fet hana Usb ONG B UL TBE EN 11 
“The habits and haunts of the Warblers are so varied that, collective- 
ly, the species of this family exert a repressive influence on nearly all 
orders of insects, from those that live on or near the ground to those that 
frequent the very tree-tops. The Oven-birds, Water-thrushes, Yellow- 
throats, and the other ground Warblers search the ground, the fallen 
leaves, and undergrowth for the species most commonly found there as 
well as those that fall from the trees. Where grasshoppers are plentiful 
the ground Warblers sometimes feed largely on them. The bugs that are 
found so often on berry bushes, are not overlooked, notwithstanding 
their rank taste, which is so well known to all who have picked blue. 
berries from the bushes. The eggs of bugs are also eaten. 
“The insect food of the Redstart is perhaps more varied than that of 
any other common Warbler. Apparently there are few forest insects of 
small size that do not, in some of their forms, fall a prey to this bird. 
Caterpillars that escape some of the slower birds by spinning down from 

Drawn by Carl F. Groneman 
GREEN APHIS OG: 
the branches and hanging by their silken threads are snapped up in 
mid air by the Redstart. It takes its prey from trunk, limbs, twigs, 
leaves, and also from the air, so that there is no escape for the tree 
insects which it pursues unless they reach the upper air, where the 
Redstart seldom goes, except in migration. It has been named the fly- 
catcher of the inner tree tops, but it is a flycatcher of the bush tops as 
well. While there are few small pests of deciduous trees that it does not 
eat in some form, it is not confined to these trees, but forages more or 
less among coniferous trees. Also it is seen at times in orchards, and 
gleans among shade trees in localities where the woods are cut away. It 
is impossible to weigh the pros and cons of this bird’s food, for no 
thorough examination of it has ever been made. It is an efficient cater- 
pillar hunter, and one of the most destructive enemies of the smaller 
hairy caterpillars. It catches bugs, moths, gnats, two-winged flies, small 
grasshoppers, and beetles. It probably secures a larger proportion of 
parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera than most other Warblers, occasion- 
ally destroying a few wasps; otherwise, its habits seem to be entirely 
beneficial.” 7 
The Warbler migration in Illinois is dependent very largely on 
weather conditions and when, as in 1926 and 1927, and at intervals in 
many other years, there have been periods of cool cloudy weather the 
Warblers have lengthened their visits several weeks beyond the normal 
