368 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



species breeding in swampy woodland, in company with the American 

 Redstart, Black-and-White Warbler, Chestnut-sided and Bay-breasted 

 Warblers. 



The Myrtle Warbler spends most of its time in the higher branches 

 of trees searching for food, but builds its nest down on the lower 

 branches, preferedly in pine, hemlock, spruce and other coniferous 

 trees ; the height of the nest from the ground is seldom more than eight 

 or ten feet, usually four or five. The locality in which Mr. Kells found 

 this species breeding was woods of black ash, intermingled with 

 balsams and cedars. The nest is composed of soft vegetable fibres, 

 with a few grass stems for a lining ; in some there is a lining of feathers 

 when they are obtainable. 



The eggs are four or five, usually four, in number, and vary from 

 creamy-white to dull white, speckled and spotted, and frequently 

 blotched, generally in wreaths near the larger ends, with various shades 

 of reddish-brown and lilac-gray. The sizes of a set containing the larg- 

 est eggs in a series in Mr. Norris' collection are . 70x^4, .69X-54, 

 .72 x .55 ; these were taken at Grand Manan, New Brunswick, June 24, 

 1878. A set of four exhibiting the smallest sizes was taken by Mr. 

 William Brewster at Lake Umbagog, Maine, June u, 1876. These 

 measure .64X-5I, .64x49, .66x.5o, .66x.5o, respectively. 



656. Dendroica auduboni (TOWNS.) [96.] 



Andnbon's "Warbler. 



Hab. Western North America, east to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, north to British 

 Columbia; south in winter to Guatemala. Accidental in Massachusetts. 



Audubon's Warbler looks like the last species except that its throat 

 is yellow instead of white. An abundant species in all suitable places 

 throughout the west. Mr. Scott found it nesting at Twin Lakes, 

 Colorado, and Mr. D. H. Minot notes it as a summer resident in the 

 region about Boulder, where the bird prefers high willow swamps and 

 sparuce timber. He found nests June 24, at Seven Lakes. Mr. Frank 

 M. Drew gives it as an abundant resident in San Juan county, Colorado. 

 Dr. Merrill states that it breeds rather abundantly in the Big Horn 

 Mountains, Montana. Mr. H. W. Henshaw states that Audubon's 

 Warbler breeds abundantly throughout th pine woods of the moun- 

 tains about Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. A. W. Anthony says that 

 a few breed in the more elevated parts of Washington county, Oregon. 



The nests of this species are situated at various heights ranging 

 all the way from three to thirty feet, and usually on the outer branches 

 of pine or spruce trees. Their composition is fine strips of bark, grass, 

 small stems of the sage bush, pine needles, etc., lined with fine roots, 

 hairs and feathers. 



