DENDRCECA STRIATA I BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 137 



have been seen at North Adams in August, permitting 

 the inference that they were reared in that locality. 

 The Black-poll is one of the latest rrrivals in spring, 

 as well as one of the most abundant during the few 

 days occupied in transitu. It is scarcely to be seen 

 in Connecticut before the middle of May, and is not 

 commonly observed in Massa- 

 chusetts until the third or fourth 

 week of that month ; disappear- 

 ing entirely during the opening 

 days of June. Returning early 

 in September, they become very 

 numerous, and remain so until 



the middle Of October, When FIG. 33. BLACK-POLL WAR- 



there is a sensible decrease in BLER ' (Natural size - } 

 their numbers, though all do not leave the Connecticut 

 valley before November. They are to be found in any 

 high open mixed woods, and also frequent orchards 

 and gardens ; but they show, like the Black-throated 

 Greens, a decided preference for evergreen forests. 

 According to Dr. Brewer's observations, made at East- 

 po.t, where the birds were found to be very numerous, 

 and the low swampy woods were vocal with their songs, 

 several nests were found in thick spruce-trees, about 

 eight feet from the ground. These were large for the 

 size of the bird, being five inches across and three deep, 

 with thick walls and little cavity. They were strongly 

 and compactly built of the terminal twigs of coniferous 

 trees, woven with Cladonia lichens, slender rootlets, 

 and fine sedges, and lined with panicles of grass. The 

 number of eggs in every case was five, measuring 0.72 

 by 0.50, profusely blotched and dotted all over with 

 reddish-brown, purplish, and lavender. 



