SVI.VICOLID.'K — TlIK WAHlSLEIiS. 



325 



Its fli<,'lit is graceful, oasy, and vajiid, varied by circumstaiires as it glides 

 in its intricate course ainoiig small interlacing liranclies, or darts rapidly i'ortli 

 into more open space. As it moves, it is continually opening out, closing, or 

 llirting from side to side its cousiiicuous tail, the white spots in its expanded 

 feathers constantly appearing and disa])peariiig. 



In the construction of the nest there is a general uniformity of character, 

 although the materials differ and the localities are far ajiart. Tiiey are never 

 ]>endcnt, but are placed among thww or more small u])riglit branches, around 

 which it is lirmly woven with vegetable flax-like fibres. A nest obtained in 

 Lynn, by Afr. George 0. Welch (S. I. :i,778), in June, measures two inches 

 !!• height by three in diamet(ir. It is a snrall, conii)act, and homogeneous 

 nest, com]>ii,scd almost entirely of shreds of .savin-bark intermixed witii soft 

 \egetable wool. Within are loosely intertwined minute vegetable Hl)res and 

 strii)s of bark, and a lining of horsehair, tine june leaves, ami dry gras.ses. 

 Tiie ne.st contained four eggs. Another nest found in Crand Menan, June 

 L'4, liS")!, was very similar in size, structure, and materials. It was in the 

 centre of a thick, swan^jy thicket, five feet from the grounti, and contained 

 five eggs. 



Another nest of this bird, obtained in Lynn by Mv. Welch, is only a 

 reconstruction of a nest iiegun l)y a ])air of Dcmlrou-.a os/ini, and either 

 abandoned by them, or from whicii they had l)een driven. Above the origi- 

 nal ne.st of the Warbler the itedstarts had constructed their own. The base 

 is composed of the downy covering of the under sides of the leaves of ferns, 

 mixed with a few herbaceous stems and leaves. "Within this was built an 

 entirely distinct nest, composed of long and slender strijjs of bark, pine- 

 needles, and stems of grasses. These are Hrmly and elaborately interwoven 

 together. 



A nest found in Hingham, built in a tree in an ojien space near a dwell- 

 ing, was seven feet from the ground, and of the usual si/e and shape. In 

 this the more usual strips of l)ark were replactnl by hempen fibres of vegc- 

 tal)le.s, thistle-down, bits of newspaper, and other fragments. Within is a 

 stri>ng lining of hair and fine stems of gra.sse.s. In tliis nest tliere were two 

 young, about half Ik'dgeil, and two eggs nearly fresh. The latter wen; taken, 

 the female parent being present and making only a very slight ])rotest, 

 stojjping, from time to time, to catcii insects. 



The eggs of the Rtidstart vary considerably in thcur si/e and in their gen- 

 eral apjiearance, but resemble .somewhat tho.se of tJie connnon Summer 

 VeUow-lJird. They vary in length from .ri.l to .('nS of an inch, and in their 

 lu-eadtli from .4.") to f/X Their grouml-color is a grayish-white, blotched 

 and dotted with purple, lilac, ami ijrown. 



