Dec. 1886. ] 
101. Podilymbus odiceps, (Pied-bill Grebe). 
Numbers were seen at the ponds and lakes of the 
valleys. Too much time is wasted in pursuit of 
these little divers to allow extended observation, 
as they are common at any Duck shooting resort 
in Massachusetts, but I am confident I saw the 
Horned Grebe, (Dytes auritus), at Flagstaff, but 
cannot record it. 
102. Colymbus torquatus, (Loon). Nearly every 
lake in this country was occupied by one or more 
of these birds. I received sufficient evidence of 
their breeding at Flagstaff Lake and Big Island 
Lake, one of the Seven Ponds. 
At the mention of this bird there comes a 
memory of reposing on fragrant hemlock “sapin” 
in the quaint companionship of my guide, and 
with the weird midnight cry of the Loon it re- 
solves itself into an ideal; the shadows of the 
Dead River region of Maine. 

Notes on Some Birds of the Great 
Smoky Mountains. 

BY ARTHUR LEMOYNE, M. D. 
(Continued from page 164.) 


HELMINTHOPHILA CHRYSOPTERA. 
Golden-winged Warbler. 
This rather locally distributed species was quite 
common in Monroe county, where it was found 
in the hardwood growth at varying altitudes. In 
Blount county also, several individuals of this spe- 
cies were noticed, and in Cooke and Roane counties 
scarcely any were noted the last spring, although 
the latter county, some four years ago, contained 
more of these birds than any other section. I 
failed to note their first arrival this past season. I 
have them recorded for first time on April 24th, 
as “seen in considerable numbers,” and presume 
they arrived some days previous. During the 
first week after their arrival they seem to keep in 
company and may be found in the scrub growth 
in the high lands. The males open the mating 
season by displaying their vocal abilities from the 
highest point of vantage, though the choirster is 
often secluded from view. Their nesting, the 
second act in the drama, is begun about the 
middle of May and the eggs are deposited by the 
first of June. These last statements are rather 
general ones, but my own experience bears me 
out in this assertion. More definite and statisti- 
ceil records may be given; I have found uncom- 
pleted nests on May 26th, 29th and 80th, and full 
complements on May 28th and June 3d and Oth. 
The above are in six different nests of this species, 
the first can have no subsequent chapter 
added, as I left the locality where they were 
AND OOLOGIST. 
179 
found too soon to procure the eggs. The nests 
of this warbler are placed on the ground, and for 
so dainty a bird are rather bulky and coarse in 
detail, though so nearly alike in composition as to 
admit of an easy selection of a typical structure, a 
description of which will serve for all. A nest 
before me has just been inspected by a Professor 
of Botany, and I avail myself of the opportunity 
and present its description. The outside of the 
nest was large beach and oak leaves, followed by 
a layer of the fine strips of bark of the grape vine. 
This was followed by a lining of grasses and 
slender fibres of some coarse weed. The inner 
lining was of horse hair and very compactly 
woven into its place, so as to admit of being re- 
moved from the nest and still preserving its 
shape. It resembled very much the nest of the 
Maryland Yellow-throat, but can be distinguished 
by the compactness of the inside lining. The 
eggs from the above nest were taken June 3d, ’86, 
and were perfectly fresh on that date. The set 
numbered four and in coloration were pure, al- 
most glossy white, with bright brown spots at the 
larger end, which had a tendency to form a 
wreath around the egg, and would have accom- 
plished, had there been enough of the spots. 
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS AMERICANA. 
Brown Creeper. 
This quaint little bird was found in the ever- 
greens on the mountains, in preference to other 
localities, excepting during the winter months, 
when it may be met with in the valleys Its 
habits are too well known to further enlarge upon 
in these columns, with one exception, its nidifica- 
tion, which has not been often published. Only 
once have I observed it nesting in these mountains. 
On May 15, 1885, I saw one of these birds fly to 
the trunk of a spruce, the top of which had been 
broken off, and the stub having lost its vitality 
had cast its bark, which was hanging loosely from 
it. The bird was quickly followed by his mate, 
which was carrying in her bill a few feathers. 
Marking the spot where she disappeared behind 
the rough bark I left her to perform her labors, 
In ten days I returned, and upon thumping the 
tree she flew from her nest. Cutting a “staddle,” 
I mounted the trunk of the stub, until I could 
reach the rift behind which the nest was placed. 
The nest was a medley of lichens, wsnea, moss, 
feathers, grass and a few rootlets, in which 
was placed five eggs, much resembling Chicka- 
dees, being a trifle smaller. Another set of 
six eggs brought me by a lad, were profusely 
spotted with bright brown spots. This set was, 
according to the statement of the finder, taken 
from a nest placed in a crevice in one of the logs 
of a fence. 
