44 NOKTII AMERICAN OOLOGY. PART I. 



attention of Dr. Robert Dixon, of Damariscotta, Maine, the contents of the nest 

 of a Hawk of *his species. There are several facts in connection which are worthy 

 of consideration. The female was shot as she flew from the nest ; there is, therefore, 

 no question as to the identity of the eggs, of which there were six, contained in the 

 nest. With but a single exception^ all these eggs are very distinctly blotched and 

 spotted. This, to us, presents an entirely new feature in their- markings, although Mr. 

 Audubon (Birds of America, 8vo, I, 108) mentions finding a nest on the AUeghanies, 

 the eggs of which were slightly sprinkled with small marks of pale reddish-brown. 

 In the present instance, the shape of the eggs is a rather oblong oval, rounded at 

 both ends, the smaller end well defined. They varied in length from 2 to 1-}| inches, 

 and in breadth from 1^-^ to 1 j^g inches. Their ground color is a dirty bluish-white, 

 which in one is nearly unspotted, the markings so faint as to be hardly perceptible, 

 and only upon a close inspection. In all the others, spots and blotches of a light 

 shade of purplish-brown occur, in a greater or less degree, over then- entire surface. 

 In two, the blotches are large and well marked ; in the others, less strongly traced, 

 but quite distinct. This has led to a closer examination of eggs from other parts of 

 the country, and nearly all are perceptibly spotted ! 



The nest was found in a tract of low land, which was also wet and miry, covered 

 with grass and clumps of sedge. On one of the latter it had been constructed. It 

 is described as about the size of a peck basket, circular, and composed entirely of 

 small dry sticks, " finished off or topped out with small bunches of pine boughs." 

 There was very little depth to the nest, or not enough to cover the eggs from 

 view in taking a sight across it. " No feathers Avere found in or about it. It Avas 

 simply made of small dry sticks, about six inches thick, with about one inch of pine 

 boughs for finishing off the nest." 



The eggs were found about the 20th of May. They contained young at least two 

 weeks advanced, shoAving that the bird began to lay in the latter part of April, and 

 to sit upon her eggs early in the folloAving month. 



The nest was found near the village of Damariscotta, Maine, about twenty miles 

 east of the Kennebec River. The circumstances of chief interest are the number of 

 the eggs, greater than usual in the birds of this family, their markings, the con- 

 struction of the nest, Avhich Avas different from any before described, the absence of 

 feathers or any other lining, the point of time at which the eggs Avere probably 

 deposited, and their size and shape. 



That there might be no possible doubt as to the identity of these eggs, the parent 

 bird AA'as sent for examination to my A'ery accurate friend, Mr. Cassin, and his closest 

 scrutiny challenged to its specific markings. After a very careful examination of 

 the bird, he Avrites, " I cannot detect any character distinguishing it from others 

 Avhich are undoubtedly the common species. It is in rather unusual plumage, a 

 transition or change from young to adult." 



