124 AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



birds are like the female but have numerous markings of blackish and buffy 

 on the back. 



Their nests are very shallow,frail platforms of twigs, similar to those of 

 the Mourning Dove, but more shabby; the one or two eggs are pure white, 

 larger and comparatively longer than those of the Mourning Dove. Individ- 

 uals or small flocks of wild pigeons are reported most every year, but it is 

 more than probable that over ninety per cent, of such reports are erroneous. 

 They were reported in Oregon last summer, but investigation proved that 

 the birds seen there were only Band-tailed Pigeons, which often occur there. 



NESTING HABITS OF THYROTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS. 



Wm. J. Mills. 



The Carolina Wren exhibits great diversity of taste, both in its choice of 

 location for a nesting site, and in the constructive material used. I have 

 known instances where nests were built ( 1 ) between the logs of an old pine- 

 log cabin, (2) imder the projecting eaves of a barn, (3) on a ledge inside a 

 barn, (4) in an old tin bucket hanging in an outhouse, (5) under fallen logs, 

 (6) in old stumps, but in all probability the most novel site chosen by the 

 wren or any other bird was under the tail of a sparrow hawk in process of 

 mounting. The hawk was placed on a slight elevation, and in the sj)ace be- 

 tween the tail and the bottom of the case the nest was built. All the material 

 used in its construction was found in the workshop wherein the nest was 

 built, with the exception of a few feathers for lining material. It was 

 constructed of dried grass, lichens, one piece of newspaper, tow, the fallen 

 blooms of the Red oak, and lined with hair and feathers. Under the pro- 

 tection of the tail of this hawk, Madame Wren raised successfully two broods 

 of 4 each and commenced on the third, but before the young were able to 

 fiy, I regret to say they were destroyed by a barn rat. The rat finally paid 

 the penalty. 



In other nests have been found the following constructive material: — dead 

 oak leaves, the flower of the red and white oaks, pine needles, broom straw, 

 or sedge grass, mid-ribs of oak leaves, shavings, with horse hair and feathers 

 for lining. In two instances the outer portion of the nest was constructed 

 entirel}^ of fine straw. 



A youngster who happened to be spjdng about my premises one day 

 caught sight of two wren's nests and inquired why I didn't pull them Eng- 

 lish sparrow nests out o' there.? The reason was duly explained and a cau- 

 tion administered for him not to molest them in any way, and he didn't. 



