182 



OEOTTHOLOGIST 



[Yol. 12-No. 11 



to the bottom — was not deeper than ordinal-}'. 

 It was only the new edges that suspended it in 

 its new position that gave it an apparent extra 

 depth. It contained three eggs. Subsequent 

 observations proved that two of them were 

 addled, for only one young was hatched, and 

 the eggs remained in the nest with it for a week 

 or more. 



The Number of Eggs in a Set of the 

 Kingbird. 



BY F. II. CARPENTER. 



I was very much interested in the article by 

 Mr. J. N. Clark in the October issue of the 

 Ornithologist and Oologist, in regard to 

 his experience with the number of eggs in a 

 set of the King Bird (Tyran^ius tijranniis). My 

 own observations of this subject will agree 

 with those of Judge Clark to a great extent. I 

 have never found five eggs in a nest, and I 

 have examined a large number for this very 

 purpose. With the sets of four and three, I 

 must slightly disagree with Judge Clark, as sets 

 containing each number have l)een found in 

 equal proportions. It has long been a matter 

 of note with me that this species was content 

 with a trio of eggs for a full (!omplement as 

 often as four, and it afforded additional interest 

 to learn from an extended observation that in 

 some localities the lesser number was in a de- 

 cided majority. 



It is further interesting to note that in many 

 instances the species deposit only a trio, 

 pair, or even single agg for a set worthy of the 

 tedious period of incubation. Most ornitholo- 

 gists reason, aind rightly too, that in such cases 

 in which the counts falls short of the typical 

 number, some casualty has occurred to prevent 

 a full oviposition, but in many instances which 

 have come under the writer's notice, and aftbrded 

 individual identification, it has been observed 

 as occurring in cases to which no such reason 

 could be applied. Perhaps a brief mention 

 might be made, without detail, of some species 

 which have been recorded, as not fulfilling 

 what is regarded as a complete requirement of 

 nature's laws. Sets of Cat Bird, one, two, and 

 three have been noticed very frequently within 

 the past three years, a circumstance the more 

 noteworthy from the fact that the observation 

 is confined to more recent dates. The Iled-eyed 

 Vireo is usually very regular with her set of 

 four eggs, but three have been noted as a full 

 satisfaction to the parents. The Sparrows seem 

 to have abstained from any proclivities to 



shirk the full demands of nature, and in none 

 of that family, with the possible exception of 

 the Towhee, which species I have found sitting 

 on two and three incubated eggs, and again in 

 two exceptions, a set of five has fallen to my 

 lot, or i-ather box. Nearly all the Warblers lay 

 uniformly four eggs, excepting Dendroica (etiva, 

 which has given me the pleasure of examining 

 many nests with five and once with six. 



The common Robin is extremely careless as 

 to how many eggs she devotes her time and 

 energies if it does not exceed four. Only twice 

 have I obtained sets exceeding the latter num- 

 ber, and frequent rumors with the country col- 

 lectors in this section of larger numbei's have, 

 when followed up, proved delusions. Scarcely 

 any species is exempt from these traits, but 

 whether it is an individual characteristic, or 

 local influence, is a matter of opinion. The 

 subject has been discussed at some length with 

 the Hawks and Owls, but I fail to see that 

 that family proves any exception from others, 

 as careful observation would inuuediately 

 prove. 



The Black and Yellow Warbler at 

 Grand Manan. 



BY CIIAS. II. ANDROS. 



This exquisite species {Dendroica maculosa) 

 I)elng one of the few foi- which we had made 

 the island an objective point, it was my original 

 intention to have devoted a separate article to 

 its liidification, but being aware that the birds 

 are comparatively well known, and the eggs 

 represented in nearly every collection of size, 

 I concluded to give our experience in the sini- 

 l)le monogiaphic form in which the others have 

 been dealt with, reserving the privilege, how- 

 ever, to speak briefly on the colorations and 

 markings of a few of the sets taken. Hardly 

 had our feet touched Dominion soil on our walk 

 to Noi-thern Head when the sweet song of the 

 Black and Yellow was recognized, and was 

 soon a familiar one to us, proceeding usually 

 from some copse or brush clearing. Often this 

 pleasing variation would spur us to efl:brts ex- 

 traordinary when stumbling along over tangled 

 brush and interlaced creepers in some execrable 

 swamp, where the only other sound to break 

 the monotony would be the occasional ?iaw- 

 haws of the Gull, or the far off whistle of the 

 White-throat on the hills above. The precipi- 

 tous walls which rise out of the waters of the 

 Cove de Whale are probably nearly as high as 

 any spot on the northern half of the island. 



