NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 289 



634. Gray Vireo. Vireo vicinior. 



Range. Southwestern United States from western Texas, southern California 

 and Nevada southward. 



This species is grayish above and grayish white below, with 

 white eye ring, lores and wing bar. They are not uncommon birds 

 in the Huach'uca Mts. of southern Arizona, where they nest in 

 bushes at low elevations, making the semi-pensile structures of 

 woven strips of bark and grasses, lined with tine round grasses 

 attached by the rim to a fork and sometimes stayed on the side j White I 

 by convenient twigs. Eggs white, specked with brown. Size 

 .72 x .53. 



HONEY CREEPERS. Family CCEREBID/E. 



635. Bahama Honey Creeper. Ccereba bahamcnsis. 



Range. Bahamas, casually to southern Florida and the Keys. 



This peculiar curved-billed species is dark brown above, with the underparts, 

 superciliary line and spot at base of primaries, whitish; the rump and a breast 

 patch are yellow. They nest at low elevations in bushes or trees usually in 

 tangled thickets, making a large dome-shaped nest of grasses, leaves and fibres 

 and, during May or June, lay from three to five pale creamy white eggs, speckled 

 sparingly all over the surface and more abundantly at the large end with reddish 

 brown. Size .65 x .50. 



WARBLERS. Family MNIOTILTID/E. 



Warblers as a family may be classed as the most beautiful, interesting and 

 useful birds that we have. With few exceptions, they only return from their 

 winter quarters as the trees shoot forth their leaves or flowers, they feed largely 

 among the foliage upon small, and mostly injurious, insects. They are very 

 active and always flitting from branch to branch, showing their 'handsome 

 plumage to the best advantage. Their songs are simple but effectively deliver- 

 ed and the nests are of a higli order of architecture. 



636. Black and White Warbler. Mniotilta varia. 



Range. North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States 

 north to the Hudson Bay region; winters from our southern borders to South 

 America. 



This striped black and white Warbler is usually seen creeping 

 about tree trunks and branches after the manner of a Nuthatch. 

 They are very active gleaners and of inestimable value to man. 

 They nest on the ground in woods or swamps, making their nest 

 of strips of bark and grass, placed among the leaves usually be- 

 [White.l side stones, stumps or fallen trees. Their three to five eggs are 

 white, finely specked and wreathed with reddish brown. Size 

 .65 x .50. Data. Worcester, Mass., June 3, 1889. Nest of strips of bark on the 

 ground in an old decayed stump. Collector, C. A. Reed. 



637. Prothonotary Warbler. Protono1<tri<t cltrea. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States, north in the interior to Iowa and 

 Illinois. 



This species is often known as the Golden Swamp Warbler 

 because of the rich golden yellow of the head and underparts. 

 They frequent and nest in the vicinity of swamps or ponds, 

 nesting in the cavities of trees or stubs at low elevations, fill- 

 ing the cavity with leaves, moss and grasses, neatly cupped to 

 receive the four to seven eggs, which are creamy or pinkish 

 white, profusely spotted with reddish brown and chestnut. [Creamy white.l 

 Size .72 x .55. Data. Quincy, Mo., June 1, 1897. 5 eggs. 

 Nest in hole of a dead stub 6 feet up, in timber some distance from water; made 

 of moss and grasses, lined with hair. Collector, Philo W. Smith, Jr. 

 20 



