Notes from Field and Study 



111 



stage of development were colored with a 

 mixture of yellow, green, and black, had 

 wings and long, spiny legs, from which 

 we came to the conclusion that they were 

 a species of locust. 



When within a short distance of our 

 destination, we disturbed a flock of 

 Buzzards at their sickening feast, and one 

 of them flew in the direction of the clump 

 of trees. As he was passing, a Scissor- 

 tailed Flycatcher darted out from the 

 foliage and attacked him with a ven- 

 geance. The mel6e ended with the Buzzard 

 fleeing with precipitate haste, and the 

 victorious Scissor-tail flew back to receive 

 the plaudits of his mate. No wonder he 

 was so vigilant and brave, for we found 

 his nest out on a horizontal branch of a 

 gum tree, about six feet from the ground. 

 In the nest were four prettily tinted eggs, 

 speckled with brown. 



In the next tree to this, and high in the 

 topmost branches, we found a Kingbird's 

 nest, and the two anxious owners watched 

 us while we looked in upon their four 

 treasures. Before we could climb into the 

 next tree, a Dove dropped from the lowest 

 branch and trailed along the ground. Her 

 going left uncovered one egg and one tiny, 

 helpless nestling, which apparently had just 

 hatched. We found several more Doves' 

 nests with eggs, and one unfinished nest 

 of the Orchard Oriole, besides three empty 

 Grackles' nests. After looking into all 

 the nests, we wiped the sweat from our 

 faces and arms, and sat down under a shady 

 tree to eat our lunch, leaving plenty of 

 crumbs for any of our feathered friends 

 that might care to eat them. 



We then moved on to a small clump of 

 trees about half a mile beyond the first 

 one. On the way we passed a small, dried- 

 up pond and startled a pair of Killdeers, 

 but couldn't find their nest, although we 

 did discover a few unoccupied Redwing 

 nests. 



As we drew near our second stopping 



place, a crowd of chattering and scolding 

 Grackles hovered over us and their noise 

 was almost deafening. The first nest we 

 investigated here was a huge structure 

 almost too big for the small pear tree 

 which held it, and while we were getting in 

 position to look into it two half-grown 

 Grackles flopped out. After much exer- 

 tion, we finally captured them and put 

 them back into the nest, while the flock 

 over our heads raised Cain. In the next tree 

 were two Grackles' nests and two Doves' 

 nests; and in the next, two Doves' nests 

 and an Orchard Oriole's nest with five 

 eggs, four which rightfully belonged there 

 and one deposited there by the shiftless 

 Cowbird. Every tree in this grove con- 

 tained at least two nests, and some con- 

 tained as many as five. The nests were 

 those of the Dove, Orchard Oriole, King- 

 bird, Mockingbird, and Grackle. A 

 china-berry tree, a little apart from the 

 pear trees, held two Grackles' nests and a 

 nest full of young Orchard Orioles. Near- 

 by we found a Dove's nest upon the ground 

 and it contained, as did nearly all the 

 others, two glossy white eggs. 



The sun was beginning to sink in the 

 west when we started upon our homeward 

 journey. As we sat in the comfortable inter- 

 urban car homeward bound, we examined 

 our record for the day and found that 

 we had discovered the following nests, 

 and probably had overlooked some in our 

 excitement: 2 Kingbird, 29 Grackle, 12 

 Dove, 6 Orchard Oriole, 4 Mockingbird, i 

 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 3 Redwing Black- 

 bird, unoccupied. 



I am unable to account for the large 

 number of nests in these few trees, unless 

 it was due to the fact that there are no 

 other trees to be seen for several miles in 

 any direction. Altogether, we considered 

 the trip a wonderful success, and are look- 

 ing forward to another one next summer. 

 — J. M. Heiser, Jr., Houston, Texas. 



