ROSE-BREAS TED GROSBEAK. 29 
nor of her mate even, though we hear them both anxiously consulting 
together at a little distance. | The nest is not such an elegant affair as 
might be desired ; it is, in fact, bulky and rude, if not actually sloven- 
ly. It is formed entirely of the long, slender, tortuous stems of woody 
climbers, and similar stout rootlets; the base and outer walls being very 
loosely interlaced, the inner more compactly woven, with a tolerably firm 
brim of circularly disposed fibres. | Sometimes there is a little horse 
hair lining, oftener not. A very complete nest before me is difficult 
to measure from its loose outward construction, but may be called six 
inches across outside, by four deep; the cavity three inches wide, by one 
anda half deep. The nest contained three eggs, which I think is the 
usual number in this latitude; four I have only found once. The 
eggs are usually rather elongate, but obtuse at the smaller end. Differ- 
ent specimens measure, 1.00 by 0.75, 1.08 by 0.70, 1.03 by 0.75, 1.02 
by 0.72; 0.96 by 0.76; by which dimensions the variation in shape is 
denoted. The average is about that of the first measurement given. 
They are of a light and rather pale green color, profusly speckled with dull 
reddish-brown, usually in small and also rather diffuse pattern, but some- 
times quite sharpely marked ; the sharper markings are usually the small- 
est. There is sometimes much confluence, or at least aggregation, about 
the greater end, but the whole surface is always marked. Most of these 
eggs were taken in the latter part of June, some by the end of the 
month ; in all, incubation was in progress.” —/ézd. 
My brother, Sam., has handed me the following measurements of 
two sets of eggs in’his collection. Set of 3, No. 1, .99 by .74 in.; No. 
Shoo Wye 753; ING:=aNt. Oo by 70. Set-of 4,7 No. ft; 1210 by .7 51m"; 
IN@: 2; 1.08 ‘by 755 No. 3,1:05 by :73 5, Nos 4, 1.00 by 74. 
