ode a 
Me i 


bed 
Sepang POON. hg 8 


ey fie init 


A 


ae ty ie 


Fi - 17 
u ” 
— 3) 
is 
i 
pa: 
u F 
f ¢ 
a: 
~ 
\ ’ 
N A 
i 
~ 
te 
2 
j Sat 


of all of North America, North of Mexico, and will 
present the area throughout which each species breeds ; 
date of their arrival; site chosen for nests, materials 
used, and all the characteristics in shape, style, etc; of 
the eggs it will give the number, size, color, markings, 
etc.; with complete details of incubation and birth of 
young birds, their food, and the care bestowed upon 
them. The work will contain practical directions for 
the formation of cabinets of odlogy, with the best 
modes of collecting and transporting eggs, and a vast 
amount of interesting information for the guidance of 
those who love to study birds and bird life. Besides 
the lithographic plates, each issue will contain a large 
number of wood-cuts of nests, illustrating the charac- 
teristic architecture of each family. The work has the 
approval of the leaders of ornithology in this country, 
and it is safe to say that it will take the place of a 
standard work. Mr. Ingersoll of the Smithsonian In- 
stitution, Washington, D. C., will be glad to receive 
memoranda of new observations on any of the topics 
embraced in the scope of the work. Subscription 50 
cents per number, or $5.50 a year. 


New York EVENING Post. 


‘One cannot read this first instalment of Mr. Inger- 
soll’s work on the Nests and Eggs of North American 
Birds, without wondering how it is that nobody has 
thought of writing such a book before. There is no 
more attractive branch of natural history, and none 
that a larger number of persons have the means of 
studying, than that which relates to our native birds ; 
and chief among their peculiarities are their nesting 
habits; yet we believe that until now ho naturalist has 
offered to the thousands of intelligent country folk, 
who are interested in the birds of our land, a treatise of 
this sort devoted exclusively to’the structure of the 
nests, the size, shape, number and color of the eggs, 
and the curious nesting habits of the various species 
of wild birds that we have among us. 

“To this task Mr. Ingersoll brings the learning and 
observation of askilled ornithologist and the grace of 
a practised writer, making a text which is worthy even 
of the birds. In treating of the nests and eggs, Mr. 
Ingersoll becomes, of necessity, the biographer of the 
birds themselves, inasmuch as the chief business of 
the old birds is to rear their young, while the only 


business of the young birds is to be reared. In the 
nest the whole life of the birds centres; and hence to 
write fully of the nests und eggs, and nesting habits, 
is to write very fully and adequately of the birds them- 
selves and of their characters, as shown in the choice 
of places for building, in the structure and surround- 
ings of the nests, in the guardianship of the young, and 
in the foraging methods adopted by the several species. 

‘All this Mr. Ingersoll does with the ornithologist’s 
instinct of accuracy, and the magazine-writer’s habit 
df making his accounts as interesting as possible. 

‘““The work is worthy of all praise, both for its con- 
ception and its execution.” 


COMMENTS OF CRITICS. 
“Mr. Ernest Ingersoll, the writer of this work, brings 


to it peculiar fitness, having already produced several 
sprightly essays on the habits and peculiarities of our 
native birds, and being able also to present the results 
of wide observations at the West from his labors as 
zoologist on one of the Hayden surveys. Mr. Inger- 
soll is one of the circle of naturalists whose early 
training began with the late Professor Agassiz, who 
taught that science must be learned from nature rather 
than from books; it follows that the works of our 
younger school of scientists are sure to be rich in new 
facts, drawn from personal observation.”—New York 
Tribune. 

“Ernest Ingersoll, known to the readers of the 
EVENING Post as a pleasant and careful writer on or- 
nithological subjects, is preparing for the Naturalists’ 
Bureau a work of unusual popular interest.”—New York 
Evening Post. 

“Mr. Ingersoll is known to me to be a hard-working 
and faithful naturalist, as well as to have acquired a cer- 
tain familiarity with the subject he proposes to treat. 
He uses a facile and attractive pen, and is well able to 
invest his work with interest for the public. I have 
confidence in him as a skilful workman, and look for- 
ward with unusual interest to the appearance of the 
promised work.”—Ex.iorr Cours, U.. 8. Geological 
Survey. 

“T have confidence in Mr. Ingersoll’s ability to pre- 
pare a creditable work on the subject named.”— J. A. 
ALLEN, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Col- 
lege. 


: BOS TORY 


OF THE 


NESTS AND EGGS 


AMERICAN BIRDS, 


| BY 


ERNEST INGERSOLL. 


LATE ZOOLOGIST OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL 
SURVEY; MEMBER OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF 
NATURAL HISTORY; NUTTALL ORNITHO- 
LOGICAL CLUB; THE DAVENPORT 
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES; 

\ 3 : EXPER! U. 8. FISH 
COMMISSION. 


Illustrated by superbly executed lithographic 
plates. 


= GEORGE A. BATES. 
NATURALISTS’ BUREAU, 
SALEM, MASS, 


SP.AIG ey} epnypour yIMgay = ‘saquyd ory dvasouaty poqynoexe 
Ayuesaja Aq pozeaysnyyt ‘saequinu AyWWUOUL UL peusst 
oq OF ST YAOM OT, “APP[IGB paziusooar ATOPIA JO 4ST 
-[vangeu Sunod B pus SADAANG [WOLHoTOIy s9qvqg poqiuy 
oY} JO JSISO[OOZ ayRI ‘[[OSuasuy qsauig Aq .‘sp.ulg uvol 
-1l9WY JO SHOT puv sjsaN oj JO ALOYSIF] [V.INJVN,, B JO 
‘sqiud ATyjuour at ‘uoTyBoljqnud oy} seounouUE “ssBq 
‘ula[Vg ‘nvaing SASI[VanyVeN ay JO soyvg “y "O04 


“SIST ‘LT Youn “Qsog Lupung ‘viqdjepeyd 


‘SSHUd HHL WOU SHOILON : 


‘SanOO LLOITIG *yAOM postumold 
ay} JO aouentvodde oy} 0} YSot0qUL [vosNUn IIA plea 
-10} YOO, PUL ‘UBLUYIOM [DILYS BV Sv UL UL VdUapyUoD 
DARBY T “oljqnd aq} 10J Jsatoqul YA YlOM SI Jsoa 
-UL 0} 9[qB [JOM SI puB fuod BALjOVAQV PUL o]foRJ B sasn 
OH 78913 03 sasodoad ay qyoofqns ot) WIM AQIRI[LUTey 
ULe}100 B@ patinbov aaAvy OF sv [JAM SV “4si[Vlnguu [Ny 
-YUIVJ PUB SUTYAIOM-plvyY VB Iq OF AU OF UMOLLY ST [[OSI95 
“Ul “AJ IVY} ppv Ava [ ‘aouviqtunoua [[B JO padvo[o 
aq JL JI payvaltjpno Ajquygoid ysout oq uvd pue ‘ysnoud 
pvolqg st ploy uUMO sgt tgoelqns [etoads aly 07 pagolys 
-ar A[snojudnaos puv Ajsnotostt Ayoaid aq plnoys ‘asn 
[Bal JSOW oy} JO vAOAd puv uolgtsod dAIQOUTISIp B ayVy 
0} ‘YOM ¥B YONS JvVYY SUljsosons Jo AQlaqi{ oy oyVy 
ABW [ “gno pataivo Ayposy Vy aq uvld paounouur oy Je 

SOLOYPULO JO alNyvAozl] 9Y} OF UOTISINDOV 4RdIs B oq 
[| puv ‘papsou youu ‘Ajautly st y.LoM pasodoad oy, 
“TouuBul ALOJOVI 
-siyes A[TYSnos0y wv ut A[ddns 03 ynoqe st [[joslesuy “Ay 
gsud} J YOIYM UNjJULapIsop B SL ‘ADOLOUALUAO Jo Youwaq 
qousIp B SB AT[VULIOJ J9q3IRUU 9YQ 4ReI9 puR ‘yoolqns 
aq} JO espoaTMouy Ano oziyeulaysds puB qsesip ‘ayes 
-O} SULIG [[vYs YoryM YOM YW ‘*ASoOlOyAIUIO WO sasy 
-Bad} IIJBUlaysAs ANO Jo 41Bd paulAoy SAVAB DABIT Spal 
ULIMOWY YON JO sziqvy Surpeaiq pun ssse ‘sisou 
ayy JO sjunodoR YonoY3 UoAd you ‘{paqveay A[]woWTVUL 
-a3sAs Uaeq Jada Joofqns [Riaues 944 svy tou ‘paysifqnd 
a90q 1dA9 SLY SPAIG INO JOSS59 ay} JO SUOIZBAYSNII[L JO 
Salles [[NJ OU Jug ‘puvlsag MaN JO splig s,sjanwuieg ul 
Ivadde soso JO soqr[d palojoo May WY ‘SPAlq [BAySOuIssy 
pure [vl.ojdva aly AjUO Jo sway pus ‘ose savok Aqua 
ULvY} alow poysi[qnd sum qyvyy yng ‘s,lamMoerg “aq st As 
-O]00 UBOTLIOWY YIAON UO asizvedy [BUIAIOF [edloulAd Ing 


*[eLlaqvur Alvssadeu aq] pur AqI[IqBV poatnbel ayy Suissas 
-sod ouo Aue 03 uado api ST play ay} pus ‘oofqns yury 
-1OdWI SIq} 0} pled uaeq suy uOUeye atIqT] A[PPATBARd 
-U0Q ‘JlOSUIIT] OJ sas al] yrvUL ayy 07 dn samiod att JI 
SUIT) Walls Bq [JIM YL puB ‘[[aM Spvoaa snqoedsold s,[OS 
-lasuy AJ ‘“Sp.iq ino JO ssoq pur sisoN 91 UO yAOM 
poos B dav 07 A[AYI[ 9LB IM 4VYI UIBIT OF PRLS WIV T 

> AULNIOD AH], LO HOLIAY 
“SL8T ‘9 YOR “OQ Cl ‘NOLONIHSV AA 


‘spilg uvdaWy YON 0} Kay 
AO HOHLAV 


‘SHN00 LLOITIA WOUd UALLAT V 


“ssBy ‘ULeTRS [‘poquemM sjyuesy | 
‘MHHSITINT ‘SALVA “V ‘OUD 

*DUIQLIOSGUS B10JOq 

joodsul 09 YSiIM OM asoyy 07 JUaS 9q [ILM (pauunjou 

aq sn youya) sojdurg ‘eats yom oy) JO Adood v aAlao 
-Ol [IM SwayQwosqns nos JO quia B Surpuos suo Auy 

- *yLom 

9/0UN AY) UDY) $8] 1OJ UdyB1 9q SUOTYdIOSqus |[IM O8BO 

ou UT ‘4lvd Jad syuad AY oq TIM Yom oy JO ao1id 

eLL ‘saqyeid o1pdeisoyjty-ouro1yo yuaogmseur omy 

UIvJUOD [JIM PUB YOM sity Joy A[ssoidxe apeur ‘raded 

palepus[eo-ledns AAvoy AroA WO poyUlId oq TIM qavd 
Youy “Sjivd OAQ o5Av] UL paNsst 9q TIM FLOM OTT, 

‘NOILVOITANd AO SNOILLIGNOO 

‘aadf JUIS 9q TIM SIBl[Nd 

“10 JIM ‘sivpuorzied [nA “Agunoo ay2 ul eovid fiaaaa 
UL yom sry? Lof quaby aaron UB SaYSIM AoysiTqud sty, 

“UMOUY [[oAr 


-AJOA UAWA[UNS 1ayYJO puw qnID [wolSopoyr4G [VIyWUN 


aly JO Sloquiaul yuoulmold f°y *g *Q ‘aatpuseg sepieyD 
UlvJdeD fssRW ‘aspliqweg ‘As0[0o0Z aayeredmog 
JO Unosny, 9} JO ‘ualpy “VW *f ‘youd $Aaaang jRorsoy 
-O9¥) S94YVIG PIU OY) JO IslVAnjuN ‘sonog YoU “Id 
: psuoljuaw oq AvU aseyy Suowmy ‘94a ‘speuanof ayvatid 
WoOJJ S9joU ‘sJoulqRo. UT SuaUITOedsS ONbiuN 07 SseD0R JO 
Av ayy Ul ‘Aa4UNOd STYy UT ASOTOYIIUAO JO srapRaT ayy Jo 
aoURYSISSB puv [vAoIdde AyAlval ayy sey JOINT OUT, 
*SPllq JO Sdso ayy JO poquiid 1aa9 ysoug 
atTy ‘saqvid palolod YAM poyeaysny[y oq [[TM YOM OTT, 


*JLULpe T[TA\ a9ep siqy yv yoafqnus 
at} JO JuUaMIdoOaAap 9] SB AAIYSNBYXY sv YOM OY} ayvuUl 
0} SUITE “WaqVBU peysiqndun oyayUy pur [BULSLIO Jo 
JUNOMT asi] B pPpV [[LAd LON ANL ayy qnq Sarqenyea ATYSI 
9q P[NOM ‘saloads Yovs JO sjIqRy Sutjsou oyy JO aay 
“BIBT Pa}aNUGd B OV ‘tayjeso] sors pasdadsip asayy 
JO SUISULIG atau ayy, ‘suosaad ysou 04 a[qIssed0vul 
SYOO USTAIOJ IO ‘sa149100s OYIWUaIOS Jo ,ssulpaoo0.d,, 
Jainosqo oy} ‘sjyorydutud atnosqo aie ory jo Aueut 
‘suonvorqud paipuny & YSuoiyy pedtayqeos st quryxe 
UOMVMAOJUT aq} pus ‘AT[eyUeplouL A[UO payonoy sary 
ASOLOYIUIO JO syood Ano sIq1 UodQ = ‘uoskas Surpaaaq 
[vnuue at} SuLINp poeyuaseaid ajt{-parq Jo saseyd Sut 
-4S0.19JUL 9SOYY dAtasap Adyy adUaULWOId ay OVUL Sag 
0} LOAVAPND TIM 47. YOO-599,, alaul v URYY a10UL 
SUIYIIUIOS aq [IM Jl ‘SaqzBOIPUT ATT] ST sv ‘gaX “que 
SI} AJS14Bs 07 papuoqul st pasodoid ulaaay yoo ay, 

“AIQUNOD BY} JNOYSNOAT “inayeure pue |RUoIssas 
-O.ld ‘sistjVingeu LA UOTQRoOLUNMIUOD UL BuO £19Aa 04 
qualedde st papurulap st yooq B Yons yy, “paymuapt 
aq ABUL soa spuq Yorum AG BoWaUY at payuiud usaaq 
yok sv YOod ou S1a}4V] ay} UL Suautoads ayy Surdyy 
-uapt A[tadoad Jo asodand ayy 10s ystxa—,,Aay,, $,sano0g 
“A(T ‘9OuURSUL TOJ—SYAOM [VAdAVS oTIM “Yak Sspaiq 
JO SUTYS aly JO ULY] Soda PUV sysan ay Jo suOIqdaT[oo 
AWALd Jo 1aqUINU JadAr] VB alv arora ieyy ‘a1ojaroyy 
‘A[Binguu sueddey yy ‘paureyqo A[Isva atoul APJ st 
Spllq JO sHsa pur sjsou ayy JO yourqvo v ynq $Aajyuno0d 
aJOYM oY} JO yvads 04 Jou ‘QoL.WsIp auo AUB JO spalq 
ay} JO SULYS 9Yy JO UOTZD2I[OD A1OjoVJSsTYRS BV aINdaS 
o} ‘asuedxo pue [IMS SAINOWIp aI] ou Jo JaiWTU 
BVSTIT ‘Spliq ay} JO sqyiqry Suysau ayy uvyy “uapnys 
Sanod 9} UT APAV[NOYAVd 44sa1aqUT a1OUL saqIOxe YouRq 
SI} JO quatwyIedap ou A[AIey100 pure § ASojoyyusO UR 
9ATJOBIIIV alow S| ADO|OOZ JO YouRIq OU SdvHUAg 


“ot Load sOuUd 


Price 50 cents. 


OF 


AMERICAN. BIRDS. 


ey 


bye! base 0 ‘ion Ansee — 


7 
a E CASSINO, 


| waronauist S AGENCY, 
: SALEM, MASS. 


oP ie ee f 
ey Mi i 
Tae growing “popilarity of ‘the sa 

of this” ‘country, and. ‘especially among | youthful scientist 
Hk on this seem should have a 1 suitable: eaponeny : 


HAbsirable medium for’ imparting the news of. Pelee di CON 
| a notes from little-known localities. ‘At is. to. fi! y 


bx Biker of Odlogy, b 
_ illustrations of age 


maitaae many of the most ‘eieaae 


Bet * stantly copely it w eg pe valu 


desire’ ne contents to i as far as Speuate ope wes 
ies _ Lhe ines is highly compe by Ae ae Fy. 


7, erms : 60 cents a year, postage paid ; de NUM 
me Mols: Th. rit, IV, complete, to date, excepting Nov ob 
furnished. Price, $1.00, 

Address all communications and subscriptions to yt 


Famity TURDID. TurusuHes. 


1. THE ROBIN. 
TURDUS MIGRATORIUS Zinn. 


Migratory Thrush; Robin Redbreast. 


THE robin is distributed in the breeding season over the whole 
United States, excepting the extreme south, and over the 
most of British America. Everywhere it is one of the earliest 
birds to nestle, and in the southern part of its range raises two 
or more broods’ in aseason. In the middle states the robins 
have paired by April 1; and have begun to build their homes 
before the middle of the month. As far north as Detroit, fresh 
eggs are to be had the second and third weeks of April in 
abundance, while even on the upper Missouri and at Puget 
Sound, the first broods of young are out early in June, and a 
second brood prepared for. 

The situation of the nest is extremely varied, and little con- 
cealment seems to be attempted. A fork, or the upper surface 
of a large limb, in an old orchard tree or garden evergreen, is a 
favorite site ; but woodland trees, the protruding end of a fence- 
rail, the top of a pillar, a stump, the ground or a ledge of* 
rocks, the interior of a well, the ribs of a fossil megatherium 
in a college cabinet, the broken-out hole of a woodpecker or 
squirrel, or even a bush in the midst of a colony of noisy black- 
birds, have all been frequently occupied. Occasionally they 
will build in companies, as in a case at Danvers, Mass., where 
fully a dozen pairs built their nests on the plate which supported 
the rafters of a kiln-house. 


1S) 


NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Sometimes the bird displays a strong lack of sense. In Ge- 
neva, N. Y., a robin took possession of a sort of trough which 
had been nailed up under the eaves of a barn; but, seeming un- 
able to fix upon any particular spot, deposited the mud and 
straw along the entire length of the trough, about ten feet. 
After working several days she abandoned the task. Another 
similar instance is recorded where robins attempted to plaster 
their nest along the cornice of a house for thirty feet. One 
robin placed its nest between the tracks on the abutment of a 
railway bridge; though it flew off every time the trains passed 
over, the young were brought out. Another knew no better 
than to sit upon its eggs in a dead Walnut under a blazing sun, 
instead of placing its nest where it would have been shaded by 
foliage. On the other hand, singularly advantageous spots are 
often selected, and much time and labor saved by discretion. 
The persistency with which robins adhere to a site once chosen, 
and the indefatigable efforts by which they seek to overcome 
difficulties, even procuring concerted help from other robins, 
and planning to meet unthought-of contingencies, are illustrated 
by many anecdotes. One of these I beg to quote from an essay 
by Mrs. Mary Treat, in Harper’s Magazine for June, 1877, 
since it is peculiarly instructive : 

The last three years a robin (7urdus migratorius) has nested on a 
projecting pillar that supports the front piazza. . . . In the spring 
of 1874 she built her nest on the top of the pillar—a rude affair; it was 
probably her first effort. The same season she made her second nest 
in the forks of an oak, which took her only a few hours to complete. 
She reared three broods that season; for the third family she returned 
to the piazza and repaired the first nest. The following spring she again 
came to the piazza, but selected another pillar for the site of her domi- 
cile, the construction of which was a decided improvement upon the first ; 
for the next nest she returned to the oak, and raised a second story on 
the old one of the previous year, but making it much more symmetrical 
than the one beneath. The present season (1876), her first was, as 
before, erected on a pillar of the piazza—as fine a structure as I ever 
saw this species build. When this brood were fledged, she again repaired 
to the oak, and reared a third story on the old domicile, using the moss 


before mentioned, making a very elaborate affair, and finally finishing 
up by festooning it with long sprays of moss. 


Ranging through so wide an extent of country, and coming 


THE ROBIN. 3 


under so multifarious conditions, the nests naturally vary as 
much in construction as in situation. Persons who wish to 
pursue this part of the subject farther will find some very sug- 
gestive thoughts in an article by Dr. C. C. Abbott, printed in the 
Popular Science Monthly, Vol. VJ, February, 1875, page 481, 
entitled ‘* A Short Study of Birds’ Nests.’ The robin’s ordi- 
nary method of architecture is as follows: when a place has 
been chosen, a little mud is first brought and patted by the feet 
into a suitable shape for the foundation. Upon this is laid a 
platform of coarse grasses, and walls of the same materials 
are gradually erected, intermixed with a plentiful allowance of 
mud, smoothed and compacted by the feet and breast of the 
bird, which frequently saturates its feathers with water, the 
better to accomplish the result. This foundation is allowed to 
dry fully before the wall is further increased, and each addition 
is supported by another plastering of mud, until the proper 
height of wall is reached, when the whole. is given plenty of 
time to harden before the rim is overcast with grass, so as not 
to break under the mother’s feet while she feeds her young, 
after which the lining of soft grasses is put in. Sometimes 
one or the other will bring material unsuitable for a certain 
stage of the construction. This will not be thrown down and 
forgotten, but simply laid one side and used when the proper 
time comes; and occasionally some soft matter, like cotton, 
will get in, but does not then seem to be utilized by the bird in 
the way of increased comfort, but only for stability. 

A curious deviation from the mud walls was noticed 
near New York City.. Two robins built nests in the same 
orchard. One worked after the ordinary pattern, the other 
used for the main body of the structure fine fibrous roots and 
twine ; she then added clean damp moss (Sphagnum) instead 
of mud, which she must have gone at least a mile to obtain. 
To hold the moss in place she interwove long horse hairs and 
fine dry grass. It took her four or five days to complete the 
structure, whereas the mud nest was completed the same day 
it was begun. Mr. A. F. Gray writes me that he lately saw 
two robins’ nests on the Massachusetts coast, built almost 
entirely of bleached eel-grass; they were unusually bulky and 


4 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


loosely built, some of the eel-grass hanging down at least ten 
inches below the rim of the nest. The inner lining was made 
in the common way, of the usual grasses. One of the nests 
which he obtained had a few dead leaves in its base. Finally, 
the collection of Dr. Wm. Wood, of Connecticut, contains 
three robins’ nests, all built during the same season, within the 
same tobacco-shed, and made wholly of bits of tobacco-twine 
woven inseparably together. Presumably, these three nests 
were made by the same pair; and Dr. Wood is reported as 
inclining to the opinion that two of them, at least, were made 
before any eggs were laid, since he has known of such a case. 

Such exceptions to the rule seem fairly to support Dr. C. C. 
Abbott’s clever explanation, lately advanced, of the use of mud 
by the robin alone among the thrushes; for, leaving out an 
occasional scant supply in the nest of the wood-thrush, none 
of the other species employ it in their architecture. Dr. Abbott 
considers it probable that, at the close of the glacial epoch, the 
robin was among the most venturesome of the birds to move 
again into the new territory slowly yielded by the ice, and there 
found it needful to fortify its home very stoutly by thick walls 
of mud against the arctic and changeful temperature ; and that 
it has persisted in this practice, deriving a benefit from being 
able to set at breeding so much earlier in the season than its 
more poorly-housed relatives. Dr. Abbott adds that the ten- 
dency of all variation in the modes of nest-building practised 
by birds now is, he thinks, toward greater simplicity. The 
cases cited above, of the robins which built their nests without 
mud, might be considered as examples of this I suppose. 
Possibly the wood-thrush used to build a wind-proof home 
of mud, but has now almost wholly abandoned it. It must be 
confessed, however, that I find a circumstance militating against 
this theory in the habits of the blue jay (Cyazxura cristata), 
which builds an open nest in the cold north, and one largely 
composed of mud in the hot south; but this may perhaps be 
explained by saying that the bird finds the chill and solid earth 
a cooler and cleaner house-material in the dry south than veg- 
ctable matter, which in the north, under a different climate, it 
prefers. 


pls, 
b alice mer (ites rae : 
dori ne Oct eee f.. iy . ¥ » Serer 
‘i ee, Nema & Ee ‘ i¢ i euik 
et ee re eh ebbebh Se abw 
ot pee Sue ve oo oe rn abel sir So wines - 
wah iti’ teat 2 rig Piety + 


i 7 
oe aaah . eo on . 
2 ) 
per seta @ « ‘ fate = 


es 
ea” elvadep 

' Pi Be sale 
Ate Chia 


7 
= 
* 

7 

wn 

: 

, Yu. 

a 


pee Tiny 


jas PLATE I. 


Lith. Arnstrong Co Riverside Press Gambndke 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


5. E. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. 


Pie 
ae 


THE ROBIN. 5 


The robin’s nest, when finished, is about 4 inches in internal 
diameter and 2 inches deep, very rough and bulky externally. 
Its construction usually occupies the birds during four or 
five busy days, after which, if the necessities of nature be not 
too urgent, and especially if the weather be damp, sufficient 
time is given for the mud to dry; while, on the contrary, it 
sometimes happens that the first eggs must be laid before the 
walls are fully done, and the finishing touches be put on after- 
wards. My own impression has always been that both birds 
work at it together, but the weight of evidence seems to be 
that the female is the real architect. ‘*She probably considers 
him incapable of so great an undertaking,” says Mrs. Treat, 
‘as to assist in the construction of even a mud cabin. Never- 
theless, he is very watchful and solicitous while she is at work, 
and during incubation; and when the young are hatched, he 
does as much for their support, while in the nest, as the female, 
and as soon as they leave the nest she shirks all the responsi- 
bility of protecting and providing for them.” 

The eggs are four. or five in number, of a beautiful bluish- 
green, or sea-green color, and are the largest of all the true 
thrushes’ eggs. They will average 1.10 by .80 of an inch in 
dimensions. The wood thrush’s eggs resemble them most 
closely, but are slightly smaller and more slender. The eggs 
are dropped daily until the nest-complement is provided. Rare 
abnormal specimens have been found, which were pure white, 
and others that were darkly spotted. 

The female, often relieved by her mate, sits twelve or 
fourteen days, by which time the young have all come out; 
on the following day their eyes are open, but they remain in 
the nest from ten to fifteen days longer. For a long time they 
do not recognize their parents, opening their mouths as widely 
and crying as eagerly if a cat approach as when they hear 
the fluttering wings that are really bearing food to them. Both 
parents are extremely solicitous for the safety of the nest, and 
jealous of intrusion, rousing the whole neighborhood with 
their fuss and clamor when disturbed; but by keeping quiet 
and at a formal distance, making slow advances, you can easily 
win their confidence. Both are also very attentive to their 


6 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


helpless charges, alternately, and almost incessantly, bringing 
food to satisfy their rapacious appetites. A single anecdote 
will illustrate the depth of this parent-love. A few years ago 
a pair of robins built their nest on the beams of a shed within 
sight of the study window of the Rev. S. A. L. Drew, at South 
Royalton, Vermont. They laid their eggs, and in due time 
young appeared, which grew until too large to remain in the 
nest, when one or two got out upon the beam. Cats were con- 
stantly on the watch, waiting until the fledglings should slip 
off, and the parents were in great distress; but they were by 
no means idle, for at daylight on the succeeding morning, Mr. 
Drew saw a second, (new) nest beside the old one, in which 
were two of the young. Thus the old birds successfully met 
the emergency, and reared their family in safety until able to 
fly. 

‘Two, and in the case of old birds, often three broods are 
brought out in a single season; but the eggs of the last laying 
are likely to be fewer and smaller than the previous clutches. 

An important part of the food of the young consists of grubs, 
earthworms, ground-beetles, measuring-worms and the larve 
of various moths and butterflies which infest the garden, besides 
various species of diptera, including the house and stable flies, 
the mosquito, and many others; add to these the fruits of sev- 
eral varieties of cherry, the strawberry, raspberry, currant and 
other berries. The insects are preferred, however, and the ser- 
vices of the robin, in destroying the injurious cut-worm alone, 
are inestimable. The quantity required for the support of the 
young in a nest is prodigious, and taxes the faithful parents to 
the utmost to provide it. 


The Cape St. Lucas Robin (Var. conrinis, No. Ia), is re- 


garded as only a variety of the Eastern bird, from which its 
general habits are not known to differ. 


THE WOOD THRUSH. Z 


2. THE OREGON ROBIN. 
TURDUS NEVIUS Gmelin. 
Spotted, Painted and Golden Robin (Oregon to Vancouver); Varied Thrush. 


The Oregon robin of the northwest coast ranges from 
Behring’s Straits to Southern California, and eastward 
through the Rocky Mountains ; while several erratic specimens 
have been taken in the Eastern States, always, however, in 
winter. 

In the spring it retires to the extreme north to breed; and to 
Mr. W. H. Dall we are mainly indebted for what we know of 
its nest, several of which he discovered in Alaska. One, found 
May 22, was built about two and a half feet from the ground, 
upon a pile of rubbish which had been drifted into a clump of 
willow bushes. ‘The situation, as in all other cases, was a se- 
cluded one, close to the river bank. 

The nest was 6 inches in diameter, and 2 1-2 thick, but the 
depression of the cavity was slight. It was composed of dry 
mosses and lichens well compacted, and fragments of dry stalks 
of grasses. Another nest, seen by Dr. Minor in Alaska, was 
amore finished structure. The outside consisted of a basket 
of slender twigs, within which was an inner nest of interwoven 
fine dry grasses and long gray lichens. The eggs, in number, 
size, shape and ground-color, are closely similar to those of 
the eastern robin, bat are somewhat profusely marked with 
round distinct spots of dark brown, nearly black, which makes 
them indistinguishable from the eggs of the mavis, or song- 
thrush (Zurdus musicus) of Europe. 


3. THE WOOD THRUSH. 
TURDUS MUSTELINUS Gmelin. 
Woced Robin; Song or Swamp Thrush; Mavis; Swamp Angel (Adirondacks). 
The wood thrush breeds throughout its range in the United 
States, where it is distinctively an eastern bird. It is found 
northward to New England and Canada West; westward to 
Dakota, and southward in winter, to Central America. Througu 
the central portion, all have paired by May 1, and the nest is 


8 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


usually completed by the 15th of the month, except in New 
England, where the date is somewhat later. Although very 
common in wooded and thickety districts, they are more shy 
than the robins, and conceal their houses with much greater 
care, often contriving to curtain them with long leaves and 
trailing vines. 

The nest of this thrush is nearly as bulky as the robin’s, but 
generally has little or no mud in its composition. It is placed 
upon the horizontal branch of a forest tree, anywhere from six 
to forty feet above the ground, or in the forks of a sapling. 
The materials are twigs, coarse grasses, and dried leaves—of 
which latter, in damp situations, there is often a great thickness 
underneath—well combined, and lined with fine roots and 
grasses. While it is not common to find this thrush nesting 
away from the woods, Dr. Brewer, Mr. Burroughs and others 
mention instances where it built in gardens close to the house, 
so long as it. was left undisturbed; and a friend of mine, in 
Astoria, L. I., has amused himself for several summers in pro- 
viding a familiar pair of wood thrushes with quaint materials, 
including strips of newspaper, and watching them construct 
their home in his door-yard. Whatever its situation, the type 
is well adhered to, and the foundation of dead beech or oak 
leaves is a characteristic. But I remember one case in which 
ribbon-like grass had been used instead, and I am told that in 
lieu of the usual layer of impacted leaves, an underpinning of 
mud or cow-dung is sometimes found. The construction of the 
whole occupies both sexes steadily for five or six days, and 
measures externally about 5 inches in diameter ; internal width, 
4 inches; depth, 1.75 inches. 

The books say that but one brood is raised in New England, 
but I am inclined to think otherwise. Mr. Maynard says the 
usual time of nesting, near Boston, is June 1, although he has 
found the young on the 4th. Mr. Samuels places the date as 
May 20. In Michigan, Mr. A. B. Covert of Ann Arbor writes 
me, he has taken fresh eggs on various dates between May 10 
and June 4. During the summer of 1873, I spent several weeks 
at Norwich, Conn., where these thrushes are abundant. On 
June 2, I found one of their nests, containing four eggs, which 


THE WOOD THRUSH. 9 


had been sat upon, and on June 4, another similar one; the 
following day an unfinished nest was found; from this time 
constant search met with no wood thrush’s nest until the 21st, 
when another was found, containing four fresh eggs, which I 
then considered a second brood, not seeing why this pair should 
have delayed their building until all their neighbors’ young 
were hatched. This trip furnished another curious note. On 
June 5, I found a nest of the wood thrush, nearly finished, on 
the lower limb of a large oak. Visiting it again on the 18th, 
it contained three eggs only slightly addled. Did these eggs 
belong to the original builders who were so dilatory ; or had 
the nest been abandoned and afterward taken possession of 
by another pair? In eastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Gentry has 
recorded nests with eggs, discovered as late as July 15; but he 
thinks these the labor of birds whose early efforts had been 
frustrated, and that only one brood is raised. I am certain that 
along Lake Erie, in New Jersey and on western Long Island, 
two broods are brought out: but there is much irregularity 
as to time, young birds, old eggs and new nests being found 
side by side. 

The eggs are usually four, but sometimes only three in num- 
ber. They are uniform deep blue, not inclining to green so 
much as the robin’s, than which, also, they are one-fifth smaller, 
more slender and pointed ; average dimensions are .98 by .78 
of aninch. The female alone sits upon the eggs, which hatch in 
thirteen days, the male meanwhile paying devoted attention to 
her wants. Their behavior when the nest is approached is very 
different in different individuals. If the female is sitting, she 
will usually remain upon the nest, watching you intently, until 
you reach out your hand to touch her, when she will suddenly 
slip away and cannot be induced to show herself while you re- 
main in the vicinity ; but sometimes, with an unnatural cour- 
age born of her terror, she stands her ground, bristles up, and 
whistling, screaming and hissing, repeatedly darts at your head 
with the utmost fury. 

The parent birds manifest much solicitude for their offspring, 
and assist by turns in supplying them with food. Mr. Gentry 
mentions a long list of insects probably on their bill of fare, 


IO NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


among which are earthworms, the larve of various moths and 
butterflies, including the tent-caterpillar, the young of flies, 
small moths and beetles, and small fruit, cherries and straw- 
berries, when these are adapted to their age and condition. 

Young wood thrushes are said to be easily reared in confine- 
ment. 


4. THE HERMIT THRUSH. 
TURDUS PALLASI Caédbanis. 


Solitary and Rufous Tailed Thrush ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine) ; 
Rain-Bird (Nova Scotia). 

The typical hermit thrush ranges all over eastern North 
America, wintering in the southern states, whence it spreads 
northward in the spring, reaching New England by May tr. 
It breeds in the Alleghanies from Pexxsylvania northward, 
but in New England only north of the hilly parts of Massachu- 
setts; thence to Labrador, the islands in the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence, and perhaps Greenland; also in Colorado. Dr. C. C. 
Abbott says that this thrush seems to be less common in New 
‘Jersey than Audubon described it to be, and that about one in 
twenty which pass the city of Trenton breeds, retiring for that 
purpose about June 1. Dr. Abbott also assures me that Mr. 
Cassin once told him that he had found a nest of the hermit in 
a swamp at Camden, N. J. 

The nest of this thrush is always built upon, or close to 
the ground, usually away from the woods, and under bushes 
in swampy places. ‘‘Such care is taken to conceal its nest in 
the recesses of tangled undergrowth, that few are the orni- 
thologists who have found it. If Wilson, Nuttall, or Au- 
dubon ever saw a nest, no one of them recognized its owner. 
The nests and eggs which they describe as those of the hermit 
were certainly the olive-backed thrush’s, the only one which nests 
at any considerable distance from the ground and lays spotted 
eggs.” Dr. Brewer mentions that in Parsboro, Nova Scotia, 
he saw one in the midst of the village, but in a marshy place, 
nearly unapproachable. At Upton, Me., Mr. Maynard found 
two nests on top of decayed logs, and Mr. Samuels has several 
which he took from low scrubby bushes ; I have heard of other 


THE HERMIT THRUSH. II 


similar cases, but all such were in wet places. The materials 
used are decayed, deciduous leaves, remnants of dried weeds, 
sedges, plants and grass, mixed with twigs and lined with fine 
matter. The structure thus so closely resembles that of the 
veery that one must be cautious not to mistake its commoner 
home for that of the rare hermit’s. In the north much moss is 
used, — sometimes exclusively among the pine woods; while 
A. L. Adams, in his Field and Forest Rambles, mentions that 
in New Brunswick mud enters into the composition of the nest. 

When you approach their hiding place, the birds mourn- 
fully retire and keep silent ; but it is said if a hawk or crow, in 
search of young birds, comes near, they attack it courageously. 

Eggs are laid about the first week in June. A correspondent 
in North Bridgton, southwestern Maine, writes me, however, 
that he has seen eggs nearly hatched, on May 24, and also fresh 
ones as late as July 10. The eggs are of a somewhat elongated- 
oval form, and in color light blue, with a tendency to green. 
AAs remarked above, the earlier ornithologists were all mistaken 
in describing these eggs as spotted or blotched, since there is 
no such instance authenticated. The measurements are about 
-g0 of an inch long, by .62 wide, in average examples. Two 
broods are sometimes raised in a season. 

In the west there are two distinct varieties of this species : 
Audubon’s Thrush (Var. Aupuzont, No. 4a) ; and the Dwarf 
Thrush (Var. nanus, No. 46). 

Audubon’s thrush, also called the Rocky Mountain hermit, 
is the more common, and the more southern in its habitat, ex- 
tending from northern Colorado and Utah in summer to Central 
Mexico, where it is resident upon the table-lands. It breeds 
abundantly through the southern Rocky Mountains, at great 
altitudes, and at Salt Lake City, where Henshaw found its nest. 
Another nest, taken by him on June 7, at Fort Garland, Col- 
orado, he describes as built in the cavity of a broken pine stub, 
about three feet from the ground. It was composed almost 
wholly of strips of bark and coarse grasses, covered externally 
with mosses. A nest found at Fort Ellis, Montana, in a small 
pine tree in the mountains, consisted entirely of mosses lined 
with fine grass leaves. The eggs in all cases are deep greenish 


12 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


blue, like those of the robin, and measure .85 by .72 of an inch. 
It is not easy to understand why this variety should depart so 
widely from the custom of the other hermit thrushes, all of 
which nestle upon the ground. 

The dwarf thrush is chiefly restricted to the Pacific coast. 
It breeds from Oregon northwards, and in the Sierra Nevada ; 
and except in being slightly smaller, its nests and eggs are like 
those of the eastern bird. 


5. THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. 
TURDUS SWAINSONI Cadanis. 
Swainson’s Thrush; Swamp-robin (Maine). 


The typical olive-backed thrush wanders in its migrations 
over nearly the whole of the continent, but is resident in sum-: 
mer only zorth of Massachusetts, except about Salt Lake, 
Utah, and in rare instances among the remote mountains of 
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If we are to believe that Wil- 
son and the other early ornithologists really meant this bird in 
their accounts of the ‘*‘ hermit” thrush,— and there seems little 
doubt of it, —then their record must be accepted as proving 
more southerly localities than it is now known to inhabit in 
the nesting season. 

Swainson’s thrush begins its housebuilding in Maine and 
New Hampshire the last days of May ; and its fresh eggs have 
been found at the Isle of Grand Menan from June 5 to 21. In 
the Wahsatch Mountains, Utah, the date is a fortnight later. 
The favorite building location is beside a woodland stream or 
near a path or road; the depth of the woods.is avoided. The 
positions chosen vary. Among the large number of nests 
which have been found at Lake Umbagog by Deane, Bailey, 
Brewster, Purdie and others, some were placed at a consider- 
able height on the horizontal branches of forest trees; others 
near the ground in small evergreens; and some rested on the 
tops or broken limbs of dead ‘‘stubs” in the most exposed 


manner. In Utah, it chooses the willow bushes in the bottoms 
of the cafions. 


THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. 13 


The nest measures 4 inches in width by 2 in height, and the 
cavity is rather shallow. It is a more neatly and carefully con- 
structed home than that of any other of the thrushes. Con- 
spicuous among its miscellaneous materials are Wypxum 
mosses, which, by their fibrous masses, distinguish these nests 
from all except those of the West Coast variety (wstzlatus). 
Besides this moss are found fine sedges, grasses, stems of reedy 
plants, ‘‘red, glossy vegetable fibres, the stems of flowering 
Caledonia mosses, lichens, fine strips of bark, etc.,” varying 
with locality. 

Usually three, but apparently never more than four, eggs are 
laid, which average .88 by .66 of an inch in measurement. 
The ground-color in most cases is pale bluish green, but some- 
times light blue. The egg is thickly speckled with spots of 
russet brown and reddish, more or less confluent, and with 
many variations. The rearing of more than one brood in a 
season appears to be exceptional, and has been altogether de- 
nied ; but I am inclined to think it happens ; indeed, I have ap- 
parently trustworthy information that a nest with fresh eggs 
was taken at North Conway, N. H., in a swampy thicket on 
the mountain, as late as July 11. 

When driven from the nest, the mother silently conceals her- 
self, or alights close by, offering no resistance or complaint. 


Besides the typical, eastern form, there are two well-marked 
varieties of this species—the Gray-cheeked, or Alice’s Thrush 
(Var. ALict®, No. 5a) ; and the Oregon Thrush (Var. usruLa- 
Tus, No. 56). 

The former breeds abundantly from Labrador along the 
Arctic Circle to Alaska. Its nests are generally placed on the 
branches of low trees, within reach of the hand, and are con- 
structed of various vegetable subtances so soft that no separate 
lining is required ; and they thus resemble the nests of the par- 
ent species in all respects except in the absence of the bright 
flypnum moss, so characteristic of 7Zurdus swainsont. Oc- 
casionally the nest will be found upon the ground, when it is 
likely to have mud-walls much like a robin’s. Dr. Coues saw 
these birds in deep, shaded ravines in Labrador July 24, the 
young just beginning to fly, amid the most intense anxiety on 


14, NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


the part of the parents. The eggs of Alice’s thrush Dr. Brewer 
excellently portrays as either of a deep green tint, or greenslightly 
tinged with blue ; and they are marked with spots of russet and 
yellowish-brown, varying both in size and frequency. Their 
mean length is .g2 of an inch, and their mean breadth 64. 
The ground color is more distinctly blue, than in eggs of the 
olive-back, and their shape smaller and more round. 

Variety wstulatus, the Oregon thrush, is restricted to the 
Pacific Coast, occurring abundantly in the breeding season from 
Lat. 34° in California to Alaska. It nests in central Califor- 
nia by the middle of May —fresh eggs being found at Santa 
Cruz, for example, from May 15 to June 6—and farther north 
several days later, building generally on a horizontal branch of 
a low tree, or in hazel, willow or brier bushes. The nests are 
well described as ‘‘large, compact, strongly constructed and 
neat. They measure about 5 inches in their external diameter, 
with a height outside of 3; the cavity is comparatively shal- 
low, being rarely 2 inches in depth. The external portions 
are constructed almost entirely of /7yfzwm mosses matted and 
glued together, and sparingly interwoven with dry leaves and 
fine fibrous roots, and are lined with finer materials of the same 
kind.” Dr. Suckley tells us that the moss, with which the 
nests are so profusely covered, takes root in the damp climate 
near the coast, and grows until it forms a large mass. 

The eggs are pale green in ground-color, variously spotted 
with reddish-brown over underlying suffusions of neutral tint 
and faded russet. Sometimes the blotches are distinct, small 
and frequent, all over the eggs; in other specimens they are 
large and washed out, with dottings between, while in some 
there is a universal dense clouding of fine specks of faded tint. 
In size they average .87 by .72 of an inch. Two broods are 
raised, even at Puget’s Sound. 


WILSON’S THRUSH. 15 


6. WILSON’S THRUSH. 
TURDUS FUSCESCENS Stephens. 


Tawny Thrush; Veery (New England). 


This beautiful singer breeds from the latitude of Pennsyl- 
vanta and Lowa, northward to Quebec, westward along the 
upper Missouri, and in the valleys of Utah and Colorado. 

The veery makes its appearance in New England from the 
south, early in May, and begins to build during the third week 
of that month; but in the centre of Maine the date is a fort- 
night later. At Pembina, Dakota, Dr. Coues found fresh 
eggs on June 9, and in southern Colorado Mr. Henshaw took 
them on the 19th. Except in the far north, where its breeding 
is delayed until midsummer, it no doubt brings up two broods 
in aseason. Audubon and Wilson Flagg speak of the nest as 
being built on mounds of sticks and grass, in the darkest part 
of the woods, and say that it is made to resemble the surround- 
ing objects; while Nuttall and others write that it sometimes 
chooses bushes and low trees. These situations are exceptional, 
for the nest is almost invariably placed unsupported upon the 
ground. Those I myself have found were ina secluded swampy 
place distant from houses, in fern-tussocks; and although one 
was in ‘Lorain county, Ohio, and the other near Norwich, 
Conn., the similarity was complete, and encircling strips of 
the inner bark of the grape-vine were a characteristic feat- 
ure of both. These nests were composed of dead leaves, 
broad grasses and strips of bark wound round and round, and 
thin chips and remnants of dried plants, lined with finer strips 
and threads of the same. The walls were not woven or over- ° 
cast, and it was with great difficulty that the nest could be kept 
together. The site is almost always a damp one, and hence a 
thick mass of dead leaves is usually brought together by the 
bird, upon which the superstructure rests. There seems to be 
little variation in the manner; but one of Henshaw’s nests from 
Colorado had been built on top of a nest of the preceding year, 
as occasionally happens with the robin. A nest found by 
Arthur F. Gray, at Danvers, Mass., was placed at the foot of 
an alder-clump eight inches above the ground. The base was 


16 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


composed of maple leaves, upon which the superstructure was 
woven of coarse grasses, and lined with fine roots and grasses. 
The measured dimensions were: external diameter, 4.50 
inches ; internal, 2.60; depth inside, 1.60. 

Since the above was written, Dr. Brewer announces (Bull. 
Nutt. Orn. Club, III, 193) the finding in Vermont of a large 
and bulky nest of the veery saddled on the horizontal limb of 
a tree fifteen feet high. Previously, it appears, Mr. George O. 
Welch had met with a similar case, where the elevation of the 
nest was twenty-five feet. 

The eggs are a deeper shade of bluish green than those of the 
hermit thrush, but not so dark as those of the cat-bird; their 
form is generally oval, sometimes lengthened and sharpened ; 
their average size is about .93 by .66. As in many other eggs, 
the longest specimens are not always the broadest. Mr. Allen 
states that at Fort Rice, on the Upper Missouri, among many 
nests containing the ordinary green eggs, one set was found 
thickly speckled with very small dots of olive. This has 
lately been duplicated by the four eggs found in the Vermont 
nest mentioned above, where the eggs were spotted, one very 
strongly with golden brown, the others less so. In Massachu- 
setts and in Michigan, the first set of four or five eggs is laid 
about June 1; the second set, three or four, in July. 

The female’s anxiety for the concealment of her home is 
very great, and when she hears your approach she steals away, 
and will not return while you are near, skulking about in si- 
lence, or with an occasional low complaint. Such has been 
my experience ; yet Mr. Gentry records that near Philadelphia 
the female does not exercise the least precaution by keeping 
silence, but allows her over-solicitude to betray at once the sit- 
uation of her precious charge. 


