WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
165 
This species is five inches and a half long, and eight 
and a half in extent ; the head, neck, and whole lower 
parts, (except the vent,) are of a remarkably rich and 
brilliant yellow, slightly inclining to orange ; vent, 
white ; back, scapulars, and lesser wing-coverts, yellow 
olive ; wings, rump, and tail-coverts, a lead blue ; 
interior vanes of the former, black ; tail nearly even, 
and black, broadly edged with blue ; all the feathers, 
except the two middle ones, are marked on their inner 
vanes, near the tip, with a spot of white ; bill, long*, 
stout, sharp-pointed, and wholly black ; eyes, dark 
hazel; legs and feet, a leaden grey. The female differs 
in having the yellow and blue rather of a duller tint ; 
the inferiority, however, is scarcely noticeable. 
133. SYLVIA FERMIYORA , LATHAM AND WILSON. 
WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
WILSON, PLATE XX1Y. FIG. IY. 
This is one of the nimblest species of its whole 
family, inhabiting the same country with the preceding, 
but extending its migrations much farther north. It 
arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of May, and 
leaves us in September. I have never yet met with 
its nest, but have seen them feeding their young about 
the 25th of June. This bird is remarkably fond of 
spiders, darting about wherever there is a probability 
of finding these insects. If there be a branch broken, 
and the leaves withered, it shoots among them in pre- 
ference to every other part of the tree, making a great 
rustling, in search of its prey. I have often watched 
its manoeuvres while thus engaged, and flying from tree 
to tree in search of such places. On dissection, I have 
uniformly found their stomachs filled with spiders or 
caterpillars, or both. Its note is a feeble chirp, rarely 
uttered. 
The worm-eater is five inches and a quarter in length, 
and eight inches in extent ; back, tail, and wings, a 
fine clear olive; tips and inner vanes of the wing-quills, 
