1 8 Merrill, Birds of Fort Sherma7i, Idaho. I f "'^ 



Thej were composed externally of light colored strips of bark and 

 flood debris, among masses of which thej were placed — as are many of 

 those of the Song Sparrow — and very well concealed. They were lined 

 with the long black fibrous moss so common on pine trees in this 

 region, interspersed with a few blades of dry grass, rootlets, and broken 

 pine needles. One nest was built in a cottonwood sapling, and its 

 exterior much resembled a nest of Swainson's Thrush, for which I mis- 

 took it until I saw the eggs. 



Lanius borealis. — Common in the fall, arriving early in November. 

 A few remain throughout the winter. 



*Vireo olivaceus. — An abundant summer visitor, arriving about the 

 2oth of May, and frequenting cottonwood and aspen groves in company 

 with the next species, which it much exceeds in numbers. Several nests 

 were found, all within six feet of the ground, in bushes or young trees 

 among larger cottonwoods, in which the birds were to be heard singing 

 throughout the day. 



Vireo gilvus. — Arrives in May in considerable numbers and breeds 

 somewhat sparingly. 



Vireo solitarius cassinii. — Arrives about the loth of May and is soon 

 common in pine woods, to which it shows a marked partiality ; breeds in 

 moderate numbers. 



* Helminthophila rubricapilla gutturalis. — Not uncommon during May, 

 the song of the male being frequently heard on the hillside across the 

 river. Breeds. 



* Helminthophila celata lutescens. — Several specimens taken in May. 

 Dendroica aestiva. — Abundant during the summer, arriving early in 



May. Of many nests examined the majority contained five eggs or young. 

 Dendroica auduboni- — Arriving about the middle of April, Audubon's 

 Warbler slowly increases in numbers, and \>y the first of May is common. 

 Many pass through during this month, but not in such numbers as I 

 have seen in other parts of the Northwest, nor does it breed here very 

 commonly. It was not more plentiful on Mica Peak than at lake 

 level. Early in August the fall migration is noticeable and by the loth 

 is usually well marked, continuing until the end of September. Else- 

 where I have found Audubon's Warbler very partial to coniferous trees, 

 and nesting in them almost exclusively. Here a majority of the nests I 

 found were in deciduous trees and bushes, generally but a few feet from 

 the ground. One was in a small rose bush growing at the edge of a cut 

 bank overhanging a road where Avagons daily passed close to it. Such 

 nests as were found here, while varying considerably as to exterior, 

 agree in having a lining in which black horse hairs are conspicuous, and 

 in which feathers are looseh' attached, not well woven in as is usual in 

 most small nests. Occasionally one was seen in deep woods by the road- 

 side near where hay had been brushed off a load on a passing wagon ; 

 this was utilized for the entire nest except lining, making a conspicuous 

 yellow object in the dark green fir or pine in which it was placed. 