7. THE MOUNTAIN MOCKING-BIRD. 
OREOSCOPTES MONTANUS (Zowns.) Baird. 
Mocking-Bird (Wyoming, Montana) ; Sage Thrasher. 


The western mocker ranges from the Black Aiills to the 
Pacific Coast, between Cape St. Lucas and British America, 


THE MOUNTAIN MOCKING-BIRD. 17 


breeding over nearly the whole area, but not very plentifully, 
and always amid the desolation of the sage-brush plains. Nut- 
tall had the good fortune to find the first nest reported, in what 
is now western Wyoming. It was placed in a ‘‘ wormwood” 
bush, and ‘‘ was made of small twigs and rough stalks, lined 
with strips of bark and bison wool.” 

In northern Nevada—the centre of their summer range—the 
ardent males begin that eager rivalry which marks the approach 
of the breeding season, early in April, and the first eggs are 
laid by the 2oth, the nests having been begun a week earlier. 
This date is also true northward to Oregon at least, and full 
time is thus left for bringing out a second brood. As soon as 
the laying begins, the males become perfectly silent, ‘‘ their main 
occupation being that of sentinel on guard for the approach of 
an intruder.” 

While a sage bush, or its prickly companion the greasewood, 
is preferred by the mountain mocker, he also places his domi- 
cile on other bushes and small trees, brush-heaps, or even on 
the ground at the roots of a bush; but always low down. It 
is a large, rude structure, built of twigs and lined with fibrous 
roots. A curious nest was noted by Henry Henshaw in his 
report to Lieut. Wheeler, in charge of explorations and sur- 
veys west of the rooth meridian. It was seen on June 22, at 
the Alkali Lakes near Fort Garland, Colorado, when the 
embryos were nearly ready to be hatched. This nest, a bulky 
affair of twigs lined with grass, was placed in a low bush. 
Eight or ten inches above it was a platform of twigs, which, 
whatever may have been the original intention, certainly served 
as an admirable screen from the rays of an almost tropical sun. 
It may possibly have been intended as the site of the nest, and 
then, for some reason, abandoned for the one beneath. 

The four, rarely five, eggs average 1.02 by .71 of an inch, 
and present little variation in any respect. In color they are 
rather light greenish-blue, boldly and sharply marked all over, 
but more thickly at the large end, with spots of burnt brown, 
underneath which area great number of smaller specks, points 
and faint touches of a lighter brown, yellowish, purple and 
lavender. It approaches some styles of mocking-birds’ eggs. 

2 


18 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Though they taper toward the smaller end, it is not pointed, 
but decidedly blunt. 

‘* When a nest is disturbed,” Mr. Ridgway says, ‘‘ the par- 
ent birds do not protest, but merely run anxiously about the 
meddler, in the manner of a robin, now and then halting, and 
with outstretched necks closely observing his actions. When 
the young are hatched, however, they become more solicitous, 
and signify their concern by a low chuck.” 


8. THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
MIMUS POLYGLOTTUS (Z.) Boze. 


The mocking-bird is spread over the southern half of the 
United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. From the Car- 
olinas southward to Nicaragua it is resident ; northward it not 
unfrequently extends its summer wanderings to Massachusetts, 
lakes Erie and Ontario, and westward to the borders of Ari- 
zona, breeding throughout this extent. In the middle districts 
of the southern states, the mocking-bird raises two and some- 
times three broods, the first of which appears in March, the 
second in May, and the last in September. The first brood 
contains five or six eggs, the second four or five, and the third, 
when there is one, rarely more than three, of which Audubon 
says only two usually hatch out. ‘* The dew-berries from the 
fields, and many kinds of fruit from the gardens, mixed with 
insects, supply the young as well as the parents with food. 
The brood is soon seen emerging from the nest, and in another 
fortnight, being now able to fly with vigor, and to provide for 
themselves, leave the parent-birds, as many other species do.” 

No description which I could write would so pleasantly or 
accurately portray the home of the mocking-bird as Alexander 
Wilson has done in the following paragraph : 

The precise time at which the mocking-bird begins to build his nest 
varies according to the latitude in which he resides. In the lower parts 
of Georgia, he commences building early in April, but in Pennsylvania 


rarely before the roth of May; and in New York, and the states of New 
England, still later. There are particular situations to which he gives 


THE MOCKING-BIRD. 1g 


the preference. A solitary thorn bush, an almost impenetrable thicket, 
an orange tree, cedar, or holly bush, are favorite spots, and frequently 
selected. It is no great objection with him, that these happen, some- 
times, to be near the farm or mansion house. Always ready to defend, 
but never over-anxious to conceal, his nest, he very often builds within 
a small distance of the house, and not unfrequently in a pear or apple 
tree; rarely at a greater height than six or seven feet from the ground. 
The nest varies a little in different individuals, according to the con- 
veniency of collecting suitable materials. A very complete one is now 
lying before me, and is composed of the following substances: First, 
a quantity of dry twigs and sticks; then, withered tops of weeds, of 
the preceding year, intermixed with fine straws, hay, pieces of wool and 
tow ; and, lastly, a thick layer of fine fibrous roots, of a light-brown col- 
or, lines the whole. The eggs are four, sometimes five, of a cinereous- 
blue, marked with large blotches of brown. The female sits fourteen 
days, and generally produces two broods in a season, unless robbed of 
her eggs, in which case she will even build and lay the third time. She is, 
however, extremely jealous of her nest, and very apt to forsake it if 
much disturbed. It is even asserted by some of our bird-dealers, that the 
old ones will actually destroy the eggs, and poison the young, if either 
the one or the other has been handled. But I cannot give credit to this 
unnatural report. I know, from my own experience at least, that it is not 
always their practice; neither have I ever witnessed a case of the kind 
above mentioned. During the period of incubation, neither cat, dog, 
animal nor man, can approach the nest without being attacked. The 
cats, in particular, are persecuted whenever they make their appearance, 
till obliged to retreat. But his whole vengeance is most particularly 
directed against that mortal enemy of his eggs and young, the black 
snake. Whenever the insidious approaches of this reptile are discov- 
ered, the. male darts upon it with the rapidity of an arrow, dextrously 
eluding its bite, and striking it violently and incessantly about the head, 
where it is very vulnerable. The snake soon becomes sensible of its 
danger, and seeks to escape; but the intrepid defender of his young re- 
doubles his exertions, and, unless his antagonist be of great magnitude, 
often succeeds in destroying him. 


With reference to the jealous care with which the female 
guards her nest, Audubon, in his Birds of America, writes: 


During incubation the female pays such precise attention to the po- 
sition in which she leaves her eggs when she goes to a short distance for 
exercise and refreshment, to pick up gravel or roll herself in the dust, 
that, on her return, should she find that any of them had been displaced 
or touched by the handof man, she utters a low, mournful note, at the 
sound of which the male immediately joins her, and they are both seen 
to condole together. Some people imagine that, on such occasions, the 


20 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


female abandons the nest; but this idea isincorrect. On the contrary, 
she redoubles her assiduity, and scarcely leaves the nest for a moment; 
nor is it until she has been repeatedly forced from the dear spot, and 
has been much alarmed by frequent intrusions that she finally and re- 
luctantly leaves it. Nay, if the eggs are even on the eve of hatching, 
she will almost suffer a person to lay hold of her. 


In nesting on the plains beyond the Rio Grande, these birds 
often select a cactus ; and the structure they contrive, composed 
of thorny twigs and briers, and placed in one of these plants, 
is encircled on all sides by spear-like points, impervious to every 
creature that has not wings. Often the only way for the col- 
lector to possess himself of the nest is by hewing through the 
abattis with his knife. The eggs are laid there the first week 
of April, and young birds are first seen about May 1. 

The eggs of the mocking-bird are four or five in number, 
and are subject to extreme variations. The ground color may 
be gray, grayish-green, or even buff, irregularly speckled and 
blotched (sometimes: one style of marking, sometimes the 
other, and often both mingled) with rusty brown and lavender 
tints. The shape is not slender but the smaller end is consid- 
erably pointed. In size the eggs range from 1.25 inches to 
go of an inch in length, and in breadth from .72 to .67. An 
average of a large number of specimens I find to be 1.01 by 
.72. In spite of these variations, the egg once recognized is 
not easily mistaken afterwards. 


9. THE CAT-BIRD. 
MIMUS CAROLINENSIS (L.) Gray. 
Blackbird (Bermudas). 


The cat-bird is one of the most common and conspicuous of 
all our birds. It breeds in summer over the whole Union 
except the Pacific coast, northward to the Saskatchewan. 
Among the earliest to show itself in the Northern states, it im- 
mediately resorts to the thickets along the edges of the woods, 
and to the quiet gardens of country villages. 

The cat-bird mates about May 1, in the Middle and Western 
states, and considerably later in the territories, and the pair 
soon begin to look for a nesting place, with much care and de- 


-PLATE T 
| 


Lith, Armstrong &cCo. Riverside Press Cambadye, 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


S.E. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. 


THE CAT-BIRD. 21 


liberation.. The site selected is usually a brier, a thorn-apple, 
or a bush in the centre of a thicket or hedge, seldom far from 
a settlement. ‘* The injudiciousness of the selection is not 
always foreseen, and a nest is often nearly completed before the 
mistake is discovered. In this predicament, instead of ‘making 
the best of a bad bargain,’ the birds totally ignore the site for 
another better suited to their taste.” The situation finally de- 
cided upon, both birds work diligently during the cooler hours 
of the morning and evening for five or six days in the construc- 
tion of their domicile. ‘When a suitable article has been 
found,” says Thomas Gentry, ‘‘the bird does not fly immedi- 
ately to the nest and adjust the piece, but indulges in short 
flights from one object to an adjoining one, carefully surveying 
the premises all the while, until within a few paces of the nest, 
when she rapidly flies thither, and having satisfactorily adjusted 
it goes off in quest of other materials.” The pair do not seem 
to be annoyed by the presence of human witnesses to their work. 

A platform of twigs and slender sticks or weeds is usually 
first built, on which rests the body of the nest. The main struc- 
ture is composed of finer twigs, strips of bark, leaves, straws, 
pine-needles, shavings, and other stuff, more or less firmly put 
together. The inside measures about 3 1-2 inches in diameter, 
and as many in depth, and is closely lined with black fibrous 
roots, and sometimes with fine dry grass, particularly if built 
near the seashore. Usually compact, this nest is sometimes 
very bulky, and entangled among the branches of the bush in 
which it rests. One which I found near Norwich, Conn., was 
hung between two small bushes in such a way that it had no 
more direct support than that which a slender spray from each 
bush afforded; but the voluminous mass of crooked sticks 
underneath it offered so many hooked ends and _ projections 
that the nest was very secure. Another is described as 
carelessly made, and bearing a close resemblance to the nest 
of the Maryland yellow-throat, and was presumed to be the 
work of young or indolent birds. A third deviation, on the 
contrary, showed superiority of workmanship. The outside 
of this cosy and beautiful nest was ‘‘ composed of wool, raw 
cotton, strings, fragments of lamp wick, a slight intermixture 


22 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS, 


of tangled silk, fragments of lichen, . . held zz sztu by 
strands of silk. Upon this basis was built a superstructure 
of fine rootlets, intermingled with patches of wool.” 

After the completion of the nest a short time elapses before 
any eggs are laid,—this happening about the third week of 
May in the Northern states generally, —and then only one is 
deposited each day, for four or five days. The eggs are very 
dark emerald green, highly polished, and about .g1 of an inch 
long, by .7o broad. There is small chance of confounding this 
with any other American bird’s egg, certainly after it has been 
seenonce. Dr. C. C. Abbott informs me that, at Trenton, N. J., 
he discovered a nest of purely white cat-birds’ eggs, and leav- 
ing it, found that all hatched at the proper time into perfect 
young. Similar instances are known in the case of several 
other species laying dark eggs, sometimes only one or two clear 
white examples accompanying others of the normal color in 
the same clutch. 

Incubation is protracted twelve or thirteen days. Meanwhile 
the male remains near by, solicitous for his mate’s welfare, only 
leaving her when hunger compels him to hunt. His enemies 
are chiefly serpents which have a fondness for his eggs and 
young. Should one of these glide into the bush, the birds in- 
stantly attack it with the greatest fury, flying into its very 


jaws. 


10. THE BROWN THRASHER. 
HARPORHYNCHUS RUFUS Cadbazis. 


Brown, Red and Ferruginous Thrush; Red Mavis; Corn Planter (New Jersey) ; 
French Mocking-bird (Louisiana). 

The brown thrasher inhabits the eastern United States, 
extending north to the Red River; west through Nebraska, 
Dakota and Colorado; and south to the Rio Grande, beyond 
which the type is replaced by other races. It winters in the 
southern United States and breeds throughout its range. 

The nest of this bird has a peculiar charm for me, for it was 
the first one that I distinctly remember to have found, and it 
was priceless to me. That first nest was sunk in the grass of 


THE BROWN THRASHER. 25 


swampy woods, but this situation I soon found to be not the 
only one affected by the thrasher. He is an inhabitant of the 
out-of-the-way orchards and the edges of the woods, where 
his ‘‘querulous smack” is heard among the first-comers in the 
spring. In such a locality he builds his nest. It may be on 
the ground or sunk into it, on a brush pile, on the end of a 
fence-rail, in the dense centre of a hawthorn or a hedge (never 
fail to look into every thorn bush), or twenty feet up in the 
fork of a sapling. 

Early in March, in Florida and Louisiana, the birds having 
paired begin to look about for some such place for a homestead. 
In Pennsylvania this does not happen until early in May ; and 
when the brown thrashers have reached New England, by the 
middle of that month, they seem already to be paired off and 
immediately begin nesting. ‘‘After the selection of a suitable 
site both birds set diligently to work until the nest is completed, 
which is the result of four or five days’ steady labor.” If 
placed above the ground, the nest is composed outwardly of 
a layer of twigs, sometimes with many dry leaves underneath, 
then leaves and strips of cedar and grape-vine bark, or broad 
grasses and fibrous roots firmly woven into a broad and flattish 
structure. It is not so loose as the cat-bird’s, so bulky as the 
blue jay’s, or so ragged and disreputable-looking as the king- 
bird’s, nor has it hardly any mud in its composition. If on the 
ground, or sunk into it— like that first proud discovery of mine, 
or a very handsome one I found under a tiny evergreen bush 
on a side-hill in Connecticut last year — the nest will be found 
constructed almost entirely of interwoven broad grasses secure- 
ly bound together, and with the edges overcast in the best style 
of basket-finishing. Perhaps its firmness is due to the previous 
condition of the materials, which, having been moistened with 
water and plastered with mud, become so agglutinated as to re- 
quire great effort to detach them from the fabric. Its thick- 
ness is also great. This strength and trimness give it an in- 
definable character not easily mistaken by the experienced eye. 

Occupation closely follows the completion of the nest and 
lasts through a week, three to five eggs being laid. Their color 
is greenish, or dirty white, over which is thickly sprinkled a pep- 


24 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


per-and-salt of reddish-brown. These minute dots tend to ag- 
gregate at the great end, around which they sometimes form 
a perfect wreath. Their length varies from .98 to 1.12 inches, 
with a mean of 1.05 ; their breadth ranges from .75 to .87 of an 
inch, with a mean of .82. Two broods are raised each seacon. 

In the duties of incubation it is probable that the males fre- 
quently share, although some observers say that the female alone 
sits on the eggs. Thirteen or fourteen days are required to 
hatch them, the time depending somewhat upon the weather. 
Both parents watch over each other and their charge with great 
care andanxiety, wreaking instant vengeance upon all intruders. 
Like the cat-bird, the thrasher is often called upon to resist a 
dreaded enemy—the black-snake—which coils himself around 
the beautiful structure and devours the callow young in spite 
of the frenzied parents, who fight so recklessly as often to fall 
a prey to their owntemerity. I myself have seen it. The ter- 
rible beauty, the black, shining folds, the easy gliding move- 
ments, the erect head, jewel-eyes, tongue ‘‘playing like subtile 
flame,” bring to mind the great myth of the Tempter and his in- 
trusion into that first home long ago, and make us wonder 
whether, after all, the woman was really to blame for yielding 
under the terrible fascination of such a presence. 

When the nest is taken the thrashers utter a guttural, whin- 
ing complaint, and follow the person who carries it away. 
The mother’s call to her little ones consists of tender, solicitous 
whistling, followed by a few smacking clucks, not very loud. 
The male rarely sings to his mate close to the nest, fearing to 
attract attention. They are intolerant of any tampering with 
their eggs, and readily detect imposition. Dr.T. M. Brewer re- 
moved three eggs from one of their nests and left three robins’ 
eggs. Inafew moments the female approached, gave the con- 
tents of the nest a hasty survey, and immediately flew off. 
She returned in a short time in company with her mate, and 
both flew to the nest, apparently in the greatest rage, took each 
an egg in their claws and dashed it against the ground at the 
distance of more than a rod from the nest, the female repeating 
the same withthe other egg. This done, they continued to vent 
their rage on the broken eggs and afterward forsook the nest. 


THE BROWN THRASHER. 25 


Not more than one brood is usually raised in the northern 
states, although beginning so early, but at the south two are 
brought up in a season, 

The young are fed upon the larve of various beetles and other 
insects, and eat an enormous quantity of these grubs, with a des- 
sert of small, soft berries. Their bellies become distended un- 
til they almost burst and lose all semblance to the bodies of 
birds. Yet, whenever they hear the mother’s call, or an imi- 
tation of it, they will open wide their gaping, yellow mouths 
for more. It is some days, however, before they learn their pa- 
rents’ voices. They breed well in aviaries, and the young are 
raised upon the same food as mocking-birds. 


The Texas Thrasher(Var. Loncirosrris, No. roa) isa dark 
race, inhabiting eastern Mexico, and northward to the eastern 
bank of the Rio Grande. Mr. George H. Sennett, of Erie, Pa., 
has enlightened us greatly as to its habits, which until lately 
were little known, and which are found to resemble closely those 
of the eastern bird except in greater shyness. At the mouth 
of the Rio Grande their nests were numerous in April. They 
were situated in a variety of places—cactuses, Spanish-bay-- 
onet plants, chaparral, and most commonly inthe dense under- 
growth among the heavy timber. Its usual position is in the very 
heart of the tree or plant selected, and like most nests of this 
region is not capable of being detached from the thorny bush- 
es without falling to pieces. Brewer’s History of North Ameri- 
can Birds asserts that the nests of this species ‘‘are usually a 
mere platform of small sticks or coarse stems, with little or no 
depression or rim, and are placed in bushes, usually above the 
upper branches.” Mr. Sennett’s trustworthy observations cor- 
rect this. He found none withouta lining, either of grasses, 
Spanish moss, fine roots, or bark; there was a marked de- 
pression in every nest, the depression varying from one to 
two anda half inches. The lowest was four feet from the 
ground and the highest some eight feet; none were in an ex- 
posed position ‘‘above the upper branches.” Mr. Sennett thinks 
this nest cannot ordinarily be distinguished from that of the 
mocking-bird or that of the next species, either by structure or 
position, The usual clutch is four eggs, which are hardly dis- 


26 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


tinguishable from those of HZ. rufus. The typical egg has a 
ground-color of the faintest greenish-white and is speckled all 
over with russet and brown, the dotting being amassed so as 
to form a cap over the larger end. Several sets were obtained 
by Mr. Sennett with the ground-color yellowish-white, and so 
thickly speckled as to havea general color of ochre; one set 
is nearly pure white, speckled thickly only in the form of a 
wreath at the larger end, otherwise very sparsely and faintly 
marked. The largest egg was 1.12 by .84 of an inch, and 
the smallest 1.01 by .75; the average length was 1.07, and 
breadth .78. Their shape is round and blunt. 


11. THE CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. 
HARPORHYNCHUS CURVIROSTRIS (Sw.) Cad. 


This species, called ‘‘ curve-billed” by way of emphasis, for 
the bills of all this genus are greatly bowed, is distributed from 
western Texas to the Colorado river. As mentioned above, its 
nest is similar to the mocking-bird’s. In Durango, Mexico, Lieut. 
Couchis said to have found their nests as early as February, but 
near Brownsville, Texas, the mean date is not much before May 
1, while the two sets found by Capt. Charles Bendire, U.S.A., in 
Arizona, were on July 18 and Aug. 20. This isa remarkable dis- 
parity, and Capt. Bendire’s eggs were probably those of a sec- 
ond laying. The ordinary breeding-place is a secluded thicket, 
clump of chaparral, dense cactus or como tree, upon the pulpy 
fruit of which it feeds. In such position it finds the most perfect 
protection. One nest found by Mr. Sennett at Hidalgo, April 17, 
was beneath the roof in the broken side of a thatched outhouse 
in the very heart of the village, and he writes: 

A more exposed place for human view could not be found, nor was 
there in the village a yard more frequented by children; yet I could not 
imagine a safer retreat from its more natural enemies—hawks, jays, 
etc. The female was shot as she came from the nest; and with little 
difficulty I took the nest entire, with its complement of four beautiful, 
fresh eggs. The average size of the nest was about that of an ordinary 


four-quart measure, although, from its irregular shape, it would not set 
into one. Its depth outside was fully six inches, with an inside depth 


‘THE CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. 27 


of two, so that when the bird was on, though only six feet from the 
ground, nothing but its head and tail could be seen. The nest was com- 
posed of twigs from the size of a lead-pencil down, and linéd with dry 
grasses. This description will apply to the several others found, with 
this difference : some were smaller, and in this instance greater care was 
taken to interwine the sticks, so that it would hold well together. 


The shape of the eggs is like that of the brown thrush’s, only 
longer. The ground-color varies from a pale to a rich pea- 
green. The markings are minute dots of brown, evenly and 
finely dusted over the entire surface. The largest ege out of 
twenty measures 1.18 by .8o of an inch, the smallest 1.03 by 
-79- The length ranges from 1.20 to 1.03, averaging 1.12 of 
an inch. The breadth varies from .82 to .72, averaging .79. 


A race from eastern Arizona has been named Var. PALM- 
ERI, No. 11a, by Mr. Ridgway, in honor of Dr. Edward 
Palmer, who discovered it near Camp Grant, Arizona. Its nests 
are placed in choya and cholla cacti, and other low bushes, as 
Capt. Bendire, who took forty-three of them near Tucson in 
1872, tells me, and are very large for the size of the bird, 
measuring 9 inches in height by 6 inches in width. The nest is 
of symmetrical form, is composed externally of a mass of thorny 
sticks, like an enclosing case, which are so arranged as to guard 
the sides of the nest while the open top is protected by the liv- 
ing branches of the cactus itself. Inside, it is lined with mes- 
quite grass, flax-like fibres and fine rootlets. The cavity is deep. 
Capt. Bendire secured one nest, which, in addition to the case 
of thorny sticks around the rim, had the curved thorns of the 
Turk’s-head cactus placed all around, the sharp points turned 
upward and outward so that it was impossible to put in the hand 
without pain. This was the most elaborate structure, by far, 
that he met with. The birds began breeding about May 9g, and 
the last eggs were taken August 5. Never more than three 
eggs, and often only two, were found in one nest ; they were of 
the oblong tapering shape of those of /Z. curvirostris, from 
which, either in size or colors, it would be difficult to certainly 
distinguish them. 


28 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


114s. BENDIRE’S THRASHER. 
HARPORHYNCHUS BENDIREI Cowes. 


This isnot common anywhere in Arzzova except at Tucson, 
where, in 1872, Capt. Chas. Bendire discovered it and found 
fourteen of its nests. In a letter to the author Capt. Bendire 
relates that the first nest he found, May 16, was on a dry, 
barren plain, between Tucson and Rillito creek. It was placed 
in a cactus, but was almost the only one found in such a sit- 
uation, they being more generally discovered in mesquite trees, 
or, occasionally, in an ash or walnut, from five to thirty-five 
feet from the ground, and preferably in the river bottoms,— 
differing notably from the curve-bill, which chooses bushes. 
The nest is flat and much like that of the curve-bill, but slightly 
smaller. There are usually only three eggs, occasionally four ; 
their shape is oval, blunt or only slightly tapering at the small 
end; theirsize, an average of 1.03 by .73; color, ‘‘greenish- 
gray with pale reddish-brown and lavender markings, generally 
scattered over the whole surface.” Dr. Brewer has noted the 
similarity of these eggs to those of Pyrrhuloxta stnuata ; among 
the thrashers, they remind me most of those laid by HZ. czxe- 
reus. Fresh specimens have been found as late as July 19. 


12. THE CAPE ST. LUCAS THRASHER. 
HARPORHYNCHUS CINEREUS Xazxtus. 


As its name indicates, this species is confined to the penin- 
sula of Lower California, where Mr. Xantus found it breeding 
among the cacti along the desert shore near Cape St. Lucas. 
These thrashers had young fully fledged by April 4, and con- 
tinued breeding until the middle of July. The general position 
of the nest was on shrubs or low trees, and most usually on a 
cactus plant. Their nests were flat platform-like structures hay- 
ing a very shallow depression in the centre. The eggs are 
greenish-white profusely marked with spots of mingled purple 
and brown. In some specimens the spots are yellowish-brown, 
while in others the markings are much lighter. They average 
1.12 by .77 of an inch in dimensions, and somewhat resemble 
those of the eastern mocking-bird. 


—<—<—$—— am 


Lith. Ariostvan’®Co, Riveruide Pinay. aun baihss 


of | ae oS 3 


Mu . ‘ a i EA a she meee fin: a 
y = Pa? es a . * : 
a Md \ ‘ 5 2 tye : - ; baz) in A 
- i 
#* ~ 
; ; a 
* 
7 1 
- j - 
~4 
. 
- La 
on Pe a 
eh = - a 
: s 
Be? - 
: 
? a * ‘ 


am 


ae eee en, Si) F 


THE CRISSAL THRASHER. 29 


18. THE CALIFORNIA SICKLE-BILL. 
HARPORHYNCHUS REDIVIVUS (Gamb.) Cad. 


A songster almost equalling the eastern mocking-bird in 
“‘Jiquid mellowness” of tone, the music of this bird is con- 
fined to the coast region of southern California, where it 
resides the year round in the dense growth of thorny shrubs on 
the hillsides. 

In general character its nest is a rough, rudely-constructed 
platform of interwoven sticks, coarse grass and mosses, with 
a very slight depression lined with pieces of bark, fibrous roots 
and hair. It is usually very untidy, but occasionally is more 
elaborately made. Its outside is an interweaving of leaves, 
stems and mosses, and its lining fine, long, fibrous roots. 
There are usually three, but sometimes four eggs. Theii size 
is about that of arobin’s, but the outline is more blunt. They 
have a faint, grass-green ground, sparsely spotted with very 
obscure olive and russet-brown markings, not unlike those laid 
by Zurdus ustulatus. 


Var. LECONTE!, No. 13a, of this thrasher, is to be found in 
small numbers about the lower valleys of the Colorado and 
Gila rivers, where its habits resemble those of the typical sickle- 
bills. Its nest is said to be very similar to that of HZ. redzvivus, 
but of the eggs I am ignorant. 


14. THE CRISSAL THRASHER. 
HARPORHYNCHUS CRISSALIS Henry. 


Of the rare crissal, or red-vented thrasher, very little is yet 
known. In its habits and architecture it appears to be identi- 
cal with the California mocker. It ranges through the Colo- 
rado and Gila deserts. Capt. Chas. Bendire appears to 
have been most fortunate in finding its nests, taking six in March, 
1872, on the Rio Rillito, southern Arizona. ‘‘ The nest,” he 
writes, ‘‘ is externally composed of dry sticks, some of which are 
fully a quarter of aninch thick; the lining consists exclusively 
of dry rotten fibres of a species of wild hemp, or Asclefcas ; in 
none of the nests did I find any roots, leaves or hair. The 


3° NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


inner diameter of the nest is about three inches, with a depth 
of two inches. Taking it altogether it is not very artistically con- 
structed. None of the nests were more than three feet from the 
ground. In two cases, I found nests in a dense bushy thicket of 
wild currant, twice again in willow bushes, and in another in- 
stance in aniron-wood bush.” A nest found by Dr. E. Palmer, 
in southern Utah, June §, was similar, buta little larger. 

The usual number of eggs, strangely, is only two, and lay- 
ing begins about the middle of March. The eggs are some- 
what elongated in shape, with a tendency to be pointed at the 
smaller end ; an average measurement makes them 1.10 inches 
long by .82 of an inch broad. In color they are perfect, im- 
maculate, robin-green and, in the total absence of markings, 
differ remarkably from all other members of this genus. Three 
broods are said to be raised and the young are fed on insects. 


Famity SAXICOLIDZ — StTone-cuars. 


15. THE WHEAT-EHAR. 
SAXICOLA CENANTHE Bechstezn. 


Stone-chat; White-rump; White-tail; Fallow-smack; Chacker; Chack-bird; 
Clodhopper; etc., etc. (Great Britian.) 

This bird isa straggler from the Brztish Lsles, where in many 
districts it is commonly and familiarly known. The nest, some- 
times very neat and well-constructed, is formed of moss and ben- 
ty grass, and lined with hair, feathers, fine grass-stalks, etc., 
is often quite on the ground and with no bush near; sometimes 
at the foot of a low bush, or in the bush itself, or in the crevice 
of an old wall, but very near the ground. It is thus often hard 
to find. The eggs are five or six, of a pale blue-green ground, 
very sparingly freckled with dull reddish-brown, and chiefly near 
the large end, where a zone is sometimes formed. Although 
it has been proved, pretty satisfactorily, to nestle casually in 
Labrador and Greenland, the bird hardly comes sufficiently into 
our scope to merit a long description. 


THE BI.UEBIRD. 31 


16. THE BLUEBIRD. 
SIALIA SIALIS Haldeman. 


Our familiar sky-blue friend is to be met with over all eastern 
North America, north to Lake Superior, and west to Colorado. 

His natural nesting-place is some cranny in a dead tree. 
He is therefore found loitering about the outskirts of the 
woods, and he delights in a tract of burned forest. In such 
scenes he and his mate go house-hunting long before most other 
small birds have thought of conjugal responsibilities, —in the 
first sunny days of March. She assumes the direction, and it 
usually is not long before they are suited, for the woodpeckers 
have been there years before them, chiselling out holes now left 
vacant ; or the snapping off of some old limb has opened the 
way to a snug cavity. Any kind of a cranny seems to serve in 
apinch. 1 have known bluebirds to buildin a broken tin water- 
spout under the eaves, between the blind and sash of a little- 
used window, in a deep fork between the limbs of an apple- 
tree, or to steal the neat mud house of the eave swallow ; and 
they eagerly settle in boxes and gourds hung up in the garden, 
whenever they are not driven away by pugnacious wrens or 
English sparrows. Sometimes objection is made, and frequent 
combats are recorded between the bluebirds and such sparrows, 
martins, wrens and even woodpeckers, as deem themselves 
to have been injured by the former,— who are not always as 
gentle in the breeding season as they might be,—or are 
themselves the attacking parties. Contrary to what I should ex- 
pect, it appears that the bluebird is usually victorious, even 
whipping such professional fighters as the English sparrows, 
and birds as strong as the small woodpeckers. The house wren 
is his most inveterate and successful enemy. This tiny bucca- 
neer will often take forcible possession of the bluebird’s snug 
house, rake out all the materials and keep it himself; but 
sometimes the owner defends himself most successfully. Mr. 
Gentry relates that a pair of great-crested flycatchers had taken 
possession of an empty tomato-can placed on top of a post, 
constructed their nest and laid their eggs. At this crisis a pair 
of bluebirds came upon the scene and, coveting the cosy 


32 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


quarters, sought to expel the rightful owners. The flycatchers 
resisted, and the property-owner shot the female bluebird, think- 
ing to put an end to the disturbance. The male instantly flew 
away, but returned in half an hour with two females and 
renewed the contest, gaining the victory. The flycatchers, 
however, did not retire until they had thrown out the nesting 
materials, a portion of which they afterward carried away to 
use elsewhere. After the defeat the bluebird selected a part- 
ner from his allies, and the discarded female retired. The pro- 
prietor, perceiving a strong predilection upon the part of the 
bluebirds for the can, determined to annoy them awhile, fas- 
tened a lath across the entrance and watched the result. The 
birds went to work, and by their persevering efforts the piece 
was soon dislodged. After that the brood was raised in peace 
and were fed almost exclusively upon the larva of two species 
of turnip or cabbage butterfly (Pieris), and the wingless bodies 
of Spilosoma, a moth destructive to the grape. 

Into her chosen tenement the female conveys enough of a 
peculiar kind of grass, which turns dark red when it dries, some- 
times mixing with it a little hair, to carpet thickly the bottom 
of the cavity. This is all the furniture, and she seems to attend 
to all the details of its preparation, while the male sings and 
caresses her. Inthe northern states this bed is finished and 
the first eggs are deposited by the middle of April; in the south 
much earlier. Mr. Gentry discusses the question why the blue- 
birds seek cavities as nesting places; and concludes that it is 
because such situations best secure the requisite warmth and 
safety for their young. He thinks it probable that in primi- 
tive times hollow trees were occupied more generally than at 
present by all birds, just as now they are constantly used as 
hospices by our winter denizens during inclement weather. 
The argument is that the bluebird learned to build in cavi- 
ties by first using such places for shelter during cold spring 
storms ; and, perceiving their comfort and convenience, came to 
regard them as appropriate quarters for nesting. Thus what 
was to their ancestors merely accidental, has now become in- 
tuitive and habitual to the race. Protection is also thus afforded 
against rapacious birds which would quickly catch sight of the 
bright plumage of the female in an exposed nest. 


THE BLUEBIRD. 33 


As no dampness is to be dried, laying begins immediately 
upon completion of the nest. The eggs are usually five, sky- 
blue in color, without blemish, and measure about .80 by .65. 
I once found in Lorain county, Ohio, a nest of five eggs all of 
which were pure lustrous white, like a woodpecker’s, and sev- 
eral other similar instances have come to my knowledge since. 
It has been questioned whether they would have proved fertile ; 
I am inclined to believe they would. The period of incu- 
bation is eleven or twelve days, the male occasionally relieving 
his partner in the duties of incubation. When not thus en- 
gaged, he is very attentive to her slightest wishes, and often 
cheers the monotony of her task by a soft, agreeable warble. 
He is also now very jealous. Not abird is permitted to trespass 
upon his premises; even individuals of the same species are 
treated with the same incivility. If you surprise the female on 
her nest she makes no attempt to escape as long as you do not 
touch her, but waits until you have withdrawn yourself some 
distance before she flies from the hole. The young, ‘when 
hatched, are fed alternately by each parent. ‘Their food con- 
sists of earthworms, flies, young of beetles, moths and butter- 
flies with various other things added as they grow. When 
the young birds are nearly able to shift for themselves, they are 
intrusted to the care of the male, while the female busies her- 
self in preparing for the second brood. The old nest is cleaned 
and refitted and she again sits, depending upon her devoted 
mate for the maintenance of both herself and the brood, which 
sometimes are not fairly off his hands before the second family 
of young are hatched. ‘Three broods are sometimes raised. 


17. THE CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD. 
SIALIA MEXICANA Swazuson. 


This species replaces our eastern bluebird west of the Rocky 
Mountains, where it isfound from Washington Territory to 
Mexico. Dr. Cooper states that it prefers knot-holes in the 
woods to boxes in gardens, but will breed in crannies about the 
house and barn and become very tame. It merely lines the hole, 
using fine dry grass. Near San Francisco, Mr. Hepburn found a 


34 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


pair had taken possession of a white-bellied swallow’s nest, and 
had actually covered up the swallow’s two eggs with their grass 
bed. The unspotted eggs are slightly deeper in their pale blue 
than those of .S. s¢adzs, which they also excel in size, measuring 
.87 by .69 of an inch on the average. But the difierences, if 
any, between the eggs of .S. s¢adzs and this and the following 
species, are not such as would appear in an engraving ; and I 
have therefore omitted figures of eggs of the two latter. Two 
broods are said to be brought out, the first being hatched very 
early 


18. THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. 
SIALIA ARCTICA Swaznsoz. 


The home of this bird is among the ridges and open table-lands 
of the whole length of the Ztocky Alountains, where it is not un- 
common from 7,000 feet upward, during the breeding season. 
It resembles its eastern and western congeners in all partic- 
ulars. In May and early June it builds its nest, choosing some 
deserted woodpecker’s hole, a hollow limb, a hole in the rocks, 
a bank, or the shaft of a mine; and is gradually adapting itself 
to civilized accommodations. An insignificant bed of dry grass 
constitutes the nest, and four to six eggs are laid, which average 
about .85 by .63 of an inch, and are not with certainty to be 
distinguished from those of the other species. Capt. Bendire 
observes that there is much variation in their color in Oregon, 
some being of much brighter tint than others. Two broods are 
raised annually. Both parents feed the young, and exhibit 
great anxiety for their safety, chirping and uttering a plaintive 
cry. In the north, after the close of the breeding season, 
these bluebirds assemble in flocks to feed on the open plains. 


THE WATER OUZEL. 35 


Famity CINCLIDZ — Dipprrs. 


19. THE WATER OUZEL. 
CINCLUS MEXICANUS Swazuson. 


American Dipper; Water Turkey (Nevada). 


This strange little bird is found in the high mountains of west- 
ern North America, from Alaska to Mexico. It finds food for 
itself and young on the bottom of swift alpine streams, and half- 
walks, half-swims about under the water to obtain it. I remem- 
ber watching these birds near Mt. Lincoln, Colorado, and again 
among the lofty Wind River peaks, with a degree of interest 
which few other birds could arouse. It is not very timid. The 
near presence of men at work in a saw-mill or at their gold- 
cradles does not seem to alarm it. Many delightful biogra- 
phies of this bird have been written, as also of its European 
brother which it closely resembles, but they must be passed by. 

The dipper’s nest is a splendid piece of bird-architecture. 
There are many descriptions extant and the nests themselves are 
not scarce in public collections, although the eggs seem to be. 

The nests are variously situated, but always in a nook or crev- 
ice near the water. They are elegant balls of green moss, 
‘tround and bossy in outline, witha neatly arched opening near 
the bottom, somewhat like an old-fashioned brick oven, or Hot- 
tentot’s hut.” Dr. Cooper describes one: ‘‘ It was built under 
the shelving roots of an immense arbor-vite tree that had floated 
over and rested ina slanting position against a mill-dam. The 
floor was made of small twigs, and bare ; the sides and roof arch- 
ing over it like an oven, and formed of moss projecting above so 
as to shelter the opening. This was large enough to admit the 
hand, and the inside was very capacious.” It contained young 
on July 5,—the second brood in the same nest that summer. 
About half a mile from Mystic Lake, Montana, in 1872, 
W. H. Holmes noticed a dipper repeatedly fly through the fall- 
ing water of a cascade, and after diligent search found behind 
the waterfall a nest on a narrow shelf of rock so near the fall 
that the outside was constantly wet with spray, while the in- 
terior was dry and warm. The birds entered it by a small 


36 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


lateral opening in the lower half of the nest. Mr. James 
Stevenson gives some entertaining particulars concerning a dip- 
per’s home he visited in Berthoud Pass, Colorado : 


One of the first things that attracted my attention was its manner 
of diving down into the water and then darting back and perching 
itself on the summit of its mound-like dwelling, where it would shake the 
water from its feathers and distribute it over the nest, apparently for 
the purpose of keeping the moss moist and in a growing condition, 
thereby increasing its strength and dimensions. The entrance to its 
little house was also carefully arranged; the archway was quite perfect, 
and the moss around it was so directed in its growth as not to obstruct 
the entrance, which was situated on one side near the bottom of the nest. 
The operation of sprinkling the nest was repeated daily. An examina- 
tion of the nest, which isin the museum of the Smithsonian Institution, 
together with the preceding facts, would induce one to believe that the 
performances of this little bird were for the purpose of keeping the out- 
er lining of its nest green and growing, that it might keep its miniature 
dwelling in repair, while rearing its family, without the aid of a brick- 
layer. plasterer or carpenter, showing that among the feathered tribes 
there are mechanics as well as musicians. 


But the most complete, and at the same time most beauti- 
fully-written account we have of the breeding habits of the 
dipper is by Muir, in his richly illustrated essay entitled ‘*‘ The 
Humming-bird of the California Water-falls,” printed in 
Scribner’s Monthly for February, 1878. After a charming 
picture of the nest, Mr. Muir continues : 


No harsh lines are presented by any portion of the nest as seen zz 
situ ; but, when removed from its shelf, the back and bottom and some- 
times a portion of the top, are found quite sharply angular, because it is 
made to conform to the surface of the rock, upon which and against 
which it is built; the little architect always taking advantage of slight 
crevices and protuberances that may chance to offer, to render his struct- 
ure stable, by means of a kind of grappling and dovetailing. 

In choosing a building spot, concealment does not seem to be taken 
into consideration at all; yet notwithstanding the nest is so large, 
and so guilelessly exposed to view, it is far from being easily detected, 
chiefly because it swells forward like any other bulging moss-cushion 
growing naturally in such situations. This is more especially the case 
where the nest is kept fresh by being well sprinkled. Sometimes these 
romantic little huts have their beauty enhanced by tasteful decorations 
of rock-ferns and grasses, that spring up around the walls or in front 
of the door-sill, alldripping with crystal beads. Furthermore, at certain 


THE WATER OUZEF.. Si 


hours of the day when the sunshine is poured down at the required 
angle, the whole mass of the spray enveloping the fairy establishment is 
brilliantly irised; and it is through so glorious a rainbow atmosphere 
as this that some of our blessed ouzels obtain their first peep at the world. 
Ouzels seem so completely part and parcel of the streams they inhabit, 
they scarce suggest any other origin than the streams themselves; and 
one might almost be pardoned in fancying they come direct from the 
living waters like flowers from the ground,—a kind of winged water-lily. 
At least, from whatever cause, it never occurred to me to look for their 
nests until more than a year after | had made the acquaintance of the 
birds themselves, although I found one the very day on which I began 
the search. In making my way from Yosemite to the glaciers of the 
adjacent Alps, I camped in a particularly wild and romantic portion of 
the Nevada cafion where, in previous excursions, I had never once failed 
to enjoy the delighted company of my favorites, who were attracted 
here, no doubt, by the extraordinary abundance of white water. The 
river, for miles above and below, consists of a succession of small falls 
from ten to sixty feet in height, connected by flat, plume-like cascades 
that go flashing from fall to fall, free and channelless, over waving folds 
of glacier-polished granite. On the south side of one of the falls, that 
portion of the precipice, which is bathed by the spray, presents a series 
of little shelves and tablets caused by the development of planes of 
cleavage in the granite, and the consequent fall of masses through the 
action of the water. ‘Now ere,’ said I, ‘of all places, is the most charm- 
ing spot for an ouzel’s nest.’ 

Then carefully scanning the fretted face of the precipice through the 
spray, I at length noticed a large, yellowish moss-cushion, growing on 
the edge of a level tablet within five or six feet of the outer folds of the 
fall. But apart from the fact of its being situated exactly where one 
acquainted with the lives of ouzels would fancy an ouzel’s nest ought 
to be, there was nothing in its appearance visible at first sight, to dis- 
tinguish it from other Bosses of rock-moss, similarly situated with ref- 
erence to perennial spray; and it was not until I had scrutinized it again 
and again, and had removed my shoes and stockings and crept along the 
face of the rock within eight or ten feet of it, that I could decide certain- 
ly whether it was the nest I was so eagerly seeking, or a natural growth. 

In these moss huts, three or four eggs are laid, white, like foam bub- 
bles ; and well may the little ouzels, hatched from them, sing water songs 
for they hear them all their lives,and also before they are born. Ihave 
oftentimes observed the young just out of the nest making their odd gest- 
ures, and seeming in every way as much at home as their experienced 
parents,— like young bees in their first excursion to the flower fields. 
No amount of familiarity with people and their ways seems to change 
them in the least. To all appearance their behavior is just the same on 
seeing a man for the first time, as when seeing him every day. 


38 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 
Famity SYLVIID® — KINGLETs. 


20. THE ALASKAN WILLOW WREN. 
PHYLLOPNEUSTE BOREALIS Blaszus. 


A single specimen of this little bird was obtained on Norton 
Sound, A/aska, by Charles Pease, in 1866. ‘* We have no in- 
formation in reference to its habits. As it bears a very close 
resemblance to the willow wren of Europe (P. trochzlus), it 
is quite probable that its general habits, nest and eggs will be 
found to correspond very closely with those of that bird.” It 
also inhabits northeastern Asia adjacent to the coast. 


21. THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 
REGULUS CALENDULA JLZichtenstezn. 


Not much is known of the habits of this bird in the breeding 
season, although it is found abundantly at varying points in @// 
parts of Worth America. Inthe Rocky Mountains it breeds 
among the most elevated forests. Allen found young in July 
near Mount Lincoln, Col. ; Bendire gives it as breeding at Camp 
Harney, Oregon ; Ridgway, among the peaks of northern Utah ; 
and Henshaw in Arizona. It is also supposed to breed in north- 
ern New Jersey, in western New York, in Maine, and at the 
Bay of Fundy. In western New York a nest which contained 
young was reported to have been built in the fork of a tree. 
Males and females have both been observed in summer about 
Philadelphia, and Mr. Gentry thinks it nests on the wooded 
heights along the Wissahickon. Dr. Coues, in his Birds of the 
Northwest, considers that he has sufficient evidence to show a 
breeding-range throughout the mountains of the West, from 
9,000 feet upward, thence trending eastward along the north- 
ern boundary of the United States to Maine and Labrador, 
and probably sending a spur southward along the Alleghany 
Mountains. Northwestward it reaches Alaska. 

Our first real information was furnished by J. H. Batty, who 
found a nest near the Buffalo Mts. in Colorado, on June 21, 1873, 
which contained five young and one egg. ‘The nest was on the 
branch of a spruce-tree, about fifteen feet from the ground, and 


THE GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. 39 


was so large ‘‘that it could scarcely be got into a good-sized cof- 
fee cup.” Itisdescribed as ‘‘a loosely woven mass of hair and 
feathers, mixed with moss and some short bits of straw.” The 
egg, Mr. Batty describes as much like that of the house wren, 
which causes a doubt as to its identity. Both parents were 
assiduously bringing larvze of insects to the young, whose ap- 
petites were unappeasable. Mr. Henshaw also reports finding 
a neatly finished nest on a mountain near Fort Garland, Col. 
It was built on a low branch of a pine, and the male was sing- 
ing directly overhead: but, although he waited some time, Mr. 
Henshaw did not see the female. ‘* The nest was a somewhat 
bulky structure, very large for the size of the bird, externally 
composed of strips of bark, and lined thickly with feathers of 
the grouse. Of the eggs of this kinglet nothing further was 
known until June 21, 1878, when W. E. D. Scott observed at 
Twin Lakes, Col., a female of this species fly with small bits 
of grass to a low branch of a pine tree, and on looking found a 
nest nearly finished, and agreeing with previous reports. 

**On the 25th,” he writes, ‘* I took this nest, containing five 
fresh eggs. It was built at the very extremity of the limb and 
was partially pensile, though the bottom rested on some of the 
leaves just below. Like most nests of this region it was com- 
posed in part of sage brush, but as only the smallest twigs were 
used, the entire structure is extremely soft and delicate. It is 
very bulky in proportion to the bird, and very deep. Inside it is 
lined with fine grasses and a few feathers. The dimensions, as 
follows, will give an idea of the size, external and internal: 
Outside — four inches deep, three inches in diameter at top, and 
but little smaller at bottom; inside —three inches deep, two 
inches in diameter at top, and narrowing a very little. The eggs, 
which are large in proportion to the bird, are a delicate cream 
color before being blown and white after.” 


22. THH GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. 
REGULUS SATRAPA Lichtenstein. 


Little more can be said with reference to the breeding of this 
species, within the United States, than of the other. Its range 


40 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


is nearly as extensive, but more northerly than that of the ruby- 
crown. In 1872, T. Martin Trippe recorded that the young were 
to be met with in the highest parts of the Catskill Mountains in 
July, showing that they had bred there ; but not until 1875 was 
its nest discovered, and to H. D. Minot of Boston belongs the 
credit. He had several times observed parent birds in a cer- 
tain forest in the White Mountains, and on the 16th of July de- 
tected them in the act of conveying food to their young, and 
tracked them to their nest. ‘‘ This hung four feet above the 
ground, from a spreading hemlock bough, to the twigs of which 
it was firmly fastened ; it was globular, with an entrance in the 
upper part, and was composed of hanging moss, ornamented 
with bits of dead leaves, and lined chiefly with feathers.” It 
contained six young birds, but no eggs. 

