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 THE CONDOR Vol. IV being scarcely more than a shell and almost fiat, very different indeed from most of the new ones I have examined. They usually show more art in con- struction than those of other raptores, being made of smaller and thinner sticks and twigs and are more smoothly put together, showing fewer projecting ends from the sides. The lining is usually of leaves of the tree the nest is in; sometimes a little grass or some wil- low bark or rabbits' or squirrels' fur. Nesting begins in April. My earliest record is April 5. Fresh eggs may be taken until the middle of May, but the later ones are second sets Third sets are very unusual and show an amount of perseverance in the birds that should be respected. Almost all the sets from this section that I have seen are lightly marked. One set in my collection shows only a few very small "pen splashes" of black; another shows "pin point" spots of lavender almost all over one egg, while the other is practically spotless This set is a modified pyriform in shape, an- other set with a creamy ground color has the marlings, shape and size of a certain phase of Zideo linealus ele,ans and if I had not seen Mme. Swainsoni leave the nest I should have' mistaken it for that species. I fin sets of two and three in about equal numbers never anything more, but on May 26, 9ot, I found a nest containing one newly hatched young and no trace of another egg. This is the only case of one that I have met with. The Audubon Warbler BY j. H. BOXVLES, UDUBON Warbler (/)endroica auduboni) is the largest, handsom- est and hardiest of all the warb- lers found in the state. of Washington, where it is a fairly common summer resident. In their habits and general appearance they are exceedingly like their close relative of the east, the yel- low-rumped or myrtle warbler (7)end- roica coronata), which also occurs on the Pacific coast in limited numbers. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to add that the yellow throat of auduboni easily dis- tinguishes it from the white throat of corotata. It would be difficult to say just when the first of them make their ap- pearance from the south, or when they return, as I have strong. suspicions that a few remain with us throughout the year. The main force of the migration occurs about the middle of April, and by the second week in May all have passed northward excepting such as in- tend to nest. The return trip occurs about the last of September. They are essentially birds of the prairie regions, where scattering clumps of fir are plen- in Washington. TACOMA VA S YI. tiful, seldom being seen in the deep woods. The fiod supply consists of small in- sect life of all kinds, and they are most expert in the art of flycatching in mid- air. Socially inclined toward mankind, spending much of their time on and around houses in cities, beautiful in plumage, and graceful on the wing, their song is the only disappointing thing about them. It is a short, though pleasing, little warble, surprisingly feeble for so large a bird, and in no way equal to that of its smaller rela- tive the yellow warbler (Z). estiva.) It is in their nesting habits, however, that auduboni show their most interest- ing and original traits, as the first nests are built before any but the most care- ful observers know that the birds have arrived from the south. My earliest nesting date is April 22, when my brother, Mr. C. W. Bowles, found a nest containing four eggs within a day of hatching. As the period of incubation for these birds is twelve days, this would have made the first egg laid not later than Aprfi 8. Nor is this such an