EASTERN MOCKINGBIRD 301 



known nesting at Pensacola, Fla. (Escambia County), March 3, 1932. 

 First egg of a set of three laid this date. This nesting survived a low 

 temperature of 23° F. on March 10 and hatched in due time. Latest 

 known nesting at Pensacola, August 13, 1923 (young birds almost 

 ready to leave nest). Lowest known nesting site at Pensacola, a nest 

 containing three small young in brush pile on May 24, 1928. Rim of 

 nest only 18 inches from ground (measured). 



It is not uncommon to find several mockers' nests in fairly close 

 proximity. Two and three pairs often nest on an acre of ground. An 

 interesting record count is furnished by M. G. Vaiden (MS.) who 

 found 14 nests on a tract of 22 acres near Rosedale, Miss. 



A detailed study of a mocker nesting at Dudley, Temi., is given by 

 A. V. Goodpasture of Nashville (1908). He summarizes his observa- 

 tions in a table as follows : 



Days 



Building 2 



Laying 4 



Incubating 10 



Care of young 5 



Thus, from start of nest to flight of young was 21 days, exactly 3 

 weeks, being a 5-day variation in the case of the South Carolina birds 

 noted by E. B. Chamberlain. In the notes on the Tennessee pair it was 

 stated that "both sexes labored diligently." 



Rarely, the mockingbird will use a nesting-box. It is a very uncom- 

 mon procedure, however, and the writer has never seen it, but the 

 habit must be recognized in any account of its domestic life. Illus- 

 trative of it was a nest found and photographed by H. O. Todd, Jr. 

 (MS.) , on June 9, 1940, near Murfreesboro, Tenn. The box had been 

 erected for bluebirds but was taken by a pair of mockers and contained 

 four eggs when found. The box had been placed on top of a fence 

 post about 6 feet from the ground, and it was the second time that 

 Mr. Todd had seen such a location used. 



Penetrating into the Midwest one finds the mocker listed as an 

 "uncommon breeder" by B. F. Stiles, of Monona County, Iowa (MS.) . 

 He has seen but two nests in that locality, both of these having been 

 found at Sergeant Bluff in 1938. H. M. Holland (MS.) relates his 

 experience with the mocker in west-central Illinois for 33 years. He 

 states that his earliest acquaintance with it was in 1908, when two 

 nests were found in Knox County, which "probably constitute the 

 first local breeding records." The next 12 years passed without any 

 more nests being found. In the early 30's, however, the birds in- 

 creased and several nests were found. The westward spread of the 

 mocker apparently dates (as far as his locality is concerned) from 

 the late 20's. There is one record already of a bird spending the 

 winter, and nesting pairs have become "very noticeable." 



