THE CAPE MAY WARBLER. 



{Dendroica tigrina.) 



I.YNDS JONES. 



THERE is hardly another group of 

 birds that yields so satisfactory 

 returns for earnest study as the 

 American wood warblers. All 

 shades and patterns of colors are theirs, 

 from somber to brilliant, from the plain- 

 est to the most intricate and exquisite 

 pattern. Almost all degrees of vocal 

 ability are found among them, from the 

 simple twitter of the Tennessee to the 

 wild thrilling challenge of the Louisiana 

 water thrush or the ventriloquial antics 

 of the yellow-breasted chat. Many bird 

 students, it is true, regard the group as 

 too difficult for any but the professional 

 ornithologist to attempt ; and ^that may 

 be true of the females and o*f the au- 

 tumnal plumages of the young, but the 

 spring males are a constant inspiration 

 and delight to one who admires variety 

 in beauty. 



It may be objected that the small size 

 of the warblers renders their field study 

 difficult, even if the foliage does not 

 prove a serious hindrance. One must 

 remember, however, that most small 

 birds are not wary and that they may be 

 closely approached, so that, with a good 

 field-glass (and every bird-student 

 should use one) their colors and the pat- 

 tern of their dress can readily be made 

 out even in the lower tree tops, where 

 many of them feed. Foliage is always 

 in the way, but even that can be circum- 

 vented by patience and perseverance. 



The study of adult males in spring is 

 greatly aided by the fact that each spe- 

 cieS; with some exceptions, has one or 

 more patches of color peculiar to itself. 

 Thus in the Cape May warbler the ear 

 patches are rufous. Other species pos- 

 sess rufous colors, but none of them in 

 this place. 



The Cape May warbler belongs among 

 the less common species, but may be 

 common for a day or two during the 



height of the migration. It is very fond 

 of orchards, where it feeds among the 

 foliage, snatching an insect here, a larva 

 there, and cleaning the bundle of eggs' 

 from the leaf over yonder with an un- 

 tiring energy. They also associate more 

 or less with the other warblers in the 

 woods. They are of great value to the 

 fruit grower. 



This species is found from the At- 

 lantic coast west to the plains and north 

 to Hudson's Bay, passing the winter in 

 the tropics. It breeds from northern 

 New England to Hudson's Bay and 

 probably in northern Minnesota. The 

 nest is built in a low bush in a wooded 

 pasture or open woodland, said to be 

 partially pensile. The nest and eggs are 

 not readily distinguishable from those 

 of several other warblers. The males 

 sing frequently from their perch on the 

 topmost twig of a spruce tree, thus mis- 

 leading one as to the whereabouts of the 

 female and nest. The song resembles 

 somewhat that of the black and white 

 warbler, but is rather less wiry. It can- 

 not to be represented on paper. 



The tongue of this bird is worthy of 

 special notice. It is cleft at the tip, and 

 is provided with somewhat of a fringe. 

 This character is not peculiar to this spe- 

 cies, but is found in some honey creep- 

 ers and in at least one foreign family of 

 birds, thus suggesting, at least, the rela- 

 tionship of the warblers as a group. It 

 might be asked, what is the significance 

 of this character as regards feeding- 

 habits? Apparently nothing, since the 

 feeding-habits and food do not differ 

 from those of other warblers not having 

 the cleft tongue as greatly as the tongues 

 themselves differ in structure. It is ap- 

 parently aberrant character developed 

 somewhat at random among groups 

 nearly related, or perhaps a remnant of 

 structure. 



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