Annotated List 69 



presented it to me (No. 205, coll. F. L. B.), and 

 I found my first nest and eggs on May n, 1899, 

 (Osprey, iv, 33), and ft became fairly well distrib- 

 uted, though rather solitary, until the chestnut blight 

 destroyed the tall timber in which it was accustomed 

 to nest. 



125. Sturnus vulgaris Starling, "blackbird," 

 "stare." Common resident, gregarious and most 

 abundant in winter. First observed in the Chester 

 valley opposite Berwyn, Jan. 5, 1911, and a male 

 secured on Feb. 2 (No. 983, coll. F. L. B.) is prob- 

 ably the first specimen for the county, and it nested 

 the same year at Bacton (Wils. Bull., 90, 289). 

 First observed at West Chester, Dec. 3, 1911, by 

 T. H. Jackson (Auk, xxix, 243) ; Phoenixville, 

 June 9, 1912, by L. S. Pierson; Westtown, June 3, 

 1912, by S. C. DeHaven, and Kennett Square, Mar. 

 8, 1913, by C. A. Thomas (Cass., xvi, 49, and xviii, 



5 6). 



126. Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink, "reedbird." 

 Passably common transient and rare summer resi- 

 dent. Montgomery says that it is found almost ex- 

 clusively along the Brandywine in spring, but in the 

 fall it is frequently met with on the uplands in clover 

 fields. Dr. Warren hints that nests have been found 

 on one or two occasions (Bds. Pa., 1890, 206) ; Dr. 

 Trotter found several pairs at Cheyney apparently 

 nesting in the fields (Au.k, xxxi, 400), and on June 

 3, 1917, R. P. Sharpies, G. L. Eadie and the writer 

 observed a pair in a meadow of the Chesterbrook 

 farm, near Berwyn; evidently nesting. 



Spring arrival Apr. 27 (1908) May 15 



