46 Wayne, Nest and Eggs of Bachman's Warbler. [jan 



ground, in a dense thicket in the swamp. It is composed of 

 grasses, parts of skeletonized leaves and pine needles. 



All of the six nests that I found are lined with a peculiar black 

 fibre which may be the dead threads of the Spanish moss (Til- 

 landsia usneoides) or a black rootlet. The lining of the nests taken 

 on April 17, while very lustrous black, cannot belong to the Spanish 

 moss, which is very distinctly jointed, and I cannot discover any 

 joint whatever in this substance. The nest taken by Mr. Wid- 

 mann on May 17, 1897, was apparently lined with the same material. 

 In many respects the nest of Bachman's Warbler is very similar 

 to that of Swainson's Warbler. 



This species is eminently a swamp lover during the breeding 

 season. The song is wiry or insect-like, and very closely resem- 

 bles the song of the Worm-eating Warbler, while it also bears a 

 strong resemblance to the songs of the Parula Warbler and Chip- 

 ping Sparrow. 



Although I practically lived in the swamp from April until June 

 19, in order to determine whether the birds raise two broods, I am 

 convinced that only one brood is raised, as this species is a very 

 early migrant after the breeding season, it having been taken at 

 Key West by Mr. J. W. Atkins as early as July 17. 



As the bird is very rare in this State, I am unable to give the 

 dates of its arrival and departure — that is the earliest and latest 

 ones — but I heard a male singing on April 4, 1905, and I think I 

 saw two males about the middle of March. The song of the male 

 is evidently of short duration, as I have not heard it sing later than 

 May 26. The female has no song and its call-note resembles the 

 word zeep. 



A young male taken May 30, 1906, while partly in the first 

 plumage, and first winter plumage on the back and sides, was, 

 however, assuming the black markings on the jugulum and fore 

 breast of the adult male, while the crown was ashy instead of black. 

 In 'The Auk,' April, 1891, p. 156, Mr. Brewster states: "Our 

 males, thirty-six in number, vary exceedingly in respect to the 

 depth and extent of the black of the head and throat, but most of 

 the black feathers are narrowly tipped with ashy or olive yellow 

 which doubtless disappears later in the season." Mr. Brewster's 

 specimens were taken in March. My breeding males all show 

 the olive yellow edging on the black feathers. 



