312 THE BIRDS 
of collecting, the nests found with eggs can be counted on 
one hand, generally with good-sized or full-grown young. 
By nature water-loving birds, there is seldom a wet or 
swampy place without a pair of them. Especially 
common did I find them along the fresh and brackish 
waters of the rivers emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, 
also on the islands off our coast. There is no mistaking 
the bird after hearing his ‘Witchery, witchery, witchery,” 
even though we don’t see him, for he keeps close to the 
ground and long grass. The nests are composed of grass 
and flag blades, lined with fine grasses or hair, located 
at the foot of a bush or in the grass and weeds, and on 
the ground, not far from water. Eggs generally number 
four, white, specked with reddish-brown. Size, .70x.52. 
May 14th to 18th we find fresh eggs. The nests are more 
easily found on Hog Island than anywhere else in our 
section, the birds being very abundant there. They 
reach us April 6th to 12th and depart about August 18th, 
the more northern birds passing through shortly, and on 
until September 25th, which is my latest record. They 
probably rear two broods with us, though I can not state 
so positively. Their food consists of spiders, larvee, grubs, 
beetles, and other insects. We find them abundant over 
most of the State. 
[681-B]. Geothlypis trichas ignota (Chapman). 
Florida Yellow-throat. 
Rance.—Southeastern United States. Breeds in 
Austroriparian zone from southeastern Virginia (Princess 
Anne County and Dismal Swamp), south to Florida and 
along the Gulf coast at least to Louisiana; winters from 
the coast of South Carolina to southeastern Texas and 
Cuba. 
