158 



THE OOLOGIST. 



ily Trochilidce, are always white and us- 

 ually two in number, but I have known 

 of one instance where three eggs were 

 taken from one nest. The nest is a 

 handsome structure, composed in the 

 main of willow-floss and plant-downs. 

 The outside is covered with bits of 

 green moes and light colored lichens, 

 much resembling the bunches of moss 

 fonnd in oak trees. 



On June 2d, I again went collecting 

 in the same locality and noticed a pair 

 of Rufous Hummers acting rather 

 queer. They had been flying at several 

 warblers that came near a certain oak 

 tree, for some time so I seated myself 

 under its shade to study their actions, 

 trusting the female would alight on her 

 nest. Sure enough she did, and I was 

 again rewarded with a set of their eggs. 

 The nest was on a horrizontal limb and 

 in make up was similar to the first, but 

 the eggs were longer, being .54 x .31 

 and .53 x .31 in size. 



All nests of this species found by me 

 have been near some creek and placed 

 in oak trees. This seems to be their 

 favorite nesting place. In the spring 

 of the year when the wild currant is in 

 blossom, one has a splendid opportun- 

 ity in observing the habits of these little 

 beauties as they glitter in the sun light. 

 Clyde L. Keller, 

 Salem, Oregon. 



The Chewink in Broome Co. 

 By Wil'd N. Clute,Binghamton,N.Y. 



The article in the July Oologist, on 

 the Chevvink in Orleans County, devel- 

 oped several traits of the bird that are 

 so much at variance with what we 

 know of him in this (Broome) county, 

 that a few words in regard to his habits 

 here may prove interesting. 



Orleans County, although farther 

 north, is much less elevated than ours, 

 and this, together with its proximity to 

 the great lakes, should make the two 

 counties very nearly equal in respect to 

 climate, and, therefore, to the flora and 



fauna. That this is so is shown by the 

 Chewink's time of arrival from the 

 south in spring. Mr. Posson places the 

 bird's appearance at about the 7th of 

 April. That date is much too early for 

 us. A record of bird-arrivals for the 

 last six years, gives April 19, 1888, as 

 the earliest date of the Chewink's ai'ri- 

 val here, and May 10, 1889, as the lat- 

 est. It would, therefore, seem that our 

 seasons are later, and the Chewink 

 ought to be as common in Orleans Co. 

 as here. 



From what I have learned of the Che 

 wink's habits, he seems to prefer an ele- 

 vated region for his dwelling place. In 

 even large pieces of woodland on the 

 level, the voice of the Chewink is sel- 

 dom heard; but when we ascend to the 

 retired upland woods, the bird must be 

 marked as common. He does not, how- 

 ever, seem partial to the deep woods, 

 but is found commonly in the scrubby 

 gi-owths and slashings that usually ad- 

 join large tracts of timber. A rambler 

 in such places, in summer, is sure to 

 hear the Chewink's call above all others, 

 and to get a glimpse of black and white, 

 as the bird flits from one clump of bush- 

 es to another. 



In conformity with his other habits, 

 the nest is seldom placed far in the 

 woods. One that I found on the 8th of 

 June, 1888, was placed in the edge of a 

 little bank that skirted a cart-path 

 through a bushy field. Some brush, 

 lately cut, formed a sort of concealment 

 for the nest, which contained four fresh 

 eggs. 



Since the Chewink is not equally com- 

 mon in localities in nearly the same lat- 

 itude, it may possibly be clue to the 

 higher elevation of the favored region. 



The Carolina Wren Again. 



Since my sketch on the Carolina 

 Wren, sent to you early in the spring, 

 I have had an interesting item of obser- 

 vation on its nesting. 



