i8o 



THE YELLOW WARBLER. 



fixed than in the East. April 19th is my earliest date, recortled in Yakima 

 County, but Dr. Cooper once saw large numbers ( possibly D. a. riihiginosa) 

 "at the Straits of De Fuca," on April 8. On the west side of the mountains 

 this Warbler may not often nest more than once in a season, but on the 

 East-side it usually raises 

 two broods. 



The nest of the Yellow 

 Warbler is quite common, 

 especially easterly, where 

 its cover is nicire re- 

 stricted : and no specia 

 pains is taken at conceal- 

 ment. Nests may be 

 placed at any height in 

 orchard trees, alders, wil- 

 lows, or even fir saplings ; 

 but, without doubt, the 

 most acceptable site is 

 that afforded by dense 

 thickets of the wild rose 

 (Rosa pisocar/^a ) where- 

 ever found. 



The cradle of this bird 

 is of excjuisite fabrica- 

 tion. The tough inner 

 bark of certain weeds — 

 called indiscriminately 

 "hemp" — together with 

 grasses and other filirous 

 materials in various pro- 

 portions, is woven into a 

 compact cup around, or 

 settled into, some stout 

 horizontal or ascending 

 fork of bush or tree. As 

 a result the bushes are 

 full of Warblers' nests, 



two or more seasons old. A fleecy lining, or mat, of plant-down is a more 

 or less conspicuous feature of every nest. LIpon this as a background a 

 scantv horse-hair lining may exhibit every one of its strands; or again, as 

 in the case of a nest taken on the Chelan River, the eggs themselves may 

 be thrown into high relief bv a coiled black mattress. 



.'ELLOW 



Taken near Tacomti. 

 Photo by the Author. 



BLER'S NEST. 



