Oct., 1882.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



163 



Tbnisb,) 

 Thnisli.) 

 ThniBh. 



Thrushes. — I should be very much pleased 

 to see an article in your journal on some 

 of the I'linlifhii. yv/.: 7'i<rtli'.'< uniKti'HiKi 

 (Wood Thrush,) T. J'aUasi (Hermit 

 7'. Swainsoni (Olive-backed 

 !ind 7'. Fugcescens (Wilson's 

 All of these breed on the island 

 of Montreal, but their epgs resemble one 

 another so much that I have not been able 

 to identify the species. Therefore, I 

 should be glad to see a description of their 

 nests and eggs, as found by yoiu'self or 

 correspondents. — Enietit T>. Wintle, Mon- 

 treal, Canada. 



[Our experience with the Wilson Thrush it* limited to one 

 nest, and that was found by Capt. Thos. ,1. Rigney, a very 

 reliable assistant, who reported flushing a Thrush, new to 

 him, in a swamp near Kockville, Conn., from a tuft or bog. 



On examination the nest was found in the centre of the 

 tuft and set well down into it, and the tuft was almost hid- 

 den by a skunk cabbage. The nest was a line piece of 

 bird architecture, the foundation being composed of leaves 

 carefully laid in layers, evidently to keep out the moisture. 

 .\bove that the nest was like a well built Wood Thrush's 

 nest, only it was rather deeper and not quite so large. It 

 contained four fresh eggs, which are still in our possession. 

 They are quite roinid and not much larger than Blue Birds' 

 eggs. We should be glad to hear from others in answer to 

 the above. Probably our .St. John contributors can help 

 us out. — Ed. 



0\\xs IN Confinement. — William Brew- 

 ster reports in Bulletin a Saw-whet Owl, 

 laying an egg (soft shell) while in confine- 

 ment. Snowdon Howland reports a Screech 

 Owl laying a perfect egg while kept by him. 

 Early this Spring " J. M. W." brought to 

 us a fine specimen of the young of the 

 Great-horned Owl. It is now doing well. 



Egg Eaters. — Suowdon Howland calls 

 our attention to a Vireo seen eating Rob- 

 in's eggs. A writer in the Hartford Times 

 states that he has seen Kingbirds eating 

 Robin's eggs, and classes them as an ene- 

 my of that bird in consec|uence. Some 

 years ago while riding on the train at full 

 speed below Moosup, Conn., a Kingbird 

 flew across a field and alighted on the rail- 

 road fence with a robin's egg in its mouth. 



August Eggs. — Two sets of Quails, one 

 set of Orchard Oriole, two sets of Blue 

 Yellow-backed Warbler and several sets of 

 .^Jiierican Gold Finch. — ./. 31. W.. Noank, 

 ('nti)i. 



European Starling {Stunius vulgaris 

 Linn.) — The Starling is one of the most 

 common of European birds, being met 

 with in most parts of the continent, and 

 also in Algeria and Egypt, where it is a 

 Winter visitor. It breeds early in the 

 year and makes its nest in holes in clifi's, 

 old buildings, trees and dove cotes. The 

 nest is large and composed of straw and 

 dry grass lined with feathers or wool. 

 The eggs number from four to six and 

 vary in size, though not in color, wliich is 

 a light blue. Two broods are reared each 

 season. The yoimg birds are often taken 

 and brought up by hand, and some of 

 them learn to talk. Indeed, it is a com- 

 mon practice with so-called bird fanciers, 

 to sht the tongues of the young Starlings 

 for the purpose of causing them to speak 

 well. In many parts of Engltmd and Ger- 

 many " Starling boxes " are erected and are 

 nearh' alwajs taken possession of by Star- 

 lings, though sometimes the Sparrow 

 (Passer domesticus) appears to think 

 that the box has been put up for the pur- 

 pose of affording him a home. The food 

 of the Starhug consists of worms, snails, 

 insects, larvse, etc. In Autumn the Star- 

 lings collect in immense flocks, most of 

 which depart for the South on the ap- 

 proach of Winter. It has been observed 

 that where the Starlings abound the Sky- 

 lark (^1. arvensis) is scarce, and vice versa, 

 but the reason has not been settled to the 

 satisfaction of ornithologists. — J. T. T. 

 Reed, Ilyhope, Durham Co., Ewiland. 



Curious Nesting Places. — Wm. R. 

 WTiarton of Philadelphia reports finding 

 a Great^crested Flycatcher's nest in the 

 hole of a small hollow tree that was lying 

 on the ground. It was the more remarka- 

 ble as there were plenty of trees with 

 holes in them. This nest contained five 

 eggs, and as usual the snake skin, which is 

 always a part of this Flycatchei's nest. It 

 was on the island of Anglesea, twelve 

 miles from Cape INIay on the coast of West 

 Jersev. 



