44 BULLETIN 2 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Almost everyone emphasizes the resemblance of the song to that of 

 the chipping sparrow. Burns (1905) says: "I can distinguish no 

 difference between the notes of this species and the Chipping Sparrow ; 

 the first may be a trifle weaker perhaps." But, in some notes recently 

 sent to me, he writes : "The song has often been described as easily 

 mistaken for that of either the chipping sparrow or slate-colored 

 junco, but by no means by an expert. The notes of the worm-eater 

 have a buzzing or bubbling quality not easily described, but are quite 

 distinct from the flat notes of the species named above." And Eugene 

 P. Bicknell (1884) writes: "The songs of no other three birds known 

 to me are more alike than those of the Worm-eating Warbler, the 

 Chipping Sparrow, and the Slate-colored Snowbird." He is in agree- 

 ment with Saunders and Burns that this bird sings from the time of 

 its arrival until the last of June or early July, but he also says : "On 

 July 10, 1881, several of these birds were silently inhabiting a small 

 tract of woodland, their first season of song having passed ; here, on 

 August 14, and again on the 21st, they were found in fine plumage 

 and in full song." Evidently there is a cessation of singing during the 

 molting period. 



Burns (1905) says of the song: "The series of notes may be uttered 

 while perched, or creeping about the lower branches of the trees, sap- 

 ling tops, bushes or fallen brush, or while on the ground. With 

 slightly drooping tail and wings, puffing out of body plumage, throw- 

 ing its head back until the beak is perpendicular, it trills with swelling 

 throat an unvarying Che-e-e-e-e-e-e^ which does not sound half so 

 monotonous in the woods as does the Chippy's lay in the open." 



Dr. Chapman (1907) adds : "Mr. W. DeW. Miller of Plainfield, New 

 Jersey, tells me that he has on two occasions heard a flight song from 

 this species. It is described by him as much more varied and musical 

 than the ordinary song, though lacking in strength. It was given as 

 the bird flew through the woods at an even level, not rising above the 

 tree-tops, as does the Oven-bird and other flight singers." 



Field marks.— W\\Qi\ seen walking around on the ground the worm- 

 eating warbler might be mistaken for an ovenbird, but the conspicuous 

 black stripes on the head of the former are quite distinctive, very 

 different from the head markings of the latter. Moreover, the oven- 

 bird is distinctly spotted on the breast, whereas the warbler has a 

 plain, unmarked breast and no conspicuous wing bars. Except for 

 the bold stripes on the head it is just a plain olive and buffy warbler 

 in all plumages. 



Enemies.— ^dijs Burns (1905) : "This Warbler's enemies are wood- 

 mice, red squirrels and hunting dogs ; the latter will sometimes push 

 up and overturn the nest; an occasional weasel or blacksnake may 