Various writers have inferred that this kinglet raises two 
broods in a season, since it stays so long about its breeding 
haunts. Nuttall and Cooper, both found it feeding full-fledged 
young on the Columbia river May 21, and Audubon observed 
the same in Labrador in August. Maynard found it common 
in thick woods at Lake Umbagog, Me., in June ; says it breeds 
there, probably in the masses of pendent moss, and, judging 
from dissection, lays its eggs about June rt; no nests were dis-~ 
covered however. He describes the nuptial song as ‘a series 
of low shrill chirps, terminating in a lisping warble.” Harold 
Herrick puts it down positively as breeding on the Island of 
Grand Menan, and Dr. Brewer elsewhere in Maine. Mr. Allen 
met with young attended by parents the third week in August, 
1876, on Mt. Monadnock, N. H.; H.D. Minot mentions its 
nesting two successive seasons among the white birches at 
Bethlehem, N. H., and C.F. Goodhue reports that it spends 
the summer on Mt. Kearsarge, near Salisbury, N. H. Mr.J.K. 
Lord asserts that these birds were abundant on Vancouver's 
Island and the adjacent coast, where he found them building 
pensile nests suspended from the tips of high pine branches, 
in which they laid from five to seven eggs. He does not describe 
the eggs, which was hardly to be expected, perhaps, consider-- 
ing the half-use he seems to have made of his opportunities. 

Herr F. W. Baedeker has figured the egg in the ‘‘ Journal fiir 


THE BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. 41 


Ornithologie” (1856, p. 33, Pl. I, Fig. 8), and also in his large 
work on the eggs of the birds of Europe, from one taken in 
Labrador. ‘* The plate indicates a rather roundish egg, though 
the two specimens figured differ noticeably in size and shape ; 
they are spoken of in the text as ‘ niedliche kleine Eierchen mit 
lehmgelben Fleckchen auf weissen Grunde,’ and compared 
with those of other species illustrated on the same plate.” 

The periods mentioned by various authors when newly-fledged 
young have been seen would lead to the inference that more 
than one brood is raised annually. 


** Regulus cuviert,” described by Audubon from a specimen 
taken near the banks of the Schuylkill River, has remained 
unknown to ornithologists ever since, and is surmised to be not 
different from the gold-crest. 


23. THE BLUH-GRAY GNATCATCHER. 
POLIOPTII.A C4ERULEA Scelatzer. 


This little sylph of the woodland wanders southwardly across 
the continent, on the Pacific coast reaching northward to lati- 
tude 42°, on the Atlantic slope to southern New England, 
and in the interior northward to Iowa and central Michigan ; 
southward it ranges to Central America and the West Indies, 
breeding throughout all this area. Reaching the Middle States 
rather early in the season it quickly mates and selects a site for 
its exquisite home. This is usually among the twigs ona hori- 
zontal branch of a forest tree, from ten to sixty feet above the 
ground,— preferably the latter height. The nest-building is be- 
gun in Texas about April 10; in the Ohio valley early in May. 
In West Virginia, where they were abundant, I found them 
working at it on May 8, both parents seeming very busy; in 
Michigan, eggs are taken about June 10. 

The nest is very elaborately constructed, with thick, warm 
walls of soft materials, which, although slight and perishable, 
like very fine, wiry grass, husks of buds, stems of old leaves, 
withered blossoms, down from milk-weed pods and the stalks 
of ferns, are strong and elastic. It is two inches or more deep, 
and the top narrower than the base, as though the rim had been 


42 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


‘* puckered to prevent the eggs being rocked out by some too- 
rude breeze.” The outside is artfully made to resemble the limb 
upon which the nest is saddled, and so guard against observa- 
tion, by being coated with yellow, green and gray wood-lichens, 
firmly pressed into the walls and further kept in place by a net- 
work of gossamer. The lining is of yellow and white plant- 
down, lichens and horsehair, often the last alone, or sometimes 
downy feathers, the quills of which are skilfully thrust into the 
wall of the nest, so that only the soft tips can be felt. Being 
no larger than a tea-cup, and looking precisely like a scar on 
the limb, this nest is not an easy one to find; but its perfection 
costs the birds a full week of labor. The eggs are four to six in 
number, shortly oval in form, somewhat pointed ; white in color, 
spotted and blotched with varying and blending shades of reddish 
brown, lilac and slate. . The egg varies greatly in the amount 
of speckling, which, however, is pretty evenly distributed. 
Blown specimens are frequently faint bluish- or greenish-white. 
Their average dimensions are .58 by .46. These flycatchers are 
said to sit fourteen days, but not to rear more than one brood 
each season if their nest is undisturbed. Mr. Ragsdale notes 
that half the nests he has met with in Cooke County, Texas, 
where the bird is abundant, are destroyed before completion, 
most of them being totally obliterated. He attributes this to 
the battles which take place between the flycatchers and some 
intrusive cow-bird, in the course of which the fragile structure 
is demolished. It is certain that this nest is a favorite hospice 


for the cow-bird’s egg. 


24. THE BLACK-HEADED GNATCATCHER. 
POLIOPTILA MELANURA Lawrence. 


An inhabitant of Arézona, Southern California and Mex- 
zco, where it builds its nests among the interlacing tendrils of a 
vine, or interweaves it with the smaller branches of some pen- 
dent parasitic plant. They are structures of great beauty and 
delicacy. The external portion is composed of various blend- 
ed vegetable materials, fine hempen fibres of plants, strips of del- 
icate bark, silken fragments of cocoons and downy cotton-like 


THE GROUND TIT." ~. 43 


substances, all very closely impacted and felted together some- 
what after the manner of the humming-bird’s. The whole is 
warmly lined with a silky fabric of the soft down of various 
plants ; or with exceedingly fine grass and a few feathers. Al- 
though so delicate, the walls are firm and enduring. The four 
eggs, measuring just half an inch in length, are of an oblong-oval 
shape, and pale greenish-white, sprinkled over the entire sur- 
face with fine dottings of purple, reddish-brown and black. 
These dots are as dull in color, but smaller,and more numer- 


ous, than those on the eggs of P. cerulea. 


25. THH ARIZONA GNATCATCHER. 
POLIOPTILA PLUMBEA Baird. 


The Arizona or lead-colored gnatcatcher is peculiar to Arz- 
zona and New Mexico. Its habits are judged to be the same 
as those of the other gnatcatchers, but little is positively known. 


Famity CHAMAIDE —Grounp TITs. 


26. THE GROUND TIT. 
CHAMAZA FASCIATA Gamébel. 


Ground Wren ; Fasciated Tit. 


The little ground wren seems to be confined exclusively to the 
coast country of Ca/zfornza from Ft. Tejon to the shore, and 
from San Diego to Sacramento. It is not rare, and frequents 
damp places and shrubby undergrowth. My correspondents 
find its nests completed at San Diego about the last of April, 
and placed in shrubs and vines two or three feet high. They 
are composed of straw and twigs mixed with feathers and firm- 
ly interwoven. A nest collected near San Francisco is a com- 
pactly built, neat and warm structure. Its thick walls are made 
wholly of strips of inner-bark, a few weed-stems, grass-flowers, 
and some stray twine ; but all through it are mixed bits of sheep’s 
wool, gleaned by the birds from thorny bushes, which fill up 
every interstice and felt the whole firmly together. The brim 


44. NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


is well rounded and incurved. The cavity, which is about 
2 inches in diameter and 1 1-4 deep, is lined very smoothly 
with horsehair only. 

The color of the three or four eggs is precisely that of the 
bluebird’s, but these eggs are smaller, measuring only .75 
by .50, and far more pyriform. 


Famity PARID/Z— Titmice. 


27. TUFTED TITMOUSHE. 
LOPHOPHANES BICOLOR Bozaparte. 


This lively bird belongs to the eastern United States, 
moving north not beyond the Connecticut valley in the east 
and Texas and Nebraska in the west; southward it reaches to 
Florida. It is resident throughout its extent, and is more 
familiar and prominent in winter than in summer, although 
always more retiring than the chickadee. 

Perhaps in the same manner as the bluebird, the tufted tit 
has come to build its nest in holes in trees, or in old woodpeckers’ 
galleries ; yet often chisels out a hole in hard wood for itself. 

At the bottom of this cavity, upon a shapeless, though soft 
and warm bed, the eggs are laid; in Virginia by the middle of 
April, and in Ohio and New Jersey about May 1. Generally 
choosing some remote forest tree for their home, the birds con- 
ceal its location with great care, but occasionally come 
into the orchard to spend the summer. I have even heard 
of one case where they attempted to nestle in a garden bird- 
box, but were driven away by bluebirds. The six or eight 
eggs are rounded-oval in shape, measure .75 by .56 of an inch, 
and are white, densely sprinkled with fine rust-colored dots, 
with a few larger markings of lilac. 

A single brood is brought out in a season. In July the 
young birds are fledged and the whole family hunt together 
during the fall and winter. Possibly this long and careful tui- 
tion on the part of the parents contributes to the hardy character 
and good sense that seem to me to distinguish this bird. 


Ba ficdly 


“fe 


. “" . ' 
Easy igh = 


= 


~ 


Dy 
G 


nN 


PLATE. TV; 


26. 


23. 


lath \) Histwid { River vile Pre nA aul fiky 


OF AMERICAN BIRDS. 


LEVEE GLI IDG LON IE GD gg LY EI OY FL GI he 45 


28. THE CALIFORNIAN TUFTED TIT. 
LOPHOPHANES INORNATUS (Gamd.) Cassin. 


Plain Titmouse; Gray Titmouse. 


This replaces the species just described, from western Texas 
and Colorado to the Pacific. tis abundant in New Mexico 
and Arizona, and its habits are like those of the eastern species. 
All thus far known of its nidification is embraced in a note by 
Dr. Heerman, who found the bird occupying a deserted wood- 
pecker’s hole ; and in the recent short account by Dr. William 
A. Cooper (Bull. N. O. C., III, p. 69), of a nest and eggs found 
April 4, 1877, near Santa Cruz, Cal. The bird was very cau- 
tious about disclosing the position of its nest, but an examina- 
tion showed that it ‘‘ was placed in a hollow in the end of a 
limb of an oak, five feet from the ground, the mouth of the hole 
very small. . . The nest is composed outwardly of grasses, 
the inner portion of fur of rabbits and other animals, besides a 
few hairs and feathers. It measures 7.50 inches in diameter 
oxtside, 2.50 inside; depth 2.50 outside, 1 inside. 

‘¢ The eggs, fourin number, had been incubated about five 
days. The ground color is white, marked over the whole egg 
with minute, irregular spots of a pale reddish color. The most 
spotted egg has a perceptible pinkish appearance. Measure- 
IMemts; .09 x 2530.06 X52, 04 X52, .64 x .52.. I anticipate 
finding, in additional sets of the eggs of this species, deeper 
colored and larger markings, with considerable variation of size 
and shape, besides a larger number of eggs.” 

The female was sitting on this nest, and would not leave it, 
‘fighting even unto death.” The figure in the plate was kindly 
drawn for me by Mr. Cooper from one of these eggs. 


29. THE TEXAN TUFTED TIT. 
LOPHOPHANES ATRICRISTATUS Casszz. 
Black-crested Titmouse. 
Along the 2zo Grande this titmouse is not rare, and has been 
noticed as far eastas San Antonio. It has the habits of its east- 


ern congener. Dr. Heerman and other early explorers told us 
that it built its nest in the hollows of trees, making it of fine dry 


46 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


grasses, feathers, wool, mosses, etc., and laid from 12 to 16 eggs ; 
and we learned little more until Mr. Sennett found it very 
common near Hidalgo, Texas, but was unable to obtain eggs. 
This was in 1877; the following year he had better success, 
which he describes to me in the ensuing lettez : 


Arriving at Lomita Ranche, on the Lower Rio Grande, April 8, 1878; 
one of the first familiar birds to greet me was this titmouse. It was 
one of the very few birds found in numbers last season whose eggs I 
did not obtain, the nearest to it being discovery of nest with young. It 
was essential to find their nests without delay on account of their com- 
mencing to breed earlier than any other species found in the locality. 
Orders were given to assistants and Mexicans to shoot no birds of this 
species, but to search diligently the trunks and stubs of trees for their 
nests. Ina few days, several nests were found, but, to my disappoint- 
ment, all contained young. I was upon the ground some ten days ear- 
lier than last year; but the season being also earlier I was placed in 
about the same predicament as then, as regards the finding of eggs of 
this species. Aftersuch disappointments a naturalist can imagine the 
pleasure I received, when, on April 20, my assistant, Mr. Sanford, placed 
upon my table a nest, five young and a perfect egg, together with 
the parent bird caught onthe nest. The chicks I preserved in spirits, 
while the egg, being infertile, was easily prepared and, with the nest, is 
in my collection. This, then, I believe, is the first thoroughly identified 
egg brought to our notice. The bird caught on the nest was a male, 
and other males were shot having bare and wrinkled bellies, thus show- 
ing that both sexes share in incubation and the care of the young, 

The nest was some six feet from the ground ina limb of a half-dead 
willow which was leaning on some brush, and was discovered by the 
birds flying into it. It was situated in the excavated hollow of the limb. 
some ten or twelve inches from the opening. It is composed chiefly of 
vegetable wool, mixed with which are strips of soft inner bark and now 
and then bits of snake-skins, the whole being much firmer and thicker 
‘than is usual with birds that build in hollow stubs. Of the other nests 
found with young and left undisturbed, all, with one exception, were sit- 
uated higher— the distance varying from four to twelve feet from the 
ground. J found them to occupy usually the abandoned holes of the 
Texas woodpecker (Prcus scalar?s), but sometimes in split forks. They 
prefer living trees to dead ones, and in every case of my experience the 
opening had to be enlarged, sometimes with great difficulty, before exam- 
ination of the nestcould be had. The localities mostly selected for nest- 
ing are groves or open timber free from undergrowth, whether in the old 
lagoon-beds which receive the overflow from the riveroron the driest 


THE CHICKADEE. 47 


knolls. Theydo not avoid human habitations, as two nests were found 
on the ranche in ebony trees near buildings much frequented. 

The parents guard their treasures well and make a great ado when the 
nest is invaded; but not until they see that their nest is actually being 
examined do they give any cry of alarm or intimation of uneasiness 
save by their presence. One nest near the house was laid open with 
broad cuts of the axe, and, it being shallower than usual, as the chips 
split off the young were fully exposed as ona shelf. Still the old ones 
reared them safely until I saw them take wing. Common as is this 
bird on the entire lower Rio Grande, wherever any respectable growth 
of timber exists, yet the eggs must always remain rare on account of 
their being so difficult to find. 

The usual number of eggs which this titmouse lays in a clutch, I 
must put at six, as all the nests found contained that number of young, 
except one, which had five. Until proof to the contrary is forthcom- 
ing, we must naturally suppose that this species does not differ materi- 
ally in its habits of nidification from its near relative Lophophanes bi- 
color, which is said to bring forth only one brood each year. 


The egg preserved by Mr. Sennett is round-oval; but one 
end being larger gives it the appearance of being more rounded 
than the other. The ground-color is clear dead white. Distrib- 
uted unevenly over the whole surface, and not very sparingly, 
are flecks and blotches of fawn of various shades, the sides hav- 
ing rather more than either end. Its length is .60, and its breadth 
.48 of an inch. 


30. THE BRIDLED TIT. 
LOPHOPHANES WOLLWEBERI Bonaparte. 


Striped-headed Titmouse. 
This is a bird of Mew ALexico and western Texas, whose 


nidification as yet is unknown; but probably is just like that of 
the other titmice. 


31. THE CHICKADEE. 
PARUS ATRICAPILLUS Linz. 
Black-capped Titmouse. 
Found in some of its varieties everywhere cast of the Rocky 


mountatzs, and northerly to Hudson’s bay and Alaska. 
The typical chickadee occurs only north of the Ohio and Po- 


48 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


tomac rivers. and not west of Kansas and Iowa. South of Can- 
ada it is resident throughout the year, and breeds in large 
numbers, but in out-of-the-way positions where it hides its 
habitation with great skill. Thus it was never my good luck 
to find a chickadee’s nest, but John Burroughs, the most de- 
lightful writer about birds in America, describes in his little 
book, Wake Robin, how he found one in the Catskill region 
of New York state. It gives us a good idea of how hard a 
prize itis tosecure. He says: — 

I recently discovered one of these nests, in a most interesting situa- 
tion. The tree containing it, a variety of the wild-cherry, stood upon 
the brink of the bald summit of a high mountain. Gray, time-worn 
rocks lay piled loosely about, or overtoppled the just-visible byways of 
the red fox. The trees had a half-seared look, and that indescribable 
wildness, which lurks about the tops of all remote mountains, possessed 
the place. The parent birds attracted my attention by appearing with 
food in their beaks, and by seeming much put out. Yet so wary were 
they of revealing the locality of their brood, or even of the precise tree 
that held them, that I lurked around over an hour without gaining a 
point on them. Finally, a bright and curious boy who accompanied me 
secreted himself under a low projecting rock, close to the tree in which 
we supposed the nest to be, while I moved off around the mountain- 
side. It was not long before the youth had their secret. The tree, 
which was low and wide-branching, and overrun with lichens, appeared 
at a cursory glance to contain not one dry or decayed limb, yet there 
was one a few feet long, in which, when my eyes were piloted thither, 
I detected a small round orifice. As my weight began to shake the 
branches the consternation of both old and young was great. The 
stump of a limb that held the nest was about three inches thick, and at 
the bottom of the tunnel was excavated quite to the bark. With my 
thumb-nail I broke in the thin wall, and the young, which were full- 
fledged, looked out upon the world for the first time. 


Then each one of the young ‘‘with a significant chirp as much 
as to say, ‘It is time we were out of this,’” scrambled to the 
edge and launched off upon its untried wings, contemptuously 
saluting the abandoned nest, with its excrement. 

While the chickadee seems to prefer such wild places as 
this, in New England ‘‘a hollow post of a fence in the midst 
of open cultivated fields, a decayed stump near the side of a 
public highway, a hollow log in a.frequented farmyard, and 


S2. 
35. 


G4. 


31. 


Lath, Armstrong 0° Riverside Press Comuliidgs, 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


5. EH. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. 


THE CHICKADEE. 49 


even the side of an inhabited dwelling, are localities these birds 
have been known to select in which to rear their young. 
. . Onone occasion a pair had built their nest over a covered 
well which connects with the dwelling by a side door through 
which water was drawn at all hours of the day by means of 
buckets and a rope, the wheel for which was in close proximity 
to their nest. They manifested, however, no uneasiness and 
even after the young were ready to fly, the whole family would 
return to the place for shelter at night, and during inclement 
weather. They may thus gradually become almost domestic.” 
Audubon witnessed a pair actually dig out for themselves 
a hole about three inches deep, carved obliquely downward, 
in the hard wood of a crab-apple. Both sexes worked in turn, 
and Audubon watched them along time. Since then many in- 
stances of their digging an original domicile have been recorded. 
The only effort at nest-making is to pad the interior more or 
less elaborately with matted bits of decayed and living moss, 
pieces of dried grass, hair, a little wool, and a small quantity 
of wood-dust, the last evidently from the bottom of the hole. 
The nests are of the same thickness in every part, and neatly 
and strongly put together, the grasses and other materials which 
are interwoven often giving them much firmness even after 
removal. Occasionally, however, a very slight and careless 
bed of bits of grass, fur and wood-dust is all that is found. 
The eggs are seven or eight in number,— one case of eleven 
in a single suite has been reported. They are white, with red- 
dish-brown dots and small marks, sometimes gathered into a 
ring around the larger end, and sometimes equally distributed 
over the entire surface; average dimensions .58 by .46 of an 
inch. ‘The period of incubation is about ten days, and the gen- 
eral opinion is that only one brood is raised during the season ; 
Audubon and Wilson, speaking for the south, say two, the 
first brood appearing about June 1, and the second late in July. 
I knew of a nest taken in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on June 
to, which the collector wrote me ‘‘ was probably for a second 
brood.” About Boston the nest is completed by May 15, and 


4 


50 NESTS AND.EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Minot afirms that two broods are sometimes reared. In cen- 
tral Michigan dates sent to me are May 2, 14, 15 and 20, and 
June 2; yet in central New York I am assured that they often 
nest by the first of April. The conclusion seems to be that 
two broods are raised in many cases, if not as a rule. 

The chickadees’ solicitude for the safety and happiness of 
their eggs and young is a remarkable trait of the whole family. 
They resist to the last extremity any invasion of their home. 
This is true even before human foes, where most birds yield 
without a struggle. Dr. Brewer teils of one chickadee whose 
nest was exposed 1a the top of an old stump in Brookline, Mass. 
** The mother refused to leave until forcibly taken of by the 
hand, and twice returned to the nest when thus removed, and 
it was only by holding her in the hand that an opportunity was 
given to ascertain that there were seven young birds in the nest. 
whe made no complaint, uttered no outcries, but resolutely and 
cevotedly thrust herself between her nestlings and the seeming 
danger. When released, she immediately flew back to them, 
covered them under her sheltering wings, and looked up in the 
face of her tormentors with a quiet and resolute courage that 
could not be surpassed.” 

Both parents keep busy all day long in carrying insect-food 
to their brood; and when able the whole family continue to- 
gether during the winter, traversing the woods ‘‘in regular 
progression from tree to tree, tumbling, chattering and hanging 
from the extremities of the branches.” 

Variety SEPTENTRIONALIS (No. 31a), the Long-tailed 
Chickadee, ranges from Kansas and Missouri to the Rocky 
mountains. B. F. Goss saw it breeding abundantly at Neosho 
Falls, Kan., where it nested in decayed stumps, hollow trees, 
branches, logs, etc., after the manner of atrzcapillus. The 
excavation is usually 10 or 12 inches, and even more, in depth. 
The nest is warmly made of a loose felt composed of the fur 
and fine hair of small quadrupeds, feathers, and the finer mosses. 
The eggs, usually five, occasionally eight, are of a rounded 
oval shape, measuring .60 by .50 of an inch. ‘‘ They havea 


THE CHICKADEE. SI 


pure, dull-white ground, and the entire egg is very uniformly 
and pretty thickly covered with fine markings and small blotches 
of red and reddish-brown intermingled with a few dots of pur- 
plish” (Dr. Brewer). Specimens of this species just ready to 
lay their eggs were shot the first week in June at Lake Win- 
nipeg. 

Variety CAROLINENSIS (No. 316), the little Southern 
Chickadee, replaces the common northern form in the Atlantic 
and Gulf states, south of a line from Washington to St. Louis, 
breeding from one end of this extent to the other. It begins 
in Florida as early as February ; eggs are deposited in Georgia 
during the last half of April, and in West Virginia early in 
May. When the wood is sufficiently soft, as wild plum, sassa- 
fras and the like, the bird digs out its own nesting-place ; but 
more frequently it takes possession of a suitable deep natural 
cranny, or an old woodpecker’s or nuthatch’s hole. This may 
be in a stump close to the ground, or in a high dead limb, but 
is usually in wet woods. At Carson City, Nevada, Ridgway 
found that in the absence of trees these chickadees nest about 
the houses, in eaves and over porches. 

The nest in the cavity is a firmly compacted cup of a felt of 
cow-hair, hare’s fur, various shreds of cotton, wool and pieces 
of plants; it is about two inches deep by two in diameter. 
Six or eight eggs are laid. These are claimed to be slightly 
larger than those of atrécapzllus, although the bird itself is 
smaller. Like the latter’s, these eggs are of a pure crystalline 
whiteness, profusely spotted with reddish-brown. 

Ie an? thus particular in regard to this southern ‘* variety” 
of the chickadee, because many ornithologists consider it a dif- 
ferent and tenable ‘‘ species.” So far as the eggs are con- 
cerned, all supposed distinctions between them and those of the 
type vanish when a large series of each is compared. 

Variety occIDENTALIS (No. 31c), the Western Chickadee, 
hails from Oregon and northward, frequenting the wooded 
banks of streams. Dr. Cooper observed its nests near Puget 
sound, hollowed out of rotten tree-trunks. The eggs are as yet 
unseen. 


bo 


NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


1st 


32. THE MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. 
PARUS MONTANUS Gamébel. 
White-browed Chickadee. 


This chickadee occurs throughout the Mocky mountains. 

The first recorded discovery of its nest was made by Captain 
Charles Bendire, on June 8, 1876, on the summit of Cafion City 
mountain, southeastern Oregon. The home of the bird was 
a hole in an old pine stump, and at the bottom of the hole lay 
a single fresh egg on some finely powdered wood, for there was 
no nest. The egg he described as clear white ‘* moderately 
spotted and blotched with pale reddish-brown, but not thickly.” 
Size .58 by .49 of an inch. 

Since then Mr. L. Belding relates that he discovered a nest 
of this species, built at the bottom of a seam in a very rotten 
stump at Marysville, Cal. ‘*The top of the seam was two 
fect from the ground, the bottom about a foot below the en- 
trance. The bird had slightly and irregularly enlarged the pas- 
sage to the nest, which was composed of fibrous roots lined 
with wool gathered from the bushes where sheep had grazed, 
and contained seven white eggs.” Concerning the discovery 
of this nest Mr. Belding writes: 

I visited the nest daily for some time, and finally found the female sit- 
ting. AsI neared the stump I was somewhat startled by a loud hissing 
noise, and looked in at the nest expecting to find a snake, but discovered 
only theowner, who, with wings outspread, mouth open, and eyes glisten- 
ing. hissed almost continually. I desired to see the nest, and tried to drive 
her from it by violently striking the stump, but she was not to be dis- 
lodged so easily, and I left her, hoping to find her not at home next 
morning. Upon my next visit, the day after, she greeted me again 
with hisses and other demonstrations of anger; and after watching her 
several minutes, during which time she kept up her attitude of defiance, 
J again left her mistress of the situation. The next morning she saluted 
me as before, but being by this time determined to examine the nest I 
inserted a stick. at which she advanced, pecking and hissing vigorously. 
She fought long and well, but might finally prevailed, and she slipped 
out, as she could have done at any time, if so inclined, and flew to a 


neighboring tree, from which she watched me with much interest and 
indignation. ‘She returned to her nest soon after I had left it. After 


THE HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. ~~ 53 


the rough treatment of this occasion, she would invariably leave the 
nest at my approach, doubtless hearing my footsteps, as she could not ® 
possibly see me. Some days after this, Ifound a pair of these birds 
building in a low stump which stood in a meadow, but I did not remain 
in the neighborhood long enough to learn the number of eggs or test 
the courage of the female while incubating. 


33. THE HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 
PARUS HUDSONICUS. Forster. 


These little fellows are zortheastern birds, rare as far south 
as Massachusetts. Their characteristics are much the same as 
those of the black-cap, and they are quite as self-sacrificing 
and intrepid in defending their homes. They breed from cen- 
tral Maine northward. nesting early in June. Audubon de- 
scribes a nest which he found in Labrador : — 


The nest was placed at the height of not more than three feet from 
the ground, in the hollow of a decayed low stump scarcely thicker than 
a man’s leg; the whole so rotten that it tumbled to pieces on being 
touched. I cautiously removed the woody enclosure, and took posses- 
sion of the nest, which I obtained in perfect order. It was shaped like 
a purse, 8 inches in depth, 2 inches in diameter inside; its sides about 
half an inch thick. It was entirely composed of the finest fur of differ- 
ent quadrupeds, but principally of the great northern hare, so thickly 
and ingeniously matted throughout that it looked as if it had been 
‘felted’ by the hand of man. 


A nest examined by Dr. Brewer, near Halifax, N.S., had 
been cut through the living wood of a beech tree, not more 
than two feet from the ground. The excavation was horizon- 
tal for about two inches in, then turned abruptly downward, 
widened from one and one-half to three inches, became seven 
or eight inches deep, and was lined with feathers and fur. 

The eggs of this species measure .56 by .47, are of a round- 
ed oval shape, and somewhat sparingly marked, on a white 
ground, with a few reddish-brown spots, usually grouped in a 
ring around the larger end. 


54 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


384. THE CHESTNUT-BACKED TITMOUSH. 
PARUS RUFESCENS TJowusend. 


Inhabits the Coast and Cascade ranges of the Pacéfic Coast, 
more rarely eastward to northern Rocky mountains. 

Choosing a decayed crevice, sometimes pretty deep, in some 
broken branch or other convenient part of a tree, this titmouse 
furnishes it far better than most birds which nest in_ holes 
consider necessary. 

A nest found at Santa Cruz, Cal., by J. S. Francis, and now 
in the collection of J. 5S. Howland, of Newport, R. I., is one of 
the few yet known. — It is four inches broad by two high, but 
the cavity of the nest is small, and is much at one side of the 
centre.. The heterogeneous materials seem merely to have 
been massed together, no interweaving being apparent. They 
cousist mainly of shreds of reddish-tan-colored inner bark of 
the spruce or hemlock, very much frayed out. This gives a 
burnt-brown hue to the whole affair. Mixed with this are frag- 
ments of leaves, some soft grass, stems and bark of weeds, 
rootlets, hair, feathers, etc., etc.,and at the base many pieces of 
snake-skin. The interior is simply a cup hollowed by pressure 
of the birds’ feet and body, the rim of which is defined and kept 
in shape by the stiffness of a few horse-hairs circularly laid. 
The whole substance of the nest is so elastic and soft that no 
special lining is necessary. It was found on April 24, 1875, and 
contained five fresh eggs. Nests taken by Wm. A. Cooper in 
the same region are substantially similar. 

The eggs of this titmouse are slightly larger than those of 
the chickadee, and more elliptical in outline. The ground- 
color of blown specimens is shining white; and the markings, 
which are somewhat more crowded around the thickest part of 
the egg, are fine dots of obscure reddish-brown, and a few of 
still more obscure lilac in some specimens. ‘The distinctness 
and number of the spots vary in different eggs. Size of five 
eggs: .64 by 523 .63 by 503 .62 by.525 s01 by .50m).02 by -49 


of an inch. 


THE LEAST BUSH TITMOUSE. 55 


385. THE LEAST BUSH TITMOUSE. 
PSALTRIPARUS MINIMUS (Towzs.) Bp. 
This also is a bird of the Paczfic coast, where it is resident 


in the mountains, breeding along the cafion streams, and also 
coming into the village gardens. It makes an astonishingly 


large nest for such a mite of bird life,— a purse six to nine 
inches deep, a beautiful specimen of which is before me, col- 
lected at Santa Cruz, Cal. It is made of moss, shreds of grass, 
leaves, inner bark and lichens, and having much down within, 
but no feathers. The walls are very thick, compact and mat- 
ted. This structure hangs by the contracted rim of the mouth 
at the top — where the elastic aperture is hardly half an inch 
wide—from a forked twig only a few feet above the ground. 

One given Audubon by Nuttall was composed externally of 
moss, lint, lichens, and fibrous roots, so interwoven as to present 
a smooth surface, with a few stems of grasses and feathers in- 
termingled. The lining was of willow-down and a great 
quantity of feathers. Hanging this purse among the twigs at 
the extremity of a branch, the bird makes concealment by 
weaving into it, or grouping around it, the pendent leaves. 
The entrance is sometimes at the side rather than at the top. 

The eggs run from six to nine, and differ from those of all 
the rest of the family in being sfotless white with a smooth 
but not shining surface; they measure about .57 by .42 of all 
inch. Dr. Cooper mentions finding a newly built nest at San 
Diego, Cal., as early as March when the birds had separated 
into pairs, though the flock did not seem to scatter far dur- 
ing the breeding season ; again, he found eggs ready to hatch 
in the same locality on May 9, and various dates in April are 
recorded. Nuttall says they had hatched in Oregon by the 
middle of that month ; yet Dr. Cooper found eggs fresh at San 
Francisco on May 15. Perhaps two broods are raised. These 
tits are fearless and unsuspicious in their ways. 


56 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


36. THE LEAD-COLORED BUSH TITMOUSHE. 
PSAI.TRIPARUS PLUMBEUS SBazrd. 


An inhabitant of the Rocky mountain region, as far east as 
the foot-hills of eastern Colorado, north to Green river, Wyo- 
ming, northwest to southeastern Oregon. ‘The nest and eggs are 
undescribed, but probably are much like those of P. wezxzmus 
and may be looked for among the pinons and cedars on the 
mountains. Perhaps this species will turn out to be only a va- 


riety of the preceding. 


ot. TH VERDIN. 
AURIPARUS FLAVICEPS. (Sund.) Bd. 
Yellow-Headed Titmouse. 


The less elevated portions of the Colorado valley, New 
Mexico, and the Rio Grande, are the home of this pleasant little 
bird. Dr. Heerman found it breeding abundantly at Fort 
Yuma, Mr. Nantus in Lower California, Dr. Cooper in the 
Mohave valley, and Sennett and Merrill at the mouth of the 
Rio Grande. The former writers all agreed in finding the 
spherical, twig-and-grass-built nest not far from the ground, 
suspended among the outer branches of thorn-bushes, and hav- 
ing the very small entrance on the under side. The mass of 
the nest sometimes is as large as a man’s head, and very rough 
exteriorly, but lined with down and feathers. 

Mr. George B. Sennett’s experience at Hidalgo, Texas, is 
very instructive. and deserves to be quoted at length from his 
interesting paper in the Bulletin of the United States Geologi- 
cal Survey, Volume IV, Number 1. 

My first knowledge of the existence of this bird in the vicinity was 
the finding of a new nest on April 28, [1877]; but it contained no eggs, 
and was not recognized at the time. The next day I went to the nest, 
found one egg in it, and saw both parents. While the female was dart- 


ing in and out of the thicket, evidently alarmed at my close proximity 
to her treasure, the male was flitting from tree to tree, on the topmost 


THE VERDIN. 57 


branches, singing as hard as he could. I watched them both for at least 
half an hour, when they disappeared. 

Allowing five days to complete their complement of eggs, I again 
visited the nest. I cautiously approached and shook the bush, but no 
bird flew out of the nest. Thereupon I inserted my finger in the small 
opening on the side of the nest, and I could feel three eggs, and what 
I thought were some loose feathers. Imagine my surprise and fright, 
upon withdrawing my finger, at something flying out of the nest, directly 
into my face. It was the female. A few cries of alarm and responses 
from her mate, and they were out of sight before I could reach my gun. 
Again carefully examining the nest I very plainly felt four eggs. I 
wanted the birds as well as the eggs, and decided to leave them until 
another day, when I would secure all. Fatal mistake! for, when it was 
next visited, the female flew out of the nest before we reached it, was 
fired at, and missed. I, however, shot the male, and then went for the 
nest, but lo! it was empty — not the least vestige of an egg! Nothing, 
in my, Opinion, could have removed the eggs but the bird itself. It was 
owing, in all probability, to the disturbance and fright of the previous 
visit. But why was she back in the nest? About this time three eggs 
were discovered in another nest, and when visited the day after they 
were also gone. We were very careful in examining lest we should dis- 
turb the eggs. Can it be possible that with the least touch the parent 
bird abandons her eggs? Two nests that we found had been torn open 
from above, evidently by some jay or other robber. Out of the six new 
nests found between Ap.il 28 and May 10 we were only able to obtain 
one egg, and that.was probably an infertile one as the balance of the 
clutch had hatched and taken their departure. One nest was brought 
me on May r with three young about ready to leave. 

Their nests are simply wonderful, far excelling, to my mind, all other 
bird architecture of our fauna. Think of the size varying from four to 
ten inches in diameter: then think of the size of the bird, but little 
larger than a humming-bird! The shape is like a bottle, or, better, like 
a retort, with the mouth at one side and inclining downward. I found 
the nest built on and around one (in one instance two) horizontal branch. 
The body is composed of thorny twigs interwoven with wood-moss, 
- grass and bark. The lining is of the softest down and feathers, not 
loosely thrown in, but woven into a sort of matting, covering not only 
the whole of the interior body of the retort, or nest proper, but also the 
neck to the very mouth. The distance from the mouth to the egg is 
sometimes six inches. The place selected is usually the extremity of a 
branch of an exposed bush, and easily approached. The highest nest 
was six feet, the lowest less than three feet, from the ground. There 
they swing, free to every ‘‘norther” until they fall to pieces from decay. 
The only locality in which we found their nests was open chaparral, on 


8 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


mn" 


that high ground where the cactus and a thorny, leafless bush, the junco, 
abound, and where are scattered at intervals clumps of trees of respectable 
growth, among which is the dark green ebony. The birds, though oc- 
casionally seen, are by no means abundant. 


The eggs are laid early in the season,— by the middle of 
March in some localities, as might be anticipated from the 
warmth of the climate ; but undoubtedly two, or perhaps even 
more, broods are reared, since | have a note of fresh eggs ta- 
ken in Arizona, June 16. Fotir to six constitute a suite. They 
are of small size, measuring about .60 by .45 of an inch on the 
average, and somewhat slender and pointed, like the shape of a 
swallow’s egg. ‘The color, however, recalls more nearly some 
of the warblers’ eggs, it being pale greenish-blue, speckled pro- 
iusely around the thickest portion, and sparsely elsewhere, with 
ine spots of golden brown; but the amount of speckling varies. 
Incubation is said to consume ten days; and when two weeks 
old the young are ready to leave the nest. 


Famiry SITTIDA* — NuTHATCHEs. 


38. THE WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 
SITTA CAROLINENSIS Latham. 


Carolina or Common Nuthatch.* 


This familiar bird ranges over all the eastern United 
States and British Provinces, westward to the lower Missouri 
river and northward to Nova Scotia; but is less plentiful on 
the Atlantic coast than farther inland. 

It breeds everywhere, and early in the season, all northern 
records indicating early May as the proper time to get fresh eggs. 

The nuthatches sometimes excavate a hole in the solid wood 
for themselves; one ten inches deep is described by C. F. 


* Besides insects, they feed upon various hard fruits, such as nuts and acorns— whence, it 
”? and perhaps al- 


is said, is derived the curious name “nuthatch,’? equivalent to ‘‘nut-pecker, 


tered from “nut-hacker.” — EWzott Coues. 


THE WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 59 


Goodhue of Webster, N. H. Usually, however, they look for 
one already prepared in the trunk of a tree, in a hollow rail in 
a fence, or in a crevice in the wall of an out-building. In any 
case, more or less work of construction is necessary, and Dr. 
Brewer tells us that then both sexes labor together, alternating 
the work of cutting, while the unengaged one carries away the 
chips and attends upon its mate. These cavities are sometimes 
considerably over a foot deep and enlarged at the bottom. They 
are lined with a soft and warm nest of hair, feathers, cotton 
and other matters, loosely conglomerated. Audubon’s state- 
“ment that they build no nest may prove true in the South. 
In Mr. E. W. Nelson’s valuable pamphlet on the Birds of 
Northeastern Illinois is an entertaining anecdote of how a pair 
of nuthatches lost their labor in one instance. The birds had 
chosen a knot-hole in a large oak about twenty-five feet from 
the ground, and began house-furnishing on May 10. The hole 
was large enough to admit Mr. Nelson’s hand and several inch- 
es deep, but nearly filled with the remains of a squirrel’s nest. 
The birds worked steadily for about a week, lining the cavity 
with smal! fragments of dry leaves and pieces of rabbits’ fur ; 
but just as the nest was finished a pair of flying-squirrels seized 
the premises, and the birds were obliged to move elsewhere. 
Nuthatches’ eggs measure .S0 by .62 of.an inch; their ground 
color is white (roseate before blown) which is nearly every- 
where covered with dots, spots, and blotches of reddish-brown 
and shades of purple ; the latter sometimes in large proportion. 
The constant attention of the male to the female while she is 
sitting, and his assiduous efforts to lighten her cares and cheer 
her vigil, are very pretty. He brings her food constantly, 
always remains close by, keeps calling to her, and is not satis- 
fied unless she frequently comes to the entrance ot the burrow 
to receive his caresses or choice bits of food. On the other 
hand, the female is equally devoted to her brood, reckless of 
danger to herself. Mr. Brewster, having discovered a nest in 
a partly decayed apple-tree, Maynard relates, enlarged the 
entrance that he might introduce his hand and remove the bird. 
She struggled vigorously to escape, but, as soon as she was 


60 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


liberated, returned to her eggs. She was taken out several 
times but invariably entered her domicile the moment she 
regained her freedom. Even when thrown into the air she did 
not fly away, and when Mr. Brewster went away she was on 
the nest. Before able to fly the young crawl out of the nest, 
and take lessons on the tree-trunk, returning to the parental 
roof at night. In the southern states they are said to raise 
two broods in a season. 

Variety AcuLEATA, No. 38 @, the Slender-billed Nuthatch, 
is the western representative of the eastern form, replacing it 
beyond the Missouri river. Its nidification does not vary from 
the type. as it builds in holes of trees (at inaccessible heights, 
Dr. J. Kk. Lord said), constructing a shallow nest of vegetable 
substances, lined with hair or feathers. ‘The five or six eggs, 
laid early in June, are not different from eastern examples. 


39. THH RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 
SITTA CANADENSIS Zzzz. 


Canada Nuthatch. 


An inhabitant at one season or another of the wooded portions 
of xearly all North America, breeding preferably where conif- 
erous trees prevail, especially in the west, and frequenting 
higher latitudes (or altitudes) in summer, than at other seasons 
when it is partially migratory or nomadic. 

I will give two instances of its nesting in widely separated 
regions ; the first is from: Audubon : 

i found it building its nest near Eastport, in Maine, on the 19th of 
May, betore the bluebird had made its appearance there. and while 
much ice still remained on the northern exposures. The nest is dug in 
a low. dead stump, seldom more than four feet from the ground; both 
the male and female working by turns until they have got to the depth 
of about fourteen inches. The eggs, four in number, are small, and of 
a white color, tinged with a deep blush, and sprinkled with reddish dots. 
They raise, I believe, only one brood in the season. 

The other account is by Mr. Henshaw: 


In the pine woods near Fort Garland, southern Colorado, I found it 


NES 


oy 


=, 


; AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS. 


5S. £. CASSINO, PUBLISHER 


Lith. ArastamtCo.Biversnde Pray, Combaulas. 


fa. t 


? ae 


at 


my u) My) 


Y | | | 
a Py i a Via i veel a ae! : . 
7 oH rl *, et i \ real ; ar . | | d 
tay af “e- iP pad . Pe haa Ls Uae aa ) ies ii i mL he 
a pe. i : ier Chey 
4 F ns} hs ' hewn *| 4 ’ ad A) Lt oa ore | | " 


iy, oh TV rh ee au j ag 


ary : AT, le ee ; ; , . fi ws 

ean ae et a ae Natl, R 3) a ' ; a 
ist pe yi ee re \y : or, a 7” ne ; ba he or i . 

ae beer NAS i q "ht , Vi ee 1 A ig Dae 


ERA Nill ve: yaaa 


tal) a) uae’ 


bl he art qi nh !\ aene ugh 
ine a” any ibe 
ae, ° pS 0 


, len gh ae 7 be 
fap vi , ay 
Ma Wh ms ee a: al 
se - ah } i ive, ue Har nal 


ys AR 
Ly Malia blige 
PyATA Lt: ee : 
iP, f tt is A 
: Lay! 
oh) by ea ee 
Ryn aud 
isp 


iy eid Y 


THE RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 61 


breeding in June, and, though less abundant than either the pygmy or 
slender-billed varieties, it was still by no means rare. Its habits, while 
differing in no notable degree from those of its allies, are possessed of 
even more of the energy and restless activity which belong to the 
whole tribe; and at this, the nesting season, the males especially were 
busy from morning till night roving about among the pines and aspens, 
engaged in hunting not only on their own account, but also for their 
mates engaged in the cares of incubation. In these duties, however, 
both sexes take part, and the females were occasionally found abroad 
while their place on the nest was filled by the males. The single nest 
examined was found in a pine stub, a few feet from the ground. The 
hole was excavated in the rotten wood to the depth of five inches, no 
especial care having been taken to render this smooth and symmetrical, 
and was thoroughly lined at bottom with fine shreds of pine bark. The 
eggs, five in number, were far advanced toward hatching; color gray- 
ish-white, thinly spotted with reddish dots confluent at the larger end. 

The grayish-white color of these eggs was no doubt due to 
their age and condition. The four to six fresh eggs are only 
distinguishable from those of S. carolinensis by their smaller 
size, averaging about .61 by .49 of an inch; the difference 
is appreciable on comparison. ‘The surface is generally pretty 
evenly speckled. Two broods are occasionally raised in New 
England, the first, early in the spring, and the same hole is 
often occupied repeatedly, while near the nests other holes are 
usually to be found, not so deep, ‘‘probably used for one of the 
birds to occupy while the other is sitting,” as is the case with 
most woodpeckers. 

Although, ordinarily, a bird of the woods rather than of the 
gardens, a pair were found feeding unfledged young in a hole in 
a tree standing in one of the principal streets of Evanston, Ill. 
This was on the last of April, and the nest would not have been 
discovered had the young not thrust their heads out of the ori- 
fice and clamored too loudly for food. 

Mr. R. F. Pearsall informs me of a curious fact in this connec- 
tion. He found a nest of this nuthatch at Grand Menan on 
June ro, 1878, containing fledglings. It was about ten feet 
from the ground in a maple stub, and half an inch below the 
entrance was a deposit of resinous gum, an eighth to a quarter of 
an inch thick, extending downward for two inches ; this was sup- 


62 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


posed to be the result of a gradual accumulation from the feet of 
the parents who must alight there, with feet smeared from con- 
stant walking on the trunks of the gummy conifers, very many 
times a day. Such accumulations may prove useful as a guide to 
the eye in searching for the nests of this nuthatch in pine-wood 
regions. 

Since the last paragraph was in type, I have seen a confir- 
mation of its facts in an excellent communication to the Nut- 
tall Club’s Bulletin (Vol. HI, p. 196) by Mr. Manly Hardy 
of Brewer, Me. Mr. Hardy seems not to believe, however, 
that the pitch is an accidental accumulation. ‘I think that 
more nests would be found” he remarks, **if people did not 
mistake them for holes of the downy woodpecker, which are 
oi the same size, though rounder. Audubon speaks of their be- 
ing placed four feet from the ground; but while this is some- 
times the case, they are oftener ten to fifteen feet from the 
ground. It is easy to tell even an old nest from that of either 
a downy woodpecker or black-capped titmouse, as the wood- 
pecker lays directly upon fine chips, without any nest, and the 
titmouse makes a nice nest of fur and feathers, and neither 
place any pitch round the holes, while the nuthatch makes its 
nest of short fine grass and protects with pitch outside the 
hole.” 


40. THE BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 
SITTA PUSILLA Latham, 


A bird of the sowthern states, and mainly confined to the 
pine regions. In Florida, it begins nesting in February, but 
Mr. N. C. Brown was unable to get eggs in central Alabama 
before April 22. Starting thus early, the bird is able to raise 
two or three broods in a season. The nest is usually excavated 
by the birds themselves in a rotten stub or dead tree at varying 
heights, but, asa rule,low down. Both sexes work together with 
great diligence, it is said, carrying the chips to some distance be- 
fore dropping them. It takes them a good while to complete the 
cavity, and so ardent and unsuspicious are they while at work, 


THE PYGMY NUTHATCH. 63 


that Maynard says he has frequently stood within a few feet ot 
them without their noticing his presence. The entrances to the 
nests are not always regular round holes. In a letter from 
Mr. R M. Mitchell, who made a special study of the nidifica- 
tion of this species, he tells me that all he ever saw had a door- 
way ‘‘as though a piece of bark of irregular shape had been 
broken out, and a cavity made in the decayed sap-wood behind.” 
The tunnel sinks to varying depths, — sometimes three inches, 
sometimes ten or more, The nest proper is composed of thin 
pieces of pine bark and rotten wood, mixed with hair, fine 
woolly vegetable substances and downy feathers ; the latter ma- 
terials forming the lining. Maynard mentions the soft fibrous 
substance growing about the base of the leaves of the saw-pal- 
metto as a favorite material for their nest-making. 

