BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 275 



part of the country. The first authentic account which we had of the 

 nest and eggs of this species was published* by Mr. Thomas H. Jack- 

 son, of West Chester. This account, with a few additional remarks, 

 have been kindly given to me by Mr. Jackson, and are as follows : 



" On the 6th of June, 1869, I found a nest of this species containing 

 five egg's. It was placed in a hollow on the ground much like the nest 

 of the Oven-bird (Seiurus aurocapillus) and was hidden from sight by 

 the dry leaves that lay thickly around. The nest was composed exter- 

 nally of dead leaves, mostly those of the beech, while the interior was 

 prettily lined with the fine thread-like stalks of the hair-moss (Poly- 

 trichiwri). Altogether it was a very neat structure, and looked to me as 

 though the owner was habitually a ground-nester. The eggs most 

 nearly resemble those of the White-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 

 though the markings are fewer and less distinct. So closely did the 

 female set that I captured her without difficulty by placing my hat over 

 the nest. During the twenty years following the finding of this nest I 

 have probably found and examined fifty others, and none of them vary 

 in any important particulars from the original nest. Every one has 

 contained the hair-moss lining, though the eggs, when examined in 

 series, show a wide degree of variation." 



The stomach contents of fifteen of these warblers which I have ex- 

 amined consisted chiefly of remains of beetles, spiders and larvae. 



GENUS HELMINTHOPHILA f RIDGWAY. 

 Helminthophila pinus (LiNN.)- 



Blue-winged Warbler ; Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 19). 



Bill and legs (dried skins) former blue-black, the latter dark- brownish. Top of 

 head, most of sides of same, chin, neck in front, breast, sides and belly rich yellow ; 

 black patch in front of eye and a narrow black streak behind it ; under tail-coverts 

 mostlv white ; wings have two white (or whitish in some specimens) bars. Rest of 

 upper parts olive-green, brightest on rump ; the inner webs of three outer tail 

 feathers are more or less extensively marked with white ; the general color of upper 

 surface of wings and tail is slate or pale bluish-gray. Female and young very simi- 

 lar but duller. 



Length (male) 5 ; extent 1\ ; wing 2? ; tail 1.80. 



Habitat. Eastern United States, from southern New York and southern New 

 England southward. In winter, Mexico and Guatemala. 



This beautiful little warbler usually arrives in Pennsylvania early in 

 May, but I have on two or three occasions seen individuals in Chester 

 county as early as the 27th of April. The Blue-winged Warbler is a 

 common summer resident in southeastern Pennsylvania, where it re- 



Am. Nat., Vol. 3, December, 1869. p. 556. 



t Birds of this genus have elongated, conical, very acute and unnotched bills, the outlines of which are 

 nearly straight: no rictal bristles; tail nearly even or slightly emarglcate. 



