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Bird - Lore 



wing's nest hidden under the broad leaf of 

 a skunk cabbage in an open swamp. To 

 m\- surprise and delight, the male did 

 all the feeding of this family and he 

 seemed not to mind the camera in the 

 least. 



Returning a few days later, I found the 

 young birds preparing to leave the nest. 

 I took them up to prevent their escape 

 while I was getting ready for another 

 picture when, to my astonishment and 

 delight, the male came and fed them as 

 they sat in my hand. 



Believing that this was as unusual 

 an experience for the Golden- wing, as I am 

 sure it was for me, I send you the picture 

 which I managed to secure. — Clinton E. 

 Kellogg, Secretary-Treasurer, Burroughs 

 Audubon Nature Club, Rochester, N. Y. 



Prothonotary Warbler at Erie, Pa. 



The vicinity of Erie, comprising the 

 lake-shore, Presque Isle, commonly known 

 as the Peninsula, and Waldameer Park, is 

 an enchanted paradise for bird-lovers in 

 the Keystone State. 



From September 4 to 7, 1918, we spent 

 four days profitably observing and study- 

 ing bird-life around Erie. The Warbler 

 migration, with its passing 'waves', showed 

 us 23 different species of the Mniotiltidae. 



On September 6, we watched a Pro- 

 thonotary Warbler feeding on the berries 

 of the 'Devil's Club' tree at the entrance to 

 Waldameer Park. The bird was under 

 extended observation for at least an hour 

 by both of us, with field-glasses, under a 

 strong early afternoon sunlight. This 

 beautiful, well-marked specimen was a 

 gorgeous sight in the bright sunshine, as 

 it lazily devoured the ripe berries. A male 

 Black-throated Blue and several other 

 Warblers were feeding on the same 'Devil's 

 Club' tree about 8 feet above the ground. 

 When we approached within about 15 

 feet of the birds, the Prothonotary 

 Warbler flew away, but the others allowed 

 a much closer approach before taking 

 alarm. Whereupon we retired, and, after 

 a few minutes, the group of Warblers 

 returned and resumed their feast. We 



repeated this many times and studied them 

 with our binoculars from all sides, although 

 glasses were almost unnecessary at such 

 close range. The Prothonotary Warbler 

 drew all our attention on account of its 

 beauty and rarity. We compared it on 

 the spot with Chester Reed's colored plate 

 which does not do the bird justice. Even 

 Ridgway's beautiful colored plate falls 

 short of the real bird. 



The intense yellow, nearly an orange, 

 on the whole head and underparts showed 

 it to be seemingly a male bird. The ashy 

 blue color of the wings (without bars) 

 contrasted prettily with the gold. Even 

 the white on the outside tail-feathers was 

 plainly evident. The back of head was not 

 yet washed with dusky, as described by 

 Chapman for the adult male's fall plum- 

 age, but the uniform orange- yellow 

 encircled its whole head. This bird might 

 be more aptly named the Golden-headed 

 Warbler. 



It was not until after our return, when 

 reading Todd's 'Birds of Erie and Presque 

 Isle' that we realized that we made a 

 first 'observed record' for Erie or vicinity. — 

 Thos. L. McConnell and L. F. Savage, 

 McKeesport, Pa. 



Townsend's Solitaire 



1 wish to record a \isit of Townsend's 

 Solitaire to this locality on April 1 1 

 and 12, iQiQ. The bird first appeared on 

 the nth, and was seen by the writer 

 flying about in an old deserted orchard in 

 the foot-hills, but having no glass 1 

 could not identify it at the time. The 

 next morning, however, I found it again, 

 this time in my own orchard, and was able 

 to observe it at leisure for more than an 

 hour, making identification absolutely 

 certain. During this time its flights were 

 confined to the orchard and roadside, and 

 a stumpy pasture adjoining. It was feed- 

 ing constantly, taking its prey in Blue- 

 bird fashion, by watching for it from fence- 

 posts and stumps, and dropping to the 

 ground only when an insect had been 

 located, returning immediately to its 

 jioint of observation. In fact, in its habits, 



