IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



63 



range of migration: its limits are 

 the equator and the Arctic ocean. 

 Economically the Black-poll is 

 the most important of the family. 

 It arrives just when the trees are 

 swarming with destructive larvae, 

 and its usefulness in destroying 

 these can scarcely be overesti- 

 mated. It is a large and not 

 very active species, and extremely 

 plain in dress. 



Dendroica blackbarnige (Black- 

 burnian Warbler). The most 

 richly colored of our birds of this 

 family. The brilliant orange of 

 the breast resembles a flame of 

 fire darting among the trees. A 

 very active bird, choosing the up- 

 per branches of tall trees and 

 seldom seen outside of the woods. 

 Common with us, though not 

 abundant, growing scarcer west- 

 ward and hardly found at all in 

 Kansas and Nebraska. A general 

 favorite with ornithologists on ac- 

 count of its high coloring. 



Dendroica virens (Black-throat- 

 ed Green Warbler). This is a 

 most curiously marked species. 

 The entire throat and upper 

 breast is jet black, with a black 

 stripe running down each side; 

 belly, pure white; cheeks, bright 

 yellow; back, bright, rich green, 

 with black stripes. It is usually 

 abundant during migration, 

 though rather shy, and its some- 



what harsh, shrill song may be 

 heard incessantly. 



Dendroica vigorsii (Pine Creep- 

 ing Warbler. One of our less 

 common Warblers. It is a hardy 

 species, coming early in the spring 

 and wintering chiefly in the U, S. 

 It is said to breed throughout its 

 range, but no nests from Iowa 

 have been yet reported. A large, 

 stout Warbler, slow of motion, 

 and usually seen creeping about 

 the bodies of large trees. 



Dendroica palmarum (Red- 

 poll Warbler). This plainly clad 

 bird is very abundant with us and 

 very characteristic in its habits. 

 It is easily recognized by a pecu- 

 liar up-and-down movement of 

 the tail resembling that of the 

 Water Thrushes. During mi- 

 gration large numbers of Red- 

 polls are frequently seen on the 

 mud about ponds and water- 

 courses, creeping among drift- 

 wood or hovering over the water 

 after insects. They migrate 

 early and pass to the far north 

 to breed. 



Dendroica discolor (Prairie 

 Warbler. But a single specimen 

 of this species has been known to 

 occur: this was taken at West 

 Liberty. It is a southern and 

 eastern bird and must be consider- 

 ed accidental with us. I have 

 never seen a specimen and can 



