curious roofed ucst. I once saw a. nest 
containing two of their own eggs and 
three cow buntings. 
Water Thrush—I have a specimen 
taken on Masomsic brook—not a com¬ 
mon species here. 
Merilaud Yellow Throated Warbler 
—common summer resident — breeds 
about swampy localities. 
Yellow Breasted Chat — summer resi¬ 
dent—becoming more common every 
year. Connecticut is said to be about 
their northern limit. Were but a few 
pairs of them in town a few vears ago 
— imitates the notes of several species 
of birds so well as to easily deceive a 
person and at the same time keeping so 
well concealed that but a glimpse of 
them can be had — are found about 
swampy localities, building their nests 
in bushes. 
Canada Warbler — probably breed 
through the wild rocky section in the 
eastern part of the town—appear with 
the other species of warblers during 
migrations. 
Redstart Warbler—common summer 
resident usually found in the woods —{ 
are lively in their motions Hitting from | 
tree to tree spreading their Hail and j 
| dropping their wings. When in adult 
! plumage are a handsome bird. 
Scarlet Taniger or Red bird—summer 
resident—usually found in the woods— 
build a loose nest of black roots usually 
on oak trees. Adult male is of a bright 
scarlet with black wings. 
Barn Swallow—common summer 
resident nesting inside of barns. I 
once saw a large flock of them on the 
ground in the meadows in spring so 
exhausted from their long flight that 
they could be approached quite easily. 
White Bellied Swallow—is the 
earliest species of swallow to appear 
here in spring — arc generally found in 
the vicinity of water—breed here, lay¬ 
ing the eggs in holes in trees about t he 
meadows. 
Cliff or Eave Swallow — summer resi¬ 
dent—building their gourd-shaped 
nests under the eaves of barns. 
Bank Swallows — common summer 
resident—breeding in colonies in holes 
dug in the sandy banks along the river 
shore. Large numbers of them nest in 
the banks about the Portland quarries. 
Purple Martin — summer resident — 
nest in bird boxes. 
Cedar Bird Waxwing—summer resi¬ 
dent—sometimes seen in large flocks 
o 
during winter and spring months—has 
no song—plumage very line, the long 
feathers of their wings are tipped with 
a red wax looking substance. 
Red Eyed Vireo — common summer 
resident—builds a neatly finished hang¬ 
ing nest which is suspended from the 
branches of low trees or bushes in the 
woods — song of this species will usually 
be the first heard on entering a piece of 
woods in summer. 
Warbling Vireo — common summer 
resident, has a pretty warbling song. 
Yellow Throated Vireo—summer 
resident, builds a handsome lichen 
covered hanging nest. 
Solitary Vireo—probably rare—one 
specimen taken here. 
White Eyed Vireo—summer resident 
builds a hanging nest quite near the 
ground in swampy situations. 
Great Northern Shrike or Butcher 
Bird—winter visitor from the north— 
preys on small birds and mice which 
they pin on thorns among the bushes 
—have seen them several times in pur¬ 
suit of gold-finches and red polls— 
many of the imported English sparrows 
have been killed by them. 
Pine Grosbeak—an irregular winter 
visitor from the north—during the 
severe cold winter of 1874-75 they were 
here in large numbers among the cedar 
thickets and maples through Main 
street—they attracted the attention of 
almost even-body—most of them are in 
the gray or immature plumage while 
here, but occasionally a bright red one 
will be seen among them—have a very 
sweet plaintive note. 
Purple Finch - some seasons they are 
quite common here—appear in large 
Hocks during the winter and spring 
months among cedars—few breed here 
—have a beautiful warbling song. 
White Winged Crossbill—irregular 
northern winter visitor — several were 
seen among the hemlocks on Strait hills 
during the cold winter of 1874-5, feed¬ 
ing on the seeds of hemlock cones—bill 
is curiously shaped and looks as if de¬ 
formed — none have been seen here 
since that winter. 
Red Crossbill — seldom seen here — 
winter visitor. 
Red Poll Linnet—northern winter 
visitor — appearing in large Hocks, much 
more numerous some winters than 
others. Note is similar to the goldfinch 
note. Males, when in good plumage, 
have rosy pink breasts. 
