26 THE ORNITHOLOGISTS’ AND OOLocists’ SEMI-ANNUAL. 
stant attention would soon freeze over, and their only supply cut off, 
as the rivers as well as lakes are then closed up. 
On this lake they are well protected and a shot-gun quarantine is 
rigidly kept up to keep off hunters; but numbers are killed while 
passing to and from their feeding ground. 
[Mr.Smith writes that he is not familiar with the breeding habits of 
the Canada Goose and therefore cannot give a description of its nest 
and eggs. We have tried to get an authentic account of its nesting 
habits, but have failed to do so, but we will furnish a full account in 
next issue from a collector who is familiar with its nesting and has 
collected several sets of its eggs. Ep. | 
NOTES ON SOME OF THE WINTER BIRDS OF CHESTER 
COUNTY, PA. 
BY W. L. MARIS, WEST CHESTER, PA. 
One of the prettiest little birds, which braves the snow and rain of 
our ever-changing winters is the Chickadee, Parus atricapillus. Com- 
mon _as this bird is, yet how glad is the Oologist who has had the 
fortune to secure a set of its eggs himself, and how many are the 
weary although pleasant hours I have searched for them. 
A few years ago, a row of evergreen trees, in a property adjacent 
to my home, were constantly occupied by a flock of Chickadees, and 
one would forget how cold it was, watching them playing with each 
other what seemed to be merry games. A beautiful set of six eggs ° 
of this bird, which I have in my collection average .60x.47 inches. 
Among the foremost of our winter birds is the American Crow 
Corvus americanus, and a very noticeable one in our winter landscape. 
During the present winter, they have been very tame, often venturing 
within thirty feet of the house. 
The Downy Woodpecker, Dryobaies pubescens commonly called 
‘Sap sucker,” I often see pecking away at an old willow tree out in 
the yard. He is the dwarf of his family and may be distinguished by 
his size from all the other Woodpeckers in this locality. He is often 
disappointed as to his home, for frequently does an impudent House 
Wren, having watched the process of house making or rather excav- 