Fresh eggs are so delicate that it is very difficult to clean 
them. The ground-color is chalky white, marked with cinna- 
mon, reddish-brown and pale lavender spots, nearly covering 
the large end, and also distributed over the entire surface. The 
shape is oval, and the average measurement is 57 by .48 of an 
inch, ‘The eggs are thus only a trifle larger than the hum- 
ming-bird’s, 

Like the other nuthatches, these little fellows are vigilant 
and brave in defending their nests, especially from the wood- 
peckers. They go about in pairs, and the young birds of the 
first hatching keep together, noisy and active, until joined by the 
second family. Their food seems to be entirely the eggs and 
young of insects, 


41. THE PYGMY NUTHATCH. 
SITTA PYGMEA Vigors. 


Californian Nuthatch. 


Resident from the Rocky mountains to the Pactfic coast, 
from Vancouver southward into Mexico, and abundant in the 
forests up to timber-limit, this pygmy ” greatly resembles the 
preceding species, of which it is perhaps only a variety, and 


64 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


its method of nidification is the same. The eggs are five or six 
in number, pinkish-white, dotted with reddish. Average spe- 
cimens would not be distinguishable with certainty from those 
of S. canadensis, but appear rather narrower, measuring about 
.62 by .48. The young are seen first in June; and from the 
circumstance of finding newly-feathered birds much later in the 
summer, Dr. Coues presumes that two broods are raised each 
season, which statement is fully substantiated by Mr. Henry 
Henshaw. Capt. Bendire adds, that in eastern Oregon the 
hole in the tree is usually partly filled with small sticks, and on 
these the nest of fine strips of juniper bark, lined with feathers, 
is placed. Some one else has asserted that only dust and chips, 
in the bottom of the hole, form a bedding for the eggs. ‘This 
may vary with latitude and altitude. 


42. THE BROWN TREE-CREEPER. 
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS Veez?lot. 


This shy, gentle, little bird is the same as the European 
creeper. In England it nests, generally speaking, in a hole in 
a tree, with only a very minute aperture. Rarely the nest is 
outside the tree, but screened from observation by a casual dis- 
lodgment of bark, or in some similar way. Our creeper is 
found in the forests over a// of North America. Its migrations 
are limited, and accordingly it is one of the first birds to appear 
in the spring, and to get about its family duties. Wilson speaks 
of having known the female to begin to lay by April 17, but 
does not mention the locality to which he refers. The most 
southern point of which I have positive knowledge of its breed- 
ing is Trenton, N. J. No doubt the heights of the Alleghanies 
may prove a means of extending its southward residence in 
the interior, as they do that of many other birds. — It inhabits 
the loftier plateaus of the Rocky mountains, where its presence 
and the situation of its nest are often disclosed by its ‘‘ thin, wiry, 
long-drawn note.” At Mount Graham, Arizona, Henshaw 
found young still in their first plumage as late as Aug. 3, and, 


THE BROWN TREE-CREEPER. 65 


though able to feed and care for themselves, they were still ac- 
companied by their parents who were intensely devoted to their 
welfare. The latter half of May is the time to search for their 
nests in New York and New England. 

Not having been provided with the tools for digging out a 
hole for himself, the brown creeper takes advantage of a shat- 
tered limb, a hollow branch or an entrance wrought by squirrels 
or woodpeckers ; and Mr. J. A. Allen found a nest in the pub- 
lic square at Springfield, Mass., tucked away underneath a pro- 
jection of bark. This was unusual in all respects, for the creep- 
ers almost invariably remain in the depths of the woods. <A 
still more anomalous case, — if there be no mistake about it,— 
is recorded by Gregg in his Catalogue of the Birds of Che- 
mung County, New York, wherein he states that ‘+ the nest of 
this species is built of dry twigs attached to the sides 6f some 
perpendicular object. ‘* I discovered one,” he adds, ‘‘ on the at- 
tic of a deserted log house ; the nest rested upon the inner pro- 
jection of the gable clapboard, and was cemented together with 
a gummy or gelatinous substance.” But I doubt the correct- 
ness of this. 

Taking some sort of a hole or cranny to be the normal and 
usual position, the bed it contains may be described as a loose 
ageregation of soft materials, among them plenty of feathers, 
not interwoven, but simply collected with regard to no other 
requisite than warmth. 

The eggs are 5 to 7 in number, opalescent, pearly white, 
marked with small dots and occasionally a few streaks of two 
shades of reddish-brown. ‘They measure a little larger than a 
wren’s, — about .55 by .43, but, barring the lesser size, are not 
certainly distinguishable from those of the chickadee. The 
young come forth with great caution, creeping about long be- 
fore they venture upon the wing. 


5 


66 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


43. THE CACTUS WREN. 
CAMPYLORHYNCHUS BRUNNEICAPILLUS (Lafr.) Gr. 


Brown-headed Creeper Wren. 


The habitat of this long-named little bird is the arid and 
desolate region stretching from the /?zo Grande to San Diego, 
and northward into Utah and Nevada. South of the Gila 
river it is very abundant, but in Lower California, it is re- 
placed by C. affinzs. These wrens are fond of the dense shrub- 
bery, and go in little companies or families, the brood probably 
remaining together during the fall and winter. On the Coloxa- 
do desert its nests are frequently to be met with, laid flat 
between the forks or on the branches of the cactus. They are 
in the ferm of a purse as large nearly as a peck-measure, com- 
posed of fine grasses well interwoven, and are lined with feath- 
ers. The entrance is in the form of a covered passage six to 
ten inches in length. Dr. Heerman says that he often used to 
open these nests and examine the feathers of the lining for the 
sake of finding what birds were in the neighborhood ; among 
other results, he thus ascertained the extreme western limit of 
the blue partridge. Dr. Cooper mentions a nest that he saw on 
the barren mountains west of the Colorado valley which was 
built so openly (adapting it to the warmer climate, as he sup- 
posed) that the young could be plainly seen through the walls. 

The five eggs are pale delicate salmon color, often so thickly 
and uniformly speckled with ashy and darker salmon-colored 
spots as to give a rich cast to the whole surface. They are oval 
and slightly pointed in shape, 1.02 inches long by .68 broad. 
These wrens have been found breeding as late as Sept. 13, and 
as early as Februdry 26, fledged young and fresh eggs being 
taken side by side on the same day. 


THE ROCK WRENN. 67 


44. THE CAPH CACTUS WREN. 
CAMPYILORHYNCHUS AFFINIS Xaztzus. 
Allied Creeper Wren. 


There is little difference between this and the preceding. It 
is restricted to the peninsula of Lower California, and is ex- 
ceedingly abundant at Cape St. Lucas, breeding in immense 
numbers, where its structures are placed almost exclusively in 
the cacti and prickly pear bushes. The nests are large balls or 
bags of grasses and twigs not diflerent from those of the other 
species. The eggs vary from 1.05 inches to £ inch in length 
and from .7o to .65 of an inch in breadth; and, like those of 
the preceding, have a reddish-white ground, uniformly and 
thickly dotted with reddish-brown and tints of purple. 


45. THE ROCK WREN 
SALPINCTES OBSOLETUS (Say) Cad. 


Occurs from the Plazzs to the Pactfic ; in Mexico and Lower 
California ; northward into Montana; and eastward into Iowa. 
It haunts the confused piles of broken rocks so characteristic 
of the western mountains, and is abundant, but like the rest of 
its ilk also goes into the towns to reside, rearing its young 
under the tiled roofs of the houses, and in the stone walls and 
wood-piles of the gardens. It breeds from Montana to Mexico. 
At Idaho, Colorado, in the heart of the Snowy Range, many 
nestle, mostly between 6,500 and 9,500 feet of altitude. Al- 
though it chooses other convenient localities, 
the logs of a cabin, for instance, —its favorite spot is a natural 


a chink between 


cavity ina bank or ledge of rocks, or the bare ground under 
an overhanging stratum. The nest is merely a mass of sticks 
or a pile of grasses, lined with various soft substances, such as 
thin bark, horsehair, bits of wool or feathers; and is usually 
but slightly hollowed and artfully concealed. The variety of 
rock wren which inhabits the Island of Guadaloupe, off the 


68 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


coast of Lower California, is said ingeniously to barricade the 
entrance to its nest with an artificial wall of pebbles, leaving 
an aperture only just large enough to pass. 

As to the period of laying, there is also great diversity. Dr, 
Cooper’s Fort Benton nest contained nine eggsin June; Capt. 
Bendire found fresh eggs at Camp Harney, Oregon, May 9; 
in New Mexico, Mr. Henshaw took a nest containing three 
young and one egg June 17, and another with four nearly 
fledged young, July 28; Dr. Cooper found young birds in May 
at San Diego, and on Guadaloupe Island the eggs are laid early 
in April. There seems no doubt that two broods are reared. 

The eggs vary greatly in shape and proportions, and four to 
eight constitute a clutch, — usually seven. They are polished, 
crystal-white, spotted, chiefly in a wreath about the larger end, 
with distinct reddish-brown dots, usually massed at the large 
end or wreathed around it. They bear little resemblance to 
any other eggs of this family, unless it may be those of the 
winter wren. 

The behavior of the owners when one is in close search for 
a rock wren’s homestead, as described by Capt. Bendire, is 
worth mention, as showing how all their wren-instincts work 
together toward the concealment of their cryptic property. 

A pair had a nest within eighty yards of my house, for which I looked 
almost daily, but they reared their young to almost full size before I found 
them, and although I reached more than once within a foot, the old birds 
seemed perfectly unconcerned, perched on a rock within a few feet of 
me, flipping their tails up and down, as if in derision at my vain at- 
tempts to find their nest. 


Concerning the race of this wren on Guadaloupe Island, we 
have the following information from Dr. Edward Palmer : 


Their general habits are not peculiar. April 5, 1875, a female was 
taken, with the nest and eggs. The nest was built on the ground be- 
neath a rock, which sheltered it from the prevailing winds; it was lined 
with goats’ hair and contained two fresh eggs; a third, nearly ready to 
be laid, was found on opening the bird. Another nest, containing three 
eggs, was found in the crevice of a large rock some five feet high. The 
fissure was about eighteen inches deep; and, being more capacious than 


_THE GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 69 


was necessary for accommodation of the nest. was divided by a partition, 
which the bird had built across it. leaving an interior space for the nest 
and an aperture just large enough for the birds to pass with ease. This 
partition, which effectually blocked up the passage to the nest, was com- 
posed of pebbles. A third nest was discovered so far under a large 
solid rock. and with so small an entrance, that it could not be secured. 
The passage to this nest was also blocked with small stones. 


46. THE CANON WREN. 
CATHERPES MEXICANUS, var. CONSPERSUS. 


White-throated Wren. 


This wren, lately separated from its more southern type, the 
Mexican wren, is confined to the south middle region of North 
America, and is at home in the mountain gorges and caves ; but 
it also enters towns without reserve, and makes use of the con- 
veniences of man’s erection wherever its food is present. It is 
not uncommon at San Antonio, Texas, where it breeds. In 
respect to the Mexican typical race, from which the variety 
does not much differ, Mr. Sumichrast writes that it nests in 
houses, in ruined walls or among the roof-tiles, skilfully con- 
structing its home of spiders’ webs. In the wilderness it 
chooses much the same building-sites as the rock wren, and 
makes much the same sort of a nest. The eggs are said to be 
four in number. One specimen before me measures about .8o 
by .60, is regularly ovate in outline and not pointed, as the 
books say it ought to be. The color is pure white, touched 
not numerously, except in the shape of a small cap over the 
butt (and there not very thickly) with minute points of brownish- 


red and purple tints. It is a very delicately patterned egg. 


47. THE GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 
THRYOTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS (Lath.) Bp. 


Mocking-Wren. 


This wren, celebrated for its mocking powers, belongs to the 
southeastern states, and northward into the valley of the Ohio 


7O NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


river, and has been recorded as straggling northeastward to 
Massachusetts in summer. . 

It is mainly a constant resident wherever found, and is an early 
breeder. In Florida its eggs are to be obtained in March; in 
the Carolinas it mates in March, nests in April, and the first 
of its two or three broods is abroad early in May if not soon- 
er. Mr. Allen found the young flying at this time even in 
Kansas. In West Virginia and about Philadelphia the young 
are fledged by the last week in June. In the woods, its nest is 
almost impossible to find, being artfully concealed in some odd 
place. The bird does not so readily approach dwellings as the 
other wrens, but sometimes takes possession of niches be- 
tween the boards or among the rafters of some out-house. 
Mrs. Mary Treat, however, tells of a pair which after a care- 
ful survey of the premises pitched on the piazza, the most 
frequented part of the house, as the site of their home. 
Boxes nailed up for its use are also oceupied, © Im “the 
woods these wrens choose a snug retreat in damp_ pastures, 
settling in the midst of some dense vine or bush, or in the hol- 
low of a stump. When the great fronds of the palmetto fall 
off, the bases of the dead leaf-stalks adhere, leaving pockets 
between them and the trunk of the tree, often roofed over with 
a fibrous déérzs impervious to water. These ‘‘boots,” as the 
cavities are called, form very snug nesting-quarters. Into some 
such place the wrens put a great quantity of fibrous, leafy, or 
grassy material, gathering any trash convenient, and thus 
build a rather bulky nest, more or less like a ball, with a side 
entrance. The lining is of fur, hair and feathers. The whole 
is sometimes five or six inches in depth. Now and then, when 
situation favors, the nest is not arched over. They are exceed- 
ingly sensitive to being disturbed, and will generally abandon 
an uncompleted nest, merely upon the suspicion that it has 
been discovered. 

The adventures of the pair, referred to above, are thus pleas- 
antly and instructively detailed by Mrs. Treat: 


No room in the house was so much used as the piazza. Easy-chairs 
were scattered about for the use of the family and for chance visitors ; 


THE GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 71 


a table also stood here for the daily mail. where we read and discussed 
the questions of the day. And here this persistent, wide-awake couple 
chose to erect their domicile. They commenced building in a corner 
on the plate just under the roof. 

Unlike the house wren, they do not use sticks in the construction of 
their nest, but an abundance of the softest material they can get. We 
had brought from the woods a quantity of a beautiful fern-like moss 
which we had stripped from decaying logs, and had placed it on the 
ground beneath one of the trees. This moss, so light and spongy, was 
just the thing for the little builders — ever so much better than the long 
gray Tvllandsta which they had been using. They wouid alight upon 
it and chatter over its merits, and both seemed agreed as to its excellent 
qualities as a building material. 

They worked harmoniously together for several days, the male stop- 
ping every now and then to express his happiness in a loud, prolonged 
strain of music. But the female proved very fickle-minded. All at 
once without any apparent reason, she changed her mind with regard 
to the location of the domicile, and chose the other end of the piazza, 
near where we most frequently sat. Evidently the male did not like 
this. She had already changed the location several times. and he had 
quietly submitted, but now he seemed to be reasoning with her, and 
was determined not to yield to this new whim of hers, and she was as 
fully bent on having her way. He continued work where they had com- 
menced, and she persistently went on in the other corner. Occasionally 
he prevailed upon her to come and inspect his work, and with heads 
close together they would chatter over it. Then he would drop down 
upon the railing of the piazza, throw up his head and express his 
delight in rapturous songs. But it was of no use; he could not win her 
back, neither could she prevail upon him to assist her in the other cor- 
ner; they would meet upon the ground, and chatter over the moss, and 
then fly with it to their respective corners, looking askance at one another. 

The female worked very diligently for more than a week, while the 
male, with less to do, devoted half his time to song and vain at- 
tempts to lure her back. It was May when they finished building; and 
now the male, fairly beaten, yielded gracefully. He accompanied her to 
her cosey nest, and lovingly chattered over the pearly treasure deposited 
there; he seemed to forgive her then and there, and no longer visited 
the other nest, and henceforth was a most devoted partner. 

While the little proprietors were away, I took occasion to examine 
their work. I found both corners filled in with a large quantity of ma- 
terial, and in one side of this abundant mass was the soft symmetrical 
nest. The eggs were nearly or quite white. The nest that the male 
completed was more beautiful than the female’s, and how she could have 
refused such cosey quarters is a mystery. 


72 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Six or seven eggs are deposited, which are nearly round, but 
vary among themselves, averaging about .73 by .60. They are 
white or pinkish white, profusely but pretty evenly dotted with 
purple, slate, reddish-brown and red. Sometimes the ground 
color is quite hidden; and in some eggs there is a denser 
wreath about the larger end. 

In houses the birds become very tame, but in the woods they 
are, as Dr. Coues expresses it, ‘*very private about their domestic 
arrangements, and generally slip off quietly if they have an 
unwelcome caller. They keep the young ones about them for 
a few days after they leave the nest, and during this period 
they are in a state of perpetual panic.” The extraordinary fe- 
cundity of these wrens is shown by Mr. Charles Dury, who 
records that at Cincinnati the first brood was following the 
male about on April 25, the female, meanwhile, being actively 
constructing a second nest under the stable rafters, in which 
she soon deposited eggs and began sitting, cheered by the loud 
and happy notes of the male, who had by this time got rid of 
his noisy brood. In due time five more wrens appeared, and 
the hard-worked parents supplied the insatiable appetites with 
spiders, bugs and larva of every description until early in 
July when they left the nest under the protection of the male. 
The female immediately set herself at work on another large 
nest, where five eggs were laid and she sat a third time. 

The Variety BERLANDIERI, No. 47a, is found in the valley 
of the Rio Grande, where, with Bewick’s wren, it is common. 
Thence this extends westward. Mr. Sennett described this bird 
as breeding at Hidalgo, Texas, near the ground, seldom high- 
er than five feet, in hollow trees, stubs, and even dead limbs ly- 
ing on the ground. By May 1, the young were about with the 
parents; at the same time perfectly fresh eggs were taken. 
Three suites of eggs were secured, all from the same local- 
ity, where there seemed to be a colony breeding, many having 
families of young. Two of the sets were alike in color and 
markings. Of these, one (a set of five) was taken May 1 
from an opening four feet from the ground, in a hollow tree; 
the other (a set of four) was taken May 7 from a rotten tree 


46 
Cather pes mexicanus 
var conspersus 


50- 
Anorthura troglodytes 
var. Ayemalis- 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


Thryothorus bewick ir. 


= Toes ey ‘ 7 
a 7 led ha re. 
me 
* 
r 
47 
Thryothorus ludovicianus. 
& 


52 
Cistothorus ste llaris 


Tith. Armstron'&Co. Riverside Press. Cambie, “i 


i 


S.E. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. Bose 


” 
tre |! 


4 if 


4 “a, 


Plate x 


57 
Mniotilta varia. : Porula americana 


56. 
Neccorys spragutt. 


Protonotaria citrea. Parula nisrilora. 


Lith, Armstrong Co. Riverside Press. Gambndse. 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


S. E. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. 


60. ; 62. 
Helmitherus vermwmorous. \ Helminthophaga pans. 


695. 
Helmintho phaga lucie. 


63. 
Helminthophagha chrysoptera. 


66. - 67. 
Helminthophagha virgine. -Helminthophasha ruficapilla,. 


Lith, ArinstrouedCo Riverside Press Cambrike, 


NESTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 


S.E. CASSINO, PUBLISHER. 


BEVICKAS WEEN: 73 


lying on the ground, the nest being only two féet from the 
ground. A typical nest was composed of grasses, leaves, and 
a few stems, and lined with horsehair. a few feathers and 
pieces of snakeskins. It measured four inches in outside diame- 
ter by two inside. 

In regard to the eggs Mr. Sennett sends a note of his expe- 
rience, to which I concur. ‘+ The eggs,” he observes, ‘‘vary 
in color and markings from those of the great Carolina to those 
of Bewick’s wren, but in size come much nearer to the form- 
er. Those sets with the white ground-color, resembling in 
that respect Bewick’s, average .72 by .57 of an inch; while 
the eggs with the pinkish ground, coming nearer to the style 
of the great Carolina’s, average .74 by .58.” 


48. BEWICK’S WREN. 
THRYOTHORUS BEWICKII (Aud.) Bf. 


Long-tailed House Wren. 


This, also, is a somewhat southern species reaching in the 
east only as far north as central New Jersey, but in the inte- 
rior states even to Minnesota where it breeds. It is not un- 
common anywhere, but its nest and eggs are rare. For sever- 
al years these wrens have bred upon the premises of -Dr. 
Charles C. Abbott at Prospect Hill, Trenton, N. gio 0) Che 
following intcresting notes communicated by Dr. Abbott to 
Science Gossip (London) for May, 1875, are probably a cor- 
rect representation of its habits everywhere. 


On the 15th of July a pair of Bewick’s wrens appeared in and about 
one of my outbuildings. and in a day or two, having fixed upon a suit- 
able spot for their nest, commenced carrying the materials necessary 
for its construction. As they were not at all timid, I had abundant op- 
portunities of watching them while so employed, and I must admit 
that their modus operand? was very damaging to the poetry of birds’ 
nests. After the first few strands of long, tape-like grass had been ar- 
ranged upon the beam, the birds came together to the spot, each carry- 
ing a blade of grass or other equally flexible material. The female then 
sat in the unfinished nest, while her mate wound loosely about her the 


74 NES LSA TEGG SIO BLL Ss 


materials they had brought. This was repeated until the foundation of 
the nest, about an inch deep. was completed. when the female ceased 
carrying materials. but waited for her mate’s return with such soft mate- 
rials as he could find for the lining of the nest. This was simply placed 
upon the nest loosely. and not at all adjusted. When a considerable 
quantity had been piled up. the female ‘> burrowed ” into it, and turning 
round and round, succeeded in treading down a comparatively smooth 
depression in the floor of the nest, and the larger strands were rudely 
arched over her, but did not really form a roof. In three days the nest 
was completed. and was nothing better than any child could have made 
with the same materials by wrapping, winding and slapping it over 
his fist. Not one particle of ingenuity was displayed at any time. On 
the fourth day the first egg was laid, and on this day a cat succeeded in 
catching the male bird. As the female did not seem to miss him very 
much, and it was this mishap which made the subsequent study of the 
nest and the female bird possible, 1 thanked the cat for her interference. 
The widowed wren wandered about quite as usual, constantly uttering 
a very cheery chirp, and gathering up a goodly quantity of insects every 
day. One egg was laid each day, until four had been deposited, when 
she commenced sitting. The fourth egg was pure white; the others of 
the usual hue and markings. An interesting physiological feature of 
the case might be profitably discussed, but will here be but briefly re- 
ferred to. This species of wren usually lays from seven to nine eggs, 
and hatches them all. Did the influence of the male only reach to the 
third, or possibly the fourth egg? Of the four eggs laid, the last one 
did not hatch, and I judged from its contents that the yolk had been 
imperfect. Again, did the death of the male bird indirectly cause the 
shell of the fourth egg laid to be wholly colorless? The season was 
too advanced to make any experiments during the remainder of the 
summer. After the young were a day old, the parent bird was seldom 
seen except fora moment at a time, when it would dart into the work- 
shop through a knot-hole, carrying a beetle-larva or caterpillar; and, 
giving it to them, off she would go again, usually to the roof of another 
building, and there chirp and fairly scream, fluttering about in a dis- 
tressed manner, as though determined to make the passers-by believe 
she had a nest anywhere except in the spot really occupied. This habit 
was so marked in all its features as to attract the attention of the whole 
family; and when the workshop, which was continually visited for a 
few moments at a time during the day, was occupied on her arrival with 
food for her young, she would dart out as rapidly as she came, and go 
through her accustomed antics on a distant roof, the while retaining 
the food for her young in her bill. By the 12th of August the young 
had left the nest, and in a day or two they left the neighborhood.” 


BEWICK’S WREN. 75 


Dr. Gerhardt met with nests of this species in northern 
Georgia, generally built in holes in stumps. In one instance 
the nest was five inches long, four in diameter and two deep, 
with walls of great thickness. In southern Illinois it is said to 
quite replace the house wren in all its relations to man. In 
southern Texas, Sennett found it building in a great variety of 
places, from a brush-fence to the thatched roof of his work- 
shop, where they were very tame. A nest found on April 18, 
1878,—a trifle late apparently,—he describes to me as only a 
matted collection of various substances, such as hair, leaves, 
feathers, cottony vegetable fibres and fine bark, the dense brush- 
fence in which it was ensconced being sufficient to protect so 
frail a structure.” 

The eggs are pinkish white thickly covered with lilac and 
reddish-brown splashes and dots almost wholly about the larger 
end; with a few slate-colored lines on the majority of speci- 
mens. They vary considerably, but, in general, resemble those 
of a titmouse or creeper, except that the markings are darker 
and the size greater. The eggs measure from .7o by .52 to 
.64 by .50, being slightly larger than those of the house 
wren; Texan birds are of less size. 

In the southwest, Bewick’s wren changes its plumage some- 
what and is known as Variety LEUCoGASTER, No. 48a,— the 
White-bellied Wren ; on the coast of California and southward, 
another variety (sprturus, No. 484) is found. Neither of 
these differs essentially from the typical form. In the Birds of 
California, Dr. J. G. Cooper wrote that the latter variety con- 
structed an open nest low down in a bush; but afterwards he 
corrected this statements remarking that this case was ‘‘ an un- 
usual departure from their common habits, and was very 
probably an old nest built by some other bird, this species gen- 
erally building in cavities of trees, brush-heaps, etc., but now 
apparently growing more familiar. . . A pair built in a stable 
[near San Francisco] and had young when discovered in 
April.” 


76 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


49. THE HOUSE WREN. 
TROGLODYTES AEDON, Viellot. 
Common Wren; Wood Wren. 


The familiar house wren is to be found in every part of the 
Onited States cast of the Rocky mountains, although, like 
many other common species, it is far more abundant in some 
localities than in others. 

It arrives in Pennsylvania in April, is seen in Massachuseits 
about the second week in May, and reaches central Michigan, 
where it is rare, about May 5. ‘Phe wrens seem to be mated 
when they reach the north, and proceed immediately to pick 
out their homes. A whole volume might be given to anecdotes 
of the curious places they have chosen to build in; Dr. 
Brewer has written most pleasantly about it: 

, 

The hollows of decaying trees. crevices in rocks, or the centre of 
meshes of interlacing vines, are their natural resorts. These they 
readily relinquish for the facilities offered in the society of man. They 
are bold, sociable and confiding birds, and will enter into the closest 
relations with those who cultivate their acquaintance, building their 
nests from preference under the eaves of houses, in corners of the 
wood-shed, a clothes-line box, olive-jars, martin-boxes, open gourds, an 
old hat, the skull of an ox placed on a pole, the pocket of a carriage, or 
even the sleeve of a coat left hanging in an out-building. In the spring 
of 1855. a pair of these wrens nested within the house and over the door 
of the room of the late Robert Kennicott, where they raised their broods 
in safety. They built a second nest on a shelf in the same room, which 
they entered through a knot-hole in the unceiled wall. At first shy, 
they soon became quite tame, and did not regard the presence of mem- 
bers of the family. The male bird was more shy than his mate, and 
though equally industrious in collecting insects would rarely bring them 
nearer than the knot-hole where the female would receive them. The 
female with her brood was destroyed by a cat, but this did not deter the 
male bird from appearing the following season with another mate, and 
building their nest in the same place. Another instance of a singular 
selection of a breeding-place has been given by the same authority. 
Dr. Kennicott, the father of Robert, a country physician, drove an old 
two-wheeled open gig, in the back of which was a box, a foot in length 


THE HOUSE WREN. Th 


by three inches in width, open at the top. In this a pair of wrens in- 
sisted, time after time, in building their nest. Though removed each 
time the article was used, the pair for a long while persisted in their 
attempts to make use of this place, at last depositing their eggs on the 
bare bottom of the box.” . 


Mr. Gentry says he found one case in which the wrens had 
dug out a pewee’s nest of mud and moss, and piled their rude 
structure into it; and another in which they had filled up an 
oriole’s pouch-nest, their rough lumber protruding on all sides 
through the oriole’s finely woven felt. It is their delight to 
seize upon the gallery of a woodpecker, fill up the cavity 
with sticks and successfully defy the owner; or to steal into a 
bluebird’s or martin’s snug room in a garden bird-box, and, hav- 
ing dragged out the grass furniture, to substitute their own 
rude materials, barricading the entrance so very rapidly and so 
effectually that the disconsolate bluekirds are obliged to go 
elsewhere. Two or more pairs settled near each other are at 
constant war, for the wren considers every other bird a tres- 
passer on his property. 

As soon as the nest is ready (and in spite of it srough exterior 
it is warmly furnished with grass, etc., within), the female lays 
her eggs, each day, until six to nine have been deposited ; but 
if they are taken away one by one she will lay twice that num- 
ber before stopping. The eggs are oval in some and almost per 
fectly round in other examples, .65 to .60 long by about .55 
wide in dimensions, dusted with brownish brick-color and a 
few purplish dots so completely, as to hide the white back- 
ground. They are among the most easily recognized of all 
eggs. During the ten days which the female sits, any intrusion 
upon her privacy is resented with she most vehement expressions 
of anger. When not defending his mate, the male is singing 
to her, or busy in providing her with food. In the northern 
states the first fledglings appear about June r. The young are 
soon able to crawl out of the nest, but for a long time are ob- 
jects of tender and assiduous care on the part of the parents 
whom they follow about. According to Prof. M. C. Read, who 
has paid much attention to the food of young birds, and who 


78 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


communicated his observations to Sczexce ews for Nov. 1, 
1878, these wrens feed their young almost exclusively with 
small, smooth larve, taken from the undersides of the leaves 
of currant bushes, brambles, etc., the average being five worms 
in two minutes. Robert Kennicott ascertained that a single 
pair of wrens carried to their young about 1,000 insects a day- 
Two broods are reared yearly. 

Birds bred at the extreme north of this species’ range appear 
to represent the wood wren, 7. americanus of Audubon. 


Westward to the Pacific, from Dakota on the north and 
Texas on the south, the house wren assumes a somewhat paler, 
grayer plumage and is known as Variety PARKMANNI, NO. 49a. 
As with the eastern form, it is safe to look for its rude nest 
anywhere that a wren goes, such as in cavities hollowed out 
by birds or animals, knot-holes, broken limbs, auger-holes, 
cracks and corners in out-houses and woodpiles, spaces under 
the loose bark of a tree, or a fold in a bunch of skins. Such 
a crevice is usually filled with a mass of twigs in the centre of 
which is a bed of sheep’s wool and feathers arching over the 
eggs. The first eggs are laid about May 1 around San Fran- 
cisco, and in Colorado and Oregon, a month later; two and 
sometimes three broods are raised. The eggs are not fairly 
distinguishable from those of Z. aédon; but are perhaps 
slightly more slender, and the spots seem finer and of a pinker 
tint of reddish-brown. 

It is notorious that during the summer season the males of 
both species usually busy themselves in building several nests 
in places where they seem quite unnecessary. This has al- 
ways been attributed to a sort of whim or desire for occupation, 
or to a judicious foresight ; providing thus against a possible 
destruction of the first nest. Dr. Coues, discoursing upon this 
industrious propensity with characteristically graceful pen in 
his Birds of the Colorado Valley, remarks : 

The birds seem to be afflicted with an /vsanabile construendi cacoéthes 
(to borrow a simile from Juvenal), which impels them to keep on build- 


ing after they have built enough for any practicable purpose. Their 
notion seems to be, that whatever place they select, be it large or small, 


THE HOUSE WREN. 79 


must be completely filled with a lot of rubbish before they can feel com- 
fortable about it. When they nest in a knot-hole, or any cavity of in- 
considerable dimensions, the structure is a mass of sticks and other 
trash of reasonable bulk; but the case is otherwise when they get be- 
hind a loose weather-board, for instance, where there is room enough 
for a dozen nests: then they never know when to stop. I witnessed a 
curious illustration of their ‘‘ insane ” propensities in one case where a 
pair found their way through a knot-hole into one of those small sheds 
which stands im the back-yard, with a well-worn path leading to the 
house, showing its daily use. (:t should be premised that a wren likes 
to get into its retreat through the smallest possible orifice. If the en- 
trance be small enough, there cannot be too much room inside; and 
when the hole is unnecessarily large it is often closed up to the right 
size.) Having entered through a nice little hole, into a dark place, the 
birds evidently supposed it was all right inside, and began to build in a 
corner under the roof, where the joists came together. Though annoyed 
by frequent interruption, the indefatigable little creatures, with almost 
painful diligence, lugged in their sticks till they had made a pile that 
wouid fill a bushel, and I cannot say they would not have filled the 
whole shed had they not been compelled to desist; for they were voted 
a nuisance, and the hole was stopped up. The size of the sticks they 
carried in was enormous in comparison with their own stature; it 
seemed as if they could not lift them, much less drag the crooked pieces 
through such a narrow orifice. ‘These coarse materials, it will be re- 
membered, are only the foundation of a nest, as it were; their use in 
places where there is no real occasion for such a mass of trash is evi- 
dently the remaining trace of primitive habits. 


In central California, however, Dr. Cooper has observed a 
remarkable fact in connection with this habit on the part of 
Parkmann’s wren, which, he thinks, might also be found true 
in the case of the eastern wrens, especially in the southern states 
where the summers are long. Watching the wrens in his gar- 
den, Dr. Cooper assures us that their labor is not all thrown 
away, or simply a means of amusement, for at least one extra 
nest is sometimes used for the purpose of raising an additional 
family by a single pair of wrens simultaneously with the first 
brood! In 1876, a pair arrived at Haywood, Dr. Cooper’s 
home, on April 20 (unusually late), and lost no time in build- 
ing a nest in a bird-house on a pole. As soon as this nest was 


80 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


finished, the male began to build in another bird-box close by. 
Dr. Cooper continues : 


The femaie rarely assisted in this work, though I occasionally saw 
both there, and in due time the second nest was finished. Soon after 
the young in the first nest were hatched, and although needing much 
attention, the old birds still frequented the new nest, and I began to 
suspect that one of them was sitting on eggs there. This suspicion 
was soon verified by hearing the young, and seeing them fed. In this 
case each parent must have been sitting at the same time on a nest, 
perhaps taking turns, during the week that elapsed before the first 
hatching. The day after the first brood of six left its house, they reap- 
peared at evening under the lead of the female. and all roosted there, 
the male meanwhile continuing to feed the other brood, and singing at 
almost every visit to them, from which circumstance I distinguished 
him. The next day, however, he seems to have taken charge of the 
fledged family and led them away to the groves, out of the reach of town 
cats, as after that the songless female alone attended to the remaining 
brood. 


This is certainly very interesting and strange; and it is 
worth while to inquire whether true also of the marsh wrens 
and some other species in which the male is known to build a 
sham nest. 


50. THE AMERICAN WINTER WREN. 
ANORTHURA TROGLODYTES var. HYEMALIS (Z.) Coues. 


Our winter wren is a variety of the common wren of Europe. 
It is not uncommon over nearly the whole of North America, 
but eludes notice. In the ‘‘ gloomy and tangled” forests of 
Pennsylvania, near Mauch Chunk, Audubon caught a glimpse 
of a winter wren, and tells in his graphic style how excitedly 
he watched it. 


After much exertion and considerable fatigue, I at last saw it alight 
on the side of a large tree, close to the roots, and heard it warble a few 
notes, which I thought exceeded any it had previously uttered. Sud- 
denly another wren appeared by its side, but darted off in a moment, 
and the bird itself, which I had followed, disappeared. I soon reached 


THE WINTER WREN. 81 


the spot, without having for an instant removed my eyes from it, and 
observed a protuberance covered with moss and lichens, resembling the 
excrescences which are often seen on our forest trees, with this differ- 
ence, that the aperture was perfectly rounded, clean, and quite smooth. 
I put a finger into it and felt the pecking of a bird’s bill, while a quer- 
ulous cry was emitted. In a word, I had, the first time in my life, 
found the nest of a winter wren. . . . Externally, it measured seven 
inches in length and four and a half in breadth; the thickness of its 
walls, composed of moss and lichens, was nearly two inches; and thus 
it presented internally the appearance of a narrow bag, the wall, however, 
being reduced to a few lines where it was in contact with the bark of the 
tree. The lower half of the cavity was compactly lined with the fur of 
the American hare, and in the bottom or bed of the nest there lay over 
this about half a dozen of the large downy abdominal feathers of our 
common grouse, Zetrao umbellus. 


Audubon afterwards came upon a similar nest at Mohawk, 
N.Y., the six eggs containing large embryos early in June. 
One found by W. F. Hall at Camp Sebois, eastern Maine, was 
built in an unoccupied log-hut, among the fir-leaves and mosses 
in a crevice between the logs. It was large and bulky, com- 
posed externally of mosses and lined with feathers and the fur 
of hedge-hogs. The shape was that of a pouch, the entrance 
being neatly framed with sticks, and the walls very strong, 
thick and firmly compacted. Its hemlock framework had been 
made of green materials, and their agreeable odor pervaded the 
whole structure. There is evidence that they also breed near 
Ithaca; N.Y. 

The latest intelligence, however, comes through Mr. Ruthven 
Deane’s article in the Nuttall Club’s Bulletin for January, 1879. 
While collecting birds at Houlton, Me., Mr. James Bradbury 
showed Mr. Deane a nest under the roots of a fallen tree. It 
was embedded in the earth which remained attached to the roots, 
and could only be detected by crawling under the thick brush 
which surrounded the tree; even then, on looking up, all that 
could be seen was an aperture just large enough to admit the 
tiny birds. The nest was unfortunately deserted, in an almost 
finished condition. It was composed of hemlock twigs, moss, 
and a few bits of lichens compactly woven together. Early in 


6 


82 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


June another nest was found containing six young a few days 
old; this was sunk into the thick moss which enveloped the 
trunk of a fallen tree. A bunch of ferns grew out of the moss 
near the entrance of the nest, and the startled flight from them 
of one of the parent birds caused the discovery of its home. 
On the 8th of August, 1878, Mr. Bradbury took a third nest of 
the winter wren, which contained tour eggs: and Mr. Deane 
presents the following account, the quotation being the descrip- 
tion furnished him by Mr. R. R. McLeod who visited the lo- 
cality before the nest was removed : 


‘*The nest was in a place which does justice to the name Troglodytes 
for it was away under an upturned cedar-root in the dark. The -tree 
had blown over somewhat, and in the roof made by the earth and roots 
she had excavated a hole and made her nest. where but the least glimpse 
of light could have reached it. A little spring flowed over the rocks be- 
neath, on which the tree stood, and only by watching the bird with a 
feather in her mouth was the nest discovered. Mr. Bradbury put his 
head and shoulders under the roots and the wren fluttered past his face, 
and diligent search revealed the treasure.” The nest, which is in the 
possession of Mr. H. A. Purdie, is now before me, and presents a beau- 
tiful bit of bird architecture. It differs from the one already described, 
by having the top open, similar to that of Sayornis fuscus, though pos- 
sibly the bird had some natural crevice through which to pass before 
reaching the nest. It is composed mainly of very compact green moss, 
with a few hemlock twigs interwoven, and is lined profusely with feath- 
ers of the Canada jay, blue jay, and other species, which arch over the 
eggs so as almost to conceal them. ‘The average measurement of these 
eggs is .65 by .49 of an inch. The ground-color is pure white, and 
marked with fine spots of reddish-brown and a few blotches of a darker 
shade. In one specimen the markings are very small and faint, and 
free from any blotches. This was undoubtedly a second brood, and one 
egg was far advanced in incubation. 


The winter wren’s eggs are six or eight in number, equally 
pointed at both ends, average about .66 by .51, and are crystal- 
white, scantily dotted with bright reddish-brown. On some 
specimens the markings are evenly distributed ; while on others 
they form a wreath about the large end. These eggs resemble 
those of the chickadee. 


The winter wren in Russian America is known as Variety 


THE LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 83 


ALASCENSIS, No. 50a. It occurs irregularly all along the Alaskan 
mainland and islands. ‘The nest is placed deep down in crev- 
ices of rocks, and is thus rarely found, although the birds are 
generally plentiful. A nest sent to the Museum of Comparative 
Zoology, obtained in June, is ‘large and very compactly built, 
being composed externally of fine moss of a bright green color, 
interwoven with fine roots, and lined heavily with hair and feath- 
ers. The hairs are rather coarse and white, three to four or 
five inches in length, and appear to be hairs of the polar bear.” 
In some situations the nest is globular, or roofed over, with a 
small side-entrance. Eight to twelve eggs are laid. The two 
in the above-mentioned Museum, collected by Mr. W. J. Mc- 
Intyre, measure respectively .68 by .51 and .60 by .50 of an 
inch. Their general color is dull white with a very few minute 
dots of reddish, so few and small as easily to be overlooked. 


51. THE LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 
TELMATODYTES PALUSTRIS ( Wels.) Bd. 


‘¢ This wren is a sociable — I had almost written gregarious — 
bird, nesting usually in company with many of its kind, and 
sometimes in colonies numbering several hundred, evenly settled 
throughout some eligible reedy tract. Its nesting is an interest- 
ing matter, on account of the size and conspicuous appearance 
of the structures it builds. the method of their construction, 
and their frequently astonishing numbers. Most wrens are fa- 
mous builders, indefatigable in constructing. with infinite labor, 
nests that seem to us preposterously large in comparison with 
the small stature of their owners, and the marsh wren is no ex- 
ception to the rule. But while other wrens build mainly in 
nooks and odd out-of-the-way places, where there is opportuni- 
ty to indulge their whims respecting the plan of their houses, 
the marsh wrens have little choice, and must stick pretty closely 
to a particular order of architecture. Living as they do in vast 
tracts of reeds, or of marsh grasses resembling reeds in most 
respects, both the site of the nests and the materials of which 


84 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


they are composed must be much the same. These wrens, 
then, construct a bulky globular nest, roofed over, with a little 
hole in one side, of the tops of coarse grasses or reeds; it is 
lined with finer material of the same description, and the whole 
affair is hung upon the upright stems of growing reeds, several 
of which usually pass through its walls. The home of the 
marsh wren is thus secure against inundation during any ordi- 
nary rise of the waters over which it hangs, while the shape of 
the structure keeps the eggs and young from falling out when 
the reeds are swayed by the wind. I have already alluded to the 
great numbers of such nests which may be found within small 
areas. The number is sometimes out of apparent proportion 
to the size of the colony, and it is supposed that the building 
mania is so strong, that many nests are built which are never 
occupied, just for the fun of the thing. It might be difficult 
to prove this, yet [ see nothing improbable in the supposition. 
During the incubation of the female house wren, for instance, 
the male often busies himself unnecessarily in dragging trash in- 
to various odd nooks even if he does not construct a regular nest, 
and the same instinct might easily be pushed a little further, in 
the case of the marsh wren with the result just alluded to. ” 

Such is Dr. Coues’s theory, the idea being that the nervous, 
energetic little creatures keep on building while the females are 
incubating, to amuse themselves, or because they have nothing 
particular to do and cannot keep still. 

A different reason has been assigned by Mr. W. E. D. Scott. 
After giving the circumstances of finding nine nests in various 
stages of completion in a little patch of reeds on the New Jer- 
sey coast known to be inhabited by only two pairs of wrens, 
all constructed between June 17 and 27, and only two of which 
were occupied, Mr. Scott asks what possible use all these extra 
nests, representing so much actual work, could be to those two 
pairs of wrens. In this case he thinks the explanation of Dr. 
Coues inadequate, since all these nests ‘‘were begun and appar- 
ently deserted while the temale was still laying, and not incu- 
bating.” Mr. Scott believes either that they built, and at a cer- 
tain stage abandoned, the work as not to their mind; or that, 


« 


THE LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 85 


disturbed by any of their various enemies, notably blackbirds, 
meadow-mice and crows, they abandoned each nest as they 
found it to be discovered, until finally successful in their at- 
tempts. ‘To support this theory of abandonment of nest-build- 
ing, Mr. Scott gives several instances of its occurrence, under 
his eye, in other species of birds. Maynard contributes the 
suggestion that possibly the unoccupied nests may serve tne 
purpose of throwing an enemy off the track ; and offers, as sup- 
porting evidence, the fact that the birds are as solicitous when 
a spurious nest is approached, as when their actual home iS 
threatened. Mr. Nelson’s observations on this habit, as noticed 
by him near Chicago, and recorded in his Birds of North East- 
ern Illinois (Bulletin Essex Institute, VIII, p. 97), are well 
worth reading. 

Probably all these hypotheses are true to a greater or less 
extent, and further, as Wilson suggested, probably some of the 
nests counted may be last year’s. 

This marsh wren’s nest is superior to that of almost any 
other bird for durability, warmth and convenience. ‘* This is © 
formed outwardly of wet rushes mixed with mud, well inter- 
twined, and fashioned into the form of a cocoanut. -A small 
hole is left two-thirds up for entrance, the upper edge of which 
projects like a pent-house over the lower to prevent the admis- 
sionof rain. The inside is lined with fine soft grass, and some- 
times feathers ; and the outside, when hardened by the sun, re- 
sists every kind of weather. This nest is generally suspended 
among the reeds above the reach of the highest tides, and is 
tied so fast to every part of the surrounding reeds as to bid 
defiance to the winds and the waves.” Thus Wilson described 
it, and, perhaps because perfection has been reached, these 
birds vary their architecture but slightly. Occasionally, their 
nest is placed in bushes close to the ground, or in tussocks of 
sedges, and Mr. Samuels thinks the round entrance is always 
on the south side. On entering or leaving, it has been said, 
the sedges are carefully readjusted so as not to disturb the nat- 
ural appearance of the surroundings. Mr. Gentry found one 
nest much like that of a Maryland yellow-throat, and lined 


86 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


with fine vegetable matters instead of with feathers. Mud is 
not always a component part of the nest. 

These wrens begin nesting iminediately upon their arrival, 
which happens in the middle of May at Philadelphia, and 
somewhat later northward. They rear two broods in a season, 
‘constructing a new nest for the second. The time of nesting, 
however, appears to be late and very irregular. 

The eggs are six to nine in number, oval or spheroidal in 
form, .65 by .50 in dimensions, and of a rich dark chocolate 
color resulting from an almost entire confluence of blotches. 
Sometimes a lighter ground-color is smirched with the darker 
pigment and some specimens have a washed-out appearance 
with but few dark spots. Dr. Coues relates that *+ runts” 
sometimes occur. ‘‘ Such are doubtless not fertilized, and 
correspond to the little eggs that fowls and pigeons often drop 
at the close of their season, indicating that their power is ex- 
hausted. I have seen the same thing in the case of the barn 
swallow, and it is probably not an infrequent occurrence.” 

In favorable places west of the great plains, as about the 
tule lakes in northern Utah, Variety paLUDICOLA, No. 51a, is 
exceedingly numerous and closely resembles the eastern bird 
in every particular. In southern Colorado, Henshaw found it 
depositing its first eggs in the middle of June; Ridgway took 
them at Salt Lake June 2. Five was the largest number in any 
one nest. 


52. THE SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 
CISTOTHORUS STELLARIS (Licht.) Cad. 


Eastern United States breeding from Texas to Manitoba 
and Massachusetts. It is nowhere common, however, and in 
many large districts is never found. It is an inhabitant of low 
fresh-water marshes and rank grass-plats. It is shy and its 
home is hard to find. The nest reposes in the midst of a tus- 
sock of coarse high grass, the tops of which are ingeniously 
interwoven into a hollow globe with a small aperture in the 


THE HORNED LARK. 87 


side. The strong wiry grass of the tussock is also interwoven 
with finer materials, making the whole impervious to the 
weather. The inner nest is composed of grasses and finer 
sedges, and lined with ‘+ the linty fibres of the silk-weed, or 
some other similar material.” As with the long-billed marsh 
wren, and some others, the male of this species often constructs 
several nests ; perhaps one of these is used by the female for a 
second brood before the first are able to fly, they being then 
left to the sole care of the male, but this is not well ascertained. 
Nuttall conjectured that two females sometimes occupy one 
nest. 

The eggs, contrary to precedent, are pure opaque white. 
They are rather small for the size of the bird, excessively frag- 
ile, elongated-oval, and about .62 by .46 of an inch in dimen- 
sions. Frequently ten will be counted in a single nest, but it 
is doubtful whether all these hatch. Two broods are brought 


out annually. 
RES SLE, Fig. 52. ] 


Famity ALAUDIDE — Larks. 


53. THE HORNED LARK. 
EREMOPHILA ALPESTRIS (Forst.) Boie. 


Desert Lark, Shore Lark, Prairie Lark; Sky Lark ( Labrador) ; Chip-chupsue 
( Hudson’s Bay ); Ortolan (Nova Scotia); Snow Lark ( Southern Illinois ) ; 
Snow-Bird ( Colorado). 


