NORTHERN PILEOLATED WARBLER 641 



coat is employed. The measurements of five nests are: height, 2.00 to 3.50; 

 outside diameter, 3.00 to 4.00; inside diameter, 1.75 to 2.00; and inside depth, 

 1.50 to 1.75 inches. 



H. D. Minot (1880) thus describes a Colorado nest: "The nest was 

 sunken in the ground, on the eastern slope or border of the swamp, at 

 the end of a partly natural archway of long dry grass, opening to the 

 southward, beneath the low, spreading branch of a willow. It is 

 composed of loose shreds, with a neat lining of fine stalks and a few 

 hairs, and with a hollow two inches wide and scarcely half as deep." 



Dr. Joseph Grinnell (1909) writes : "A nest of the Alaska pileolated 

 warbler was found by Stephens on the 7th of June near Hasselborg 

 Lake, Admiralty Island. It was in the thick moss growing among 

 the roots of an uprooted tree in a creek bottom. The nest was about 

 five feet from the ground and occupied a niche in the mass of moss 

 which overhung and hid it. The nest consists externally of moss, 

 weathered leaves, and bark strips; internally of deer hair." 



Eggs. — All of the 5 nests found by Brandt in Alaska contained 

 6 eggs each, but farther south the numbers run from 3 to 5, four being 

 the commonest number. The eggs are apparently indistinguishable 

 from those of Wilson's warbler. Dr. Brandt (1943) describes his 

 eggs as follows: "The spots are irregular in shape, angular, and 

 range in size from the finest pepperings to small dots. These are often 

 confluent at the larger end, forming a broad zone or wreath. A few 

 weak markings are scattered towards the small end which is almost 

 unmarked. The markings are of two types : the richer one which is 

 more frequent is of red colors, ranging from brick red to Indian red, 

 with the weaker underlying markings vinaceous lavender. The 

 latter are inconspicuous and often just peer out from beneath the 

 bolder overlying spots." The measurements of 40 eggs average 15.8 

 by 12.2 millimeters; the eggs showing the extremes measure 17.2 by 

 12.6, 16.0 by 13.1, 14.7 by 12.2, and 15.2 by 10.7 millimeters. 



Plumages. — The molts and plumages of the two western races cor- 

 respond to those of the eastern race and their food is probably simi- 

 lar ; in fact, the three do not differ materially in any of their habits, 

 except as these are affected by their environment. 



Behavior. — Mrs. Bailey (1902) writes attractively: 



Seen in migration when the dainty pileolated warbler has plenty of leisure, 

 his airy ways are peculiarly charming. He usually hunts in low bushes, and 

 as he suddenly appears through a chink in the dull chaparral wall the intense 

 brilliant yellow of the little beauty set off by his shining Jet black crown gives 

 you a thrill of surprise and delight. 



He is winningly trustful and will come close to you and with wings hanging 

 turn his head and look up to you from under his jaunty cap, then whip along 

 with a jerk of his tail. As he goes he stops to run up a twig, leans down to peck 

 under a leaf, flutters under a spray like a hummingbird, and then flies off sing- 

 ing his happy song. 



