428 NESTS AND EOOS OF 



four. If the cavity was old and broken out, or otherwise enlarged, it was far more 

 likely to be chosen than a neater and newer one close at hand. The stump selected 

 almost invariably stood in or projected over, water. When the hole was deep it was 

 usually filled up to within four or five Inches of the entrance — the material being 

 moss, leaves and cypress, twigs. Mr. O. C. Poling found this Warbler breeding in 

 abundance in the latter half of May, 1887, in Western Illinois, about twenty miles 

 above Quincy, and obtained a large series of the eggs. These are four to seven in 

 number, usually six, sometimes five, rarely seven. Their shape is usually rounded- 

 oval of nearly equal size at both ends, some being nearly spherical, others much 

 elongated. The ground color is glossy creamy-wliite or buff, spotted, blotched and 

 dotted with rich chestnut red, in some the ground being almost obscured by the 

 markings. The sizes of a typical set taken by Mr. Poling are, .73x.55, .73x.52, .73x52-, 

 .73X.52, .72X.50; another set of six, taken May 21, .72x.57, .71x.56, .70x.58, .71x.54, .70x.59, 

 .72X.58. 



638. SWAUfSON'S WARBLER. Helinaia swainsonii Aud. Geog. Dist.— 

 Southeastern portion of the United States — from South Carolina to Florida and 

 Eastern Texas — northward in the Mississippi Valley to Southern Indiana (Knox 

 county), Jamaica in winter. 



Until recently this was one of our rarest North American birds. Its nests and 

 eggs were first described by Mr. William Brewster from specimens collected by Ar- 

 thur T. Wayne, near Charleston, South Carolina, June 5 and ^6, 1885.* Since that 

 date many nests, eggs and skins of the bird ha've been taken by various collectors, 

 chiefly, however, by Mr. Wayne, T. D. Perry and George Noble, in the vicinity of 

 Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. From these collectors I gather 

 that the birds nests in wild shrubbery of swamps or pools of stagnant water, along 

 running streams, and on high, dry land at a considerable 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 incubated as late as July 13. Two eggs 

 taken May 13, 1885, measure .80x.60; two taken by Mr. Noble, May 16, 1887, .78x.57, 

 .77X.58. 



639. WORM-EATIWG WARBLER. Helmitherus vermivorus (Gmel.) Eastern 

 United States, north to Connecticut Valley, casually to Maine; west to Missouri, 

 Kansas, 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 South- 

 ern New England, in New York and Pennsylvania. This bird may be seen scratch- 



• In "Forest and Stream," July 9, 1885. 



