155 



[677] Geothlypis fonnosa (Wils. )• Kentucky Warbler. 



Not rare. These bii-ds inhabit the low wet woods so abundant in this 

 region. I have found one nest here. 



[681] Geothlypis tricJms (Linn.). Maryland Yellow- throat. Figs. 22, 23, 

 24, 25. 



This is the most common warbler around Lake Winona. In fact it is, 

 probably, excepting the song-sparrow, the most common songster here. I 

 have found numerous nests; generally in rather damp ground at the bot- 

 tom of a clump of weeds, about four or five inches up. When you ap- 

 proach the nest of eggs the female will noisily di'op over the side and 

 run away through the Aveeds, from Avhich it is almost impossible to flush 

 her. When their young are hatcliod thoy resent intrusion, often flying 

 by you within three or four fcot. 



On the morning of July 23, I found a nest containing three eggs of 

 the Maryland Yellow-throat and one of the Cowbird. It was in a bunch 

 of weeds within six inches of the ground. The place was rather damp 

 and about twenty yards from the lake shore. It was so cleverly con- 

 cealed I would never have found it had not the female jumped up. I 

 took a negative and left, coming back twice a day till July 26. On my 

 first ti-ip in the morning the eggs were still unhatched but at 3 o'clock in 

 the afternoon I found the Cowbird and one Maryland Yellow-throat 

 hatched and another almost out as the shell was chipped considerably. 

 I came back at 5 o'clock and the second Maryland Yellow-throat was out. 



On coming back next morning things were the same; two birds and 

 one egg. The young Marj'land Yellow-throats kept their mouths open all 

 the time while the Cowbird never opened its mouth. The young Mary- 

 land Yellow-throats were continuously struggling to maintain their place 

 and keep the Cowbird from smothering them. 



On the 28th the extra egg had disappeared and was not to be seen 

 around the nest. 



On the 29th things were as usual and on the 30th they were also the 

 same. On the 31st the last born Maryland Yellow-throat had disappeared 

 and was not to be seen around the nest. The Cowbird and the remaining 

 Maryland Yellow-throat had feathered out pretty well by this time. On 

 August 4 the Cowbird was occupying the entire nest and the Maryland 

 Yellow-throat was sitting on the edge. They were both ready to leave. 

 In the afternoon at 4 o'clock the nest was empty. The vociferous cries 



