—* ~* ~ ~ ~ a we > = ow Te - = = 2 75 Half Column, one insertion, : - - 150 Editoral Page per in. one insertion, - 1:00 One Inch, one insertion, Si te - - 60 Half-inch one insertion, - - 35 465" Cash must accompany all Hduencorients: Write for special, rates on Standing advertise- ments. Articles and items of interest in any branch of Natural History solicited for publication. #a@-Address all communications to the Editor. and Publisher. Entered at the Post Office at Danielsonville Conn., as second class mail matter. EDITORIALS. We wish you all a Happy New Year. Subscribers whose subscription expires with this number please note that your name will be crossed off our list unless renewal is received at once. Cash in full mnst come in advance, it is a waste of time and postage to ask us to insert’ an adver- tisement and send bill. Walter F, Webb. of Geneva, N. Y., whose Col. adv. you will, notice elsewhere, was the first one to ‘respond to our call for volunteers to take a column advertisement for one year. Watch for his ad. in every issue, he intends to give you great bargains, “‘there’s room for more.’ If you want to make a ‘collection or dispose of one. you must adyertise,— and keep at it.. We hopethe readers of the Collectors’ Monthly will hear with us if they meet witha few typogra- phical errors. We know you wouldn’t say a word if you could only see a few letters and MSS. we are conStantly in receipt of and try to read them. ‘Contributers will please note this and govern them- ‘selves accordingly. FLVE two cents stamps will get you a sample | of Arthur’s Home Magazine Philadelphia. ‘ Agents wainted. 3oc: THE COLLECTORS’ MO. THEY. ment. To our many readers we Sapa our best wishes tor . the year eighteen: hundred and ninety two, withthe es hope that it may bring us. into close, frfendly and business relation », with each other, the end of the year 1892!may find you prosperous. Y, And hope and happy, eee a profitable business with us. We feel it our duty and pleasure to say just a word in commendation Of Col. N. S. Goss’ ‘great work, “History of the Birds of Kansas,” perhaps there may be some one who knows nothing of Col. | Goss:accomplislimeuts, to those we would say, he was a life-long, council of *‘Am,Ornithologist Union,” recognized authority on his chosen subject. The authors aim has been to present tothe gener- al reader as well as to the student interested in '| bird life, a book containing the latest knowledge in regard to the habits etc,, of our birds. It em- braces 343 species, and sub. species—and the Photo- i gravure illustrations, represents 529 mounted birds — (Mr. Goss own BMF) in the Goss baa scan collection and contains 603 pages. Every collector, who is interested in bird lore, should not fail to obtain a copy atonce. Wecan testify to its merits—we have never seen its ecual, and .consider it Standard authority on the birds represented—-a valuable addition to any ones library, as it is printed on best paper, in full cloth, with gold back and sides. The Pub- lishers who are deserving of great credit and to whom to much cannot be said in praise of the man- ner in which they haye executed the work, have been honest and prompt in. all our dealings with them. lists Collectors and others the Firm of Geo. W. Crane & Co., Topeka, Kansas, who are equalled by few and excelled by none as publishers and Honest men. C.H. Prince. DEAR SiR :—Please find thirty cents inclosed for which renew my subscription. 1 find that I cannot be without the Collectors’ Moneys and wish it both success and long-life. Yours Truly, H. E. Miller. We obtain patents for protection not for orna- Send for our valuable pamphlet DuBois & DuBois, Inventive. Age Building, Washington, D. C.—Mention this paper. The Bayo bird of India spends his night catch- ing fireeflies, with which he plasters his nest. The bayo does not kill the fly, but simply attaches it to his nest by means of a piece of moist clay. Ona dark nighta bayo’s nest: has the appearance ofan electric street lamp. ‘‘Naturalist,’? a member of the. handsomely bound — . We would recommend to all Natura- _ HE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. Devoted to Ornitholoy, Oology and Natural History. Nesting ofthe Sora Rail. “Written for the Collectors’ Monthly.’’ When the Sora first arrives in the spring, it may be seen quite frequently running about on the old rushes, and other vegetations of the previous year. He does not seem to greatly fear the approach of a person, but will skip about from reed to rush picking up the early bug, quite unmindful of the observer. Itisnot long however, that they are 80 bold. As soon as they begin to think about the spring duties their appearence is less frequent and as the new growth of the marsh starts up, affording them shelter they are seldom seen. That they feel a greater responsibility resting upon themselves, after taking up the duties of the season, and thus seclude themselves the more is the only reason that can be offered for this. They begin to build their nests about the 15th of May with us. It iscomposed of coarse grass and the dried material common to the marsh, forming ashallow platform. In this locality it seems to prefer places where the marsh horse-tail grows ( Hqiise tum limosum). These stalks grow up perfectly straight, and being round and hollow, afford a strony scatfoldiug, upon which to build. The nest is attached to the stalks, just above the water, which holds it firm, and as the the stalks gets up higher they are sometimes bent over the nest, forming a cover, thus making the nest more difficult to find. It also builds among other growths, usually prefering the lightest, leaving the coarsest material to be utilized by larger birds. The horse-tail above nained may be known by the.fifteen to twenty acnte dark colored teeth at each joint. in the season, it sends out a few upright branches. The plant in muddy streanis. The usual compliment of eggs is from ten to fourteen. The ground color is a very dark cream, and the spots are red- dish brown, intermixed with purple shell marks. Their average size is 1: 25 x .90, but it varies greatly. By the 20th or 22nd one may be able to find nearely a full compliment, and from this time to the 5th of June their eges may be found nearly fresh. | remember the first nest of this species. I was in the marsh very early one morning, and had just crossed a strip of floating bog,and was trying the opposite bog with my foot, to see if it would bear my weight, I happened to see something run bebind a clump of rushes, and I began to look around fora nest. At last [looked down directly in front of me and there, not twelve inches from my foot on the opposite bog, was aset ofjnine eges of the Sora. On several oceasions T have heard a slight noise, while examining the con- tents of a nest, and upon looking closely would see the head of Mrs. Sora just above the water, a short distance away, peeking at what was going on, but down it would go when I made the first move towards it. Thev are very regular in their nesting habits, and do not often surprise us by anything very unusual, as do other species. Later is common Geo. A. Morrison. Fox Lake, Wis. e E TW >... : eeiey, eo} (PP r= : feo] Jouuy — (9, M5 cy “vy ) *x11j981° pereyep > oe Wy % (wines) = EE (eeipauiiezuy ) : ane : ‘ $9911392) sIppiy eS Yi KOO 1x auc) Notes on the Birds of Long Island. By W. W. WorTHINGTON. (69) 163. Oidemia americana. American Scoter, (63@.) Black throughout. Bill with a swollen process, of an orang-red color at the base of upper mandi- | ble extending in front of nostrils, inches. A rather common winter resident. Sometimes found in company with the velvet and surf ducks. Called ‘ Butter billed coot” by thegunners. Breedsfrom Labrador northward. Nest of grass, lined with feathers, and down from the birds breast, placed on the ground near water. Eggs six to ten, pale buffy brown, about 24x 1% inches, and are usually laid in June. (70) 165. Oidemia fusca. American Velvet Scoter, (632.) Black throughout, except a small crescent under the eye, and patch on the wing of pure hite. Length 238 An abundant winter resident, arriving from the North in October, and remain- ing until May. They congregate in large flocks, over shoals where their food of small shell-fish are abundant. To these places the gunners repair on still morn- ings at the break of day, with their “battery” (a small boat with just room enough for one man to conceal himself in) their decoys, and a store of ammu- nition. The “battery” is anchored on the most frequented part of the feeding ground, and the decoys anchored thickly around it, one gunuer takes his place in the “battery,” another in a small sail boat to pick up the dead birds, and “hustle” the live ones. And ereat is the sport. From fifty to a hundred‘ Coots” are often bagged to a boat in a morn- ing’s shooting. These birds breed from Labrador northward, making a nest of weeds, moss etc., lined with feathers. THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 3 eggs are six or more, of a greenish buff, and about 2% x 1% inches. (71) 166. Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter, (633,) Plumage black, except a patch on the crown and another on the back of the neck pure white. Length 20 inches. An abundant winter resident, but much less so than the preceding species. Called “ Patch-poll Coots” by the local gunners. Very shy birds. Do not come to decoys, but if one of a pair is killed the other will frequently keep close by untill both are bagged, especially in case the female is shot first. Breeds from Labrador north- ward, laying six or more cream colored eggs, in au nest made of weeds etc., lined with down placed on the ground near | water. Egos about 2% x 1% inches. | (72) 167. Erismatura rubida. Ruddy Duck, (634.) Above, sides and lower neck, chestnut red. Cheeks, chin, and crissum, white. Crown, nape, and tail black. Beneath grayish white. Wings with fine grayish sprinklings. Length 15 inches. Anirregular winter visitor. The Arthur Publishing Co. have made a happy hit in their new cover. The January number comes) out in an entirely new and very becoming dress. All lovers of that popular work, ‘‘On Both Sides,””) will be glad to know Miss Frances Courtenay, Baylor is a contributor for 1892. 3 Take advantage of Walter F. Webb’s pric es NOW, if you want to secure bargains. K American Gardening is a Journal devoted to lant: marketing, etc. Only $1.00 a year. Rural Pub lishisg Co., Times Building, New York. / James P. Babbitt of Taunton, Mass., don’t ta no back seats in Naturalist’s supplies of all kin Give him a trial order. IVE two cents stamps will get you a sam of Arthur’s Home Magazine Philadelphia. Agents wanted, Biography of Col. N. 8. Goss. Colonel N. 8. Goss, the ornithologist and naturalist, was born in Lancaster, N. H., June 8, 1826, the youngest of four children, two sisters and a brother, Capt. B. F. Goss, of Pewaukee, Wis. His parents were of old Puritan stock. While N.S. Goss was yet in his teens his father | lost his property and removed to Pewau- kee, Wis. Thus, in a new country, and without ample means jor a collegiate ed- ucation, Mr. Goss began his life’s work, with only a common district school and academy to assist him in his pursuit of the natural sciences. From childhood he had a deep love and admiration for birds and made them a study. He worked through the day, and studied during the evenings; and at idle times during the day, even, whenever there was a lull for a few minutes, he was at his books. Thus our Kansas Audubon, naturalist, scientist and taxidermist, be- gan his education. _ He entered business for himself, and at the age of twenty-eight, he married Miss Emma F. Brown, of Pewaukee. He moved to Waverly, Ia., with a view of entering into the banking business. While looking about him and making arrangements for the location of his bus- iness, his young companion was taken from him. Death had robbed him of his bride of only two years. Overcome by the loss of his beloved wife, the place no longer seemed like home to him, and in the spring of 1857, in a buggy, accom- panied by a friend, he sought a home in Kansas, not knowing or caring where it might be. After following the Neosho river for some:distance, they selected the spot where Neosho Falls now stands as their new home. Only two or three fami- lies were along the river for miles. A town was laid off and Colonel Goss be- came its first postmaster. In 1858 a grist mill was established and Colonel Goss sold flour and meal to the Indians, receiving in return for the same, Indian ponies, buffalo robes and some money. A public spirited man, and a leader, he has been rightly ealled “The Father of Neosho Valley.”? He selected the grounds for the first county fairsand had them so attractively arranged that they were fa- vorably spoken of by the press of other counties. During these years he was searching for birds along the streams and prairies of Kansas. He was elected and cominissioned ma- jor in 1860, and lieutenant-colonel in 1863 of the Sixteenth Kansas militia cavalry; was in active service during the “Fourteen days’ call’ and the Price raid; and, being familiar with the Indian ter- ritory. acted on several occasions as a scout for U. 8S. soldiers stationed at Humboldt. He was appointed register of the land office at Humboldt in 1867 and in 1869 resigved to become land attorney for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, with headquarters at Neosho Falls. It was through his exertions that the road built through the Neosho Valley, and at a meeting of the stockholders of the road, held at Emporia, May 16, 1866, Colonel 10 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. Goss was elected president. He was also land attorney of the Santa Fe at one time. Established at ‘The Halls’ once more, he found ample time for his favorite study, and his collection of birds began to grow rapidly and attract attention throughout the state and abroad. He had made himself comfortable in this world’s goods, and in 1881 he donated his collection to the state, without any remuneration, but upon the conditions that it be known as the “Goss Ornithol- ogical Collection,” and that he be the custodian during his lifetime. The offer was accepted and a room was set apart for it in the capitol building by the legis- lature and also one forhis own use. His rooms were beautifully arranged and were visited continually by large nuin- bers of people. All lovers of his favorite science were cordially weleomed, and his kind and genial manners endeared him to all. In the fall of 1881 he took up his residence in Topeka. He has made frequent trips to various localities in North America and Central America, along the coasts and among the islands of the Gulf of California, among the northwest coast and the coast of Labrador, among the Rockies, the Sierra Nevadas, the Great Lakes and the rivers, searching almost every part of the conti- nent for birds, and giving to the state by his labors, a collection of North Ameri- can birds which rivals or exceeds any private collection in the union. In 1883 he complied aud published a catalogue of the birds of Kansas, a neat- ly printed phamphlet of thirty-four pages, based upon observations in the field and | knowledge gathered during a residence of over twenty- six vears in ‘Kansas. The catalogue embraces 49 families and 320. species and sub-species. In 1886 he re- | vised the cataloyne, increasing the spe- cies to 3 35. the everglades of Florida, along | In October, 1883, he was elected a member of the American Ornithologcal Union, an organization established in New York, with a membership of fifty, and composed of the distinguished orni- thologists of this country. This compli- ment was unsought and was even with- out his knowledge. The value of his collection has been es- timated at $100,000 by competent judges. Colonel Goss left Topeka on a short visit with his nephew, Mr. Cnuarles W. Waterman. He was in good health and particularly good spirits, because he had just completed his life’s work and at- tained his one ambition, the publication of his beantiful work, ‘‘History of the Birds of Kansas.” It had been in pre- paration for over a Goss had, with characteristic enegy and singleness of purpose, devoted himself al- most night and day to its completion. So hard did he labor upon it, that his friends, more than once, admonished him he persevered and proudly witnessed the completion of the work. What a grand mounment it is to the memory of a man* And what a grand thing it is that he was his one ambition. ly known men in Kansas. kind - heartedness, his and his warm friendship. he was a man whom to know was to ad- / mire, respect and love. His character) | was without blemish, and his integrity | unimpeachable. He hadn’t an enemy in high-minedness, the world, and few men ever had more| | friends. | He had but just completed his beau i- i i that he should not work so hard, but — i spared to complete it and have the satis-— faction of feeling that he bad achieved Colonel Goss was one of the most wide- To those who- knew him best, he will be remembered es- | pecially for his. rare social qualities, his” In every sense | year and Colonel - 2 : | { THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. ful book, “History of the Birds of Kan- sas,” when he was suddenly summoned away. He died March 10,1891 at the town of Neosho Falls, (which he founded) of heart disease. His remains were taken to Topeka and laid in state in the Senate Chainber, at which place the obsequies took place March 12. It was the first funeral ever held there. He was buried in the beautiful cemetery of Topeka be- side the remains of his wife, upon the lit- tle plot he prepared for them years ago. Kansas wept as she realized that one of her truest champions had bowed his head and laid aside the mantle of life for- ever.