IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



59 



have been known to occur within 

 the Hmits of the state, though 

 several ot these may be consid- 

 ered as stragglers. 



In these brief notes I shall at- 

 tempt little more than merely to 

 touch upon the habits and range 

 of the various species. I shall 

 say little of their breeding as 

 most of them pass the summer 

 beyond our borders. 



Mniotilta varia(Black and White 

 Creeper. This is one of the com- 

 mon though far from the most 

 abundant species during the mi- 

 gration season. It breeds through- 

 out the Mississippi valley, though 

 rarely with us. I have never met 

 with its nest though the young, 

 not full- fledged, have been ob- 

 served repeatedly. It is solitary 

 in habit and may always be ob- 

 served scouring the branches 

 of large trees like a Brown Creep- 

 er. The number of species ob- 

 servable in any locality varies little 

 from season to season. 



Protonotaria citera (Prothono- 

 tary Warbler). This is one of 

 the rare species, extremely so in 

 the northern half of the state. I 

 have observed it at LaPorte City, 

 which is, I believe, the highest 

 latitude from which it has yet 

 been reported this side of the 

 Mississippi River. It is found al- 

 most exclusively in low thickets 



and swamps. It is said to breed 

 most rarely in the extreme south- 

 eastern part of the state. 



Helmitheras vermivorus (Worm 

 eating Warbler.) I have never 

 met with this species, though Mr. 

 Lynde Jones informs me in a let- 

 ter of recent date, that it "is not 

 uncommon during the migrating 

 season". It is a southern species 

 — central Iowa being the north- 

 ern limit of its range. Of its 

 habits I can say nothing. 



Helminthophila pinus (Blue- 

 winged Warbler.) This is a com- 

 mon species, breeding through- 

 out its United States range. It 

 is a beautiful little bird but with 

 a somewhat harsh and rasping 

 voice. It is usually to be met 

 with in open glades and along the 

 borders of woods. The nest is a 

 dainty little structure placed in a 

 low bush or on the ground. 



Helminthophila chrysoptera 

 (Blue Golden- winged Warbler). 

 This handsome species is com- 

 mon, though not often observed, 

 on account of its habit of keeping 

 in the tops of the tall trees, where 

 its weak and wheezy song may be 

 heard alm'ost constantly during 

 migration. Dr. Coues says it 

 breeds throughout its United 

 States range, but I have never 

 heard of a nest occurring in the 

 state. If a breeder at all it is very 



