ORNITHOLOGIST 
-AND- 
OOLOGIST. 
— 
$1.00 per 
Annum. 
PUBLISHED BY THE FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER 
Established, March, 1875. 
COMPANY. 
Single Copy 
10 cents. 
Vol. XVII. 
HYDE PARK, MASS., MAY, 
1892. 
No. 5. 
A Series of Eggs of the Oven-bird. 
The eggs of the Oven-bird, or Golden- 
crowned Thrush ( Seiurus aurocapillus) vary 
very much in their coloration and size. 
Set I. June 18, 1883. Nazareth, Penn. 
Nest on ground, near fork of tree in patch of 
moss; covered over. Four eggs, fresh. White, 
speckled and spotted with hazel and lilac- 
gray. The markings form wreaths around the 
larger ends, although there are a few specks 
over the remainder of the surface. This is 
the typical style of markings of egg's of this 
species, and in describing the sets below it 
will not be referred to, as it will be understood 
to be the case in each set, unless specially 
mentioned to the contrary. ,74x.G0; ,75x.61; 
.70 x .03; .74 x .60. 
Set II. May 25, 1870. Pelham, N. Y. Nest 
of dry grasses, vegetable fibre, leaves, leaf 
stems, and lined with the same material, but 
finer; roofed over, with entrance in front. 
Diameter, outside six inches, inside three 
inches; depth, outside four and a half inches, 
inside two and a quarter inches. On the 
ground, close to a bush. (I give a detailed 
description of this nest as it serves to describe 
all the others in a general way.) Five eggs, 
incubation begun. White, speckled with 
hazel and lilac-gray. The markings are dis_ 
persed all over the surface, and, although 
somewhat heavier at the larger ends, are not 
wreathed as usual. ,83x.G5; .83x.05; 
.82 x .06; .83 x .64-; ,84x.60. This set also 
contains a Cowbird’s egg. 
Set III. June 0, 1883. Ilyde Park, Out. 
Nest of leaves, grass, bark, etc.., among bushes, 
on the ground. Three eggs, incubation com- 
menced. White, speckled with chestnut and 
lilac-gray: ,82x.G2; ,79x.01; ,79x.5S. One 
Cowbird’s egg with this sot. 
Set IY. May 11, 1880. Weaverville, N. C. 
Nest under bunch of sage grass. Composed 
of leaves, grasses, fibres, etc. Four eggs, 
fresh. White, finely speckled with chestnut 
and lilac-gray: .7Gx.5S; ,78x,57; .74x.50; 
.74 x .59. 
Set Y. May 29, 1886. Wellesley, Mass. 
Nest on ground; composed of strips of thin 
bark and leaves, and lined with fine rootlets. 
Three eggs, fresh. White, sprinkled and 
speckled with hazel and lilac-gray. One of 
the eggs has spots of vinaceous. .74x.57; 
.75 x .59; .77 x .61. 
Set VI. June 3, 1880. Norwich, Conn. 
Leafy, embryotic nest, partly domed. Three 
eggs, fresh. White, heavily and showily 
marked with hazel and lilac-gray spots. (This 
set was collected by the celebrated oolftgist 
“ J. M. W.,” (Mr. C. L, Jiawson), and proves 
that lie can collect handsome Warbler’s eggs 
as well as those of bis beloved Buteos,): 
. 83 x . 03 ; ,83x.63; ,88x.61. 
Set VII. May 28, 1887. Detroit, Minn. 
Nest of leaves, grasses and fibres, on the 
ground, by a log, at edge of a larch swamp, in 
heavy woods. Five eggs, incubation begun. 
White, heavily speckled and spotted with 
chestnut and lilac-gray. The markings are 
much heavier at the larger ends, but do not 
form wreaths: ,79x.Gl; ,73x.G0; ,74x.61; 
.71x .00; .74 x.58. 
Set VIII. May 11, 1889. Weaverville, N. C. 
Nest in end of large pine log. Five eggs, 
fresh. White, speckled and spotted with 
hazel, chestnut and lilac-gray: .74x.61; 
.73 x .81 ; ,73x.G0; .72x.Gl; .73x.59. 
Set IN. May 15, 1885. Granville, N. Y. 
Nest on side of hillock, covered over at top. 
Five eggs, fresh. White, speckled and spotted 
with hazel and lilac-gray: .78x,57; .75x.57; 
.75X.00; .77 x.58; .77x.61. 
Set X. June 3, 1885. Saybrook, Conn. 
Nest on ground, among leaves, in wood. Four 
eggs, fresh. White, speckled and spotted with 
chestnut and lilac-gray: .Six. 61; .78x.Gl; 
.78 x .60; .78 x .01. 
Set XI. May 11, 1889. Weaverville, N. C. 
Copyright, 1892, by Prask Blake Webster Company. 
