6o RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CI.UB. 



have a worn appearance. Feet, flesh color. The bill, which is of 

 an acuminate shape, horn color, darkest on the culmen; this is a 

 little longer than the lower mandible, and slightly hooked at the 

 end. 



Their average measurements are: Length, 5.18 inches; wing, 

 3.62 inches; tail, 3.18 inches; tarsus, .69 inches; culmen, .44 inches. 



The nest, containing three fresh eggs, was situated in a patch 

 of marsh weed, apparently raised a little above the surrounding 

 ground. Although several feet above tide-water mark, it was com- 

 pletely saturated with water. If the female had not been seen to 

 leave the nest, and had not the eggs been warm to the touch, I 

 should certainly have thought that it was deserted. This is proba- 

 bly owing to the porous condition of the ground, and absorbing 

 properties of the material used in the construction of the nest. But 

 in this connection I will say that I have noticed the same in the 

 nests of the Field Plover {Bartra?7iia longicaiidd) and Black Tern 

 [Hydrochelidon 7iigra surinamensis)^ and it has often been a mat- 

 ter of wonderment to me as to how the eggs could successfully in- 

 cubate. 



The composition of the nest consisted almost exclusively of 

 weed stalks, with a little grass and a few feathers interwoven, the 

 whole arranged in a rather careless manner, without i-egard to 

 strength, which was not required in this case. 



The eggs average seventy-seven one-hundredths of an inch 

 in length, by fifty-eight one-hundredths of an inch in breadth. 

 Their respective measurements being: .y6 x .58 inches, .77 x .59 

 inches, and .78 x .58 inches. The ground color is dirty white of a 

 brownish tinge, caused by minute specks of brown and lavender. 



Before the eggs were emptied of then" contents there was a 

 pinkish tinge to the shell resembling the color of the Wood Pewee's 

 0^%^. This is marked with spots and specks of lavender and 

 blotches of amber-brown, congregating principally toward the 

 larger end, with an occasional streak of a darker brown shade. 

 On the whole they mav, with propriety, be classed handsome eggs. 



