26 THE SEMI-ANNUAL. 



REPORT OF WILLARD N. CLUTE, BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 



The following is a list of all the wavblei's I have noted in this 



locality. It is not intended for anything like a complete list, as 



new members of this interesting family are being identified each 



year. 



Bi.ACK AND White Creeper, Mniotilta varia. 



Common in Spring and Fall in deep woods. Unlike the other 

 warblers it is found running up the tree trunks. They nearly all 

 disappear in Summer, but as one is occasionally seen in July and 

 August, they probably breed sparingly hei^e. 



Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina. 



Often seen in Spring and Fall. They prefer dry, open woods 

 and do not breed with us. 



Summer Yellow Bird ; Willow Wren, De^zdi-oica cestiva. 



A common Summer resident in the willows and alders along 

 water, also, in the orchard. The nest is placed in the forks of 

 a tree, seldom at a height of more than fifteen feet. Exteriorly 

 it is usually composed of strips of bark from weeds, especially 

 of the milk-weed and lined with fine grasses and the cottony 

 substance from the willow catkins. The eggs are generally 4 or 

 5, greyish or greenish-white, blotched and spotted with difl^erent 

 shades of brown, chiefly at the larger end. At least two broods 

 are raised in a season here. The Cow Bunting is this bird's 

 greatest trial. As is well known, the Yellow Warbler is one of 

 few birds that can distinguish the Cow Bunting's eggs from its 

 own and refuses to hatch them. Instead of desei'ting the nest, 

 she builds the oftending &^^ out, often making a nest of several 

 stories in her attempts to be rid of the parasitic egg. 



Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendi'oica ccerulescens. 



Seen only in the Spring and Fall. The number of these birds 

 varies with the years. They ai-e never more than tolerably com- 

 mon. Damp woods seem to be preferred, the birds keeping in 

 the " lower story." 