—State Journal. —~—- [Written for Oollectors’ Monthly.] Pileated Woodpecker. (Ceophoeus pileatus. 405.) Searlet crest and malar striped, black patch around and back of eye to the oc- ciput, a white stripe from nasal fossa, passing back over the lores between the eyeand malar region, covering the low- er ariculars and down on sides of neck. Throat also white, jugulum and body dull black. Wings white and black up- per mandible and tip of lower horn blue, balance of lower white. Tail black. The spear tip on the tongue about three- eights of an inch long, with seven spines. Total length of tonge nine inches. Length 18 inches, bill two inches, ex- tent 28 inches. Female like male with exception that nuchal part of crest only scarlet and no scarlet malar stripe. While out collecting Christmas eve, ny bird dog flushed a pair of these birds among some fallen timber, down a hol- low in a heavy wooded district. I winged the male by a fortunate long shot, and succeeded in getting him after quite a struggle, with plenty of noise made both’ by dog and bird, for he kept my pointer _ completely at bay with his heavy bill 11 and sharp claws. He was a beauty. I have his skin now before me mounted. I found a nest of thesesame birdslast May, but it was inaccessable, being in a great oak, overhanging a precipitous bluff. [ lay in ambush three days, watching this nest and also a hawk’s near by, in hopes of securing a specimen, but failed. If I found the female on the nest she would peep at me, uttering those peculiar notes, warning her companion; and should I find her a way, they would not return, no matter how well hidden I was or how long I remained. Last October I visited these same woods hunting quail, and came upon five of these birds extremely wary. I pre- sumed it was the two old birds and three of their young. In flying from one piece of woods to another, they all went to- gether, seeming to be led principally by one bird, all generally alighting on the same tree, and if in sight, they immedi- ately hid bedind the trunk and limbs of the tree very dexterously,and at my ap- proach would leave noiselessly, and often unseen, but on alighting would raise that loud, eclucking cackle peculiar to them. This specie is our representative of the Great Black Woodpecker of Europe, —Picus Matrus—which was supposed by the ancient Romans to be the direct de- scendant of Picus the augur and sooth- sayer, of which it is fabled in Roman Mythology, that Picus wasa great sooth- sayer and prophet, beloved by Ciree, who seeing that her affections were not re- quited and that Picus loved Romona, she transformed him into a peckerwood, a bird he used in his art. which still re- tained the prophetic powers formerly posessed by him. JA. JB. 2 [Written for Collectors’ Monthly.] The Varied Thrush. Hesperocichia Naevia. (@mel.) This handsome representative of the 12 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. thrush family, known under the various names of Oregon Robin, French Robin, California Robin, Winter Robin and Var- ried Robin, is a cominon winter visitor to most parts of the United States, lying west of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains, as far south as San Fran- cisco, and occasionally straggling to the Colorado Valley. How far Hast its nor- mal habits extends, does not appear to be well known, especially in its northern portion. Dr. Cooper found it common on the Coeur d’Alene mountains in Sep- tember. It has been met with on the Mackenzie river. There are several in- stances of its straying to the Atlantic coast, specimens having been taken at Ipswich, Mass., Hoboken, N. J., and Islip, Long Island, Dec. 21,1889. I re- ceived a fine male from Port Jefferson, Long Island, that had been caught in a rabbit trap. They are rather a timid bird, seldom coming around houses, prefering the soli- tude of the evergreen forests, where their low whistle often gives notice of their presence, when they would otherwise pass undetected. Thevare said to some- times sing very sweetly, but I have never been able to hear any song from them. By the latter part of March, most of these birds have left winter retreats for their summer homes, a few remaining to breed in the evergreens along the coast, in the vicinity of the Columbia river, and from there northward through western Washington. They breed in limited num- bers. It is quite probable that some lin- ger and breed in the mountains fora considerable distance south of Wash- ington, but their principle breeding grounds are north of the United States. In many parts of Alaska and British Columbia it is a common summer Visitor. sr. W. H. Dall, who was the first to de- scribe the nest and eges of this bird, found it breeding on the Nulato, May 22d. The nest was built in the midst of a large bunch of rubbish in a clump of willow about two feet from the ground and close to the river bank. Eggs blue- ish, speckled with brown. May 5, 1885, I was fortunate enough to find a nest of this bird containing three fresh eges. The locality was at the head of a small- swainp, about one mile north of Fort Camby, Washington. The nest was built about eight feet from the ground, on a horizontal branch of a large spruce tree. It was composed of weed-stalks, leaves and moss, lined with moss. The cavity was not more than one inch deep. The eggs are of a pale greenish blue, much paler than those of the common robin, sparingly sprinkled over the whole egg, with small spots and dots of redish brown. There are also some shell markings of a lavender shade. They measurs 1.23 x 88; 1.20 x 87; 1.16 x 87 inches. A. H. HELME. ~ number, aud measure about 3% x 2 in. On May 3, 91, in company with Mr. Ja Brown of San Marcos, late of Giddings, ‘started out fora day’s collecting. After) we had proceeded a short distance we came to a dense bottom. We heard the) sharp notes of a Fla. R. S. Hawk and a ter some trouble found it. It was situa- ted in an ash tree about 45 ft. from the) ground. We took from this nest two} beautifully blotched specimens. The 7 measured 1.96 x 1.75 and 1.97 x 1.83. © A little further we found in a fine oak tree, a nest containing } eggs, one a dark] brown and the other two a light brown color. We were attracted by hearing a Broad-winged Hawk calling, some ways off. We hastened there and found her nest about 56 ft. up, containing two dull white eggs. | Would like to hear from some one else on this species. Yours truly, For the broad Chesapeake they steer. G. W. Erwin. — THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. EXCHARGES AND WANTS. 80 words, 20 cts.; 1-2 cent per extra word. This column is open to all having Exchanges or Wants. Offersfor cash debarred. A strictly Exchange and Want Column. No notice inserted for less than twenty cents. CASH must accom- pany all notices. For Sale or Exchage. A large lot of rare eggs for sale or Exchange’ ' such as Booby, Chachalaca, Whooping Swan? 207, 311, 325, Cc.’ Ww.’ CR American White Pelican, Groove-billed Ani, Bird = Jed Tern, Poor-will,and many others. Send lis of rare eggs. No poor eggs wanted. Addrsss C. H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. ANTED AT ONCE.—Good sets of the Chuck Wills Widow, Sharp shinned Hawk and _ Whooping Crane, for which I will give eithercash, part cash, part exchange, or all exchange. I offer such sets as A. O. U., Nos. 16, 86, 92 [197], 182, 183, 326, 362, 375, 420c and many others. ANDALL, Woodside, Queens Co., New York. Wis GIVE set 339 a % and data, for piccolo, key of **D,”? (worth $2.50) and self instructor. Write at once to ED. RAUBE. Giddings, Texas. ae’ i VoLuME II, No’s. 1 to 12, inclusive of the Col- ‘W. W. WORTHINGTON, | up in first-class shape, and sell cheaper than the er. Set of 3 eggs of Boat-tailed Grackle, postpaid, 15c Set af 3 eggs. specimens at honest prices lector’s Monthly, sent postpaid to any ad- dress upon receipt of 40 cents. Address, THIS PAPER. I OFFER many rare sets of eggs in exchange for works on Ornithology, Natural History, complete vulumes of the Auk, ora Photo outfit. I will mention a few of the many sets I have to offer. A. O.U., Nos. 16, 320, 337 45345 339 a, 349, 373 ©, 378 a. Send for complete list. Letters ans- wered, but postals not noticed. W. CAULK, Terre Haute, Ind. Shelter Island Heights, N. Y. ‘Taxidermist! And collector of specimens in Natural History, Bird skins a specialty, which I endeavor to make same grade of skinscan be bought from any deal- | + Send stamp for list of skins and eggs. ‘I offer with full data:— Set of 4 eges of Little Blue Heron, postpaid, 30c. Set of 2 eggs American Osprey, postpaid, 75c. wee os ae $1.00 collectors in any who desire honest Ample reference if Correspondence desired with branch of Natural History. desired. Always mention this paper when answering ad- vertisements, It costs you nothing, and does us good, See our offer on first page of cover. Arthur’s Home Magazine and this paper 1 year for $1.30, price for Arthur’s alone, $1.50. WANTED, back numbers of the ‘tAuk,” of July 1890 and ’91. Ail having such to dispose of we will give good equivalent for same.—Collectors’ Monthly. WANTED. Eggs of the Whip-poor-will in first-class sets with data, for which a liberal cash price will be paid, or good *‘Ex.” C. H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. To any one who will send us three New Sus- SCRIBES at 30 cts. each, (go cts. cash) we will send this paper one year FREE. ARTS ONLY $10 he Best and Lowest Price \ of any Carts Made. #15, G18, $20 and 825. Top Buggies, only 55.00. | Harness $7.50 and $10.00. 7 Forges, Anvils, Vises, Safes, Sewing Machines, Scales of all varieties. Save money and send for Price List. » CHICACO SCALE co., 151 South Jefferson Street. “Down With High Prices.” SEWING MACHINES FROM $40 TO $10! Prices Lower than the Lowest on Buggies, Carts, Sleighs, Harness. $5.00 Family or Store Scale, $1.00: A 240-1b. Farmers’ Scale..., 3.00: Farmers, do your own Repairs. Forge and Kit of Tools. ... $20.00 1000 other Articles at Half Price. CHIGAGO SCALE CO., Chicago, Ill. WORLD'S FAIR Full: information PICTURES OF ALL e BUILDINGS. of everything connected with the Greatest Event of all time, also description of all States and Territories, account of all Government Lands to be had at $1.25 per Acre, fine illustrations of various Industries and Interesting Scenery. A World of Infor- mation for only 25 cents ayear. Sample Copy and 100- Page Catalogue containing 1,000 0) ubbing Offers, 10 ets. The Guide and Hand-Book of Useful Information con- tains 1,000,000 Facts. Price 50 Cents, with Paper 65 Cts. THRE WESTERN WORLD, Chicago, Hl. The ‘‘Little Detective” Postal Scale $3.00 | Beam shows Postage in Cents on any ciass Mail Matter, Best Office or Family Seale made. Capacity from 14 oz. to 25 Ibs. a Ss The well-known “Singer Style” Sewing Machine, $10.00 “Champion” Road Cart, best made, ifnely finished 15.00 The “Champion” 1-Seat Wagon, $30.00. 2-Seated, 36.00 Single Harness, $7.50. Farm do $20.00 Top Buggies 55.00 Hay, Grain. Coal or Stock Scales from $80.00 20 60.00 Send for List. CHICAGO SCALE CO. Chicago, Ti THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. A+ CHANCE: TO? BUY + BEGGS. I have the following Single Eggs to close out in thirty days. When stock is “ex- hausted no more can be supplied at these rates. Sets 4 eannot be supplied at these prices. Calif Cuckoo ; aw Blue gray Gnatecatcher Black-crested Titm ouse -15| Rocky Mountain Screech Owl 20 Plain 17! Turkey Vulture BD Bairds Wren White-winged Dove: 10 Bewick’s Wren White-crested ‘ 12 Yeliow-breasted Chat .08 ; Mex. Turhey 25 Sharpe’s Seedeater .20 | Texan Bob White 08 Blue Grosbeak .12 | Wilsons Plover 15 Arizona Cardinal .15 | Killdeer 12 Texan ss .08 | Willet 20 Texan Sparrow .20) Fla. Gallinule 08 Great-tailed Grackle 12} Am. Coot 207 Bullocks Oriole .06 | Reddish Egret 20 Orchard ‘ -05 |} Wards Heron AT Hooded ‘* .08 | Black-bellied Tree Duck 50 Bronzed Cow-bird .05 | Common Tern . 04 Dwart HS 08 | Arctic ss 05 Mex. Flycareber .12 | Roseate ss » .06 Couch’s King-bird -35 | Pied-billed Grebe 10 Western Night-hawk 12| St. Domingo Grebe. 18 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 15 ; No orders filled for less than 50 cts. With each order of $1.00 or over, I will | throw in one of my beautiful calenders for 1892. JATNES P. BABBITT, 12 Hodges Ave., Taunton, Mass. HISTOR YCOR pee BIRDS OF KANSAS BY N. S. GOSS This valuable addition to the Literature of Kansas is now ready and for Sale. It is unnecessary for us to say to old residents of Kansas anything inf regard to Col. Goss or his accomplishments. But to others we will say,f that he was a lifelong Naturalist; an enthusiastic in his chosen study off Ornithology; a member of the ‘Council of the American Ornithological) Union, and a recognized authority on his chosen subject. The book isp handsomely bonnd in full cloth, with gold embossed back and sides. Theref’. are 693 pages, besides the photogravure illustrations of 529 birds. Price,f $7.50; delivered on receipt of price. Reduced prices for quantities. On} account of the death of Col. Goss, all communications and orders should bef mailed to : GEO. W. GRANE &G0., Topeka Kansas/ 55/5 16 He Collectors’ Monthly. 1 { : 1) | fi : | FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN NATURAL HISTORY. Vout. 3. Dantersonvirtr, Conn., Maxcu, 1892. No. 3. Wanted, A Magnificient Picture ; of Niagara Falls, 18x24 inches, A fine Par- For a Fine fisrt-class mounted specimen of the 6 ; - Seen will give seat advertising lor piece for best offer in first-class birds space for same. eggs. Send lists to Address, CHARLES H. PRINCE, a ‘ i CG. H. PAINGE, Danielsonville, ‘ Conn. Danielsonville, Conn. WANTED. Da furnish ‘History of the Birds of Kansas” SES i ae by Col. N.S. Goss, to all who desire for $7.50 ADDRESS, A fine first-class mounted | COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. Scarlet Tanager, —_+__—______— | with data, if sent postpaid, for which we will We will give advertising space for a give good advertising space in this paper. Coue’s Key in fine condition. Charles H. Prince. ENTOMOLOGY | FOR ' Wanted at Once. FNTOMOLOGISTS 15 sets of Whip-poor-wills eggs, to be first- in April numbak of | class with data, for which we will give good Collectors’ Monthly advertising space, eae ir SR) iS a Address, ; BIRDS’ EGGS Bee Prt Blower and SUECEG TORS’ MONTBLY,. |tipecadose porta S80 rer aie Sopaties: trated Catalogue 4c. stamp. Naturalists’ Supplies- CHAS. K. REED 262 MAIN, WORCESTER, MASS. Danielsonville Conn, e ) a THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY The Collects’ Monthly, — ea) VER LTR) Ee ag A Monthly Magazine Devoted’ to the Study of Ornithology, Oology and Natural History. PROGRESSIVE, RELIABLE, PRACTICAL, SCIENTIFIC CHARLES ‘H: PRINCE, — EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, Danielsonville, Conn., U. S. A. