234 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March 



rather a scarce bird in the countries where I found it. Its food 

 consists principally of small caterpillars and winged insects." 



Prof. Cook, in " The Birds of Michigan, " records this species 

 as a rare migrant, but otherwise relates that it is a summer resi- 

 dent of that State, and has been found to nest as far north as 

 Mackinaw Island. Prof. Davie, in his work on the nests and 

 eggs of North American birds, gives the observations of many 

 persons in regard to the nesting of this species. It is known to 

 breed in various localities east of the Alleghanies, from the latitude 

 of Massachusetts southwards. It is also known to nest in Ohio, 

 but more commonly in Virginia. Dr. Coues found it nesting in 

 great numbers within a small area near Washington, in the month 

 of May. The nests were only a few feet from the ground and were 

 placed preferably in hickory and dogwood bushes. It has also 

 been found nesting in New York State in the latter part of May 

 and first half of June. The nest is a very pretty, deep, cup- 

 shaped fabric, composed of vegetable fibres and fine grass, closely 

 matted and lined with hair. The set of eggs is usually four, rarely 

 five; their colour is whitish, with a greenish tinge, and the mark- 

 ings resemble specks of chestnut and burnt umber, and are usually 

 in the form of wreaths about the larger end. 



THE HUDSONIAN CURLEW IN MIDDLESEX CO., Ont. 



A Hudsonian Curlew [IVumenius hudsonicus) was shot near 



Strathroy, Ont., on September 15th last by a sportsman from 



that town. The specimen fell into the hands of Mr. L. H. Smith, 



but was so much decomposed that it was buried. Urged by a 



telegram, however, he exhumed and skinned it. The specimen 



was exhibited at the September meeting of the Ornithological 



Section of the Entomological Society of Ontario at London. Mr. 



Smith apologized tor the condition of the skin, but, considering the 



C'rcumstances, it was thought by the members of the section that 



Mr. Smith's efforts deserved commendation rather than that an 



apology should be received. 



W. E. Saunders, London. 



