78 Brewster on Certain Bare Birds in Texas. 



were built in forks of perpendicular limbs of the Juniperus virginiana, from 

 ten to eigliteen feet from the ground. The outside is composed of the 

 inner bark of the above-mentioned tree, interspersed with spider-webs, well 

 fastened to the limb, and in color resembling the bark of the tree on which 

 it is built, so that from a little distance it is difficult to detect the nest." 



I have had the pleasure of examining two of the nests above referred 

 to by Mr. Werner. They are so nearly identical in every respect that 

 one description will answer for both, and. accordingly I will take for ray 

 type a fine specimen which, with an adult male bird, Mr. Werner has 

 generously contributed to my collection. The original position of this nest 

 is well shown, as it is preserved with a section of the limb upon which 

 it was found. It is placed in a nearly upright fork of a red cedar, 

 between two stout branches, to which it is firmly attached. Although a 

 large, deep structure, it by no means belongs to either the bulky, or loosely 

 woven class of bird domiciles, but is, on the contrary, very closely and com- 

 pactly felted. In genei'al character and appearance it closely resembles 

 the average nest of the Black-throated Green Warbler (^Dendrceca vh'ens). 

 It is, however, of nearly double the size, in fact, larger than any Wood 

 Warbler's nest (excepting perhaps that of D. coronatd) with which I am ac- 

 quainted. It measures as follows : external diameter, 3.50 ; external depth, 

 3.45 ; internal diameter, 1.60 ; internal depth, 2.00. The exterior is mainly 

 composed of strips of cedar bark, with a slight admixture of fine grass- 

 stems, rootlets, and hemp-like fibres, the whole being kept in place by an 

 occasional wrapping of spider-webs. The interior is beautifully lined with 

 the hair of different quadrupeds and numerous feathers ; among the latter, 

 several conspicuous scarlet ones from the Cardinal Grosbeak. The outer 

 surface of the whole presents a grayish, inconspicuous appearance, and 

 from the nature of the component materials is well calculated to escape 

 observation. Indeed, it must depend for concealment upon this protective 

 coloring, as it is in no way sheltered by any surrounding foliage. The 

 nest just described is that spoken of by Mr. Werner as the one probably 

 first constructed by the pair whose nest and eggs he found on May 13. A 

 direct comparison between these two specimens presents few differences 

 worthy of comment. Mr. Werner's nest is placed in a precisely similar 

 cedar fork ; the outer walls are of felted strips of cedar bark, and a few 

 brilliant cardinal feathers are mingled with the hair lining. The eggs 

 belonging with this nest ai'e similar in shape, all being of a regular but 

 somewhat rounded oval form ; their ground-color is clear white. Two are 

 thinly and evenly covered with fine but distinct spots of light reddish-brown, 

 while the third is so very faintly marked with the same color that at a little 

 distance it appears nearly immaculate. Their measurements, as taken for 

 me by Mr. Werner, are, .75 x .57 ; .77 x .56 ; .76 x .58. In size and general 

 appearance they are unlike any Warbler's eggs that I have ever seen, and 

 most closely resemble faintly spotted examples of those of the Tufted Tit- 

 mouse. Mr. Werner is of the opinion that they are exceptional in being 



