120 CANADIAJf WARBLER. 



tending to base of bill, and a rather broad band of spots crossing breast, black. 

 Under tail coverts, Mhite. Sometimes the spottings on the breast are so heavy as 

 to form a continuous band, but are usually as given in Fig. 54. 



Female. Similar to the male, but tinged with greenish above : paler be- 

 neath, with the black markings much less distinct. 



YorXG Male. Similar to the adult female. 



Young Female. With the gray of back strongly tinged with greenish, ami 

 the markings beneath very pale, often barely indicated. 



Nestlings. Sti-ongly tinged with brownish above and on sides of head : 

 lighter brown on throat, upper breast, and sides. There are two distinct wing 

 bands of pale buff. 



DniENSloNS. Length, 5.50 : stretch, 7.75 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 2.10 : bill, 

 .36 ; tarsus, .75. 



CoMPAKisoNS. Known by the bluish back, yellow under parts, and neck- 

 lace of spots, the females and young usually having these indicated. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed on the ground or near it, often on the sides 

 of banks or mounds in woodlands. Com]x>sed of leaves and dry weeds, lined with 

 rootlets and horse hair. Eggs" from three to five, oval, white or buff, dotted or 

 spotted with reddish brown and lilac, often more thickly on the larger end. Di- 

 mensions, .68 by .50. 



General Habits, As a nile, Canadian Warblers appear 

 to prefer thick growths of woodlands; and, although sometimes 

 found in dry places, they more frequently occur in swamps. 

 They are active warblers, and besides moving in a very agile 

 manner through the shru1)ber)% also often dart into air to snap 

 up some flying insect. They are inclined to keep low in the 

 undergrowth, but occasionally visit the higher branches of the 

 trees; this is especially true during migration when they some- 

 times even visit orchards. During most seasons with us here 

 in eastern Massachusetts the Canadian Warbler is not very 

 common most years, yet I have not only found it common in 

 spring, but at times even abundant. 



Breeding Habits. Authors appear to differ somewhat 

 in their accounts of the situations in which this species places 

 its nest- Most writers state that the ne.st is placed on the 

 ground, in undergrowth, by the side of a log or at the foot of 

 a tree. Others say that the bird builds among the upturned 



