144 General Notes. [} a u n k 



Protonotaria citrea. Prothonotary Warbler. — One was seen in 

 some bushes in Lake Wisconsin above Merrimac. About five miles above 

 the Spring Green bridge in a low heavily wooded spot, the characteristic 

 sharp " tchip " of this species was heard. This bird was evidently looking 

 for a nesting site as it flitted restlessly from tree to tree finally entering an 

 old woodpecker's hole in a stub. The nest was empty. Another bird was 

 seen feeding in a mass of driftwood at the river's edge. 



Polioptila cserulea cserulea. Bluegray Gnatcatcher. — Only two 

 birds were met with; one about ten miles above Portage, and the other 

 five miles above the Spring Green bridge. 



Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Cardinal.— The first bird was heard 

 singing about a mile below the Spring Green bridge. From this point on 

 to the Mississippi it was fairly common. 



Myiarchus crinitus. Crested Flycatcher. — One of the commonest 

 birds along the river. 



Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus. Carolina Wren. — A 

 single bird was heard singing about a mile from the Mississippi. 



Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. — On several occasions nests of this 

 species were found on the lakes in northern Wisconsin, built in trees over- 

 hanging the water. I then thought that these open situations might have 

 been selected to facilitate the hunting of insects. On the Wisconsin, three 

 nests were found about three miles above Prairie du Sac in small trees 

 standing in the water, one nest with two eggs being only eighteen inches 

 above the water. At this place open fields came nearly to the water's 

 edge. It accordingly appeared to me that occasionally at least, the King- 

 bird shows a decided preference for the vicinity of water. Only one refer- 

 ence on this subject has been found, although it is true that I have not 

 made a thorough search of the literature: Barrows, in his ' Birds of Michi- 

 gan', quotes Cheney on the Hamilton Lake region as follows: "This species 

 might be considered almost aquatic in its nesting habits, as the nests were 

 invariably placed in stumps projecting out of the water, often at a consid- 

 erable distance from shore." — A. W. Schorger, Madison, Wisconsin. 



Abundance of Periodical Cicadas, Diverting Attacks of Birds from 

 Cultivated Fruits. — Before the ripening season of cherries this year, 

 Mr. Hugh Wallis, restauranteur of Washington, D. C. reminded a colored 

 employee that the time for screening the cherry trees was approaching. 

 " No boss," was the reply " no need fo' dat dis yeah. De locus is comin'." 

 Subsequent events proved the accuracy of this prophecy and suggested an 

 inquiry into experience elsewhere in this regard. Only three replies were 

 received from localities where the periodical cicada was really abundant, all 

 of which testify to decreased bird damages. Mr. W. A. Taylor, Chief of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C. writes: " I have been watch- 

 ing with some interest a few raspberry bushes in my garden in the northern 

 edge of the city not far from a piece of woodland in winch the cicadas are 

 abundant. It has seemed to me that the Catbirds and Robins which during 



