76 BULLETIN OF THE NVTTALL 



smaller in the average. The eggs are of a pale creamy white, with red- 

 dish-brown dots, spots, or blotches of two shades, disposed chiefly about 

 the larger end. This brief account is based on specimens obtained about 

 Lake Umbagog, Upton, and at Bethel, Maine, by Messrs. William Brewster 

 and H. B. Bailey, and at Gorham, N. H., by Messrs. George Welch and 

 Duxbury Moon. I have lately seen nests and eggs of both E. acadicus 

 and E. traillii collected at Columbus, Ohio, by Dr. J. M. Wheaton. Sin- 

 gularly enough, that of the former (E. acadicus) bears a close resemblance 

 in its structure to that of Maine specimens of Traill's Flycatcher, while 

 the compact felted character of the latter {E. traillii) is entirely unlike any 

 nest of this species from the Canadian fauna. The eggs of the Ohio nests 

 are in each case of a decided buff color as compared with Northern ones. 



In this connection I would ask if it has been observed whether the 

 ground color and markings of the eggs of species breeding in northern 

 latitudes are of a lighter tint than those of the same kind laid in austral 

 limits, — that is, does intensity of color hold good in eggs as it does in 

 plumage ? — H. A. Purdie. 



Singular Food of the Least Bittern. — Upon examining the 

 stomach of a male Least Bittern (Ardetta exilis) shot at Belmont, Mass., 

 May 11, 1876, I found that organ fairly crammed with white, clean cotton 

 wool. The greater portion had evidently been swallowed in one lump, 

 but there were several smaller flakes. Among them were several slender 

 white worms, and many others of a similar appearance were coiled around 

 the intestines. Under such conditions one would hardly expect the post- 

 prandial sensations of the bird to be of an agreeable nature, but the 

 bird seemed to be in good health and spirits. — William Brewster. 



Intelligence of a Crow. — A tame Crow (Corvus americanus) in my 

 possession has repeatedly amused me by the novel method he adopts to 

 rid himself of parasites. For this purpose he deliberately takes his stand 

 upon an ant-mound, and permits the ants to crawl over him and carry 

 away the troublesome vermin. The operation seems mutually agreeable 

 to all parties, the ants quickly seizing upon the parasites and bearing them 

 away. I have also noticed the same habit in another tame Crow that I 

 formerly had in my possession. — Abbott M. Frazar. 



The Great Carolina Wren in Massachusetts. — The Great Caro- 

 lina Wren (Thryothorus hulovicianus) has not previously been recorded 

 as a visitor to Massachusetts, but there are at present two apparently pass- 

 ing the summer in a small wooded swamp near Boston. It is believed 

 that they have arrived since the 4th of July, soon after which time my 

 attention was attracted by their loud notes, which I immediately recog- 

 nized, through their general likeness to the notes of other Wrens, and the 

 descriptions of Wilson and Audubon. It is further believed that they are 

 now building, or have recently built, their nest, since they remain per- 

 sistently in one neighborhood, the female being rarely seen, though the 

 male often visits the shrubbery about the house. — H. D. Minot. 



