THE OOLOGISt. 



77 



distinct. A specimen from California meas- 

 ures .64 by .48 of an inch. These meas- 

 urements will hold good with the majority 

 of specimens. From five to nine eggs con- 

 stitute a set. Incubation commences about 

 June 1. 



418. Brewer's Blackbird. 

 This bird is an inhabitant of the western 

 portions of North America, where it is as 

 abundant in some sections as our Crow 

 Blackbird is here. Its breeding habits are 

 not unlike those of the latter bird, but it 

 does not seem to prefer districts near the 

 habitations of man, to the wilder and more 

 swampy districts, as does the Crow Black- 

 bird. The nest is constructed solidly, of 

 a great multiplicity of sticks, and is placed 

 singly or by twos and threes, in a small 

 tree or sapling, sometimes in a bush. Nests 

 have been found in all positions and at all 

 reasonable distances from the ground, but 

 like the Crow Blackbird, they prefer the 

 topmost branches for nesting. Those who 

 have seen nests of 421 can form a very 

 correct idea of that of the Blue-headed 

 Grackle. 



The eggs are usually five, oblongly oval, 

 dull grayish or greenish-white, marked 

 sometimes all over, at others only on the 

 large end, with lilac brown, raw sienna, 

 light umber, chocolate and rich brownish- 

 ' black. All the eggs in a set may vary in 

 coloration and disposition of markings quite 

 considerable. The markings are either in 

 blotches or fine spots. Full complements 

 of eggs are taken between April 25 and 

 May 20. 



98. Red-shafted Flicker. 

 We find this bird only in the west, where 

 in the more extreme localities it replaces 

 the eastern type — C axrahis. To des- 

 cribe the eggs and nest of this bird would 

 only be repeating what all colleetors know, 

 as, excepting that their surface is less glossy 

 and perhaps not as clear, they are identical 

 with those of the Golden-winged Woodpeck- 

 er. The nesting of this bird is in holes in 

 trees, at an ordinary elevation. No mate- 

 rials are carried for the nest, the chips and 



shavings at the bottom of the hole forming 

 sufficient lining for the eggs, which range 

 in number from four to eight. 



In order to obviate the necessity of des- 

 cribing individually the eggs and nests of 

 each species of this family, I quote from 

 Dr. Coues on the subject : "The birds all 

 lay in holes of trees, dug by themselves, de- 

 positing the eggs — generally to the number 

 of five or six, but sometimes more or few- 

 er — upon the chips and dust at the bottom. 

 The eggs are of a more nearly globular 

 shape than is usual among birds, with a 

 shell of crystal smoothness and purity, white, 

 unmarked. Almost the only difference in 

 the eggs of the species is in size, which cor- 

 responds in general with that of the parent, 

 though, in the cases of our two lai'gest spe- 

 cies, the size appears disproportionately 

 small. Thus, an egg of //. JW^7ea?^/6• meas- 

 ures only 1.25 by .98, thus being not much 

 bigger than a good-sized Flicker's egg (1.18 

 by :88)." 



285. Tufted Titmouse. 

 Of the breeding of the present species not 

 as much is known as might be expected. 

 The bird is not uncommon in all the Middle 

 and Central States, but breeds most abund- 

 antly in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, 

 Virginia and the Carolinas. In New York 

 they rarely breed except in the extreme 

 southwestern portions of the State. As in 

 tiie case of the Chickadee, this Titmouse 

 lays its eggs, to the number of from six to 

 eight, in knotholes of trees and stumps, oc- 

 casionally in cracks in posts, and may be 

 found to nest in crevices in rocks. Doubtr 

 less it has the same characteristic as the 

 ' Black-capped Titmouse, as regards a possi- 

 ble set of eggs, for the latter has been knowii 

 to deposit as many as eleven before com- 

 mencing incubation. The eggs are white, 

 sometimes with a faint pinkish tint, entire- 

 ly covered Avith very fine dots and points of 

 reddish-brown, often pale pinkish-brown. 

 Two specimens measure .68 by .52 and 

 .70 by .50 inch. Shape, shortly ovoidal 

 and ovoidal. "Ovum." 



TO BE CONTINUED. 



