NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 435 



649. BENNETT'S WABBLEB. Compsothlypia niyrilora (Coues.) Geog. Dial. 

 Valley of the Lower Rio Grande in Texas. 



This is a common species at various localities on the Lower Rio Grande in Texas. 

 It was observed by Dr. Merrill to be quite common at Brownsville, and also by Mr. 

 George B. Sennett at Lomita. Mr. Sennett states that it is truly a bird of the forest, 

 where it delights to flit about in the upper branches of the tallest trees continuously 

 warbling its clear song, which is readily distinguished from that of all other birds. 

 On May 17 a nest containing one egg was found; it was made in a gray mistletoe-like 

 orchid, an air-plant very common on the Rio Grande, which establishes itself on 

 the small branches of trees and varies in size up to eight or ten inches in diameter. 

 This one is six inches long by four and one-half inches wide, quite firm in texture, 

 and was fastened some ten feet from the ground, to the end of a drooping branch of 

 a brazil tree in open woodland. The nest is constructed by simply parting the gray 

 leaves of the orchid, and digging into its center from the side, a cavity some two 

 inches in diameter being made with an opening one and one-quarter inches. The 

 birds evidently build also in the hanging trusses of Spanish moss so abundant 

 everywhere, as a nest was found by Dr. Merrill, July 5, 1877, in a small bunch of 

 moss about eight feet from the ground. The single egg is described by Mr. Sennett 

 as similar to that of C. americana; its spots of lilac and brown forming a broad in- 

 compact band near the larger end, and the entire surface is sparingly marked with 

 the same colors on a dull white ground; size .67x.46 inches. 



650. CAPE MAY WABBLEB. Dendroica tigrina (Gmel.) Geog. Dist. East- 

 ern North America, north to Hudson Bay, Lake Winnipeg, etc. Breeds from North- 

 ern New England northward, also in Jamaica; winters in Greater Antilles. 



Not a common bird wherever found in Eastern North America, except in re- 

 stricted areas during the migrations, when great numbers are seen in a day. Some 

 years, in certain localities it is more frequently observed than at other times. 

 Forests of evergreens are its favorite resorts. It is known 

 to 'breed in Northern New England and northward. A 

 nest with eggs taken by James W. Banks near St. John, 

 N. B., is described by Mr. Montague Chamberlain. The 

 nest was hidden in a cluster of low cedars, growing in an 

 exposed position on a rather open hillside; it was placed 

 less than three feet from the ground, and within six 

 inches of the tips of the branches amidst the densest part 

 of the foliage, and well screened from observation. June 



13 the nest was completed and contained two eggs, and on the 16th four eggs. The 

 nest somewhat resembles that of the Magnolia Warbler, D. maculosa, being composed 

 of minute twigs of dry spruce, grasses, with spider's webs interwoven. The lining 

 is composed entirely of horse hair laid with precision, and shaped into a prettily 

 formed cup, the brim being turned with exquisite grace. The eggs of this species are 

 described as dull or buffy-white, or grayish, speckled or spotted round the larger 

 end with dark brown or reddish-brown and lilac-gray, sometimes a few specks of 

 blackish are scattered over the greater part of the surface. The ground-color of 

 the eggs belonging to the nest just described, is dull white like that of the Mag- 

 nolia's; their sizes .69x.49, .65x.49, .66x.49, .66x.48. The average is .68x.49 inches. 



