WARBLERS. • 45 



shelving of a rock, on the surface of the ground." Dr. Brewer 

 states, that so far as he knows, it always builds on the ground, and 

 mentions a nest found in the drain of a house. 



The eggs are described as being from three to seven in number, 

 four and one-half eighths to six-eighths long, by one-half an inch 

 to nine-sixteenths broad ; oval, nearly equal at both ends, white, 

 speckled with brownish-red and purplish dots, chiefly at the larger 

 end, 



A nest described by Dr. Brewer was composed externally of 

 coarse hay, and compactly lined with horse hair ; Mr. Nuttall's was of 

 coarse strips of inner hemlock bark, mixed with old leaves and 

 grass, and lined with hair. Dr. Brewer's measured three and one- 

 half inches across outside, by one inch internal depth." — CoUES, 

 Birds of the Northwest; pp. 45, 46. 



74a. MNIOTILTA VARIA BOREALIS. 



SMALL-BILLED CREEPER. ** 



75. PROTONOTARIA CITREA. 



PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 



This beautiful and striking Warbler is found in the Eastern Prov- 

 ince of the United States (Southern region): Mr. Wm. Brewster 

 writes that it is probable that its maximum abundance during the 

 breeding season is reached in the States lying about the junction of 

 the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 



Examining forty of their nests, all of which were found near 

 Mount Carmel., III., he states that "the typical nesting-site, was the 

 deserted hole of the Downy Woodpecker or Carolina Chickadee. 

 The height varied from two to fifteen feet, though the usual eleva- 

 tion was about four. If the cavity was old and broken out, or 

 otherwise enlarged, it was far more apt_^to be chosen than a neater 

 and newer one close at hand. The stump selected almost invari- 

 ably stood in or projected over water." **"•'■ 



"The shape and size of the nest vary with that of the 

 cavity in which it is placed. When the hole is deep it is usu- 

 ally filled up to within four or five inches of the entrance. Thus 

 the nest when removed presents the appearance of a compact mass 

 of moss five or six inches in height, by three or four in diameter. 



