52 WORM-EATING WARBLER 



This is probably the song referred to by Jones in the following 

 quotation: "Mr. Burns describes a song that resembles that of a 

 Goldfinch; chat-ah-che-che-chee-chee-chee, which seems to correspond 

 well with a passion song in the manner of utterance." 



"Commonly remains in song after its arrival until the second 

 week in July. Sometimes singing ceases a little earlier than this; 

 again, in other years, songs are to be heard until the third week of 

 the month. 



"The second song-period of this Warbler I can speak of only 

 from one season's experience. On July lo, 1881, several of these 

 birds were silently inhabiting a small tract of woodland, their first 

 season of song having passed; here on August 14, and again on the 

 2ist, they were found in fine plumage and in full song. 



"The songs of no three birds known to me are more alike than 

 those of the Worm-eating Warbler, the Chipping Sparrow, and the 

 Slate-colored ]vlx\co." {Bicknell.^) 



"Call-note a sharp dzt like that of Swainson's Warbler, or the 

 Black and White Warbler; it is uttered at all times and seasons. 

 The song is a perfectly monotonous trill; it is uttered during spring 

 migration during momentary pauses in the active creeping of the 

 bird — never in flight. I have seen a bird perch for some time upon 

 an exposed dead limb, uttering the song at short intervals, and mean- 

 while sitting quite still. This was on April 26, in Tishomingo county 

 —almost too soon for the bird to have had a nest. I have heard no 

 song in the fall." {Allison, MS.) 



"I can distinguish no difference between the notes of this species 

 and those of the Chipping Sparrow ; the first may be a trifle weaker, 

 perhaps. The series of notes may be uttered while perched, or 

 cieeping about the lower branches of the trees, sapling tops, bushes, 

 or fallen brush, or while on the ground. With slightly drooping tail 

 and wings, puflfing out of body plumage, throwing its head back until 

 the beak is perpendicular, it trills with swelling throat an unvarying 

 Che — e-e-e-e-e-e, which does not sound half so monotonous in the 

 woods as does the Chippy's lay in the open. The first song period 

 is from the time of arrival until June 24 to July 5, but during the last 

 two weeks, when housekeeping is a thing of the past and the hot days 

 have come, it is seldom heard except in the early morning, beginning 

 about four o'clock, and in the cool of the evening. The second song 

 period is very brief and follows the molt. I have no dates." 

 {Burns, MS.) 



