AMEKICAN AVARP.LKRS. .51 



grove swamps; a singular place for a bird which almost everv- 

 where else inhabits uplands. l^\u-ther north in Florida it oc- 

 curs on the edges of hammocks, sections of woodlands which 

 are covered with a thick growth of mixed deciduous trees. 



The Prairie is a restless \varbkn-, constantlv flittine from 

 bush to bush, but, especially during the breeding season, nev- 

 er moving far from a chcsen localitv. 



Breedixg Harits. The Prairie Warblers place their 

 neatly constructed nest in a low bush, thus not far from the 

 ground. Unlike the Chestnut-sided Warbler, this species is 

 not sensitive in regard to its nest being examined. In fact, 

 unless the eggs are on the point of hatching, or the nest con- 

 tains vounL^ neither male nor female exhibit nnv 2.reat solic- 

 itude when their breeding place is approached. 



Soxft. We have found that the Pine Warbler utters a 

 sparrow-like song, which is, however, given much more music- 

 ally than that of the Chippie which it resembles. Again we 

 find a warbler that sings like a sparrow, but this time less niu- 

 sicallv, for the sonc:of the Prairie Warbler is a trill 8:iven in an 

 ascending scale quite like that of the Field Sparrow. While 

 of course the sparrows vary much in regard to the sweetness 

 of their songs, I have never yet heard a Prairie Warbler that 

 could sing as melodiously as even the least skillful Field Spar- 

 row. Many of my pupils think the Field Sparrow's song mel- 

 ancholy, but to me this, the sweetest of all bird songs, does 

 not express sadness but perfect peace; it is breathed forth with- 

 out an apparent effort, and is in perfect harmony with the 

 quietude of a June day in the fields. One listens in rapture 

 to this lay and longs for its repetition. On the other hand, 

 the song of the Prairie Warbler, although possessing enough 

 of the characteristics of the music of the sparrow to strongly 

 remind one of it, is disappointing on account of a certain harsh- 

 ness that enters into it. 



