MAGNOLIA WARBLER 199 



of fir and gray birches. * * * The nests were about 2 inches wide 

 at the top on the inside and ll^ deep. The wall at the top was 

 % inch thick." 



A series of eight nests now before me vary considerably in size, 

 compactness, manner of construction, and in the materials used. The 

 largest two measure 4 inches and S% inches, respectively, in outside 

 diameter, and the smallest ones measure from 2% to 3 inches. The 

 inner diameter seems to be more constant, varying from 1% to 2 inches. 

 All of my nests are shallow, hardly more than an inch deep internally 

 in most cases. Some of them are fairly well made, but most of them 

 are very flimsy and more or less transparent. The neatest nests have 

 the sides and rims well built up with dry grass or weed stems of 

 varying degrees of fineness and density. In some there is no grass, 

 but the sides are well made of the very finest hemlock or larch twigs 

 interwoven with fine, red, fruiting stems of mosses and many fine, 

 black rootlets; they are often slightly decorated or camouflaged with 

 a few weed blossoms or bits of wool or plant down. The lining of black 

 rootlets is present in these and in all other nests of the magnolia 

 warbler that I have seen ; it seems to be characteristic of the species 

 and will distinguish the nests from those of other warblers. This jet- 

 black lining forms a fine background against which the handsome 

 eggs are shown in striking contrast. 



Miss Stanwood gives in her notes the following account of nest 

 building : "The birds fly wdth much jolly chattering through the trees 

 and examine any nesting sites that appear desirable. The dainty fe- 

 male, after fitting her little body into many spaces among the twigs, 

 finds one that is entirely adapted to her prospective domicile, and the 

 birds proceed to fashion a basketlike frame of long, fine potentilla or 

 cinquefoil runners, or culms of fine hay. These they fasten to the 

 twigs and needles around the selected space with spiders' web, or tent 

 caterpillar silk, leaving the long ends free. Around the top of the 

 basketlike frame on the interior is laid a culm of hay in the form of an 

 imperfect circle, which is secured to the frame with spiders' silk; 

 many of the long ends are then turned down within, or crumpled into 

 the space for the foundation of the superstructure. In the frame is 

 fashioned the cradle, which is symmetrical and cup-shaped on the in- 

 side, but may be formed like the bowl of a spoon on the outside, accord- 

 ing to the space which it is designed to fill. The preferred lining 

 materials appear to be a jet-black, hairlike vegetable fibre, and horse- 

 hair, but on occasion, the dull orange setae of the birdwheat moss, or 

 the brown fruit stems of maples are used for this purpose. 



"Both twittering birds bring the materials while it is damp, if possi- 

 ble, and place it, but being very timid, they work little while an 

 observer is near. At such times the birds come silently, one at a time, 



