282 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
from Middle States (rarely seen in Pennsylvania) and the Ohio valley southward 
to the West Indies and Central America. 
The Myrtle Warbler, also called Yellow-rump and Yellow-crown, is the 
most abundant of all the family occurring in this state. It is one of the 
first to arrive from the south ; small flocks being often observed in the 
southern parts of Pennsylvania early in April. During mild winters 
doubtless a few of these warblers remain along our southern borders. I 
have several times seen individuals of this species in company with 
sparrows, in different parts of Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia^ 
in winter when snow was on the ground. My friend, Robert Ridgway, 
writing of the Mrytle Warbler in southern Illinois,* says: “It may often 
be seen in midwinter, when the ground is covered with snow, in the 
door-yards along with Snow-birds {Junco hyemalis), Tree Sparrows and 
other familiar species, gleaning bread crumbs from the door-steps, or 
hunting for spiders or other insect tid-bits in the nooks of the garden 
fence or the crevices in the bark of trees ; and at evening, flying in con- 
siderable companies, to the sheltering branches of the thickest tree tops 
(preferably evergreens), where they pass the night. Not unfrequently, 
however, they roost in odd nooks and crannies about the buildings or even 
in holes in the straw or hay-stacks in the barn-yard. A favorite food of 
this species are berries of the Poison-vine {Rhus toxicodendron), and 
during the early part of winter large numbers of them may be seen 
wherever vines of this species are abundant.” 
Although I have never found the nest of the Yellow-rump in this state, 
I believe that future research will show that it breeds regularly, but 
sparingly, in some of our secluded and higher mountainous districts. I 
have seen on different occasions, as noted on a previous page, birds of 
this species in the summer months ; and have also observed single birds 
or small detached flocks late in August and early in September, in Chester, 
York and Juniata counties, whence they doubtless had come from some 
comparatively near breeding place. The food of the Myrtle Warbler, in 
spring, is composed mainly of insects, especially beetles, spiders, flies, 
aphides, etc., and in the late fall and winter, in addition to numerous 
kinds of insects, this bird often eats various kinds of berries. I have 
found in their stomachs remains of wild grapes, cedar berries and seeds 
of other berries. In Florida I have seen Myrtle Warblers feeding on 
Palmetto berries. 
Dendroica auduboni (Towns.). 
Audubon’s AVarbler. 
Description. 
Similar to D. coronata, from which it differs chiefly in having throat 2/eZZozc ; no 
white superciliary line ; sides of head lead color ; male has large white wing patch ; 
female two white wing-bands. 
* Nat. Hist. Survey of 111. , VoL 1, Orn., p. 141. 
