r,82 MTCHICAN BIRD IJFE. 



Virco were singing at the same time, ])ut the ]'j-othonotary's song was 

 louder than any of these. It reminded me more of the Louisiana Water- 

 thrush than any other song and was of a very sweet quality." Mrs. Camp- 

 bell also noted that the female gathered some sort of food from the surface 

 of the water or the bog, going only a short distance from the nest for it, 

 l)ut she was unable to tell just what the food was. 



The northernmost of these records (Grand Rapids) is approximately in 

 latitude 43 degrees, and we have but one report of the occurrence of this 

 warbler at any more northerly point in the state. A specimen was picked 

 up dead on the morning of JNlay 26, 1907, at Saginaw, by Miss Harriet H. 

 Wright, who states that it was after a night of sleet and snow, and several 

 daj's of bad weather, which proved fatal to many other warblers. 



As already indicated this bird is remarkable for the regions which it 

 frequents and particularly for the manner of its nesting. It seems to 

 select invariably the wettest swamps, being partial to regions of overflow, 

 where the water stands for weeks or perhaps months among the trees 

 alongside the river. In such situations it selects a decayed stump in 

 which a deserted woodpecker's hole or some natural cavity exists, and 

 in this, usually not more than five or six feet above the surface of the 

 water, the nest is built. This is made of various soft substances, but 

 according to Brewster "fresh green moss enters largely into its composition, 

 and although this substance is readily obtained, a week is sometimes 

 consumed in building the simple little affair. * * * The shape and 

 size vary with that of the cavity in which it is placed. When the hole 

 is deep it is usually built up to within four or five inches of the entrance. 

 * * * When the cavity is shallow it is often only scantily lined with 

 moss and a few fine roots." Dry leaves, fine twigs and a few feathers 

 are often added to the nest materials. 



The eggs vary in number from four to seven, although occasionally the 

 female appears to sit on only one or two eggs. These are clear white, 

 highly polished, and spotted with pale lavender and reddish-l)i'()wn. They 

 average .68 by .55 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult male: Head, neck and entire under parts, with the exception of the under tail- 

 coverts, rich bright yellow; under tail-coverts white; interscopular region greenish-yellow, 

 usually in rather marked contrast witli the head; lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts 

 l)luish ash; wings and tail slate-color margined with ash,, the wings mnnarked, the tail- 

 fcatliers, except the middle pair, with large white blotches on the inner web; bill black. 

 I'cmalc similar but duller, tiie top of tlie head usually olive-green and the ash of the wings 

 and back h^ss pure. 



Lengtli f) to 5.50 inches; wing 2.90 to 3; tail about 2.25. Sexes alike in size. 



263. Worm-eating Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorus (GmeL). (639) 



Synonyms: Worm-eating Swump Warbler, Worm-cater. — Motacilla vermivora, 

 Gmelin, 1789. — Sylvia vermivora, Wils., Nutt., Aud. — Helinaia vermivora, Aud., 1839. 

 — Helmitheros vermivorus, Baird, 1858, A. O. U. Check-list, 1886, and most subsequent 

 authors. — Vermivora pennsylvanica. Swains., Jard., and a few others. 



Top of the head striped with three buff and four black lines; under parts 

 buffy, without streaks or spots; no wing-bars; tail without spots. 



Distribution. — Eastern United States, north to southern New York 

 and southern New England, west to eastern Nebraska and Texas; south 



