18 Bulletin No. 3 



observers in support of either theory. The first is that the cold 

 weather in the spring caused the juncos ,and other birds as well, to 

 nest at a lower level than commonly. In this case I should have 

 found them on nearby hills of the same altitude. The fact that I did 

 not is merely negative evidence and not conclusive. I might have 

 found them there if I had traversed them as thoroughly day after 

 day as I did the hill near my home. If others observers can report 

 them at lower levels than commonly nesting I shall conclude that this 

 explanation is the correct one. Observations on other birds of a similar 

 nature would tend to prove the same theory. 



My other theory to account for the unusual record is that the 

 spring before, or possibly two years before, a pair of juncos nested 

 on the hill. They are known to nest casually at much lower altitudes 

 and farther south than their normal nesting range. It is possible that 

 this pair of juncos had unusual success in rearing young and that a 

 larger number than usual lived through the winter to breed in the 

 spring. All these young birds that lived may have returned to the 

 spot where they were reared to build their nests. All five of the nests 

 were within a quarter of a mile radius and all on the same slope of the 

 hill. I know that all five of the nests were successful and a full 

 brood was reared in each case. If this theory is correct it would seem 

 probably that a colony of juncos has been established on this hill 

 and will continue. 



The unusual number in so small a radius seems to be more than a 

 mere accident and I should be pleased to hear from other observers in 

 other parts of the state in support of either of these theories or with 

 new theories to advance for their occurrence here. At any rate I shall 

 watch with keenest interest the return of the breeding juncos the 

 coming spring. I have great hopes that the score or more of young 

 who went away will come back to perpetuate their kind in the same 

 locality. 



NOTES ON THE WHITE EYED VIREO. 

 Emily L. and Susan E. Clark, St. Johnsbury, Vt. 



On the 22th of July, 1899, we saw and identified the White-eyed 

 Vireo, Vireo novehoracensis, for the first time. They were in" company 

 with a large flock of birds, including a great number of species, which 

 had taken possession of a sugar orchard about a mile from the village, 

 and were greedily eating the millers of the army worms. 



That was the year when the sugar places in this section of the state 

 were so devastated by that pest. The following year, May 5, 1900, 

 we saw and identified the white eyed vireo again in the same locality. 



