1062 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



1897; Carroll County, May 21, 1883, 1885; Francisville, May 9, 1896; 

 Lake County, May 16, 1897; Chicago, May 11, 1895, May 20, 1894. 



Last spring records: Madison, May 23, 1888; Richmond, May 21, 

 1897; Lafayette, May 29, 1892; Lebanon, May 30, 1894; Lake County, 

 May 30, 1894; Brookville, May 24, 1897. The spring of 1897 they 

 were common at Brookville and Richmond; that of 1895 and 1896, in 

 the vicinity of Chicago, 111.; 1890, at Greencastle, Ind.; 1888, at 

 Petersburg, Mich. 



AVhen with us, in spring, the males greatly outnumber the females. 

 They are found in all kinds of woodland, at varying heights among 

 the trees, but generally not very near the ground. Sometimes they 

 visit the orchard and lawn, seeming to prefer evergreen trees. I have 

 found them in ravines, among low bushes, uttering a chip now and 

 then, while busy looking for food. Its song is the syllable chi, re- 

 peated five or six times ch,i-chi-chi-chi-cM. The notes are staccato 

 and are of equal length; the first is usually low, then rising until the 

 two next, the last of which is loudest, the final one being lower than 

 they. This is often uttered for a considerable time, with only a slight 

 interval, punctuated by a chip between songs. Again, but occasionally 

 will its song be heard, and there will be great breaks in the music. 

 Often, when the foliage has become too dense to see the birds among 

 the trees, this queer, pleasing melody will sound forth and tell us 

 the author is in no haste to take his leave. In fall they return, to be- 

 come a puzzle to the student of birds. The plumages of the young- and 

 females of this species and of the fall and. immature specimens of 

 castanea so nearly match that at times a serious question arises as to 

 their identity. Under the last species has been indicated how they 

 may be distinguished. At this season they may be observed, at times, 

 following the custom of some .other Warblers and frequenting the 

 fencerows, roadsides and weedy stubble. They first appear about the 

 lower end-of Lake Michigan late in August. The bulk pass through 

 in September, but some are at times found into early October. First 

 and last dates when they were noted in the fall indicate the extent of 

 their autumnal visits: Chicago, 111., August 25, 1885, September 21, 

 1896; Lake County, Ind., September 2, 1883, September 25. 1875; 

 Sandusky, O., last, October 4, 1896; Brookville, September 21 to Oc- 

 tober 13, 1883; Greencastle, September 28, 1890. Their numbers are 

 greater in fall, and some years they are abundant. They were common 

 at Brookville in the fall of 1883; at Bicknell, September 6 to 17, 

 1894; in the vicinity of Chicago, August 25 to September 5, 1885, and 

 29 to September 21, 1896. 



