94 
INSESSORES. 
pursue a swarm of small flies for a long distance, 
during which the snapping of its bill may be dis- 
tinctly heard. In the deep shade of the woods the 
beauty of its markings shows to great advantage ; the 
jetty black, which is the predominating color, con- 
trasting finely with the streaks and bands of orange 
and vermilion on the sides, wings, and tail. 
This bird and the little Blue-gray u Fly-catcher,” 
differ slightly from the greater number of the Wood 
Warblers in their more fly-catching habits. All are 
diminutive birds, generally very abundant in the 
Middle States early in the Spring, but mostly re- 
tiring to the North during Summer to rear their 
young. Their principal appearance is in the morn- 
ing just after sunrise, w r hen every tree seems tenanted 
with them, all actively engaged in making a morning 
meal; this consists of insects and their larvae, of 
wdiich they devour great quantities. Many of them 
are expert fly-catchers, nimbly darting after the pass- 
ing flies, while others are equally dexterous in clam- 
bering among the branches of the trees, hanging 
sometimes head downward, and holding on with one 
foot, and stretching their little necks in all directions 
in search of a favorite worm. Although these tran- 
sient visitors are, with some exceptions, nearly desti- 
tute of song, yet among them are to be found some 
of our most beautifully plumaged birds. 
The Yellow-poll Warbler, whose shrill notes are 
heard so constantly, during Spring and Summer, 
from almost every grove, and not unfrequently from 
the trees which surround the farm-house, and the 
