ZOOLOGY. , : 367 
the aid of any of the books I had at hand, and so sent it to H. W. 
Henshaw, who kindly compared it with the series of S. Breweri 
he took in Arizona, now in the Smithsonian. He replies in sub- 
stance as follows :— *“ Though hardly typical Breweri it is strik- 
ingly that species—at any rate can be identitied with no other. 
The peculiarities may result from a modification by climatic 
influences, or may be merely individual abnormality. The whole 
upper parts, but particularly the crown, are almost exactly as in 
Breweri proper (no trace of chestnut on crown) ; the same is the 
case regarding relative lengths of wing and tail, the latter being 
longer than the former in Breweri (wing 2°40, tail 2-60 in Breweri) 
wing 2°52, tail 2°63 in this specimen. In S. socialis these pro- 
portions are reversed. The bill is strikingly diminutive, smaller 
than in any Spizella I ever saw. ‘The bill and feet are darker than 
in Breweri, while a strong ashy suffusion of the under parts, which 
also to less degree tinges the whole plumage, are points of dissimi- 
larity from the characteristic flaxen or gray-colored shades of 
Breweri, and an approach to socialis.” — WILLIAM BREWSTER, 
Cambridge, Mass. 
[Nore.— Dr. Coues, on reading the above, says that he care- 
fully examined the specimen while it was in Mr. Henshaw’s hands, 
aud agrees that it cannot be distinguished specifically trom Brew- 
eri, though it has some points about it indicating socialis, sug- 
esting a possible hybrid of the two.— Eps. ] 
Tse Cumnery SWIFT; CHANGE IN PLACE or Nestine.—I1 see 
by the NATURALIST of December, 1873, that Mr. J. H. Sears, of 
Beverly, Mass., has noticed Chetura pelasgia to forsake the old 
chimney and build its nest in a barn in company with the barn 
Swallows (Hirundo horreorum). A similar instance came under 
my observation a few years ago. A pair of chimney swifts se- 
lected the end of a barn inside, and there, about three feet below 
the vertex of the roof, built and reared their young for several 
years. This was jn Lewis Co., N. Y. As this country became 
Settled, these birds deserted the hollow trees of the forest and 
took up their abode in our chimneys. But here they find, after 
Sad years of experience, that during every heavy rain (unless the 
Mouth of the chimney is very small) numbers of their nests are 
_ Washed away. And now we see that some of them, at least, have 
Come to the wise conclusion that they are “never too old to learn” 
* 
