74 NESTS A. YD EGGS OF BIRDS. 



materials thev had broiisjcht. This was repeated until the foundation of 

 the nest, about an incii deep, was completed, when the female ceased 

 carrying materials, but waited for her mate's return with such soft mate- 

 rials as he could find for the lining of the nest. This was simply placed 

 upon the nest loosely, and not at all adjusted. When a considerable 

 quantity h;id been piled up. tlie female '• burrowed " into it, and turning 

 round and round, succeeded in treading down a comparatively smooth 

 depression in tlie floor of the nest, and the larger strands were rudely 

 arched over her, but did not really form a roof. In three days the nest 

 was completeil. and was nothing better than any child could have made 

 with the same materials by wrapping, winding and slapping it over 

 his fist. Not one particle of ingenuity was displayed at any time. On 

 the fourth day the first egg was laid, and on this day a cat succeeded in 

 catching the male bird. As the female did not seem to miss him very 

 much, and it was this mishap which made the subsequent study of the 

 nest and the female bird possible, 1 thanked the cat for her interference. 

 The widowed wren wandered about quite as usual, constantly uttering 

 a very cheery chirp, and gathering up a goodly quantity of insects every 

 day. One egg was laid each day, until four had been deposited, when 

 she commenced sitting. The fourth egg was pure white; the others of 

 the usual hue and markings. An interesting physiological feature of 

 the case might be profitably discussed, but will here be but briefly re- 

 ferred to. This species of wren usually lays from seven to nine eggs, 

 and hatches them all. Did the influence of the male only reach to the 

 third, or possibly the fourth Qgg'H Of the four eggs laid, the last one 

 did not hatch, and I judged from its contents that the yolk had been 

 imperfect. Again, did the death of the male bird indirectly cause the 

 shell of the fourth egg laid to be wholly colorless? The season was 

 too advanced to make any experiments during the remainder of the 

 summer. After the young were a day old, the parent bird was seldom 

 seen except for a moment at a time, when it would dart into the work- 

 shop through a knot-hole, carrying a beetle-larva or caterpillar; and, 

 giving it to them, off she would go again, usually to the roof of another 

 building, and there chirp and fairly scream, fluttering about in a dis- 

 tressed manner, as though determined to make the passers-by believe 

 she had a nest anywhere except in the spot really occupied. This habit 

 was so marked in all its features as to attract the attention of the whole 

 family; and when the workshop, which was continually visited foi- a 

 few moments at a time diu-ing the day. was occupied on her arrival with 

 food for her young, she would dart out as rapidly as she came, and go 

 through her accustomed antics on a distant roof, the while retaining 

 the food for her young in her bill. By the I2th of August the young 

 had left the nest, and in a day or two they left the neighborhood." 



