Birds of Allegany Park 321 



ground, at the base of a bush, in a tangle of blackberry or in a tuft 

 of sedge grass. It is made of grasses and leaves, and lined with 

 fine grasses. When the young are out of the nest, the parents 

 become anxious at the approach of an intruder, and advertise the 

 fact to the knowing bird lover, who may find the young ones by a 

 little patient waiting. 



Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis (Linn.) 



The Catbird is a little smaller than the Robin. Its plumage is 

 plain gray, both above and below, with a black crown on the head, 

 and a patch of dark reddish brown on the under tail coverts. It is 

 a rather short-winged and long-tailed bird with a long sharp, slightly 

 curved bill. 



The Catbird is common in the Park, living in thickets and low 

 dense shrubbery, particularly where they grow along streams. It 

 is not a difficult bird to see, for it is often curious enough to come 

 out into view to watch man as much as he may like to watch it. 

 When concealed in the thick bushes its presence may often be 

 known by the harsh, cat-like " mew." 



The song of the Catbird is long continued and much varied. It 

 is made up of short phrases with pauses between them. It is 

 usually musical, but some notes may be harsh or nasal in quality. 

 Frequently an individual interpolates into its song, portions of the 

 songs of other birds ; a phrase from the Wood Thrush, a few 

 " teachers " from the Oven-bird, a perfect " whip-poor-will," and 

 various other imitations. There is, however, little danger of mis- 

 taking the Catbird for some species that it imitates, for its imitations 

 are mixed in with characteristic notes from its own song. 



The nest is seldom more than three or four feet from the ground. 

 It is placed in a thick, thorny bush or tangle of vines, and is con- 

 structed of sticks and leaves, and lined with fine roots. The eggs 

 are dark greenish blue, unmarked or spotted, and usually four in 

 number. 



Yellow Warbler. Dendroica (estiva estiva (Gmel.) 



This is one of the best known members of the Warbler family. It 

 is smaller than the English Sparrow, with a bright yellow color over 

 most of its body, this yellow being somewhat duller on the back, 

 wings and tail. The breast of the male is streaked with bright 

 brownish red, but that of the female is unstreaked. 



Unlike most of the warblers this bard is not to be found in the 

 forest, but inhabits the willow and elder bushes that border streams. 

 It is common along the banks of the Allegheny River and in all 

 the lower stream valleys in the Park. 



The song of the Yellow Warbler is a sHort, pleasing strain, 

 although this bird, like most of the warblers, does not rank high as 

 a singer. The song varies considerably, but the commonest form 

 heard in the Park consists of four or five notes of even time and 

 pitch, followed by three or four more of shorter time and slightly 

 lower pitch, and terminating in a single note of the same time and 