This is our only representative of the important Old World 
family of Larks, although we have other birds miscalled so, 
the Axthus ludovicianus andthe Sturnella magna tor exam- 
ple. Including all its races, the horned lark wanders over the 
whole of North America, but 2. a/festycs proper. —which is 
identical with the European bird of the same name.—is con- 
fined in summer to the Arctic regions, particularly those adja- 
cent to Greenland, and thence sparingly southward as far as the 
edge of the United States. 


88 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Audubon’s charming account of its home-life cannot be im- 
proved, and has been well confirmed : 


“The shore-lark breeds on the high and desolate tracts of Labrador, 
in the vicinity of the sea. The face of the country appears as if formed 
of one undulated expanse of dark granite, covered with mosses and 
lichens, varying in size and color; some green, others as white as snow, 
and others again of every tint, and disposed in large patches or tufts. 
It is on the latter that the lark places her nest, which is disposed with 
so much care. while the moss so resembles the bird in hue, that. unless 
you almost tread upon her as she sits, she seems to feel secure, and 
remains unmoved. Should you, however. approach so near, she flut- 
ters away, feigning lameness so cunningly that none but one accustomed 
to the sight can refrain from pursuing her. The male immediately 
joins her in mimic wretchedness, uttering a note so soft and plaintive 
that it requires a strong stimulation to force the naturalist to rob the 
poor birds of their treasure. 

The nest, which is embedded in the moss to its edges, is composed of 
fine grasses, circularly disposed, and forming a bed about two inches 
thick, with a lining of grouse-feathers and those of other birds. In the 
beginning of July, the eggs are deposited. They are four or five in num- 
ber, large, grayish, and covered with numerous pale-blue and brown 
spots. The young leave the nest before they are able to fly, and follow 
their parents over the moss, where they are fed about a week. They 
run nimbly, emit a soft Aref, and squat closely at the first appearance 
of danger. If observed and pursued, they open their wings to aid them 
in their escape, and, separating, make off with great celerity. On such 
occasions, it is difficult to secure more than one of them, unless several 
persons be present, when each can pursue a bird. The parents, all this 
time, are following the enemy overhead, lamenting the danger to which 
their young are exposed. In several instances, the old bird followed us 
almost to our boat. alighting occasionally on a projecting crag before us 
and entreating us, as it were, to restore its offspring. By the first of 
August, many of the young are fully fledged, and the different broods 
are seen associating together, to the number of ferty, fifty, or more.” 


The a/fpestris form also breeds about Hamilton, C. W., and 
in western and central New York. of which several instances 
have lately come to light. (See Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, HI, 54.) 

Thus much for the species in the northeast. In the west and 
southwest differences of climate, etc., have produced changes of 
plumage which separate the shore larks there into two geo 


THE HORNED LARK. 89 


graphical races, those from Kansas westward, south of, say, 
the Platte river, being known as Variety CRysoLaMaA, No. 
53@; and those north of the Platte, from Wisconsin westward, 
coming into Variety LEUCOLAMA, No. 536. 

For the purposes of oology, we may take both these varieties 
as one, since their nidification presents no tangible distinctions. 
The western horned larks, therefore, may be said to breed from 
Michigan and Illinois westward to the Pacific coast, north- 
ward perhaps to Alaska, and southward throughout the high- 
lands of Mexico. Over much of this region the species is 
nearly stationary, and it is exceedingly abundant on the dry 
plains. 

The western larks appear to nestle very early in Illinois; 
‘*sometimes the last of February, and regularly during March 
and April, the first set of eggs is deposited, and early in May 
the fully fledged young commence to appear.” Dates in my 
possession for that state are March 4, April 15, May 24, and 
July 2, the latter with embryos; for central Michigan I have 
the dates April 29, May 1 and 2; for Wisconsin, April 15; in 
Iowa, Mr. Allen shot fully fledged young, May 25. On the 
contrary, records from the Utah basin, the high northern 
plains and the Pacific slope, show no eggs found earlier than 
June, except J. K. Lord’s mention of their early nesting on the 
Columbia, with second broods in July. 

Their favorite resorts are the dry and gravelly plains, or, east 
of the Mississippi, open pastures and stubble fields. There 
they scratch a hollow in the ground in some suitable spot, and 
line the cavity with a rude bed of grass and weeds, making an 
inartistic nest, with walls an inch thick and no special lining. 

The ground-tint of the eggs is a varying grayish clay-color, 
which is thickly, minutely, and uniformly flecked with light 
brown ; but in some specimens there is a decided agglomera- 
tion of the spots into blotches forming a wreath about the larger 
end, witb touches of purplish intermingled. Perhaps it is 
true that Labrado1 eggs(as, indeed, might be expected )rule 
larger than western specimens, but in respect to markings there 
is no appreciable difference. 


go \NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


After the foregoing was written, I was favored by Mr. Thos. 
S. Roberts, of Minneapolis, Minn., with so very interesting a 
letter concerning this bird’s habits in his region, that I feet 
bound to spare space for its full insertion : 


Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 19, 1878. 
DEAR SiR: — 

During the early part of winter the shore-larks leave this lo- 
cality ; but just as soon as warmer suns and milder days lay bare 
patches of broken ground here and there, a few of the most 
venturesome return. ‘This is occasionally in the latter part of 
January, but usually in February. Once having come they are 
not easily driven back. and brave many a heavy snow-storm and 
arctic wind. During such seasons of severe weather they gain 
their subsistence along the roads, and seem to endure life rather 
than to enjoy it. Their spring-like song sounds sadly out of 
place with the thermometer ten or fifteen degrees below zero. 

At the first appearance of real spring weather, the larks be- 
come more numerous, their singing more frequent, and the 
love-making begins. By the time the sun’s rays have gained 
sufficient power to melt the snow from southern exposures, a 
few of the most eager birds have arranged matters and are look- 
ing about for a suitable building site. This is usually selected 
in some bare, exposed spot, on the prairie or in an abandoned 
field, where a nest would seem the least likely to be placed ; no 
sheltering dead weed or tuft of grass is sought, but instead a 
place where the nest will be protected by its very openness. 
One of these early nests I found on April 4, 1877, while there 
was still much snow on the ground. It was on the southern 
slope of a little knoll, where the surface had thawed out two 
inches or so deep. A cup-shaped cavity had been scratched in 
the earth, in the midst of some old cow-manure ; as yet only 
the rim and upper part of the nest had been completed, the 
bottom and lower sides being merely modelled. Une bird, 
evidently the female, was at work upon it, while the other sat 
near by singing. On the morning of April 7, the nest was 
completed and contained two eggs ; on the gth, four ege's were in 


THE HORNED LARK. ot 


the nest, and this proved to be the full set in this instance. It 
is probable that the nest was completed on the 5th, and that 
one egg was laid each day until the four were deposited. On 
the 11th, the bird was sitting ; on the 18th, I found that one egg 
had just hatched, which made nine days from the laying of the 
last egg until the first one hatched ; by the rgth two more were 
out and on the 2oth the fourth egg was hatched. 

When the bird first comes from the egg, the long down on 
the body, being damp, is matted together in close strings, and 
the body is nearly bare; but, quickly drying, the bird is soon 
enveloped ina soft, fluffy, yellowish covering. The down grows 
in patches and lines upon the top and back of the head, back, 
sides, and wings. On the 2oth, the eyes of these young birds 
were closed ; but, by the 25th, all four had them fully open, and 
their plumage proper had developed very rapidly, so that they 
began really to resemble young shore larks. Only one of them 
showed any inclination to open its mouth for food when dis- 
turbed. Taking one upon the palm of my hand, I found that 
it had gained considerable strength, and could nearly stand up- 
right, but was unable to balance itself,— falling over backward. 
On April 28, they were still in the nest, but more than filled it, 
so that one had to sit out on the edge. As the wind was blow- 
ing hard, they sat very close, with their heads drawn well 
down and facing the direction from which the gale came. 
They paid no attention to my approach, or even to being 
gently poked, beyond shrinking a little closer to the ground. 
Their instinct told them that if the strong wind caught them 
unawares, they might suffer a rough tumble. On the 29th they 
were gone, and the only one to be found was started by the dog 
some hundred yards from the nest. I had stepped nearly upon 
it, without its starting. It was unable to rise up on wing, but 
ran and fluttered along, crying loudly, which brought the par- 
ents immediately. They showed great concern for a moment, 
but, upon the fledgling being taken in my hand, left the place 
entirely. The young bird could run very rapidly, but could 
not stand still well. Its note was a loud Jeep. 

The shore lark breeds most abundantly in April, May and 


92 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


June, but in mild seasons begins nesting even earlier. The 
winter of 1877-8 was mild here, as elsewhere, and the spring 
opened nearly a month earlier than usual. On March 18, of 
this year, I found a nest in a sheltered locality containing three 
young birds, about a day old. The pair must have built their 
nest in the first week of March. Onthe 13th of the same month, 
two other nests contained incomplete sets of eggs. On the 
21st, one nest was found unfinished and another containing three 
young birds. These occurrences seem singular, but the nature 
of the weather at that time justified them, and they only serve 
to exemplify the readiness of this bird to nest at the first possi- 
ble opportunity. 

The lark is essentially a prairie-breeding bird. Sandy 
places where the grass is short, or almost absent, are favorite 
resorts, and often a barren, loose sand-knoll will be the home 
of several pairs. In accordance with its common habit of 
frequenting roads for a large portion of its food, the nests, four 
times out of five, are placed near the roadside and almost al- 
ways in the centre, or beside a deposit of dry and bleached 
cow-ordure. I attribute this situation to a protective instinct ; 
since the color of the weather-dried manure resembles very 
closely that of the upper surface of the female. As a rule, this 
bird avoids building under any sheltering vegetation. The 
nest is sunk in the ground to the rim ; or, in most cases, it might 
be more properly described as a shallow, cup-shaped cavity 
lined with grass, small bits of weeds, fine roots and similar 
materials. The lining of the nest is finer grasses, pappus-bear- 
ing composites, and occasionally a few feathers; the lining 
however, does not seem to be a particular matter. The sides 
are thick but are so loosely constructed that it is very diffi- 
cult to move the structure from its cavity, and next to im- 
possible to preserve entire the natural shape. 

The eggs of the shore lark are from three to five in number. 
Usually but three are laid early in the season, while five is the 
usual clutch in May and June. The ground-color is dull or 
olivaceous-white, densely marked all over with dots and blotches 
of dull brown. Some specimens have a very few irregular 


THE HORNED LARK. 93 


black lines and dots about the larger end, resembling those on 
an oriole’s egg. The average dimensions of thirteen eggs 
are: length, .84; breadth, .61. In one specimen the maxi- 
mum length (.87) and the minimum breadth (.56) are com- 
bined. 

The shore larks are most indifferent birds about the safety of 
their nests, feeding and singing in a visitor’s presence with the 
utmost unconcern, or leaving the vicinity entirely. While 
they have eggs, we have never known them to exhibit any 
anxiety, and the difficulty of finding the nest is thus greatly in- 
creased. When surprised upon the nest, they fly silently away 
and do not return while any one is about. When they have 
young, however, they will occasionally make a considerable 
demonstration at being disturbed. At such times they fly 
about the nest, alighting here and there, and passing close by 
the intruder, uttering all the time cries of distress. Before in- 
cubation fully begins, the bird is easily driven to desert her 
nest by a slight disturbance from a passing vehicle or animal, 
or almost any trifling interference. 

Judging from the length of the season during which the lark 
breeds and from the expedition with which it disposes of its 
young, there can be little doubt that two broods are raised ina 
season; and I am inclined to believe that sometimes three are 
brought out. Fora short-time after leaving the nest, the oddly 
marked young are accompanied by their parents. Later, sev- 
eral broods join together and the little company may be seen 
scurrying about over the prairies. 

During the mating and nesting season the habits of this bird 
present several interesting features. One such is the manner 
in which the male delivers his love-song. Rising from the 
prairie the exuberant bird mounts by successive leaps spirally 
upward and upward, until almost lost from view. Listening 
carefully we find that he is pouring forth his short song again 
and again, hovering meanwhile a mere speck against the sky. 
After a few minutes, folding his wings closely, the singer drops 
head foremost, almost perpendicularly, and seems about to 
dash against the ground when he catches himself on outspread 


94 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


wings, at the last instant, and gently alights, or skims along a 
short distance over the prairie to drop down perhaps on the 
very spot from which the ascent was made. I have seen them 
soaring thus as early as February ro. 

This letter is compiled from notes, and is as near an accurate 
account of the breeding of the horned lark in this vicinity, as 
observed by my father and myself, as I can make it. 

Hoping that the facts may be of service to you, I am, 

Yours respectfully, 
Tuomas 8. ROBERTS. 
(Pl Wilt, Pigss53.] 


54. THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 
BUDYTES FLAVA (ZL.)Cuz. 


This bird, a common species of the Old World, was added to 
the North American fauna, in 1866, by its discovery in Alaska. 
Many years ago, Dr. Edward Adams found the bird common 
at Michelaski. He first met with them on June 5, and took 
their nests on the 12th. Mr. Bannister has seen them breed- 
ing in the vicinity of St. Michael’s, Norton sound, but I am 
not aware that he has published any narrative of their habits. 
To compile an account of their nidification in Europe, beyond 
stating the mere fact that they nestle on the ground, is unnec- 
essary. Furthermore, they may be found to differ materially 
on this side of the ocean. 


55. THE TITLARK. 
ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS (Gm.)Licht. 


The titlark wanders over the whole continent from Guate- 
mala to Greenland. We are familiar with its winter appear- 
ance, but of its habits in summer and particularly its nesting, 
we are not so well informed. Except among the snow-fields 
on the summits of the mountains of the west, where elevation 


THE TITLARK. 95 


supplies the same conditions as increase of latitude, the tit- 
lark is not known to breed south of the Arctic regions. It 
will not surprise me, however, if it shall hereafter be proved 
to do so, since it has already been reported as breeding in 
western New York occasionally, and Dr. C. C. Abbott, a 
most competent observer, assures me that he has seen the bird 
in New Jersey in May. Audubon’s oft-quoted account of its 
nidification reads as follows : 


I found it breeding abundantly on the Labrador coast, on moss- 
covered rocks, as well as in the deep valleys, but never at any great 
distance from the sea. The nests were usually placed at the foot of a 
wall in the rocks, buried in the dark mould, and beautifully formed of 
fine bent grass, arranged in a circular manner, without any hair or 
other lining. Both birds incubate, sitting so closely that on several 
occasions I almost put my foot upon them before they flew. The first 
nest that I found was on the 29th of June, when the thermometer ranged 
from 51 to 54 degrees. The eggs were six in number, five-eighths of 
an inch long and six and one-quarter twelfths in breadth, being rather 
elongated, though rounded at both ends; their ground color of a deep 
reddish-chestnut or reddish-brown, considerably darkened by numerous 
dots of a deeper reddish-brown and lines of various sizes, especially 
toward the large end. 


Dr. Elliott Coues also met with it in Labrador, and ob- 
tained two nests in July placed in cavities in the ground on 
the side of a steep rocky chasm. They were built upon a 
staging of dry grass, keeping them above the wet, and were con- 
structed of ** coarse dried grass loosely arranged, and without 
lining ; the exterior diameter was about six inches, the interior 
three inches, with a depth of two inches. One nest contained 
five, the other four, eggs, averaging thirteen-sixteenths of an 
inch long, by nine and one-half sixteenths broad ; of a dark choc- 
olate color, indistinctly marked with numerous small spots and 
streaks of blackish. The parents do not leave the nest until 
nearly trodden on, then the one that is incubating flutters up 
with loud cries of distress that soon bring the mate, and the 
pair hover anxiously overhead, at times approaching within a 
few feet, or even alighting close by, all the while crying out in 


96 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


the most beseeching and plaintive manner.” No attempt to 
deceive by feigning lameness was noticed, but several pairs 
breeding near one another were usually aroused, and joined 
their cries with those of the afflicted parents. 

In central Colorado, according to T. Martin Trippe, the 
titlark arrives early in May, and by June has ascended to the 
summit of the range, and begins nesting almost as soon as the 
grass comes up, incubation beginning in the first and second 
weeks of July. The nest is placed under the shelter of a pro- 
jecting stone, and is very neatly constructed of coarse grass 
externally, lined with fine grass, and is about three and one-half 
inches in diameter. 

The eggs are usually five in number; the ground color dark 
brownish-purple, almost hidden by spots and splashes of pur- 
plish-black. Eggs from different nests vary somewhat in the 
intensity of color, some being much lighter and grayer than 
others, but the general aspect is always quite dark. As one 
approaches their nests the parents hover silently about, in deep 
anxiety. 

The European Meadow Pipit (Axthus pratensis, No. 55 
éés) is occasionally taken as a straggler into Greenland, and 
may now and then breed among the heather there. 


(Pl. VII, Fig. 55.] 


56. THE MISSOURI SKYLARK. 
NEOCORYS SPRAGUEI (Aud.) Sclater. 
Sprague’s Lark, or Pipit; Missouri Lark. 


This is a true bird ef the plains and particularly numerous 
on the upper J/ssouré and Yellowstone where it breeds; but, 
its nest, like that of other prairie birds necessarily building 
on the ground, is exceedingly difficult to find, exposing 
nothing which can catch your eye. You may see a pair 
hovering over the same spot day after day in ‘‘painful agitation,” 


THE LDLACK-AND-WHITE CREEPER. 97 


and yet fail to find the nest you know is there, after repeated 
and thorough examination of the ground. Hence our knowl- 
edge of it until very recently has been based almost exclusively 
on the discoveries of Mr. J. A. Allen, who in 1873 secured a 
nest on the Yellowstone of which he gave the following 
account: 


The nest, as described by Audubon, was placed on the ground, and 
neatly formed of dry fine grass. It was thinly arched over with the 
same material, and being built in a tuft of rank grass. was most thor- 
oughly concealed. The bird would seem to be a close sitter, as in this 
case the female remained on the nest till I actually stepped over it, she 
brushing against my feet as she went off. The eggs were five in num- 
ber, rather long and pointed, measuring about .go by .60 inches, of a 
grayish-white color, thickly and minutely flecked with small blotches of 
purplish-brown, giving them a decidedly purplish tint. In color the 
eggs thus somewhat resemble those of the titlark. (PI. Fig. 56.) 


Famity SYLVICOLIDZ—WaRBLERS. 


57. THE BLACK-AND-WHITE CREEPER. 
MNIOTILTA VARIA (Linn.) Veecll. 


Varied Creeper; Black Creeping Warbler. 


Entering the United States in great numbers in February 
and March, it rapidly becomes spread everywhere eastward 
of Arkansas and the Missouri river, and northward into the 
British possessions. Some nevertheless remain and breed in 
the southern states, which is contrary to the rule among the 
majority of Our warblers. 

It is one of the earliest of our singing-birds to make its nest, 
completing it, in New England and Ohio, about the second 
or third week of May. The situation will be found so chosen 
that an overhanging rock, a log, the branching roots of a tree, 
or herbage of the preceding year affords protection. The 
ordinary site is in some wooded, or bushy spot. Placed flatly on 


98 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


the ground, the materials of which the nest is constructed are 
strips of inner bark of various trees, within which are matted 
leaves, mosses, cotton from ferns, etc., etc., with a lining 
of hairs. Some nests are arched over, much like an oven- 
bird’s (Svurus auricapillus), which generally it greatly resem- 
bles in size and loose appearance. Mr. Augustus Fowler, at 
Danvers. Mass.. found one placed in a tuft of moss, in a 
moist, bushy pasture where it was nearly concealed in a cavity, 
the moss having grown over it, till it was almost covered. 
Undoubtedly the above-described method is the almost invari- 
able practice of these creeping-warblers. Therefore, Audubon’s 
statement that in Louisiana the nest was built in holes in trees, 
and composed of moss and other soft substances, has been dis- 
credited ; but Dr. Coues is authority for the assertion that they 
have been known to breed so at Washington, D.C., and more 
lately H. D. Minot asserts that he has found two nests so sit- 
uated near Boston. 

‘¢ The eggs,” says Dr. T. M. Brewer, “vary in shape from 
a rounded to an oblong oval, and in size from .69 to .75 of an 
inch in length, and from .51 to .53 of an inch in breadth. 
Their ground-color is a creamy white, to which the deep red 
markings impart an apparently pinkish tinge. They are 
marked more or less profoundly with bright red dots, points 
and blotches. These vary in number and in distribution. — In 
some they are very fine, and are chiefly confined to the larger 
end. In others they are larger, more diffused, and occasionally 
there are intermingled marks and blotches of slate-color, The 
effect of these variations is, at times, to give the appearance of 
ereater difference to these eggs than really exists, the ground- 
color and the shade of the red marking, really presenting but 
little modification.” I should call five eggs the usual comple- 
ment ; and often two broods are reared during a single season. 

Mr. John Burroughs, in his inimitable language, has describ- 
ed the behavior of these warblers when their home is invaded : 


A black-and-white creeping warbler suddenly became much alarmed 
as I approached a crumbling old stump, in a dense part of the forest. 
He alighted upon it, chirped sharply, ran up and down the sides and 


THE BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER. 99 


finally left it with much reluctance. The nest, which contained three 
young birds nearly fledged, was placed upon the ground at the foot of 
the stump, and in such a position that the color of the young harmon- 
ized perfectly with the bits of bark, sticks, etc., lying about. My eyes 
rested upon them for the second time before I made them out. They 
hugged the nest very closely, but as I put down my hand they all scam- 
pered off with loud cries for help, which caused the parent birds to plag 
themselves almost within my reach. GE Big: 57. 


58. THE BLUE YHELLOW-BACKED WARBLER. 
PARULA AMERICANA (Linn.) Bonap. 


This beautiful warbler has a summer residence from West 
Virginia to Nova Scotéa,and westward even to the foothills of 
the Rocky mountains ; it is commonest in the latitude of Mass- 
achusetts and northward during the summer, but also breeds in 
Illinois, Virginia and New Jersey ; Audubon’s mention of find- 
ing its home in Louisiana is undoubtedly an error. 

The nest of this warbler is hollowed out of a bunch of 
‘* Spanish moss,”—the long, gray fibrous lichen which hangs 
trom trees in many New England swamps.  ‘* With great 
skill,” remarks Dr. Brewer, ** do these tiny architects gather 
up, fasten together, and interweave, one with the other, the 
hanging ends and longer branches. By an elaborate inter- 
twining of these long fibres they form the principal part, some- 
times the whole of their nests. ‘These structures are at once 
simple, beautiful, ingenious and skilfully wrought. When 
first made they are somewhat rude and unfinished, but as their 
family are gathered, the eggs deposited, incubated and hatched, 
a change has been going on. Little by little has the male bird 
busied himself, when not procuring food for his mate, in im- 
proving, strengthening and enlarging the nest. These same 
acts of improvement are noticed with the humming-birds, 
vireos and a few other birds.” 

The nests are sometimes constructed on the sides of trunks 
of trees when covered with long mossy lichens, and in such 
cases consist only of an interweaving of the moss above and 


100 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


below a very small opening, within which a cup-shaped floor- 
ing has been matted out of the same material. To such a nest 
you must be guided by the bird itself, for it is effectually con- 
cealed, ‘The nests are more frequently found, however, hanging 
from low branches, and when thus pensile are generally imper- 
fectly circular in shape, with an entrance on one side and rarely 
with any lining. An exceptional one found by Deane and 
Brewster at Stoneham, Mass., was in appearance much like 
that of a Baltimore oriole’s, except that it was composed of 
interwoven moss, being hung in a drooping spray of hemlock, 
entirely open at the top, and not in the least purse-shaped. 
The whole structure was so frail that the eggs could easily be 
seen through the walls. Mr. B. J. Peckham of Westerly, R. I ., 
who appears to have had more than ordinary opportunities for 
studying this bird, gives the following interesting experience : 


In 1876 I removed a nest from a large oak situated on a ledge. Inthe 
winter the tree was cut down, and the next spring they used the moss 
on some low barberry bushes within a few feet of the former tree. The 
nest when completed hung within three feet of the ground; but they 
never used the nest, for they immediately built a second on another 
barberry bush which grew out of the side of an almost inaccessible 
ledge. They now for some cause deserted the second nest, and built in 
a small maple near by. I never found them nearer the ground than 
eight feet nor in bushes barring these two occasions. The second week 
in June, 1877, I found two more on an oak surrounded by water, so that 
had the limbs not overhung a bank, I could not have secured them. 
One contained four eggs, the other four young so nearly fledged that 
when I visited it a week later, they had disappeared. The nest was at- 
tached to a limb three inches thick and hung down about six inches. The 
external diameter three inches. I would say, among all the nests that 
I have found not one was placed in the fork, as I have seen stated, but 
were suspended from the under side of the limb, and braced by attach- 
ing the long thread-like moss to other branches. One nest was fastened 
in five different places. Without one exception the nests were all situ- 
ated over or in close proximity to water. Some nests of this species 
have a single hole in its side; others have two—the entrance and a small 
hole in the rear for their tail to project. 


Seeming already to be mated on their arrival from the south 
late in May, they immediately begin to search for a proper place 


SENNETT’S WARBLER. IOI 


to build, but it is about the second week in June before their eggs 
are laid. They are firmly attached to chosen localities and 
endeavor to build again and again in the same tree. The eggs, 
four or five in number, are clear white, sparsely spotted with 
markings of reddish-brown, slate, purple and lilac. In some, 
blotches of the first predominate; in others, the last three 
shades, usually forming a confluent ring around the larger end. 
They measure .62 to .7o in length and .49 to .57 in breadth. 
When the nest is disturbed the parents make little complaint. 
(PI. IX. Fig. 58.) 


58bis. SENNETT’S WARBLER. 
PARULA NIGRILORA Coues. 


This new warbler, discovered by Mr. George B. Sennett on 
the ower Rio Grande in 1877, has a very limited range, so 
far as known, in the immediate vicinity of the mouth of that 
river, and probably southwestward. All the information ob- 
tained that year was a published note by Dr. J. C. Merrill, 
U.S. A., who found its nest, July 5, about five miles from Fort 
Brown. ‘It was placed ina small thin bunch of hanging moss, 
about ten feet from the ground, in a thicket; was simply hol- 
lowed out of the moss, of which it was entirely composed, with 
the exception of three or four horsehairs; entrance on side; 
contained three young, about half-fledged.” 

Largely induced by the hope of finding out more, Mr. Sen- 
net repeated his trip to Texas in 1878, and was not disappointed. 
He has kindly communicated to me observations in manuscript 
in advance of his own publication, and I am able to make up 
a tolerably full history of the species. Mr. Sennet says: 


I found these warblers not uncommon; and, by the middle of May, 
was made anxious by finding that dissection of females showed their 
eggs to be only just developing, while my time of departure was near. 
But on May 17, my Mexican guide, Pancho, brought in the most in- 
teresting and peculiar nest I had seen in that locality, together with 
one broken egg, which was none other than that of this new warbler; 


102 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


but my hopes were thus brightened only to be cast down, for no other 
nest was found in spite of the most untiring and intelligent searching. 

This warbler must arrive on the Rio Grande in March, but the great 
majority do not breed until June. The site selected (and little time 
need be wasted in choosing it) is one of the thousands of tresses of 
Tillandsta (Spanish moss), which everywhere drapes the trees, or 
among the dense tufts of a mistletoe-like orchid which attaches itself 
in similar abundance to partially dead branches. The orchid contain- 
ing the nest before me was firm in texture, and grew upon the drooping 
end of a Brazil-wood tree about ten feet from the ground. The nest 
itself was simply a cavity formed by spreading the gray leaves of the 
orchid and digging into its very centre from the side, making a cavity 
some two inches wide and deep, with a narrower opening. The bottom 
and sides of this grotto are lined with short cottony wood-fibres. form- 
ing an elegant matting for the eggs. The whole orchid could be packed 
in a cigar-box, and is firm and secure ; yet how easily was it adapted to 
a bird’s home! 

The egg, like the nest, betrays a close affinity to that of Parula 
americana. It has the same spots of lilac and brown forming a broad 
band near the larger end, while, here and there over the whole surface, 
a fleck of the same color appears on a dull white ground. The single 
egg taken measures .67 of an inch long by .46 broad. I confidently 
expect this bird to be found in wooded districts north of the Rio Grande 
valley and possibly north of the Nueces. That this form has not been 
met with in Mexico by the several fieid-ornithologists who have visited 
that region seems strange, yet the diminutive size of the bird and its 
frequenting the tops of the tallest trees, would assist greatly in its 
concealment. (Rls EX ic sShzs3) 


59. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 
PROTONOTARIA CITREA (Bodd.) Bd. 


Golden Swamp Warbler ; Prothonotary. 


The home of this delicate bird is the swamps from Central 
America northward. It is found most abundantly throughout 
the Gulf states, but extends its migrations north to Kansas, 
Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana, and occasionally to 
Pennsylvania and Maryland. Indeed, it is probable that its 


THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 103 


maximum abundance during the breeding season is reached 
about the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 

The freshest and most complete observations are given us by 
Mr. William Brewster in an admirable essay in the Nuttall 
Club’s Bulletin for October, 1878 (Vol. III, p. 153), and I 
cannot do better than to condense it, since I have had no _per- 
sonal experience with the bird, advising all my readers to turn 
to the original article. 

Mr. Brewster’s locality was Mt. Carmel, southern Illinois, 
and the time was April, 1878. The first warm days brought 
a host of warblers and among all the gay revellers none were 
more conspicuous than the beautiful prothonotaries. 


Day by day their numbers rapidly increased, until by April 27 all had 
apparently arrived. We now found the prothonotary warbler to be, 
in all suitable localities, one of the most abundant and characteristic 
species. Along the shores of the rivers and creeks generally, wherever 
the black willow (Salix niger) grew, a few pairs were sure to be found. 
Among the button-bushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis) that fringed the 
margin of the peculiar long narrow ponds scattered at frequent intervals 
over the heavily timbered bottoms of the Wabash and White rivers, they 
also occurred more or less numerously. Potoka creek, a winding, slug- 
gish stream, thickly fringed with willows, was also a favorite resort, but 
the grand rendezvous of the species seemed to be about the shores of cer- 
tain secluded ponds lying in what is known as the Little Cypress Swamp. 
Here they congregated in astonishing numbers and early in May were 
breeding almost in colonies. In the region above indicated two things 
were found to be essential to their presence, namely, an abundance of 
willows and the immediate proximity of water. Thickets of button- 
bushes did, indeed, satisfy a few scattered and perhaps not over-particular 
individuals and pairs, but away from water they are almost never seen. 

Mating began almost immediately after the arrival of the females, and 
the ‘old, old story” was told in many a willow thicket by little golden- 
breasted lovers. The scene enacted upon such occasions was not strik- 
ingly different from that usual among smaller birds: retiring and some- 
what indifferent coyness on the part of the female; violent protestations 
and demonstrations from the male, who swelled his plumage. spread 
his wings and tail, and fairly danced around the object of his affections. 
Sometimes at this juncture another male appeared, and then a fierce 
conflict was sure to ensue. The combatants would struggle together 


104. NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


most furiously until the weaker was forced to give way and take to flight. 
On several occasions I have seen two males, after fighting among the 
branches for a long time, clinch and come fluttering together to the 
water beneath, where for several minutes the contest continued upon the 
surface until both were fairly drenched. The males rarely meet in the 
mating season without fighting, even though no female may be near. 
Sometimes one of them turns tail at the outset ; and the other at ence 
giving chase, the pursuer and pursued separated by a few inches only 
go darting through the woods. winding, doubling, now careering away 
up among the tree-tops, now down over the water, sweeping close to the 
surface until the eye becomes weary with following their mad flight. 
During all this time the female usually busies herself with feeding, appar- 
ently entirely unconcerned as to the issue. Upon the return of the con- 
queror her indifference, real or assumed, vanishes, he receives a warm 
welcome, and matters are soon arranged between them. 


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


The nesting of the prothonotary warbler affords the most interesting 
phase of its life history. Audubon’s account of its nest, ‘‘fixed in the 
fork of a small twig bending over the water.” seems in the light of our 
present knowledge open to serious doubts. At least, it is not the mode 
of nidification used in the places where it is best known at the present 
day. Mr. B. F. Goss of Neosho Falls, Kansas, first brought to light 
the fact that in that locality the bird invariably nested in holes of trees 
or buildings. Since his discovery of the first nest in 1863, others sim- 
ilarly situated have been found by Dr. Palmer and Mr. Robert Ridgway, 
at the Kiowa Agency, Indian Territory, and at Mount Carmel, Ill. The 
first nest collected the past season was found by Mr. Ridgway on April 
27. It contained four fresh eggs. This was probably an exceptionally 
early date, as nearly a week elapsed before any other eggs were taken; 
and, indeed, the greater proportion of a large number collected between 
May Sand May 12 were freshly laid. At least forty nests were exam- 
ined altogether, about one-half of which contained eggs. To give an 
account of all the various situations in which these nests were placed 
would entail a description of nearly every conceivable kind of hole or 
cavity that can be found in tree-trunks. The typical nesting-site, how- 
ever, was the deserted hole of the downy woodpecker or Carolina 
chickadee. The height varied from two to fifteen feet, though the usual 
elevation was about four. If the cavity was old and broken out, or 
otherwise enlarged, it was far more apt to be chosen than a neater and 
newer one close at hand. The stump selected almost invariably stood 
in or projected over water, although, as above stated, it was oftentimes 
left high and dry after the eggs were laid. 

Of the many exceptions to the above-described typical site, I will 
here notice only two of the most marked. A nest discovered May 8, 


THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 105 


was built in a sort of pocket-shaped cavity in the side of a large cypress 
stump. The hole descended vertically in the inside of the shell-like 
wall, the central heart of which had crumbled away. Another, found 
by Mr. Ridgway. was built in an extremely rotten snag which stood on 
the edge of a road ; the eggs or sitting parent could easily be seen by 
any one riding by. This nest was several hundred yards away from 
water. 

In the construction of the nest the female labors somewhat desulto- 
rily. Fresh green moss enters largely into its composition, and al- 
though this substance is readily obtained, a week is sometimes consumed 
in building the simple little affair. Most of the materials are gathered 
in the immediate vicinity from half-submerged logs or the nearest dry 
ground. The male almost always accompanies his partner on her trips 
to and from the nest, making a great show of hunting up choice bits 
of material, but apparently never succeeding in finding any to his 
mind. He usually precedes her on her return, enters the hole to inves- 
tigate the condition of affairs, pops out his golden head to assure her 
with a soft chirp that all is well within, and then gives way to allow her 
to enter, clinging against the bark outside to cheer her labors with his 
song and await her reappearance. Sometimes, however, both birds 
remain inside together, although how much assistance the male renders 
in house furnishing I cannot say. Probably his presence is only toler- 
ated, and he is perhaps often accused of being a nuisance. 

The shape and size of the nest vary with that of the cavity in which it 
is placed. When the hole is deep, it is usually filled up to within four 
or five inches of the entrance. Thus the nest when removed presents 
the appearance of a compact mass of moss five or six inches in height 
by three or four in diameter. When the cavity is shallow, it is often 
only scantily lined with moss and a few fine roots. The deeper nests 
are of course the more elaborate ones. One of the finest specimens 
before me is composed of moss, dry leaves, and cypress-twigs. The 
cavity for the eggs is a neatly rounded, cup-shaped hollow, two inches 
in diameter by one and a half in depth, smoothly lined with fine roots 
and a few wing-feathers of some small bird. 

The number of eggs constituting a full set varies to an unusual de- 
gree; two nests were found, each of which contained seven eggs, while 
in another instance a nest, which from its position could not possibly 
have been molested, had only one, nearly ready to be hatched. Out of 
fifteen sets of eggs taken, two included seven eggs; three, six; three, 
five; four, four; two, three; and one, one egg. The average number 
is probably five or six. Seventeen specimens before me agree pretty 
well in size and general shape, nearly all being noticeably blunted at 
the smaller end. Two selected as extreme examples measure respec- 
tively .73 X .59 and .67 X .58. The ground-color is clear, lustrous 


106 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


white, with a high polish. Eggs from different sets vary considerably 
in markings, but two types of coloration seem to prevail. In one, spots 
and dottings of dull brown with faint submarkings of pale lavender are 
generally and evenly distributed over the entire surface. In the other, 
bold blotches of bright reddish-brown are so thickly laid on, especially 
about the larger ends, that the ground-color is in some instances al- 
most entirely obscured. Cr EX Biss 593) 


60. WORM-EATING WARBLER. 
HELMINTHERUS VERMIVORUS (Gum.) BA. 


The shy worm-eater spreads itself in summer over the east- 
ern United States south of New England and west to Missouri 
and Kansas, being most abundant in the valleys of the Alle- 
ghanies, where well-shaded brooks wind their way between 
the thickets. 

As in the two preceding cases, Audubon erred in his descrip- 
tion of the nidification of this warbler, The nest is not placed in 
bushes but on the ground, occupying a hollow on some hillside 
much like the nest of the oven-bird (.Szavrzs), and, like that, 
concealed by the twigs and dead leaves strewn about. The 
structure itself is only a clumsy conglomeration of dead leaves 
and other materials to be had close by, lined with pine-needles, 
the fine thread-like stalks of the hair-moss, or similar soft and 
flexible substances. These nests are embedded below the level 
of the surface of the ground and are easily passed over by the 
sharpest eyes, unless the female, forced from her sitting, acci- 
dentally betrays the position at your very feet. In the latitude 
of Philadelphia the eggs are laid about June, or a little later ; 
while Mr. Eugene Bicknell, who informs me that he has known 
of many pairs nesting at Riverdale in the northern edge of 
New York City, gives June 5-10 as the proper time to seek for 
fresh eggs. 

The eggs are elliptical and crystal-white, spotted (in varying 
profusion in different specimens) with minute dottings of a 
bright red-brown ; at the larger end these dots are crowded, and 
mingled with cloudings of lilac-brown. They are large, meas- 


THE BLUE-WINGED YELLOW WARBLER. 107 


aring from .70 to .78 of an inch in length by .56 to .60 in 
breadth, and remind one of the eggs of the nuthatch. 

The young are fed on smooth caterpillars, grubs and spiders, 
and the parents manifest intense anxiety when any danger 


threatens, often feigning lameness ‘‘ with intent to deceive.” 
(Pl. X. Fig. 60.) 


61. SWAINSON’S WARBLER. 
HELMINTHERUS SWAINSONI (Azd.) BA. 


The home of this very rare swamp-warbler within our limits, 
so far as known, is the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and 
Alabama. Its habits seem to resemble those of the prothono- 


tary, but nothing is known of its nidification. 
(Pl. X. Fig. 61.) 


62. THE BLUE-WINGED YELLOW WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA PINUS (Linn.) Baird. 


Habitat, eastern United States, northward to Massachusetts 
and Minnesota, westward to Iowa, Kansas and Texas, and 
southward through eastern Mexico to Guatemala. 

The nests are rare in cabinets. Mr. Ridgway collected 
several at Mt. Carmel, Ill., one of which contained five eggs 
on May 8. These examples are described as placed on the 
ground among shrubbery, and_ built loosely of broad thin 
strips of inner-bark of the basswood, etc., lined with inter- 
laced fine grass stems. Mr. S. N. Rhoads reports a similar nest 
at West Chester, Pa., taken June 10. “It was built in the 
midst of a clump of tall swamp grass, on the outskirts of a forest 
where there was a good deal of weedy undergrowth not over 
two feet high. The nest rested slightly on the ground and 
was quite bulky for the size of the bird ; the cavity was nearly 
three inches deep by two inches in width. The structure was 
composed externally of beech and oak leaves of the preceding 
year, which seemed to have been carelessly strewn and stuck 


108 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


in as if to form a barricade around the brim. The lining con- 
sisted of fine strips of grape-vine and inner-bark of the oak, to- 
gether with some straws. This nest contained four young birds 
about two days old.” Since that date Mr. Rhoads has written 
that several nests have been taken in Chester and Delaware 
counties, of Pennsylvania, where they seem to breed regularly. 
The eggs of this warbler measure about .66 by .50 of an 
inch, and are white, sparsely sprinkled with reddish-brown 
dots, mainly towards the larger end. They are well described 
by one collector as “just the size of those of Chrysomitr’s 
tréstzs, but less pointed.”” two broods are stated to be raised 
in a season, in the warmer states, the first appearing late in 
May and the second early in July. (PE XS: -Fig362:) 


62bis. LAWRENCH’S WARBLER. 
WELMINTHOPHAGA LAWRENCII, Herrick. 


Two specimens of this novelty have been taken in xortherz 
New Fersey ; but no information in regard to breeding habits 
has been obtained thus far. (Pl. X. Fig. 626.) 


63. THE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA CHRYSOPTERA (Liun.) Bd. 


This pretty warbler has a summer distribution through the 
eastern Unitcd States into New England and Canada, and 
westward to the plains, but is everywhere rather uncommon, 
though, according to Mr. H. A. Purdie, it occurs in consider- 
able numbers in eastern Massachusetts. 

Some recent narratives of the nidification of these warblers 
have given much uew information. It*appears that they arrive 
in Massachusetts (nearly their northern limit) during the sec- 
ond week of May, soon pair, and begin to build their nests, eggs 
being laid from the 5th to the 12th of June. The same dates 
are true of the Great-Lakes region. In Virginia the time is a 


THE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 109 


fortnight, and in Georgia three weeks earlier. Situations cho- 
sen are the edges of the woods and the damp hillsides, but near- 
ness to a road does not prove an objection. The female seems 
to be the architect. 

Newton township, near Boston, Mass., appears to have been 
a good breeding ground for these warblers. ‘There, in 1860, 
Mr. C. J. Maynard discovered a typical nest minutely described 
in his Naturalist’s Guide. Like all previously recorded, it was 
placed on the ground, on a small piece of green moss, ‘“ partly 
overshadowed by some ferns and rank weeds; but these must 
have grown after the nest was built,’’ so that there was no at- 
tempt at concealment. ‘‘ The nest is composed outwardly of 
large oak-leaves of the previous year, and grape-vine bark, 
and is lined, not very smoothly, with fine grass and a few horse- 
hairs. It is large for the size of the bird, quite deep, and 
slightly smaller at the top than in the middle. The whole 
structure is not nearly as neat as would be expected for so 
small and elegant a bird, and reminds one strikingly of the nest 
of the Maryland yellow-throat. The dimensions are: depth 
externally 3.15 inches, internally 2.20; diameter internally in 
the middle 2.25, at the top 1.90; diameter externally 3.50.” 

This seems to have been an extraordinarily capacious nest, 
for of several others from the same state, none present so large 
dimensions, although all agree closely in structure. ‘Two nests 
in the Smithsonian from Racine, Wis., taken by Dr. P. R. Hoy, 
in June, without their outer wall of leaves, are built of fine 
grasses, neatly bent and woven: one is lined with white horse- 
hair, the other not. A large bulky nest from Georgia (Dr. 
Gerhardt) is chiefly composed of leaves, with fine, fibrous lining. 
An Ohio nest is essentially similar in all respects ; it contained 
two cow-bird’s eggs. 

A large series of eggs measured, show average dimensions 
of .73 by .53 of an inch; but, though borne out in few 
this is hardly a fair estimate, since the majority have a propor- 
tion of about .68 to .53. One writer thought he detected a 
difference in the size of the eggs according to latitude, some 
from Wisconsin measuring .7o by .53 of an inch, while speci- 


110 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


mens from Georgia were only .63 by .49. But in the eggs 
from eastern Massachusetts there is a range of from .65 to .72 
of an inch in length, and .49 to .56 in breadth, showing great 
variation, both in size and shape. The eggs vary also in mark- 
ings, but the ground-color appears always to be clear crystal- 
white. The spots are reddish-brown, in some specimens aggre- 
gated into an irregular wreath around the larger end, in others 
sparsely sprinkled over the whole surface but more thickly at the 
butt ; two eggs of a clutch found by Mr. J. Warren at Newton, 
Mass., were spotless white. 

In an article upon the subject inthe Bz//etzn of the Nuttall Or- 
nithological Club (vol. I, p. 6), Mr. Warren describes the beha- 
vior of a female whose nest he found under a skunk cabbage. 
He says: ‘‘ Upon searching we found the nest concealed by 
the large leaves of the plant. It was raised about two inches 
above the wet ground by dead oak and maple leaves which 
were quite damp. The owner soon came back, and hopping 
excitedly from branch to branch of an alder thicket a few yards 
away, almost continually uttered a sharp chirp of alarm, be- 
tokening her strong dislike to the intruders ; but, strange to say, 
her mate did not make his appearance, although we could hear 
him distinctly zee-zee-zeeing a few rods away.” On another 
occasion a sitting bird allowed the hand to be placed upon her 
before attempting to escape. Concerning the nesting habits of 
few of our rarer warblers have we such complete information 
as has been presented above. (PI. X. 4 Figs 635) 


63bis. THE WHITH-THROATED WARBLER. 
HELMINTHPOHAGA LEUCOBRONCHIALIS, Brewster. 


‘**Of this supposed good species, no specimen is known to be 
now in existence. The unique type was accidentally. destroyed 
shortly after publication of the original description, but fortu- 
nately not before Mr. Ridgway had made the drawings which 
illustrate Mr. Brewster’s second notice. At the time that the 
specimen was kindly sent by the owner to the Smithsonian 


LUCY’S WARBLER. HALT 


Institution for examination by Mr. Ridgway, there was living 
at large in the ‘ South Tower’ an owl of the genus Speotyéo, 
species doubtful, which had been captured at sea, somewhere 
near the West Indies, and was destined to make history in an 
undesirable manner. This reckless bird of prey, in one of his 
nocturnal explorations, discovered the pretty warbler, and pro- 
ceeded to investigate the new species anatomically. He sur- 
vived the dose of raw cotton and arsenic, but was condemned 
to death by unanimous verdict of the exasperated ornithologists 
who haunted the locality. His heart was cut out with mock 
ceremony, bottled and sealed, and sent to Mr. Brewster as a 
peace-offering, and a serio-comic narrative of the whole trans- 
action shortly afterward appeared in a New York newspaper 
From the above ‘* serio- 


’ 


by a ‘strictly anonymous’ author.’ 
comic” relation of the melancholy fate of the type, it may be 
inferred that no knowledge of the nest or eggs is at hand, al- 
though since then four other specimens of the bird have been 
obtained. (Pl. X. Fig. 630.) 


64. BACHMAN’S WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA BACHMANI (dAuzd.) Cadbanis. 


So far as known this bird has been observed only in Sozth 
Carolina, Georgia and Cuba, and it is extremely rare. Its 
nest and eggs remain unknown, but Dr. Bachman, the discov- 
erer, was confident that it bred near Charleston, S. C. It 
probably follows its congeners in placing its home upon the 


ground. @PI Xia) Bis 642) 


65. LUCY’S WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA J.UCIAi, CooZger. 
This is a species recently discovered, and, so far as yet 
known, it is confined to Axczora. Captain Bendire was the 
first to find its nest, discovering the eggs near Tucson on May 


112 NESFS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


19, 1872, under the loose bark of a dead mezquite a few feet 
from the ground, after the manner of a creeper. Although 
this is against the analogy of the genus it seems unquestionable, 
and must be accepted until refuted. Dr. Coues knew that 
they bred in the neighborhood of Fort Whipple. since he got 
young, nearly fledged, early in May, but was unable to secure 
anest. This family was reared in the bushes along a stream. 
The four eggs Capt. Bendire described as *+ nearly globular 
in shape, and hardly larger than those of a humming bird [.54 
by .45], white, with five red spots on the larger end.” They 
contained large embryos, (PISEL.* Fig. 65.) 


66. VIRGINIA’S WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA VIRGINIE aoe 


Rocky Mountain Warbler. 


