162 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
will often permit herself to be lifted from the nest rather than expose her 
jewels to the greed and cruelty of an unsympathizing world. While a 
comparatively close prisoner at home for a period of fourteen days during 
the incubating process, she, however, does occasionally quit its shadows, 
when sorely pressed by hunger, but only for a brief time. 
The apjjearance of the young is the inauguration of a change in the 
male’s demeanor. Proud of his progeny, he breaks away from his hitherto 
aimless habits, and makes amends therefore by becoming a very dutiful 
and affectionate parent. With equal zeal he assists his partner in collect- 
ing the various insects which contribute to their nourishment. As long as 
their helplessness continues, he may be thus observed. But when, after a 
period of thirteen or fourteen days, the young are able to quit the nest, 
he abates his care in a measure, and teaches them to help themselves. 
When sufficiently matured, like their parents, they feed upon rice, the 
seeds of figs, and the various grains peculiar to their native haunts, as 
well as upon insects. The young females soon acquire their proper dress, 
but the males, on the contrary, are slow in arriving at the same condition. 
Four years, at the farthest, are necessary to bring about the final change. 
The eggs are rounded-oval, of a white or grayish color, and beauti- 
fully marked with brown and violet-colored spots chiefly about the larger 
extremities, but more scattered, smaller and paler ones over the rest of the 
eggs. In some specimens from Texas and Louisiana, the violet spots pre- 
dominate, thus contrasting in a marked manner with normal forms. The 
average dimensions of a set from Texas are as follows : .85 by .60, .80 by 
.60, .80 by .60 and .85 by .60 inches. Another set from Comal County, 
of the same State, measure respectively .81 by .63, .81 by .63, .75 by .63 
and .75 by .62 inches. Nests with eggs, found as late as June 21st, seem 
to warrant the belief that two broods are annually raised, but this needs 
confirmation. In confinement, as many as three are of common occurrence. 
