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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



and was soon delighted by the appearance of a pair of these beautiful 

 little creatures way up among the topmost branches. In rambles along 

 the Manmee, the Emory and the Big Black, I had seen many Warblers 

 but none quite so splendid as this. Tints of head or wings or breast 

 make little impression upon the retina, the patch of dazzling flame 

 color on the throat holds the attention till Mr. Blackburnian and wife 

 have gone. 



Beside the Warblers there were other birds of more than ordinary 

 beauty of song and plumage, the Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, 

 the White-throated Sparrow with his plaintive whistle, the Dickcissel 

 with his monotonous but cheerful song, the Indigo Bunting, and, last, 

 but not least among the notables, the prairie beauty for excellence, the 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak resplendent in white, rose and black. Wood- 

 peckers, House Wrens, Bluebirds, Blue Jays and Robins mixed with 

 the horde and formed a background of good respectable mediocrity to 

 show ofif the fine points of the beauties. If the use of the superlative 

 degree is ever justified, early May in Central Illinois and its bird dis- 

 play will furnish that justification. 



Photo from life by H. R. Caldwell. 

 TUFTED TITMOUSE ON NEST. 

 [The bird was hiding its head in the feathers composing the side of the nest. J 



