I04 JVESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



most furiously until the weaker was forced to give way and take to flight. 

 On several occasions I have seen two males, after fighting among the 

 branches for a long time, clinc:h and come fluttering together to the 

 water beneath, where for several minutes the contest continued upon the 

 surface until both were fairly drenched. The males rarely meet in the 

 mating season without fighting, even though no female may be near. 

 Sometimes one of them turns tail at the outset ; and the other at once 

 givin"' chase, the pursuer and pursued separated by a few inches only 

 go darting through the woods, winding, doubling, now careering away 

 up among the tree-tops, now down over the water, sweeping close to the 

 surface until the eye becomes weary with following their mad flight. 

 During all this time the female usually busies herself with feeding, appar- 

 ently entirely unconcerned as to the issue. Upon the return of the con- 

 queror her indifterence, real or assumed, vanishes, he receives a warm 

 welcome, and matters are soon arranged between them. 



The nesting of the prothonotary warbler affords the most interesting 

 phase of its life history. Audubon's account of its nest, "fixed in the 

 folk of a small twig bending over the water." seems in the light of our 

 present knowledge open to serious doubts. At least, it is not the mode 

 of nidification used in the places where it is best known at the present 

 day. Mr. B. F. Goss of Neosho Falls. Kansas, first brought to light 

 the fact that in that locality the bird invariably nested in holes of trees 

 or buildings. Since his discovery of the first nest in 1863, others sim- 

 ilarly situated have been found by Dr. Palmer and Mr. Robert Ridgway. 

 at the Kiowa Agency, Indian Territory, and at Mount Carmel. 111. The 

 first nest collected the past season was found by Mr. Ridgway on April 

 27. It contained four fresh eggs. This was probably an exceptionally 

 early date, as nearly a week elapsed before any other eggs were taken ; 

 and, indeed, the greater proportion of a large number collected between 

 May 8 and May 12 were freshly laid. At least forty nests were exam- 

 ined altogether, about one-half of which contained eggs. To give an 

 account of all the various situations in which these nests were placed 

 would entail a description of nearly every conceivable kind of hole or 

 cavity that can be found in tree-trunks. The typical nesting-site, how- 

 ever, was the deserted hole of the downy woodpecker or Carolina 

 chickadee. The height varied from two to fifteen feet, though the usual 

 elevation was about four. If the cavity was old and broken out. or 

 otherwise enlarged, it was far more apt to be chosen than a neater and 

 newer one close at hand. The stump selected almost invariably stood 

 in or projected over water, although, as above stated, it was oftentimes 

 left high and dry after the eggs were laid. 



Of the many exceptions to the above-described typical site. I will 

 here notice only two of the most marked. A nest discovered May 8, 



