WORM-EATING WARBLER 45 



destroy a few young. The percentage of loss while in the nest cannot 

 be high." 



P'riedmann (1929) regards the worm-eating warbler as a "rather 

 uncommonly imposed upon species" by the eastern cowbird. "Twenty- 

 one definite records, and as many more indefinite ones have come to 

 my notice." 



Winter. — Dr. Alexander F. Skutch contributes the following: 

 "Widely distributed as a winter resident in Central America, the 

 worm-eating warbler appears to be everywhere very rare. It occurs 

 from Guatemala to Panama on both coasts, and upward in the moun- 

 tains to at least 5,000 feet. On February 26, 1935, 1 found one in the 

 forest on Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, which appears to 

 represent a slight southward extension of the known range. I have 

 recorded this rare visitant from every part of Central America below 

 6,000 feet in wiiich I have made an extended sojourn during the 

 months of the northern winter, yet only one or two in each locality, 

 except on the Finca Moca on the Pacific slope of Guatemala at 3,000 

 feet above sea-level, where in one day — January 21, 1935 — I saw 

 three. The worm-eating warbler is found in the Tropics beneath 

 dense thickets or in the undergrowth of the forest, usually near the 

 ground ; but at times one will rise to the lower branches of the trees 

 to investigate curled dead leaves caught up among them. It is solitary 

 rather than social in its habits. 



"The records of the occurrence of this warbler in Central America 

 are too few to indicate clearly the dates of its arrival and departure. 

 I found one at Tela, Honduras, on August 19, 1930 ; but the next early 

 record is for October 14, at the same locality. Griscom quotes a record 

 by Dearborn for the occurrence of this warbler at Patulul, Guatemala, 

 on April 2 ; but except for this, the latest record I have seen is from 

 El General, Costa Rica, March 11, 1939." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Eastern United States to Panama. 



Breeding range. — The worm-eating warbler breeds north to north- 

 eastern Kansas (Lawrence) ; possibly central southern Nebraska (Red 

 Cloud) ; probably south-central Iowa (Des Moines) ; probably south- 

 ern Wisconsin (Wyalusing, Madison, and Milwaukee) ; northeastern 

 Illinois (Hinsdale) ; southern Indiana (Terre Haute, Bloomington, 

 and Indianapolis) ; central Ohio (Columbus, East Liverpool, and 

 possibly Cleveland) ; southern New York (Penn Yan and Albany), 

 and southern Connecticut (New Haven and Say brook). It has been 

 found in summer north to London, Ontario ; Northampton, Ipswich, 

 and North Eastham, Massachusetts. East to Connecticut (Say- 



