142 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 15-No. 9 



The first nest I found was on 21st of June. 

 I had watched tlie old birds prior to this for 

 tliree different days, but failed to discover the 

 nest. I had a pretty good idea about where it 

 was situated, and this time getting under 

 cover I kept my eyes on the birds. Pretty 

 soon the J darted off towards some tall black 

 spruces, and failing to reappear I walked up, 

 and taking a jjosition where I could command 

 the different trees I discharged one barrel of 

 my gun, when out she darted from near the 

 top of a tall black spruce over to my right. 

 Going over I walked round and round the tree, 

 searching closely the branches overhead, and 

 shortly spotted what I took to be the nest 

 placed way oat on one of the limbs and about 

 fifty feet up from where I stood. I started up 

 the tree, and after getting up about half way 

 took another look at what 1 supposed to be 

 the nest, and examining it carefully came to 

 the conclusion that it was an old last year's, so 

 slid down the tree, got under cover again and 

 waited for the 9 to show up, ruminating 

 meanwhile on the uncertainties of this life and 

 the finding of Olive-sided Flycatchers' nests in 

 particular. In a little while the 9 showed up, 

 and shortly, much to my surprise, she lit on 

 the limb close to my "last year's nest," and 

 with a hop and a skip disappeared within. I 

 dropped a few remarks, and straightway began 

 to reascend the tree. Arriving on a level 

 with the nest 1 found it was too far out on the 

 branch to get at, and the limb not strong 

 enough to carry me, so going above it I looked 

 down and there I saw three beautiful white 

 eggs, marked with red and brown spots laying 

 in a very rough, fiat kind of a nest. I then 

 got down to the limb and, thinking things 

 over, a grand idea for the rescue of the nest 

 came with such a rush upon me that if I had 

 not a firm grip upon the limb I verily believe 

 that I should have been tumbled to the earth 

 below. The "idea" that came so near ter- 

 minating my brief existence upon this terres- 

 trial globe was very simple. I should cut off" 

 the limb and lift it with the nest, in towards 

 me. So at it I went, and just as I got the 

 blessed limb about cut through it suddenly 

 bent down and away went the three eggs out 

 of the nest and scattered to the four winds 

 (like the flour in the story of "Hard Times"). 

 Gasping for air, and allowing the tears to fall 

 unchecked, I caught myself by the back of the 

 neck with one hand and with the other low- 

 ered myself from limb to limb to the earth 

 below, kicking myself as I went and praying 

 at the same time. Arriving on the ground, I] 



gathered up my trails, and, walking over the 

 dog, left for home, a sadder and a wiser man. 



Next day, the 22d, on thinking the matter 

 over I came to the conclusion that I had acted 

 rather hastily, and determining to secure 

 another nest I started out. After knocking 

 about for some little time I spotted a bird 

 perched up on top of an old dead tree, sitting 

 up straight as an arrow, and every now and 

 again getting oft in good form his hearty cry 

 of two, two, etc. Getting up closer I watched 



that bird from 



o'clock in the afternoon 



until 6.30, and examined carefully every tall 

 tree (spruce) in the vicinity, discharging at 

 intervals my gun, but failed to make the 9 

 show up. On the 28d I spent the day watching 

 this particular bird, and this time the 9 ^'^s 

 on hand, but in spite of all my efforts and 

 knowing the nest must be close by I failed 

 entirely to locate it, and wishing the birds a 

 fond adieu, retired. 



July 2d I started out again, and after walk- 

 ing for quite a while came across another 

 "Olive-sided" occupying a dignified position 

 on the top of a tall spruce tree. After watch- 

 ing for some time and lie confining his fiight 

 to three trees in close proximity I concluded 

 the abiding place of his better half was close 

 by. Getting close to the trees I discharged 

 my gun, and was promp.tly rewarded by see- 

 ing the 9 come out from one of the ti-ees to 

 my left. Going close to the tree and getting 

 under cover I waited for the $ to return, and 

 point out the way to her nest. In a short 

 time she came back, and flying into the tree 

 that I was watching disappeared in one of its 

 branches. I then walked underneath the tree 

 and gazing up began to scan the branches, but 

 not being able to see the nest I stood out from 

 the tree and discharged my gun again when 

 away darted the 9i ^ii*^ tliis time showing the 

 limb, and way out on the end of it the nest. 

 Going up the tree I found on reaching the nest 

 that it was placed on the end of a smaller 

 branch that shot out from the main limb, and 

 was even harder to get at than the one found 

 June 21st, so going above the nest and looking 

 down I saw that it held three eggs, but having 

 no means of securing them, got down the tree 

 and left, intending to return. 



July 3d found me once more underneath the 

 tree with a tiny flannel dip net rigged on a 

 good, long, light pole (a la Bishop style, Kent- 

 ville), when, slinging my colh'cting box, full of 

 cotton wool, over my shoulders and taking 

 dip net in one hand, 1 proceeded carefully to 

 mount the tree, and going above the nest and 



