124 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



Oregon early in May, where Mr. Nuttall had no doubt it was 

 breeding in the pine woods as early as May 23. Like the last 

 three species, its nest may be looked for in the elevated forests of 

 the mountainous territories : Mr. Ridgway, for example, finding 

 young in the cedar and pinon thickets of the East Humboldt 

 mountains, Nevada, where certainly they had been bred. In Ari- 

 zona, however, these birds occur through heavy timber of all sorts, 

 nesting in the tops of the tallest trees. 



76. THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. 



DENDROECA C/ERULESCENS (Linn.) Baird. 

 Canadian "Warbler; Pine Swamp "Warbler. 



In most of the United States this warbler is migratory only, 

 and little was known of its breeding until recently, beyond Audu- 

 bon's somewhat doubtful account. 



It had not certainly been observed to breed in New England 

 until 1874, when the Rev. C. M. Jones discovered the fact at 

 Eastford, Conn. This first nest was found on June 8, in deep 

 swampy woods, near the base of a hill, in a small Kalinia bush. 

 About five inches from the ground the bush sejoarated into three 

 branches, and in this triple fork the nest was situated. It had a 

 firm and compact appearance : external diameter, about 3 inches ; 

 internal, i-^ inches; external depth, 2\ inches; internal, \\ inches. 

 It was composed outwardly of what appeared to be the dry bark 

 of the grape vine, with a few twigs and roots. This was covered 

 in many places with a reddish, woolly substance, apparently the 

 outer covering of some species of cocoon. The inside was com- 

 posed of small black roots and hair. The nest contained four 

 fresh eggs, which were ashy white with a heavy ring of brown and 

 lilac spots and blotches around the larger end, and a few minute 

 spots of the same scattered over the entire surface ; also some- 

 times spots of umber near the small end. The dimensions were : 

 .61 by .47 (of two) .64 by .50, and .66 by .50 of an inch. The 

 bird permitted Mr. Jones to approach within a few feet, and then 



