Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-12

There is not a collector in the city who does
not bewail the loss of this locality for collecting
purposes. In the fall Connecticut Warblers
were found there in sparse numbers, and
in fact nearly all of the migrants made 1t a
resting and feeding place for n few days.
Since the advent of the zoo a new place has
been found, which, although by no means so
productive as the former, still yields fairly
well. Perhaps in crossing Aqueduct bridge
you have noticed to the right u little patch of
pines nestled in among the trees on the edge of
the bluff which follows up the Virginia side of
the river; If SO, you have seen the locality
which every spring and fall is ransacked almost
daily. and where. in addition to the birds
already mentioned, one may find tine Blackbur-
man, Magnolia and Tennessee Warblers. Strange
to say. with the exception of this little clump,
there is not a more unproductIve region any
where around than the cliffs from the Aqueduct
bridge to the Chain bridge. TIE wriIer has
tramped 1t time and again, and. with but one
exception, has never taken anything OF value.
In the foot hills of Fort Myer the young
second growth has furnished an example of the
rare klrtland's Warbler. the gentleman who Sc
cured it enjoying the exclusive monopoly Of
the species Tor this region.
on THE FLATS.
Nor are the reclaimed fats on the river to be
ignored. That dense growth of young willows
seen from a little distance just south of Long
bridge furnishes an excellent harbor for the
rank growth of tangled weeds has produced
more than one of the Tennessee. This To-
cality is at present but little known and
furnishes an inviting field for work, promising
several species rare In other localities.
THE HOODED WARBLER.
To many the handsomest of all warblers will
be the Hooded. whose mantle of black border
ing hood OF golden yellow, forms one of the
prettiest and most striking contrasts l have
ever seen in nature. This mantle extends to
about the distance shown in the cut. the re-
mainder of the body being golden yellow be-
low, with the back. wings and tail olive green.
1t is very rare. but found on the partly open
hill sides, oversrown with laurel and other I'M
derbrush. Piney branch offers one of the best
localities for them. and the only ones l have
seen have been between 14th street extended
and Iierces Mill road. although a few have
been taken elsewhere in similar localities.
YELLow-THRoATED wARBLERs.
little south of Washington, but within easy
walking distance, certain patch of pines have
yielded annually few of the Yellow-throated
warblers, and these specimens are the only
ones taken within the prescribed 'Ornithologi-
cal limit"
PLENTIFUL AND RARE.
Two more species worthy of mention re-
semble each other closely, one extremely COM
mon, the other rare. These are the Maryland
Yellow throat and the kentucky Warbler. The
former is found III every briar patch, and is,
think. too well known to nearly every one to
treat of further than "a passing mention, while
the latter Is rare and extremely shy ami retir-
ing III its habits. In fact do not know of a
specimen having been taken within the Dis
trlct proper. The islands above Chain bridge
and particularly Great Falls have been the
most productive. They are a ground warbler.
inhabitiug the thickets and underbrush, and
1VR.a ~ tla..,
when in their chosen haunts.
And now L think L hear some one say: ''Yes
you tell US of these, but how are We to see them;
how are we to get near enough to enjoy them,
too:" will tell you. 1t is little thing simple
in itself. yet upon it hinges the success fail
ure of a days outing. 1t is explained in short
by one little word-squeak. Apply the back of
the hand OF the forehuger to the lips and make
a squeaAing or kissing sound. With alittle prac-
tice a fairly good imitation of bird i'll distress
Is made Such noise never fails to draw
about you dozens OF birds. and if one keeps
quiet II is surprising how close they Will come.
Ii one place appears barren OF birds go 10
another. or another, until you get where the
birds are, then squeak. Z. NJ. Ii.