124 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
are common nesting-places. Often the entrance to the nest is apparently 
so small compared with the bulk of the occupant, that it is a matter of 
surprise to many how she can manage to make her way into it without 
suffering bodily injuries. But she does, which is proof that she knows 
either how to conform to circumstances, or else is a better judge of size 
than many of us would-be-wise lords of creation. All structures which 
we have examined were generally wide enough at the mouth to admit of 
easy passage, and were from four to six feet deep. The bottom of the 
cavity invariably consisted of soft decayed wood, and a few feathers which 
were doubtless plucked by the bird from her own breast. Besides these 
articles, other writers have observed dry plants, down, and feathers of the 
Wild Turkey, Wild Goose, and the common barnyard fowl. The height 
of the entrance above the ground varies from fifteen to thirty feet, accord- 
ing to our experience. Possibly a less, or even a greater elevation may 
sometimes be attained. 
Wilson speaks of a nest which he observed in an old grotesque white 
oak. It stood on a slope of one of the banks of the Tuckahoe Eiver, in 
New Jersey, just twenty yards from the water’s edge, and had been occu- 
pied for four consecutive years. At the time of his visit it contained 
thirteen young birds, which the maternal head was engaged in carrying 
down to the water to give them, perhaps, their first experience in the 
natatorial art. So carefully, and yet so adroitly and quickly did she per- 
form this seemingly difficult task, that she was less than ten minutes in 
its accomplishment. Although the male usually stands sentry while the 
diverse processes of laying and sitting are going on, and signals the 
ajq^roach of enemies by a peculiar cry which has been likened to the 
crowing of a young cock — oe eek ! oe eeh ! — yet from the silence of one 
writer upon the subject, we infer that the duty of rearing the rather 
numerous family is left to the mother, her proud and consequential partner, 
as though disdaining such ignoble and degrading because slavish work, 
being off with his gay companions, disporting themselves in mid-air, or 
trimming, while perched upon some sheltering bough, their rich and varied 
