coarsest material of the nest, and, as in a honse, is simply preparatory to receiving tlie building proper. 

 The second is of a better grade of material, and the third usually consists of soft, pliable substances, 

 which make a dry and warm bed for the eggs nnd young. The foundation is absent in a large number 

 of nests, because the position in which they are placed does not demand it. Likewise the superstructure 

 may be wanting. In a perfect nest, supported from below and at the sides, the position in which it 

 is situated determines the quantity of material in the foundation. A nest in a crotch of small angle 

 contains more than a similar one in a crotch of large angle, as in each case the material must be piled 

 into the crotch until a diauieter sufficient to receive the superstructure is attained. The superstructure 

 being largely independent of position, is, accordingly, more uniform in size in nests of a given species 

 than is the foundation, while the lining, being without relation to position, is the most constant feature, 

 so far as size and materials are concerned, of any part of a nest. With some birds the nest is a very 

 elaborate affair^ much time and skill being e-\pended upon it. With others it is of but little consequence, 

 and some neglect it entirely. Birds which excavate a home in decayed wood, or in sandy and clayey 

 banks, often obtain for themselves secure and cozy quarters. Some of these excavations are lined with 

 soft materials, others are left bare. Very pretty nests are often built in natural cavities, but the most 

 beautiful and wonderful structures are those fastened to the swaying branches of the forest trees. The 

 chief aim of birds in building is to protect their eggs and young from the various sources of danger, to 

 which by nature they are exposed. Birds which lay showy eggs consequently take different means of 

 reaching this end from birds whose eggs are in their coloring protective. The eggs most likely to attract 

 prying eyes are the wliite ones, such as those laid by the Woodpeckers, Swallows, Swift, Kingfisher, 

 Grouse, Quail, and Owls. These are concealed by the chanicter of the nest, or protection is afforded by 

 the size and nature of the birds possessing them. The Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper, Avhose eggs 

 resemble pebbles at a little distance, place their nests on the open, gravelly shore or field. The Black 

 Tern, another bird which constructs little or no nest, and lays in exposed places, rolls its eggs in the 

 mud till they resemble balls of clay. The green and greenish-blue eggs are tisually in open nests among 

 foliage, and consequently quite inconspicuous. The little, white, spotted eggs, while attractive, are commonly 

 in deep, open nests, and are kept from view by overhanging foliage. The Turtle Dove is an exception 

 to the general rule. This bird lays white eggs in a shallow and generally exposed nest, but as only 

 two eo-o-s are laid, and as the mother bird begins to sit on the same day, or the day after the first egg is 

 dropped, and as she is usually fed upon the nest by her mate, the eggs after all are but seldom exposed 

 to view. One of the most perfect examples of protective coloring occurs with the American Woodcock. 

 The bird, nest, and eggs all being of very much the same shades of brown. 



* * 

 * 



The Turkey Buzzard, the Wild Turkey, and the Osprey lay the largest eggs of any of the Birds 

 found at present in Ohio, and the Hummingbird lays the smallest. The former average about 1.90x2.60, 

 the latter about .34 x .50 Between these sizes are found eggs of all dimensions. The number of eggs in 

 a set varies greatly with different species, but little with individuals of the same species. The Humming- 

 bird, the Turtle Dove, and the W^ld Pigeon lay the smallest number, the complement of each being two. 

 The largest sets are laid by the Quail, Wild Turkey, Grouse, and Ducks. The Quail often incubates as 

 many as twenty eggs, and the Ducks as many as ten or twelve. The majority of birds, however, lay from 

 four to six eggs only, five being perhaps about the average number to a nest. The period of incubation varies 

 from nine or ten days to about four weeks. Many small birds are hatched in ten days, while the large 

 ones, such as Owls, Hawks, Ducks, Turkeys, and others, require from twenty-one to twenty-eight days. 

 Some birds hatch two broods of voung each year; in such cases the second set of eggs contains one or 



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