196 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
flight, and of great volume of wing. It often visits 
the city, darting and squeaking over the streets at a 
great height, diving perpendicularly with a hollow 
sound resembling that produced by blowing strongly 
into the bunghole of an empty hogshead. I have 
also seen these birds sitting on chimney-tops in some 
-of the most busy parts of the city, occasionally utter- 
ing their common note.’ 
“The most absurd thing about this bird is its 
building no nest, and yet expecting to protect its 
eggs. The spot fixed on for laying is sometimes 
an open space in the woods, frequently in a ploughed 
field or in the corner of a corn-field. The eggs are 
placed on the bare ground, and in a dry situation, 
where the color of the leaves, ground, stones, or 
other parts of the surface may resemble the general 
tint of the eggs, so that they will not be easily seen. 
There are usually two oblong eggs, of a dirty bluish- 
white, and marked with numerous blotches of dark 
olive-brown. 
“ Both male and female are to be found constantly 
in the neighborhood of this spot, but they are seldom 
seen together, and are almost always on separate 
trees. The male has a curious habit of precipita- 
ting himself, head downward, upon any one who 
approaches this retirement ; and this is the position 
in which he usually has his portraits taken. 
