Nests in Buildings, Bridges, Walls, Etc. 



The nest is usually built on cliffs in more or less inaccessible 

 places, and sometimes in trees; it is composed of "large sticks 

 closely and artistically arranged, with a lining of coarse grasses, 

 sea-weed, and wool" (Davie). 2 to 7 eggs are laid; they are 

 greenish blue, spotted, blotched, and streaked more or less 

 heavily with olive brown. Size — 1.90 x 1.27. 



English Sparrow : Passer domesticus (Linn.) 



This bird of foreign extraction was brought here from Eng- 

 land in 1851, and for some years confined itself to the larger 

 cities ; since about 1 870, however, it has been rapidly spreading, 

 and may be found everywhere, in country and town, through- 

 out the Eastern States; it has even crossed the great plains, 

 and will probably soon be common in the West. The nest is 

 placed either in buildings or trees, more often the former ; it is 

 of very irregular size, and of no particular shape, its size and 

 shape depending on the amount of vacant space and the num- 

 ber of broods reared. The breeding season begins almost before 

 winter has gone and lasts till late in the autumn. The eggs 

 are generally whitish, thickly marked with dark gray or olive; 

 sometimes they are plain gray. Size — About .80 x .60. 



567. Snowbird; Junco: Junco hyemalis (Linn.) 



Eggs greenish or bluish white, with fine spots and some- 

 times blotched with reddish and purple, brown and lilac, chiefly 

 in a wreath round the larger end. 



See Page 61, Chapter II. 



567e. Carolina Junco: J. h. carolinensis Brewst. 



Eggs same as the preceding, but somewhat larger. 

 See Page 61, Chapter 11. 



611. Purple Martin : Progne subis (Linn.) 



Adult $ — Blue black. 



Adult % — Upper parts blue black; under parts grayish, with 



indistinct white tips to the feathers; belly white. Length 



—8.00. 

 Breeding i?««^«— Throughout the United States. 



87 



