Vermont Bird Club 15 



The entrance of the nest cavity was 3% inches by 4 inches, drilled in 

 straight about 9 inches, and forty feet from the ground. The depth of the 

 cavity was two feet, the inside dimensions being about seven by nine 

 inches. The nest contained three eggs, nest stained and heavily incubated. 

 The examination of her nest greatly disturbed the female bird, but the 

 male remained at a distance and seemed unconcerned. 



ATTRACTING BIRDS IN WINTER. 

 A. C. Dike, Bristol. 



Feeding birds in winter not only yields exceptional opportunities for 

 bird study but is a practical means of bird protection which is within the 

 reach of all. Many of our winter birds depend for food upon the seeds 

 of various weeds and other plants. When these are covered with deep 

 snow the birds frequently experience want and sometimes starvation. At 

 such times birds by nature shy and retiring seek the home? of man for 

 food. Then is our opportunity to feed, shelter, protect and study them. 

 The feeding is begun in October, suet, bones with meat attached, 

 raw pork rinds, crushed buckwheat, weed seed, and sunflower seed being 

 placed in convenient places for the birds. 



On account of the extreme cold, the winter of 1903 furnished the 

 most interesting experience with birds. The more northern species com- 

 monly with us as stragglers, at this time appeared in great numbers. The 

 first visitors to the lunch counters were a family of four chickadees which 

 became so tame that they would take food from the hand. White-breasted 

 nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers came frequently and 

 blue jays, occasionally. Tree sparrows, goldfinches, redpolls and j uncos 

 appearing later partook of the seeds scattered upon the ground. 



The woodpeckers and nuthatches seemed to prefer the suet, the chick- 

 adees the pork rinds which were cut into strips two or three inches wide 

 and ten inches long, fastened to the branches by tacks. The chickadees 

 were also very fond of sunflower seeds. Many of our resident species, 

 if fed during the winter, will nest in the immediate vicinity during the 

 summer and will prove very beneficial from an economic standpoint. 



TWO FINDS OF 1905. 



By G. H. Ross, Rutland. 



The prairie horned lark, octoris alpcstris pvacticola, one of the 

 eleven subspecies of horned lark, octoris alpcstris. has been a resident 

 of New England only within a comparatively recent period, being origin- 



