ing the matter, he says : “ My four sets of seven are all, in my estimation, 
perfect sets, laid by their respective females. None being a partnership 
between two females. Circumstances at the time of taking each set and 
my investigations satisfy me of this. I knew sets of seven were very rare, 
but did not think them so extremely scarce as you say. One of my sets 
of seven shows tfTree distinct types of markings ; but 1 do not consider 
this point, for I have found the same to occur in sets of four, live, and 
six eggs each. I do not believe it possible that two female Crows would 
occupy the same nest, and know of no authentic instance of the kind.” 
A nest containing seven eggs, was found by Mr. Stephen J. Adams, 
Cornish, Me,, May 4, 1887. In his notes, Mr. Adams says: "Three 
hatched in four days, the balance in seven days.” Another instance of 
which f have full data, is recorded by Mr. A. Mowbray Semple, Poy- 
nette, Wis., and is probably a bona fide clutch, and will be treated under 
the head of 1 ‘ Measurements of eggs.” 
It has occasionally been my good fortune to secure a set of Crows' 
eggs, spending probably twenty minutes or more near the tree without 
attracting the attention of the rightful owners ; the belated and enraged 
birds appearing just as I was preparing to leave. Not every set was fresh, 
a few contained embryos more or less developed. It has suggested to 
me the possible chance of a hard pushed alien female, whose own nest 
had been destroyed, escaping the notice of the rightful owners and de¬ 
positing her own egg, with those that may be already partially incubated, 
or may as yet be incomplete as a set ; and continuing to do this daily 
until she has no more to lay. I can account for the apparently double 
sets in no other way. It is improbable that the Crow is ever polygamous, 
indeed I believe them to be doubly monogamous. 
LOCALITY. 
AVERAGE. 
LARGEST. 
SMALLEST 
N. C. .Tenn. 
• 4 or 5 
5 
4 
Penn. 
• 4 5 
f) 
2 
N. Y., Ont. 
• 4 or 5 
7 
2 
New Eng. 
• 4 or 5 
7 
I 
O., Ind., S. Mich. . . . 
5 
7 
4 
Ill., S. Wis., Iowa. . . 
5 
7 
3 
Minn., N. Da., Mana. 
5 
(> 
4 
Cal. 
• 4 or 5 
r> 
2 
Colo., Neb. 
5 
6 
4 
Wash., Ore . 
5 
4 
When more than one set is laid by a female in one season, the second 
set usually contains one egg less than the preceeding set. From the 
notes received from Mr. Henry Beaumont, Nashville, Tenn., I extract a 
notable case of continuous nesting Early in 1892 a pair of Crows took 
possession of an old nest, probably once belonging to a pair of Hawks ; 
