CAPE MAY WARBLER. 
133 
103. SYLVIA MARITIMA, WILSON. CAPE MAY WARBLER. 
WILSON, PLATE LIV. FIG. III. — MALE. 
This new and beautiful little species was discovered 
in a maple swamp, in Gape May county, not far from 
the coast, by Mr George Ord of this city, who accom- 
panied me on a shooting excursion to that quarter in the 
month of May last, [1811.] Through the zeal and activity 
of this gentleman I succeeded in procuring many rare 
and elegant birds among the sea islands and extensive 
salt marshes that border that part of the Atlantic ; and 
much interesting information relative to their nests, 
eggs, and particular habits. I have also at various 
times been favoured with specimens of other birds from 
the same friend, for all which I return my grateful 
acknowledgments. 
The same swamp that furnished us with this elegant 
little stranger, and indeed several miles around it, were 
ransacked by us both for another specimen of the same ; 
but without success. Fortunately it proved to be a 
male, and in excellent plumage. 
Whether this be a summer resident in the lower 
parts of New Jersey, or merely a transient passenger to 
a more northern climate, I cannot with certainty deter- 
mine. The spring had been remarkably cold, with 
long and violent northeast storms, and many winter 
birds, as well as passengers from the south, still lingered 
in the woods as late as the 20th of May, gleaning, in 
small companies, among the opening buds and infant 
leaves, and skipping nimbly from twig to twig, which 
was the case with the bird now before us when it was 
first observed. Of its notes, or particular history, I am 
equally uninformed. 
The length of this species is five inches and a half, 
extent, eight and a half ; bill and legs, black ; whole 
upper part of the head, deep black ; line from the nostril 
over the eye, chin, and sides of the neck, rich yellow; 
ear feathers orange, which also tints the back part of 
