GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER 319 



Young birds in first nuptial plumage can be recognized by the worn 

 and faded wings and tail. 



Eggs.— Four eggs make up the regular set for the golden-cheeked 

 warbler, although sometimes only three and very rarely five are found. 

 They are ovate to short ovate and have only a very slight lustre. They 

 are white or creamy white, finely speckled and spotted with "bay," 

 "auburn," or "chestnut," and occasionally "argus brown," intermingled 

 with spots of "vinaceous drab," "brownish drab," or "light mouse 

 gray." They are generally finely marked, but sometimes eggs will 

 have spots which are large enough to be called blotches, or even a few 

 small scrawls of very dark brown. The markings are concentrated 

 at the large end, where frequently a fine wreath is formed, or the 

 speckles may be so dense as to almost obscure the ground ; occasionally 

 the markings are scattered over the entire &gg. The measurements 

 of 50 eggs average 17.7 by 13.1 millimeters; the eggs showing the four 

 extremes measure 18.9 by 13.0, 17.8 by 13.7, and 15.6 by 12.4 millimeters 

 (Harris). 



Young.~WQ have no information on incubation or on the care and 

 feeding of the nestlings. Attwater (Chapman, 1907) has this to say : 



The young birds out of the nest, which are being fed by the parents late in 

 April and in May, are from early nests which have escaped destruction by 

 "northers" on account of their sheltered positions and situations, and it is 

 possible that then another nest is built and a second brood reared. * * * 

 During June the family groups wander about together, chiefly in the canons and 

 along the lower hillsides, keeping together tiU the young are old enough to take 

 care of themselves. While being fed by the parents the "twittering" of the 

 young birds is continually heard, with the cautions "tick, tick" alarm notes of 

 the female when enemies approach. Early in July they begin to scatter, as most 

 of the young birds are then able to shift for themselves. 



Food.— Very little has been mentioned regarding the food of this 

 wood warbler beyond the fact that it seems to be mainly, if not wholly, 

 insectivorous. Mr. Attwater (1892) says: "Upon examining the 

 stomachs of a number of young birds which were being fed, I found 

 they all contained (with other insects) a number of small black lice 

 {Aphis sp.) which I watched the old birds collecting from the green 

 cedar limbs." 



Behavior.— Mr. Attwater wrote to Dr. Chapman (1907) : 



Like most of the same sex of other Warblers, the female of this species is very 

 shy, and seldom noticed except when an intruder disturbs the nest or when 

 feeding the young after leaving it, but the male Golden-cheeked Warbler is by no 

 means a shy bird. He keeps continually flying from tree to tree in search of 

 insects, and on fine days uttering his song at short intervals from early dawn 

 until after sundown, and before nest building begins shows little alarm upon 

 being approached. I have stood under a tree a number of times within five or 

 six feet of a wandering male Golden-cheek, which appeared as pleased and 



