CONNECTICUT WARBLER. 253 



ment are obtainable, — the Mourning Warbler is not at all rare, 

 and in the West — in Minnesota, Dakota, and Manitoba — it is 

 decidedly abundant. Evidently it has no special liking for the 

 Maritime Provinces nor for any portion of Canada east of Lake 

 Winnipeg, for Canadian observers in general report it rare or 

 uncommon. Yet one of the few nests that have been discovered 

 was secured by Mr. Kells, near Listowel, in Ontario. This nest 

 was in a cedar swamp and placed on the horizontal branch of 

 a small tree quite close to the ground. 



The examples I saw in New Brunswick were in small flocks, and 

 were a very busy and very merry company, — busy in searching for 

 their food, moving in most sprightly and vivacious manner, and 

 making merry with sweet voices. The song consists of a few sim- 

 ple notes, but the birds frequently ascend to a high perch to deliver 

 it and sing on as if much pleased with the performance. Merriam 

 reports them singing thus for half an hour at a time. 



CONNECTICUT WARBLER. 



gray-headed warbler. 



Geothlypis agilis. 



Char. Male : above, olive ; head, neck, and breast ashy, darkest on 

 breast and crown, lightest on the throat ; white ring around the eyes ; 

 chest and belly yellow, sides shaded with olive. Female : similar, but 

 without ashy tint on the head ; throat tinged with brown ; belly paler. 

 Length 5>^ to 6 inches. 



Nest. Hidden on a tuft of weeds, or sunk in mossy mound, in swampy 

 woods ; composed of dried grass. 



Eggs. 4- .''; creamy, spotted, chiefly around the larger end, with black, 

 brown, and lilac; 0.75 + 0.55. 



This rare species, discovered by Wilson in Connecticut and 

 afterwards in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, appears to 

 frequent low thickets, and is exceedingly active in pursuit of 

 its prey, scarcely remaining a moment in the same place. 

 Wilson afterwards shot two specimens of a bird which in every 

 particular agreed with the above, except in having the throat 

 dull buff instead of pale ash. These were both females, as he 

 supposed, of the present species. 



The history of this bird is still interestingly obscure, so much 

 has yet to be learned ; but gleaning from records made by obser- 

 vers in various parts of the country, I am enabled to add a little to 

 Nuttall's account. 



