236 
NESTS AND EGGS OE 
ordinarily commences from the twentieth to the twenty-eighth of April- 
This is always preceded by a brief period of courtship. When the sexes 
are prepared to enter upon the new relation, the event is always announced 
by the loud and almost deafening clamor which the birds emit while cir- 
cling in endless confusion above the roosting-tree. This usually occurs in 
the early morning, when they have shaken off the toils of sleep, and in 
the evening twilight before seeking rest. In the middle of the day com- 
parative silence prevails. But when the weather is cloudy the noise and 
turmoil are kept up for nearly the entire day. They all seem to be in a 
perfect furore of excitement, and, to the inexperienced person, a crowd of 
angry and infuriated birds. This scene is enacted every day for nearly a 
week, when the tumultuous rabble, so to speak, dissolves into pairs, and 
silence reigns once more. 
Where suitable trees exist, a preference being manifested for those of 
the pine family, as many as fifty nests are often to be seen in the same 
clump. My son, Alan F. Gentry, actually took three nests from one tree, 
all within a few feet of each other, besides one nest of the Robin, and 
another of the Dove. This shows the social character of the species, as 
well as the friendship which it evinces towards others. Individual cases 
have been met with where birds have manifested selfish dispositions, as 
shoAvn by their preference for solitary situations, and their desire to dwell 
alone. Where the birds live together in communities the utmost good-will 
everywhere abounds. The very wicked character which is attributed to 
the Grackles, has been imputed to the whole species, on account of the 
mean behavior of some of its members. Like the Common Crow, some of 
these fellows show great fondness for birds’ eggs and tender fledglings, 
many of which, especially those of the Robin, are heartlessly destroyed. 
Coward-like, these villainous wretches lurk in the vicinity of the home 
they wish to pillage, until its occupants are safe out of sight, when they 
pounce upon it with great speed, seize an egg or a young bird, and heat 
a precipitate retreat. But wary and vigilant as they generally are, they 
are sometimes caught in the act, and forced to seek safety in flight from 
