BRONZED GRACKLE 401 



by 20.90 millimetres or about 1.14 by 0.82 inches. The largest egg 

 measures 31.50 by 21.59 millimetres, or 1.24 by 0.85 inches; the 

 smallest egg, 25.40 by 19.05 millimetres, or 1 by 0.75 inches." 



The number of eggs in a set varies from three to six. Rarely have 

 seven been found. The vast majority of the nests containing com- 

 plete sets that I have examined have had four or five eggs, but six are 

 not unusual. Ordinarily there is but one set of eggs in any one season, 

 but if the first set of eggs or newly hatched young are destroyed, a 

 second set will be laid. 



The incubation period of the bronzed grackle is 14 days. The task 

 of incubation is performed by the female, and I have never seen the 

 male assist at any of the nests I have had under observation. How- 

 ever, the male is usually in evidence during this period and is quick 

 to assist in defending the nest in the event an intruder appears. In 

 fact, any unusual commotion about the nest brings the members of 

 the entire colony to the scene after the alarm note of the male is 

 sounded. 



Young. — After the young appear the male shares with the female 

 the work of feeding them, a task which increases in arduousness with 

 the constant demands of the young as they grow older. 



Ira N. Gabrielson (1922) in a study of a nest of 3 7 oung in a colony 

 near Marshalltown, Iowa, made the following observations on the 

 feeding behavior: 



A blind was placed in position at a nest seven feet from the ground in a plum 

 tree on May 30 at 11.00 a. m. At 1.00 p. m. I entered the blind and found the 

 parents somewhat nervous so only remained about two hours. Only the female 

 summoned up courage to feed during that time and fed both nestlings each trip 

 but the last. Eleven minutes after entering the blind the female appeared carry- 

 ing two earthworms and two or more unrecognized insects. After hopping nerv- 

 ously about from limb to limb above the nest she hurriedly fed both nestlings 

 and left. At the sixth feeding she carried seven cutworms in her beak and fed 

 them one at a time to the two nestlings. On the last feeding she came three 

 times and thrust her bill into the nestling's mouth, apparently without feeding. 

 On the fourth return she fed one nestling and the fifth time returned and gave 

 the remainder of the food to the same one. 



On May 31 I watched the nest from ten o'clock until three during which time 

 the young were fed 26 times, the male feeding nine and the female seventeen 

 times. On two occasions the parents arrived simultaneously to feed. 



By the time the young are 16 days old they are fully feathered and 

 by the 18th day they are ready to leave the nest, but if not disturbed, 

 may remain a day or two longer. The adults continue to feed them, 

 but as they gain strength and ability to fly they go on foraging parties 

 and by the first week of July join the flocks at the common roost at 

 night. 



Amelia R. Laskey (1940) has written a very interesting account of 

 a bronzed grackle obtained in May from its nest in a tree at Nash- 



