SENNETT’S WARBLER. 195 
may be an explanation why this bird is common in so many different localities. Its 
occurrence in regions where no lichens and mosses are to be found on the trees was 
for many years inexplicable to me, being unable to imagine how the bird could nest 
in such localities. One of our most prominent ornithologists, Mr. Otto Widmann, of 
St. Louis, Mo., presents the following explanation: ‘This year (1885) I have found a 
nest of the Parula Warbler in a place where I did not look for it. You doubtlessly 
have seen bunches of straw, grass, dry leaves, etc., attached to branches of trees, being 
touched by the water during freshets. In such a bunch, attached to the end of a birch 
tree branch hanging over the water, I found the nest of the Parula Warbler. In 
structure this nest is similar to other nests of this bird with the exception that the 
straw and leaves take the place of the lichens and mosses.” 
The usual number of eggs laid by this Warbler is four, sometimes five. The ground- 
color is pearly-white, glossy, speckled with rusty-brown and chestnut. In many cases 
the spots form a wreath near the larger end. 
The Parula Warbler ranges from the Atlantic to the Plains, north to Canada. In 
Connecticut, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and most of the States bordering 
the Atlantic it seems to be common. It winters in the West Indies and Central 
America, in Florida and eastern Mexico. 
NAMES: ParvuLa WARBLER, Blue Yellow-backed Warbler.—Flechten-, Moosséinger (German). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Parus americanus Linn. (1758). Parula americana Bonap. (1838). Sylvicola 
americana Aud. (1839). COMPSOTHLYPIS AMERICANA Capanis (1850). Sylvia pusilla Wiis. 
DESCRIPTION: Above, ashy-blue, back with a golden-brown patch; beneath, yellow; belly, white; a reddish- 
brown patch accross the breast; a small white spot on either eyelid; two conspicuous white bands 
across the wings; outer two tail-feathers with a white spot. Bill, black above, yellowish below. 
Female, similar, with less brown on the breast and back; blue, not so light. 
Length, 4.75 inches; wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80 inches. 
SENNETT’S WARBLER. 
Compsothlypis nigrilora StE;NEGER. 
SENNETT’s’ WARBLER is a bird of the Rio Grande region of Texas, where it was dis- 
covered by Mr. Geo. B. Sennett, in 1877.* It is truly a bird of the forest and delights to 
be in the upper branches of the tallest trees. After reaching Lomita, April 8, 1878, 
Mr. Sennett met this pretty little Warbler frequently. The song of the male is at this 
time almost continuous as it flits about, its notes are so clear that they can be heard 
at a long distance, and may be readily distinguished from those of all other birds. In 
feeding habits, Mr. Sennett saw nothing different from our familiar Parula Warbler. 
On May 17, a nest containing one egg was found. It was an exceedingly beautiful and 
interesting structure and was built in a gray mistletoe-like orchid, an air-plant very 
common on the Rio Grande,. which establishes itself on the small branches of trees, and 
varies in size from 8 to 10 inches in diameter. “This one was 6 inches long by 4.50 
inches wide, quite firm in texture, and was fastened some ten feet from the ground, 
* See “Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories,” Vol. IV, p. 11, 12, and 
Vol. V, pp. 384—386. 
