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the south and in New York and New England； and correspondingly uncommon wherever the woodsman's axe has laid the pine trees low throughout its range。 Its 〃simple； sweet； and drowsy song；〃 writes Mr。 Parkhurst； is always associated 〃with the smell of pines on a sultry day。〃 It recalls that of the junco and the social sparrow or chippy。
Creeping over the bark of trees and peering into every crevice like a nuthatch； running along the limbs； not often hopping nervously or flitting like the warblers； darting into the air for a passing insect； or descending to the ground to feed on seeds and berries； the pine warbler has； by a curious combination； the movements that seem to characterize several different birds。
It is one of the largest and hardiest members of its family； but not remarkable for its beauty。 It is a sociable traveller； cheerfully escorting other warblers northward； and welcoming to its band both the yellow redpolls and the myrtle warblers。 These birds are very often seen together in the pine and other evergreen trees in our lawns and in the large city parks。
PRAIRIE WARBLER （Dendroica discolor） Wood Warbler family
Length 4。75 to 5 inches。 About an inch and a half shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Olive…green above； shading to yellowish on the head； and with brick…red spots on back between the shoulders。 A yellow line over the eye； wing…bars and all under parts bright yellow； heavily streaked with black on the sides。 Line through the eye and crescent below it； black。 Much white in outer tail feathers。 Female Paler； upper parts more grayish olive； and markings Less distinct than male's。 Range Eastern half of the United States。 Nests as far north as New England and Michigan。 Winters from Florida southward。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。
Doubtless this diminutive bird was given its name because it prefers open country rather than the woods the scrubby undergrowth of oaks； young evergreens； and bushes that border clearings being as good a place as any to look for it； and not the wind…swept； treeless tracts of the wild West。 Its range is southerly。 The Southern and Middle States are where it is most abundant。 Here is a wood warbler that is not a bird of the woods less so； in fact； than either the summer yellowbird （yellow warbler） or the palm warbler； that are eminently neighborly and fond of pasture lands and roadside thickets。 But the prairie warblers are rather more retiring little sprites than their cousins； and it is not often we get a close enough view of them to note the brick…red spots on their backs； which are their distinguishing marks。 They have a most unkind preference for briery bushes； that discourage human intimacy。 In such forbidding retreats they build their nest of plant…fibre； rootlets； and twigs； lined with plant…down and hair。
The song of an individual prairie warbler makes only a slight impression。 It consists 〃of a series of six or seven quickly repeated tees； the next to the last one being the highest〃 （Chapman）。 But the united voices of a dozen or more of these pretty little birds； that often sing together； afford something approaching a musical treat。
WILSON'S WARBLER （Sylvania pusila） Wood Warbler family
Called also： BLACKCAP； GREEN BLACK…CAPPED WARBLER； WILSON'S FLYCATCHER
Length 4。75 to 5 inches。 About an inch and a half shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Black cap； yellow forehead； all other upper parts olive…green； rich yellow underneath。 Female Lacks the black cap。 Range North America； from Alaska and Nova Scotia to Panama。 Winters south of Gulf States。 Nests chiefly north of the United States。 Migrations May。 September。 Spring and autumn migrant。
To see this strikingly marked little bird one must be on the sharp lookout for it during the latter half of May； or at the season of apple bloom； and the early part of September。 It passes northward with an almost scornful rapidity。 Audubon mentions having seen it in Maine at the end of October； but this specimen surely must have been an exceptional laggard。
In common with several others of its family； it is exceedingly expert in catching insects on the wing； but it may be known as no true flycatcher from the conspicuous rich yellow of its under parts； and also from its habit of returning from a midair sally to a different perch from the one it left to pursue its dinner。 A true flycatcher usually returns to its old perch after each hunt。
To indulge in this aerial chase with success； these warblers select for their home and hunting ground some low woodland growth where a sluggish stream attracts myriads of insects to the boggy neighborhood。 Here they build their nest in low bushes or upon the ground。 Four or five grayish eggs； sprinkled with cinnamon…colored spots in a circle around the larger end； are laid in the grassy cradle in June。 Mr。 H。 D。 Minot found one of these nests on Pike's Peak at an altitude of 11；000 feet； almost at the limit of vegetation。 The same authority compares the bird's song to that of the redstart and the yellow warbler。
YELLOW REDPOLL WARBLER （Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea） Wood Warbler family
Called also： YELLOW PALM WARBLER； ＇the two former palm warbler species combined as PALM WARBLER； AOU 1998＇
Length 5。5 to 5。75 inches。 A little smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Chestnut crown。 Upper parts brownish olive； greenest on lower back。 Underneath uniform bright yellow； streaked with chestnut on throat； breast； and sides。 Yellow line over and around the eye。 Wings unmarked。 Tail edged with olive…green； a few white spots near tips of outer quills。 More brownish above in autumn； and with a grayish wash over the yellow under parts。 Range Eastern parts of North America。 Nests from Nova Scotia northward。 Winters in the Gulf States。 Migrations April。 October。 Spring and autumn migrant。
While the uniform yellow of this warbler's under parts in any plumage is its distinguishing mark； it also has a flycatcher's trait of constantly flirting its tail； that is at once an outlet for its superabundant vivacity and a fairly reliable aid to identification。 The tail is jerked； wagged； and flirted like a baton in the hands of an inexperienced leader of an orchestra。 One need not go to the woods to look for the restless little sprite that comes northward when the early April foliage is as yellow and green as its feathers。 It prefers the fields and roadsides； and before there are leaves enough on the undergrowth to conceal it we may come to know it as well as it is possible to know any bird whose home life is passed so far away。 Usually it is the first warbler one sees in the spring in New York and New England。 With all the alertness of a flycatcher； it will dart into the air after insects that fly near the ground； keeping up a constant chip； chip； fine and shrill； at one end of the small body； and the liveliest sort of tail motions at the other。 The pine warbler often bears it company。
With the first suspicion of warm weather； off goes this hardy little fellow that apparently loves the cold almost well enough to stay north all the year like its cousin； the myrtle warbler。 It builds a particular