Life- History of 



the Chickadee. 



(This article began in our June issue.) - 



The number of eggs laid ranges from five to 

 eight, sometimes nine, rarely ten. 

 Nearly spherical in shape, rosy white in color,dot- 

 ted with reddish-brown spots, generally thicker 

 at the larger end. Although the shape may be 

 stated generally as spherical, there is great vari- 

 ation as well as in marking. This is probably 

 due to the large number laid at a clutch and the 

 number of sets laid in a season. 



As samples of variation I quote from a note 

 book of 1897, as follows; April 18th, Chickadee: 

 nest in a dead red-bud, composed of moss, lined 

 with hair, six eggs, measuring .58x.44, .59x.47, 

 .67x.49, .58x.46, .57x.48, .58x.49; markings very 

 slight, irregularly placed; 



April 18th, Chickadee: nest in a dead elm stump, 

 composed of hair, rabbit fur and moss, five eggs, 

 measuring, .59x.48, .57x.44, .60x49, .58x.46 and 

 ,58x.47; markings heavy, wreathed at larger end; 

 May 10th, Chickadee: nest in a dead willow, com 

 posed of moss and chicken feathers, lined with 

 rabbit fur; seven eggs, averaging, .55x.42, .56x 

 42, .55x.43, .54x.42, .55x 46, .57x.46 and .60x.43, 



