70 ~Land Birds of New England 



Bicknell states that in the neighborhood of New 

 York the song is continued nearly through the 

 month of July, and that for a few days, somewhere 

 between the ninth of August and the fifth of Sep- 

 tember, it may be heard again in the early morning 

 hours, though at this season it never reaches the 

 precision and vigor of the true spring song. 



23. PRAIRIE WARBLER (Dendroica discolor.} 



Upper parts olivaceous; back with a patch of brick-red spots; 

 cheeks and under parts bright yellow, marked along the sides 

 with black; tail with white blotches; wing with two very in- 

 distinct yellow bars. Beak and feet slender, light brown. Bird 

 little more than one half the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar. 



THIS tiny warbler is to be sought in rocky pasture- 

 lands and scrub, where it may be found from mid- 

 May to September. It is one of the most retiring . 

 of the warblers, and would be likely to pass un- 

 noticed, but for its flycatcher-like habit of darting 

 into the air to capture passing insects. 



The nest is placed in a bush or small tree only a 

 few feet from the ground. It usually contains eggs 

 about the first of June. 



The note is i'erv quaint and characteristic ; il con- 

 sists of a monotonous and prolonged reiteration of 

 single notes ^ rising in tJie scale front beginning to end, 

 and growing louder and faster as it proceeds. 



STEARNS AND COUES. 



