AMERICAN WARBLERS. 123 



Nestlings. Pale grayish brown above and on chin, throat and up- 

 per breast, elsewhere beneath, pale yellow. There are two pale cinnamon 

 wing bands. 



Dimensions. Length, 5.35; stretch, 8.70 ; wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.30; 

 bill, .40 ; tarsus, .75. 



Comparisons. Known by the black hood and yellow mask. Youn"- 

 females without the hood may be distinguished by the yellow beneath, 

 white tail spots, and absence of wing bands. 



General Habits. The Hooded Warblers prefer swampy 

 thickets through which they flit with thrush-like adroitness, 

 but betray their relationship to other members of the genus 

 by their flycatching 1-^abits. In central Pennsylvania, where I 

 became familiar with these birds, they occur among the great 

 rhododendrons. Here the bright yellow colors of the birds 

 formed a fine contrast to the dark green foliage of these shrubs 

 as the warblers darted about amono- the shininor leaves. Al- 

 though not as active as the Redstarts, the Hooded Warblers 

 resemble them in a habit they have of frequently spreading 

 their tails, thus disclosing the prominent v/hite markings at its 

 tip. 



Breeding Habits. The Hooded Warbler places its nest 

 among low bushes in secluded places in swampy land. The 

 time for breeding is from the last week in May until the mid- 

 dle of June. 



Song. The first time I ever saw the Hooded Warbler 

 in spring my attention was attracted to it by hearing the loud, 

 clear song, which suggests that of the Water Thrush, and is 

 given at rather wide intervals throughout the day. The alarm 

 note is a sharp chirp, also not unlike that of the Water Thrush. 

 Migration and Breeding Range. I found these warblers 

 at Williamsport, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1876. Breeds from 

 Connecticut and Central New York, west to the Great Plains, 

 and southward to the Gulf States. There are three records 

 of their occurrence in Massachusetts in summer, and one in 



