28o 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



Photo bv C. A. Smith. 



NEST OF BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. 



The eggs are commonly four or five in number, though in two cases 

 in the year 1890 I found sets near Athens, McMinn county, Tennessee, 

 consisting of eight eggs each, and during the same year found a nest of 

 seven young. The ground color of the q^?. is a pale blueish or green- 

 ish white, thickly speckled and spotted with brown and lilac, often form- 

 ing a wreath around larger end. I found on May 3rd, near Chattanoga, 

 Tennessee a set which were devoid of spots. The average size of eggs 

 is about .56 x .43 inches. 



HABITS. 



The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, sometimes (erroneously) called Long- 

 tailed Titmouse, is an abundant summer resident of the southern and 

 middle states. In early spring, ere the swollen buds of the maple and 

 poplar have well begun to burst, the woodland and orchards are well 

 populated with this graceful little friend. The peculiar little note "chee- 

 e-e chee chee-chee" interspersed with the low but sweet warble from the 

 tree top and even low shrubbery announce the arrival from winter 

 quarters. Soon after their arrival the happy pair will diligently set to 

 work erecting their summerhome. Their diligence often betrays them, 



