Wilson has justly observed that the habits of this lovely bird are
those of a Tit or a Creeper. I have usually observed it creeping about
the twigs of trees, or among the blossoms. The first I met with was
thus engaged, creeping in and out, and clinging to the beautiful and
fragrant flowers that grew in profuse spikes from the summit of a
papaw-tree. It is one of the earliest of our visitors from the north,
for this was on the 16th of August; and it remains until April among
the sunny glades of our magnificent island. The stomach of such as I
have examined was large, and contained caterpillars of various sizes
and species. An individual in March, which I proved by dissection to
be a female, did not differ in intensity of colouring, or any other
appreciable respect, from the male. The eggs in the ovary at that
season, were distinguishable, but minute.
YELLOW RED-POLL WARBLER.[38]
_Sylvicola æstiva._
_Sylvia æstiva et petechia_, +Lath.+—Aud. pl. 95.
_Sylvia citrinella et petechia_, +Wils.+
_Sylvia Childrenii_ (_young_,) Aud. pl. 35.
_Sylvicola æstiva_, +Sw.+
[38] Length 5¹⁄₄ inches, expanse 8¹⁄₁₀, flexure 2⁶⁄₁₀, tail 2¹⁄₁₀,
rictus ⁶⁄₁₀, tarsus ⁹⁄₁₀, middle toe ¹⁄₂.
Of this very beautiful species, which has been described under so
many names, I have specimens in much diversity of plumage, from that
in which the chestnut crown, and spots of the breast are deep and
conspicuous, to that in which there is no trace either of the one or
the other. There is little in their manners to distinguish them from
others of this pretty family. They arrive in Jamaica in September, and
depart in April; and, like their fellows, hop about low trees, feeding
on small insects. In March, I observed it rather numerous, hopping
about the _Cleome pentaphylla_, and other low shrubs which were then in
flower, on the banks of the new cut of the Rio Cobre, not half a mile
from the sea of Kingston Harbour. Whenever I have seen it, it has been
very near the sea.
AURORA WARBLER.[39]
_Sylvicola eoa._—+Mihi.+
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account