NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 281 



The nest represented in our illustration is taken from a typical speci- 

 men which I took from the branches of a sycamore in Franklin 

 county, Ohio, May 23, 1884 ; other specimens in my collection are not 

 so elaborately made. 



The number of eggs laid ranges from four to six. The ground-color 

 is white, with a slight roseate tinge when fresh, fading into a bluish 

 tint when blown, marked with blotches, lines, scrawls, and the usual 

 hieroglyphics common to eggs of this genus, irregularly distributed 

 over the surface, usually thickest about the larger end, forming a 

 wreath. Mr. Norris has two sets of this species' eggs that are entirely 

 unmarked. A set of five measure, respectively, .82 x .62, .80 x .62, 

 .78X.60, .84X.64, .87X.63; another set, four in number, i.oox.64, 1.04 

 X.64, .98X.64, 1. 08 x. 67. A common size of the Baltimore Oriole's 

 egg is .92 X .62. 



508. Icterus bullocki (Swains.) [272.] 



Bullock's Oriole. 



Hab. Western United States east to and including the Rocky Mountains, soutk in winter to Mexico. 



This is the western counterpart of the Baltimore from the Central 

 Plains to the Pacific. The nests and eggs of the two species are 

 hardly distinguishable. Mr. Shields says that Bullock's Oriole is not 

 a common summer resident of Los Angeles county, California, and 

 it begins building about May i. Twenty sets, consisting of four and 

 five eggs respectively, collected by Mr. R. B. Herron, in the latter part 

 of May and first of June, at San Gorgonia Pass, California, are before 

 me. In comparing them with a large series of /. galbula^ the only 

 difference, apparently, is that the ground-color of those of bullocki is 

 of a paler and clearer bluish tint, upon which the markings stand 

 out in bolder contrast.^ The average size of fifteen specimens is 

 .94X.62. The sizes of an average set of four are .89 x.64, •93X.66, 

 .93X.66, .89X.65. 



509. Scolecopliagus carolinus (Mull.) [273.] 



Rusty Blackbird. 



Hab. Eastern and Northern North America, west to Alaska and the Great Plains. Breeds from 

 Northern United States northward. 



The Rusty Grackle or Thrush Blackbird is only a migratory 

 species in most of the United States, and is only seen in small flocks 

 in the spring and fall during its passages north and south. Breeds 

 from the northern States northward. Mr. Ernest E. Thompson states 

 that it is an abundant migrant in Western Manitoba, and breeds com- 



* A set of five eggs in this series, taken June 8, seems to be unique in their ground-color and markings. 

 They are yellowish-buff, with a homogeneous mass of regular and irregular concentric rings about the larger 

 ends, mingled with a few spots, blotches and bold streaks. These are of a rich reddish-brown, varying in in- 

 tensity, even approaching black. There are also underlying circles and spots of purple. Their sizes are 

 .87 X .65, .88 X .66, .92 x .65, .93 x .54, .95 x .66. 



