LXXXI 



Maryland Yellow-throat; Yellow-throated Ground 



Warbler; Black-masked Warbler 



681a. Geothlypis trichas (Swaims.) 



The sub-species, Northern Yellow-throat, is the War- 

 bler found in the central part of the United States, and 

 is slightly larger and more clearly defined in color than 

 is the Atlantic Coast bird. 



The upper parts of this Yellow-throat are olive, the 

 wings and tail are brown, practically all the under parts 

 are rich yellow, the face and forehead are covered by a 

 mask of black and the bird is small, measuring about 

 five inches. Nests are on or close to the ground, in low 

 damp places, usually near a stream or swamp. There 

 are from four to six eggs to a nest, white with a few lilac 

 spots. 



These birds are migratory, appearing in Missouri 

 about April tenth. They have a broad migratory and 

 breeding range. The female does the incubating, while 

 the male busies himself eluding and misguiding all who 

 come near the nest. As he darts among the branches it 

 is hard to follow his movements though he continually 

 proclaims his new location by calling what sounds like, 

 * ' Here it is ! here it is ! " But when you move toward the 

 source of the song the nest is not there. He is ever mas- 

 querading, with his yelloM^ suit and black mask across his 

 face. 



The female, too, will go sneaking away from the 

 nest, inviting you to accompany her with her, ''Here I 

 am ! here I am ! Follow me ! ' ' but not waiting a second 

 for you to catch up with her. The "whichitee, whichi- 

 tee!" of the two may be heard at all hours of the day 

 in midsummer ; they are among the easiest birds to iden- 

 tify, as their markings are constant and clearly defined. 



For years I had hunted for a nest of these birds. I 

 had often seen both the male and the female in the vicin- 

 ity of their home and had watched them carrying worms 

 into thickets and briar patches, but every effort of mine to 



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