, No. 290.— Tukton, 600.* 
Tins 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 described 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 neighborhood of 
creeks, swamps, or morasses, probably from the greater number of its 
favorite insects frequenting such places. It is also pretty generally 
diffused over the United States, having myself met with it in most 
quarters of the Union ; though 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 manners 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 depart- 
ment of the great chain of beings, will for ever 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 pure white ; 
from each lower mandible runs a streak of small black spots, those on 
the side larger ; the rest of the lower parts white ; primaries black, 
edged with yellow ; rest of the wing black, edged with ash ; the first 
and second row of coverts broadly tipped with white ; back ash, tinged 
with yellow ochre, and streaked laterally with black; tail black, edged 
* Motacilla striata, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 976. — Sylvia striata, Lath. Lid. Orn. n., 
p. 527. 
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