THE BAY STATE OOLOGIST. 



grows on the post-oak twigs. The outer diameter of the nest is 2. 74 inch- 

 es, with a depth of 3.25 inches. The inner diameter is 1.30 inches ; depth 

 2 inches. 



The nest is generally placed on a small post-oak limb, where it is crooked 

 at right angles — just such a limb as I used to hunt, when a boy, for a "shin - 

 ney stick," and the nest bears considerable resemblance to a "Dutchman's- 

 pipe." The limb is covered with a growth of lichens and the nest is also- 

 covered with the same, neatly fastened on with cobweb, giving it the ap- 

 pearance of being part of the limb. Owing to the depth of the nest, the 

 bird is so doubled up in it, that nothing but the tip of the bill and tail pro - 

 jects over the rim. 



The eggs number four or five \ greenish-white, spotted and blotched with 

 reddish-brown and a few obscure, lilac shell markings. I once found a 

 nest of this species that contained four eggs of its own, and one egg of the 

 Dwarf Cowbird. Average of nine eggs, .54x45 inches. 



No, 36, Lophophanes bicolar (Linn.), T lifted Titmouse. 



This species, under the local name of "Tomtit," is resident here, and is 

 found everywhere in the timber, where it is at all times busily employed 

 searching for small insects. It is often seen hammering away on an oak- 

 gall for the larvae, that instinct or experience ( ?) has taught it, it will find 

 there. It is more or less gregarious, being found in flocks of from four 

 to twenty, and associated during the winter with the Carolina Chickadee, 

 Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets. 



The Tufted Tits have some very Crow-like habits. If they espyasquir- 

 rell sunning itself, or a Screech Owl calmly surveying the world from its 

 hollow, they will gather about it and let forth a perfect flood of Titmouse 

 "Billingsgate." Of course it don't hurt the squirrel or owl, but it seems to 

 gratify the Tomtits. It pays me to investigate these scoldings when I hear 

 them, as I'm always sure to bag game of some kind on such occasions. 



One time, however, I found them engaged in rascally business. I crept 

 up to a lot of scolding Tomtits and found two of them perched on the edge 

 of a nest of the Cardinal Grosbeak, eating the eggs, while a number of other 

 Tits were gathered about keeping up a great clatter. I investigated matters 

 and found that two of three eggs had large holes pecked in them, from 

 which the robbers were extracting the contents. I had often found nests 

 with the eggs in the same condition, but had placed the blame on the Blue 



Jay. 



