38 Bird Comrades 



he is something of a ventriloquist, for which reason you 

 will often look for him in many places before seeing him. 



As I have noted, he is an untiring singer. It never 

 occurred to me to time him, but Dr. Frank M. Chapman 

 has had the patience to do so. " On one occasion," says 

 this observer, " at Englewood, New Jersey, I watched a 

 male for three hours. During this period, with the exception 

 of five interruptions of less than forty-five seconds each, 

 he sang with the greatest regularity once every twelve 

 seconds. Thus, allowing for the brief intervals of silence, 

 he sang about 875 times, or some 5,250 notes. I found 

 him singing, and when I departed he showed no signs of 

 ceasing." It is such painstaking observations that add 

 something new and fresh to our knowledge of birds. 



The Kentucky warbler is fond of walking about on the 

 ground in the woods, seeking for his favorite insects. As 

 you slowly follow, you will now and then catch a glimpse 

 of him through the apertures of the leaves; then he will 

 again disappear beneath his canvas of green. Thus he 

 pursues his quest hour after hour, and you may hear the 

 rustle of his tiny feet upon the carpet of dead leaves. Is 

 it only a notion of mine, or am I correct, in thinking that 

 his promenades on the ground are mostly taken early in 

 the spring before there is danger from snakes? 



I like the pretty Kentuckians, but must grant you 

 that in some respects they are quite exasperating, never 

 inclined to be as confiding as some other birds. And 

 then most birds will sooner or later betray the presence 

 of their nests, but the Kentucky warblers seldom do so, 



