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FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

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" Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
, With charm of earliest birds." — Milton.

ff

A Monthly Journal devoted to the Study of Birds and their Eggs.

Edited hy S. L. WILLARD.

VOLUME IV

UTICA, N. Y. :

Published at No 27 Oneida street.

/A /^ ^ipfL'-hxff^O'c^

CONTJSJSfTS 0£' ^^OL TIME IV

Subject. Page.

OOLOGY,

A Nondescript Egg [Illustratiou], . 17

— A Plain Egg, 26

A Stray P^gg, 19

Breeding Habits of the Hooded Oriole, 49
Coues on the Nest and Eggs of the Water

Thrush (Siurus na'vius), . . 57
Lines to the Meadow Lark, .... 1
"Sef^t aud Y^friTS o{ Empidonaxtrailii, . 85
Nest and Eggs of the American Bittern, 73
Nest and Eggs of the Blue-gray Gnatc'r, 86
Nest and Eggs of the Chestnut - collared

Bunting, 79

Nest and Eggs of the Clay-col'd Bunt'g, 50
Nest and Eggs of theCurve-bil'd Thrush, 74
Nest and Eggs of the Texas Thrasher, 75
Nesting Habits of the Black -and- White

Creeper, 1

Nesting of Accipiter fuscus, ... 76
Nesting oi' Buteo jiennsylvanicus in a Hem-
lock Tree, 51

Nesting of Confopus virens^ ... 34
Nesting of Swainson's Thrush [lUus.], 93
Nesting of the Barred Owl, ... 77
Nesting of the Black-throated Bunting, 58
Nesting of the Canada Jay, ... 27
Nesting of the Horned Lark in Central New

York [Illustration], .... 9
Nesting of the Large-billed Water Thr., 10
Nesting of the Sharp-tailed Finch, . 6G
Nesting of the White-rumped Shrike, . 2
Nest of the White-bellied Nuthatch, . 65
Note on the Nesting Habits of the Sparrow

Hawk, 58

Note on the Nesting of the Black Tern, at

St. Clair Flats, Mich., June 7, '78, 26
Oology from California, .... 10

Parasitic Birds, 85

Practical Oology, 34

Seasonable Suggestions, .... 06

That Nondescript Egg, 25

The Sharp-tail. Finch, its Nest and Eggs, 41

Things Oological, 33

Travesty Extraordinary, . • . ■ 11

Two Nests o{ Icterus halti7nore, . . 42

Oological Notes for March, 1878, . 3

May, .... 19

June, .... 27

January, 1879, . 43

February, . . 51

March, . . . 59

April, .... 67

May, .... 78

June, .... 87

Summer, ... 95

Oological Items, 3, 11, 50, 65, 76, 86
Editorials.

Subjects OoloyicaUy Considered: —

I. Attachment Displayed by Birds for

their Eggs, 44-52

II. Confidence and Adaptation, . 60

III. Oological Memoranda, • . 68

IV. On the Relation of Nidification to
Certain other Habits of Birds, 80

V. The Proximity of a Nest Indicated

by the Demeanor of the Parents, 88

VI. Reflections, ...... 96

Minor Subjects : —

— A General Cabinet, • • • . . 20

— How to send Bird's Eggs by Mail, • 36

— Our Cover, 4

— Professor Joseph Henry, . . . 12

Ei>iTOuiAL Notices, 4, 5, 12, 20, 36, 28,

53, 68, 80, 88, 96

American Ornithology.

Acadian Owl, The, ...... 38

A Day's Spring Shooting, • " . . 82
A Note on the House Sparrow, . . 15

CONTENTS

Another — More About Nomenclature 7

Barred Owl, The, 21

Bird Arrivals, 6

Caracara Eagle, The, 83

Compar. Scarcity of the Scarlet Tauager, 92

Cow Bird a Polygamist, The, ... 7

Vlockmg o^ Quhcalus ])urpureus^ . . 15

Flamingo, The, 72

Great-tailed Grackle, The, ... 53

Hybrids, 6

Jay of the North ; Canada Jay, The, 14

Le Coute's Thrasher, 99

Note on the Olive-sided Flycatcher . 98

Notes ou the Dusky Grouse, ... 98

On Changes of Habit among W'dp'kers, 91

Other Side, The, 23

Reflections upon the Habits of the Purple

Finch, 13

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, The, . . 30
Studies on Certain Fringillidce, —

Grass Finch, 31

Tree Spari'ow, 37

White-throated Sparrow, . . . . 71

Black Snow Bird, 90

'^Tip-up," 22

Utility of the Crow, 38

Yellow-winged Sparrow, The, . . 47

Exotic Ornithology.

Brush Turkey, The, 54

Condor, The 39

Gigantic Kingfisher of New Holland,

The, 100

Gilded Cuckoo of Africa, The, . . 70
Great Moa, The, [Illustration] . . G3

Harpy Eagle, The, 28

Nandou ; South American Ostrich, The, 5

Souffriere Bird, The, 32

Voyageur Pigeon, The, [Illustration] 46

General Items.

8, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 62, 72, 84

Recent Publications.

American Natixralist, 16

Birds of Florida, 32, 48, 56, 72

Birds ol New York, 84

Birds of North America (B. B. & R.), ... 56
Birds of North America (Jasper's), .... 64

Birds of the Colorado Valley, 64

Bulletin of the National Museum, 64

Familiar Science, 56, 84

Dlustrations of the Nests and Eggs of the Birds

of Ohio, 48

Ineligibility of the European House Sparrow in

America (in Am. Nat.) 40

Meteorologist, 84

Naturalist'and Fancier, 48

Naturalists' Directory for 1878, 32

Nests and Eggs of American Birds, . . 8, 72, 92
Notes on Certain Species of New England Birds, 24
Notes on the Occurrence of Mieropalaina hiinan-

topus in New England, 8

Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas, 64

Nuttall Bulletin, 40

Photographed Birds' Eggs 92

Science Observer, 48, 84

Temperence Vedette, 32

Town and Country, 72

Valley Naturalist, 32, 64

Wesley's Book Circular, 32, 64

Miscellaneous Items,

7, 8, 15, 22, 31,
69, 70, 71, 90

Illustrations.

Coloi'ed Plate of Birds' Eggs,

facin<j 73

A Nondescript Egg

Egg of Horned Lark, ....

Nest and Eggs of Turdus swainHoni,
Skeleton of the Great Moa, . .
Voyageur Pigeon, . • . • • ■

17

9
93
63
47

Advp:rtisements, . supplements and last

leaf of cover.

5logi??ti

MARCH, 1878.

h

No. I.

LINES TO THE MEADOW LAEK.

L FIELD bird free, would I with thee

1, Thy liberty could share,

J! And '»\ng and lly, mid earth and sky,

With naught for me to care ;
How love I thy sweet strain to hear

From 3'on j^rass-covered knoll ;
It sounds as though thj^ freedom, were

Echoed from thy very soul.
Thou'rt free to roam, for thy wild home

Is in the meadows broad ;
Thy grassy nest on yon knoll's crest,

Thou conceal'st from man abroad.
But when the j^ear, approaches near

Its cold and wintry end.
And meadows sear are bare and drear :

Then lield bird, thou must haste to
spend
Thy winter in a warmer clime.

Nesting Habits of the Black-and-
White Creeper( Mniotilta varia).

^^/#ONTRARY to the rule among our
■ If j Warblers, tliis species has a breed-
^ ing rauge apparently co-extensive
with its North American habitat," which
embraces the whole country east of Kansas.
Audubon relates that he found it breeding
in Texas and Louisiana, one nest being "in
the prong of a broken limb not more than
ten feet from the ground," and others in
holes in trees. Nuttall saw a nest near
Boston, "niched in the shelving of a rock,
on the surface of the ground." Dr. Brew-
er states, that, so far as he knows, it al-
ways builds on the ground, but mentions a
nest found in the drain of a house at Bat-
ternits, New York, which was 8i inches in
external diameter, 2^ inches in internal, and
with a cavity one inch deep ; composed ex-
ternally of coarse hay, and compactly lined

with horse-hair. Mr. Nuttall's nest was
of coarse strips of inner bark, mixed with
old leaves and grass, and lined with hair.
Mr. Burroughs describes a nest " upon the
ground at the foot of a stump," where the
color of the young harmonized perfectly
with the bits of bark, sticks, etc., lying
about.

This bird, then, seems to build upon the
ground a neat and compact nest of vegeta-
ble substances, which is sometimes arched
above like that of the Golden-crowned
Thrush, but which is usually protected by
an overhanging rock or log. They meas-
ure about three inches in external diameter
and are equally deep. In New England
the eggs are laid by the middle of May.
They " vary in shape from a rounded 10 an
oblong oval, and in size from .G*J to .75 of
an inch in length, and from .51 to .53 of
an inch in breadth. Their ground color is
a creamy-white, to which the deep red
markings impart an apparently pinkish
tinge. They are marked more or less pro-
fusely with bright red dots, points and
blotches. These vary in number and dis-
tribution. In some they are very fine, and
are chiefly confined to the larger end. In
others they are lai'ger, more diffused and
occasi(jnally there are intei-mitigled marks
and blotches of slate-color. The effect of
these variations is, at times, to give the ap-
pearance of greater differences to these eggs
than really exists, the ground color and the
shade of the red markings really presenting
but little modification."

These Creepers feed their young with
zealous and affectionate attention, carrying
them smooth caterpillars, ants and the like
in the presence of spectators without alarm
so long as the nestlings are untouched. But
if any interference is attempted, the parents

THE OOLOGIST

almost throw themselves into the despoiler's
hauds. This Warbler's nest seemed a very
favorite repository for the eggs of the Cow-
bird {Mohithrus pecoris), as many as five
of whose alien eggs have more than once
been found in it. Ernest Ingersoll.

Nesting of the White -rumped
Shrike (Collurio excubitoroides).

BY D. H. EATON.

fPHIS bird is one of our most common
-^ summer visitants, arriving about the
first of April or middle of INIarch, and stay-
ing until late in the fall, or even in some
cases remaining in the vicinity during the
winter.

On April 16th 1877, I found the first
nest of this species ; it was built in an osage
hedge, about four feet from the ground, and
in plain sight from the road. 1 kept watch
of it, visiting it every afternoon. The birds
seemed not at all disturbed by my doing so ;
on the 19th it contained one egg, on the
20th two, and so on, one a day till the 24th,
when it contained six, and on the 25th I
took it, shooting the female for satisfactory
identification.

Although I visited the nest every day,
the birds did not seem at all disturbed ; on
scaring the female from the nest, she would
take her position on a twig near by and ut-
ter a harsh grating sound ; presently the
male would join her, and they would both
take their stand close to the nest, giving ut-
terance to their cry, but on my withdraw-
ing my hand they would quiet down, the
male would fly ofl^, and the female return
to her nest, while I was still standing with-
in two feet of her treasures. 1 have, at
times placed my hand on the female when
on her nest before she would leave it.

On April 17th I found a nest of the Log-
gerhead Shrike (C. ludovicianus) contain-
ing five eggs ; this was built in an osage
hedge, about five feet from the ground, and
in plain sight from the road. On this day
I also found a newly made nest of C. excu-

bitoroides. On May 2d I found a nest of
the White -rumped Shrike containing six
eggs, built in a hedge by the side of the
road ; the eggs had been set on for a day
or two. The nest was built about seven
feet from the ground, higher than I have
ever noticed their building before or since.
On May 8th I found a nest of this species,
in the same hedge as the one found on the
2d, and not six rods from the site of the
first nest. As they were the only pair I
had seen in that vicinity, I concluded that
the nest was built by them as a second at-
tempt at house-heeping. I watched the
nest until it contained four eggs ; leaving
it till the next day in the hope of getting a
larger set, when I went for it I found some
rascally boy had pulled the nest partly down
and smashed the eggs. That was a lesson
to me to let well enough alone, and brought
the truth of the proverb ''' a bird in the
hand," etc., home to me with practicable
force. Nothing daunted at their second
failure to rear a brood, the same birds built
a third nest, this time in a detached osage
bush, standing close to the fence in a pas-
ture, and within a stone's throw of their
former useless attempts. This nest I ob-
tained with a set of five eggs on May 24th.
The birds made a great outcry when 1 took
the nest, lighting on the bush close to me,
uttering their harsh cry, and expressing in
the strongest bird language their indigna-
tion at iny robbery of their home. This
pair of birds had built three nests, and the
female had laid fifteen eggs in twenty-two
days, an example of perseverance under
difficulties seldom met with. After their
third failure I saw them no more.

On May 22nd 1 obtained a nest and set
of seven eggs. Nest in same situation as
previous ones. On June 12th I took a
walk to Manteno, and, obtaining permis-
sion, went over the farm of Mr. Lebean.
I found one nest of the Shrike containing
five eggs, and several other nests with one
egg or only just completed.

These birds invariably build in osage
hedges, and in nearly every case in hedges
by the roads ; I have found but very few

THE OOLOGIST.

nests built even ten rods from the highway.
Their nests are large and easily seen, as
the osage does not put forth its leaves till
late. The female hatches two broods a
year. The nest is an inartistic structure,
built of various materials ; one wliich I
have before me, is built of grass, weed-
stalks, and fine twigs, with sheep's wool
mixed in, and lined with fine grass and
wool. Another has the outside of grass,
and quite large twigs of the osage, togeth-
er with wool, paper, and feathers, while the
inside is lined with grass, cows' hair, horse
hair, wool, and the long tail feathers of the
common fowl.

The eggs are from five to seven in num-
ber, and vary somewhat in size. The
ground color is dull white ; the markings
are of a light brownish color, overlaying
some of a pale lilac. Some specimens are
very sparsely spotted, while othei'S are al-
most completely covered. In some speci-
mens the markings congregate at the larger
end, and form a wreath, but generally they
are distributed quite evenly. The eggs of
this species and C. horealis are so exactly
tilike as not to be distinguished with cer-
tainty.

Oological Notes for March.

In one of the copies of The Oolo(;ist
which you sent me I saw an article relating
to the Chipping Sparrows building their
nests upon tiie ground. While out collect-
ing two years ago, I found a Chipping Spar-
row's nest on the ground at the foot of a
tall weed. The eggs and nest were like all
others of this species that I have ever seen,
also the bird, though it was very wild and
flew about when I went near the nest.

D. J. Stillman.

I DO not know Avhether it is uncommon
or not for the Crow Blackbird to use the
nest of another bird, but I have seen an in-
stance of it. Several years ago a pair of
Robins built their nest under the eaves of
our house, and on top of the tin spout where
it runs for a short distance almost horizoa-

tally between two brackets. The Robins
had used this nest with slight repairs every
year since, but in the summer of 1876 a
pair of Crow Blackbirds took possession of
the nest and raised a brood there.

W. T. Warrick.
The collecting season has already opened
in the vicinity of Rutherford (N. J.), in-
asmuch as on the 22 of March I discovered
the nest of a Broad-winged Hawk situated
in a small chestnut tree about fifty feet from
the ground, containing two eggs, and on
March 26 I discovered a nest of the Red-
tailed Hawk containing tliree eggs, situated
in a bass-wood tree about seventy-five feet
from the ground. On March 30 found a
nest of the Great Horned Owl in a pine
tree about thirty feet from the ground, con-
taining two young four days old.

J. A. FULLERTON.

[The Broad-winged, Red-shouldered and
Red-tailed Hawks seldom have complete
sets of eggs before the 15 or 25 of April in
New York ; in our correspondent's region ,
the birds have nested early. — Ed.]

Broad -vv^iNGED Hawks beginning to
nest, March 20 ; House Sparrow, M'ch 1 ;
Blue Birds looking about for places to nest,
M'ch 23. D. D. Stone.

Two Robins commenced to build their

nests here (Evanston, 111.) on March 31st,

and abandoned them as soon as completed.

W. H. Ballou.

A NUMBER of interesting articles wo have
been obli}j;ed to reserve for our April num-
j ber, among which are two or three papers
of great importance to oologists.

We expect to publish, in the course of
the summer and fall, an exhaustive paper
on the nests and eggs of the North Ameri-
can Ardeidce, to be illustrated by an engrav-
ing of the typical egg of every known spe-
cies. This feature of our journal will make
it invaluable to every young student of or-
nithology.

THE OOLOGIST

Tfte ©bro^ist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

MARCH, 1878.

E^UKATUM. — 28th line, 2vA column, 94th
page of our February issue, for climing read
climhing.

Our Cover. — We are proud of our cov-
er. The design, we have reason to believe,
is an excellent one, and contains at least
fewer inconsistencies than our old heading ;
yet, we have no donbt some critic will seek,
and that all our readers anticipate, an ex-
planation of the picture and the objects rep-
resented therein. It was our aim to incul-
cate in the reader an admiration for nature,
and to present a pleasing and acceptable il-
lustration of the field into which our study
leads us. In the foreground, across the
lower corner of the cover, appear three eggs
strung upon a straw ; our sense of the prin-
ciples taught in our own journal obliges us
to relieve ourselves at once, from any possi-
ble imputation concernin2; the barbarous
treatment of our specimens, that may have
already formed itself in the mind of the
reader, by stating that their interesting po-
sition and arrangement do not pretend, in
any degree, to be an illustrative principle
in modern scientific usage, but they impress
us as a pleasing set-oft" to the more serious
surroundings. A pair of Hawks have chos-
en a delightful position for their nest in the
tree near the shore of the lake, and through
the forbearance of youthful naturalists have
been permitted to rear their young unmo-

lested ; the motherly Duck has nested ear-
ly this season, and is leading its little fam-
ily of ducklings into the reeds ; the Egret
and Sandpipers are the indispensable ad-
juncts to pleasure upon the water, and Ave
think the latter are contemplating the pros-
pects of nest-building ; the Ruflfed Grouse
in the shadow of the thick shrubs, uncon-
scious of the numerous comments and ar-
guments that have been published concern-
ing them, are both drumming, neither of
them upon a log, but in plain sight of each
other, and after the nesting season ; the
Bubo virginianus knows very little or noth-
ing about any Snowy Owl, and never yet
in our recollection had a quarrel, though
he may have if he grows to be old enough ;
a bird of prey, probably an Eagle, appears
just above the horizon seeking its daily food ;
a number of graceful Swallows skim through
the air, curving in every conceivable direc-
tion in search of noxious insects ; two little
fellows sit together upon what they perhaps
suppose a telegraph wire, discussing the
theme of house-keeping, and reflecting, no
doubt, upon their lateness in nesting ; the
Downy Woodpecker has, notwithstanding
the healthy appearance of the tree, found
something upon the bark that seems to en-
gage its attention. We have spent much
time upon our picture, and sincerely hope
that it will lend its influence in making
many lovers of the winged beautiful.

A USEFUL Preparation for Natural-
ists.— The value of Mr. Collins' Preserva-
tive for birds will be at once recognized by
collectors who are obliged to delay the skin-
ning of their specimens in warm or even
cold weather. We have severely tested
the preservative qualities of the prepai'atiou,
and can recommend it as an article quite
indispensable to every working naturalist.
The birds may be skinned at leisure, and
the preparation does not injure them in
any way.

A large number of patrons have, since
the publication of our announcements, sub-

THE OOLOGIST.

scribed at our former price. To these we
would say that for the amount sent, we will
place their names upon our book for equiv-
alent fractions of the present volume of this
journal, and will allow them the opportu-
nity at any time, of having the period of
subscription altered to the full year, upon
receipt of the balance in currency.

Death of E. L. Hudnut. — We are
called upon to record the death, after a brief
illness, with pneumonia, of a bright young
naturalist, Mr. E. L. Hudnut, of Orange,
New Jersey. He was well known to col-
lectors of birds' eggs, and was deeply inter-
ested in his collection, which had attained
a size equalled by few with his experience
in this country.

The Nandou, or South American
Ostrich (Rhea americana).

BY F. J. DAVIS.

HILST from time immemorial the
African Ostrich has been written
about and all of its minutest habits
searched out, comparatively little has been
written about the bird uader consideration
in this article. For much of the following
I am indebted to Mr. Darwin, in his writ-
ings of journeys in South America. This
bird abounds on the La Plata plains, and
north as far as Paraguay, south to about
43*^. It is a voracious eater, taking fruits,
vegetables, and devouring flies, of which it
is fond ; it also catches small tish. Sever-
al birds will occupy one nest, the number
of eggs found together numbering from for-
ty to fifty and sometimes even more. The
male undertakes the incubation, attending
the young some time after they are hatched.
At Bahia Blanca, says the naturalist, the
eggs were fomid in extraordinary numbers,
either laying scattered singly, in which case
they are not hatched and are called Jtaiichus
by the Spaniards, or collected together iu a
shallow excavation which forms the nest.
Of four nests observed, three contained

twenty-two eggs and one twenty-seven. In
one day's hunting ou horseback, sixty-four
eggs were discovered ; of these, two nests
contained forty-four, and twenty were scat-
tered haucJios.

The scattering of the eggs by the female
is a very peculiar habit. Some have said
that it was done for the purpose of furnish-
ing food for the young, but this can hardly
be so, for the eggs are usually found whole,
though addled. The Nandou is about five
feet five inches or a little more in height,
when standing. Its color is grayish-brown
mingled with black, and lighter below ; the
female is smaller and of lighter color. The
bird is rarely seen in this country or Eu-
rope, but the plumes are imported and used
to make dusting brushes for delicate pur-
poses. The plumes are lonjj and slender,
and the quill feathers white. These birds
swim readily although slowly, for consider-
able distances, as also will the Emeu of
Australia, The male utters a sort of deep
toned hiss. Mr. Darwin thought it some
wild beast when he first heai'd it. One can
not tell whence it comes or how far away
it is. In its habits it is shy and wary ; it
is very fleet of foot and usually prefers run-
ning against the wind. When they start,
they spread their wings as if to sail. The
flesh is much esteemed by the Indians and
Guachos ; I do not know whether a white
man ever passed judgment upon it or not.
Altliough this bird is extremely fleet of foot
it is caught frequently by the Guachos.
These men, mounted on their horses with
their bolas and hunting knives by their
sides, are the ti'ue kings of the Pampas.
When only four years old, they mount their
hoi'ses and ride hither and thither at a reck-
less pace, caring for and fearing nothing ;
the bird or animal that would escape them
must indeed, be fleet and wary. The bo-
las which the Guaclio uses in capturing the
Nandou, as well as his horses and cattle,
consists of long thongs of leather with stones
attached securely to each end, and in liis
skillful hands is a very effective weapon.
Mr. Darwin gives a very interesting ac-
count of the manner of hunting this bird,

c

THE OOLOGIST

as follows : One day I went out hunting
at Bahia Blanca ; the men rode iu a cres-
cent, each being about a quarter of a mile
from the other. A fine male Ostrich (Rhea)
being turned by the headmost riders tried to
escape ou one side. The Guachos pursued
at a reckless pace, twisting their horses a-
bout with the most admirable command,
and each man whirling the balls around his
head. At length the foremost threw them
revolvin": through the air ; in an instant
the Ostrich rolled over, its legs fairly lash-
ed together with the thong.

