NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 357 



has been observed breeding. Mr. William Brewster found this species 

 to be one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of Southern 

 Illinois and Southwestern Indiana. In his charming account* of its 

 life-history he describes its song as resembling the note of the Soli- 

 tary Sandpiper, and its alarm note that of the Water Thrush. 



The typical nesting-site, he states, 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 

 likely to be chosen than a neater and newer one close at hand. The 

 stump selected almost invariably stood in or projected over water. 

 When the hole was deep it was usually filled up to within four or 

 five inches of the entrance the material being moss, leaves and 

 cypress twigs. 



Mr. O. C. Poling found this Warbler breeding in abundance in the 

 latter half of May, 1887, in Western Illinois, about twenty miles 

 above Quincy, and obtained a large series of the eggs. These are four 

 to seven in number, usually six, sometimes five, rarely seven. Their 

 shape is usually rounded-oval of nearly equal size at both ends, some 

 being nearly spherical, others much elongated. The ground color is 

 glossy creamy-white or buff, spotted, blotched and dotted with rich 

 chestnut red, in some the ground being almost obscured by the mark- 

 ings.. The sizes of a typical set taken by Mr. Poling are, .73 x .55, .73 

 x .52, .73 x .52, .73 x .52, .72 x .50 ; another set of six, taken 

 May 21, .72 x ; 57, .71 x .56, .70 x .58, .71 x .54, .70 x .59, .72 x .58. 

 In a series of sixty-six sets in Mr. Norris' cabinet one contains the un- 

 usual number of eight eggs. 



638. Helinaia swainsonii AUD. [76.] 



Swainson's 'Warbler. 



Hab. Southeastern portion of the United States from South Carolina to Florida and Eastern Texas 

 northward in the Mississippi Valle}' to Southern Indiana (Knox county), Jamaica in winter. 



Until recently this was one of our rarest North American birds. 

 Its nests and eggs were first described by Mr. William Brewster from 

 specimens collected by Arthur T. Wayne, near Charleston, South Car- 

 olina, June 5 and 6, 1885. f Since that date many nests, eggs and skins 

 of the bird have been taken by various collectors, chiefly, however, by 

 Mr. W T ayne, T. D. Perry and George Noble, in the vicinity of Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. From these collectors I 

 gather that the bird nests in wild shrubbery of swamps or pools of stag- 



* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, III, pp. 163-162. 

 fin " Forest and Stream," July 9, 1885. 



