44 



IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



or SO fortunate as to own a copy 

 of Mr. Coues' valuable work. 



The following from the pen of 

 our honorary member, Mr. 

 William Savage, will be inter- 

 esting to all. "He seems to be 

 always cheerful if we may judge 

 by his song; but he is not safe 

 from marauders. Snakes, cats, 

 weasels and minks often lay waste 

 his possessions. June 15, 1895, 

 I found a nest containing three 

 eggs. In a few days three 

 little scrawny young birds were 

 wriggling in the nest making 

 fruitless efforts to raise their 

 heads as I approached. The 

 next day one was gone and the 

 day following, the other two had 

 shared the fate of the first. I 

 cut the sprig of hazel off that 

 held the nest and made it a point 

 to pass that way frequently. 

 Soon I discovered the murderer, 

 a beautiful snake, about si.xteen 

 inches long — what we term the 

 house snake — suspended in the 

 hazel bush, vvith his head and 

 neck protruding over the very 

 place where the nest had been. 

 (It is needless to say I slew him.)" 

 The nest which Mr. Savage men- 

 tions was four feet up. 



Mr. Anderson found a nest five 

 feet up. The bird was a close 

 sitter and allowed herself to be 

 cauiirht in his hand. 



It is reported as a lively and 

 pleasant singer almost as much so 

 as the Red-eye but with a sweet- 

 er song. Mr. Smith writes that 

 it sings during May and June, 

 then is silent to August 15, when 

 it again sings till its departure. 

 Mr. Bryan notes it as a beautiful 

 singer and interesting species. 



628. V. flavifrons. {Vieill.) 

 YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. 



Flavifrons is reported as being 

 not so common as the Warbling 

 and Red-eyed species. Probably 

 there would be a contest between 

 it and bellii for third rank in num- 

 bers. It is perhaps more evenly 

 distributed than the latter and 

 not quite so plentiful where 

 found. 



Like most others of its tribe it 

 reaches the state in late April and 

 early May, but the reports indi- 

 cate that it is somewhat early in 

 its arrival. Its stay seems to be 

 briefer also, since it is reported 

 as being last seen as early as 

 August 10. 



The nesting site is chosen at a j 

 considerable elevation, usually, ( 

 though Mr. Law reports one from ' 

 Dallas county in a hazel bushy 

 one foot up. Others mentioned 

 are "in hickory tree fourteen and 

 .one-half feet up;" "an oak, 

 twenty-five feet up;" "near the 



