292 



Wilde, Nesting of the Partila Warbler. 



twenty feet high. Generally, however, on account of the beard- 

 moss growing more abundantly on the lower branches of the 

 trees, under eight feet may be considered the average height. 

 From the data of thirty-three nests the summary is as follows ; — 



I foot high, I nest. 



3 feet high, 2 nests. 



.24 " " 6 " 



3 " "7 " 

 3i " " 2 " 



4 " "I nest. 

 44 " " 2 nests. 



7 " "3 " 



8 " "3 " 

 13 " " I nest. 

 15 " " 2 nests. 

 20 " " I nest. 



Parula Warblers seem to colonize naturally to a larger extent 

 than any of our other Warblers, probably on account of the beard- 

 moss (of and in which, as I have said before, this species almost 

 exclusively builds its nests), growing more heavily on certain 

 patches of trees and bushes, than on others. 



Having selected a suitable spot the female alone assumes the 

 task of nest building, while her mate leisurely feeds among the 

 tangled branches, and occasionally clinging to a twig head down- 

 ward in Chickadee fashion, he reaches here and there for lurking 

 insects, and flying a short distance, pauses for a moment to emit 

 his song. 



The nest is invariably placed in a hanging position. The female 

 usually selects a tree in which the beard-moss grows quite thickly, 

 and here within the tufts, she loops and weaves together the 

 inside hanging particles of moss, forming a beautiful nest, much 

 resembling the style of the Baltimore Orioles. The birds are 

 careful that the moss shall be left hanging in its natural way, from 

 the bottom and sides of the nest, and often so conceal it, that it 

 can only be found by a close and careful observer. Into the 

 structure the bird then carries thread-like pieces of beard-moss, 

 collected from some nearby tree. This moss is used exclusively 



