Widmann A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 237 



peculiar song would not betray it. This song is oftenest given 

 in the forenoon after most other songsters have already quieted 

 down and, although it varies considerably in different indi- 

 viduals, it can always be rendered by a three-syllabled word 

 with the accent on the first syllable, repeated three times, and 

 followed by a one-syllabled " hee " in a higher key. 



679. GEOTHLYPIS PHILADELPHIA (Wils.). Mourning Warbler. 



Sylvia Philadelphia. Trichas philadelphica. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, 

 New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, central Ontario and 

 Manitoba and eastern Assiniboia. Breeds from the mountains 

 of West Virginia, from New England, New York, Michigan, 

 Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota northward. Migrates 

 by way of Louisiana and Texas to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Co- 

 lombia and Ecuador. No records in the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States from North Carolina to Mississippi. 



In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in all parts 

 of the state, rarer westward, where found by Audubon near 

 St. Joseph, May 6, 1843. Writing his diary at Chillicothe, 

 May 16, 1854, Dr. P. R. Hoy says: "Here we found the home 

 of Trichas Philadelphia, a locality where this bird is common; 

 they frequent localities covered with dense underbrush overrun 

 with climbing roses and honeysuckles. I listened to the song 

 of T. Philadelphia, T. marylandica and T. formosa at the same 

 time." In his list of birds made at Warrensburg, Johnson Co., 

 W. E. D. Scott says of this species: "Not very rare; took two 

 during the spring; the first May 12, the second May 18, 1874." 

 Though the first may be found in the second week of May (May 

 10, 1886, St. Louis) we are most sure to find it during the third 

 week or from 14th to 21st and in cool weather even later, the 

 last at St. Louis being May 26, 1882 and 1886. At Keokuk, 

 where they are usually found in the fourth week of May, they 

 linger into June, and Mr. E. S. Currier reported one as late as 

 June 25, 1893, possibly a summer resident. In fall the species 

 passes through in September (September 10, 1901), but is easily 

 overlooked, because very shy and silent. Mr. E. S. Woodruff 

 took one at Eudy in Shannon Co., May 13, 1907. At St. Louis 

 the first was seen May 18, 1907, and the last, a pair with the 

 the male in full song, remained at the same place from May 30 

 to June 3. 



