452 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



or five, rarely six in number, clear crystalline white but often creamy-white speck- 

 led, chiefly at the larger end with reddish-brown, dark umber and black; in some, 

 occasional lines or scrawls appear. Two sets of four eggs each measure, respectively, 

 .71X.53, .71X.50, .69X.50, .69x.51; .67x.48, .69x.50, .66x48, .68x.49; the average is .69X.52 

 inches. 



681a. WESTERU YELLOW-THKOAT. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis Brewst. 

 Geog. Dist.— United States west of the Mississippi Valley. In winter, the more 

 southern portion of the United States chiefly west of the Mississippi, and south 

 through Western and Central Mexico. 



The same general habits which are common to the Eastern Yellow-throat are 

 also characteristic of this subspecies in the West. Dr. Merrill states that its fa- 

 vorite haunt, and one in which it is very common in the region of Fort Klamath, 

 Oregon, is among the tules in company with Marsh Wrens and Yellow-headed Black- 

 birds. The eggs average a trifle smaller than those of G. triehas; and are less heavily 

 marked; .67x.50 inches. 



6816. ELOKIDA YELLOW-THROAT. Geothlypis trichas iffnota Chapman. 

 Geog. Dist. — Florida, north to southern Georgia. 



This is called Palmetto bird, very similar to the Maryland Yellow-throat, but 

 with longer tarsus, tail and bill, etc.* Nesting and eggs identical with G. trichas. 



m 



682. BELDING'S YELLOW-THROAT. Geothlypis heldirtffi Ridgw. Geog. 

 Dist. — Southern portion of Lower California, north to San Ignacio (Lat. 27°). 



Mr. Walter E. Bryant writes as follows on Belding's Yellow-Throat: "This 

 Warbler was first known from specimens taken at San Jose del Cabo in April, 1882, by 

 Mr. L. Belding, but the eggs have since remained unknown so far as the obtaining 

 of an authentic nest is concerned. In the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum 

 (Vol. V, p. 546), Mr. Belding says: 'Their habits are quite like those of G. trichas, 

 and the eggs not materially different, if a nest found by my guide on the Miraflores 

 and Todos Santos trail May 6, belonged to this species, as I supposed it did, having 

 seen a fine male near the spot from which it was taken.' As these eggs were not 

 preserved, the eleven herein described are presumably the first and only ones know,n. 

 In March and April, 1888, I found this species breeding at Comondu, Lower Cali- 

 fornia, the only locality in which I found it that year, and the most northern point 

 (at that time) from which it had been obtained. No nests were found during March, 

 1888, and by April the young were flying. I was fortunate in visiting Comondu dur- 

 ing the latter part of March of this year, and made a special effort to collect the eggs 

 of this species, and by offering a cash reward interested some Mexican boys in the 

 search. This resulted in five nests being found, from four of which eggs were takfen, 

 eleven specimens in all. To Mr. T. S. Brandegee, the well known botanist, who 

 accompanied me, is due the credit of finding the first nest, March 25, 1889 (set No. 

 881, coll. W. B. B.). This was discreetly left undisturbed until I could be shown 

 to the spot a few hours later. The nest was loosely woven in a clump of 'cat-tails' 

 (Typha) one metre above running water. It is composed outwardly entirely of dry 

 leaves of the 'cat-tail,' and thinly lined with fine fibre and a few horse hairs. It 

 measures, nearly ascan be determined, not less than 150 mm. in height by about 115 

 mm. in diameter. 'The receptacle is about 55mm. in depth, with a diameter at the 



• C/. Chapman, "Birds of Eastern North America," p. STL 



