WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
Helmitherus vermiyvorus Barrp. 
PLATE XI. Fic. 5. 
Al)’HE WorM-EATING WARBLER is very retiring in its habits, unusually shy, plainly 
a colored, and has no distinctive song. For these reasons it is not known to 
the general friend of nature, although it is not uncommon in many parts of our 
country. It is chiefly found south of 40°, being especially common in the Middle States 
and, perhaps, also in many parts of the South. According to my own experience, it is 
a rather common bird near St. Louis, and in south-western Missouri, where it frequents 
the wooded bluffs and steep sides of ravines. It is also found in suitable localities in 
southern Illinois. In southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in Kentucky and Tennessee, 
it has been observed as a more or less abundant bird. 
Despite its dull color and retiring habits, the Worm-eater is a very interesting 
bird. It is an active, restless creature, spending much of its time on the ground, but 
often winding its way up the trunks and branches of trees in the manner of the Creeping 
Warbler. It is always in pursuit of insects. Its color harmonizes so well with the dry 
leaves that it is no easy task to observe it for any length of time. It searches for its 
food among the green foliage and blossoms as well as among the decayed leaves on the 
ground. Although its haunts are on dry ground, water will always be found in close 
proximity. Not far away we may find a cool brook, a lakelet, a spring, a river, or a 
pond. In Pennsylvania and elsewhere it chooses for its haunts the mountain-sides, which 
are densely covered with spice-bushes', white-fringe?, witch hazel, kalmias, and azaleas. 
Vigorous columbines* grow in phenomenal luxuriance, and their masses of red and yellow. 
flowers relieve the occasional monotony of the green or glaring white colors. Ovenbirds, 
Chewinks, Wood Thrushes, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and many other songsters literally 
throng this beautiful idle-wild. The Worm-eating Warbler is not conspicuous among 
them, and we may easily mistake its song for that of the Chipping Sparrow, which 
it so closely resembles “that it is sometimes difficult for the most critical listener to 
distinguish it’? (Ridgway). 
The nest of this species is built on the ground, imbedded in dry leaves, and hidden 
by herbaceous plants, fern-fronds, or other similar objects. Nests found in West Chester, 
Pa., by Mr. T. H. Jackson, were composed of dead leaves, mostly those of the beech, 
while the interior was prettily lined with fine, thread-like stalks of hair-moss‘. The 
eggs, four to six, but usually five, in number, have a clear crystal-white ground, some 
being faintly marked with light reddish spots, while others are more heavily blotched 
with lavender and rich chestnut, chiefly on the larger end. 
1 Calycanthus floridus and C. levigatus. 2 Chionanthus virginica. ® Aquilegia canadensis, 4 Polytrichium, 
