28 



THE OOOLGIST 



in moss, too, so I do not thiuk they 

 build anywliere else. 



The nest is composed of very fine 

 grass and vegetable down and is lined 

 with fine grasses and horse-hair, the 

 whole structure being woven in the 

 moss at tlie bottom and sides, and is 

 about the size and shape of a Field 

 SparroAv's nest. The bird seems to en- 

 ter by onlj' one hole and that is situated 

 in the side of the moss, just above the 

 rim of the nest. 



The eggs are of a A-ery delicate flesh 

 color, spotted with light reddish and 

 are of a veiy fine texture, Avith a pol- 

 ished look. 



1 do not knoAv much of their habits, 

 as they spend most of their time in tall 

 trees from the tops of Avhich you can 

 hear their SAveet little song every now 

 and then. 



NoAv, a few words about the Prairie 

 Warbler. 



This bird is much more sociable than 

 the fortiier one and is quite often seen. 

 Their favorite haunts are woods that 

 have been burnt over and have grown 

 11]) Avith scrub oaks and thick under- 

 Ijrush. Here, they are at home and 

 flit around catching their dinners or 

 sit on the the top of the tallest tice con- 

 veniently near their nests af)d sing. 

 His, is a peculiar song, but very pleas- 

 ing to the ear. It consists of about six 

 or seven .syllables on an ascending key, 

 and, Avith all due respect, somewhat re- 

 seml)U's the cry of a j'oung Turkey. 



Although I have lumted their nesrs 

 a great deal, I have never collected a 

 set of eggs from a nest of my OAvn. I 

 I have found nests, but they a\ ere all 

 either old ones, or new ones that the 

 Ijirds did not complete. On the con- 

 trary, I have a friend Avho can find this 

 Warbler's nest more easily than the 

 nest of mucli commoner birds. He gen- 

 erally liiids three or four of tiieir nests 

 a year, collecting .sets fi-om about one- 

 third. 



This 3'ear lie found a nest in a dog- 



wood tree about five feet up, composed 

 entirely on the outside of Avhite cotton 

 or wool and lined Avith fine grasses 

 and hor.se-hair. The nest AA'as equalled 

 by the eggs, though, as he got the only 

 set of five eggs out of it that was ever 

 heard of round here, three being the 

 usual complement, sometimes four. 



HoAvever, the nicest part of thcAvhole 

 afl'air Avas — he gave the set to me. I 

 found on looking the matter wp, that 

 sets of five were not uncommon. 



Their nests are Aery daint.y little 

 structures, compactly built, and rang- 

 iag from two to ten feet from the 

 ground, usually about four. They are- 

 generally composed of CA-erlasting, fine- 

 grasses, Aveed stems, cotton, spider- 

 Avebs, etc., and lined Avith fine grasses 

 and horse-hair. 



The eggs are of a creamy back -ground 

 Avith purplish markings and dots on 

 them, generally thickest around the 

 larger end . 



A. R. Heyavbkd, Jr. 



Columbia, S. C. 



A Collection of North Carolina Birds Eggs, 



Thos. a. Smithavick. 



ni. Field SparroAv. 563. 



Set d. Weaverville. N. C, May 10, 



1891. Nest in bunch of gi'ass, compos- 

 ed of Aveed stalks and grasses. 4 eggs, 

 incubation begun, .64x.52, .60x.50, .Q2x 

 .48, .Clx.oO. 



33. ToAvhee. 587. 



Set a. Weaverville, N. C, May 1,. 



1892. Nest on ground, of grasses and 

 grape vine bark. 4 fresh eggs, .92x.72, 

 .94X.72, .94X.72, .92x.72. 



Set b. Weaverville, N. C, May 15. 

 1891. Nest on ground under pine bush. 

 3 eggs, incubation Avell along, 1.00x.71. 

 .98X.70, .97X.71. 



34. Cardinal. 593. 



Set a. Raleigh, N. C, May 31, 1891. 

 Nest 4ft. higli, in briars; of Aveed stem.s; 

 and reed leaves, lined Avilh grass. 3 

 fresh eggs, .96x.71, .95x.72, .97x.71. 



Set b. Walke, N. C, April 30, 1892. 

 Nest of Aveed and vine stems, dry 

 leaves, reed leaves and grapevine bark. 



