THE OSPREY. 



tions or rivals; is it ever polygamous or polyaii- 

 drous? Do the same birds remain paired 

 throus'hout the season, or for more than one 

 season? 



17. AViV///£,''. — Give full particuhirsof construc- 

 tion, materials, proximity to the j^round and 

 to the water of each nest, preserving', photo- 

 g'raphinjjf or sketching the same, and observ- 

 ing- whether covered over or approached by a 

 covered way; giving- details of laying-, time 

 between each oviposition. variation of the 

 eg-g-s in size and color, stating: whether those 

 first laid are large or more heavih' marked 

 than those laid later; are the egg's turned 

 daily, and if so bj' which bird. Does it line 

 the nest with its own feathers? Does it show 

 preference for any kind of lining- or building- 

 material? Does it ever evidently go a long 

 way to get certain materials while others are 

 close at hand? Is same nest ever used twice? 

 How does it clean the nest while in use? Is 

 the first clutch of eggs more numerous than 

 others of that season? Are young birds more 

 prolific than older ones? 



18. Brofli/s. — Number per season; average of 

 each? Are later broods less? How long is 

 each cared for by the parents? Is the female 

 first to desert her charg-e? 



19. Coivbird Parasitism. — Is the Song Sparrov.- 

 ever imposed on \iy the Cowbird? Particu- 

 larize each case observed, or does any other 

 species ever lay in Song Sparrow's nest? Is 

 the Song: Sparrow ever guilty of parasitism 

 of this kind? 



20. O'/w^'.— ^Have the old ones been known to 

 kill the young by accident or for reason? Or 



to kill congeners, or to make serious blunders 

 as to suicide, and if so, how? 



21. }'(>!//!>;■. (iive in full their habits, food, 

 ])hnnag-e. com])aring- them with their ])arents 

 and with their near congeners. Are they ever 

 fed from the crop of the parents? Is there any 

 evidence of a late summer uorthivard migra- 

 tion among them? 



22. Relatives. — What are their nearest con- 

 geners? Compare them in range, local habitat, 

 changes of plumage, etc. 



23. Co)iipfti tors. — With what species do the}' 

 most actively come into competition in the 

 struggle for life? 



24. Xatural Enetnies. — Enumerate predatory 

 birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, etc. Also 

 meteorological phenomena, and means employ- 

 ed to combat, elude or withstand in each case. 



25. J)israse. — What are the diseases the species 

 is subject to. What disease predominates. 

 Since all the individuals are killed in some 

 way, it being improbable that anj' die of old 

 age, what cause of death is the chief one, 

 weather, disease, or birds of prey. What 

 means do they take to keep themselves clean 

 and to get rid of insect parasites. 



26. What ag-e does the species attain. What is 

 the proof of this. 



27. Fall Mii^ration. — Particularize as in spring 

 Diiffrafion, giving latest appearance. Does it 

 arrive in the spring singly and go in the fall 

 in flocks? Is it ever a winter resident here? 

 In the fall when leaving us, does it obviously 

 await the full moon as do some species, or 

 does it await the arrival of other species whose 

 train it follows. 



Double Nest of Sparko-w. 



