Oct. 1887.] AND 00 
Nesting of the Pine-creeping 
Warbler. 
BY E. B. MCLAUGHLIN, STATESVILLE, N. C. 
The Pine-creeping Warbler, (Dendrwca pinus ) 
is not uncommon with us throughout the year. 
Its nest is rather difficult to find and the only 
way to have satisfactory results is by watching 
the bird go to it when building. It usually 
builds sooner than the collector would suspect; 
so when he climbs up to its nest the chances 
are he is greeted by open mouths. 1 have seen 
its nest filled with snow, and at times sur- 
rounded by icicles. Referring to my note-book 
for the last season, I observe that 1 found my 
first two nests on March 16th ; the one nearly 
completed, the other well begun ; and took first 
set of four eggs on March 25th, incubation 
having commenced. The individuality of the 
eggs comprising this set is so marked that I am 
confident I have found the nest of this pair of 
birds in the piece of pines in which it was taken 
for several seasons. 
The male is generally close by where the fe- 
male is building, giving vent to a song which, 
though louder, is not at all unlike that of Spi- 
zella domestica and often have my steps been 
quickened by the song of the latter; in truth, 
such happens each year. I have never seen the 
male feeding his mate on the nest, though I 
have often watched him. To compensate for 
this, however, I am quite sure that he takes 
part in incubation, taking the female’s place 
about noon. I have often called at the nest 
early in the afternoon and as late as sunset, 
and invariably found him seated upon it. 
ing of dry reeds, straw or twigs on which the 
single egg is placed. We usually made an en- 
trance by running in the arm to the elbow and 
then raising up and the nest was usually reach- 
ed by the second time if not the first, though in 
a few cases we were obliged to work some time, 
often running off the scent into deserted cav- 
ities ere we struck the right one. The birds 
when set free by a starting toss into the air 
took a direct course out over the water and 
were soon out of sight, but if not thus aided 
they waddled about in the grass trying to hide 
their heads in a very stupid manner. 
The eggs arc exceedingly brittle and require 
a month's sitting to hatch. The young are fed 
during the night, and though the parents swarm 
forth by thousands at this time in search of 
food for their progeny, they never seemed to 
mistake their home for that of another on 
ground color white, the bluish or purplish 
tinge entirely wanting. Notwithstanding the 
variation to which the egg is subject, I have 
seen no other which a dishonest collector could 
palm off for it. 
If the bird is successful in rearing one brood, 
1 do not think it attempts a second, but when 
disturbed in any way will build three times or 
perhaps oftener, in a season. I have never 
found it breeding, and seldom feeding, outside 
of pine timber. q & O. XII. Oct. 1887 p. 
