Oct., 1882.] 
AND OOLOGIST. 
1G3 
Thrushes.— I should be very much pleased 
to see an article in your journal on some 
of the Turdidae, viz : Turdus mustelina 
(Wood Thrush,) T. Pallasi (Hermit 
Thi’ush,) T. IS^cainsoni (Olive-backed 
ThriTsh,) and T. Fuscescens (Wilson’s 
Thrush. All of these breed on the island 
of Montreal, but their eggs resemble one 
another so much that I have not been able 
to identify the species. Therefore, I 
should be glad to see a description of their 
nests and eggs, as found by yoiu’self or 
correspondents .—Ernest D. Wintle, Mon¬ 
treal, Canada. 
[Our experience with the Wilson Thrush is limited to one 
nest, and that was found by Capt. Thos. J. Rigney, a very 
reliable assistant, who reported flushing a Thrush, new to 
him, in a swamp near Rockville, Conn., from a tuft or bog. 
On examination the nest was found in the centre of the 
tuft and set well down into it, and the tuft was almost hid¬ 
den by a skunk cabbage. The nest was a fine piece of 
bird architecture, the foundation being composed of leaves 
carefully laid in layers, evidently to keep out the moisture. 
Above that the nest was like a well built Wood Thrush’s 
nest, only it was rather deeper and not quite so large. It 
contained four fresh eggs, which are still in our possession. 
They are quite round and not much larger than Blue Birds’ 
eggs. We should be glad to hear from others in answer to 
the above. Probably our St. John contributors can help 
us out.— Ed. 
Owls in Confinement.— William Brew¬ 
ster reports in Bulletin a Saw-whet Owl, 
laying an egg (soft shell) while in confine¬ 
ment. Snowdon Howland reports a Screech 
Owl laying a perfect egg while kept by him. 
Early this Spring “ J. M. W.” brought to 
us a fine specimen of the young of the 
Great-horned Owl. It is now doing well. 
Egg Eaters. — Snowdon Howland calls 
our attention to a Vireo seen eating Rob¬ 
in’s eggs. A writer in the Hartford Times 
states that he has seen Kingbirds eating 
Robin’s eggs, and classes them as an ene¬ 
my of that bird in consequence. Some 
years ago while riding on the train at full 
speed below Moosup, Conn., a Kingbird 
flew’ across a field and alighted on the rail¬ 
road fence with a robin’s egg in its mouth. 
August Eggs.— Two sets of Quails, one 
set of Orchard Oriole, two sets of Blue 
Yellow-backed Warbler and several sets of 
American Gold Finch.— J. M. W., Noank, 
Conn. 
European Starling {Sturnus vidgaris 
Linn .)—The Starling is one of the most 
common of European birds, being met 
with in most parts of the continent, and 
also in Algeria and Egypt, where it is a 
Winter visitor. It breeds early in the 
year and makes its nest in holes in cliffs, 
old buildings, trees and dove cotes. The 
nest is large and composed of straw and 
dry grass lined with feathers or wool. 
The eggs number from four to six and 
vary in size, though not m color, which is 
a light blue. Tw’o broods are reared each 
season. The young birds are often taken 
and brought iqi by hand, and some of 
them learn to talk. Indeed, it is a com¬ 
mon jiractice with so-called bird fanciers, 
to slit the tongues of the young Starlings 
for the purpose of causing them to speak 
well. In many parts of England and Ger¬ 
many “ Starling boxes” are erected and are 
nearly ahvays taken possession of by Star¬ 
lings, though sometimes the Sparrow 
{Passer domesticus) apjiears to think 
that the box has been put up for the pur¬ 
pose of affording him a home. The food 
of the Starling consists of worms, snails, 
insects, larvae, etc. In Autumn the Star¬ 
lings collect in immense flocks, most of 
W’hich depart for the South on the ap¬ 
proach of Winter. It has been observed 
that where the Starlings abound the Sky¬ 
lark (A. arvensis) is scarce, and vice versa, 
but the reason has not been settled to the 
satisfaction of ornithologists.— J. T. T. 
Reed, Ryhope, Durham Co., England. 
Curious Nesting Places. — M’m. R. 
Wharton of Philadelphia reports finding 
a Great-crested Flycatcher’s nest in the 
hole of a small hollow tree that was lying 
on the ground. It was the more remarka¬ 
ble as there w’ere jilenty of trees with 
holes in them. This nest contained five 
eggs, and as usual the snake skin, which is 
always a part of this Flycatchei’s nest. It 
was on the island of Anglesea, twelve 
miles from Cape May on the coast of West 
Jersey. 
