106 BIRDS'-NESTING. 



bott's note-books record eggs taken all the way from 

 May 17 to August 3 ; in Massachusetts, dates are 

 given from June 10 onward, while in Maine, July is 

 considered the nesting month of this species, and in 

 Michigan dates range from May to September. 



It is evident, then, that although the goldfinch 

 breeds late, as a rule, yet sometimes it nestles quite as 

 early as the majority of the woodland birds. That 

 the same individuals may, and do, vary greatly in the 

 time of this function from year to year, I have no 

 doubt; why — is just the point we want to have 

 cleared up. 



The evidence also seems to show that they have 

 the power of retaining their eggs, or, rather of re- 

 pressing their desire to lay, to a much greater extent 

 than is generally supposed possible with birds. 

 This is shown not only by the long delays which have 

 been known to take place in their nest-building, 

 followed by a successful finale, but also from the fact 

 that specimens dissected in April show an equal 

 readiness and development of ovaries and testes with 

 those shot late in the summer. It is unscientific to 

 say that nothing more rational than caprice can be 

 assigned as the cause of this anomalous habit in 

 breeding : but it seems to me equally a confession of 

 unworthy ignorance to allege scarcity of proper food 

 for the young as an explanation ; this inadequacy is 



