Vol. XXII 

 1905 



Stockard, Nesting Habits of Mississippi Birds. 27^ 



nest on the ground. No doubt this serves them well in drawing off other 

 animal intruders from their eggs and young. I have seen an untrained 

 dog follow a bird for many yards snapping at her every few paces until 

 she was a safe distance from her nest when she arose and flew swiftly 

 away to a perch from which she might watch results. The pursuer was 

 so dismayed at her ability to escape that he would rarely turn to go back 

 in the direction of the nest, and it was highly probable that in his intense 

 interest in the chase the nest was entirely overlooked. The extreme dates 

 of noting these eggs were April 29, 189S, and June 7, 1S96. 



49. Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. — This species was rather 

 abundant in all parts of Mississippi while the following one, galbula, was 

 locally distributed. The cup-shaped nest of spurius is easily found in 

 orchard trees as well as in the trees along roadsides and in many groves. 

 Though the nest is not quite so deep as that of the Baltimore it is just as 

 artistically constructed yet not so gracefully swung. The grass forming 

 the outer nest wall is in some cases a rich golden while in others it has a 

 decided greenish tinge, giving in each instance a neat new appearance. 

 On May 17, 1900, a set of seven eggs of this species was taken, which is 

 larger than any other set that the writer has seen recorded for this bird. 

 The earliest full set was found May 4, 1899, and the latest on June S, 

 1900. Most sets contained five eggs but six was not uncommon. Finally 

 mention should be made of two nests that were extremely interesting in 

 their uniqueness. In both cases these nests were completely hidden and 

 tucked away in large masses of Spanish moss which swung from the 

 limbs of live oak trees. The birds had worked their way into the moss 

 and constructed their nest, using, however, the ordinary building material 

 and not the moss which served only to conceal and suspend their home. 

 These nests were very attractive pieces of bird work. 



50. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. — The distribution of this 

 bird was rather remarkable ; in many counties it was not seen at all, 

 while in other parts of the State it was as plentiful as the Orchard Oriole. 

 Adams County was more highly favored by its presence than any other 

 section closely observed. 1 found near Natchez as many as four occupied 

 nests in a single oak tree. The nests were either tied or plaited to the 

 prongs or forks with cotton cord or various strings, and when these 

 seemed not available grass blades and stems served equally as well. The 

 sets were generally composed of five eggs and were all collected during 

 the month of May. 



51. Quiscalus quiscula. Purple Grackle. — These grackles were 

 found nesting in the treesof small marshes and also in the large oaks 

 and gums of hill sides. They nested more or less in company and no 

 nest was found situated alone. Several nests were often placed in the 

 same tree. In the Lowndes County marsh mentioned in connection with 

 the Red-winged Blackbirds this grackle also nested in large numbers. 

 Their nests were placed overhead in the gum and willow trees while the 

 Redwings occupied the bushes below. On May 30, 1896, in this marsh 