There is another species called the Pata-
gonian Rhea {Ehea Darwini)^ of which
little is known, and is smaller than america-
na. The bill is shorter than the head, and
the tarsi are plumed ibr several inches below
the knee ; the wings are more fully feath-
ered, plumes broad and bordered by a baud
of white. The eggs of this species are bet-
ter known than the bird. They are slight-
ly smaller than those of the other species,
and have a pale blue tint. This bird lays
a smaller number of eggs than the Nandou,
fifteen being the average. It is also more
shy, but its legs being shorter, it is said by
the Indians to be more easily caught with
the bolas. It takes readily to the water
and swims easily ; it does not expand its
wings like the Nandou when it starts to
run. It is called by the Guachos the Aves-
triiz petise, and is rarely seen as far north
as the Rio Negro where the other species
is found, but is common further south, pre-
ferring it is said the plains near the sea.
Mr. Darwin, to whom belongs the credit
of establishing it as a species, says : When
at Port de Desire Mr. Martins shot an Os-
trich, and I looked at it for a moment forget-
ting iu a most unaccountable manner thepe-
h'se, thought it a two-third grown one of the
common sort, and the bird was cooked and
eateu before my memory returned. For-
tunately the head, neck, legs, wings, many
of the larger feathers and a large part of
the skin were saved ; from these pieces a
very good specimen was made, and exhib-
ited in the Zoological Society museum of
Loudou. He asked a half-breed Indiau

whom he saw at the Straits of Magellan
if he had heard of the Avcstruz pctise, and
he replied that there were none others in the
southern countries.

Dobrizhoffer says, in his account of the
Abipones (written in 1749), spoke of the
Rheas as inhabiting the plains of Buenos
Ayres, as larger, and having black and
white and gray feathers, while those near
the Straits of Magellan are smaller and
more beautiful ; their white feathers are
tipped with black at the extremities, and
the black ones with white in a like manner.
The specimen spoken of above, which was
taken to Europe by Mr. Darwin, was the
first one introduced to science.

Bird Arrivals.

BY W. H. BALLOU.

Evanston^ III. — Blue Birds, Feb'y 27.
Robins and Crows, Feb'y 28. Meadow
Larks and Grass Finches, March 1, are
the first arrivals of the year. The above
statement is interesting from the fact that
the arrivals of these migratory species are
twenty days earlier than those of the same
birds quoted last year in the Trihune. It
is thought that no earlier arrivals are re-
corded as having occurred iu this section.
Another fact of importance is that the days
of their arrival were of the exact tempera-
ture and condition of those of the previous
year. They were cloudy, the wind from
the south, and the air at intervals came iu
almost hot gusts and waves. Impelled by
the same migratory "■ spasm," a few spe-
cies of Ducks, whose names it is impossi-
ble to mention came also. Chicago Trihune.

Hybrids. — The subject of hybrids is at
present so interesting, and the particulars
given by different writers are at such vari-
ance with each other, that we feel it our
duty to publish whatever fresh information
we receive that bears connection with it.
The following is from Mr. W. H. Collins,

THE OOLOGIST.

of Detroit, Mich : " My experience in hyb-
ridism is limited. I liave had iny attention
called to specimens said to be hybrids ; one
instance last fall, of a specimen said to be a
cross between a mink and a squirrel, but
upon examination 1 found it to be a squir-
rel of the black variety with the color of
the mink (dark brown). Another iiistance
some time ago, of a hybrid between a Mal-
lard Duck (Alias hoschas) and Dusky Duck
(^4. ohscura). This was a bona fide hyb-
rid, but I traced it to domestication. A
hunter obtained eggs of the Dusky Duck
and hatched them under a hen. The birds
staid with him, for the reason that he dis-
abled them from flying. He procured Mal-
lards (domestic) and they mated with his
Dusky Ducks. The young of the two show-
ed markings of both species, and he used
them for decoys. JSome of them got away
and were killed in a flock of Mallards. 1
think if hybrids were properly traced, they
would prove to be brought about by domes-
tication."

birds have been noticed to inhabit a certain
tract about Utica, and observations confirm
the fact that this is an organized family,
and that they confine themselves to this lo-
cality. During the summer of 1877, the
same peculiarity was carefully noticed, and
formed the nucleus on which to base later
observations concerning this habit. Wheth-
er this bird carries its polygamous habits
out on a larger scale than that noticed, we
are unable to say. There is much yet to
be learned of this bird's eccentricities.

The Cow-bird a Polygamist. — Few

authors have noticed in their writings, the
polygamous character of the Cow-bird, its
sporadical habit of alienating its eggs into
the nests of other and usually smaller birds,
being the main and much harped upon, yet
at all times interesting, theme concerning
its life-history. But that it is doubtless
polygamous, and to a very appreciable ex-
tent, is certain, and though this habit, ap-
parently co-active with that of using other
birds'nests, might be naturally conceived to
be consociated with it, yet seeing the Cow-
bird usually in pairs, would tend to favor
this habit as only an exception. The char-
acteristic is noticeably prominent during the
earlier part of the nesting season, when the
truth of the hypothesis may be brought out
by following these birds and carefully watch-
ing the especial district they occupy ; for
individual trios often, if not habitually, re-
main witiiin a certain district of country,
for a greater or less length of time during
the season of oviposition. A trio of Cow-

Another — More about Nomencla-
ture.— I beg to correct the very erroneous
statements made in your issue of Feb. 1878,
pp. 98, 99, on Dr. Brewer's authority.
Several of the sentences in the paragraph
are substiintially as well as literally incor-
rect, and the whole drift of the article con-
veys a wrong inqjression. So far from
Prof. Lilljeborg's system having " com-
pletely revolutionized modern ornithology,"
there is now perhaps no ornithologist who
follows it in detail, though many of its fea-
tures (not necessarily the novel ones) are
acceptable. It is not true that "Dr. Cones,
in 1872, conformed his Key to this system,
and in the following year Prof. Baird a-
dopted it substantially, with Mr. Kidgway's
modifications ;" for 1 did not conform my
Key to anybody's system but my own ; and
the classification of birds in Prof. Baird's
work was prepared by me without the
slightest reference to Lilljeborg's system.
I also think that Messrs. Sclater and Sal-
vin would be surprised at the statement
that they follow Lilljeborg in their publica-
tions on American birds. ^, ^

P^LLIOTT COUESi

Of the Blue Bird, White-bellied, Clifif",
and Barn Swallows, and a few other com-
moner species, the male arrives first in the
spring. Of a flock of about twenty Cedar
Birds, at least as many as fifteen or more
were males.

THE OOLOGIST

General Items.

— Robins have wintered with us (Oswe-
go, N. Y.) ; very unusual* here. Fox
Sparrows in abundance — a rare occurrence.

D. D. Stone.

— I SHOT an Oven-bird on the 20th of
November, more than two months later
than they usually stay. H. S. Mahon.

— A Robin with white wings and tail
attracts considerable attention here (Mex-
ico, N. Y.). Is it a case of partial albi-
nism? . . A short time since, a Shrike
(^CoUurio borealis) flew into a conserva-
tory in this village, and attacked a caged
Canary-bird. Tlie Canary was rescued be-
fore the Shrike had accomplished its pur-
pose, and the tyrant was allowed to escape.
J. A. Severance.

— Forest and Stream quotes an item from
the Scientific American relative to the ina-
bility of Quail to cross wide rivers in their
flights. We should like to hear more of
this interesting subject.

— BiKDS will sometimes demean them-
selves in an odd manner. We had occa-
sion in the tall of 1877, to shoot at a Spar-
row that rose from the grass in front of us ;
our only weapon being a small '■'pocket"-
rifle, we naturally brought that into ser-
vice. At the report the bird sprang into
the air, dropped into the grass again and
finally flew feebly to a fence near by. It
perched as if badly hxu't, allowed us to ap-
proach it without leaving its place, and fi-
nally suftercd itself to be taken in the hand.
We took it home and examined it all over,
but found no trace of injury, and the bird
began to show an unmistakable desire to
escape ; when released it flew away. We
have heard of such instances, but have
never before been brought into contact with
the fact. Doubtless the vacuum caused by

*This is an item tliat advocates of the theo-
ry of spontaneous migration, as eft'ected by a
latent "spasm," may contemplate. And this
is only one instance of the non-migratory dis-
position of the Robin; two or three others
have fallen under our notice recently. — Ed.

the passage of the ball close to the bird's
lungs produced a feeling akin to that of
numbness, which momentarily lost it to its
surroundings.

— The Sparrows, Robin, Blue Bird,
Blackbirds, and others of first appearing
birds arrived a number of days earlier this
season than last, in Central New York.
The season so far, has been unusually mild
throughout a greater portiou of the State.

The item on page 95 of our Febru-
ary issue, at the head of the second column,
should have been the Barred instead of the
Great Horned Owl.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF NEVT PUBLICATIONS.

Notes on the Occurrence of Micropalama
himantopus in New England^ by Dr. T. M.
Brewer. — A pamphlet establishing the oc-
currence of the Stilt Sandpiper in New Eng-
land, and containing a paper relative to the
House Sparrow and its usefulness, as de-
termined by observations in Boston. Dr.
Brewer is noted for his interest in the birds
of New England, and is always ready to
protect his list, and enlarge upon such of
its contents as he deems of interest and val-
ue to ornithological circles. In this pam-
phlet, we have the complete known history
of the Stilt Sandpiper in New England.

A North American Oology, by Ernest
Ingersoll, is the-title, or substance of the
title, of a proposed work on the eggs of our
North American birds. We cannot, of
course, comment upon the work, for its
publication has not yet been commenced.
The prospectus shows us that it will, if pub-
lished in accordance therewith, be a work
of great value. Circulars containing the
announcement and giving the particulars
can be obtained from the publisher, S. E.
Cassino, Salem, Mass. We shall notice
this work at greater length in due time.

-^ •

ologi^t^

rT Vol. IV.

APRIL, 1878.

No. 2.

Nesting of the Horned Lark (Ere-

mopila cornuta) in Central

New York.

BY FRED. J. DAVIS.

,N the 15tli of April, wlieii out view-
\w^ the prospects for the coming sea-
son's nesting, I made what seems to
me quite j'.n unusual find. In company
with Mr. J. P. Davis, I was crossing a
high field near this city (Utica), wliea our
setter dog. Shot, came to a very sudden
and magnificent point. Knowing there
could be no Snipe in such a place, we were
somewhat surprised at this proceeding, and
on returning to ascertain the object of the
dog's attention we found a nest containing
three young birds and one egg. We were
somewhat at a loss to know Avhat kind of
a bird could have young so early, and es-
pecially among those who built in such a
position. We went away a short distance
and sat down to await further developments,
but had uot long to wait, for the parent bird
soon came to feed its young, when, I am
sorry to say, we were obliged to shoot it.
It proved to be the female of the Horned
Lark {Erernopila cornuta). We soon shot
the mate and took the egg and young. One
of the young I have before me as I write,
and am in hopes of bringing him up ; the
other two were hurt and died.

The nest was placed on a small, dry hill-
ock, and was perfectly exposed. It Avas
composed of soft, dry grass, without any
lining, and was so frail that to preserve it
I was obliged to scoop up earth and all.
The young had apparently been hatched
about two weeks and were well feathered.
The bird, in leaving the nest had struck its

claw into the egg. It contained a large
embryo, and was of a yellowish-gray color,
spotted all over with almost invisibly fine

dots of a darker shade. The accompany-
ing cut gives a good idea of its general ap-
pearance. Since finding the above, I have
heard of the occurrence of several pairs of
these birds, and have no doubt now that
they have bred here in some numbers, a,
thing which to my knowledge never happen-
ed before, and I fear, unless we are favor-
ed with another such extraordinary spring
as the present one, may never happen again.
I have seen fit to write this account for Thk
OoLOGiST, because I think this is tlie first
reliable record of this bird breeding in this
State. De Kay gives a rather ambiguous
and indefinite description of its nest and
eggs, which, like many other of his state-
ments, I am not inclined to credit with much
reliability. And whatever credit is due for
the finding of this nest, is due to the sagac-
ity of the dog Shot, who has in numerous
instances, shown liimself an elhcient bird-
nester, and I am in hopes of having him
display his talents to good advantage this
season.

Oology from CALiFOUNfA. — Here birds
commenced laying as early as April first.
The birds laying now (April 1.5) are the
following : Brewer's Blackbird, Sky Lark,
Lark-finch, Hoiise Finch, Humming-birds,

lU

THE OOLOGIST

Orioles and Thrushes. 'J'his season will j
be better for collectiu<x than any season for '
the last five years. Previous to this tliere i
has beeu a great scarcity of grass, so there
was very little feed for them, but this sea-
son early rains liave made feed abundant.
When there is a scarcity of feed they go
back into the mountains.

If you or any of your readers can give
me any information on the following, I will
be very much obliged. Last season every
nest of the Horned Lark found had three
eggs in them ; every one found this season
so far have had four in them.

G. H. Grant. ,

Nesting of the Large-billed Water
Thrush (Siurus ludovicianus).

BV ADOLPIIE B. COVKRT.

LTHOL Gil this species is quite com-
mon in the middle sections of the U-
0i-\ nited States, and more common than
is generally supposed in tlie northern parts,
but very little reliable information has ever
been written concerning its breeding habits.
Although Audubon describes the nest and
eggs of this bird in his great work (if my
memory serves me right), it must be taken
as Dr. Bi'ewer justly remarks : all that the
earlier authors liave left us respecting the
habits of this bii'd must be taken cum gravo
for it was a good while before the Louisi-
ana Water Thrush was fairly recognized,
and much that Wilson, Nuttail and Audu-
bon have to say of the Water Thrush, re-
fers either to the other species or to both
species indiscriminately. Aububon, indeed
capped the confusion by reuniting the two
species which he had formerly described
with sufficient precision. But I am wan-
dering from my subject. The 25th day of
May, 1877, found me in the field collecting.
I had driven out into the country about
twelve miles from home, stabled my liorse
and struck into a deep, dark swamp of black
ash and elm. The day was intolerably hot
while every step forward in the luxuriant

ferns brought forth blood-thirsty swarms of
mosquitoes, who, alighting on every exposed
part, would quickly be at work getting their
morning meal. 1 liad kept my dog at heel
imtil it seemed as if they would drive him
mad, and 1 bid him hie on, thinking per-
haps he might rid himself of them. He had
bui fairly started, when a small bird sprang
from the ground into some tall weeds. It
had but lit when a half ounce of dust shot
dropped it, and on going forward I was
much grieved to find a female Blue Golden-
winged Warblei' a few inches from a half
finished nest. I picked it up, thinking of
the sad tragedy whereby one of God's
brightest golden messengers of love to this
world, had lost its life, all for the gratifi-
cation of a heartless creature called by cour-
tesy " Man," for, after picking up warm,
bloody little birds for nine years, 1 cannot
call it anything but murder. After reload-
ing mv gun I started on and obtained a fine
male Blackburnian Warbler. I had now
reached the border of rather a large pool of
water and seated myself on a decayed log :
my dog was rolling and playing in the wa-
ter. The sharp alarm note of a bird start-
ed my wandei-ing thoughts. I looked up
and saw the author of the notes nimbly hop-
ping fi'om limb to limb on a large asii tree
the other side of the pond. I called in my
dog, and was about started around the pond
when the bird crossed over to my side. I
immediately recognized it as a Water
Thrush, with some bits of grass in its beak.
I retired a few rods, dropped behind a tree,
and watched the bird. She still seemed
very uneasy, but after reconoitering a few
minutes, she alit at the roots of a large tree,
within a few feet of where I had been sit-
ting. After remaining tor a short time, she
then left, I hastened forward, and at the
base of the tree and against a large root
which partly arched over it, I found a par-
tially finished nest. After marking the spot
thoroughly in my memory, I \\ithdrew and
in a short time had filled my collecting bas-
ket, and started for home. On the 7th of
June I returned to the sp<:»t, found the nest
to contain five eggs, and shot the parent

THE OOLOGIST.

11

bird, which proved to be the Large-billed I
species. I will describe the uest and eggs
as follows : The nest was built on the ground !
at the base of a large black ash, partially
under and against a large root, which form-
ed an arch over half of the nest. It was
composed of a layer of dead leaves, moss,
fine roots and dried grasses, compactly and
rather smoothly finished, and lined with fine
grass and some i-ows' hair. The eggs were
five iu number, white (of a roseate tinge
before blown), thickly spotted with small
reddish -brown spots ; they measure about
.78 by .59 inch. The nest and eggs are
still iu my collection, and the bird iu that
of Prof. J. B. Steere, of Michigan Uni-
versity.

Travesty Extraordinary.

A writer in the January number of your
-^ excellent journal states that '■'•Dr. Brew-
er savs that any bird laying plain eggs is
liable to deposit lymph upon them. IIow
about the Woodpeckers' eggs, which are
never by any chance other than plain ?" and
afterward speaks of "• the lymph tliecny of
Dr. Brewer." Dr. B. iu a very hastily
written note to his friend Mr. Merriam,
commenting on an unprecedented case of
maculate eggs (T. muatelinus) threw out
a hasty suggestion as a possible explana-
tion. This was given in a private letter
with no thought of its ever being printed,
still less that his crude conjecture coidd ev-
er, by any chiuice, rise to the dignity of a
'■'■theonf I What Dr. Brewer did write
was: "The spots I never saw before, but
any egg, always except i:n<j a Woodpecker^ s,
is liable to be marked (stained) by minute
effusions of colored lymph of the parent in
its exclusion." The four words italicized
are auppressed by your correspondent, and
Woodpeckers' eggs are referred to as if the
knowledge of this exception originated with
and was first given by the writer ! Comment
is not necessary.

Dr. B. has no fault to find w ith Mr. Mer-
riam for printing this crude and careless

paragraph in his admirable Review of the
Birds of Connecticut, but, had he been a-
ware it was to be made public, he would
have endeavored to expressed his views with
more exactness and a little differently, as
he ought to have done under any circum-
stances. To what extent this liability of
eggs, usually immaculate, to be stained by
the over-excited ovi-ducts of the parent may
exist is purely conjectural. Audubon claim-
ed to have taken spotted eggs of the Three-
toed Woodpecker. The opinion of your
correspondent that '•'' one laying mai'ked
eggs alicaijs lays them," it by this is meant,
always lays marked eggs, can hardly be cor-
rect. I have a set of Crow's eggs, unspot-
ted and of a uniform bright greenish-blue,
the second laying of a female that, a month
before, had been I'obbed of a set deeply
marked and entirely normal in character.
I have an egg of a Song Sparrow, and of
one uniform pure buff, one of a set of five,
all alike, and the third laying by a pair
whose two previous sets had been deeply
spotted, all identified by myself. It is not
uncommon to fiiid spotted and unspotted
eggs laid by the name female in one set, in
nests of Agelaius pha;niceus, Quiscalus pur-
pnreus, Scolecophagus ferragincus, Sayor-
nis fuscus, nigricans and Say us, Empido-
nax traillii, pusillus, flaviventrts and ditfi-
cilis and others. How can these well known
facts be reconciled with the uniform theory
; of your correspondent? In the apposite
lines attributed to Clarence King :

"The gentle sclieme of uniform law
Can never quite satisfy me.''

T. M. BUEWEK.

AriJiL 18. — Found a uest of the White-
rumped Shrike containing six eggs. The
nest was built in a solitary osage bush in
a pastui'e close to the road.

Apx{IL 29, — Found a Robin's nest with
young just hatched. D. II. Eaton.

Birds are nesting this season somewhat
earlier than for two years previously.

12

THE OOLOGIST

with the March number. With this num-
ber we have issued the index to VoUime III,
which will be sent to all of our subscribers
to that volume.

Tfie ©«rogist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

APRIL, 1878.

Sending Silver in Letters. — A great
many subscribers and patrons state that they
are obliged on account of the scarcity of
paper currency to send postage stamps.
We desire ,to say that silver in small a-
mouuts may be safely sent in letters, and
we will take the responsibility of amounts
less than $1.00 so sent. Larger amounts
should be sent by post-office orders or in
registered letters.

The many encouraging notices given us
by the press, are, we can assure our friends,
a most pleasing testimonial to us of the
cordiality with which our journal is receiv-
ed. May we hope that our efforts will con-
tribute much toward the elevation of the
science we advocate.

Wk consider it rather imprecedented in
the history of ornithological journalism to
have 85 per cent, of the subscriptions re-
newed. However, we have attained that
score, and have no doubt ere this is read
that all but a very few of the remaining 15
per cent, will have been renewed.

Our colored plates having been entirely
exhausted, we would state to those of our
readers who have subscribed for the plate
subsequent to the issue of the March num-
ber, that another edition of that issue with
plates will be published and sent them with
the June number.

We found it impossible, owing to the
time occupied in perfecting the improve-
ments upon our journal, to issue an index

Professor Joseph Henry . — It is prop-
er that we should record the death of one
of our greatest scientific men, that of Pro-
fessor Joseph Henry, the late Secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
And in this connection, a brief review of
his life while serving the Institution will,
we trust, serve as an item in memoriam.
He became Secretary of the Institution in
1846, having been chosen by a Board of
Regents appointed by Congress, after a se-
vere competition. His plan, upon which is
based the present great working principle
of the Institution, — that of diffusing knowl-
edge and promoting scientific research in
accordance with the instructions lucidly giv-
en by the testator, James Smithson, — an-
swered the provisions of the bequest most
clearly, and to-day the great benefit derived
from the Institution by the scientific world,
is more than an illustration of the wisdom
and practicality of its Secretary. His en-
ergy and unremitting toil for thirty years
in the cause of science, entitle him to a
place in the ranks of our greatest scientific
men, for as Secretary, he performed a vast
amount of work, and in conjunction with
eminent specialists dispensed advice and
gave authority which have been recognized
by individual recipients and by the world,
as logic and truth. Every scientist and stu-
dent of natural history is well acquainted
with the Smithsonian Institution. Its im-
mense and valuable collections of birds,
birds' eggs, mammals, and almost every
description of object in the fauna of North

THE OOLOGIST.

13

America, besides a large mass of material
connected with all the sciences, arc excelled,
probably, by no similar institution in the
world. It employs a large corps of scien-
tists, and has an enormous correspoiidonce
throughout the world.

'J'he Institution may be said to have been
built by Proiessor Henry, and stands to-day
a moTuiment to his untiring and unseltisli
labor in behalf of science.

Reflections upon the Habits of the
Purple Finch.

