204 BULLETIN 203, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and click beetles, leaf hoppers, plant lice, and scale insects, sawfly 

 larvae and ants, and caterpillars and moths. Surely a record of good 

 deeds to match the excellence of appearance of this feathered gem." 



F. H. King (1883) reports from Wisconsin: "Of seventeen speci- 

 mens examined, three had eaten four hymenoptera, among which were 

 two ants ; one, one moth ; six, seventeen caterpillars ; six, fifteen dip- 

 tera; six, twelve beetles; and one, two larvae. Two tipulids were 

 represented among the diptera." Professor Aughey (1878) counted 

 as many as 23 locusts, probably in nymphal stages, in the stomach of a 

 magnolia warbler collected in Nebraska. And F. L. Burns (1915a) 

 included this species with the Cape May warbler as feeding on culti- 

 vated grapes. 



Behavior. — The magnolia warbler is not only one of the most beauti- 

 ful — to my mind, the most beautiful — of wood warblers, it is one of the 

 most attractive to watch. It frequents, especially on its breeding 

 grounds, the lower levels in its forest haunts, where it can easily be seen. 

 It is most active and sprightly in its movements as it flits about in the 

 small trees or bushes, with its wings drooping and its tail spread almost 

 constantly, showing the conspicuous black and white markings in 

 pleasing contrast with the brilliant yellow breast, the gray crown, and 

 the black back ; it seems to be conscious of its beauty and anxious to 

 display it. Its rich and vivacious song, almost incessantly uttered 

 during the early part of the nesting season, attracts attention and 

 shows the nervous energy of the active little bird. It is not particu- 

 larly shy and is quite apt to show itself at frequent intervals, as if from 

 curiosity. The female sits closely on her nest until almost touched, 

 and then slips quickly off to the ground and disappears. But both of 

 the parents are devoted to their young and quite bold in their defense, 

 as mentioned above by Miss Stanwood. At the nest that Mrs. Nice 

 (1926) was watching the warblers paid no attention to a red squirrel 

 that several times came within 15 feet of the nest. "In general the 

 relations of these warblers with other birds was not unfriendly; no 

 attention was paid to passing Chickadees nor to Chewinks and Mary- 

 land Yellow-throats that nested near. The only birds towards whom 

 the male showed animosity were a male Myrtle Warbler that he drove 

 away both during incubation and while the young were in the nest, and 

 the male of his own species who came to call July 2. On July 8 the 

 female warbler gave short shrift to an inquisitive female Black- 

 throated Green Warbler that seemed to wish to inspect the household." 



The intimate studies made by Mrs. Nice and Henry Mousley indicate 

 that these warblers will tolerate a reasonable amount of human 

 intimacy without showing too much timidity. 



Voice. — My earliest impression of the song of the magnolia warbler 

 was written in 1891 as wee-chew^ wee-chew in full, rich notes. Later I 



