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Though called "Warblers" their song should as a rule hardly be 

 dignified by such a term. With few exceptions the songs are only insig- 

 nificant little notes without much prolonged continuity, but as they are 

 often specifically distinctive the student is advised to pay close attention 

 to them, for when the great Warbler migrations are on, the presence of a 

 new or rare species is often first made known by a single unfamiliar sound 

 directing attention from the many to the one that would otherwise escape 

 notice. 



Economic Status. The Warblers are highly insectivorous. A few 

 take more or less seed, and a little fruit that is almost invariably wild, 

 and no complaints have been made against any of the family. Their 

 effect, therefore, is wholly beneficial. Being active they reach all kinds of 

 insect habitats from the axils of highest flung leaves to between blades of 

 grass on the ground, and as they are small they are satisfied to take insects 

 and insect eggs that are too insignificant or too well hidden to receive the 

 attention of larger birds. 



Genus — Mniotilta. Creeping Warbler. 



636. Black and White Warbler, black and white creeper, fr. — la fauvette 

 noire et blanche. MniotiUa varia. L, 5-30. Plate XXXIX B. There is little plumage 

 variation. 



Distinctions. A small Black and White Warbler which creeps about trunks and branches 

 like a Woodpecker. In the autumn the colours of the young bird are similar to those of 

 the adult but slightly veiled and have small washes of buff and less black on the throat. 

 It is to be mistaken in spring only for the Black-poll but the white median stripe on the 

 crown instead of all black can distinguish it from that species. 



Field Marks. Its creeping habits, strong black and white coloration with median 

 crown stripe. In the autumn it is the only all-black and white Warbler to be seen in eastern 

 Canada. 



Nesting. On the ground at the base of a stump, log, or rock, in nest of strips of bark, 

 grasses, etc., lined with rootlets and long hair. 



Distribution. Eastern North America; breeds in most of Canada north to well beyond 

 settlement. 



This is one of the earliest Warblers to arrive in the spring and one of 

 the easiest to identify at any time as it is always well marked and there is 

 little difference in seasonal or sexual coloration. 



Genus — Protonotaria: Golden Warbler. 



637. Prothonotary Warbler, fr. — la fauvette protonotaire. Protonotaria 

 citrea. L, 5-50. A golden yellow Warbler, bright rich chrome or golden on head and most 

 of underparts and with greyish wings, tail, and rump. There is little plumage variation. 



Distinctions. The only Warbler with an intense even golden head, neck, and breast, 

 without wing-bars. The Pine and Wilson's Warblers have green or black crowns; the 

 Yellow Warbler is without the grey wings and tail and is lemon-yellow rather than orange 

 or golden. 



Field Marks. The Prothonotary is too rare a species in Canada to record from living 

 specimens. 



Nesting. In a hole in a stub or stump in nest of rootlets, fine twigs and moss, plant- 

 down, or feathers. 



Distribution. Mississippi valley north barely to Canadian boundary which it 

 crosses only accidentally in the lower Great Lakes region. 



28587—14 



