THE CAPE MAY WARBLER. 
{Dendroica tigrina.) 
I/VNDS JONES. 
THERE is hardly another group 
of birds that yields so satisfac- 
tory returns for earnest study 
as the American wood warblers. All 
shades and patterns of color are theirs, 
from somber to brilliant, from the plain- 
est to the most intricate and exquisite 
pattern. Almost all degrees of vocal 
ability are found among them, from 
the simple twitter of the Tennessee to 
the wild thrilling challenge of the 
Louisiana water thrush or the ventrilo- 
quial antics of the yellow-breasted chat. 
Many bird students, it is true, regard 
the group as too difficult for any but 
the professional ornithologist to at- 
tempt; and that may be true of the fe- 
males and of the autumnal plumages of 
the young, but the spring males are a 
constant inspiration and delight to one 
who admires variety in beauty. 
It may be objected that the small 
size of the warblers renders their field 
study difficult, even if the foliage does 
not prove a serious hindrance. One 
must remember, however, that most 
small birds are not wary and that they 
may be closely approached, so that, 
with a good field-glass (and every bird- 
student should use one) their colors and 
the pattern of their dress can readily be 
made out even in the lower tree tops, 
where many of them feed. Foliage is 
always in the way, but even that can be 
circumvented by patience and perse- 
verance. 
The study of adult males in spring is 
greatly aided by the fact that each 
species, with some exceptions, has one 
or more patches of color peculiar to 
itself. Thus in the Cape May warbler 
the ear patches are rufous. Other spe- 
cies possess rufous colors, but none of 
them in this place. 
The Cape May warbler belongs among 
the less common species, but may be com- 
mon for a day or two during the height 
of the migration. It is very fond of or- 
chards where it feeds among the foliage, 
snatching an insect here, a larva there, 
and cleaning the bundle of eggs from 
the leaf over yonder with an untiring 
energy. They also associate more or 
less with the other warblers in the 
woods. They are of great value to the 
fruit grower. 
This species is found from the At- 
lantic coast west to the plains and north 
to Hudson's Bay, passing the winter in 
the tropics. It breeds from northern 
New England to Hudson's Bay and 
probably in northern Minnesota. The 
nest is built in a low bush in a wooded 
pasture or open woodland, said to be 
partially pensile. The nest and eggs 
are not readily distinguishable from 
those of several other warblers. The 
males sing frequently from their perch 
on the topmost twig of a spruce tree, 
thus misleading one as to the where- 
abouts of the female and nest. The 
song resembles somewhat that of the 
black and white warbler, but is rather 
less wiry. It cannot be represented on 
paper. 
The tongue of this bird is worthy of 
special notice. It is cleft at the tip, 
and is provided with somewhat of a 
fringe. This character is not peculiar 
to this species, but is found in some 
honey creepers and in at least one for- 
eign family of birds, thus suggesting, at 
least, the relationship of the warblers 
as a group. It might be asked, what is 
the significance of this character as 
regards feeding-habits? Apparently 
nothing, since the feeding-habits and 
food do not differ from those of other 
warblers not having the cleft tongue as 
greatly as the tongues themselves dif- 
fer in structure. It is apparently an 
aberrant character developed some- 
what at random among groups nearly 
related, or perhaps a remnant of struc- 
ture. 
86 
