Vol. XVIII 

 1901 



j T^ivt^yw'E.v.i^, Nesting Habits of Evenitig Grosbeak. 39 T 



net on the end of a trout-rod and loosened the nest from the 

 bough. There were four eggs, in color, size, form, texture and 

 markings indistinguishable from those of the Red-winged Black- 

 bird. 



The sitting bird left her trust only when the cries of warning 

 from her mate became most frantic, and the pair were loudly 

 assisted by two other Grosl:)eaks, who flew madly about with them. 

 Only the female was taken, the male perching far out of harm's way. 



The next nest, the one found in the spruce tree June 25, was 

 harder to get. As we approached the tree, but ten rods from the 

 other, all the Grosbeaks in the neighborhood seemed to have 

 taken the alarm and to keep a corresponding silence. This nest 

 was not so well hidden. From the ground we could see the sitting 

 bird, seemingly calm in her dizzy cradle, which swayed in the 

 gentle breeze at the end of the long, slender branch, 46 feet above 

 us. Moreover, a fact important to the egg-crank, there was no 

 branch above or below the nest for some distance. Only a small 

 twig helped to hold the frail structure in place. 



With a long rope tied to himself and the tree trunk, Mr. Birtwell 

 crawled out on the all too small branch to a point where he could 

 reach with outstretched hand to loosen the precious, egg-filled 

 nest, and placed it between his teeth. Thus burdened, he 

 cautiously backed to comparative safety and there packed the 

 three blue treasures in cotton. The owners of this nest had to 

 mourn alone, no others of their tribe appearing. Both birds were, 

 with difficulty, shot. Both flew. The female was found in hiding, 

 standing behind a small gray weed. The male eluded us and, as 

 we had at least one more Grosbeak's nest to collect, we deter- 

 mined that the next must furnish a male bird, if it took a day's 

 work. 



As may be conjectured, this nest was more strongly built than 

 the first, the difference being in the greater amount of material 

 used and the more secure fastening to the bough. But certain it 

 is that the Evening Grosbeak puts little work into the building of 

 her nest. The outside is of a few rather coarse sticks. Usnea is 

 wadded together next and fine rootlets make the lining. 



Both sets of eggs were slightly incubated so that we concluded 

 that the second set of three was complete. 



