NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 361 



643. Helminthophila lucisB (COOPER.) [83.] 



Lucy's "Warbler. 



Hab. Valleys of the Colorado and Gila Rivers in Arizona and Southern California, south into Sonora. 



Captain Bendire discovered the nest and eggs of this species near 

 Tucson, Arizona, May 19, 1872. The nest was built between the loose 

 bark and the trunk of a dead tree, a few feet from the ground, similar 

 to that of the Brown Creeper. Mr. F. Stephens found it abundant in 

 the vicinity of Tucson in 1882. The birds frequented the willows 

 along the banks of streams, and like the Kinglets, spent much of their 

 time in searching for insects in the outer branches. Many nests and 

 eggs were examined after May 8. These were variable, the character- 

 istic place being like that found by Captain Bendire, but the nests 

 were also built in deserted woodpecker's excavations, knot-holes and 

 all sorts of crevices. A brood of young was actually taken from the 

 deserted domicile of a Yellow-headed Titmouse. 



The eggs are three or four in number, white, usually sparsely 

 speckled with brown and black, chiefly at the larger end. A set of 

 four taken by Mr. Stephens is described by Mr. Brewster as being hand- 

 somely wreathed about the larger ends with reddish-brown and umber 

 spots, a few of which are scattered over the general surface. Their 

 sizes are .58 x .46, .58 x 46, .62 x .46, .60 x .47.* 



644. Helminthophila virginise (BAIRD.) [84.] 



Virginia's Warbler. 



Hab. Chiefly the Rocky Mountain districts, north to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada; south 

 into Central Mexico. 



In some portions of the Rocky Mountain region this is an abundant 

 species, as in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. It frequents the shrub- 

 bery along creeks, where it breeds. A nest with eggs obtained by 

 Prof. Ridgway, near Salt Lake, Utah, is described as being embedded 

 in the deposits of dead or decaying leaves, on ground covered by dense 

 oak-brush. Its rim was just even with the surface. It was built on 

 the side of a narrow ravine, at the bottom of which was a small stream. 

 It consists of a loose but intricate interweaving of fine strips of the 

 inner bark of the mountain mahogany, fine stems of grasses, roots, 

 and mosses, and is lined with the same with the addition of the fur 

 and hair of the smaller animals. 



The eggs were four in number, and measured .64 x .47 of an inch. 

 They are of a rounded-ovoid shape, have a white ground with a 

 slightly roseate tinge, and are profusely spotted with numerous small 

 blotches and dots of purplish-brown and lilac, forming a crown around 

 the larger end. 



* Bull. Nutt. Onith. Club, VII, pp. 83-84. 



