The nest measures three and a half inches in diameter, and a trifle more than two in height. The cavity is broad and deep, two and a third inches in diameter at the rim, and one and a half deep. Its base and periphery are loose aggregations of strips of decayed inner bark from dead deciduous trees, chiefly basswood, strengthened by fine twigs, rootlets, and bits of wood and bark. Within this is a firm, compact, well-woven nest, made by an elaborate interweaving of slender roots and twigs, hair, fine pine-needles, and similar materials.
The egg is oval in shape, less obtuse, but not pointed, at one end, with a grayish-white ground, pinkish when unblown, and marked around the larger end with a wreath, chiefly of a bright umber-brown with lighter markings of reddish-brown and obscure purple. A few smaller dottings of the same are sparingly distributed over the rest of the egg. Its measurements are .70 by .50 of an inch. It more nearly resembles the eggs of the D. maculosa than any other, is about five per cent larger, a little more oblong, and the spots differ in their reddish and purplish tinge, so far as one specimen may be taken as a criterion.
OLIVE-HEADED WARBLER.
Sylvia olivacea, Giraud, Birds Texas, 1841, 14, pl. vii, fig. 2.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, 66. Sylvicola olivacea, Cassin, Ill. Birds Texas, etc. 1855, 283, pl. xlviii. Rhimamphus olivaceus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, 291 (Cordova). Dendroica olivacea, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 298 (Oaxaca; cold region).—Ib. P. Z. S. 1859, 363 (Jalapa).—Ib. Catal. 1861, 31, No. 190.—Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 205. Sylvia tæniata, Dubus, Bull. Acad. Brux. XIV, 1847, 104.—Ib. Rev. Z. 1848, 245. Sylvicola tæniata, Bon. Consp. 1850, 309.
Sp. Char. Head and neck all round, with jugulum, brownish-saffron, with a greenish tinge on the nape. Rest of upper parts ashy. Middle and tips of greater wing-coverts white, forming two bands on the wing; a third white patch at the bases of the primaries (except the outer two), and extending forwards along the outer edges. Secondaries edged externally with olive-green. Inner webs of quills conspicuously edged with white. Under parts, except as described, white, tinged with brownish on the sides; a narrow frontal band, and a broad stripe from this through eye and over ear-coverts, black. Outer tail-feather white, except at base and towards tip; greater portion of inner web of next feather also white, much more restricted on the third. Length, 4.60; wing, 2.88; tail, 2.15; tarsus, .75.
A female specimen (14,369), perhaps also in autumnal plumage, has the saffron replaced by clear yellowish, except on the top of head and nape, which are olive-green. The black frontal and lateral bands are replaced by whitish, leaving only a dusky patch on the ears.
Hab. Mexico (both coasts to the southward); Guatemala.
This species is given by Mr. Giraud as occurring in Texas, but it is possible that he may have been misled as to the true locality. It may, however, be yet detected along the southern border of the United States.
Nothing is known of its habits.