DESCRIPTIVE LIST 293 



mountains Cairns did not record it as arriving until the third week of April, and 

 at Andrews, farther south, Mrs. Wilson's only record of arrival is April 24, 1902, 

 agreeing with Cairns's observations. 



At Raleigh it breeds in late April and early May, the nest being frequently built 

 on the horizontal limb of a pine, at a height of from twenty to forty feet from the 

 ground. A nest whose description C. S. Brimley preserved was about three inches 

 in outside diameter, and two inches across inside. In depth it was two and a half 

 inches on the outside and one and a half inches within. It was composed of weed- 

 stems and lined with horsehair. Other nests examined were similar, but the lining 

 varied, being sometimes horsehair and other times feathers or fine grass or a mix- 

 ture of these. The eggs are usually four in number, and dull greenish or grayish 

 white, spotted with various shades of brown and lavender-gray, almost entirely near 

 the larger ends. Size .65 x .50. 



This species is one of our most characteristic summer warblers, being seen mainly 

 in pine woods or swampy places. Pearson has found it abundant in the cypress 

 swamps of the coastal region, where, he states, it frequently nests in the gray moss 

 hanging from the trees. In habits it has something of the creeping ways of the 

 Black-and- White Warbler, but frequents the branches and twigs of trees only, not 

 running about on the trunks. Its song is very distinctive, being loud, ringing, and 

 little like the trilling or buzzing song of the average warbler. 



296. Dendroica dominica albilora (Ridgw.). SYCAMORE WARBLER. 



Description. Similar to the Yellow-throated Warbler, but slightly smaller, with a relatively 

 shorter bill. Superciliary stripe all white. 



Range. Mississippi Valley, breeding throughout its range; winters in Mexico and Central 

 America. 



Range in North Carolina. So far, only known from the mountain region. 



FIG. 236. SYCAMORE WARBLER. 



There are three Sycamore Warbler skins in the collection of Brewster at Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., which were taken by Cairns in Buncombe County on April 18, 1890, 

 and June 5 and 12, 1886, and S. C. Bruner took one at Edgemont, Caldwell County, 

 June 28, 1910. 



Besides these, we find Wayne referring warblers seen near Morganton and Lenoir 

 to this form, but we think it more probable that he saw the common eastern Yellow- 

 throated Warblers. 



The Sycamore Warbler is merely the western subspecies of the Yellow-throated 

 and its habits are not dissimilar. 



