28 
NESTS ANN EGGS OF 
resonant notes, is heard their strange, unmistakable melody, each bird stri- 
ving to outsing his companions. Ever and anon a half-dozen voices may 
be heard at the same time, producing a perfect medley of sounds, enough 
to “split the ears of the very groundlings.” The males seem never to 
weary of singing. It is a remarkahle and Avell-authenticated fact, that 
during the breeding-period, and even late in September when preparing 
to migrate, the same sweet but pensive strains are heard. 
Nearly three weeks have expired since the advent of the Redwing, 
and still the sexes remain unmated. This cannot long continue. Already 
a change is manifest. The males are more musical, while, on the other 
hand, a spirit of restlessness pervades the females. The latter are now no 
longer given to feeding as before, but cease from their labors, and bend 
listening ears to the gushing notes of love which swell around. Enrap- 
tured, imjAressed, they eventually emerge from their hiding-places, select 
their j)artners, and hie aAvay to more congenial scenes. 
The period of mating is unusually short, and unmarked by any spe- 
cial peculiarities. It generally occurs about the 20th of April, but seldom 
later than the beginning of May. The chief concern of the newly-wedded 
pair now seems to he the selection of a building-spot. This is a matter 
of importance, and, with most species, is attended Avith considerable diffi- 
culty. Not so in the present instance. The birds repair to accustomed 
sites, and there, amid the small bushes and tussocks Avhich abound, pre- 
pare their houses. 
Nest-making commences in the Middle Atlantic States betAveen the 
25th of April and the 1st of May ; in New England, about the 1st of 
June, but not before the middle of this month, in more northern regions. 
The nest is usually placed iu a cluster of reeds, or in the tops of small 
bushes alongside of streams of Avater. Occasionally, small trees and fields 
of timothy are made the recipients of these marks of attention, and, in rare 
instances, the bare ground is made subservient to this 2 )urpose. Almost 
CA^ery ornithologist who has joaid any attention to field-Avork has obsei’Amd 
