258 



678. Geothlypis agilis (Wils.). LH^-] Connecticut Warbler. 



This is one of the rarest, and hence one of the most interesting War- 

 blers of the Mississippi Valley. In 1883 neither the breeding range 

 nor its winter range was known. In 1884 something was learned of its 

 summer home, but where it spends the winter is still a mystery. The 

 question of its nest and eggs has been answered by Mr. Ernest E. T. 

 Seton (now Ernest E. Thompson), who found a nest on a moss mound 

 in a tamarack swamp near Carberry, Manitoba, concerning which he 

 published an interesting account in the Auk for April, 1884, page 192. 



He afterwards stated that this nest was found June 21, 1883. Not 

 the least interesting fact in the life history of this little-known species 

 is its choice of different routes for its spring and fall migrations, pass- 

 ing northward along the Mississippi Valley and returning by way of 

 New England. It is almost the latest Warbler to migrate in spring, 

 coming some time after the Black-polls, which are usually believed to 

 bring up the rear of the Warbler hosts. The only observer who noted 

 it in 1884 was Mr. Widmann, who found it at Saint Louis May 21, at 

 the same spot as in 1882 and 1883. As the birds do not leave latitude 

 43° until about June 1, it must be very late before they reach their 

 breeding-grounds in Manitoba. 



In the spring of 1885 the first Connecticut Warbler was seen at Saint 

 Louis, Mo., May 15, aud the last one week later. 



679. Geothlypis Philadelphia (Wils.). [120. J Mourning Warbler. 



In much of the Mississippi Valley the Mourning Warbler is a com- 

 panion of the Connecticut Warbler in migration, and hardly less difficult 

 to observe. Its life history, however, is well known. It winters south 

 of our border and breeds from Minnesota and eastern Nebraska north- 

 ward. It is common in western Manitoba. It has been found nesting 

 in Illinois, even south of latitude 39°. In 1884 it was noted by none of 

 the southern observers, the first record being that of its arrival at Saint 

 Louis May 21. During the next week it was observed at Elk River, 

 Minn. At Lanesboro, Minn., May 25, a male was taken with most of 

 its breast black. 



In the spring of 1885 Texas was well represented in the records of the 

 Mourning Warbler. It was seen at San Antonio, April 28; atBonham, 

 May 14, and at Gainesville at the very late date of May 22. It reached 

 Saint Louis, May 13; Emporia, Kans., May 15; Des Moines, Iowa, May 

 15; Lanesboro, Minn., May 18; Elk River, Minn., May 16, and. White 

 Earth, Minn., May 18. Thus it will be seen that in the northern por- 

 tion of its range it is a very rapid migrant. The last "at both Saint 

 Louis and Des Moines was noted May 22. 



In Concho County, Tex., it is a tolerably common fall migrant, but 

 has not been seen later than September 1 (Lloyd). 



680. Geothlypis macgillivrayi (Aud.). [121.] Macgillivray's Warbler. 



Along the extreme western edge of the Mississippi Valley this Warbler 

 takes the place of the preceding. An exceptionally eastern record was 



