(j^s'cwsC' /outlet/' ^ ($4stsc>ta 
Before me is a curious nest of the Swam p Blackbir d. 
This is a rather bulky affair for the species, and was found 
built in the top of a cluster of cat-tails. It is firmly made 
of broad grasses, and securely fastened to the stems of the 
reeds, some eight in number, by the same kind of material 
that enters into its composition. 
Some Curious Sets of Eggs. 
BY I. S. RF.IFF. 
Set I. Four eggs of the Red and Buff should- 
ered Blackbird, (. Ageloeus pliamiceus ). Three of 
these very closely resembled the eggs of the 
American Bittern, ( Botaurus lentiginosus ) . In 
c-round color No. 1 has a wreath around the 
larger end of very fine lines. No. 2 has also a 
wreath around the larger end, the lines being- 
much heavier, with a heavy black spot nearly 
in the centre about one-eighth of an inch in 
diameter. No. 3 has a few fine lines on one 
side leading from the larger end. No 4 has the 
typical ground color of the species without a 
mark. O &0. XIII. Oct. 1888 p.152 
Birds Tioga Ob, N. Y. Alden Lorfngi 
2*61. Swamp Blackbird. Common. This 
bird is one of the earliest to arrive on its north- 
ern migration, making its appearance about 
the middle of March. It arrives in large flocks, 
the males preceding the females a week or 
more. The nest is built in a small bush or 
hung from two or three cattail stalks. It is 
composed of dried grass and weeds, and is 
lined with fine roots. It is deeply hollowed. 
The eggs, usually four in number, are of a 
light blue color, blotched and scrawled with 
dark brown and obscure spots of black. The 
measurements of a set of four are 1 in. by 
11-18 in., 35-36 in. by 23-38 in., 35-36 in. by 
22-36 in., and 1 in. by 28-36 in. These birds 
love the society of each other and breed in 
communities. I have found as many as twelve 
nests in a space of less than half an acre. Two 
broods are often reared in a season. 
©a &0] XYi I8S0j P*§^ 
The Number of Eggs in a Set. 
BY WALTER IIOXIE, FROGMORE, S. C. 
I am glad to see this subject discussed in the 
O. and O., and think that the more light we 
have thrown on it the better. 
Now I atn quite sure that the number of eggs 
laid by some species varies greatly with the 
habitat of the bird. Take the Red-winged 
•Blackbird (. Agelius phmnicens ) as an instance. 
Three, and •‘nearly as often two, eggs comprise 
the full nest complement here, while about the 
middle range of its habitat, four or five are 
laid. 
Mt&XH.Ay. / 
Capacity of Eggs. 
BY WALTER IIOXIE, FROGMORE, S. C. 
Ten measurements of the capacity of the eggs 
of the Red-winged Blackbird show an average of 
.298 cubic inches. Variations from the mean, but 
little more than five per cent. 
(Pm /m./t- tot. 
JNTo* Eggs in Set- C, S„ Briraley 
Red-winged Blackbird. Standard set, three 
or four. Variation, three to five; three seems 
Jas common if not commoner than four, and I 
have only seen one set of five. 
0«$Oj 15, Oct, 1390. p,14Q 
