228 MmoT on Colorado Birds. 



and three fourths as deep. It recalls a coarse type of our Chestnut-sided 

 Warbler's architecture, while the eggs suggest the Prairie Warbler's. - 

 These, four in number, are white, rather finely mai'ked about the crown 

 with lilac and neutral tints, only one being somewhat blotched with 

 brown, and average. 75 X .55 of an inch. 



21. Myiodioctes pusillus pileolatus, R'ulg. Wilson's Black- 

 cap. — A common summer resident, frequenting high willow SAvamps. 

 One pair, however, I found established by a brookside near Manitou. 

 About the Seven Lakes these birds are locally numerous. In one swamp 

 there, June 22, 1 found about a dozen unsuspicious males, who kept much 

 together in the shrubbery, as if a colonial troop, quarrelling playfully a 

 good deal, fly-catching little, and touching the ground occasionally. Face, 

 cheeks, and all or part of the bill, rich golden-yellow. Song, chee-chee- 

 chee-chee (or this syllable repeated seven times), thus different from their 

 song as I recall it from the East. Certain low querulous notes are inde- 

 scribable. Here, June 22, I found a nest and five fresh eggs. The nest 

 was sunken in the ground, on the eastern slope or border of the swamp, 

 at the end of a partly natural archway of long dry grass, opening to the 

 southward, beneath the low, spreading branch of a Avillow. It is composed 

 of loose shreds, with a neat lining of fine stalks and a few hairs, and with 

 a hollow two inches wide and scarcely half as deep. The eggs measure 

 about .GO X .50 of an inch, are bluntly pointed at the smaller end, and are 

 white (brownish when unblown), freckled with dull feiTuginous-brown 

 and insignificant lilac, chiefly and thickly at the larger end, three on and 

 two about the crown. The nursery of the Black-cap, if this example is 

 typical, is most like the Black-and-white Creeper's ; but it is unique. 



22. Setophaga ruticilla, Swain. Redstart. — Boulder, May 31, 

 quite numerous in one grove, and apparently but just arrived. At Mani- 

 tou, a few are summer residents about the creek below. 



23. Pyranga ludoviciana, Bp. Crimson-headed Tanager. — 

 At Boulder, in the latter part of May, common ; and observed at much 

 higher points. I found them much in creek shrubbery, perching low, and 

 (the female more especially) suggesting a Flycatcher. The couples kept 

 close, like a newly engaged pair, and were very tame, allowing me within 

 two or three yards. Chatter more musical than the Scarlet Tanager's ; but 

 song nearly or quite indistinguishable. The birds were often silent, sing- 

 ing but occasionally, and then perhaps in a low, meditative voice, or 

 uttering a soft, tremulous che-we' as they flew. INIay 27, they invaded the 

 town in abundance, frequenting gardens and fields, and perching on fences. 

 Several inhabitants, including " the oldest," spoke of them as a new kind. 

 At Manitou 1 found them feAv. 



24. Tachycineta thalassina, Cab. Violet-green Swallow. — 

 Common summer residents of local abundance, ranging up to timber line, 

 and nesting indifferently in hollow trees and porous rocks (or even, says 

 Mr. Trippe, under eaves). When I saw them among the White-bellied 