'3/|f tl E life of Curpudacun piirpureiis is
jll , not, perhaps, more interesting, nor

^^ does it possess a larger field for stud-
y, tiian that of any other of our commoner
birds ; yet, as is often the case witii other
species, one may always fuid something
novel to him by continued observation of
any one species, however common, and lime
spent in watching the habits, even of a Pur-
ple Finch, cannot be termed time lost.
Withal, this bird in its everyday life exhib-
its traits of peculiarity and e<-centricity.
He is neither the bold Robin or the meek
Chipping Sparrow, nor yet the modest Bhie
Bii-d, but is an odd, fussy, somewhat irri-
table fellow, sometimes very sensitive to
surrounding events and objects ; at others
utterly careless of his whereabouts and ig-
norant of his neighbors. He oiten travels
about alont!, making the neighborhood re-
sound with his unrestrained song, uttered
usually from a prominent tree-top ; at oth-
ers, he is one among a flo(tk of his compan-
ions, hopping about here and there, per-
haps in a staiil manner, perhaps excitedly,
singing, gleaning for seeds or buds, or work-
ing about as if perfectly independent of tlie
avocations of his companions. All at once,
as if impelled by some wild idea, it utters
a short note and darts off all aloue, soon to
i-eturn if his companions do not seem in-
clined to follow. Occasionally he will work
for days almost unceasingly, at the cones
of a fir or the seed-balls of the button-wood,

not even condescending to utter a chirp.

and only desisting when compelled to by
the proximity of man or a tyrannical fel-
low-species.

Petty quarrels are of frequent occurrence,
though confined to the species ; other birds
are seldom or never disturbed. It really
is a picture to see two knights of the pur-
ple, with crests erect and attitude fierce,
facing each otiier, and presenting an ap-
pearance very similar to that of a pair of
game cocks ; but their disputes are of short
duration, and generally end in both contes-
tants taking an unceremonious departure
in different directions. Jealousy appears
to be a prominent characteristic of his ; in-
nocent and peaceable though one bird may
seem, he is liable at any moment to be the
object of a furious and probably wanton at-
tack from one or more of his fellow-species.
Especially during the mating season, they
appear to be more restive than any other
species, though this may be an exaggera-
tion due to their utter disregard for the pub-
licity of the ])lace in which they quarrel ; for
they have, many times, been known to flut-
ter uncomfortably near passers-by, and to
continue their disputes upon the verandas
and steps of houses.

It has been stated by Mr. Gentry, that,
in his experience, the Purple F'iuch has been
found to be " comparativel}' songless," and
that singing is to it an exception, rather
than a common occurrence. What should
excite such a supposition cannot be conceiv-
ed, for, among our song bii'ds it ranks very
favorably, and is often caught and reared
by bird fanciers ; moreover, from the mo-
ment of its appearance in spring to the time
the young leave the nest, its life seems to
be greatly employed in singing. It is often
amusing to watch and listen to the struggle
for superiority of vocal accomplishment be-
tween two promising singers. They occu-
py the highest positions attainable, — the
higher the tree-top the better — and without
any preliminaries, they both start off as
nearly together as the circumstances will
permit, using all the strength possible in
the effort, and exerting themselves as if
their very lives depended upon the issue.

14

THE OOLOGIST

Then, as if by commoa consent, both stop
as suddenly as they had commenced,
and after sliiftiiig about and moving a step
or two upon the limb, they both commence
their rival songs anew. A person passing
near, even though naturally disinterested,
cannot fail to notice this extraordinary pro-
ceeding. The rival songsters do not long
remain in one place, but shift hurriedly to
some other locality to continue their vocal
competition.

The Purple Finch breeds in suitable lo-
calities throughout most of northei-n United
States. It nests in the tops and thicker
portions of small fir, hemlock and spruce
trees, — seldom in other situations — and a-
bout the first of June lays four or five briglit
greenish eggs, spotted on the larger end
with deep umber and black. The eggs
greatly resemble those of the Chipping
Sparrow, but are larger and in general
more eulongate. It seems as if many of
these birds did not pair during some sea-
sons nor nest all, for they have frequently
been observed to continue flocked late into
June and even July, and, like the Crossbill,
to keep within the bounds of a certain dis-
trict for a considerable length of time. And
in reality, there is usually little interest
manifested by the parents for the welfare
of the eggs or young, and the nest is con-
structed much of the time upon the pro
tempore principle.

The Jay of the North; Canada
Jay.

TVrHAT tourist to the North Woods of
'^ New York or the forests of Maine is
there, who has not seen the. Canada Jay,
and remarked its habits ? The Blue Jay is
noted, one might say almost the world over,
for its sociable habits and thievish propen-
sities, and what is a])plicable to this biid,
is applicable to the Canada Jay, a plain,
unpretending bird, the last which one would
suppose to be possessed of such habits.
Perhaps they may, in some instances, be
likened to the prairie wolf or cayote, though

a strict comparison would be very unjust
to the Jay. They wander about and hunt
in troops of from four to twenty or moi-e,
preferring the deep woods to the open, tho'
conducting themselves toward man as if
taught by instinct that they are free from
molestation. They are seldom known to
be shy, and witiiout hesitation apply at the
camp of the sportsman, usually early in the
morning, in quest of the appetising bits ly-
ing about, a sufficiency of which it rarely
fails to obtain. Its nest and eggs are es-
pecial desiderata, but they are likewise ex-
ceedingly difficult to find ; it is thought
that they breed far north, in Canada and
Labrador, and it is also probable that they
may be found bi'ceding in numbers in se-
cluded portions of the Adirondacks and
mountains of Maine, where the footsteps
of man are seldom or never found. Still,
sportsmen and naturalists have seen them
in the month of July, in accessible portions
of northern New York, which points to the
probability of their breeding in the neigh-
borhood of civilization. It may, as it has
been remarked by some observers, nest
very early, at the same time with the Cross-
bill, numbers of which are seen in June in
portions of northern New York. It is
spoken (jf as probably breeding on the high
mountains of the north-west, in the vicini-
ty of the timber line.

Their presence is indicated usually by an
unmusical note, more resembling a croak
than any other sound that can be described.
But few moments have elapsed before al-
most every object about the camp has been
scrutinized, and every available crack pried
into. As one man would hail another in
the wilderness after a long absence from
home, the Canada Jay greets the new ten-
ants of a camp, as if they were wek'ome
companions long since departed, and which
it were a pleasure to see again, l-^^earless-
ly they take liberties with camp fixtures ;
and the provisions or game that have been
left within reasonable reach are at the first
opportunity pounced upon with avidity.
Those who, for the first time, intrench
themselves for a summer's stay in the Ad-

TEE OOLOGIST.

15

irondacks, are frequently at a loss to ac-
count for the disappearance of some of their
stock of provisions, which had been inad-
vertently left unprotected for a short time,
and conclude, if the real miscreants — gen-
erally tlie Jays — are not discovered, that
the mischief was done by animals. Occa-
sionally in winter, from scarcity of food,
they will appear about settled districts, and
Mr. Trippe says they are often fouud in
the mountains of Colorado in an almost
starved condition.

In appearance, the Canada -Jay is very
different from Cyanura cristata. Its gen-
eral color is a dull brownish-drab, lighter
qn the under parts, and nowhere contrasted
with briglit markings. It works about
among the trees, much in the manner of
the Blue Jay. Its flight is generally short,
somewhat undulating, a little unsteady,
and performed as much as possible in the
forests and luulerbrush. This bird is not
an exception among the Jays in the prac-
tice of devouring the eggs of small bii'ds,
for he is a most cruel and greedy robber
when opportunity places him in possession
of a nest.

A Note on tiir House- Sparrow. — 1
have just observed a new and not very de-
lightful trait in the character of the House
Sparrow, which ought to condemn him for
" murder in the first degree." A pair of
Blue Birds had built a nest iu one of my
bird-boxes, and had hatched out a brood of
five young ones, which were about half
fledged. A pair of Sparrows came and
ousted out the entire lot upon the side-walk
below, and they were immediately killed by
the fall. The Sparrows have now appro-
priated the box for their own use. Other
persons witnessed the operation, and "see-
ing is believing." I am no longer a lover
of the little Sparrow, but put him down as
a murderer and a thief, besides being a
general nuisance.

J. A. Severance.

[Though perhaps the scene our corres-
pondent describes may justify the use of a

severe invective against the House Spar-
row, we have omitted one or two phrases
that were deemed a little unsuitable. — Ed.]

Flocking of Quiscalus purpureus. —
It seems to be a natural propensity of the
Crow Blackbird to seek the companionship
of a number of his species, and this is true
to a greater extent, than one's ordinary ob-
servations on their flocking in the spring
and fall would lead him to believe. It may
be truly remarked, that, outside of the lim-
its of tlie time occui)ied in building the nest,
laying the eggs, and rearing the young, they
remain flocked the entire season ; indeed,
when the locality permits, sociability is
carried to even a greater extent, for they
will always breed in communities wheu
possible, foraging together and protecting
one another in common, or collectively de-
fending the nest or young of one pair of in-
dividuals. As early as the first of June,
they commence to collect together for the
remainder of the season, first appearing in
scattered groups of four or half a dozen,
and conducting their expeditions more quiet-
ly than later on, when having increased iu
numbers to perhaps forty or fifty, they jour-
ney about with restless flights, alighting of-
ten and making their presence known by
their repeated cries ; about the first of Au-
gust the flocks appear greatly increased,
numbering from one to five hundred or
more. At this time, they appear very shy,
and are difficult to approach, the informa-
tion of one alarming the entire troop, when
off they fly witli loud cries, perhaps to some
other locality, but oftener to alight a few
hundred yards away.

A correspondent of the Forest and
Stream writes of the taking of two albino
Robins, and observing three others at Nash-
ville, Tenn. The same journal published
an item recently concerning abnormal por-
tions of a Hawk and one or two other
species.

16

THE OOLOOIST

§Uccut gwbli cations.

The American Naturalist contains, be-
sides a variety of interesting papers on sci-
entific subjects, one by Mr. W. H. Ballon,
entitled "•Methods of Labeling in Oolog-
ical Collections." In this paper the author
employs the opportunity to make a rather
depreciatory review of oology as a science,
and to express his opinion of its popularity
and growth in terms not conducive to the
approbation of devotees of the study. We
are willing to acknowledge that, as a mat-
ter of course, the study of birds' eggs has
fewer representatives than, and is not as
prominent as many of the other natural sci-
ences ; yet we do not desire to be brought
too painfully into contact with the fact that
'^ the study of the eggs of birds is at pres-
ent in a condition deplorable indeed," and
this in consequence of deficiency in labeling.
Oology is yet a young study, and although
the number of persons who follow it, per-
haps large in this country, is made up for
a great part of collectors who do not regard
it in any other light than as an amusement
or diversion, in which a promiscuous col-
lection of eggs figures conspicuously, yet,
notwithstanding these apparent drawbacks,
we are happy to remark the increasing in-
terest manifested in oology by scientific men,
and we dislike to see our favorite branch of
study pronounced against too severely, es-
pecially by one who is an ardent admirer
of it himself. la regard to practical label-
ing, Mr. Ballou's article is a very sensible
one. He says : " * It has been a subject
of much study on the part of myself and un-
doubtedly others as to what remedies may
be successfully applied to so great an evil
as the present labeling system. The prob-
lem is not without its difficulties of solution.
Many and varied were the experiments
tried, which sometimes met with success in
part, but on the whole are causes of grave
errors. In each experiment some one was
sure to so disarrange the eggs as to make
it impossible to identify them. A leading
difiiculty was also found when the collector
possessed one or more sets of the same kind,

or large quantities of eggs of the same spe-
cies, as in the case of water-birds. It is
still worse, when each egg or set of eggs of
the same kind was obtained on the same
day under different circumstances and in
diiferent localities. Here there should have
been a separate label in each case ; but what
collector is there that has been able or dis-
posed to furnish one, or if he has done so,
who at his death will be able to decipher
them ? A catalogue of continued difficulties
rises before the collector ; labels pasted, or
markings written on the &'^^^ deface por-
tions of its natural colorings. Slender
shells often crumble in the hand while at-
tempting to inscribe a written narrative
thereon. Eggs are exchanged, passed into
a new collector's hand, who rubs away at
the original marking, and deprives it of its
natural luster and finish to make way for a
new and more extended announcement.
* * *

" Slips of paper are to be prepared in tri-
angular form, or at least to have one por-
tion tapering to a point. The slips can be
cut in sizes varying with the dimensions of
the eggs, or the amount of writing intended
to be placed upon them. Having made the
necessary record, the very tip of the label
may be moistened with coaguline and fas-
tened to the egg. It should be placed on the
border of the drilled hole on the side, so that
both may occupy as little space as possible.
Almost the entire surface of the egg is now
in a condition for examination. The ad-
vantages of such a label are seen at once.
Both sides may be written upon. They may
be used as handles by which to hold the egg
for examination, thus saving many eggs
from being crushed. They may be made
sufficiently large to contain all necessary
writing, or small enough to suit the taste.
They may l)e taken otFat any time by simp-
ly dipping the cemented portion into warm
water ; and it is often desirable to do this,
especially in exchanges. *

The Annual Report of the Chicago Acad-
emy of Sciences is before us. It shows that
science is making great progress in the west.

MAY, 1878.

A Nondescript Egg.

CCASIONALLY odd freaks of na-
ture will come to the notice of col-
lectors, or a circumstance entirely
unexpected, will be revealed suddenly in
the face of positive assertions and generally
received supposition to the contrary. How-
ever, abnormities of real worth and signif-
icance are rare, and we must content ourr
selves with learning as much as we can
from existing irregularities in nature, of
whatever degree of importance.

Attention was called some time since bv
Mr. W. T. Warrick, of Washington, Fa.\
to an egg supposed to be the joint ovipro-
duction of a Robin and Crow Blackbird,
from facts deemed of sutlicient strength to
favor the supposition at once. The fact,
aside from having no precedent as far as
kiiown, when considered in relation with
the surrounding circumstances, and the sup-
port offered in its behalf by the nondescript
egg, which excited interest and stimulated
thorough inquiry, may, possibly, offer ev-
idence in defense of the argument that ab-
normal eggs, so called, are not always the
property of a normal pair of birds ; and
if the circumstances shown fail to substan-
tiate the true position of the case, there is
room for extensive reflection.

Briefly, the facts are as follows : While
collecting, Mr. Warrick's brother found,
in a dilapidated sheep-shed, on a beam
near the roof, a supposed Robin's nest, up-
on which the bird was sitting. When she
had flown oflf", the nest was perceived to con-
tain three eggs, two of which our corres-
pondent had no hesitation whatever in pro-
nouncing respectively that of a Robin and
a Crow Blackbird, the former being of a

clear green, the latter bluish-green, with
the usual markings characteristic of the
eggs of Q. purpureus. The tliird egg is
unmistakably of the size and shape of a
Robin's e'^]Xi and is covered over its whole
surface with an indefinable brown color,
completely dissembling the ground color, if
indeed there is any ;* this coloring is irreg-
ular, and has a mottled appearance, resem-
bling somewhat, the coloring of a Rusty
Blackbird's egg, though not so distinct.
The entire surface is equally covered. We
have endeavored to show the disposition
and intensity of color, together with the
exact size and shape of the egg, in the
engraviuir.

, At our suggestion, Mr. Warrick revisit-
ed the nest and gleaned from the surround-
ing circumstances much that bears directly
upon the belief advanced. The shed which
contained the nest alluded to, was occupied
by two nests of the Crow Blackbird, and a
flock of the same species were foimd about
the place. The following is, in substance,
an account of the circumstances transmitted
by our correspondent. In relation to the
finding of the nest by his brother, he says :

*In looking through the eg^g by holding it
I to the light, tile substance of the sliell seems
! to be green, but this is true of the Hawks,'
i Eagles', some of the Terns', Gulls', and other
' species of eggs, whose outer surface is white
or liglit colored.

18

THE OOLOGIST

" He had also oinitted telling me that there
Avas another Robin's nest a little below and
about eight feet distant from this one, con-
taining four Robin's eggs when he was there
and three young and one egg when I visit-
ed it. The Crow Blackbirds' nests were
ueither of them nearer than fifteen feet to
the one in which we are interested. One
of them was directly opposite this one on
the other side of the shed. The other was
at one end of the shed, fastened in a niciie
iu the rafter next the roof. The Robin's
nest which I found with young was an or-
dinary nest, but the one from which the
nondesci'ipt egg was taken is as much of a
puzzle to me as the egg itself. It is evi-
dently a Blackbird's nest, being composed
externally of weed-stalks and coarse grass-
es. The shed, which is a small log struct-
ure, roughly boarded on the outside, stands
iu the middle of a pasture, with a single
good-sized locust tree close by, on which
there were con.stantly at least six or eight
Crow Blackbirds and a Red-wing while I
was there ; I saw no Robin near but tlie
pair that owned the nest with the young-
birds. The non-named nest was firmly im-
bedded in a crevice between the second log
from the top and the boards beforemention-
ed. The liobin's nest was merely placed
on the top of a log. This pair of Robins
seemed in perfect harmony with the Black-
birds."

Data of Nest and E(j<js :

BIRD I EGGS I

Eobin. 1 1

Crow Blackbh-d 1

1 1

LOCALITY

Washington, Penna.

COLLECTORS

Wiley Warrick and
W. T. Warrick.

DATE
May 4th, 1878

Xest composed of, outside : coarse grasses
end weed-stalks, witli wool and nuid ; inside:
rather tine timothy grasses, with some of the
heads, but no mud plastering on the inside.

Situation. — In a crevice between a log and
tlie boai'ds whicli formed the sides of a small
sheep-shed.

Idextificatiox. — IJobin found upon nest.

Size of Xest. — Diameter, outside, 7 inclies ;
inside, 3.75 inches. Depth, outside, 4.r)0 indi-
es; inside, 2. ;")() inclies.

The general description of the nest and
its position relative to that of the Robin's
nest, points to its identity with the nests of
the Bhickbirds, though perhaps its depth is
exceptional. Yet, in the face of these and
one or two other minor circumstances, the
discovery of the Robin upon the nest, which
moreover, (contained three entirely difter-
entl^^ proportioned, dimensioued and color-
ed eggs, would naturally educe one or two
conclusions : That a Robin had mated with
a Crow Bhickbird ; or that a Robin had
taken the nest of the latter species and had
laid one egg tlierein, after it had been de-
serted by the Blackbirds and the two eggs
were deposited by them ; or, possibly, that
all the eggs belonged to a pair of Black-
birds, whose nest the Robin, for some un-
accountable reason had taken possession of.
The first supposition seems to us more in
accordance with the circumstances, though
certainly the fact of the joint harmony of
such dissimihir species, notwitlistanding its
entire possibility, and even probability, is
open to oi)iniou and argument ; the two
latter are worthy of reflection in accordance
with the stress of the evidence of what ap-
pears to us the mi'ior circumstances.

'J'he egg is ovoidal, measuring 1.08 inch-
es in length and .70 inch in breadth. It
is, in every respect, as is also the supposed
Robiu's egg, entirely abnormal from eggs
of Q. 'purpureas in size and coloring. It
would seem difficult to accustom us to the
belief that all three specimens belonged to
the Blackbirds, and yet it could not be said
with any certainty, that the production of
such a union as we have supposed, could
be anticipated in eggs marked and dimen-
sioned like those jbimd. We ofit!r the a-
bove remarkable case, if so it be, to our
readers, for such theory as is deemed ex-
planatory or dissatisfactory, remembering
that, though the laws of nature are so sel-
dom transgressed in this direction, the oc-
currence of an extraordinary abnormity
should not be regarded as impossible or un-

THE OOLOGIST.

19

reasonable. We only regret that our cor-
respondc'Ut had not discovered this nest be-
fore, and kept a strict surveillance over it
and its owners, until the possessorship of
nest and eggs was fully deterniined.

A Stray Egg.

AN the 23rd of May, while passing thro'
^ a pasture lot, 1 discovered a pair of Field
Sparrows {Spizella pusilla) building in a
low thorn bush, the bottom of tlie nest be- I
ing but two or three inches from the ground, j
Tlie nest was almost completed, the birds j
justputtiug the finishing touch to the lining.
On a subsequent visit five days later, 1 j
found the nest to contain five eggs, tour of
which undoubtedly belonged to the Spar-
rows, but the fifth was twice the size of the
others and differently marked.

A lad who collected for me declai'ed it to
be a Meadow Lark's egis;, and stated that
he occasionally found them in this bird's
nest ; but on comparing the specimen with
those in the N. Y. State Museum, 1 found
it to belong to the Cow Bird. I saw in
the pasture a single pair of Cow Birds, male
and female ; but I failed to see others. I
would like to hear from the readers of The
OuLOGiST whether the Meadow Lark is ev-
er known to deposit its eggs in the nests of
other birds? Also, if it is common for the
Cow Bird to make use of the nest of this
particular Sparrow? I have frequently
heard of their encroaching on the nests of
the Chipping Sparrow and Yellow Bird.
On the same expedition 1 discovered the
nest of a Golden-winged Woodpecker. It
was in an old stump about ten feet from
the ground, and in it were nine eggs. Is
not this an unusual number for a single pair ?
Is tliis bird ever known to be a polygamist?
Thos. p. Bailey.

The Meadow Lark never deposits its eggs
in the nests of other birds, nor does any
bird that is as universally careful in con-
cealing its own nest and protecting the
young. The egg, as probably also those

referred to as having been seen in Sparrows'
nests by the lad, were deposited by Cow
Birds ; the nests of nearly all the Sparrows
as well as those of other small birds, arc
made the receptacles of these alien eggs,
and as a rule, one nest is as good as anoth-
er for the purpose. The Golden-winged
Woodpecker has been known to lay thir-
teen eggs, though not all in one clutch. It
is not polygamous, at least observations
have failed to jn'onounce it so. The Oolo-
GiST has published several items concerning
both the habit of the Cow Bird* and also
large sets of Flickers' eggsf. We hope our
correspondent will not depend upon farmer
boys for information concerning birds or
birds' eggs, unless they are known to be
thoroughly reliable, for they often entertain
ridiculous and entii-ely imfounded notions,
especially of bii'ds' eggs, brought about,
probably, by the exaggeration of some sup-
posed occurrence that has been handed
down, like a tradition, from generation to
generation.

Oologtcal Notes for May,

May 9. — Found nest of Shore Lark con-
taining one e^ig of tliat species and one of
the Cow Bunting. Nest was built on the
ground in a pasture. I have never heard
of a Cow Bunting's egg found in the nest
of this species before. May 15. — Found
nest of an Upland Plover containing four
eggs ; nest was built in a pasture ; eggs
fresh. — Barn Swallows have completed
nests. One pair I have l)een watching
started five nests before finally deciding to ^
continue and finish the fifth. 1). H. Eaton.

Oological Memoranda for April. — Mr.
D. D. Stone sends us the following memo-
randa of eggs taken in April :

[CONTINUEU ON I'ACiE 24.]

*Vide page 43 of volume I ; pages 35, 8.5
of vohime II; page 45 of volume 111 ; page 7
of volume IV..

tVide page 43 of volume I ; page 2 of vol-
inne II.

20

THE OOLOGIST.

Tfte ©oro^isi

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

MAY, 1878.

Nesting of Noktii AjiEiacAN Akde-
ID-E. — Id order that the t'oithcomiii^r paper
oil the eggs and nests of the Herons of
North America may be as complete and ex-
liaustive as possible, the author, Mr. Bal-
lon, of Evanston, Ills., is desirous of com-
municating with collectors who have taken
eggs or made observations on the nesting
of any species, with the view to establish
the breeding range, and also that every par-
ticular connected with the breeding habits
may be treated minutely. This article, to
be profusely illustrated, if as complete as
it is desired it shall be, will form an inval-
uable treatise for reference.

