126 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



but with a decided .change to a higher pitch in the middle 

 and a fall at the close. But for the sharp slender bill and the 

 smaller size the bird might pass for a Ked-eyed Vireo, until 

 its song betrayed it. 



Nashville Warblbb. Helminthophila ruhricapilla 

 4.77 



Ad. — Top of head ashy, with a chestnut crown-patch some- 

 what hidden; rest of upper parts brown, tinged with greenish in 

 strong light; under parts bright yellow ; ring around eye white or 

 yellowish-white. Im. — Similar, but head like back; under parts 

 not so bright. 



Nest, on the ground. Eggs, white, speckled with reddish-brown, 

 chiefly at the larger end. 



The Nashville Warbler is a common summer resident of 

 portions of New York and New England. It is rare or 

 absent in the neighborhood of New York city, except as 

 a migrant, but breeds from Highland Falls northward. In 

 Connecticut it is generally distributed, but is not common in 

 the southern part of the State. In the upland of central and 

 northern New England it is common. It arrives early in 

 May, and leaves in September. It frequents land which is 

 partially overgrown with small trees and bushes, and as it is 

 one of the most active of an active family, it often leads a stu- 

 dent a very long chase before he gets a glimpse of its ashy head 

 and yellow under parts. Its song, however, is very charac- 

 teristic. It begins like a Black and White Warbler's, or 

 a Redstart's, and ends with two or three quick phrases that 

 run down the scale, wee-tse wee-tse wee-tse, chiddle chiddle 

 chiddle. Occasionally the ending is omitted, leaving a puz- 

 zling beginning which is hard to tell from a Redstart's song. 



The chestnut crown-patch of the Nashville is often diffi- 

 cult to make out, but no other warbler has bright yellow 

 unstreaked under parts and an ashy head. The white eye- 

 ring, too, is diagnostic, if one can get a view of it. The 



