134 



THE OOLOGIST 



Herons may at times pick up these 

 sticks, but I have not seen any evidence 

 of it, and the birds are always seen 

 bringing twigs from a distance, seem- 

 ing to utterly neglect the fallen twigs. 

 It may be that the material that is seen 

 on the ground is all rejected timber, 

 but this does not seem reasonable. 

 The litter beneath a colony of nesting 

 pigeons is remarkable, and an abun- 

 dance of twigs is found on the ground 

 in every direction, yet the birds contin- 

 ue to carry in nesting materials, al- 

 though there is ample to build hundreds 

 of nests lying all about. 



Some species of birds hide their nests 

 in a very thorough manner while others 

 make no apparent effort at conceal- 

 ment. The Bobolink is perhaps the 

 best hider of any of the common birds, 

 and there are many collectors who 

 have never met with a nest of this 

 species, even after years of experience 

 in the field. The Bobolink's nest is 

 most carefully concealed; the effort be- 

 ing to hide the nest and all from ob- 

 servation. On the contrary the Blue- 

 gray Gnatcatcher makes no effort at 

 concealment, evidently relying on p o- 

 tective coloration for its security from 

 observation; and this is largely success- 

 ful as the nest is very rarely discovered, 

 excepting by the most careful students. 

 There are many other species which 

 conceal their nests and in a great var- 

 iety of ways, but it is of the exposed 

 eggs without covering and in prom- 

 inent situations that we take the most 

 interest. For instance the eggs of the 

 Woodcock and Nighthawk are laid in 

 plain sight, yet they escape observa- 

 tion from nearly all strollers, even when 

 search is instituted. It is a fact that 

 the exposed eggs are usually spotted, 

 supposedly for their protection, but 

 this is not always so by any means 

 as we will quickly show by calling the 

 attention of observers to the white eggs 

 of the Mourning Dove. Least Flycatch- 

 er, Hummingbird, some Owls, and sev- 



eral other species, and the nearly white 

 eggs of the Vireos, some of the War- 

 blers, and others Neither is it so that 

 the eggs laid in cavities and burrows 

 are generally white. Let me call at- 

 tention to a few well-known excep- 

 tions: The following species all lay 

 their eggs in hollows or burrows habit- 

 ually, and yet they are colored and 

 mostly speckled. Bluebird, House 

 Wren, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Creep- 

 er, Prothonotory, Warbler, Eave Swal- 

 low, Nuthatch, Titmice, Great-crested 

 Flycatcher, Sparrow Hawk, and many 

 other kinds. Rules of this kind are 

 generally found to be beset with excep- 

 tions. 



It is astonishing to what a degree 

 birds are affected with parasites, both 

 externally and internally. There is 

 not a species that is exempt, and even 

 the acquatic birds are invested as an 

 examination will convince any investi- 

 gator. Birds of a class, sometimes of a 

 genus, or even species have their speci- 

 al parasites, sometimes of several 

 species, and always as many as two 

 kiads. Naturally enough the insects 

 become a nuisance in the nest where 

 they quickly become attached to the 

 young. It is remarkable when we con- 

 sider that the strictly insectivorous 

 •birds, as the common Yard Phoebe and 

 Barn and Eave Swallows are among 

 the most afflicted birds in this respect. 

 Swallow's and Pewee's nests are often 

 found to be creeping alive with these 

 parasites, which in some instances kill 

 the young in the nest. The swallows 

 and other insectivorous species do not 

 seem to feed on these mites, and the 

 pests multiply to a great degree. It 

 will be noticed that the proprietors of a 

 nest will leave it after the first brood 

 is hatched and will build another nest 

 for the second brood. I have observed 

 this trait in the Phoebe many times, as 

 in several other species. Sparrows, 

 especially the imported ones, will wal- 

 low in the dust to rid themselves of the 



