Mearns's Description of Unusually Developed Species. 59 



April 4, 1877, while collecting on the foot-hills four miles fiom 

 Watsonville, my undivided attention was drawn toward a Gray Tit- 

 mouse, whose scolding outcry, if not intended for me, was neverthe- 

 less so taken. Observing that the bird had a large insect in its bill, 

 I concluded it was about to feed its young, or possibly its mate. 

 Taking my station behind the trunk of a tree, I waited in vain for 

 nearly an hour for it to enter its nest. It flew from one branch to 

 another, favoring one part of the tree, uttering its cry continually. 

 My time being limited, I concluded to examine the tree, and was 

 agreeably rewarded by finding the nest immediately. This was 

 placed in a hollow in the end of a limb of an oak, five feet from the 

 ground, the mouth of the hole very small. The female was on the 

 nest, and would not leave, fighting even unto death. 



The nest is composed outwardly of grasses, the inner portion of 

 fur of rabbits and other animals, besides a few hairs and feathers. 

 It measures 7.50 inches in diameter outside, 2.50 inside ; depth, 2.50 

 outside, 1 inside. 



The eggs, four in number, had been incubated about five days. 

 The ground-color is white, marked over the whole egg with minute 

 irregular spots of a pale reddish color. The most spotted egg has 

 a perceptible pinkish appearance. Measurements, .68 x .53, .68 x 

 .52, .64x.52, .64x52. 



I anticipate finding, in additional sets of the eggs of this species, 

 deeper-colored and larger markings, with considerable variation of 

 size and shape, besides a larger number of eggs. 



Santa Cruz, California. 



A DESCRIPTION OF UNUSUALLY DEVELOPED INDIVID- 

 UALS OF THREE SPECIES, AND REMARKS ON UNCOM- 

 MON PLUMAGES IN SEVERAL OTHERS, TAKEN NEAR 

 WEST POINT, N. Y. 



BY EDGAR A. MEARNS. 



1. Geothlypis Philadelphia, (Wilson) Band. Mourning Warbler. 

 — A specimen of this species (No. 1000 $, May 26, 1876, E. A. M.) is re- 

 markable for its high development. All of its markings are unusually 

 bright ; the chin, throat, and forepart of breast almost solid black ; the 

 feathers of the chin and upper part of the throat only exhibiting the 



