486 General Notes. fig 
Nelson and we watched the fledglings for half an hour at the close of their 
third day. They were in a pitch pine tree across the driveway from the 
roost. One or both parents brought food to them every five or ten minutes. 
These visits occasioned a lively chattering which resembled the clucking 
of Red-winged Blackbirds on a small scale. After the parent’s departure 
the young birds quieted, although they often continued to give single, 
double, or triple clucks for a minute or two. Finally, as it was grow- 
ing dark, about 6.45, all the young birds (five of them) fluttered across 
the drive and joined their parent. As the little, tailless birds flew 
overhead in quick succession, they appeared against the sky like tiny 
Woodeocks rising for a song flight. Nothing could be plainer than that 
the flight was in obedience to a command from the old bird,— the fledglings 
started at almost the same instant and hurried off all together. Tonight, 
under the guidance of the parent, they took a direction away from their 
former roost. We followed and found three of them in the abandoned 
nest which they visited last evening. On our arrival they came out and 
with much chattering withdrew. Twice a bird returned, hopped about 
the nest for a moment and then flew away. The family settled near, 
just where we could not see. On the following evening we saw or heard 
nothing of the brood at twilight. 
It would be of interest to learn whether this use of abandoned nests of 
other birds is a common practice with the House Wren, especially when we 
recall that the male of some species of wrens builds seemingly useless 
nests while the female is sitting— Winsor M. Tyter, M. D., Lexington, 
Mass. 
The Labrador Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) at 
Cohasset, Mass., late in May.— From May 19 to 23, 1917, inclusive, 
a Brown-headed Chickadee, probably the Labrador form, was seen 
several times each day in the garden. The bird was very tame and easily 
recognized. The peculiar note first attracted my attention, and after 
once seeing the bird it was easy to find it at any time during its stay 
with us. Usually it was with a small flock of the Black-capped Chickadee 
(Penthestes a. atricapillus) and was as easily approached and as tame as 
is its more southern relative. A thick row of spruces bordering the garden 
seemed to be its favorite haunt. Neither species remained on the place 
during the summer.— ARTHUR P. CHABOURNE, M. D., Jerusalem Road, 
Cohasset, Mass. 
Labrador Chickadees at Hatley, Stanstead County, Quebec.— 
It is with pleasure that I record a visit of Dr. Townsend’s new subspecies 
the Labrador Chickadee (Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans) to Hatley, on its 
return journey to its breeding grounds. The birds were first observed on 
May 14 and between that date and the thirtieth on which the last was 
seen, seven examples were secured, three being sent to Dr. Townsend, and 
the other four to the Victoria Memorial Museum at Ottawa. The former 
