JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIKTY. 59 



nearby. On the brow of the mountain we passed through a growth 

 of spruce where the ground was green with liverworts. Here Black- 

 poll Warblers were conunon and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was 

 heard. The top of the mountain was a huge ledge with a growth of 

 spruce and birch. The most common bird here was the Black-poll 

 again. Nashvilles were also common in the deciduous growths. 

 We also heard several Olive-backed Thrushes and White-throated 

 Sparrows. 



The Prairie Horned Lark is a summer resident on the "Ridge" 

 in the town of Hustis and also on the "Mile Square" in Avon, both 

 sections being elevated areas of farming land. 



Avon, Me. Dana W. Sweet. 



A Prisoner, and Why? — In August, 1904, in company with 

 a party of ornithologists, I made a tour of the lakes and wilds of 

 Washington County, a trip rich in bird incidents, one of which 

 suggested the above heading. 



While rambling about the woods near Cathance Lake I observed 

 a connnotion in a growth of low saplings about twenty yards from 

 the path where I stood ; the cause appeared to be a bunch of small 

 birds in close scrimmage ; with the aid of my glasses I could see 

 that it was a nest overflowing with young birds, one of which 

 appeared to be jumping up and pouncing down upon the others. 



As I approached nearer to the nest three of the l)irds flew off 

 with the ease of an adult, leaving the fourth, which I could see was 

 fastened in some manner to the nest ; I pulled the branch down 

 close to me and recognized the nest to be a Chebec's, with the 

 young bird securely fastened by a horse hair, tied around its leg so 

 tightly as to cut to the cords and bone all the way around, the other 

 end being woven into the nest. 



After liberating the prisoner by the use of my pocket scissors, 

 I turned my attention to the other three which had remained nearby 

 and observed that they were fat, 'fluffy and lazy and appeared larger 

 than the tired parents, who were more than busy trying to bring 

 enough food to keep up their present state of health. 



Why was this bird a prisoner ? through the accidental looping 

 of that hair about its leg or from the reported habit of some birds 

 using such means to kec]) unruly members of their family in the 

 nest ? 



Lubec, Me. Clarence H. Clark. 



