^3 



ing the matter, he says ; " My four sets of seven are all, in my estimation, 

 perfect sets, laid by their respective females. None being a partnership 

 between two females. Circumstances at the time of taking each set and 

 my investigations satisfy me of this. I knew sets of seven were very rare, 

 but did not think them so extremely scarce as you say. One of my sets 

 of seven shows three distinct types of markings ; but I do not consider 

 this point, for I have found the same to occur in sets of four, five, and 

 six eggs each. I do not believe it possible that two female Crows would 

 occupy the same nest, and know of no authentic instance of the kind." 

 A nest containing seven eggs, was found by Mr. Stephen J. Adams. 

 Cornish, Me,, May 4, 18S7. In his notes, Mr. Adams says: "Three 

 hatched in four days, the balance in seven days." Another instance of 

 which I have full data, is recorded by Mr. A. Mowbray Semple, Poy- 

 nette, Wis., and is probably a bona fide clutch, and will be treated under 

 the head of " Measurements of eggs." 



It has occasionally been my good fortune to secure a set of Crows' 

 eggs, spending probably twenty minutes or more near the tree without 

 attracting the attention of the rightful owners ; the belated and enraged 

 birds appearing just as I was preparing to leave. Not every set was fresh, 

 a few contained embryos more or less developed. It has suggested to 

 me the possible chance of a hard pushed alien female, whose own nest 

 had been destroyed, escaping the notice of the rightful owners and de- 

 positing her own egg, with those that may be already partially incubated, 

 or may as yet be incomplete as a set ; and continuing to do this daily 

 until she has no more to lay. I can account for the apparently double 

 sets in no other way. It is improbable that the Crow is ever polygamous, 

 indeed I believe them to be doubly monogamous. 



LOCALITY. .A.VER.\GE. L.'S.RGEST. SMALLEST. 



N. C, Penn 4 or 5 5 3 



Penn 4 or 5 6 2 



N. Y., Ont 4 oi" 5 7 ^ 



New Eng 4 or 5 7 i 



O., Ind., S. Mich 5 7 4 



111., S. Wis., Iowa. ... 5 7 j 



Minn., N. Da , Mana.. 564 



Cal 4 or 5 6 2 



Colo., Neb 5 () 3 



Wash., Ore 5 6 4 



When more than one set is laid by a female in one season, the second 

 set HSHiiUy contains one egg less than the preceeding set. From the 

 notes received from Mr. Henry Beaumont, Nashville, Tenn.. I extract a 

 notable case of continuous nesting. Early in 1892 a pair of Crows took 

 possession of an old nest, probably once belonging to a pair of Hawks ; 



