304 YELLOW-RUMP WARBLER.
am indebted to his liberality for a nest with four eggs, which formed part
of his fine collection. Although they are abundant in Labrador, we did
not find any of their nests; but we had the good fortune to procure
several young birds scarcely able to fly. The nest above mentioned was
placed near the extremity of the branch of a low fir-tree, about five feet
from the ground. It resembles that of the Sylvia eestiva of Latham,
being firm, compact, the outer parts formed of silky fibres from different
plants attached to the twigs near it by means of glutinous matter, mixed
with stripes of the inner bark of some tree unknown to me. Within this
is a deep and warm bed of thistle-down, and the inner layer consists of
feathers and the fine hair of small quadrupeds. The eggs are rather
large, of a light rosy tint, the shell thin and transparent; they are sparingly
dotted with reddish-brown near the larger end, but in a circular
manner, so that the extremity is unspotted.
This species feeds on insects, is an expert fly catcher, and a great
devourer of caterpillars. During winter, however, its principal food consists
of berries of various kinds, especially those of the Myrtle and Pokeweed.
They also feed on the seeds of various grasses. When, at this
season, a warm day occurs, and the insects are excited to activity, the
Warblers are sure to be seen in pursuit of them. The rows of trees about
the plantations are full of them, and, from the topmost to the lowest
branches, they are seen gliding upwards, downwards, and in every direction,
in full career after their prey, and seldom missing their aim. At
this time of the year, they emit, at every movement, a single tweet, so
very different from that of any other Warbler, that one can instantly recognise
the species by it among a dozen. They rarely enter the woodlands,
but prefer the neighbourhood of cultivated or old fields, the nurseries,
gardens, and trees about towns, villages, or farm-houses, or by the
sides of roads. They are careless of man, allowing him to approach
within a few yards, or even feet, without manifesting much alarm. As
they breed so far north, it is probable that they raise only one brood in
the season. They return south early in September, already clad in their
winter dress.
SYLVIA CORONATA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 538. Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds
of the United States, p. 78.
YELLOW-HUMP WARBLER, SYLVIA CORONATA, Wits. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 138,
pi, 17- fig. 4. and vol. v. p. 121. pi. 45. fig. 3.
YELLOW-CROWNED WARBLEB, OR MYRTLE BIRD, SYLVIA CORONATA, Nut tall, Ufanual,
p. 361.
Adult Male. Plate CLIII. fig. 1.
Bill short, straight, rather strong, tapering, compressed towards the
end; upper mandible nearly straight in its dorsal outline, the tip slightly
declinate, the edges sharp, with a slight notch near the tip, nostrils basal,
oval, covered above by a membrane, and partially concealed by the
feathers. Head of ordinary size, neck short, body rather slender. Feet
of ordinary length, rather slender ; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly
with a few long scutella, sharp behind; toes slender, free, the outer united
to the second joint, the hind toe proportionally large; claws arched, slender,
much compressed, acute.
Plumage blended, soft, without lustre. Wings longish, little curved;
second and third quills longest; fourth almost equal; first scarcely shorter.
Tail rather long, slightly emarginate, nearly even, the lateral feathers
bent outwards.
Bill and feet black. Iris brown. The general colour of the plumage
above is deep ash-grey, streaked with black; crown, rump, and sides of
the head, rich yellow. Secondary coverts, and first row of large coverts
tipped with white, of which there are thus two bars across the wing.
Quills and tail dark-brown, slightly margined with greyish-brown ; outer
margin of the two outer tail feathers on each side white, and a spot of the
same colour on the inner webs of the three outer towards the end. A
small white line over the eye, and a touch of the same under it; lore and
cheek black. Throat white, lower neck, fore part of the breast and sides
variegated with black and white, the crest of the under parts white.
Length 5\ inches, extent of wings 8^; bill along the back j 4
2 ; along the
edge \ \ ; tarsus | .
Adidt Female. Plate CLIII. Fig. 2.
The Female is rather less, and wants the yellow spot on the crown,
although the feathers there are tinged with that colour at the base. The
upper parts are of light brownish-olive, 6treaked with dusky, the lower
parts whitish, tinged with olive, and streaked with dusky; the yellow
VOL. 11. u