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Published by the Society on the first of March, June, September and December 

 Vol. XII DECEMBER, 1910 No. 4 



The Black and White Warbler. 



By Cordelia J. .Stanwood. 



''''Sts-Toee, sis-zaee, sis-xvee. sis-wee.''' A thin, high, wiry song an- 

 nounces the fact that the Black and White Warbler has returned to the 

 Northern woods and resumed its attacks upon our insect foes. This 

 inconspicuous bird is among the early Warbler arrivals, coming about 

 the middle of May from Florida and as far away as Central and 

 South America. 



Following the sound, I see a black and white striped bird that 

 calls dtz^ or dtz-dtz-dtz, as it moves up the trunk or along the 

 branches, vibrating its tail from right to left, its head from left to 

 right. It has the peculiar appearance of swinging partly around 

 as it creeps rapidly forward, looking carefully over each side of the 

 branch. Sometimes it hangs from the lower side of the limb, while 

 it picks off insects or larvae. After a brief survey of one tree, it flits 

 to another, instead of searching over an entire tree. 



This Warbler, appropriately, because of its black and white 

 markings, frequents mostly gray and white birches, although it is 

 to be found on all trees. It explores the bark, trunk, limbs, buds 



