ORDER PASSERES. 51 



vines and small thickets on or at the edge of the prairies, suspended with and 

 composed of fibrous, lint-like strippings from plants, interwoven with bits of 

 old leaves and other fragmentary substances, and lined with fine, slender stem- 

 lets from weeds and grasses; in some cases lined with hairs. Eggs, four; 

 .70x.51; pure white, thinly specked or dotted around large end with dark- 

 reddish brown; in form oval. 



FAMILY MNIOTILTID^l. WOOD- WARBLERS. 



GENUS MNIOTILTA VIEILLOT. 



B. 167a, R. 74, 74a. C. 91, 92. G. 32. U. 636. 



271. Mniotilta varia (LINN.). Black and White Warbler. Summer resident; 

 quite common in eastern Kansas. Arrive the last of April to first of May. 

 Begin laying about the 20th of May. Nest on the ground, composed of strip- 

 pings of plants, grasses, moss, leaves, and the inner bark from decaying trees, 

 and lined with fine stems of grass and hairs; occasionally partially roofed 

 over. Eggs, from four to seven; measurement of a set of five: .66x.52, .66x.52, 

 .65x.51, .64x.52, .64x.50; white, speckled with umber and reddish brown, chiefly 

 at large end; in some cases a few purplish spots; in form oval. 



GENUS PROTONOTARIA BAIBD. 



B. 169. R. 75. C. 95. G. 33. U. 637. 



272. Protonotaria citrea (BODD.). Prothonotary Warbler. Summer resident ; 

 common in eastern Kansas^ Arrive about the first of May. Begin laying the 

 last of May. Nest in Woodpecker holes, openings or niches in trees, stumps, 

 and outbuildings, on the banks of streams and ponds, never far from the 

 ground, composed of moss, grasses, dry leaves, lichens and even bits of rotten 

 wood interwoven with fine rootlets, and lined with hair. Eggs, four to seven ; 

 .68x.56; cream white, thickly spotted with lilac, purple and dark brown, thickest 

 and often confluent at large end; in form elliptical. 



GENUS HELMITHERUS RAFINESQUE. 



B. 178. R, 77. C. 96. G. 34. U. 639. 



273. Helmitherus vermivorus (GMEL.). Worm-eating Warbler. Migratory; 

 rare. Probably breed in the State. Arrive the last of April to first of May. 



GENUS HELMINTHOPHILA RIDGWAY. 



B. 180. R. 79. C. 98. G. 35. U. 641. 



274. Helminthophila pinus (LINN.). Blue-winged Warbler. Summer resident; 

 rare; in migration common. Arrive the last of April to first of May. Nest 

 on the ground, generally at the edge of low thickets. I have never found or 

 seen their nest. Audubon says: "It is singularly constructed, and of an 

 elongate, inversely conical form; is attached to several stalks or blades of tall 

 grass by its upper edge. The materials of which it is formed are placed 

 obliquely from its mouth to the bottom. The latter part is composed of dried 

 leaves, and is finished within with fine grass and lichens." Eggs, four or five; 

 .66x.50; white, thinly specked with reddish brown, chiefly at large end; in 

 form oval. 



