280 THE CANADA WARBLER. 



with the shadows in the thicket, and the bright lemon-yel- 

 low of the entire under parts seems almost the effect of the 

 sunlight through the openings among the leaves; but there 

 is a broad collar of jet-black spots across the breast, over 

 the forehead and down the cheeks and sides of the neck, 

 where the bluish-ash of the upper parts joins the yellow of 

 the throat, the former color shading into clear black as it 

 meets the line — these markings, along with the yellow eye- 

 lids, help me to define him as the Canada Warbler (Myio- 

 dioctes canadensis). I find the bird abundant here in almost 

 any swampy region throughout the breeding season; and 

 there is, I think, no appreciable difference between the sexes. 

 Having identified my specimen, and risen from my place of 

 concealment, the bird becomes greatly excited, hopping 

 about among the leaves, bowing and "courtesying " prettily 

 indeed, but not obsequiously, and uttering a sharp chipping 

 note. I am reminded by the white or flesh-colored legs 

 and feet that this is what is commonly called a Ground 

 Warbler, and that its nest, therefore, is on the ground. I 

 make diligent search, as I have often done since, but all in 

 vain. A Ground Warbler's nest is one of the very hardest to 

 find. Others, however, have been fortunate enough to find the 

 nest, and from them I make out the following description: 

 Mr. Burroughs found one in the bank of a stream; Mr. 

 Boshart, of Lowville, N. Y., found one sunk into the moss 

 on the side of an old log, while others generally report the 

 nest as found on the ground ; Audubon alone describing it 

 as built otherwise — " in the fork of a small branch of laurel, 

 not above four feet from the ground." It is coarsely and 

 rather loosely built of leaves, dried grasses, etc., lined with 

 horse-hair. The eggs, .68X-50, are white, marked with 

 brown and lilac, somewhat clouded at the large end, and 

 slightly specked all over. 



