SUMMER BIRDS OF SHAW's GARDEN. 69 



didly the blossoming apple trees and young green of the wil- 

 lows, where we hear it first after its return from a winter home 

 in the tropics. Originally an inhabitant of the bramble and 

 hazel thickets along the border of woods and the varied plant 

 growth along water courses, it has with the spread of cultiva- 

 tion adapted itself to the new conditions and is quite at home 

 in our orchards, parks and gardens, where it frequents trees 

 as well as shrubbery. It even seems to seek the friendship of 

 man, but undoubtedly from selfish motives, because a close 

 proximity to man's habitation secures for its nest freedom 

 from undesirable visits from the Cowbird, which has a special 

 fondness for the Yellow Warbler in the choice of foster-parents 

 for its offspring. It has not been ascertained whether this 

 freedom from imposition was enjoyed by the Yellow Warblers 

 of the Garden, but their song which was kept up till the mid- 

 dle of July showed no deviation from their usual cheerfulness. 



YELLOW-THROAT. Geothlijpis tHchas, 



Yellow-throats like shrubbery in the vicinity of water, and 

 it is for this reason that several pairs find a congenial sum- 

 mer home in the Garden, being particularly fond of the new 

 part, called the Synopsis. Although seldom seen, the pres- 

 ence of the male is not long kept secret, for soon after his ar- 

 rival in April his loud and peculiar song announces the fact 

 in unmistakable manner. Like all songs of our so-called 

 Warblers it is no warble at all, but a simple, energetic ditty 

 without any modulation and remains in the same individual 

 unchanged throughout the song-period which lasts to the 

 latter part of July, when molt begins. Since molting seems 

 to have a debilitating effect on the general health of birds, 

 they are in no mood to sing, do not even care to utter their 

 call-notes and seek rest in seclusion. After completion of 

 the molt and before their departure in September, the song 

 of the Yellow-throat is again heard for a few weeks, but has 

 nothing of the force of the breeding time, when in the ecstasy 

 of love and happiness excited song-flights are sometimes in- 

 dulged in. The female, one of the most timid birds, is plain 

 brownish green above and yellowish beneath, but the male 



