256 SINGING BIRDS. 



swamps of Carolina, as he observed a pair followed by three 

 or four young ones nearly fledged, all of which already exhibi- 

 ted the markings on the head. 



Richardson led Nuttall into a mistake regarding the distribution 

 of this species. It is a Southern bird, breeding chiefly south of lati- 

 tude 40°, and occurs but rarely along the northern limit of its range, 

 — southern New England, the southern shores of Lake Erie, and 

 southern Illinois. It has not been taken in the Provinces. 



Usually these birds feed on the ground among the dead leaves, 

 but sometimes rise amid the branches, as described by Nuttall. 

 They are not "shy" birds, for they will remain on the nest until 

 fairly driven off, and when feeding are apparently indifferent about 

 being watched. 



SWAINSON'S WARBLER. 

 Helinaia swainsonii. 



Char. Above, dull olive, head and wings tinged with reddish brown; 

 dark streak through the eyes ; line over eyes and under parts white with 

 yellow tint ; sides tinged with olive. Length 5% to 6 inches. 



Nest. In a swamp, or near stagnant pool, or on dry upland ; in cane- 

 stalk or on bush, 4 to 10 feet from the ground ; a bulky and inartistic 

 affair of dead leaves, lined with roots and pine-needles. 



Eggs. 3-4 ; white with blue tint, unmarked ; 0.75 X 0.60. 



Dr. Bachman, who discovered this species near the banks 

 of the Edisto River, in South Carolina, remarks : " I was first 

 attracted by the novelty of its notes, four or five in number, 

 repeated at intervals of five or six minutes apart. These notes 

 were loud, clear, and more like a whistle than a song. They 

 resembled the sound of some extraordinary ventriloquist in such 

 a degree that I supposed the bird much farther off than it 

 really was ; for after some trouble caused by these fictitious 

 notes, I observed it near me, and soon shot it." These birds 

 appear to have a predilection for swampy, muddy places, usu- 

 ally more or less covered with water. They feed on coleop- 

 terous insects and the larvse which infest the pond-lily. They 

 usually keep in low bushes, and retire southward at the close 

 of summer. They breed, it appears, in South Carolina. 



