Northern Yellow-throat 49 



often observed the bird in a thicket, or on a nearby limb. 

 Although handsomely proportioned, the bird has a way of 

 throwing its body into grotesque positions which I have never 

 seen any other bird assume. Stealing softly into their haunts, 

 I have seen them throw themselves up in the air, twisting and 

 turning, up and down, uttering the while their uncanny cries 

 like little feathered imps. Then, at the snap of a twig, they 

 would disappear and silence would reign supreme so far as 

 they were concerned. 



The nest is a neatly woven grassy basket placed in a low 

 bush. Four or five eggs, whitish ground, thickly speckled 

 with brown, are the nest complement. 



Northern Yellow-throat. — Ceothlypis trkhas 

 brachidactyla. 5.31 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Broad black band across forehead and 

 extending well down the sides of the head; upper parts 

 olive; throat and breast bright yellow. Female without 

 the black band ; rest of plumage same as male, but duller. 



In damp places where ferns, long grass, and low growing 

 shrubs are luxuriant, especially along the borders of woodland, 

 this extremely active little Warbler is common in this County 

 throughout the breeding season. It has a way of darting 

 rapidly through the low growth, pausing for an instant on 

 branch or reed, uttering the while its sharp metallic check* and 

 disappearing in the leafy maze. Once identified it can never 

 be mistaken for any other bird. 

 4 



