2^6 Stockard, Nesting Habit* of Mississippi Birds. ftu^ 



fourteen occupied nests of the grackle were found. In Oktibbeha County 

 was a low hill-top on which stood about ten large gum trees, and the Pur- 

 ple Crackles built in these each season. Most sets contained five eggs but 

 four was not an uncommon complement. The earliest set was noted May 

 3, 1S96, and the latest June 6, 1899. 



52. Quiscalus major. Boat-tailed Grackle. — These birds were 

 rarely seen, but on one occasion a marsh was visited in which they 

 nested, though it was too late for their laying season, the date being June 

 21. The newly fledged young were fluttering about and many of the 

 adults were flying nervously from tree to tree. 1 



53. Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. — As in almost all parts 

 of the country this sparrow is truly a nuisance in Mississippi. No one 

 after observing can doubt the fact that these pests are driving many 

 native birds into the background. They have taken possession of many 

 martin houses, bluebird and woodpeckers' nests, as well as every other 

 available cavity they can find. They nest under the eaves of houses and 

 in the vines clinging to the walls of buildings. Thus some buildings with 

 vine-covered walls have at times become almost uninhabitable on account 

 of the bird lice that wander all through the house from the nests in the 

 vines. There was a church in Columbus the walls of which were com- 

 pletely covered with ivy and the ivy was almost as completely filled with 

 sparrows' nests. Permission was obtained to raid this colony and in one 

 day four hundred and fifty-nine eggs were taken and about seven hundred 

 young sparrows were killed. The mass of hay and trash used in build- 

 ing these nests was astonishing; it at least can never be held against the 

 sparrow that she is too lazy to carry nest material unless on account of 

 their compound nests mentioned below. Several compound nests were 

 found, one a large ball of hay with three small openings each leading to a 

 separate feather-lined chamber containing a set of eggs. Single nests 

 were also seen containing a brood of feathered young and a set of slightly 

 incubated eggs, which were probably warmed by the young, but of course 

 this cannot be positively stated. In Mississippi these birds nest during 

 almost the entire year, but no exact data were obtained as to the total 

 number of sets produced bv a single pair within twelve months. 



54. Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. — This sparrow was rather 

 common along the edges of sparse woods and in young pine brakes. All 

 nests found were hidden in the thick foliage of young pines from four to 

 fifteen feet above the ground. A number of pairs were accustomed to 

 nest year after year in the same young pine brake. May 7 the earliest set 

 was taken, and sets were seen as late as June 10. 



55. Spizella pusilla. Field Sparrow. — These birds select various 



1 Since this paper was sent to the printer I have found three large colonies 

 of Boat-tailed Grackles nesting in Washington County. They began laying 

 April 28, and all the sets contained five eggs each. 



