MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
1 6t> 
exposed positions in the bush. The combination of swampy lowland and 
scattered bushes as found in this particular habitat proves to be the favorite 
home of these birds. In other habitats at the bayou each of these condi- 
tions exist separately, but only a few Yellow Warblers are found in 
them. It is evident, then, that those factors which tend to produce this 
combination of lowland and brush are the ones most favorable for the dis- 
tribution of the Yellow Warbler. 
Melospiza cinerea melodia (Wilson). Song Sparrow. This common 
sparrow arrives about the first of March. In mild winters like the last one 
(1905-6) a few remain here. In the spring before the plants have leaved 
out these sparrows are usually found sitting in the tops of dead bushes. At 
first the food is almost entirely weed seeds, but as soon as the insects appear 
it turns to them. One stomach collected in Mar. 7, 1906, contained several 
weed seeds, three caterpillars and remains of other insects. Twenty-seven 
stomachs examined between May 1st and July 1st contained a small amount 
of weed seeds and in a few cases remains of some kind of fruit. The major 
portion consisted of insects which were probably gathered entirely in this 
habitat, as the insects eaten were abundant here and field observations 
confirmed the supposition. Small beetles, slugs, two-winged insects, moths, 
snails, small larvae, and spiders were found in nearly all the stomachs ex- 
amined. After the nesting has begun the birds resort less and less to the 
bushes, spending most of the time among the tussocks of long grass which 
cover the drier portions of the open lowland. The nests are usually built 
in one of these tussocks and are composed of dry grasses collected from the 
neighboring tufts. The foundation is laid on the top or hollowed outside 
of the hummock bearing the tuft. 
That this is an ideal habitat for the Song Sparrow is evident for the follow- 
ing reasons: First, the food of the species as determined by Judd and as 
shown by the examination of specimens taken in this habitat is very plentiful. 
Second, the tussocks of tall thick grass offer excellent nesting sites, besides 
furnishing the material of which the nest is made. Third, the long grass 
offers ample protection not only for the nest, but for the bird as well. A 
large amount of dead grass remains from the previous year and so closely 
does the coloring of the Song Sparrow resemble this that it is quite safe from 
the searching eyes of any hawk which might pass over. 
These birds are one of the most abundant species found at the bayou, 
and are found in every habitat, but only in small numbers, the swamp being 
the environment best suited to their needs. 
Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). Catbird. This Idl'd, like the Redwing 
is confined quite closely to the swamp land, but unlike the latter it inhabits 
the "shrubby willows and other bushes. The Catbird arrives about the 
first of May and retires immediately into the thick, dark clumps of willow 
brush. The food consists of insects and fruits. Five stomachs were exam- 
ined before the berry season commenced, and three after. The former 
contained several varieties of insects, such as moths, flies, small green 
larvae, and ants. One stomach contained the remains of many small 
beetles. The birds taken during the berry season had fed principally on 
strawberries, red raspberries, wild currants, and a few choke cherries. Only 
a few insects were found in these stomachs, larvae and small flies being the 
most numerous. All the fruits mentioned and several other varieties are 
common in the drier portions of the area worked, but do not occur to any 
extent in the swamp. This necessitates the bird leaving its habitat for 
these fruits. However, all the insects eaten are abundant in the swamp and 
