THE BLUEBIRD. "^2, 



As no dampness is to be dried, laying begins immediately 

 upon completion of the nest. The eggs are usually five, sky- 

 blue in color, without blemish, and measure about .So by .(i<,. 

 I once found in Lorain county, Ohio, a nest of five eggs all of 

 which were pure lustrous white, like a woodpecker's, and sev- 

 eral other similar instances have come to my knowledge since. 

 It has been questioned whether they would have proved fertile ; 

 I am inclined to believe they would. The period of incu- 

 bation is eleven or twelve days, the male occasionally relieving 

 his partner in the duties of incubation. When not thus en- 

 gaged, he is very attentive to her slightest wishes, and often 

 cheers the monotony of her task by a soft, agreeable warble. 

 He is also now very jealous. Not a bird is permitted to trespass 

 upon his premises ; even individuals of the same species are 

 treated with the same incivility. If you surprise the female on 

 her nest she makes no attempt to escape as long as you do not 

 touch her, but waits until you have withdrawn yourself some 

 distance before she flics from the hole. The young, when 

 hatched, are fed alternately by each parent. Their food con- 

 sists of earthworms, flies, young of beetles, moths and butter- 

 flies with various other things added as they grow. When 

 the young birds are nearly able to shift for themselves, they are 

 intrusted to the care of the male, while the female busies her- 

 self in preparing for the second brood. The old nest is cleaned 

 and refitted and she again sits, depending upon her devoted 

 mate for the maintenance of both herself and the brood, which 

 sometimes are not fairly oft' his hands before the second family 

 of young are hatched. Three broods are sometimes raised. 



17. THE CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD. 

 SIALIA MEXICANA S-Mainson. 



This species replaces our eastern bluebird west of the Rocky 

 Mountains, where it is found from Wasliington Territory to 

 Mexico. Dr. Cooper states that it prefers knot-holes in the 

 woods to boxes in gardens, but will breed in crannies about the 

 house and barn and become very tame. It merely lines the hole, 

 using fine dry grass. Near San Francisco, Mr. Hepburn found a 



