86 The Wilson Bulletin.— No. 44, 



notes. We sought diligently and perseveringly for the nest, but 

 without success. The cover was so dense, the stiff, low-growing 

 boughs so interlaced, that it was impossible to penetrate many 

 feet from the road. We searched every available group, sometimes 

 climbing over the tops of low-growing trees when no opening could 

 be made. On June 22 the men were cutting trees to mend the road, 

 and when they had penetrated a close growth, a pair of birds circled 

 about them, showing great distress. Examination revealed a 

 crushed nest and eggs in the felled tree. The season was not fa- 

 vorable for nest-hunting, almost every day in June being in whole 

 or part rainy, and with high winds often making it impossible to 

 keep one's footing in the open on the summit. We are trusting 

 more favorable conditions and results another year. 



71. Hylocichia swainsonii. Olive-backed Thrush. — Abundant on 

 the North Branch and lower slopes, extending well up to the limits 

 of timber, but decreasing then in numbers. One was located at 

 point where the hotel is first sighted, the highest range found. 

 This bird often sang within hearing of the house. Were found 

 well up the mountain sides, both in Smuggles and Underbill 

 Notches. Well-grown young, July 19, in both above-named places. 

 It was impossible not to contrast the song of Bicknell and Olive- 

 back, as both were heard together. The latter suggested the rich 

 odor of the fragrant firs and the former their spiring tops. Found 

 the Olive-backed more shy than Bicknell. 



72. Hylocichia guttata pallasii. Hermit Thrush. — Well dis- 

 tributed along the road to the Notch proper, but only to left of this 

 road. Also on the South Branch, but not common. Seemed to be 

 confined to the woods south-east of the mountain base, through 

 which fiowed the South Branch. Mr. Lorrey says, "Singing freely 

 about the summit in July." On July 23 I was on the ridge near the 

 cavern when a Hermit broke into song just below me on the slope 

 toward the Underbill, singing continuously for almost ten minutes, 

 then again at short intervals. At no other time was this bird 

 heard anywhere above the base, and had probably pushed up the 

 sharp slope temporarily. 



73. Merula migratoria. Robin. — Abundant at the mountain base. 

 A pair located on the summit seemed much more shy than those 

 commonly nesting about our houses. 



74. Sialia sialis. Bluebird. — Several nesting about Mr. H.'s and 

 to the base of mountain. Numbers came about the orchard, their 

 soft notes and calls heard when the song season proper had passed. 



