The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
OUR ram BIRD JISITORS.
The various branches of the warbler Fam
lily Here Their Brilliant Piumage.

The various branches OF the Whrbler ram
lily Here Their Brilliant Plumnge.
When autumn comes, a host Of little winged
travellers who have been summering in northern
New England over the Canadian border return
To their spring hauuts in the middle States larry
ing until the increasing cold prompts them 10 con
tinue their journey southwark. From early in
September until late in October the changing
agcof fall rnicrtains the 81 me restless ransicnts
which nutterrd about in the budding leaves IL
spring. and the bird lover hasens ont each morn
ing To see whether any fresh arrivals have come
since yesterday Perhaps the most beautiful
and also the least well known Of all these bird
migrants are the tiny members II the warbler
family exquisite restless, brilliantly culorcd little
creatures which when one has learned 10 see them,
display themselves in almost endless numbers
and variety. while Ia the uninitiated they are we'll
nigh invisible and inaudible.
There are several reasons why the warhlers are
less generally known than other common
birds. In the first place, save for the hunlming
birds and the kingetS they are the tnicst Of bird
kind and then most Of the beauties insist upon
fitting about in the very tops Of the trees or hid
ing themselves amid the dark foliage Of hcmlock
or spruce Moreover while many warbers may
he found in almost any bit Of woodland or hedge
II tree growth some Of the most attractive varie
ties seek the ScCusiun Of wet lOwands and tangled
thickrts These prculiaritcs Of the family may
explain why many n lover Of out Of doors misses
one Of the most delightful manifestations Of ma
urc The plumnge Of these birds is often truJ iral
in brlliancy. and il always peculiarly beautiful
in marking. while they are ~ delicate and trim
| Of build 40 graceful and light of motion Az they
dutter about a twp or dart after a passing insect
that other birds must surely regard them as the
cxquisitics Of all bird kind.
The season for the fall invasion Of our mid
die States is from about the middle Of Srptember
until the middle Of October thong the time varies
"A little from wear To wear according to weather
| conditions And though some varieties have
remained with ia throughout the summer they
have hidden themselves so effectively during
,hc breeding season No 10 SEEM newcomers when
,b.v ,nrc,, ,r,in in field md woodland In
| decd tho only ,yorhl.- whosc nest onc may hone
| ia find in the coursr of nm ordinary summers
stroll is TINT Of the yellow warbler or summer
yrllowbird This little pater familias builds
his home in auy bush hedge bv roadside or by
| stream, md his m,,c scolds Won souudly IL Won
st,r,Ic hcr from her nos,
or the seventy varieties Of WARRIORS which
visit the United States one NAV reasonably hone
| 10 becom. acquainted with from six 10 A dozen
during ono seasons watching
Several Of thc warhcrs lo,e much Of their bright
| color during the summer and are hotter idrn
y
| md IN. uopnoIi, tho v.lIov Of ,vhose roats
| 10 sadly fadcd whom tbcy return in thc autumn
II is be,t,r IN Look for the kinds which may he
certainly identified OF these the MARYLAND
| ycllowthront and the hooded warbler must be
| the elves or spres of brdkind 'Th. MARYLAND
yclowthroat wears a black mask which covers
his forehead his checks and the sides OF his head
| giving him a decidedly impish oppression as
| though when he peeps out of the foliage, he means
TO startle YOU lis throat and breast are yellow
| and his uppcr partS arc olive green His call
| like his EXPRESSION causes a start Of surprise.
| II is rapid and cmnhatic for such tiny speaker
| The hooded warbler follows the poets advice
! and is always dressed as though going To n ball
"A masquerade ball lie wears a black hood
pulled down over his head and tied under his
| chin but his forehead, his cheeks, and his breast
] are bright yellow and his upper coat is n fine
| olive green. Unlike most Of his cousins he boasts
| n somewhat pleasing song very few Of the warn
| lrrs can really sing; some wag must have named
| the family Both Of these birds remain with MS
| all summer breeding in wet secluded places
| The Backburniau s the most generally ad-
| mircd of all the warhlcrs, because Of tho rich
! glowing tints he wears. ike the Baltimore
| Oriolc he dresses in black and flaming orange
lie went North To rear his Young. but family
cares have scarcely dmmcd the beauty Of his
plumage. The top Of his head is Of velvrty black
| but through the centre Of his crown runs a line
| Of orange and the same gorgeous tint flames
on his throat his breast, and the sides Of his head
| His upper coat is black sueaked with white and
| there are white patches on either wing. In look
| ing up into the trees you may only the flame
colored throat at first and then the pnler under
| parts. Nevertheless you will know your bird.
and will watch for a fuller view Of the tiny dandy
More quiet in attire, hut trim and dainty, is the