NESTING HABITS OF HERMIT THRUSH 11 



The insect fed to the nestling at 8 :08 was secured by the fe- 

 male not more than a foot from the nest. She left her brooding 

 only long enough to capture the insect and to feed it to the 

 nestling then resumed her place on the nest. 



At 11:34 both parents appeared at the nest with food at 

 about the same time, an unusual occurrence. 



At 11 :52 A. M. and again at 3 -.02 p. ii. one of the nestlings 

 defecated without having been fed. The excreta sac was taken 

 from the vent of the nestling and swallowed by the brooding 

 female on both occasions. 



At 4:50 the female picked and ate blueberries near the nest 

 but offered none to the nestlings. At no time during our obser- 

 vations were the voung offered berries or fruit. 



