t4 THE WILSON QUARTERLY. 



placed at the foot of a corn-hilL All of. the nests that I 

 have found have been in fields or meadows. 



In Wisconsin Messrs. Strong and Clark find nests always 

 on the ground, sunken to its level, in pastures or fields. 

 Thus the liabit of building above the ground is peculiar to 

 the south andw^est. The difference is not due to a greater 

 scarcity of timber at tlie north and ea^t, for there is fully 

 as large a proportion of timber to prairie there as in Texas. 

 Let some one study out the reason. 



Mr. Donald describes a typical nest as, "tolerably bulky, 

 composed mostly of muslin weeds, with a little grass ; lined 

 first with rootlets, then with horse-hair." He has found 

 but three nests wdiich did not contain muslin weed. Two 

 of these were composed of grass and weeds, and lined with 

 rootlets ; while the other was on the ground and composed 

 wholly of grass. "The soft, cottony muslin weed seems to 

 be a characteristic of this specie ■." Mr. Oldright describes 

 the nest as composed of about the same material, but does 

 not consider it bulk3% but rather compact. He finds that 

 those made on the ground are much slighter and looser. 

 Mr. Donald finds that during the early part of the season 

 nests are almost invariably in trees or bushes, while in 

 June they are mostly on the giound. A point well worth 

 noting. 



In Iowa and Wisconsin the nests are made of weed stems, 

 dry grass, and rootlets ; always with a preponderance of 

 rootlets. The nests are not compactly built, but strong- 

 enough so that they can be easily preserved. Often no oth- 

 er material than rootlets is used. 



In Texas the birds rear two broovls. The season extends 

 from April 15 to June 22. Mr. Donald's earliest nest was 

 April 18 ; Mr. Oldright's latest June 15. In Iowa and Wis- 

 consin two broods are raised ; the first nest May 1. the last 

 July 10. Thus at the south the birds are more forward in 

 spring. 



The average set in Texas contains four eggs. Of tw^en- 

 iy-seven sets found by Mr. Donald eleven contained five 

 eggs, thirteen four, and three three ; all known to be com- 



