16 Egberts and Benner on the Ornithology of 3Iinnesota. 



elm-trees, and were placed on the top of the limb, but not so much exposed 

 as the Kingbird's. They are somewhat larger than those of the latter bird, 

 but the eggs are so similar that identification was only possible by seeing 

 the female sitting upon the nest, which was no easy matter, for after they 

 were once disturbed they would hover over the tree for a while, uttering a 

 short note, and then one of the pair would disappear for some time, and 

 only return when its mate had escorted it back, and then both would sit 

 upon an adjacent limb for twenty minutes or more before the female 

 would approach the nest. At this date (June 1 7) one of the nests con- 

 tained four eggs perfectly fresh, and the other was not quite finished. 

 The first was composed of stems of plants and dried grasses, and lined 

 with finer grasses and a few bits of wool. The second was about the 

 same, except the lining, which was composed entirely of feathers. 



36. Contopus virens, (Linn.) Cab, Wood Pkwek. — Common. 



37. Empidonax trailli, (And.) Bd. Traill's Flycatcher. — On 

 July 19 a nest with three fresh eggs of this species was taken in a tangled 

 growth of Avild-plums and grape-vines. The nest was built about three 

 feet from the ground, in the fork of a small plum-tree, and entirely hid- 

 den by the grape-vines which covered the tree. It was composed of dry 

 grasses rather compactly woven and lined with finer pieces of the same. 

 External diameter 3| inches ; depth 3. Internal diameter 2 ; depth 

 about 1^ inches. The ground color of the eggs, which measure .75 of an 

 inch in length by .56 in breadth, was a very rich cream-color before 

 blowing, and afterward assumed a creamy-white appearance, having a 

 circle of dots and spots of a reddish-brown color at the larger end. The 

 female was shot. 



38. Empidonax minimus, Bd. Least Flycatcher. — Common. 

 Nest and four fresh eggs taken June 17. 



39. Chordiles virginianus, (Gm.) Bp. Nighthawk. — Common. 

 Eggs taken June 6 were nearly fresh. A specimen taken is not nearly as 

 light-colored as many from the eastern part of the State. 



40. Cheetura pelagica, (Linn.) Bd. Chimney Swift. — A few seen 

 in the timber at Elbow Lake. 



41. Ceryle aloyon, (Z//in.) Bole. Beltkd Kingfisher. — Noticed 

 at Big Lake, Grant County, and several along the Minnesota River at 

 Brown's Valley. 



42. Coccygus erythrophthalmus, (Wils.) Bp. Black-billed 

 Cuckoo. — Common. Nest and one fresh egg found, June 1 7, at Brown's 

 Valley. 



43. Colaptes auratus, (Linn.) Sw. Golden-winged Woodpecker. 

 — Common. Young well advanced, June 7. 



44. Bubo virginianus, (Gm.) Bp. Great Horned Owl. — In the 

 timber at Elbow Lake an old bird and two young, fully fledged and flying 

 around, Avere seen. A large nest in a big oak near by evidently belonged 

 to them. 



