64 
THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WOOD- WARBLER. 
parents in the colours of their plumage, which, however, is mixed with 
duller tints, the differences indicative of the sex being already observable. 
The Black-throated Blue Warbler is an expert catcher of flies, pursues 
insects to a considerable distance in all directions, and in seizing them snaps 
its bill so as to produce a clicking sound. It now and then alights on a low 
plant, such as that represented in the plate, and moves along the branches 
searching for pupas, ants, and insects. I have never heard its love-song, but 
its common note is a rather melancholy cheep. I am inclined to believe that 
it breeds in the State of Maine, having seen several individuals of both sexes 
not far from Eastport, in the beginning of June 1833, when several other 
species had nests. 
The birds represented in Plate 148 of my large edition as Sylvia sphag- 
nosa, are the young of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, the female of which 
resembles them so much that I looked upon it as of a species distinct from 
the male. I have no doubt that this error originated with Wilson, who has 
been followed by all our writers. Now, however, the Sylvia or Sylvicola 
sphagnosa of Bonaparte, which he altered from Wilson’s S. pusilla, must 
be erased from our Fauna. This bird extends to the head waters of the 
Missouri, but is not mentioned as occurring in the Fur Countries. I found 
it abundant on my way to the Texas in the beginning of April ; I have also 
seen it plentiful in June about Boston, where, however, it does not breed. 
Of this fact also I gave the first intimation to the Prince of Musignano. 
Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 334. 
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 
115. Male. 
Sylvia canadensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 84. Male. 
Blacic-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p.398. Male. 
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 
309. Male. 
Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 100. Young. 
Sylvia sphagnosa, Bonap. Syn., p. 85. Young. 
Pine-swamp AVarbler, Sylvia sphagnosa, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 40G. Young. 
Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia sphagnosa, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 279. Fe- 
male and Young. Yol. v. p. 458. 
Wings rather long, with the third quill longest, the second almost equal, 
the fourth longer than the first; tail even. Male dull light blue above, white 
beneath ; frontal band, cheeks, throat, and sides, black ; a white patch on the 
wing formed by the bases of the primaries; outer three tail-feathers with a 
patch of white on the inner web near the end, all the rest with a touch of 
the same. Female greenish-olive above, light dull yellow below, with a less 
extended white patch on the wing, the white on the tail unconspicuous. 
Young similar to the female. 
