402 LAND BIRDS 
Young Male: Similar to adult winter male, but upper parts browner, 
crown brownish gray, except in front and sides; streaks on back 
and upper tail-coverts concealed ; black of throat with white tips to 
feathers ; under parts yellowish. 
Young Female: Entire upper parts brownish gray, crown bordered with 
dusky ; under parts brownish. 
Geographical Distribution: In mountainous parts of Western United 
States, from Rockies to Pacific; north as far as British Columbia ; 
south in winter to Mexico. 
California Breeding Range: Along the Sierra Nevada from San Bernar- 
dino mountains to Shasta County. 
Breeding Season: May and June. 
Nest: Compact and cup-shaped ; built of gray plant fibres ; lined with 
hair or feathers ; placed in thickets or scrub oaks, or in pines, from 4 
to 20 feet from the ground. 
Eggs: 3 or 4; white, dotted with reddish brown and purple, chiefly at 
the larger end. Size 0.66 X 0.52. 
AMONG the junipers of the San Bernardino mountains 
the Black-throated Gray Warbler makes his summer 
home. The green caterpillars, which some birds refuse 
and which on some trees seem to be poisonous, are his 
favorite food. His simple, rather thin little song comes 
from the sparse stunted growth of the foot-hills where he 
is busily at work hunting for his dinner, but the bird 
himself keeps behind the foliage and will not make 
friends. He seems to be more indifferent than shy, and 
to prefer the quiet of the thicket rather than gay dashes 
out into the sunlight. You may know him by the yellow 
spot in front of and just above the eye. Farther north 
this species is found frequenting the oak trees almost 
exclusively, though the nest is usually in a manzanita or 
hazel bush. In the spring these oaks are particularly 
infested with the green caterpillars, and the Warblers 
never seem to tire of devouring the pests. They lean 
away over to peer under every leaf, or reach up to the 
