58 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 9-No. 5 



arrival of many Woodcock in most parts of 

 New London county. The Purple Grackle 

 is the only other claimant to first place and 

 is usually a good second on the list of ar- 

 rivals. Feb. 22nd, dusky scouting parties 

 were seen at the city reservoir, Norwich, 

 and in the village of Killingly, Windham 

 county. — J. M. ~W., Norwich, Conn. 



Notes from Warwick Neck, R. I. 



The Black-and white Creeper, {Mniotil- 

 ta varia.) In the summer of '82 I was so 

 fortunate as to find a nest containing five 

 eggs and two Cowbirds, and afterwards 

 caught the bird itself. They are quite 

 common in the dense woods, running over 

 the trees in search of food. 



White-eyed Vireo, ( Vireo noveboracen- 

 sis.) Very common. I have taken over a 

 dozen nests in the last two years. They 

 build a beautiful nest, and I have observed 

 they most always choose a sweet smelling 

 tree or young oak. The complete set of 

 eggs is four. 



Purple Pinch, (Garpodacus pwyureus.) 

 Also very common. The largest set of 

 eggs I have taken was six. They have a 

 decided preference for pear trees, and can 

 be seen at almost any time in the day pour- 

 ing forth their gay sougs. The nest and 

 eggs are the same as the familiar Chippy, 

 on a larger scale. 



Black-billed Cuckoo, (Coccyzus ery- 

 throphthalmus.) Quite rare. Its com- 

 panion, the " Yellow-billed," has never been 

 observed here, while this Cuckoo may be 

 seen (or rather heard, as he is very shy 

 and not easy to approach,) in the woods or 

 among the dense pine tracts. The nest is 

 simply a few sticks, made like that of the 

 Mourning Dove, and through which you 

 can easily discern the eggs. 



Fish Hawk, (Pandion halioetus caroli- 

 nensis.) Abundant during the fishing 

 season. The nest of this bird resembles 

 more an Eagle's abode, as it is a huge, 

 bulky affair, made of earth, limbs, sea- 



weed, etc. The eggs, usually three, are 

 sometimes very beautiful ; a dark brown 

 or chocolate on a buff ground. 



Spotted Sandpiper, (Tringoides macu- 

 larius.) Everywhere abundant. It is the 

 only species, except the Killdeer, which 

 nests in great numbers along these shores. 

 The eggs are not easy to find, resembling 

 the earth on which they are laid, and the 

 bird must first be flushed to surely find 

 the spot. April 19th — I obtained a set of 

 six Crow's eggs, on 12th, and yesterday, a 

 set of five, far advanced in incubation. Is 

 not this quite early? No Bluebird's eggs, 

 or even nests, yet. — IT. A. Talbot, Jack- 

 son Bank, Providence, R. I. 



The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus.) 

 San Benito Valley, situated at the southern 

 extremity of Santa Clara Valley, seems to 

 be a favored spot for Golden Eagles. It 

 is no uncommon occurrence to see eight 

 or ten at one time. Their nests are also 

 frequently found, while it seems impossi- 

 ble to force the birds to leave the locality. 

 Last year I took a set of eggs from one 

 nest and killed the old bird (female, meas- 

 uring 83 inches.) This year the male had 

 .found a new mate and I was favored with 

 a new set. The eggs measure 2.95x2.20 

 and 2.90x2.24. The nest was composed 

 of branches, some of which measure two 

 and one-half inches in diameter. The lin- 

 ing was of oat straw. Nest measured 

 sixty inches, outside measurement. The 

 bird remained on the nest until I was al- 

 most up to it. Date, March 16, 1884. 

 Another set was taken the next day and 

 was obtained within three miles from town. 

 The nest was somewhat smaller than the 

 first ; lining the same. The eggs are al- 

 most pure white and measure 2.80x2.15 

 and 2.86x2.20. I would like to hear 

 from some one about the statement 

 that Eagles lay then- eggs at intervals 

 of two or three weeks. My experience 

 has not been so with them. — Will Stein- 

 beck, Hollister, Cal. 



