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Bird- Lore 



close to the house where I was staying — and as I was curious to watch happen- 

 ings in the Httle cradle when the heterogeneous family should be born, I left 

 the eggs untouched. 



The nest was found at Rhinebeck, N. Y., on July 6, 1900, incubation having 

 apparently just started. Four days later I discovered that one of the Cowbird's 

 eggs was infertile; so I removed it from the nest, disappointed that I should not, 

 after all, enjoy the somewhat unique experience of observing two young Cow- 

 birds growing up in the same nest. It was sometime during the night of July 

 13-14 that the first of the remaining two eggs hatched — the Cowbird's of course. 



NEST OF CHESTNUT-SIDE CONTAINING TWO EGGS OF THE COWBIRD 

 AND ONE OF THE CHESTNUT-SIDE 



The Warbler's hatched between 12 and 12.30 on the 14th. The nicety with which 

 matters had been so arranged that the young Cowbird would have just a con- 

 venient start in life over its unfortunate rival commanded at least my admiration 

 if not my sympathy. Cowbirds must indeed be sharp nest-finders to be able 

 to discover at short notice not only the nests of certain suitable kinds of birds, 

 but even nests containing eggs at a certain stage of incubation ! 



After the hatching of the eggs I spent considerable time at the nest-side, and 

 observed with interest the many pretty little incidents of a bird's domestic life— 

 the constant and tender brooding of the newly hatched young by both Warblers 

 in turn; the never-ceasing search among the neighboring trees and bushes for 

 small caterpillars; the delivery of the food by the male to the brooding female. 



