LAND BIRDS. 647 



northward. In winter, West Indies, eastern Mexico, and Central America 

 to Panama. 



This is one of the Michigan warblers about which we know comparatively 

 little, yet it certainly occurs as a migrant over the southern half of the 

 state and very possibly nests wherever found. It seems to be nowhere 

 abundant, yet its habits are such that unless carefully searched for it 

 seldom would be found. During migration it is perhaps less careful to 

 keep itself concealed and thus it is captured occasionally, but for its summer 

 residence it prefers the thick undergrowth of heavy moist woodlands where 

 the shade is so deep and the growth so dense that one unfamiliar with 

 the bird's song might never suspect its presence. In such locations the 

 nest is placed, and according to Dr. Gibbs the bird formerly nested in 

 considerable numbers in Kalamazoo county and probably still nests there. 

 He states that he found at least a dozen nests, but only by the utmost 

 patience and the hardest kind of work. 



A nest of three eggs taken in Kalamazoo county in June 1878 was in a 

 beech bush in high woods, the nest being only two and one-half feet above 

 the ground. Another set of two eggs in the same locality was taken June 

 10, 1876 from a nest in a small bush three feet above the ground. Dr. 

 Gibbs also found the bird in Kent and Ottawa counties on June 5, 6 and 

 10, 1878, and states that it is common there and undoubtedly breeds; 

 he also observed it in some numbers in Montcalm and Newaygo counties 

 in 1881, 1882 and 1883. In Ingham county this appears to be one of our 

 rare warblers and we have met with it but once in the past ten 3'ears. 

 Mr. Purdy states that he has often seen it in spring at Plymouth, Wayne 

 county, but Battle Creek, Manchester and Detroit observers consider it 

 a rare species, and according to B. H. Swales it has neVer been recorded 

 from St. Clair county. In Monroe county, Mr. Trombley of Petersburg 

 states that it was plentiful fort}^ years ago, but appears to be entirely 

 absent now. At Macatawa, Ottawa county. Prof. Frank Smith found a 

 Hooded Warbler feeding a Cowbird, August 12, 1905, and a few days later 

 and a half mile distant he found another bird of the same species caring 

 for two young Cowbirds. Undoubtedly the bird is very local and further 

 investigation may show that it has a much wider distribution in the 

 state than the foregoing records seem to indicate. 



Nehrling describes the nest of this species in southwestern Missouri 

 as follows: "It is usually placed in a snowberry bush only one or two 

 feet above the ground. It is well hidden among the dense foliage and 

 branches of these peculiar bushes and is built of fine bark-strips, skeleton 

 leaves, catkins from hickory and oak trees, and fine grasses, all compactly 

 woven together with spider webs. The lining consists of grapevine bark; 

 occasionally it is lined with hoi'se or cattle hair throughout. These nests 

 are not so l^eautifid as those found in tlie kalmia and swam[) lioneysuckle 

 thickets of the east." 



Langille describes the song as follows: "The common and familiar 

 song of the Hooded Warbler is 'che-reek, che-reek, che-i'cck, chi-tli-ee,' 

 the first thi-ee notes with a loud bell-like ring, and the rest in very mucli 

 accelerated time, and with a falling inflection. * * * In juldition 

 to its alarm note, a sharp whistling or metallic chij) whicli is veiy clearly 

 characterized, the Hooded Wai'])ler has two distinct songs as different as 

 if coming from different species" (Bull. Nutt. ();n. CMub, Vll, 1882, 119). 



The eggs are three or four, white or l)ufTy white, s|)eckled oi' spotted 



