CONNECTICUT WARBLER. 253 



merit 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 

 simple notes, though sometimes, when hovering while on the wing, 

 it is more elaborate. 



CONNECTICUT WARBLER. 



GRAY-HEADED WARBLER. 

 Geothlypis AGILIS. 



Char. Above, olive ; head, neck, and breast ashy, darkest on breast 

 and crown; white ring around the eyes; chest and belly yellow, sides 

 shaded with olive. Length 5>^ to 6 inches. 



NL'sf. 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 -t- 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 litde to 

 Nuttall's account. 



