728 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
concluded that these birds reach open spots in that district before 
there is much clear ground showing through the snow. (/.Hughes- 
Samuel.) Formerly abundant, but the disastrous “ freeze ” which 
extinguished the orange industry in northern Florida in 1894-95; 
nearly annihilated these birds also, and in the first nine months 
of 1895, 1 saw but four specimens ; since then they have been 
increasing rapidly and are now familiar objects once more; they 
sometimes build in boxes and crevices around buildings, and a 
few sets of white eggs have been taken; one nest was found in a 
swallow’s hole in the river bank in May, 1899, by W. A. Balkwill. 
(W. £. Saunders.) A common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.; 
arrives about March toth, and leaves about October 20th. (A. B. 
Klugh.) Very abundant at Penetanguishene, Ont., in the spring 
of 1903. (A. F. Young.) The U.S. National Museum collection 
contains a specimen taken at Moose Factory, James Bay in the 
summer of 1881, by Walton Haydon. (4.A. Preble.) 
A rare summer resident in Manitoba; they breed about the large 
towns; since I wrote as above it is gratifying to note that this 
species instead of being very rare has become quite common 
(1892) in the country along the Assiniboine, and nearly every 
grove of oak of any extent is found to have a pair making their 
home in it along with the purple martin. (Zhompson-Seton.) A 
rare and breeding summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba. (JVor- 
man Criddle.) 
BREEDING Notes.—Nest built in a hole ina tree or fence 
post, composed of vegetable matter very loosely put together, 
lined with grass and a little hair; eggs four to five, pale blue; not 
marked. (G. R. White.) This species breeds around Ottawa in 
Aprit, May, June and July, in a hole in a tree, a stump, a fence, or 
a telegraph post; its nest is made of grass and feathers and contains 
from three to six eggs. (Garneau.) 
This species nests at Scotch Lake, N.B., in May and June; the 
nest is built in hollow fence poles and this year (1902) one pair 
built in a box put up for them in a grove in a pasture; five eggs 
were laid and incubated in 18 days. The young feathered out in 
14 days and were in the nest 20 days after hatching; 30 days later 
they had four more eggs and the female was sitting. (W. H: 
Moore.) 
