s^VLncoLiDJ-; — the warhlku.s. 



189 



The same observin- ornithologist informs mc tliat this WarLh-r arrives in 

 rennsylvania early in May, and makes the most solitary part of tlie wo.kIs 

 Its home, outsale of which it is rar.-ly seen. True to its name, it is ever 

 busy hunting out and devouring the worms that lurk among the forest foli- 

 nge, pursuing its avocation in .sil,,,ice, with tiie excei.tion of a faint n.,te 

 uttered ocensionally. This species is not as shy as many of our Warhh'rs that 

 ircpient the woo.ls. Towar.ls the latter part of .Afay they eminence con- 

 structing their nests. Uv. Jackson adds that the nest above referred to was 

 lound on a thickly woode.l hillside, a few yards above a running stream. So 

 neatly was it embedded in the ground ami covered with dry leaves that 

 discovery wouhl have been impossible ha.l not the female" betrayed its 

 position. ]5utli bii.ls exhibited the greatest alarm at his presence, but on 

 Ins retiring to a sla.rt distance the female returned to the nest, where she 

 ^^•ils easily capture.I. The ba.se ami i)eriphery of the nest were compo.sed 

 dry beech-leaves, while the inner lining was made of tine hair-mosses 

 {J oljitrirlnniii). 



In the hitter part of June, 1871, Mr. Jackson f.aiml another iie.st of this 

 species, containing five young birds about half grown. He was seated on 

 a log resting after a hard tramp, when a A^^,rnl-eating Warbler alighted near 

 him, luuing a large green worm in its beak. Ai'ter at first manifesting much 

 uiieasine.ss, ami scohling as well as she couhl, she suddeiilv became silent and 

 llew to the ground. On his going to the spot both parents ilew from the 

 ne.st. It was in all re.S].ects, in regard to materials, manner of constiniction 

 and situation, the exact counterpart of the other. Jioth were place.l on steepi 

 M-ooded hillsides, facing the east. 



Two of the eggs of this Warbler thus identified by Mr. Jack.son, and kindly 

 loaned to me by him, are of a soiii.nvhat rounded-oval shape, less obtu.se at 

 one en.l. They have a clear, crystal-white grouml, and are spotted with 

 nunute dottii.gs of a bright red-brown. These are much more numerous in 

 one than in the other, ii'id i,. both are conliuent at the L.rger end where 

 they are beautifully inte •mingled with cloudings ..f lih.c-brown. These e-s 

 measure, the one .78 by .OH of an inch ; the ..tlier, .70 by .'.(i of an inch "" 

 Aii..tiier nest of this s].ecies, f.mnd by Mr. Joseph n'. liiitty of \e\v Y..rk 

 on the side of a hill near Montdair, X. J., was also built on the oruun.l in' 

 a part ot the .-oods where there was no underbrush, and was phu.'.l in a 

 slight hollow, with .Iry oak-leav,.s collected arouml it, and partly ..overing it. 

 Ihe nest was made of dry leaves, and lined with gras.ses and th.e roots It 

 eontamed h.ur eggs, alike in their marking, an.l corresponding exactly with 

 those obtained by Mr. Jackson. Mr. JSatty nearly stepped on' the bird with- 

 out her leaving the nest. 



I)r. Coues found the Wovm-enting Warbler a rather iinc<.mmon summer 

 resulent near Washington, brw.hng there but sparim-ly. It arrives there 

 tlunngthe fir,stweek in May, and remains until the third week in .September. 

 lie describes it us slow and sedate in its movenu'iit.s. 



