lodgment for them. Hay, straw, strings, feathers and any 

 other materials that can be found or stolen from other birds' 

 nests are worked into theirs. They lay four to six eggs and 

 hatch three or four broods a year. Thus they multiply rapidly 

 and seem destined to possess the earth. They are as tame as 

 hens and move aside only far enough to avoid being stepped on 

 or run over in the streets. They have no song and utter only a 

 squeaky, chirping sound. Eggs, generally white, specked with 

 olive, .85 X .60 inches. 



At night they gather in large numbers in trees and vines 

 about the house and carry on noisy meetings until a late hour. 

 Only one thing can be said in their favor. They remain with us 

 during the winter when most other birds have gone to warmer 

 climes, but that is a small compensation for the mischief which 

 they do. 



BIRD NOTES 



29 



