8 
Mr. W. Brewster on the 
other has a single small round spot of a deep golden brown 
colour. This will not rub off under a free application of 
water and as much friction as I have dared to use; but 
nevertheless I am inclined to consider it merely some acci¬ 
dental stain. 
The character of these nests, their position, and the colour 
of the eggs which one of them contained are all alike unex¬ 
pected. One would have predicted that the bird would prove 
to be a ground-builder, that its nest would be closely con¬ 
cealed, and that the eggs would be distinctly spotted; all of 
which goes to show how very idle any speculation in such 
cases is likely to j3rove. In respect to the eggs, it is possible 
that they may be normally spotted. If always immaculate, 
they will be unique in this respect among the eggs of North- 
American Sylvicolidce. This point probably requires further 
investigation, but in a general way the mystery hitherto en¬ 
veloping the breeding of Swainson’s Warbler may be said to 
be ended. The thanks of ornithologists at large are cer¬ 
tainly due Mr. Wayne for his important services in this con¬ 
nexion, services performed at no small risk to health, if not 
to life itself; for the Southern canebrakes reek with malaria, 
and mocassin snakes are dangerous neighbours. But in 
spite of these obstacles the life-history of the interesting- 
bird has been worked out nearly to the end, and the pages 
that remain to be added are comparatively few and unim¬ 
portant .—Forest and Streamy July 9, 1885. 
Shortly after the publication of my first article on this 
subject, Mr. Wayne sent me two more nests of Swainson^s 
Warbler, taken respectively June 27 and June 30, 1885. 
The first was built in a cane, over a pool of stagnant water, 
at a height of about five feet; the second, also in a cane, was 
at a height of at least eight feet, and over clear running- 
water. The females of both nests were shot, thus rendering- 
identification absolute. 
The second nest was “ found when the birds had just 
begun work, and I watched them repeatedly at their labours. 