Attention is called to the Novelty Blow
Pipe advertised by Mr. W. H. Collins. The
old time blower, which requires so much
labor and is often objectionable to the op-
erator, is bound to be superseded by a la-
bor-saving instrument.

A General Cabinet. — Collectors who
take an interest in gathering the skins, eggs
and nests of birds, frequently ask if a cab-
inet sufficiently large to accommodate spec-
imens of all these would be desirable. A
compactly arranged ornithological collec-
tion, tastefully disposed in one cabinet, is
more easily accessible than two or three

separate collections, embodied in as many
cabinets, the cost of which latter, moreover,
would be much the greater. By arranging
the eggs at the top, the nests below these,
and the skins at the bottom of a cabinet
with a single tier of drawers, a collection
of moderate size is rendered compact, ac-
cessible and handsome ; or, when the col-
lections are large, a cabinet with two tiers
of drawers is the most suitable and conven-
ient, the eggs and nests occupying one tier,
the skins the other. The ingenuity of the
naturalist in arranging and labeling his
collection, is the best guide. Ornitholog-
ical, botanical, entomological and geolog-
ical collections can be accommodated in one
cabinet, if spacious, but the mingling of so
many, or even two or three collections of
these dissimilar objects, may be objection-
able, and where means permit, one case
for the specimens of each study would, per-
haps, be more in accordance with a natu-
ral arrangement. Drawers provided with
tight-fitting glass slides are rendered insect
proof, at least in a measure, and permit
the display of the collection without its be-
iu": disturbed.

Cardboard boxes of various sizes are
now extensively used by oologists, as a con-
venient receptacle for diiferent species of
eggs. They are adaptable to the size of
the specimens or the number of eggs in a
set, and if made of a certain uniform length
and breadth, they will exactly fill out a
cabinet drawer. Thus, a small collection,
with a judicious assortment of diflf'erent siz-
ed boxes, can be made to look very com-
plete, all superfluous boxes being reserved
for future use ; Avhereas, a drawer parti-
tioned in the manaer of a printer's case,
may or may not be filled out, and whatever
empty apartments there are, contribute so
much to the incomplete appearance of a
collection.

Our series of papers on exotic birds will
be continued in the June number. They
promise to be very interesting.

THE OOLOGIST.

21

The Barred Owl. (Syrnium neb-
ulosum.)

tins is one of our most common Owls,
aud more frequently than any other
"^ is seen late in the tall or in winter, |
especially near the borders of creeks or riv-
ers, or near swamps bordered by woods.
In summer it is generally found in dense
forests, tiying about from place to place
during the entire day, seeming not to be a
nocturnal bird, but to see better in the day-
time than any other Owl. It is by no
means a shy bird, but will often, at night,
come close to a lonely camp-fire, exposing
itself to the glare of the fire, without show-
ing the slightest token of alarm. It will
turn its unusually thick head toward you,
and scrutinize you with its large black eyes.
In Louisiana these Owls seem to be the
most abundant, and in passing through the
dense woods, the traveler may often count
six or eight in the distance of a few miles,
and at the approach of night, their ciies
can be heard from evei-y patch of woods
near the plantations. In dark and cknidy
days, indicating an approaching rain-storm,
their cries are multiplied during the day,
and are louder than usual. On the coming
of a storm, they respond to each other in
such unearthly and strange tones, that one
can not help thinking that something extra-
ordinary is taking place among them. Their
motions and gestic\dations are, on sucli oc-
casions, stranger and more lively than us-
ual. On approaching the bird, it at once
changes its perpendicular position to a hor-
izontal one, throwing the lateral feathers
of the head forward, so as to make it ap-
pear as if surrounded by a broad rufT, mov-
ing it round, backward and forward so
quickly as to cause it to look as if it were
dislocated from the body. All motions of
the intruder are looked at with eyes that
seem as if they were half-blind, and with a
suspicion of treacherous intentions. The
bird flies off' to a short distance, alighting
with its back toward the intruder, but im-
mediately turns to begin its scrutiny anew.

If you do not shoot at it, you may follow
it in this way for a long distance ; but if
shot at and not wounded, it will fly off to
sui;h a distance that you will lose sight of
it, though you may hear its pompously ut-
tered " wha, wha, wha," from time to
time.

The" flight of this Owl is light, smooth,
and perfectly noiseless, so much so that
not the slightest rustling of the wings can
be heard, even if it flies only a couple of
yards above your head. If the occasion
requires it, their flight can be greatly pro-
tracted, as they have been noticed to fly on
one stretch a distance of over two miles.
The writer has noticed the Barred Owl sev-
eral times in the day-time sailing about in
the air in small circles, in a manner simi-
lar to the Hawk, rising to a great height
and then flying off to a distance, in an ir-
regular zigzag line, while briskly flapping
its wings. He also several times found the
nest of that Owl containing eggs, the num-
ber of which, when the bird was sitting,
was invariably three. These were of the
size of a hen's egg, but more globular, and
had a coarse rough shell of a pure white
color.

All the nests found were snugly built in
the fork of some large tree, and among its
thi(;k foliage. The nest was, however,
rudely constructed, being composed out-
wardly of sticks, interspersed with dry
grass and dry leaves, and lined with small
twigs, fibrous roots, and a few feathers.
The food of these bii'ds consists chiefly of
mice, moles, frogs, lizards, snakes, and
sometimes fish. The young birds have
been often taken frcnn the nest and placed
I in a room with the window open, and, in
all such instances, the young ones have been
found by their parents the very first night,
I although the distance of the room was, in
; one case, over two miles from the nest.
The parent birds bi-ought plenty of food to
their young, so that almost every morning,
a great many frogs, mice, etc., had to be
thrown out. Only once, in all these exper-
iments, did the old birds bring a partridge ;
but this, on close inspection, was found to

22

THE 00 LOG 1ST

be ia a far-advanced state of decay. The
previous night had been very dark and
stormy, perhaps the old birds had not been
able to catch any live prey, and had brought
the dead Partridge to serve as food for their
young in case of extreme need. j

The young are, for some time after birth,
covered with a fine white down, which gives \
them a peculiar, but not an uninteresting
appearance. Their call or cry is a singu- j
lar hissing sound, which can be heard at a
srreat distance. These birds, like most oth- j
er Owls, are clothed with feathers of very j
different shape and texture. Those sur-
rounding the bill are similar to bristles ;
those around the region of the eyes are un-
webbed and extremely open, and are bound- |
ed by a set proceeding from the external
edge of the ear, small and velvety, consist-
ing of exquisitely fine fibers, almtjst invis- j
ible to the naked eye. The outward pin- |
mage of these birds has one general char-
acter at the surface, calculated to repel rain
and moisture ; but toward the roots of the
feathers, it is composed of a very soft,
loose, and downy substance, so that we j
may touch without feeling it. The webs j
of the wing-quills are also of a delicate soft- i
uess, covered with exceeding fine hair, and i
edged with a fine, loose, silky down. All !
this enables the owl to pass through tjie :
air without disturbing, in the slightest de- (
gree, the most profound stillness. The j
long bristly feathers around the bill and the
eyes serve to guard the latter from injury, '
when the Owl sweeps rapidly through a
thicket, as on the slightest touch at the ,
point of any of these bristles, the nictita-
ting membrane is instantly drawn over the
eye.

There is often a remarkable difference in
size between the male and female, and be-
tween the birds generally of this species.
The usual length of the female is about
twenty-two inches, though I have shot one
that measured twenty-eight inches. The
usual average of the male is seventeen inch-
es, by thirty-eight inches in circumferance.
Theodore Jasper.*

* Part 6, Birds of North America.

A BRIEF note published in this journal
a short time since, in regard to a flycatch-
ing habit of the Red-headed Woodpecker,
calls to mind an occurrence of the same
thing concerning the Robin, which habit
may or may not have been observed by our
readers. A Least Flycatcher (^Empidonax
minimus) had built a nest in one of the
shade trees, and the snap of its little bill
was constantly heard among the leaves.
Several times it would dart in close prox-
imity to passers-by, and our attention was
drawn into watching it in our leisure mo-
ments. But one afternoon a larger bird
flew swiftly out from a neighboring tree,
closed its bill with au audible snap, and a-
lit upon the fence, where it devoured a large
insect of some kind, likely a moth. Quite
surprised at finding it to be a Robin, we re-
garded its movements, and saw it perform
the same thing twice more, after which it
disappeared. Subsequently this Robin was
seen a number of times (•atching insects in
the air, in which it seemed very proficient.

There has been an unusual abundance
of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Redstart,
and Chestnut-sided Warbler, in the high,
bush-covered portions of Herkimer and O-
neida Counties, New York, the present sea-
son. The unusually good facilities for
nesting and the plenitude of food have al-
w^ays offered an attraction to the smaller
birds iidiabiting the hilly districts of these
Counties.

"Tip-up."

TTNFORTUNATE is the ornithologist
who does not know what constitutes a
''Tip-up." And little does he know of
birds, who has not observed these diminu-
tive waders engaged in their oscillatory
movements, without reflecting upon the
probable causes of so peculiar a habit.
Some think it is merely a habit, others that
it is a si";u of some mental condition — af-

THE 00 LOG I ST.

23

fection, fright, or jealousy ; still others be-
lieve It to be the necessary ajj;eiit in obtain-
ing and maintaining their eqnilibrium which
seems, upon consideration, to be the real
cause. Dr. Cones, in connection with his
paper on the Solitary Sandpiper, indulges
in an elaborate rumination upon this odd
characteristic, which is worth reading by
all young ornithologists :

" These Tattlers indulge on all occasions
a propensity tor nodding, like Lord Bnr-
leigh or the Chinese maiidai'ins in front of
tea shops ; and when they see sometliing
they cannot quite make out, seem to reason
with themselves, and finally come to a con-
clusion in tiiis way ; impressing themselves
l)eavily with a sense of their own logic.
They go through the bowing exercise with
a gravity that may quite upset that of a dis-
interested spectator, and yet all through the
performance, so ludicrous in itself, contrive
to preserve sometliing of the passive sedate-
ness that marks all their movements. This
bobbing of the head and foreparts is the
correspondent and countei-part of the still
morecurioiis actions of the Spotted Tattlers
or ' Tip-ups,' as they are a})tly called, iVom
this circumstance ; a queei' lialancing of the
body upon the legs, constituting an amuse-
ment of which these last-liamed birds are
extremely tbiul. As oiten as the Tip-up,
or ' Teeter-tail,' as it is also called, stops in
its pursuit of insects, the lore part of the
body is lowered a little, the head drawn in,
the legs silently bent, whilst the hinder parts
and tail are alternately hoisted with a pe-
culiar jerk, and drawn down again, with
the regiUai'ity of clock-work. The move-
ment is more conspicuous in the upward
than in the downward part of the perform-
ance ; as if the tail were spring-hinged, in
constant danger of flying up, and needing
constant presence of mind to keep it down.
It is aumsing to see an old male in the
I)reeding season busy with this operation.
Upon some rock jutting out of the water he
stands, swelling with amorous pride and
self-sufficiency, puffing out his plumage till'
he looks twice as big as natui'al, facing a-
bout on his narrow pedestal, and bowing

with his hinder parts to all points of the
compass. A sensitive and fastidious per-
son might see something derisive, if not ac-
tually insulting, in this, and feel as Crusoe
may be presumed to have felt when the sav-
ages who attacked his ship in canoes show-
ed the signs of contumaceous scorn that De-
Foe records. But it would not be worth
while to feel offended, since this is only the
entirely oi-iginal and peculiar way the Tip-
up has ol" conducting his courtships. Or-
nithologists are not agi-eed upon the usefnl
purpose subserved in this way, and have as
yet failed to account for the extraordinary
performance."

The Other Side.

TVTILL TiiK (/oLOGisT allow me to offset
Mr. Severance's example of total de-
pravity among birds by another to which I
was eye-witness? On the loth of April,
1875, a pair of House Sparrows had built
a nest in a bird box on tlie edge of our Pub-
lic (harden exactly opposite 85 Boylstou
Street, Boston, and had hatched out a
brood oi' young ones, which were then
nearly Ih'dged. Austin Sunmer, Esq., who
lives at No. Hi^^ called my attention to the
untbi-tunate fate of this family. A pair of
Blue-birds came and ousted the entire lot
upon the ground below, and they were im-
mediately killed by the fall. Th.e Blue-birds
at once appi-opriated the box to their own
use, and are occupying it the present year.
]Mr. Snnmer's whole family witn'essed the
performance, and I was called to see the
dead birds on the ground within an hour of
their untimely end. Now as I do not be-
lieve that either Blue-birds or Sparrows
have any moral responsibility or any sense
of right or wrong, I cannot, consistently
with my faith, call these Blue-birds nmr-
derers and thieves. Both, acting on the
prom{)tings which their creator has planted
in their little breasts, did as their nature in-
cited them. In this Wrens, Blue-birds,
White-bellied Swallows and Sparrows are
all alike. Thomas M. Brewek.

24

THE OOLOGIST

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On the 27tli of May iiiv attention was at-
tracted by a Huinuiiiig Bird fluttering a-
round a regalia busli. 1 watched lier, but
she did not stay long at the flower bush, but
skimmed oflf' thi'ough the air and alit upon
an oak tree ch)se by. I succeeded in fol-
lowing her across the road into a small piece
of woods, where I saw her fly close by the
nest. It was situated on a small oak about
thirty feet from the ground and contained
two eirgs. F. M. Spikgle.

— ^YE should tliink a Sparrow Hawk
could be employed to advantage by ornith-
ologists while out collecting small birds.
An experiment in this direction furnished
evidence toward its feasibility : in less than
half an hour after the Hawk was discover-
ed by a Robin, there were within easy gun-
shot at least ten different species and thrice
as many individuals. Perhaps a young
bird is more effective than an adult, but in
either case, the Robins are powerful assail-
ants and their attacks calculated to be se-
vere, and unless the Hawk has partial free-
dom, it is exposed to considerable danger.

— GoLDEN-CKESTED and Ruby-crowued
Kinglets and Horned Larks have been nu-
merous the past winter and spring in most
of the Middle portions of the United States.
White- throated and -crowned Sparrows
have nested for the first time witliin dis-
tricts south of their usual breeding ground,
and Crossbills have been observed about the
towns and villages since the middle of Feb-
ruary.

General Items.

— The Tufted Titmouse is a resident spe-
cies here (Washington, Pa. ) and quite com-
mon, but I have never yet I'ound one of their
nests. About the 12th of April, a pair
were seen carrying bits of straw and other
materials into a small box that I had nailed
up among the branches of a cherry tree in
the garden. The next day they were driv-
en away, after a slight skirmish, by a pair
of Bluebirds who had been inspecting the
box a few days before, but, dog-in-the-mau-
ger^ike, they did not nest there themselves.

'% W. T. Warwick.

Jlcccnt ^xtMi cations.

Notes ON Certain Species of New England
Birds, with additions to his catalogue of the
Birds of New England : by T. M. Brewer.
— Since the publication of his list of the
Birds of New P^ngland, in 1875 ,Dr. Brew-
er has found it necessary to issue a supple-
mentary list. There is no portion of North
America as thoroughly studied and inves-
tigated in ornithology as New England,
and the seeming rivalry existing among the
naturalists of those States, forms a means
which rarely fails to bring to notice the oc-
currence of a doubted species, if proven by
the capture of a single specimen. Dr. Brew-
er enumerates twenty-one species in this
list, making a total of three-hundred and
fifty-six species known to occur in the New
England States. Among those whose pres-
ence in this part of the country is of much
interest, are Audubon's Warbler, the Lou-
isiana Tanager, Chestnut-collared Bunting,
Oregon Snow Bird, Scissor-tail, etc.

5ldgi^>

Vol. IV.

JUNE, 1878.

No. 4.

That Nondescript Egg.

BY JAMES S. BAILEY, A. M., M. T>.

fN reading the leading paper of the
last issue of The Oologist, entitled,
"A Nondescript Egg," I was puzzled
as well as the discoverer, to know what
kind of an egg he had found, but I think
one fact will be sufficient to upset the the-
ory that the nondescript eggs had been laid
by its foster parent, the Eobiu.

If it were possible for the ? Robin to
have mated with the Blackbird and her eggs
to have been fertilized by the same, so far
as external appearances are concerned the
eggs would not have been changed in as-
pect, but the chick would probably not re-
semble either parent, or might partake of
the characteristics of one or both. If this
hybrid should not prove to be sterile, her
eggs might not resemble those of the Robin
or Blackbird. The young would, therefore,
have cleared the mystery, had the eggs been
allowed to have gone on to incubation.

In 1871, a strange hybrid came into my
possession, said to have been a cross be-
tween the Guinea hen and domestic Tur-
key.* After much labor, I traced the hyb-
rid to the gentleman who reared it, and
through him and his family, gleaned the
following facts. Mr. Matthew Flausburgh
of Stony Hill, Albany Co., N. Y., bred the
hybrid in this manner. In 1865, he pro-
cured some Guinea eggs for a setting. Not
having enough, he added eggs of the do-
mestic fowl, which were hatched and rear-
ed together. The next spring two of this

brood, a Dominique cock (half Shanghai)
and a Guinea hen mated. Their amours
were not always conducted in private, for
Mr. Hausburgh at one time was an eye-
witness.

The eggs from the Guinea hen were care-
fully preserved by Mr. F. and placed un-
der a hen, together with a few Turkey eggs.
The Guinea eggs hatched in three and a
half weeks ; the Turkey eggs not until the
expiration of four. The chicks from the
Gnniea eggs -were of a smiff color, instead
of the usual color of youvg Guineas. Of
this fecundation, only three eggs hatched,
two of the chicks only lived a day or two.
The one referred to grew to maturity. The
important points are, that the Guinea eggs
were not changed in their characteristics
by this seemingly unnatural fecundation.
It would not have been evident, had not the
chicks presented unusual characteristics
which followed the surviving one through
life. Another fact deserves notice. The
period of incubation in the domestic fowl
is 21 days ; that of the Guinea 28 days.
The Guinea eggs having been made fertile
by the domestic fowl, influenced the period
of incubation, which occupied the interme-
diate space between three and four weeks
for their development.

It is a well known fact that members of
the Finch family cross, as the Goldfinch
and Canary, but it is positively known that
the color of the eggs is not changed from
that peculiar to the parent bird winch lays
them.

*I Avrote and published a paper on this sub-
ject and illustrated the bird, in the Country
Gentleman; Vol. xxxvi., p. 571.

The facts above given by Dr. Bailey do
not deteriorate the importance of the facts
stated in our May number. The only real
inconsistency, if so it is, lies in the possi-
bility of the nondescript egg being the joint

26

THE OOLOGIST

property and the natural result of a union
of two different species. P^ven if this is
not in accordance with the laws of physiol-
ogy, there is an interestiu<^ item in the
knowledge that, at least one, and probably
two of the eggs, were clearly abnormal,
Avhich luct is made additionally prominent
and notewortliy by the circumstances sur-
rounding the whole matter. The inference
we drew — much less a theory — was the re-
suit of reflections brought out by the cir-
cumstances ; and, excepting the possibility
of an abiu)rmal e^^'j: being the natural con-
sequence of an "• abnormal " pair of bii'ds,
it follows that this may be, and very prob-
ably is, an instance simply of abnormity,
even though brought about by a different
species. The rule that eggs of the same
species the world over, are of the same gen-
eral appearance, and the exception that
they occasionally widely differ in all re-
spects, may apply to the production of a
pair of birds of which the male is one spe-
cies and the female another, as well as to
a pair of like species. And, among the
causes of abnormity in eggs, it is reasona-
ble to suppose that a union such as indi-
cated, might combine opposite character-
istics, which, together with the attend-
ant physiological relations of each, would
produce a defective egg.

While we are on the subject of abnormi-
ties, an item from a correspondent in New
Jersey will be of interest. Reference is
also made to Dr. Brewer's opinion of im-
maculate eggs, where usually maculate, and
vice versa, in our April number.

A Plain Egg.

On reading your article published in The
OoLOGisT, (May issue) entitled, "A Non-
descript Egg," puts me in mind of a simi-
lar circumstance that happened with me
last year. I was out one day on a collect-
ing tour, when my brother called my atten-
tion to a nest situated in the top of a pine
tree, and he said he had seen some Crow
Blackbirds about there a few days before.
I climbed up the tree and was much sur-
prised to find a nest, to all appearances ex-

actly like a Crow Blackbird's, but the eggs
(three in number) were very peculiar to
that species. One was marked like a Crow
Blackbird's, and the other two were the
same shape and measurements, but were of
the ground color of the first. One of them
had a black spot on one side, the other was
plain. J. L. Adams, Jr.

Notes on the Nesting of the Black

Tern, at St. Clair Flats, Mich.,

June 7, 1878.

BY W. H. COLLINS.

T^HIS species builds a nest of short pieces
of grass and rushes, laid together in a
little heap on the drift rushes, in sheltered
situations where the wind cannot carry them
away. Many were placed on pieces of
board and drift-wood that were floating in
the marsh. The eggs were usually three ;
I did not find more in any of the nests.
Some of them were fresh and in others in-
cubation was well advanced. The birds
were very courageous in defending their
nests ; they would sometimes come so close
to my head that I could feel the wind from
their wings, while they kept up a continu-
ous cry. Most of the eggs were warm
when taken ; still, I did not see any of the
birds sitting on the eggs. The female birds
killed showed that they were sitting, by the
bare portions of their bodies and the thick
skin usually found on birds that are sitting.
1 often saw the birds go down in the rush-
es and remain until I got within several
rods of the place, when they would rise
and hover over the vicinity, and I usually
found a nest near by. In one instance, I
found two nests on one piece of drift-wood,
twelve feet long, one nest at each end ; us-
ually the nests were not witliin sight of each
other. While the birds were there by hun-
dreds, I frequently killed two birds at one
shot, and could shoot for an hour without
changing my position. The birds kept com-
ing at each discharge of the gun, which
seemed to excite and not frighten them.

THE OOLOGIST.

27

Nesting of the Canada Jay.

I HAVE seen an article in your valuable
paper, in i-ef'erence to the breeding of the
Canada Jay, in paper for A{)ril, '78. It
breeds in winter, February and March, at
tirst appearance of spring thaw ; in inter-
ior of forest ; nests in pine or spruce, about
two fathoms* from ground ; nest of small
branches and moss ; young, three or five ;
have seen nests with young and one addled
egg, light gray, brown spots.
Si John, N. B. S. B. Wily.

Oological Notes for June.

Egbert Bagg, Jr., discovered a nest
and three eggs of Lincoln's Finch {3Iclos-
jnza Lincolni) in Northern New York, re-
cently. The discovery is important, inas-
much as it is probably the first authentic
record of its nesting in tiiis State.

While out collecting two and a half
miles from Colony, Kas., about the middle
of -June, I found the nest of a Cliewink
[Pipilo erythrophthalmus) . It was built
two feet from the ground on a gooseberry
bush. The nest contained four eggs. Nev-
er having found or heard of a Chevvink's
nest built above the ground, I shot the old
bird and satisfactorily identified her as the
above species. It had been raining nearly
every day for several weeks, and the ground
was probably too wet to build upon.

