390 Brewster on Birds of Winckendon, Massachusetts. [October 



Urinator imber. — One or more pairs of Loons breed regularly in every 

 pond of sufficient size near Winchendon. Mr. Albert Henry, of Gardner, 

 took a set of two eggs at Blue's Reservoir in 1887. At Wellington's Reser- 

 voir, a large sheet of water about five miles north of Winchendon, a 

 farmer living near the shore assured us that he saw several of the birds 

 daily through the entire summer. He thought that there were at least 

 three pairs in the pond in 1888. 



Anas obscura. — Mr. Bailey sees a few Black Ducks every summer but 

 they are much less numerous at that season than in spring and autumn. 

 Early in June, 1888, he found on the bank of a brook, the shells of several 

 eggs that had probably hatched a few days before. 



Nyctala acadica. — A common resident, doubtless breeding numerously, 

 although Mr. Bailey has not as yet succeeded in finding nests. 



Surnia ulula caparoch. — In the winter of 18S6-87 Mr. Bailey shot three 

 specimens, in that of 18S7-1888 one. He thinks they occur regularly 

 every winter. 



Dryobates villosus. — During my first visit to Winchendon I did not 

 find this species, but in 1888 we met with several. A pair seen June 16, 

 were feeding young which had evidently just left the nest. 



Picoides arcticus. — Mr. Bailey killed four specimens in the winter of 

 1886-1S87, and one during the following winter. He is very sure they 

 were visitors from the north, and that none breed near Winchendon. 



Ceophlceus pileatus. — Resident, but not common. Mr. Bailey sees only 

 two or three pairs each season but thinks that there are more in Win- 

 chendon than in any of the neighboring towns. About the middle of 

 June, 1887, one of his friends met with a brood of young in the woods. I 

 did not find the bird during either visit, but its unmistakable mortise- 

 shaped ' peck holes ' were frequently observed. 



Contopus borealis. — ^June 26, 1887, we found two pairs of Olive-sided 

 Flycatchers in an extensive sphagnum swamp, and after a short search 

 discovered one of their nests near the top of a rather tall black spruce. 

 The female was sitting on three nearly fresh eggs. In i8SS I did not 

 revisit this swamp, but Mr. Bailey passed it a few days before my arrival 

 and heard the Flycatchers calling. We did not find the species else- 

 where. 



Loxia curvirostra minor. — A single pair seen in spruce woods June 13, 

 1SS8, and the male shot. His testes were of large, but not maximum size. 

 Mr. Bailey tells me that this Crossbill is numerous every winter, but he 

 has never seen it in summer before. Its occurrence at the latter season 

 does not prove, of course, that it breeds about Winchendon, although it 

 would be by no means surprising if a few pairs were found to nest there. 



Ammodramus henslowi. — Several pairs breeding in a meadow about 

 three miles south of Winchendon. 



Zonotrichia albicoUis. — In 1887 I met with two males, and in 18S8 one, 

 all in spruce swamps. They were in full song and evidently had mates 

 and nests, for they showed the utmost concern when their retreats were 

 invaded. 



