THE nLACKAND-WHlTE CREEPER. 97 



and yet fail to liiul the nest you know is there, after repeated 

 and thorouj^li examination of the ground. Hence our knowl- 

 edge of it until very recently has been based almost exclusively 

 on the discoveries of Mr. J. A. Allen, who in 1S73 secured a 

 nest on the Yellowstone of which he gave the following 

 account : 



The nest, as described by Audubon, was placed on the ground, and 

 neatly formed of dry fine grass. It was thinly arched over with the 

 same material, and being built in a tuft of rank grass, was most thor- 

 oughly concealed. The bird would seem to be a close sitter, as in this 

 case the female remained on the nest till I actually stepped over it. she 

 brushing against my feet as she went off. The eggs were five in num- 

 ber, rather long and pointed, measuring about .90 by .60 inches, of a 

 grayish-white color, thickly and minutely flecked with small blotches of 

 purplish-brown, giving them a decidedly purplish tint. In color the 

 eggs thus somewhat resemble those of the titlark. (PI. Fig. 56.) 



Family SYLVICOLID^— Warblers. 



67. THE BLACK-AND-TVHITE CREEPER. 

 MNTOTILTA VARIA (/./>/«.) Virill. 

 Varied Creeper; Black Creeping Warbler. 



Entering the United States in great numbers in February 

 and March, it rapidl\- becomes spread everv where eastxvard 

 of Arkansas and the Missouri river, and northward into the 

 British possessions. Some nevertheless remain and breetl in 

 the southern states, which is contrarv to the rule among the 

 majorit\ of 6ur warblers. 



it is one of the earliest of our singing-birds to make its nest, 

 completing it, in New England and Ohio, abcjut the second 

 or third week of ]Mav. The situation will be found so chosen 

 that an o\erhanging rock, a log, the branching roots of a tree, 

 or herbage of the preceding year affords protection. The 

 ordinary site is in some wooded, or bushy spot. Placed flatly on 



