THE BLUE-WINGED WARBLER. 



view. When suited to a "t" the bird will buzz into the late hours of the 

 mi iriiiug-, when cither songsters are silent. 



Active and sprightly in habit, in spite of its tranquilizing song, the 

 Blue-wing is seen to best advantage when nest-hunting or nest-building. 

 Selecting a promising spot the bird will approach it by degrees, first dropping 

 down some sapling ladder, rung by rung, until the lowest branch is reached; 

 thence flitting to the top of a bush-clump, and descending in like manner to 

 the ground. Here diligent inspection is made about the roots of the bush, 

 the leaf supply, drainage, and cover being duly considered. If the outlook 

 is promising the mate is summoned and the situation reconsidered. 



The nest is placed upon the ground or upon the trash which covers it, 

 and is usually so surrounded by descending" stems as to be well hidden and 

 quite secure. It is made out of rather coarse materials, — principally grape- 

 vine bark and dead leaves, — bulky and deep, with ragged or indefinite edges, 

 and often boasting nothing better than finely shredded bark for a lining. 

 The female is a close sitter and may not infrequently be taken by the hand. 



In June, 1902, I found a typical Chat's nest placed four feet high in 

 blackberry vines, but which contained three tiny eggs of uniform size, quite 

 like those of the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. In response to my "screen" 

 of inquiry a Blue-wing promptly appeared, not once only but twice, ami 

 scolded me roundly ; while a Chat joined in at twice the distance. I was 

 thoroughly puzzled, baffled ; it was impossible to tell from the appearances 

 which bird owned the eggs. Moreover my time was short. "When in doubt 

 take the nest." The set is now in the Oberlin College collection, but we 

 shall never know whether to label it "Chat" or "Blue-wing." 



