i84 Bird -Lore 



Two Phoebes' nests out of five were attacked by lice, and the young killed. 

 Those that were successful were built in an old mill, on a piazza of a dwelling- 

 house, and under a stone bridge, respectively. The first two were in an old 

 hen-house and in a barn cellar. 



I was fortunate in finding two Hummingbirds' nests. Both were in large 

 maples and about ten feet up. One was deserted, with the eggs, and the other 

 turned out successfully. 



Three Red-eyed Vireos' nests, all in maples, and from five to fifteen feet 

 up, were left undisturbed, and the young flew, but a fourth was robbed by 

 Blue Jays; it was in an oak. 



A snake was responsible for the destruction of one Catbird's nest and eggs; 

 another was deserted before any eggs were laid. The other that was watched 

 turned out all right. All were placed in shrubbery or thickets. 



Yellow Warblers were plentiful, but only two nests were found, one of 

 which was deserted, with an egg, the cause unknown; the other, in a maple, as 

 was the first, was found while the young were hatching. The nest was undis- 

 turbed and the young flew. 



Unfortunately, only one out of three Brown Thrashers' nests were left 

 unmolested, and the old birds given a chance to rear their young. A fire scared 

 away one pair; too frequent visits on the part of curious children caused the 

 desertion of another. Both were in brush-piles. The remaining successful 

 nest was in a scrub apple. 



Two Chickadees' nests, both in dead saplings were discovered, one with 

 seven and the other with nine eggs. The first was deserted, for some unknown 

 reason, but the nine birds from the other flew. 



Two Downy Woodpeckers' nests were successful, but, to offset them, two 

 others were robbed. 



A Meadowlark's and a Red-winged Blackbird's nest were found not far 

 apart in the same meadow, and the young from both were raised. 



A large number of Barn Swallows built their nests in the same barn and, 

 as far as I could find out, all were successful. Only two were reckoned in 

 with the rest. 



It may be added that a Whippoorwill's nest with two eggs was found, 

 but, on going to it the next night, the eggs were gone. It is assumed that 

 the bird followed a custom attributed to the species, — that of removing the 

 eggs on being disturbed. 



Summary of the Sevexty-five Xests 



No. Per cent 



Nests finished 71 941 



Nests deserted before being finished 3 4 



Nests deserted before the eggs were laid 4 53 



Nests deserted with eggs 7 93 



Nests destroj-ed by natural enemies 13 175 



Nests destroyed by man 2 2j 



Nests destroyed bj- accident 3 4 



Nests where the young were raised .j.3 573 



75 100 



