53 
common there, and that a pair formerly nested in a hole in 
an old balm-of-gilead tree on his farm. A pair was reported 
to me as breeding in Worcester County in 1878, but I had 
no chance to verify this, as both birds were shot by a col- 
lector. 
The wood thrush is markedly decreasing in some localities, 
but this is fully made up by its increase in others. Warblers 
generally appear to be decreasing in Plymouth, Bristol and 
Barnstable counties and parts of Worcester County, but the 
decrease may be mainly due to the weather conditions of 
1903. Taking the State as a whole, the reports of increase 
and decrease are quite evenly balanced. The same is true 
of the thrush family; eighteen report an increase, fourteen 
no change, and seventeen a .decrease. 
The rose-breasted grosbeak is reported as increasing in 
thirteen different localities and as decreasing in only two. 
From my own experience, and from comparing notes with 
others, I have come to believe that this bird has been increas- 
ing and spreading slowly in Massachusetts for about forty 
years. It seems now much more common and generally dis- 
persed than it was thirty years ago. It seems to have adapted 
itself to changing conditions, and has come out of the woods 
and into the villages more than formerly. Whether the ad- 
vent and increase of the Colorado potato beetle, on which it 
feeds, has had anything to do with this, is perhaps worth 
investigating. 
Some observers report an increase of the scarlet tanager, 
but others report a decrease, and the account nearly balances. 
My own impression is that this bird was not so common 
thirty years ago as now, but it fluctuates in numbers from 
year to year. A few species beside the rose-breasted gros- 
beak evidently are increasing. Forty-four observers report 
the robin as increasing; four, no change; and seven, decreas- 
ing. A similar though less marked increase is reported of 
the bluebird and song sparrow. 
