December 



ming-birds, and a few others have only two in 

 a set, and among the commoner species the 

 house wren has from six to nine, the ruffed 

 grouse from eight to fifteen, and Wilson states 

 that in the nest of the Virginia partridge or 

 ** Bob-white " one will sometimes find as 

 many as twenty-four eggs, probably, however, 

 the joint contribution of two or three females. 

 It would be interesting to know the significance 

 of the peculiar and often beautiful ground tints, 

 and of the various markings in lilac, red, brown, 

 etc., found on almost all egg-shells. 



The search for nests is as fascinating as al- 

 most any aspect of ornithology, although it can 

 be successfully prosecuted only during the 

 brief period of nidification. And, when found, 

 there is a finer pleasure in leaving nest and eggs 

 intact than in despoiling them. 



Since for the female bird the conjugal com- 

 pact seems to be quite as much a matter of con- 

 venience as of sentiment, it is doubtful, in the 

 event of accident befalling her mate after the 

 nesting season is fully over, whether she con- 

 sents to pass again under the '' blissful yoke " 

 until the next year. But should she be bereft 

 during the critical nesting period, like a prac- 

 tical business woman she accepts or even hunts 



323 



