THE BAY STATE OOLOGIST. 



37 



been strongly tempted to do so, when unwinding yards of thread from the eggs, 

 or undoing nicely done up packages, perhaps, an invoice of an hundred eggs or 

 more, and each one wrapped and tied like a package of dry goods or groceries. 

 This practice of doing up eggs begets profanity and broken eggs. Trusting I've 

 made things so plain, that "he who runs may read," I am, 



Oologically yours, 



J. A. Singlet. 



Notes on Some of the Winter Birds of Chester County, Pa. 



BY W. L. MARIS, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



One of the prettiest little birds, which braves the snow and rain of our ever- 

 changing winters, is the Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) . Common 

 as this bird is, yet how glad indeed is the Oologist who has had the fortune to se- 

 cure a set of its eggs, himself, and how many are the weary, although pleasant 

 hours I have searched for them. 



A few years ago, a row of evergreen trees, in a property adjacent to my home, 

 were constantly occupied by a flock of Chickadees, and one would forget how cold 

 it was, watching them playing with each other what seemed to be merry games. 

 A beautiful set of six eggs of this bird, which I have in my collection average 

 .60X.47 inches. 



Among the foremost of our winter birds is the Common Crow (Corvus frugiv- 

 orus) , and a very noticeable one in our winter landscape. During the present 

 winter, they have been very tame, often venturing within thirty feet of the house. 



The Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens) commonly called "Sap-sucker,' ' I 

 often see pecking away at an old willow tree out in the yard. He is the dwarf of 

 his family, and may be distinguished by his size from all the other Woodpeckers 

 in this locality. He is often disappointed as to his home, for frequently does an 

 impudent House Wren, having watched the process of house making or rather 

 excavating, drive him away and take possession of the place in his own name ; and 

 I also, was disappointed in a case of this kind. I had for several days been watch- 

 ing the excavation of a nest by a downy Woodpecker, and had already imagined 

 five or six beautiful white eggs lying snugly packed away in my collection, when 

 one morning on visiting the nest, you may imagine my surprise and vexation at 

 finding a plucky House Wren now occupying the home of my Downy Woodpecker. 



