180 
TENTH REPORT. 
caesia), showy golden-rod ( Solidago speciosa), field golden-rod ( Solidago 
nemoralis), creeping wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens), black huckle- 
berry (Gaylussacia resinosa), blue huckleberry ( V actinium vacillans), and 
pubescent angelica ( Angelica villosa). The undergrowth occurs chiefly in 
the open spots and among the ash maples. 
CONDITIONS IN SPRING. 
Until the middle of April the forest remains about the same as in winter, 
the trees are bare, the insects have not come out, and general solitude reigns 
over the place. The only food to be found at this time consists of weed 
seeds, which are still very plentiful in certain places, and hibernating insects 
together with insect eggs. The pine cones furnish food for so few birds that 
they can hardly be considered. At the end of this time, the trees begin to 
leave out and the underbrush and low plants show signs of life. By the middle 
of May the trees are green and the other plants are in full growth. Insects 
now become plentiful and worms, grubs, and other larvae are abundant. 
Quantities of weed seeds which before were covered by snow are now exposed 
and furnish food for large numbers of migrating birds, as well as for the sum- 
mer residents which are just arriving. During April and May there are 
many severe rain storms, which wash away most of the accumulated humus 
on the steeper slopes and deposit it on the flood-plain below. These rains 
occur early enough in the year so that they do not affect the nesting of the 
ground birds, the only results worthy of notice from the bird stand point 
are, first the removal of material which if allowed to accumulate would soon 
support a luxuriant weed growth, and second, the transporting of this material 
to the denser forest below where it will go to the support of lowland plants 
instead of seed bearing weeds. In the early part of the season the only pro- 
tection offered the birds is that of the juniper heath which grows along the 
bluff in the less shaded areas, and the evergreens scattered about the ceme- 
tery. 
CHARACTERISTIC SPRING BIRDS. 
Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay. The Blue Jay is a resident through- 
out the year but is most common during the spring and early summer, later 
it wanders about over a large territory. In the spring before the insects 
have appeared they feed almost entirely on seeds from the various weeds 
scattered about the open forest. Some waste grain is gleaned from nearby 
stubble fields and on several occasions they were found tearing the balsam 
cones to pieces for the seeds concealed there. Acorns are also eaten and are 
often found wedged into crevices in the bark or in crotches of the trees where 
the Blue Jay has stored them for future use. Upon examination nearly 
all of these acorns contain large grubs which are probably as much relished 
by the Jays as the acorns themselves. Until the trees are leaved out these 
birds roost in the evergreens and spend much of their time there during 
the day. 
Nesting commences the last of April and extends through May and part of 
June. Maples, willows, and apple trees are the favorite nesting sites. The 
material is gathered in the vicinity and consists of twigs, leaves, roots, and 
often rags and paper. The nests are usually placed in horizontal crotches 
from ten to twenty feet above the ground. The eggs range from three to 
five in number, the earliest sets being the largest. 
Large quantities of insects and grubs are eaten at this time, but the vege- 
table food still keeps in the lead. The birds seldom show any anxiety when 
