298 



Birds of Xoktii Carolina 



In suc'li places its buzzing song, which somehow to us always seems to suggest hot 

 weather, is almost constantly heard. The nest is a very neat, compact structure 

 of fine grass, plentifully mingled with the gray leaves of wild life-everlasting 

 (rabbit tobacco), which gives it a characteristic gray appearance. The inside is 

 lined with fine grass or horsehair. It is never placed at any great height from 

 the ground, being usually only three or four feet up in a bush or small tree. The 

 species seems to prefer sweet-gum saplings as nesting trees near Raleigh, nine out 

 of seventeen nests examined by C. S. Brimley having been thus situated. Two 

 were in elms, two in huckleberries, and one each was found in pine, sumac, black 

 haw, and Ilex decidna. Pearson examined a nest at Cape Hatteras on May 9, 1898, 

 which contained five slightly incubated eggs. It was situated in a holly tree about 

 ten feet from the ground and was composed largely of wool. The eggs have a 

 nearly pure white ground-color, and are speckled and spotted with brown, the mark- 

 ings usually forming wreaths about the larger end. Size .64 x .47. Eggs have been 

 taken at Raleigh from May 12 to June 11, the later dates, however, representing 

 second sets laid by birds whose first nests had been disturbed. 



Fig. 241. Prairie W.vrbi.kr. 



This is one of the smallest of the warlilers, and like the two ])receding forms, is 

 addicted to the habit of tail-wagging. 



With this species we close the list of our North Carolina Wood Warlilers; one other species, 

 however, Kirtland's Warbler (hirtlnnfli), will prohalily be found sooner or later as a migrant. 

 This bird is ashy blue above and yellow below. Tlie h:ick and sides are streaked with black; 

 the chin and eri.ssum are white, the lores black; winn-l)ars ab.seiit. Female duller. Leneth 

 about .51^ inches. It has been recorded from St. Ileleua Island. S. C, in the sprin? and Fort 

 Myer, Va., and Chester, S. C, in the fall (see Cooke Migration awl Dislribution of North American. 

 Warblers, pp. 91-92). 



