240 
SINGING BIRDS. 
resides. Both the old and young remain with us till nearly the 
close of October ; stragglers have even been seen in mid-win- 
ter in the latitude of 43°' In winter they rove through the 
pine forests and barrens of the Southern States in companies 
of 20 to 50 or more, alighting at times on the trunks of the 
trees, and attentively searching them for lurking larvae, but are 
most frequently employed in capturing the small insects which 
infest the opening buds of the pine, around which they may be 
seen perpetually hovering, springing, or creeping, with restless 
activity j in this way they proceed, from time to time, foraging 
through the forest; occasionally, also, they alight on the 
ground in quest of worms and grubs of various kinds, or dart 
irregularly after hovering flies, almost in the manner of the Fly- 
catchers. In these states they are by far the most numerous of 
all the Warblers. In the month of March they already began 
to show indications for pairing, and jealous contests ensued 
perpetually among the males. The principal body of the spe- 
cies probably remain the year round in the Southern forests, 
where I saw them throughout the winter ; great numbers are 
also bred in the Northern States. In summer their food is the 
eggs and lart'ae of various insects, as well as flies or cynips, 
caterpillars, coleoptera, and ants. In autumn, the young fre- 
quent the gardens, groves, and orchards, feeding likewise on 
berries of various kinds, as on those of the cornel, wild grape, 
and five-leaved ivy ; at this season they are very fat, and fly and 
forage in families. They now only utter a shrill and plaintive 
chip. I have had a male Pine Warbler, domesticated for a 
short time ; he fed gratefully, from the instant he was caught, 
upon flies, small earthworms, and minced flesh, and was so 
tame and artless as to sit contented on every hand, and 
scarcely shift himself securely from my feet. On offering him 
drink he walked directly into the vessel, wfithout using the 
slightest precaution or exhibiting any trace of fear. His tship 
and manner in all respects were those of the Autumnal 
Warbler. 
The song of the Pine Warbler, though agreeable, amidst the 
dreary solitude of the boundless forests ■which he frequents, has 
