386 Roberts, Colony of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. [oct 



Nest XXXVI. May 17th. Built since noon May 15th; bulky lower 

 two-thirds of nest, walls very incomplete; all wet except bottom strands. 

 18th. Have added one inch to walls; wet at rim and inside; the new 

 material placed around rim and throughout interior thus keeping inside 

 of nest wet until ready for lining. 19th. Body complete and little of 

 coarse lining in place; a loose nest, can see through chinks here and there; 

 incomplete rim; among small reeds growing in water only three or four 

 inches deep. 20th to 27th. Empty; abandoned. 



Nest XXXVII. May 17th, 7 a. m. First few strands of a new nest; 

 material wet and just placed near nest XXIII (abandoned). 18th. A 

 little additional work; wet. 19th to 22d. Abandoned without further 

 work; a thin shallow basket. 



Nest XXXVIII. May 17th. Built since 6 p. m. May 15th, close by nest 

 IV which appears abandoned; a large nest nearly ready for lining; a few 

 pieces of broad bottom lining in place; very wet and walls still full of holes 

 and crevices. 18th. Walls just completed, upper inch wet and dark, 

 just placed; coarse lining loosely laid and some of upper fine lining well 

 in place. 19th. One egg; a handsome nest, well lined and with much 

 fine rim lining; dry throughout. 20th. Two eggs. 21st. Three eggs. 

 22d. One egg, no sign of other two. 23d. One egg; snail in nest. 24th. 

 One egg. 25th. One egg. 26th. One egg, cold. 27th. Same egg and 

 one Cowbird's egg deposited since yesterday! 



Nest XXXIX. May 17th. A new nest since evening of May 15th, 

 near nest XXI (an abandoned beginning) ; ragged outline of whole nest 

 but walls merely run up with coarse material, full of holes and openings 

 and entirely lacking on northeast side; very wet. 18th to 21st. Aban- 

 doned with no further work. 



Nest XL. May 17th. First few wet strands just placed. 18th and 

 19th. No further work. 20th. A little wet material added this morning. 

 21st. Abandoned. 



Nest XLI. May 17th. New structure since 5 p.m. May 15th; 

 bulky framework two-thirds complete; very wet. 18th. A little material 

 added to walls which are filled in and without holes but decidedly lower 

 than usual; a shallow and imperfect affair. 19th. Appears abandoned. 

 20th. Two or three wet strands added this morning. 21st. Good con- 

 dition but no fine lining. 22d. Same. 23d. One egg. 24th. Two 

 eggs. 25th. Three eggs. 26th. Four eggs. 27th to June 4th inclusive. 

 Four eggs. 5th. Empty; no sign of eggs. 



Nest XLII. May 17th. Foundation of nest, mostly wet. 18th. 

 Body well built; rim still incomplete and ragged; one or two broad dry 

 strips of reed-leaves in bottom. 19th. Considerable broad lining, some 

 loose and not placed. 20th and 21st. Completed; empty. 22d. One 

 egg. 23d. Two eggs. 24th. Three eggs. 25th. Three eggs. 26th. 

 Three eggs of owner and one Cowbird's egg. 27th to June 2d inclusive. 

 Same. 3d. Empty; no sign of eggs. 



Nest XLIII. May 18th. In small bunch of reeds in open place; 



