86 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



We are positive upon this point, for the follow- 

 ing reasons. The occupancy of nests by the 

 Loirtg-billed Marsh Wren; the presence of eggs 

 thickly marked with blotches and spots of a deep 

 chocolate brown, so as to present an almost uni- 

 form color so strikingly consti^astive with the pure 

 white eggs of C. stellaris; and, lastly, the great 

 numbers of T. palustris everywhere seen ; form an 

 array of evidence not to be lightly considered. 



It may be argued that tlie nest of a very close 

 ally has been forcibly taken possession of. The 

 absence of any positive knowledge tending to show 

 the existence of such a pilfering propensity, nulli- 

 fies any such presumption. It is true that the 

 cavity which a hard-working Woodpecker has 

 constructed at infinite pains, is appropriated by a 

 different species, in a few instances. But we havp 

 yet to meet with a case, for example, where the 

 Baltimore Oriole has stolen and occupied the nest 

 of Icterus spurius. This wouM be an anomalous 

 occurrence. Birds, as a rule which admits of no 

 variations, prefer their own workmanship to those 

 of strangers'. 



The typical nest of this species is described-as 

 being "made externally of coarse sedges firmly 

 interwoven, the interstices being cemented with 

 clay or mud." . Further, it is said, "a small, round 

 orifice is left in one side for entrance ; the upper 

 side of which is also protected from the rain by a 

 projecting ledge." 



Audubon describes it as built among sedges, 



