V ° l i909" VI ] Roberts, Colony of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. 381 



Nest VII. May 14th. Nearly ready for lining, a little coarse material 

 already placed. 15th. Coarse lining all in, no fine top-lining. 16th. 

 Not visited. 17th. Empty, in good condition. 18th. One egg. 19th. 

 Two eggs. 20th. Three eggs; coarse lining much disarranged and partly 

 covering eggs. 21st. Four eggs. 22d. Four eggs. 23d. Five eggs. 

 24th. Four eggs; nest loosened from its hold on reeds and has slipped 

 down about two feet, now within one foot of water, which is six inches 

 deep; scattered strands left hanging all up and down reeds where nest 

 had slipped. 25th. Four eggs; nest torn and frayed out on one side. 

 26th. Four eggs, warm. 27th to 31st inclusive. Four eggs. June 1st. 

 Two young birds, two eggs. 2d. Three young birds, one egg. 3d. 

 Empty; nest clean. 



Nest VIII. May 14th. Completed; still wet at top in places, protected 

 from sun and wind by thick reeds. 15th. Empty. 16th. Not visited. 

 17th. Empty, bottom lining a little disarranged. ISth. Empty, more 

 disarranged. 19th to 21st. Abandoned. 



Nest IX. May 14th- Completed and entirely dry, exposed to sun and 

 air. 15th. Empty; adding fine lining around rim. 16th. Not visited. 

 17th. Empty. 18th to 21st. Abandoned. 



Nest X. May 14th. Body finished but still wet nearly throughout 

 owing to protection from sun and wind; large pieces of reed leaves forming 

 bottom of lining already in; first strands of fine lining just placed. 15th. 

 About complete, still damp and soft. 16th. Not visited. 17th. One 

 egg; nest dry and firm. 18th. One egg. 19th. Two eggs. 20th 

 Three eggs. 21st. Four eggs. 22d. Five eggs. 23d to 30th inclusive. 

 Five eggs. 31st. One egg hatched. June 1st. Two eggs hatched. 

 2d. Three eggs hatched. 3d. Five eggs hatched. 4th. Empty, except 

 two feet of young birds and several small pieces of flesh left in nest. 



Nest XI. May 14th. Ready for lining; one wide dry leaf in place; 

 upper part of sides and interior of nest still wet. 15th. Coarse lining 

 nearly complete, no fine lining; a very large and deep nest. 16th. Not 

 visited. 17th. Same as on loth.; no fine lining. 18th. Empty, no fine 

 lining at rim. 19th. One egg. 20th. Two eggs. 21st. Three eggs. 

 22d. Four eggs. 23d to 31st inclusive. Four eggs. June 1st. One 

 young bird, three eggs. 2d. Three young birds, one egg. 3d. Four 

 young birds. 4th- Four young birds; pin-feathers just starting on two 

 of them. 5th. Four young birds; pin-feathers on two about one-half 

 inch long. 6th. Not visited. 7th. Four young birds; pin-feathers one 

 inch long on three and one-half inch long on the fourth. 8th. Four young 

 birds ; tips of brown feathers beginning to show, giving a general brownish 

 hue to the nestlings. 9th. Empty; blood on inside of nest. 



Nest XII. May 14th- A completed and entirely dry nest; bottom 

 lining of large pieces of reed-leaves three-fourths inch wide. 15th. Lining 

 torn out and disarranged; some of the fine reed-tops and broad bottom 

 lining lying across top of nest. 17th. Badly disarranged and plainly 

 deserted. 



