THE SEMI-ANNUAL. 25 



supplp:mentary report. 



Bluebird, Sialia sialis. 



This is another of our birds which cares very little for the 

 location of its nest. It is almost as frequently found in deep 

 woods as elsewhere. Posts, bird-boxes, natural cavities in trees, 

 old boots, pumps ; in fact almost anywhere he can find a hole 

 large enough. Bluebird is content to rear his young. One enter- 

 prising pair began making a nest in the sleeve of a wood-chop- 

 per's coat which hung upon a post. 



Bluebird lays from three to six eggs, usually five, very often 

 four. It lays daily and is twelve days hatching the eggs. The 

 young are able to leave the nest in about fourteen days. 



The time occupied in making the slight nest of straw, grass 

 and feathers is very variable ; sometimes only a day or two, 

 sometimes a week or more, according to the weather ; but the 

 actual time needed is very short. In Iowa Bluebird makes two 

 broods ; the first by the middle of April, the last about the mid- 

 dle of June. Thus, the period of nesting begins April ist., and 

 lasts well into July. Mr. Burns makes the latest record June 11 

 and Mr. Strong, Aug. 30. 



The eggs are light-blue in color, sometimes almost white, and 

 and average .83X.64. 



The following are from Mr. Sti'ong alone. 



Am. Redstart, Setophaga r7iticilla. 



Nest is placed in crotch ot saplings or forks of lower limbs of 

 large trees. Made of wood fibres, fine rootlets, and hoi'se hair. 

 It nests in June and July, laying 2 to 5, usually 3 or 4 eggs. 

 Bad weather greatly influences the nesting of this bird. It fre- 

 quents young groves and thin woods along streams. 



Yellow Warbler, Dendroica cestiva. 



Nest placed in bushes or small saplings, 6 to i^ feet up. It is 



made of wood fibres and cottony substances, thicker and more 



bulky than the Redstart's. Eggs in a set 3 to 5, usually 4, rarely 



5. Eggs are laid from May 10, to July and measure .62 to 



.71X.45 to .53. 