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Invariably in Advance. Single Subscriptions, Sate tek hae 3 = 30¢ Pore ye a ie ee Seeker gs 45c | SinglexCopies,'; 2) te eu 4 se0o ae tencht ADVERTISING RATES: One p:ige, one insertion, 5 zs 5 $5 00 One Column, one insertion, = zh is 2 75 Half Coiumn, one insertion, = - - 150 Qne Inch, one insertion, : E = 5 60 Half-inch one insertion, - s - 35 Reading notices 15c per agate line, each insertion. kes" Cash inust accompany all advertisements. Write for special rates on standing advertise- ments. Articles and items of interest in any branch of Natural History solicited for publication. Sas-Address all communications to the Editor and Publisher. Entered at the Post Office at Danielsonville Conn., as second class mail matter. EDITOR'S DESK. Always enclose stamp when writing, to insure a reply. Subseribers whose subscription expires with this number, please note that your name will be crossed ‘off our list unless renewal is received at once. ‘Cash in fall must come in advance; it is a waste ‘of time and postage to ask us to insert an adver- tisement and send bill. The pocket case containing egg drill, blower and embryo hook, offered by C. K. Reed, on first page of cover, is a dandy and is worth double the money, The February number of ‘Outing’? is before us, containing the first of a series of articles on the Connecticut National Guard, with fine illustrations of the Governor and Staff, Captain Fowler and one gun Battery A, Camp Sports and In the Earth Works. The March number will contain ‘The Ametican Tarf,’’ illustrated by H. Stull; ‘The St. Bernard Kennels,” by James Watson; “Jump- ing,’ by Malcolm W. Ford, and “Leopard Hunt- ing in Ceylon.” IVE two cents stamps will get you a sample of Arthur’s Home Magazine Philadelphia. Agents wanted. op lishing Co., Times Building, New York. |. © have made many promig$e$, but have never kept We obtain patents for protection, not for orna- ment. Send for our valuable pamphlet DuBois.& DuBois, Inventive .Age Building, Washington — D.C. Mention this Paper. ; . American Gardening is a journal devoted to flow- ers, fruit, vegetables, the lawn, window plants, marketing,etc.. Only $1.00 a year. Rural Pub- : There ig a matter that $ome of our $ub$criber}. have $eemingly forgotten entirely. Some of them them. Tou$ it if avery important matter. It i$ nece$$ary in our bugine$$. Weare very modeft and don’t like to $peak about it. Proposed extention. Amongour many subscrib- ers, there are a large number who are interested in fntomology, and to such we would say that our — next issue (April No.) will contain a new depart- — ment and that, for those who are interested in Entomology. We wish to say, that the success of our efforts will depend wholly upou the interest 7 You take in this department in securing for us — new subscribers, and for the advancement of Ento- mology, by way of interesting MSS, together with advertisements for ourcolumns. We have given © this subject careful consideration before entering into the duties which will of necessity devolve up- — on as. ToOrnithologists and Oologists,we will say : / the same interest will still continue as heretofore ] with your department, with an addition of Ento- 4 mology, which makes it still more interesting; 7 Ornithology, Oology and Entomology being near- — ly allied sciences,especiallyfrom an economic point ~ of view, thus collectors and students of one will ~ find it the most natural thing in the world to be a ~ collector and student of the other. The localities ~ which yield the finest skins and the most desirable ‘clutches,’ are the very ones sought out and care- | fully scoured by the Entomologist. Now to - every one whose hand this paper falls into we 9 ask and expect a liberal support. Whether we } “Sink or Swim, Live or Die, Survive or Perish” | Wwe are at your mercy. ae. The finest Naturalist and Scientists Directory ever yet published is now being gotten up by the) well-known firm of S, E. Cassino, Boston, Mass.,) Box 3357. Every one actively engaged in the study 9 of Natural History should send their address at once to secure insertion with an order for this valuable work, The name of S. E. Oassino is sufficient evidence to guarantee a superb work. “Our Birds in their Haunts,” 624 pages, small octavo, bound in cloth, print and paper excellent, is cheap at the retail price $2.50, at the advance o = der price, $1.60, it is almost a gift. Time for ads vance orders till March 3oth.: a Bells Vireo in Kansas. [Written For the Collectors’ Monthly.] This fussy, fidgetiy, little bunch of olive- grey feathers returns from the South to Kansas about the tenth of May, after which time his bright nervous cherrupy song is well nigh the only clue one has to the songster’s presence. Like all the small fry among our avifauna, the Bell’s Vireo is never still, and he isseldom silent. His worm hunting song has a hopeful ting, and his manifest industry merits a rich reward. His home in Hastern Kansas, is almost wholly among the osage hedges, (I have found but two nests in the orchards) beneath the very lowest branches of the osage, well on toward the tops. Inthe mainthe work of nesting is begun about the twentieth of May. ‘The work for a wonder is very leisurely done, two weeks hardly suftic- ing for its construction. The nest issad- dled to ahorizontalcrotch. Spider-webs, bark-strippings, grasses, and tiny co- | coons make up the exterior, nextis added in many normal nests, a layer of bark- strips from the often exposed roots of the osage; the bright yellow of which _presents a very striking sight in partly completed nests. The whole fabric is finished with a snug lining offine grasses, to which is added in rare cases, a few horse hairs. When to be readily found, paper is used. I recall one exquisite nest, now in Eng- land, that was largely made of bits of paper evidently made to-order by mice. The tiny white bangles clustered thickly THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. about the well rounded cups, betraying its owner, at last, as ostentatious beauty often does. Instructure thenests vary, some are shabby genteel, while the majority are delicately rounded and daintly finished; for the little workers would seem rapidly to attain. perfection. | I have found u few nests that seemed to have broken away, repeatedly from the branch on one side and had then been clumsily “‘togged” on again. -One nest found, in 1890, had a rag-tag and bob- tail foundation that swayed down ten inches below the nest. As perfect a nest as I ever found was made almost entirely of grasses. It was perfectly rounded and and deeply cupped, and lined. very thick- ly with the fine yellow stems of: the fox- tail. This was in its finish the work of a male bird, the female having been un- fortunately shot. The cupping is hemispherical in general, but a few nests are very deeply eupped. In such, one sees when they are occupied, but a bit of gray-tail; a*point of horny beak, and two keen Black beads of eyes. The locus of the nest is very uniform. It being almost always beneath the lower branches, thisfact givesanear by uniform height from the ground of about twenty inches. But very often the distance is from thirty to forty, and in one extreme case, the nest was five feet from the ground, although there were lower branches. The normal date when sets are to be found completed is about Juneeight. In 1891, the nesting was from seven to ten days later, for no apparent reason. 18 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. But the nesting time is remarkably Nesting of the King and uniform. Out of nine nests examined on Virginia Rails, June second 1890, six had the fullcomple- ment of four, and all but one set were fresh. At a point seventy-five miles farther West, June 10 and 11, in twenty nests, two sets of two, three sets of three and six sets of four were fresh; in three sets of three and four sets of four incuba- tion was began, while in one set of four | and one of three only was incubation far advanced (the nest containing the latter set was deeply hidden beneath a dense branch that almost trailed the ground, and yet it is the only nest out of about sixty which contained an egg of the cow bunting.) The normal egg of Bell’s Vireo is I should say a miniature of that of the Red-eyes Vireo, but relatively more elongate. The length is quite uniform. In most eggs’ the spots are small and diffuse, and nearer the larger end. An occasional eg is unspotted, One desert- ed nest contained two such, and another three. — Among my treasures is a set of four fresh eggs taken with their deep bulky nests, June 18, 1891. These are crystal white, and very uniformly blotched with cinnamon-red. While the spots on many ege's are brown these are the only red| The eggs of the Virginia, are much ones I have ever found, and the spotsare ; Smaller about 1. 24 x.91, but are mark- moreover unusually large. ed exactly like those of the former. I Bell’s Vireo is an arrant scold. One| know of no egg in which the lilac shell walks at leisure along the hedges, and | markings, show off to such advantage is positively panded ite Beat) atehon as those of the above species. aa koe and ieeaaanele SSnREIESG. The spots are more numerous about This continues until the intruder has! the larger end. From eight to twelve disappeared. When it is heard, the nest | eggs, is the usual complement. x v7) i is i ie . . al . . eee oe ae neubaiel My experience with the Virginia, as my Bi Having never had the ill-fortune to | note books show, has been that they do spend in Kansas the fiery months of July | not lay regularly every day, while the and August, I know nothing of this) gora does her work promptly every day. Vireo’s after-math of young. By mid Webber tia is Suen ochenmenn te ' eptember. the Vireo’s are gone. ether this is true in other localities or P. B. PEABopy. not I cannot say. [Written For the Collectors’ Monthly.] The general observer would character- ize these two species, by saying that both of them were larger, darker, and had longer bills and toes, in proportion to their size, than the Sora. This would be true but there are other characteristics, peculiar to these birds, that the student comes to learn as he is brought in con- tact with them. We must confine ourselves to the nest- ing habits however. | Both species begin to build their nests about the middle of May, and many in- complete sets may be found, for nearly a month later. The nests are somewhat more bulky, and havea thicker mat of reeds etc., on the bottom, than those of the Sora. Indeed, I have seen nests of the King Rails, that were from six to eight inches thick at the bottom. The eggs of both are much more delicate- ly marked, than those of theSora. Those of the King rail measure about 1.65 x 1.20. The ground color is a dull white or cream, with a slight tinge of lead color, being thinly spoted with reddish brown, and with lilac shell markings. a et, THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 19 Of the two, I think the King rail more | Notes on the Birds of Long Island. retiring. The Virginia may be seen fly- ing over the tops of the rushes, with legs dangling, when suddenly it disappears. During the latter part of the season, these birds, together with others of their nature venture out to the edge of the reeds quite frequently, probably because they are obliged to do so in order to get the insects, which the low stage of water affords them. Yours truly, Gro. A. Morrison. a The Black Pewee. - [For the Coilectors’ Monthly. ] The Black Pewee (Sayornis nigricans) resembles Junco hyemalis in general color, and his eastern brother Sayornis phoebe in habit. In this lucality, (San Bernar- - dino, Co., Calii.,) he is very abundant. A pair can be found near every farm house or bridge over running water. He is not at all shy, and will sit perched on a limb within a few feet of you. There is a dead tree near the window of the room where I ain at work every day, and atal- most any time I can see Mr. or Mrs. Pewee perched on one of the limbs, keeping: a sharp lookout for any insect that hap- pens to pass, when they see one they dart after it, and seldom come back to the limb with out it. They begin nest- ing about the 1st of April and lay two and sometimes three sets in a season. Their nest is like that of Sayornis phoebe. The eggs are from three to five in number, usually pure white, but often spotted with brown. Theeges are about 77x 57 in size. They generally lay in the same nest, all the sets of a season and if the nest is not destroyed, they will occupy it the next year. Ep. WALL. San Bernardino, Cal. By W. W. WorTHINGTON. [All articies by Mr. Worthington are original and written expressly for the Collectors’ Monthly. —ED.] (79) 173. Branta bernicia. Brant. (595.) Above bluish-brown, with pale edgings to the feathers. Head and neck and upper breast black. A few white spots on the sides of the neck. Under part gray, fading into white on the abdomen and tail coverts. Rump, tip of wings, bill and feet black. Length 23 inches. A regular spring and autumn migrant, sometimes remaining throughout the winter. Much sought after, and soon become very shy and difficult to approach. Breeds in the arctic regions, nesting on the ground near water. Nestofsea weed, feathers and down. Eggs four to six, grayish white, and measure about 3 x 2 inches. (SO) 174. Branta nigricans. Black Brant. (596.) Very similar to the preceding, but larger, and has no white on the lower eyelid. Length 29 inches. Recorded as a rare straggler to the east coast of U. S. and possibly occurs as an accidental visitor to Long Island. Breeds in the far north. Nest made of weeds etc., lined with down. Eggs five to seven, of a grayish white, and about 2% x 1% inches. (81) 175. Branta leucopsis. Barnacle Goose. (597.) Throat, cheeks, and forehead white. ‘Crown, lower neck, rump, tail, bill andfeetdlack. Wings bluish gray. Beneath bluish white. Length 28 inches, Possibly occurs as a rare straggler from Europe, where it breeds in the far northern parts. Nests on the ground. Eggs whitish, and about 3% x 2 inches. 50 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. Re t (82) 180. Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. (588.) Bill black, with an orange spot in Legs black. Length 55 inches. Pure white. front of eye. Of rather rare occurrance during the migrations, but captured occasionly within our limits. Breeds in the arctic regions, nesting on the marshes close to the water. Nest made of grasses, weeds and moss. Eges two to five, dull brown- ish white, and about 2% x 4% inches. (83) 184. Guara alba. White Ibis. (50I,) Plumage pure white. Length Head bare to the eyes. Tips of wings black, glossed with green. 25 inches. _A-rare straggler from the south. In southern Georgia, where this species is _ common. have always found them shy and difficult birds to secure. I never found them breeding, but a few of them was almost invariably found living in the vicinity of the heronries of the Snowy, Louisiana and Little Blue Herons, and keeping them company as they circled around overhead while their homes were being investigated. Breeds on the Gulf eoast of Florida and southward, nesting in communities, among the reedy islands along the Coast. Nest made of reeds. Eggs three to five pale grayish blue marked with different shades of brown, and about 2¥ x 1% inches. Plegadis autumnalis. Glossy Ibis. (503.) Crown and back, metall ¢ green. Rest of plu- mage chestnut-brown. Bill blackish. Length 20% inches . (S4) 186. A rare stragegler from south. Has been taken several times in New England. Nests among reeds, in swampy places. Eggs two or three, greenish blue, and 2 x 1% inches. (85) 188. Tantalus Joculator. Wood Ibis. (500.) Head and. neck bare of feathers. Plumage white. Primaries and tail glossy greenish black. Length 45 inches A rare straggler from south. Breeds in dense cypress Swamps in the interior of Florida, in the tallest trees. Nest made of sticks and twigs lined with moss. Eggs two or three in number, the shells covered with a whitish chalky deposit, sometimes spotted with pale brown, and about 2% x,1% inches. (86) 190. Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern. (497.) Above mottled with dark brown yellowish, and ashy on wings. Beneath streaked with brown yellowish and whitish on the breast. Throat white, with a central brownish line. A black patch on each side of neck. Length 27 inches. At the east end a rather uncommon migrant- Most common in the autumn. Frequents ponds which are grown full of rushes, and retired places along creeks. When wounded and approached they erect the feathers of the neck and head, which causes them to look quite formid- able. ‘One taken in December 1882” (Helme). Breeds inland and northward, nesting on the ground in thick marshes, making its nest of grasses and other vegetable matter. Lays four or fiveeggs, of a dark drab color, and about 2 x 1% inches. (87) 191. Botaurus exilis. Least Bittern. (498.) Crown ahd back greenish black. Back of neck, sides of head and parts of wings bright reddish brown. Sides of neck and large patch on wing brownish yellow. Beneath brownish white. Length 13 inches. A rare summer visitor, of very retiring habits, and not apt to be seen unless diligently searched for, in overgrown marshes and swampy open tracts. Mr. Knoess has found it breeding in the vicini- ty of Riverhead, and it probably breeds THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. in the marshes along the South side. It nests in its natural haunts mentioned above placing its nest on the ground or near it. The nest is made of weeds or rushes, and is not a very artistic affair. The eggs are four or five, pale bluish white, and about 1¥ x .9 of an inch. 6, 1892. Waynesburg PePak Feb. 6 Mr. C. H. Prince,—Dear Sir: Noted Mr. W. L. Morse’s letter to you in last Collectors Monthly regarding J. W. P. Smithwick using the names of other collectors on ficticious datas. notice among others the name of EH. M. Haight, Riverside, Cal., which prompts me to write this: Mr. Edward M. Haight died at the home of his parents in Riverside, Cal., May 8th, 1891. _ The Riverside Press in speaking of Mr. Haight says, ‘‘He was born in Mound City, Kans., and was 28 years, 5 months and 4 days lay at the time of his death. With his parents he came to Riverside over fifteen years ago and has lived here ever since, attending the public schools, and later persuing his chosen vocation of taxidermist and botanist. He was of a retiring, unassuming disposition, and devotedly attached to ornithological pursuits. Honest in all his dealings, pleasant to his friends, his loss will be greatly felt here where he has grown up from boy to man. His decease was not entirely unexpected as he had been suf- fering with that dread disease consump- tion for some time, and to which he fin- ally succumbed.” Very truly, J. WARREN JACOBS. So sseersse Spotted Sandpiper. - Actitis macularia. » On May 2, 1891, while walking Bie Sire shore of a small brook, I flushed a And | Spotted Sandpiper from aclump of grass. Going forward I discovered a slight cup _ shaped hollow containing three blades of grass. I returned in just a week. It was | some time before I found the nest as I | had not marked it accurately. After looking about for a while | was rewarded with a set of four pyriform eggs. They had a ground color of buff (which fades slightly after being blown) spotted and blotched with dark brown and am- ber. Average size .93x1.31 inches. This is one of our commonest summer residents. Large numbers of them are killed annually by sportsmen who are alter bigger game but becoming discour- aged use a maculairia as a target. A. FARMER. — > Granville, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1892. Cuas. H. Prince, EsQ.,—Dear Sir: I enclose 30 soe to renew subscription o “The Collectors Monthly,” for 1892. Your paper has steadily improved and shall be glad to see and read itassoonas issued. I start in a few days for a sever- al months collecting trip, going to sever- al points in California and finishing the season along the Mexican Border of Ari- zona or New Mexico. But wherever I go will have your little magazine follow me and shall read it as I have before insome very lonesome places. I wish you success. Yours very truly, F, T. PEMBER. = — <> SUCCESS. The following has been written expressly for the benefit of the readers of the Collectors Monthly, with the hope that some may find a few valuable hints and timely suggestions.—[Ep.j The theme is as old as the human race, yet though volumes have been written | upon the subject, itis still new to each successive generation, and assuming, as it does, new phases with the ceasless changes in society, it must indeed, be in- 22 exhaustible. To the mass of men, and especially to those who are about em- barking on the voyage of active life, no theme can be of deeper interest than this. Never before in the history of the world was competition in every calling so fierce as now; never did success demand for its attainment such a union of physical and intellectual qualities as it does at the present time. Carlyle truly says, “The race of life has become intense; the run- ners are treading upon each others heels; Woe to him who stops to tie his shoe- strings.” Nearly every proffession is over- stocked, and the only chance of success is for the man of single ability to climb to a lofty position over the heads of a hundred others. It was Webster, having been asked if one could succeed in law when there were so many lawyers in al- most every town, who replied, ‘‘There’s always room at the top.” To succeed in life, one should always make the most of their leisure, for the moment once passed is goneforever. The time spent by many in idle fancy, would, if concentrated upon asingle line of study, make them masters of almost any one branch of the sciences. Hugh Miller found time while pursuing his trade as a stone mason, not only to read, but to write cultivating his style till he became one of the most brilliant writers of the day. Franklin stole his hours of study from his meals and sleep, and for years, with inflexible resolution, strove to save for his own instruction every minute that could be won. Again, if one would be successful in life, they should do their work well, for it is good work that is always in demand. Said Charles Dickens, ‘‘Whatever I have tried to do in my life, I have tried with all my might to do well. What I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely.” Longfellow has defined THE COLLECTOR’S MONTHLY. the talent of success as nothing more than doing what you can do well, with- out a thought of fame. And so itis with every calling in life, if a person would suc- ceed, he must devote the whole stream of his activity, towards the accomplishment of some desired end. There is a very foolish idea advanced by some, that mere intensity of desire, can give intensity of power. As well might the tortoise hope by intense striv- ing to run as fast as the grey hound, or the monkey to acquire the strength of the elephant. Dryden says that, ‘What the child admired, the youth endeavored, and the man acquired.” All experience shows that it is the na- ture of genius to labor, and it has been said that nienty per-cent of what men call genius, is a talent for hard work. Facility of every kind comes by labor. Nothing is easy that was not difficult at first. The way to learn a lesson is to read the same dozen pages over and over | till you know every word in them. Well has the poet said, that, ‘The noblest undertakings Mens wisdom hath conceived, By oft repeated effort Hath been patiently achieved. A humorous person once thought that the reason why Nature is so perfectin her art and gets up such inconceivable fine sunsets, is that she has learned how at last, by dint of doing the same thing so very often. — The Spartan youth who complained to his mother that his sword was too short, was told to add a step to it, and so must scant capacity be increas- ed by redoubled diligence and a more earnest determination. Again, it is quite true, that some of the most successful and influential men of the present time owe their success: chiefly to luck and circumstance. A high spirited and popular leader lately illustrated the matter thus, ‘‘When I look around upon my competitors and consider my own qualifications, the wonder to me is, how Lever got the place I now occupy, I can only account for it by comparing the fo- rensi¢ career tu one of the street crossing in our great thoroughfares. Youarrive, just when itis clear, and get across at once; another finds it blocked up, is kept waiting, and arrive too late, though he be the better pedestrian of the two.” So powerfully does fortune appear to sway the destines of men, that some of the most sagacious of men seem to have been inclined to regard luck as the first ele- ment of worldly success. ‘Life is to short says a shrewd thinker, for us to waste; its moments in deploring bad luck we must go after success since it will not come to us, and we haveno time tospare. In spite of the struggles for success, it must be confessed, that it does not al- ways yield the happiness desired ; it may be said, and the poet has aptly express- ed it, that The lovely toy so fiercely sought, Hath lost its charms by being caugnt. But whatever the case may be, it is quite certain, that if happiness is not found in success, it surely is not found in failure. Again, while success is necessary to hapiness it must be remembered that it is purely relative term, or in other words, there are many degrees of success, among which the highest are neither at- | tainable by all, nor essential to felicity. A man may bea very successful lawyer, though he should fail of becomming Chief Justice of the United States Supreme | Court; a successful physician, though far inferior in skill to the greatest; or a suc- cessful merchant though he may never accumulate a tenth part of the wealth of a Stewart, a Girard or an Astor. If you wish to succeed, says a distinguished writer, you must do as you would to get in through a crowd to a gate all are done on eges of | to cross it. THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 23 equally anxious to reach. Hold your ground and push hard. To stand still is to give up allhope. Give your energies to the highest employmenc of which your nature is capable; be alive; be patient; work hard; watch for opportunities; be rigidly honest ; hope for the best; and if you fail to reach the goal of your wishes, which is possible in spite of the utmost efforts, you will die with the conscience of having done your best, which is after all the truest success to which man can aspire. ae Feathered Assassins. How THE “Roap RUNNERS” OF ARI- ZONA Kitt THEIR ENEMIES. The “road runners” are a species of garrulous, long-billed, long-legged birds of Eastern Arizona. They derive their name from their habit of running for hours along the trail, fearless and con- fident, before riders. They are in deadly enmity with rattlesnakes which rob their nests, and have formed a simple plan for the killing of their enemies. They find a rattlesnake enjoying his siesta; no hard matter, as he sleeps most of histime. On discovering him, the feathered assassins become very silent. They go about with hushed and cautions steps. With bitter zeal they begin the collection of pieces of cactus. These are furnished abundantly with thorns keener than steel needles. They make a small but completecorral around the dreaming reptile. He is absolutely fenced in with cacti to a hight of two or three inches. This feat a faet. the road runners throw off disguise and secrecy. They charge about outside the fence clam- orous and flapping their wings. Therat- tlesnake awakes. They reyile and scoff at him, and no doubt tell him of. outrage ancestral’road runners. Irritated and possibly somewhat dismay- ed, the serpant attempts to make off. He gets to the cactus barrier and assays The conspirators outside re- double their yells and wing-fiapping. They get around in his front and storm him with insults and epithet. As he attempts to cross, the spines, sharper than he thought, wound his 24 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. | throat, which on the under side is quite | tender. He draws back, his temper begin- | ing to rouse under the wounds of cacti | and racket of the birds. He tries to get out one, two, three, four times. Hach painful failure sees his rage increase. His eyes become flame, his head flattens, and dirty spots of dingy white occur on his body. At last, foiled and wild with rage, he strikes his poison-flowing fangs | into himself. Soon after he dies, while the fiendish road-runndrs shout their satisfaction. They remain until the rattlesnake is quite dead, and then depart arm in arm as it were talking it over in a light exultant way. Anhinga. Snake Bird is a name commonly given to it by the English in North America on } account of its long slender neck, its body being under water its neck has the ap- pearence of a snake rising erect out of the water as its swims. By some called the Darter its habits resemble Comorants, but neck, more slender and bill sharply pointed. The Snake bird frequents large rivers or back waters and may be seen resting motionless on some dead branch orsnag, whence it plunges beneath the surface, in pursuit of fish, showing little more than its slender head and neck. The nest is almost always in trees or bushes overhanging the waters edge made of sticks roots and moss, in which are laid 4 eggs and there is a very dis- tingusihable difference between the species of the New World and the Old, butin all ; the species the Neck, affords, the most re- markable and unique feature. Description of the Nests and Eggs of the Birds of Barnstable Co.. Mass. 364. American Osprey, (425.) Pantion haliaetus carolinensis. This bird is quite a common resident, here. I have observed several lately. I have never found a nest hereabouts, but | 366. American Long-eared Owl. there is every reason to believe that it does breed near here. The nest is generally placed in trees, but they have been found on the ground, and are often placed in tall shrubs. The usual number of eggs is three, sometimes not more than two. The eggs present a wonderfull variation in shape, size and — markings. The ground color.is generally | a yellowish white, spotted and streaked more or less thickly with dark brownand | amber. The size varies from 2.04x1.64 to 2.55x185. The average size however is 2.40x173. | Asio Wilsonianus, (395.) This nocturual bird is a resident of | temperate North America at large: Its | nocturual habits prevent its being obser- ved frequently, even when it is most com- mon. It feeds chiefly upon mice, ete. The nest is placed in various positions, such as hollow trees, stumps, old crows nests, erevices in rocks, ete. | The same nest is used for many years. The eggs are from three to seven in num-| ber and measure about 1.62x1.40. 367. Short-eared Owl. Asio accipitrinus. (396.) This common owl is found all over N. A. in larger or smaller numbers, as it is| found around marshes and thickets it gets the name of “Marsh Owl.” It is not as nocturual in its habits as some of the| other members of its family. It of course hunts its food at nights, but it also is seen on dark or cloudy days scaling over| the meadows and marshes in pursuit of field moles, mice and othersmall rodents. The nest is made on the ground and is generally placed beside a log. The ever range from three to seven in number, but the usual number is five. They measure about 1.52x1.20 and are a dirty whi in color. | C. C. PurpuM. THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. EXCHANGES AND WANTS. 80 words, 20 cts.; 1-2 cent per extra word. This column is open to all having Exchanges or Wants. Offersfor cash debarred. A strictly Exchange and Want Column. No notice inserted for less than twenty cents. pany all notices. For Sale or Exchage. A large lot of rare eggs for sale or Exchange, 'such as Booby, Ep acialsca, Whooping Swan, American White Pelican, Groove-billed Ani, Bird= ted Tern, Poor-will, and many others. Send list of rare eggs. No poor eggs wanted. Address C. H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. OTICE--TO EXCHANGE.—An excellent Eb alto trombone for oologists or taxidermists tools, books, rifle, shotgun, camera, field glasses, orany supplies needed by a collector, l’ll give _ some one a bargain. W. H. CONNER, Cleveland, Tenn. | VOLUME Ii, No’s. 1 to 12, inclusive of the Col- lector’s Monthly, sent postpaid to any ad- dress upon receipt of 40 cents. Address, THIS PAPER. : etary kinds of first class bird eggs in sets hi with data, have you to-exchange for twenty- ) five useful articles? Send list to, f C. H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. Envelopes No.6, by the hundred to exchange for first-class eggs. Send list to, COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY, 281 Main Street, Danielsonville, Cony. | (NOUE’S KBY.