396 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
swaying with the motion of the reed to which it is affixed, built 
of the same materials as those which support it, which are woven 
and plaited together ; no mud is used, nor is there any special 
lining ; the brim is thick and somewhat folded over, like the seam 
of a garment; but I never saw a nest, among the many examined, 
which was arched over, as stated by some authors. The diameter 
outside is five or six inches, and the depth nearly as much. From 
three to six eggs or young birds were found in different nests ; 
the former measure about an inch and an eighth in length by 
three-fourths of an inch in breadth. The ground-colour is gray- 
ish-green; this is thickly spotted with different shades of reddish- 
brown, sometimes so profusely that the ground colour is obscured, 
especially at the larger end. (Cowes.) At Crane Lake, Assa., 
there was a large colony of these birds which were nesting in a 
marsh where the water was almost three feet deep. I found that 
this depth of water round the edge of a reedy pond kept out 
foxes and coyotes, and here ducks of various kinds, black terns 
and coots nested in great numbers. All the nests taken by me 
were slight structures and always fastened to leaves or stems of 
cat-tail, (7ypha latifolia). Eggs or young in nest were from three 
to five, never six. (MJacoun.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Four; one procured by Dr. A. R. C. Selwyn, in Manitoba in 
1885 ; two taken at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1892, by W. 
Spreadborough; and one at Grizzly Bear Coulée, Alta., June, 1886, 
by Mr. Dowling. 
Four sets of eggs, ranging from three to five, taken at Crane 
Lake, Assa., on June 8th, 1894. There were many other nests 
containing young or partly incubated eggs. 
CLXXVIII. AGELAIUS Vieittor. 1816. 
498. Red-winged Blackbird. 
Agelaius phamceus phaeniceus (LIiNN.) RipGw. Igol. 
A very rare summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Dowmns.) A rare 
species in Kings Co., N.S. (AH. Tufts.) One pair at Cove Head 
Mill, Prince Edward Island, 5th July, 1888. (A7acoun.) A common 
summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A rare 
summer resident at Scotch Lake, York Co., but abundant at Grand 
Lake and at Bindon, Carleton Co., N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Taken 
