178 



On the walls were placed (more as warm sleeping 

 receptacles than as nests, although I have had fair 

 success with them as such), straw sailor hats, having 

 a hole cut in the crown for entrance, and the brim 

 nailed to the wall. When feeding the Tanagers daily 

 with fruit, I invariably tear off the thin tissue papers 

 which encircle the oranges, throwing them into a 

 corner of the aviary, collecting same alternate daj'^s. 

 I was greatly surprised to observe on May 26th, the 

 ends of several of these papers protruding from one 

 of the straw hats ; upon examining same I found quite 

 a prettily constructed cup-shaped nest, woven entirely 

 with these papers. I was quite at a loss to understand 

 what bird should be so anxious for parental duties and 

 responsibilities, as I had been under the impression 

 that only male specimens of the various species 

 occupied the aviary. 



My interest thus being deeply aroused, I was 

 anxious to walch events; after placing a little hay fibre 

 and hair in a prominent place, I had not long to wait. 

 I noticed one of the Cowbirds very busy carrying to 

 the nest, whilst the other, which proved to be the 

 male, kept all intruders from that portion of the aviary, 

 and amidst his love antics, kept up a continuous displa}^ 

 of chatter and rare fuss. 



Next morning I glanced again and found a nicely 

 constructed nest. The following morning May 29th, 

 one egg was deposited and so on until the clutch of 

 four was complete. The eggs were of a very pale 

 bluish green tint, almost white, boldly marked at the 

 larger end, with dark, variously sized spots and 

 markings. 



Thinking it was useless to expect successful 



