Middlesex Co. Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts].
1875
Apr. 24 [April 24, 1875] on their bed of oak leaves & dry grasses.
Taking a long look at the beauties, for
it was the first nest that I had ever
seen, I removed to the distance of
50 yds. [yards] and concealing myself
awaited the return of the old bird,
but although I remained there
an hour by the watch she did not
again put in an appearance, so
with much reluctance and [delete]a[/delete] feelings
of mingled remorse and satisfaction
I carefully packed the eggs in my
collecting box and started for home.
The nest was placed at the foot of a
birch sapling in the very middle of
a springy "run" and the little mound
on which it rested, raised it barely a
foot above the water by which it was entirely
surrounded. The cover though dense enough
on the elevated ground bordering the
run, was in the neighborhood of the
nest both low and scanty. The nest
itself was composed principally of
leaves and dry grasses, carefully &
smoothly arranged and was hollowed
out quite appreciably in the centre.
A few feathers from the birds breast were
mingled with the materials composing
the nest and the dry chalky excrement
of the bird was plastered on its side.
The eggs had been incubated about
a week I should judge & all contained
well formed embryos. The [male] bird
which I flushed first was lying some
20 yds [yards] from his sitting mate