32O LIFE-HISTORIES OF IJIRDS 



nal structure after each succeeding- brood-raising. 

 The authors of this nest had successfully reared 

 three broods, and at the time of the severance of 

 the limb from the trunk of the tree, were preparing 

 fora fourth. From the remarkable depth of the 

 cavity, the labor of removing the befouled mate- 

 rials which would have been exceedingly arduous 

 to the birds, was spared, a fresh supply of feathers 

 being carried in ior each successive brood. 

 The preparations for a fourth brood occurred 

 during the last week in August. 



Another nest which was taken late in June, was 

 built upon a tree of the red maple, and is com- 

 posed externally ot fine and coarse strings, from 

 the thickness of twine to that of sewing silk, carpet 

 rags, a few small branches of Populus dilatata, and 

 rootlets. Interiorly, it is lined with a thick layer 

 of raw cotton. It measures four and a half inches 

 in diameter by less than two and a half in a verti- 

 cal direction. The cavity at the rim measures 

 three inches in width, and one and a half in depth. 

 The outer materials of the nest are far from beine 



> 



tastefully interwoven, and display but a slight de- 

 gree of artistic skill. The cotton had evidently 

 been found cu masse, and was carelessly adjusted, 

 if the present appearance al lords any criterion. 



Ordinarily the labor lasts from four to five days. 

 The e'ju's are be^'un to be laid on the succeeding 



oo o o 



day, and are deposited at the rate of one per clay, 

 which makes the period of oviposition from four to 

 five days. Incubation takes place on the day fol- 