Not much is known of the habits of this pretty warbler, whose 
home is inthe mountain ranges from Colorado and Utah st 
ward. In 1869 Mr. R. Ridgway observed it breeding 
scrub-oak thickets on the East Humboldt and Wahsatch1 


tains, Utah, and on June 19, came upon itsnestat Salt Lak , on 
the side of a ravine in the foothills among dense oak-bi ish. 
It was embedded among the decaying leaves on the ground. 
The materials were fine strips of inner bark, loosely interlaced, 
fine stems of grasses, roots and mosses, and a lining of vegeta- 
ble fragments, fur and hair; its diameter was 3 1-2 inches, its 
depth, 2 inches. In various parts of Colorado it has since 
been reported by Mr. C. E. Aiken, and although shy and timid, 
it seems abundant in favorite haunts, and is very musical 
during the nesting season. ‘* No bird with which I am ac- 
quainted,” says Mr. Aiken, ‘* conceals its nest more efectualky 
than this warbler. This is placed at the base of a tussock of 
grass, among the oak bushes, being sunk ina hollow scratched 


in the earth, so that the rim of the nest is on a level with t! 


ie 
surface. The overhanging grass of the tussock hides all so 


completely that the nest is only to be discovered by the most 


THE NASHVILLE WARDLER. pie 


careful and persistent search. About the first of June, five white 
eggs, delicately specked with reddish brown, are laid.” 

A careful description of the eggs is “rosy white, profusely spotted 
with numercus smali blotches and dots of purplish brown and lilac, 
forming a crown around the large end.” They measure .64 by .47. 


67. THE NASHVILLE WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA RUFICAPILLA (Wilson) Baird. 
Nashville Vermivora; Paro Colorado (Mexico), 


Scattered over nearly all temperate North America, this warbler 
- breeds only from middle New England northward and in the 
mountain districts of the Pacific coast. Its nesting habits are 
fairly well known. The majority of Nashville warblers pass to 
Canada for their summer, but many remain and rear their young 
in the northern tier of states, especially in New England. 

Their favorite home-site is a sunny side-hill near the woods, 
where the nest is placed on the ground sunken among the fallen 
leaves, so that the top is level with the surface and protected and 
completely concealed above by tall dead grass and weeds. The 
nest is composed of rootlets, mosses and dried grasses, mingled 
with strips of grape-vine and other bark, weeds, etc., lined with 
fine dried grasses, fine needles and horse-hairs. The whole is 
loosely framed, and assimilated to its surroundings by much green 
moss exteriorly, as well as by an artful canopy of leaves overhead. 
Mr. Allen found two nests, in successive seasons, in precisely the 
same spot, near Springfield, Mass., and Mr. Goodhue reports it 
common in southern New Hampshire. “A nest found at Big 
Trees [California] in May was built on the ground in a thick 
growth of an evergreen shrub, It was formed of pine-root fibres, 
and contained five eggs.” 

In middle New England the eggs are laid about June 1. They 
are four to six in number, pointed, average .60 by .50 of an inch 
in size. The ground color is pinkish or creamy white, over the 
whole surface of which, but most thickly at the great end, is 


8 


114 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


sprinkled a mass of purplish and reddish specks. Minot says that 
he has seen eggs “thickly and coarsely blotched at the greater 
end with reddish brown, these markings being sometimes com- 
bined” with the normal type of fine dottings, and Belding men- 
tions “a prominent ring” on Californian specimens; but the 
variation among the eggs of this species is unusually small. 


68. THE ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA CELATA (Say) Baird. 


Orange-colored Vermivora or Warbler. 


The habitat of this bird is given as “North American at large, 
but especially the western and middle provinces . . . Var. lutes- 
cens along the Pacific coast. Its breeding range appears to be 
nearly coextensive with the whole area of its distribution in the 
west, where the mountain chains afford the elevation that answers 
to increase of latitude as far as the nidification of birds is con- 
cerned.” 

Nests with eggs were taken in the middle of June on the Yukon 
and at Great Slave lake, by Mr. Robert Kennicott ; and near Hay- 
wood, Alameda county, Cal., by Dr. Cooper on May 25. Those 
from Great Slave lake seemed large for the size of the bird—as is 
usual in ground-builders— having an external diameter of four 
inches and a height of 2 1-2, and appearing as if made of two or 
three distinct fabrics, one within the other, of nearly the same 
materials. ‘The external portions of these nests were composed 
almost entirely of long coarse strips of bark loosely interwoven 
with a few dry grasses and stems of plants ; within, a more elab- 
orately interwoven structure of finer dry grasses and mosses, 
warmly lined with hairs and fur of small animals. The usual sit- 
uation was in a clump of low bushes, often in the side of a bank, 
and always concealed by the dry leaves. Nests from Alaska are 
more compactly built and smaller. The one described by Cooper 
from near San Francisco was built on a steep slope in the woods, 
among the fallen leaves. 

The eggs are very finely dotted all over—thickly about the larger 


THE TENNESSEE WARBLER. TI5 


end, more sparsely elsewhere—with pale brown and_ purplish. 
They measure about .67 by .50 of an inch. The number of spots 
varies greatly in different eggs. 

Variety LUTESCENS, No. 68a, is the Pacific Coast form of the 
orange-crowned warbler. Captain Bendire describes the eggs as 
pinkish white, “‘spotted principally about the larger end with fine 
dots of reddish brown and lavender.” While they thus agree 
perfectly in color with the eastern variety, in size they seem to 
average considerably smaller. Henshaw found this bird numerous 
on the island of Santa Cruz, breeding early in June. 


69. THE TENNESSEE WARBLER. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA PEREGRINA (JWils.) Cab. 


This warbler is a xorthern breeder so far as is known, no nests 
having been discovered south of Massachusetts, north of which it 
resides throughout eastern British America. Little is known con- 
cerning its nidification, which does not differ from the other mem- 
bers of tiis genus. One nest obtained at Springfield, Mass., is 
described by Mr. Brewster as built in a low clump of bushes just 
above the ground. “It is well made, woven of fine hempen fibres 
of vegetables, slender stems of grasses, delicate mosses, and other 
like materials, and very thoroughly lined with hair. It measures 
2 3-4 inches in outside diameter and 2z in height.” Another nest 
from Lake Superior in the Smithsonian seemed to have been built 
on the ground. 

The eggs measure about .64 by .50 of an inch and are broad, 
pyriform and opaque white, marked around the large end only, with 
the merest points of dull red, many in number but so minute as 
hardly to be visible ; they look more as if they belonged to one of 
the Lmpidonaces or to a Vireo. 


69 bis. THE OLIVE-HEADED WARBLER. 
PEUCEDRAMUS OLIVACEUS (Giraud) Coues. 


A rare Mexican species lately detected in Arizona and Texas. 
Its breeding habits are not yet known. 


116 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


70. THE SUMMER YELLOWBIRD. 
DENDRCECA AESTIVA (Gm.) Baird. 


Yellowbird ; Yellow, Olive, Citron, Summer, Golden, and Golden Swamp 
Warbler; Wild Canary; Yellow Titmouse (Catesby); Yellow-poll, 
Blue-eyed, Children’s and Rathbone’s Wood Warbler (Audubon); Blue- 
eyed Yellow Warbler (Wilson); Yellow or Willow Wren (Nutt«ll); 
False Yellowbird (Giraud, Long Island); Yellowhammer (New/found- 
land); La Fauvette Jaune, and L’oiseau Jaune (Canada); Mule-bird, 
or Cage-bird (West Indies), 


This charming visitor is known from end to end of the whole 
continent, and also in the upper part of South America and the 
West Indies. It is a true herald of coming warmth and brightness, 
and when the ornithologist hears its slender note he is sure that 
the host of pretty plumaged, sweet voiced, migratory birds will 
soon throng among the opening leaves of the rejuvenated woods. 

The summer yellowbird makes its appearance at the Ohio river 
late in April, in the latitude of Oregon and Massachusetts about 
May 15; and at once begins the construction of its tenement,— 
one of the most familiar bird-homes in the United States. 

The favorite resort of the summer warbler in breeding time is 
some rose-embowered village garden, where, secure from all ene- 
mies but the ubiquitous house-cat, and surrounded with the best 
of food for its prospective family, it may live in quiet happiness. 
Other individuals choose to dwell in some roadside bush; or 
retreat to the pastures and thickets along the edges of swampy 
woods, where patches of briers and convenient young saplings 
are in plenty and to their liking. 

The nest of the yellow warbler is one of the simplest and yet 
among the most attractive in our whole catalogue. It gives the 
beholder a most charming impression of the happy home-life 
which must be led there, and appeals to him not ruthlessly to 
interrupt the pleasant current of the warblers’ lives. Substances 
for the framework of this pleasant villa, the pair find in the loose 
shreds of fibrous bark hanging from old willows, elms and other 
trees, but most of all from the dead wood of the grape-arbor, and 


at ae oe 
Lith of J Mayer & Co.4 State Boston. 


2s 4 7 ee us ; 
an wa - 7 Oo n foe 2 > va 2A. |S beeen 


Pek Te Cb 


HELMINTHOPHAGA CELATA. Orange-crowned Warbler. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA PEREGRINA. Tennessee Warbler. 
DENDR@CA ESTIVA. Summer Yellow Bird. 

DENDR@CA VIRENS. Black-throated Green Warbler. 
DENDR@CA CHRYSOPARIA. Golden-cheeked Warbler. 
DENDR@CA CAZRULESCENS. Black-throated Blue Warbler. 
DENDR@CA CARULEA. Cerulean Warbler. 


DENDR@CA CORONATA. Yellow-rumped Warbler. 


andre’ heavercrgien 404 Ta Ac ba TOW PE IeergaT 


crolh rm 'ff inves oa is Mist ota 4a WIOWTA TY, Ibe 

| belt woltwt Vasiiiaahe . AV TREM Avante, 
ceoke WE repent Intern pani analy Aoiomtane 
taletra' Lentini. Wabtuth: i udoarainy 4 sane , 
wrettere't? gialtl fratnordsaeniee” PARTE, it TS LDA AT 
ciate MRL. KALI. i] AENEAN 

ot Makau TE Kremepeenih tania BAZ) 2 RDA a 


68. 
69. 
70. 
71. 
74: 
76. 
Ade 


78. 


Peer xr 


HELMINTHOPHAGA CELATA. Orange-crowned Warbler. 
HELMINTHOPHAGA PEREGRINA. Tennessee Warbler. 
DENDRGCA ESTIVA. Summer Yellow Bird. 

DENDR@CA VIRENS. Black-throated Green Warbler. 
DENDR@CA CHRYSOPARIA. Golden-cheeked Warbler. 
DENDR@CA C4IRULESCENS. Black-throated Blue Warbler. 
DENDRGCA CASRULEA. Cerulean Warbler. 


DENDR@&CA CORONATA. Yellow-rumped Warbler. 


id in’! Uindis~qany et OTA AA AAO TRU TA 
thane nee Anon Ase OW EAT ROE e 
Anilt will “ereacens fetes bosM Ka 22 
: weaker ei i okt anuave Komuraen: ue 
Nohdon tt, balkapitns =wetiload puree ata AvOaALIRE ye Fe 
eh AYE OMT LG anata AND, ae Moed FONE. 4 sugnbaysa Des 
wale patina’) AES ! haan Aa) 
whine Y hogan, wolst NAZONOD Acninht4ad Ae" +, me i 


THE SUMMER YELLOWDLIRD. 2007) 


in the hempen fibres to be torn from silk-weed and various other 
wild plants, with a dozen other twinable materials. These are all 
woven and curled together, the loose ends being well tucked in until 
there is held secure in the crotch of a bush or tree, usually low 
down, a neat, white, flaxen cup, ready to be adorned and furnished. 
If you should take the nest out, it would hold its shape well 
enough, and though you might easily crush it in your fingers, upon 
being released it would spring well back to its first form. 

Softness and warmth for the interior are obtained by searching for 
“the down of willows, the nankeen wool of the Virginian cotton- 
grass, the down of fern-stalks, the hair from the downy seeds 
of the button-wood (/latanus), or the pappus of compound 
flowers.” Over this soft bedding is laid a sheet, as it were, of a 
few hairs, threads of lint or slender grasses, to make a smooth 
surface. Now and then, you will find little strength of framework, 
the builders seeming to have been so captivated by the delicious 
softness of the down as to use it almost exclusively. Thus I once 
took a nest in Michigan made wholly of orange fern-down ; it 
was as light and fluffy as a bunch of cotton, and when removed 
from its perch had little greater consistency. 

One of the too few really entertaining chapters in the late Dr. 
T. M. Brewer’s writings is devoted to this warbler, and I quote a 
pertinent paragraph. 


A ‘pair of these birds, in 1836, built their nest under a parlor window in 
Roxbury, where all their operations could be closely watched. When discov- 
ered, only the framework, the fastening to the supporting twigs, had been 
erected. The work of completion was simple and rapid. The female was the 
chief builder, taking her position in the centre of the nest, and arranging the 
materials in their places as her mate brought them to her. Occasionally, with 
outstretched wings and expanded tail, she would whirl herself round, giving to 
the soft and yielding materials their hemispherical form. At intervals she 
arrested her revolutions to stop and regulate with her bill some unyielding 
portion. When her mate was dilatory she made brief excursions and collected 
material for herself, and when the materials brought her were deemed unsuit- 
able, they were rejected in a most summary and amusing manner. ‘The im- 
portant part of the tail-feathers in shaping the nest and placing the materials 
in position was a striking feature in this interesting performance. The greater 
portion of the nest was thus constructed in a single day. 


118 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Variations in the architecture are described by Nuttall in con- 
junction with a very remarkable feature of the domestic history of 
this species—a method of outwitting the cow-bird, which he was 
the first to discover. A second quotation, from his rare Manual, 
is therefore of value : 


Circumstances sometimes require a variation from the usual habits of the 
species. In a garden in Roxbury, in the vicinity of Boston, I saw a nest built 
in a currant-bush, in a small garden very near to the house; and, as the branch 
did not present the proper site of security, a large floor of dried grass and 
weeds, was first made between it and a contiguous board fence; in the midst 
of this mass of extraneous materials, the small nest was excavated, then lined 
with a considerable quantity of white horse-hair, and finished with an interior 
bed of soft cow-hair. The season proving wet and stormy, the nest in this 
novel situation fell over, but was carried with the young to a safe situation 
near the piazza of the house, where the parents now fed and reared their brood 

- + « . Sometimes they condescend to the familiarity of picking up the 
sweepings of the seamstress, such as thread, yarn, sewing-silk, fine shreds of 
cotton stockings, and bits of lace and calico; and it is not uncommon to 
observe hasty disputes between our little architects and the Baltimore birds, 
as they sometimes seize and tug upon the loose or flowing ends and strings of 
the unfinished nest, to the great annoyance of the legitimate operator. 

The labor of forming the nest seems often wholly to devolve upon the 
female. On the roth of May I observed one of these industrious matrons 
busily engaged with her fabric in a low barberry bush, and by the evening of 
the second day, the whole was completed to the lining, which was made, at 
length, of hair and willow down, of which she collected and carried mouth- 
fuls so large that she often appeared almost like a mass of flying cotton, and 
far exceeded in industry her active neighbor, the Baltimore, who was also 
engaged in collecting the same materials. Notwithstanding this industry, the 
completion of the nest, with this and other small birds, is sometimes strangely 
protracted or not immediately required. Yet, occasionally, I have found the 
eggs of this species improvidently laid on the ground. .... 

The Summer Yellow-Bird, to attract attention from its nest, when sitting, or 
when the nest contains young, sometimes feigns lameness, hanging its tail and 
head, and fluttering feebly along, in the path of the spectator; at other times, 
when certain that the intrusion had proved harmless, the bird would only go 
off a few feet, utter a feeble complaint, or remain wholly silent, and almost 
instantly resume her seat. 


A well-known trait of this bird, during the breeding season, is 
its pertinacious refusal to rear foundlings left at its door by the cow- 


THE GREEN WARDLER. i LG 


blackbird (AZolothrus ater). In case it suffers by the desecration 
of a new nest, as yet untenanted by its own eggs, it will abandon 
the structure, and build asecond one: or else, unable to tumble the 
egg out, and unwilling to seek a new homestead, it will bury the 
offensive deposit under a thick layer of hemp or cotton, and atep 
of this floor raise the walls and furniture of a second-storied nest. 
But I reserve a discussion of this remarkable example of warbler- 
sagacity until I come to my chapter upon the baleful intruder 
himself, under the family Icteridz. 

The eggs of the summer yellowbird are five in number, usually, 
and easily described. Upon a greenish ground, they show a 
speckling, chiefly about the large end, in various degrees of 
amount and interfusion, in tints of dull brownish red, brown, lilac 
and purple. Some of these marks are dots, others are blotches, 
sometimes they form a wreath and often not; upon the whole, the 
egg is characteristic among those of its family chiefly on account 
of its dulness of pattern. In those eggs from the Rocky moun- 
tains to the Pacific coast, however, there seems to be a constant 
lack in the ground-color of that greenish tinge which characterizes 
all eastern examples that I have ever seen,—a green sometimes 
very decided. In length they will average about .66 of an inch, 
and in breadth .50. 

In the south and on the Pacific, two, and occasionally three, 
broods are reared in a season ; but in the northern states more than 
one laying is rare. 


71. THE GREEN WARBLER. 
DENDRECA VIRENS (Gmelin) Baird. 


Black-throated Green Warbler or Flycatcher; Fauvette a cravate noire 

(Canada). 

Spread in the migrating season over all easern North America, 
as far as the Missouri, in the breeding season it is only seen from 
the mountain ranges of the middle states, and central New England, 
northward to Hudson’s bay. 

The little that is known of the obscure summer-life of this war- 


120 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


bler is derived from the older writers,— Thomas Nuttall first of all, 
who relates the matter in these words : 


In the summer of 1830, however, on the 8th of June, I was so fortunate as 

to find a nest of this species in a perfectly solitary situation, on the Blue Hills 
of Milton [near Boston]. The female was now sitting, and about to hatch, 
The nest was in a low, thick and stunted Virginia juniper. When I approached 
near to the nest, the female stood motionless on its edge, and peeped down in 
such a manner that I imagined her to be a young bird: she then darted di- 
rectly to the earth and ran, but when, deceived, I sought her on the ground, 
she had very expertly disappeared; and I now found the nest to contain four 
roundish eggs, white, inclining to flesh-color, variegated, more particularly at 
the great end, with pale, purplish points of various sizes, interspersed with 
other large spots of brown and blackish. The nest was formed of circularly 
entwined fine strips of the inner bark of the juniper, and the tough, white, 
fibrous bark of some other plant, then bedded with soft feathers of the robin, 
and lined with a few horse-hairs, and some slender tops of bent-grass . 
In the whole district of this extensive hill or mountain, in Milton, there 
appeared to exist no other pair of these lonely warblers but the present. An- 
other pair, however, had probably a nest in the vicinity of the woods of Mount 
Auburn in Cambridge: and in the spring of the present year (1831) several 
pair of these birds were seen for a transient period. 


Describing specimens in the National Museum, Doctors Brewer 
and Coues both refer to nests taken at Lynn and Roxbury, Massa- 
chusetts. Of the former, it is said: “It is composed, first, of fine 
twigs in small bits, then of various soft, pliant, fibrous substances, 
composing the bulk of the nest and lined with fine grasses and 
rootlets. ‘The substance contains also a few feathers and some 
downy material . . . . This nest measured a little over three 
inches across by nzarly two in depth, and is rather neatly and com- 
pactly finished. Another nest, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 
is smaller and deeper, as well as less regular in contour, having 
apparently been placed in an oblique fork.” 

Eggs of this warbler on record give an average measurement of 
about .7o by .52. They are white or creamy in ground color, and 
agree with Mr. Nuttall’s description given above ; but the wreathing 
of the spots about the large end seems to be a pretty constant 
character. 


THE GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER. iat 


72. THE HERMIT WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA OCCIDENTALIS (Townsend) Baird. 


Western Warbler. 


This is a Pacific coast species, occurring from the Rocky moun- 
tains westward and southward to Guatemala. 
Its nesting-life is unknown. 


73. TOWNSEND’S WARBLER. 
DENDR@CA TOWNSENDII (Nuttall) Baird. 


Western in its habitat, Townsend’s warbler ranges in the course 
of the year from Alaska to Central America, and as far eastward 
as the Rocky mountains ; but its nest and eggs remain undescribed, 
so far as I know. 


74. THE GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER. 
DENDR@CA CHRYSOPARIA Scl. et Salv. 


Concerning the nidification of this exceedingly rare native of 
Texas and southward, the only intelligence was first printed in 
April, 1879, on page 77, volume iv, of the Nuttall Club’s Bw/- 
letin. ‘Yhe writer is Mr. W. H. Werner, whose account I subjoin : 


While on a collecting tour in the mountainous districts of Comal county, 
Texas, I noticed these warblers, and after studying their habits and different 
attitudes I shot one, which proved to be a male. Their habits were similar to 
those of D. virens; they were very active, always on the alert for insects, 
examining almost every limb, and now and then darting after them while on 
the wing. The male uttered soft notes at intervals, which sounded, as nearly 
as I can express it, like ¢srr weasy-weasy tweah. I found them invariably in 
cedar timber, or “cedar brakes,” as the ranchmen call them. I was not fortu- 
nate enough to find a nest until the 13th of May. About eight days prior to 
that date I noticed a female bird with building material flying in a certain 
direction, but it gave me a good deal of trouble before I traced her through 
underbrush and thickets to a cedar brake, where I found new difficulties. The 


122 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


trees were numerous and standing near together, and a large patch at that; so 
I came to the conclusion that if I wanted the nest I must examine each tree 
separately. Accordingly I waited till the 13th, and then commenced in good 
earnest on my first tree. In about an hour’s time, to my great joy, I found the 
nest, containing three eggs, and also one of the cow bunting. I am inclined 
to think that they generally lay their eggs earlier in the season, as I had, a few 
days previous to this, found a brood of young ones following their parents 
(with young cow buntings in their wake), clamoring for food. 

T also found in the immediate neighborhood another nest, but it was aban- 
doned; I think it belonged to the same pair of which I found the eggs. This 
would account for finding them so late with fresh eggs. On the 14th of the 
same month I found two more nests vacant, and by examining them found 
that young ones had been hatched, and had already left the nest. The four 
nests that I have found were similar in construction, and were built in forks 
of perpendicular limbs of the Juniperus virginiana, from ten to eighteen 
feet from the ground. 


William Brewster examined and reported to the Nuttall Club 
upon two of these nests, to the following effect : 


They are so nearly identical in every respect that one description will 
answer for both, and accordingly I will take for my type a fine specimen 
which, with an adult male bird, Mr. Werner has generously contributed to my 
collection. The original position of this nest is well shown, as it is preserved 
with a section of the limb upon which it was found. It is placed in a nearly 
upright fork of a red cedar, between two stout branches, to which it is firmly 
attached. Although a large, deep structure, it by no means belongs to either 
the bulky or loosely woven class of bird-domiciles, but is, on the contrary, 
very closely and compactly felted. In general character and appearance it 
closely resembles the average nest of the black-throated green warbler (Den- 
dreca virens). It is, however, of nearly double the size, in fact larger than 
any wood-warbler’s nest (excepting perhaps that of D. coronata) with which 
Iam acquainted. It measures as follows: external diameter, 3.50; external 
depth, 3.45; internal diameter, 1.60; internal depth, 2.00. The exterior is 
mainly composed of strips of cedar bark, with a slight admixture of fine grass- 
stems, rootlets, and hemp-like fibres, the whole being kept in place by an 
occasional wrapping of spider-webs. The interior is beautifully lined with the 
hair of different quadrupeds and numerous feathers; among the latter, several 
conspicuous scarlet ones from the cardinal grosbeak. The outer surface of 
the whole presents a grayish, inconspicuous appearance, and from the nature 
of the component materials is well calculated to escape observation. Indeed, 
it must depend for concealment upon this protective coloring, as it is in no 


THE BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. 123 


way sheltered by any surrounding foliage. . . . The eggs belonging with 
this nest are similar in shape, all being of a regular but somewhat rounded 
oval form; their ground-color is clear white. Two are thinly and evenly 
covered with fine but distinct spots of light reddish brown, while the third is 
so very faintly marked with the same color that at a little distance it appears 
nearly immaculate. Their measurements, as taken for me by Mr. Werner, 
are, .75X%.57; -77X%.56; .76X.58. In size and general appearance they are 
unlike any warbler’s eggs that I have ever seen, and most closely resemble 
faintly spotted examples of those of the tufted titmouse. Mr. Werner is of 
the opinion that they are exceptional in being so finely spotted, as the broken 
shells found in the deserted nest exhibited much heavier markings, and in that 
respect agreed closely with two eggs in Mr. Ricksecker’s cabinet, collected in 
Comal county, May 24,1877. . . . They measure respectively, .72X.53 
and .76X.53 The latter dimensions, it will be observed, nearly coincide with 
those of one of Mr. Werner’s specimens. The ground-color of the shell is a 
dead, dull white, thickly spotted everywhere with fine dots of reddish-brown 
and shell markings of pale lavender. At irregular intervals bold, conspicuous 
blotches of a darker shade of brown occur. These markings become nearly 
confluent around the larger ends, forming the wreath-pattern so common 
among spotted eggs. The nest bears a very close resemblance to those 
already described, but is somewhat smaller, measuring as follows: External 
depth, 2.15; external diameter, 2.00; internal depth, 1.50; internal diameter, 
1.50. As with the other two, the outer walls are made up of strips of cedar 
bark, and the lining differs only in being composed almost entirely of feathers. 
These are used in such profusion as to form a dense, downy bed for the eggs, 
while around the rim or mouth of the nest they arch over inward, prettily 
concealing the greater part of the interior. The occurrence of such a nest in 
semi-tropical Texas is of itself a most interesting fact, especially when con- 
sidered in connection with the theory that. warm, feather-lined domiciles are 
peculiar to northern-breeding birds. Although the parentage of this last nest 
is undeniably involved in some obscurity, I have little doubt that it is correctly 
referred to D. chrysoparia. I should perhaps have stated before that the 
identification of the nest and eggs in Mr. Werner’s collection is of the most 
positive character. The female was sitting on the nest, and at the first alarm 
her mate appeared, when both were secured. 


75. THE BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA NIGRESCENS ( Towns.) Baird. 


The range of this species is from the Plains westward to the 
Pacific, but not beyond our boundaries northward, It arrives in 


124 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


Oregon early in May, where Mr. Nuttall had no doubt it was 
breeding in the pine woods as early as May 23. Like the last 
three species, its nest may be looked for in the elevated forests of 
the mountainous territories: Mr. Ridgway, for example, finding 
young in the cedar and pifon thickets of the East Humboldt 
mountains, Nevada, where certainly they had been bred. In Ari- 
zona, however, these birds occur through heavy timber of all sorts, 
nesting in the tops of the tallest trees. 


76. THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. 
DENDRCGCA C/AERULESCENS (ZLinn.) Baird. 
Canadian Warbler; Pine Swamp Warbler. 


In most of the United States this warbler is migratory only, 
and little was known of its breeding until recently, beyond Audu- 
bon’s somewhat doubtful account. 

It had not certainly been observed to breed in New England 
until 1874, when the Rev. C. M. Jones discovered the fact at 
Eastford, Conn. ‘This first nest was found on June 8, in deep 
swampy woods, near the base of a hill, in a small Aa/mza bush. 
About five inches from the ground the bush separated into three 
branches, and in this triple fork the nest was situated. It hada 
firm and compact appearance: external diameter, about 3 inches ; 
internal, 13 inches ; external depth, 2} inches ; internal, 1? inches. 
It was composed outwardly of what appeared to be the dry bark 
of the grape vine, with a few twigs and roots. ‘This was covered 
in many places with a reddish, woolly substance, apparently the 
outer covering of some species of cocoon. ‘The inside was com- 
posed of small black roots and hair. The nest contained four 
fresh eggs, which were ashy white with a heavy ring of brown and 
lilac spots and blotches around the larger end, and a few minute 
spots of the same scattered over the entire surface ; also some- 
times spots of umber near the small end. ‘The dimensions were : 
.61 by .47 (of two) .64 by .50, and .66 by .50 of an inch. The 
bird permitted Mr. Jones to approach within a few feet, and then 


THE CHRULEAN WARBLER. 125 


flew to a neighboring bush, uttering a few chirps. Mr. Jones’s 
second nest was found June 13, about eighty rods away from the 
former one, in shaded, swampy land. This bird also betrayed her 
home by her actions, and, like the other, allowed a very near 
approach before fleeing. Previously to this, John Burroughs had 
taken the nest with young in a small hemlock near Roxbury, 
Delaware county, N. Y., early in July. Here, the parents at first 
exhibited great, though cautious, alarm, but upon the jumping out 
of the young, the distracted pair fairly threw themselves under 
Mr. Burroughs’s feet. With the four (or five) fledglings in the nest 
was also one fresh egg, which Dr. Brewer describes as oval, not 
pointed, pinkish-white, and marked round the larger end with a 
wreath, chiefly of a bright umber-brown with lighter markings of 
reddish-brown and obscure purple ; a few smaller dottings of the 
same are sparingly distributed over the rest of the egg ; its meas- 
urements are .70 by .50 of an inch. Other nests found in north- 
ern New York agree with these in all particulars. 


77. THE CHRULEAN WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA CAERULEA (Wils.) Bp. 


Cerulean Wood-Warbler, Azure Warbler, Blue-green Warbler, White- 
throated Blue Warbler. 


The summer range of this brilliant species includes the United 
States east of Colorado ; but it may be said scarcely or never to 
enter New England, and rarely to go north even to Lower Canada, 
although breeding from Niagara Falls westward. Its principal 
resort seems to be the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio, through- 
out all but the lower parts of which it breeds in considerable num- 
bers. It is reported from Connecticut (Suffield, June 12, 1875) by 
H. A. Purdie during the breeding season, but no nest has been 
taken there yet. In the Bulletin of the Nuttall Club for January, 
1879, Mr. J. A. Allen has written a very succinct account of the 
nidification of this species, to which I am unable to add anything 
of value. 


126 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


The Museum of Comparative Zoélogy has recently received a nest and four 
eggs of the cerulean warbler (Dendreca cerulea) collected at East Penfield, 
Munroe county, N. Y., June 7, 1878, by Mr. P. S. Fuller. The female was 
shot as she left the eggs, which were nearly fresh. The nest was placed in 
the fork of a small ash-tree, about twenty-five feet from the ground. It is 
neatly and compactly built, consisting externally of fine dry grasses of an 
ashen tint, bound firmly together with spider’s silk, to which are affixed a few 
bits of whitish lichen; it is lined with strips of bark and fine grasses of a 
reddish brown color. The nest is thus gray externally and brown within. It 
measures as follows: inside diameter, 2 inches; outside diameter, 2.50 inches; 
depth inside, 1.40; external depth, 1.75. The eggs vary little in size or color, 
and mainly in respect to the size of the blotches. The ground color is dull 
creamy white, thickly covered with rather heavy blotches of reddish brown. 
In one egg the blotches are coarse and cover the greater part of the surface; 
in another the markings are finer, quite evenly diffused, and of a lighter tint; 
in the other two about two-thirds of the surface is covered by the markings. 
The eggs measure .60 by .47 of an inch. 

The Museum has also two other nests of this species. One was taken, with 
one egg, at Drummondsville, Ontario, in June, 1873, and, with the egg, was 
soon after described by Dr. Brewer (Hist. N. Amer. Birds, Vol. III, p. 505). 
The other nest was taken at Mount Carmel, Illinois, May 16, 1878, by Mr. 
William Bryant, of Boston. It contained four eggs, which are now in his 
collection. The nest described by Dr. Brewer differs from the Penfield nest 
in no essential point, except that it is rather slighter and has a more nearly 
continuous covering of lichen, with which are mixed small pieces of hornet’s 
nest. The bottom of the nest shows that it was built in the fork of a smail 
branch. The Mount Carmel nest differs from the others in having somewhat 
thicker walls, thus giving to the structure greater bulk and firmness. Like 
the others, it is partly covered externally with lichens, which enclose some of 
the smaller twigs amidst which it is fixed to the upper surface of a small 
branch. These nests agree as closely in their general structure, as well as in 
the material of their composition, as.three nests of the same species are often 
found to do, and differ quite widely from the nests of any other species of the 
genus known to me. The Penfield and Mount Carmel nests were placed 
respectively twenty and twenty-five feet from the ground, and the Drum- 
mondsville nest at a height of fifty feet. 

Audubon describes the nest of the cerulean warbler as placed in the forks 
of a low tree or bush, and as being partly pensile, and the eggs as being pure 
white, with a few reddish spots about the larger end. In the light of present 
information, Audubon’s description is evidently erroneous in nearly every par- 
ticular. The only other description of the nest and eggs of this species is 
that given by Dr. Brewer, as already stated. 

Dr. Brewer describes the egg as somewhat similar in its general appearance 


THE YELLOW-RUMPED WARLLER. 127 


to the eggs of the yellow warbler (D. estiva), but as being smaller, with the 
ground-color of a different shade of greenish-white. On calling Dr. Brewer’s 
attention to the discrepancy between his description and the set of eggs above 
described, he was led to reéxamine the subject, and also to compare his egg 
with the set obtained by Mr. Bryant. As a result, he writes me that his 
egg corresponds exactly with those obtained at Mount Carmel. He further 
states that while they seem to resemble the eggs of D. wstiva, a comparison 
shows that while the spots on the eggs of the last-named species are “ oliva- 
ceous brown,” those on the eggs of D. cwrulea are “decidedly red-brown.” 
He still further observes, “In my egg and in Mr. Bryant’s the ground- 
color is very conspicuous, the spots sparse. In yours the spots are large and 
confluent, obscuring all the ground-color.” In the eggs collected at Penfield 
the blotches are prolably exceptionally large and heavy, but the differences 
between these eggs and the others are not greater than occur not uncommonly 
between different sets of eggs in most species of birds that lay spotted eggs. 
There consequently appears to be no reason for doubting .the authenticity 
of either of the sets of eggs here attributed to D. cwrulea, which, in two of 
the instances at least, were identified by the capture of the parent bird. 


78. THE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA CORONATA (L.) Gr. 


Yellow-crowned Wood-Warbler; Myrtle-Bird (South); 


The yellow-rump is one of the most common and most widely 
distributed of the wood-warblers, occurring over the whole of 
North America, except the southwestern territories. This is a 
peculiar distribution and its wintering range also appears anomalous : 
“while some individuals are at that season in subtropical and tropical 
America, others are wintering in the middle states if not also in 
southern New England.” Although its regular breeding place is 
far to the north, it has been known to nest in Jamaica. Yellow- 
rumps pass through New York state between the first and middle 
of May on the way northward and all disappear unless it be from 
the mountainous portions near Canada; but it has rarely been 
known to breed in Massachusetts, thence northward, becoming 
abundant in British America, where it spreads even to Alaska and 
the shores of the frozen sea. ‘The nest is built in northern Maine 
early in June, fresh eggs having been obtained by Mr. H. B. Bailey 


128 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


at Upton between the 8th and 15th. About the same date is given 
for Alaska, but in central Michigan the season is a few days earlier. 

Mr. MacFarlane sent some nests from the Anderson river all of 
which were found very low down, or resting upon the ground, 
sometimes, he averred, in the very midst of a village. Such was the 
substance of our knowledge before Messrs. Bailey and Maynard went 
to Maine on ornithological expeditions. There the bird was traced 
to its home in old clearings in the forest where the “second growth” 
had begun to obliterate the work of axe and plough. Among such 
thickets of young spruces nests of this warbler could generally be dis- 
covered within easy access, the loftiest one found being only twenty 
feet from the ground. All the nests taken were coarse but com- 
pact structures, composed outwardly of twigs and roots, very deep 
for their width, and invariably lined with feathers, which served to 
distinguish them from others of this same group in the Umbagog 
region. Some yellow-rumps, however, still resort to the deep forest, 
and, following the law of living in the tops of the trees, defy all 
efforts to obtain their eggs. ‘The parents were always shy. 

The usual time for laying in northern New England is early june : 
and Maynard is confident that two broods are often reared, which 
is quite likely. The eggs of the yellow-rumps are of rather large 
size and are white, spotted chiefly in a wreath about the large end, 
but also sparingly over the entire surface, with various shades of 
brown ; none, however, quite reddish, but some nearly blackish, and 
with numerous other shell-markings of neutral tint. The eggs of 
the blackpoll warblers come nearest to them in ornamentation, 
An average of many recorded measurements gives .71 by .52 of an 
inch as the medium dimensions. Five or six eggs make a clutch. 


79. AUDUBON’S WARBLER. 
DENDRC&CA AUDUBONII (Towns ) Baird. 


Western Yellow-rump; Fout-sah (Chinook Indians). 
This warbler is found from the Pacific coast eastward to the 


Laramie plains; in most localities throughout this extent it is as 
common as its eastern representative, the yellow-rump. 


AUDUBON’S WARBLER. 129 


The most complete history of this species is to be found in Dr. 
Coues’s Birds of the Colorado Valley. Most of the spring immi- 
grants from Mexico keep on to high latitudes before pausing to 
breed ; but a few secure the requisite conditions of temperature, 
et cetera, by ascending lofty mountains in regions far south of 
those to which their more eager brethren have flown. In Col- 
orado it nestles from g,ooo feet up to timber-line, and is abundant 
among the pines and aspens, building its home the first week in 
June. One nest which Henshaw found near Denver was composed 
of bark strips firmly and neatly woven, with a lining of fine grasses ; 
it was four inches in diameter and an inch deep. In Arizona he 
took young just from the nest on July 12, even so far south as 
Mount Graham, where the young birds were just beginning their 
new plumage on the 1st of August. At Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra 
Nevada, newly fledged birds were seen by Dr. Cooper in September. 
A nest found by Ridgway in the Wahsatch mountains of Utah, 
June 23, 1869, was near the extremity of the horizontal branch of 
a pine tree, about ten feet from the ground. It contained one egg 
and three young. 

Both Dr. Brewer and Dr. Coues draw their description of the 
nest of Andubon’s warbler from a single specimen in the National 
Museum, transmitted from Vancouver by the late Mr. J. Hepburn, 
who affirms that the structure may be placed indifferently in the 
upper branches of trees or in bushes only a few feet from the ground. 
This nest was built in the crotch formed by three forks of an 
oblique stem, its shape consequently being obliquely conical. The 
exterior is composed of rather coarse strips of fibrous bark and 
weeds variously intertwined, the main substance consisting of fine 
grasses, mosses, and rootlets, mixed with some large feathers and 
bits of string, these miscellaneous materials being closely matted 
or felted ; and the interior is finished off with an abundant lining 
of horse-hairs. The cavity is small, but deep. 

Mr. W. E. D. Scott, on the contrary, brings home a nest obtained 
at Twin lakes, Col., which he says was not in a crotch at all. His 
description is as follows : 


On the 25th of June I took a nest containing four eggs nearly ready to 
3 


730 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


hatch. The nest is a rather bulky structure, composed of twigs of sage-brush 
and fine grass, and is lined with soft hair and large feathers. In general 
shape it is flat and rather shallow, as the following dimensions show: Diam- 
eter outside, four inches; diameter inside, three inches; depth, two and a half 
inches outside and two inches inside. It was situated on the outer twigs of a 
large pine-tree, five feet from the ground. . . . The nest was not fastened 
in any crotch, but simply laid on a bunch of pine leaves, and was sheltered by 
another bunch directly above it. On the 29th of June I found a second nest 
containing four young a day or two old. This one was situated in the topmost 
branches of a small fir-tree, about twenty-five feet from the ground. The nest 
is essentially the same in structure as the one above described. On July 9 I 
took young which had just left the nest. 


Minot reports a nest from the same locality ‘‘composed of 
shreds and feathers with a few twigs without and hairs within, 
built in a dead bare spruce tree, about 20 feet from the ground, 
compressed between the trunk and apiece of bark . . . so com- 
pressed that the hollow measures 2} by 13, and 13 inches deep.” 

The eggs are greenish white, somewhat pointed, and touched at 
the larger end with spots of neutral tint and reddish. ‘They meas- 
ure .75 by .55 of an inch. 


80. THE BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. 
DENDRECA BLACKBURNLE (G@m.) Baird. 


Hemlock Warbler; Orange-throated Warbler. 


This brilliantly liveried warbler is a visitor to the eas/evn United 
States, the Canadas, and west to Kansas ; also Utah and New Mex- 
ico. It has been recorded as breeding as far south as Massa- 
chusetts and is asserted to do so in the Connecticut valley. It is 
known to nestle in Maine, the White mountains, and in Michigan, 
as well as Nova Scotia and its vicinity. 

A nest from Halifax is described by Audubon as found in a 
small fork of a tree five or six feet from the ground. It was ‘coms 
posed, externally of different textures, and lined with silky fibres 
and thin delicate strips of fine bark, over which lay a thick bed of 


THE BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 135 


feathers and horse-hair.” Mr. H. D. Minot has courteously given 
me an extract from his journal, dated Bethlehem, N. H., July 12, 


1373. 


To-day I found the nest of the Blackburnian warbler. . . . I believe 
it has never before been found in New England, if we except Dr. Brewer’s 
doubtful case. It was in a pine-tree about twenty feet from the ground, and 
was composed of pine-needles, cottony substances, etc., and lined with hairs. 
Unfortunately it contained young. . . . The pine in which it was placed 
stood by itself in an open field, but near woodland. My second nest I found 
in the West Roxbury district of Boston, Mass., on June 5, 1876. It was ina 
hemlock bough, about twenty feet from the ground, and held three young and 
one egg. The hemlock grove from which I got them is a unique place, very 
distinct from the surrounding country, and recalling the White Mountains. 
It is thick and cool, with an atmosphere of its own; it grows down a rocky 
steep, and is bordered by what I may fairly call a mountain brook, so much is 
it like those of New Hampshire. I do not wonder that the warblers were 
tempted to make ita summer home. ‘The egg is conical, measures about .65 
by .50 of an inch, and resembles that of the chestnut-sided warbler. The 
surface is crystal white, marked in a wreath around the larger end, with pur- 
ple and reddish dots, sometimes one tint and sometimes the other predomi- 
nating in the spots. 


Its habit of keeping quiet, and haunting the tops of the trees in 
secluded forests, makes its home difficult to find ; and no doubt the 
warbler breeds more commonly than is supposed. I just now hear, 
for example, that on June 14, 1873, Mr. A. B. Covert took a nest- 
ful of young birds of this species near Ann Arbor, Michigan. 


81. THE BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 
DENDRGECA STRIATA (Forst.) Baird. 
Autumnal Warbler (young). 


“In the extent of its migrations,” writes Dr. Coues, “this species 
is surpassed by none of its allies, and equalled by few, if any ; its 
dispersion will prove more extensive than that of any other warbler, 
should the D. atricapilla be found identical, as it probably will. 
It is known to breed beyond the United States, from Labrador to 
Fort Yukon, where its eggs were procured by Mr. Kennicott. The 
southernmost breeding localities I have found quoted are the Um- 


132 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


bagog lakes, and Calais, Maine (Verrid/ and Boardman). It is 
very abundant throughout the eastern United States during the 
migrations, but appears to leave the country altogether in tne fall, 
wintering farther south. Audubon’s quotation, ‘Columbia river,’ 
requires confirmation, but will most probably be proved correct ; 
in that event the case will apparently correspond to that of D. 
coronata.” 

The date of its nest-building in Maine appears to be about the 
second week of June, this warbler being one of the latest of those 
migrating northward in the spring. It has never been my good 
fortune to discover the nest of the black-poll. I am therefore 
constrained to quote the whole of Dr. T. M. Brewer’s comprehen- 
sive account, he having had much experience with these warblers 
around Eastport and at Grand Menan Island, Me., where they 
breed on the edges of swampy evergreen woods. He says: 


All of the several nests I met with in these localities were built in thick 
spruce trees, about 8 feet from the ground, and in the midst of foliage so 
dense as hardly to be noticeable. Yet the nests were large and bulky for so 
small a bird, being nearly 5 inches in diameter and 3 inches in height. The 
cavity is, however, small, being only 2 inches in diameter, and 14 to 14 inches 
in depth. They were constructed chiefly of a collection of slender young 
ends of branches of pines, firs and spruce, interwoven with and tied together 
by long branches of the Cladonia lichens, slender herbaceous roots, and finer 
sedges. The nests were strongly built, compact and homogeneous, and were 
elaborately lined with fine panicles of grasses and fine straw. In all the nests 
found, the number of eggs was five. 

It is a somewhat noticeable fact that though this species is seen in New 
England only by the middle of May, others of its kind have long before 
reached high Arctic localities. Richardson records its presence at the Cum- 
berland House in May, and Engineer Cantonment by the 26th of April. Mr. 
Lockhart procured a nest and five eggs at Fort Yukon, June 9. All the nests 
taken in these localities were of smaller size, were built within two feet of the 
ground, and all were much more warmly lined than were those from Grand 
Menan. Ina few instances Mr. McFarlane found the nests of this species 
actually built upon the ground. This, however, is an abnormal position, and 
only occasioned by the want of suitable situations in protected localities. In 
one instance a nest was taken on the first of June containing well developed 
embryos. Yet this same species has frequently been observed lingering in 
Massachusetts a week or more after others of its species have already built 
their nests and begun hatching. 


i \ 
, . Wig § 


! Ae ee ky 
yon A iat beth ait mt f Ot a 


Tith,of J.Mayer & 


« 
t 


NHSTS AND EGGS OF AMERICAN BIRDS | 
vo 


PT | a - _ a _ 


anaes 
pet 


i 
ey 
ih se is 


i] 
Ag 


Wy 
i ae 


oe ‘ 


79+ 
80. 
8x. 
82. 
83. 
84. 
85. 


86. 


PEN PEC err, 


DENDR@CA AUDUBONI. Audubon’s Warbler. 
DENDR@CA BLACKBURNI. Blackburnian Warbler. 
DENDRGCA STRIATA. Black-poll Warbler. 
DENDRGCA CASTANEA. Bay-breasted Warbler. 
DENDR@CA PENNSYLVANICA. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 
DENDRGCA MACULOSA. Black-and-Yellow Warbler. 
DENDR@CA TIGRINA. Cape May Warbler. 


DENDR@CA DISCOLOR. Prairie Warbler. 


‘ >sne ; ia - a 
: SOW stiBua LOUIE A, LODMEAME | ye OF = jan 
a 4 


3 


SUE rE ae Seri ANhtm aownaesee 08 7 
: anita tt Keydets ACRIMP! AVHORME oO 4 
hE I oeengh ent AUAATRRY AOSD 5B an; 

4 AHA Hahieaalandty AAT E TRACa4 (DAG. ca 

“oatofubonc Hotter Bret Font Keo Sey UT: omar, “a 

*  Drlsrady calf oaR ed ann i ALUMLR RE 29 & 


hie of age td), ania coum ve 


THE BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. 133 


Two nests of this species, from Great Slave lake and Fort Yukon, 
in the Smithsonian Institution, closely resembling each other, were 
taken in June, one with four, the other with five eggs. They are 
built of soft weedy material, bleached and gray, and withered al- 
most to disintegration, mixed with grasses, and lined with finer 
stems of the same. 

The only nest Audubon found afforded him such intense satisfac- 
tion that it is no more than fair to allow him space for his own 
words. ‘The locality is Little Macatina Harbor, Labrador. 


One fair morning while several of us were scrambling through one of the 
thickets of trees scarcely waist high, my youngest son chanced to scare from 
her nest a female of the black-poll warbler. Reader, just fancy how this 
raised my spirits. I felt as if the enormous expense of our voyage had been 
refunded. “There,” said I, “we are the first white men who have seen such 
a nest.” J peeped into it, saw that it contained four eggs, and observed its 
little owner looking upon us in anxiety and astonishment. It was placed 
about three feet from the ground, in the fork of a small branch, close to the 
main stem of a fir tree. Its diameter internally was two inches, the depth 
one anda half. Externally it resembled the nest of the white-crowned spar- 
row, being formed of green and white moss and lichens, intermixed with 
coarse dried grass. Within this was a layer of bent grass, and the lining was 
of a very dark-colored dry moss, looking precisely like horsehair, arranged in 
a circular direction with great care. Lastly there was a thick bed of large 
soft feathers, some of which were from ducks, but most of them from willow 


grouse. 


The eggs of the black-poll are pure white, “blotched and dotted 
over the entire surface with profuse markings of a subdued lav- 
ender, and deeper markings of a dark purple intermixed with 
lighter spots of reddish brown.” ‘They measure about .72 by .50 
of aninch. Five or six are laid. 


