WARBLERS 



163 



is the Yellow-breasted Chat, the largest and 

 withal the most unwarbler-like of all the Ameri- 

 can Warblers. Unlike the Jay. the Chat doesn't 

 make other birds the Inilt of his jokes or the 

 object of his ridicule or wrath. Nor has he ever 

 been accused of the cannibalistic and thieving 

 propensities of the Jay. Indeed, his jests and 

 antics seem often to be directly excited by the 

 presence of man, and intended for his amuse- 

 ment. And in Tom-Sawyer-like showing otT 

 before humans he has no equal in the world of 

 American birds. 



Speaking of his vocal performances, Mr. F>ur- 

 roughs very aptly says that the Cat-bird " is 

 mild and feminine compared with this rollicking 

 polyglot," and then presents the following capital 

 picture of the bird : " Though very shy, and 

 carefully keeping himself screened when you 

 show any disposition to get a better view, he 

 will presently, if you remain quiet, ascend a twig, 

 or hop out on a branch in plain sight, lop his tail. 

 droop his wings, cock his head and become ver\- 

 melodramatic. In less than half a minute he 

 darts into the bushes again, and again tunes up, 

 no Frenchman rolling his r's so tluentlv. 

 C-r-r-i--r-r,-'^clirr.-that's if.-clicc. quack, cliick.- 

 vit. yit. yit.-iiozi^' hit it,-tr-r-r,-i^'lieii,-c'i.Tii.', ca"u'.- 

 cut, cut , -tea-boy r'tJi'lio , who,-mciv, mew, and so 

 on till you are tired of listening." {Wake Robin.) 

 And as an appropriate exit after one of these de- 

 liverances, the bird is likely to take himself otT 

 in a curious fluttering flight, with his head down 

 and his legs dangling at full length, as though 

 he were trying to make himself as ludicrous as 

 possible. 



Like the Oven-bird and the Water-Thrushes 

 the Chat has a flight song which is a voluble and 

 altogether remarkable efifort, containing manv 

 notes of real beauty. This he delivers as he rises 

 steadily upward, his legs dangling and his head 

 elevated, the rapidly uttered syllables pouring 

 from his throat with astonishing volubility, until 

 he reaches a height twice or more than that of 

 the surrounding trees. Here he pauses and 

 hovers for a few moments on verv rapidlv mov- 

 ing wings, the song gradually dying awav until it 



ceases, when he drt)ps aliuost perpendicularly 

 and regains his old or another perch. 



It should be recorded also, to the credit of this 

 peculiar bird, that when the Cowbird attempts 

 to make it the victim of its parasitic practice, the 

 mother Chat often destroys the parasite's egg 

 and her nwii as well. Cicokcr (iT.ADnrix. 



Phutu by A. .•\. .Allrii 



ONE OF THE SHYEST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 



Iv photograph ever secured of a Yellow-breasted Chat 

 on its nest 



Th. 



The Liing-tailed Chat ( Ictcna vircns longi- 

 cauda) of the western Cnited States is similar 

 to the Yellow-breasted Chat ; hut the wing, tail, 

 and bill are longer, the tail always, or nearly al- 

 ways, longer than the wing; the upper parts arc 

 more grayish olive-green, usually more nearly 

 gray than olive-green ; white of cheek region 

 much more extended, frequently occupying the 

 entire cheek area ; yellow of under parts averages 

 deeper. 



HOODED WARBLER 



Wilsonia citrina ( Boddacrl ) 



A, n, f. Xumhcr 



Other 



catching 

 Warbler. 

 General Description. — Length. 5J4 inche 



Names. — Hooded Titmouse ; Hooded Fh- 

 Warbler: Rlack-headed Warbler; Mitered 



Upper 



See Color Plate 9.S 



parts, olive-green; face and inider parts, yellow, I'.ill. 

 not over !j length of head, tajiering gradually to the 

 tip: wings, moderately long and pointed; tail, rntnided 

 or slightly double rounded. 



