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SYLvicoLiDa:. BIRDS. Sylvicolidje. 
YELLOW-RED-POLL WARBLER [D. pahnarum ). — 
“ 'I'liis little bird arrives in Pennsylvania early in 
April, while the maples are yet in blossom. * * * 
Jt (beds upon the stamens and insects found on them. 
Low, swampy thickets are the favorite resort.” — 
Wilson. Mr. Boardman, of Palais, says : “It is one 
of our most common Warblers, and, unlike others, it 
spends much of its time feeding upon the ground. 
Jn the fall we (ind them feeding- witli the Snow-birds 
(Junco hyemalis).” 
PRAIRIE WARBLER (D. discolor).— Owe of the 
most beautiful of the group. It is rare in New Eng- 
land, and is notcommon north ofNewYork. The nest 
is remarkable for its beauty and complex structure, 
GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH {Seiurus aurocapil- 
lus). — Called, also, Oven-bird, from the fact tliat it 
builds a cover to its nest, and leaves an opening at 
the side, in the manner of an oven-builder. It is 
common in all the Northern States in summer, and 
attracts by its great beauty and interesting habits. 
SMALL-BILLED WATER THRUSH {S. noveioracen- 
sis). — 'I'his is the Turdus acpiaticus of Wilson. It is 
commonly seen in the brooks and small streams, 
where it wades for its food — aquatic insects — wag- 
ging its tail almost constantly ; hence, it is called in 
some regions Water Wagtail. 
LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH {S. ludovicianus).— 
This is larger than the [u-eceding. It is found in the 
Eastern Province as far north as Pennsylvania, and 
reaches south as far as Mexico. 
MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT {Geotlilypis trichns). 
— Sylvia of Audubon, S. marylandica of IVilson. 
This is one of the humble inhabitants of the briars, 
brambles, alder-bushes, and such shrubbery as grows 
most luxuriantly in low, watery situations; and 
might with propriety be denominated Humility, its 
business or ambition seldom leading it higher than 
the tops of the underwood. Insects and larvte are 
its principal food. It inhabits the whole United 
States, from Maine to Florida. It seldom approaches 
the farm-house, though by no means shy in its 
retreat. — Wilson. A species is found in the West 
Indies and in South America, the Cray-headed AVar- 
isLER — (C. velatus) — 'I'richas delafieldi of Audubon. 
'J'he Mourning AVarbler (C. Philadelphia) is rarely 
seen in New England, though it is occasionally 
in Creenland, and as far west as Missouri. .Macgil- 
livray's \A'’arbler (C. macgillivrayi) is found on 
the Pacific Coast and in the Pocky Mountains. 
CONNECTICUT WARBLER {Oporornis agilis).— 
Sylvia agilis of AVilson. A rare bird in the New 
England States. “ Habitat, Eastern United States. 
Very rarely seen.” — Baird. The Kentucky War- 
bi.er (0. formosus) is found throughout Eastern 
United States, west to Fort Piley. It is more 
common in the Southern States. 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT {Icteria viridis). — 'I'he 
description of this bird and its habits by AVilson is 
so graphic, one may easily imagine himself, for the 
time being, transferred to its secluded retreat. 
“ When he has once taken up his residence in a 
favorite situation, which is almost always in clo.se 
thickets of hazel, brambles, vines and thick under- 
wood, he becomes very jealous of his possessions, and 
seems offended at the least intrusion ; scolding every 
passenger as soon as they come in view, in a great 
variety of odd and uncouth monosyllables, which it 
is difficult to describe, l)ut which may be readily 
imitated, so as to deceive the bird himself, and draw 
him after you for a quarter of a mile at a time, as I 
have sometimes amused myself in doing, and fre- 
quently without once seeing him. On these occasions 
his responses are constant and rapid, strongly ex- 
pressive of anger and anxiety ; and, while the bird 
itself remains unseen, the voice shifts from place to 
place among the bushes, as if it proceeded from a 
spirit. First is heard a repetition of short notes, 
resembling the whistling of the wings of a Duck or 
Teal, beginning loud and rapid, and falling lower and 
slower, till they end in detached notes ; then, a suc- 
cession of others, something like the barking of 
young Puppies, is followed by a variety of hollow, 
guttural sounds, each eight or ten times repeated — 
more like those proceeding from the throat of a quad- 
ruped, than that of a bird — ^wliich are succeeded by 
others not unlike the mewing of a Cat, but consider- 
ably hoarser. All these are uttered with great 
vehemence, in such different keys, and with such 
peculiar modulations of voice, as sometimes to seem 
at a considerable distance, and instantly as if just 
beside you ; so that, from the manoeuvres of ventrilo- 
quism, you are utterly at loss to ascertain from 
what particular spot or quarter they proceed.” 
'I'his Chat is seen in the ICastern United States, and 
westward as far as Missouri, southward to Guate- 
mala. A species, found on the high central plains of 
the United States to the Pacific, and southward into 
Alexico, has been named by Mr. G. N. Lawrence, 
Long-tailed Chat (Icteria longicauda). 
HOODED WARBLER {Myiodioctes mitratus ). — An 
extremely rare bird in New England. Audubon says 
of it : “'I’he Hooded Fly-catcher is one of the live- 
liest of its tribe and is almost continually in motion. 
Fond of secluded places,. it is equally to be met with 
in the thick cane-brakes of the high or low lands, or 
amid the rank weeds and tangled rushes of the 
lowest and most impenetrable swamps. You recog- 
nize it instantly on seeing it, for the iieculiar grace- 
ful opening and closing of its broad tail distinguishes 
it at once, as it goes on gambolling from bush to 
bush, now in sight, now hidden from your eye, but 
constantly within hearing.” Habitat, Eastern United 
States to the Missouri River, south to Guatemala. 
THE SMALL-HEADED FLY-CATCHER (I/, mimita) 
is a very rare bird. AA'’ilson met with one only. 
Prof. Baird says : “ I have never seen a specimen, 
and copy the descri[)tion from Audubon.” Habitat, 
Eastern Atlantic States. 
GREEN BLACK-CAP FLY-CATCHER (.¥. pusillm). 
— 'This is a rare bird in New England, though com- 
mon farther north. Its habits are in striking con- 
trast to some of the j)receding species. This bird, 
according to Audubon, is not very rare in Alaine, and 
it becomes more abundant the farther north we ))ro- 
ceed. Ridgway records a variety, M. pileolatus, 
from the Pacific Coast. 