John Holzapfel.
Is it uncommon for young Robins to nest
the same season they were hatched? An
early brood of Robins was raised on a low
limb of a Balm of Gilead tree in a neighbor's
garden, and I think it was one of this brood
that I saw on the 3rd of June, carrying ma-
terials to a nearly finished nest in the tip-
top of the tree ; at any rate, it was a young
one that I saw building, for its flight was
very weak, and its breast was of the pecu-
liar yellow color that the young of this spe-
cies have, at a certain stage of their growth.
*About twelve feet.

I saw it go to the nest several times Avith
bits of grass in its bill, and it invariably
flew from one limb to another, a little high-
er up, continuing these short flights till it
reached the nest. Other members of the
family said that they saw an old one also
working at the nest, and that it went from
the ground to the nest in one flight. I
would have examined the nest, but it was

inaccessible I obtained twenty-five

Flicker eggs, the aggregate of four sets,
from one cavity in a lialf dead tree this sea-
son. Was it an unusual haul?

W. T. Warrick.

[Birds will occasionally deposit eggs to
a large number, if the set is continually
broken up. -Ed.]

Up to June 24, observations on the pro-
lificness of the House Sparrow failed to
prove that, so far, th.ey have passed the
nesting season. At that date, a pair were
seen vigorously at work carrying materials
into a box erected on the premises. It re-
mains now whether the nest will be finish-
ed, and the usual routine of oviposition and
incubation take place ; in which event, it
will be safe to put this down as the third
litter, since this pair built the first nest ear-
ly in IMarch.

Every oologist should subscribe for this
journal and keep himself thoroughly posted
on all matters relating to the study of birds'
eggs. Terms — 75 cents per year, with a
beautiful colored plate ef eggs. Do not de-
lay, as the number of plates is limited.

Large-billed Water Thrush. — The
nest of this species I discovered in a marsh
undor some low bushes. It was situated
in a tuft of sword grass one foot from the
ground. The nest is somewhat enlongated,
composed of sword grass principally, and
lined with fine grass and hairs. It was six
inches long, and contained four eggs of the
bird and two Cow Bird's eggs. The eggs
were so tender that I broke them all but
one, and have not dared to measure this
one. I judge it to be about .65 by 50
inch. W. H. Ballou.

28

THE OOLOGIST

Tfie ©«fo3tst«

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

JUNE, 1878.

Wanted : — Numbers two and four, vol-
ume three of this journal. Those of our
readers willing to dispose of these issues,
please send to this office and state price.
None but good specimens wanted.

Ward's Catalogues. — Those among
our readers especially interested in oology,
cannot fail to notice the advertisement of
Professor Ward. The magnitude of his
establishment of natural science at Roches-
ter, is a guarantee that his collections em-
brace specimens of birds' eggs exceedingly
rare and valuable to collectors. Send six
cents for his catalogue of North American

Our correspondents and patrons would
greatly facilitate the filling and forwarding
of orders for supplies or specimens by spec-
ifying the articles desired on a separate slip
of paper, written distinctly. We would al-
so request that those who require the pi-ices
of certain specimens or supplies, should, in
ordering, re-specify them in full, and there-
by save the time that would otherwise be
consumed in correspondence.

With this number we mail our recent
subscribers for the plate of eggs, a copy of

the March number containing it. Oolo-
gists desiring the plate should subscribe
early, as the number is limited, and we shall
be unable to supply more.

The Harpy Eagle (Harpyia
destructor).*

f|-T HE Harpy Eagle constitutes the type
if I of a distinct section among the birds
^ of prey, a section first established by
Cuvier, and adopted by most naturalists.
The species comprehended in this genus,
Harpyia, are exclusively American : they
are characterized by the enormous thick-
ness and strength of the tarsi, which are
feathered half way down ; the wings are
short and rounded ; the beak is strongly
hooked, as are the talons also, and of for-
midable magnitude. Comparing the Har-
py witli the Golden Eagle, we observe the
former to be distinguished not only by
shorter, but by more rounded wings, by
tarsi far more robust, and only partially
feathered, by more powerful talons, and by
a more stout and curved beak : the physi-
ogaomy of the two birds is also very differ-
ent ; both have a stern, but glistening eye,
indicative of courage and ferocity ; of both
the port is royal, but the arrangement of
the feathers of the head in the Harpy in
some degree reminds us of the Great-eared
Owl. In the Golden Eagle, the head and
neck are covered with long, narrow point-
ed feathers, which fall over each other, and
yet preserve their distinctness of appear-
ance. On the contrary, the feathers of the
neck and sides of the head in the Harpy Ea-
gle are broad and rounded at their anterior
margin, and capable of being puffed up ;
while on the back of the head, the feath-
ers, still of the same character, but longer,
form a crest, which the bird can raise or
depress at pleasure. Tiie middle feathers
of this ci'est are shorter than the more lat-
eral, so that when erected it is lowest in the

* Kniglifs Museum of Animated Nature :
Vol. I, p. 259.

THE OOLOGIST.

29

centre, and rises at each side somewhat in
the form of ears or tufts ; but the proud de-
portment aud the fierce ghmce of the eyes
redeem the Owl-like character thus giveu
to the liead. Ofteu liave we watclied tlie
spleudid Harpy Elagle in the gardens of the
Zoological Society, as he has sat upright
on his perch, and motionless as a statue,
unmoved by every attempt to intimidate
him, or disturb his dignitied composure,
while the gleam of his eye fixed steadily
upon us betokened at once daring and en-
ergy. In strength none can equal him ; in
courage and ferocity none excell him. But
we have seen the Harpy Eagle under other
circumstances : we have seen him feasting
on his slaughtered prey, with his talons
buried in the body, and his beak crimson
with gore ; on our approach, instead of
quitting it, he has expanded his ample
wings over it, so as to conceal it, and as-
sumed a menacing attitude, as if prepared
to contest the possession of it to the utmost ;
and such was the ferocity aud power dis-
played, as to convince us that any attempt
at interference (had it been practicable)
would have been a most dangerous under-
taking. The Harpy Eagle is a native of
Guitma and other parts of South America,
where it frequents the deep recesses of the
forests remote from the abodes of man. Of
its habits, however, in a state of nature,
we have but little information. It is fear-
ed for its great strength and fierceness, and
is reported not to hesitate in attacking in-
dividuals of the human race ; nay, that in-
stances have been known in which persons
have fallen a sacrifice, their skulls having
been fractured by the blows of its beak aud
talons. This may be an exaggeration, but
certainly it would be a hazardous experi-
ment to venture unarmed near the nest of
a pair of these formidable Eagles. Her-
nandez states that this species not only thus
ventures to assault man, but even beasts of
prey. According to Mandruyt, it makes
great destruction amongst the sloths, which
tenant the branches of the forest, and are
ill fitted to resist so formidable an antago-
nist ; it also destroys fawns, cavies, opos-

sums, and other quadrupeds, which it car-
ries to its lonely retreat, there in solitude
to satiate its appetite. Monkeys are also
to be numbered among its victims ; but the
sloth is said to constitute its ordinary prey.
Of its nidification we know nothing ; as the
Eagles, however, lay only from two to three
eggs, it is reasonable to suppose that the
present species is not an exception to the
rule.

It has been correctly observed by Mr.
Selby, that the members of the Aquiline
division of the Raptorial order do not pos-
sess the same facility of pursuing their
prey upon the wing which we see in the
Falcons and Hawks ; for though their flight
is very powei-ful, they are not capable of
the rapid evolutions that attend the aerial
attacks of the above-named groups, in con-
sequence of which their prey is mostly
pounced upon on the ground. The short-
ness of the wings of the Harpy Eagle, when
compared with those of the Golden Eagle
of Europe, and their rounded form and
breadth, tliough well adapting them for a
continued, steady flight, render them less
efficient as organs of rapid and sudden aeri-
al evolutions than those of the latter ; but
as it inhabits the woods, and does not prey
upon birds, but upon animals, incapable of
saving themselves by flight, its powers of
wing (or rather the modification of those
powers) are in accordance with the circum-
stances as to food and locality under which
it is placed. If the Harpy P^agle soars not
aloft, hovering over plains and mountains,
it threads the woods, it skims amidst the
trees, aud marks the sloth suspended on the
branch, or the monkey dozing in unsuspi-
cious security, and with unerring aim strikes
its defenceless victims. Mr. Selby, com-
menting on the fierceness of a pair of Gol-
den Eagles in his possession, and their
readiness to attack every one, indiscrimi-
nately, observes that when living prey (as
hares, rabbits, or cats) are thrown to them,
the animal is " instantly pounced on by a
stroke beliind the head, aud another about
the region of the heart, the bill appearing
never to be used but for the piu'pose of

30

THE OOLOGIST

tearing up the prey when dead." It is pre-
cisely in this manner that the Harpy Eagle
deals Avith its victims ; death seems the
work of an instant ; the strongest cat, pow-
erless in his grasp, is clutched, and expires.
Nor will this surprise any one who has
contemplated the power seated in the talons
of this bird ; strong as are the talons of the
Golden Eagle, great as is the muscular de-
velopment of its limbs, and formidable as
are its claws, they seem almost trifling
compared with those of the Harpy Eagle.
In the museum of the Zoological Society
are skeletons of both these birds, which it
is interesting to compare together. The
thickness of the bones of the limbs in the
latter, and especially of the tarsus, which
is more than double that of the Golden
Eagle, and the enormous size of the talons,
are sutficlent to convince the observer of
the ease witli which, when living, the fierce
bird would bury its sharp-hooked claws in
the vitals of its prey, and how vain resist-
ance when the fatal grasp was taken. In
its native regions the Harpy Eagle is said
to be by no means common ; were it so, the
destruction occasioned by its presence would
it might be naturally expected, preponder-
ate over the renovation of the species which
constitute its habitual food, and the balance
which nature has established between the
destroyed and the destroying, the sanguin-
ary and their victims, be thus disarranged.
No doubt that (as is the case with all car-
nivorous animals) its numerical ratio in a
given space is proportionate to that of the
animals on which it is destined habitually
to feed. AYliere the sloth is most abund-
ant, there will most abound the Harpy
Eagle.

The general colour of tliis noble bird is
slate-black ; the head is light slate-gray,
passing into dusky black on the crest ; the
under parts are white, with a broad band
of dark slate-colour across the chest. The
tail is barred with black and slate-colour.
The beak and claws are black ; the tarsi
yellow.

Avi vita Naturae sunt.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — The
Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a somewhat rare
and irregular visitor in Eastern Pennsyl-
vania. It arrives about the 15th of May,
and is mainly a denizen of high, open woods,
where it delights in the tallest tree-tops.
We have never observed it along water-
courses, which has been the experience of
others. Eew species are more shy and af-
fect greater fondness for places of retire-
ment. While gleaning amid the branches
of the tallest oaks, almost beyond the reach
of effective gunshot, the presence of a hu-
man being on the scene, infuses a feeling
of dread, and leads to its hasty departure.
When absorbed in feeding, or in their gam-
bols with each other, the sexes will remain
upf)n the same tree for hours together.

This species is not gregarious, but ap-
pears to arrive already paired ; for it is not
an uncommon occurrence, even from its
first arrival, to find the sexes feeding and
rambling together, and in the intervals of
gleaning, dallying together ; and lavishing
upon each other the most endearing atten-
tions. P^ither the species arrives already
mated, or performs this indispensable bus-
iness immediately on its arrival. Diligent
searching has convinced us that it does not
breed within our limits, although these
movements would seem to warrant the be-
lief that it does. Why these tokens of en-
dearment and aflfection? On the supposi-
tion that the birds arrive already paired,
and are devotedly attached to each other
as evidenced by these actions which are
the promptings of an overflowing love, and
which must manifest itself in some such
way, when not otherwise diverted by the
duties of nidification and incubation, they
can be readily accounted for. We have
occasionally observed a lonely male to come
upon the scene in the midst of these woo-
ings or caresses, when a conflict would en-
sue, which would last a long while. The
female would remain a passive spectator of
the struggle, unless her partner wavered in
the conflict, when she would come to his
rescue, and deal most summary blows upon
his antagonist. — Gentry.

THE OOLOGIST.

31

Studies on Certain Fringillidae.
The Grass Finch.

rriHAT little bird which springs \\\) before
you, as you are wauderitig through a
pasture or meadow, aud after flutteriug ir-
regularly in the air for a moment, sliowing
a pair of white outer feathers in its tail,
plunges suddenly, and rather awkwardly 1
into the grass again, a short distance away, j
can seldom be mistaken by the young nat- \
uralist, if he will notice the characteristic |
by which it is easily distinguished when
upon the wing — the white lateral tail feath-
ers. Perhaps you are traveling along the
road, gun in liand, collecting box slung
over your shoulder, and you see a modest
little Sparrow sitting on a fence-rail, atten-
tively observing you, though with no indi-
cation of fear. You usually regard it
thoughtlessly, assuming it to be one of the
three or four commoner Sparrows one can
see at almost any moment in the fields ; yet !
you often almost reproach yourself for not 1
observing closely what might have been a
species new or desirable to you, and which ;
you declined to destroy, because of the prob- I
ability of its being a bird with which you j
are well acquainted ; but when it takes j
wing and flits a little farther along the rail,
exposing its peculiar markings, you are at
once at ease concerning its identity, and do j
not afterward regret that you had not killed ,
that little Sparrow upon the fence. Thus
it is with nuiny other small, aud even large
birds which are very similar ; unless you
are at once satisfied — by hearing their song
or notes, or noticing some distinguishing
mark in their plunuige — that you have no
necessity for destroying what would turn
out to be a common species.

Fooecetes (jramineus is well known to all
ornithologists. It is, next lo the Song aud
Chipping Sparrows, the commonest species
of Sparrow to be found in Eastern North
America. We have observed it often in
such large numbers in the fields, that one
might be led to remark that it is the com-
monest species by far ; but this is no cri-

terion as to its general abundance, for, dur-
ing the early spring, and for the remainder
of the season after the breeding period, they
are quite erratic, and one frequently notes
the great abundance of Grass Finches in
cei'tain fields (though not at all in flocks,
but pursuing each its own avocation, and
departing alone, just as it happens) ; while
at other times, in a hard day's tramp thro'
pastures and meadows which they generally
frequent, one can scarcely account for the
very diminished few that rise at long inter-
vals from the grass and fences. Upland
pastures, studded with tb.istles and weeds,
and containing moist areas, are mostly fre-
quented for nesting, but quite often one will
find several nests in succession, in the long
grass of a meadow. When the nest is ap-
proached too closely, the bird usually flut-
ters confusedly up before you, and ordina-
rily attempts to draw your attention by re-
peated feints, often exercised so skillfully
and naturally, that the tyro is commonly
induced to suppose he has accidentally stum-
bled upon a maimed bird, Avhich he imag-
ines easily caught, and only finds out his
mistake, when, in after days, he reads of
this peculiar method of many birds, to al-
lure an intruder from their domiciles and
eggs, or young ; oftentimes it will merely
flit to a prominent object a few yards dis-
tant, and betray its (•oncern by uttering a
restless chirp ; at others — and this is its
safest and most deceiving measure — it flies
to a short distance and drops unconcerned-
ly into the grass a";aiu.

Mr. W. H. Ballon has donated to the
museum of the North Western University,
at Evanston, 111., a classified collection of
North American birds' eggs, numbering
over 1,0UU specimens, 210 species, 150
genera ; also numerous nests. The collec-
tion is valued at $500.

Thi-: " Rose-breasted Grosbeak," illus-
trated with a beautiful engraving, may be
obtained at this office. Price, 10 cents.

32

THE OOLOGIST

The Souffriere Bird. — Mr. Fred. O-
ber, who is studying the natural history of
the islands of the Caribbean Sea, under the
auspices of the Smithsonian Institution,
contributes some remarkable notes on this
bird, in a private letter to the editor of the
Forest and Stream. Its notes are describ-
ed as " strains of most delicious melody,
yet strongly mild and melancholy." It is
always heard on the mountain top and no-
Avhere else ; its music coming from stunted
trees covering and hiding the deep gorges
that scan the lip of the crater. No one
had ever seen the bird or captured it. It
possessed a fascination for the listener that
the notes of few birds could command.
Fine birds were obtained at an elevation of
3,000 feet above the level of the sea.

W. H. B.

vigorously pursuing a dove-house Pigeon.
The Blackbird would dart at the Pigeon
and wheel savagely after it, whenever it
turned in its course, but was not seen to
strike the Pigeon, whether unable or from
want of sufficient courage to approach near
enough, we are not prepared to say. Both
soon disappeared, and we could only won-
der the cause of such a strange proceeding.

General Items.

— Louisiana Tanager. — Dr. T. ]\L
Brewer in Forest and Stream^ notes the oc-
currence of this bird at Lynn, .Mass., dur-
ing a violent snow-storm. Its occurrence
here is attributed to having been caught in
the vortex of a storm — whicii started from
the Mexican Pacific coast, — and borne to
the shoi'es of the Atlantic.

— Additions to the Avi-fauna of Il-
linois.— I have added one species during
the last year, to the avi-fauna of the State.
In Cairo, 111., I found the dead body of
BuiFon's Long-tailed Jaeger (^Stercorarius
Bufforii), shot by some sportsman. Its
body floated ashore and was found shortly
after being killed. In answer to a commu-
nication, Mr. Ridgway thought that it must
have been shot near there, or some bird of
prey would have taken it, wliich is proba-
ble, as the " scavengers of all the earth"
clean the river of every imaginable victim,

dead or alive, that appears Tlie

Mourning Warbler has also been added by
Frank E^ DeWitt, of Chicago.

W. H. Ballou.

— On the morning of March 10, our at-
tention was attracted to a Crow Blackbird

We are glad to note the growth of our
conteinpoi'ary, the Valley Naturalist. It
now has eight pages, and its contents are
ably disposed.

The Naturalists' Directory for 1878, pub-
lished by S. E. Cassino, Salem, Mass.,
has made its appearance. It contains, be-
sides a list of the naturalists of North Amer-
ica in all branches of natural science, a di-
rectory of chemists and physicists, a list of
scientific societies, and scientific books.

We notice that the Temperance Vedette^
of Terrell, Texas, has a department devot-
ed to natural history, with G. H. Ragsdale
at its head as editor. It is mainly the ex-
ponent of Texas ornithology.

Students of ornithology will find it to
their interest to obtain a copy of Wm. Wes-
ley's book circular on ornithology, just pub-
lished at 26 Essex St., Strand, London. It
contains a very complete list of all publish-
ed works on birds and their eggs.

Mr. C. J. Maynard has resumed the pub-
lication of his Birds of Florida., and will
supplement the work with a treatise on the
birds, nests and eggs of Eastern North A-
merica. We shall notice this work at great-
er length hereafter.

The science columns of a recent number
of the Chicago Tribune contained an arti-
cle by Mr. W. H. Ballou, on the " Game
Birds of Chicago Market, with an Appen-
dix on Mammals." Seventy-five species
of birds are noticed. Many names were
omitted on account of their extreme varia-
bility.

Nesting of Contopiis vireiis (Wood Pewee), 34

Practical Oology, 34

Editorial Notices, 36

Studies oil Certain Fringillidae.— Tlie Tree Sparrow, 37

Utility of the Crow, 38

The Acadian Owl, .38

■M^^-^ .^-^ss^ '^•'•^ Condor, 39

General Items, 40

Pkcent Pubmcations, 40

Advertisements, . last cover.

Volume Four;

Number Five.

A Monthly Journal devoted to the Study of Birds and their P^ggs.

S. L. WILLARD, Editor ;
Assisted by Able ornithological Writers.

Subscriptions: — 60 cents a year, in advance, postage prepaid by
the publishers. With Colored Plate of t)ggs as a frontispiece to the vol-
ume, 75 cents a year.

We do not publish two editions of this journal ; the distinction in price
is made to partly compensate for the expense of publishing the colored
plate. Subscriptions can commence at any time, and unless otherwise un-
derstood, will date from the number following the receipt of the money.
No subscriptions received for less than one year.

Single copies, 5 cents each.

Advertisements. — Collectors wishing to sell or exchange rare
specimens, or to introduce among oologists any novelty in this branch of
study, will find The Oologist the best journal published for reaching a
large class of collectors from Canada to Florida and California.

Terms : — Inside cover, 7 cents per brevier line ; 50 cents per inch.
Outside cover, 10 cents a line ; 70 cents per inch. Reasonable discount
for three or more insertions.

Oologists. — We solicit interesting facts concerning the eggs, nests,
and breeding habits of rare species, and especially observations relating
to any novel characteristic connected with Oology, that our readers are
brought into contact with.

All communications and subscriptions should be addressed to

THE OOLOGIST,

Oneida Street, UTICA, N. Y.

e®

-^ ®

si

X- Vol. IV.

Things Oological.

oioqi

JULY, 1878.

No. 5.

BY W. H. BALLOU.

KUSTY BlA('KBI1!D

^y , .

IIE opening ai'ticle of Field tind For-
est for March, entitled "■The Natu-
ral history of the Islands of Lake E-
rie," contributed by myself, contains a state-
ment that seems to call ibr some explana-
tion. Among the birds noted as known
to bi'ced on the islands, is the Rusty Black-
bird. It may be a matter of some surprise
that this announcement, so importiint in it-
self, should not have been made public be-
ibre, as the taking of the eggs of this bird
on one of the islands indicated, occurred in
•lutie, '7(5. The article in question was
contributed some tive or six months ago,
which at least cancels nearly half a year
of the responsibility. It may also be prop-
er to state further, that a press of other
matter rendered an earlier announcement
of the fact impracticable.

Happening one day iu a gi-ove on JNliddle
Island of the Put-in-Bay grouj), I was at-
tracted by the noise of some birds quarrel-
ing. An examination showed that some
Pur|)le Grackles were endeavoring to drive
the Kusty Blackbirds I'rom tiieir nest to ob-
tain the eggs, but as I thought at the time,
rice oerna. But my presence seemed to
frighten the Purple Gi'ackles away, and
the Rustics retin'ued to the nest. The nest
was placed in a small evergreen some fif-
teen feet high, and was nolliing more than
an old Thrush's nest. There were three
eggs in it. one of which 1 broke ; the oth-
ers are still in my posses'sion. They do not
ditfer mateiially from the general run of
their kind, except that they are heavily

blotched, rather than marked. This bird

has formei-ly* been known to breed " from
Northern Maine to the Arctic Circle."

Bell's Viueo.

The discovery of a nest of Vireo Bdlii
on the campus of the North Western Uni-
versity is a matter of no little interest to
; me. Immediately on noting this bird as a
resident of the campus, I watched it care-
fully until 1 discovered its nest some twen-
ty leet up a large oak, on a small limb and
iu a most exposed position. There were
young birds in the nest, and 1 concluded to
leave it alone and await a second laying of
eggs. The heavy storms of July 2 and 8,
however, killed the young birds. I took
the nest, which does not ditfer materially
from that of the commou Vireo, except that
it is snuiller. As I was leaving tlie tree
iu a kind of despair at the prospect of a sec-
ond laying being thus cut off, I heard the
bird's peculiar scpieal, and following it, a
hundred yards away I found them building
a new nest in an accessible position some
forty feet frona the ground ; so I may yet
obtain their eggs.

