The Birds of El Paso County, Colorado 551 



began incubating. Soon after the young were hatched a second 

 nest was built adjoining the first and attached to it in which a 

 second complement of eggs was laid and the female sat on 

 these while the young were growing in the first nest beside her. 

 When the second brood were hatched a third clutch of eggs 

 was laid in the nest now vacated by the first brood and a third 

 brood successfully reared. A chronology of the domestic af- 

 fairs of the pair for the next year, 1899, follows : 



March 8. Male bird seen inspecting the old nest. 



April 13. Both birds had been house-cleaning since March 

 17 and had relined the original nest. 



April 25. Female sitting and the male keeps out of sight. 



May 8. Five young hatched. 



May 28. Nest deserted and both parent birds presumed to 

 be with the young instructing them to provide for themselves, 

 but returned a few days later. 



June 11. Female incubating second laying. 



June 23. Second brood of young several days old. Male 

 not seen but heard singing in early morning. 



July 3. Young of second brood left the nest. 



In 1900 the male was seen inspecting the nest January 13, 

 and the female joined him February 23. March 8 the old nest 

 was relined. The first laying of eggs was thrown out of the 

 nest April 16 but April 20 the female was incubating a fresh 

 set, and May 11 the young were about a week old. 



In 1901 one brood was reared. 



In 1902 the pair seemed much annoyed to discover that 

 English Sparrows had occupied their nest as a roosting place 

 hut finally renovated it and occupied it about May 20. One 

 brood raised. 



In 1903 the pair came early and finding their nest demol- 

 ished by sparrows built elsewhere in the neighborhood. 



