they were probably laid by different birds. Still another egg, and the last, was laid in the same nest within ten days. But the most remarkable instance was a nest of the small Orchard Oriole found June 20, containing three eggs of æneus, while just beneath it was a whole egg of this parasite, also a broken one of this and of the Dwarf Cowbird. Two of the eggs in the nest were rotten; the third, strange to say, contained a living embryo. As the nest was certainly deserted, I can only account for this by supposing that the two rotten ones were laid about the first week of June, when there was considerable rain, and that the other was deposited soon after, since which time the weather had been clear and very hot. On one occasion I found a female æneus hanging with a stout thread around her neck to a nest of the Bullock's Oriole. The nest contained one young one of this Cowbird, and it is probable that its parent, after depositing the egg, was entangled in the thread on hurriedly leaving the nest, and then died; it had apparently been dead about two weeks. This case supports the view that the eggs or young of the owner are thrown out by the young parasite, and not removed by its parent, though I could find no trace of them beneath this nest.
"Twenty-two eggs of M. æneus average .90 by .70, the extremes being .95 by .75 and .82 by .65. The color is a greenish white, unspotted, soon fading to a dull opaque white. There is more than the usual variation in shape. Some are almost perfectly elliptical, others are nearly round; some are quite pointed at the smaller end, while others still are there abruptly truncate.
"The young, soon after leaving the nest, have the plumage uniform dull black; cheeks and sides of head bare; iris brown."[1]
87. *Agelæus phœniceus, (Linn.)
A common resident, breeding abundantly. The nests and eggs are smaller than the average of those found in more Northern States.—(Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492.—Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 24.)
88. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, (Bonap.)
Rather rare during winter, and I do not think that any breed, in this immediate vicinity at least.—(Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492.—Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 24.)
89. *Sturnella magna, (Linn.)
Common during winter.—(Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 24.)
- ↑ In the Ibis of January, 1861, pp. 61, 62, are the following notes by R. Owen on the supposed eggs of this species:—"The eggs are pale greenish white, and measure, axis 1 inch, diam. .75. A few eggs of the 'Tordito', taken from the nests of the 'Chorcha' (Icterus) and the 'Cieu-Sante Mejicano' (Mimus gracilis). The Indians here all identify these eggs as those of the 'Tordito'. However, personally, I have never surprised the bird on the nest of any other species. At the same time I may add that I have never seen it either building or occupied in any other domestic occupation whatever, which somewhat confirms the statement aforesaid. The eggs are found most commonly in the nests of the 'Chorcha' and the 'Cien-Sante Mejicano', and occasionally in that of the largest species of 'Chatillo' (Pitangus derbianus)"—T. M. B.