To Rkmovk iiakdknkd Yolks, &c.

Eggs are often obtained in which the con-
tents have become hardened. The extract-
ing of this substance so as not to spoil the
shell, has become an accomplished fact af-
ter a few chemical experiments. The pro-
cess I found to be more simple than I had
anticipated. It consists in introducing car-
bonate of soda and water through the drill-
ed aperture. The soda is dissolved by the
water and foi-ms a lye. This lye converts
the contents of the shell into soap, which

*We would nifer our corresi)ondeiit to page
;^7, No. 5, Vol. I. of this jounial for farther
evidence of the nesting of this bird.

34

THE OOLOGIST

may then be blown out. Water must fre-
quently be introduced into the shell, to pre-
vent the lye from becoming too strong. In
large eggs a small quantity of ammonia
may also be introduced to assist the j)io-
cess. Care must be taken, howevei-, not
to get any of the latter on the outside of tiie
shell, as it is sure to deface the coloring.
I successfully performed this operation on
an egg of the American Swan, which had
been brought me in tlie condition mentioned.
[Uefore this experiment is tried upon val-
uable eggs of small size, it is worth while
that we should offer a caution. 'J'he ex-
periment is an extremely hazardous one up-
on any but large eggs ; since not only may
it be impossibU^ for the tyro to obtain the
proper proportions of the injection, but the
use of any alkali or acid is attended with
more or less danger to the specimen. A
lye operating upon the inside of a tender
shell will dissolve it in a few moments, —
and would a strong one, uidess well dilu-
ted. The experiment /k/.s been successfully
tried by some collectoi's, but at best it is
attended with uiu-ertainty. — Ed.]

four nearly fresh eggs. The nest was the
most shallow of any that I ever have tak-
en, not exceeding | of an inch in depth.
Had it not been for the full complement of
eggs, I sliould iiave thought it incomplete.
The pei'iod of incubation is fourteen days.
They leave here about the middle of Sep-
tember. Jf there was plenty of time for
this last case to hatch and get away in sea-
son, why not others? I have alwavs tho't
that only one brood was raised in New
England ; still, in the more southern parts
two may be the rule instead of the excep-
t'o"- B. J. Peckham.

Nesting of Contopus virens.

TX your No. 5 of Vol. III. I notice a call
for obsei-vations on the Wood Pewee.
I iiave iield off, waiting for others more ca-
pable to tell what tiiey know about it. 1
now take the liberty of relating my obser-
vations thi'ongh your colunuis. Nearly
everyone will admit that locality makes a
wide difference, not only in the material of
the nest, but in the breeding hal)its also.
In '74, the Gth of June, I removed a nest
containing four eggs from the limb of an
old apple tree, about seven feet from tlie
ground. It would compete with many
nests of Trochilus coluhris. .July 4th I i-e-
moved a second nest from the same spot.
Whether the owners of the second nest were
identical with those of the first, I can not
say with certainty, but think they were.
July 12, 1878, I removed fi-om an oak
limb at a height of thirty feet, a nest with

Practical Oology.

gTUDYING bii-ds' eggs ejzgs with an ar-
dor only felt by a born oologist ; noting
every individual circumstance connected
with nesting and oviposition ; making draw-
ings of eggs and nests ; collecting specimens
— these are tlie attributes to the successful
accpiirement of oo'ogical knowledge : the
practical and salient points. If one has an
inclination to view the study as the best of
Natm-e's gilts, in other words, to take to it
as a "hobby." all reas()nal)le facilities
should be allowed him to pursue his obser-
vations, which, it m;iy be assured, will pos-
sess the value of originality. A studious
artist-naturalist will combine correct natu-
ral effect, in his sketches, with a fitting ar-
tistic covering; besides possessing ability
for making original and important notes",
he may be able to throw the scenery around
them, and thus combine the scientific with
the poetical. But he cannot deviate from
the descriptive to satisfy the poetical, else
his notes would savor of insufficiency and
shallowness ; and he must learn that where
necessary, strict attention to technicalities
cannot allow of poesy. His love of art and
the artistic must not permit him to make
drawings indiscriminately as to the value of
the representations : that is, he must ever
be eager to portray new and ch;iracteristic
points, however devoid of beauty, and must
beware of exaggeration.

THE OOLOGIST.

35

In collecting specimens, the true oblogist
will not search tor the higher colored and
larger species, — for this shows a sacrilice,
or rather a lack of scientific interest — but
will at all times direct his energies toward
procuring specimens of current intrinsic
value ; he will hunt up specimens exhibit-
ing the characteristics of the several groups
and sub-divisions of birds, and take partic-
ular enjoyment in finding abnormal speci-
mens, llis cabinet will exhibit system,
and he will take pleasure in pointing out
the rarest specimens and giving the circum-
stances of their collection ; he will cherish
a specimen which he obtained with his own
hands, in his own vicinity, and which in it-
self has a value for rarity, with more sat-
isfaction than he would the rarest egg col-
lected by anyone else to be found in Sum-
niatra or any other remote locality. He is
attracted by his own field of study — his own
district — and takes delight in learning what
he can of local oology, while he studies gen-
eral Oology to aid him in his special work ;
he aims at classification, and if he has had
education, is quick to perceive incongrui-
ties in terminology ; his investigations are
as far original as his means permit, and he
is ever on the qal vive to search into dispu-
ted and (piestionable statements ; to discov-
er the missing links to an incomplete asser-
tion, or to come into possession of indispu-
table evidence corroborating or disproving
a former questionable statement, is at all
times his highest aim.

The inseparable companion of the natu-
ralist is his note book or journal. It is
true, that there is nothing relating to oolo-
gy upon which it is possible to ofi'er advice,
that has been urged upon collectors more
than the admoniti(n)s i-egarding the perma-
nent preservation of notes- ; but there are
few things that demand more attention, and
require to be inqjressed more upon the mind
of the tyro oiilogist. A note is a substan-
tial history of the event of which it treats,
and may often be required to decide later
controversy upon the same subject, where
verbal memory cannot suffice and is fre-
quently doubtful. Liberal notes should be

made, even at the expense of specimens : a
note book is valuable in itself, scientifically
— specimens are valuable only for orna-
ment, unless accompanied with the authen-
ticating particulars ; both together form a
strong tie of incontrovertible evidence,
which is greatly strengthened by pencil and
brush. The note book is a help to the mem-
ory, properly speaking — a compend of items
written in the field and necessarily brief;
the journal is a more dignified and finished
collection of notes, which includes every-
thing ])ertainiug to birds' eggs the collector
is brought into contact with, from the item
on the arrival of the Robin to his theory of
migration, or the narration of a personal
oological incident. We agree with Dr.
Cones, that the items should savor of the
woods themselves — make them interesting,
but do not contract a poetical habit : some
facts will bear only the closest descriptive
language. If the note book is to serve as
the j^/'o ton. receptacle of skeleton items to
be written and elaborated in the journal, no
delay should be made in doing this, tor, if
neglected, the time and circumstances will
be forgotten, and nothing can repair the
loss. Time and places should be an import-
ant i'actor in all items where necessary to
throw light upon doubtful existing points,
and as Dr. Cones remarks, it is well worth
while to take note of the topography and
the meteorology of the locality, tor both of-
ten have a direct influence upon birds and
certain of their habits. If a note book is
commenced, it should not, like the almost
proverbial fate of the diary, be discontinued
after a little has been written in it ; and the
true oologist will not sutler it to be slighted.
Keep a book, and a substantial one too, for
the notes, and never in haste use slips of pa-
per, for the most valuable items may be
overlooked, lost, or destroyed in common
with the waste material which is periodic-
ally removed from the house. No item
in the history of birds' eggs, however triv-
ial, should be suifered to pass unheeded.
Perchance the same thing has been noticed

CONCLUDED ON PAGE 37.

36

THE OOLOGIST

Tfte ©yfogist.

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

JULY, 1878.

How TO SEND Birds' Eggs bv Mail. —
The exteut of our patience is such, that it
will not continue unimpaired beyond the
reasonable bounds of human capacity in
that respect ; and when, iu spite of the no-
tices and instructions we have published
from time to time, regarding packing and
shipping specimens, correspondents will
continue to send us boxes nailed, screwed,
or glued iu such a manner as to render it
a sealed package in postal parlance, we must
needs give more prominence to our previous
advice. Correspondents who mail speci-
mens for the first time, should inquire con-
cerning the postal regulation which attach-
es to this particular subject, and they will
find it much more restrictive than we have
intimated ; postmasters will give the re-
quired information in all cases. We have
received a numbei' ol" packages thus treat-
ed of late, and the charges payable by us
amounted to more, iu most cases, than ex-
pi'essage on the same would. Aud when
the contents are of small importance, this
is made all the more irritating. The post-
age on packages properly fastened is one
cent for each two ounces or fraction ; for
those sealed six cents for each ounce. Thus.,
a box of eggs that should cost but twelve
cents, having the cover nailed or screwed
down will cost nearly $1.5U for postage.
We would, therefore, advise our corres-
pondents : 1st, In fastening packages to be

sent as third-class matter, tie down the cov-
er v:ith twine, with a loop knot, never us-
ing nails, screws, or glue. 2nd, Never
place writing inside the box — it is not ad-
missible, unless the package is prepaid with
letter postage. 3d, Use a strong box —
a wooden or tin box are best — and plenty
of cotton.

The Akdeid.e. — That important paper
on the nests and eggs of the Herons and
Bitterns of North America, by W. H. Bal-
lon, should be in the hands of every oolo-
gist in the country ; no better opportunity
to obtain such a work on the Herons has
been, or will immediately be, in possession
of the student. It will be the most import-
ant paper ever published in this journal.
The egg of each species will be represented
by illustrations of natural size.

In writing to us, correspondents should
not fail to give their address in full — num-
ber of box or street aud number, and when
the town is small, the county. We have
occasionally received letters in which the
writers failed to mention the state, aud once
in a while one comes without any address
whatever, save the name of the writer ; and
what is worse, the post-mark on the envel-
ope is frequently so indistinct as to cut off
all source of information in that direction.

Most of our young oological friends
doubtless have, ere this, arranged their sea-
son's notes on bii'ds' nesting habits and eggs.
We invite them to write us concerning their
season's successes, and to send such items
as they consider worthy of publication. It
is not necessary that facts of interest be
clothed in technical language as mauy young
writers suppose ; a plain expression will not
deteriorate, in the least, the importance of
any observation. We desire to keep the
collectors throughout the country posted as
to local discoveries, and to this end need ,
the cooperation of each reader.

THE 00 LOG I ST.

37

by the collector before and recorded ; still,
there is no excuse for saying '■' Every one
knows of it, and 1 have put it down before."
Perhaps every one knows of it atid perhaps
no one does. Tlie repeated recurrence of
what appears to be the most iiisiguiticant
phenomenon may change the whole aspect
of a bird's character.

Oology cannot be studied to advantage
it it is considered a task or is undertaken
in too I'ormal a manner — too much method
is inconsistent witli the study of luiture :
one cannot begin with tiie list and learn a-
bout each species in its turn ; neither can
he dejjcnd upon ascertaining just what he
searches for, though an experienced natu-
ralist is more certain to be successful than
a mere collector. 'J\) go into the fields and
diligently apply one's self to the phenomena
as they appear alternately before him, is the
easiest and cpiickest method of beginning
the'study. Jt is not to be inferred that the
profitable study of birds' eggs is within the
power of the born 0()logist alone; intei'est
and application will ctfect a great deal for
anyone who has the determination and ad-
mires Nature.

Studies on Certain Fringillidae.—
The Tree Sparrow.

I MON(j the many species of birds
which frequent the United States in
winter, is the Tree Sparrow — Spi-
ZL'lla monitcola. It greatly resembles the
C'liippiiig Sparrow, and its habits are sim-
ilar, but it is easily identified by tiie Hesli-
<tolor of the hnver mandible, and its song,
which is entirely ditflTeut from that of *S'.
Nociaiis. Sometimes these little Sparrows
will appear in scores about the gai-dens, ut-
tering their peculiar sec'-wU, nee'-wit, or
singing a pretty litth; refrain, so low and
modest, but so sweet withal, that one is in-
clined to admire it. They are very a(!tive,
one might say almost restless, flitting about
in the bushes and vines, gleaning every-
where, or chasing each other about as if in
sport. In New York, they appear to be

most abundant in the month of November,
and again in February and March, when,
in company with White-throated, White-
crowned, Song, and Swamp Sparrows, they
j frequent the mai'shy places and scrubby
[ hill-sides. They are not at all shy, but
seem to regard man with confidence, and to
consider him as a protector. Such is their
boldness that they will i-eadily enter a trap
cage or sie\e trap, and being released will
have little or no hesitation in entering again.
During the great snow storm which occur-
red in April, 1874, we obtained many of
these Spai-rows, together with other spe-
cies, and, though all others would immedi-
ately quit the vicinity upon being let free,
they would fly down in the garden, and fain
have again eaten the inevitable grain. In
confinement, a number will tiirive together
better than one or a pair would, and if prop-
erly cared for will become very confiding
to man and indifierent to objects that are
naturally a terror to them ; often they can
be taught to eat from the hand, and they
are n(jt averse to using what vocal talent
they have, at any time. In view of these
iacts, if they have sufficient room, and am-
[)le natural surroundings, we see no reason
why these Sparrows should not breed in
confinement. It is a fact that birds which
ai-e naturally not sliy of man, will general-
ly breed in confinement if pro})erly cared
tor ; and undei- oi-dinary circumstances the
Tree Sparrow woidd probably prove no
exception.

Whether this species breeds within the
boundaries of the United States or not, is
a question open to some dispute ; but it
may, like many other boreal species, nest
in the mountainous portions of the North-
ern States. The Adirondacks of New York
and the i-ugged portions of Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine, possess many fea-
tures of the more northern country, and
this bird may be found to be a resident of
those localities. The nest has been found
in various parts of the North, and is said
to be placed upon the ground, or a few
inches above it. The materials are grass-
es and rootlets, intermixed with pieces of

38

THE OOLOGISr

l);iik, and lined with featliors and hairs.
The egys are greenish, with reddish-hrown
dots and spots, qnite well distributed over
the surface ; four or five constitute the num-
ber in a set.

The food of this bird consists of the va-
rious grain, grass, and weed seeds and often
insects. While feeding, they appear to
have their hearts bent upon the work, for
they are very diligent ; and if their field of
investigation be a marsh, or other locality
abounding in seeds, they will linger about
the vicinity for a nunil)er of days. Some-
times one will meet individuals late in the
spring and summer wandering about appar-
ently as if lost ; at this time, they conduct
themselves much in the style of the Yellow-
Bird, flying restlessly i'rom one tree to an-
other, suddenly dropping into the grass, or
rea})peariug again after a supposed depart-
u]-e. The only note uttered in the fall of
the year is a short pit^ which can scarcely
be distinguished from the notes of the Snow
IJird and some of the other Sparrows.

Lj'tilitv of thk Chow. — Few writers
have allowed the Crow any credit as a ben-
efactor, for the explicit J'eason, no doubt,
that its history for generations has been one
of continued usui'pations and mischief; and
very few farmers can be found who are
willing to add any testimony in behalf of
its good character, if it really has any. But
not long since, having occasion to bring up
the topic of ornithology with a farmer of
considerable observation, the immediate
cause being the killing of a Crow upon his
farm, he said that in view of the services
the Crows rendered him, he did not like
to have them shot. llun<lreds and thou-
sands of them, he said, roosted in his
wood all through the winter, and the result
was an immense layer of manure, which
was carried down, when the snow melted,
and enriched his land more than all the fer-
tilizei-s he knew of. Certainly this is to
the credit of Mr. Crow, but the fact that
few farmers are thus benefited, nullifies a
])ortion of his might-be-inferred good ([ual-

ities ; for these roosting places are few in
any one part of the country, since tlie birds,
collecting from far and near, pass the win-
ter in one spot, — where they can get an a-
bundance of food. But this gentleman al-
so states, that in some mysterious manner
still more to the credit of the Crow, his
corn-fields have been unmolested for some
years past, aiul that, too, in the very face
of the fact that the birds are unusually nu-
merous thereabouts at all times of the year.
We might add, that the gentleman spoken
of is well ac(piainted with the birds which
frequent his lands, and is able to discrimi-
nate between their good and bad habits
without prejudice.

The Acadian Owl, — considered a rath-
er rare species in the central part of this
State, has appeared in such numbers wifhin
the past month or two, as to entitle it to a
place either among the most abundant of
our nocturnal Baptores, or as a bird of
marked wandering habits. Scarcely a wood
offv'i'ing the avei'age ulitJir advantages has
been found, which does not contain a num-
ber of these Owls, and the queries, 'Where
did they come from?' and 'Why did they
appoint their rendezvous here ?' do not seem
out of place. Young and old were obtain-
ed, all seeming to display a degree of un-
coiicernedness upon the near approach of a
hunter which was quite surprising. 'J"'he
low portions of the woo<ls, where grow ev-
ergreens and small trees, rather thickly in-
terspersed with rank shrubs and wild grape
vines, are their favorite resorts, from which
before sundown, they emerge in search of
their diminutive prey. These Owls ap-
peared in districts where neither they nor
any otiier species of Owl had been seen in
years ; many were shot by farmers for
'Screech' Owls, wliich they somewhat re-
semble, and some were brought in by boys,
who remarked that they had no difficulty
in discovering them, as they flew about
befoi'e dark and flew low. Several excel-
lent specimens were taken.

TEE 00 LO GIST.

39

The Condor.

BY Cr. STUART SMITH.

fTHE birds of the t'aniily Vithiiridoi are of
large size and gluttonous habits. Their
cliief susteiiant'c is derived IVom animal
matter in a slight state of deconipositioii,
and they are not nnfreqnently gregarious.
Tiiey have been fiil'ted with great powei's
of flight, which they use continually, unless
indolently resting after an ample meal.
They rear their young among inaccessible
precipices, feeding them by emptying the
unsavory contents of their own crops, not
possessing talons strong enough to carry
their prey, as do the Hawks and Eagles.
The members of this family are distributed
in almost every quarter of the wcjrlu, but
are more abundant in tropical countries,
where their services are most needed.

The (Jondor is the largest of this group,
measuring from three to five feet long, and
generally eleven or twelve in extent, but in-
stances are on record of specimens being
captured whose extent was eighteen I'eet !
The bill projects sti-aight forward, but at
the extremity curves sharply downward,
the U{)per mandible having a somewhat sin-
uous or S-!ike outline by reason of a high
prottdjerance (ju the upper side. The fe-
male is nuich browner than her consort, and
is much smaller in size — an unusual circum-
stance among the Rapton'a.

Many have magnitied the Condor til! he
almost rivalled the Roc of Arabian tradition
and great was their disappointment at the
first view of the bird in possession of the
Zoological Society of London. 1 followed
the general fate of those who anticipated too
greatly, when visiting London, a few years
ago. I went to see the Society's valuable
menagerie, and instead of finding a terrible
scavenger of the air, I saw a plain, sombre
looking bird of lai'ge dimensions, perched
upon a rock in the center of a large cage,
his naked head otdy showing above his col-
lai- of long tawny feathers, and seemingly
oblivious to the unceasing attempts of the

visitors to make him move. The old fel-
low's patience at last became exhausted,
when, stretching out his ugly neck and head
entirely devoid of feathers, he turned a glar-
ing eye on his tormenters ; suddenly he ex-
panded his enormous wings to the length of
eleven feet (by actual measurement), they
seeming half as large again for our proxim-
ity, and paying no heed to the suddenly ut-
tered cries of admiration, walked distlain-
i'uUy to the farthest corner of his cage with
a most awkward swaying gait. Some vis-
itors soon threw some morsels of food to
him, all of which he swallowed greedily,
afterwards ejecting such pieces as did not
suit his tastes.

The Condor inhabits the loftiest of the
Andes, and its aerial gyrations are exer-
cised far above every other living creature.
According to Humboldt, it soars to the vast
height of six perpendicular miles, watchful-
ly surveying the airy dej)ths below for its
aciMistomed prey with telescopic eye. There
on the verge of perpetual snows, they perch
on the naked rocks, silently reposing like
melancholy spectres, the otdy animate ob-
jects in this death-like landscape.

\\\ these dreary solitudes they rear their
y(uuig, depositing their eggs on the bare
rock, unprotected l)y any boi'der. The pe-
riod of incubation is fifty-four days, as has
been proven by a female once in the pos-
session of the London Society. The chick,
if such it may l)e called, grew rapidly for
a month, when it suddenly died. The fol-
lowing is an extract froiu the Proceedings
of the Society, July 21, 1.S4G : "The
young Condor, after thriving well to all
appearance, died tliis morning. * * The
good hen * * seemed to miss it much. *
The cry of the young Condor resembled the
squeak of a rat," Between 1844 and 1847
the feniiile laid seven eggs, of a white col-
or, but covered with a slight calcareous de-
posit. None of these with the exception of
the above, were hatched, and the female
soon after died.

The Iiulians capture the birds by expos-
ing a dead horse or cow, and although no
bird may be in sight, the Condors are soon

40

THE OOLOGIST

to be seen coming from every quarter. They
are permitted to gorge themselves until un-
able to walk ; then lassoes are thrown, and
the birds strangled or taken alive, at the
option of" their captors. They are very
tenacious of lil'e. Humboldt alluding to a
case where the bird was hung up by the
head for a considerable length of time, and
afterwards struck Avith four pistol bullets,
at the distance of four paces, but did not
die for half an hour after receiving his
wounds. The Condor lives to a very old
age, and seems to thrive well in captivity,
an old male surviving an imprisonment of
over thirty-five years.

General Items.

— A YOUNG White-headed Eagle was
taken upon the St. Lawrence River by Dr.
Gray, of Utica, measuring eight feet in al-
ar extent. The beak, legs, and claws of
the bird were enormous — sufficiently so to
compel one to think it some other species.
The largest P^agles oi' this species seldom
attain a spread of more than ninety inches.

— A Yellow Rail {Porzana novehora-
censis) was obtained recently in the central
part of New York by Mr. E. Bagg, Jr.

— We notice in the Familial- Science
that a new species of Hawk, called Bnteo
alhi-caudatus, has been recently determin-
ed to belong properly to the North Ameri-
can fauna. Its discovery is due to Mr. (t.
B. Sennett, further more conclusive obser-
vations having been made by Dr. Merrill.

— CoKUECTiON. — The Mourning War-
bler announced in the June number, among
the additions to the avi-fauna of Illinois, is
noted in Nelson's Birds of N. E. Illinois.
His knowledge, however, seems to have
been based on circumstantial evidence.

W. II. Ballou.

— Young Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa mn-
bdlus) are plenty (Oswego, N. Y.), ami
about the size of a full-grown Quail. . . .
The young of the Wood Duck {^Aix aponsa)
are half-grown and well-fledged, except the

wings, wliich seem latest to develop. . . .
Quail [Ortijx rirginiannfi) witli their young
have been recently seen in this vicinity, for
the first time in several years. Under the
protection of ti)e game laws, it is to be hop-
ed that they will increase. J. A.Seveuanck
July IG.

