100 THE NIDOLOGIST 
six days between the second and the last 
egg in a set of three. 
Sharp-shinned Hawks (Adccipter velox) 
skip from one to three days, usually more 
than one. For example, it took one bird 
exactly two weeks to lay a set of five eggs, 
for which eggs of the bantam were substi- 
tuted. ‘This bird seemed to think some- 
thing was wrong, for after I exchanged the 
first two eggs she puta thick lining of hem- 
lock bark in the nest, which is the only 
instance I have'’seen of lining in the nests 
of these little Hawks. 
The results of my experiments may 
possibly have been effected by my visiting 
the nests so frequently, but I think it im- 
probable, as many full sets that I have 
taken have shown in their different stages 
of incubation that several days must have 
elapsed between the laying of each egg. 
The smaller birds, such as Flycatchers, 
Sparrows, Warblers and others, I have 
found to follow closely the rule of an egg 
every day. One exception to this was in 
the case of a Least Flycatcher (Empidonax 
minimus) which laid the last two eggs in 
her set of four in one day. 
I also have my suspicions of a Prairie 
Warble (Dendroica discolor) though the 
evidence is rather weak. I found her nest 
about five o’clock one afternoon when it 
had not a vestige of lining. Early in the 
morning of the fourth day after, I was sar- 
prised to find the nest completely lined and 
containing four eggs. This was in very 
wet weather, when the bird would scarcely 
have chosen night work for working on her 
nest, and certainly could not have finished 
it the day I found it. 
I have read that all birds that habitually 
lay only two eggs to their sets, lay an egg 
every other day, but have had no experi- 
ence with any such, except domestic 
pigeons, which usually conform to this 
rule, so cannotadd my quota. It is hardly 
necessary to mention those extremely 
eccentric birds, the Cuckoos, in this respect, 
as they are, if possible, more freaky than 
the Raptores. Who has not found their 
apologies for nests with eggs in every stage 
of incubation, among which a young bird 
of the jettiest black is oftenseated? But it 
would be a surprise to usif these birds ever 
did anything in the way most birds would 
do it. I will deviate from my subject to 
mention that there are also few birds who 
are such deadly enemies to the tent cata- 
pillar as are our Cuckoos. I once watched 
a pair of Black-bills (Coccyzus erythroph- 
thalmus) “go through” at least half a dozen 
tents. Hach selected a nest, thrust its bill 
in, pulled out acatapillar, ate it and then 
repeated the act, working all around the 
nests, which were like honeycombs at the 
end of the performance. How the birds 
held so many insects I cannot conceive; 
indeed, at the end they came and sat close 
together ou a limb, looking very pensive 
and sleepy. I closely examined the rifled 
nests and could find nothing but a few dead 
worms. 
The last bird on my list is the Sora 
(Porzana carolina) of which I can give but 
one instance. My brother found the nest 
on May 29 of the past season, when it 
contained twoeggs. Asit isan uncommon 
nest in our marshes, he took me to it on 
the following day, and we were agreeably 
surprised to find that there were four eggs. 
Whether this is usually the case or not, 
must be answered by someone of more ex- 
perience with these birds than myself. 
And now comes the question, ‘‘Why are 
these things thus?’’ I can form no plausi- 
ble theory, of regular application, for any 
of the above mentioned, with the exception 
of the Raptores. In thecaseof these birds, 
I believe the explanation lies in the ques- 
tion of food, as from its nature, it cannot 
be found in regular quantities. There 
must be times when they find it difficult to 
get food enough to satisfy their hunger, 
while the food of the insectivorous birds is 
probably about equally plentiful at all times 
during the breeding season. Now it seems 
plausible to think that birds having regular 
rations, we may call it, will be more regu- 
larly productive than those which much of 
the time, have to depend on what chance . 
throws in their way. 
Ponkapog, Mass. 
=> 
Whip-Poor-Will Courtship. 
read with interest the experiences of 
Mr. Galloway and Major Bendire on the 
love notes of the Whip-poor-will, but think 
I had a much’better opportunity of watch- 
ing the birds than mentioned by Mr. Gallo- 
way and noticed one or two more phases 
in the proceedings. 
On the third of June last while camping 
in the Spoon River valley, I was suddenly 
startled about 9 p. m. by a Whip-poor-will 
very close to the tent; opening the flaps I 
saw Mr. Whip-poor-will had installed him- 
