384 Roberts, Colony of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Vo^t 



2d. Two young birds, two eggs. 3d. Empty; both young birds and 

 both unhatched eggs gone, no trace of either. 



Nest XXIII. May 15th. Completed and dry nest; an abandoned 

 attempt at a nest, consisting only of foundation, eight inches below bottom 

 of this nest. 16th. Not visited. 17th. Empty; appears abandoned. 

 18th. Empty; lining all pulled out. 19th to 21st. Empty; evidently 

 abandoned. 



Nest XXIV. May loth. Beginnings of a nest; damp but appears 

 deserted. 16th. Not visited. 17th. Not much further work, only one 

 damp strand apparently recently placed. 18th. Missed. 19th. Walls 

 as to height about completed but full of holes, two of the latter are large 

 open spaces; top and all of inside freshly laid and wet; a ragged, crude 

 nest. 20th. Still adding new material to walls, wet and dark colored; 

 dry nearly to rim outside; a few pieces of broad lining. 21st. Broad 

 lining complete; no fine rim lining; quite dry. 22d. Same. 23d. One 

 egg. 24th. Two eggs. 25th. Two eggs. 26th. Three eggs. 27th. 

 Three eggs. 28th. Not visited. 29th. Empty, no sign of eggs; nest 

 not soiled nor torn; two and one-half feet above water which is very 

 shallow. 30th to June 3d. Empty. 



Nest XXV. May 15th. Nearly completed framework but still full 

 of holes and upper edge still ragged and unfinished; wet. This nest is in 

 an open place and could not have been overlooked yesterday; apparently 

 it has been built thus far in last twenty-four hours. Female after working 

 all day, began about 5.15 p. m. to pull nest to pieces and begin a new nest 

 about fifteen feet away, using at first the old material. 16th. Not visited. 

 17th to 21st. Abandoned; very little material removed. 



Nest XXVI. May 15th. 6 p. m. First few strands of a new nest, not 

 more than six or eight pieces; nearly dry, just removed from nest No. XXV 

 which the female is pulling to pieces and removing to this place fifteen feet 

 away. 16th. Not visited. 17th. A large bulky deep body, walls full 

 height but still full of holes; wet except the strands at bottom. 18th. 

 Abandoned after being almost ready for lining. 19th. Same; no further 

 work; a loose poor structure. Nests III, XXV, XXVI and XLIV were 

 built by the same bird and abandoned at various stages; all badly and 

 loosely constructed; all near together. (See nest XLIII which was her 

 finished product). 



Nest XXVII. May 15th. First strands of nest; dry and perhaps 

 abandoned. 17th. No further work; abandoned. 



Nest XXVIII. May 15th. First dozen strands of a nest; dry material; 

 tying crossing reeds together; probably abandoned attempt. 16th. 

 Not visited. 17th. The above attempt was abandoned and to-day there 

 is a bulky well built nest directly over it at a distance of twelve inches; 

 walls complete and first strands of broad and fine lining being placed at 

 same time; walls very wet and soggy and dark colored. These birds, 

 both male and female, show much more concern than usual, both flying and 

 perching about and croaking in a worried manner. 18th. Completed 



