1020 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



First to arrive among the warblers of the woodland is the Black and 

 White Warbler. While the Myrtle Warbler may be found along the 

 willow thickets some years before it comes, and the attractive song of 

 the Sycamore Warbler sound from the tall, white trees above, they 

 are not in the woods. There, particularly in the drier woodland, the 

 well-known song of this symphony in black and white is borne to 

 one's ears, but it requires sharp eyes to distinguish its form among 

 the lights and shadows of the corrugated bark of the tree trunks. 

 Persistence will be rewarded, and this warbler will reveal himself, a 

 creeper with motion and habits that remind one much of a Nuthatch. 

 The early arrivals are males. If they are very early the females may 

 not come for ten days or more. Then both are very common most 



Head of Black and White Warbler. Natural size. 



years until early or late May, depending upon whether the observer is 

 located north or south. A few always breed throughout the State. 

 Then, in August, the migrants begin to return, and they are again 

 common until late September and occasionally well into October. The 

 first arrival at Brookville in 1882 was April 3d, in 1893, May 5. Other 

 early and late spring dates of first arrival are: Bloomington, April 7, 

 1893; Eichmond, April 17, 1897; Greensburg, April 18, 1896, April 

 27, 1895; Lafayette, April 18, 1896, May 6, 1894; Sedan, April 16, 

 1896, May 6, 1889; Chicago, April 17, 1886, May 9, 1894. I have 

 observed them mating at Brookville, April 30, 1894. Its call is a 

 sharp chip a regular Warbler's call. The song is diligently poured 

 forth at all hours of the day during migration. It sounds something 

 like, "easy-easy-easy-easy-easy," the word repeated four to six times 

 in a drawling monotone. It varies, however, in volume, being at 

 times uttered very low and again sounding loud and distinct, carrying 

 plainly a long distance. 



The song season continues well into June. Mr. Bicknell says they 

 sing again for a short season in mid-August. Nests with eggs may 

 be found on the ground in retired woodland late in May and in June. 



