2 So Stockard, Nesting Habits of Mississippi Birds. \ P \\^ 



early part of June constituted the chief laying season, and the sets con- 

 sisted of four, five, and six eggs. One set of four eggs was taken April 

 21, 1S97, which was the earliest set noted. 



66. Lanius ludovicianus. Loggerhead Shrike. — This species is 

 commonly termed 'Butcher-bird,' on account of its well-known murder- 

 ous reputation. The Shrike's favorite nesting places were orchard trees 

 or the hawthorn bushes of open pastures. The nest was comparatively 

 large and usually composed of a number of different materials but it was 

 almost invariably thickly lined with wool and feathers. The sets con- 

 tained either five or six eggs, the one number about as often as the other. 

 March 30, 1S9S, was the earliest date of observing a complete set, and 

 June 2, 1899, was the latest day on which eggs were found. 



67. Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Vireo. — The Red eyed was the most 

 plentiful vireo observed, and was usually to be found in all small brakes 

 and woods. The pensile nest was swung from a small fork about ten 

 feet up, though one was situated sixty feet from the ground in the top- 

 most boughs of a gum tree. Three or four eggs constituted the sets. 

 The extreme dates of finding full sets were May 9, 1S97, and June 14, 

 1899. The birds were very shy when nesting. On leaving three partial 

 sets to be completed, after I had merely looked into the nests, all three 

 were deserted. Whenever an unfinished nest was molested in the slightest 

 way, it was abandoned. 



68. Vireo gilvus. Warbling Vireo. — Only one nest of gilvus was 

 seen, and the birds were not at all abundant. The nest was suspended 

 from the prongs of a fork in a small oak sapling, and resembled very 

 closely that of the Red-eyed. It was eighteen feet from the ground and 

 contained a set of four fresh eggs on May 28, 1896. 



69. Vireo noveboracensis. White-eyed Vireo. — This vireo was 

 almost as frequently seen as the Red-eyed. It confines itself, so far as 

 observed, to rather deep woodlands, only in exceptional cases being seen 

 along the roadsides. The nests were found in the low bushes that 

 formed the undergrowth of woods. This nest is never to be confused 

 with that of the Red-eyed by any one who has seen several of each ; it is 

 smaller in circumference, though deeper, and has a characteristic color, 

 being composed of special material. The nests were usually placed about 

 waist high. This vireo was also provokingly willing to abandon its home 

 and eggs ; whenever the nest was slightly disturbed it was very apt to be 

 deserted, though the bird was apparently not in the vicinity when the 

 offence was committed. Three eggs constituted the sets recorded and all 

 were taken during the month of May. 



70. Seiurus aurocapillus. Oven-bird. — These birds were rare in 

 those portions of Mississippi in which I collected. Only two were seen 

 during the breeding season, though their call was occasionally heard. 

 On May 26, 1895, the only nest was taken. It was constructed of leaves, 

 grass, fibres, and straw, and was almost perfectly roofed over. This 

 structure was placed at the base of a tuft of vines and grass and contained 



