34 PROCEEDINGS OP THE 



down the sandy road to the rear of our liote], and through the 

 pretty grove to our breakfast. 



I do not propose tiring you with the list of species seen on our 

 walk. They numbered thirty-nine positively identified, and 

 three Warblers not recognized. I do not of course include the 

 empounded Geese and Ducks. Down by the Cove, Fish Hawks 

 were flying, and several nests were seen during the walk. Fish 

 Crows were feeding, and as I passed along the edge of the oak 

 woods one flow from a nest in the top of a small cedar tree, 

 about fifteen feet up, and I took along the set of four perfectly 

 fresh eggs. Do they usually nest later than the larger species? I 

 collected a set near Lewes several j'ears ago about the same date 

 and quite fresh. A pair of Greater Yellowlegs whistled well 

 out over the water, and bending low on the open marsh I 

 whistled them up until one jiaid the penalty of his curiosity. I 

 had noticed some small Ducks drifting up in the Cove, and 

 quietly walked up within two hundred yards of a bunch of 

 thirty-two Ruddys, so close I could see the head markings and 

 short spiny tails. 



Seaside Sparrows were quite abundant on this marsh and I 

 noted how few were the Sharp-tailed species, but later in the 

 day, out on the marsh near the ocean, the two species were 

 about equally abundant and both in full song. Several small 

 bunches of Least Sandpipers went skimming over the short 

 grass and alighted for an early lunch on a bare mud flat. Tow- 

 hees and Red-e3'ed Vireos were singing as I investigated the 

 contents of the Fish Crow's nest, and a pair of Fish Hawks ])ro- 

 tested seriously as I passed under the old gnarled and almost 

 dead oak that stood out alone near the edge of the woods ex- 

 posed to the damp winds from across the bay. I have never 

 yet been fully satisfied with an explanation of the dying tree 

 containing the nest of the Osprey. I suspect the bulky mass of 

 decaying vegetable matter may be the main factor. Seaweed, 

 corn-stalks grass and decaying wood of the usual large bulk, 

 up among the smaller branches. I think, might well make 

 trouble with the vitality of a healthy tree. As we walolied the 

 old Ospreys, the doctor told me of his having watched an Eagle 

 Bccure his breakfast by robbing the Fish Hawk. The Eagle 



