15 



cut off from further observation on this pair of Cardinals until 

 1891 when I again made Waynesburg my permanent residence. 

 On May 5i.h., of that year, I took a slightly incubated abnormal 

 set from a nest in the thicket along the creek bank not far from 

 the former site, which I firmly believe were the product of the 

 same female, so precise are their characteristics. Since 1891 I 

 have given the birds, nesting in the lower part of the field, but 

 little attention, the place having become a common resort for 

 the everlastingly bothersome small boys who harrass the birds 

 much. 



From my observations on these three pairs I would infer 

 that abnormalism is of frequent occurrence with them. 



In these particular cases, two substantial causes for abnor- 

 malities are apparent— that of weakness or temporary loss of cer- 

 tain functions of the reproductive organs, or of old age of the 

 birds. The Bluebird's eggs which verged on albinism from year 

 to year, became true albinos when circumstances compelled the 

 old bird to lay swo sets in rapid succession, although two broods 

 is the common thing with the species here. The Red-tail's eggs 

 which were unusually small one year were still smaller the next 

 —one being an undeniable runt. The Cardinal's eggs carried 

 with them unmistakable individuality in abnormal as well as 

 normal respects, although three years intervened between the 

 laying of the sets. 



Just whether the females were very aged I cannot say, but 

 certainly they were not immature birds as my observations on 

 the breeding of the former and latter cover a number of years, 

 and in the second case the birds were in the adult plumage at 

 the heginning of my acquaintance with them. 



From Mr. Knight's observations on the oological perform- 

 ances of his caged Pine Grosbeak during 1896 I draw the follow- 

 ing which would strengthen the theory that abnormalities are 

 due to weakness of, or temporary loss of certain functions of the 

 reproductive organs; and is also of frequent occurrence with 

 certain individuals. 



Six sets were laid, in all nineteen eggs, during the season. 

 The dates on which they were laid and their respective meas- 

 urements are as follows: 



First Set. Third Set, Fifth Set. 



May 18, .89x.69 June 12, .62x.41 July 15, .95x.64 



" 19, .87x.65 " 13, .96x.66 " 16, .87x.63 



" 20, .85x.64 " 14, .91x65 " 17, .83x. 59 



" 21, .92X.64 



Second Set. Fourth Set. Sixth Set. 



June 4, .97x.68 June 27, .94(?Jx.64 (dented at end) July,29, .86.x65 

 " 5, .92x.66 " 28, .87x.64 " 30, .90x.63 



" 6,(brok'n) " 29, .87x.62 " 31, .90x.61 



