358 
YELLOW-RUMP WARBLER. 
month they appear in Pennsylvania, in full dress, as represent- 
ed in the plate; and after continuing to be seen, for a w^eek or 
ten days, skipping among the high branches and tops of the trees, 
after those larvae that feed on the opening buds, they disappear 
until the next October. Whether they retire to the north, or 
to the high ranges of our mountains to breed, like many other 
of our passengers, is yet uncertain. They are a very numer- 
ous species, and always associate together in considerable num- 
bers, both in spring, winter and fall. 
This species is five inches and a half long, and eight inches 
broad; whole back, tail coverts, and hind head, a fine slate co- 
lour, streaked with black; crown, sides of the breast, and rump, 
rich yellow; wings and tail black, the former crossed with two 
bars of white, the three exterior feathers of the latter spotted 
with white; cheeks and front black; chin, line over and under 
the eye, white; breast light slate, streaked with black extend- 
ing under the wings; belly and vent white, the latter spotted 
with black; bill and legs black. This is the spring and summer 
dress of the male; that of the female of the same seasons differs 
but little, chiefly in the colours being less vivid and not so strong- 
ly marked with a tincture of brownish on the back. 
In the month of October the slate colour has changed to a 
brownish olive, the streaks of black are also considerably brown; 
and the white is stained with the same colour; the tail coverts, 
however, still retain their slaty hue, the yellow on the crown, 
and sides of the breast becomes nearly obliterated. Their only 
note is a kind of chip, occasionally repeated. Their motions 
are quick, and one can scarcely ever observe them at rest. 
Though the form of the bill of this bird obliges me to arrange 
him with the Warblers; yet in his food and all his motions he 
is decisively a Flycatcher. 
On again recurring to the descriptions in Pennant of the 
“ Yellow-rump Warbler,”* “Golden-crowned W.”t and “Belt- 
ed W.”J I am persuaded that the whole three have been drawn 
from the present species. 
* Arct. Zool.;). 400, No. 188. f lb. No. 294. + lb. No. 306. 
