26 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



I saw none with either mud or horsehair. The laying season is 

 at its height the third or fourth week in April; I did not find more 

 than six, nor fewer than three, eggs in a nest. They measure on an 

 average 1^ by a little over f inch ; and have the usual shape 

 and curious zigzag markings, on a pale bluish-green ground color. 

 On leaving the nest, the young are curious-looking objects — clear 

 brown above, pale gray or almost white below, with a naked space 

 about the eyes, and fluffy tufts of down on the head. They 

 appear early in June, and by the first of August both old and 

 young are fiocking. The young rapidly change after leaving the 

 nest, the brown acquiring a greenish-black cast, the gray of the 

 under parts becoming brown. Both sexes undergo a change in 

 the early fall, after rearing of the young is over, and again in 

 the spring. The moult begins on the head, and progresses back- 

 ward, the quills and tail-feathers being renewed last. When in 

 perfect plumage, the male is a splendid-looking bird ; its large 

 fan-shaped tail, with the lateral feathers placed slantwise, giving 

 it a jaunty air, and serving to steady its flight. A fuller account 

 of this interesting species will be found in the " Ibis," 18T0, p. 367. 



Corvus ossifragus. 



"Very common, and resident, though less numerous in summer, 

 and not to my knowledge breeding in the immediate vicinity, pro- 

 bably through lack of suitable woods. They frequent the sea 

 beach, contending with the turkey-buzzards and herring-gulls for 

 the refuse from the fort, and scatter over the marsh, often in com- 

 pany with the last species, feeding upon various animal substances 

 gathered from the shoals and mud-flats, such as shell-fish, fiddler- 

 crabs, and aquatic worms. 



Tyrannus pipiri. (T. caroUnensis.) 



Common summer resident, April to September; breeds. This 

 is the only one of the family that appears to regularly visit the 

 island, though four or five species at least are common in the 

 woods of the adjoining land. 



Ceryle alcyon. 



Occasional, at any season. 



Chordeiles virginianus. 



Very common, from April to October; breeds, and is especially 

 numerous in August. 



[May 2, 



