IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



65 



large, dull-colored Warbler which 

 "probably belongs to this species, 

 but which I failed to secure. It 

 is considered one of the rarest 

 Warblers of the Mississippi val- 

 ley. A marked peculiarity of 

 this species is the fact that it mi- 

 grates northward through the 

 Mississippi valley and southward 

 by way of New England. In 

 habits it resembles the last 

 species. 



Geothlypis philadelphia(Mourn- 

 ing Warbler). This is one of our 

 less common birds of this family, 

 though not usually considered 

 rare. It is extremely shy and re- 

 tiring and is generally to be look- 

 ed for late in the season among 

 underbrush and along ravines. 

 The remarkable coloring, from 

 which it derives its name, makes 

 it easily recognizable. Its move- 

 ments are active and restless and 

 it may often be seen darting in 

 and out among heaps of drift- 

 wood, like a wren. 



GtiOthlypis trichas occidentalis 

 (Western Maryland Yellow- 

 throat). The habits and appear- 

 ance of this bird are too famil- 

 iar to all ornithologists to need 

 description. It breeds abund- 

 antly in our meadows and marshes 

 and its dainty nest and curious- 

 ly marked eggs are all well known 

 to every collector. Its habits 



resemble those of the preceding, 

 though it is usually found among 

 tall grass and along the borders 

 of woods. 



Ictera virens (Yellow-breasted 

 Chat.) Our largest Warbler. A 

 handsome bird, though rarely 

 seen on account of its extreme 

 shyness. Almost persistent song- 

 ster, beginning his endlessly var- 

 ied strain at about two in the 

 morning and continuing without 

 intermission till dark. The song 

 consists of the most odd and 

 whimsical jumble of chattering, 

 whistling and gurgling noises 

 ever produced by any bird, with 

 many notes of rare sweetness. 

 The reputation of the Chat as a 

 ventriloquist is well established. 

 The species breeds plentifully 

 throughout the state, wherever a 

 suitable place can be found. 

 Nearly every gooseberry or hazel 

 thicket or growth of young shoots 

 where a piece of young timber 

 has been cut off, affords a nest- 

 ing place for one or two pairs. 

 The nest is large and conspicu- 

 ous and a great favorite with the 

 Cow Birds. 



Sylvania Mitrata. (Hooded 

 Warbler). This handsome War- 

 bler is one of the rarest that en- 

 ters the state. I have observed 

 it once at LaPorte City, which is 

 the most northerly record of its 



