THE OOLOGIST 



II 



Nesting of the Claestnut-sided 

 Warbler. 



Dendroeca Pennsylvanica. 



It is only in recent years that this species 

 came under my observation, or that I be- 

 came acquainted with its nesting habits. 

 In all the rambles of my early days, in the 

 township of Peel, where I be^an my obser- 

 vations of the varied sights and sounds of 

 nature, and developed a love for the science 

 of ornithology, this bird was unknown to 

 me, though the Redstart, a species found in 

 close association with it here, was there 

 quite common; and I might here remark 

 that in my boyhood days and rambles, I 

 have seen birds and rlests never since 

 noticed, and which I now believe to be 

 very rare. 



In the last years of my residence in 

 North Wallace, I got some glimpses of 

 this bird, and saw some old nests that I 

 now know to have been occupied by this 

 species, but not until the early summer of 

 1883 did I see its eggs and identify it. 



Early in the month of June of that year, 

 as [ was taking a ramble in a piece of 

 second-growth woods, on the west of this 

 town I discoversd in a small beech under- 

 wood, about four feet off the ground, a 

 newly-made nest, which I knew at once 

 from the manner in, and the material of 

 which it was formed, belonged to a species 

 whose eggs I had not yet taken. This nest, 

 a type of all the others observed, was 

 placed in a small fork, and composed of 

 pieces of tiberous bark, vines, leaves, root- 

 lets, and lined with a small quantity of 

 hair. This composition, however, was not 

 as neatly or compactly put together as 

 some other species of the Warblers are in 

 the habit of doing, but in this nest, during 

 the following week, five of the birds own 

 eggs and a Cowljirds was deposited. When 

 the set was completed, the bird began to 

 incubate, and sat so closely that I could 

 easily take a description of the marking of 

 her plumage on the upper parts, which 

 'enabled me to identify her as the Chestnut- 

 sided Warbler, and I have since had abun- 

 dant opportunity to contirm that decision. 



A few days after, near the same place, I 

 found another nest of the same species, 

 placed in a cluster of raspberry vines, and 

 containing two of its own eggs, and two 

 Cowbird's. 



In the season of '84 I saw no nests of 

 this species, but in the following year, four 

 nest of this bird was observed in this same 

 piece of woods. Two of these contained 

 \hree eggs each, one had four and a Cow- 

 bird's, and in the other three Cowbird's 

 were found, and not one of the bird's own. 



During the past season more nests of this 

 species were observed in different places, 

 in this vicinity, than in any other year, 

 which seems to indicate that it is becoming 

 more abundant. 



The scolding notes of this bird are a 

 sharp "chirp," but its song is the repetition 

 of one or two soft but pleasing notes 

 uttered more in the tone of a loud whisper 

 than in the higher voice of melody, usual 

 to many of the warblers; yet when under 

 its impulses the performer seems to be in 

 the enjoyment of supreme happiness, and 

 doubtless obtains as much of that desirable 

 element as falls to the lot of human mor- 

 tals. 



The eggs of this species are of a clear 

 white hue, beautifully spotted, especially 

 at the larger end, with brownish-purple, 

 size .65x.49, and when the first set is taken 

 it will soon afterwards nest again, but the 

 month of June is with it the. chief period 

 of reproduction. 



The general habitat of this species is in. 

 low, thick, seeond-growth hard woods, 

 where the ground beneath is dry, and 

 where there is an intermingling of young 

 maple, beech, and raspberry vines, and 

 usually not far from the edge of the open 

 fields — for it seldom penetrates, at least for 

 nesting purposes, more than a few rods 

 into the high, thick woods. It seems to be 

 rather sociably inclined, not only with its 

 own kind, but also towards other species 

 of the AVarbler family, and several nests 

 may sometimes be found in the same 

 vicinity, and near to that of a liedstart, 

 or Indigo Bird, but its nest is always near 

 to the ground, seldom more than an eleva- 

 tion of two or tlu'ee feet. 



Wm. L. Kells, 



Li.stowel, Out. 



