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234 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
leaves of the pine, and moss; these materials are twined 
into a compact structure, somewhat bulky, and deeply 
hollowed, and lined with feathers of wild birds and hairs 
of different animals. A nest complement of four eggs in my 
collection, furnished by my friend, George A. Boardman, 
are of a grayish-white color, thickly marked with spots and 
blotches of two or three shades of brown and purple. 
Dimensions vary from .71 by .54 inch, to .66 by .50 inch. 
Audubon describes the only nest of this bird that he 
ever met with as follows: — 
“Tt was placed about three feet from the ground, in the fork of 
a small branch, close to the main stem of a fir-tree. Its diameter 
internally was two inches, the depth one and a half: externally, it 
resembled the nest of a white-crowned sparrow, being formed of 
green and white moss and lichens, intermixed with coarse dried 
grass; within this was a layer of bent grass, and the lining was of 
very dark-colored, dry moss, looking precisely like horsehair, 
arranged in a circular direction with great care. Lastly, there was 
a thick bed of large, soft feathers, some of which were from ducks, 
but most of them from willow-grouse.” 
The same’ author describes the habits of this bird as 
follows :— 
“You see it darting in all directions after insects, chasing them 
on the wing, and not unfrequently snapping, so as to emit the click- 
ing sound characteristic of the true Flycatcher. Its activity is 
pleasing; but its notes have no title to be called a song. ‘They are 
shrill, and resemble the noise made by striking two small pebbles 
together, more than any other sound I know.” 
I cannot agree with Professor Baird, that the Autumnal 
Warbler of authors, and the young of the Bay-breasted, 
are identical, at least in New England; but I am persuaded 
that the young of the present species is the Sylvia autumnalis. 
And it seems to me, that no other argument is needed to 
establish this beyond a doubt, than the fact, that the Bay- 
breasted Warbler is very rare, in all this section of the coun- 
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