WARBLERS 321 



and Sand Mountain, April 21 (1911), and April 22 (1917). 

 The bird departs early in fall for its winter home ; the last one 

 seen at Leighton was on September 3 (1893). Eggs have 

 been found at Florence, May 11; Autaugaville, May 12; 

 Greensboro, May 21 ; Montgomery, June 3 ; York, June 7 ; and 

 Guntersville, June 17. 



General habits. — This bird dwells chiefly in dry thickets 

 and shrubby clearings and is so shy and suspicious of in- 

 trusion that it is not very well known. It remains concealed 

 in shrubbery the greater part of the time, but occasionally 

 flies up to deliver its odd song in the air, its legs dangling to 

 their full length and the wings raised high above the body. 

 The song is a curious medley of whistles, cat calls, and 

 chuckles, and is frequently heard at night as well as through- 

 out the day. The nest, placed in a bush, usually about 2 or 3 

 feet above the ground, is constructed of grasses, leaves, and 

 grapevine bark, lined with finer grasses. 



Food habits. — The chat feeds largely on insects, including 

 beetles, bugs, ants, weevils, bees, wasps. Mayflies, and various 

 caterpillars, such as tent caterpillars and currant worms. It 

 is said to be fond of wild strawberries and takes also consider- 

 able other wild fruit, as blackberries, raspberries, whortleber- 

 ries, elderberries, and wild grapes. 



HOODED WARBLER : Wilsonia citrina (Boddaert) . 



State records. — The hooded warbler is a fairly common 

 summer resident in all parts of the State from the coastal 

 swamps to the summit of the mountains. It is recorded in 

 the breeding season at Leighton, Elkmont, Monte Sano (near 

 Huntsville), Sand Mountain (near Carpenter), Erin (Clay 

 County), Auburn, Scale, Tuscaloosa, Natural Bridge, Ardell, 

 Dothan, Castleberry, and Mobile. This species arrives from 

 the south late in March or early in April, having been first 

 noted at Mobile, March 24 (1912) ; Coosada, March 28 (1878) ; 

 Montgomery, March 29 (1908) ; Woodbine, April 4 (1908) ; 

 Greensboro, April 6 (1893); and Leighton, April 8 (1891). 

 In fall it has been observed at Greensboro, September 30 

 (1893) ; Castleberry, October 10 (1908) ; and Bon Secour, 



11— B 



