situated in a poplar tree, ninety-two and a half feet up. The female was 

 shot after depositing three eggs, and the male marked on the left foot by 

 a rifle ball. The male re-mated during the season of 1893, and after re- 

 modeling the old nest, and putting in a fresh lining, the female deposited 

 five eggs, which were taken on May 7th. Another set of five eggs was 

 collected six days later (May 13th), and on the 25th both male and femiale 

 were killed, the nest containing three eggs and the female found ready to 

 deposit the fourth egg. It would appear that after the first five eggs were 

 laid, the female having deposited her full quota, would have no more eggs 

 forming in her ovary ; yet within twenty-four hours, -assuming that but one 

 egg was deposited daily, she deposits the first egg of the second clutch. 

 This would tend to prove, admitting the above conditions, that the egg is less 

 than twenty-four hours in the complete process of formation, including the 

 shell or calcareous envelope. The time between the loss of the second and 

 beginning of the third clutch is much greater, the female commencing to 

 show signs of exhaustion. She takes about eight days for recuperation 

 and the development of the egg, before oviposition begins anew. Before 

 the completion of this set, the bird is destroyed, thus abruptly ending 

 the interesting observations. 



D.A.TES FOR Complete Sets. — Without question, the average dates for 

 fresh and complete sets varies from year to year, according to the exist- 

 ing conditions of the climate. Deep snows, heavy frosts, continuous 

 storms, etc. naturally retard nest-building ; and, indeed, puts the birds 

 on the alert to secure subsistance. Often, if the Winter be unusually 

 severe or prolonged, the would-be nest-builders require further time in 

 which to recover their natural strength and hardiness. The dates given 

 below cover a number of seasons, and the averages are reasonably accur- 

 ate for the purpose ; the dates from which they were computed were first 

 reduced by subtracting the number of days of incubation. The dates 

 are therefore for fresh and complets sets. 



LOC.KLITV. .WER.AGE DATE. EARLIEST DATE. LATEST DATE. 



MO. DA. MO. DA. MO. DA. 



North Carolina April g March 24 May 12 



Tennessee April 16 March 26 May 25 



Pa., N. ]., Md April 19 March 29 May 25 



N. Y., Ont April 21 April 7 June 7 



New England April 28 April 7 June 20 



O., Ind., S. Mich April 26 March 26 June 3 



111., So. Wis., la April 15 March 25 May 10 



Minn., N. Da., Mana. . May 11 April 20 June 1 



California April \U March 23 May 8 



Colo., Neb., Kan April 27 April i May 23 



Ore., Wash April 30 April 15 May 20 