Recent J^ibUcatious.

The IncligUnlity of the European House
Sparrow in America, by Dr. Cones, con-
tained in the American Naturalist, is a
practical exposition of the situation. And
should the question of the unlimited in-
crease of the Sparrow become as serious
as present appearances seem to indicate,
some such measiu'es as Dr. Coues suggests,
would have to be enforced. If tlie Sparrows
were left to their own resources, and not
fed by the citizens ; and were they not pro-
tected from their natural enemies, if they
have any, they would in a measure cease
to be the bugbear they are now considered.
If oiu' own birds were pampered and shield-
ed with equal ardor and compassion, we
would have no need of a foreign species to
help us fight the worms !

The Nuttall Bulletin continues to occu-
py a high position in ornithological litera-
ture. The papers by Drs. Brewer and
Coues, Messrs. Allen, Brewster, and oth-
er scientists, coupled with the genei'al notes
and literary notices, make up a galaxy of
rare scientific merit. The nesting of the
Solitary Tatler, mentioned in the Notes, is
an item of importance in ornithological cir-
cles, since it throws light upon the subject
of the position of the nest and the general
appearance of the eggs, cohcerning which
tliere has been some controversy. Dr.
Brewer says that tliis nest was placed upon
the ground ; the egg ineasiued 1.37 by .9o,
and its ground color was a liglit drab, over
which were ''scattered small I'ounded mark-
ings of brown, some of these quite dark,
nowhere confluent, and never large enough
to be called blotches." In shape, it was
an enlongated pyriform.

A D VERTISEMENT.

NOTICE TO COLLECTORS OF BIRDS.

W. H. Collins' Preseryative Liquid.

PRESERVES BIRDS FROM DECAY AND DRYING.

Birds treated with tliis Liquid can be skinned in from ten to thirty days
— in warm weather — without trouble. In cold weather it will keep them
from drying for three months. Tliey will not spoil.

My method of injecting preserves the bird entiue, without cutting or
removing any part of the bird. On receipt of 10 cents, to pay postage,
etc., I will send a prepared bird to any address by mail, to enable collect-
ors to see for themselves, what it will do.
Price, per I/2 I^int Bottle, . . $ 1.00 ; peu 1 Pint Bottle, . . 1.75

InJKCTOR, . . 75 CENTS.

Iiistructloiis with each Bottle.

Address W. H. COLLINS,

6i5 153 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich.

^^=»Chas. E. Aiken, Colorado Springs, Col., is agent for the Pre-
servative, and will furnish it to tliose wisliing it in that locality.

A NKW WORK ON THE

BIRDS, NESTS, AND EGGS

OF

Eastern North America.

The Birds of Florida with the Water
and Game Birds of Eastern North A-
merica, to ichich is added an Appendix
containing the remaining sjyecies 'not
found in the Body of the TForA;, tohich
occur between the Mississippi River and
Atlantic Ocean.

Illustrated by sixteen, or more, hand col-
ored plates of new or little known species.
Also part VI., to be issued in August, will
contain a colored plate of many rare eggs.

The Book will be completed in sixteen parts
issued monthly. Price, Eighty-live cents per
part, Payable on Delivery. Send for circu-
lars. For Sale By
C. J. MAYNARU AND COMPANY,
Publishers, Nkwtonville, Mass.

Every collector should have a copy of

H>The Ornithological Directory,^
Price, 40 cents. Address this Office.

AN HERBAPvIUM of 100 well mounted
plants of Northeastern Illinois, to exch.
for Bird skins or eggs, preferably the latter.
Address W. H. Ballou,
Evanston, Ills.

OAA ROBINS' EGGS wanted, at fl.OOper
OXjyJ bubdred. Must have very small holes
in end or side. W. J. Knowlton,

18 Arch Street, Boston, Mass.

THE

-3 i^m^i '- ^

JVovelty IiJgg cBlower^

■^-^ ^^^ ^'^

IS THE CHEAPEST AND BEST.

It can be applied to any ordinary
Blow-pipe.

Price OF Blower, WITHOUT Pipe, . $1.00

Blower, complete, with Drill and
Egg Tongs, $1.50

Sent, paid by mail, on receipt of price.
Gi4 W. H. COLLINS,

152 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Mich.

WABjyS CJlTJlT^OG UJiJS

— -OF

AMERICAN and FOREIGN BIRDS' EGGS:

The Largest Variety ever Offered for sale in America,

Six Hundrkd and Twenty-Five Species!

275 North American ; 300 European ; and the remainder

from South America, Africa, India, Ceylon, Mauritius,

New Zealand, Australia, and the Islands

of the Pacific.

* Many of these Eggs are of extreme rarity. Among the

EXOTIC SPECIES

which are especially noteworthy, are the
Apterip'I! Brush T'urhcy ! Condor!! Emeu., African and Amer-
ican Ostriches., Arabia Ji and Griffin Vultures! Imperial
Eagle! Flamingo! Tropic Bird! Penguin!
Guacharo Bird!! Etc.

P^qually rare are some of tlie

NORTH AMERICAN EGGS.

Such as

Bronzed or White-faced Ibis! Frigate Bird! Chaparral Cock!

Texas Guan! Hooded Oriole! Bio Grande Jag!

and many of the rarer Thrushes^ ^h/~

catcJiers and Warblers.

These Eggs are well prepared and positively identified, and will be
sent, postage or express prepaid, to any address on receipt of price.

Send stamps for complete catalogues ; six cents each.

PROF. HENRY A. WARD,
WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE ESTABLISHMENT,

ROCHESTER, N. Y.

The Sharp-tailed Finch— Ammo-

dromus caudacutus, — its

Nest, and Eggs.

T. M. HKEWEK.

^^ HIS very iuterestiug and peculiar spe-
vii , cies appeal's to liave a somewhat re-
^''^ stricted distribution. It occupies, at ;
different seasons of the year, a narrow belt
along the Atlantic sea-coast from southern
Georgia to northern Nova Scotia. In win-
ter it seems to be confined to the sea-coasts
of Virginia, North and South Carolina and
Georgia. 1 am not aware that any are
known to breed south of Delaware Bay.
During the breeding season, it is most com-
mon on the low and marshy shores of New
Jersey and Long Island. It is found, in
favorable locaHties on the coast of Connect-
icut, Rhode Island and eastern Massachu-
setts. In "-North Amei-ican liirds," it is
stated that the Sharp-tailed Finch, tliough
found bi'eeding as far north as Ipswich,
Mass., had not been traced as far east as
Maine. More recently, however, its pres-
ence has been detected both in the neigh-
borhood of Portland and on the Bay of St.
Andrews, an estuary of the River St. Croix,
and even so far to the north as Prince Ed-
ward Island, north of Nova Scotia. So
that its occurrence, in congenial localities,
from Nova Scotia to Delaware, in the sum-
mer months, may be reasonably supposed
to be probable. In the winter it is more
or less abundant from the Delaware to
Florida, though its presence in the latter
state has never, to my knowledge, been ac-
tually ascertained.

Mr. E. W. Ni^lson has discovered in the
marshes bordering Lake Michigan, as well

as in the vicinity of smaller lakes, a local
race closely allied to the Sharp-tailed, A.
NeJsoni, Allen, which, from its abund-
ance in the i'all is supposed to be quite com-
mon in some more northern regions. With
this exception this Fiuch is to be met with
only near the sea-shore, and not to be found
at any considerable distance from it. There
it feeds both upon minute marine insects,
such as are to be found near the water's
edge, or on the floating seaweed, as well
as upon the seeds of grasses and sedges that
grow in the neighboring uplands. In its
search for the latter the Sliarp-tail will climb
the stems of reeds and other })lanls, moving
up or down, and even hanging from them,
in different positions, combining thus some
of the habits of shore-birds with those of
Titmice.

The Sharp-tailed Finch is also a bird pe-
culiarly of terrestrial habits. It runs about
on the ground more in the manner of a
mouse than in that of most birds, and is
hard to flush and consequently difficult to
shoot, as it keeps so closely to the grass by
which it is concealed. In their winter re-
treats they assemble in flocks and feed in
more open gi-oiinds than when they are
rearing theii- young, and are more readily
procured. It has no song worthy of men-
tion, but is said to utter an occasional call
note and a feeble twitter, but I have never
heard them utter a sound.

Their nest is always placed on the ground,
in dry places above the reach of the highest
tides, often on the side of a low bank, un-
der a projecting sod, or in a grassy tussock.
Not unfrequently it scratches out for itself
a slight depression in the sandy soil, and
therein arranges its inartistic nest. This
' construction is a comparatively large one
tor the bird, is loosely made of soft grasses

42

THE OOLOGIST

and other similar material, and, if lined at
all, is only finished oft' with finer material
of the same description as that which com-
prises its base and sides. These can hard-
ly be said to be interwoven, so slightly are
they put together. The whole mass is so
loosely combined that it is not always pos-
sible, in attempting to remove the nest, to
prevent the materials from falling apart.
In this it difters a good deal from the nest
i)f the 8ea-side Finch.

The number of eggs is Ircqucntly six,
more nsnally five. These are oval in shape,
are somewhat rounded at one end and slight-
ly tapering at the other. Their greatest
length is .78 of an inch and their least .70.
Their average length is .75 of an inch.
They vary but little in their greatest breadth
wliich is about ..58 of an inch. The eggs
of this species present a greater uniformity
of appearance than is generally found among
those of the Sparrow family. Their ground
color is a light green, varying only in in-
tensity, in some the green shading being
hardly perceptible but never wholly w^ant-
iug. The fine dots, points and markings
of rusty brown, with which tlie eggs are
profusely covered, are usually both uni-
versally and equally sprinkled over the en-
tire surface of the Q^^. In exceptional in-
stances these spots are larger, and form a
confluent ring around the larger end. In
other examples the points are so very small
and so closely sprinkled that it requires the
aid of a good glass to enable one to distin-
guish their separate distinctness, or to real-
ize that there is not before you one uniform
shade of a rusty brown.

1 am not aware that the egg of Ammo-
drovivs Alhni has ever been found, and it
would be a matter of no little interest to
learn how much difference there may be i
between the eggs of this inland species and
those of its salt-water relatives, and wheth-
er tin's inland form is not a good and dis-
tinct species.

Wr solicit oological notes from all parts
of the country.

Two Nests of Ictkrus Baltimore. —
Number one was attached to the ends of
three twigs drooping perpendicularly, at the
end of a slender elm limb. Its depth is
seven inches outside and six inside, three
sides being carried upward more than two
inches above the fourth, which, by the prox-
imity of two of the twigs to each other,
forms what one might be justified in call-
ing an entrance, though there is no mate-
rial over the top. Its material is entirely
white hemp, sub-, supra- and intra-struct-
ure being all the same, ■wnith the exception
of half a dozen or so hair-like shavings in
the bottotn. It is not plastered together,
to be hardened by the weather, as some
nests of tliis bird are, but the fibers are in-
dividually incorporated inter se with most
wunderi'ul ingenuity. There are no dang-
ling ends nor extra pieces, for every fiber
is fastened either in the nest or to the twigs,
with a firmness sufficient to render it in-
vulnerable to the weather for years. In
general appearance, it is the handsomest
nest of the Baltimore Oriole we have ever
seen. Number two is a rather shabby,
make-shift affair, which seems as if it had
been extemporized for use late in the sea-
son. Its main material is twine of two or
three kinds, fibers of various vegetable sub-
stances, a good deal of thread, thistle-down,
some coarse strips of grape-vine bark, and
added to which is a promiscuous array of
stringy substances of many kinds. The on-
ly lining was the thistle-down and bark.
The whole was evidently stuck together,
for it is brittle and easily separates. The
ends of various pieces of string and thread
hang down for several inches, and less of it
is used in the nest than is thus left useless.
Instead of being built upon the twigs to
which it is attached, as the first is, it is
merely pendant from their tips, while two
or three pieces of string were carried up to
the main limb and wound around it once
or twice. It is shallow — 2J inches deep, —
flimsy, and of a ragged, ungainly appear-
ance, very much unlike most nests of this
bird in these particulars.

THE 00 LOG I ST.

43

Oological Notes for January.

Eggs of Bnteo pcnnaijlvaniacus. — We
have been a-sked a number of" times if the
egg of the lifoad-wiiiged Hawk represent-
ed in our phite is tpyical of all the eggs of
this bird. We would say that it is, near-
ly. The egg from which the figure was
made was one of a set of four, of which
two were lightly marked and one nearly
white. It fairly represents the majority of
specimens, though it may be somewhat
heavily nuirked.

We must beg leave, on behalf of some
of our contributors, to render the generally
received idea that the Ground Robin nests
wholly upon the ground, as Mr. Gentry,
Dr. Cones and some others inigardedly de-
clare, less exclusive. That this bird often
does nest above the ground, a note in our
last number and the following will clearly
show :

'' Is it not exceptional for a Che wink to
build her nest in a bush? While hunting
Woodcock at Foote's Point, fifteen miles
out of Cleveland, on the 20th of July, I
found the nest of a Red-eyed Towhee con-
taining three young birds and an egg, sit-
uated in a small bush two and one-half feet
above the ground ; com.posed of sticks and
leaves. The female was on the nest, and
was shot by Mr. W. li. Gaylord, who ac-
companied me." W. W. Sarin.

''Among your 'Oological Notes for June,'
1 see a circumstance related by Mr. Holz-
apfel on the Fipilo erythruplitJialians. A like
occurrence I can testify to. While collect-
ing, 1 passed a clump of oak sprouts that
grew from a stump. I stopped, looked at
it a second time, and then retraced my steps.
Parting the thick foliage I saw a nest in
the first stages of construction, which I took
to be that of Turdns viustelinus from its
material, size and position. It contained
two eggs the second visit. On my third vis-
it I approached to within four feel of the
nest, and stood some three minutes watch-
ing the bird, which did not leave until my
hand touched the nest. I saw the bird no

more after leaving the nest, neither did I
see the male. The nest was built similar
to that of Turdus mustelinus, yet being
placed a trifle high* for them ; this was
four feet or more from the ground, while
the Wood Thrush here rarely places its nest
higher than a foot. The nest contained four
eggs, difi'erent from any I ever saw before.
Egg No. 1 ; ground color, greenish-gray,
covered with a ring of purplish points (leav-
ing the large end nearly bare), intermixed
with red points ; size, .91 by .75 inch.
No. 2 : with red points larger than in No.
1, and the ring more confluent, .94 by .77
inch. No. 3 : with purple barely percep-
tible and large blotches over the entire egg ;
.92 by .78 inch. No. 4: ground color a
pale white ; purple pricks few in number
and scarcely perceptible to the eye ; blotch-
es large and confluent so as to hide the pri-
mary color. These blotches resemble in
color faded blood ; size, .92 by .73 inch."

B. J. Peckham.

I SHOWED a single specimen of the Cas-
pian Tern to some seven fishermen who
live at the shore, and not one of them ever
saw one before. A single specimen of the
Turnstone and Golden Plover are the only
ones I ever saw here on the marsh. They
usually pass by well out at sea.
! Westerly, R. I. B. J. PeCKHAM.

Erratum. — Page 34, number 5, first
line under "Practical Oology," omit egcji^
before with.

That the Horned or Shore Lark nests
in New York is now evident ; nests found
during the season of 1878 fully confirm
this. The birds probably build early, and
since numbers of them have, for the last
three or four years, been observed in March
April and May, their supposed nesting sea-
son, there can be no doubt many spend the
breedino; season south of the Canadas.

*Our correspondent surely refers to T. fus-
cescens and not mustelinus. The latter us-
ually builds higher than the other Thrushes
except the Ilobin. The former builds either
on the "-round or a foot or two above it.

44

THE OOLOGIST

Tfie ©5*lo3ist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

JANUARY, 1879.

SUBJECTS OOLOGICALLY OONSIDEEED.

ATTACHMENT DISPLAYED BY
BIRDS FOR THE IB EGGS.

Under the first above title we propose
to publish a series of" essays, which shall
not treat so much of the eggs themselves,
as of" the habits of birds during the nesting
season, and of the more generally slighted
particulars closely connected with the dep-
osition of eggs. This series of articles, bas-
ed upon observations made at various times
during an extended experience, will be con-
tinued in the succeeding numbers of the
present volume.

It is a well known fact to even the tyro
collector of any original observation, that
one class of birds will immediately leave the
vicinity forever, if they imagine their nest
to be discovered ; another will sometimes
desert the nest, and at others will not, if
the eggs are touched or misplaced ; still
another will not abandon the nest uidess
robbed, but will then certainly leave the vi-
cinity ; a fourth class will sit quietly by
and see the demolition of their homes with-
out a murmur, return, and begin anew
within a few hours ; and there is a very
small number who do not seem to regard
the robbing of their nest as of any conse-
quence : who will sometimes rebuild and
re-deposit to a surprising extent, at others
will abandon the labor of nesting- and breed-

ing altogether for the season. This nuich
as a rule ; sometimes we are surprised at
the seemingly peculiar behavior of a bird,
— which is known to invariably desert the
nest if it has been discovered or an adjacent
twig moved — in returning immediately to
the nest and depositing a fresh set. We
may, in many cases, perhaps set this down
as the ambition of a young pair, who mav
not have become sufficiently matured in the
ways and customs of their ancestry, to dis-
criminate between the wilfull intentions of
avaritious man, and the to-be-expected dis-
pensations of Nature. But however this
may be, we should credit most birds with
the discrimination and qnick perception that
they deser\ e ; for if they know tlie position
of every twig, or every spear of grass im-
mediately about the nest, the very position
of the eggs themselves in the nest ; if they
know when a hand, however delicate, has
been placed upon the nest or ii'^^^a^ or when
an Q.]i'j^ is slightly turned, not to say hand-
Jed ; if they know when to suspect tlie prox-
imity of an enemy by means of some visi-
ble or invisible token, and to know, like
the fabled Lark who warned her Larklings
of danger only when it was imminent, what
to do and when to do it, surely, we are not
allowed to hastily say that birds have no
f"aculty of discrimination, and to affirm all
their actions instinctive. AVhen we see an
exhibition of" affection on the pai't of a pair
of birds for their eggs, we can call it noth-
ing but instinct; and when they select, af-
ter a careful search, a position most likely
j to off"er concealment, there is then an in-
stinctive display, approaching, in some
cases of adaptation, almost to reason, but
wJiich is still, from the nature of the case,
only a greater development of the instinct ;
but when a bird perceives the approach to
its home to bear the marks of touch, or the
little twig which jutted out of its side care-
lessly bent down or broken, does instinct
show it, or is it disclosed by a higher fac-
ulty? It is not denied but that the event
following such a discovery is instinctive,
for the preservation of safety is ever an in-
voluntary and unconscious effort.

THE OOLOGIST,

45

Let us look at the first and second
classes of birds niontioiied above. We may
reasonably state that the carefulness of a
bird in protecting its treasures, is in a di-
rect ratio witli its affection ; so that when
we affirm for instance, the Ruffed Grouse
or Black-throated (ireen Warbler to be a-
mong the foremost of bii'ds in tlieir attach-
ment to their eggs, we imply that in the
breeding season, they guard them with un-
scrupulous care, and aie quickest to per-
ceive any danger to them. But here ai'ises
a question : If a bird possesses great affec-
tion, shoidd we suppose it on that account
to leave its eggs when discovered, or to in-
definitely deposit if robbed ? Certainly a
superficial glance at the subject would e- ;
duce the logical query : that if a bird is af-
fectionate, why should she desert her eggs ? \
That she should naturally, after abandon- \
iug her nest, — the eggs not having been
taken — betake herself to a I'emote locali-
ty, is nothing singular. Instinct is involv-
ed in the question, whichever way it may
be proposed ; if a mother cherishes her eggs
with great attachment, she is ever the most
active, a.s above remarked, in avoiding dan-
ger, for It is one of her chief duties to pro- ,
tect ; as soon as she is aware that her treas- j
ures are in jeopardy, her instinct is quick j
to prompt her to remove to a safer locali- 1
ty ; she cannot move the eggs — sometimes '
she destroys them, preferring to suffer, like !
the followers of Adcantuannus of Gallic
fame, rather than have her valued friends
fall into the hands of an enemy. This, we
think is the highest type of affection among '<
birds : that, superficial as the conclusion
may appear, it cannot well be undermined.
For, if a bird deposits eggs to a large num-
ber, or rnther deposits n)aiiy sets, having;
been deprived of them again aiul again, the '
open character of the proceeding at once j
denominates the bird as undetermined and I
indifferent ; and the fact of a bird's nesting
in the same lo(,-ality year alter year, under ;
the most discouraging circumstances, points
out either a most decided want of affection j
or an unusual degree of stupidity — proba- 1
biy a little of both. ■

To that class of birds which guard their
eggs with great care, belong notably the
Sandpipers, Plovers, Warblers and Mead-
ow Lark. The Sandpipers are in almost
every way, very particular birds — they are
always suspicious, easily agitated, and
watch their nest with most untiring zeal,
day and night. If an egg is turned with
the lai'ge end toward the center of the nest,
they, upon discovering the fact, search the
surrounding vicinity, and demean them-
selves as if undetermined whether to re-
gard the indications dangerous or not, but
they usually return to the nest, and if not
disturbed again, remain by the eggs until
hatched. The more mysterious and unac-
countable the manner in which any unusual
aijpeurance of the eggs or nest seems to have
been effected, the more likely is the bird to
desert them, — at least it has been so found
in our experience — for the winged and four-
footed enemies, those depredators who' of-
ten conceal the ownership of their piracv,
are more dreaded than man. In regard to
their young, the Sandpipers are very affec-
tionate, more so than most other birds.
They exhibit a recklessness that is not com-
mendable except for its purpose. We once
caught a female in a hat extended at the
end of a switch without any great difficul-
ty, so zealous was she in her endeavors to
distract our attention from her young. The
Warblers as a class, are greatly attached
to their homes, and their generally retiring,
shy demeanor upon the approach of a stran-
ger, is no indication of their indifference.
This leads us to mention the different modes
of timid birds of showing attachment to their
eggs, and as to whether or not they endeav-
or in any manner to protect them. In the
first place, it is proper to state that the fe-
male is not alvxiys the one repi-eseuting the
chief protectorship, as many authors would
have us take for granted ; if the ornitholo-
gist will apply himself to this particular,
in connection with the study of the affection
of birds, he will be brought into contact
with many examples in support of this state-
ment. We must reasonably suppose that
the sitting bird is at the time, the main

46

THE OOLOGIST

guardian, de facto, of the nest and eggs ;
and as the process is performed in many
eases by both parents alternately, the male
bird is often ealled upon to use his ingenu-
ity and loyalty in defending it ; even if the
female is sitting, if her partner is within
sutnmons, he straightway comes to her as-
sistance, and shows by his behavior, in
many cases a greater degree of fondness
for the family possessions than the female,
or is hypocritical about it — and we are
slow to conclude that the latter is the case.
But though the male is expected when the
female is upon the nest, to attend to her
wants and olfer his services in case of dan-
ger,— which he certainly does in most in-
stances with due earnestness and with wliat
dexterity he can muster — still, the sitter
is really the warden. Now he may be
cowardly or the reverse : he may stand his
ground and (if the nest has been discover-
ed) bravely tight the intruder with bill and
claws, or feign injury if the uest is still
undiscovered ; or he may only flit about
here and there at a safe distance from the
enemy. The latter course should not be
confounded with the corresponding natural
habit of some birds to offer no resistance ;
this will presently be considered.

