362 BULLETIN 2 03, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



other wood warblers. Professor Aughey (1878) found remains of 15 

 locusts and 24 other insects in the stomach of one collected in Nebraska. 

 A. H. Howell (1924) says: "Examination of 9 stomachs of this bird 

 from Alabama showed its food to be mainly flies, beetles, ants and 

 other Hymenoptera, and spiders." 



Behavior. — Ridgway (1889) says that "in its motions, this warbler 

 partakes much of the character of a creeper, often ascending or de- 

 scending trunks of trees or following their branches, much in the 

 manner of a Mniotilta.'''' Butler (1898) says that "its longer flights 

 much resemble those of the Chipping Sparrow. Its shorter ones, as 

 with quivering wings it beats rapid strokes when moving from limb 

 to limb, remind one of the movements of the Kingbird." Referring 

 to its general habits in Texas, Simmons (1925) says it is — 



observed singly or in pairs, moving very slowly about in the tops of tbe trees, 

 particularly the sycamores along streams, carefully keeping limbs and branches 

 between itself and any chance observer. Movements very deliberate, sometimes 

 stopping for several minues, creeping along by small hops, among upper branches, 

 never on trunks or larger limbs ; thus, in actions, strikingly different from most 

 members of the warbler family. Usually keeps to the tops of the tallest trees ; 

 hops from one perch to another very slowly ; occasionally comes down among 

 the lower branches. Usually quiet, the song being uttered at wide intervals; 

 however, at times in spring it may be heard almost constantly singing. 



Voice. — Butler (1898) writes : "The song of the Sycamore Warbler, 

 as I catch it, is as follows : Twit., che-e., che-e.^ ch-e-e^ che-e^ che-e., che-d. 

 This is about its usual length. The first syllable is abrupt, with rising 

 inflection, then, after a slight pause, the remainder is uttered at the 

 same pitch until the last syllable, which ends sharply with a slight 

 rise in tone. The whole song is very unique. Its notes are clear and 

 distinct, and it is pitched in such a key that it may be heard under 

 favorable circumstances over a quarter of a mile." 



Mr. Allison wrote to Dr. Chapman (1907) as follows: "The call- 

 note is a rather lively chipping, like that of an agitated Parula War- 

 bler, or perhaps somewhat more like that of Pine Warbler. The song 

 is like the Indigo Bunting's, much softened, and with a falling cadence 

 all the way through ; thus : See-wee., see-wee^ see-wee., swee, sioee, swee, 

 swee — the last four notes uttered more rapidly, but becoming fainter, 

 until the last one is very indistinct." 



Mrs. Nice (1931) writes: "The songs of this lovely warbler made 

 one think of evergreen forests; they gave a wistful, haunting touch 

 to the somber, leafless woods, where most of the bird notes were loud 

 and ringing. The bird in the Oliver's woods in 1927 had two songs. 

 'A' was in a continuously descending scale except for the last note 

 which was slightly higher than that preceding — see see see see see 

 see cherwer; the ending was abrupt. 'B' was more musical ; it consisted 

 of four notes on the same pitch, then three descending, ending with 



