Vol. XXI 

 1904 



I CuRitiER, Summer Birds of Leech Lake, Minn. A 'I 



lion and situation. They are placed like the Kentucky's, on the ground, 

 at the foot of a clump of rank growth, such as wintergreen, wild straw- 

 berry, wild currant, grass, etc., sometimes resting in the growth so that it 

 raises the nest a little from the ground as it grows. The nest is often in 

 plain view from one or more directions, its concealment depending more 

 upon its color and the leaves growing around it than upon any particular 

 ■care of the birds. The number of eggs laid seems to be four, as 1 saw 

 only one nest containing five. 



102. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis. Western Yellow-throat. — 

 Very common in suitable places. The bird around Leech Lake may be 

 the newly recognized northern form G. f. brachidactyla., but we did not 

 take any of the birds. 



103. Wilsonia canadensis. Canadian Warbler.— Qiiite common 

 on the partially cleared hillsides near Walker, and along the railroads. 

 They inhabit much the same countr^^ as the Mourning Warbler around 

 Leech Lake, but are more frequently found at the foot of the hills, along 

 the brooks, and at the edge of the damp places. 



In 1902 I saw only two nests, but in 1903 I saw several. One nest seen 

 in 1902 was placed in a clump of long dead grass, and almost on the 

 ground after the manner of a Yellow-throat. This nest was in the middle 

 of an old road on the top of a low hill in brush land and was very differ- 

 ent in construction from those seen this year. It was composed entirely 

 of long dry grass, without any dead leaves, while those seen in 1903 were 

 built principally of large dead leaves. The other nests varied considerably 

 in situation, the most of them being several inches above the ground in 

 low growth ^ one at least ten inches up. One nest seen in 1903 was 

 placed on the ground at the side of a stock path in a dense growth of wild 

 currants and was the only one completely hidden. The number of eggs 

 laid was usually four and in only one case did I see five. 



104. Setophaga ruticilla. American Redstart. — Veiv common. 

 Several nests seen. 



105. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Catbird. — Fairly common along 

 the wooded lake shores and in the thickets around Walker. Several occu- 

 pied nests were seen containing from three to five eggs. 



106. Toxostoma rufum. Brown Thrasher. — Not uncommon about 

 the thickets and clearings around Walker in 1903. In 1902 they were 

 scarce. Several nests seen, and all of them were sunken in the ground 

 after the manner of a Towhee's. In Iowa I have seen the nest thus placed, 

 but it is very unusual, and it is strange that the Leech Lake bird should 

 prefer such a situation, though there must be a reason. 



107. Troglodytes aedon aztecus. Western House Wren. — Com- 

 mon alike about the settlements and in the Avoodlands along the lake 

 shores. Several occupied nests seen. 



108. Cistothorus stellaris. Short-billed Marsh Wren. — Qiiite a 

 colony on the marsh around Kabakona Bay in 1902, but this was burned 

 ■over during the winter and this season {1903) we found but one male 



