320 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



nal structure after each succeeding brood-raising. 

 The authors of this nest had successfully reared 

 three brood# and at the time of the severance of 

 the limb from the trunk of the tr@e, were preparing 

 for a fourth. From the remarkable depth of the 

 cavity, the labor of removing the befouled mate- 

 rials which would have been exceedingly arduous 

 to the birds, was Sipared, a fresh supply of feathers 

 being carried in for each successive brood. 

 The preparations for a fourth brood occurred 

 during the last week in August. 



.Another hest which was taken late in June, was 

 built upon a tree of the red maple, and is com- 

 posed externally of fine and coarse strings, from 

 the thickness of twine to that of sewing silk, carpet 

 rags, a few small branches of Populus dilatato., and 

 rootlets. Interiorly, it is lined with a thick layer 

 of raw cotton. It measures four and a half inches 

 in diameter by less than two and a half in a verti- 

 cal direction. The cavity at the rim measures 

 three inches in width, and one and a half in depth. 

 The outej: materials of the nest are far from being 

 tastefully interwoven, and display but a slight de- 

 gree of artistic skill. The cotton had evidently 

 been found en masse, and was carelessly adjusted, 

 if the pi-esent appearance affords any criterion. 



Ordinarily the labor lasts from four to five days. 

 The eggs are begun to be laid on the succeeding 

 day, and are deposited at the rate of one per day, 

 which makes the period of oviposition from four to 

 five days. Incubation takes place on the day fol- 



