56 



THE COLUMBIAN RED-WING. 



to courteous expostulations, as tlie\- flutter wildly arounil the intruder's 

 head. To the mischievous boy the chance of calling out these frantic atten- 

 tii>ns is very alluring, even when no harm is intended. 



I have said that the Red-wing prefers cat-tails for nesting: there is 

 probably no undisturbed area of cat-tails in eastern Washington which does 

 not harbor Columbian Red-wings ; yet, even so, the cover does not suffice and 

 they are impelled to occupy the extensive tule beds which border the larger 

 lakes. For the second nesting, which occurs in Tune, the Blacklnnls are likelv 



near Spokane. '■ -^^ Jl^''"i"- 



XEST .VXD El.i..-^ Ul III). LOI.L AllU.W KEDWIXG. 



to try the willows, now covered with foliage; or, in default of these, may 

 venture into anv coarse vegetation which lines the swamp. 



Four or live eggs are commonly laid and sets of six are very rare. 

 On the 1 8th of l\Iay, 1896, I took a set of eight eggs, all believed to be the 

 product of one female, from a nest in Okanogan County, and this set is now 

 in the Oberlin College Museum. 



Of the economic value of the Red-wing there can be no question. The 

 bird is chiefl\- insectivorous and destrovs an immense amount of insect life. 



