8 Bulletin ok the 



feet above the river, the second about thirty feet above the first, and the 

 third abont twenty-live feet above the second. Beyond the valley extends 

 the high nplands. We started from Mr. Parmalee's home at the foot of 

 the second terrace and climbed to the level of the second, where we turned 

 to the west and followed this terrace north of the river for one half mile, 

 passing through Norway and jack pine plains. After a drive of about live 

 miles we came to a large tract of several hundred acres which had been 

 burned over about six years ago as I learned from Mr. R. L^raser, a resident. 

 Scattered burnt aiid dead stubs reach above the younger growth (mostly 

 jack pine) which is from three to ten feet high. In some places this 

 growth is dense, and in others more open. The ground is covered by a 

 more or less luxuriant growth of sweetfern, three varieties of blueberry, 

 trailing arbutus, and the wood lily. Here also grows the dwarf morning- 

 glory, and the golden-rod just ready to bloom. 



We had nearly reached the line of Crawford county when 1 heard a 

 song and on stopping, soon saw a male Kirtlandi singing from his favorite 

 tree. 1 sli])ped from the wagon and secured this male. Driving on one half 

 mile I saw a male fly to a dead tree (Fig. 1) near the road. This bird had 

 a worm in his mouth, so I concluded that his nest was near by, and that 

 he would go to it with the worm. T went to the side of a large stub, and 



Fig. 3. Egg Kirtland's Warbler>>only egg Known, natural size. 



while I was watching, .saw this male assume the erect singing position, throw 

 forward his head and try to sing, still holding the worm in his mouth. This 

 song may be written thus: cli-ch-chc-cJic-cJic-a (the ''a'' long drawn out). 

 Me sang a number of times at intervals of about sixty seconds — but still 

 held the worm. He soon spied me and seemed rather uneasy, wagging his 

 tail after the fashion of /). f^almanDii. Now his song seemed to take an 

 anxious or scolding tone and sounded like cJia. cha cJic-chcc wicha-a-a. 

 After watching me a few minutes he dropped from the tree (on a long 

 glide) to the east about three rods. I .suspected he was going to the nest, 

 so T hurried to the spot, but when T reached it he was not there; so I stood 

 still and waited. In a few nn'nutes he was at his place on the old tree with 

 another worm, .\gain he sang and wagged his tail and then dove down, but 

 this time two rods to the west of the tree. T started to go there, when just 

 south of the tree T flushed the female from the ground and after a close 

 look, saw the nest (Fig. 2). Tt may be imagined with what delight T 

 beheld the first nest of this rare bird ever seen, and with what eagerness I 

 dropped to my knees beside it to make a closer examination of its contents. 

 There were two young birds, perhaps ten days old, and a perfect egg (Fig. 

 .i) ; this proved to be the only egg found. 



This egg was a delicate pinkish- white (since the contents were removed 

 it has faded to a dull white) thinly sprinkled with several shades of brown 



