A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



the red squirrel was as destructive as reported, 

 there would not be a young bird reared around 

 my cabin. My notes show that last year the 

 following named birds nested near my cabin, 

 and probably every nest was known and vis- 

 ited by the red squirrel: 



Number of nests. 



Chestnut-sided warbler . . 3 



Black -throated green warbler . 1 



Oven-bird 2 



Vireo 4 



Canada fly-catching warbler . 1 



Robin 2 



Towhee-bunting ... 2 



Catbird 1 



Wilson's thrush . ... 2 



Indigo-bird .... 1 



Total . . . . .19 

 A ruffed grouse nest was looted by the 

 crows when it contained but four eggs, after 

 which the bird resorted to a swamp, and 

 reared a brood. 



Several of the nests named were destroyed, 

 but none by the squirrel. In the light of my 

 observations I cannot consistently denounce 

 the red squirrel. 



98 



