104 MASS. (Middlesex Co.) 1875. Apr. 24 on this bed of oak leaves & dry grasses, Taking a long look at the beauties, for it was the first nest that I had ever seen, I removed to the distance of 50 yds. and Concealing myself awaited the return of the Old bird, but although I remained then good hours by the watch she did not again just in an appearance), so with much reluctance and @ feelings of mingled remorse and satisfaction. I carefully packed the egg in my collecting box and started for home. The nest was placed at the foot of a birch sapling in the very middle of a Springy "Bun" and the little ground on which it rested raised it barely a foot above the waters by which it was entirely surrounded. The rather though dense woods on the elevated ground bordering the run was in the neighborhood of the nest both low and beauty. The nest itself was composed principally of decrs and dry grasses carefully & smoothly arranged and was hollowed out quite appreciably in the centre. A few feathers from the birds breast were mingled with the material composing the nest and the dry chalky experiment of the bird was plastered on its side, The eggs had been incubated about a week I should judge & all contained well formed embryos. The 3 bird which I flushed first was lying some 20 yds from his sitting mate.