2];; 



lookout perch; many an exciting chase occurs when the head 

 of some one houseliold encroaches on the domains of an- 

 other. A flash of yellow and black is all that can be seen 

 of the bewildering conflicts as they dash in and out among 

 the underbrush until one finally returns to his perch singing 

 his victory in the peculiar, rasping tones common to this spe- 

 cies. 



Their nests are quite difficult to find as they are, almost 

 without exception, built at tlie tops of low shrubs, just where 

 the leaves are the most dense. As there are hundreds of 

 bushes perfectly adapted to their needs it requires a long 

 search to locate a nest, particularly because these warblers 

 are so very careful not to disclose its hiding place. All my 

 observations have brought me to the conclusion that Prairie 

 Warblers are practical jokers; I, at least, have been made 

 their victim on several occasions. 



One day I saw one of the females with a bit of grass in 

 her bill, so I sat down to watch and find out where she was 

 going to put it. She knew that I had seen her so she chirp- 

 ed and scolded for a long time, being ably aided by her 

 mate who appeared by her side at the first note of alarm. 

 In a few minutes she took the nesting material into the 

 thick top of a bush and soon flew out again without it. A 

 few minutes later, the male also carried material to the same 

 spot followed after awhile by the female with some strips 

 of bark. I was sure that they must have a nest nearly 

 completed to be working so industriously, so I went over to 

 investigate. Imagine my surprise when I found not a 

 shred of a nest there ; they had carried their loads to the 

 bush and dropped them on the ground apparently for the 

 very purpose of fooling me. I have had other very similar 

 experiences with these little warblers. 



I show a few pictures obtained at a nest located in a 

 young walnut tree. It is a typical nest, composed chieflj' 

 of plant fibres, a few grasses and shreds of bark. While 



