PARULA WARBLER 317 



Park at that time, as it is on the City Green in 

 the heart of New Haven ; and it may be known 

 by its chestnut crown, fine chip, and habit of wag- 

 ging its tail as it works. This tilting motion is 

 so marked that it has earned it the name of ' Wag- 

 tail Warbler.' 



In Illinois Mr. W. E. Henderson has seen flocks 

 of several hundreds feeding in a field grown up 

 with ragweed. 



Parula Warbler : Compsothlypis americana. 

 (See Fig. 189, p. 347.) 



Adult male, copper-colored or blackish hand on chest; back bluish 

 gray, with a yellow patch between shoulders. Female and 

 young, similar, but the chest patch duller or wanting. Length, 

 about 4| inches. 



Geographic Distribution. — Eastern North America ; breeds 

 locally from the Gulf states northward to Anticosti ; winters 

 from Florida southward. 



It is always a pleasure to discover this exquisite 

 little Warbler on the migrations. Other members 

 of the family are more gorgeous, but it is a pecul- 

 iarly dainty little bird, and its manner of hunting 

 is quiet and attractive. Sometimes it will hang 

 head down from a hemlock bough as easily as a 

 Chickadee. Mr. Bicknell accords it two songs ; 

 '* in one the notes coalesce into a fine insect-like 

 trill ; in the other four similar notes are followed 

 by four others." 



The nest of the Parula is unique, being made 

 habitually in the gray hanging moss. One nest 



