:?:;< LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



l>e heard at a great distance. After an interval of a feu- 

 minutes, the call is repeated, when meeting with no response- 

 the bird starts oil* to another spot quite remote from the for- 

 mer, where he repeats the same cry at nearly regular intervals. 

 until a reply is elicited. At this juncture, his jov is intense, 

 and manifests itself in strange actions, and in the most won- 

 derful exhibitions of love, which, after a time, are reciprocated 

 by the female, who is rather more modest in the expression 

 of her affection, although none the less sincere. The male, 

 after this first passion has subsided, equally loving though 

 less demonstrative, leads the way to an adjoining copse or 

 thicket, closely followed by his newly-wedded partner. 

 After a brief consultation, they start off in quest of a nesting- 

 place, each taking a different direction, but eventually meet- 

 ing at an apparently designated spot, after a greater or less 

 interval of time. In such matters, the male pays due defer- 

 ence to the judgment of the female whom he invariably 

 consults. 



The nest is placed either in an oak or a pine-tree, most 

 generally the latter. Sometimes, at the extremity of a pow- 

 erful branch, and, at other times, near the main trunk. The 

 height varies from twenty-five to forty feet. In secluded 

 situations, it is mostly low down, and easily reached ; while 

 In more exposed places, particularly when an isolated oak is 

 chosen, it is considerably elevated, and placed far out upon 

 the extremity of a topmost bough which is often quite inac- 

 cessible. At a distance it bears a close resemblance to the 

 nest of Corvus americauus. Externally, it is composed 

 of sticks from one fourth to one half an inch in diameter, 

 which constitute a firm and stable framework ; and, inter- 

 nally, it is lined with dry leaves, grasses, and, occasionally, 

 with dry mosses, or feathers. The external diameter is two 

 feet, and the height about six inches. The thickness of the 

 walls varies from seven-eighths to one inch. The cavity is so 

 slight that there is barely room for the eggs. These birds do 

 not always construct a domicile for themselves, but have occa- 



