1"24 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Helraithoros vormivoriis (Gmel.) 



WOKM-EATINO WARBLEE. 

 Popular sTuonym.— Worm-eatliic Swump Warblur. 



Mnltici la rrmihuira Gm. 8. N. i. ITSK, 951 (based on Eilw. pi. 3051. 



Hulcia rcniiirora Lath.— WiLS. Am. Orn. 111. 1S|1,74. pi. lU. flg. 4.— Nurr. Man. I. 1832, 

 •III9.-AUD. Orn. BIob. 1. 1X3J. 177: v, ist9. 4(iO. pi. ;tl. 



Jlelinaia ivniiit'ora Ald. Synop. ItCJll, (M; It. Am. 11. IH4I, SC, pi. 105. 



He.millienin vermivonia Baihd, B. N. Am. 1«S. ;aJ: Cat. N. Am. B. KW. No. ITS; Re- 

 view. I8«;4. 179.-L'OUES. Key. 1S72. 93; Check List, lg7;i. No. GO: :!(! oj. 1882. No. 96 

 rHilmrdh^rus"): B. N. W. 1874. 48: B. Col. Val. 1878. 21I.-B. B. \ K. IIIaL N. Am. B. 

 1. 1874. iS^, pi. 10, IlK. 10. 



Jlelmiiitheruf, vermivonis voN Frantzius. Jour, fur Orn. IHi.'.i. itw. 



Uelmintholhtnis vennirorus 8alv. & CioDM. Biol. Contr. Am. i. ISSO, 112.— RiBow. Nom. 

 N. Am. B. 188!, No. 77. 



Hab. EuLSlern United States, chiefly south of 40°; north rocularly to Connecticut Val- 

 ley, oasuuiiy to Maine; west to border of Great Plains. Wlnterlue lu Florida, Cuba, Ja- 

 maica, Yucatan, and Central America, south to VeriiKUii. 



8r. Chab. Adult [sexes alike): Head bulT, with a broad bla<;k stripe on each side of 

 the crown (from nostrils to occiput), and a narrower black stripe bebiud the eye, along 

 upper edee of the aurlculars, continued, more or less distinctly, at the anterior anele ot 

 the eye. Upper part.s plain olive-ereen. Lower parts butl, paler on chin, throat, abdo- 

 men, and crissum, where sometimes almost white. Upper mandible dark brown, the 

 lower paler; iris dark brown; lojts and feet pale brown In dried skins, pale brownish 

 flesh-uolor in life. Wine. 2. 05-2. W; tail, 1.90-2.20; culmen, .60-65; tarsus, about .70. (Female 

 averaclnK smaller than the male.) 



Yuung, first iihnitage: Head, neck, and lower parts deep buff, the black stripes of the 

 adult merely indicated by indi.<!tinct stripes of dull brown; back, scapulars, rump, and 

 wing-coverts dull lidht brown, tinced with cinnamon, the Krealer coverts passing into 

 deep buff terminally. Kemiges and rectrlcos olive-green, as In the adult. 



The buff of head-stripes, etc., is deeper in autumnal specimens. 



Few of our Warblers are less conspicuous than the present species. 

 Dull of color, retiring in disposition, and unusually shy (according 

 to the writer's experience), with no distinctive notes, he may easily 

 pass unnoticed, or if seen, unidentified. Except for the absence of 

 streaks on his breast (and this deficiency only a full front view 

 would reveal), he would readily pass to the less careful observer for 

 a Golden-crowned Thrush, so common in the same localities. His 

 song so closely resembles that of the Chipping Ri)arrow that it is 

 sometimes difiicult for the most critical listener to distinguish it. 



The Worm-eating Warbler usually frequents thick woods, preferably 

 the sides of ravines, where it keeps among the undergrowth, and 

 builds its nest on the ground, iiul)edded in dry leaves, and hidden 

 by a bunch of sprouts, a few fern-fronds, or other similar objects. 



Ill suitalile localities in southern Illinois, the Worm-eating War- 

 bler is a common species ; but in the northern portion of the State 

 it appears to be very rare, Mr. Nelson, noting only a single speci- 

 men, taken at Waukegan, May 21, 1876. 