82. THE BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA CASTANEA (JVils.) Baird. 
Autumnal Warbler (young). 


The habitat of this species includes the Unztted States east of the 
Lower Missouri river ; but through the most of this region it is 


134 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


only migratory, since it winters in Central America, and spends its 
midsummer north of our limits. 

Maynard, in his Catalogue of the Birds of Coos county, N. H. 
and Oxford county, Me. (Proc. Bos. Soc. Nat. Hist., XIV, Oct. 
18, 1871), gave us about the first information upon the nidification 
of this handsome bay-breasted warbler. In concert with Mr. 
William Brewster, he took three nests at Lake Unbagog, Me., each 
of which was placed on the horizontal branch of a hemlock-tree, 
fifteen or twenty feet from the ground,—one beside a cart-path, 
the other on the side of a densely wooded hill. One nest was 
completed June 3 and three fresh eggs were taken from it June 8. 
These nests seemed large for the size of the bird, resembling those 
of the purple finch. They were built of fine dead larch twigs, 
mixed in one instance with long tree-moss, in another with a few 
grass-stems, and smoothly lined with black fibrous rootlets, some 
moss and rabbit’s hair. External diameter 54 to 6 inches, internal 
24 to 3; depth outside 24 to 3, the cavity 1} to 14 inches; they 
differed in shape, the broader nest being the shallower one. One 
contained three eggs, the other two: the five ranged from .65 to 
-71 long by .50 to .53 broad. ‘The ground color was varying 
greenish white, more or less thickly speckled with dark brown all 
over, the markings becoming confluent, or nearly so, at or around 
the larger end, where the brown was mixed with some lavender 
markings. ‘They resemble those of the yellow and pine-creeping 
warblers. Mr. Deane found another nest, also in a hemlock, but 
higher than the former. It contained sex eggs. 


83. THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. 
DENDRG:CA PENNSYLVANICUM (ZLinn.) Baird. 


This pretty warbler seems to be increasing in numbers over all 
of the eastern United States beyond the northern limits of which 
it passes only a little way. It breeds from New Jersey northward 
to the Canadian border, and westward to Iowa; the most southern 
reference I can find is White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, which is 


THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WARDLER. 135 


2000 feet above the sea. Everywhere it is a common summer 
resident, arriving from the south early in May. 

A bird of the underbrush rather than of the tree-tops, its breed- 
ing places are the thickets of briars bordering swampy lands, or 
skirting the edges of the woods, —in fact just such localities as the 
yellow warblers (D. @stiva) resort to. I have found several of 
their nests on the western Reserve, Ohio. All were placed in an 
upright crotch, generally of several small stems, and were all more 
or less lengthened perpendicularly to fit such sitnations, with a 
rather narrow but deep cavity. The distance from the ground was 
three to six feet. In the Maine forests, however, their nests are 
scarcely ever found, since they are placed in the tops of those 
very lofty pines and firs which make Maine’s lumber region famous. 

In composition the nest is a rather loosely woven mass of 
weedy and fibrous substances varying according to location,—cedar 
bark, for instance, being a prominent constituent of the exterior of 
those built in New England ; the interior is more closcly woven of 
fine grasses, with hairs and some bits of down from plants. There 
is an absence of woolly materials anywhere about the nest, but Mr. 
Welch mentions that the nests found by him near Boston were 
firmly bound to the supporting twigs by silky fibres from the 
cocoons of various insects. I have seen examples in Ohio which 
were indistinguishable from hemp-built homes of the yellow-warbler ; 
but in Massachusetts the two nests are said always to be entirely 
different. In the middle and eastern states eggs are to be looked 
for about the first of June. 5 

Dr. Coues’s admirable description of the eggs, agreeing with 
my own experience, is not to be improved: “The shell is white ; 
the markings are chiefly confined to the larger end, only rarely a 
few dots being sprinkled over the whole surface, and they form, or 
tend to form, in many cases, a wreath about the large end. The 
wreath is sometimes close and heavy, consisting of confluent 
blotches ; in other instances it is a circle of separate fine dots. The 
markings are of all shades, from light reddish to various darker 
browns, mixed with neutral tints.” The size of the egg is .68 by .50 
of an inch, and rarely more than four are to be found in one suite. 


136 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


When you approach a nest the female remains in perfect quiet 
until you can almost touch her with a cautious hand ; and exhibits 
little anxiety when her treasures are removed. If a pair think 
themselves discovered, however, before their nest is completed 
they will stop work and lay new foundations ; yet so attached are 
they to a certain locality, probably their homestead of the pre- 
vious year, that the new nest may be placed in the very same bush, 
cad even on the same twig as the one abandoned. ‘Their judgment 
that it is not safe to dwell in a nest which is known to their enemy, 
the bird’s-nesting naturalist, leads them far enough to desert it and 
build anew in hoped-for secrecy ; but does not go far enough (at 
least in many cases) to teach them that the new site should be 
remote from the former one. 

“The parent sits very closely upon its nest; if disturbed, it 
refuses to move farther than a few feet, there remaining quite silent, 
except a soft, pleading note occasionally repeated.” 


84. THE BLACK-AND-YELLOW WARBLER. 
DENDRGECA MACULOSA (Gm.) Baird. 


Magnolia Warbler; Spotted Warbler; Spotted Canada Warbler. 


The sprightly magnolia warbler spreads in summer over all the 
Eastern Provincé of North America, north to the Hudson’s Bay 
region, breeding from New England and the Catskills northward. 
It has also been found in Colorado. 

Many nests of this warbler have been found by ornithologists, 
and several careful descriptions are extant. It arrives in its breed- 
ing haunts in northern New York and New England, about the 
third week of May, and at once proceeds to build its nest among 
the unfolding buds. Some dates at which eggs have been found 
are: at Unbagog Lake, Me., June 7 to 15 ; Isle of Grand Menan, 
June 27 (embryos advanced) ; Labrador, “beginning of July ;” 
Great Slave lake, June 12. The nest is usually placed in a small 
fir or spruce, rarely at a greater elevation than five or six feet, and 
sometimes only a few inches from the ground; but, on the other 


THE BLACK-AND-YELLOW WARBLER. 137 


hand, Mr. Brewster in his admirable monograph of the species, in 
the second volume of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological 
Club, speaks of exceptional nests situated in the top of a young 
evergreen, ten, fifteen, or even thirty-five feet up. Those trees 
usually are chosen that stand on the edge of a clearing or wood- 
road, but in the depth of the forest the nests have also been found. 
In the Hudson’s Bay country, willows are resorted to, in lack of 
evergreens. ‘The composition of the loose, shallow nest is faithfully 
described by Mr. Brewster from many specimens examined by him 
in Maine, collected by himself, Deane, Maynard and Bailey ; it is 
as follows : 


The framework is wrought somewhat loosely of fine twigs, those of the 
hemlock being apparently preferred. Next comes a layer of coarse grass or 
dry weed-stalks; while the interior is lined invariably with fine black roots, 
which closely resemble horse-hairs. In an examination of more than thirty 
examples I have found not one in which these black roots were not used. 
One specimen has, indeed, a few real horse-hairs in the lining, but the roots 
predominate. This uniform coal-black lining shows in strong contrast with 
the lighter aspect of the outer surface of the nest. The whole structure is 
loosely put together, and bears a no distant resemblance to the nest of the 
chipping sparrow (Spizella socialis). Among nests of the Sylvicolide, it 
finds, perhaps, its nearest approach in that of the chestnut-sided warbler 
(Dendreca pennsylvanica). 


Audubon, describing a nest from Labrador, affirms that it was 
lined with “a great quantity of feathers.”” Mr Brewster says this 
statement is entirely at variance with his observations ; but Audubon 
is supported by the evidence of Hutchins in British Ameriea, and 
it seems to me not at all unlikely that in arctic latitudes the birds 
should increase the warmth of their abode by an additional lining 
of feathers unnecessary at the south. Again, Mr. Brewster writes : 


Observe how cunningly the whole affair is concealed — built close to the 
stem of the little fir, resting on the flat horizontally disposed rows of “ needles,” 
and arched over by the flake-like layer of twigs above. One long rootlet alone 
hangs down in full view, and had it not caught my eye I might have passed 
without discovering the nest. It seems, indeed, a pity to disturb it; but we 
shall regret it next winter if we leave it behind. Naturalists are probably not 
hard-hearted by inclination, but of necessity. I dare say the female will com- 


138 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


mence another nest before we pass here on our way back, and the male will 
be singing as joyously as ever in an hour or two. Birds’ grief, like their aver- 
age lives, is short, though apparently intense for the time. It is only the end, 
however, that can ever justify the destruction of a nest, and unthinking per- 
sons might, in many cases, be benefited by contemplating a little more closely 
the suffering which they inflict, . . . . Be careful how you shake that 
branch; for I would have you take a good long look ere we disturb her. See 
how her dark little eye glistens, and note the rapid pulsating motion of her 
back. Underneath those puffed-up feathers a poor little heart is beating 
wildly with fear and apprehension; but still she sits bravely on her trust. She 
- would say, if she could, with the Roman mother, “These are my jewels,” and 
would entreat us to spare them. Now I will advance my hand cautiously, 
See! I almost touch her tail with my finger-tips; but the next instant she is 
gone. How quietly at the last moment she slid over the edge of the nest, 
barely eluding my grasp! A faint cry or two, and there comes the male; but 
he, gaudy little braggart, is far better at singing brave deeds than performing 
them, and will not trust himself very near, though he keeps up a constant 
chipping. His mate, however, is bold enough for both, and in her anxiety 
almost comes within reach of our hands. 


In regard to the eggs I certainly cannot do better than continue 
to quote Mr. Brewster’s exhaustive essay : 


The time of laying with this species varies, in relation to the season, from 
June 8 to June 15. Four eggs commonly constitute a set, though in some 
cases but three are laid; and I know of an instance where five were found in 
one nest. They measure .62 of an inch in length by .50 in breadth. The 
usual shape is a rounded oval, and the ground-color almost invariably creamy 
white after the removal of the contents. The markings are most commonly 
blotches of rich, warm umber, with smaller dottings of pale lilac or brown, 
disposed about the larger end. Some specimens are, however, thickly 
sprinkled over their entire surface with fine brownish spots. One set of four 
eggs differs from any of the others in having a decided tinge of bluish in the 
ground-color; while upon the large patches of umber which encircle the 
greater ends are drawn numerous wavy lines of black, precisely like the char- 
acteristic pen-markings of some of the oriole’s eggs. With an extensive series 
of specimens before me, I am led to the inevitable conviction that eggs of 
D. maculosa are in many cases indistinguishable from those of D. virens, 
D. pennsylvanica, and D. discolor: and an examination of an equal number 
of authentic eggs of the other Dendrece wou'd, I am satisied, result in add- 
ing many more to this list. In the eggs of each of the above-named species 
there is an almost endless variation, and many sets are consequently quite 


THE CAPE MAY WARBLER. 139 


unique; but the type —if, indeed, any can be established — finds equally near 
approaches amcng them all. Nests may, however, in most cases be relied 
upon, especially when procured from proximate localities. 


In the case of the young, both before and after they leave the 
nest, this bird displays no exceptional traits. Both old and young, 
when the latter have become able to take care of themselves, join 
the immense congregations of mingled warblers, wrens, titmice, 
sparrows, and woodpeckers, which collect in the northern forests 
in early August, to be dispersed—most of them southward—by 
the first frosts of September. 


85. THE CAPE MAY WARBLER. 
DENDRECA TIGRINA (Gm.) Baird. 


Spotted Creeper (Jamaica). 


The Cape May warbler is found only east of the Mississtppt, 
north to Lake Winnipeg and Hudson’s bay, breeding from north- 
ern New England northward, and nowhere abundant even in the 
migrations. It winters and also breeds in various West Indian 
Islands. 

There is little assurance of its home having been found more 
than once in the United States——the single instance being the 
discovery by Mr. H. B. Bailey of a nest of this species on the 
Richardson lakes in the northwestern part of Maine. Mr. May- 
nard also felt confident that they were breeding at Lake Umbagog, 
while Mr. H. D. Minot states that it has been found breeding in 
the neighborhood of Boston, but fails to particularize. 

That it breeds in Jamaica and St. Domingo islands, West Indies, 
is well attested. Mr. W. T. March, according to Dr. Brewer’s 
quotations, has met with several instances in the elevated parts of 
Jamaica. The nests are described as found in bushes or trees, and 
wrought of long and thin strips of flexible bark, stoutly and firmly 
interwoven, with an intermingling of lichens, mosses, and bark of 
deciduous trees. ‘The long and deep cavities are lined with more 
delicate strips than are found in the exterior. Mr. Bailey’s nest 


140 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


just spoken of was in a young spruce tree, breast high and con- 
tained one fresh egg. The nest was left in order to obtain a full 
set of eggs, but a second visit found the tree cut down, a “clearing” 
having been started. 

Eggs in the Smithsonian Institution are described by Mr, 
Ridgway as oval in form, dull white in color with blotches of lilac, 
spots and occasional scraggy lines of black around the larger end ; 
dimensions, .75 by .55.” 


86. THE PRAIRIE WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA DISCOLOR (V.) Baird. 


Red-backed Warbler (Jamaica); Particolored Warbler. 


Though nowhere abundant, this warbler may be met with during 
migrations, at least, over all the United States between the Missis- 
sippi and southern New England. 

Breeding along the whole AVantic coas?, its nidification was de- 
scribed by all the early writers, but the accounts show great differ- 
ences. My own experience is so brief, and Dr. T. M. Brewer, in 
the History of North American Birds, has summed up the matter 
so completely, that I prefer to copy his remarks almost as a whole : 


Both Wilson and Audubon were evidently at fault in their descriptions of 
the nest and eggs. These do not correspond with more recent and positive 
observations. Its nest is never pensile. Mr. Nuttall’s descriptions, on the 
other hand, are made from his own observations, and are evidently correct. 
He describes a nest that came under his observation, as scarcely distinguish- 
able from that of the D. estiva. It was not pensile, but fixed in a forked 
' branch, and formed of strips of the inner bark of the red-cedar, fibres of 
asclepias, and caterpillar’s silk, and thickly lined with the down of the Gna- 
phalium plantaginewm. He describes the eggs as having a white ground, 
sharp at one end, and marked with spots of lilac-purple and of two shades of 
brown, more numerous at the larger end, where they formed a ring. He 
speaks of their note as slender, and noticed their arrival about the second 
week of May, leaving the middle of September. 

At another time Mr. Nuttall was attracted by the slender, filing notes of this 
bird, resembling the suppressed syllables ’tsh-’tsh-tsh-’tshea, beginning low 


"ibe 


Caan pate ane 
Ath eae 


¥ 
rt ee 


yt (2 fa Aor + 
= pA MW | PS lols Cer Map ey 
ar = / Ls — + = \ 5 


: iat i 
A Neng 
¥ A " 


. Ly ie A 
Sylar 
ee 


88. 


go. 


PLATE 111, 


DENDRGCA DOMINICA. Yellow-throated Warbler. 
DENDR@CA PALMARUM. Yellow Red-Poll Warbler. 


DENDRG&CA PINUS. Pine-creeping Warbler. 


- SIURUS AURICAPILLUS. Golden-crowned Wagtail. 


SIURUS NAVIUS. Northern Wagtail. 
SIURUS MOTACILLA. Large-billed Wagtail. 
OPORORNIS FORMOSA. Kentucky Warbler. 


GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS. Maryland Yellow-throat. 


? OT a4 ‘ 
] = ~~ ‘ 


ae Leet ae gt UNE Tyne Oe weal | AEs ob ORCA et it a = 
4 


y date |g WPL ONE bitty (a U2 Gt NGL MS Ae a Oe Pe ; 
» Pt mae | ’ : , a 7 - A 


| ; a. : } mT! may Men Pel’ RUTAM RR ES LACM Wash ear 

7 } : ‘ i i’ : * : AS : s st ; Ay 
p 7 4 ee : ee Ty 

“4 ‘ eo dae vane i oarg? ole ak PT BE Fe SHINE. Vo We 


gras 


r thar " te an tay a ace Ailes 
lie Peal? holVl eth : ey 74 vee aaa lia he : 


1 


, rr : ; . qt aX rt 
— _ AN fn Prin wie Aral OURS TI AMENCOM ER. 1 ie Sh 4 


‘ > >" ae an ae Wises : - @ 
cohAieetylin snl aki: | eee ST Pe RE LOR ORAe org eae 
: ’ — Son en A ; a, 9 el 
: ’ ‘ i: oe Dist ey as 
« 


THE PRAIRIE WARBLER. 141 


and gradually growing louder. With its mate, it was busily engaged collect- 
ing flies and larvee among a clump of locust trees in Mount Auburn. Their 
nest was near, and the female, without any precautions, went directly to it. 
Mr. Nuttall removed two eggs, which he afterward replaced. Each time on 
his withdrawal, she returned to the nest, and resorted to no expedients to en- 
tice him away. 

Several nests of this warbler have been obtained by Mr. Welch in Lynn. 
One was built on a wild rose, only a few feet from the ground. It isa snug, 
compact, and elaborately woven structure, having a height and a diameter of 
about two and one-half inches. The cavity is two inches wide and one and 
one-half deep. The materials of which the outer parts are woven are chiefly 
the soft inner bark of small shrubs, mingled with dry rose-leaves, bits of veg- 
etable wool, woody fibres, decayed stems of plants, spiders’ webs, etc. The 
whole is bound together like a web by cotton-like fibres of a vegetable origin. 
The upper rim of this nest is a marked feature, being a strongly interlaced 
weaving of vegetable roots and strips of bark. The lining of the nest 1s com- 
posed of fine vegetable fibres and a few horse-hairs. This nest, in its general 
mode of construction, resembles all that I have seen ; only in others the ma- 
terials vary—in some dead and decayed leaves, in others remains of old 
cocoons, and in others the pappus of composite plants being more prominent 
than the fine strips of bark. The nests are usually within four feet of the 
ground. The eggs vary from three to five, and even six. 

The late Dr. Gerhardt found this bird the most common warbler in northern 
Georgia. There its nests were similar in size, structure and position, but dif- 
fered more or less in the materials of which they were made. The nests were 
a trifle larger, and the walls thinner, the cavities being correspondingly larger. 
The materials were more invariably fine strips of inner bark and flax-like veg- 
etable fibres, and were lined with the finest stems of plants, in one case with 
the feathers of the great horned-owl. In that neighborhood the eggs were 
deposited by the 15th of May. 

In Massachusetts the prairie warbler invariably selects wild pasture land, 
often not far from villages, and always open or very thinly wooded. In 
Georgia their nests were built in almost every kind of bush or low tree, or on 
the lower limb of post-oaks, at the height of from four to seven feet. Eggs 
were found once as early as the 2nd of May, and once as late as the roth of 
June. They arrived there by the roth of April, and seemed to prefer hill- 
sides, but were found in almost any open locality. 

In southern Illinois, Mr. Ridgway cites this species as a rather rare bird 
among the oak-barrens where it breeds. 

The eggs are of an oval shape, pointed at one end, and measure .68 by .48 
of aninch. They have a white ground, marked with spots of lilac and pur- 
ple, and two shades of umber brown, 


142 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


87. GRACE’S WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA GRACLZ Cowes. 


Grace’s warbler is a rarity (thus far) from Mew Mexico and 
Arizona, and seems there wholly confined to the “ pine-belt that 
indicates a certain elevation of the surface im those territories.” 
Henshaw ascertained its presence frequently in the White Moun- 
tains of Arizona, and saw young birds just from the nest during the 
second week of July ; but the home they had left always remained 
hidden, and we have only the conjecture with which to solace 
ourselves, that it will be found high up in the pine-trees. 


88. THE YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER. 
DENDRGCA DOMINICA (L.) Baird. 


Yellow-throat; Pensile Warbler; Jamaica Warbler; Conjaune. 


A bird of the easzern half of the Union alone, this lovely war- 
bler belongs also to the south rather than to the north, since even 
in midsummer it wanders little northward of Philadelphia on the 
coast, and Missouri in the interior. The most admirable account 
of the bird ever written is contained in the Nuttall Club’s Bulletin, 
Volume II, pp. 102-106 ; it is by Mr. William Brewster, and I am 
able to add nothing essential from personal experience : 


While collecting near St. Mary’s [Florida], April 18, I was in the act of 
shooting a female, when I noticed that she was gathering material for build- 
ing, and, tracing her flight, I was fortunate enough to discover her half com- 
pleted nest. Visiting the spot at frequent intervals, I invariably found both 
birds feeding among the pines in the vicinity, although the nest, as far as I 
could judge, seemed finished. At length, May 2, a friend, ascending the tree, 
found the female sitting. She remained on the nest until he nearly touched 
it, although the limb shook violently under his weight. When she did finally 
leave it she sailed down into a smaller tree a few yards off, where she re- 
mained a silent and seemingly unconcerned spectator of what followed. The 
nest and its contents being safely lowered to the ground, I shot both the 
female and her mate. The latter was singing, as usual, a short distance off, 


THE RED-POLL. 143 


and apparently took no more interest than the female in the destruction of 
their mutual hopes. Embryos of small size had already formed in the eggs, 
so that incubation must have been begun three or four days previously. This 
nest was placed at the height of about 35 feet from the ground, on the stout 
horizontal branch of a southern pine, one of a thinly scattered grove or belt 
that stretched along the edge of a densely wooded hummock. It was set 
flatly on the limb, — not saddled to it, — nearly midway between the juncture 
with the main trunk and the extremity of the twigs, and was attached to the 
rough bark by silky fibres. It is composed externally of a few short twigs 
and strips of bark, bound together by Spanish moss and a silky down from 
plants. The lining consists of a few hair-like filaments of moss and soft cot- 
tony vegetable fibres. The whole structure is neatly and firmly compacted, 
though essentially simple in appearance, and, from the nature of the compo- 
nent materials, of a grayish inconspicuous color. In size, shape and general 
formation, it very nearly resembles nests of the black-throated green warbler 
in my collection. It measures externally 2.80 inches in diameter by 1.70 in 
depth. The eggs, four in number, measure .69 by .53 of aninch. They are 
quite regularly ovate, with fine dottings of pale lilac scattered thinly and 
evenly over a grayish white ground-color. A few spots or blotches of burnt 
sienna occur about the large ends, while occasional irregular, pen-like lines 
of dark brown diversify the remaining surface. 


Mr. Brewster shows that every account published hitherto of the 
nesting of this species is open to doubt, if not manifestly wrong, 
including the elaborate descriptions by Brewer and Coues from an 
alleged specimen in the National Museum, 


89. KIRTLAND’S WARBLER. 
DENDR@ECA KIRTLANDI Baird. 
Concerning this very rare summer resident of the region of the 


Great Lakes, we are so ill informed that nothing can be said in 
elucidation of its breeding. 


90. THE RED-POLL. 
DENDR@CA PALMARUM. 
Palm Warbler; Yellow Red-poll Warbler; Fauvette a tete rouge (Canada). 


The habitat of the red-poll in the breeding months includes the 
eastern half of Canada and Labrador ; for, though abundant in 


144 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


the United States during the migrations, it never remains to breed 
there, at least south of the Maine forests ; consequently, little is 
known of its breeding life. 

The red-poll selects for its home the edge of a swampy thicket, 
or an old brushy pasture, and places its sparrow-like nest on the 
ground, beside a little knoll, or at the roots of a spruce-sapling or 
small bush. In this habit it stands alone among the Dendrcece. 
The structure is not large, measuring, ordinarily, about 34 inches 
in diameter and 23 in depth, with walls half an inch thick. “The 
walls are compactly and elaborately constructed of an interweavy- 
ing of various fine materials, chiefly fine dry grasses, slender strips 
of bark, stems of the smaller plants, hypnum and other mosses. 
Within, the nest is warmly and softly lined with down and feathers.” 

The eggs are of a rounded, oval shape, and measure .70 of an 
inch in length, by .55 in breadth. Their ground-color is a yel- 
lowish or creamy-white, and their blotches, chiefly about the larger 
end, are of a blending of purple, lilac and reddish brown. 


91. THE PINE WARBLER. 
DENDRCECA PINUS (Wilson) Baird. 


Pine Creeper; Pine-Creeping Warbler; Fauvette des Pins (Canada). 


Ranging in summer from the lower Missouri eastward to the 
coast, and northward as far as the Maritime Provinces, this bird is 
one of the few warblers whose nests are to be obtained in every 
Atlantic state. 

Living chiefly among the pine woods, and associating with such 
birds as the titmice, bluebirds and kinglets, which are all early 
comers, the pine warbler’s nest is among the first to be taken in 
spring. Mr. Maynard records it as laying in Alabama and South 
Carolina, the last of March; and even in Massachusetts by the 
middle of May. 

Though the nests vary greatly in manner of construction, they 
all agree in position, being lodged in safe forks at the tons of trees 


THE PINE WARBLER. 145 


(almost always young evergreens), and thus are well concealed. 
One found by Nuttall in Cambridge was thin but very neat; the 
principal material was the wiry old stems of the slender knot-weed, 
circularly interlaced, and connected externally with rough, linty 
fibres of some species of Asclepias, and blended with caterpillars’ 
webs. The lining, he says, was made of a few hogs’ bristles, slen- 
der root-fibres, a mat of the down of fern-stalks, and one or two 
feathers of the robin’s breast ; a curious medley, but all answering 
the purpose of warmth and shelter for the expected brood. Sev- 
eral other nests were of the same sort. 

On the other hand Mr. Welch, of Lynn, Mass., describes many 
nests as alike in being loosely made of fine strips of the bark of 
the red cedar (chiefly underneath), fine inner bark of other trees, 
hempen and cotton threads, the exuvize of insects, and dry stalks of 
grasses: the lining of. these nests, which were deep, consisted of 
fur, silky down and feathers. Other nests from Woburn, Mass., 
show fine, crinkled, black rootlets as the chief means of frame- 
work. ‘The structure usually bears a close resemblance to a red- 
start’s home, and is about three inches across the brim. 

The eggs of the pine warbler are four in number, as a rule, and 
two or three clutches of them are hatched each year in the south- 
ern states, but only one in New England. They are about .70 by.52 
of an inch in average measurement, and the ground color is dull 
white. ‘Scattered over this are subdued tintings of a fine, delicate 
shade of purple, and upon this are distributed dots and blotches 
of a dark purplish brown, mingled with a few lines almost black.” 
Sometimes there is a distinct wreath about the large end, or the 
whole butt is capped. Dr. Brewer points out a supposed likeness 
to eggs of Dendraca castanea ; but I should say D. discolor or D. 
striata furnished a better type, though the latter’s eggs are con- 
siderably larger. 

Though Nuttall removed two eggs from one of the nests he 
found, the mother-bird, after feeble complaint, resumed her sitting 
upon the remainder. ‘In summer,” the same diligent author tells 
us, “their food is the eggs and larvze of various insects, as well as 

10 


146 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


flies or cynips, caterpillars,coleoptera and ants. In autumn, the 
young frequent the gardens, groves and orchards, feeding likewise 
on berries of various kinds, as on those of the cornel, wild-grape 
and five-leaved ivy; at this season they are very fat and fly and 
forage in families.” 


92. THE OVEN-BIRD 
SEIURUS AURICAPILLUS (L.) Swainson 


Golden-crowned Thrush; Water-thrush, or Wagtail; Water Warbler; 
Land Kickup (West Indies); Orange-crowned Accentor. 


This pretty and familiar woodland bird is common everywhere in 
the Lastern United States, as far as the dry plains, and northward 
to Alaska and Hudson’s bay. 

Rather an early arrival in the middle and northern states (win- 
tering rarely this side of Mexico and the Antilles), it quickly pro- 
ceeds to establish its well-guarded home. The site chosen is 
usually the side of a hill in the woods,—less often in a cleared 
space, and then only when the shelter of bushes is close by; 
and it is noticeable that the neighborhood of water is not im- 
portant, as seems to be the case with its congeners next suc- 
ceeding. Scraping aside the dead leaves until a foundation of 
solid earth is secured, the skilful bird entwines linear leaves, 
grasses, shreds of bark and bits ‘of moss or blossoms into a 
circular bed both dry and warm. ‘Then, from materials close at 
hand, and hence not discernible at once from any difference 
between them and their surroundings, she heaps up a parapet, 
and drags upon the top old dead leaves, long dry weeds and 
stems of grasses, pieces of light bark that the squirrels or wood- 
peckers have thrown down, and even twigs, until she has made 
a complete domed roof over her snug “farm,” with its little un- 
noticed door in front whence she can peer out. She has thus 
converted her house into a cave, where she may sit secure 
from anything but accident. Varying in its timber with the lo- 


THE OVEN-BIRD. 147 


cality and the kind of wood or pasture in which it is placed, 
the domed form is the same everywhere, and always admirable. 
The only way to find it is slowly to search the ground where 
the nest is suspected, or where it seems likely one may be, and 
startle the bird out of its retreat. Even then one cannot al- 
ways be sure of his prize, for when thus surprised the mother 
runs from the nest with the silence and celerity of a mouse. 

These nests are not always domed, however, like old-fashioned 
ovens in miniature. Now and then the bird so takes advantage 
of a sheltering rock or the protection of a projecting root,—mak- 
ing any superstructure unnecessary to its concealment,—that I 
think the roof of the unsheltered nest must be intended as a 
guard against the eyes of enemies rather than any shield from 
the weather. The fact that nests built in very thick woods are 
frequently left uncovered supports this belief. Dr. Brewer tells 
pleasantly how his daughter, then a child of four years of age, 
discovered such an one, It was built in a depression in the 
ground and its top was completely covered by the natural growth 
ef surrounding vines and wild flowers. Although the little girl 
and her father were standing with their feet almost upon the 
nest, the warbler remained sitting quietly until the child stooped 
to pluck the flowers growing directly over its entrance; then 
the bird darted out and fluttered and tumbled about with well- 
feigned manceuvres to distract attention from her treasures. The 
child in great glee tried to catch it, but of course failed ; while 
the father, wiser in the ways of birds, stooped to examine the 
nest and saw that it had no other cover than the wild plants 
that clustered above it. 


The eggs of the golden-crowned thrush are subject to considerable va- 
riation. Their markings differ in color and shade, and yet more in num- 
ber, size and manner of distribution. The eggs are oval in shape, one 
end being only very slightly smaller than the other, Their average length 
is .82 of an inch, and their breadth is .55 of an inch. Their ¢-:und col- 
or is a beautiful creamy white. They are marked, usually principally about 
the larger end, with dots and blotches, intermingled, of red, reddish brown, 
lilac, purple and ferruginous. Occasionally these make a beautiful crown 
around the larger end, leaving the rest of the surface nearly free from spots. 


148 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


83. THE WATER THRUSH. 
SEIURUS NEVIUS Baeddert. 


New York Water-Thrush, Wagtail or Water-Wagtail; Northern 
Water-Thrush. 


In moderate latitudes this wagtail is confined in summer chiefly 
to the United States eastward of. the plains, but in British Am- 
erica it extends clear across the arctic continent. Its breeding- 
range, however, seems restricted to the colder half of the country, 
say north of latitude 40°, except where mountains carry a more 
northern aspect toward the south, as in the case of the Cats- 
kills. 

“Several nests with eggs are in the Smithsonian, from various 
arctic localities, as Fort Yukon and La Pierre House. They 
appear to have been built on the ground, and are composed 
chiefly of moss, compactly matted and mixed with little sticks 
and straws—in one instance with a large amount of disintegrat- 
ing fibrous material circularly woven. .. . The nests are about 
four inches across, by two-thirds as much deep.” Previous to the 
reception of these Alaskan examples (collected by Lockhart, Ken- 
nicott, Dall, etc.), we were all at sea in regard to the nidification 
of the species, for the accounts of the earlier standard authorities 
inextricably confused this species with the following, so that they 
were untrustworthy. Even now the accurate information extant is 
meagre ; I do not think the whole series of Atlantic Club Bulle- 
tins contains a word on the subject, yet the bird is not un- 
common everywhere in the Canadian faunal district. 

In the History of North American Birds, it is stated that Dr. 
Brewer once found its nest and eggs near Boston, and that on 
June 8, Professor Verrill discovered its nest in a dense cedar 
swamp near Norway, Me. “This was built in an excavation in 
the side of a decayed, moss-covered log, the excavation itself 
forming an arch over the nest in the manner of, yet different 
from, that of the golden crowned. ‘The nest itself was an ex- 
ceedingly beautiful structure, four and a half inches in diameter, 


THE LARGE-BILLED WAGTAIL. 149 


but only an inch and a half in depth, being very nearly flat, the 
cavity only half an inch deep. The entire base was made of loose 
hypnum mosses, interspersed with a few dead leaves and stems. 
The whole inner structure or lining was made up of the fruit- 
stems of the same moss, densely impacted. ‘The outer circum- 
ference was made up of mosses and intertwined small, black vege- 
table roots.” 

This is all the books have to say on the subject which can 
be trusted. 


94. THE LARGE-BILLED WAGTAIL. 
SEIURUS MOTACILLA  Véeillot. 


Louisiana Water-Thrush, Wagtail or Accentor; Large-billed Accentor; 
Warbler-Thrush. 


The geographical distribution of this wagtail is southern, reach- 
ing in its northernmost breeding limit only the southern edge of 
the summer range of the small-billed species ; and westward to 
Kansas. Like the former it is to be sought in low, wet districts 
or along mountain brooks, and is shy of observation and secret 
in its domestic ways. Although a very common resident in the 
south, its breeding habits have only recently been really well 
known ; and the knowledge has been so skilfully combined by 
Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, in his admirable contributions to the elev- 
enth volume of the Proceedings of the Essex Institute, that I 
can do no better than to quote him at length. 


We had no reliable account of the nidification of the large-billed ac- 
centor, until Mr. Ernest Ingersoll gave a description of a nest with four fresh 
eggs, taken in June, 1873, at Franklin station, New London county, Conn., 
and fully identified by the capture of the female parent.* The nest “was rather 
loosely and carelessly constructed of fine grass and some little dead fibrous 
moss, but beneath, a few, and about the outside, particularly in front, many 
dead leaves were put, as a sort of breastwork to decrease the size of the 
entrance and more thoroughly conceal the sitting bird. It was underneath 


en ee ee eS 
* Am. Naturalist, VIII, p. 238. 


150 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


the edge of a perpendicular bank, eight or ten feet from the water.” The 
eggs, lustrous white, were more or less profusely spotted all over with dots 
and specks, and some obscure zigzaggings, of two tints of reddish brown, 
with numerous faint points and touches of lilac and very pale underlying red. 
Dr. Coues gives (Birds of the Northwest, p. 73, 1874) the following notice: 
“The large-billed water thrush has been found breeding on the Wachita 
river [Kansas] where the nests and eggs were secured by Mr. J. H. Clark, 
and at Kiowa Agency, where Dr. Palmer also procured them. The one of 
these two nests in the best condition was built upon a layer of leaves, appar- 
ently upon the ground, composed otherwise entirely of rootlets and fine grasses. 
The other contained five eggs; they are more globular than any of those 
of S. noveboracensis I have seen, but not otherwise different; and other 
sets would probably not be distinguishable. The roundest one of them 
measures only 0.69 by 0.59.” 

These nests remained unique until Mr. William Brewster “had the good 
fortune to secure two fully identified nests of this species in Knox County, 
Indiana,” in the spring of 1878. “The first, taken with the female parent 
May 6, contained six eggs, which had been incubated a few days. The 
locality was the edge of a lonely forest pool in the depths of a cypress 
swamp near White River. A large tree had fallen into the shallow water, 
and the earth adhering to the roots formed a nearly vertical but somewhat 
irregular wall about six feet in height and ten or twelve in breadth. 
Near the upper edge of this, in a cavity among the finer roots, was placed 
the nest, which, but for the situation and the peculiar character of its com- 
position, would have been exceedingly conspicuous. ‘The nest which is 
before me is exceedingly large and bulky, measuring externally 3.50 inches 
in diameter, by 8 inches in length, and 3.50 inches in depth. Its outer 
wall, a solid mass of soggy dead leaves plastered tightly together by the 
mud adhering to their surfaces, rises in the form of a rounded parapet, 
the outer edge of which was nicely graduated to conform to the edge of 
the earthy bank in which it was placed. In one corner of this mass, and 
well back, is the nest proper, a neatly rounded, cup-shaped hollow, meas- 
uring 2.50 inches in diameter by 2.50 inches in depth. This inner nest is com- 
posed of small twigs and green mosses, with a lining of dry grasses anda 
few hairs of squirrels or other mammals arranged circularly. The eggs 
found in this nest are of a rounded-oval shape and possess a high polish. 
Their ground-color is white with a fleshy tint. About the greater ends are 
numerous large but exceedingly regular blotches of dark umber with fainter 
sub-markings of pale lavender, while over the remainder of their surface 
are thickly sprinkled dottings of reddish brown. But slight variation of 
marking occurs, and that mainly with regard to the relative size of the 
blotches upon the greater ends. They measure, respectively, .75 X.63, .78X 
.64, .75X .63, .76X .62, .76X .62, .75X.61.” 


THE LARGE-BILLED WAGTAIL. I5r 


Mr. Brewster then gives a pleasant description of the second nest, taken 
May 8, on the opposite side of the same pond, in a precisely similar situ- 
ation, where his previous experience enabled him to find it directly. In 
shape it was nearly square, “measuring externally 6.50 inches in diameter 
by 3.54 inches in depth. The inner nest measures 2.73 inches in diameter 
by 2.50 inches in depth, and is lined with dry grasses, leaf-stems, and a 
few white hairs. The eggs were four in number and perfectly fresh. They 
agree closely in shape with those of the first set, and have an equally high 
polish, but are somewhat more heavily and handsomely marked. The color 
is creamy white with heavy blotches of umber brown generally distributed, 
but occurring most thickly at the greater ends; fine dottings of lighter brown, 
and a few spots of pale lavender, fill in the intermediate spaces. They meas- 
ure, respectively, .71 X .60, .71 X .60, .72X.60, .72X.61. In each of these two 
sets the eggs show unusually little variation inter se.” On May 12, a third 
nest was found by Mr. Robert Ridgway, on the shore of an isolated little 
woodland pond, which contained five young birds, well feathered and nearly 
able to fly. The site, in this instance, was at the foot of a huge stump, 
the nest being placed in a cavity in the rotten wood. Still another nest 
was found by Mr. Brewster, April 29, under the bank of White river, among 
the earth and roots, and well sheltered by the projection of the bank above. 
The female was sitting upon the empty nest, and was shot as she flew 
from it. 

In “The Odlogist” (Vol. IV, No. 2, pp. 10, 11, April, 1878), Mr. Adolphe 
B. Covert describes its nest and eggs as follows: “On the 7th of June L 
found the nest to contain five eggs, and shot the parent bird, which proved 
to be the large-billed species. The nest was built on the ground, at the 
base of a large black ash, partially under and against a large root, which 
formed an arch over half of the nest. It was composed of a layer of dead 
leaves, moss, fine roots, and dried grasses, compactly and rather smoothly 
finished, and lined with fine grass and some cows’ hair. The eggs were 
five in number, white (of a roseate tinge before blown), thickly spotted 
with small reddish brown spots; they measure about .78 by .59 of an inch.” 
I am unable so much as to guess where this nest was discovered, since the 
author neglects to give any locality. 

As the above comprises all that is at present known concerning the nid- 
ification of this bird*, it will not seem out of place to give, in this con- 
nection, the results of my own observations on the nestling of this Accentor 
at Highland Falls, where, as stated at the commencement, it is a common 
summer resident. I remember quite well the first nest that I discovered— 


* Besides the above, I am informed that a notice of its breeding appeared in 
Forest and Stream, sometime during the past year. 


152 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


a number of years ago. As I was returning home through the woods one 
evening, I stopped to drink, hunter fashion, from a cold spring that bursts 
from the side of a ravine, close to a large brook. I was about to drink, 
when a bird flew right in.my face, startling me greatly; but I soon heard 
the accustomed chick, uttered in a loud, complaining tone, and then I 
saw the bird tilting up and down upon a stone in the middle of the brook. 
The nest was placed at the side of the spring just above the water, occu- 
pying the cavity whence a round stone had been dislodged. It contained 
four eggs, having embryos considerably advanced. The nest was loosely 
constructed of strips of bark, grasses, stems of plants, and leaves. <A nest 
was also found in this same spot on a succeeding season, from which five 
fresh eggs were taken. The eggs of the first set are before me, and are 
as described by Mr. Brewster, except that the markings are aggregated at 
the larger ends; the darkest arranged in a circle near that extremity. This 
nest was found May 31. In 1877 I found as many as six young Water 
Thrushes in a nest that was built in a pile of débris that was lodged in 
some bushes that grew on a little island in the midst of a large stream, 
This nest was very artfully concealed, and I had searched for it unsuc- 
cessfully ever since the middle of May. The parents always seemed greatly 
distressed whenever I approached the nest, and always tried to lead me 
away from it. I should not have discovered it had not the young ones 
betrayed its presence by their chirping. They left the nest about June ro. 
On May 7, 1878, I shot a female containing an egg of full size in her 
oviduct. On the 15th, after a long search and several previous failures, I 
found a newly finished nest. So carefully was it concealed, that I looked 
directly into it before making its discovery. By the 21st five eggs were 
laid, but neither of the parents would approach it. On the 22nd six eggs 
had been deposited, and I nearly succeeded in capturing the sitting bird; 
but it slipped away just as I was going to put my hand over it, and ran 
down the bed of the brook to the large stream, where it remained silent 
till nearly approached, when it flew into a tree opposite, where it bowed 
and chipped in a low tone till shot. The nest was placed under the bank 
of a smaller stream, tributary to a large brook. Its position was such, that 
only accident, or the most careful search, could discover it. The projecting 
branches of a laurel-bush still further aided its concealment. The nest pre- 
sents the following dimensions: internal diameter, 2.95 inches; internal depth, 
125 inches. The six eggs measure, respectively, .75X.62; .79X.65; .77X 
64; .75%.63; -.75X.63; -74X.62. This nest and the others resemble so 
closely, in composition, those already described by Mr. Brewster, that a de- 
tailed description is unnecessary; their form and materials differ slightly, 
according to situations On May 23, 1878, I took five slightly incubated eggs 
from a nest that was placed under some brush and roots, in the bank of 
a small stream that flows into the Buttermilk Falls brook. One of these 


THE KENTUCKY WARBLER. 153 


eggs is in the hands of Mr. Ernest Ingersoll for illustration of his work 
on the “Nests and Eggs of American Birds,” his original set having been 
placed where it was not available for the purpose. The remaining four 
measure, respectively, .79X65: .80X.65; .80X.64; .80X.65. The nest 
presents an internal diameter of 2.70 inches; internal depth, 1.40 inches. 
In this set the eggs are as described by Mr. Brewster, but the markings form 
a distinct circle about the larger end. In the preceding set the markings 
are more uniformly distributed, but are most distinct at the great end. 
May 27, 1879, another nest was found, which contained five young birds 
nearly full-fledged. Visiting it a few days later, I found the old birds 
present, but the young had left the nest, and though not seen, were still 
in the neighborhood, as was plainly indicated by the actions of the par- 
ents, which manifested the utmost concern at my presence; fluttering and 
dragging themselves over the leaves with wings extended in a seemingly 
helpless fashion, they endeavored to lead me away from the spot. This 
nest was built far under the jutting margin of the stream; also tributary 
to a larger one. It was only discovered by my having actually placed my 
hand upon the young birds while exploring in search of the nest. 

Of the six nests above enumerated, three were found under the project- 
ing margins of small brooks, near their anastomoses with larger streams, 
two at the side of a spring close to a large brook, and one on an island 
in the middle of a large stream. It would seem, from these circumstances 
that the Water Thrush usually builds away from the large stream, that its 
sagacity leads it to select for its nesting site a position less liable to en- 
danger the lives of its progeny by subsequent accidents of storm and flood. 
The Accentor sometimes builds very early. I am confident that the eggs 
taken by myself do not represent the earliest period of its nestling, since 
I have shot specimens containing full-sized ova in their oviducts as early 
as May Ist. 


95. THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER. 
OPORORNIS AGILIS (Wils.) Baird. 


This rare migrant belongs to the easéern province of the United 
States, but has never yet been traced to its far northern breeding- 
place, and no satisfactory notes exist upon its nests or eggs. 


96. THE KENTUCKY WARBLER. 
OPORORNIS FORMOSA (Wils.) Bad. 
A denizen of the AZssissippi Valley, this warbler is seen breed- 
10* 


154 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


ing northward to Lake Erie, eastward to the Connecticut valley, 
and westward to the Indian territory. Wilson found it particu- 
larly numerous in Kentucky and Tennessee, sitting in May; and 
Audubon considered it even more abundant in Louisiana where 
it arrives in March. In northern Georgia, its eggs are laid during 
the first week of May, and a few days later along the Ohio, but 
not until June north of the Alleghanies ; two broods are reared in 
many cases. 

The nest of the Kentucky warbler is usually placed on the 
ground in the woods at the foot of a sapling or “in a thick tuft of 
rank grass ;”’ but sometimes in a low bush or the brushy top of a 
fallen tree. The materials are dead leaves, loose dry grass, the 
light pith of weeds, the bark of dead plants, etc., etc., the interior 
being composed mainly of fine black roots, with soft grass, cotton 
and hair. Underneath and around it there is usually a large aggre- 
gation of leaves. The whole affair, though beautiful, has little 
coherence, and evidently is not constructed with a view to the 
convenience of nest collectors; nor is it easy to find, usually 
being concealed beside a decaying log under a bunch of ferns, or 
in some other dense corner. In rare cases, the nest is rudely 
arched over with leaves and the heads of flowering grasses much 
after the fashion of an oven-bird’s. Naturally, so clumsy a struc- 
ture would appear large for the size of the maker, but the cavity 
is small. “Very little artistic skill was displayed in its construc- 
tion,” writes Henshaw, of one taken at Washington, D. C., “the 
nest of the Maryland yellow-throat much surpassing it in work- 
manship. 

The eggs are four to six in number, and average .72 by .58 
of an inch in size. In shape they are pyriform; in color glossy 
white, finely sprinkled with dots of bright red over all the surface, 
but most thickly around the large end; and besides the reddish 
specks, there are often other dottings of neutral tint, and a few 
conspicuous touches of lavender. 

The young are said by Audubon to remain with their parents 
until both depart for their winter home. 


THE MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT. 155 


97. THE MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT. 
GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS (Z.) Cab. 


Yellow-throat; Oven-bird (South); Black-masked Ground Warbler. 


This is one of the birds with which the young ornithologist 
first becomes acquainted, when his newly awakened interest leads 
him outside of his door-yard. It breeds abundantly a over 
the Union, but departs in winter for a more southern climate. 
It is to be sought in wet woods and by ‘the edge of the little 
morasses about the farm to which one is guided by the cackle 
of blackbirds. Although not seeking the society of men, it does 
not strenuously avoid it. 

The nest of the Maryland yellow-throat is constructed during 
April in Florida, during May in Pennsylvania, and later north- 
ward. In northeastern Maine eggs have been taken on June 8 
and at the Grand Menan on June 20; in Truckee valley, high 
among the Sierras, on May 19; at Washoe, Nev., May 23 (near 
hatching) and at Salt Lake in June. 

The nest “is fixed on the ground,” to use the concise words 
of Wilson, “among the dried leaves, in the very depth of a 
thicket of briers, sometimes arched over and a small hole left 
for entrance.” Occasionally, the structure is elevated a short dis- 
tance from the ground in the midst of a bush dense enough to 
afford ample support to the bulky mass. Mr. Gentry mentions 
that near Philadelphia he has frequently found the nest occupy- 
ing the heart of a skunk-cabbage—an odorous site. Althougn 
a lover of swamps, it yet seeks a dry piece of ground as its 
home, not caring to risk the welfare of its eggs. 

