142 The \\'ilsox Bulletix. Xo. 72-73. 



parture. In the years of close study of this species 1 have 

 never seen anything" that suggested the feeding of one mate 

 by the other and I doubt very much if this is done. The in- 

 coming bird enters cautiously, turns, inspects the works of 

 creation without, hangs an instant with one foot grasping the 

 lower edge of the hole and the other the wall below, then with 

 a thud it drops to the bottom of the nest, but never upon the 

 eggs. To cover the eggs the bird goes to one side of them, 

 straddles those nearest to it. then with a hitching motion moves 

 along imtil all are covered. Xo matter how wet and muddy it 

 is out of doors the eggs have never been soiled. 



After the nesting took place on the sawdust in the south box 

 a new feature has been added to the routine of the nest. Be- 

 fore the bird covers the eggs or the young, whichever it chances 

 to be, it eats some sawdust. The craving for sawdust seems to 

 be limited to this period of the bird's life since no signs have 

 been found to show that it eats any of the sawdust while it 

 occupies the boxes before and after the nesting time. The 

 amount eaten is considerable. That at one time the male ate 

 three tablespoonfuls is deemed a modest estimate. An attempt 

 to measure the amoimt both ate by a fresh supply daily showed 

 the consumption of three or more handfuls. The sawdust 

 came from sugar maple, white and red oak wood. 



After the bird has arranged itself comfortably upon the eggs 

 it goes to sleep. The female sleeps most frequently with her 

 head turned until her bill rests among the feathers of her back. 

 The male sometimes takes this position but not often. He 

 sleeps with his neck flexed until his bill touches one wing, or 

 with his head straight forward and turned down until it rests 

 on the crown, or. the favorite position of all. with his head ly- 

 nig flat upon the bottom of the nest, thus making as fine a 

 "picture of calm content as mortal ever saw." 



From some former nests it had been learned that sometimes 

 the eggs hatched in nine days, but more frequently in ten days 

 after the laying of the last egg. On May 20. 1908. the sixth 

 esrST wa'i seen to have been laid at five o'clock and fortv-eight 



