The Orange-crowned Warblers 



Half a dozen times she feints, 

 maybe. Finally the fatal 

 plunge is taken. Down, 

 down the bush she crawls, 

 reluctant. Then, level with 

 the grass-tops, she darts to 

 a spot on the ground — and 

 there is silence. But keep 

 your eye on that particular 

 spot, or you will scarcely note 

 the flit of exit, once you are 

 in motion. The whole game 

 has been a mutual agony of 

 apprehension ; and whether 

 your heart goes pit-a-pat or 

 not when the authentic loca- 

 tion is made, depends upon 

 your "sporting blood." The 

 owner of the nest here shown 

 feinted five times after reach- 

 ing the bush, and though her 

 exit was marked, the nest it- 

 self was absolutely invisible at 

 a foot's remove, by reason of 

 investing foliage. 



The reason of our compar- 

 ative failure in the spring of 

 1915 to find nests of the 

 Dusky Warbler, was revealed 

 several seasons later by Mr. 

 M. C. Badger, of Santa Paula, 

 who reported that he had 

 found them nesting in trees. With this friendly tip, succeeding expedi- 

 tions sent out by the Museum of Comparative Oology have been more 

 successful. The Dusky Warbler, evidently to escape the persecutions 

 alike of sheep and of foxes, have taken to nesting in the live oak trees 

 almost exclusively, and very wonderful nests they make, too, especially 

 those which are nearly buried in oak blossoms. 



For some reason the Dusky Warbler tires of island life and brings 

 her brood to the mainland shores in late July or early August, there to 

 remain until the following February or March. We do not know the 

 precise extent of this winter range, nor do we know the precise length of 



Taken on Santa Cruz Island 



Photo by the Author 



A WAYSIDE STATION 



450 



