24 
situated in a poplar tree, ninety-two and a half feet up. The female was 
shot after depositing three eggs, and the male marked on the left foot by 
a rifle ball The male re-mated during the season of 1893, and after re¬ 
modeling the old nest, and putting in a fresh lining, the female deposited 
live eggs, which were taken on May 7th. Another set of live eggs was 
collected six days later (May 13th), and on the 25th both male and female 
were killed, the nest containing three eggs and the female found ready to 
deposit the fourth egg. It would appear that after the first live eggs were 
laid, the female having deposited her full quota, would have no more eggs 
forming in her ovary ; yet within twenty-four hours,-assuming that but one 
egg was deposited daily, she deposits the first egg of the second clutch. 
This would tend to prove, admitting the above conditions, that the egg is less 
than twenty-four hours in the complete process of formation, including the 
shell or calcareous envelope. The time between the loss of the second and 
beginning of the third clutch is much greater, the female commencing to 
show signs of exhaustion. She takes about eight days for recuperation 
and the development of the egg, before oviposition begins anew. Before 
the completion of this set, the bird is destroyed, thus abruptly ending 
the interesting observations. 
Dates for Complete Sets. Without question, the average dates for 
fresh and complete sets varies from year to year, according to the exist¬ 
ing conditions of the climate. Deep snows, heavy frosts, continuous 
storms, etc. naturally retard nest-building ; and. indeed, puts the birds 
on the alert to secure subsistance. Often, if the Winter be unusually 
severe or prolonged, the would-be nest-builders require further time in 
which to recover their natural strength and hardiness. The dates given 
below cover a number of seasons, and the averages are reasonably accur¬ 
ate for the purpose ; the dates from which they were computed were first 
reduced by subtracting the number of days of incubation. The dates 
are therefore for fresh and complets sets. 
LOCALITY. 
AVERAGP 
DATE. 
EARLIEST 
DATE. 
LATEST 
DATE 
MO. 
DA. 
MO. 
DA. 
MO. 
DA. 
North Carolina. 
April 
i) 
March 
24 
May 
12 
Tennessee. 
April 
16 
March 
26 
May 
25 
Pa.. N. 1 . Md. 
April 
19 
March 
29 
May 
2.3 
N Y . Ont. 
April 
2 I 
April 
7 
June 
7 
New England. 
April 
28 
April 
7 
(line 
20 
O.. Ind.. S. Mich. 
April 
2 <3 
March 
26 
June 
3 
Ill., So. Wis., Ia. 
April 
15 
March 
25 
May 
10 
Minn . N. Da., M ina . 
May 
t I 
April 
20 
lune 
1 
California . 
April 
I fi 
March 
23 
May 
8 
Colo., Neb. , Kan. 
April 
11 
April 
1 
May 
23 
Ore . Wash. 
April 
3 ° 
April 
13 
May 
20 
