moving about, rustling among the leaves, and scarcely ever removing
from one situation to another until after they have made a full inspection
of the part in which they have been employed.
This species reaches the Central Atlantic Districts in the middle of
May, and breeds there, as well as farther northward. I have found them
more numerous in the Jerseys than in any other portion of the Union.
In Kentucky and Ohio I have seen only a few of them; nor have I ever
found their nests in either of these States.
•The plant on which you see a pair of Worm-eating Warblers is well
known throughout the United States by the name of Poke-berry. It grows
in every situation, from the tops of the most arid mountain-ridges to the
lowest and richest valleys; and it is almost impossible to follow a fence
for a hundred yards without seeing some of it. Its berries are food
for numerous species of our birds, and produce a beautiful dark
crimson juice, which is used instead of red ink by some of the country
people, although it does not retain its original colour for many
days. This plant grows to the height of four or six feet, and is eaten
when it first shoots from the ground as a substitute for asparagus, quantities
of it being not unfrequently exposed in the markets. The juice of
the berries is taken in cases of ague and continued fever, but requires to
be used with judgment, as too large a doze proves deleterious.
SYLVIA VERMIVORA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 544—Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of
Birds of the United States, p. 80.
WORM-EATING WARBLER, SYLVIA VERMIVORA, Wils. Americ. Ornith. vol. iii. p. 74.
vol. xxiv. fig. 4.
Adult Male. Plate XXXIV. Fig. 1.
Bill longish, nearly straight, rather strong, elongated-conical, as deep
as broad at the base, with sharp, nearly straight edges. Nostrils basal,
oval, half concealed by the feathers. Head rather large, neck short.
Body short and full. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus
compressed, covered anteriorly with a few long scutella, acute behind,
longer than the middle toe; toes scutellate above, free; claws arched,
slender, compressed, acute.
Plumage blended, soft and tufty. Wings of ordinary length, considerably
curved, the second quill longest, the first little shorter. Tail
rather short, a little rounded, of twelve rather narrow, obtuse feathers.
Bill blackish-brown above, greenish-grey beneath. Iris hazel. Feet
flesh-colour. General colour of the upper parts deep green, tinged with
brown. Head and lower parts light brownish-yellow, the former with
four longitudinal black bands, of which one on each side proceeds from
the middle of the upper mandible, the other from the inferior angle of its
base. The lower part of the neck anteriorly, and the fore part of the
breast are more yellow than the rest of the under parts; the abdomen
and under tail-coverts nearly white.
Length 5% inches, extent of wings 8^; bill along the ridge fa along
the gap f; tarsus middle toe f.
Adult Female. Plate XXXIV. Fig. %
The female hardly differs from the male in external appearance.
T H E A M E R I C A N P O K E - W E E D.
PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA, Willd. Sp. PI. vol. i. p. 3 2 2 . Pursh, Fl. Amer. vol. i. p. 3 2 4 .
—DECANDRIA DECAGYNIA, Linn. ATRIPLICES, JUSS.
This species is distinguished by its elliptico-lanceolate leaves, and decandrous
flowers, the other species differing in the number of stamina
and one of them being dioecious. The berries, which are nearly globular,
are disposed in an elongated, pendulous raceme, and are of a purplishblack
colour. The flowers are white, their peduncles, partial and general,
of a bright carmine-purple colour.
M 2