358 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



nant water, along running streams, and on high, dry land at a con- 

 siderable distance from water. 



The nests are built in bushes, canes, palmettos, and clumps of 

 vines from three to ten feet above the ground or surface of the water. 

 Mr. Perry observes that the birds breed in small colonies ; two or more 

 pairs are usually found nesting near one another. He describes 

 their song as being exactly like that of the Hooded Warbler — a low, 

 sweet call, consisting of a few notes. The nests are all essentially the 

 same, being made outwardly of leaves, placed in layers, and lined with 

 pine needles and fine, fibrous roots. 



Three, rarely four, eggs are laid, and their color is a plain white, 

 with a faint, bluish tinge — the only eggs among our North American 

 Warbler which are unmarked. The eggs are deposited in May and 

 June. Mr. Perry has found nests containing eggs slightly incu- 

 bated as late as July 13. Two eggs taken May 16, 1885, measure 

 .80 X .60 ; two taken by Mr. Noble, May 16, 1887, .78 x .57, .77 x .58. The 

 sizes of a complement containing the smallest eggs in a series of nine 

 sets in Mr. Norris' cabinet are .68 x .52, .68 x .54, .69 x .54 ; a set of the 

 largest eggs .83X.53, .84X.53, .80X.57. 



639. Helmitherus vermivorus (Gmel.) [77.] 



Woriu-eatiiig Warbler* 



Hab. Eastern United States, north to Connecticut Valley, casually to Maine: west to Missouri, Kan- 

 sas, and Indian Territory; south in winter to Florida, Cuba, Jamaica. Mexico, Central America. 



The Worm-eating Warbler breeds throughout its United States 

 range, which extends as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. In some 

 sections, however, it is only an occasional or a rare summer visitor,while 

 in others it breeds abundantly. It has been found breeding frequently 

 in Southern Connecticut and various parts of Southern New England, 

 in New York and Pennsylvania. This bird may be seen scratching the 

 leaves on the ground, or rustling in the leaves of a fallen tree in search 

 of worms and spiders. Sometimes while in the higher branches its 

 actions are much like those of a Vireo. In Ohio the Worm-eating 

 Warbler is a rare summer resident. It has been found breeding abun- 

 dantly in Chester county, Pennsylvania, by Mr. Thomas H. Jackson 

 and Samuel B. I^add, in the months of May, June, and July. 



The nest is usually built in a depression of the ground on a hill- 

 side, beneath a bush, beside a fallen log, at the foot of a sapling or tree. 

 It is, according to the observations of Mr. Ladd and Mr. Jackson, like- 

 wise built on level ground in rather open places, with little shelter 

 from the sun. It is composed outwardly of leaves, and lined with hair- 

 like moss ; sometimes fine grass and horse hair is part of the lining. 



