Michigan Ornithological Club 57 



prised to find on passing the nest June 12th, to see a female Blue-bird (Silias 

 silias) sitting on the nest. Upon examination I found that the nest con- 

 tained four eggs of the latter species. 



Pontiac, Mich. Bert Stowell. 



BREEDING OF THE YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT IN WAYNE 



COUNTY. 



On May 14th, 1903, Mr. Walter C. Wood and myself were at Grosse 

 Pointe on a collecting trip, and among the many things noted was a Yellow- 

 breasted Chat {Icteria virens), the latter being observed by Mr. Wood. 



On May 30th Mr. J. Claire Wood, Mr. W. C. Wood and myself were in 

 the same territory, and in passing from the timber into a bushland I flushed a 

 chat from a small clump of elm sprouts, and upon investigation found the 

 carefully concealed nest situated about one and one-fourth feet above the 

 ground and almost entirely surrounded by the sprouts. The nest was com- 

 posed of weed stalks, dead leaves and lined with fine root fibres. The eggs, 

 four in number, were partially incubated. The ground color was white and 

 was spotted with brown — being most heavily marked at the larger end. This 

 I understand is the second recorded set taken in Wayne County. 



Detroit, Mich. Chas. E. Wisner. 



A FEW NOTES ON OUR WINTER BIRDS, 1902-3. 



Snowy Owls have not been seen in this part of the state during the past 

 winter. A few Crows remained all winter. Pine Siskins and Snow Buntings 

 have been entirely absent. A small flock of Red-polls were seen. Red- 

 headed Woodpeckers and Flickers were not observed, but a limited number 

 of Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers were with us all winter. 



Tree Sparrows, Crossbills and Purple Finches were entirely absent while 

 the Black-capped Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch were quite abun- 

 dant. Two Long-eared, one Short eared, and a few Screech Owls were ob- 

 served. A Barrel Owl, the last of his race left in this neighborhood that I 

 know of, whose solemn hoot at the dead hour of night seems to be calling 

 for his lost mate and companions who will never return. 



. The above notes compared with my notes on winter birds for a number 

 of years show that some of our winter birds, such as the Snow-bunting, Tree 

 Sparrow, Red-poll and Purple-finch, are growing less abundant. Whether this 

 is caused by decreasing numbers in their northern home or because they have 

 forsaken the shores of Michigan, I am unable to say, but they are certainly 

 growing less abundant in our state. 



Plymouth, Mich. James B. Purdy. 



THE GRACKLES CHANGE IN NESTING HABIT. 



In my experience all Grackles select cavities in which to rear their young 

 when convenient hollows are obtainable. Thirty years ago there were many 

 dead stubs with suitable cavities in the suburbs of my native city — Kalamazoo, 

 Mich. These hollows, mostly in old tamaracks were selected by the bronzed 

 Grackles for their nesting, and the birds only changed their quarters when 

 the stubs were uprooted and the land cleared, then the gregarious black- 

 birds moved into town and mainly took up their residence among the ever- 



