70 BLUE-WINGED WARBLER 



enable them to collect their little family before dark. Eight days 

 had elapsed since incubation was completed, and it is not at all 

 unusual for the young of this species to leave the nest while so 

 tiny and ragged." 



Song. — The strong suggestion of inhaling and exhaling which 

 characterizes the simple and most common song of this species, has 

 been noted by many observers. 



"The ordinary call song of this species has a decided insect 

 quality. He seems to inhale a shrill zre-e-e-e-e-e and immediately 

 exhale a buzzing swe-e-e-e-e-e, the whole performance comprising a 

 perfect double run through about half an octave of the scale. Often 

 it seems to be a simple swe-e-e-e-e-e ze-e-e-e-e-e, the latter part 

 merely a sputter. At its best the song is a drowsy locust-like shrill, 

 belonging rather to mid-summer than to spring. 



"There is another song which is usually given during the early 

 summer months, but which I have heard shortly after the arrival of 

 the bird in the last days of April or the first days of May. This song 

 is far more varied and has a far better claim to be called a song. 

 Mr. Chapman renders it wee, chi-chi-chi-chi, chtir, chee-chur. 



"There are two definite song periods, the first beginning with the 

 bird's arrival and ending about the middle of June, during which 

 time the insect song is given almost entirely ; the second one beginning 

 late in July or early in August and continuing to the third week in 

 August, this period being characterized by the more varied song, but 

 not to the entire exclusion of the other." (Jones.) 



"A drowsy, locust-like, swe-e-e-e-e ze-e-e-e-e, the first apparently 

 inhaled and the last exhaled. * * * Another song heard on the 

 first day of arrival, on one occasion, uttered by several males in com- 

 pany, possibly transients here, and maybe the mating song, suggests 

 the Chickadee's che-de-de-e, che-dee-e, and che-de-de-dee, uttered 

 repeatedly in one form or other in some excitement, and while run- 

 ning out on the branchlets. The call and alarm note is a rather weak 

 chip, uttered more or less rapidly and not distinguishable from that 

 of several other of our local Warblers. The male sings upon arrival 

 up to about the 16th of June (June 11-24 in a series of years) 

 marking the end of the breeding season. A second period of song 

 in 1902 occurred July 2-7, perhaps a belated breeder. I have not 

 recognized the female as a singer." (Burns, MS.) 



Nesting Site. — On the ground sometimes in a bunch of weeds, 

 goldenrod being frequently chosen, but often placed independently of 

 its immediate surroundings. A favorite locality is the bushy border 



