1883. | Psychology. 105 
storm occurred in the interval, which elapsed ere our last visit. 
We now found much to our chagrin and disappointment that the 
nest was deserted. The spongy wood had absorbed so much 
water that the floor or lower part of the cavity was flooded, while 
the walls or sides were wet and soggy. But for this unlooked for 
severe storm, we should have had the pleasure of beholding a set 
of black and white creepers’ eggs in a hole in a birch stump. 
Another nest also in a decayed stump contained young birds, when 
discovered in the latter part of May. In the spring of 1873. a 
friend, then attendant at the Blairstown Academy, situated in the 
north of New Jersey, while passing a ledge of rocks, was attracted 
by a long strip of bark depending from a crevice or chink in the 
rock. Curiosity to know what had carried this piece of bark in- 
duced him to examine the spot, the result was the discovery that 
the piece of bark was a portion of the material used in the con- 
struction of the nest of a pair of black and white creepers, the 
presence of whose home was thus betrayed. Eggs taken from 
this nest, now in cabinet, have been oft inspected by the writer. 
In Indiana, Illinois, &c., persons there residing during visits to 
friends in New Jersey, have stated that in the West the black and 
white creeper not unfrequently nests in holes in fence rails, posts 
and like places, and by request have kindly expressed eggs taken 
from these situations. While, therefore, we do not say that this 
species does not nest upon the ground very often, we do state that 
we have as yet not so found the nest, though many others have. 
We also state that we have known them to nest in holes in trees, 
crevices in rocks, cavities in stakes, posts, &c. And finally we 
surmise that were it practicable, personal investigation is the bet- 
ter criterion in all mooted questions.—A. G. Van Aken. 
A BEWILDERED Snow-Birp.—The night of the roth instant was 
cold and rainy, with a high wind—a bad night for man, or bird, or 
beast, to be abroad. About g o'clock, as I sat by the table read- 
ing, with my back to the window, I heard a strange muffle 
rattling on the glass. Looking in the direction whence the sound 
proceeded, I saw a little bird fluttering up and down, evidently 
trying to get to the light. Going outside, I readily caught it. 
The little creature proved to be a snow-bird (Junco hyemalis). 
ese birds are quite numerous in this vicinity, but this is the 
first instance of the kind that has come to my knowledge. I kept 
the little bird till morning, when I let it go. It flew off to the 
north, rising at an angle of about forty-five degrees, until it finally 
disappeared— Charles Aldrich, Webster City, Iowa, Nov. 12, 1882, 
A Toav’s Cunninc.—Charles White, of New Castle, has a brood 
of chickens which have the run of a portion of the yard, the old. 
hen being kept shut up. The chickens are fed with moistened 
meal, in saucers, and when the dough gets a little sour, it attracts 
large numbers of flies. An observant toad has evidently noticed 
- this, and every day, along toward evening, he makes his appear- 
