Nest and Eggs of the Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis)
Nest and Eggs of the Hermit Warbler.
(Dendroica occidentalis.)
The accompanying plate of the nest and eggs of the Western Warbler is presented with the hope that it may interest those who may have specialized in the extensive and interesting warbler group. The photograph claims no special merit from a scientific standpoint, but is perhaps the first nest and eggs of Dendroica occidentalis to be published.
This nest and eggs was the second recorded set of this species, the first known set having been taken by Mr. Beck in El Dorado Co., Cal. in June,1896, while the present one was collected by myself in about the same locality on June 14, 1898. As the set has been described at length (Auk XVI 159) repetition is unnecessary. The illustration serves to show the position of the nest upon the pine limb, on which it merely rested, not being fastened at any point. I quote the description from the article referred to: “It is very prettily constructed, the bottom layer being of light grayish weed stems, bleached pine needles and other light materials held securely together by cobwebs and other wooly substances. The nest cavity is lined with strips of red cedar bark (Libocedrus) and the ends, instead of being woven smoothly, project out of the nest. The inner lining is of a fine brownish fiber resembling shreds of soap-root. The eggs were about two-fifths advanced in incubation and measured .66x.52, .68x.53, .67x.53 and .69x.53 inches. They are spotted chiefly in wreaths at the large end with varying shades of lilac, brown and chestnut.”
