Dec. 1889.] 
AND OOLOGIST. 
185 
June 11th, was placed in a clump of mullen, 
on top of a little bank. This contained but 
three eggs, and as I knew that incubation had 
begun several days, it was not molested. 
On the 27tli of May I also collected another 
set of four eggs on a neighboring farm. This 
nest was also placed at the root of a mullen, 
and \was in its form and the marking of its 
eggs so like those of a Song Sparrow that it 
would '.have been difficult to identify them if 
the bird had not been seen. 
Several, other new nests were located in a 
swampy burn, but before their sets of eggs were 
completed they were destroyed by some small 
animal or bird. Anoth/r nest, whose set of 
four eggs were among' the most beautifully 
mottled that I' have seen, was collected by my 
son from a tuft of grass in a deep tamarac 
swamp on the 12th of June, he having, to make 
identity certain, shot the bird. 
The last nest of .this species that I noticed 
this season was on the 12tli of July. I had 
flushed the bird nesting, and on that date four 
days after the first egg had been deposited 
found that it Contained but two eggs which 
the bird was incubating, and I did not molest 
them nor disturb her again. This nest was 
placed at tlie f root of a small black ash, among 
tall, wild grass, and formed chiefly of fine 
dry grass, ^but the eggs were the darkest in 
color of any that I had yet sXen. The middle 
of May appears to be the earliest time for this 
species tb nest, but some years ago I took a 
set of three eggs, incubation begun, on the 4th 
of Augdst. William L. Kells. 
Listo-v^el, Ontario, Canada. 
[No one, except a very ignorant person, 
would mistake the eggs of the White- throated 
Sparrow for those of the Song Sparrow, as 
they are so much larger than the latter in 
addition to the difference in their general ap- 
pearance. Normal eggs of the Song Sparrow 
measure about .75x,55, while those of the 
Wliite-tliroated Sparrow (normal specimens) 
abe about .84x.68. — J. P. N.] 
Nesting of the Chestnut-collared 
Longspur. 
While on a recent collecting trip in Lac-qui- 
Parle County, Minnesota, an excellent oppor- 
tunity presented itself for the observation of 
the nesting habits of the Chestnut- collared 
Longspur ( Calcarius ornatus). Let me give 
you what information I gathered while there. 
On the 12th of May, 1889, the day I arrived 
at Madison, the county seat, I observed the 
birds in every field. They were apparently 
mated, and seemed greatly excited when I ap- 
proached their particular section. Each pair 
had established themselves in a certain portion 
of ground, and there raised their brood. Al- 
though I hunted diligently during that day and 
the day after, and for a week or more, I could 
find no nests. 
I looked in tall grass, and short grass, and 
places where there was no grass at all. I tried 
watching the female bird, but gave that up and 
was slowly becoming disappointed at my ill 
luck, when, on May 20tli, as I was riding home 
about noon with a farmer, I saw a female 
Longspur flying across the prairie with a piece 
of grass in her bill. Presently she alighted 
and walked a short distance, and then stopped, 
and after fussing about a little, she flew away 
again, but without the piece of grass she had 
carried there. Guessing what she was doing, 
I went over to where she had been, and sure 
enough, there was the beginning of a nest. It 
was a shallow hole, scooped out in the ground, 
which was just receiving its lining of grass and 
reed stems. Both birds soon came around, 
and flew nervously about, keeping up a plain- 
tive twittering sound. 
I told the farmer he need not wait for me, so 
I walked about for quite a distance to observe 
their actions. 
As soon as the birds had quieted down the 
male began to soar high up in the air, and 
when at its greatest height would begin its pe- 
culiar little song, and then with wings almost 
touching behind his back, would come tum- 
bling down, as if overcome with the ecstacy of 
his own music, never ceasing the strain until 
he alighted on the ground. While thus singing 
he would always settle near the nest as he came 
down. 
With this information gained I started home, 
resolving to revisit the nest at a later date; but 
I never did this, for some reason. 
The next morning (May 21st) I was out early, 
looking for Longspurs’ nests. I first went to a 
piece of ground where I always had heard a 
male singing whenever I passed the place; and 
as I came in sight this time he was still there. 
After watching him go through his peculiar 
singing performance several times, I decided 
about the spot the nest must be located, and 
started for it on the run, making as much noise 
as possible, hoping to flush the bird directly 
from the nest. As I came upon the place, 
sure enough, out she went from almost under 
variations oi plumage 
he describes were also noticed. A single female was taken having a dis- 
tinct chestnut collar, and many of the males had the black of the° breast 
streaked with chestnut. They were evidently nesting, and a very pro- 
longed search finally revealed a nest which contained young half grown. 
It was placed upon the ground in the short prairie-grass, and very difficult 
to find even when the locality was once known. It was sunk on a level 
with the ground, and was composed of fine dry grasses very similar to the 
nest of the Shore Lark (E. alpestris'). Internal diameter of nest 2 [ inches ; 
depth about 2. The female fluttered away exhibiting the utmost concern, 
and acting as if severely wounded. 
Bull, N.O.O, 5 , Jan,, 1880, p,14 
144 
