364 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



from New Jersey northward. The Parula Warbler loves to make 

 its summer home midst swampy groves, whose trees and bushes 

 are draped in festoons of a long, light green moss, with fine, 

 hair-like filaments — the pendulous tree moss — the usnea of the bota- 

 nists. In the bunches of this thread-like lichen the Parula usually 

 makes its nest with an entrance at one side. " J. M. W.," (Mr. C. I<. 

 Rawson), who is well acquainted with the habits of this species in 

 New Ivondon county, Connecticut, says that the bird simply gathers 

 together the lower strands of the usnea, felting it with the same material, 

 and the nest is done. This very accurate naturalist and charming 

 writer also observes that at first sight the nest might indicate a greater 

 degree of skill than the little architect possesses. Such is doubtless 

 the case with the one represented in our illustration, which is a faithful 

 picture of a specimen selected from five beautiful nests, furnished by 

 Mr. W. W. Worthington, of Shelter Island, New York, where the birds 

 breed abundantly. 



The nests are situated in low trees and bushes at heights ranging 

 from three to forty feet, usually from six to twelve feet. Mr. Worthing- 

 ton and Mr.Griffing both found nests in the moss attached to the sides of 

 the trunks of large trees. Sometimes one or two horse hairs are woven 

 into the nest, and occasionally a piece of fine grass. In regions destitute 

 of tree moss, in which this species can make its nest, it frequently adapts 

 itself to circumstances by nesting in the bunches of dead leaves, caught 

 on branches during freshets. Dr. C. Hart Merriam records a nest of 

 this kind taken near St. Ivouis, Missouri, June 8, 1885. Mr. William 

 Brewster makes note of an unusual nest of the Parula Warbler, which 

 was made by the birds and suspended by the upper edges to the drooping 

 boughs of a live hemlock. In general style of construction it closely 

 resembles a wide-mouthed nest of the Baltimore Oriole open at the 

 top. It is composed entirely of usnea, closely woven or felted with 

 a scanty lining of fine grasses and pine needles. The breeding season 

 is in May, June and July. 



The usual number of eggs laid by thi^ species is four, sometimes 

 five. Mr. Rawson and Mr. Worthington have both taken sets contain- 

 ing seven, and one of that number taken by the former collector is in 

 Mr. Norris' cabinet, which contains thirty-nine sets of the eggs of this 

 species. The ground-color of the eggs is white or creamy-white, more 

 or less glossy, and speckled with reddish-brown, cinnamon-rufous, 

 chestnut, and in some gray tintings. Many eggs are wreathed near the 

 larger ends. Ten selected specimens before me offer the following sizes ; 



