WORM-EATING WARBLER 41 



Eggs. — The number of eggs laid by the worm-eating warbler varies 

 from 3 to 6, but the set usually consists of 4 or 5. The eggs are ovate 

 or short ovate, sometimes rather pointed, and only slightly glossy. 

 The white ground color is speckled and spotted with shades of "russet," 

 "vinaceous russet," and "auburn," intermingled with "light brownish 

 drab" and "light vinaceous-drab." The markings, usually more 

 thickly grouped at the large end, vary considerably, some eggs being 

 boldly marked, while others are almost immaculate, or have just a 

 few pale freckles of "light brownish drab" and "fawn." The meas- 

 urements of 50 eggs average 17.4 by 13.6 millimeters ; the eggs showing 

 tlie four extremes measure 20.8 by 14.5, and 15.5 by 12.7 millimeters 

 (Harris) . 



Incubation. — Frank L. Burns (1905) writes: 



Incubation does not always commence immediately after completion of set, 

 particularly if the season be young. It is probable that the second night wit- 

 nesses the beginning of that period and, as far as my experience goes, I believe 

 it is performed by the female alone. The male feeds her when covering newly 

 hatched young. 



The home-coming of a brooding bird, after a brief airing and feeding, is 

 heralded several hundred yards distant by frequent cKiV^ and short flights from 

 branch to branch near the ground, in leisurely fashion and circuitous route, 

 until at length, arriving above the nest, she runs down a sapling and is silent. 

 The bird is a close sitter and if approached from the open front will often allow 

 a few minutes' silent inspection, eye to eye, at arm's length, sometimes not 

 vacating until touched, then she runs off in a sinuous trail, not always feigning 

 lameness before the young are out. When disturbed with young in the nest 

 she will flutter off with open wings and tail, and, failing to lead one off, will 

 return with her mate, who is seldom far off at this period, circling about the nest 

 or intruder, and, if the young are well feathered, she will dash at them, forcing 

 them from the nest and to shelter. Once this brave little bird dashed at me 

 and ran up to my knee, scratching with her sharp little claws at every step. 

 On the return the birds always make the vicinity ring with their protests — 

 a quickly repeated clili). The period of incubation in one instance was thirteen 

 days. 



Young. — Mr. Burns continues : 



Young fear man soon after their eyes are open, and a menacing finger will 

 cause them to scamper out and away, repeated replacing in the nest proving 

 of no avail after they became panic-stricken. At three days of age tliey made 

 no outcry but opened their mouths for food, which consisted of a species of 

 white moth, or "miller," and soft white grubs, supplied by either of the parent 

 birds. At that period they were naked except a fluff on head and wing quills, 

 just showing feathers at tips. In the presence of an intruder and absence of 

 the parents, they will sit motionless if not threatened, and, but for the blinking, 

 beady eyes, one might mistake them when well fledged, at very close range, for 

 dead leaves. The head stripes became visible under the nestling down on the 

 seventh day, and they left the nest ten days after leaving the shell, in the one 

 case I have kept record of. The parents keep the young together for several 

 days at least, just how long is impossible to say. One brood is all that is reared 

 in a season, I think. 



