THE WORM-EATING WARBLER. 



{Helmitherus vertnivorus.) 



The Worm-eating Warbler is much 

 more retiring and less often noticed than 

 most of the species of warblers. Unlike 

 many of the species its range does not 

 reach to the northern coniferous forests. 

 Passing the winter in the countries bor- 

 dering the Gulf of Mexico, it migrates in 

 the spring throughout the Eastern United 

 States, breeding as far north as. Illinois 

 and Connecticut. Its dull color and re- 

 tiring and shy disposition eminently fit 

 it for its chosen hunting grounds — the 

 deep and thick woods, bordering ravines, 

 where there is an abundant undergrowth 

 of shrubs. Though preferring such lo- 

 calities, it is occasionally seen in rather 

 open places. 



Its companion in the woods is the gold- 

 en-crowned thrush, for which it might 

 easily be mistaken were it not for the ab- 

 sence of streaks on its breast. Its song 

 closely resembles that of the chipping 

 sparrow and may even mislead the 

 trained field ornithologist. As it delib- 

 erately hunts for insects among the dry 

 leaves on the ground or on the lower 

 branches of shrubs, its slow motions are 

 more like those of the vireo than of a 

 warbler. 



While walking through woods fre- 

 quented by this rare little warbler the 



experiences of Mr. Leander Keyser is 

 that of all who have had the pleasure of 

 meeting it among the trees. He says : 

 ''Suddenly there was a twinkle of wings, 

 a flash of olive-green, a sharp chirp, and 

 then before me, a few rods away, a little 

 bird went hopping about on the ground, 

 picking up dainties from the brown 

 leaves. It was a rare Worm-eating War- 

 bler. The little charmer was quite wary, 

 chirping nervously while I ogled him — 

 for it was a male — and then hopped up 

 into a sapling and finally scurried away 

 out of sight." 



It builds its nest on the ground among 

 the dead leaves and under the protecting 

 shade of large leaved herbage or low 

 shrubs. The nest is rather large for the 

 size of the bird. Grasses, small roots, 

 the fibrous shreds of bark and a few dried 

 leaves are used in its construction. 



Regarding the habits of this warbler 

 Dr. Cones writes as follows : "It is a 

 sedate, rather a demure, little bird, with- 

 out the vivacity of most warblers. When 

 startled from the dead leaves on the 

 ground, where it spends most of its time 

 rambling, like the golden-crowned thrush, 

 it flies to a low limb and then often sits 

 motionless or hops listlessly about/' 



THE HUMMINGBIRD. 



A wheel of emerald set to song, 



Song of a thousand murmurings; 



A rainbow held in its leashes long, 



A whirl of color, a rush of wings, 



The branches tilt and the petals quake 



("There is honey, my love, for you!") 



And the frowzled heads of the blossoms shake 



After each whispered interview. 



Nelly Hart Woodworth. 



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