—Any one having a Coue’s Key in \ fine condition to sell or exchange, write us as we have four customers wanting to buy or ex- change for one, if in fine condition, | Address, C. H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. W. W. WORTHINGTON, Shelter Island Heights, N. Y. ‘Taxidermist! And collector of specimens in Natural History, Bird skins a specialty, which I endeavor to make up in first-class shape, and sell cheaper than the same grade of skinscan be bought from any deal- er. Send stamp for ligho? skins and eggs. I offer with full data:— Set of 3 eggs of Boat-tailed Grackle, postpaid, 15c¢ Set of 4 eges of Little Blue Heron, postpaid, 30c. Set of 2ege's American Osprey, postpaid, 75c. Set @ 3 eggs. mie My ef $1.00 Correspondence desired with collectors in any branch of Natural History, who desire honest ee mens at honest prices Ample reference if esired. CASH must aceom- Always mention this paper when answering ad- vertisements, It costs you nothing, and does us good, See our wants on first page of cover. _ Arthur’s Home Magazine and this paper 1 year for $1.30, price for Arthur’s alone, $1.50. ANTED, back numbers of the Auk,” of July 1890 and’91. Ail having such to dispose of we will give ‘good equivalent forsame.—cCollectors’ Monthly, = - Eggs of the Whip-poor-will in first-class sets with data, for which a liberal cash price will be paid, or good “Ex.” C; H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, Conn. To any one who will send us three New Sus- SCRIBES at 30 cts. each, (go cts. cash) we will send this paper one year FREE, ENTOMOLOGY FOR Entomologists IN THE APRIL NUMBER OF THE Collectors Monthly, THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 1869 issue. Also high values all other issues. Here you are, the greatest bargain ever offered in Oologists supplies, a Rare Eoos in Exchange: drill, (good for all fresh eggs to size including Fulmar and Stormy Petrel. Gannet, Manx, Shearwater, Rough Legged Buz-zard, Blue throat, Snow Bunting, Barrow’s Gol- den Eye, Iceland, Great er, an embyro hook, 5 in., engraved for 35c, postpaid. This is to intro- duce them as they are an entirely Blackbacked and Kitti- new thing. wake Gulls, Skua, Also datas, small per 100 15¢. Long tail Jaeger, etc., etc. 66 cc eee ies OS pede 100 of each 30c. CHARLES JEFFERYS, | JAMES P. BABBITT, Naturalist, | 12 Hodges Ave, Tenby, England. : Taunton, Mass. HISTORY OF THE amepicanstamps ESS Collectors’ of large Hawks), nickle plated blow-_ handle, polished, all in a neat case ey ee oat ae BIRDS OF KANSAS BY N. S. GOSS, This valuable addition to the Literature of Kansas is now ready for Sale. It is unnecessary for us to say to old residents of Kansas anything in regard to Col. Goss or his accomplishments. But to others we will say, that he was a lifelong Naturalist ; an enthusiastic in his chosen study ot » Ornithology ; a member of the Council of the American Ornithological 4 Union, and a recognized authority on his chosen subject. The book is | handsomely bonnd in full cloth, with gold embossed back and sides. There | are 693 pages, besides the photogravure illustrations of 529 birds. Price, — $7.50; delivered on receipt of price. Reduced prices for quantities. On account of the death of Col. Goss, all communications and orders should be | mailed to GEO. W. CRANE & GO., Topeka Kansas. oD) O/lo- (@-See W. L. Morse’s Adv. Last Page of Cover. .< rhe Collectors’ Monthly. hes Monthly Journal for ited. fishy 30 Gents a Year. Vou. 4 Dantei sonvite, Conn., Apri, 1892. No. 4. as AS _ GREAT BARGAINS aa Bird and Mammal I have well mounted, perfect SKiNS. svecimenus of COLEOPTERA BIRD SKINS. | — eorrectly named, to Exchange for | Every skin carefully labeled with name, | sex, locality and date. Identity guaranteed. : FLEAS re Ld apie \ i Pe NOS: , Price. ‘ | 262 Buff- breasted Sandpiper $0.75 Wy ’ + + < i. " > 3}. : ~ . 2 i from different animals. Fleas should | 203 White crowned Night Heron, 1.10 be sent in vials (packed in wooden | 325 White-tailed Kite, 2.10 ae rane ¥ .,, | 365 American Barn Owl, 1.50 _ box), with cotton moistened with | 410 Golden-fronted Woodpecker, -35 A Aiahol | 471 Vermillion Flycatcher, .60 i " 443 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, .50 i | | ~ s rT Complete data should ace ompany | 139 Green- winged Teal, .90 all specimens. | | MAMMAL SKINS. Thoroughly labeled with sex, date, local- ity, etc., and with skulls and: usually their leg bones attached. By express. F. O. B. (Felis pardalis), Ocelot, $10.00 (Vulpes Virginianus), Grey Fox, 3-00 All above skins are guaranteed first- class in every respect, Terms, Cash with the Order from all parties unknown to me. I guarantee my prices for mounting dried | skins lower than any other dealer. Send for Price-list; address C. F, BAKER, | ‘THADDEUS SURBER, Naturalist, Fort Gollins, Colorado. White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. \3 v Also, Coleoptera and Hemiptera for | Coleoptera or other orders. Correspondence Solicited. THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. The Collectors’ Monthly. | A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Study of Ornithology, Oology and Entomology. PROGRESSIVE, ee ny ee UE ae SCIENTIFIC Wane | Pala i CHARLES 'H. ‘PRINCE, ! Editor and Publisher, Danielsonville, Conn., U.S. A. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Invariably in Advance. Single Subscriptions, 2 3 : < 3Oc Foreign ES = - - 2 2 x 45c | Single Copies, Z - 3c each. | ADVERTISING RATES: One pitge, one insertion, - — - $5 00 | One Column, one insertion, = : = 2.75) | Half Coiumn, one insertion, “ “ - 150 One Inch, one insertion, = : - 60 Half-inch one insertion, - j - 35 Reading notices 15c per agate line, each insertion. 8@~Cash must accompany all advertisements. Write for special rates on standing advertise- ments. Interesting MSS. relating to either Ornithology, Oology or Entomology solicited for publication. Ag-Address all communications to the Editor | and Publisher. Entered at the Post Office at Danielsonville Conn., as second class thail matter. EDITOR’S DESK. ar ays enclose stamp when writing, to insure a reply. Subscribers whose subscription expires with this — number, please note that your name will be crossed oft our list unless renewal is received at once. Cash in full must come in advance; it is a waste of time and postage to ask us to insert an adver- tisement and send bill. i To any one who will send us three New SuB- SCRIBERS at 30 cts, each, (go cts. cash) we will send this paper one year FREE. Always mention this paper when answering ad- vertisements. It costs you nothing, and does us good. { Arthur’s Home Magazine and this paper 1 year for $1.30; price for Arthur’s alone, $1.50. We obtain patents for protection, not for orna- ment, Send for our valuable pamphlet. DuBois & Dubois, Inventive Age Building, Washington, D.C. Mention this paper. American Gardening is a journal devoted to flow- ers, fruit, vegetables, the lawn, window plants, marketing, etc, Only $1.00 a year. Rural Pub- lishing Co., Times Building, New York. ' the names and addresses of those you think ‘ In reply to the many enquiries which we have ~ received concerning the color, markings and meas- uremeuts of Sterna anexthetus /Bridled Tern), we give the following : Ground—Cream color with fine markings of reddish brown and lilacs, principally _ distributed over the larger end. Measurements: (millimeters) 47X35 (1.55X1.37 inches) 48X34 (1.88 X1.33) 47X34 (1.85-81.33), 48X34 (1-88X1.33). Thursday morning, March toth, dawned as beautiful as any spring morning, and as I was walking across the fields I saw the first Robin and Blue birds of the year. Their, clear, sweet notes which heralded the approach of spring, were quite refreshing. 1 think the date is one of the earliest recorded for this part of New England. ‘The first wild bird that drinks the dew, From violets of the spring, Has music in his sony, and in The fluttering of his wing.” The ArTHUR’s Home MaGazine will delight the hearts of its thousands of lady readers by the detachable coupon that comes with their Fashion Supplement. Any subscriber can fill it out, return to their office, and receive a glove-fitting pattern without cost. This is only one of the many thoughtful attentions shown to subscribers. We want the correct addresses of 1000 entomol- ogists at once who are actively engaged inthis ~ science. We ask every one who reads this to kindly contribute at least a few. So wemay place a sample copy of the same in their hands for inspection. Onr next issue is to be the finest ever yet issued. It willcontain bright sparkling illustrated articles on entomology, together with interesting items — upon various subjects in bird life. If you are not already a subscriber you should subscribe NOW for we intend making the May No. worth the price of a years subscription. A REQUEST TO OUR FRIENDS. Our frlends—among whom we trust are all the readers of the Collectors’ Monthly—have it in their power to do us very substantial service by recommending this paper to their friends and neighbors who are not already subscribers. The — Collectors’ Monthly aims at benefiting all who receive it; its article are original and practical; its tone is pure; its advertising pages are clean. — The price is so low that there are none too poor to subscribe. assist us inthis endeavor. Please doitnow. Be ~ sure that your friends include the Collectors’ Monthly in their lists. If you will kindly send us — ought to have the paper. We will gladly send — them specimen copies without charge. 2 IVE two cents stamps will get you a sample ~ of Arthur’s Home Magazine Philadelphia. Fs Agents wanted. We desire to place it in the hands ~ of every person throughout the country interest- 7 ed in Natural History, and we ask our friends to : | j 4 JHE GOLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. We are anxious to get everyone more interested in entomology,and asameans to gain that end we present all our read- ers this month with, ‘A Swarm of Bees. B patient, B prayerful, B humble, B mild, B wise as a Solon, B meek as a child; B studious, B thoughtful, B loving, B kind; B sure you make matters subservient to mind. B cautious, B prudent, B trustful, B true, B courteous to all men, B friendly with few. Btemperatein argument, pleasure, and wine, B careful of conduct, of money, of time. B careful, B greateful, B hopeful, B firm, B peaceful, benevolent, willing to learn; B courageous, B gentle, B liberal, B just, B aspiring, B humble. because thou art dust; B patient, circumspect, sound in the faith. B active, devoted; B faithful till death. B honest, B holy, transparent and pure; B dependent, B Christ-like, and you'll B secure. —$—>— ENTOMOLOGY. Perhaps, as this new department of our paper is opened up, a word of explana- tion will not be out of place. HEntomol- ogy is fast coming to be recognized as one of the most interesting of thenatural sciences. It always has been so thought of among a ‘“‘select few,’ but now it is drawing the attention of the masses. For diversity of habits, beauty of form and coloration, strange and interesting life-histories, and wonderfully complicat- ed anatomical structures, it is equalled by no otherclass of the Animal Kingdom. _ The number of species is immense while the number of individuals undoubtedly exceeds that of any other natural divi- _ sion of living beings, animal or plant. Devoted to Ornithology, Oology and Entomotogy. | is now very large and is rapidly increas- ing. The great abundance of, and the easy access to material, together with the simplicity and cheapness of appara- tus, has drawn the attention of all lovers of nature to the collection and study of insects. Among our subscribers are many entomological collectors and many who wish to become such. To these, and to any who, after looking the subject over find themselves thoroughly interest- ed, and to all entomologists of America, is this department dedicated. We solicit your support. Oe Fig. I. A Tiger Beetle (Cicindela vulgaris) A antenna, C clypeus, L labrum, A L anterior leg, M L middle leg, P L pos- terior leg, C E compound eye, H head. Insects, What they are. Insects belong to that division of The number ofentomological collectors | the Animal Kingdom. which also in- 26 cludes lobsters, crabs, millipedes, spiders. scorpions, ete. ed from these by the one fact that all full grown insects (See Fig. 1,) have six legs. This is why they are called Hexapoda— six-legged. The spiders have eight legs and the millipedes many, so they would not come in the class Insecta. ‘Insects also have many other striking characteristics. is divided into three distinct parts, head, thorax, and abdomen. On the head are a pair of jointed antennae or feelers, com- pound eyes, and often simple eyes or ocelli. ‘The thorax bears the three pairs of legs and the wings. The wings are usually four in number, but often there are only two and sometimes even none, Fig. IL Common Cabbage Buttertly. (Pieris rapae.) A close examination of—for instance—a, grasshopper, will reveal all of the dif- ferent parts very readily. In the hand- ling of insects they soon become familiar. The Different Kinds of Inseets. Having fixed in the mind the eharact- eristics of an insect, the next thing will be to learn to the different orders—ants, butterflies, and moths, flies, ete. < “easy “hatter, but it is often difficult re- auiping an wery specimen, ‘ However 5 after study distinguish beetles, Me. THY! vow Aeros. The scien tific’ names “ot the’ THE COLLECTORS’ They may be distinguisb- ' The body (See Fig. 1) | This may seem a very ! 7 close, examination of the , a. little ear ‘eful i and some practice the collector will be able to Nee place almost any insect | te orders can be léarned with very | MONTHLY. little trouble. Insects are roughly divid- ed into seven orders. These, with their — | distinguishing characteristics (applying only to adults), are as follows :-— I. Hymenoptera, which includes bees, ants, wasps, ichneumon-flies, sawrflies, etc. Hymenoptera have a complete me- | tamorphosis—that is, after hatehing from the eyes they appear like a worm and are called larvae. The larva, after completing its growth, changesto a pupa from which the perfect insect or imago, emerges. The insects after this never | grow any more. A metamorphosis is a change and the change here is complete. Insects of this order also have two pairs of membranous wings, which have few veins. Their mouth parts are fitted for both sucking and biting. | IL. Coleoptera, which includes the bee- tles (See Fig. 1). Beetles have a com- plete metamorphosis, mouth parts fitted for biting, and four wings but the first pair is stiff and horny. The second pair are folded under the first when the insect | 1s at rest. Ill. Lepidoptera, which includes but- terflies (See Fig. 2) and moths. Lepi- | doptera have acomplete metamorphosis, mouth parts fitted for sucking or sip- ping, and four membranous wings which are literally ‘‘shingled” all over with very minute scales. These readily rub off, as a fine powder, when the finger touches the surface of the wing. IV. Diptera, ineludes flies. which have complete metamorphosis and only two wings. Some flies closely resemble wasps but examine the wings and there will be ‘no room for doubt. V. Neuroptera, includes dragon-flies, devil's darning needles, may-flies, caddis- ilies, ter mites or white ants, ete. Neur- optera Have a complete anetamorphosis, biti ng mouth ‘parts, and four membran- — ous’ Wines ‘Which’ have many veins (i. e.- a THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. net-veined) and which are almost alike. VI. Hemiptera, includes plant-lice, leaf-hoppers, bed-bugs, stink-bugs,chinch- bugs, squash-bugs, and all true bugs. Bugs have an incomplete metamorphosis, that is, the change is incomplete. One could tell at a glance that a young bug (called a nymph) jnst out of the eve was a bug, it looks like the adult. The mouth parts are fitted for piercing and sucking. Both pairs of wings may be alike or the first pair may be partly leathery or horny, something like beetles, for which some of them are often mis- taken. 