THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. 



149 



Nest, made of bark-strips, grasses and plant-down, and lined with hair; 

 placed two to ten feet high in bush or sapling. Eggs> 4 or 5, white or creamy 

 white, speckled with rufous or chestnut, chiefly near larger end. Av. size, .68 x .50 

 (17.3 x 12.7). 



General Range. — Eastern United States and southern Ontario, west to Mani- 

 toba and the Plains, breeding southward to central Illinois, and northern New 

 Jersey, and in the Appalachian highlands probably to southern Georgia. Visits 

 the Bahamas, eastern Mexico, Central America and Panama in winter. 



Range in Ohio. — Regular and common spring and fall migrant. Rare sum- 

 mer resident in northern portion of state. 



IT is not easy for me to tell why the Chestnut-sided Warbler impresses 

 me as an exquisite. Perhaps it is on account of his small size and close-knit 

 form, or his willingness to have me approach within speaking distance. His 

 colors are not so bright, nor their pattern in either the contrast or harmony 



1 n I I l;l ■.i.iri.N 1 Kl> GROVE. 



that may be found with other warders, but there seems to be something about 

 the bird which makes the day brighter, the wearing field-work easier, and the 

 hours of fasting forgotten when he flits into view. I have sometimes half 

 suspected that he was conscious of my admiration from the manner in which 

 he displayed his pretty color and trim form. The slightly opened wings, 

 spread tail, and quick movements give a pleasing appearance. The females 

 and fall birds lack the distinct contrasts of color found in the spring males, 

 but they usually have some trace of the chestnut on the sides. 



In village and city parks this little warbler may be found well up 

 among the tree-tops, gleaning from the new leaves the insect eggs and larva;, 

 but in the woods he prefers a lower range. I have found him among the 



