CASTANEA: BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. 139 



New England throughout the remainder of that month, 

 and sometimes for a few days in June. What is rather 

 singular, and contrary to the rule with Warblers, these 

 birds appear to be more numerous in spring than in 

 fall, in most localities. This is attested by several 

 observers, and if an actual fact, would argue that the 

 return movement is by a different route from that pur- 

 sued in the spring migration. Mr. Maynard has made 

 out such a case, stating that the birds take an eccentric 

 westerly course in the fall, by which the majority 

 avoid the Eastern and Middle States ; the spring move- 

 ment being along the Atlantic coast and up the Con- 

 necticut valley, generally avoiding eastern Massachu- 

 setts. Mr. Merriam's observations in Connecticut 

 seem to support this theory. He states that the bird 

 is sometimes quite abundant during the spring migra- 

 tions, "at other times extremely rare, if occurring 

 at all ; " and considers it of sufficient importance to 

 note the few instances of fall occurrences (Rev. B. 

 Conn., 1877, p. 16). Mr. Minot's remarks have the 

 same tendency : he says the birds are as a rule rare in 

 eastern Massachusetts in spring, " and in autumn are 

 never seen" (B. N. E., 1877, p. 109). Mr. Alien, 

 however, with reference to Massachusetts, simply says : 

 " Common spring and autumn migrant, varying greatly 

 in abundance in different years" (Bull. Essex Inst., 

 x, 1878, p. 13). 



Mr. C. J. Maynard and Mr. Brewster found this 

 species the " most abundant of the Sylvtcolidce at Um- 

 bagog," and the former has given a full account of 

 their observations on the nest and eggs (Pr. Bost. 

 Soc., xiv, 1872, p. 364). Two nests were taken June 

 8th ; each was placed on the horizontal branch of a 



