356 BULLETIN 2 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



with its resemblance to that of /S. motaciUa^ and follows with the 

 statement that it is not so much the form of the notes themselves "as 

 their wild, ringing, carrying quality which recalls the song of the 

 water-thrush," in which quality a resemblance is readily under- 

 standable, and further says that the song has been compared to that of 

 the indigo bunting "not without reason." Howell (1932) simply 

 characterizes it as "loud and attractive," and also compares it with that 

 of the indigo bunting and the water-thrush. 



Aretas A, Saunders (MS.) writes: "The song is bright, musical and 

 lively, beginning with high-pitched two-note phrases, sounding some- 

 thing like cheeka-cheeka-cincha-cincha^ and then dropping down in 

 pitch in a series of rapid notes. It is fairly loud, with a clear ringing 

 quality." This is much the best description I have seen of this highly 

 individual song. 



This warbler is an indefatigable songster. From early March 

 through May (about Charleston) it sings' almost incessantly, prac- 

 tically from dawn to dusk. Often ovl\j seconds intervene between the 

 renditions. As June approaches, the frequency of its singing drops 

 sharply, and by the middle of that month only a very occasional song 

 is heard. 



Enemies. — The yellow-throated warbler is open to the various dan- 

 gers which beset any of the smaller passerine species, but I know of 

 no single enemy that operates against it particularly. However, it 

 occasionally falls into a somewhat novel trap, becoming entangled in 

 tough spider-webs. In much of the cypress country of the southeast 

 the large Carolina silk spider makes its home and spins a magnificent 

 golden web high up amid the straight-trunked columns of the trees. 

 Some of these webs may stretch for many yards and on two occasions 

 I have seen this warbler caught therein. In one instance it was the 

 convulsive fluttering of the bird, apparently stationary in midair, 

 which attracted attention and after some moments of violent activity, 

 it succeeded in breaking the strands which held it. In the other, a 

 dead specimen was found inextricably entangled. Although two ex- 

 periences such as this are by no means conclusive of any marked 

 mortality, it at least indicates that this may occur more often than 

 one would realize. 



Field marks. — The brilliant yellow throat is always diagnostic and 

 is usually readily seen because of the bird's tameness and deliberate 

 actions. The grayness of the plumage is also apparent. A brief 

 glimpse is enough to establish its identity, even if the characteristic 

 song is unfamiliar. 



Fall. — The yellow-throated warbler leaves the northern portions of 

 its range rather early. A very late specimen in the northern perim- 



