SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 



183 



The eggs vary in shape from a rounded to an ohh)ng oval, and in size from 

 .69 to .7-5 of an incli in lengtli, and from ..31 to S)'i of an inch in hreadth. 

 Their proline l-colur is a creamy- white, tn which the deep red markings impart 

 an apparently pinki.sh tin^e. Tliey are marked more or less profusely witli 

 hriglit red dots, iioints, aiul l)lotches. These vary in munber and in distribu- 

 tion. In some they are very tine, and are chiefly confined to tiie larger end. 

 In others they are larger, more diffused, and occasionally there are inter- 

 mingled marks and blotches of slate-coloi'. The effect of these variations 

 is, at times, to give the appearance of greater differences to these eggs than 

 really exists, the ground-color and the shade of tlie red markings really pre- 

 senting but little modifications. 



The color of the young nestlings is closely assimilated to that of the 

 objects that usually surr(.iund tiie nest, and helps to conceal them. Mr. 

 Burroughs once came accidentally upon a nest with young of this species. 

 He says : " A Black and White Creeping Warbler suddenly became much 

 alarmed as I approached a crundiling old stump in a dense part of the forest. 

 He alighted upon it, chirped .sharply, ran up and down its sides, and finally 

 left it with much reluctance. The nest, whicli contained three young birds 

 nearly fledged, was placed up(jn the ground at the foot of the stump, and in 

 such a position that the color of the young harmonized perfectly with the 

 bits of bark, sticks, etc., lying about. My eye rested upon them for the 

 second time before I made them out. Tliey hugged the nest very closely, 

 but as I put down my hand they all scampered off with loud cries for help, 

 which caused the parent birds to place tliemselves almost within my reach." 



Section VERMIVORE/E, 



Gents PROTONOTARIA, Raird. 



Protonotaria, Baiud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 239. (Tyin', MulnxiUa citrea, BoDD.l 



G-EN. Char. Characterized by it.s lonir, distiuctly notched bih, and long wings, wliich are 

 an inch longer than the shglitly graduated tail (the 

 lateral featliers about .12 of an inch shorter). The 

 under tail-coverts are very long, reaching within half 

 an inch of the tip of the tail. The tarsi and hind toe 

 are proportionally longer than in the true Warblers. 

 The notch and great size of the bill distinguish it 

 from the Swamp Warblers. Nest in holes; eggs much 

 blotched with reddish. 



The oidy Xorth American species belong- 

 ing to the group appears to be tlie old Sylvia 

 protonotaria of thuelin. 



Protottotaria citrea, Baird. 



