444 BIRDS OF ARCTIC AMERICA MACFARLANE. 



621. Laiiius borealis Vieill. Northern Shrike. 



A nest of the Northern Shrike, coutaining six eggs, was obtained at 

 Fort Anderson on lltli June, 1863. "This is in many respects ia 

 striking contrast with the nests of its kindred species of the Southern 

 States, far exceeding them in its relative size, in elaborate finish^ 

 and warmth. It is altogetlier a remarkable example of what is known 

 as felted nests, whose various materials are most elaborately matted 

 together into a homogeneous and symmetrical whole. It is seven inches 

 in diameter and three and a half in height. The cavity is proportion- 

 ately large and deep, having a diameter of four and a half inches and 

 a depth of two. Except the base, which is composed of a few twigs 

 and stalks of coarse plants, the nest is made entirely of soft and warm 

 materials, most elaborately interworked together. These materials are 

 feathers from various birds, fine down of the Eider and other ducks, 

 hue mosses and lichens, slender stems, grasses, etc , and are skill- 

 fully and artistically wrought into a beautiful and symmetrical nest, 

 strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs and stems 

 without affecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The eggs 

 measure 1.10 inches by .80, and are of a light- greenish ground, marbled 

 and streaked with blotches of obscure purple, clay color and rufous 

 brown." A second nest of a less elaborate character, containing eight 

 eggs, was subsequently discovered on Anderson River, to the north- 

 ward of the post. 



646. Helminthophila celata (Say). Orange-crowned Warbler. 



This is one of the rarest Warblers which breed on the Anderson, 

 where several of its nests, containing from four to six eggs, were found. 

 They were made of hay or grasses, lined with deer hair, feathers and 

 finer grasses, and placed on the ground in the shade of a clump of 

 dwarf willow or Labrador tea. 



652. Dendroica asstiva (Gmel.). Yellow Warbler. 



Very abundant throughout the entire wooded region of Arctic America,, 

 where it builds on dwarf willows and small scrub pini', at a height of a 

 few feet from the ground. As their eggs were not wanted, we did all 

 that was possible to discourage their collection. 



655. Dendroica coronata (Linn.j. Myrtle Wai'bler. 



This Warbler is not numerous on the Anderson, where some thirteen 

 nests were found, built on low spruce trees, and a few were also placed 

 on the ground. It lays from four to five eggs. 



661. Dendroica striata (Forster). Black Poll Warbler. 



More plentiful than D. coronala, although oidy twenty-one nests 

 were secured. They were similarly situated, and contained four or five 

 eggs, and two or three of them were found on the ground. 



