. 
THE OF .& Ox SEMEANNUAL: 
Ww 
WwW 
until the middle of July. Two nests found: July 12, 1889, one 
S 
Nests are constructed of twigs, the species of plant varying ac- 
of which contained one egg, the other three, with bird sitting. 
cording to location, e. @. nests in the mesquite region are com- 
posed of the thorny twigs of that tree. They often contain weed- 
stems and a plant known here as ‘‘Indian tobacco.” Inside, the 
nests are usually lined with roots of grass or other small rootlets, 
while sometimes extraneous substances enter into its composition 
as string, wood, paper, rags, etc. Nests are placed in any tree 
that is convenient, often in honey-suckle or other climbing vines, 
or in the corner of a ‘‘Virginia” rail fence. The height varies 
from one to forty feet from the ground—in woods usually from 
six to fifteen feet. Nest is always solidly placed in a fork or rest- 
ing on a large limb. 
In 1889 first set Zakex (not first set found, for I left some before 
this) was on April 26, incubation commenced ; nest in elm tree, 
seven feet up. The set contained four eggs of Mockingbird on 
April 24th and on the 26th contained three eggs of ‘*Mocker’” and 
one of Dwarf Cowbird; bird seen. Next set taken May 5, four 
eggs; incubation, large embryos. Nest placed in a cedar tree, 
two feet six inches from the ground. May 19, five fresh eggs ; 
nest in a mesquite tree, fifteen feet from ground. May 20, four 
eggs, small embryos. Nest fifteen feet up ina post-oak. Another 
nest ten feet from ground in a live oak contained five eggs; incu- 
bation commenced. 
June 2d. Four fresh eggs; nest in an elm bush, 2 feet up. No 
‘birds seen. Description: No. 1, pale, dull green, with large con- 
fluent ring of reddish brown; spots around larger end and some 
distributed all over the egg; size .gox.69. No 2, same ground 
color, almost obscured by spots and blotches of pale brown. 
Blotches of darker reddish-brown form a broken ring around 
crown; .87x.70. No. 3, scarcely distinguishable from No. 1; 
.88x.70. No. 4, markings same as Nos. 1 and 3, but more evenly 
distributed ; .87x.70. This is a rather peculiar set, so not typical. 
They are all smaller and more globular than usual. 
Another set collected May 29, 1889 by G. M. near Austin, rep- 
resents another phase; five eggs, incubation advanced, nest ‘tas 
usual.” No. 1, pale blue, spotted all over but most thickly at the 
large end with distinct spots of chestnut and obscure purple ; 
