10 Oil the Nest and Eggs of Swainson's Warbler. 



nearly globular; and although the exterior is rather loosely 

 formed, the structure, as a whole, is neat and compact. 



The nest taken June 27 is very much larger — in fact, quite 

 the largest specimen that I have seen, measuring externally 

 5-00 in diameter by 6*00 in depth, internally 1-50 in dia- 

 meter by 1-25 iu depth, with the rim, in places, 1-75 thick. 

 It is shaped like an inverted cone, the apex extending down 

 nearly to the point of junction of the numerous fascicled 

 stems which surround and support its sides. In total bulk 

 it fully equals the average nest of our Crow-Blackbird, while 

 it is not nearly so finished a specimen of bird-architecture. 

 Indeed it would be difficult to imagine anything ruder than 

 its outer walls — composed of mud-soaked leaves of the sweet 

 gum, water-oak, holly, and cane, thrown together into a 

 loose mass, bristling with rough stems, and wholly devoid of 

 symmetry or regularity of outline. The interior, however, 

 lined with pine-needles, moss-fibres, black rootlets, and a 

 little horsehair, is not less smooth and rounded than in the 

 other specimens. 



The acquisition of these additional nests is important, as 

 tending to show that the position and construction of the 

 first two nests, and the character of the eggs which one of 

 them contained, were not exceptional. The total results of 

 Mr. "Wayne's labours may be summed as follows : — Four 

 nests, taken respectively June 5, 6, 27, and 30, contained 

 respectively one young bird a few days old, one young bird 

 and two addled eggs, two eggs on the point of hatching, and 

 three perfectly fresh eggs. All four nests were essentially 

 similar, being bulky and loosely formed, composed mainly 

 of dry leaves, lined with fine roots, moss-fibres, pine-needles, 

 and horsehair, and placed in canes over water at heights 

 varying from four to eight feet. Of the seven eggs taken, 

 four were immaculate, two perhaps slightly spotted, and one 

 unmistakably spotted and blotched with lilac. 



The inferences suggested by these facts are: — (1) The 

 Swainson's Warbler nests usually, if not invariably, in canes 

 over water ; (2) that it lays from one to three eggs ; (3) that 

 its eggs may be either plain, slightly speckled, or rather 

 thickly and distinctly marked. 



