ORNITHOLOGIST 



— AND- 



OOLOGIST« 



$1.00 per 

 Annum. 



PUBLISHED BY THE FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY. 



Established, March, 1875. 



Single Copy 

 10 cents. 



Vol. XVII. 



HYDE PARK, MASS., MAY, 1892. 



No. 5. 



A Series of Eggs of the Oven-bird. 



The eggs of the Oven-bird, or Golden- 

 crowned Thrush (Se'turus aurocapillus) vary 

 very niucli in tlieir coloration and size. 



Set I. June IS, 188.5. Nazareth, Penn. 

 Nest on ground, near fork of tree in patch of 

 moss; covered over. Four eggs, fresh. White, 

 speckled and spotted with hazel and lilac- 

 gray. The markings form wreaths around the 

 larger ends, although there are a few specks 

 over the remainder of the surface. This is 

 the typical style of markings of eggs of this 

 species, and in describing the sets below it 

 will not be referred to, as it will be understood 

 to be the case in each set, unless specially 

 mentioned to the contrary. .7-ix.GO; .75 x.(31; 

 .76X.63; .74x.60. 



Set II. May 2.5, 1879. Pelham, N. Y. Nest 

 of dry grasses, vegetable fibre, leaves, leaf 

 stems, and lined with the same material, but 

 finer; roofed over, with entrance in front. 

 Diameter, outside six inches, inside three 

 inches; depth, outside four and a half inches, 

 inside two and a quarter Inches. On the 

 ground, close to a bush. (I give a detailed 

 description of this nest as it serves to describe 

 all the others in a general way.) Five eggs, 

 incubation begun. White, si)eckled with 

 hazel and lilac-gray. The markings are dis. 

 persed all over the surface, and, although 

 somewhat heavier at the larger ends, are not 

 wreathed as usual. .83x.65; .83x.G5; 

 .82X.C6; .83X.04; .84x.66. This set also 

 contains a Cowbird's egg. 



Set III. June 6, 1883. Hyde Park, Out. 

 Nest of leaves, grass, bark, etc., among bushes, 

 on the ground. Three eggs, incubation com- 

 menced. White, speckled with chestnut and 

 lilac-gray: .82x.62; .79x.61; .79x.58. One 

 Cowbird's egg with this set. 



Set IV. May 11, 1889. Weaverville, N. C. 

 Nest under bunch of sage grass. Composed 

 of leaves, grasses, fibres, etc. Four eggs. 



fresh. White, finely speckled with chestnut 

 and lilac-gray: .76x.58; .78x..'37; .74x.59; 

 .74X..59. 



Set V. May 29, 18SG. Wellesley, Mass. 

 Nest on ground; composed of strips of thin 

 bark and leaves, and lined with fine rootlets. 

 Three eggs, fresh. White, sprinkled and 

 speckled with hazel and lilac-gray. One of 

 the eggs has spots of vinaceous. .74x..57; 

 .75X.59; .77x.Gl. 



Set VI. June 3, 1880. Norwich, Conn. 

 Leafy, embryotic nest, partly domed. Three 

 eggs, fresh. White, heavily and showily 

 marked with hazel and lilac-gray spots. (This 

 set was collected by the celebrated oologist 

 "J. M. W.," (Mr. C. L. Kawson), and proves 

 that he can collect handsome Warbler's eggs 

 as well as those of his beloved Buteos.): 

 .83X.63; .83x.63; .83x.61. 



Set VII. May 28, 1887. Detroit, Minn. 

 Nest of leaves, grasses and fibres, on the 

 ground, by a log, at edge of a larch swamp, in 

 heavy woods. Five eggs, incubation begun. 

 White, heavily speckled and spotted with 

 chestnut and lilac-gray. The markings are 

 much heavier at the larger ends, but do not 

 form wreaths: .79x.61; .73x.G0; .74x.Gl; 

 .71X.60; .74X.58. 



Set VIII. May 11, 1889. Weaverville, N. C. 

 Nest in end of large pine log. Five eggs, 

 fresh. White, speckled and spotted with 

 hazel, chestnut and lilac-gray: .74x.Gl; 

 .73X.61; .73x.G0; .72x.61; ,73x.59. 



Set IX. May 15, 1885. Granville, N. Y. 

 Nest on side of hillock, covered over at top. 

 Five eggs, fresh. White, speckled and spotted 

 with hazel and lilac-gray: .78x.57; .75x.57; 

 .75X.G0; .77X.58; .77x.Gl. 



Set X. June 3, 1885. Saybrook, Conn. 

 Nest on ground, among leaves, in wood. Four 

 eggs, fresh. White, speckled and spotted with 

 chestnut and lilac-gray: ,81 x .Gl ; .7Sx.61; 

 .78X.G0; .7SX.G1. 



Set XI. May 11, 1889. Weaverville, N. C. 



Copyright, 1892, by Frank Blake Webster Company. 



