GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 461 



the result. The number of eggs was seven, incubation 

 slightly advanced, ground color light buff — almost white 

 — with numerous 

 fine, pale, brown 

 spots, so pale as 

 to be indistinguish- 

 able, thickest near 

 the larger end. The 

 effect is as if a fine 

 layer of dust had 

 settled on the 

 eggs." 



The usual call of 

 a Ruby-crowned is 

 a sharp thin whistle, 

 unmistakable when 

 once heard. On 

 migrations this is 

 his only note, but at 

 nesting time he has a 

 twittering warble of three 

 notes repeated over and 

 over. This cannot be 

 heard so far as his 

 whistle, but is soft and 

 sweet. It is occasionally heard late at night when the 

 wind sweeps through the pine boughs and rouses the 

 little sleepers. 



749. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 



*' Only an expert climber can hope to peep 

 into one,^* 



