128 THE ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 



rank weeds into more open situations. The birds appear to know instinc- 

 tively how well their colors harmonize at that season with the massing 

 golden-rod and the sere leaves of the wayside willow. 



During the vernal movement the males are in full song, and the quality 

 of their notes has given rise to much learned discussion. The aggregate 

 of testimony goes to show that the song appears in two phases, and that 

 the two are frequently combined in various proportions in one utterance. The 

 second phase, or phrase, as the case may be, closely resembles the trill of the 

 Chipping Sparrow, while the first is likened to the song of the Yellow or 

 Chestnut-sided Warbler or more appropriately, I think to that of the 

 Black-and- White. Mr. Minot, having in mind the Warbler type, hears, 

 wcc-sec, we-see, wit-a-wit-a-wit. Rev. J. H. Langille combines both as 

 kc-tsc, kc-tsc, ke-tse; chip-ee-chip-ee-chip-ee-chip. While Professor Jones 

 represents ''the more Chippy-ward song" by "k-chip; k-chip; k-chip; k-chip; 

 chc-chc-chc-che." Of course the use of comparisons at all implies that the 

 notes are among the lesser known and less distinctive woodland sounds. 



No. 56. 



ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 



A. O. U. No. 646. Helminthophila celata (Say). 



Description. Adult : Above ashy olive-green, clearing and brighter on the 

 rump; crown with patch almost concealed, of orange-red (Saturn red) feathers; 

 wings and tail fuscous with some olive edging; below greenish-yellow, dingy or 

 vaguely streaked with olive on breast and sides. Immature: Without orange 

 of crown ; more ashy above ; duller below ; eye-ring whitish. Length about 5.00 

 (127.) ; wing 2.40 (61.) ; tail 1.95 (49.5) ; bill .42 (10.7). 



Recognition Marks. Small warbler size ; orange crown-patch is distinctive, 

 but seldom seen in life ; under parts duller and greener than last, not so white 

 as next species ; no contrast between general color of head and back. 



Nesting. Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground among clumps of 

 bushes, of coarse strips of bark, grasses, and plant-stems, lined with fur and hair. 

 kggs, 4-6, white or creamy-white, finely speckled with reddish brown, and with 



sr markings of purplish slate (Kennicott). Av. size, .64 x .46 (16.3 x 11.7). 



General Range. Eastern North America, breeding as far north as the 

 Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers and southward through the Rocky Mountains; 

 wintering j n the South Atlantic and Gulf States and Mexico. Rare east of the 

 Alleghanies. north of Virginia. 



Range in Ohio. Rare spring and fall migrant. 



