370 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
that year. One of the nests (3062) was placed on a rail fence, in 
the crotch formed by the post. Inthe Missouri region, it was equally 
abundant from Fort Buford to near the headwaters of the Milk 
river. Many nests containing two to four eggs were taken the 
latter part of June and early in July. One of these was particu- 
larly interesting, showing that the summer warbler is not the only 
species that gets rid of the obnoxious eggs of the cow-bird by build- 
ing a second story to the nest, and thus leaving the alien eggs to 
addle in the basement below. A nest taken near Frenchman river 
containing two eggs seemed to be a curiously built affair, and on 
examining it closely I found the wrong egg embedded in its sub- 
stance below the others (No. 4185.) The kingbird.is not so much 
attached to woodland as has been supposed. I saw great numbers 
whilst travelling by rail on the prairies of Minnesota and Dakota, 
where it seemed to be as much at home as anywhere. All things 
considered, it may be rated as one of the most abundant and generally 
diffused species of the whole region under consideration. (Coues.) 
The nests of this species are usually built in an apple-tree in some 
orchard, and are constructed of dried grasses, weed stems, wool and 
hair. Wool is the most conspicuous article used in building. One 
nest observed was within three feet of the ground, being situated in 
a small apple-tree and was plainly exposed, there being nothing 
whatever to conceal it. (W. H. Moore.) 
Abundant everywhere in Manitoba and the west. I have found 
their nests in the heavy woods, the scrub, under bridges and culverts, 
under eaves, on fence-post tops and on rail-fence joints. On one 
occasion I almost ran my boat over a bird sitting on a nest which 
had been built too close to the water line in the overhanging willows, 
on the Assiniboine river, and the water having risen until the nest 
was almost afloat. On a stretch of prairie country northwest of 
Carberry I discovered a female on a nest built in the slenderest wolf 
willow, only about two feet from the ground, the leaves dwarfed 
and blistered by the heat affording no hide or cover for bird or 
nest. In this case, she almost allowed me to place my hand upon 
her before she left the nest. (Atkinson.) 
