32 BULLETIN 2 



species of birds during 1906. This is an excellent example 

 and incentive for others. The question arises : How many 

 children of twelve years or older in Vermont are able to 

 name and indentify seventy different kinds of birds? 



A member writes : I spent last summer in northern 

 Vermont where the large blue herons were unusually 

 abundant. They were ruthlessly shot by farmers and 

 iul either left where where they fell or thrown away 

 after being exhibited as proofs of skill. When asked why 

 they killed the birds, the reply usually was "O nothing! 

 only just to say I'd shot one." 



Mr. C. H. Evans of Townshend reports observing the 

 water thrush on May 17, 1905. 



Mr. R. G. Brock of Wells River sends the following 

 notes. 



A nest of the red bellied nuthatch was found May 5, 

 1886 in Scott's grove in a poplar stub about 25 feet from 

 the ground. Cavity about eight inches deep, lined at the 

 bottom with fibrous bark and a few hairs and feathers. 

 There were five fresh eggs. At the entrance was some 

 pine pitch which must have been put there by the birds, 

 but whether for a purpose, or tracked in, I do not know. 

 Has anyone else noticed pitch at the entrance of the 

 nuthatch's nest? 



Prairie lornrd larks were found at Rygate in 190c 

 Nest on ground in a ploughed field (all that I have evei 

 seen have been on ploughed land) There was a slight cavity 

 with a few straws and lined with cow hair, and some dow- 

 nv material. There were four eggs, color a dirty white, 

 thickly and evenly marked with very fine drab, making 

 them look gray. Since that year they have continued and 

 nest on the farm each year, and on some of the adjoining 

 farms. Till last year there were about half a dozen pairs 

 in the neighborhood. Mr. G. H. Ross of Rutland has 

 found a number of nests ot this species, all ot which were 

 located on grass land. 



Mr. S. 6. Brush of Burlington writes thus: 



For the last ten years I had heard that every fall swal- 

 lows congregated in great numbers on Cedar Island, a 

 small island near the Sand Bar bridge in Milton, and late in 

 August 1905 I visited the island. Cedar island is about 3 

 acres in extent and is heavily wooded with cedar and in 

 the summer is a camping ground for a party of Boston 

 people. I reached the spot late in the afternoon. In the air 

 swallows were hurrying toward the island in countless 

 numbers from every point of the compass as far as the eye 



