9 
meadow. During the Spring migration (his is one of our most common birds, re¬ 
sorting to the woods and keeping well into the tree-tops. 
Molothrus ater. Cowbird.—A bundant. These birds arrive from the south 
about the first of April and are seen in small flocks of a dozen or less individuals. 
About the fifth of May, the lazy female begins skulking about on the ground, 
or peering into the under-growth, searching for the nest of some other species, in 
which to deposit an egg while the owner is away from home. 
I am of the opinion that this bird often returns to the same nest and deposits at 
least the second egg, as I have often encountered nests containing eggs of M. atrr, 
which resembled each other as closely as is general with a complement of eggs of 
any of the smaller birds. 
According to my observations, in nearly every instance, nests in which Cow- 
birds’ eggs had been deposited, contained an incomplete complement of the right¬ 
ful owner. Especially is this true with nests of hilioplUu rarrulni, Itemlroien 
aettiva, Sri unis motarilla , Kmpiilnnnr ucatlirun, /‘ijiilo erytUrojihthntmux, 
Vireo olivaccus, Icteria virens, and Piranga erythromelax. 
I have found a nest of Blue-gray (Jnutentcher containing a single young bird 
and that a Cowbird. A Red-eyed Vireo's nest contained nothing more than a hard 
sat egg of .If. ntcr. Many nests are deserted after the placing of the parasitic egg. 
Frequently nests (Pha*be, Yellow-breasted Chat, and the Yellow and Kentucky 
Warblers) were found In which a new floor had been laid, entirely or partially hid¬ 
ing the first laid eggs which in this case, was the Cowbird. In addition to the 
species already mentioned as being troubled by the Cow Bunting, the following re¬ 
ceives a fair showing of the sime attention: Interim gnlbula, LXtrrtinalli enr- 
dinalis SpiteUa si trial it. Spite! In pimilin, Melimpitn /use iota, Ihixxrrinn cyanra, 
Vireo gilvus, Vireo noveboraeentit, Helminthophila rhrgxoptern, Seiurux 
aurocapiUtis, (Jeothlyplt tric.ins, Nelophaga rutirUla, him* bir.Unr, Tuntu* 
mustelinux und Nialia xialix. 
Agelaius phoenicens. Rs.i>-wis'<;ki» Bi.ai kihi:i>.—T his is our commonest 
Blackbird. The first individuals reach this locality about the twenty-second of 
March, and by the twentieth of April, flocks numbering hundreds are jsiurlng in 
from the south. 
During the breeding season the Redwing resorts mainly to the low lands, plac¬ 
ing its nest in the tall grass and weeds or in the tops of low willows and elders that 
line the banks of many of the streams. The height from the ground is usually under 
eight feet, although I have found nests fifteen feet up In orchard trees, ami on one 
occasion fifty feet above the ground in top of water elm. 
Muy 15th. full complements of eggs are to Is- found. The number ranges horn 
three to five, the latter number, however. I consider u rare set. 
Sturnella magna. Mkaduwlaiik.— Most common in the upland pastures, 
nesting ifs early as May third (five fresh eggs). Kggs usually five, often only three 
or four and rarely six. 
Icterus spurius. Orchard Okiolk.— Common. Found nesting In orchards 
and in the maples and water elm* along the creeks, from middle of May to middle 
of June. From three to five eggs are laid. 
Icterus galbula. Baltimork Okiolk.—C ommon along the streams, nesting In 
the sycamores and elms. A few pairs nest in the orchards and woods on the hill¬ 
sides. 
The largest number of eggs found in one nest was six. This large number 
came under my notice twice. Although taken in different years the two sets might 
have been laid by one bird as the nests were in the same tree. 1 find the usual 
complement is five eggs; four, however, is not an uncommon set. 
May and June is the nesting period. 
