2 26 Brown, Bencfire's T/iras/ter. [^Jj'' 



The first week in March will frequently find them nesting, 

 and the middle of April preparations for a second brood are well 

 under way, but, taken over a long series of years, the beginning of 

 April generally sees them busy with their first house making. I 

 have never been able to fully determine the exact number of fam- 

 ilies raised by one pair of birds during a season. Of two there 

 can be no question, but a third is in doubt, although I have known 

 the nesting season to last three full months and a half. To be 

 more exact, February 24 is the earliest and July 18 the latest 

 record I have in mind for one year. February 9 is the date of 

 their earliest known arrival, but at that time they were gathered in 

 small flocks and were not mated. 



With rare exceptions four eggs are the maximum number 

 laid. I have examined probably 500 nests, two only of which 

 contained more. They had five eggs each. Four is not an vm- 

 usual number, but three is a normal set. The 32 sets of which 

 measurement and descriptions are given can be taken as showing 

 the general average, although they were selected with a view to 

 coloration and size irrespective of the number of eggs to the set. 



To the late Major Charles F. Bendire I am indebted for the 

 following measurements and description of the 10 1 specimens 

 here enumerated. 



