168 
A’£STS AND EGGS OF 
cious neighbors. Into these secret recesses the females place theii- pure 
white, nearly spherical treasures, to the number of six, on as many 
consecutive days. These beautiful solids exhibit not more than ordinary 
variation in size, and rarely exceed 1.31 of an inch in length, and 1.06 
in breadth from the most diverse localities. 
By the beginning of June, sometimes two months earlier in the semi- 
tropical sections of our country, the young, through the patient setting of 
the mother-bird, make their appearance. While she is thus concerned for 
fourteen long, weary days, her partner plays the role of a very faithful 
and attentive husband, amply providing for her sustenance. Both parents 
show great affection for their little family, and watch over it Avith jealous 
and assiduous care. Weak and fragile creatures as they are at birth, they 
cannot digest the unprepared food of adults, but must needs have it 
reduced to a pulpy state by a process of maceration. Later on this is 
discontinued, and the birdlings perform the important duty for themselves. 
At the age of fifteen days they are old enough to quit the nest, but 
usually remain a brief period longer, when they venture out and try the 
fortunes of the outside world. At nights they return to the hole Avhere 
they Avere fledged, and also during rainy weather, until the last of October, 
or the middle of November, when they leave their parents, and like the 
latter, separate and wend their flight to the South, or to regions beyond. 
When the season is unusually propitious, they seek more sheltered local- 
ities, and s]Aend the winter with us. 
From the male the female, as shown in the draAving, is readily dis- 
tinguished, by haA’ing the sides of the body and a transverse band across 
the abdominal region, and slightly posterior to the bluish one of the 
breast, light-chestnut, the pectoral band' being more or less tinged Avith 
the same color. The young resemble the mother in the fall, but when 
spring re-appears, the males present themselves in the paternal garb. The 
length of the adult is about tAvelve and three-quarters inches ; that of the 
wing, six, and sometimes more. The small opening in the embankment 
shows the entrance to a nest, and a female making her way thither. 
