avager] NESTIXG SOXG BIRDS 231 



he reached a point directly over the nest. From it he made fre-' 

 quent short sallies in its direction or flew to a neighboring weed 

 from which he chipped his alarm, ending usually by eating the 

 food himself. Still later in the afternoon it was found that the 

 male had overcome his misgivings sufficiently to bear his part 

 in the labor of supplying the young with food. The following 

 day the birds became more oblivious to the camera as well as to 

 the presence of an observer. Several exposures were made, 

 some of which are reproduced herewith. By this time one could 

 seat himself a little distance from the nest and the birds would 

 come and go without displaying any apparent fear. They were 

 ready now for the more complete observations, which were made 

 the following day. 



On June Tth. then, observations were begun at daybreak 

 and continued until twilight, when the birds ceased from their 

 toil. The appended record is of course incomplete in many 

 ways, and would therefore be more valuable had it been possible 

 to identify with certainty all of the insect forms fed. However, 

 it is instructive even as it is. 



When the nest was discovered it contained six visable young. 

 The day following its discovery one dead nestling was removed, 

 evidently crowded to suflFocation. When on June 7th the young 

 were removed to be weighed another young one in a state of semi- 

 putrefaction was found buried beneath those more fortunate to 

 survive. Evidently, it too. had been overcome by its stronger 

 relatives. In addition, an egg was found just outside of the nest. 

 It appeared to be normal in every way. Two of the nestlings 

 were larger than the others. On the day of the observations their 

 feathers were rapidly growing and they were able by the use of 

 their wings, to flutter out of the nest. The other three were con- 

 siderably smaller, with pin feathers just developing in the tracts 

 of the wings. The two larger ones left the nest the following 

 day and the smaller ones three days afterward. 



The records follows : 



Weather: Clear; light frost; no per- Time of Parent Pood Excreta 



ceptible movement of air. feeding feeding brought removed 



t.J-^\^^T1\ ^I^t ''■^r^ *".!,''•■ ^^"' ^' *'2'^ Nestlings removed and weighed. 



3:4o. and at -1:00 visited the nest and Weight <)1 4 prams Pa^pn^ 



ohr^tfonf '"\ .h"'t"^'T- ^'"'"'J'^r birdf distuJi.td^'v"he removal 



observations, only the female gained the ^f lj,g voune 



nest. The increase in the light made 4.33 5 ereen canker worm 



observation more easy. ■ -- - green canKer worm 



Time of Parent Food Excreta 



feeding feeding brought removed 



4:05 2 green canker worm 



*-10 9 green canker worm 4:59 ? green canker worm 



4:12 2 ? - - 



4:18 2 green canker worm 



<:22 2 green canker worm 5:04 cf brownish canker worm 



