78 BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 



account of the number, size, and coloration of the eggs. The nest con- 

 tained four eggs, very closely resembling those of the Shrikes. The ground- 

 color is dull white or bluish, thickly blotched or freckled with reddish- 

 brown. The measurements of the three specimens preserved are 1.01 by 

 .66, .94 by .68, and .88 by .66. Incubation had been going on for about 

 ten days, and unfortunately one egg was destroyed in cleaning. — Wil- 

 bur F. Lamb, IlohjoJce, Mass. 



Persistency at Nest-Building in a House-Wren. — A House- Wren 

 (Troglodytes aedon) has this season manifested a strong predilection for the 

 nozzle of a pump for a nesting- site. The pump being in daily use, the 

 nozzle, much to our surjirise, was repeatedly found to be obstructed with 

 sticks. An investigation of the novel incident led to the discovery of the 

 cause, it being found that a House-Wren was industriously at work carry- 

 ing materials into the pump for the construction of its nest. The bird 

 was finally left one morning to carry on his work, when, at the end of two 

 hours, it was found that he had filled the pump so full that water could 

 not be obtained until a part of the sticks had been removed. The nest, 

 through the necessary use of the pump, was three times destroyed before 

 the persevering little fellow abandoned his work. — Abbott W. Frazar, 

 Watertown, Mass. 



A New Bird to Massachusetts. — Mr. Charles W. Townsend, of 

 Boston, shot, July 28, 1876, a male specimen of Pledroplianes ornatus. 

 It was taken in Magnolia, near Gloucester, Mass., in a field near the sea- 

 shore, and has been by Mr. Townsend presented to the New England col- 

 lection of the Boston Natural History Society. It is an adult male, in 

 worn plumage. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 



A NEW Form of Surnia to New England. — Two fine specimens of the 

 Hawk Owl have recently been taken in Houlton, Maine, and have been 

 mounted by Mr. Welch in his usual superior style. They are both males, 

 and while one is in the plumage usually known as Surnia Imdsonia, the 

 other is in that distinguished by the separate name of Surnia ulula, and 

 supposed to be exclusively Palcearctic. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 



Capture of the Philadelphia Vireo in New Hampshire. — A 

 specimen of this bird (Vireo jphiladelphicus) was shot in Hollis, New 

 Hampshire, May 26, 1876, by Mr. A. F. Eaton. It was feeding in com- 

 pany with two other birds of the same kind, in some low oak-bushes. — 

 W. H. Fox, Concord, Mass. 



Occurrence of Passerculus princeps in New York. — One of my 

 correspondents, Mr. Frank E. Johnson, of Gravesend, Long Island, ^^Tite3 

 me that when out collecting, on December 20, 1876, on Coney Island, in 

 New York harbor, he shot thi-ee specimens of a Sparrow new to him, 



