Notes from Field and Study 



129 



for years, every feather of which I knew. 

 "It is without doubt the bird," I exclaimed, 

 " but how did it get so far away from its 

 range?" I remained some time watching 

 it fly ba< k and forth, then went to the 

 American Museum and reported it, and 

 examined specimens to make sure I was 

 right. So far as I know it has never been 

 seen in the park before. 



On May 5, Mr. Chubb and Dr. Wieg- 

 man both saw this bird. — Anne A. Cro- 

 lius, New York City. 



Tufted Titmouse in Central Park 



A Tufted Titmouse spent nearly two 

 weeks in May of this year in Central Park. 

 It was not shy but, on the contrary, rather 

 enjoyed getting near and surprising you 

 by a loud whistle continuing five minutes 

 or more. I think this is the only record 

 of this species for Central Park. — Anne 

 A. Crolius, New York City. 



Briars as Nest Protectors 



I have heard of a way of preventing 

 cats from climbing trees for birds that was 

 new to me, and possibly may prove of 

 value. Take stalks of rose-bushes, or 

 others with briars — dead ones will do. Tie 

 them together strongly and put them 

 round the trunks of trees too high up, of 

 course, for a cat to jump above it. It is 

 said that a cat will not cross them. — M. 

 A. Ayers, Fitzwilliam, N. H. 



The Prairie Horned Lark in Fairfield 

 County, Connecticut. 



On March 25, I heard of a nest con- 

 taining four eggs which had been found 

 in Great Plain district, Danbury, by Miss 

 XeSands, a bright school-girl of fourteen 

 years, who is very much interested in 

 birds. I visited the nest on the next after- 

 noon and was very much surprised to find 

 it a nest of the Prairie Horned Lark. 



The nest, a neat and well-made struc- 

 ture of fine, soft dead grass, was placed 

 in a hollow, caused by the removal of a 

 small stone, on the gravelly western slope 



of a large round-topped sandhill. To the 

 northwest from the foot of the hill stretches 

 a small valley with an old cornfield and 

 pasture lot. No houses can be seen from 

 the immendiate vicinity of the nest, 

 although there are several just over the 

 surrounding hills. 



On the morning of March 27, Mr. H. 

 C. Judd, of Bethel, and Mr. Jesse C. A. 

 Meeker, of Danbury, went with me to the 

 nest in order to establish the identity of 

 the birds beyond all possible doubt, but 

 were very much disappointed to find that 



XEST OF PRAIRIE HORNED LARK 

 Photographed by Robert S. Judd 



three of the eggs had hatched during the 

 night. 



I was unable to visit the nest again until 

 April 6, and was very fortunate to find one 

 of the young still at home, although he 

 was perfectly able and willing to leave. 

 In fact, after I first took him from the nest, 

 he would make a break for liberty as fast 

 as his legs could carry him every time I 

 put him down. Once I let him run just to 

 see what would happen. He went about 

 a rod, then crouching close to the ground 

 remained perfectly still until I put my 

 hand over him, seeming to have great 

 faith in his protective coloration. It was 

 indeed remarkable how well the grayish 



