AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
121 
BIRDS’ EGGS, 
AND DESCRIPTION OF NESTS. 
[Plate XI. Vol. 2.] 
1. Blade Skimmer. 
The nest is a mere hollow, formed in the sand, with- 
out any materials. The female lays three eggs, almost 
exactly oval, of a dirty white, marked with large spots of 
brownish black, and intermixed with others of pale Indian 
ink. These eggs measure one inch and three quarters, by 
one inch and a quarter. Half a bushel and snore of eggs 
has sometimes been collected from one sand-bar, within 
the compass of half an acre. These eggs have something 
of a fishy taste; but are eaten by many people on the 
coast. The female sits on them only during the night, or 
in wet and stormy weather. The young remain for seve- 
ral weeks before they are able to fly; are fed with great 
assiduity by both parents; and seem to delight in lying 
with loosened wings, flat on the sand, enjoying its invigo- 
rating warmth. They breed but once in the season. 
2. Lesser Tern. 
About the twenty-fifth of May, or beginning of June, 
the female begins to lay. The eggs are dropt on the dry 
and warm sand, the heat of which, during the day, is fully 
sufficient for the purpose of incubation. This heat is 
sometimes so great, that one can scarcely bear the hand 
in it for a few moments, without inconvenience. The 
wonder would therefore be the greater, should the bird sit 
on her eggs during the day, when her warmth is altogether 
unnecessary, and perhaps injurious, than that she should 
cover them only during the damps of night, and in wet 
and stonny weather. They are generally four in number, 
and placed on the flat sands, safe beyond the reach of the 
highest summer tide. They are of a yellowish brown 
colour, blotched with rufous, and measure nearly an inch 
and three-quarters in length. 
3. Piping Plover. 
The nests of these birds are formed with little art; 
being merely shallow concavities dug in the sand, in which 
the eggs are laid, and, during the day at least, left to the 
influence of the sun to hatch them. The parents, how- 
ever, always remain near the spot to protect them from in- 
jury, and probably, in cold rainy or stormy weather, to 
H H 
shelter them with their bodies. The eggs are three, some- 
times four, large for the bird, of a dun clay colour, and 
marked with numerous small spots of reddish purple. A 
flat, dry sandy beach, just beyond the reach of the summer 
tides, is their favourite place for breeding. 
4. Meadow Lark. 
The nest of this species is built generally in, or below, 
a thick tuft or tussock of grass; it is composed of dry 
grass, and fine bent laid at bottom, and wound all around, 
leaving an arched entrance level with the ground; the in- 
side is lined with fine stalks of the same materials, disposed 
with great regularity. The eggs are four, sometimes five, 
bluish white, marked with specks and several large 
blotches of reddish brown, chiefly at the thick end. 
5. Brown Thrush. 
Early in May, this bird builds its nest, choosing a thorn 
bush, low cedai’, thicket of briars, dogwood sapling, or 
cluster of vines for its situation, generally within a few 
feet of the ground, and not unfrequently on the ground, at 
the foot of a small bush. Outwardly it is constructed of 
small sticks; then layers of dry leaves; and lastly lined 
with fine fibrous roots, but without any plaster. The eggs 
are five, thickly sprinkled with ferruginous grains. They 
generally have two brood in a season. 
6. Red-bird , or Cardinal Grosbeak. 
Early in May they begin to prepare their nest, which is 
very often fixed in a hollow, cedar, or laurel bush. Out- 
wardly it is constructed of small twigs, tops of dry weeds, 
and slips of vine bark, and lined with stalks of fine grass. 
The female lays four eggs, thickly marked all over with 
touches of brownish olive, on a dull white ground; and 
they usually raise two brood in the season. 
7. Robin. 
The Robin builds a large nest, often on apple and cedar 
trees, plasters it in the inside with mud, and lines it with 
hay or fine grass. The female lays five eggs of a beautiful 
sea green. 
6. Chipping Sparrow. 
The Chipping-bird builds its nest most commonly in 
cedar bushes, and apple-trees, and lines it thickly with 
