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Curious Nesting Traits of Birds. 
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On May 16, 1889, as I was passing through 
my orchard, I observed a Kingbird (Tyr annus 
carolinensis) building her nest, and seating my- 
self under an adjoining tree for a few minutes, 
to watch her movements, I noticed that while 
she was gone for more material a Warbling 
Yireo ( Vireosylvia gilva) who was also building 
a nest close by, would dart into the Kingbird’s 
nest and after selecting such tit-bits as she 
thought she could make use of, would fly 
directly to her own' nest, thus saving her the 
trouble of finding at least part of the material 
she needed. It was amusing to note how care- 
ful she was to see that the Kingbird was absent 
from her nest when she made her visits. But 
twice she was caught in the act of stealing, 
when the Kingbird gave her a warm reception 
and close pursuit. 
mu (}hcSuZc( 
Oi&O. XlVLw*. 1889 p. ?3 
Peculiar Eggs of the Kingbird. — I have just come 
into possession of a set of eggs of the Kingbird ( Tyrannies 
carolinensis ,) which present very curious markings. They 
were collected in 1882, in the town of Braintree, Mass. The 
nest was in a tree overhanging a mill pond. Eggs, 4 ; fresh, 
with the following markings : 
No. 1. Normal in ground color and markings, spots being 
at large end, forming a sort of wreath. Size .92x.G9 of an 
inch. 
No. 2. Much like No. 1, but the spots are larger and few- 
er, with one faint blotch or stain. Size .87x.T5 of an inch. 
No. 3. Has no distinct large spots, but is thickly stained 
with a reddish lilac ; at the large end the stains form a 
blotch. Size .97x.62 inches. 
No. 4. Has no large spots or stains, but is faintly and 
finely stained all over. Size 1.00x.75 of an inch. 
These eggs are now in my collection at 73 Hanover street, 
where I should be pleased to show them to any visitor.— 
Frank A . Bates, Boston. 8h Q* X.. JSLpr* 183 5 • P* (# 3 • 
The Number of Eggs in a Set of 
Certain Species. 
BY HON. JOHN N. CLARK, SAYBROOK, CONN. 
Samuels in his Birds of New England tells 
that the King Bird, ( Tyrann us carol in ensis 
usually lays five eggs to the set, and Minot’s 
Land and (Lame Birds says four or five eg-gs 
constitute a set. Now the bird is one of out- 
most abundant species, nesting in great num- 
bers in every orchard, and I have been watch- 
ing for the past five years every nest that came 
under my observation— and that not a few— to 
get a full set without having been able in all 
that time to secure a single one with either of 
these numbers. 
lhe birds are not at all shy, building right in 
my yard. One placed its nest in a small peach 
tree, within a few feet of the Bee house, where 
it could secure a breakfast without much exer- 
tion, and where I could stand on the ground 
and put my hand in it; and a large portion of 
the nests I have observed were equally conven- 
ient of access. I remember but one that over- 
reached me and his security was based on his 
“cheek,” for I slay them with little mercy 
when they gather around my apiary. This 
nest was in the eve trough directly over the 
kitchen door, and there he successfully reared 
his brood in the face of many dangers, chatting 
defiance at me as I popped in and out, my ladder 
being a little too short. 
In this time I have climbed to numbers of 
promising nests to find the completed sets num- 
bering never to exceed three and frequently 
but two. I will not say that I never found 
four, but think I have rarely done so, and five 
absolutely never. Two-thirds of these observed 
in the above period have contained three eggs 
when complete and the remainder complete 
with only two. » 
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