182 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 
nolia ), or the Canada Flycatcher (Muscicapa Canadensis ): 
as the former is represented as very scarce^ it is probably 
the latter. Many of the warblers are marked on the under 
parts with different shades of yellow,, and it is difficult from 
a casual sight of an individual or two in the woods^ without 
opportunity for close examination^ to determine with accu- 
racy the species to w^hich they belong. I believe I am clear 
in mentioning the Bay-breasted Warbler ( Sylma Castanea ) 
among our recent visitants, though I do not know that I 
have seen more than one or two specimens. Many other 
warblers^ marked with olive and yellow^ are hopping about 
the bushes^ but these colours are far too general in this fa- 
mily for me even to guess at the species. 
C, — From the name, warbler/' given to this genus^ I 
should suppose that they are noted for their song : is it so ? 
F, — By no means ; in general^ the numerous species of 
this tribe are either silent, or have a few weak, simple notes. 
The word warble signifies to sing sweetly, but in a low weak 
tone of voice ; and the notes of several of the Sylvia genus 
bear this character. 
C. — Among a thicket of willows near Spafford's bridge, 
I noticed a flock of birds about the size of a thrush. At 
first, they all appeared of a deep black, but on a closer sur- 
vey, I observed that it had a changeable gloss, and that the 
head was deep green. 
F, — They are called by naturalists the Purple Grakle 
( Quiscalus Versicolor J, but by farmers the Crow Blackbird. 
This is another of those species which assemble in immense 
armies, and attack the agriculturist in the tenderest part, 
his crops. I have seen large flocks in this country, but 
nothing compared to those clouds which are said to blacken 
the fields of our southern neighbours. The depredations of 
these birds, and others of similar appetites, seem chiefly com- 
mitted on the maize, or *^corn," as it is emphatically called ; 
