30 



average, 356. The average number of pieces brought in one 

 visit was 4. In the observations of the eighth day, the greatest 

 number of pieces was fed from 6 to 7 p. m. For the five days, 

 lepidopterous larvje comprise one half of the food pieces ; earth- 

 worms, 28.8% ; ants, 6.6% ; Diptera, i.l'^c ; and Coleoptera, Or- 

 thoptera, Myriapoda, adult Lepidoptera and other winged insects 

 the remainder. Certain species were especially prominent in the 

 diet, and of these, specimens were captured and identified as 

 above mentioned. Some of them are of considerable economic 

 significance. In passing it may be stated that the data ob- 

 tained throw interesting light on certain problems in entomology. 



The weights of the three young birds increased very rapidly 

 until about the tenth day, after which they remained practically 

 stationary save for the nocturnal shrinkage and diurnal gain. 

 There was a slight daily increase during these last few days in 

 the nest. 



In many particulars the observations show important varia- 

 tions from previous accounts of observations made under less 

 favorable conditions. 



P>om the view-point of behavior, or comparative psychology, 

 some notes of interest were taken. Almost invariably, after 

 feeding, the excrement was promptly voided, the parent wait- 

 ing for this act and usually swallowing the excreta. The nest 

 was not soiled. The sun shone directly upon the nest for about 

 one hour each day, during which time the female brooded in 

 striking attitude. At one time when the young had been 

 weighed in a bowl and the bowl had been placed upon the sill 

 close to the nest preparatory to returning the nestlings, the 

 mother appeared and brooded for some time upon the empty 

 nest, utterly indififercnt to the presence of the young in the 

 bowl. We can not liere refer to many other ob.servations of 

 interest. 



The June brood was under observation throughout the entire 

 sixth and seventh days (June 24 and 25), paralleling the data 

 for corresponding days in the May brood. All-day observation 

 was resumed on the thirteenth day, as in the case of the May 

 brood, but the young left the nest during the morning of that 



