1903] Kells — Nesting of some Canadian Warblers. 69 



nest, and for a time my hope of collecting- the eg-gs seemed about 

 to be realized, as I saw the female fly to the top of a tall apple 

 tree and alight beside a newly-formed nest. On examination I 

 found the nest completed, but it contained no eggs ; it was com- 

 posed of materials much similar to that of a Chipping Sparrow, 

 but not nearly so bulky as the nests of this species usually are. 

 However, neither time nor circumstances permitted me again to 

 rev^isit the site till the nesting season was over ; but I feel certain 

 that the bird nested in that orchard the past season. 



On the iith of May past, I noted this species, the first time 

 for the season ol 1902, in a lowland wood north-west of this town. 

 It was then in its beautiful spring plumage and mingling its song- 

 notes with those of a number of other Warblers — also new to the 

 season — ^and all were actively searching for their insect food 

 among the budding branches of the forest trees. Here, I have no 

 doubt, some pairs of them remain through the season, and nest, 

 as I think, also in another tract of woods to the south of the town, 

 where every June I hear the song of the male of this species. 



The Black-throated Green Warbler is a lively, active species 

 ever on the move during daylight hours, and from the time of its 

 spring advent till the nesting period is over, a constant and not 

 unpleasing songster. This period extends from the second week 

 of May to the first week of July, after which it is heard no more 

 for the year, though it is probable that it remains in the vicinity 

 of its summer home till the advent of September, when, with other 

 species of its family, and the other woodland birds, it leaves this 

 country and begins its aerial voyage towards its southern home, 

 which appears to be the shores and islands of the Gulf of Mexico. 

 In February the species begin their northward return journey ; 

 but it is the early days of June before the more adventurous reach 

 the northern limits of their wanderings. Thus, year after year, 

 such repetitions of movements constitute the principal features of 

 the life history of the species, but it cannot with certainty be told 

 what term of years constitutes the " old age " of a warbler : pro- 

 bably ten to fifteen years is with them the allotted span of 

 existence. 



The Hon. G. W. Allen, of Toronto, one of the pioneer orni- 

 thologists of Ontario, writing to "The Ontario Farmer," says 



