292 WILDE, Nesting of the Parula Warbler. fay 
twenty feet high. Generally, however, on account of the beard- 
moss growing more abundantly on the lower branches of the 
trees, under eight feet may be considered the average height. 
From the data of thirty-three nests the summary is as follows : — 
foot high, 1 nest. 
feet high, 2 nests. 
4 3 6 
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Parula Warblers seem to colonize naturally to a larger extent 
than any of our other Warblers, probably on account of the beard- 
moss (of and in which, as I have said before, this species almost 
exclusively builds its nests), growing more heavily on certain 
patches of trees and bushes, than on others. 
Having selected a suitable spot the female alone assumes the 
task of nest building, while her mate leisurely feeds among the 
tangled branches, and occasionally clinging to a twig head down- 
ward in Chickadee fashion, he reaches here and there for lurking 
insects, and flying a short distance, pauses for a moment to emit 
his song. 
The nest is invariably placed in a hanging position. The female 
usually selects a tree in which the beard-moss grows quite thickly, 
and here within the tufts, she loops and weaves together the 
inside hanging particles of moss, forming a beautiful nest, much 
resembling the style of the Baltimore Orioles. The birds are 
careful that the moss shall be left hanging in its natural way, from 
the bottom and sides of the nest, and often so conceal it, that it 
can only be found by a close and careful observer. Into the 
structure the bird then carries thread-like pieces of beard-moss, 
collected from some nearby tree. This moss is used exclusively 
