PALM WARBLER. 
1 IS 
have already stated, by Buffon, and from him subse- 
quent writers appear to have copied what they relate 
of it. The bird which he described must have been a 
very young' specimen, as its colours are very dull, much 
more so than the one figured and described by Yieillot, 
who supposes, though erroneously, Buffon’s specimen 
to have been a female. Even Vieillot’s, which is cer- 
tainly our species in its winter dress, is much duller in 
colour than those we received from Florida ; and these 
again are far less brilliant than ours, as it appears for a 
few days in the spring in Pennsylvania and New 
Jersey, and is found throughout summer in Maine; 
thus exhibiting the several gradations of change which 
the plumage undergoes. 
Naturalists cannot be too circumspect** in receiving 
reports even from the most respectable sources, their 
own senses affording the only authentic testimony to 
be relied on. From information derived from Mr 
T. Peale, who had no opportunity for making compa- 
risons, we erroneously stated, (supra, p. 108.) that 
Sylvia celata , Say, was one of the most common 
birds in Florida during winter, keeping among the 
orange trees, &c> All this statement had reference 
to the present species ; and as soon as the specimens 
brought by Mr Peale as Sylvia celata , were shewn to 
us, the error w r as immediately perceived. We therefore 
hasten to correct this mistake, which would be other- 
wise of more consequence, inasmuch as no one else 
could, for a long time, detect it. This species resembles, 
it is true, S. celata , (whose range must remain limited 
to the Rocky Mountains,) and perhaps still more 
S. rubricapilla , Wilson, but it is not of the same sub- 
genus, Dacnis , and it may readily be knowui by the 
white spots of the tail feathers. 
When the genus Sylvia , containing upwards of two 
hundred and fifty species, shall have been properly 
studied, it wall be found practicable to divide it into 
several more sections, subgenera, and even perhaps 
genera. This bird, along with many other North 
American species, tvill constitute a highly natural 
VOL. IV. H 
