EGGS: 
The complement of eggs is from three to six, they are deposited daily or every other day, and are 
incubated in fourteen days. The ground-color is light blue, marked with irregular blotches, lines, and 
dots of dark brown or black, which incline to congregate about the crown. Deep shell-markings have a 
muddy brown appearance. 
Exceptional specimens are plain blue, or have only an occasional dot or blotch of black, either upon 
or below the surface. 
The average size of thirty eggs is .96x.70; largest, 1.04 x. 73; smallest, .86 x .66. 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
The normal nest should be at once recognized from the description, as it is similar to no other bird- 
structure in the state. Its resemblance to the nest of the Crow Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, or Marsh 
Wren, is too distant to need more than mention. The normal eggs arc in general appearance, like 
those of the Crow Blackbird, but smaller. 
REMARKS : 
The nest illustrated was taken on the 10th of May, 1877, from a swamp in Pickaway county. It 
is of the average size, and composed principally of dried grasses and strips of flag leaves, lined with 
round grass and a few black horse hairs. The eggs figured were selected from a large number, and- 
represent the average and extremes in size and markings. The coloring is done from freshly blown 
specimens. 
In late spring or early summer, if a spot selected by the Redwings as a breeding-place is in- 
vaded, it is extremely interesting to watch the movements of the disturbed community. As you en- 
ter the swamp, little by little, forcing a way with difficulty through the dead stalks of rushes and 
sticky mud, several males that have been watching the advance from some neighboring bush, becom- 
ing alarmed for the safety of their homes, commence a series of plaintive cries, and mounting the 
air fly in circles above your head. This signals the whole marsh, reinforcements gather in from 
every quarter, and now, where a few minutes before nothing could be heard hut an occasional con- 
tented cluck, comes a perfect chorus of voices ; a tmv steps more, and a modest-lined female flutters 
from her eggs near by, and with despairing calls joins her brilliantly-attired companion, amid re- 
newed screams and gyrations on the part of the assembled birds. 
Followed by this pleading crowd, the search for the nest begins ; large and conspicuous as it 
seems, it is by no means easy to find, as the color harmonizes perfectly with the dead reeds in which 
it is built. But finally haying discovered it, most probably by accident, and secured the prize, you 
commence to retrace your steps. Having thus learned where the desired object is to be found, the 
eye now sees them where on your entrance they were looked for in vain ; perhaps, some even over- 
turned in the path of advance. All this time the Starlings accompany you. and a pair braver than 
their companions, may even venture an attack, as they see their hard-earned home carried off by a 
ruthless foreigner. 
The young birds, to which the parents are, if possible, more attached than to their nests and 
eggs, are very easily tamed, and endure captivity well, forming strong attachments to those who care 
for them. One which I owned some years ago, became so domesticated that he was permitted dur- 
ing the day to enjoy his freedom. At such times, he would wander about the town, flying from roof 
to roof, picking up such eatables as he could find. Tie would always return at the call of his 
name ; or at times recognizing my voice, would unexpectedly light upon my shoulder. 
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