344 Wright, Nesting of the Blue-winged Warbler. [^ u t k 



laid across, and the leaves are so old and withered it is difficult to 

 tell how they are arranged. Probably before the young had been 

 raised and the nest trodden out of shape, it might have appeared 

 more like the nest described by Mr. Burns. It is in pretty good 

 condition. A small part of it broke off as I was taking it up, but 

 it is not damaged much. The nest, as it rested, was backed up to a 

 decayed stump between two exposed roots. In removing it the 

 back became somewhat damaged and fell off as soon as removed. 

 In its original location it had more of a cup-shape than now. It 

 seems to have spread some, but by pressing the two ends gently 

 you can get a very correct idea of how it looked when discovered." 



The six visits of Mr. Caduc, therefore, resulted in determining 

 these six essential facts: the building of a nest; the location of the 

 nest and its holding four eggs of the warbler and a Cowbird's egg, 

 the destruction of the latter removing a menace to the successful 

 rearing of the family; that four eggs in this nesting was the complete 

 set; that three of the birdlings were hatched and the fourth hatch- 

 ing; that they had thriven and were almost grown; and that they 

 were safely on the wing under the care of one at least of the parent 

 birds. A happy consummation of the birds' choice in pressing 

 their way onward into Massachusetts and selecting this spot* in 

 Sudbury for their nesting. The consummation furnishes also a 

 basis for a hope that we may soon again have another nesting of 

 Blue-winged Warblers chronicled in the State and in time, perhaps, 

 another warbler added to the list of those regularly resident in 

 Massachusetts. We have done nothing to cut off such a hope, 

 while we have secured all the important facts pertaining to this 

 first recorded nesting of the species within the State. 



To Mr. Caduc we are wholly indebted for the full knowledge of 

 this first nesting, and he has kindly permitted me to give it to the 

 readers of ' The Auk.' Each trip made, and six were taken, con- 

 sisted of forty miles by rail and a three-mile walk. Sudbury is 

 situated twenty miles westward from Boston. 



With respect to the date of this nesting and its successive stages 

 it may be well to condense the facts. The birds were found on 

 May 19. The female was seen carrying nest-material on May 21. 

 Presumably the nest was completed as early as May 24. The 

 nest was located and contained four eggs on May 29. The eggs 



