354 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



This is a common species in southern California, where I 

 found it nesting commonly in the sycamores, willows and cot- 

 tonwoods as well as the live oaks along the "so-called rivers" 

 of that region and also in the eucalyptus trees of the city streets. 

 Though as a rule not as tame, the habits, nests and eggs are 

 very similar to those of the Baltimore Oriole. The call notes 

 are very similar though harsher and I never heard the sweet, 

 varied warblings and whistlings of the Baltimore Oriole emitted 

 by this species. 



Soft silken plant fibers, horsehair, cowhair and other similar 

 materials are used in making the purse shaped, pendulous nest 

 which is placed well out at the end of the drooping limbs, and 

 often so low down in the uninhabited regions that it was pos- 

 sible to pull down the branches and see into the nest. 



Four to six, usually five eggs are laid, a set, taken May 19 

 near Haskell, Texas, measuring 0,90 x 0.65, 0.90 x 0.66, 0.90 

 X 0.65, 0.91 X 0.65, 0.86 x 0.64, 0.9-3 x 0.66. This nest was 

 composed of soft fibrous plant stems and grasses and was six 

 inches high externally by five and a half internally, its exter- 

 nal diameter at bottom four inches and the internal opening 

 at the top two and a half inches. 



In southern California both birds aid in nest building, the 

 construction requiring about ten days, and an egg was laid 

 daily until the set was completed. The eggs are pale grayish 

 white, lined, spotted and streaked with brown, black, umber 

 and lilac. The markings are most numerous at the larger end. 

 Incubation was attended to by the females and required about 

 fifteen days, the young leaving the nest in as many days more. 

 Their food consisted of insects of the same general variety as 

 is eaten by the Baltimore Oriole, and in addition a few small 

 fruits, especially mulberries and cherries. 



Genus EUPHAGUS Cassin. 



509. Euphagiis carolhms (Mull.). Rusty Blackbird; 

 Rusty Grackle. 



