Plate LXVIII. 



Fig. 3. PARULA AMERICAN A-Blm Yellow-backed Warbler. 



The Blue Yellow-backed Warbler is inserted here as a summer resident of Ohio on the authority of 

 Dr. Wheaton, "Geological Survey of Ohio," Vol. IV, page 239: "Not common, spring and fall migrant 

 in Southern and Middle, summer resident in Northern Ohio. Mr. Eead notes it as 'common in the 

 spring, a few spend the summer.' Dr. Kirtland says: 'I have repeatedly seen them feeding their young 

 in July.' It may breed in the vicinity of Columbus, as I saw a specimen in my garden June 30, 1879. 

 Mr. Ridgvvay says it breeds in Southern Illinois." It arrives in the neighborhood of Circleville about 

 the first week in May on its way to northern breeding grounds, and returns in September. When it 

 occurs as a summer resident, it probably builds in June, and rears but a single brood during a season. 



LOCALITY : 



Page 209, "North American Birds," says: "Even where most common it is not an abundant species, 

 and is to be found only in certain localities, somewhat open and swampy thickets, usually not of great 

 extent, and prefers those well covered with the long grey lichens known as Spanish moss. In such 

 localities only, so far as I know, do they breed. . . . Mr. Audubon speaks of this species as breeding 

 in Louisiana, but his description of the nest differs so entirely from such as are met with in Massachusetts 

 as to suggest doubts as to the correctness of the identification. He describes them as flitting over damp 

 places, the edges of ponds and streams, and pursuing their prey with great activity. They resort to the 

 woods as soon as the foliage appears on the forest trees, and glean among the leaves for the smaller 

 winged insects." 



POSITION : 



"The nests are sometimes constructed on the sides of trunks of trees, when covered with the long 

 grey lichens, but are more frequently found hanging from branches, usually not more than six or eight 

 feet from the ground." 



MATERIALS : 



All authors give very similar descriptions of this nest. In fact, I know of no species that builds a 

 more uniform structure, so far as shape and materials are concerned. Maynard says: "Some beautiful 

 specimens of these nests are composed of long gray moss, but differ from that described above in beino- 

 perfect little purses, with the entrance hole on the side. There is no other material used for lining than 

 that of which the structures are made." Davie says: "Nests in my collection are beautiful structures. 

 They are pensile, with an entrance on one side. They are composed of long greenish or. gray Spanish 

 moss. As a whole, the nest is one of the most curious specimens of bird architecture; the long pieces of 

 moss are woven and twined together in a large, purse-shaped mass." Minot says: " The nest is globular, 



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