General Notes. 
57 
actly that big, but he insisted, and I concluded to walk back and look at 
the eggs, when the discovery was made. Who cares to look into each of 
the dozen of Catbird’s nests we find in the course of a season? We are 
satisfied to know that this is the nest of the Robin, the Wood-thrush, the 
Catbird ; but we do not think of taking the trouble to look every time at 
their eggs or young. 
Still more likely to elude discovery would the strange egg be in the other 
Cookoo’s nest. In this neighborhood at least are the Cuckoo’s nests gen- 
erally amidst such a terribly entangled mass of wild vine that we do not 
care to go up for mere pleasure. I do not know how regular egg-collec- 
tors go to work ; other ornithologists may operate differently. My case 
may be no measure. I give it only to draw attention to the matter, and I 
have made up my mind to despise no more Catbirds’s nests in future. — 
O. Widman, St. Louis , Mo. 
[Mr. Widman has overlooked a note which appeared in an early num- 
ber of this Bulletin (Vol. II, p. no), where three instances of the lay- 
ing of our Cuckoos in other bird’s nests are given. Years ago when I 
used to take many Cuckoo’s nests each season in the apple orchards about 
Cambridge it was no uncommon thing to find an egg of the Black-billed 
species in a clutch of the Yellow-bills, and on more than one occasion, 
but less often, the situation would be reversed. An instance of the lat- 
ter kind came under my notice in 1878, when at Belmont, Mass., I found 
a nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo which contained, besides two eggs 
of the rightful proprietor, a single one of the Yellow-bill. Speaking 
from memory, and without consulting my notes on the subject, I should 
say that at least ten per cent of the Cuckoo’s nests that I have found 
contained eggs of both species. But in no case have I ever seen the eggs 
of either kind in the nests of other birds. — William Brewster.] 
Melanerpes erythrooejoftalus about Boston. — Massachusetts, at least 
the extreme eastern part, has shared in the flight of Red-headed Wood- 
peckers that has been reported as visiting Southern Connecticut last fall.* 
During the latter part of September, through October and into November, 
the oak groves in the suburbs of Boston were tenanted by numbers of 
these truly handsome birds. I should judge that about one-third were 
in full plumage, and their conspicuous dr^ss attracting attention many 
were shot. Twelve years ago the individual occurrence of this species 
among us was thought worthy of record. Of late years, during the 
months above named, it has become a more frequent though irregular 
visitor, but never in such numbers as have recently shown themselves. 
In spring or summer it is rarely seen, yet an instance of its nesting in 
Brookline is given me by Mr. H. K. Job, who early in June, 1878, found 
five eggs in the hole of an apple tree. According to Dr. C. HartMerriam, 
this Woodpecker is a common resident of Lewis County, N. Y.f May 
not our visitors have come from that direction? — H. A. Purdie, Newton, 
Mass. 
* Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. VI, pp. 78, 79. 
f This Bulletin, Vol. Ill, p. 123. 
