THEVNATURALIST: 3 
year he and his friend, H. Dins- 
more, took a nest of the Phoebe in 
one of the tunnels of an old de- 
serted Bank Swallow colony, about 
one foot from the entrance. It 
contained two young just hatched 
and two eggs. This was on the 
banks of the Piscataquis river.” 
Several instances of the Phoebe 
spending the winter in quite north- 
ern latitudes are recorded. rlar- 
old B. Stabler, of Sandy Spring, 
Md., which place is about 20 miles 
north of Washington, says in the 
April, 1892, number of the O. & O. 
that he was much surprised to see 
a Phoebe at that place November 
28th and 29th, 1890, but still more 
so to see one the 4th and oth (and 
several times after that) of January, 
Heor1. It is also reported in the 
January, 1892, O. & O. that one 
was seen near Washington on 
December 13th, 1891. Butin Awk 
for January, 1885, the most re- 
markable occurrence of the kind 
that has come under my notice is 
related. It is reported by Hanly 
Hardy, of Brewster, Me. He says: 
“On November 23d, 1894, when 
the snow was here six inches deep, 
and the Penobscot river frozen over 
the dam, a Phoebe came into my 
garden and remained a long time. 
As it was Sunday I did not shoot 
him, but there is no doubt about 
his identity, for my daughter and 
I stood within a few feet of him 
and watched him catch insects 
over a smoking manure heap.” 
Such occurrences, I think, are 
very rare. Ihave never met with 
this species later than November 
3d, or earlier than March 4th. 
Have any observers who reside 
north of the Mason and Dixon 
line observed this species in winter? 
M. G. Van de Water, of New 
York, relates a curious incident in 
the June, 1893, Oologist, about a 
pair. of Phoebes building two nests 
next to each other and laying one 
egg in one and four eggs in the 
other. This is very strange, and I 
can see but one reasonable ex- 
planation of it, namely, the birds 
started one nest and were dis- 
satisfied with it on some account. 
They then built a second one and 
came to the conclusion that the 
first was best after all, so settled 
down to use that one, but became 
confused and accidently laid one 
of the five eggs in the second one. 
Edward P. Carlton, of Wau- 
watosa, Wis., gives a very good 
description of the bird’s habits in 
his “Flycatcher Notes” in February 
Oologist for 1891. I think he has 
made one mistake though. He 
states, “reaching us a little after 
the 1st of Aptil, they soon pair off,” 
etc. Now, I think that if he ob- 
scryes closer he can find that the 
Phoebes arrive mated, and are 
here from the first to the last week 
in March. My earliest date is 
March 4th (1894) and my latest is 
March 30th (1890). His home is 
almost due west from here (Grand 
Rapids, Mich.,) but as he is on the 
bleaker side of Lake Michigan, 
they may arrive a little later there. 
C. O. Ormsbee, of Montpelier, Vt., 
in September, 1894, number of the 
Oologist, has an exceedingly inter- 
esting and well written article, 
which shows a great deal of thought 
and careful observation. But I 
would like to ask him a question 
ortwo. Hestates that the Phoebe 
lays from five to eight eggs. I 
know that sets of four are common; 
of five, are the usual number; of 
six, are reported (I have taken 
one). Sets of seven are extremely 