27 the collector is—shall I colleet in all or- ders or take up only one at a time? -If collecting is done in all, it will of a-neces- sity not be thorough in any one. Whrere so many are dealt with, confusion -will arise, aud the collector's knowledge of entomology will consist merely of a “‘jam- ble” of facts. Then there are different methods of mounting in almost every order. Ifeach is dabbled in, it is very likely the collector will never be expert in any. It is far more advisable to take up one order ata time, becoming tolerably familiar with the differentforms and their habits, becoming an adapt in mounting Fig. IIT, Parts of a net. VIL. Orthoptera, includes grasshop-| them, and by thorough and systematic pers, locusts, crickets, cockroaches and | collecting to bring together a valuable earwigs. plete (young called nymphs) and the mouth parts are fitted for biting. The first pair of wings are thicker than the second and like parchment. The second pair is thin and membranous, and when at rest, folded a number of times, length- wise, along the back. What to Collect, The question which first comes up to The metamorphosis is incom- | collection, one to be proud of. For number of species (there are prob- ably over ten thousand in the U. 8.,) in- teresting forms, and diversity of habits, undoubtedly no order equals Coleoptera. There are probably morecollectors in this order than any other. Lepidoptera are also interesting to collect and they make a fine show when well mounted, but they are very difficult to mount and a really 28 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. fine collection of Lepidoptera is a very | firmly set and the bottle dried out, fit in rare thing. If we begin on something easier and work at that with patienceand perSeverance for a time, we will be ready for something more difficult bye and bye. Consequently, for a time we shall confine ourselves to the study and collecting of beetles. ° Apparatus for Collecting Beetles. The apparatus needed isextremely sim- ple and may be prepared almost without cost, especially if the collector be blessed with a little ingenuity. The essentials are cyanide bottles, nets, pins, tweezers, and cases. a tight cork and it is ready for use. The length of time necessary to kill the beet- les can soon be determined. Some die easily while others hold to life very ten- acicusly. Fine tweezers may be obtained from dealers for from twenty five to sev- enty five cents. Passable tweezers may be made from heavy brass wire, a piece of which is bent double and the ends filed down to the requisiteshape. Several sizes will be found useful. A stout water net for dreging ponds and pools is a very necessary article in collecting water beetles. The ring should- | be of three-sixteenths iron wire and about Butterfly net. Fie. 1V. A durable and convenient cyanide bot- tles can be made from any medium sized. wide mouthed bottle-for instance- a vas- eline bottle. Place in the bottle about half a dozen pieces of cvanide of potassium of the size of peas. Then pour over them enough plaster of paris mixed with water (to about the consistency of thick cream) to just cover them. After the plaster has | deep and tapering to a point. | For beetles use cheese cloth instead of netting. | one foot in diameter (See Fig. 3). The | net may be made of cheese cloth- onefoot It will be found a good plan to first cover the ring with stout cloth and sew the cheese cloth to that. The whole may then be mount- | a . ed in a stout handle—a broom stick an- swers the purpose very well. Another net tor dry collecting (See Fig. 4) may be THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 29 ade in the same way except that the | tight fitting covers, should be used. The net part should be between twoand three | paper should all be cleaned off and the eet deep. box sand papered and varnished. Good - Only the best German made insect pins ; pith may be obtained by splitting large should be used. The ‘‘Klaeger’”’ is a good | corn stalks once in two, and triming off brand. They cost ten cents per hundred | the hard outside. The pieces may then and are sold in packages of five hnndred. | be glued or tacked close together over the iFor very large beetles No. 4 are used; for | bottom of the box. Sheets of cork three middle sized, No. 8; for beetles down to/ and one-half by about twelve inches one- | about one-eight of an inch wide—No. 2.| eight of an ineh thick can be obtained All beetles too small for No. 2 should be| for five or six cents a sheet. The cork or “mounted on triangular slips of thin bris- pith should be neatly covered with thin, | tol board, which are placed on No.3 pins. | clean, smooth, white paper, which may | These triangular slips should be uniform mon and convenient size being one-third | of an inch in length, and the base about | one-sixteenth of an inch, or a little less, | broad. The point should not be too fine too thick. [tis to much work to measure them out. After a little practice, by us- ing strips of bristol board one-third of an inch wide, and a sharp knife or pair of scissors, the work can be done ‘“‘by eye” quite rapidly and accurately. Cases muy be obtained ranging: in price | from $1.00 to nothing. The latter would undoubtedly be more acceptable to the _ beginner. A cabinet of almost any kind is an unnecessary and costly thing. comes bulky enough to need one. ‘boxes are properly made, and tight, they ean be neatly piled on a shelf, on the foor, or any where. Probably the most con- -vefient size for the cases is nine by thir- teen inches, and two inehes deep inside. close fitting covers, which may be hinged, -ornot. A good cabinet maker -penter should make such cases of pine, very cheap. Neat little cases may ’ made of common cigar boxes with tight fitting covers. Only. those with even, or 4 | in size and carefully cut the most com- | nor yet too blunt, nor the bristol board | It | will be some time before the collection be- | If the | ~They should be made very tight, with | sar. | be: be fastened by glue around the edges. How to Mount Beetles, PINNING. All beetles should be pinned (See Fig. 1) ‘through the right elytron (wing-cover) on a central line and about one-third of the distance back from the front end of the wing-cover. The beetle should be ex- actly square on the pin.» When the pinis perpendicular, one side of the beetle should be just as high as the other, and the an- terior end as high as the posterior. All specimens should be at exactly the same height on the pins. Perfect uniformity | means everything in the collection. They are at the correct height when the back of the insect is one-third of the pins length from the head of the pin. A small pill-box of just the right depth will enable us to run the specimen up to the proper height. ' Antennae and legs may be placed in a | natural position by means of the tweezers. Mounting Winute Beetles. ‘ } Small beetles are mounted on the | triangular slips. These are pinned through the broadest part near the base ‘and runup to the same height as the backs of pinned specimens. The pill-box scheme will enable this to be done quite rapidly. The slips should stand outfrom | the pin exactly at right angles. To 'mount a beetle on one, hold the pin in 30. the left hand by the lower end,—the slip pointing towards the left. Now place on the tip of the slip a small amount of glue LePage’s Liquid Glue answers the pur- pose very well, There should be such a small amount of the glue that it will not be observable after the insect is mounted- While the pin is thus held, place the bee- tle across the glued end, so that the head will be directed away from the oper ator, and the back be uppermost. If lying on either side it should be the right side, bringing the back towards the pin. Don’t be satisfied until the insect is periectly square on theslip. Nothing reflects more discredit on a collector than a collection in which the specimens are pinned at all heights on the pins and in all directions on the slips. Don’t mount mutilated specimens or allow them in thecollection. It might be allowed, were the specimens very rare, but not otherwise. A little care bestowed on each specimen as it is mounted, will make the whole a “ thing of beauty.” Where And How to Collect Beetles. The old rule for collecting so often repeated is ‘look everywhere.” This is rather indefinite, but still is the best general rule that can be given. The number and variety of specimens obtain- ed will not depend so much on the extent of territory passed over, as the manner in which itis done.. The eye should be trained that nothing however minute or obscure could escape its notice, and then, “look everywhere.” Experience will soon show us the best collecting grounds. Many beetles will be found under loose objects lying on the ground, suchas logs, boards, stones, leaves, bones excrement, dead animals, . ete. Picking over the debris cast up by storms and freshets often. proves, very remunerative. Many nice things live or hibernate under the THE COLLECTOR’S MONTHLY. bark of trees and logs. Beating bushes and trees over a sheet, or an umbrella (turned upside down), should also be frequently tried. Sweeping the open mouth of the deep net quite forcibly through grass, weeds, and low herbage, will often secure large quantities of material. Many water-beetles can be obtained by dredging ponds and _ pools, especially along a muddy bottom and among water weeds. - The different kinds of fungi which grow on the sides of trees and logs, harbor many species of beetles. Collecting about all kinds of flowers should be persevered in as long as there areanyin bloom. The collector often strikes a veritable “bonanza” about” street, electric or gas lamps, water bee- tles, especially, sometimes being found in countless numbers. They may be taken from the lamp globes, or picked up on the ground underneath. In col- lecting, ‘“‘ perseverance” is the watchword. A dozen places may be examined and not a thing found, while the next one will be alive with beetles. Labeling. Every pin should bear a label, vet the | labels should be just as small and few in | number as possible. Lucality labels for any state can be purchased ready print ed. This and a number referring to the | ‘“Accession Catalogue” is all that is_ necessary. Some collectors do not use the accession catalogue, but specimens | with data are worth a great deal more than those without. The accession cat- alogue contains simply the number and gives the exact location, and particular circumstances under which the specimen was taken. Jialarge number of speci- mens were found in the same place they i would all go under the same accession | number. The labels should be made as” small as possible, neatly cut; and run | well up on the pin. mivn, N.Y. - Philadelphia, | Boston. ) the most careful packing. ‘be sent in a wooden box. _ rough THE COLLECTORS’ MONT HLY. 3) Where to Obtain Supplies. An old and reliable dealer, and one who keeps all entomological supplies on hand, is John Akhurst.78 Ashland Place, Brook- Others are Blake and Co., and M. Abbot Frazar, Their catalogues should be sent for. — Where to Get Specimens Identified. Specimens will be identified for col- lectors, by sending them accompanied by return postage, to ©. F. Baker, Collins, Colo. All specimens should be numbered, and duplicate specimens of the sume species in the collection should be correspondingly numbered. there are many duplicates, two specimens of each species should be sent, then one set can be returned. of the species is possessed, it should beso stated in particular. Mr. Baker reserves the right to retain any specimens he may desire, the remainder will be returned. | Generally, the specimens kept will be | very few in number. plete list of the names will be returned. Sending Insects by Mail. Fort | Where | Tf only one specimen | In any case a com- will go into itin a wicieemens business- like manner, and by careful observation and study, makereally valuable additions to scientific knowledge in this line. The science is comparatively new and there is a vast field for original research. Any interesting observation will be gladly printed in this paper. Also any question in connection with this subject sent to Ye Editor, will receive careful attention ig answers appear in these columns. CHRYSIS. Georgia Bay as a Collecting Ground. (Written for the Collectors’ Monthly.) In 1881, I spent the month of June on Georgia Bay. I planned my trip with- out any knowledge whatever of the locali- ty. I wanted observation of the breeding of the water birds, and I thought I might find it there. Taking a boat at Colling- wood, I went directly to Little Current, on Manatoulin Island where ! set up my tent, making excursions in various directions ina new boat. The Islands / are innumerable, and range in size from Insects can only be sent with safety by | They should A piece of cork is securely fastened to the bottom and the pins are sunk very firmly into it. This box, with a great plenty ofexcelsior | or cotton around it should be packed in- | side of another box or else wrapped in stout wrapping paper, Ifit is carefully done, and according to ‘ Hoyle,” the specimens will travel without injury. What has been given above is a mere outline, intended only as a “starter.” All of the various points It this most interesting of all collecting, , bred very those comprising thousands of acres, down tio mere rocky shoals. At first I was much disappointed, for in most of those parts, bird life is not at all abun- dant. The only land bird which for some time called my attention with interest, was the white throated Sparrow. Its song was heard in every direction, and, of course, it bred quitecommonly. Crows commonly every where, and ' made their nests low down in the black raised will be taken up again during the | future, and discussed more in detail. is earnestly hoped that all'who take up | b | | ! | spruces. The Dusky Duek was occasionally seen, and bred sparingly.- This was the only duck proper on the Island in the north- ern part of the bay. The shores are too rocky and abrupt, and the waters too lacking-in vegetable growths, to afford feeding erounds. The Merganser (J/irgus THE COLLECT al ORS’ MONTHLY merganser), was aie common. I saw the females almost every day. The little Sand piper (spotted) was quite common, making a very neat nest along theshore. I also found one nest of the Bittern (Botaurus minor), on high ground in a little grove of the young aspen. My most interesting item in nidification of land birds coming to notice was the nest of the Nashville Warbler (Helmin- thopilla ruficapilla). “Scrambling along the edge of a marsh, where the thickly strewn windfalls of cedar make my way exceedingly difficult, as I stumble and nearly fall, striking the muzzle of my gun on the fallen timber; a Nashville Warbler flutters over a pile of rubbish with that peculiar tremor of the wings which every oologist well understands. Knowing that thisis a ground builder, I make diligent search for the nest throughout many square feet around but allin vain. Mean while the bird lingers in the bushes in the immediate vicinity, uttering the soft whistling tsip, quite peculiar to itself.” The best way to find anest thus eluding the first effort, is to hide away in the vicinity, and await the return of the bird ; after two such efforts I found the nest wnder the dry grasses of the year previous, trailing thickly along the ground, at the root of a bush. It was “‘a frail shallow little affair, of fine dried grasses, lined with bright red stems of pedicels of moss-copsules, and a black vegetable production, looking asif pluck- ed from a man’s beard—perhaps old moss-pedicels blackened from the weather; evidently no animal product, from the manner in which it burns when held in a flame. This slight structure is tucked away in athick bunch of hypnum/mosses, so that I took up the moss as a part of the nest. The five eggs, well on in in- cubation, about .62 x .50,are clear white, sparsely specked and spotted all over with light red and reddish-brown, the mark- ings thickening into blotches at thelarge end. (The passages in quotation are froin ‘‘Our Birds in their Haunts’’). This species was very common in the locality, and I became quitefamiliar with its song; anda bird’s song, is to me, one of the most charming items in the study of ornithology. Fortunately this oneiseasily reported. Itisacomposition; for the first part is as nearly as possible like that of the Black-and-white Creeping Warbler, and the latter part is like that of the Chipping Sparrow. Passing to the main-land in the north, to a Hudson’s Bay trading post, called La Cloch, and thence up into the La Clouch Mountains, I found the bird- life morevaried. Hereaselsewhereabout the bay, I was surprised to find the Wood Thrush common. In the Hast, it is rare already in southern Maine. Here was also the Olive-backed Thrush. The' Brown Thrush I found common threugh-. out this region. I had expected to hear the divine song of the Hermit Thrush in this high latitude—almost up to Lake Superior, but in this I was disappointed. In the La Cloche Mountains, I found the Warblers abundant. The Black- throated Blue Warbler, the Yellow-rump or Myrtle Bird, the Yellow-backed Blue, the Black- and-yellow D. macuiata—and the Chestnut sided. Here I found the nest of the Black-throated Green Warbler, June 17th, containing four young partly fledged. It wasin asmeall hemlock tree some twenty feet from the ground, a few feet from the trunk, and where the limb devided into several small boughs. The foundation was of fine dry twigs of | hemlock and shreds of bark of the white birch, then bits of weeds and fine grass, | dried rootlets inter mixed with usuea—a_ common article in this locality—fine grass, - some feathers and a little horse-hair, In my next article, I shall describe my | enter esting experience with the water birds, on the Western Island of thissame | Bay. J: H. LANGILLE. ; THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. BXCHANGES AND WARTS. $80 words, 20 cts.; 1-2 cent per extra word. This coluinn is open to all having Exchanges or Wants. Offersfor cash debarred. A strictly Exchange and Want Column. No notice inserted ‘for less than twenty cents. CASH must accom- pany all notices. [i Amoskeag, N. H., Feb. 19, ’92. | Mr. C. H. Prince, | DAR Sir:—You are making a great hit with your paper. itis improving steadily. Everyone ‘is speaking highly of it. Yours Respectfully, A. M. FARMER ib WANTED: Humming birds, any species, inlarge or small quantities, if fine birds, in full plumage, first-class and well mounted—For which I will give good ad- vertising space in this paper. Address, ; C. H. PRINCE. Danielsonville Conn., He you read W. L. Morses “ad’’ on last page of cover? He has bargains for you. E ; Dwerat SANDERSON. 