October 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



149 



a firm and pretty structure. This is the only 

 nest of this bird I ever found. 



June 4. Chestnut-sided Waibler. Four 

 eggs. Nest in a tliorn bush composed of 

 down, dried grasses, and lined witli hair and 

 the cotton seeds. These birds are quite 

 common heie. 



June 4. Prairie Horned Larlc. Took sets 

 of four and five from nests situated near tlie 

 outskirts of tlie city. I have seen large, 

 fledged young in early April. 



June o. Scarlet Tanager. Set of four 

 slightly incubated eggs from nest in a small 

 hemlock. The nest was very loosely com- 

 posed of dried grass and twigs. 



June 12. American Redstart. Set of four 

 fiesh eggs. Xest in small maple tree. 



Least Bittern. Set of three fresh eggs from 

 a nest situated in a marsli below Lighting 

 Islond in the Detroit River. 



Horned Grebe. Found sets of seven, 

 five and four eggs. The eggs were all covered 

 with decayed weeds and flags, with a single 

 exception. 



June li. Black Tern. These birds breed in 

 great numbers in the marshes around Detroit. 

 The usual number of eggs is three, i)laced on 

 the dciid weeds, often floating. 



.luue 1:!. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Set 

 of two fresh eggs from a nest placed in an oak 

 tree. The nest was a beautiful little structure 

 composed of down and lichens. 



June 18. Lark Sparrow. Set of four fresh 

 eggs from a nest concealed under a clump of 

 clover. This is not a common breeder here. 



July ;1. Acadian Flycatcher. Set of tliree 

 eggs from a nest placed in an oak tree in tlie 

 heart of quite a hirge woods. This bird seems 

 to like deep woods. The nest was composed 

 of flne grasses, bark iin<l dried weeds, and 

 lined witli hair. ii. Swalex. 



Detroit, Mich. 



Winter of 'go and 'gi. 



A summary of last winters work in this 

 section of tlie country would reveal a disap- 

 pointing lack ot ornithological material. 

 The winter was the mildest on record, just 

 enough sharp, cold days thrown in to give a 

 flavor to the mass of dull, uninteresting series 

 that we have e.xiierienced. Tlie natural 

 residt was that winter birds were unusually 

 scarce, while the half-hardy species were 

 frightened away by the rather cold Thanks- 

 giving weather. We h.ad, therefore, but the 

 score or so of resident species to depend upon. 



The first Snow Bunting, a single specimen, 

 was observed October 30th ; a flock of about 

 thirty was recorded November 21st, and the 

 third and last were discovered March 7th. 



Three Snowy Owls only were exposed for sale 

 in tlie markets, though Mergansers were not 

 uncommon. 



The first Tree Sparrows and Terns were 

 observed January 80th; Juncos, February lltli; 

 Golden Eyes and Herring Gull the 14tli ot tlie 

 same montli. 



A Robin was heard calling February KUli, 

 but his cogenor the Bluebird did not appear 

 until the 23d. 



The latter part of the montli witnessed the 

 arrival of various well-known early species 

 that it would be tedious to mention. 



In regard to the winter birds: — One flock of 

 Horned Larks (no sub-species) was observed 

 November 1st. 



For the first time in three years we have 

 had no Evening Grosbeaks. This was dis- 

 appointing, inasmuch as, relying on their 

 seemingly continued abundance, I had 

 promised skins to a number of friends. 



Pine Grosbeaks are always extremely rare 

 so their absence caused no comment, but 

 Crossbills should surely have been more atten- 

 tive. One flock of the common variety and 

 one of White-winged constituted our share. 



The previous winter, that of '89 and MIO, 

 Redpolls were present in thousands; every field 

 fairly teemed with them; but this year not a 

 single individual was observed. 



Mo Lapland Longspurs, and stranger still, 

 no Northern Shrikes. At present we have a 

 fair variety with us; from thirty to thirty- 

 eight species may be observed in a morning's 

 walk. 



OiJlogically one set of Great Horneds and 

 one of Barred Owls have been taken near 

 here. For some unexplained reason all the 

 Prairie Horned Larks have gone elsewhere 

 this year; usually they are abundant. 



Buteos and Long-eared Owls are engaged in 

 building and in a week or so sets will be due. 



Grand Rapids, Mich. Stewart E. White. 



Florida Gallinule in Conn. 



June 2.5th I found a set of twelve eggs of 

 the Florida Gallinule at Stratford. Conn. The 

 nest was on the ground, under some drift sea- 

 weed. When I tried to remove the nest it fell 

 to pieces. The bird is rare here, and this is 

 the first nest I know of being found. 



Bridgeport, Conn. " ■ ^^- Lucas. 



