Prothonotary Warbler. 295 



resting-places and upon sand-bars; and it is probable that 

 in the middle and late summer they roost in numbers 

 among the flags and weeds of the swamp-lakes, like some 

 others of the swallows. 



The tree swallow is said to inhabit the whole of tem- 

 perate North America. It passes the winter in southern 

 United States, Cuba, Mexico, northern Central America, 

 and the Bermuda Islands. On its return in the spring it 

 enters Illinois soon after the middle of March, varying to 

 the 25th of the month, according to the advancement of 

 the season. It appears to confine itself to the vicinity of 

 the water-courses in its migrations. Indeed, in this section 

 of Illinois it is seldom found far away from the rivers and 

 swamp-lakes, except when it makes excursions in search 

 of nest materials. Other exceptional instances are when 

 isolated pairs take up their residence in the bird-boxes 

 near rural dwellings and in town, thus appropriating the 

 places of the purple martins and bluebirds that have 

 withstood the encroachment of the English sparrows. 

 The tree swallow leaves us about the middle of September, 

 our lives brightened by its acquaintance through the 

 summer, and our minds filled with anticipations of the re- 

 curring season of birds and vernal beauty. 



PEOTHONOTARY WARBLER. 



Along the submerged margins of the river and adjacent 

 lakes the bird-gazer will be attracted by the voice and 

 movements of the prothonotary warbler, and persons who 

 are familiar with this elegant little creature in its favorite 

 surroundings agree with me that it is a veritable gem of 

 the swampwoods. There are many handsome and even 

 beautiful birds whose colors are so closely assimilated with 

 the foliage they frequent that they are difficult to discover 

 ia the emerald setting. Thebeautiful little yellow warbler, 

 which spends so many happy hours among the foliage of 

 the maples along the highways, and which recites its 

 simple ditty so persistently as it gleans its food among the 

 fresh twigs of the orchard trees, is partially obscured by 

 its protective coloration, though its attire is pretty and 



