The Breeding Warblers of Tennessee 139 



nessee during the breeding season should prove of interest. 



Middle Tennessee is neither flat nor swampy like west Ten- 

 nessee, nor is it mountainous and rugged like the eastern part 

 of the state. Instead, it ranges from rolling to hilly, well 

 watered and has an average sea level elevation of six or r:./ 

 seven hundred feet. It is a bluegrass region, similar to that 

 of central Kentucky, while its fauna and flora are that of 

 the Carolinian zone. 



Pending a more thorough investigation of the status of the 

 warblers in this section I shall confine this paper principally 

 to a four-day trip, made by Dr. G. R. Mayfield and the writer, 

 to Sulphur Springs, about twenty miles west of Nashville, 

 from June 4 to 8, 1916. 



The location of our outing was chosen on account of the 

 great diversity of its topography, including as it did the 

 Cumberland River, with its valley a mile wide, overlooked by 

 precipitous limestone cliffs, some two hundred feet higher 

 than the valley, the altitude of the latter being about four 

 hundred feet. Back of the bluffs were dense woodlands of 

 hardwood, well watered by springs and an ideal breeding 

 ground for most of the warblers noted. Marrowbone Creek, 

 a gravel bottomed stream of fairly good proportions, flowed 

 into the river here and its clear waters and sycamore lined ri. / 

 banks were the principal home of the water-thrushes and 

 sycamore w^arblers noted. 



The annotated list follows, specimens of the least common 

 species being collected and preserved in the shape of skins. 



Black and White Warbler — Mniotilta varia. 



Doubtless the commonest warbler we found and readily noted 

 on account of its habit of feeding low about the tree trunks. Many 

 young of the year were noted, there being usually a group of 

 three or four together. An inhabitant of the denser woodland. 



Prothonotary Warbler — Protonotaria citrea. 



Five or six pairs were located on Marrowbone Creek from the 

 railroad bridge to the mouth, a half mile below. A lock and 

 dam built in the river nearby has caused the water on this stretch 

 to remain constant except of course in time of floods, and the place 

 is ideal for their requirements. A number of nest holes were ex- 



