P. PEARSON 1952 25 Methodiectors (cont.) Took 1 of the eggs. Size as follows: 51 x 36, 37 gms. Developed embryo about same, possibly day or 2 younger than the egg taken from nest #1. (embryo = 3684). This egg was treated as follows: it was put into nest #1 at 7 p.m. At time of entry, temp. 42°, at 5:50 a.m. the air temp. was 34°, cloudy. Air alone gave change 1½°, thermo laid in nest, 2½°; thermo inserted into egg 2°. What keeps eggs from freezing on cold nights before incubation begins. March 21 Walked to Tinmolder to watch nest 3. Arrived at 7:00 and stayed till 9:40; no birds near nest and practically no calling & State of the 4 eggs; nest had not been entered. The egg seemed to be about 48 hour stage, embryo with head formed. Went past nest #2 at 10:00, nobody on it, so took another egg. To my surprise there were again 7 eggs despite the (I took the other dry, all cold & hence she must be still laying. Took one more egg, while had no embryos developing. Looked more for the red j and clarks. No roofs. The red j nest was 7" in its drain, a substantial cover of cunningly wrapped grass. Most interesting is the fact that it is on top of a built-up foundation of dirt and mossy turf. March 22 Still notices of red j and litters. Drove to Tinmolder to check nests #2 & #3. Both same as yesterday. No birds on or near either nest. Nest #2 still with 6 eggs & a gap in rosette where I took one yesterday. Then back to nest #4 where we watched from 2:20 to 5:15. No bird near nest. Then I checked nest and found eggs gone. No mess, no shells, just gone. Nest #1 was under the big coarse yellow-green ichne. The nearby vegetation was mostly this but also considerable of the fine & brown.