the boat there dropped from the gular sack of one specimen that 1 shot over 

 twenty small fish. The beautiful iridescence of the dark copper-green plumage 

 of the adult Cormorant can only be appreciated when the freshly killed bird is 

 seen/' 



The Hooded Warbler ( Wilsonia citrina) 



By W. Leon Dawson 



Description. — Adult male: A golden mask, including foreliead and cheeks, 

 superimposed on a black hood, which covers the head and neck all around and 

 reaches the fore-breast; back, etc., bright olive-green; wings and tail fuscous with 

 olive-green edgings ; the two outer pairs of tail feathers white on the inner webs 

 for exposed length ; remaining under parts, including lining of wing, bright yellow, 

 abruptly contrasting with the black of hood ; bill and rictal bristles black ; feet 

 ])ale. Adult female: lilack hood much less distinct or wanting, showing only 

 traces of black on nape, etc. ; outlines of golden mask sometimes indistinguish- 

 able below, partially veiled by olive-green skirtings above ; under parts impure 

 yellow. Immature male: Like adult male, but the black feathers of hood with 

 yellow tips. Length 5.00-5.75 (127.-146-1 ) ; wing 2.60 (67.6) ; tail 2.30 {?9.9) ; 

 bill .40 (10.2). 



Recognition ^larks. — Warbler size; black hood and golden mask of male; 

 yellow forehead and black rictal-bristles of specimens lacking the hood. 



Xest. — In bushes or saplings- from one to five feet up, of bark-strips, leaves, 

 grass and trash, more or less interwoven with spiders' silk, and lined with hair or 

 fiber. Eggs, 4 or 5, white or creamy white, dotted and spotted with reddish 

 l)rown or umber, chiefl}^ in wreath about larger end. Av. size, .71x.51 (IS.xLS.). 



Range. — Breeds in Carolinian and Austroriparian zones from southeastern 

 Nebraska, southern Iowa, southwestern Michigan, central New York and the 

 lower Connecticut Valley south to Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia ; winters from 

 X^era Cruz and Yucatan to Panama. 



While the hooded warbler has a wide range in eastern I'nited States, its 

 center of abundance is the lower Mississippi Valley. It is common only locally 

 and wholly absent from many sections except as a casual migrant. Of the bird, 

 one of our most beautiful warblers. Chapman says : 



"To my mind there is no warbler to which that much misused word 'lovely' 

 may be so aptly applied as to the present species. Its beauty of plumage, charm of 

 voice, and gentleness of demeanor make it indeed not only a lovely, but a truly 

 lovable bird. Doubtless, also, the nature of the hooded warbler's haunts increases 

 its attractiveness not merely because these w^ell-watered w^oodlands are in them- 

 selves inviting, but because they bring the bird down to our level. This creates 

 a sense of companionship which we do not feel with the bird ranging high above 

 us, and at the same time it permits us to see this exquisitely clad creature under 

 most favorable conditions." 



720 



