Congdon^-SashaIcheivan Birds. 611 
attired. is> probably not far away, engaged in her domestic 
duties. 
Tlie nest of the Yellow-beaded Blackbird is a well built, cup- 
sbaped affair fastened to several closely growing rushes at a 
height of from six to fourteen inches above the water. It is 
closely woven of grass and narrow strips of rushes. The wall is 
thick and the hollow deep. Many nests observed were lined 
with broad grass blades or strips of rushes which gave the in¬ 
terior of the nest a rather bright yellow color while the exterior 
was the color of the dry grass. These nests were particularly 
attractive. The Yellow-heads usually nest in colonies, some¬ 
times of only five or six pairs, but ordinarily of much greater 
extent. Tall, thickly growing rushes of a slough or shallow, 
marshy lake afford a suitable location for a colony. 
The number of eggs laid is three, four or five; the usual 
nest complement, however, is four. The eggs show little or no 
resemblance to the eggs of most Blackbirds. The ground color 
is light gray and the whole surface is quite thickly covered with 
spots of brown and umber. In an occasional specimen the 
markings have gathered in a wreath about, one end. The ground 
color in some specimens is of a greenish shade. Their size is 
about 1.05x.72. 
498. Bed-Winged Blackbird. 
Agelaius phoeniceus fortis (Linn.). 
This noisy denizen of the marshes was everywhere abundant. 
Hot as hard to suit as the previous species) the Yellow-head, it 
was found on the borders of almost every slough and marshy 
lake. Often the two species nest in close proximity. When a 
nest is approached while the female is sitting, the bird hurries 
off just before you get within reach, and her cries soon bring the 
male to the spot. The pair circle about and give evidence; of 
their disapproval of the intrusion, in a very noisy fashion. 
The nest is similar to that of the Yellow-headed Blackbird but 
not as attractive by far. It is more rounded and less deeply 
hollowed. The lining of broad, yellowish strips found in the 
Yellow-head’s nest is not present, finer grasses being used. The 
situation chosen may be a clump of rushes, a bunch of tall 
grass or, sometimes, a low bush on the edge of a slough. One 
nest observed w r as built in a willow, eight feet from the ground. 
