160 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



these and other birds, peace, at length, was completely 

 restored, by the restitution of the quiet and happy condi- 

 tion of monogamy. We therefore perceive, that though 

 the quarrels of jealousy are usually confined to the 

 bosoms of the males among birds, yet under peculiar cir- 

 cumstances the females are far from passive ; and though 

 this spring (1830) I witnessed many contests with the 

 other sex, the country teeming with these beautiful birds, 

 yet the war was only threatening and predatory, compar- 

 ed with the close combats of these of the weaker sex. 



The eggs of this species are usually 4 or 5, white, with 

 a faint, indistinct tint of bluish, and marked, chiefly at 

 the greater end, though sometimes scatteringly, with 

 straggling, serpentine, dark brown lines and spots, and 

 fainter hair streaks,* looking sometimes almost like real 

 hair, and occasionally lined only, and without the spots. 

 The period of incubation is 14 days.f In Louisiana, accord- | 



ing to Audubon, they frequently raise two broods in the ! 



season, arriving in that country with the opening of the 

 early spring. Here they raise but a single brood, whose 

 long and tedious support in their lofty cradle absorbs their 

 whole attention ; and at this interesting period, they seem, , 



as it were, to live only to protect, cherish, and educate j 



their young. The first and general cry which the, infant j 



brood utter while yet in the nest, and nearly able to take > 



wing, as well as for some days after, is a kind of Te-did^ , 



te-did, te-did, kai-te-te-did, or ^te He 'te He 'ti 't-did, which j 



becomes clamorous as the parents approach them with j 



food. They soon also acquire the scolding rattle and : 



short notes which they probably hear around them, such I 



as Peet locct, the cry of the spotted Sandpiper, and others, 



* The egga which I liave seen do not resemble Wilson's figure, plate 4; though 

 they may vary as much, 

 f Audubon, vol. i. p. 68. 



