86 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



We are positive upon this point, for the follow- 

 ing reasons. The occupancy of nests by the 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren; the presence of eggs 

 thickly marked with blotches and spots of a deep 

 chocolate brown, so as to present an almost uni- 

 form color so strikingly constrastive with the pure 

 white eggs of C. stellaris ; and, lastly, the great 

 numbers of T. pahistris everywhere seen ; form an 

 array of evidence not to be lightly considered. 



It may be argued that the nest of a very close 

 ally has been forcibly taken possession of. The 

 absence of any positive knowledge tending to show 

 the existence of such a pilfering propensity, nulli- 

 fies any such presumption. It is true that the 

 cavity which a hard-working Woodpecker has 

 constructed at infinite pains, is Appropriated by a 

 different species, in a few instances. But we have 

 yet to meet with a case, for example, where the 

 Baltimore Oriole has stolen and occupied the nest 

 of Icterus spurius. This would be an anomalous 

 occurrence. Birds, as a rule which admits of no 

 variations, prefer their own workmanship to those 

 of strangers'. 



The typical nest of -this species is described as 

 being "made externally of coarse sedges firmly 

 interwoven, the interstices being cemented with 

 clay or mud." Further, it is said, "a small, round 

 orifice is left in one side for entrance; the upper 

 side of which is also protected from the rain by a 

 projecting ledge." 



Audubon describes it as built among sedges, 



