The SwainSOn's Warbler (HeUnaia swainsoni) 



By Mary Hyatt 



Length : 5^ inches. 



Swainson's Warbler has a peculiar and interesting history. This species 

 has the honor of being discovered, and then practically lost to sight for about 

 forty years. 



In 1832, the Reverend John Bachman discovered this warbler, near Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina. The specimens were placed in the hands of Audubon, 

 who recognized that a new species had been found, and gave it the Latin name 

 that it now bears. In his "Birds of America," Audubon quotes the following 

 record of Mr. Bachman : "I was first attracted by the novelty of its notes, four 

 or five in number, repeated at intervals of five and six minutes apart. These 

 notes were loud, clear, and more like a whistle than a song. They resembled 

 the sounds of some extraordinary ventriloquist in such a degree that I supposed 

 the bird much further from me than it really was ; for after some trouble caused 

 by these fictitious notes, I perceived it near to me, and soon shot it. 



"The form of its bill I observed at once to differ from all other known birds 

 of our country, and was pleased at its discovery." 



Even at the present time, Swainson's warbler may be considered common 

 in only certain localities within its range, which may be given as including 

 the southern United States northward to North Carolina and Missouri and 

 east of Texas. It winters in the tropics. 



The habits of this warbler make it a difficult bird to find. It is fastidious, 

 and as Mr. Brewster says, "four things seem indispensable to his existence, 

 viz. : water, tangled thickets, patches of cane, and a rank growth of semiaquatic 

 plants." Such localities are not only difficult to find, but also uninviting fields 

 to explore. 



*Tt is ventriloquial to such a degree that there is often great difficulty in 

 tracing it to its source. You advance confidently enough at first, when suddenly 

 the sound comes from behind you. Retracing your steps, the direction is 

 again changed. Now it is to the right, shortly after to the left ; one moment 

 in the tree-tops overhead, the next among the bushes almost at your feet." 



The Goldfinch 



By Herbert Randall 



Called also Wild Canary and Yellowbird. 



Length : 5 inches. About 1 inch smaller than the English Sparrow. 



Color: Winter: Male — Olive drab, shoulders and throat yellow, brownish 

 white underneath. Summer : bright yellow except on crown, frontlet, wings 

 and tail, which are black. Wings banded in white. Tail has white on inner webs. 

 Female — Brownish olive above, yellowish white beneath. 



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