PRAIRIE WARBLER. 395 



This species, rare in the Atlantic states, appears to be 

 somewhat more common in the solitary barrens of Ken- 

 tucky, and the open woods of the Choctaw country ; here 

 they prefer the open plains thinly covered with trees ; 

 and without betraying alarm at the visits of a spectator, 

 leisurely pursue their search for caterpillars and small 

 flies, examining among the leaves or hopping among 

 the branches, and, at times descending pretty near, and 

 familiarly examining the observer, with a confidence and 

 curiosity seldom witnessed in these shy and retiring spe- 

 cies. Such was the conduct of a m.ale bird in this vi- 

 cinity, on the 4th of June, whom I discovered by his 

 slender filing notes, which were uttered every half min- 

 ute, and like those of the Black Poll Warbler, resembled 

 the suppressed syllables Hsh 'tsh 'tsh 'ishea', beginning low 

 and gradually growing louder, having nearly the same slen- 

 der whistle as that species, though somewhat stronger. 

 The pair were busily engaged collecting flies and larvae 

 from a clump of young locust trees, in the woods of Mount 

 Auburn, and occasionally they flitted among the Virgini- 

 an junipers ; the familiar visit of the male appeared for 

 the purpose of discovering my intentions near the nest, 

 about which he was naturally solicitous, though he made 

 his approaches w^ith the appearance of accident. The 

 female was more timid ; yet, while I was still engaged 

 in viewing this little interesting and secluded pair, 

 she, without any precaution or concealment, went directly 

 to the nest, in the forks of a low barberry bush, near by, 

 and when there, she sat and looked at me some time be- 

 fore she removed. She made, however, no pretences to 

 draw me away from the spot, where she was sitting on 

 4 eggs, of which I took away 2 ; her approaches to the 

 nest were now more cautious, and she came escorted 

 and encouraged by the presence of her mate. Two eggs 



