~ 
252 Tuer Witson BULLETIN—Nos. 76-77. 
fore to be regarded as approximate only. 15 sets from the 
Lower Austral zone average April 28, extremes April 9—May 
18. 3551 nests from the Upper Austral and Transition zones 
average May 16, extremes April 24--June 25. 37 sets from the 
Canadian zone average May 25, extremes May 5—June 22. 
Western sets appear to average about two days later than cor- 
responding territory in the east, and sets found in evergreen 
trees appear to average about the same period earlier than those 
in deciduous trees. The extreme dates are for the most part 
unimportant, representing as they do single instances of ex- 
tremely early laying and of final effert after repeated failures. 
The normal egg producing period in a given locality is con- 
fined within about two weeks time, although the females may 
be about the nest for a month previous to deposition. | have 
in my possession a female shot from the nest April 17, “95, at 
Bradford Hills, Chester Co., Pa., in which dissection showed 
the ege developed to the size of large shot. In respect to the 
set recorded from Oneida Co., N. Y., on April 24, a very un- 
usual date. Egbert Bagg writes: Langworthy was a good ob- 
server and perfectly trustworthy. He is dead many, many 
years, so I can get no information from him, but I am almost 
certain that Dr. Ralph authenticated this record before we 
used it. We were very particular in this respect and 25 years 
has not disproved a single record on our list. I have looked 
through my journal and can find only one other record and 
that was for a full set of four May 14. 
Red River of the North, Minn. The time to expect eggs in 
this region is during the latter half of May (Preston). At 
Minneapolis, Minn., May 12 to 30. I never look for its eggs 
any other time, though T have found a set or two both before 
and after. I always figured upon starting out to collect its 
eggs on the first date and felt confident of finding complete 
sets of fresh eggs (Currie ms.). Tn Ontario it is a late breed- 
er, seldom laying its eggs before the last week in May, though 
once I found its eggs earlier, May 8, ‘88 (Macoun quoting Rev. 
C. J. Young). Lancaster, N. H., May 4, ’91, the earliest date ; 
June 3, ’04, the latest date: no second sets taken (Spaulding 
