410 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



distinguish it at a long distance through the grove. It is also one of our 

 full-voiced warblers, the song resembling the syllables " wee-to, wee-to, 

 wee-e-tee," or " witchi, witchi, witchi, tit, ivitchi-tit, luitchi-tit, luitcJii-tit " the 

 first four words deliberate and even, the last three hurried and higher 

 pitched. Aberrant songs also noted by Mr Thayer are " ter-whiz, wee-it" 

 and another " luee-yer, wee-yer, wee-yer.'' The song is louder than the Yel- 

 low warbler's, and in addition it has several " chips " which are scarcely 

 distinguishable from other species, and a more characteristic call note with a 

 slight metallic ring, " Hep, 'tlep." 



In its nesting grounds, this warbler prefers coniferous growth, especially 

 young spruces, which crowd the edges of the northern swamp or appear 

 in slashings, burnt lands and pastures. The nest is almost invariably 

 placed in a low spruce tree only a few feet above the ground, and is con- 

 structed of dead twigs of spruce and hemlock, pine needles, grasses and 

 downy substances, and lined with fine rootlets. The eggs are 3 to 6 in 

 number, usually 4, of a dull, creamy white ground color with spots and 

 blotches of reddish brow^n, chestnut, purplish and lilac, often heavily covered, 

 at other times forming a wreath near the larger end. The average size 

 is .66 by .48 inches. INIr C. F. Stone thus describes the nests which are 

 found in the gullies of the Finger Lake region: " Ever>^ hemlock-clad 

 gully or hemlock vroods where the trees are close and limbs intertwined 

 afford suitable haunts for this lively and emphatic singer, for the Magnolia 

 is one of our most agile warblers and utters its two songs, with their 

 variations, in a clear, loud, emphatic enunciation. Among the smaller 

 gullies I or 2 pairs may be found, and in the larger gullies it is not unusual 

 to locate 12 or 15 pairs during the nesting period. In some of these 

 situations the Magnolia does not seem to occur, perhaps because it is so 

 persecuted by red squirrels and cowbirds. The latter seems to make 

 a specialty of presenting this warbler with one or more of its eggs, generally 

 puncturing the eggs of the Magnolia before leaving the nest. The nest- 

 building of this species begins by May 25 and fresh eggs are found by 

 June 2 to 15. In this locality the nests are usually situated anywhere 



