DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 23 



Why this spot should be chosen from the number of seem- 

 ingly more acceptable places, is more than I can tell, unless it 

 be for the fact that the birds are undoubtedly less disturbed 

 where they now roost than they would be in any other woods 

 in the near vicinity. But to my knowledge they have never 

 tried roosting anywhere else, so how they realize this protection 

 is a question. 



Several attempts have been made to dislodge this roost by 

 shooting off rockets and the like, but as it was not kept up for 

 any length of time, it did not seem to affect them to any extent. 



During August and September, Robins, Cowbirds and Red- 

 winged Blackbirds seem to get the social fever and collect in 

 great quantities to roost in the lower branches. Even the Eng- 

 lish Sparrow seems to approve of this method of spending the 

 nighV", as every evening at sundown the lowest branches of the 

 beeches are filled with them and their quarrels. 



This habit of roosting in large quantities is so interwoven 

 with the rest of the Crackle's life that a more thorough ac- 

 quaintance with the life history of the bird is necessary before a 

 satisfactory conchision may be reached. With this idea in view 

 then, let us follow this bird from the time he comes to us in the 

 spring until his departure in the late fall. 



Any warm spell during the winter is very apt to bring a small 

 bunch of Crackles back to the roost for a night or so, or as long 

 as the warm weather lasts. In fact, during the winter of 1897-8, 

 about 50 birds stayed at the roost all winter, with the exception 

 of only a few nights. Towards the last of February a few 

 Crackles generally come to stay and this number increases all 

 through March, until by the first of April they liave begun to 

 think of mating and are scattering over the neighboring country 

 in pairs. 



Of course the number of nightly visitors at this season dwin- 

 dles down to comparatively few, but there are always some who 

 do not seem to have any domestic cares, and these, with the 

 help of a few old males who have their nests in the vicinity, 

 keep up the roost. 



Not long after this the earliest of the broods are about readj' 

 to leave the nest, and as the strongest gets ready to fly, he is 



