NESTING HABITS OF OROPENDOLA CHAPMAN 353 



SEASON OF 1020-27 



December 23. Two males call in the tree In the early morning and then soon 

 depart. 



December 24. No birds seen In the tree; one hoard in the distance. 



December 29. Three reported but sex not stated. 



Dect'uil)er 30. A male calls at 7.15 a. m. and later one female visits the tree. 



Deceml)er 31. A male calls In the early morning and several females come 

 for a short time later. 



January 1, 1927. One male and one female came. 



January li. One bird heard in the distance. 



January 3-^. Observer absent. 



January 6. Zarhynchus shows a Rmup interest in the nest tree. First came a 

 male witii 4 femali's, then 2 males with 8 females. The first group left with 

 the male, in the second, the 2 males went off together while, later, the 8 females 

 flew off in another direction. Nothing is decided and no actual construction 

 has begun. The birds are site hunting and follow each other closely. When 

 1 female goes to inspect a new limb all the others follow her. There was one 

 combat between 2 of them; at 9 a. m. all the birds had left the tree for 

 the day. 



January 7. At 8 a. m. 2 males and 3 females came to the nest tree for a 

 short stay, the females following each other about. At 8.30, 2 males flew over 

 alone ; they lit in the forest and called. Three males in the tree call ; no females 

 come. A little later there were 8 females and 1 male in the tree. The females 

 examined renrains of old nests and soon left together. 



January 8. Nest building began. 



SEASON or 1927-28 



In the nesting season of 1927-28, I reached the island on Decem- 

 ber 22. 1927, and my notes, until the birds began to build, are as 

 follows : 



December 22-25, 1927. No oropeudolas seen. 



December 26. At 8.30 a. m. a male calls a few times and leaves. 



December 27. No birds seen in nest tree; one heard in the distance. 



December 28. Male visits tree and calls at 6.20 and 8.20 a. m. Heard later 

 in the distance but not seen in the tree again. 



December 29. At 7.30 a. m. 2 males call in the tree. Later 3 females, act- 

 ing as a unit, fly from place to place prospecting. Grapple and whirl while 

 fighting, once. A male in the tree but. as usual, they ignore him. 



December 30. Two females prospect together. A male calls, definitely ad- 

 dressing them and thus beginning his prolonged courtship. 



December 31. Observer absent. 



January 1, 1928. Two females worked on an old foundation, and a male 

 called vigorously. 



January 2. Nest building began. 



It will thus be seen that preliminary visits are paid the nest tree 

 some days before nesting actually begins. 



THE QUESTION OF A SECOND BROOD 



The nesting season of Zurhynchu.^ is so closely associated witli the 

 dry season that it is difficult to believe that they nest also in the 

 wet season. Nevertheless, the facts indicate that at least some birds 



