[82 THE MOURNING \\ ARBLER. 



General Range. — Eastern North America to the Plains, breeding from the 

 mountainous portions of Pennsylvania, New England, New York and northern 

 Michigan northward. Central America and northern South America in winter. 

 Accidental in Greenland. 



Range in Ohio. — Rather rare spring and fall migrant. 



AI/l'llO deeply veiled in crape as to its head this rare Warbler is a 

 thing of beauty. Its beauty is, however, still further veiled — from human 

 eyes — for it is one of the most persistent of skulkers. During its migrations 

 it passes from copse to copse by night, and remains in hiding by day with 

 almost as much care as that exercised by escaping slaves in the days of the 

 Underground Railroad. One sees just enough of them now and then to know 

 that they are sprightly birds, graceful of movement and keen of eye. Occa- 

 sionally one may be found in an unguarded moment exploring the tree-tops, 

 but more frequently the coveted glimpse is obtained only by trampling on 

 brush piles or beating outlying thickets. 



It is not impossible that the Mourning Warbler may be found breed- 

 ing in our state, since it is common in New York and New England, and lias 

 been reported breeding in Illinois "even south of latitude 39 degrees. 1 " 



The bird is sometimes found singing during the northern movement, 

 especially in the Lake Erie counties. Professor Jones gives it "tee, te-o, te-o, 

 te-o, we-se, the last couplet accented and much higher pitched.'" Rev. J. H. 

 Langille states that the breeding song varies considerably, but '"may generally 

 be denoted by the syllables, free, free, free, fruh, frith. — the first three being 

 loud and clear and the last two in a lower tone, and so much softer and shorter 

 that a moderate distance, or a slight breeze in the opposite direction, may 

 prevent one from hearing them." 



1 Prof. W. W. Cooke, Bull, No. 2, Div. of Economic Ornithology, U. s. Dept. Agr.. p. 258. 