142—4 Ave., Detroit, Mich. WANTED. A fine first-class mounted Scarlet Tanager, with data, if sent postpaid, for which we will give good advertising space in this paper. ORNADAY ‘‘Taxidermy and Zoological Col lecting’’ sent free to the person sending us 12 ‘new subscribers at 30 cents each, : | CoLLECTORS’ MONTHLY, TO EXCHANGE. __ The following eggs in full and original sets with data complete. (A. O. U. No’s) 115%, 197,221 1-9, “811%, 388%. 466a%%, 501%, 507%¢, Blib 2-4, 530%, 601 1-5, 619% 1-5, 622%, 62414, and 759b%g. Will ex- change any of the above for any of the following ‘first-class original sets with data. 27, 29, 31, 34, 86, 75, 83, 86, 90, 180, 155, 228, 264, 285, 298, 301, 336, 475, 486, 494. 593, 689, 701, 731. 743a, 754, 765, and others, send list to, CHARLES H. PRINCE, Danielsonville, - Conn. | FirTy EGGs OF THE STORMY PETREL (Mother Carey’s chieken.) And a few handsome sets of the KITTIWAKE GULL to exchange for desirable sets that we are in of need SEND LISTS TO | CHARLES H. PRINCE. Danielsonville. Conn. 5 Egg Drill, Blower and BIRDS EGG Hook. Nickel plated, in pock: t case, postpaid 3c. (reg. price 60c.) Tlus- trated Catalogue 4c. stamp. Naturalists? Supplies- CHAS. K. REED 262 MAIN, WORCESTER, Mass. VOLUMN Il. NO’S. 1 TO 12 inclusive of the Monthly, (or any 12 No’s. that you may desire.) Collectors’ A thirty word exchange notice, and back num bers of the Oologists Advertiser, all for a 50 cent postal note. As the above liberal offer holds good for only the next THIRTY DAYS It will pay you to send at once. ADDRESS, | Collectors Monthly. } } } \ A Mag afferent Picture | of Niagara ae 18x24 inches, A fine Par- lor piece for best offer in first-class birds eggs. Send lists to CHARLES HU. PRINCE, Pelee. W. W. WORTHINGTON, Shelter Island Heights, N. Y. ‘Taxidermist And collector of specimens in Natural History, Bird skins a specialty, which I endeavor to make up iu first-class shape, and sell cheaper than the | same grade of skinscan be bought from any deal- er. Send stamp for listof skins and eges. I offer with full data:— Set of 3 eggs of Boat-tailed Grackle, postpaid, 15e Set of 4 epe's of Little Blue Heron, postpaid, 30c. | Set of 2 eggs American Ospr: eys postpaid, 75. Set af 3 eggs. by $1.00 Correspondence desired with collectors in any branch of Natural History. who desire honest specimens at honest prices Ample reference if | desired. ' Conn STUFFED BIRDS, 1 wn | scientific, also, BIRDS’ SKINS, many rare and beautitul plumaged birds for Taxidermists use at rock bottom prices. % BI RDS EGGS, a full stoek. MINERALS will suit. MISCELLANEOUS. GAME BIRDS on PANELS, Verns,ete. flying on plush panels, HMADS of LARGE GAME, on shields, GOLDEN BAGLE, BALD EAGLE, and many other large birds with WINGS SPREAD, OWLS, on fancy stumps, single or in GROUPS. } FIRE SCREENS. RUGS, MATS. etec., made to | order, PRICES the LOWEST. Write for prices. nlany showy specimens | » on hand, at prices that | ENCLOSE STAMP WITH ENQUIRIES JAMES P. BABBITT, 12 HODGES AYE, | TAUNTON, MASS. THE COLLECTORS’ MONT HLY. : | Baird’s | Gadwell, _ Baldpate, ~ Am. / upon receipt of price. Collectors, Attention |!! The (ollowing sets are first-class in every respect — and as represented. These are a part of my priy-— ate collection, the balance ol which wil] be listed © each month. Collector’s wishing to secure these | bargains will do well to order early as I have moe few duplicate Bets No, eggs in set. per egg Pintal ; Redhead, American Hider, ~ Roseate ge Limpkin, Black Oystercatcher, Poor- will, Lutescent Warbler, Parula Warbler, Prothonatary Warbler, Least Vireo, Sharpe’s Seedeater, Grey-headed Junco, Hepatic Tanager, St. Lucas Robin, Oregon Ruffed Grouse, =. Chachalaca, “————- St. Lucas Cactus Wren, Loon, Inca Dove, Gila Woodpecker, Audubon’s Oriole, Lesser Scaup Duck, ——— Red-throated Loon, Long-billed Water-thrush, n- Sharp-tailed Finch, Yellow Legs, Fla. Red-shouldered Hawk, Swainson’s Fiawk, W. Red-tail Hawk. Sage Thrasher, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, do W nite-headed do Sooty Grouse, eres mt _ ae ~ =) + =) 7 =I Oop OO pPurbiu NOE HOW} ho _ C=) 1 its) fe oe Oe a a a Oe) NwWUa HN Ey ein & iS} Passenger Pigeon, White-crowned Pigeon, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Bewick’s Wren, Mt. Song Sparrow, Mountain Chicadee, = Wilson’s. Phalarope, Great-horned- Owl, Northern Shrike, Flamingo, Cinnamon ‘Teal, Lark bunting, mee Any of the above ees will be sent post pai The first person sending 1 a $25.00 order can choose eggs to the amount $30.00 from above list, W. L. MORSE, No. 6 Onondaga Co, Sayings Bk., Syracuse, N.3 / ; ay an i =AwWouraIt Wh ~ vente cut Mee seeseohir ) THE COLLECTORS — / dl Devoted to , eta and Entomotogy. Ae ry A Bug-Collector’s Outing. We were to spend the day in the hills— collecting. Naturally enough, I was con- siderably excited over the prospect. I at once proceeded to “load up” for “big game.’ The number of pill-boxes and pill-bottles that I stored away in my pockets was something astonishing. I filled the bottles each about half full of alcohol and pasted a little label on the outside for data. The boxes I intended for pups, bunches of eggs, larve, and all “sich like; the bottles were to be filled with the unlucky inhabitants of rifled ants’ nests, and with various other in- sects. It was too early for butterflies and moths, so the nets were left behind. After providing myself with several cya- nide bottles and a pair of tweezers—for picking up the ‘‘ wee ones’’—I was ready to embark. A pleasant drive over the intervening prairie country brought us to the hills, and we drove up a canyon (which the sun shone down into, bright and warm,) for somedistance. Theendsof the ‘“hog’s back” rose up steep and rocky on either hand. A spring bubbled up on one side, and on the other was an irrigation reser- voir with a little stream running from it. I first turned my attention to the spring. I found that numerous unlucky little beetles, attracted by the reflection from the water (or perhaps they were thirsty af- ter their winter nap), had fallen in. I res- cued them from the “drink,’’ but only to commit them to the cyanide bottle— “outof the frying-panintothefire.”’ Run- ing ere over the , ay spot border- ing the spring, ! found numerous little Bembidii—many of which were new and interesting tome. Hopping about very lively among the grass and over themud, were found numerous specimens of a cu- rious Heteropteron (Hemiptera). A small, very agile, coal-black leaf-hopper (Jasside Hemiptera) was also found, but it was difficult to capture them. I now went up onto the roadway and began to turn over stones lying along it. Here I began to collect in real earnest. Every stone covered a treasure—some a perfect musuem of insects. Leaf-beetles, lady-birds, ground-beetles, snout-beetles, tenebrionids, spiders and myriapods, were one and all hustled out of their snug winter quarters and into theeyanide bot- tle, or vial. Pupa and larve were picked up carefully and deposited in pill-boxes, to be taken home and reared. The spi- ders were placed in vials provided with a liquid which I had prepared before start- ing, by mixing three parts of alcohol, one of water, one of acetic acid, and one of glycerine. The acetic acid,counteracts the shriveling effects of the aicohol and prevents bleaching to a certain extent. Where I found a certain kind of larve quite numerous, I placed: specimens of it in the above mixture. Where only afew of a kind were found, they were.saved for rearing. On the opposite side of thé canyon, un- der some stones lving by the'edge of the stream—half in the water—I found large numbers of water bugs and'beetles: | Nu- erous specimens of Hiydrophilus, Aga- ‘1s, and a large Hydrobatid water-bug ere secured here. Gathered in a cluster, ader one large stone, were found about | venty specimens of a curious beetle of ie family Parnidae. I also made other ch finds of water beetles on the under - des of some sticks and boards floating 1 the reservoir. In taking these out of ‘ne water I reached down carefully—with- cut jarring them—got a good firm hold, nd then threw them high and dry on -hore. Seramble as much as they would, got all the beetles before they could ,each the water again. The spoils were rich, and I grew very iuch excited as the chase progressed— olling over one stone after another, and oropping beside each on my knees, to ‘peer with bated breath” into the ex- osed cavity. Surely, any one not initi- ted might have supposed me “gone daft,” or a crazy prospector. But the ‘ours fled rapidly by, and the time for eturning soon came. I could hardly pull myself away, but even asit was, I had ‘nough material to keep me busy mount- ag, labeling, etc., for some time C. F. Baker. Ft. Collins, Col., April 16, 1892. oe Wiger Beetles. Favorites among collectors aud liter- ally “tigers” among insects, these bee- ‘les (family Cicindelidae) are the most iighly developed of all Coleoptera. Ex- ceedingly agile, they (with some éxcep- ‘ions) revel in the hottest sunshine, sporting about over sandy spots (es- vecially those bordering water) and dry -oadways, which are exposed to the heat of thesun. Ocean beaches,.and theshores of rivers and: lakes, sometimes swarm with them. One species,—Cicindela 6- guttata,—has. been: taken under the bark vb THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. he of decaying logs, and is also frequently found along shady roads through deep woods. ‘Tiger beetles are difficult to see, and still more dffficult to capture. When disturbed, they jump into the air—fiy to varying distances in almost a direct line—and then alight as abruptly as they started. ; There are sixty-nine species of this family listed as being found in America north of Mexico. These are included in four genera. Amblychile has one species (quite rare) cvlindriformis—a curious, large, dark. wingless form found in Kan- sas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The next one—Omus—has eleven species, all found on the Pacific slope. The species of this and the last genus are nocturnal in hab- its. Tetrachahas two species, both found in the Gulf States, one—carolina—occur- ring as far north as the Middle States. They are larger than the ordinary tiger beetle and have prominent eyes. In one species—virginica—the whole dorsal sur- face is deep green, while in the other— carolina—there are two large light spots at the ends of theelytra. Dimmock says that T. virginica is most active during twilight. Of the fifty-six species of the genus Cicindela, som@ are found in every State of the Union. Fig. V. Wing covers of tiger beetles. A. —C repanda. B.—C. 12-guttata. C.—C. hirticollis. D.—C. 6 guttata. E.—C. pur- purea. (somewhat enlarged.) These beetles, in color, are of varying shades of black, green, or white (or a combination of these), often with a pur- plish reflection, and many are marked with light spots of varying size, shape, and position. Some are of a clear color throughout, that is, dorsally. The aver- Og ene ee ee THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. e age size in length is a little more than half an inch. In the last number of the ‘‘ Monthly,” figure 1 represents C. vulgaris, a very common species in the Northern States. It isabout five-eights of aninch in length. The ground color is black or bronze- black, and the markings are dirty white. C. repanda (see figure 5—A) is about seven-sixteenths of an inch long, lighter colored than ©. vulgaris, and the shoulder bars are curled instead of straight. C. 12-guttata. (see figure 5—B) is a variety of C. repanda with the markings partly obliterated. C. hirticollis (see figure 5— C) is very similar to (C. repanda, but is larger, darker, and the markings are heavier and continuous at the outside ‘edges of the clytra. C. 6-guttata (see figure 5—D) is a beautiful, slender; deli- cate species about half an inch long, brilliant metallic green incolor, with four or five white dots on the posterior half of each elytron. C. purpurea (see figure 5—E) is nearly five-eights of an inch long—in color, of a beautiful purple, or greenish purple, edged with green, and with three white spots on each elytron. Thecolor of the spots on all these species varies from white to a vellowish white. It is quite a knack to capture these lively fellows. Watch one as it flies up, keeping the eye on it, and then after it alights, steal carefully up, holding the net near the ground. When within easy reaching distance, carry the net near to the beetle; then, by a quick movement, bring it down over your quarry. How- ever, quite often you will find only a “dull, empty void’’ under the net—where the beetle should be. They often escape. Besides being very interesting, these beetles make a fine appearance in the collection, and are, consequently, much sought after. Some Illustrations. It is very much easier to understal | any point from a simpleillustration thi from a lengthy description. Fig. VI. Beetle on Slip. Figure 6—A represents a small beetle mounted on aslip. The body of the bee tle should always be at right. angles to the pin and parallel to the plane of the slip. Immediately under the slip on the pin is asmall label, bearing the name of theState and the accession number, which in this case happens to be 1180. In the columns of the accession catalogue it mieht appear like this :— he 2 ail < =33, ae a’s No. | Locality. | Date, | Colleetor. stairs oh oj | Podunk, c = John Under bark 1180 [Poo UN | 4-21-98. Jones. of b’ch log. Under the locality label is another small label with the name of the col- lector. Any collector into whose hands this specimen might fall, would know to whoseaccession catalogue to refer for the data regarding it. Figure 6—B repre- sents a mounting slip—exact size. Figure 7 may afford the collector some pointers as regards cases, and arranging insects in them. The cutis intended to represent a case well fitted for the work - ing collector, both as regards size and shape. @ o>. 