Breeding of the marsh wrens 167 MASS. (Middlesex Co.) 1875 July 13 had either eggs or young in the vicinity. She was so shy that I found it impossible to get a shot flying short distances but always keeping out of range and uttering her note at frequent intervals. She flew quite strongly rather than in that feeble flickering way usual when started, and invariably let in the tops of the bushes. Picking up th one that I had shot I found it in superb plumage. Its stomach was crammed with numbers of small silvery minnows about 2 inches in length. Keeping on up to the upper meadows I found the marsh wrens still abundant at Block Island, and shot them 6 palustris 2 & 1 c. Examined all the false nests found on the 26th ult., and found them all empty. In one place when on that date I found four of these nests within a few yards, another had been added and was built within 2 ft. of one discarded at that time. The male must spend nearly all this time at this work as I found several nests but just commenced. What the object can be I cannot imagine. I have sometimes thought that these extra nests were intended for use in case of destruction but observations will not bear this out. Near the nest that I robbed on the 26th ult. was a false one but the birds had not laid in it, although within two yards of it the bird has since constructed a new one which I am