PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 175 
fact that in that locality the bird invariably nested in holes of trees or buildings. Since 
his discovery of the first nest in 1863, others similarly situated have been found by Dr. 
Palmer and Mr. Robert Ridgway, at the Kiowa Agency, Indian Territory, and at 
Mount Carmel, Ill. The first nest collected the past season was found by Mr. Ridgway 
on April 27. It contained four fresh eggs. This was probably an exceptionally early 
date, as nearly a week elapsed before any other eggs were taken; and, indeed, the 
greater proportion of a large number collected between May 8 and 12 were freshly laid. 
At least forty nests were examined altogether, about one half of which contained eggs. 
To give an account of all the various situations in which these nestswere placed, would 
entail a description of nearly every conceivable kind of hole or cavity that can be found 
in tree-trunks. The typical nesting-site, however, was the deserted hole of the Downy 
Woodpecker or Carolina Chickadee. The height varied from two to fifteen feet, though 
the usual elevation was abaut four. If the cavity was old and broken out, or other- 
wise enlarged, it was far more apt to be chosen than a neater and newer one close at 
hand. Thestump selected almost invariably stood in or projected over water, although, 
as above stated, it was oftentimes left high and dry after the eggs were laid. 
“Of the many exceptions to the above described typical site, I will here notice 
only two of the most marked. A nest discovered May 8 was built in a sort of pocket- 
shaped cavity in the side of a large cypress stump. The hole descended vertically in the 
inside of a shell-like wall, the central heart of which had crumbled away. Another, 
found by Mr. Ridgway, was built in an extremely rotten snag which stood on the edge 
of a road; the eggs or sitting parent could easily be seen by any one riding by. This 
nest was several hundred yards away from water. 
“In the construction of the nest the female labors somewhat desultorily. Fresh 
green moss enters largely into its composition, and although this substance is readily 
obtained, a week is sometimes consumed in building the simple little affair. Most of 
the materials are gathered in the immediate vicinity from half-submerged logs or the 
nearest dry ground. The male almost always accompanies his partner on her trips to 
and from the nest, making a great show of hunting up choice bits of material, but 
apparently never succeeding in finding any to his mind. He usually precedes her on her 
return, enters the hole to investigate the condition of affairs, pops out his golden head 
to assure her with a soft chirp that all is well within, and then gives way to allow 
her to enter, clinging against the bark outside to cheer her labors with his song and 
await her reappearance. Sometimes, however, both birds remain inside together, 
although how much assistance the male renders in house furnishing I cannot say. 
Probably his presence is only tolerated, and he is perhaps often accused of being a 
nuisance. : 
“The shape and size of the nest vary with that of the cavity in which it is placed. 
When the hole is deep, it is usually filled up to within four or five inches of the 
entrance. Thus the nest when removed presents the appearance of a compact mass of 
moss five or six inches in height by three or four in diameter. When the cavity is 
shallow, it is often only scantily lined with moss and a few fine roots. The deeper 
nests are of course the more elaborate ones. One of the finest specimens before me is 
composed of moss, dry leaves, and cypress-twigs. The cavity for the eggs is a neatly 
