1912] Taylor: Birds and Beptiles of Northern Nevada. 383 



ragged plumage the last of May and the first of June. Some 

 of the individuals preserved had the crowns of their heads almost 

 naked. 



At Quinn River Crossing the red-wings were found in a 

 slightly different habitat from that occupied by the Brewer 

 blackbirds. In general they (the red-wings) were more re- 

 stricted to the open meadows, alfalfa fields, and low willow 

 thickets along the river than were the Brewers, which had a 

 much wider distribution, being found about the ranch buildings, 

 in thick tangles of willow and wild rose along the river, and on 

 the nearby sagebrush flats. The habitats overlapped, however, 

 to a great degree. Red-wings were commonly seen along creeks 

 and in the sagebrush in Virgin Valley. 



Our work was carried on during the nesting season. The 

 first nest, discovered May 22, contained four fresh eggs, and 

 was located in a bunch of marsh grass in the middle of an arm 

 of a meadow near Quinn River. The water was 127 mm. (5 

 inches) deep, the nest being woven among the grass stems 13 

 mm. (1/2 inch) above the surface. Although the bottom of the 

 nest was damp, the inside was perfectly dry. It was constructed 

 exteriorly of marsh grass, being lined with finer material of the 

 same sort. Its inside diameter was 76 mm. (3 inches), depth 

 63 mm. (21/4 inches). On May 24 three more nests were found 

 in situations practically similar. All contained sets of four eggs. 

 The eggs of the one taken proved to be fresh. The nests were 

 located at a height of 101 to 152 mm. (4 to 6 inches) above the 

 surface of the water, and were constructed practically as the one 

 described. 



A nest containing small young was found a week later. It 

 was built 304 mm. (12 inches) above the surface of the water 

 in a grass tuft. Unlike those thus far considered, it was made 

 of dry reeds entirely, graduated from coarse to fine as the lining 

 was approached. On June 4 a nest was discovered containing 

 three eggs and two small young. This was the only case in 

 which a set of five was recorded. Of a half dozen other nests 

 of the species found, no deviations of significance from the ob- 

 servations above recorded were noted. In some instances the 

 nests were supported by reeds instead of being placed in grass 



