t8 



• r I St set. April 20 , 



No. 4. - , , ^y - 15 days. 



^ / 2nd set. May 5 ^ 



^ ^ i ist set. April 23 I , 

 ^''- > / 2nd set. May 7 ^-I4da>s. 



We learn from this table that it requires about fourte^en days for the 

 Crow, after it has been robbed, to choose a nesting site, construct its nest, 

 and deposit the second set of eggs. Allowing six days for the female to 

 deposit her eggs, the nest must have been constructed within eight days, 

 and probably within six days. 



Composition. — The composition of the nest varies somewhat, of course, 

 with the local surroundings, as well as with the individual builder's experi- 

 ence and ' 'taste" as to the proper material for building They rarely use a 

 deserted squirrel's nest. The typical nest is composed of coarse sticks, 

 strips of bark, clods of earth, dead leaves ; lined with hog bristles, strips 

 of grape vine bark ; the inner bark of chestnut or oak, cow hair, or 

 horse hair. Occasionally the body of the nest will contain moss^ grass, 

 rootlets, cornstalks, cloth (often from some dilapidated "scarecrow"), 

 corn husks, weed stalks, pieces of rope, dried cow and horse manure, 

 feathers, pieces of matting, sheep's wool, twine, or seaweed. The lining 

 is sometimes made up of strips of cedar or juniper bark, dead leaves, 

 sheep's wool, feathers, or skunk's hair. Quite often in some localities, 

 especially in the Eastern states, pine needles are used for lining ; while 

 in many other localities, where the surroundings will permit the use of 

 this material, it is not used at all. Much binder twine is made use of in 

 the West. Rev. P. B. Peabody, Owatonna, Minn., writes; " It has ap- 

 parently become as indispensible a nesting material to the Crow as snake- 

 skins are to the Crested Flycatcher." While Mr. Lynds Jones has the 

 following to say regarding this interesting subject: "First, the foundation 

 of dry sticks, into the bottom or side of which some light colored dry 

 grass is introduced — which is invariably the Crows' 'ear mark.' Felted 

 on this is a layer of leaves, then a layer of grap)e vine or linder bark, 

 and finally a layer of some soft animal material ; in Iowa it is cattle hair, 

 in Ohio it is often wool. In Iowa we now often find nests well supplied 

 with binder twine." In relation to the great strength and durability of 

 the nest in connection with the composition, I can do no better than quote 

 from the notes of Mr. Frederick M. Dille, Denver, Colo. : "I find their 

 nests to be perfect models of strength and durability as compared with 

 other large nests. Not so broad as a Hawk's nest, but deep and well 

 proportioned. So deep and rounded at the bottom that one or two of the 

 eggs will be on top of the others, but well bedded down with some of the 

 lining, so as to avoid all chances of breakage Made of coarse twigs and 



