Song Birds and Water Fowl 



chicks, in the second were three eggs, and in 

 the third two eggs, which, however, were not 

 so purely white as phoebes's eggs usually are. I 

 was quite nonplussed, as the nests and eggs all 

 appeared fresh, and it seemed incredible that 

 three pairs of phoebes; which are not gregarious, 

 like swallows, should nest so close together. Not 

 to obtrude myself too abruptly upon their fam- 

 ily affairs, I waited to see what a couple of days 

 might bring forth, since a full set of phoebes's 

 eggs consists of four or five. As the number 

 did not increase, I half concluded there had 

 been a tragedy in the case, and that a pair of 

 cats belonging in the house could unfold a tale 

 if they chose. But just then I discovered that 

 the nest containing young also had in it three 

 unhatched eggs. This seemed to solve the 

 mystery, and to exonerate the cats ; for it was 

 good evidence that the one pair of phoebes were 

 at the bottom of the whole business, and were 

 now indulging in their third brood, and that 

 the other nests and eggs were the relics of the 

 first and second broods, only a part of the eggs 

 having hatched in each case. Being the last of 

 July it was just the time for the third brood, 

 which they sometimes have, the first coming in 

 May, and the second in June. 

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