28 



Ampelis cedrorum; sparrows, Melospiza faciata and Spizella so- 

 cialis; warblers, Geothlypis trickas; thrushes, Mcrnla migratoris, 

 and incidentally, also, hawks, Accipitcr velox; and owls, Megas- 

 cops asio. The first mentioned grew to maturity in the normal 

 length of time, being fourteen days in the nest and three days 

 out of it before they were left to care for themselves entirely. 

 For this reason I shall mention observations on these principally. 



On July 19a pair of wax-wings were seen alternately tugging 

 at the frilled end of a rope that was hanging in a maple tree. 

 They were watched, and it was found that a nest had already 

 been nearly completed in an apple tree about thirty feet from 

 the house. From a window on the second floor the nest could 

 be plainly seen and closely watched with a pair of field glasses. 

 The first egg was laid on July 21, early in the morning ; another 

 was laid the next day, and so on, until the afternoon of the sixth 

 daA% Avhen the set was complete, consisting of five eggs. Incuba- 

 tion was begun on July 24, when for the first time the female, 

 probably, Avas observed sitting on the nest continuously all day. 

 It is practically impossible to tell the sexes apart, but it is likely 

 that it was she that attended principally to the hatching of the 

 eggs, and that it was he that took share for short intervals only, 

 but frequently bringing food for his mate, which consisted chiefly 

 of berries of one kind or another. 



On the morning of August 6 one naked body was seen in the 

 nest, and by the evening of the next day four of the eggs had 

 hatched ; the fifth, as being found later, being infertile. Feeding 

 of the young began very soon after hatching, within three or 

 four hours. Yet both of the birds brooded over the young for 

 some while after each feeding; so the young were never left for 

 more than a few minutes at a time. As fas as could be seen the 

 young were fed on berries, although later it was found that in- 

 sects were added to the diet. The food was carried in the crop,- 

 and when this was apparently full an additional one would occa- 

 sionally be held in the mouth. The young were fed as in other 

 Passerine birds, except that the food is first swallowed by the 

 parent, and it is then regurgitated and fed piecemeal and not in' 

 bulk, as in the case of the pigeon. 



After feeding, in which act both birds take an equal share, 

 the parent stands over the young ready to perform the sanitary 

 duties of the nest. The excreta, which is held together in a more 



