V °g 93 X ] General Notes. 89 



Notes from Connecticut. — Among my notes for 1892 the following may 

 be of interest, as relating to the vicinity of Bridgeport. 



A fine male Carolina Wren in full song was shot April 8. I was 

 attracted from a distance by the power and richness of its vocalization, 

 and found it dodging in and about an immense pile of cordwood in a 

 recent clearing. 



On Apiil 6, at Stratford, the very familiar cries of a Blue-gray Gnat- 

 catcher attracted and held ray attention for several minutes, when it passed 

 beyond hearing. Although but a short distance away at first, it was not 

 seen, barriers interfering with approach. 



Fish Crows (Corvus ossifi'agus) were observed in small numbers early 

 in March, having been rare the preceding winter, if present at all. The 

 morning of March 26, which was warm and clear, they were very common 

 in certain districts, compelling attention by their discordant voices and 

 unusual numbers, evidently fresh arrivals for the most part. They were 

 particularly noticeable until midsummer when they gradually became 

 silent and inactive. Even until May 1 flocks of twenty or thirty were 

 occasionally seen; soon after, however, they were reduced to groups of a 

 few unmated or barren individuals, and widely dispersed, breeding birds. 

 Much more suspicious than the common species, they force themselves 

 upon the attention long before the nest is in sight, in most cases in this 

 vicinity. April 29, at Fairfield, one sat by a nest eighty feet from the 

 ground, and confessed ownership of its young in the latter part of May. 

 On May 12 I took a set of four fresh eggs from a nest seventy-five feet 

 above the ground. This had been commenced in April, and its com- 

 pletion delayed at least two weeks. May 16 I took five nearly fresh eggs 

 of the Fish Crow and one of the Robin from a nest near the summit of 

 an isolated white pine tree in a recent clearing of hardwood growth. Tall 

 timber near by seemed to them less attractive. The female being shot, 

 its mate remained sorrowfully calling for several days, when it again 

 mated and probably met with better success, as they could be seen there 

 till July. A set of five eggs was taken at Mt. Vernon, New York, May 

 15, 18S8, from a nest fully sixty-five feet from the ground, in low, wet 

 woods. They were somewhat common there at that time. 



Four Lawrence's Warblers were within a radius of half a mile, three 

 typical and one with the black obscured and the crown dull yellow-olive, 

 as seen by Mr. C. K. Averill and myself. As did all the others, it sang 

 precisely like the Blue-winged Warbler; but it was not secured, as we had 

 no gun. One fine fellow frequented the growth on one side of a small 

 piece of woodland until July at least, while on the other side and within a 

 stone's throw a beautiful Brewster's Warbler spent the greater part of his 

 time. The latter, after patient watching, revealed his mate, a Blue- 

 winged Warbler, and a nest in course of construction. This was in the 

 edge of a pasture bordering a lane and grove. It was poorly concealed in 

 the dead grass at the base of a small shrub among scanty briars and the 

 beginning of a scrub growth, and was plainly visible from any point 

 several feet away. It was constructed as is usual with Helminthopkila 



