iSSs.] Scott on the Breeding Habits of ScoWs Oriole. C 



general shape differs, however, as they are much more pointed at 

 one end and flattened at the other, the shape reminding one of the 

 eggs of some of the Plovers. They measure .92 X .71, .93 X 

 .78, .91 X .70, .88 X .69. The sewing of the nest reaches on 

 two of the leaves four inches; on one, five inches; on one, 

 three inches ; and on the other two. an inch and a half. The 

 nest is fastened to the leaves about five inches from where they 

 join the stem or trunk of the plant, and the leaves to which 

 it is fastened are rather more than twenty inches long. - 



"Second nest of May 30.. Similar in location to the first nest 

 of same date and built in same kind of plant. Composed of 

 grasses and yucca fiber, the later mainly, and has in the inside 

 at bottom a very thick lining of cotton-waste. Is semi-pen- 

 sile, and is sewed to four green leaves — to one for six inches, the 

 entire wall of the nest for its whole length being fastened. A 

 second is sewed only for half an inch to the wall very close to 

 the bottoni of the nest. A third is very similar in its point of 

 attachment, only that it is fastened for a little more than an inch, 

 and the last is fastened for three inches in the ordinary way. 

 The nest is very uneven in shape externally, being fully six inches 

 deep on one side and not more than two inches deep on the 

 other. The nest has an interior diameter of four and a quarter 

 inches, and is very shallow and cup-shaped, being only two and 

 a quarter inches deep at its deepest part. Four fresh eggs are 

 the contents, and thev varv only in not being so pointed as the 

 other set of May 30. They are rather larger than any others 

 measured, being 1.01 X .72. 1.02 X .70. .97 X .70, 1.02 X .73. 

 The general shape of the nest is an uneven, one-sided cup, with 

 its greatest external diameter four and three-quarters inches. It 

 is attached to the leaves about seven inches from the trunk of the. 

 plant, and the leaves to which it is attached are twenty-six inches 

 long. It is built but little more than three feet from the ground, 

 and partially concealed by over-hanging leaves." 



The cotton and cotton-waste were doubtless picked up by the 

 birds about the house and near a mill but a little distance 

 away, 'where the waste is used in polishing machinery, etc. 



Some pairs of the birds, at least, raise two broods during the 

 season. A fifth nest, completing my series, was found just 

 finished on June 26. and all the eggs, three in number, were 

 deposited by July 1. when the nest was taken. ft was built in a 



