Part 44

VIRGINIA WARBLER. 644. Vermivora virginiæ. 4¼ inches.

Range.—Rocky Mountains, from Colorado to Arizona, and winters in Mexico. They are much like the last, but have a patch of yellow on the rump and breast. Their nest on the ground, beside some rock or stump, is made of shreds of vines and grass. Three or four white eggs, specked and wreathed with brown (.62 × .50).

CALAVERAS WARBLER. 645a. Vermivora rubricapilla gutturalis. 4½ inches.

Found in the Pacific coast regions, breeding from central California north to British Columbia. Winters south to Mexico. In Oregon and California, these birds are quite common in favorable localities on the mountain sides. They build their nest on the ground in a slight depression, making it of twigs and grasses, and usually well concealed with overhanging grass or brush. Their four eggs are a creamy white, with fine spots of brown and lavender, forming a wreath about the larger end (.60 × .45).

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 646. Vermivora celata. 4½ inches.

Range.—Central North America, breeding in the Rockies locally, from Alaska to Mexico. Crown with a concealed, dull orange patch. Nesting habits and eggs same as above (not illustrated).

LUTESCENT WARBLER. 646a. Vermivora celata lutescens. 4¼ inches.

This bird is found breeding from Alaska along the Pacific coast to southern California. Nest placed in similar locations, and the eggs are the same as above (.60 × .45).

OLIVE WARBLER. 651. Peucedramus olivaceus. 5 inches.

Range.—In the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, southward. They may be easily identified by their orange-brown head and neck, with a broad black band through the eyes. Their nests are placed at high elevations in coniferous trees on the mountain sides. They build a very compact nest, saddled upon a horizontal limb, the nest having a resemblance to a knot; it is made of moss, lichens, etc., and lined with fine rootlets and down from plants. Their four eggs are a pale gray, completely covered with spots of dark brown, the heaviest at the larger end (.64 × .48).

YELLOW WARBLER. 652. Dendroica æstiva. 4 inches.

Range.—The whole of North America, breeding throughout its range. They are active little bunches of yellow, as they gather in their many insects for food, all the while singing their happy song. They place their nests in almost any kind of trees, but seem to prefer willows and alders near some brook or pond, where insect life is abundant. Their nest is a compact, cup-shaped structure, made of fibers and grasses, lined with plant down or cotton.

MYRTLE WARBLER. 655. Dendroica coronata. 5½ inches.

Range.—Most of North America. On the Pacific coast, it is found from central Oregon to southern California. It is quite commonly known as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, both in the east and west. They differ from the following, mostly in the throat markings, this one having a white throat and much more black on the head and breast, while on the following the throat is yellow. They nest in the lower branches of coniferous trees, making it of grasses, rootlets and fiber, in which they lay usually four eggs, white, spotted with shades of brown and lilac, more heavily about the larger end (.70 × .50).

AUDUBON WARBLER. 656. Dendroica auduboni. 5½ inches.

This species is found in the western United States from British Columbia to Mexico, and rarely east of the Rockies. They are more of a dull-colored bird than the preceding. Their nesting habits and eggs are identical with the last (.68 × .52).

MAGNOLIA WARBLER. 657. Dendroica magnolia. 5 inches.

Range.—This is an eastern bird, found west to the Rockies and accidental in California. The white over the eye, white wing patch, and the band of white across the tail will identify this species (not illustrated).

BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 661. Dendroica striata. 5½ inches.

Range.—North America, mostly east of the Rockies, but found in the Rockies from Alaska to Colorado. They nest on the lower branches of coniferous trees, made of roots and strips of vine, and lined with feathers and lichens. Four dull white eggs, spotted with brown (.72 × .50).

GRACE WARBLER. 664. Dendroica graciæ. 4½ inches.

Range.—Western North America, British Columbia to Lower California and Arizona. Nest usually in pines near the tops of the trees, made of roots, fibers and lined with plant down. Eggs white, with light spots of brown (.65 × .45).

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. 665. Dendroica nigrescens. 4½ inches.

Range.—Western North America, British Columbia to Lower California. A small bird, with a black throat and breast, forming a circle about the neck, and black on top of the head. They are found mostly in the woodlands, bordered with thickets, in which they will place their nests, within a few feet of the ground. It much resembles that of the Yellow Bird, being compact and made of the same materials. Three or four eggs are creamy white, spotted with brown, forming a wreath about the larger end (.65 × .52).

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. 667. Dendroica virens. 5 inches.

Range.—Mostly in the eastern part of North America, but occasionally in the southern Rockies, Texas and Arizona. Black throat and breast, with bright yellow cheeks and olive head and back (not illustrated).

TOWNSEND WARBLER. 668. Dendroica townsendi. 5 inches.

Range.—Western United States. A similar bird to the above, with black on top of the head in place of the olive. Nesting habits are practically the same, as are also the eggs.