160 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [10:4— Aprfl, 1914 



One of the most cleverly constructed nests is that of the red- 

 winged blackbird. Its habits of nesting near water is well known. 

 This results in the frequent use of rushes as a support for the 

 nest. Another favorite is the cat-tail, though in the absence of 

 such plants it may make use of almost anything else. I have 

 found them even in the rosebushes. These bushes were man- 

 planted, however, about the shore of an artificial pond. The 

 nest is semi-pendant. If such plants as cat-tails be used as a 

 support, several closely growing stems are bound together by 

 long stiff grass stems, and the nest suspended by them. In other 

 cases the nest may be located in the crown of a plant utilizing 

 several branches in the same manner as the separate stems of 

 the cat-tail. Within the framework of heavy material the nest 

 is modeled of finer elements usually consisting of fine grass or 

 rootlets. The eggs are pale blue, spotted with dark purple or 

 black, and with long scrawling lines of the same color, principally 

 at the larger end. The nesting season is relatively late, beginning 

 about the first week in June. By this time the region about our 

 swamps are well mosquitoed so that one needs to make his explora- 

 tions in full realization of that fact. Otherwise he may be dis- 

 appointed. The nest whose photograph is here reproduced was 

 built in a mustard plant. This species of mustard was used by 

 several pairs of birds. A severe storm overturned at least five 

 of the nests, bumping the eggs out into the water. Two other 

 nests escaped this fate, and one of them was despoiled by some 

 animal, as the feathers about the nest plainly showed. Evidently 

 the birds make mis cakes in the choice of sites. Nevertheless, 

 the nest is very interesting and the eggs beautiful. 



Our brief survey may be brought to a conclusion by reference 

 to the nest of the rose-breasted grosbeak. Though the bird is 

 very common, yet its nest, is, I suspect you will find, difficult 

 to locate. This is true for two reasons. First, because the nesting 

 is not undertaken until after the leaves are well out, thus obscur- 

 ing the nest, and, secondly, because it is located high in the trees. 

 The elm is a favorite one. Even though you do succeed in 

 distinguishing the nest, its position in the small terminal branches 

 makes it difficult to get at it. The nest, however, is well made, 

 though not bulky. It consists of small twdgs and rootlets closely 

 woven for a foundation, and a shallow cup of firmly woven and 

 compacted fine materials, consisting chiefly of rootlets. The 



