26 
OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 250 
song is given with characteristic energy, in keeping with the restless 
nature of the bird. It varies in different localities, but wich-i-ty, 
wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty (the accent on the first syllable), expresses its 
song. 
Its food consists of the various insects which infest the low- 
growing plants, among which the bird lives. Because of its 
destruction of large numbers of leaf hoppers, grasshoppers, canker 
worms and many other pests of grain and grass lands, it must be 
regarded as a valuable bird. 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, Icteria -virens virens (Linn.) 
This unwarbler-like Warbler is the largest of the family. 
Wherever it occurs, it is more frequently heard than seen. It lives 
among the dense tangled growth of briar patches, both of moist low¬ 
land and of the drier upland; from these safe retreats issue in 
confused order a series of varied sounds, the song of this interesting 
bird. Through its power of mimicry, one is led to believe numbers 
of different birds and animals inhabit the briar patch where but one 
Chat is singing. No bird is more suspicious or watchful, and it is 
seldom that one is seen on the nest. This species is much more 
common in the southern part of the state than elsewhere, but every¬ 
where is of local distribution. 
REDSTART, Stophaga ruticilla (Linn.) 
The climax of warbler activity is attained in the Redstart. It 
feeds after the manner of the flycatchers and, when darting in and 
out among the foliage after flying insects, the beautiful black and 
salmon of the male is displayed to best advantage. It occurs as a 
rare summer resident of local distribution over the state, but more 
commonly as a migrant, both in spring and fall. 
RED-EYED VIREO, Vireosylvia olivacea (Linn.) 
This Vireo is generally distributed throughout the state 
wherever there is woodland. It prefers the heavier timber with 
good undergrowth but not unfrequently takes up its residence in 
parks. The song is sweet and melodious, but the persistence with 
which it sings throughout the long summer days makes it monoto¬ 
nous. It is frequently the only bird heard singing in mid-day during 
the hot days of late summer. It is a very active destroyer of cater¬ 
pillars and other insects, especially those forms dependent upon 
mimicry or protective coloration to escape notice. Few birds are 
more deliberate or thorough in their work of insect destruction. 
Although insectivorous, it appears to eat more fruit than other 
Vireos. The fruits eaten are native berries of no value to man. Its 
nest is a pensile cup, woven in the fork of a branch. It is usually 
placed in the undergrowth at a height of from five to ten feet. 
