. The Canadian field-naturalist. 94 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXVIII NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS Two Interesting Nests.—The summer of 1923 brought two very interesting nesting situations to my attention. One was that of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the rear porch of the residence of Mr. E. Hawken, 184 Carling Ave., Ottawa. The cord of a common electric drop light had been tied in a knot to shorten it and raise the light socket higher from the floor. The nest was built up from a loop of this knot and, when seen, the female was incubating. She was very shy and it was possible to photogra
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 94 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXVIII NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS Two Interesting Nests.—The summer of 1923 brought two very interesting nesting situations to my attention. One was that of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the rear porch of the residence of Mr. E. Hawken, 184 Carling Ave., Ottawa. The cord of a common electric drop light had been tied in a knot to shorten it and raise the light socket higher from the floor. The nest was built up from a loop of this knot and, when seen, the female was incubating. She was very shy and it was possible to photograph her only under the worst possible conditions, , in the heavy shade and from inside the door of the house against a brilliantly bright sky. A silhouette was all that was possible but it shows all the essential facts of the In the spring, in opening a boathouse at Blue Sea Lake, seventy miles north from Ottawa up the Gatineau valley, a pair of old overalls was found hanging over a brace of the framework inside. Beneath it, on the floor, was a pile of fresh green moss fragments, nearly two quarts in bulk. It was evident from bits still adhering in the folds of the garment that some bird was attempting to build a nest in them and the material was falling through as fast as it was placed. The only bird likely to in- habit such a place that was noted in the vicinity was a Phoebe. We remained only a day or so, but before we left a safety pin was placed through the overalls to make a stop for the nesting material. On our next visit, the nest was built and occupied. The owner was—a Winter Wren. The nest site was not three feet from the well of the boat house and every time we entered the boats we had to brush the nest as we passed. We even installed an engine and tested it into running condition within the well, but in spite of the confusion, the coming and going, the hammer- ing, the loud explosions, and the gasoline fumes, the Wren remained in possession. Sometimes s
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