2I8 
SINGING BIRDS. 
the period of migration, they appear in an altered and less 
brilliant dress. The bright yellow spot on the crown is now 
edged with brownish oJive, so that the prevailing color of this 
beautiful mark is only seen on shedding the feathers with the 
hand ; a brownish tint is also added to the whole plumage. But 
Wilson’s figure of this supposed autumnal change only repre- 
sents the young bird. The old is, in fact, but little less brilliant 
than in summer, and I have a well-founded suspicion that the 
wearing of the edges of the feathers, or some other secondary 
cause, alone produces this change in the livery of spring, par- 
ticularly as it is not any sexual distinction. 
While feeding they are very active, in the manner of Fly- 
catchers, hovering among the cedars and myrtles with hanging 
wings, and only rest when satisfied with gleaning food. In 
spring they are still more timid, busy, and restless. According 
to Audubon, the nest and eggs are scarcely to be distinguished 
from those of Sylvia (Estiva ; one which he examined from 
Nova Scotia was made in the extremity of the branch of a low 
fir-tree, about five feet from the ground. When approached, 
or while feeding, they only utter a feeble, plaintive tship of 
alarm. This beautiful species arrives here about the 7th or 
8th of May, and now chiefly frequents the orchards, uttering 
at short intervals, in the morning, a sweet and varied, rather 
plaintive warble, resembling in part the song of the Summer 
Yellow Bird, but much more the farewell, solitary autumnal 
notes of the Robin Redbreast of Europe. The tones at times 
are also so ventriloquial and variable in elevation that it is not 
always easy to ascertain the spot whence they proceed. While 
thus engaged in quest of small caterpillars, the Myrtle seems 
almost insensible to obtrusion, and familiarly searches for its 
prey, however near we may approach. 
The “Yellow-rump ” — by which name this species is best known 
— breeds regularly in Vermont and New Hampshire, and north- 
ward to southern Labrador. It is an abundant summer resident of 
the Maritime Provinces, but elsewhere, in the settled portions of 
Canada, occurs as a migrant only. It winters regularly in Massa- 
chusetts and central Ohio, and thence southward as far as Central 
America. 
