Michigan OrnithologicaIv Club 55 



FURTHER NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE 



CHIMNEY SWIFT. 



Thave been much interested in the notes on the nesting of the Chimney 

 Swifts {Chactura pclagica), published in recent issues of the Bulletin, (Vol. 

 IV, pp. 82 and 95), by J. Claire Wood and Frederick C. Hubel. 



In my home county (Kalkaska Co., Mich.), in the northwestern part of 

 the southern peninsula, it breeds very abundantly, but in altogether different 

 locations from those mentioned by the two former authors. In former years 

 this species occupied hollow trees and does yet to a certain extent, but its 

 chief nesting site is the open wells, many of which are still in use. As 

 the settlements are comparatively new there are few large buildings and 

 consequently few chimneys suitable for nesting. 



The wells which they occupy are about 4 feet in diameter and from 20 

 to 100 feet deep, their sides being curbed with boards and rising from 4 to 

 6 feet above the ground. If the well is not too deep the -nest, which is 

 located quite close to the water, can usually be seen by lowering a lantern 

 to the level of the nest and using an opera glass, or by throwing light on 

 the nest by means of a mirror. There are usually only one or two nests in 

 a well, but nearly every open well has its pair of birds. 



Detroit College of Medicine. Wm. H. Dunham. 



A WHITE-EYED VIREO FROM WELLINGTON COUNTY, ONTARIO. 



I have received from Mr. Howard Skales, of Mount Forest, Ont., for 

 identification a White-eyed Vireo {Virco noveborancensis) , sex undetermined. 

 It was shot in a wild plum tree in an orchard in Mount Forest on Sept, 28th, 

 1902, by Mr. Skales. 



This is the third record for Ontario ; the first being taken by Mr. W. L. 

 Kells at Listowel in the middle of October, 1890, and the second by Mr. W. 

 D. Hobson two miles from Woodstock on April 25, 1902. 



Guelph, Ontario. A. B. Klugh. 



BIRDS VS. WILDFLOWERS. 



When we consider the dates of nesting birds and flowering plants we 

 find that the limit is in favor of the birds, though it is not generally under- 

 stood so. Let us see. The first species of flower to appear in the spring, 

 north of the 42nd parallel is acknowledged by all observers to be the Skunk 

 Cabbage, which blooms, as a rule, in early April, but not rarely in March, 

 while the latest flower to my finding, is the witch hazel, which sends out its 

 inconspicuous blossoms in October. 



Now among the early nesting birds we have at least ten species which 

 are known to nest in March and one, the Great Horned Owl, which lays its 

 eggs in February as a rule and occasionally in January. As a legitimate nester 

 in the autumn we have the Goldfinch, which is not rarely found to lay its 

 eggs in September. Thus we find that the range of nesting birds is wider 

 than the flowering time of our northern plants, though many will dispute this 

 on first mention. 



Kalamazoo, Mich. Morris Gibbs, M. D. 



