590 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tree, which lie had cut down, lie found the broken l'ra<^ments of upwards of 

 twenty Varakeet's e;j;gs, which he descrihed as of a greenish-yeUow color. He 

 described the nest as formed of small twigs glued to each other and to the 

 side of the tree in the manner of the Chimnev-Swallow ! From all these 

 contradictory accounts Wilson was only able to gather, with certainty, that 

 they build in companies and in hollow trees. The numerous dissections 

 which he made in the months of March, April, May, and June led him to 

 infer that they commence incubation late in spring or very early in summer. 

 Mr. Audubon, who si)eaks from his own observations, describes their nests, 

 or the places in which they deposit their eggs, as simply the bottom of such 

 cavities in trees as those to which they usually retire at night. ^lany 

 females, he thinks, deposit their eggs together; and he expresses the opinion 

 that the number of eggs which each individual lays is two, although he 

 was not able absolutely to assure himself of this. He describes them as 

 nearly round, and of a light greenish-white. An egg of this species from 

 Louisiana is of a rounded oval shape, equally obtuse at either end, and of a 

 uniform dull- white color. It measures 1.40 by 1.10 inches. • 



