Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 4 of 9.djvu/26

 flew towards the nest with a piece in his bill, but dropped it when settling near the nest.

May 7th.—Soon after my arrival the male commenced to carry dead grass to an entirely different place from where the nest is built. The female came to him when he called. The male has been away from the female and is now carrying dead grass to yet another place. Not long since the female was in this particular place, remaining there for some time. Male continues to carry dead grass rapidly to this place, but is now precipitating himself upon her. He has again commenced to build, female also sharing in the work. I have examined the second place to which he was carrying dead grass and found the commencement of a nest. In the third place the outer part of the nest is complete.

May 8th.—After watching for some considerable time the female went to the nest. There is no real excitement on the part of either of them, but the male has been singing a little.

May 9th.—Female hard at work building the nest. As she was leaving it the male commenced his precipitous flight.

May 10th.—The pair are quietly feeding close together, male at times singing.

May 11th.—First egg laid.

Thus on the eleventh day and in the third nest the first egg was laid. The period of eleven days in this particular case is a long one, six days being sometimes sufficient for the production of the first egg. The promiscuous building of nests by the male is curious, and explains what previously had been a mystery to me, namely, the number of unfinished nests belonging to this species that one so often finds in proximity to one another, and which are so especially conspicuous in the winter months when the vegetation has decayed. The first nest, which was completely formed except the lining. I have in my possession, but the second nest was not sufficiently formed to allow of removal. The third nest was completely finished, and the actual position of this nest seems