95 



To summarize, in so far as the conflicting statements will 

 admit, it has been stated that the Redwings begin building 

 about the second week in May in the Middle and Northern 

 States, and one or two weeks earlier farther south. They 

 rear one, two, or three broods a season, depending upon the 

 locality. The nest shows a great deal of variation in structure, 

 materials used, and location, but a normal nest is composed 

 of three parts: an outer basket woven into the supporting 

 bushes or rushes, a filling of mud or decayed wood, and a 

 lining of finer materials. The Redwing shows great adapta- 

 bility with regard to nest construction, and a tenacity for a 

 selected nesting site despite great changes in the environment 

 or disasters which may befall its nest. 



At Ithaca nest-building commences about the middle of 

 April, but it is not until the first part of the second week in 

 May that all of the adult males are mated and have nests 

 started. At this time, it will be recalled, the immature 

 resident males are just beginning to arrive, so that before they 

 are mated and nesting, it is the last of May. Thus the height 

 of the nesting season is reached about the first of June. The 

 adult birds commence building again, often before the first 

 young have left the nest. The second nest is located in the 

 immediate vicinity of the first, frequently within a distance of 

 ten feet. This is true also when the first nest has been robbed 

 or destroyed. One pair, which was experimented upon, built 

 four nests within a radius of twenty-five feet between April 

 15 and May 18. The first nest was deserted before completion, 

 probably because it was discovered, and the second was 

 immediately started about fifteen feet to the east. This was 

 completed in six days, and a complement of three eggs was 

 then deposited. This nest was removed on April 26. An- 

 other was soon finished about fifteen feet to the south, the 

 complement of eggs again numbering three. This was removed 

 on May 6. The fourth nest, which was built about ten feet 

 to the south of the third, likewise contained three eggs when 

 the full set had been deposited. This nest was removed on 

 May 18. A fifth nest was doubtless constructed, for two weeks 

 later both birds were seen still cHnging to the spot. On 



