156 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 11-No. 10 


and lined with fine material of a similar character. 
Pine needles are freely used in many cases, but 
not always. The prominent and best shaped 
nests do not contain them. The variation in the 
depth of the nest is apparently regulated by the 
elevation above the ground. The higher the nest 
is placed the flatter it is. This would seem to be 
contrary to natural laws, for the higher the nest 
the more wind swung it would be. But the 
high nests of this bird are al in large trees while 
low ones are in small saplings. The most obvious 
reason, however, for the features of these high 
nests is that it enables the female more rexdily to 
observe an intruder. Whenever I approached a 
nest I see the milk white eye peeping over the edge. 
The nest complement varies from two to four, 
oftener the former than the latter. The variation 
in size and markings is also considerable. I have 
no specimens of the common species at hand with 
which to compare and note differences. I think, 
however, that the eggs differ even less than the 
plumage of the birds, and that the color of the 
iris and the nesting habits are the most salient 
points upon which to base a claim for such specific 
distinction. 
The Red-eyed Towhee 1s common here in the 
winter. At that season only an occasional ling- 
ering or belated White-eye is to be found, and 
even these seem to be often ‘‘links.” One speci- 
men taken last winter was in every respect inter- 
mediate between typical individuals of the two 
races. I have never found the Red-eyed breed- 
ing here or taken it during the breeding season. I 
have heard, however, on good authority that it is 
not rare at that time on the main land. 
Since writing the above I have obtained 
an undoubted set of the eggs of the Red-eyed 
Towhee. They were brought me by a colored 
Jad, who said that ‘‘the bullfinch (local name for 
the bird) had a red eye when it ought to be 
white.” The nest was in a cassina bush “close to 
the ground.” It is deeper than any I have pro- 
cured of the White-eyed race and contains much 
wire grass in the lining and some cloth and rags 
in the outside. The eggs, three in number, were 
in an advanced state of incubation, but I have 
succeeded in preserving them. The ground color 
is strongly tinged with green and the markings 
disposed in a ring. In one of the specimens they 
are placed about the small end. 
these eggs is plainly abnormal—very 
globular. 
[A set of four eggs of the Florida or White- 
eyed Towhee, (Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni), now 
before the present writer are smaller than any of 
a series of P. erythrophthalmus, and much more 
pointed. It is of course impossible, however, to 
judge from asingle set of allenit.—J. P. N.] 
nearly 
The shape of 
Nesting of the Worm-eating Warbler 

BY THOMAS H. JACKSON, WEST CHESTER, PA. 
Although having repeatedly found the nest of 
the Worm-eating Warbler, (Zlelminthotherus ver- 
mivorus,) never until the present season have I 
been able to place in my cabinet perfect sets of 
eggs of this species. 
Every collector knows how discouraging it is 
to find the nest of some rare bird containing a 
flourishing brood of young, or but little better, a 
set of eggs so far advanced in incubation as to 
make their preservation a matter of great diffi- 
culty. And yet from such specimens we are able 
to fix the time of nesting, approximately, and 
profit thereby another season. 
Such was my intention the present year, and 
accordingly on the 21st of May, 1886, I visited a 
large tract of wood land adjacent to West Ches- 
ter, Pa., that I knew was a favorite habitat of the 
Worm-eating Warbler. The timber growth con- 
sisted of Beech, Oak and Chestnut; the former 
predominating, and the trees were of small size. 
A running stream with numerous swampy places, 
overgrown with briar tangles and alder bushes, 
bounded the foot of the hill, which rapidly as- 
cended from sixty to one hundred yards. From 
the table-land above the leaves had been swept 
by the wind over the brow of the hill, and lodged 
in heavy masses wherever a projecting rock or 
other obstruction intervened. Entering the wood 
land I commenced to work up the hillside, care- 
fully examining every spot likely to offer a fa- 
vorable shelter, and in a short time was rewarded 
by finding a nest. It was neatly imbedded in the 
ground under a bunch of leaves that had lodged 
against a hickory sapling, and which formed a 
sheltering arch over the nest. No eggs were in 
it, but it was evidently finished, as its beautiful 
lining of flower stalks of the Polytrichium had 
been added in readiness for them. Leaving the 
place I went round a spur of the hill not a hun- 
dred yards distant, to a steep bank facing the 
east, and in a position almost precisely similar, 
found another nest, also completed, but without 
eggs. The two nests were so much alike in 
every respect that a single description suffices for 
the history of both. 

Eight days later on the 29th of May I again 
visited them both. Creeping quietly up to No. 1 
I lay down within six feet of the nest. The fe- 
male still sat upon it without apparent alarm, 
and only left it when I was almost near enough 
to touch her with my hand. She then flew to 
the ground, tumbling and fluttering in great 
distress, in her endeavors to lead me away from 
