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THE OOLOGIST. 



From Photo by R. H. Beck. 

 Cassin's Vireo on Nest. 



ieet from the ground. The four eggs 

 were advanced in incubation at this 

 date, June 9th. This was the only nest 

 I saw of this species during the morn- 

 ing's stroll. The nest was composed of 

 light grasses, shredded leaves, soft plant 

 fibres and decorated externally with 

 the white outer silk of a cocoon found 

 on the trees. It was lined with fine 

 brown rootlets and grasses of the same 

 color. 



I was surprised at the decrease in 

 numbers of Cassin's Vireo in this local- 

 ity since the summer of 1896. At that 

 time in travelling over the wooded hill- 

 sides there was scarcely a time when 

 one could not hear the song of this Vir- 

 eo close at hand in one of the numerous 

 small black oaks, and nests containing 

 young were very numerous. This year 

 I missed the familiar s ng of my little 

 friend and only now md then did I 

 come upon a pair diuiijg my rambles. 

 This change was due no doubt to the 

 fact that in 1896 a collection of skins 

 was made by several collectors in this 



locality and the Vireos came in for 

 their share of the sacrifice, quite a series 

 being taken. And this year the woods 

 missed their usual joyous song. 



In 1896 a number of nests were found, 

 all with young and situated, with one 

 exception in the low drooping limbs of 

 the black-oak from three to eight feet 

 from the ground. One nest was sus- 

 pended from the fork of an alder tree 

 about 12 feet from the ground, along a 

 creek. This year on June 8th I faund 

 a nest half-built five feet up in a black 

 oak; on June 9th a nest seven feet up 

 containing eggs advanced in incubation; 

 June 12, one just completed placed ten 

 feet up in a drooping black oak over- 

 hanging a path; on June 15th a nest six 

 feet up just completed and ready for 

 eggs. On the afternoon ot June 15th 

 while walking down the stage road I 

 heard the note of a Cassin's Vireo, and 

 glancing up into a black oak beside the 

 road espied the nest 12 feet up, with 

 the bird on. This I collected with four 

 fresh eggs, the nest being of the same 



