1S84.J Gene nil Notes. n'2 



ing upon the sea-urchins or not, although several of the echinoderms still 

 had their soft parts adhering to the "shells." Our sea-urchin is often left 

 hy a retreating tide in the pools where it could be easily seen and taken 

 without difficulty by the Crows. In autumnal and winter gales multi. 

 tudes are washed up on the beaches to the line of the highest reach nf the 

 tides. — J. Walter Fkwkes. C am h rid ere. Mass. 



Nest and Eggs of Couch's Tyrant Flycatcher (7". tnelancholicas 

 couchi). — A nest and four fresh eggs, together with both parents of this 

 same species, were taken by my collector, Mr. Bourbois, at Lomita 

 Ranch, on the Rio Grande, Texas, in 1S81. I believe this set to be 

 unique (at least so far as the United States fauna is concerned), and wor- 

 thy of a description. 



The nest was situated some twenty feet from the ground, on a small 

 lateral branch of a large elm, in a fine grove not far from the houses of 

 the ranch. It is composed of small elm twigs, with a little Spanish moss 

 and a few branchlets and leaves of the growing elm intermixed. The 

 sides of the nest are lined with fine rootlets, the bottom with the black 

 hair-like heart of the Spanish moss. The outside diameter is 6 inches, 

 and the depth 2 inches. The inside diameter is 3 inches, and the depth 

 1.25 inches. 



The eggs, while having a general resemblance to those of all our Tyrant 

 Flycatchers, are quite distinct in form, size, and ground-color from any 

 others I have seen. The blotches, too, are more numerous and smaller. 

 The large end is very round, and the small end quite pointed. The 

 measurements of the four eggs are as follows: i.oo X .76, .99 X .76, .98 

 X .76, .97 X .73, averaging .985 of an inch m length and .75 of an inch in 

 breadth. The ground-color is ' a rich bufi:'. The general color of the 

 blotches is similar to that of the Kingbird's eggs, and their distribution 

 irregular over the entire egg, but massed about the greatest diameter. 



If this set proves to be typical I should have no trouble in selecting the 

 eggs of this species from any number of eggs of other species of the 

 genus.— Geo. B. Bennett, Meadville. Pa. 



Recent Occurrence of the Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker in 

 Massachusetts. — Mr. E. H. Richards of Woburn, Mass., writes me that 

 two specimens oi Picoides arcticus have been taken in that town the past 

 autumn. The first was shot Oct. 16. the other two days later. Both were 

 adult males. A third example was also seen Oct. 21, in Holbrook, Mass. 

 — William Brew^ster. Cambridge, Mass. 



A Woodpecker destroying Cocoons. — This habit of the Woodpecker is 

 something new to me, and may have an interest for others. It was ob- 

 served by my friend, Mr. Frank W. Ritchie, who, writing from Lennox- 

 ville, Q^Liebec, under date of November 21, says: "A few days since I 

 discovered a Downy Woodpecker tearing open a cocoon. I drove the 

 bird away several times, but it persisted until it had gathered the contents. 

 I also noticed near by two other cocoons which had been emptied similar- 

 ly. " — Montague Chamberlain. Si. yo/in. JV. B. 



