THE BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. 



No. 69. 



BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. 



A. O. U. No. 662. Dendroica blackburniae (Gmel.J. 



Synonyms. — PROMETHEAN WarbeER ; PROMETHEUS. 



Description. — Adult male: Chin, throat, and fore-breast flaming orange 

 (Cadmium yellow) ; on the rest of head and neck paler cadmium, showing through 

 the black in spots, viz. a small patch on crown, a narrow median line on forehead, 

 a superciliary line broadening on lores and behind, an infra-orbital spot, and a 

 patch on side of neck ; remaining upper parts black variegated with white or 

 creamy white; wings and tail dusky; large white wing-patches formed by tips 

 of middle, and outer webs and tips of greater coverts, but indented by dusky 

 webs of outermost feathers ; white blotches on inner webs of tail-feathers, ex- 

 tensive on two outer pairs, narrow on remainder except central pair ; remaining 

 under parts sordid white or yellowish, with black streaks on sides of breast and 

 sides. Adult female : Similar to male but paler ; dull olive-gray streaked with 

 dusky on back ; throat Indian yellow ; remaining yellow faded to maize color. 

 Immature: Like female but browner; narrow white wing-bars and dusky- 

 striped interscapular region diagnostic; yellow paler, almost wanting on breast. 

 Length about 5.25 (133.3); av - OI i0U1 " Columbus specimens: wing 2.60 (66.); 

 tail 1. 71 (43.4); bill .38 (9.7). 



Recognition Marks. — Medium size; orange-yellow of throat is distinctive 

 even when faded. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, a compact mass of bark- 

 strips, spruce-twigs, grasses and plant-down, lined with hair, fur, or feathers; 

 placed well up in coniferous trees. Eggs, 4, greenish- or bluish-white, speckled 

 and spotted in usual warbler fashion. Av. size, .69 x .49 (17.5 x 12.5). 



General Range. — Eastern North America west to eastern Kansas and Mani- 

 toba, breeding from the southern Alleghanies, Massachusetts and Michigan north 

 to Labrador. In winter south to the Bahamas, eastern Mexico. Central America 

 and western South America. 



Range in Ohio. — Abundant spring and fall migrant. 



IT is not difficult to follow the injunction of the birds: Love me. love 

 my woods. One simply cannot help it if they are as charming, and varied, 

 and productive as is the group of adjoining tracts near Oberlin, known col- 

 lectively as the South Woods, and now called affectionately by the nature- 

 lovers the "Old" South AYoods. Nor is the reverent adjective misplaced, 

 for the three kingly 1 >aks which mark the bend of Warbler e< irner ( appearing on 

 page 155 and again on page [56) are full four hundred years old. as measured 

 by the rings of a brother hard by, recently slain in the full vigor of sap. No 

 guns are allowed in the forest: — would that as much could be said of axes! 

 Berrying is forbidden upon pain of expulsion, and save for a few wandering 



