638 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. IX. 



There are apparently no satisfactory records of its occurrence 

 in Wisconsin. Messrs. Kumlien and Hollister say (Birds of Wiscon- 

 sin, 1903, p. 133): "This bird has been taken within a few miles of 

 the Wisconsin line in Illinois, and near Chicago, by Nelson. Al- 

 though it has been credited to the fauna of Wisconsin the proof is 

 still lacking. A specimen sent to us for the purpose of verifying the 

 record proved to be V. noveboracensis. In the early forties Thure 

 Kumlien procured specimens of a vireo which he called belli, of which 

 he had no description, simply to distinguish it from gilvus. This led 

 to some confusion with Lawrence, Baird, and others who had not 

 seen the specimens. The bird referred to was later described by 

 Cassin as V. philadelphicus." 



The nest is a pensile structure, composed of plant fibers, grass, 

 and shreds of bark finely interwoven and attached to the fork of a 

 branch in bushes or low trees. The eggs are 5 or 6, white, marked 

 with a few scattered spots of black and brown, chiefly at the larger 

 end, and measure about .67 x .49 inches. 



The Field Museum collection contains two nests and sets of eggs 

 of this species taken by Mr. Swarth, June 16 and 26. 



Family MNIOTILTID^. Wood Warblers. 



The Mniotiltidae or Wood Warblers are an American family, 

 numbering upwards of 100 species, about 70 of which occur in North 

 America. They frequent woodland and shrubbery and are strictly 

 insectivorous. During migrations they at times assemble in large 

 flocks, several species being often represented. The song is sweet, 

 but not loud, varying with different species. 



Genus MNIOTILTA Vieill. 



300. Mniotilta varia (LiNN.). 

 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. 



Distr.: United States and British Provinces east of the Rocky 

 Mountains; breeds from North Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas north 

 to Quebec, Athabaska, and the Mackenzie region. 



Adult male: General plumage, black and white; back, black, 

 streaked with white; crown, black, with a white stripe through the 

 centre and another over the eye; under parts, white, heavily streaked 



