BIRDS OF NEW YORK 45 1 



sets are laid by June 3 to 10. The eggs are 4 or 5 in number, more often 



5, creamy white in color and vary considerably in style of markings, some 



sets have fine specks with blotches and spots of reddish brown and a few 



lilac shell markings, the markings mostly at the larger end forming a 



wreath. A set of 5 has 4 eggs heavily marked about the larger end with 



bright reddish brown and lilac shell markings and large dauby blotches 



of reddish brown placed irregularly over the balance of the eggs; the other 



egg is well marked about the larger end with a few spots scattered over 



the rest of the egg. Nearly all eggs have a few fine spots or scrawls of 



dark brown like the eggs of Northern yellow-throat and some eggs resemble 



those of the Yellow-throat very much but are mostly larger and rather 



more elongated. In some sets the markings are rather dull, running mostly 



to shell markings. The nest is of dead weeds and grass, lined with fine 



dead grass and in most cases with fine strips of black inner bark or black 



rootlets. In fact, the lining, with very few exceptions, is black. It differs 



from the nest of the Northern yellow-throat by not having any coarse 



grass or dead leaves in the base ; the cavity is larger but more shallow and 



it is broad and flat while that of the Yellow-throat's is small and tall. A 



typical nest measures: diameter, outside, 4 inches; inside, 2 inches; 



depth, outside, 2\ inches; inside, if inches. These swamp nests are usually 



situated in a grassy place among the brush and tops that were left by the 



lumbermen, in a bunch of weeds, or the middle of a bunch of skunk cabbage 



or ferns. One nest was placed on top of a thick vine that ran over the 



ground and there was scarcely any attempt at concealment. Another 



was in a very wet place in the heart of a marsh marigold. Another was 



in a bunch of weeds on a rotted moss and dirt-covered log. The nests 



are usually very well concealed and very near the ground. When a nest 



is found the female usually runs a little ways ahead, then flies slowly to 



a bush, but soon comes back, dodging around among the bushes chipping 



all the time. The chip of the female is sharp and rather loud. It might 



be likened to the noise produced by striking two pebbles together gently. 



When the grass above one nest was parted the female, which was on the 

 29 



