woods. Foimclation : mostly v/ell-worn leaves. Superstructure: M^hitish rootlets and bits of leaves fast- 

 ened to the points of support by cobwebs. Lining : tendrils, horse hairs, and a few blades of blue-grass. 



K'o. 4. Outside diameter, four; outside depth, three and one-half; inside diameter, Iavo and one- 

 eighth; inside depth, one and thi-ee-fourths, inches. Position: perpendicular fork of young elm grow- 

 ing in the fence-corner of a wheat field. Foundation : entirely of bits o! various dried leaves and 

 rootlets. Superstructure: similar, but finer rootlets about the rim, and well covered with cobwebs. 

 Lining: rootlets and split grasses, finer than the few black horse hairs which accompany them. 



No. 5. Outside diameter, four and one-fourth; outside depth, two and one-fourth; inside diameter, 

 two; inside depth, one and one-half, inches. Position: saddled upon three small branches close to 

 the forking, overhanging water. Foundation and superstructure, similar to No. 4. Lining: round grass 

 and horse hairs. 



The average internal measurement of a large number of nests is: inside diameter, two and one- 

 eighth; inside depth, one and three-eighths, inches. Nests are frequently met with the external di- 

 mensions of which are much greater than those just described aboA^e ; the materials, however, are 

 similar. 



EGGS : 



The complement of eggs is from three to five, generally four; they are faint Antwerp-blue, when 

 freshly blown, fading in a few months to nearly white. 



They measure from .69 x .52 to .75x.59; average, .72 x .56. 



Exceptional eggs are plain white, and white or bluish dotted with reddish-brown. 



Dr. Cones, in "Birds of the North-west," says: ''The egg of the Indigobird is variously de- 

 scribed as pure white, plain blue, or bluish, speckled with reddish-brown. The fact appears to be, 

 not that these statements are conflicting— or any of them erroneous, but that ditfcrent eo-o-s vary ac- 



OO' 



cordingiy. It seems to be the general rule with normally bluish eggs, that they range in shade from 

 quite blue to Avhite, and are occasionally speckled." 



Dr. J. M. Wheaton informs me, that he recently found a nest containing speckled eggs. They, 

 however, seem to be quite rare. I have never met with any but plain, faintly blue specimens. . 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 



To designate points of difference between this nest and others of like size, so that it may be 

 recognized, would be exceedingly difficult if not impossible. Yet there is a something about its gen- 

 eral appearance which is characteristic. If normal eggs accompany it, the identification will be extremely 

 easy, as they may be known by their size and color. 



EEMARKS : 



The nest illustrated, was taken on the 28th of May, 1877, from an elder bush. The foundation 

 consists of pieces of leaves and corn husks, mixed with rootlets, weed-stems, and grasses ; the super- 

 structure is similar, but with finer rootlets about the rim. The lining is composed of about equal 

 proportions of split grasses, fine bits of roller-grass, and black horse hairs; cobwebs are attached at 

 irregular distances to the exterior, and seem to be used more for ornament than for any additional 

 strength they may give to the structure. 



The outside diameters are four and one-half and three and one-half; the outside depth, three; in- 

 side diameter, two and one-eighth; inside depth, one and three-fourths, inches. The nest was selected 

 for illustration on account of its apparently large size ; the loose arrangement of the materials at 

 the left makes it seem larger than it really is; a close examination Avill shoAV the true walls. The 

 eggs are colored from freshly blown specimens, and represent the average and extremes in size and 

 color. 



48 



