WARBLERS. 127 



four feet from the ground, and constructed of hemlock twigs, 

 lined with feathers. A nest which I found in northern New 

 Hampshire was somewhat different, and contained three eggs, 

 which were white, marked with purplish and brown, and aver- 

 aged .68 X .50 of an inch. Dr. Brewer describes others as 

 measuring about .75 X .55 of an inch, and being white, or 

 often bluish, " blotched and spotted with reddish brown, 

 purple, and darker shades of brown." 



c. The " Yellow-rumps " are among the most abundant 

 of all the migrants who travel through Massachusetts, being 

 always very common here at times between the twentieth of 

 April and the last of May, and again in the latter part of Sep- 

 tember and in October. They pass the summer principally 

 in Labrador and Canada, and also to a certain extent in the 

 White Mountain region, and northern Maine ; but I know 

 no well-authenticated instance of their passing it in this State. 

 I have, however, known them to pass the winter here, though 

 usually at that season they inhabit the most southern United 

 States and even warmer climates. I have several times, in 

 December and January, found them near Boston, in swamps, 

 where they were feeding upon the berries, and also among 

 cedars. 52 



Whilst here in spring, they are to be found on the road- 

 sides, in swamps, in pastures, in " scrub-land," and amongst 

 the trees and shrubbery of cultivated estates, but rarely in 

 woods, though in northern New England such are their sum- 

 mer haunts. They generally move about in flocks, often very 

 loose ones, inclusive of immature specimens in various stages 

 of coloration. They prefer the orchard and hard-wood trees 

 to the pines, and usually take their perch among the latter to 

 look out for passing insects. They more generally frequent 

 the higher than the lower branches, and from these fly to snap 

 up insects in the air, usually at some distance, afterwards 

 often alighting in another tree. At other times, unlike the 

 Flycatchers, they glean among the branches and look for in- 

 sects among the foliage and blossoms. In autumn their habits 

 are essentially the same, except that they are more upon the 



52 Mr. Charles C. Abbott states that they pass the winter in New Jersey. 



