horticulturist will not be scientifically con- 
ducted. Let us take their observations as 
oflered, and after approved methods establish 
or disprove these things that lie along the line 
of the practical value of our favorite study. 
Such work will help us more than bird laws by 
closing many a field that is now open to the 
boy-with-a-gun, and by opening hospitable 
front doors and cellar doors and inviting fields 
to the student who to-day glances nervously 
around at sight of “No trespassing.” 
I will be glad indeed to correspond through 
O. and O. or personally with any one interested 
along this line of ornithological work. 
Observations on Nest-Building. 
BT WALTER IIOXIE, FROGMORE, S. C. 
The year before last I went “eooning.” It 
was late for coons, and I rapped at many hol- 
lows without success. At last I dislodged a 
Pileated Woodpecker, and made a careful note 
of the spot for future reference. In the next 
o uuge uiarK, as sets | 
containing each number have been found in J 
equal proportions. It has long been a matter 
of note with me that this species was content 
with a trio of eggs for a full complement as : 
often as four, and it afforded additional interest , 
to learn from an extended observation that in 
some localities the lesser number was in a de- 
cided majority. 
It is further interesting to note that in many 
instances the species deposit only a trio, 
pair, or even single egg for a set worthy of the 
tedious period of incubation. Most ornitholo- 
gists reason, and rightly too, that in such cases 
in which the counts falls short of the typical 
number, some casualty has occurred to prevent 
a full oviposition, but in many instances which 
have come under the writer’s notice, and afforded 
individual identification, it has been observed 
as occurring in cases to which no such reason 
could be applied. Perhaps a brief mention 
might be made, without detail, of some species 
which have been recorded, as not fulfilling 
what is regarded as a complete requirement of 
nature’s laws. Sets of Cat Bird, one, two, and 
three have been noticed very frequently within 
the past three years, a circumstance the more 
noteworthy from the fact that the observation 
is confined to more recent dates. The Red-eyed 
Yireo is usually very regular with her set of 
four eggs, but three have been noted as a full 
satisfaction to the parents. The Sparrows seem 
to have abstained from any proclivities to 
White eggs of the kingbird . While ex- 
amining the collection of a friend in Ulster Co., 
N. Y., I was shown a nest and eggs of the 
Kingbird, ( Tyrannus carolinensis) , which dif- 
fered from the usual type, as the eggs were 
* perfectly white. The identification was correct. 
H. Taylor. 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
0,& O. XII. Dec. 1887 p. 
Some Curious Sets of Kingbird’s Eggs. 
I 
In glancing over a large series of eggs of 
! any species one cannot fail to notice some odd 
' and abnormal ones. And such is the case with 
the series of eggs of the Kingbird ( Tyrannus 
I tyfannus) -now before me, and common as they 
i are, the following sets are so very peculiar that 
I they seem to be worthy of mention. 
July 17, 1888. Taunton, Mass. Two eggs, 
J fresh. Ground color and markings normal, but 
their sizes are extraordinary, one of them 
measuring 1.12 x.69, and the other .77 x.57. 
Taking .95 x.68 as the average size of the eggs 
, of this bird it will be seen what a very odd 
! pair these are. 
June 17, 1885. Smithborough, 111. Three 
j eggs, fresh. Light creamy white, marked 
with lilac-gray and heliotrope-purple almost 
entirely, there being only two or three small 
land indistinct spots of the chestnut which is 
typical of the normal Kingbird’s egg: .89x.07; 
,90x.67; ,93x.68. No one could recognized 
these for eggs of this bird. 
June 6, 1886. Rozette, Illinois. These must 
unquestionably belong to T. t.yannus for no 
other Tyrannus is found in Illinois, but they 
exactly resemble typical eggs of the Gray 
Kingbird, ( Ty annus dominicensis,) having the 
peculiar deep cream or pinkisli-buff ground 
color characteristic of that bird’s eggs: 
.98 x.74; ,98x.73; .90 x. 73; .95x.73. 
The smallest sized sets measure .81 x.65-; 
,.81x.65; ,82x,66; and the largest sets .90 x. 79; 
,94x.78; ,94x.78 (extremely broad) and 
l.OOx.77; 1.01 x.76; .98 x.74. J. P. N. 
j O, I5r - Jtdy t l8£ >0. p, 102 . 
Birds Tioga 0®, N,Y, Aldfln Loring, 
304. Kingbird or Bee Martin. Common. 
Breeds. The food of this bird consists of 
I insects and great numbers of bees. The nest 
is usually built near some telegraph or tele- 
; phone line where the birds sit and watch for 
their prey. It is composed of wool, weeds and 
j small roots, and is lined with small roots. The 
1 eggs, usually four in n umber, are yellowish- 
, white with a rosy tinge, and are spotted and 
1 blotched with light brown. This bird arrives 
from the south about the first week in May, and 
departs about the last of September. They are 
very pugnacious and soon drive away any hawk 
:or Crow that comes near. 
Oj&Q, TO. June, 1890, p*84 
/a 
