YELLOW PALM WARBLER 453 



terial to the nest. * * * While Maine is the only State where this species 

 has been found nesting, I would be inclined to predict that careful search of 

 suitable localities in northern New Hampshire and Vermont will show that 

 they nest there also. 



Eggs. — The eggs are practically indistinguishable from those of the 

 western palm warbler, as described under that subspecies. The meas- 

 urements of 40 eggs average 17.4 by 12.9 millimeters ; the eggs showing 

 the four extremes measure 19.0 by 13.1, 18.0 by 13.8, 16.0 by 13.0, and 

 16.7 by 12.5 millimeters (Harris). 



Young. — O. W. Knight (1904) says that the young yellow palm 

 warblers "leave the nest within twelve days after hatching," and after 

 hiding a day or so in the undergrowth are able to essay short flights. 

 Frank L. Burns (1915b) gives the incubation period as 12 days. 



Plmnages. — [Author's Note : Dr. Dwight (1900) describes the Juve- 

 nal plumage, in which the sexes are alike, as follows: "Above, dull 

 sepia-brown, streaked with clove-brown. "Wings and tail clove-brown, 

 edged chiefly with dull olive-green, the coverts and tertiaries with 

 drab cinnamon-tinged; the outer two rectrices w^ith terminal white 

 blotches on the inner webs ; no definite wing bands. Below, including 

 sides of head, dull white with dusky spots and streaks; chin and cris- 

 sum faintl}^ tinged with yellow. Orbital ring dull white; transocular 

 streak dusky." 



A partial postjuvenal molt occurs in August, involving the contour 

 plumage and the wing coverts, but not the rest of the wings or the 

 tail. In his first winter plumage, the young male is "above, yellowish 

 sepia-brown, yellowish olive-green on the rump and upper tail coverts, 

 obscurely streaked with dull clove-brown, the crown merely tinged 

 with concealed chestnut. Wing coverts clove-brown edged with olive- 

 green and tipped with cinnamon not forming wing bands. Below, 

 canary-yellow brightest on the crissum, obscurely streaked on throat 

 and sides with dusky chestnut everywhere veiled by overlapping whit- 

 ish edgings. Superciliary line canary-yellow, orbital ring buffy white ; 

 transocular streak dusky." 



The first nuptial plumage is acquired by a partial prenuptial molt, 

 "which involves chiefly the crown, sides of head, chin and throat and 

 not the rest of the plumage. * * * ^ rich chestnut cap is as- 

 sumed, contrasting sharply with the worn feathers of the occiput, the 

 lores become dull black, the auriculars chestnut and the yellow of the 

 chin and breast becomes brighter with rich chestnut streaks on the 

 sides of the throat and breast. The streaking of the sides of the chin 

 and across the jugulum are darker. Elsewhere a few stray feathers 

 are acquired." Dr. Dwight saw this molt in progress in December 

 and January in birds from Jamaica, in March and April in birds in 

 Florida and Georgia, and late in April in birds near New York City. 



081873—53 30 



