76 



THE OOLOGIST. 



cation of five nests of this grand bird. 

 On March 2nd I went to the first and 

 struck the tree, off jumped the bird, 

 and flew screaming and whistling 

 around us. By past experience we 

 knew this meant eggs. So with 

 what delight I buckled on 

 my climbing aparatus only an experi- 

 enced collector can tell up I went. The 

 pine was very large, when about 80 feet 

 and past the third limb, I struck my 

 right climber rather high to get the 

 next limb, when to my not very pleas, 

 ant surprise, my climber broke square 

 off. 



So here stood our collector 80 feet 

 from the ground, with only one climber 

 and about 30 feet more to the nest. 

 But after a moments deliberation, I de- 

 cided as there were limbs up to the nest 

 I would get the eggs, reaching that 

 point in a few moments. I stood with 

 my face just above the nest, which was 

 so large that I could not reach the mid- 

 dle, nor could I see any eggs, and be- 

 gau to fear I would have my climb and 

 adventure for my reward. But taking 

 up a crooked stick I pushed around the 

 ■center and to my delight brought out 

 two beautiful eggs, 



The nest was about 6 feet across, flat 

 on top, and about 5 feet thick. The 

 ■cavity in the center was about 12 inches 

 across, and about 5 deep, lined with 

 wire grass and corn husk. 

 After packing our eggs, I started onthe 

 downward course, At the last limb, 70 

 feet from the ground, came the tug of 

 war, but I was in for it and had to go. 

 Withsome very close hugging I got down 

 10 feet, to a dead strip of the tree 

 which went to the ground; lightning 

 had struck and killed this part many 

 years ago. In this dead place were 

 several Pileated Wood-pecker holes, in- 

 to these I put one foot, and so reached 

 terra firma in safety, and did not for- 

 get to feel thankful to the lightning and 

 Woodpeckers for valuable assistance 

 rendered . 



F. Theo. Miller, 

 Kilmarnock, Va. 



The Vireos of Connecticut. 



These charming little birds take a 

 prominent place in the summer wood- 

 land attractions of Southern Connecti- 

 cut. 



The more common is the Red eyed 

 Vireo, and is to well known to require 

 much description. Being sober colored 

 and shy they would not be much notic- 

 ed were it not for their sweet warbling 

 song, which may be heard at any time 

 of the day in the shade trees of the town 

 or the quiet woodland. The pretty lit- 

 tle pensile nest is generally hung from 

 bushes in quiet woods. I once found a 

 nest eight feet from the ground -directly 

 over a much traveled road. Tn this 

 locality four eggs are ^rnore common 

 than three. 



White-eyed Vireo: Of later years 

 this little bird seems to be growing 

 more common. They are the first of 

 their family to arrive in the spring. 

 Their queer little song can always be 

 identified, it is sharp, decisive and to 

 the point. They commence building 

 early, and the nest is a work of art. It 

 is larger and deeper than the Red-eyed; 

 although the bird is smaller. When 

 the nest is disturbed they express their 

 displeasure by scolding in a most fero- 

 cious manner. The birds seem to pre- 

 fer bush and scrub lots, and the nest is 

 seldom over four feet from the ground. 

 Three eggs are the average. 



The Yellow-throated Vireo is the hand- 

 somest and most striking one of the 

 family. His yellow breast and large 

 size bringing him more into view. It is 

 not a common bird here. For two 

 seasons a pair of these birds have rear- 

 ed a brood in a small orchard at the 

 rear of a house. They grew very bold, 

 and when any body approached their 

 tree the female resented it by flying 

 down and snapping her bill and some 

 times even striking the heads of the in- 

 truders. Last season the nest was so 

 well concealed, that the young were 



