OF NEW ENGLAND. 109 



bough of an evergreen (usually the hemlock) from ten to 

 twenty feet above the ground. Four or five eggs (in one case 

 reported by Mr. Maynard, six) are laid in Northern New 

 Hampshire and Maine in the second week of June. These 

 eggs average P 68X'50 of an inch, and are bluish-green, with 

 markings of brown and lilac, generally gathered in a ring 

 about the crown. 



(c). The Bay-breasted Warblers are among the many species 

 who appear in Massachusetts as migrants only, and who pass 

 the summer in a colder climate. 29 They are, as a rule, very 

 rare throughout the State in spring, and in autumn are never 

 seen here. Mr. Allen, however, in speaking of this species, 

 says that " in the Connecticut valle}' it is generally more or 

 less common and sometimes very abundant." 



The Bay-breasted Warblers arrive here, after leaving their 

 winter-homes in the South, in the third or fourth week of May, 

 and frequent the woods and trees in open lands. I have gen- 

 erally seen them among budding maples, which like willows 

 possess great attractions for the migrant warblers, but I have 

 also seen them among pines. They are extremely active, and 

 busily seek for their food among the branches, occasionally 

 fluttering before the clusters of foliage, but they are not very 

 shy, and usually permit a near approach. 



They are rare among the White Mountains, but Mr. Maynard 

 speaks of them as being the kt most abundant of the Sylvtcolidce 

 at Umbagog," and adds that " these birds are found in all the 

 wooded sections of this region where they frequent the tops of 

 tall trees." He thinks that they are "confined during the 

 breeding season to the region just north of the White Moun- 

 tains range," and makes the following interesting remarks on 

 their travels. "This species," says he, " together with Geo- 

 tldypis Philadelphia and Helminthophaga peregrina, seems to 

 pursue a very eccentric course during the migrations. Avoid- 

 ing the eastern and middle States, the majority pass along the 



29 1 have since learned that specimens have been taken here in both June and 

 July. 



