370 NOTES ON THE 
I have known them to rear their brood within twenty yards of 
a lake cottage and within a yard of acommon pathway. The 
early frosts hasten them away from our latitudes so unostenta- 
tiously, that no one can tell just when they go. Mr. Chas. R. 
Keyes and H. B. Williams, M. D., of Davenport, lowa, report 
this species common in that state. (Annotated Catalogue of 
the Birds of Iowa, p. 39. ) 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Olive-green above, tinged with ashy on the top and sides of 
the head; a short line from the bill over the eye, and the region 
around the lower eyelid, white; lores dusky; beneath yellowish- 
white; sides of the body posteriorly, sulphur-yellow; two faint 
bars of whitish across the wing coverts; inner tertiaries edged 
broadly with whitish; third quill longest, the rest successively 
shorter except the second, which is a little shorter than the 
seventh; spurious primary about two-fifths the second, and 
more than one-third of the third. 
Length, 4.25; wing, 2.25. 
Habitat, middle United States. 
Family MNIOTILTID. 
MNIOTILTA VARIA (L.). (636. ) 
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. 
The Black and White Warbler, or Creeper, as it has been so 
long called, is an abundant species in migration, and is fairly 
common in nidification in restricted localities. It reaches the 
extreme southern limits of the State, in the last days of April* 
and this locality by the 3d to the 5th of May. A large island 
in the Mississippi, in the centre of our city, has long been a 
favorite resort of birds in migration, and specially so of this 
beautiful species, which may be seen at such times as common 
as Woodpeckers. After ten to twelve days, they move on 
northward, but not without leaving at least a representation 
behind, for they have not only been seen occasionally during 
the summer, but the nest has been found. I have little doubt 
that it will be found to be fairly common in its favorite haunts 
during the breeding season when requisite observations have 
been employed long enough to ascertain with certainty. Its 
proclivities for the dark forests and shady ravines, and to 
spend its time principally near the ground, renders its detec- 
tion somewhat difficult to the hasty investigator, who will 
scarcely be able to decide just where to look for its nest, as 
