188 
ORNITHOLOGIST 

approached when incubating. I have repeatedly 
caught them while on the nest, and on one occa- 
sion stroked one of them on the back while incu- 
bating. When started from the nest they flutter 
about with extended wings, as if they were about 
to expire, and drag their legs after them, in the 
same manner as the Ground Dove, (Chamepelia 
passerina). 
I have known a pair to lay four different times, 
and I took their eggs each time. 
They are eminently terrestrial in their habits, 
but [ have shot them from the tops of very high 
trees. Their food consists principally of spiders 
and green worms. 
—<_$—__>—_—__ 
Nesting of Swainson’s Warbler. 

BY T. D. PERRY, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. 

Mr. Arthur T. Wayne, of Charleston, South 
Carolina, has, I believe, the credit of first discover- 
ing the nest of this rare swamp warbler, (Helonwa 
swainsont). In The Forest and Stream for July 
9th, 1885, Mr. William Brewster recorded the 
taking of two nests by Mr. Wayne, near Charles- 
ton, South Carolina; and in The Auk for October, 
1885, Mr. Brewster writes of the finding of two 
other nests by_Mr. Wayne. 
», Now I do not wish to take any (of the credit 
away from Mr. Wayne, but the fact remains that 
I really found the nest of this bird previously, as 
my first nest was taken May 16th, 1885, twenty- 
one days before Mr. Wayne’s first nest; which 
was found June 5th, 1885. But his was recorded, 
while mine was not, through neglect on my part. 
The nest that I found on May 16, 1885, was 
placed in a bunch of saw palmetto, about three 
feet from the ground, near a running stream. I 
flushed the bird from the nest, but was unable to 
see it, as the undergrowth was so thick. As the 
bird did not return, I took the three eggs which 
the nest contained; and about that time Mr. 
‘ George Noble, who was collecting with me, 
called out, asking me what I had found. I re- 
plied, “three eggs, something like Bachman’s 
Finch,” (Peucea estivalis). I thought it strange, 
however, that the nest should have been placed 
in a bunch of palmetto, instead of on the ground. 
Time passed by, and on May 81st, 1886, I found 
my second nest of this species. It also contained 
three eggs. This time I shot_the bird, made a 
rough skin, and had it identified by the National 
Museum, at Washington. 
My third and last nest containing eggs (for I 
have found several with’ young) was taken July 
13, 1886. It likewise 
slightly incubated. 
contained three eggs 
os”) 
[Vol. 11-No. 12 

I have compared the eggs of these three sets 
and can find no difference in them. All are of a 
pale bluish white, fading to white after being 
blown, and they havesomewhat of a polish. They 
are entirely unmarked, but I understand that 
some of those found by Mr. Wayne bad specks, 
and one was blotched with lilac. Mr. Wayne 
has also taken four in a set, but mine were all 
threein each nest, and incubation had commenced 
in every instance; leaving little doubt that three 
is the usual number. Three selected eggs measure 
.76xX 53, .75x.52, and .76x.56 inches. 
All the nests are essentially the same, being 
composed outwardly of leaves laid in layers, and 
lined with pine needles and fine fibrous roots re- 
sembling horse hair. The only difference I can 
see is with regard to the situation of the nests. 
My first nest was in a palmetto, three feet from 
the ground, near running water. Thesecond was 
in a bunch of canes, four feet above a running 
stream ; and my third was in a cluster of thick 
(dead) vines, three and a half feet from the ground, 
and at least a hundred yards from the water, but 
near a Jarge swamp. 
I think this species must raise two broods in a 
season, as I found eggs on May 16th, with incuba- 
tion advanced, and on July 13th with incubation 
slight. 
When their nest is approached they fall to the 
ground and flutter along, beating the ground with 
their wings, and appearing to be in great distress. 
They go about eight or ten feet from the nest in 
this manner, and then return and repeat the 
performance. 
They do not seem at all shy at that time, but, 
on the contrary, are so much attached to their 
nest that it is almost impossible to get them far 
enough away to shoot them without ruining the 
bird for a skin. 
They have no song that I know of, and I have 
never heard them utter a note except a slight 
chirp; and they are very quiet in all their actions, 
keeping well to the ground and low undergrowth 
much in the same manner as the Golden-crowned 
Thrush, (Sturus aurieapillus). 
Se REA 
Nesting of the American Long-eared 
Owl. 
BY THOMAS H. JACKSON, WEST CHESTER, PA. 
The Long-eared Owl, (Aste americanus), is one 
of our commonest winter Raptores in this part of 
Pennsylvania. During some winters they are ex- 
ceedingly abundant in and near our town, asso- 
ciating with the Short-eared Owl, (Aszo aceipi- 
trinus), and hiding by day among the thick ever- 
