82 The Wilson Bulletin — No, 87 



flushed from the nest. At each of these visits the bird, when 

 flushed, flew to some distance ; however, when the eggs began 

 to hatch this distance became greatly shortened. 



About 7 :3(rP. M. on the 14th of July the first egg was found 

 to be hatching. The shell was roughly broken across the large 

 end for a distance of about three-fourths of an inch, and from 

 one end of this jagged opening there extended a clean crack 

 pretty nearly to the small end of the egg. 



Close examination now revealed that two other eggs were 

 pipped. In both cases there was a little round hole just large 

 enough to permit the protrusion of the tip of the chick 's beak. 

 In all three the beak of the chick kept at work crumbling 

 away the edge of the shell and membrane. 



The old bird was now very tame, and at no time was she 

 more than a few yards away. She displayed great curiosity, 

 or anxiety, slipping in and out between the grass, and eyed 

 the intruder from one side and then the other. 



I then withdrew to a point about twenty feet away in order 

 to allow her to return to the nest. This she did immediately, 

 but something must have frightened her again, for she 

 jumped about four feet straight into the air. I now grad- 

 ually approached the nest, repeatedly flushing the bird and 

 waiting for her return ; when I got within five feet of the 

 nest the old bird left, only to return at once, calling and 

 receiving answering chirps from the partly hatched young. 

 Finally, I got within three feet of the nest; the old bird 

 simply stood up on the piece of bark by the nest, looked 

 interested, and returned to the nest. 



The old bird covered the nest by spreading the wings 

 slightly, and fluffing the breast feathers. 



As I crept a little closer the old bird flushed, and I saw 

 that the first young bird had emerged from the shell. At 

 8 :30 P.M. I left. The nest contained at this time one chick, 

 two pipped eggs, one entire, and one empty shell. 



July 15. When I returned to the nest at 4:30 A.M. the 

 old bird was on the nest, but flushed at my approach. The 

 nest now contained four young birds and three empty shells. 

 Evidently one shell had been disposed of, and probably the 



