230 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January 



the Canadian warbler ; M. varia usually selects a nesting site 

 in the " upper side " of the up-turned root and generally higher 

 oflF the ground, and the eggs are usually less oblong in form than 

 those of Canadensis. This species is not an abundant summer 

 resident in this district, and scarcely a dozen nests of this bird have 

 come under my observation in all my Wildwood rambles ; yet in all 

 the low-land woods of this country some of the species may be 

 found, and in such tracts it makes its haunts and home during the 

 period that it remains in this province ; and here, from the early 

 days of May, till towards the end of June, its song notes may be 

 heard, and this period may be regarded as its nesting time ; but 

 whether it nests more than once in the season I do not know. In all 

 probability when the first set of eggs is taken before incubation 

 begins, it nests again, but it may be taken as certain that in does 

 not raise more than one brood in the season ; and considering the 

 many enemies to whose depredations its nests are exposed, it is 

 very probable that many of the species come and go without 

 having increased their numbers ; the cow-bird is one of its worst 

 enemies. 



The Canadian Warbler. 



On the 28th of May, when passing the " old root " of a fallen 

 tree I discovered the newly made nest of a small bird, which at 

 first I thought might be that of a mourning warbler, whose scold- 

 ing notes I heard near by. On the 5th of June, when I thought 

 the set of eggs would be deposited I revisited the place. On the 

 nest sat. the mother bird, and there she remained till I almost 

 touched her with my hand, then she flushed out, making some 

 attempts to draw off my attention ; and uttered a few sharp 

 "chips," and I saw at once that she was a Canadian warbler. 

 The nest then contained five eggs, and incubation had begun. 

 The nest was placed in a cavity among the rocks, only a few 

 inches above the more level earth, and was composed of dry 

 leaves, strips of bark, and other fine vegetable fibers, and lined 

 with some long horse-hair. When placed side by side with that 

 of M. varia previously described, I make this comparison of the 

 nests and their sets of eggs, after the latter are blown. The nests 

 ^in composition and size — are very much alike ; both are rather 



