VOl i907' IV ] Wayne, Nest and Eggs of Bachman's Warbler. 47 



The swamp in which this warbler breeds is heavily timbered 

 and subjected to overflow from rains and reservoirs. The trees 

 are chiefly of a deciduous character, such as the cypress, black gum, 

 sweet gum, tupelo, hickory, dogwood, and red oak. In the higher 

 parts of the swamp short-leaf pines, water oaks, live oaks, and 

 magnolias abound. The undergrowth is chiefly cane, aquatic 

 bushes, and swamp palmetto, while patches of blackberry brambles 

 and thorny vines are met with at almost every step. This pri- 

 meval forest is flanked on the western side by an enormous reser- 

 voir, the water of which is used to flow the rice fields that are in 

 close proximity to the swamp. The entire country is very swampy, 

 but Bachman's Warbler appears to inhabit only a restricted area 

 in one of the many swamps. While I have searched for the bird 

 most diligently in localities which seemed in every respect suitable 

 to its wants, I have met with it only near the reservoir where 

 buttonwood bushes were growing near the edge of the forest. In 

 order to study the habits of this warbler one must be prepared to 

 encounter armies of ticks, red bugs, mosquitoes, and moccasin 

 snakes, with which these dark and gloomy woods are filled. 



Bachman's Warbler is a high-ranging bird, like the Yellow- 

 throated Warbler, and generally sings from the top of a sweet gum 

 or cypress. It appears to have regular singing stations during the 

 breeding season, and upon leaving a tree it flies a long distance 

 before alighting. On this account it is impossible to follow the 

 bird through the dark forest, and it can only be detected by its song. 

 I have occasionally seen the males in low gall-berry bushes within 

 six or eight inches of the ground, but their usual resorts are among 

 the topmost branches of the tallest forest trees. 



This swamp is a veritable paradise for such breeding forms as 

 the Hooded, Parula, Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, and Swain- 

 son's Warblers. The Hooded Warblers are the commonest breed- 

 ers and they outnumber all the other swamp-loving birds. During 

 the months of April and May the song of thousands of breeding 

 birds, as well as of migrants, fill the swamp with all kinds of music, 

 the finest singers being Swainson's Warbler and the Wood Thrush. 



It is difficult to understand what becomes of the vast number of 

 young birds which are annually reared in this swamp country. It 

 seems certain that fully 50% do not return the following spring to 

 breed, for if they did the woods would be simply filled with them. 



