Plate LX VI II. 
Fig. 3. PARULA AMERICANA— Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. 
The Blue Yellow-hacked Warbler is insei'ted here as a summer resident of Ohio on the authority of 
Dr. Wheaton, “ Geological Survey of Ohio,” Yol. IY, page 239: “Not common, spring and fall migrant 
in Southern and Middle, summer resident in Northern Ohio. Mr. Bead notes it as ‘common in the 
spring, a few spend the summer.’ Dr. Kirtland says: ‘I have repeatedly seen them feeding their young- 
in July.’ It may breed in the vicinity of Columbus, as I saw a specimen in my garden June 30, 1879. 
Mr. Ridgway says it breeds in Southern Illinois.” It arrives in the neighborhood of Circleville about 
the first week in May on its way to northern breeding grounds, and returns in September. When it 
occurs as a summer resident, it probably builds in June, and rears but a single brood during a season. 
LOCALITY : 
Page 209, “North American Birds,” says: “Even where most common it is not an abundant species, 
and is to be found only in certain localities, somewhat open and swampy thickets, usually not of great 
extent, and prefers those well covered with the long grey lichens known as Spanish moss. In such 
localities only, so far as I know, do they breed. . . . Mr. Audubon speaks of this species as breeding- 
in Louisiana, but his description of the nest differs so entirely from such as arc met with in Massachusetts 
as to suggest doubts as to the correctness of the identification. He describes them as flitting over damp 
places, the edges of ponds and streams, and pursuing their prey with great activity. They resort to the 
woods as soon as the foliage appears on the forest trees, and glean among the leaves for the smaller 
winged insects.” 
POSITION : 
“The nests are sometimes constructed on the sides of trunks of trees, when covered with the Ions 
grey lichens, but are more frequently found hanging from branches, usually not more than six or eight 
feet from the ground.” 
MATERIALS : 
All authors give very similar descriptions of this nest. In fact, I know of no species that builds a 
more uniform structure, so far as shape and materials are concerned. Maynard says: “Some beautiful 
specimens of these nests are composed of long gray moss, but differ from that described above in being- 
perfect little purses, with the entrance hole on the side. There is no other material used for lining than 
that of which the structures ai’e made.” Davie says: “Nests in my collection are beautiful structures. 
They are pensile, with an entrance on one side. They are composed of long greenish or gray Spanish 
moss. As a whole, the nest is one of the most curious specimens of bird architecture ; the long pieces of 
moss are woven and twined together in a large, purse-shaped mass.” Minot says: “The nest is globular, 
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