446 BULLETIN 2 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



on the lawns or flitting through the shrubbery and low trees, even in 

 the city yards and gardens. It is about the only small bird to be seen 

 so close to houses. It seems to obtain most of its food on the ground, 

 but it also inspects the tiny yellow blossoms in the center of the circle 

 of bright red leaves of the poinsettias, where it may find some food. 

 It is an inconspicuous little bird while foraging among the dry, brown 

 leaves, but the frequent wagging of its tail betrays it. 



Mr. Howell (1932) writes: "The Palm Warbler is a prominent 

 feature of winter bird life in Florida, and in many places it is the 

 most abundant species, often occurring in loose flocks numbering 50 

 or more. The birds are found in a variety of situations — hammocks, 

 prairies, marshes, pine flats, old fields, cultivated lands, town yards, 

 and even the Gulf beaches." 



Dr. Barbour (1923) calls this warbler the commonest bird in Cuba 

 during the winter months. "Its bobbing tail may be seen by every 

 dusty roadside, along fences, in pastures, gardens and in the very 

 cities themselves — if there be a park with any cover. They come in 

 September and retire late in April, the males having begun to assume 

 the nuptial dress just as they leave. The birds seem to be such an 

 essential part of the Cuban winter landscape that it is hard to believe 

 that they are not natives." 



The palm warbler is equally common, really abundant, in nearly 

 all the Bahama Islands in winter, according to several observers. It 

 frequents the vicinity of the seashore, the scrub fields and pastures, 

 the neighborhood of houses and gardens, and even the streets of the 

 cities and towns. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Canada to the West Indies. 



Breeding range. — The palm warbler is known to breed at least north 

 to southern Mackenzie (Simpson, Providence, and Resolution) ; 

 northern Saskatchewan (north shore of Athabaska Lake near 

 McFarlane River) ; northern Manitoba (Churchill) ; central Quebec 

 (Fort George, Mistassine Post, and Piashti) ; and central Newfound- 

 land (Grand Lake, Bever Lake, and Gander) . East to Newfoundland 

 (Gander) and Nova Scotia (Baddeck, Halifax, and Barrington). 

 South to southern Nova Scotia (Barrington) ; southern Maine (Mount 

 Desert Island and Auburn) ; southern Quebec (Montreal) ; southern 

 Ontario (Ottawa, rarely, and Sault Ste. Marie) ; northern Michigan 

 (Lovells) ; possibly northern Wisconsin (Ladysmith) ; northern 

 Minnesota (Aitkin, Cass Lake, Itaska Park and Thief Lake) ; southern 

 Manitoba (Indian Bay and Lake St. Martin) ; central Saskatchewan 

 (Cumberland House, probably, Emma Lake, and Flotten Lake) ; cen- 

 tral Alberta (Flat Lake, Boyle, and Glenevis) ; and northeastern 



