54 WEST VIRGINIA [W. VA. 



a rare migrant in our state, but Dr. Rives found numbers of them 

 in the mountains about Davis in the summer of 1897. I found tin's 

 interesting species breeding on Spruce Knob in June, 1908. On 

 June 18, I saw Mourning Warblers feeding their young which had 

 just left the nest. 



Nest In briars or weed thickets near the ground. 



Food Feeds on insects, but the character of its insect food has 

 not been studied with any care. 



681. Maryland Yellow-throat (GeoMypis trichas). Male and 

 female adults. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern United States. 



W. Va. Dist. This bird has been reported from almost all parts- 

 of the state, but in certain sections is called rare. In central W. 

 Va. it is quite common in localities where there are many streams 

 and much meadow land. Exceedingly abundant in the glades of 

 Webster County. The song of the Maryland Yellow-throat is the 

 most characteristic song of the glade region, unless it be that of th^ 

 Song Sparrow. 



Nest Often found in a tussock of grass or in like situation, near 

 the ground. Breeds abundantly in some sections of the state. 



Food Destroys many leaf hoppers and grasshoppers and oth^r 

 insects that are harmful to grass-lands. A very useful bird. 



683. Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens). Male and female 

 adults. The peculiar song of this species should be known by every 

 boy and girl in West Virginia. This species is to be seen in briar 

 fields and in the edges of woodland. One of our largest Warblers. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern North America, as far north as Ontario. 



W. Va. Dist. Very common in all pats of this state outside of 

 the more elevated portions. 



Nest In some thicket, or bunch of briars. Common breeder in 

 W. Va. 



Food Insects which infest shrubbery. 



684. Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrinu}. Pair. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern United States as far north as southern New 

 England. 



W. Va. Dist. Most students of the birds of West Virginia hav^ 

 called this a very common species. However, it is not generally 



