THE O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL. 31 
March 19. About sunset visited a nest of this species, in a 
stub eight feet high in a grove back of our house. On rapping 
on the trunk, three old birds flew out and I was surprised to find 
a nest with six fresh eggs.* The cavity in this case was much lar- 
ger than common, there being really two recesses, one for the nest 
and one vacant, all joined, or rather a widening at bottom larger 
than the nest occupied. 
March 23. To-day took two sets of eggs, six and seven re- 
spectively, perfectly fresh. They were near where I had torn 
open holes before nests were built and may have been same birds 
rebuilding.. 
The set of seven was in a dead tree which stood in pond* in a 
wood, but near the edge; the other was in a stunip less than two 
feet high, very small, and the opening to nest not over sixteen 
inches from the ground. 
From a number of eggs collected, I find five eggs to be the 
most common number, six is frequently laid, four not uncom- 
monly and seven seemed to be rare. From Mr. Brimley’s article 
referred to, it will be seen they found the nesting sites in the 
majority of cases in ou close to water, which I take to be from 
the fact that in his locality such conditions more generally furnish 
the proper conditions of decayed timber, while in the more south- 
ern locality or account of the system of agriculture, such timber 
is found in cultivated fields, regardless of the nearness to water. 
However, be the cause what it may, I found a large majority of 
nests in an “open field near the woods,” as many of my data 
blanks bear record. 
The eggs vary considerably in size and color, as is the case 
with those of all the Nuthatches. 
*See Ornithologist and Oologist, October, 1889, Brimley on ‘‘Nesting Site of Brown-headed 
Nuthatch,” and comments by “OC. J. P.’’ in Jan. 90 number same magazine. 
