262 SINGING BIRDS. 



E^-^ils. o-o (probably 4 or 5) ; white, wreathed around larger end with 

 brown and purplish spots : 0.65 X 0.50. 



This rare and plain species was discovered by Wilson on 

 the banks of Cumberland River, in the State of Tennessee. It 

 was hunting with great agility among the opening leaves in 

 spring, and like the rest of the section to which it appertains, 

 possesses a good deal of the habits of the Titmouse. Its notes 

 were few and weak, and its food, as usual, smooth caterpillars 

 and winged insects. It is still so rare that Audubon never 

 saw more than three individuals, — two in Louisiana, and one at 

 Key West in East Florida, all of which were males. 



Ornithologists of the present day do not consider this Warbler 

 quite so rare as did Nuttall and his contemporaries, though it is 

 somewhat local in its distribution, and is only met with occasionally 

 at many places within its range. In the Eastern States it is rather 

 rare, excepting on the northern border of New York and New Eng- 

 land, where it breeds ; but it is more numerous in the Mississippi 

 valley, and Dr. Coues found it migrating in abundance along the 

 Red River, through Minnesota and Dakota, while Thompson 

 reports it as " a common summer resident " in parts of Manitoba. 

 Dr. Wheaton considered it rare in Ohio, but Saunders reports it 

 " common at times " in the southern peninsula of Ontario, while 

 Mcllwraith has seen it but twice near Hamilton. It is rare in the 

 Ottawa valley and near the city of Quebec, while common near 

 Montreal. Comeau says it breeds in numbers near Point de 

 Monts, on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Macoun 

 reports it common around Lake Misstissini. It is not uncommon in 

 some few localities in New Brunswick, where it remains all sum- 

 mer. Very few nests have been discovered. 



The bird is very wary and always on the alert, — darting rapidly 

 from branch to branch. The song is a sweet-toned, cheery whistle, 

 — somewhat similar to that of the Nashville, "but so decidedly 

 different," writes Mr. Bradford Torrey, " as never for a moment to 

 be confounded with it." He adds : " The resemblance lies entirely 

 in the tirst part; the notes of the concluding portion are not run 

 together or jumbled, after the Nashville's manner, but are quite as 

 distinct as are those of the opening measure." 



