MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT 215 



locate the nest was without success until one damp morn- 

 ing, as I was plowing my way through the water-laden 

 tall grass and jewel flowers in a ravine near a small 

 stream, known to be a good locality for these birds, I 

 saw a small dark streak dart right from under my damp 

 and soggy shoes. Quickly I set my camera down to mark 

 the location, knelt to part the grass, and, exactly be- 

 neath my camera, was my first discovered Yellow-throat's 

 nest! It contained five white eggs, with many minute 

 lilac-colored spots. I parted the grass more carefully 

 and photographed the nest with the eggs ; it was placed 

 directly on the ground with its outer walls covered with 

 dead leaves and the whole inner lining made up of closely- 

 woven grape-vine twigs. I felt as if I had really accom- 

 plished a feat worth recording when I discovered this 

 nest of the Yellow-throat and photographed it. (Fig. 125.) 



The two birds were restless, moving about all the 

 time, but not what one would call shy; they scolded me 

 viciously each time I entered their thicket domain and 

 continued to fly about me. As long as I remained near 

 their home they occasionally lit on limbs near my 

 head. They were curious and kept prying into my affairs 

 by following me about and peeping at me from behind 

 a leaf, all the while uttering a faint "pit, chit!" protest 

 or query as to my business in that locality. 



Yellow-throats are of much value to our park and 

 woodland foliage, destroying the cucumber beetle and 

 black olive scale. 



