PRAIRIE WARBLER. 
395 
This species, rare in the Atlantic states, appears to be 
somewhat more common in the solitary barrens of Ken- 
tucky, and the open woods of the Choctaw country ; here 
they prefer the open plains thinly covered with trees ; 
and without betraying alarm at the visits of a spectator, 
leisurely pursue their search for caterpillars and small 
flies, examining among the leaves or hopping among 
the branches, and, at times descending pretty near, and 
familiarly examining the observer, with a confidence and 
curiosity seldom witnessed in these shy and retiring spe- 
cies. Such was the conduct of a male bird in this vi- 
cinity, on the 4th of June, whom I discovered by his 
slender filing notes, which were uttered every half min* 
ute, and like those of the Black Poll Warbler, resembled 
the suppressed syllables ’tsh 7 tsh 7 tsh ’ishea ’ , beginning low 
and gradually growing louder, having nearly the same slen- 
der whistle as that species, though somewhat stronger. 
The pair were busily engaged collecting flies and larvae 
from a clump of young locust trees, in the woods of Mount 
Auburn, and occasionally they flitted among the Virgini- 
an junipers ; the familiar visit of the male appeared for 
the purpose of discovering my intentions near the nest, 
about which he was naturally solicitous, though he made 
his approaches with the appearance of accident. The 
female was more timid ; yet, while I was still engaged 
in viewing this little interesting and secluded pair, 
she, without any precaution or concealment, went directly 
to the nest, in the forks of a low barberry bush, near by, 
and when there, she sat and looked at me some time be- 
fore she removed. She made, however, no pretences to 
draw me away from the spot, where she was sitting on 
4 eggs, of which I took away 2 ; her approaches to the 
nest were now more cautious, and she came escorted 
and encouraged by the presence of her mate. Two eggs 
