412 Merriam, Nesting of the Cape May Warbler. ea 
spent most of his time well up in the trees and seemed particularly 
fond of a large white birch. Among the small branches of this 
tree he was seen and heard many times. Once when a small hawk 
flew overhead a rapid chipper seemed to indicate the Cape May 
note of alarm or warning. 
On June 11 the male was seen to chase the female. The next day 
nest building was apparently complete. An hour’s watching on 
the 13 also failed to show any further nest construction, although 
the female was frequently heard in the low growth. Once she flew 
ten feet up in a spruce and gave a peculiar note at the same time 
lifting her tail. Immediately the male flew down and copulation 
took place. The whole proceeding resembled very much that of 
the Chipping Sparrow. 
Neither male or female were seen again until June 18 at which 
date the set was judged to be complete. When the writer had 
climbed perhaps ten feet up in the nesting tree, the female flew off 
but soon returned to the nest. This was repeated once more before 
the nest was reached. The male was heard but not clearly seen. 
The nest was placed about six feet from the top of the tree on a 
short branch nine inches from the trunk and an equal distance 
from the tip. From the ground it could not be seen even with 
field glasses. From a few feet below the nest was apparently a 
green ball of moss. Closer examination, however, showed it to be 
a neatly cupped nest resting on the branch and short twigs. To 
these it was not securely tied and was lifted intact from its position 
without difficulty. 
The exterior of the nest was of green Sphagnum moss, inter- 
woven with vine stems, and a very few twigs, bound lghtly with 
plant down, small wads of which appeared here and there over the 
moss. The body of the nest consisted of fine grass stems. Within 
this was a lining of white hairs apparently from the rabbit, one 
small partridge feather and a few fine black rootlets. The nest was 
bulky but very neatly and fairly compactly put together. At the 
rim one side was very smoothly finished. This was probably the 
entrance side toward the tree trunk. It was an unusual and beauti- 
ful nest. 
Dimensions: outside 4 ’’ wide, 24’’ deep. 
inside: (1277) Saillasaes 
