78 Brewster on Certain Rare Birch in Texas. 
were built in forks of perpendicular limbs of the Juniper us virginiana, from 
ten to eighteen feet from the ground. The outside is composed of the 
inner bark of the above-mentioned tree, interspersed with spider-webs, well 
fastened to the limb, and in color resembling the bark of the tree on which 
it is built, so that from a little distance it is difficult to detect the nest.” 
I have had the pleasure of examining two of the nests above referred 
to by Mr. Werner. They are so nearly identical in every respect that 
one description will answer for both, and accordingly I will take for my 
type a fine specimen which, with an adult male bird, Mr. Werner has 
generously contributed to my collection. The original position of this nest 
is well shown, as it is preserved with a section of the limb upon which 
it was found. It is placed in a nearly upright fork ‘of a red cedar, 
between two stout branches, to which it is firmly attached. Although a 
large, deep structure, it by no means belongs to either the bulky, or loosely 
woven class of bird domiciles, but is, on the contrary, very closely and com- 
pactly felted. In general character and appearance it closely resembles 
the average nest of the Black-throated Green Warbler ( Dendrceca virens). 
It is, however, of nearly double the size, in fact, larger than any Wood 
Warbler’s nest (excepting perhaps that of D. coronata ) with which I am ac- 
quainted. It measures as follows : external diameter, 3.50 ; external depth, 
3.45 ; internal diameter, 1.60 ; internal depth, 2.00. The exterior is mainly 
composed of strips of cedar bark, with a slight admixture of fine grass- 
stems, rootlets, and hemp-like fibres, the whole being kept in place by an 
occasional wrapping of spider-webs. The interior is beautifully lined with 
the hair of different quadrupeds and numerous feathers ; among the latter, 
several conspicuous scarlet ones from the Cardinal Grosbeak. The outer 
surface of the whole presents a grayish, inconspicuous appearance, and 
from the nature of the component materials is well calculated to escape 
observation. Indeed, it must depend for concealment upon this protective 
coloring, as it is in no way sheltered by any surrounding foliage. The 
nest just described is that spoken of by Mr. Werner as the one probably 
first constructed by the pair whose nest and eggs he found on May 13. A 
direct comparison between these two specimens presents few differences 
worthy of comment. Mr. Werner’s nest is placed in a precisely similar 
cedar fork ; the outer walls are of felted strips of cedar bark, and a few 
brilliant cardinal feathers are mingled with the hair lining. The eggs 
belonging with this nest are similar in shape, all being of a regular but 
somewhat rounded oval form ; their ground-color is clear white. Two are 
thinly and evenly covered with fine but distinct spots of light reddish-brown, 
while the third is so very faintly marked with the same color that at a little 
distance it appears nearly immaculate. Their measurements, as taken for 
me by Mr. Werner, are, .75 x .57 ; .77 x .56 ; .76 x .58. In size and general 
appearance tliey^are unlike any Warbler’s eggs that I have ever seen, and 
most closely resemble faintly spotted examples of those of the Tufted Tit- 
mouse. Mr. Werner is of the opinion that they are exceptional in being 
