94 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



generally coarsely, with reddish brown and umber; .65 -{- .70 

 to .68 -\- .78. Known from those of some of the sparrows, 

 which they resemble, by the coarser markings. Nests composed 

 of dried grass, and placed on the ground. Breeds in Eastern 

 North America from the plains, Middle States, north to Canada, 

 in June. 



494a. Western Bobolink, DoUchonyx orizyvorus albi- 

 nucha. Eggs, indistinguishable from those of No. 494. Breeds 

 in Dakota westward to Utah and Nevada, north to Manitoba. 



495. CowBiRD, Molothrtts ater. Eggs, rounded oval, white, 

 spotted and blotched, often so profusely as to obscure the 

 ground color ; placed in the nests of other birds ; .65 -|- .70 to 

 .68 -|- .75. Breeds throughout the United States, from the 

 Nortliern Gulf States into Southern British America, in May 

 and June. 



495«. Dwarf Cowbird, Molothrus ater obscurus. Eggs, 

 similar to those of No. 495, but they are not as thickly spotted, 

 as a rule, and are smaller ; .33 -1- .60 to .55 -|- .70. Breeds in 

 Southern United States, from Texas to Arizona and Lower 

 California, south into Mexico, placing its eggs in the nests of 

 other birds. April and May. 



496. Bronzed Cowbird, Callothrus robnshis. Eggs, varying 

 from oval to elliptical, greenish white, unspotted ; .65 -f- -^^ to 

 .75 -j- .95. Breeds in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, 

 Texas, and southward, placing its eggs in the nests of other 

 birds, in April and May. 



497. Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xantho- 

 cephalus. Eggs, 5 or 6, oblong oval, pale green, profusely 

 spotted with yellowish brown, with an occasional line of umber 

 on the larger end ; .65 -|- 1.00 to .70 -|- 1.05. Nests placed 

 in reeds, composed of grass neatly woven together, in a cup- 

 shaped structure. Breeds in Western North America, from 

 Wisconsin, Illinois, and Texas to the Pacific coast, in May. 



498. Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phceniceus. Eggs, 

 3 to 5 in the north, 2 or 3 in the south, oval, pale blue, spotted, 



