SPECIES 21. SYLVIA AUTUMNALIS. 
AUTUMNAL WARBLER. 
[Plate XXIII. — Fig. 4.] 
This plain little species regularly visits Pennsylvania from 
the north in the month of October, gleaning among the willow 
leaves; but what is singular, is rarely seen in spring. From the 
first to the fifteenth of October, they may be seen in considera- 
ble numbers almost every day in gardens, particularly among 
the branches of the weeping willow, and seem exceedingly in- 
dustrious. They have some resemblance in colour to the Pine- 
creeping Warbler; but do not run along the trunk, like that 
bird; neither do they give a preference to the pines. They are 
also less. After the first of November they are no longer to be 
found, unless the season be uncommonly mild. These birds 
doubtless pass through Pennsylvania in spring, on their way to 
the north; but either make a very hasty journey, or frequent 
the tops of the tallest trees ; for I have never yet met with one 
of them in that season; though in October I have seen more 
than a hundred in an afternoon’s excursion. 
Length four inches and three quarters, breadth eight inches; 
whole upper parts olive green, streaked on the back with dusky 
stripes; tail coverts ash, tipt with olive; tail black, edged with 
dull white; the three exterior feathers marked near the tip with 
white; wings deep dusky, edged with olive, and crossed with 
two bars of white; primaries also tipt, and three secondaries 
next the body edged, with white; upper mandible dusky brown; 
lower, as well as the chin and breast, dull yellow; belly and 
vent white; legs dusky brown; feet and claws yellow; a pale 
yellow ring surrounds the eye. The males of these birds often 
warble out some low, but very sweet notes, while searching 
among the leaves in autumn. 
