BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 
149 
tail, slightly forked, black, and edged with olive ; the 
three exterior feathers altogether white on their inner 
vanes; legs and feet, dirty yellow; eye, dark hazel; 
a few bristles at the mouth ; bill not notched. 
This was a male. Of the female 1 can at present 
give no account. 
118. SYLVIA STRIATA , LATHAM AND WILSON. 
BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 
WILSON, PLATE XXX. FIG. III. —MALE. 
This species has considerable affinity to the flycatchers 
in its habits. It is chiefly confined to the woods, and 
even there, to the tops of the tallest trees, where it is 
descried skipping from branch to branch, in pursuit of 
winged insects. Its note is a single screep, scarcely 
audible from below. It arrives in Pennsylvania about 
the 20th of April, and is first seen on the tops of the 
highest maples, darting about among the blossoms. As 
the woods thicken with leaves, it may be found pretty 
generally, being none of the least numerous of our 
summer birds. It is, however, most partial to woods 
in the immediate neighbourhood of creeks, swamps, or 
morasses, probably from the greater number of its 
favourite insects frequenting such places. It is also 
pretty generally diffused over the United States, having 
myself met with it in most quarters of the Union ; 
though its nest has hitherto defied all my researches. 
This bird may be considered as occupying an inter- 
mediate station between the flycatchers and the war- 
blers, having the manners of the former, and the bill, 
partially, of the latter. The nice gradations by which 
nature passes from one species to another, even in this 
department of the great chain of beings, will for ever 
baffle all the artificial rules and systems of man. And 
this truth every fresh discovery must impress more 
forcibly on the mind of the observing naturalist. These 
birds leave us early in September. 
The black-poll warbler is five and a half inches long. 
