THE BLA CK-AND- YELL W WABBLEB. 1 3 7 



hand, Mr. Brewster in his admirable monograph of the species, in 

 the second volume of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological 

 Club, speaks of exceptional nests situated in the top of a young 

 evergreen, ten, fifteen, or even thirty-five feet up. Those trees 

 usually are chosen that stand on the edge of a clearing or wood- 

 road, but in the depth of the forest the nests have also been found. 

 In the Hudson's Bay country, willows are resorted to, in lack of 

 evergreens. The composition of the loose, shallow nest is faithfully 

 described by Mr. Brewster from many specimens examined by him 

 in Maine, collected by himself, Deane, Maynard and Bailey ; it is 

 as follows : 



The framework is -wrought somewhat loosely of fine twigs, those of the 

 hemlock being apparently preferred. Next comes a layer of coarse grass or 

 dry weed-stalks; while the interior is lined invariably with fine black roots, 

 which closely resemble horse-hairs. In an examination of more than thirty 

 examples I have found not one in which these black roots were not used. 

 One specimen has, indeed, a few real horse-hairs in the lining, but the roots 

 predominate. This uniform coal-black lining shows in strong contrast with 

 the lighter aspect of the outer surface of the nest. The whole structure is 

 loosely put together, and bears a no distant resemblance to the nest of the 

 chipping sparrow {Spizella socialis). Among nests of the Sylvicol idee, it 

 finds, perhaps, its nearest approach in that of the chestnut-sided warbler 

 {Dendroeca pennsylvanica). 



Audubon, describing a nest from Labrador, affirms that it was 

 lined with "a great quantity of feathers." Mr Brewster says this 

 statement is entirely at variance with his observations ; but Audubon 

 is supported by the evidence of Hutchins in British America, and 

 it seems to me not at all unlikely that in arctic latitudes the birds 

 should increase the warmth of their abode by an additional lining 

 of feathers unnecessary at the south. Again, Mr. Brewster writes : 



Observe how cunningly the whole affair is concealed — built close to the 

 stem of the little fir, resting on the flat horizontally disposed rows of " needles," 

 and arched over by the flake-like layer of twigs above. One long rootlet alone 

 hangs down in full view, and had it not caught my eye I might have passed 

 without discovering the nest. It seems, indeed, a pity to disturb it; but we 

 shall regret it next winter if we leave it behind. Naturalists are probably not 

 hard-hearted by inclination, but of necessity. I dare say the female will com- 



