THE BROXZED GEACJKLE. 503 



also frequently used, especially trees covered by grapevines. In the West 

 natural cavities and hollow stubs, as well as the excavations of the larger Wood- 

 peckers, are often resorted to. I found several nests placed in open spaces in 

 stacks of cord wood near Fort Custer, Montana. 



Both Mr. M. Chamberlin and Mr. J. W. Banks inform me that in New 

 Brunswick these Graekles nest frequently in hay barns. The hay is taken away 

 from the marshy islands bordering the rivers on the ice in winter, and these 

 birds take possession of such barns in large numbers in the spring, placing their 

 nests in the angle of a brace or on the beams and girders, much in the same 

 fashion as that adopted by the Robins. 



Mr. J. W. Preston, of Baxter, Iowa, in referring to their nesting habits in 

 the lake regions of northern Iowa and Minnesota, says: "A vast colony occu- 

 pied a brushy flat near Cairo Lake, Hamilton County, Iowa, during the season 

 of 1881. When I saw them the young birds were leaving the nests, and the 

 noise and din of the scolding, squalling parents and crying young were deafen- 

 ing as one walked among the nests, which were crowded in the tops of wild- 

 plum trees. I also saw a large colony in a tract of bushy land at the northern 

 extremity of Heron Lake, "Minnesota. Here the nests were placed in low 

 shrubs and wild-gooseberry bushes, some not more than 1 foot from the ground. 

 The construction differed somewhat from the ordinary nest. The structures 

 were deep and heavy, and were made of dry grass, with a filling or wall of 

 mud between the outer wall and the lining. I have seen an odd nest of this 

 Crackle built in a bunch of common reed (Phragmites), which looks like broom 

 corn at a distance and grows from 5 to 12 feet high. This nest resembled that 

 of a Yellow-headed Blackbird, the material being evenly woven together." 



There is not much difference in their nests; compared with those of the 

 Purple and Florida Crackles, they vary like these in composition according to 

 locality, and their nesting habits and eggs are also similar. The number of 

 eggs to a set varies from four to six or rarely seven; sets of five are most often 

 found, and six are not unusual. 



The average measurement of a series of one hundred and forty-eight 

 specimens in the United States National Museum collection is 29.02 by 20.90 

 millimetres, or about 1.14 by 0.82 inches The largest egg measures 31.50 by 

 21.59 millimetres, or 1.24 by 0.85 inches; the smallest egg, 25.40 by 19.05 

 millimetres, or 1 by 0.75 inches. 



The type specimen, No. 23206 (PL 7, Fig. 26), from a set of five eggs, 

 taken by Mr. V. N. Edwards, near Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on May 27, 1887, 

 represents one of the darkest eggs in the entire series; while No. 25889 (PL 7, 

 Fig. 27), from a set of four eggs, Ralph collection, taken by Dr. William L. 

 Ralph, on May 18, 1887, near Holland Patent, New York, shows one of the 

 rarer types of coloration. 



