FAMILY MNIOTILTID^E. WOOD- WARBLERS. 



GENUS MNIOTILTA VIEILLOT. 

 MNIOTILTA YARIA (LiNN.). 



261. Black and White Warbler. (636) 



Entirely white and black, in streaks except on the belly ; tail, white, 

 spotted ; wings, white barred, Length, about 5 ; wing, 2i ; tail, 2. 



HAB. Eastern United States to the Plains, north to Fort Simpson, south, 

 in winter, to Central America and the West Indies. 



Nest, on the ground, built of bark fibre, grass and leaves, lined with plant 

 down or hair. 



Eggs, four to six, creamy white, spotted and sprinkled with reddish-brown. 



This dainty little bird, formerly known as the Black and White 

 Creeper, has now been named the Black and White Warbler, but as 

 it is much more given to creeping than to warbling, it is likely that 

 with the ordinary observer it will retain its former name as long as it 

 retains its creeping habit. It arrives in Southern Ontario during 

 the last days of April, and even before the leaves are expanded, its 

 neat, decided attire of black and white is observed in striking con- 

 trast to the dull colored bark of the trees, around which it goes 

 creeping with wonderful celerity in search of its favorite insect food. 

 It becomes very common during the first half of May, after which 

 the numbers again decrease, many having passed farther north, and 

 only a few remain to spend the summer and raise their young in 

 Southern Ontario. The note of the male is sharp and penetrating, 

 resembling the sound made in sharpening a fine saw. 



The Black and White Warbler is a typical representative of the 

 family of Wood-Warblers, which is remarkable for the number of its 

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