BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 373 
without my meeting afew. If any breed here, I have failed to 
learn the fact. Rumor amongst amateur ornithologists claims 
that it has been seen in its autumnal migrations; but with warb- 
lers on the wing in fall plumage, seeing is not always sufficient 
reason for believing. This very pretty species, is seen asso- 
ciated with other warblers about the 10th of May. It has 
been obtained late in August on its southern migration. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Upper parts uniform bluish-gray; head above and a large 
patch on the wings, yellow; a broad streak from the bill 
through and behind the eye, with the chin, throat, and fore 
part of breast, black; the external edge of the yellow crown 
continuous with a broad patch on the side of the occiput above 
the auriculars, a broad maxillary stripe widening on the side 
of the neck, the under parts generally, with most of the inner 
webs of the outer three tail feathers, white; sides of body pale 
ash color. 
Length, 5; wing, 2.65; tail. 2.25. 
Habitat, eastern United States. 
HELMINTHOPHILA RUFICAPILLA (Witson).  (645.) 
NASHVILLE WARBLER. 
The Nashville Warbler is abundant in the spring migrations 
from about the 8th to the 15th of May, after which very few 
are seen until perhaps the 10th to the 15th of September, when 
although less numerous, they may be said to be fairly common 
for the season. A remarkable fact concerning this species, which 
is also true of several others of its family, is that their num- 
bers have steadily increased from year to year for at least two 
decades. In the case of those birds whose habits associate 
them with agriculture, a reason for their increase is at once 
suggested in the development of the country, but that would 
scarcely be applicable for the wood-warblers. This species 
undoubtedly breeds here, as it is known to do so in the im- 
mediate vicinity south of us, and in the section of the Kandi- 
yohi lakes, it is met with so frequently during the summer as 
to leave no question of its breeding there at least. A single 
nest containing four white eggs was found by a little boy on 
the ground, constructed mostly of dried grass, fine roots, and 
lined with the finest bits of the same, to which were added a 
few pine needles and a few horse hairs The outside was over- 
laid with green moss, and the whole well concealed in a bunch 
of brush. The eggs were spattered over with reddish-brown, 
which formed a sort of ring around the larger end by their 
multiplication there. 
