144 THE MAGNOLIA WARBLER. 



streaking; rump and tail as in adult. Length 4.50-5.25 (114.3-133.3) ; wing 

 2.36 (59-9) ; tail 1.91 (48.5) ; bill .36 (9.1). 



Recognition Marjcs. — Smaller; below, rich yellow heavily streaked with 

 black in spring; square white spots on central third of tail feathers distinctive in 

 any plumage. 



Nest, of twigs, grasses and weed-stalks, carefully lined with fine rootlets, 

 in coniferous trees, usually three to ten feet high on horizontal branches. Eggs, 

 3-5, white, spotted and blotched with hazel, reddish brown and cinnamon. Av. 

 size, .65 X .48 (16.5 X 12.2). 



General Range. — Eastern North America west to the base of the Rocky 

 Mountains and casually to British Columbia ; breeding from northern New Eng- 

 land, New York, and Michigan, to Hudson Bay Territory, and southward in the 

 Alleghanies to Pennsylvania. In winter, Bahamas, Cuba and south through 

 eastern Mexico to Panama. 



Range in Ohio. — Common spring and fall migrant. Perhaps rare summer 

 resident in northeastern Ohio. 



IT is always with a sense of privilege that one gazes upon a bird so 

 beautiful, so exquisite as this. It is passing strange that one of such bril- 

 liant hue should desert the tropics and proceed not only to Ohio — that were 

 not so strange — but to gloomy Labrador. Surely he must be a vision glo- 

 rious in that land of fogs and pines and mosses gray! The bird brings 

 with him something of the languid air of the South, a breath as of magnolia 

 blossoms, and a southern name. For this bird like two other Warblers, 

 the Palm and the Myrtle, receives its name from the favorite tree of its 

 winter home. 



While passing through our borders the Magnolia Warbler is oftenest 

 found moving quietly through the bushes which line the banks of streams 

 or lean over swampy pools in the depth of the forest. If in the latter situa- 

 tion its brilliance seems fairly to dispel the gloom, and if one finds His 

 Magnificence fluttering before an insect-laden leaf, his cup of joy is full. 

 But the bird is no recluse and numbers of them join that bright array which 

 consecrates our tree-tops year by year. 



The song of the Magnolia is not often heard, but when vouchsafed 

 is clear and musical and fairly distinctive. It may bear a superficial re- 

 semblance to that of the Hooded Warbler, but careful comparison will 

 show that it is shorter, weaker, and more varied. It is only the penulti- 

 mate syllable, into which the bird throws a peculiar c[uality and turn, that 

 is confusing. Hick, Hick, Hick, Heetip, or che-weech, che-zveech, che-o. Beside 

 this common form there are many variations whose consideration would 

 scarcely prove helpful. 



Many years ago it was supposed that this bird could be found breeding 



