Field Notes 105 



NESTING OF THE BLUE-WINGED WARBLER IN NORTHERN 



ILLINOIS. 



Apj)arently the blue-wingeil warbler is not common in this area even 

 in migrations. However, some few observations made at a time when 

 the presence of the bird argued the likelihood that it had remained to 

 breed in the locality are on record, and Mr. Frank M. Woodruff in 

 ' * Birds of the Chicago Area " ' has been led to say, ' ' It does not seem 

 imjjossible that a very few individuals may remain and breed within 

 our limits. ' ' 



On May 23 while pushing my way through cover of lesser growth, but 

 comparatively free of underbrush — a rather damp part of the woodland, 

 at its edge and situated between its higher slopes and the creek bottom- 

 land — I came upon a nest new to me but quite certainly the nest of a 

 warbler. There were no eggs nor for a time was any bird in evidence. 

 Presently, liowever, I caught sight of a small yellow head peering out of 

 the greenery. That, I believe, was the male; for my next glimpse was 

 of a biril not so bright but exhibiting some alarm in frequent chippings 

 though for the most })art contriving to keep in concealment. 



Upon revisiting the nest. May 29, accompanied by Dr. Frederick C. 

 Test, I found it to contain four small, delicately marked eggs, but, as 

 before, the birds were shy and it was only after a considerable interval of 

 waiting that Dr. Test and I were able to descry the female. She kej^t to 

 the higher branches of the nearby trees, and while manifesting alarm in 

 nervous chipping, seemed indisposed to make the fearless approach 

 common to most of the smaller birds when their nests are threatened. 



Th» nest was placed on the ground and supported by the three stems 

 of a small choke-cherry shrulj, to which it was not in any manner at- 

 tached. It was composed of oak leaves, the stems up-pointed, strips of 

 grape-vine bark and a few coarse grasses. The lining was of long fibres 

 of plant stems, brown in color, and some horse hair. 



The record refers to a locality near Fort Sheridan, Lake county, 

 Illinois. Edward R. Ford. 



THE FOX SPARROW IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 



On December 28, 1912, while out on a bird "hunt," my brother and 

 I noticed a bird flying along a hedge before us. At first we thought 

 it was a brown thrasher, but soon we found our error and identified it 

 as a fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca). We soon noticed that it was 

 in some way crippled, and at last we saw that its right wing was not 

 fully develojied. It was alile to fly short ilistances easily and avoided 

 capture. 



During the winter we saw it again on February 16, 1913, with a 

 companion of the same species, so that our fears for its surviving the 

 winter were allayed. It was easily identified as the same individual we 

 had before seen by its wing. On February 23, 1913, it was again seen 



