116 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 8 



placed near llie end of a limb or branch ; the 

 average height from the ground was about fifteen 

 feet tliough cases have come under our observation 

 of their nesting within three feet. Of seven nests 

 found June 3d four contained sets of four each, 

 wldle but one was found holding five, the others 

 were incomplete sets. June 4th a nest was found 

 fifteen feet from the ground containg four eggs, 

 which were advanced in incubation, while June 

 Gth a fresh set of the same number were obtained 

 in a different locality. There are several mossy 

 orchards and lone trees where these handsome 

 Warblers breed in Bristol County, but none that 

 can compare either in size or richness with the 

 one in question. Two exceptional cases were 

 noted this season in regard to the nesting habits 

 of tills Warbler ; the first occurred June 3d as we 

 wore walking along a wood road bordered on the 

 one side by an Oak grove and on the other by a 

 young growth of scrub. My friend's quick eye 

 espied a tiny smoothly woven nest of this bird in 

 an Oak sappling about fifteen feet from the gound 

 and close to the trunk, which contained two fresh 

 eggs. There was no moss whatever on the tree 

 with the exception of the cup shaped nest. This 

 confirmed the belief which I had previously had 

 that they bred apart from the trees or tree which 

 contained the long flowing moss, but in eight 

 years collecting this is the first case that has come 

 under my observation. The second one was still 

 more remarkable, for tlie bird forsook her usual re- 

 tirement altogether and placed her nest not tar from 

 a house on the dead limb of an Elm tree, about 

 twenty feet above the well traveled road, and 

 four feet fiom the trunk. The dead limb was well 

 covered with lichens and wood mosses, which en- 

 tered largely into the composition of the nest. 

 The lower part of the nest was all that contained 

 any of the Usnca, a little being woven in with fine 

 but dry stiff' grass and horsehair. The opening 

 was nearly concealed by the stiff wood moss, 

 which was twice as thick at the top of the nest. 

 This very curious nest contained but one fresh 

 egg June Gth. In the afternoon of June 3d we 

 rode out through Seekonk and viewed the nesting 

 place of the Barred Owl, from which three sets 

 have been taken this season, one of which adorns 

 my cabinet, given to me by my friend. The nest 

 or rather hole was in a Walnut tree ; the open- 

 ing was about two feet high and six inches wide 

 at the widest place, the bottom of tlie cavity was 

 nearly level with the opening, only a few bits of 

 dead wood keeping the eggs from rolling out. 

 While taking a sketch of the tree our attention was 

 called away by the anxiety displayed by a Golden- 

 crowned Thrush, wliich led us to believe there 

 was a nest in the vicinity. We conjectured rightly 

 for in a few moments it lay before us, containing 



four fresh eggs ; the nest was arched over in the 

 usual manner and composed of leaves, straw and 

 cedar bark strips and lined with a few horsehairs. 

 A few other nests were discovered while riding 

 along, and a Downy Woodpecker visited wliich 

 had been previously discovered ; it contained four 

 eggs, incubation commenced. A nest of the same 

 species was visited June 1st, from which the 

 young had flown, which is but one case which 

 goes to show the variance in the breeding time of 

 birds, even of the same family. Following the 

 bank of Palmer's River for a short distance we 

 found Redstarts breeding plentifully ; one nest 

 placed in the triple crotch of a Swamp Maple 

 about five and a half feet from the ground con- 

 taining four fresh eggs, around which the female 

 was hovering in company with her conspicuous, 

 handsome mate, who evinced great anxiety for 

 the safety of her domicile. Another nest of the 

 Black-capped Titmouse was found June 4th, con- 

 taining six eggs, from which the occupant flew on 

 our rapping the old Chestnut stub. On emerging 

 from the woods we entered a ploughed field, 

 where in an Apple tree we discovered a Redstart 

 at work on her nest, which she was shaping, 

 placed about twenty feet from the ground. While 

 crossing an adjoining pasture, the ground covered 

 with low tangled briars and trailing vines, a 

 Maryland Yellow-throat was flushed by my friend 

 from a nest containing five beautiful, fresh eggs. 

 Coming out on to a well traveled road and walk- 

 ing along its side, we flushed an Oven Bird from 

 lier nest within three feet of tlie road, with the 

 back of the nest towards it; it contained five eggs 

 which were partially incubated. Entering the 

 fields once more a Field Sparrow was flushed and 

 my friend discovered the nest, which was placed 

 near the ground in dry grass weed stalks, com- 

 posed of grass, small twigs and lined with finer 

 grass. This is the first one I have ever met with in 

 Bristol County, they being local in their habits in 

 this vicinity. June Gth the commoner varieties 

 and early breeders were found well along in house- 

 keeping, most of the nests found containing par- 

 tially incubated eggs, though the late breeders 

 had hardly commenced, especially the Vireos and 

 Woodpewees. Another nest of the Blue Yellow- 

 back was found containg four fresh eggs, placed 

 in an Apple tree in a Pine grove, where I had 

 taken sets several years before. My friend visited 

 the large orchard again June 17th and 20th, and 

 found that the Warblers had newly built nesis 

 and completed sets, of which he obtained seven 

 sets more, each containing four fresh eggs. Many 

 of the commoner varieties have been rare this sea- 

 son while those that ranked tolerably common or 

 rare have in several cases been plentiful. 



