Part 48

The Florida Yellow-throat (G. t. ignota), a more deeply colored race, is found from North Carolina to southern Florida. In the last-named State it usually inhabits scrub palmetto growths.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

Icteria virens virens. Case 8, Fig. 49

A large bird, superficially, quite unlike the true Warblers but nevertheless agreeing with them in essential structure. L. 7-1/2.

Range. Nests from Texas and northern Florida to southern Minnesota and (locally) Massachusetts; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 16-Sept. 28. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 28-Aug. 29. Cambridge, rather rare and irregular S.R., May 15-Sept. N. Ohio, common S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, local, not common. May 10-Aug. 16. SE. Minn., rare S.R. (?).

If the Chat lived in England what a wealth of lore, legend, and literature would owe its origin to his strange ways and stranger notes! Here he is known to few but the initiated, who find an endless interest in his odd song-medley and peculiar antics. Go yourself to the brush-grown, thickety wood borders and clearings he loves and let him be his own interpreter. You may even find his nest low down in some crotch with its white, evenly speckled eggs, and hear his angry ch[)u]t as he resents your presence.

HOODED WARBLER

Wilsonia citrina. Case 8, Figs. 54, 55

The yellow face and black 'hood' distinguishes the male, but both sexes may be known by the large amount of white in the outer tail-feathers. L. 5-3/4.

Range. Nests from Georgia and Louisiana north to Michigan and Connecticut; winters in the tropics.

Washington, locally common, S.R., Apl. 19-Oct. 1. Ossining, rare S.R., to Sept. 1. N. Ohio, rare. May 8, 9, 12 and 22.

Color, song, habit and temperament combine to make the Hooded Warbler one of the most attractive members of its family. As one sees it flitting from bush to bush in woodland undergrowth, displaying its white outer tail-feathers as it flies, pausing now and again to utter its simple, sweet whistled song, one is impressed not only by its beauty but by its gentleness. It nests in a bush within a foot or two of the ground, laying 3-5 white eggs, wreathed with shades of brown spots, early in May, in the South, in June, in the North.

WILSON'S WARBLER

Wilsonia pusilla pusilla. Case 8, Figs. 73, 74

The female usually lacks the black cap, when she resembles the female Hooded, but is smaller and has no white in the tail. L. 5.

Range. Nests from northern New England and northern Minnesota northward; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common T.V., May 1-26; Aug. 27-Oct. 6. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., May 9-30; Aug. 10-Sept. 9. Cambridge, common T.V., May 12-25; uncommon, Sept. 5-20. N. Ohio, tolerably common T.V., May 5-June 2; Sept. 5-15. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., May 7-June 26; Aug. 16-Sept. 21. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 2-; Aug. 23-Sept. 27.

Wilson's Warbler, a flycatching Warbler of the lower growth, favors bushes near water, but is also found in dryer places. Thayer in "Warblers of North America" says that its "song has much of the ringing clarity of the Canada's and Hooded's songs." It nests on the ground, laying 4 eggs, usually with a wreath of spots at the larger end, early in June.

CANADIAN WARBLER

Wilsonia canadensis. Case 8, Fig. 53

Above gray, no white in wings or tail; breast with a necklace of black spots, paler and less numerous in the female. L. 5-1/2.

Range. Nests from Massachusetts and central Minnesota northward, south in the mountains to Tennessee; winters in the tropics.

Washington, very common T.V., May 5-June 2; July 31-Sept. 25. Ossining, common T.V., May 6-June 2; Aug. 10-Oct. 11. Cambridge, common, May 12-30, rare, Sept. 1-15; rare S.R. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 28-May 27; Sept. 1-18. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., May 5-June 6; Aug. 15-Sept. 22. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 8-; Aug. 18-Sept. 5.

The Canadian Warbler haunts the lower growth of deciduous forests. It is "a sprightly, wide-awake, fly-snapping Warbler, vivid in movement and in song" (Thayer). "The song is liquid, uncertain, varied, bright and sweet" (Farwell). It nests on the ground early in June, laying 4-5 eggs much like those of Wilson's Warbler.

REDSTART

Setophaga ruticilla. Case 8, Figs. 57, 58

The female is yellow where the male is flame-color; young males resemble the female, but usually have more or less black on the breast. L. 5-1/2.