The Audubon Warbler 



broken just here, but how could you enjoy the rare beauty of this 

 handsome structure unless we brought it to you? 



The nest is deeply cup-shaped, with a brim slightly turned in, com- 

 posed externally of fir twigs, weed-tops, flower-pedicels, rootlets, catkins, 

 etc., while the interior is heavily lined with feathers, which in turn are 

 bound and held in place by an innermost lining of horsehairs. One 

 feather was left to curl daintily over the edge, and so partially conceal 

 the eggs, — four speckled beauties. 



Taken in Siskiyou County 



Photo by the A ttthor 



A TIMBERLINE HAUNT ON SHASTA 



These warblers are connoisseurs in feathers, and if one could have 

 all their nests submitted to him, he would be able to make a rough assign- 

 ment of locality as between northern and southern birds, according as 

 feathers of Plumed Quail, Oregon Ruffed Grouse, or Washington Ptar- 

 migan were used. The most absurd nest I ever saw was one which had 

 a lining exclusively composed of Plymouth Rock chicken-feathers. The 

 effect was like that of a party dress made of bed-ticking. 



Though evergreens are the commonest host trees, in which nests are 

 placed at any height from four to eighty feet, the bird is not above using 



477 



