MYRTLE WARBLER 



141 



weeds grow rapidly to a height of from three to five feet, entirely 

 hiding the ground, and thus afford the birds considerable protection. 

 * * * "The nests are never placed over three feet from the ground ; 

 usually about eighteen inches ; one I examined was only six inches." 

 (Cairns-.) 



Nest. — "The nests show little variation in their construction, 

 though some are more substantially built than others. Exteriorly 

 th€y are composed of rhododendron or grapevine bark, interwoven 

 with birch-bark. moss, spider-webs, and occasionally bits of rotten 

 wood. The interior is neatly lined with hair-like moss, resembling fine 

 black roots, mixed with a few sprays of bright red moss, forming a 

 strikingly beautiful contrast to the pearly eggs. The female gathers 

 all the materials, and builds rapidly, usually completing a nest in from 

 four to six days if the weather is favorable. She is usually accom- 

 panied by the male, which, however, does not assist her in any way." 

 (Cairns.^) 



Eggs. — 3 or 4, usually 4. The eggs of this subspecies, which 

 have been examined, do not differ from those of the foregoing; 

 a typical set from Craggy Mountain, Buncombe Co., N. C, measures 

 .62X.53, .66X.53. .66X.53. 



Nesting Date. — Buncombe Co., N. C, May 21 (C. W. C). 



Biographical References 

 (i) S. B. Ladd, Nesting of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, in Buncombe 

 Co., N. C, Orn. and Ool., XVII, 1892, 129. (2) J. S. Cairns, The Summer 

 Home of Dendroica ccerulescens. Papers Presented to the World's Congress on 

 Ornithology, Chicago, i8g6, 136. 



Myrtle Warbler 



DENDROICA CORONATA (Linn.) Plate X 



Distinguishing Characters. — In any plumage this Warbler may be distin- 

 guished from all other Warblers, except Audubon's Warbler, by the yellow 

 patches on crown, rump and both sides of the breast. In the young $ the 

 latter marks are sometimes obsolete but their general brown color above, 

 yellow crown-patch, and rump are distinctive. From Audubon's Warbler, 

 without regard to the color of the throat, it differs in having as a rule only 

 • two or three, instead of four outer tail-feathers marked with white. (But see 

 beyond under auduboni.) Length (skin), 5.10; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.10; bill, .35. 



Adult (S, Spring. — Center of crown, rump, and sides of breast with a yellow 

 patch ; above bluish gray streaked with black, cheeks black a white line over 

 eye ; lower part of eye-ring white ; tail black edged with gray the outer three 

 (rarely four) feathers with white patches near tip of inner web; throat white; 

 breast black more or less streaked and tipped with white; center of belly 

 and crissum white, flanks streaked with black. This plumage begins to appear 

 in March and is not, as a rule, completed before late April or early May. 



