1()0 MR. W. H. HUDSON ON THE [Mar. 3, 



October 8, 18/2. — This morning, whilst reading under a tree, my 

 attention was attracted by a shrill note, as of a bird in distress, issuing 

 from the Lenatero's nest ; after having heard it repeated at intervals 

 for more than twenty minutes I went to ascertain the cause. The 

 Bay-wings flew up from the ground under the nest ; and on searching 

 in the rank clover that grew under the tree I discovered the female 

 Lefiatero with plumage wet and draggled, tumbling and appearing 

 half dead with the rough treatment she had experienced. I put her 

 in the sun ; and in about half an hour's time, hearing her mate calling, 

 she managed to flutter feebly away and joined him. The persecutors 

 had evidently dragged her from the nest, and probably would have 

 killed her had I not come so opportunely to the rescue. Since 

 writing the above I have watched the nest every day. Both the Bay- 

 wings and Lenateros had left it ; within a week's time the owners of 

 the nest returned and resumed possession. Three or four days 

 afterwards the Bay-wings also came back •, but on finding the uest 

 still occupied they took possession of an unfinished oven of the 

 Oven-bird on a separate tree within twenty yards of the nest, and 

 immediately began carrying in materials to line it with. After 

 having left them time sufficient to finish laying, 1 took their five eggs, 

 at the same time throwing down the oven, and waited to see what 

 the next move would be. They remained on the spot singing inces- 

 santly and manifesting anxiety when approached. I observed them 

 four days, and was then away from home as many more ; on return- 

 ing I found the Leiiateros had disappeared and their great nest was 

 again held by the Bay-wings. I also noticed that the latter hadopened 

 an entrance at the side of the nest and near the bottom ; for the 

 receptacle of the eggs is placed at the lower extremity, and is reached 

 by a narrow covered passage from the top. It was now about the 

 end of October, the height of the breeding-season, and numbers of 

 Blackbirds constantly visited the nest ; but I was particularly in- 

 terested in a pair of the M. rufoaxillaris that had also begun to 

 grow fond of this nest, the theatre of so much contention, and I 

 resolved to watch these birds very closely. As these last birds 

 spent so much of their time near the nest, showing great solicitude 

 whenever I approached it, I thought perhaps they would take 

 possession and breed in it could the Bay-wings be driven out. I 

 therefore waited patiently, giving the Bay-wings time to lay the full 

 complement of eggs ; for I did not wish to shoot them, and believed 

 that when they found themselves deprived a second time of their eggs 

 they would certainly decamp. 



In a few weeks time I climbed to the nest, and found, very much to 

 my astonishment, ten eggs, instead of four or five as I had confidently 

 expected. All these eggs were of the Bay- wings, and I concluded 

 that the two females were laying together ; for, as I said in a former 

 communication on the subject, more than one female will sometimes 

 lay in the same nest. After taking the ten eggs the Bay-wings still 

 remained ; and I observed them a great deal, but could never see 

 more than one pair about the nest. The next time I climbed to the 

 nest it contained five eggs ; these I also took, and thought that the 



