290 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



638. Swainson Warbler. Helinaia swainsonil. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to Virginia and 

 Indiana, and west to eastern Texas; winters in Mexico and the 

 West Indies. 



j^jf This species is brownish above and white below, with a whitish 

 superciliary stripe. It has been found breeding most numer- 

 fBluishwhite i ousl y in thickets and tangled underbush about swamps and 

 "pools in any locality. Their nests are either in bushes or 

 attached to upright rushes over water after the manner of the Long-billed Marsh 

 Wren, being made of leaves, moss, rootlets, etc, lined with fine grasses or hair, 

 and deeply cupped for the reception of the three or four unmarked white or 

 bluish white eggs which are laid during May or June. Size .75 x .58. Data. 

 Near Charlestown, S. C., May 12, 1888. 3 eggs. Nest in canes 4 feet from ground, 

 made of strips of rushes, sweet gum and water oak leaves, lined with pine 

 needles. Collector, Arthur T. Wayne. 



639. Worm-eating Warbler. Helmitheros vermivorus. 

 Range. United States east of the Plains, breeding north to 



southern New England and Illinois; winters south of our 

 borders. 



This bird can be identified in all plumages by the three light 

 buff and two black stripes on the crown and narrower black 

 stripes through the eye. Their habits are similar to those of [White.] 



the Oven-bird, they feeding largely upon the ground amid dead leaves. They 

 are quite abundant in most localities in their range, nesting in hollows on the 

 ground in open woods or shrubbery on hill sides; the nest is made of leaves, 

 grasses and rootlets, lined with hair or finer grasses, and is usually placed under 

 the shelter of some small bush. They lay (in May, June or Julyj three to six 

 eggs, white, marked or blotched either sparingly or heavily with chestnut or 

 lavender. Size .70 x .52. 



640. Bachman Warbler. Helminthophila bachmanii. 



Range. Southeastern United States, along the Gulf coast to Louisiana and 

 north to Virginia and Missouri. 



This species is one of the rarest of the Warblers, but is now much more 

 abundant than twenty years ago, when it had apparently disappeared. They 

 are greenish above, and yellow below, and on the forehead and shoulder, and with 

 black patches on the crown and breast. They have been found breeding in 

 Missouri, nesting on the ground like others of this genus; the eggs are white 

 wreathed about the large end and sparingly specked over the whole surface with 

 reddish brown and chestnut. Size .65 x .50, 



641. Blue-winged Warbler. Helminthophila pinus. 



. f - Range. Eastern United States breeding north to southern 



<'.* , . New England and in the Mississippi Valley to Minnesota; 



V % * ~".Jdl winters south of our borders. 



This common species has the crown and underparts yellow, 

 line through the eye black, and white wing bars and spots on outer 



[White.] tail feathers. They breed most abundantly in the northern half of 



their United States range, placing their nests on the ground in thickets or on 

 the edge of woods; the nests are made of strips of bark, usually grapevine, and 

 leaves, and are usually high and deeply cupped, they are almost always placed 

 among the upright shoots of young bushes. The eggs are white, finely 

 specked with reddish brown witrTgreat variations as to markings. Size .65 x .50. 

 Data. Old Saybrook, Conn., June 1, 1900. 5 eggs. Nest composed chiefly of 

 dry beech leaves and strips of cedar bark, lined with shreds of bark and fine 



frass; situated on the ground among a bunch of weeds in the woods. Collector, 

 ohn N. Clark. 



