1904] Reajarks on some Marsh Dwellers. 171 



considerable time, though I was not rewarded with the sif^ht of, 

 any other wren than the long-billed. 



Reterriui;- to authorities, I find that measurements of eggs 

 oi' the two species are practically the same. Taking- these facts 

 into i:onsideration it would seem inconsistent that the first 

 short-hilled observed breeding in this locality, out of its regular 

 habitat, should lay an unusually small set of malformed eggs, 

 reminding one of badly formed clay marbles, in different stages of 

 incubation, wiih measurements at variance with normal. 



On a low bogg-y island, less marshy than others, and partially 

 covered with alders, we saw several woodcock and snipe (Wil- 

 son's, I believe). Here we found the Sora and Virginia rails 

 nesting. Their nests, miniature gallinules, though better hidden, 

 were fastened low down amongst the long marsh grass, the birds 

 acting much in the same manner as the bobolink in leading c)ne 

 from the nest, always rising several feet away. 



From the further end of the island an ever increasing clatter 

 notified us of the presence of a colony of black terns. They came 

 and went, after the manner of their namesakes of the clay bank. 

 Their apologies for nests were placed on slight elevations in 

 boggy spots, where vegetation had slight chance, sometimes a 

 rock, a piece of driftwood, or again a solitary tuft of short grass 

 being chosen. The eggs were the landmarks, as the nests were 

 barely noticeable without them. Another colony breeding in a 

 marsh where the water was two or three feet deep, simply laid 

 their eggs on the surrounding floating mass of reeds. 



The only bare spot amongst the rank growth in this marsh 

 was the home of a pair of terns. 



I failed to mention that notes on the brown creeper and Hud- 

 sonian chickadee, appearing in a recent issue, were taken at 

 Robinson, Compton County, 125 miles S.E.E. of Montreal. 





