198 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
suspend operations and (|uietly retire to their homes. In the course of 
events they are obliged to forsake the family-roof, and to seek quarters in 
hollow trees, the gloomy recesses of dense forests, or the dark corners of 
out-buildings. The characteristic plumages of the young, which they attain 
in about four months from the time of hatching, vary, and are entirely 
independent of age, sex, or season, being purely individual. There can be 
no doubt about this statement, since in the same nest there may often be 
observed both gray and red young ones, while their ^progenitors may either 
be both red or both gray, the male red and the female gray, or the 
reverse. The peculiar notes of the adults are assumed at the same time. 
But the claws have scarcely acquired their normal development until 
nearly two months more have been added to their age. In the drawing 
the rufescent and normal plumages of the adults are so well delineated that 
no description seems necessary. Specimens from different localities show 
marked variations in dimensions, but those from which the drawings were 
made, have a length of nine and a half inches, with wing six and seven- 
tenths, and tail three and one-half Young of the normal dress have the 
secondaries, primary and tail as in the adult, but the latter more mottled, 
and the bands confused. The rest of the plumage is grayish-white, and 
marked with numerous transverse dusky-brown bars. The eyebrows and 
lines are a dull white, with scarce a variegation, and the facial circle ob- 
solete. In the other plumage the wings and tail are as in the adult birds. 
Ujpon the head and body the markings are as in the young gray bird, but 
the white bars are more reddish, and the darker ones a more decided brown. 
The eggs of this species are from live to six in number, almost spher- 
ical, and of a pure white color. Specimens from different localities offer 
marked variations in size. Those from Florida are smaller than more 
northern specimens, and measure 1.31 by 1.15 inches. New England eggs 
average 1.49 by 1.31, and others from Pennsylvania and New Jersey 1.35 
inches in length, and 1.18 in width. On comparison with some from 
Michigan and Iowa we can find but slight differences. 
