370 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



that year. One of the nests (3062) was placed on a rail fence, in 

 the crotch formed by the post. In the Missouri region, it was equally 

 abundant from Fort Buford to near the headwaters of the Milk 

 river. Many nests containing two to four eggs were taken the 

 latter part of June and early in July. One of these was particu- 

 larly interesting, showing that the summer warbler is not the only 

 species that gets rid of the obnoxious eggs of the cow-bird by build- 

 ing a second story to the nest, and thus leaving the alien eggs to 

 addle in the basement below. A nest taken near Frenchman river 

 containing two eggs seemed to be a curiously built affair, and on 

 examining it closely I found the wrong egg embedded in its sub- 

 stance below the others (No. 4185.) The kingbird is not so much 

 attached to woodland as has been supposed. I saw great numbers 

 whilst travelling by rail on the prairies of Minnesota and Dakota, 

 where it seemed to be as much at home as anywhere. All things 

 considered, it may be rated as one of the most abundant and generally 

 diffused species of the whole region under consideration. {Coues.) 

 The nests of this species are usually built in an apple-tree in some 

 orchard, and are constructed of dried grasses, weed stems, wool and 

 hair. Wool is the most conspicuous article used in building. One 

 nest observed was within three feet of the ground, being situated in 

 a small apple-tree and was plainly exposed, there being nothing 

 whatever to conceal it. {W. H. Moore.) 



Abundant everywhere in Manitoba and the west. I have found 

 their nests in the heavy woods, the scrub, under bridges and culverts, 

 under eaves, on fence-post tops and on rail-fence joints. On one 

 occasion I almost ran my boat over a bird sitting on a nest which 

 had been built too close to the water line in the overhanging willows, 

 on the Assiniboine river, and the water having risen until the nest 

 was almost afloat. On a stretch of prairie country northwest of 

 Carberry I discovered a female on a nest built in the slenderest wolf 

 willow, only about two feet from the ground, the leaves dwarfed 

 and blistered by the heat affording no hide or cover for bird or 

 nest. In this case, she almost allowed me to place my hand upon 

 her before she left the nest. (Atkinson.) 



