366 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



a rather open hill-side; it was placed less than three feet from the 

 ground, and within six inches of the tips of the branches amidst the 

 densest part of the foliage, and well screened from observation. June 

 13 the nest was completed and contained two eggs, and on the i6th 

 four eggs. The nest somewhat resembles that of the Magnolia 

 Warbler, D. maculosa^ being composed of minute twigs of dry spruce, 

 grasses, with spider's webs interwoven. The lining is composed en- 

 tirely of horse hair laid with precision, and shaped into a prettily 

 formed cup, the brim being turned with exquisite grace. 



The eggs of this species are described as dull or buflfy-white, or 

 grayish, speckled or spotted round the larger end with dark brown or 

 reddish-brown and lilac-gray, sometimes a few specks of blackish are 

 scattered over the greater part of the surface. The ground-color of 

 the eggs belonging to the nest just described, is dull white like that of 

 the Magnolia's; their sizes .69 x .49, .65 x .49, .66 x .49, .66 x .48. The 

 average is .68 x .49. 



652. Dendroica aestiva (Gmel.) [93.] 



Yelloiv Warbler. 



Hab. North America at large, south in winter to Central America to Northern South America. 



Known by several names, such as Summer Warbler, Summer 

 Yellow-bird, Blue-eyed Yellow Warbler and Golden Warbler. An 

 abundant bird everywhere throughout its range, in woodland, orchards, 

 parks and gardens. Nests in fruit or shade trees, low shrubbery and 

 brushwood. Sometimes the nest is built at heights ranging from ten 

 to forty feet in large trees, but their favorite nesting places are hedges 

 and low bushes. The nest is usually skillfully fastened to several small 

 twigs, and is a neat, compact, cup-shaped structure, made of grayish, 

 hempen fibres, slender stems of plants and leaves, lined with soft plant 

 down and feathers. The Cowbird makes the nest of this Warbler a 

 favorite receptacle for depositing her ^%%. In United States the Yellow 

 Warbler begins nest building about the first of May. 



The eggs are four or five in number. They have a greenish- 

 white or even a decided green ground-color, spotted, usually in a 

 wreath around the larger end, with umber-brown, blackish and lilac- 

 gray. They vary in size from .62 to .70 long by .48 to .53 broad. A 

 common size is .67 x .47. 



654. Dendroica caerulescens ( Gmel.) [ 94.] 



Blaok-throated Blue Warbler. 



Hab. Eastern North America to the Great Plains; breeding from the northern and more elevated 

 portions of Eastern United States northward; in winter, Florida and West Indies. 



In most of the Eastern United States this beautiful Warbler is 

 known only as a spring and fall migrant. It has been observed breeding 



