Incubation Period of the Mocking Bird. 69 



May 3» Examined the nest and found it completed, ap- 

 parently ready for eggs. 



May 4. Nest still empty. 



May 5. First egg laid. 



May 6, 7 and 8. An egg followed each morning for 

 three days. Parent bird started incubating with egg 

 No. 1, and was on nest constantly thenceforth. Visited 

 nest early and often each morning with a view to getting 

 data as to time of laying of each egg. It was not possible 

 to find out the precise time, but an approximate schedule 

 was made as follows. 



Egg No. 1, deposited 8:30 A. M. 

 " 2, " 9:00 



" 3, " 8:00 " 



" " 4, " 8:45 " 



May 9 t JO and Jl. Visited nest. Both parents present, 

 one on nest and other in adjoining shrub. 



May \2* Examined nest and was sorry to note that one 

 egg had disappeared — no doubt the work of a jay or crow. 

 Parents around, though seeming shy. 



May J3. Visited nest. Both birds present, one on nest- 

 Both very demonstrative. 



May J 4. Visited nest. Parent bird incubating, as usual. 



May J5. Much to my regret I found another egg miss- 

 ing from the nest this morning. Both birds around, appa- 

 rently much distressed. Would like to catch the thief. 



May \6* Visited nest and was glad to find bird sitting 

 upon the two remaining eggs. 



May J 7. Visited nest. Parent flew from it. Both pres- 

 ent. They scolded, and one fluttered so close as to almost 

 touch me. 



May J8. Visited nest. Parent flew from it upon my ap- 

 proach. One bird seems to stay on guard on the topmost 

 branch of a nearby shrub while the other bird incubates. On 

 nearly every visit this has been the case. The bird on guard 

 utters a wheezing sort of note on my approach, which seems 

 to warn the sitting bird, as she at once leaves the nest. 



