28 



THE OOOLG1ST 



in moss, too, so I do not think they 

 build anywhere else. 



The nest is Composed of Aery fine 

 grass and vegetable down and is lined 

 with tine grasses and horse-hair, the 

 whole structure being woven in the 

 moss at the bottom and sides, and is 

 about the size and shape of a Field 

 Sparrow's nest. The bird seems to en- 

 ter by only one hole and that is situated 

 in the side of the moss, just above the 

 rim of the nest. 



The eggs are of a very delicate liesh 

 color, spotted with light reddish and 

 are of a very fine texture, with a pol- 

 ished look. 



1 do not know much of their lrubits, 

 as they spend most of their time in tall 

 trees from the tops of which you can 

 hear their sweet little song every now 

 and then. 



Now, a few words about the Prairie 

 Warbler. 



This bird is much more sociable than 

 the former one and is quite often seen. 

 Their favorite haunts are woods that 

 have been burnt over and have grown 

 up with scrub oaks and thick under- 

 brush. Here, they are at home and 

 nit around catching their dinners or 

 sit on the the top of the tallest tiee con- 

 veniently near their nests and sing. 

 His, is a peculiar song, but very; pleas- 

 ing to the ear. It consists of about six 

 or seven syllables on an ascending' key, 

 and, with all due respect, somewhat re- 

 sembles the cry of a young Turkey. 



Although I have hunted their nests 

 a great deal, I have never collected a 

 set of eggs from a nest of my own. I 

 I have found nests, but they were all 

 either old ones, or new ones that the 

 birds did not complete. On the con- 

 trary, I have a friend who can find this 

 Warblers nest more easily than the' 

 nest of much commoner birds. He gen- 

 erally finds three or four of their nests 

 a year, collecting sets from about one- 

 third. 



This year he found a nest in a dog- 



wood tree about five feet up, composed 

 entirely on the outside of white cotton 

 or wool and lined with fine grasses, 

 aud horse-hair. The nest was equalled 

 by the eggs, though, as he got the only 

 set of live eggs out of it that was ever- 

 heard of round here, three being the- 

 usual complement, sometimes four. 



However, the nicest part of the whole 

 affair was — he gave the set to me. I 

 found on looking the matter up, that 

 sets of five were not uncommon. 



Their nests are very dainty little 

 structures, compactly built, and rang- 

 ing from two to ten feet from the 

 ground, usually about four. They are- 

 generally composed of everlasting, fine- 

 grasses, weed stems, cotton, spider- 

 webs, etc., and lined with line grasses. 

 and horse-hair. 



The eggs are of a creamy back.-ground 

 Avith purplish markings and dots on 

 them, generally thickest around the- 

 larger end. 



A. R. Heyavbkd, Jr. 



Columbia, S. C. 



A Collection of North Carolina Birds Egg3 - 



Thos. A. Smithavick. 



32-. Field Sparrow. 568. 



Setd. Weaverville. N. ('., May 10. 



1891. Nest in bunch of grass, compos- 

 ed of weed stalks and grasses. 4 eggs, 

 incubstion begun, .64x.52, .OOx.50, .62x 

 .48, .61x.50. 



83. Towhee. 587. 



Set a. Weaverville, N. C, May 1, 



1892. Nest on ground, of grasses and 

 grape vine bark. 4 fresh eggs, .92x.72, 

 ,U4x.72, ,94x.72, .92x.72. 



Set b. WeaverA-ille. N. C, May lo, 

 IS 1 .)] . Nest on ground under pine bush, 

 3 eggs, incubation well along, l.OOx.71, 

 .98x.70, .97x.71. 



84. Cardinal. 593.. 



Seta. Raleigh, N. ('., May 81, 1891. 

 Xest 4ft. high, in briars; of Aveed stems 

 and reed leaves, liued with grass. 8 

 fresh eggs, .96x.71, .95x.72, .97x.71. 



Setb.. Walke, N. C, April 30. 1892. 

 Nest of weed and. vine stems, dry 

 leaves, reed l^aA es and grapeyine bark,. 