36 THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY Each side piece of box and cover is composed of one piece of wood, as are also top and bottom. The wood should be well seasoned (pine will do), and the joints and top and bottom should fit evenly, and be securely and tightly fas- tened. The dotted lines represent lines drawn on the paper in the bottom of the box, dividing the space into four or five columns. The insects are arranged in rows in these columns—the label for each species being at the extreme left hand side of each column. These boxes are nine and three-fourths by thirteen and three-fourths, and two and one-half in- ches deep—out ide measurement. Inside they are twelve and seven-eights by eight and three-fourths, and two inches deep. They should not cost more than fifty cents each, at the very most—if made of pine. ~~ Seme Books for the Collector. As the collection begins to grow insize, one of the first books that it will become necessary for the collector to get, is Hen shaw’s List of Coleoptera. This is a numbered check-list of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico. Itcosts $1.25, and has twosupplementscosting twenty- five cents:each—all of which may be ob- tained of. Geo. B. Cresson, P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Penn. This book is almost. indispensable in exchanging, while,by means of the numbers, the work of arranging the collection is very much lessened. Folkowing on, familiarity with the more common species, will come a de- sire to obtain definite and exact knowl- edgeregardiny the special characteristics of each family and genus, and the man- ner in which they are separated. This can be attained through careful study, aided by Leconte and Horn’s Classifica- tion of the Coleoptera of North America, which may also be obtained from the above dealer. Price, $2.50 per copy. A little work on general entomology which covers the whole subject in a gene- ral way, and which also contains much jiformation useful to, the collector, is Packard’s Entomology for Beginners. This may be obtained for $1.50 from A. E. Foote, 4116 Elm Avenue, Philadel- phia, Penn. A much more complete work is Packard’s Guide to the Study of In- sects, and it costs a great deal more. It may be obtained of the last named deal- er. Price, $4.50. CuryYsIs, —<——— About Collecting Near Carrion. About collecting near carrion, Mr. E. V. Beales (in ‘‘The Colorado Sun’’) says :— “Tt may be news for the young col- lector to know that a dead cow, horse, or mule, is a regular gold mine for the collector, especially for the evleopterist, and I have also noticed that many of our most beautiful butterflies are captured around the dead carcass. “There are a few suggestions which I wish to make in regard to collecting in the neighborhood of dead animals. Al- ways approach them on the windward side; be sure and put on an old pair of gloves; never handle with your fingers any insect taken in the immediate neigh- borhood, but use your forceps for put- ting them into the cyanide bottle, and be careful not to allow a fly or any other insect to settle upon you. THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. ““ While the dead cow offers a rich field for collecting, it will be better to shun it altogether, unless you observe the above precautions.” There is such a thing as being too cau- tious, but if the collector wishes to be on the safe side, it will be well to keep the above suggestions in mind. i Notes on the Birds of Long Island. By W. W. WortTuHINGTON. [All articles by Mr. Worthington are original and written expressly for the Collectors’ Monthly. —HED.] (88) 194. Ardea herodias. Greai Blue Heron, (487.) Large. Above bluish ash color. Head black, with a white patch onforehead. Tibia, and edge of wings rufous. Under parts widely striped with black and white. Neck brown, with a central line of white from the throat, containing streaks of rufous and black. Iris yellow. Length 42 inches. A common Spring and Fall migrant, occasionally remaining to breed, in re- stricted localities. [ am quite certain a pair bred on Shelter Island last season (1891). “Sometimes seen in summer. None breed in this vicinity” (Helme). I visited a heronry of this species in South- eastern Georgia on March 27th 1890, where perhaps thirty pairs were breeding, The nests were placed in the topmost branches of mammoth pines, from 50 to 75 or more feet up, and practically in- accessible. At this early date the young were nearly or quite full grown, and one was shot by being mistaken for an adult. The eggs must have been deposited in February. The old birds showed great solicitude, and would.alight. directly over my head, being then however a good gun shot from the ground. Nest a flat plat-. form of sticks. Eggs four or five, pale | blue, and about 24 x 1X inches. 37 (89) 196. Ardea egretta. American Egret, (489.) Pure white. Back with long thread like plumes, extending far beyond the end of che tail. Bill ap Shes except at the tip. Feet black. Length 39 inches. A rare straggler from the South. I saw an individual of this species on Gardiners Island in the summer of 1884, which was exceedingly wary, not allow- ing me to approach by the most careful “sneaking’’ even within rifle range. I formed a much closer acquaintance with the species during the first days of May 1888, visiting a very large colony, then breeding in a large swamp in McIntosh Co., Georgia. As I approached the uest- ing site, after penetrating the labyrinth, close in the rear of my negro guide, the birds rose in a white cloud, with an almost deafening clamor, then settling gracefully on the top branches of the tal- lest trees, with their elegant plumes way- ing in the breeze, forming a picture never to be forgotten. The nests—slightly hollowed platforms of sticks and twigs, were placed well up, in the tallest trees. I was too late for the eggs, as the thickly scattered fragments of pale blue shells showed that the nests contained young, to which was added the concluding evidence of the ceaseless clamor of the young themselves. When I fired a shot the birds would rise with a great squak- ing, and cirele high over the tops of the trees, being joined by large numbers of other species of the same family which nested somewhat by themselves in other parts of the swamp, then if all remained quite, they would separate, and settle in the vicinity of their various homes. The eggs of this species are pale blue, and about 24 x 1% inches. (90) 197. Ardea candidissima. Snowy Heron, (490.) Pure white. Head with a long flowing crest. Back with longrecurved filamentous plumes. Length 25 inches. 38 THE COLLECTOR’S MONTHLY. Tue beautiful Snowy Herons arerather rare summer visitors to Long Island, and may rarely breed. I have never met. ““T saw one with them at the East end. at Mount Sinai Harbor April 16th 1879, and shot one, from a flock of 18 or 20, on Aug. 4th of the same year’’ (Helme). In the swamp mentioned under the pre- ceding species, there were more Snowy Herons breeding than any other species. A few were nesting in the branches of low bushes and briars under the trees occupied by the American Egrets, but the bulk of them were breeding almost entirely by themselves, in a thick fringe of low bushes around an open pond. Here their nests of sticks literally cover- ed the bushes, in some cases being within a foot of each other, and about all from three to eight feet from the water. They contained from three to five pale blue eggs, about 1% x 1% inches, all far advanced in incubation. (91) 199. Ardea tricolor ruficollis. Louisiana Heron, (492.) Above dull biue, becoming chestnut on the neck. Throat brownish cream. Under parts white. Breast and crown with lanceolate, snd back with long filamentous plumes. Length 25 inches. Possibly a rare straggler to Long Island from the South. Recorded from New Jersey. I have found this species breeding in Southeastern Georgia on several occasions, but in each case only a few pairs, near a much larger number of other species, and the nests were placed at an intermediate distance in elevation, between the green and snowy herons, and American Egrets, but this rule may not apply in all cases, but only where the trees and bushes occupied afford the proper conditions. Eggs three to five, pale bluish green, and about 1% x 1¥ in. country have been completely demoraliz- (92) 200. Ardea cerulea. Little Blue Heron, (493.) Slaty blue. Head and neck purplish. black. Bill bluish. Length 22 inches. Occurs as a rare straggler in late sum- mer or autumn, in the young plumage (white, except the bluish tips of the wings) I received a specimen on Aug. 16, 1881, from a gunner, who said he saw two, this one wasafemale. ‘I saw an adult at Mount Sinai, in company with the Snowy Herons above mentioned”’ (Helme). In the McIntosh Co., Georgia, heronry was a colony of about 50 pairs of the present species, which nested en- tirely by themselves, in a very secluded part of the swamp, half a mile or more from any other species, in low bushes in a small pond. Nest slightly hollowed platforms of sticks. Eggs three to five, pale greenish blue, and about 1% x 1% im. Legs Demorlized Birds. (For the Collectors’ Monthly.) Some of the birds in this part of ae ed by the recent snow storm. A friend of mine was coming up town in a horse car last Friday morning, when the driver stopped his horses, got out of the car and began cutting with his whip at a Wilsons Snipe which was sitting ina tree over the pavement. A few other Snipes have been seen in the outersection of the city. Another party reports having seen & Wood-cock in the business center of the city, and the crows have been Bie on the chimneys of the houses. Wn. H. FISHER. Baltamore, Md. March 7, ’92. Springville, N. Y., March, 6th 1892. Mr, C. H. Prince, DEAR SIR: Collectors’ Monthly received this ‘noon. Con- tinue to send same. Your littlejournal is an ex- cellent paper and would not be without it. Yours respectfully, Dr. A. Ms So THE COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. 39 er The Western Meadow Lark. One of Kansas most loved birds is the Yellow-brested Meadow Lark, subject of my sketch. He is loved by all. Youth and age alike, and though the school- boy often throws a rock at him; it is done more in play then from emnity. It is needless to give time when he arrives for he stays with us in the winter months, and on sunshiny winter mornings, here in Southern Kansas, you can see him around the barnyard or granary or in fact any place likely to supply him with food. His good spirits and happy ways brings him before the notice of all, for he will perch himself on some neighboring fence, post and sound those short yet musical notes of song for which he is noted. Swift of wing, though very tame and hardly capable of fright at approaching man, he is without a peer among South- ern Kansas feathered friends. I confess his nesting ang the date thereof are con- fusing subjects of narration. Ihave been compelled to almost believe he nests from the last of April until September 1st, by appearances, but the sets I have taken would not bear me out in this statement, for they are by reference to my note-book confined to June and July. In searches through meadows for whatI might find I have flushed no less than thirty birds which I was confident had nests, spring- ing up not over eight or ten paces from me. Though marking the supposed place as I thought, I would be totally unable to find them, though I have hunt- ed for something over one hundred and fifty nests the past year, I have been un- able to secure but about seventeen sets. Their methods of nesting are far from what one would expect from this friendly, naught-fearing bird, in one thing—nest- ing—they are sly. growth of green. They select a meadow where a portion of the prairie grass of the previous year’s growth has not been burnt off, and, of course, tufts of this old grass, stuck up here and there, surrounded by the recent They pick out, as a suitable nesting place, one of these tufts of old grass, and burrowing back di- rectly under the tufts, then hollowing out to a depth of five or six inches an im- promptu nest, they fill this cavity up to a certain depth with blades of old prairie grass, and have a nesé suitable for their wants. I have never observed, nor do I think anything but the grass enters into the composition of the nest. At theclose of the past season I invented (?) ascheme to secure their eggs and successfully lo- cate their nests. For the brief season which remained for trial, it worked very fair, though nothing but partly incubated sets were found. My scheme was to cut a bunch of straight switches, say one-half inch in diameter and about three feet long. Have one end sharpened, and on the other end a small piece of red flannel. Now wait till dusk of day and traverse some meadow. At this time, when dark- ness is falling, the Lark will not rise un- til you nearly step on him. One flushes! —at your feet the place! Stick down a stick and passon. Go around the next morning and gather them up. This may seem arduous to my brother collectors, travelling at random over a meadow in this way, but when [ tell you that in this section of the State you are quite likely to leave twenty or thirty flags on a very few acres, you will see how numerous they are, and how well a person might succeed with this ruse. Iam going to try this plan again this season, and if it is productive of success. I will tell you later. Roy F. GREENE, Arkansas City, Kansas. 40 [For the Collector’s Monthly. ] Whe Long-billed Marsh Wren. (725.) Cistothorus paustris. The little bird is one of the most inter esting little fellows Lever met. It hasa very sweet little song, butits ery of alarm is sharp, and hard to describe. While walking through the marsh you will oc- casionally see their bright eyes watching your every movement. This wren has a peculiar fashion of building more nests than it can use, Many times I have observed as many as five or six nests, all built apparently by the same birds, yet only one nest was used by them. This nest building habit, some observers ¢laim is a mere pastime, They infer that the bird builds these ex- tra nests for fun, but it seems to me more plausible to believe that they build them in order to better conceal their real nest. Their nest ¢xternally resembles a mouse nest, being a mere ball of grasses, attached to and woven in with stronger reeds which support it. They are usual- ly about 8 ft. above water. The bird enters its nest through a small aper- ture in the side usually below the center; so as to be invisable to a person looking at the nest fron: above. The usual complement of eggs is 6 or 7, but nests have been found containing 9 eees. They'very greatly in coloration, some being a very dark brown all over, others having a very dark ring around the larger end, and spotted more thinly over the rest of the surface with a‘ lighter shade of brown, while still others are white spotted eventy with reddish brown. Their average size is .65x.45 in: - .Mpruin C. JOHNSON, Nivsil ne So. Dakota. ee COLLECTORS’ MONTHLY. _ Eggs to Exehange. We have just received a large consign- ment of eggs from the Bridish Isles, and | are constantly receiving and exchanging egus. Ifatany time you have any de sirable sets to exchange send list, stating wants, ete., and we will do as well by you if not better than any other party, as we have a large stock to select from. Address, CHARLES H. PRINCE. Danielsonville, Conn. A Snow White Swallow. Ornithologists in Paris are much inter- ested in the discovery of arare bird in the shape of a svow white swallow. This novel specimen of the feathered tribe came to life lately in a nest which was built by the parent under the eaves of a glass roof covering a courtin the extensive manu- factory of a tradesman residing in the dis- trict, of Grenelle. The white bird was born with two black specimens, one of which: flew away as soon as it was fledged, whereupon the tradesman, in order to keep the other two, transformed the glass roofed court into a temporary aviary. Photographs have been taken of the snow white swallow, and will be sent to the leading naturalists of the city, one of whom went t> Grenelle in order to study the feathered curiosity. This gentleman was, however, too late to see the bird alive. It perished probably because too much care was taken of it, or through © fright at thenumbers of people who came to stare at it as a natural curiosity. The dead bird will now be stuffed and sent to the museum at the Botanical Gardens, where there is already a white magpie, which still ives and hops about among its companions, from which itonly differs | in color.—Paris Letter. 044 te 188 295 il als 4 ee. Sige emg Be rr art ease hm id Aad