WOOD WARBLERS 183 



tropics. They appear about New York at the 

 end of April or in early May. 



Nashville Warbler. About second-growth 

 patches of woods and in the thickets that fringe 

 ponds, lakes and streams, in New York State 

 and New England, this sprightly litt'e Warbler 

 is one of the common birds of summer. They 

 receive their name from the fact that Wilson, 

 the discoverer of the species, found them near 

 the city of Nashville, in Tennessee. They are 

 not so often dwellers of the deep w^oods as many 

 of their cousins, and so their acquaintance is 

 more easily made. Besides, they live much in 

 the lower branches of trees and in bushes, and 

 nest on the ground, traits which render them 

 quite conspicuous on our excursions afield in 

 early spring and summer. 



The dress of the Nashville Warbler is more 

 refined than brilliant, and is of such a character 

 as to render him rather easy to identify. The 

 top and sides of the head of the male are blue- 

 gray. Partially concealed on the crown is a 

 patch of chestnut, an inconspicuous mark. 

 Elsewhere the upper parts are olive-green, and 

 there are no wing bars. The under parts are 

 bright yellow, brighter on the throat and shad- 

 ing to v/hite on the belly. The female has prac- 

 tically the same dress but somewhat paler. 

 With this variety there seems to be little love 

 making, and it appears that the mate has small 

 part in setting up housekeeping, except as he 

 stimulates and cheers the female at her work. 

 Perchance on a near-by bush he sings his bold 

 and pleasing song, which has been indicated by 