The materials of the nest vary with the latitude, but in gen- 
eral consist of leaves amassed together into an incoherent bed, 
enclosing the deeply sunken cavity of the nest, and giving no 
appearance of design in the accumulation. Within this rim are 
loosely interwoven walls of grape-vine bark, grasses and weed- 
shreds, lined internally with fine grass or hair. The whole is 
sunk deep into the leaves and among the roots of the brambles, 


156 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


very often on a slope ; frequently a hedge of grasses stands about 
the nest, and sometimes, as the older ornithologists invariably 
mentioned, the whole is roofed over like that of the golden- 
crowned wagtail; but this dome is not an integral part of the 
structure, being simply leaves, etc., dragged over it into self- 
supporting shape as a disguise. The framework seems to be 
slighter at the south than in the north; and Mr. Herrick tells 
me that at Grand Menan the yellow-throats find the climate so 
cold that they embed their eggs in feathers. Mr. Mearns, in his 
valuable memoir on the ornithology of the Hudson Highlands, 
records that one nest of this bird, found in a wet meadow, was 
built over a little watercourse, being suspended to the interlaced 
grasses which were brought from each side and fastened together. 
He also adds, that its nest is very often found suspended to 
the rushes of the marshes that border the Hudson. 

The five or six eggs of the Geothlypis are begun to be laid 
as soon as the nest is completed. They are very pretty, being 
pure, semi-transparent white, “dotted, blotched and marbled 
around the larger end with purple, reddish brown and dark um- 
ber.” These markings are laid on very irregularly: in some 
specimens scarcely anything but a confused rim about the butt 
appears; in others a few scattered blotches; in others sparse 
and diffused dots ; while occasional examples are almost or quite 
immaculate. The size and shape also are highly variable, the 
length ranging from .74 to .55 of an inch and the breadth from .58 
to .48. All sizes and forms occur in the same nest. In Dr. 
Brewer’s collection the largest eggs are from Kansas and the 
smallest from Georgia; but this no doubt is mere accident. It 
is rare to find a nest without one or more eggs of the cow- 
bird in it; but never, Audubon thought, in the nests of the second 
brood. 

Incubation is said to devolve wholly upon the female, and to 
continue about ten days. During this time the male is assiduous 
and affectionate in the collection of food for his mate and guard- 
ing her safety. Relying upon the admirable concealment of their 
home for protection, the birds rarely show any open solicitude 


98. 
99. 
00. 
Iot. 
102. 
103. 


104. 


RAO Xe Te Ve, 


GEOTHLYPIS PHILADELPHIA. Mourning Warbler. 
GEOTHLYPIS MACGILLIVRAYI. McGillivray’s Warbler. 
ICTERIA VIRENS. Yellow breasted Chat. 

MYIODIOCTES MITRATUS. Hooded Warbler (two figs.). 
MYIODIOCTES PUSILLUS. Black-cap. 


MYIODIOCTES CANADENSIS. Canada Flycatcher. 


SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA. Redstart. 


‘ 


ee ee) ee 


™ PARAM te wh ce RS a AES IRroeaee = 
. oe Pae M o! Food gia la TD ety Fak ULV AEAS e) (4) ras ra 7 a 
of at ol Paleipmeiyd) det LA eae ACO) cute TE ms 
CARROTS vali te Ait) ee ave Gee Ct hh ee wk 
: ais 
sie) alIO Se PUT CRN BREN GMAT Pore 
att, Wi a 8 oe retest wo ges iat TE er a 
| i oo Ph AIO ees eee 
“yp : 
a 
- . . 
aie 7 


THE MOURNING GROUND WARDLER. 154 


until it is discovered. “Then they will make the most vehe- 
ment demonstrations of alarm and distress, flying about the in- 
truder and fearlessly approaching him to within a few feet.’’ Dr. 
Brewer was surely in error when he declared that they “rarely, 
if ever, have more than one brood in a season.” All experience, 
from Massachusetts southward, is opposed to him. When the 
young are hatched they are treated with tender care by both 
parents, being fed upon the larve of small beetles and moths, 
and various flies. The young are able to leave the nest in about 
twelve days, but are not left wholly to shift for themselves, for 
a week longer. If the last brood, they remain with their parents 
upon their leisurely journey northward in September. 


98. THE MOURNING GROUND WARBLER. 
GEOTHLYPIS PHILADELPHIA ( Wits.) Bd. 


Ranges from Kansas and Dakota over the whole of Zaszrn 
North America, wintering south of our borders, and breeding 
through the northern portion of its summer habitat. 

Mr. John Burroughs was the first to see the nest of this bird, 
the account of the finding of which I quote from his charming 
book, Wake Robin: —the scene is a locality in the interior of 
New York, at the headwaters of the Delaware: 


Continuing my random walks, I next paused in a low part of the woods, 
where the larger trees began to give place to a thick second growth that 
covered an old Barkpeeling. I was standing by a large maple, when a small 
bird darted quickly away from it, as if it might have come out of a hole near 
its base. As the bird paused a few yards from me, and began to chirp un- 
easily, my curiosity was at once excited. When I saw it was the female 
mourning ground warbler, and remembered that the nest of this bird had not 
yet been seen by any naturalist,—that not even Dr. Brewer had ever seen the 
eggs,—l felt that here was something worth looking for. So I carefully be- 
gan the search, exploring inch by inch the ground, the base and roots of the 
tree, and the various shrubby growths about it, till, finding nothing, and fear- 
ing I might really put my foot in it, I bethought me to withdraw to a distance 
and after some delay return again, and, thus forewarned, note the exact point 


158 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


from which the bird flew. This I did, and, returning, had little difficulty in 
discovering the nest. It was placed but a few feet from the maple tree, in 
a bunch of ferns, and about six inches from the ground. It was quite a 
massive nest, composed entirely of the stalks and leaves of dry grass, with an 
inner lining of fine, dark-brown roots. The eggs, three in number, were of 
light flesh-color, uniformly speckled with fine, brown specks. The cavity of 
the nest was so deep that the back of the sitting bird sank below the edge. 


The mourning warbler breeds commonly in northern New Eng- 
land and Canada, and as far west as the Red river of the North, 
where it is abundant in the thickets, and the young appear late 
in June. The few accounts of nests and eggs available confirm 
Mr. Burroughs’ record fully ; but Dr. Coues, judging from sev- 
eral suites collected by Ridgway, decides that the eggs “lack 
the sharp speckling of reddish brown found mostly throughout 
this family, being variously blotched, in an entirely irregular man- 
ner, with very dark brown, and smirched with several shades of 
lighter dirty brown, together with some obscure neutral shell- 
markings ; the ground is white as usual. Extremes of size and 
shape which have offered are .7o by .50 and .65 by .52. 


99. MACGILLIVRAY’S GROUND WARBLER. 
GEOTHLYPIS MACGILLIVRAYI (Aud.) Bd. 


Western Yellow Throat. 


This warbler, by many ornithologists perhaps properly con- 
sidered only a variety of the foregoing, replaces the mourning 
warbler in the West, being found from the /Vains to the Pacific 
Ocean and northward to British Columbia. It breeds through- 
out this area, in rather greater numbers than does the other species 
in the East. 

“Any patch of shrubbery or tangled growth of bushes,’’ says 
Henshaw, ‘is sure to be selected as the summer abode of one 
or more pairs of these birds. From such localities in the low 
valleys, they follow the streams upward as they flow from the 
mountains; and up to the altitude of about 9,000 feet, the 


MACGILLIVRAY’S GROUND WARBLER. 159 


species is common.” It is a great lover of seclusion, refusing 
to leave the ground while you are in the vicinity of its home, 
or to show itself; while the G. philadelphia has a habit of clam- 
bering up trees to forage and sing while its mate is nestling be- 
low. 

The most complete account thus far, of its breeding, appears 
in The Birds of the Colorado Valley. 


Many nests of this bird have come to the notice of naturalists. They are 
usually built on the ground in close covert, though said to be sometimes 
placed in a bush a foot or so high—in one instance given by Nuttall, “near 
the ground, in the dead mossy limbs of a fallen oak, and further partly hid- 
den by a long tuft cf Usnea.” The shape differs much according to the sit- 
uation, the ground-built specimens being quite broad and flattish, not more 
than half as high as wide, with a shallow cavity, and quite uniformly thick 
walls. Those placed in bushes were more cup-like. Some have been de- 
scribed as consisting almost entirely of mosses; others are built of various 
soft, fibrous materials, especially bark strips and frayed-out plant-stems, with 
fine grasses, mostly circularly arranged, and lined with slender rootlets. 
When a nest is disturbed the female manifests her displeasure by a sharp 
chip. 


In the mountains of Utah and Colorado, the eggs are laid 
before the middle of June; but on the coast, even as far north 
as Puget’s sound, the dates of laying and hatching appear to 
be at least a fortnight earlier. The eggs, as circumstantially de- 
scribed by Dr. Coues, from several sets before him collected by 
Ridgway, are white (doubtless a flesh-tint when fresh), variously 
blotched, in a wholly irregular manner, with very dark brown, 
almost blackish ; and further spotted and smirched with several 
shades of lighter, more reddish brown, together with the usual 
shell-markings of undefinable neutral tint. Some of the blotches, 
especially the darker ones, are remarkably large ; and the whole 
aspect of the egg is different from that usually seen in this family, 
where fine speckling with reddish is the rule. The extremes meas- 
ure .7oX.50 and .65X.52 of an inch. Four or five are laid 
in a clutch. The devotion of the parents to their home and 
fledglings is very striking. 


160 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 


100. THE YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 
ICTERIA VIRENS (L.) Bd. 


Chat; Yellow-breasted Icteria; Ghost-bird (Delaware Indians); Yellow 
Chat (New England). 


This is a Southern species, extending northward on the coast 
to Connecticut, thence westward to the central Mississippi Val- 
ley as far as the Plains, and southward into Mexico and Gaute- 
mala, whence they also reach northward throughout California. 
The species includes two varieties. 

A very conspicuous bird in all its manners and always highly 
attractive, an unusual amount of matter has been written about 
the chat,— and written well. “It is difficult to observe their arri- 
val with precision, unless the collector is carefully on the watch 
for them, for they come furtively, and for some little time keep 
most sedulously concealed in their favorite retreats amidst dense 
shrubbery. Such period of concealment probably corresponds to 
the interval between the arrival of the males and the following 
after of their more dilatory mates, which may be several days 
or even a week.” Both sexes are to be seen in New Jersey by 
May ro. It is at this wooing time that the chats develop those 
eccentricities that make them famous. ‘They grow too restless to 
abide the covert they have chosen for their home, and are seen 
incessantly in motion, flitting with jerky movement from one bush 
and brier-patch to another, giving vent to long-pent emotions in 
the oddest notes imaginable.” To describe this crazy*love-song, 
to which for wild adandon that of the bobolink bears no compari- 
son, and that of the cat-bird yields in volubility, is beyond my 
scope. I must refer you to Dr. Coues’s Birds of the Colorado 
Valley, and to an essay by Dr. C. C. Abbott, in Science Gossip 
for Jannary, 1876. Yet I cannot refrain froi quoting a single 
paragraph from the first author : 


His nuptial song, I should observe, is something very different from the 
medley of sounds, not all of which are pleasing, that are heard when each 
chat, as one performer in the orchestra, first tunes his curious pipe. Such 


v 


AL NATURAL HISTORY 


: OF tue 


Nests dud Eggs of American Birds. 
“BY ERNEST INGERSOLL, 


Editor «£ Science Nawk Late Hooliethe of the United States Geological Survey, Member of the Boston Society of 
: Naturai History, the Nuttall Omithological Ciub, the Davenport Academy of Sciences, ete , etc, 


ILLUSTRATED. BY. ELEGANTLY gavure ware’ LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES. 


PERHAPS no branch of zoology js more attractive than ornithology ; and certainly, no 
department of this branch excites more interest, particularly in the young student, than the 
nesting habits of the birds. It is a matter of no little difficulty. skill and expense, to secure a 
satisfactory collection of the skins of the birds of any one district, not to speak of the whole 
country; but a cabinet of the nests and eggs of birds is far more easily obtained: It hap- 
pens naturally, therefore, that there are a larger ‘number of private collections of the. nests 
and eggs than of the skins of birds; yet, while several works—for instance, Dr Coues’s 
fe ”___ exist for the purpose of properly identifying the specimens in the latter. no book 

has yet been printed in America by which birds’ eggs may be identified. That such’'a book 
‘is demanded is apparent to every one in communication with naturalists; professional and 
amateur, throughout the country. 

The book herein proposed is intended to satisfy this want. - Yet. as its title indicates, it 
will be something more than a mere ‘vegg-book.” It will endeavor to bring into the promi- 
_nence they deserve those interesting phases of bird-life presented during the annual breed- 
ing season.. Upon this our books of ornithology have touched only incidentally, and the | 
information extant is scattered through a hundred publications, many*of which are obscure 
pamphlets, the obscurer ‘proceedings ” of scientific societies. or foreign books inaccessible to 
‘most persons. The mere bringing of these dispersed facts together, intoa connected natra- 

- tive of the’ nesting habits of each species, would be highly valuable ;- bat the author will add. 
a large amount of original and hitherto unpublished matter, aiming to make the work as 
exhaustive as the development of the subject at this date will admit. 

_. s\ chapteralso will be given to the formation of Cabinets of Oology, containing directions 
how. when and where, to find the nests of birds; suggestions as to the best modes of col- 
lecting and transporting the eggs, the preparation of specimens, arrangement of the col- 
lection. disposal of duplicates. and the best method of keeping the records of the museum. 
‘These suggestions. derived from the experience of the oldest American and European collect- 
ors, will be of the most practical nature, furnishing precisely that information and help which - 
beginners. need. and from the lack of which old collectors often suffer. 

The work will be iewrated with colored platesy the finest ever printed of the eggs of 
e birds. jc (4 

The author has the heacty approval and assistance of the. leaders of ornithology in this 
country.in the way of access to unique specimens in cabinets, notes from private journals, 
etc.. Among these may be mentioned: Dr. Elliott Coues, Naturalist of the United States Ge- 
ological Survey; Prof. J. Ay Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, 
_ Mass. ; Captain Charles Bendire. U.S. A.; prominent members of the Nuttall Ornithologi- 
cal Club and other gentlemen very well known. 

The publisher wishes an active agent. for this work in every place in the country. Full 

particulars, with cireular, will be sent free. 


CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION, 


The work will be issued in large Svo monthly parts. | Each part will be printed on ver 
heavy super-calendered paper. made expressly for this work. and will contain two gett ee 
cent chromo-lithographic plates. The price of the work will be fifty cents per part. In no 
case will subscriptions be taken for less than the whole work. 

It is impossible to state the number of parts at this stage of the work. as new. material is 
. constantly being brought to light. It is thought the work will make three volumes of twelve 
aparis each. Subscriptions will be received at $5- 50 per year. 

-For the convenience of subscribers who receive their parts by mail. we shall send double 
> fumbers every two months, and remittances can be sent upon receipt of the parts. 

-Any.one sending a club of four subscribers will receive a.copy of the work free. Saim- 
_ ples(which must be returned)will be sent to those who wish to inspect before subscribing. 


ae SE CASSINO, PUBLISHER, Salem, Mass. | Agents wanted. | 


4 


THE. BR ck PRR apy 


WILD. FLOWERS 


OF ANA RTOS: 4" Lrg ats 


Hlustrations by Isaac SPRAGUE. Text ae Prof. Groxce L. Goopate 2 


- : let 


Tue undersigned takes pleasure in aimounéing. under the. abies rg an. important and ins 
teresting work, in which it is designed to ptceent itlustrations bad descriptions of ete more at wait 
tractive flowering plants of America,’ Aerie NY; ‘ us 

‘The plates. colored by hand. will be faithful and artistic copie of sadidy Cher nature by Mr. alt | 
Inuac Sprague. the eminent botanicalartist. “Mr: Sprague has brought’ to his work. the expe: nh 
renee and skill acquired by his association, with Audubon, and during his extended investign- | 
tions conducted under the direction of Professor Gray. of Harvard University. aE he drawings 
trom his pencil have lony been faniiliar to naturalists, and, highly valued by them ‘on account 
vt their recognized accuracy and remarkable beauty. The plates of flowers and foliage, ills. 
trating the recent edition of Emerson's | Prees and: Shrubs of Massachusetts "have made Mr. 
>prague’ s abilities known to many lovers of nature who are not professional naturalists. 

Uhe Publisher has been induced to andertake the present work by the hearty welcome cai 
Mr. Sprague’ s water-color sketches have: received from discriminating critics and from people 
of culture: The growing love ‘tor the beautiful in nature and art will find ‘fere: a eos 
encouragement, and attention will be drawn to forms in nature which are familiar and incident — eke 
to our American life. . The drawings being made directly from. nature, and scientifically. Core Ai 
rect. will be of great service ax models to those practising water-color work. The range of 
plants from which the artist makes his selections is. sufficiently broad to include not only the. 
most beautiful wild flowers of the North and East. but also those of the prairies of the West, 
ot the larger mountains of the continent. and the fields of the Pacific slope... While the Hawn 
of our woods and fields, interesting for their beauty or their associations will naturally receive _ 4 
particular attention. many of the plants figured will be rare sa novel even to: well-informed ie 
persons. ci Oy Ragone 

Accompanying the figures will be giveti ) popular accounts of the ‘aiplichute sid anitie of ‘the ts: 
plants, by Professor Goodale, of Harvard University. who, besides his reputation as an able poise 
teacher of Botany. has won great praise as a lecturer. for the skill and enthusiasm which he 
brings to his subject, and, the success with which he ‘awakens a lively interest in botanical _ 
studies. The artist and author will endeavor to present the subject faithfully and accurately Ai 
hy means of the figures and text, and‘in so clear a manner that persons. having but little e 
knowledge of botany may be enabled to identify and become familiar with our r many beautiful 
plants. , tf ; 

The plates of this sumptuous work will surpass. in beasts ave Saetinnes of. Kieoieroesig. 
any drawings of flowers ever published in any country. They are made by Chromo 
lithography, and afterwards finished, in water colors by experienced. artists. Each. Pie } 
bought at an art store, would cost many times. the price of a part... - a 

The text will be printed in the best manner. from new type. on, extra, wiber-enbeniderets 
tinted paper, made for the work. Fach number will contain two plates. and from twelve to: — 
sixteen pages of text.. The plates and ‘ext will be so arranged and indexed that. when the: ot 
series is complete. the volume can be bound according to the wish of the. subscriber. _ 

The work will consist of twenty-five parts. ind will be issued at intervals of from: one ty 
three months. ‘The price per part. originally placed at $5.00. has been reduced to $1.50 “each, 
thus. placing it within the reach of. all. Any lady or gentleman, securing four subscriber: 
for the work: will receivé a copy of the work free. A sample plate. (w hich must be returned ) 
and subscription blanks will be sent to any who may wish to. iyspect the work. 


.. S. E. CASSINO, Publisher, oe ve 
SALEM, MASS. ate 


Price 50 cents. 


Or 


AN BIRDS. 


EST INGERSOLL. | 
| oy 


K 


_ & _E. CASSINO, 


NATURALIST’S AGENCY, 


# 


SALEM, MASS. — 


Every student of Oology in North America should read 


wt 


THE OOLOGIST) 


A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO. THE STUDY OF BIRDS AND THEIR: EGGS. 
‘Edited by S. L. WILLARD. © 9 Sees ay 


¥ 


THe growing popularity of the study of Birds’ ' Eggs among, the ridtaraNeees 
of this country, and especially among youthful scientists, has, demonstrated — 


that this study should have a suitable exponent, which should not only keep col 


lectors posted as to current odlogical events in general, but form a suitable and 
desirable medium for imparting the news of recent discoveries in Odlogy, and — 
“publishing notes from little-known localities. It is to the young collector an 
almost indispensable guide to: general Obdlogy, for special consideration i is given 


to the department relating to Birds’ Eggs. Notes and items concerning the little 


known breeding habits of interesting species, and peculiarities of oviposition, if 


lustrated with wood-cuts of the most prominent normal and abnormal character 
istics pertaining thereto, will form a most important feature, while the ‘series of | 


papers, on the nesting of various species of North American Birds will, to every 
student of Odlogy, be as a. valuable’ treatise on this important science. Our 
illustrations of eggs will be of a high character, and in every respect will be faith-* 


ful representations of the specimens described. Its list of correspondents now Woke 
numbers many of the most able and careful observers in the country, ho con- a 


stantly supply it with new and valuable notes. — RY Rag 
In its ornithological department, Zhe Oblogist will inaintain. its already i ims 

portant place in natural history literature, The accounts vividly given of the 

habits of North American. and occasionally exotic. species, form an important 


book of reference for the ornithologist ; and -the series of notes, both in this ‘de- tye jay 


partment and that of Odlozy, conspire to imbue the youthful collector with even, 
greater zeal for the pursuit of the study of Birds and their Eggs. And, though - 
we claim for this journal a place in the study and laboratory of the young odlogist, 
we would call, the “attention of older and experienced scientists. to its always 
interesting table of contents, : Ane 
We earnestly solicit notés and items upon the subject of 06! logy. fron. call 
parts of the country ; and espécially would we request that observations upon any, 
unusual phenomena in this department be brought to our notice and published 5 


for, though we shall occasionally publish extracts from ornithological journals, we -e f 


cp our contents to be as far as possible original. 
The Oblogist is highly complimented by Prof. S. F. Barrpand: Dr. ict 


Coves of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. T. M. Brewer, WM. BREWSTER, Dey bey. 


G. M. Leverre and the other most prominent ornithologists of the country. 
Terns he cents a year, postage paid ; single numbers. 5 cents: 
ols. II, IL], I[V, complete, to date, excepting No. 3 of Vol. Hy, can be 
furnished, — Price, $1.00. Kies 
Address all communications and subscriptions to 


THE OOLOGIST, 


ONEIDA SPRERT, Utica, N iv 


x kV 
Regis 


Pa SV ag 


* 


a aA IN A RAL HISTORY 
ae i oe a . ha tr aaron yates _ ‘OF THE 
-. » Nests and Eggs of American Birds. 
ag BY ERNEST INGERSOLL, 
Rie Editor sf Science News. Late Zoologist of the United States Geological Survey, Member of the Boston Society of 
visa ae Natura: History, the Nuttall O:iithologicai Ciub, the Davenport Academy ot Sciences, ete , etc. 


\ ULUSTRATED. BY ELEGANTLY EXECUTED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES. 


.- . Peruaps no branch of zoology is more attractive than ornithology; and certainly no 
-, department of this branch excites more interest, particularly in the young student, than the 
“nesting habits of the birds. It is a matter of no little difficulty. skill and expense, to secure a 

satisfactory collection of the skins of the birds of any one district, not to speak of the whole 

'” eountry; bat a cabinet of the nests and eggs of birds is far more easily obtained. It hap- 

pens naturally, therefore, that there are a larger number of private collections of the nests 

- and éggs than of the skins of birds; yet, while several works—for instance, Dr Coues’s 

_ **Key *— exist for the purpose of properly identifying the specimens in the latter. no. book 

has yet been printed in America by which birds’ eggs may be identified. ‘That such a book 

is demanded is apparent to every one in communication with naturalists, professional and 
~amateur, throughout the country. , 

_ The book herein proposed is intended to satisfy this want. Yet. as its title indicates, it 

_will be something more than a mere *‘egg-book.” It will endeavor to bring into the promi- 

_ Hence they deserve those interesting phases of bird-life presented during the annual: breed- 

ing season. Upon this our books of ornithology have touched only incidentally, and the 

_ ‘information €xtant is scattered through a hundred publications, many of which are obscure 

__ pamphlets, the obscurer ‘‘proceedings ” of scientific societies. or foreign books inaccessible to 

.» most persons. The mere bringing of. these dispersed facts together, intoa connected narta- 

|. tive of the nesting habits of each species. would be highly valuable; but the author will add 

~~ ‘aJarge amount of original and hitherto unpublished matter, aiming to make the work as 

-*:. exhaustjve as the development of the subject at this date will’ admit. 

One « chapteralso will be given to the formation of Cabinets of Oology, containing directions 

_ how, when and where, to find the nests of birds; suggestions:as to the best modes of col- 
 lecting and transporting the eggs,.the preparation of specimens, arrangement of the col- 

~ |. lection. disposal of duplicates. and the best method of keeping the records of the museum. 
- ‘These suggestions. derived from the experience of the oldest American and European collect- 

ors, will be of the most practical nature. furnishing precisely that information and help which 
» beginners need..and from the Jack of which old collectors often suffer. ; “ 
: pie eee will be illustrated with colored plates, the finest ever printed of the eggs of 
IPR Ee RS hut hs) 


‘The auth 


7 


or has the hearty approval and assistance of the leaders of ornithology in this 

country. in the way of access to unique specimens in cabinets. notes from private journals. 

ete. Among these may be mentioned: Dr, Elliott Coues, Naturalist of the United States Ge- 

ological Survey; Prof. J. A- Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, 

~~. Mass:; Captain Charles, Bendire. U.S. A.; prominent members of the Nuttall Ornithologi- 
cal Club and other gentlemen very well known. 


_ The publisher wishes an active agent for this work in every place in’ the country. Full 


~~ particulars, with circular, will be sent free. . 
eae Sete Sage ve GCONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION, 
© ‘The work willbe issued in large $vo monthly parts. Each part will be printed on very 
_ heavy super-calendered paper. made expressly for this work, and will contain two magnifi- 
cent chromo-lithographic plates. The price of the work will be fifty cents per part. In no 
case will subscriptions be taken for.less than the whole work. 
_ It is impossibJe to state the number of parts at this stage of the work..as new material is 
» constantly being brought to light. It is thought the work will make three volumes of twelve 
parts each. * Subscriptions will be. received at $5.50 per year. 
_.\~ For the convenience of subscribers who receive their parts by mail, we shall send double 
_* numbers every two months; and remittances can be sent upon receipt of the parts. 

“Any one sending a club of four subscribers will receive a copy of the work free. Sam- 

“ples(which must be returned)will be sent to those who wish to inspect before subscribing. 


poh og CASSINO, Pustisier, Salem, Mass. | Agents wanted. | 


TEE 


WIL Dif Git F RS 
OF AMERICA. 


iHustrations by Isaac Spracur, Text *by Prof. Grorck L. Goovant. 


THe undersigned lakes pleasure in announcing. under the above title, ‘an important and in. 
teresting work, in which it is designed to present illastrations and descriptions of the iypre at 
tractive flowering plants of America. Me 

The plates. colored by hand, willbe faithful and artistic copies of studies from nature by Mrs 4% 
Isaite Sprague, the eminent botanical artist. Mr. Sprague has brought to his work the expe> 
rence and skill acquired by his association with Audubon, and during his extended invest ga- 
tions conducted under the direction of Protessor Gray. of Harvard University. TP he drawings aa 
trom his pencil have long been familiar to naturalists, and highly valued by them on account if 
uf their recognized accuracy and remarkable beauty. The plates of flower~ and foliage illus+ 
trating the recent edition of Emerson’s *’ Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts” have mace NEE) 
>prague’s abilities known to many lovers ot nature who dre not professional naturalists. 

Uhe Publisher has been induced to undertake the present work by the hearty welcome which 
Mr. Sprague’s water-color sketches have received trom discriminating critics and from people. 
of culture. The growing love for the beautiful in nature and art will find here i posinve- 
eucouragement, and attention will be drawn to forms hi nature which aré familiar and ingident 
(o our American life. ‘The drawings being made directly from) nature. and scientifically cor 
rect. will be of great service as models to those practising water-color work: The range of 
plants from: which: the artist makes his selections is sufficiently broad. to iaclude not only the 
ost beautiful wild flowers of the North and East. but also those of the prairies of the West, 
ol the larger mountains of the continent, and the fields of the Pacific slope. While the flowers 
of our woods and fields, interesting for their beauty or their associations will naturally receive 
particular attention, many of the plants figured will be’rare and novel even to well-informed 
persons. 

‘\ccompanying, the figures will be given popular accounts of the structure and habits ‘of the 
plants, by. Professor Goodale, of Harvatd University. who, besides his reputation as an able 
teacher of Botany. has. won great praise as a lecturer, for the skill and’ enthusiasm which he 
brings to his subject. and the success with which he awakens a lively interest,.in, botanical 


studies. The artist.and author will endeavor to present the subject faithfully and accurately’) ” ‘ 
by means of the figures and text, and ‘in so clear a manner that persons having but little tegen 
knowledge of botany may be enabled to identify and become familiar with our many beautiful haat 
plants. : : PPAR: 


The plates of this sumptuous work will surpass. in beauty and excellence of workmanship), as 
any drawings of flowers every published in any country. They are made by Chromo- 
lithography, and afterwards finished in water colors by, experienced artists. Each plate, if 
bought at an art store, would cost’‘many times the price of a part.: 

The text will be printed in the best manner. from new type.on extra. a Sa 
tinted paper, made for the work... Each number will contain two plates. and from twelve to 
sixteen pages of text. The plates and iext will be so arranged and indexed that, when thes 
series is complete. the volume can be bound according to the wish of the subscriber. 

The work will consist of twenty-five parts, :ind .will be issued at intervals of from one te, 
three months. ‘The price per part, originally placed’at $5.00. has béemreduced to, Sr, 50 each. 
thus placing it within the reach of ‘all, Any Jady ‘or gentleman, securitig four subscribers. 
for the work. will receive a copy of the work free. A sample plate (which must be returned ), 
and subscription blanks will he sént.to any who may wish to iaspest thé work, 


S. E. GASSINO.: Publisher, 


SALEM,: MASS. 


Price 50. cts. 


iad 


es S cy 


Fiat ‘SALEM, ‘MASS. 


Cs 


s nt ghee 
se a 


fe alg 


A NATURAL HISTO 


OF THE 


t ath 
hah DW dia 
-=or  — 
R Rei 
mad 
4 poe 


i 3 


ithe work 4 
de 
es 


7 0) 
Nes 


lecting and transporting the eggs, 
lection. disposal of duplicates, an 
These suggestions, derived from the experience of th 


The publisher wishes an active agent for t 
particulars. with circular, will be sent free. 


ff aah 8s 
tier! a) ’ 
is ok 


rer yy Marek 
ethy 


TnI 


e prin 


Bs ee 
@ 


ns 
rk free. Sam: 
St 7, 


Part if 4% : 3 Price (50%. cts. each. 


ahs 
= Vi. bina. mc iin cc A, oe 
= ss ae ee 


3s ge ay 2g he S 
EAP bl eee ‘Os ve " me ae =r age 


NESTS 8 EGGS 
AMERICAN BIRDS. 


—ERN at INGE RSOLL. 


hs A: Oi Scie : a Ca eee 6: 
= a = 28 og aS SOE sees =e Ee es, ae 


il 


de 


_S, E. CASSINO, _ 
-NATURALIST’S AGENCY, 


SALEM, MASS. 


BY ERNEST INGERSOLL. 


Editor «f Srience News, Late Zoologist of the United. States ‘Geslbaieal ‘Survey, 1 Na ene Bosto } 
Navural History, the Nuttall Ornithological Claby the Davenport Acad demy, ot Sciences, nt > ‘i 


ILLUSTRATED. BY ELEGANTLY aah LITHOGRAPHIC PI 


Peruars no branch of zoology. is. more Rare ‘than ornithology; an aa teertaialy y no 
department of this branch excites more interest, particularly in the young: radio tI an th 
nesting habits of the birds. It is a matter of no little difficulty. skill and expense, to s € 
satisfac tory collection of the skins of the birds of any ne district, not tos eak o he vy 
country; but a cabinet of the nests and eggs of birds is, far more. ssn ohne 
pens naturally, therefore, that there are a larger number f private c I 
and eggs than of the skins of birds; yet, while several works—fo fae | 
“Key ie — exist for the purpose of properly identi fying the specimens ‘in : 
has yet been printed in America by which birds’ eggs may be identified. ay 
is demanded is apparent to every one in SCRA HTCR EDS 
amateur, throughout the country. 

The book herein proposed is ue to satisfy. this Wank 
will be something more than a mere ‘*egg-book.”” ‘It will endeavor to bring i 
nence they deserve those interesting phases of pird-life presented | during the ann 
ing season. Upon this our books of ornithology have touched only. incidentally, 
information extant is scattered through a hundred publications, many of which are | 
pamphlets, the obscurer “proceedings ” of scientific societies. or forei 1 ook i nace 
most persons. The mere bringing of these dispersed facts together, into. 
tive of the nesting habits of each species. would be highly valuable but th 
a large amount of original and hitherto unpublished: matter, aimin 
exhaustive eas the development of the dan at this, date will admit. ae 


how. when. and where, to find the nests of birds ; ‘suggestions as to” el wl 2 i 
lecting and transporting the eggs, the preparation of specimens, arrangement of the 
lection. disposal of duplicates. ‘and the best method of keeping the records of. the Ase 
These suggestions, derived from the experience of the oldest American and European | co He 
ors, will be of the most practical nature. furnishing precisely that information and help v vhicl 
beginners need. and from the lack of which old collectors often suffer, 

The work will be illustrated with colored ge the finest ever 9) ; 
birds. Sahar 

The author hag the hearty approval and iidsigtance of Hac: leaders of ogy in 
country, in the way of access to unique specimens in cabinets. notes. from | rive te journ 
etc. . mong these may be mentioned: Dr. Elliott Coues, Naturalist of the | nited St 
ological Survey Prof. J. A. Allen, of thé Museum of Comparative Zoology at | cambrit 
Mass. ; Captain Charles Bendire. U. 5. A. ; prominent TREND ERE Lofahesactatt Om thol 

cal Club ard other gentlemen very well kn nown. ae cae tosh wh 

The publisher wishes an active agent for this work in every ; the countr 
particulars. with circular, will be sent Sree. eee 


CONDITIONS OF PUBLIC SATION 


The work will be issued in large Svo monthly p arts. Each perk Ww 
heavy super-calendered paper. made expressly for this: work and will } 
cent chromo-lithoxraphic plates. The price of the work w il be. fi. ty f 
case W wale Regent ebay | be taken for less than, the: whole. work, x Cena 


p cP rane iy, unger ip tions will he ‘acted at as 50 per v Ny eur: 
Per the convenience ot subscribers who receive their parts by mail. > 
numbers every two months, and remittances can be sent upon receipt ¢ fe} 
Any one sending a club of four subscribers will receive.a copy. of | the 


ples, which must be returned)will be sent to those who wish: t hy 


Re ody -CASSINO, Hamas Oey: Mass. 


OF 


NESTS ANI 


OF 


MERIGAN BIRDS. 


IBY 


ERNEST I[NGERSOLL.. 


Parts 6 & 7. 


Jl New work by the author of Nests and 
Eggs of American Birds. 


BIRDS’ NESTING 


HOW T0 COLLECT NESTS AND EGGS. 


Directions and illustrations of the most practical kind, as to how, when 
and where, to look for the nest and eggs of American Birds; methods of 
securing these objects when found, preparing them for cabinet, and properly 
recording their history. 


THIS WORK IS DESIGNED AS A 


HAND BOOK FOR COLLECTORS OF NESTS AND EGGS 


AND WILL PROVE INDISPENSABLE TO BEGINNERS. 


It is applicable to all other regions equally well with the United States 
and is minute in its instructions. 


In addition to the above there will be found in this interesting and 
useful contribution a great quantity of 


INTERESTING AND NOVEL FACTS 


AND INCIDENTS OF OUT-—DOOR LIFE AND 


MUCH ENTERTAINING AND SUGGESTIVE READING 
FOR EVERYBODY. 


-IN PRESS, TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE EARLY SPRING. 


Please send in Subscriptions early. Price - - - - $1 25, 


PUBLICATIONS OF GEORGE A. BATES, SALEM, MASS. 


CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS. A Check-List of Birds of North America. By Er- 
Liot Cougs, M. D. 


The Check-List gives the common and scientific names of all species and varieties 
of birds known to inhabit North America, arranged in a generally accepted sequence, 
named in accordance with the ‘‘ Key,” and so printed on only one side of the page 
as to be susceptible of use in neatly labelling collections. 25 cents. 


LIFE ON THE SEASHORE. By James H. Emerton, author of Structure and 
Habits of Spiders. 


This is the student’s guide to the identification of marine animals. It is fully 
illustrated, giving figures of the animals common to our shores, with descriptions 
of the same. No student nor lover of nature can afford to be without it. Printed 
with new, clear type on the best of tinted plate paper, made expressly for the work. 
This work is endorsed by all scientific teachers. It is the lowest priced and mosi 
fully illustrated work on marine zodlogy ever published in America. 

Price in cloth $1.50. For sale by booksellers generally, or sent by mail postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publisher. 


BOTANICAL COLLECTOR’S HANDBOOK. By Pror. W. W. Batiry, of 
Brown University, Providence, R. I. 


A much needed and long desired work on botanical collecting. Mr. Bailey has 
hed long experience as a collector, and writes the work from the collector’s stand- 
pot, giving especial attention to those practical details which prove so suggestive 
to the young student of nature. It will embrace the following subjects, viz. :— 
Some account of botanical excursions, their uses and methods; a description of 
the collector’s outfit; field-work, how performed; closet-work and care of ner- 
barium; correspondence and exchanges; some account of public herbaria and 
museums of vegetable products. Price, postpaid, $1.50. 


MANUAL OF AMERICAN SEA MOSSES. By Rev. A. B. Hervey. 


It is a complete collector’s guide, giving practical information as to the best 
time, places and methods of collecting the necessary apparatus, and the details of 
floating out, pressing, drying, preserving and mounting these beautiful plants. 
Full directions are also given of the best methods of studying and identifying 
these plants. Full ‘“‘* keys” are given at the head of each group, by which the most 
inexperienced may be easily guided to the genus to which the plant he is studying 
belongs. Price, postpaid, $2.00. 


FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. By Jonn Rosinson, Professor of 


Botany, etc., Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 


Beautifully printed and Illustrated with Eight Chromo Lithographs of Rare 


Ferns, and many other plates and illustrations. Finely bound in cloth. Price 
$1.50. 


AY ane 
erie 


TE 
* a; 
A 


’ 
? 
* 
4 
' 
x 2 ey 
. 
B me feed 
fry 
A. 2 
\ ; [we i 7 
ath e) : 
i. ‘ 
>. RO 
‘ i ¢ 
e civ - 
* 
: * 


i 


Prospectus. 


A 


IN ACT ER Asks. eh 2 @ be XY 


OF THE 


Nests and Eggsof American Birds. 


BY ERNEST INGERSOLL, 


Late Zoologist of the United States Geological Survey, Member of the Boston Society 
of Natural History, the Nuttall Ornithological Club, the Davenport 
Academy of Sciences, etc., etc, 


Illustrated by elegantly executed Lithographic plates. 


Perhaps no branch of zoology is more attractive than ornithology; and 
certainly no department of this branch excites more interest, particularly in 
the young student, than the nesting habits of the birds. It is a matter of 
no little difficulty, skill and expense, to secure a satisfactory collection of 
the skins of the birds of any one district, not to speak of the whole coun- 
try ; but a cabinet of the nests and eggs of birds is far more easily obtained. 
It happens naturally, therefore, that there are a larger number of private 
collections of the nests and eggs than of the skins of birds; yet, while sev- 
eral works,—for instance Dr. Coues’s ‘‘ Key,’’—exist for the purpose of prop- 
erly identifying the specimens in the latter, no book has yet been printed in 
America by which birds’ eggs may be identified. That such a book is de- 
manded is apparent to every one in communication with naturalists, profes- 
sional and amateur, throughout the country. 

The book herein proposed is intended to satisfy this want. Yet, as its title 
indicates, it will be something more than a mere ‘‘egg-book.”’ It will en 
deavor to bring into the prominence they ceserve those interesting phases of 
bird-life presented during the annual breeding season. Upon this our books 
of ornithology have touched only incidentally, and the information extant is 
scattered through a hundred publications, many of which are obscure pam- 
phlets, the obscurer ‘‘ proceedings ”’ of scientific societies, or foreign books 
inaccessible to most persons. The mere bringing of these dispersed facts to- 
gether, into a connected narrative Of the nesting habits of each species, would 
be highly valuable; but the author will add a large amount of original and 
hitherto unpublished matter, aiming to make the work as exhaustive as 
the development of the subject at this date will admit. 


The scheme of the book, which will embrace all of North America this 
side of Mexico, is to inform the reader: 

First,—Of the area throughout which cach species is ascertained to breed ; 

Second,—Of the date of arrival, and preliminaries to nest-building; 

Third,—Of the site chosen for the nest, materials employed, method of 
architecture, shape, and all characteristics by which the structure may be 
recognized ; 

Fourth,—Of the eggs,—when laid, number, size and markings, with the 
aid of superior figures of each kind; 

Fifth,—Of the incubation and birth of the young birds, their food while 
n the nest and the care bestowed upon them by the parents. 

While of many species it is impossible to give a full description of all 
these incidents of domestic life, the publishers are confident that the sur- 
prise will be that so much is known in detail of our birds, when all the re- 
corded observaticns are brought together, as proposed, and made to shed 
light on each other. 

A chapter also will be given to the formation of Cabinets of Oology, con- 
taining directions how, when and where to find the nests of birds; sugges- 
tions as to the best modes of collecting and transporting the eggs, the prepa- 
ration of specimens, arrangement of the collection, disposal of duplicates, 
and the best method of keeping the records of the museum. These sugges- 
tions, derived from the experience of the oldest American and European 
collectors, will be of the most practical nature, furnishing precisely that in- 
formation and help which beginners need, and from the lack of which old 
collectors often suffer. 

In a book designed to fill the place of the present work, and which is to 
have the wide circulation among all classes, which there is no doubt this 
will attain, it is needful that there should be both attractiveness of style and 
the highest scientific accuracy. 

All that Mr. Ingersoll has previously written has shown in a marked de- 
gree that he possesses the faculty to combine these two merits of popularly 
scientific composition; and it is fair to suppose that this book, to the careful 
preparation of which he brings long study, will even excel the literary charm 
and technical purity ef his previous essays. 

An indispensable feature of such a work, also, is the illustration of the 
form, markings and colors of the eggs. Each number of the Nests AND 

'Eee@s or Norra American Birps, therefore, will contain three plates, 
drawn from the most typical eggs in public and private oological museums. 
The figures will be drawn by Mr. J. I. Emerton, the unexcelled artist in 
natural history, and other skilful draftsmen; and particular attention will 
be paid to the beauty and exactness with which every feature is reproduced. 
In addition to this the pages of letter-press will be garnished with a large 
number of wood-cuts of nests, fully illustrating the characteristic architec- 
ture of each family. 


Lastly, it may be mentioned that the approval of the leaders of ornitholo- 
zy in this country has been heartily given to the plan of this work, and im- 
portant assistance offered by them in the way of access to unique specimens 
in cabinets, notes from private journals, ete. Among these may be men- 
tioned Dr. Elliott Coues, Naturalist of the United States Geological Sur- 
vey; Prof. J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cam- 
bridge, Mass.; Captain Charles Bendire, U.S. A., prominent members of 
the Nuttall Ornithological Club, and other gentlemen yery well known. 

It is safe to assume, therefore, that this book will take the place cfa 
standard work, and become a necessary part of the library of every lover of 
birds, or student of their nests and eggs. 

Note.—Memoranda sent to the author upon any occurrences related to 
the subject, as outlined above, would be hLighly valued. Nothing ought to 
be thought too insignificant,—merely a careful record of dates of nest-build- 
ing and ege-laying actually observed in any one locality, for example, being 
of importance. The author will take pains to give due thanks and credit 
for all such information. 

Mr. Ingersoll may be addressed at the Office of ‘‘ The Country,’ No. 33 
Murray street, New York City. 


Conditions of Publication. 


The work will be issued in monthly 4to parts. Each part will be printed 
on very heavy super-calendered paper, made expressly for this work, and will 
contain three very fine lithographic plates. The work when completed will 
be a companion to Dr. Coues’ *‘ Key to Birds of North America,’’ and will 
make two volumes of the same size and style as the ‘‘ Key.”’ 

The price of the work will be fifty cents per part. In no case wi!] subscrip- 
tions be taken for less than the whole work. The number of parts will not 
exceed twenty-four, and the work willbe completed in two years. Subscrip- 
tions will be received at $5.50 per year. For the convenience of subscribers 
who receive their parts by mail, we shall send double-numbers every two 
months, and remittances can be sent upon receipt of the parts. 

Any one sending a club of four subscribers will receive a copy of the 
work /ree. 


AGENTS WANTED: 
S. E. CASSINO, Publisher, 


Waturalists’ Agency, 


SALEM, Mass, 


PROSPECTUS OF AN 


Important Work on Ferns. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 


The Ferns of North America. 


Text by Prof. Daniel C. Eaton, of Yale College. 
Illustrations by Mr. Jas. H. Emerton. 


Published by 
S. E. CASSINO, NATURALISTS’ AGENCY. 


Salem, Mass. 


The need of a carefully prepared, and thoroughly illustrated work on the American 
Ferns, has long been felt by those studying these beautiful plants. As yet, no work 
whatever has made its appearance which contains even a description of all our Ameri- .« 
can species, and the few that have been figured at all, are found scattered through se 
many foreign works that it is quite impossible to find them, even in an excellent library. 

Prof. Eaton has for along time had in contemplation the writing of a work which 
should possess all the requirements of a scientific student and at thesametime be so pop- 
ular, and so thoroughly illustrated that those unfamilar with botanical methods could be 
able with perfect ease to determine any of our American Ferns. 

The great cost of preparing the plates, eeu drawn and colored, for illustrating a 
work of such extent, has until now, debarred publishers from undertaking its publica- 
tion. The undersigned has decided to undertake to publish the work, believing that he 
will be sustained by the Botanists of America, and that his facilities for properly bring- 
ing the work before the scientific world are unsurpassed. 

The services of Mr. J. H. Emerton,so well known for his remarkably accurate, and 
highly finished Natural History drawings, have been secured to illustrate the work. Mr. - 
Emerton’s great experience as a botanical draughtsman, and his knowledge of botany wil} 

ive assurance that the illustrations will not be excelled by any yet published and that 

e work will be a fit companion to the ‘‘Wild Flowers of America,’”’ now publishing. 

Prof. Eaton’s herbarium of Ferns is the largest in America and heis constantly in receipt 
of additional plants from all parts of the country. He is therefore in a position to bet 
ter conduct the work and furnish the necessary specimens for illustrations than any othe: .. 

erson. Besides the labors of Prof. Eaton and Mr. Emerton, Dr. Gray of Cambridge, 

as expressed an interest in the undertaking and kindly offered the use of the extensive - 
herbarium of the Botanical Gardens, for consultation. The Mass. Horticultural So- | 
ciety has also freely offered the use of the Davenport herbarium of ferns. The publishers — 
will also have the assistance of Mr. J. Robinson, well knownasaFern specialist. Mr. Geo. 
E. Davenport and Mr. Chas. E. Faxon, of Boston, Mrs. Cooper of Santa Barbara, Cal., 
and others in various parts of the country, have kindly offered their assistance. 

Hon. J. Warren Merrill, widely known as having the largest and most valuable collec-. ~ 
tion of Americén Ferns in cultivation, has very liberally offered living specimens from 
any of his plants to be used in making the drawings and in coloring. 

The Work witl be issued in’ large quarto parts, at intervals of about two months, 
which is as fast as the plates can be prepared. In the course of the publication of the 
Work, every species known to inhabit the U. S. will be figured. Each part will contain 
three elegant 4to plates, colored by Chromo pages ae ie giving exact representations 
of from one to thre species each. The paper on which the plates are printed will be the 
best in the marke}. It will require about twenty parts to complete the work. 

The text will be printed in large beautiful new type by the well known firm of Rand, 
Avery & Co., on ruper-calendered paper, made expressly for the work. 

The Subscripticn price, will be $1.00 per part, which it is believed, is lower than any 
work of the same nature and quality yet published. 

Botanists, who desire to inspect the work before subscribing, will receive a sample 
plate and text, by mail upon application. 

For the benefi! ‘f any young botanists who do not feel able to purchase the Work, the 
publisher offers . »%pportunity to obtaina copy, by procuring a few subscribers in 
their vicinity. 7 lady can easily obtain four subscribers for the Work among 
friends and thus bvcure a copy for nothing. 


AGENTS WANTED. 


» 


ah (ey ay 


Ww 


gh 
‘yy 


i PART Kids 
FA ON a 


4 


Li iii [ V/A Nii 


a rd "aL ee 
Nests and eggs of A birds.