78 
BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 
account of the number, size, and coloration of the eggs. The nest con- 
tained four eggs, very closely resembling those of the Shrikes. The ground- 
color is dull white or bluish, thickly blotched or freckled with reddish- 
brown. The measurements of the three specimens preserved are 1.01 by 
.66, .94 by .68, and .88 by .66. Incubation had been going on for about 
ten days, and unfortunately one egg was destroyed in cleaning. — ^Wil- 
bur F. Lamb, Holyoke, Mass. 
Persistency at Nest-Building- in a House-Wren. — A House-Wren 
{Troglodytes aedon) has this season manifested a strong predilection for the 
nozzle of a pump for a nesting- site. The pump being in daily use, the 
nozzle, much to our surprise, was repeatedly found to be obstructed with 
sticks. An investigation of the novel incident led to the discovery of the 
cause, it being found that a House-Wren was industriously at work carry- 
ing materials into the pump for the construction of its nest. The bird 
was finally left one morning to carry on his work, when, at the end of two 
hours, it was found that he had filled the pump so full that water could 
not be obtained until a part of the sticks had been removed. The nest, 
through the necessary use of the pump, was three times destroyed before 
the persevering little fellow abandoned his work. — Abbott W. Frazar, 
Watertown, Mass. 
A New Bird to Massachusetts. — Mr. Charles W. Townsend, of 
Boston, shot, July 28, 1876, a male specimen of Plectrophanes ornatus. 
It was taken in Magnolia, near Gloucester, Mass., in a field near the sea- 
shore, and has been by Mr. Townsend presented to the New England col- 
lection of the Boston Natural History Society. It is an adult male, in 
worn plumage. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 
A new Form of Surnia to New England. — Two fine specimens of the 
Hawk Owl have recently been taken in Houlton, Maine, and have been 
mounted by Mr. Welch in his usual superior style. They are both males, 
and while one is in the plumage usually known as Surnia hudsonia, the 
other is in that distinguished by the separate name of Surnia ulula, and 
supposed to be exclusively Palsearctic. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 
. Capture of the Philadelphia Vireo in New Hampshire. — A 
specimen of this bird {Vireo philadelphicus) -was shot in Hollis, New 
Hampshire, May 26, 1876, by Mr. A. F. Eaton. It was feeding in com- 
pany with two other birds of the same kind, in some low oak-bushes. — 
W. H. Fox, Concord, Mass. 
Occurrence of Passerculus princeps in New York. — One of my 
correspondents, Mr. Frank E. Johnson, of Gravesend, Long Island, writes 
me that when out collecting, on December 20, 1876, on Coney Island, in 
New York harbor, he shot three specimens of a Sparrow new to him, 
