NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 429 



ing the leaves on the ground, or rustling in the leaves of a fallen tree in search of 

 worms and spiders. Sometimes while in the higher branches its actions are much 

 like those of a Vireo. In Ohio the Worm-eating Warbler is a rare summer resident. 

 It has been found breeding abundantly in Chester county, Pennsylvania, by Mr. 

 Thomas H. Jackson and Samuel B. Ladd, in the months of May, June and July. The 

 nest is usually built in a depression of the ground on a hillside, beneath a bush, beside 

 a fallen log, at the foot of a sapling or tree. It is, according to the observations of 

 Mr. Ladd and Mr. Jackson, likewise built on level ground in rather open places, with 

 little shelter from the sun. It is composed outwardly of leaves, and lined with hair- 

 like moss; sometimes fine grass and horse hair is part of the lining. The eggs are 

 four to six in number, usually five, and exhibit a great variation in size, shape and 

 parkings, some being faintly marked with light reddish spots, chiefly about the 

 larger end, while others are heavily blotched with lavender and rich chestnut. The 

 shape varies from equal ended to those that are quite pointed. A set containing the 

 smallest normal specimen, collected June 30, in a large series of eggs described 

 by Mr. Ladd, offers the following dimensions: ,64x.49, .64x.50, .65x.48, .64x.49; a set 

 of five taken June 6, measure .71x.57, .72x.58, .71x.58, .76x.57, .77x.55. 



640. BACHMAN'S WABBLEB. Helminthophila bachmanii (Aud.) Geog. 

 Dist. Coast of South Atlantic and Gulf States, from South Carolina to Louisiana. 

 Cuba in winter. 



An extremely rare bird. Said to nest in low trees. Eggs four. One of a set 

 of four, taken April 30, and found in the collection made between the years 1853 

 and 1865 by the late Dr. S. W. Wilson in Georgia, is described by Mr. H. B. Bailey as 

 dull white; around the larger end is a wreath of dark brown, covering nearly one- 

 third of the egg; while a few obscure spots of lilac are scattered over the rest of the 

 surface. It has no resemblance to any Warbler's egg, and especially none of any 

 of this genus.* Size about .74x.60: Ridgw. 



641. BLUE-WINGED WABBLEB. Helminthophila pinus (Linn.) Geog. 

 Dist. Eastern United States north to Connecticut and Southern New York, the 

 Great Lakes and Minnesota; south in winter to Eastern Mexico, Guatemala. 



The Blue-winged Yellow Warbler breeds throughout its United States range, 

 chiefly, however, north of 40 latitude. Apparently it is not found in great abundance 

 wherever observed during the breeding season. Records are at hand of its breeding 

 in Southern Connecticut, New York, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Central Ohio, In- 

 diana and Southeastern Illinois. Colonel Goss gives it as a rare summer resident of 

 Kansas. It has probably been found breeding most abundantly in Southeastern 

 Pennsylvania by Isaac S. Reiff. The site generally selected for a breeding place in 

 that locality is a clump of blackberry bushes on the edge of a wood, and high ground 

 a short distance from water seems to be preferable. Nest building begins as early 

 as May 10, and nests were found containing young as early as June 3. The nest is 

 built on the ground in thickets; sometimes it is raised two or three inches above 

 the ground and hidden by tall grass or a cluster of small oak sprouts or vines. The 

 materials used in the construction of the nests were dry leaves, strips of wild grape 

 bark, becoming finer towards the inner part; the lining is of very fine grass. The 

 eggs are four or five in number, white, faintly^and sparsely speckled with burnt 

 umber and seal brown. The average size is .64x.51. 



Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, VIII, P. 



