334 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



Chrysomela cceruleipennis, Ptinus humeralis, Rhyn- 

 ch(snus strobi, Formica sanguinea, CEdippda sul- 

 phurea, CE. nebulbsa, and Acheta nigra. 



As before remarked, it does not nidificate within 

 our limits. Mr. Allan states that it breeds in 

 Springfield, Mass., though not abundantly. In 

 the vicinity of ^iamilton, Canada, Mr. Mcllwraith 

 gives it a summer resident. It is common in the 

 neighborhood of Randolph, Vt., where it is a 

 regular breeder. In Eastern Massachsusetts, says 

 Dr. Brewer, it arrives about the 15th of May, and 

 nests during the first week of June. It nests, ac- 

 cording to the same authority, in low trees on the 

 borders of woods, often in small groves on the 

 margins of streams. Their nests are coarsely 

 constructed of plant-stems, bits of leaves, and. 

 waste stubble, which are intermixed with coarser 

 stems arid fwigs which serve to strengthen them. 

 The superior portion is ordinarily built of dry t/j«^<2 

 mosses, and a few twigs. The interior is lined 

 with finer twigs. They measure eight inches in 

 diameter and three and a half" inches in height. 

 The cavity is three inches wide, and is quite shal- 

 low, being only one inch in depth. 



Within six miles of Racine, Wisconsin, Dr. Hoy 

 discovered seven nests within a piece of ground 

 not exceeding five acres. Six of these were placed 

 in thorn-bushes in the central portion of the tops, 

 and within six to ten feet from the ground. He 

 was assured that the above locality was annually 

 visited for purposes of nidification when the same 



