Destruction of Birds' Nests and Eggs 137 



machine. May 30, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Robbed by boys. June 8, 1914. Marshall- 

 town, Iowa. One egg. Nest filled with mud by high water. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, 

 Iowa. Four eggs. Found filled with mud after flood. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. 

 Two eggs. Found filled with mud after flood. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. One egg. 

 Filled with mud by flood. 



Bobolink. July 9, 1910. Webb, Iowa. Contained nine eggs. Came to nest just in time 

 to see a garter snake swallowing the last eggs. Two lumps, presumably eggs, were visible 

 in its body. 



Goldfinch. July 23, 1909. Webb, Iowa. Blue Jay discovered eating the eggs. 



Lark Sparrow. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Found on June 4. On June 8 found 

 nest and three eggs washed about 4 feet down the hill and half full of mud. 



Grasshopper Sparrow. July 14, 1910. Webb, Iowa. Two eggs. Nest exposed by mowing- 

 machine and bird deserted it. 



Field Sparrow. June 25, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Two eggs. Bush containing nest 

 cut by mowing-machine. June 25, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Four eggs. Weeds in which it 

 was built cut by mowing machine and eggs thrown out. 



Western Vesper Sparrow. July 6, 1920. Portland, Ore. Four eggs. Destroyed by 

 cultivator. 



Cardinal. May 30, 1913. Marshalltown, Iowa. Three eggs. Saw Blue Jay fly from nest 

 and found eggs with a hole in each. 



Rose-breasted Grosbeak. June 6, 1910. Sioux City, Iowa. Robbed by boys. June 24, 

 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Four eggs. Robbed by boys. 



Red-eyed Vireo. June 28, 1915. Albion, Iowa. Nest brought in by boy who said he 

 had torn it from its place by running against it before he saw it. 



Maryland Yellow-Throat. June 12, 1909. Webb, Iowa. Three young taken by cat. 

 Cat caught with last one. 



Bank Swallow. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. A colony of several pairs which I 

 was watching was destroyed by the caving of a bank caused by height of water on June 8. 



Chickadee. April 23, 1910. Sioux City, Iowa. Nest containing five eggs deserted by 

 parents after the nest had been opened to photograph the eggs. 



Short-billed Marsh Wren. July 28, 1910. Webb, Iowa. Six eggs. Nest with four 

 whole eggs and two broken eggs was found on guards of mowing-machine. 



Brown Thrasher. June 24, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Four eggs. Robbed by boys. 



Catbird. June 24, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Four eggs. Robbed by boys. June 29, 

 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Two eggs. Nest destroyed by boys. Parent shot, apparently 

 by 22-caliber rifle, and hung on limb near nest. June 11, 1915. Marshalltown, Iowa. Roboed 

 Dy boys. Aug. 7, 1916. Springfield, Mass. Adult and three young killed by cats. 



Wood Thrush. May 30, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Robbed by boys. 



Robin. June 4, 1909. Webb, Iowa. Four young eaten by cat. Cat seen to catch last 

 two. June 23, 1909. Webb, Iowa. Blown from tree by severe storm. Nestlings killed just 

 after hatching. June 24, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. English Sparrow observed to enter 

 nest and deliberately drop six eggs over edge of nest, one at a time. June 24, 1914. Marshall- 

 town, Iowa. Four eggs. Robbed by boys. May n, 1916. Fairfield, Conn. Starling seen 

 destroying nest. May 18, 1916. Norwalk, Conn. Nest destroyed by Starling. 



Bluebird. June 8, 1914. Marshalltown, Iowa. Four eggs. Located in fence-post. 

 Filled with mud by flood. April 18, 1916. Norwalk, Conn. Nest destroyed by Starlings. 



It might be said in explanation that the flood of June 8, 1914, on the Iowa 

 River was caused by very heavy rains. Such floods are not uncommon during 

 the spring months, though usually of much less extent than this one. The 

 nests listed were mostly those with whose location I was familiar before the 



