A red squirrel was seen at the “monuments” and we 
could but wonder what he found among those rocks to 
keep him so fit. 
The scenery fom the summit of Ktaadn, reminds one 
of the answer given by a chap from Ireland who was 
asked, “what is virgin soil?” “It is a place,” he said, 
“where the hand of man has never laid its foot.” 
W. G. Fanning. 
THE YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 
One of the most pleasant recollections of woodland life 
in my younger days is my acquaintance with the Yellow¬ 
breasted Chat, which during the years 1885-1895 was very 
plentiful in this part of the state. In one season I person¬ 
ally knew of as many as twelve pairs breeding in Lynn, 
Salem and Peabody. Nearly all of the nests were in thick 
clumps of young barberry bushes. 
I have no personal knowledge of the status of the Chat 
prior to 1885 but E. A. Samuels states, in his book pub¬ 
lished in 1867, that a pair of Chats nested in Lynn three 
years in succession. Mr. Samuels came to Lynn to study 
the bird at my father’s invitation which would indicate 
that even in their time this was considered a favorable 
locality. 
As the Chat is now a comparatively rare species here¬ 
abouts, it is probable that the work of the Gypsy Moth 
Commission in cleaning up sprout land together with 
more recent forest fires has discouraged the bird and for¬ 
ced it to seek more congenial surroundings. 
The following notes of recent occurrences are furnished 
me by Messrs. C. A. Clark and A. P. Stubbs. 
A. P. Stubbs. 
1902. Paradise woods, Swampscott, June 6. One male 
in song. 
1906. Near Alden Waitt’s residence, Lynn, June 4-10-20. 
A pair with nest. 
78 
