tS 
MO. 
DA. 
No. 4. 
\ 1st set. 
1 2nd set. 
April 
May 
20 ) 
5 \ 
15 days. 
No. 5- 
( 1st set. 
1 2nd set. 
April 
May 
23 ) 
7 ' 
14 days. 
\VY learn from this table that it requires about fourteen days for the 
Crow, after it has been robbed, to choose a nesting site, construct its nest, 
and deposit the second set of eggs. Allowing six days for the female to 
deposit her eggs, the nest must have been constructed within eight days, 
and probably within six days. 
Composition - .— The composition) of the nest varies somewhat, of course, 
with the local surroundings, as well as with the individual builder’s experi¬ 
ence and "'taste” as to the proper material for building They rarely list* a 
deserted squirrel’s nest. The typical nest is composed of coarse sticks, 
strips of bark, clods of earth, dead leaves ; lined with hog bristles, strips 
of grape vine bark ; the inner bark of chestnut or oak, cow hair, or 
horse hair. Occasionally the body of the nest will contain moss, grass, 
rootlets, corn stalks,* cloth (often from some dilapidated “scarecrow”), 
corn husks, weed stalks, pieces of rope, dried cow and horse manure, 
feathers, pieces of matting, sheep’s wool, twine, or seaweed. The lining 
is sometimes made up of strips of cedar or juniper bark, dead leaves, 
sheep’s wool, feathers, or skunk’s hair. Quite often in some localities, 
especially in the Eastern states, pine needles are used for lining ; while 
in many other localities, where the surroundings will permit the use of 
this material, it is not used at all. Much binder twine is made use of in 
the West. Rev. I’. B. Peabody, Owatonna, Minn . writes: “It has ap¬ 
parently become as indispensible a nesting material to the ('row as snake- 
skins are to the Crested Flycatcher." While Mr. Lynds Jones has the 
following to say regarding this interesting subject: “ First, the foundation 
of dry sticks, into the bottom or side of which some light colored dry- 
grass is introduced — which is invariably the Crows’ "ear mark.’ Felted 
on this is a layer of leaves, then a layer of grape vine or Under bark, 
and finally a layer of some soft animal material ; in Iowa it is cattle hair, 
in Ohio it is often wool. In Iowa we now often find nests well supplied 
with binder twine.” In relation to the great strength and durability of 
the nest in connection with the composition, I can do no better than quote 
from the notes of Mr. Frederick M. Dille, Denver, Colo. : “I find their 
nests to be perfect models of strength and durability as compared with 
other large nests Not so broad as a Hawk’s nest, but deep and well 
proportioned So deep and rounded at the bottom that one or two of the 
eggs will be on top of the others, but well bedded down with some of the 
lining, so as to avoid all chances of breakage Made of coarse twigs and 
