500 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
four moths; three, five diptera; six, sixteen beetles, one of which was a cur- 
culio; two, seven heteroptera; one, a caddis-fly; and one, a small snail fPhysaJ. 
Two had eaten one hundred and one insect eggs, but these, I believe, were con¬ 
tained in insects which the birds had eaten. 
Ants and otlier insects (Wilson). Insects and their larvse (Brewer). Insects 
which hide under the bark of trees and in its crevices (De Kay). Beetles and 
moths (Forbes). 
27. Partjla Americana (Linn.), Bp. BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER. 
Group I. Class b. 
This elegant little Warbler appears to be nowhere abundant, and, throughout 
its range, seems to be largely confined to particular localities. Mr. Nelson, how¬ 
ever, speaks of it as an abundant migrant, atid as breeding rarely in North¬ 
eastern Illinois. I obtained a single specimen September 15, 1876. It was flit¬ 
ting among the outermost branches of the trees, in a piece of high, open woods, 
when taken. It is said to frequent the tops of the tallest trees, and to move 
with great agility among the terminal foliage in quest of winged insects and 
caterpillars. Orchards and all sorts of woodlands are said to be visited by it. 
Food: Six small insects were taken from one stomach. 
■ Small winged insects and caterpillars (Wilson). Winged insects and cater¬ 
pillars (Brewer). Small caterpillars (GeometridceJ, small lace-winged flies and 
small spiders (Samuels). 
28. Helmintherus vermivorus (Gm.), Bp. WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
Group II. Class a. 
This southern species appears to be a very rare visitant. Dr. Hoy has said 
that a few nest near Racine, and Mr. Nelson states that a single specimen was 
observed at Waukegan, May 21, 1876. 
29. Helminthophaga chrysoptera (Linn.), Bd. BLUE GOLDEN-WINGED 
WARBLER. Group II. Class a. 
This species appears to be nowhere abundant. Mr. Nelson speaks of it as 
“ comparatively rare ” in Northeastern Illinois, and two nests are reported to 
have been taken near Racine by Dr. Hoy. Its nest is placed upon the ground, 
and, at times, becomes the receptacle for the eggs of the Cowbird. 
30. Helminthophaga ruficapilla (Wils.), Bd. NASHVILLE WARBLER 
Group I. Class a. 
Both Dr. Hoy and Mr. Nelson speak of this Warbler as common during the 
migrations, along the lake shore, in the spring and fall. This has not been my 
experience for Central Wisconsin. The only specimens which I have seen were 
taken near Waupaca. They represented both sexes and were taken m different 
localities. The first, a male, was taken July 21st, while perched upon the limb of 
a dead poplar which was standing in an old “ clearing ” overgrown with small 
poplars, between large piles of brush. The second was obtained in a grove of 
small tamaracks, while it was nimbly searching for focxl among the delicate 
sprays. Mr. Allen states that at Springfield, Mass., during two or three weeks 
of the spring migration, these birds are common in the orchards and gardens, 
actively gleaning insects among tlie unfolding leaves and blossoms of fruit 
trees. It nests upon the ground. 
Food: The two specimens examined had in their stomachs four small green 
caterpillam, and a few very fine fragments of insects. 
