Plate 1. Fig, II, Eggs of the Dusky Warbler 



NESTING OF THE DUSKY WARBLER 



{Helmiuihophila celata sordida) 



By 0. W. Howard, Cal. 



THE Dusky Warbler is a sub-species of the Lutescent Warbler, a much 

 larger form than Lutesceut and much darker in color, — feet and beak 

 are noticeably larger. 



Up to the present date, so far as I can learn, there has been nothing 

 published on the nesting of this sub-species, and so far as I know its nesting 

 is confined to San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands. W nether or not 

 this form is a permanent resident of the islands I cannot say, but judging 

 from Mr. GrinnelPs report in Birds of L,os Angeles County (1898) one would 

 naturally suppose that all or mostly all of these birds leave the islands early 

 in the summer. 



Mr. Grinnell's notes read as follows, "This sub-species appears in the 

 vicinity of Pasadena in the oak region and along the arroyas in large num- 

 bers during August and even by the middle of July, remaining in diminish- 

 ing numbers through the winter. The latest specimen noted in the spring 

 was secured by me Feb. 29th (1896). This race is probably a visitant from 

 the neighboring islands of San Clemente and Santa Catalina when the latter 

 are dry and uninviting." 



I have long wanted to visit these islands to investigate the nesting of 

 the various island forms but have never had the opportunity until the present 

 year (1905) when in company with Mr. H. J. Iceland I made several trips to 

 the islands. On our first trip we arrived on San Clemente Island March 3rd 

 and remained three days, making a complete survey of the canyons and 

 coast on the north side of the island, covering a distance of about twenty 

 miles. 



All the canyons on the north side of the island are very steep and rug- 

 ged, being not more than a mile in length and rising abruptly to the summit 

 of the island to an altitude of over 2000 feet. The sides of these canyons 

 are covered with cacti and low growing brush, while along the bottoms may 

 be found clumps of trees of various kinds, most of these peculiar to the 

 islands. 



