General Notes. 
47 
Colaptes auratus. — On October 4, 1879, I took, at Fort Hamilton, a 
remarkable Golden-winged Woodpecker. It strongly evinces its affinity 
to C. mexicanus. Its black mustaches are sprinkled with red feathers. 
These are most plentiful along the upper edge, and at the lower end of 
the black cheek patch. The back is more strongly tinged with olive, is of 
a darker shade, and the black bars are much narrower than in ordinary 
individuals of C. auratus. The bird was a male. — De L. Berier, Fort 
Hamilton , Long L stand , N. Y. 
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Massachusetts. — Mr. C. J. 
Maynard informs me of a fourth specimen for Massachusetts of the Gnat- 
catcher ( Polioptila ccerulea ), which was taken at Magnolia, Mass., August 
27, 1879, by Mr. Outram Bangs. The bird was a young female, and was 
probably blown north of its usual range by a severe gale, which occurred a 
few days previous to its capture. — Ruthven Deane, Cambridge , Mass. 
Nest and Eggs of Parus montanus. — Although not entirely un- 
known, the eggs of this species have been so rarely met with and identified 
that a brief mention of a fine set that has recently come into my posses- 
sion may not be without interest. This set was taken by Mr. Charles A. 
Allen in the mountains of Placer County, California, June 11, 1879. The 
nest had been constructed in an old hole of a Picus albolarvatus in a de- 
caying pine stump. The opening was about seven feet from the ground, 
extended four inches horizontally, and was over twelve inches in depth. 
The female could not be induced to leave the nest, even after the whole 
side of the stump had been cut away with an axe. She had finally to 
be taken from her' eggs by the hand, and tossed into the air, before they 
could be uncovered. After they had been taken, both the male and the 
female returned to the hole, and insisted upon remaining there even after 
the last vestige of the nest had been removed. 
The eggs are seven in number, and range in measurement from .64 of an 
inch by .50, to .63 by .49. They are of a rounded oval shape, much more 
pointed at one end, and six of the seven .are of a pure unspotted chalky 
white. They are untinged with any shade of green , and bear no similitude 
to a recent illustration purporting to be this egg. The seventh egg is 
slightly more elongated than any of the others, measuring .49 X .64, is of 
a pure chalky whiteness, but is marked over its entire surface with fine 
rounded dots of reddish-brown. The contrast between this spotted egg 
and its immaculate companions is quite striking. 
The nest is a warm impacted mattress made of felted masses of the fur 
of small quadrupeds intermingled with a few hairs. It is four inches in 
diameter, the wall about an inch and a half in thickness, and the cavity 
nearly tAvo inches deep. When found the eggs had been slightly in- 
cubated. — T. M. Brewer, Boston , Mass. 
