1048 Report of State Geologist. 



It is not among the early Warblers to arrive, seldom appearing before 

 the lirst -week in May, and is then found for a week or ten days. The 

 earliest record I have of its first appearance is from Anderson, where 

 Mr. C. P. Smith took it April 24, 1897. At Brookville it appeared 

 April 26, 1881 and 1891, while in 1884 none were noted until May 14, 

 which was the latest date I have ever seen them. It first appeared at 

 Wabash April 27, 1892; Greensburg, May 4, 1895, May 7, 1893; Sedan, 

 May 1, 1895, May 6, 1896; Lafayette, May 5, 1893, May 8, 1892 and 

 1897; Petersburg, iNHch., May 3, 1897, May 5, 1888; Chicago, DL, 

 May 3, 1895, May 8, 1896. 



While they may occasionally remain until the middle of May (Leb- 

 anon, Ind., May 16, 1894), throughout the State, in the vicinity 

 of Chicago, they are sometimes found imtil near the close of the 

 month (May 26, 1897, May 28, 1894). In the Whitewater Valley I 

 have found they habitually frequent the upland woods, sometimes 

 finding their way into orchards, but generally, if I want to find them, 

 I go among the upland beeches, hickories, oaks and sassafras. There 

 they frequent the lower branches or the taller undergrowth. They 

 then occupy themselves chiefiy with the insects on the tree trunks 

 and larger branches. 



The males are conspicuous, but the females are rarely seen. I 

 have known them to come into towns and be found among the fruit 

 and shade trees. They are very unsuspicious, permitting one to ap- 

 proach closely and watch their movements. They make many mo- 

 tions, but not great progress. As they move among the branches, the 

 tail is slightly spread and carried on a level with the back. 



Sometimes they seem songless, again every little while the song 

 sounds forth. This may be expressed by the syllables tswee-tswee- 

 tswee-fsivee: usually four, occasionally but two or three, uttered close 

 together with a stridulating effect, all in the same tone, with a slight 

 rising inflection at the end of the last syllable. At a distance it 

 sounds like to-zee-zee-zee-e. 



In the vicinity of Brookville I generally find them common. They 

 were particularly so in the springs of 1885, 1887, 1892 and 1897. 

 The fall of 1893 it was probably the most common Warbler there 

 (Ulrey and Wallace). In 1892 they were very common at Lafayette 

 (L. A. and C. D. Test). In 1897 they were common in Dekalb County 

 (Mrs. Hine). About Chicago they are often common, and were notice- 

 ably so in the springs of 1895, 1896 and 1897 (Blackwelder, TaUman). 

 They begin to appear throughout the State some years, on their return 

 journey, late in August, and remain until October 1, or, rarely, 9. 

 The following dates will indicate this more erplicitly: They arrived 



