NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 365 



.62 X 42, .67 X 46, .64 X 46, .65 X 47, .65 X 45, .69 X 48, .67 X 47, .69 X 43, 

 .70x45, .66x46. 



649. Compsothlypis nigrilora (Coues) [89a.] 



Seunett's Warbler- 



Hab. Valley of the Lower Rio Grande in Texas. 



This is a common species at various localities on the Lower Rio 

 Grande in Texas. It was observed by Dr. Merrill to be quite common 

 at Brownsville, and also by Mr. George B. Sennett at Lomita. Mr. 

 Sennett states that it is truly a bird of the forest, where it delights to 

 flit about in the upper branches of the tallest trees continuously 

 warbling its clear song, which is readily distinguished from that of all 

 other birds. On May 17 a nest containing one egg was found; it was 

 made in a gray misleto-like orchid, an air-plant very common on the 

 Rio Grande, which establishes itself on the small branches of trees 

 and varies in size up to eight or ten inches in diameter. This one is 

 six inches long by four and one-half inches wide, quite firm in texture, 

 and was fastened some ten feet from the ground, to the end of a droop- 

 ing branch of a brazil tree in open woodland. The nest is constructed 

 by simply parting the gray leaves of the orchid, and digging into its 

 center from the side, a cavity some two inches in diameter being made 

 with an opening one and one-quarter inches. The bottom and sides 

 are lined with short cottony wood fibres. The birds evidently build 

 also in the hanging trusses of Spanish moss so abundant everywhere, 

 as a nest was found by Dr. Merrill, July, 5, 1877, in a small bunch of 

 moss about eight feet from the ground. 



The single egg is described by Mr. Sennett as similar to that of 

 C. americana; its spots of lilac and brown forming a broad incompact 

 band near the larger end, and the entire surface is sparingly marked 

 with the same colors on a dull white ground; size .67 x .46. 



650. Dendroica tigrina (Gmel.) [90.] 



Cape May Warbler. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north to Hudson Bay, Lake Winnipeg, etc. Breeds from Northern 

 New England northward, also in Jamaica; winters in Greater Antilles. 



Not a common bird wherever found in Eastern North America, 

 except in restricted areas during the migrations, when great numbers 

 are seen in a day. Some years, in certain localities it is more frequent- 

 ly observed than at other times. Ferests of evergreens are its favorite 

 resorts. It is known to breed in Northern New England and north- 

 ward. A nest with eggs taken by James W. Banks near St. John, 

 N. B., is described by Mr. Montague Chamberlain.* The nest was 

 hidden in a cluster of low cedars, growing in an exposed position on 



* In The Auk, II, pp 33-36. 



