WARBLERS 



123 



The Parula \\'arbler has liccn called the Hhie 

 Yellowback, but the name " I'arula," meaning; a 

 diminutive Parus or Titmou.-e. was L,'i\en it 

 because of the Chickadee-like habit of searching 

 for its food ; it often hangs to the under side of a 

 limb as though that were as easy a way as right 

 side up. The species has been divided intu Xorth- 

 ern and Southern Parulas. overlapjiing in New 

 Jersev and Marvland. The distinction is in the 

 larger size and deeper, richer coloration of the 

 northern variety ( Couipsothlypis aiiicru-aua 

 iisiic(r). The bird is a fairly common sjjecies in 

 the May migration in the northern .States. 



If one watches long enough he is pretty sure 

 to see the Parula hanging from a linih. and then 

 this little grayish-bhie bird will be found tn have 

 a verv peculiar yellowish-green patch mi its back. 

 The peculiar watered-silk effect of the blue and 

 green back is the distinctive marking of this 

 ^^'arbler. 



In Florida and the other southern .States. 



where there is a great .amount nf S]janish- moss 

 hanging from the trees, the I'arulas are common, 

 and the buzzing song of chipper, chipper, chipper, 

 ehippee-ce-ce-ee is repeated many times a day. 

 During the breeding season this " sizzling trill," 

 as Dr. Chapman calls it, is one of the most notice- 

 able bird songs in the eastern United States. 



Moss is the characteristic nesting site of the 

 bird over its whole area. Usnea moss or beard 

 moss is locally common, but is rare or absent 

 over other large areas. In tlie moss regions, 

 and there only, will I'arula homes be found. The 

 bird is not (piite such an artist as he is often 

 given credit for. Frequently the pendants of 

 mos . are very attractively formed and often hang 

 liy long strong stems so that they swing easilv 

 in the breeze. .\ pair has onlv to make a hole 

 itito a mass of moss, bring in enough material to 

 make a safe bottom for the nest, and the building 

 is done. 



L. Nelson Nichols. 



OLIVE WARBLER 

 Peucedramus olivaceus ( Uiniiid) 



A II. L'. Number 11:^1 



General Description. — LeiiK'th. 5 inches. Fore 

 parts, orange : upper parts, olive-.green and ,t>:ray ; under 

 parts, whitish. Bill, shorter than head, tapering to a 

 point ; wings, long and pointed, win.g-tip very long ; 

 tail, deeply notched. 



Color.— .AnuLT M,\i.f. : Hi-ad. neck, and chcsl. flain 

 t'l-iiiiiic-nclirafi'ous. the sides of head with a broad band 

 1(1 black, involving the lores, eye ring, and sides of 

 liead ; lower hindneck and e.xtrenie upper back, yellow- 

 isli olive-green, this sometimes e.xtending over whole 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



OLIVE WARBLER (i nat. size I 

 A mountain singer of Arizona and New Me 



