^ O 'i90^ 1 ] Roberts, Colony of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. 385 



nest, except no fine lining but coarse lining extends to top; appears like 

 completed nest. 19th. Empty; a little fine lining at rim; nest not much 

 contracted at rim. 20th and 21st. Empty. 22d. One egg. 23d. Two 

 eggs. 24th. Three eggs. 25th. Four eggs. 26th to June 3d inclusive. 

 Four eggs. 4th. Empty; no sign of eggs or soiling of nest. 



Nest XXIX. May 15th. Bulky and loose foundation; dry, appears 

 abandoned. 16th to 20th. Abandoned. 



Nest XXX. May 15th. Completed nest ; lining all in; almost entirely 

 dry and firm; nest somewhat tipped. 16th. Not visited. 17th. Empty; 

 nest near edge of reed-clump where water at present is only three or four 

 inches deep. 18th. Empty. 19th. One egg, 20th. Two eggs. 21st. 

 Only one egg remaining; the other cannot be found; nearly all the fine 

 rim lining and most of the coarse bottom lining has been torn out and lies 

 on water and among reeds; rim of nest on one side torn and ragged; the 

 walls reduced to thin shell full of holes. 22d. Two eggs. 23d. Two 

 eggs; twelve snails in nest ; apparently abandoned. 24th to 26th. Aban- 

 doned. 



Nest XXXI. May 15th. Beginnings of a nest, first shapeless lashings 

 of reed-stems together. 16th to 20th. Abandoned without further work. 



Nest XXXII. May 15th. First dozen strands of nest, upper one wet, 

 so just placed. 17th. Abandoned after very little further work. 



Nest XXXIII. May 17th. Shallow basket-like structure, first wet 

 beginnings of a nest. 18th. Walls about completed, but still loose and 

 with crevices; very wet and dark; a few broad pieces of dry reed-leaves in 

 place. 19th. Complete except last strands of fine lining; a well built, 

 pretty nest, neatly lined. 20th. Empty; one piece of broad lining lying 

 loose in nest. 21st. Empty; in good condition. 22d. One egg. 23d. 

 Two eggs. 24th. Two eggs. 25th. Three eggs. 26th. Two eggs; 

 neither inside of nest nor remaining eggs soiled. 27th to June 3d inclusive. 

 Two eggs, warm when visited on 31st. Jfth. Empty; shell of one egg 

 lodged on reeds under nest. 



Nest XXXIV. May 17th. Built since 5 p. m. May 15th, three feet 

 from nest XXI and probably by the bird that abandoned that attempt; 

 framework half completed, walls thin and full of holes, rim not yet reached: 

 wet throughout. 18th. Completed and well lined, both coarse and fine 

 lining; a well built, compact, bulky and pretty nest. 19th to 21st inclusive. 

 Empty but in good condition. 22d. One egg. 23d. Two eggs. 24th. 

 Three eggs. 25th. Four eggs; whole set marked with light reddish 

 brown giving an unusual reddish-brown cast to the eggs, all with conspic- 

 uous hair-line scrawl-markings at larger ends. 26th to June 3d inclusive. 

 Four eggs. June 4th. One young bird, three eggs. 5th. Two young 

 birds, two eggs. 6th. Not visited. 7th. Empty; no sign of birds or 

 eggs. 



Nest XXXV. May 17th. A new nest since 6 p. m. May 15th; com- 

 pleted except fine lining a little of which is in place. 18th. Same; no fine 

 lining of any account; appears finished. 19th. Lining and rim disar- 

 ranged; seems abandoned. 20th and 21st. Abandoned. 