[CONCLUDED IN OUR FEBRUARY NUMBER.]

The Voyageur Pigeon.

Xj^OR the purpose of edifying such of our
readers as may be interested in this sub-
ject we propose to depart from our usual
custom of treating scientific subjects, by
giving a brief account, historically, of this
famous bird, the Homing or Voyageur
Pigeon.

Since the war between France and Ger-
many, none of the feathered species of an-
imal life has attracted more universal at-
tention than the Belgian Voyageur or Hom-
ing Pigeon. During that memorable con-
test, and while the city of Paris was closely
besieged by the German military forces,
only by the aid of this trusty messenger bird

could the Parisians obtain the niDSt mea-
ger intelligence of what was occnrring out-
side the military lines. By its aid, Paris
was fully supplied with information regard-
ing all ciu'rent events of the day tliroughout
the civilized world, and in particular with
reference to the sitnatif)n of the enemy's
troops.

The birds employed in this service were
bred within the city of Paris, and were pass-
ed beyond the lines by means of balloons,
in which were caged a niunber of them ;
the balloon being set at liberty, arose and
drifted away in its aerial voyage until it
should alight aTuong friends of the French,
who, imderstanding their mission, would
prepare such intelligence as would most in-
terest the pent-up denizens of the beleagued
city, attach it to the bird and set him at
liberty. On gaining its freedom, it took
inunediate flight for home.

It was reported at the tiuu', that mess-
ages equal in the amount of matter to a
whole page of the largest New York daily
newspaper were transmitted by a single
bird. It was by the aid of photography
that this was made possible. These lengthy
dispatches were prepared and reduced un-
til the whole would cover no more space
than the palm of the hand, and were then
transferred to tissue paper, which was com-
pactly rolled and inserted in a quill ; this
was then fastened to a central tail feather
of the bird, who faithfully delivered it to
his owner. It was then, by the aid of the
magnifying glass, read and published to the
people. So effectual did this source of in-
telligence become, that the Germans offered
large rewards for the capture of one of these
birds carrying contraband news.

Before the days of the telegraph, it is re-
ported that large numbers of Homing Pig-
eons were employed by the Rothschilds in
carrying from J^ondou to the Continent the
state of the money market at that city,
which intelligence was used by them in
their stock operations throughout Europe,
and that immense fortunes were realized
by them, based solely upon the information
derived in this way.

THE 00 LOG I ST.

47

It is but quite recently that attention has | the Savannah Sparrow, only slightly more
been paid to this bird in the United States, ' ovoidal in form. They are the most beau-
but so iutensL' had been the desire among ' tiful Sparrow eggs 1 have ever seen, the
Pi"-eon fancieis to become possessed ot'him, | briglit i\'(l ol' the spots, which are very fine,
that hirge importations have been made | contrasting well with the white ground col-
trom BclLnum. The flying of these birds ■ or, reminding one of the more beautiful of
lon^ distances has become quite a mania, the Warblers' eggs."

and" has attracted universal attention all I have since then found several nests of
over the country, from all chisses of persons, this bird, most of them in the same locali-
A grand iuter-kate eoucouise was flown in ties and under the same circumstances as
June of last sea-

season by birds
from s e v e r a 1
States, tlie dis-
tance being 150
mih'S. It was
<|uiti' an impos-
ing as well as in-
teresting sport.

Yellow-wing'-
ed Sparrow.

4 NUN (J our

CO m m o n f r
Spari'ows, prob-
alily none is less
known than tliis
one, especially as
i-t'gartls its nest
and eggs. It is
no where as a-
bundant as most
of the (jther Spar-
rows, but as I
liave been so for-
tumite as to find
sevei'al nests of
this bird, 1 will
uive a short des-

TIIE VOYAGEUR PIGEON.

the above. The
eggs are mostly
of the same gen-
eral appearance,
but some arc; oc-
ciisionally more
thickly spottefl
than others. The
action of the bird
when the nest is

- being inspected,
does not differ
materially from
that of any other

_ Spari'ows, oidy
that its mourn-
ing is possibly
less incessant. ]t
i-uns quickly off
the nest until at
some distance,
then flies up and
connnences to ut-
tei- a chipper. It
is thus extremely
difficult to find its
nest, unless the
bird is almost
stejjped upon and
suddenly fright-
ened, and since

ci-iption of one, taken from my note-book it is a somewhat wary biid, it rarely per-'

of May 2r)th, 1876. mits itself to be flushed immediately from

•' The nest was placed on the ground un- the nest. The youug birds appear about

dor a single tussock of grass, in an open tlie first or secoud week in June. I do

pasture lot. The nest was formed of small not think they rear two broods,
roots, twiiis, and lined with horse-hair. It Fhed. J. Davis.

was impossible to remove it. 'J'here were —.»♦"

four eggs in it, pure white, spotted with a Kuitou. — For unscrupulous, p. 45, 10th

bright red, mikI about the size of those of line, read scrupulous.

48

THE OOLOGIST

General Items.

— On December 9, an incident came un-
der my observation that was a surprise to
me. I shot into a flock of Snow Buntings
aud winged one of them, and as I was pick-
ing up another, the wounded one fluttered
along ahead of me, which so attracted tlie
attention of tlie flock that it canie back over
my head, wheii one of tlie flock alit on the
b;ick of the wounded one, picked it up and
flew ott" with it. 1 was within a couple of
paces of the wounded bird when the other,
took it up. Delos Hatch.

— PcNE Gkosbkaks, Lesser Red-polls,
Snow Buntings, and Sparrows of various
species have been abundant all winter in
the Middle States. They frequent the gar-
dens of th.e cities for seeds and crumbs, I'rom
which we would infer that they have ditli-
culty in obtaining food.

— The following incident will sliow tiie
fondness of the Rufled Grouse for a partic-
ular roosting place. Not far from the city
there is a rather open wood, intersected by
what is termed the Ravine, on one side of
which there is a small, rather thick clump
of cedars, beech saplings, and wild gnipe
vines. A Grouse was flushed from there
about dusk by a youthful hunter last fall,
on two successive days. On the third oc-
casion of his visit to the wood, it was flush-
ed in the viciuity of the same place, and it
became evident to the young hunter, that,
in order to obtain a Grouse and surprise
his friends, he might sit down upon a stump
at dusk and wait till his prey came to roost.
So whilst we were beating the woods in ex-
pectation of flushing the bird, our shrewd
hunter sat still for ;i few moments, when the
bird came, dropped upon the ground a few
yards away, and scratched about under the
shrubbery preparatory to going to rest,
when a trembling hand shot it. Acting
upon this experience, the successful hunter
with a companion returned to the spot a
few days after, thinking tliey might shoot
another in the same place, and they had not
been long deposited upon the stump before

another Partridge came and was sacrificed.

Both these birds were started from the
same covert again and again by people who
frequented the wood, but notwithstanding
their wonted shyness, they could not be
driven from their favorite clump of trees.

— Robins have been observed to winter
in the vicinitv of Utica.

Recent ^HtbUcHtlous.

Sciente Neivs — is a new publication de-
voted to the exposition of general science ;
published fortnightly bv S. ¥j. Cassino, Sa-
lem, Mass. Subscription, $ 2.00 per year.
INIen of prominence in the several branches
of science will contribute to the journal.

Birch of Florida. — Part VI. of this work
has been published. It contains three col-
oi-ed plates, one of eggs, one explaining the
structiu'e of the different genera, and a plate
representing the Brown-headed Nuthatch
and the Yellow-throated W;irbler. The
text has advanced to the one-hundred and
sixtieth page, and it is to be hoped the
work may be completed.

Illustratinvs of the Nests avd Efjf/s of
the Birds of Oliiu^ by Genevieve K. Jones
and Eliza J. Siudze. — The first part of this
folio work, containing tiiree plates of the
eggs and nests of Ohio birds, and the cor-
responding text, has been issued. The fig-
ures are natural size, and are excellent, both
in artistic and natural effect. The price
of the work is $5.00 per part for the col-
ored co[)ies, and $ 2.00 I'or the uncolored
ones. Such a work merits a generous sup-
port, especially as its value as an original
work is very high. If the scientific read-
ers of this country were better able to offer
pecuniary aid to publications of real merit,
and the weak, fictitious literature of the
times could be partly superceded by such
substantial works, many libraries would be
enriched, and many youthful readers would
be benefited.

Chas. W. Gunn's Naturalist and Fan-
cier has appeared for 1879,

FEBRUARY, 1879.

No. 7.

Breeding Habits of the Hooded
Oriole.

BY KRNKST INGKKSOLL

all

[From the advance sheets of "The Nests and
Eggs of American Bii'ds."]

HE diminutive Hooded Oriole {Tcte-
rits ruculatus) or Banana-bird of Cen-
tral America, is abundant in summer
ilong the Mexican frontier in the Colo-
rado Valley, and throughout southern Cal-
ifornia. It arrives at San Diego, Cal., a-
l)out the 22nd of April, but very soou re-
tires from the coast to the warmer valleys
of the interior, to breed. In the villages,
and at the military posts along the Rio
Grande, it is a I'amiliar bird, breeding in
close proximity to men, and overcoming
much of the shyness natural to it iu wilder
parts. It penetrates as far north as Los
Angelos, and eastward into Cooke county,
Texas, five hundi'ed miles north of the
mouth of the Rio Grande. At the mouth
of that river. Sennet found it "more plen-
tiful than all the rest of the genus combin-
ed."

These Orioles chose for nesting places
all sorts of trees and large plants, placing
their homes from five to ibrty feet high.
Vinery has great charms for them, but their
especial favorite is a tuft of the hanging
Spanish moss everywhere so abundant on
the larger growth of trees. Whatever the
situation, the Oriole takes the dry white
vegetable threads (which constitute the
heart of the moss, and form the "curled
hair" of commerce) and, with its slender
pointed beak ingeniously weaves them into
the mass of a living tress, making a secure
and handsome home. 80 durable is this
moss that it lasts for years, and as a con-

sequence there are everywhere ten old nests
to one new one. Such are the Hooded O-
riole's abodes along the lower Rio Grande.
Elsewhere, where the Spanish hair-moss is
less available, the bird places its nest in
the crotch of several twigs on the outer end
of a limb, and weaves it, with secure fast-
enings, out of a long, tough grass, which
grows in flat or wet prairies, called "wire
grass." Composed almost wholly of this
long grass, placed in a clump of leaves and
renuiining green for several days, the nest
is hard to discover. Its outside diameter
is four inches, inside (at top) two inches ;
depth, outside, four inches, inside two and
one-half inches. The interiors of these nests
vary as greatly as do their external forms,
and bear a general resemblance to those of
/. spicrius. Sometimes no other lining than
the grass itself is put in ; sometimes the
maroon red of an old nest will be set of}' by
an interior wall of white cow-hair or feath-
ers, or only wool, cotton or the soft pappus
of seeds. The bird seems to have very in-
definite ideas in regard to the furnishing of
its house, but is careful about hiding it in
dense tufts of leaves. A few pairs. Dr.
Merrill tells us, build in Spanish bayonets
(yucca) growing on sandy ridges in the salt
prairies ; here the material used is chiefly
the dry, tough fibers of the plant, with a
little wool or thistle-down as lining. The
nests are placed among the dead and de-
pressed leaves, two or three of which are
used as supports.

Like those of all the Icteridoe^ the eggs of
the Hooded Oriole vary greatly in their
markings. They are easily distinguished
from the other Orioles' eggs, however, by
the almost entire absence of the pen-scrat<!h-
es and liierogliphics characteristics of the
other species, the markings consisting of
spots and blotches, forming a ring around

50

THE OOLOGIST

the large end, leaving the whole of the rest
of the surface as a rule, entirely free from
blemish. Usually the spots* and blotche'S
are brown, but, where profuse, lilac tints
and black also appear. The jrround color
iilso varies somewhat ; occasionally a blue
tinge appears, but more frequently a buff
tint is added to the white. Tiie eggs i^iore
nearly resemble those of the Texas Orchard
Oriole (/. spurius, var. affinis) more than
anythiug else ; in fact, the light colored,
slender specimens of the Orchard Oriole,
would not be tlistinguished from the round-
er blue-tinted eggs of the Hooded. Tliey
are comparable rather to the eggs of tlie
Quiscali than to those of most of the Icteri.
Their shape varies considerably, but the
majority of specimens are marked by a pe-
culiar pointedness at both ends. In size
they run from .90 to .78 of an inch in
length and from .Go to .55 in breadth, a
large number of specimens having been
referred to. '•'•Some sets," says Dr. Mer-
rill, "• are precisely like larjie Vireos' eggs."
Eggs for the first brood are laid about the
middle of May.

Nest and Eggs of the Clay-col-
ored Bunting.

fpiIE Clay-colored Sparrows nest abund-
antly in Dakota, and especially along
the Red River, in the open, low underbrush
by the river-side, and among the innumer-
able scrub-willow copses of the valley. They
pair here the latter part of May, when the
males come into full song. The pairing
season, during which the males may be seen
continually chasing the females about in the
bushes, is of short duration ; and, prelim-
inaries adjusted, both birds set to work in
earnest at their nest, with such success that
it is completed and the eggs laid in a week
or two. Most of my nests were taken dur-
ing the first two weeks in June. In one
case, in which I visited a nest daily, I found
that an egg was laid each day, till the com-
plement of four was filled. I have not
found more than four eggs in a nest, and

sometimes only three. They are of a light
green color, rather scantily and sharply
speckled with sienna and other rich shades
of brown — sometimes very dai'k brown.
(Tenerally the dotting is chiefly confined to
the larger end, with only a speck here and
there over the general siu'face ; the dots
are sometimes in an area at tlie butt, some-
times partially confluent and wreathed a-
round it. Tiie eggs measure about 0.62
by 0.50. The nest is always placed low ;
1 never found one so high as a yard from
the ground, and genei'ally took nests with-
in a few inches, in the crotch of a willow
or other shrub, or in a tuft of weeds. The
nest is inartistically built of fine di-ied grass-
stems and tiie slenderer weed-stalks, with
perhaps a few rootlets ; it is sometimes lin-
ed quite thickly with horse-hair, sometimes
not, then having instead some very fine
grass-tops. It varies a good deal in size
and shape, according to its situation, but
may average about three inches across by
two deep, with a cavity two inches wide by
otie and a half deep. In those cases where
I approached the setting bird, she left the
nest when I was a few steps away, and
fluttered directly into concealment, without
attempting any artifice or venturing to pro-
test against the spoliation of her'home. It
is most probable that two broods may be
reared, even in this high latitude, but I
cannot so assert, as I i'ound no nests nor
heard the nuptial songs alter June.

Dr. Coues in Birds of the Noiihwest.

ExTENSivii series of House Sparrows'
eggs show a range of variations quite in-
teresting. Here is a set of five, very light
colored, with exceedingly fine points of lav-
ender ; another of four, with light ground
color and several largish spots upon their
surfaces ; here a set containing two heavi-
ly and two lightly flecked eggs ; while an
unpretentious complement of six are near-
ly slate-colored with the numerous points
upon their deep-tinted surface ; one egg is
nearly spherical, and has the spots in a
bunch on the lar";e end.

TEE OOLOGIST.

51

NESxrNG OF Buteo pennsylvaniacus in a
Hemlock Tkek. — Ou the 29th of April,
1878, 1 found the nest of this bird in a small
hemlock tree, and as it was the only nest
of a Buteo I had ever found in a hemlock,
I thought it worthy of notice. The cir-
cumstances were as follows : On the 18tli
of Ajjril, whilst out collecting birds I dis-
covered the nest in a wof)ds about six miles
from this city. Seeing the nest in a hem-
lock, I was somewhat ;it a loss to classify
it. although 1 saw the Hawks flying near
there. 1 had never in the course of my ex-
perience, covering a period of about seven
years, found a Buteo' s nest in a hemlock.
As there were no eggs in the nest, and it
liad the appearance of being a new one, I
left it for a futm-e visit, and on the 29th, I
went again to get the eggs and decide its
identity. The nest of this genus is usually
))lace(l in the fork of a large hardwood tree,
and exposed to the view, usually iu rather
an open grove, easily found, but robbed
with dithculty. This, however, proved an
exce})tion to the rule. It was probably an
old Crow's nest repaired, situated not more
than fifteen feet from the ground, and as
before stated, placed in a small hemlock,
overshadowed by two exceptionally large
trees of the same variety, in the densest
])art of a rather thick, low woods, and this
too not from necessity, for about half a
mile off there was a flue grove of large,
hard-wood trees. The nest when last vis-
ited, c(}iitained three beautifully marked
eggs, which are now iu my collection^

Fked. J. Davis.

Oological Notes for February.

Dk. Brewer, in collating evidence of the
nesting of the Butciier Bird (^(Jollxriu hu-
realis) in the United States, has uuulc
some interesting discoveries, which are of
importance as bearing upon the eastern dis-
tribution of the N. A. Laniidxe. Collurio
Ixdoviciarnts, previously known to be a bird
of rather southern and southwestern habi-

tat, has been found nesting in Bangor, Me.
This instance, with one or two others oc-
curring in New England, is positive ev-
idence that this species occurs and breeds
in J^astern N. A. In addition to these
discoveries, it seems probable that excu-
hitoroidcH, or a form between this species
and borecdis is also found in the Middle and
New P^ngland States. It is also probable
that an intergradiiig between the last men-
tioned species and either the Loggerhead or
Whitc-rumped, occurs here, which would
rather complicate the evidence sought foi-.
The Butcher Bii-d nests in New York, as
has been, and will be further proven the
coming spring ; but there is a possibility of
its bearing occasionally n faint tinge of one
or the other above mentioned species.
Since it is of importance tiuit all the facts
concerning the nesting of this or either of
the other species of Collurio be taken note
of, it will be well for collectors possessing
specimens and eggs taken east of Ohio and
noi'th of Pennsylvania to put themselves in
correspondence with Dr. Brewer.

Collectors may commence to look for
early nests during the latter part of this
and all of next month. The Ilorned Lark
will be found breeding during the middle or
latter part of March ; Hawks the flrst of
April. The White-headed Eagle nests iu
March and April, as do also the Ruffed
Grouse and Woodcock. The Canada Jay
and Crossbill nest in January, February
and March.

Love of locality and company during
the nesting season are shown to be quite
prominent traits in the Robin. There is
a sniall grove of two or three acres upon
the suburbs of the city, which hits been ap-
propriately termed " Robinvillc," from the
uund^er of nests of this bird tbuiul there.
All is harmony among this colony, and in
some instances there are several nests in a
single tree. Sixteen nests, within reach
from the ground, contained eggs, each set
for the most part consisting of four eggs.
A number of other species nested in the
grove, and all contributed toward the gen-
eral harmony of the scene.

r)2

THE OOLOGIST

Tfie Qoto^ist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

FEBRUARY, 1879.

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY OONSIDEEED.

ATTACHMENT DISPLAYED BY
BIRDS EOE THEIR EGGS.

CONCLUDED FROM JANUARY NUMBER.

Being first in the order of occurrence,
we will first look at the conduct of the pur-
eiits in their endeavors to protect their eggs.
As a rule, the smaller birds which are un-
able to protect tlieir homes by open attack
upon the collector -invader, use various
stratagems to entice him from the vicinity
beibre he has discovered the nest, but this
class of birds do not always demean them-
selves in the same manner ; hence, we may
presumably separate their actions into two
divisions, in accordance with the circum-
stances. In the first division, we see that
upon the approach of certain enemies, es-
pecially natural foes, the maximum extent
of the parents' courage is called forth for
actual resistance, whether the nest has been
discovered or not. A snake is anticipated
in its approach, and whether or no it has
as yet seen the little home and its precious
contents, the ferocity of the defenders usu-
ally knows no bounds, for they assail the
unwelcome visitor with great energy. We
have noted this circumstance on a number
of different occasions, the invader being a
bird of prey, and the imiformity of demean-
or has impressed us as being almost a rule
in this respect. Now in the second class of

actions, we recognize the method which
these same species make use of to attract
the attention of man under the same circum-
stances. This is the better known of either
class of actions, for we are almost exclu-
sively brought into contact with these ex-
hibitions. Instead of appearing as if ready
to repel the trespasser, the little owners im-
mediately feign intense suffering, as if from
a broken wing or other bodily injury. The
same species are thus seen to adapt their de-
meanor to the circumstances. Instinctive-
ly they know their natural enemies are al-
most certain to discover their nest ; while
it seems as if they were equally cognizant
that man is easily deluded and readily per-
suaded. There certainly is evident some-
thing of natural and logical discrimination,
if it may so be termed. The habit referred
to — the eff'ort to draw away the intruder —
is too well known to require further consid-
eration.

As already stated, some birds are natu-
rally too cowardly or lack sufficient affec-
tion to either " stand their ground," or to
use any method of allurement to protect their
nest and eggs. That this is so, and not
traceable to habits typical of the species or
family, is amply proven by the fact that
birds — the Sandpiper, Maryland Yellow-
throat and Grass Finch for example-known
to exhibit the characteristic attempt of
throwing the collector off" his guard, have
occasionally been known to sit close by with-
out the slightest movement or utterance up-
on his approach. And this is an by no
means insignificant fact with which the ool-
ogist has to contend ; for when a certain
class of birds demean themselves in this
manner, one is tempted to believe, and is
almost convinced, that there is really no nest
in the vicinity. But such cases are seldom
met with.

Briefly then, we may state that there is
one class of birds that universally attack
the intruder, not only when at the nest, but
even when in its locality. Another will ha-
bitually glide from the nest and sit quietly
by from the first glimpse of a trespasser to
his departure, displaying by no movement

THE 0 OLD GIST.

53

or note their anxiety. A third class will
remain upon their nests until bruslied a-
gaiust or almost trodden upon : to this class
belong some of the most demonstrative spe-
cies above mentioned. . In regard to the
behavior of birds when they perceive their
eggs to be discovered, it may be concisely
stated that it is usually the same as their
conduct prior to this event, but perhaps
more vehement ; — while with many species
this is the only time of demonstration ; as
tor instance, tlie Kutled Grouse never cries
until her eggs or young have been found.

In order that notes for the current num-
bers of The Oologist may reach us in time
for publication, and that collectoi's may be
seasonably informed, it is desired that con-
tributions be sent as early as the iirst of the
month ; oological notes especially, will be
more acceptable if published as soon as pos-
sible after the observations have been made.
We would also state that tiie Aalue of this
journal as a repertory of ornithological in-
formation, can only be retained and aug-
mented by observers themselves tiironghout
the country ; and to these ends we invite
correspondence and authentic notes from all
(juarters. It is tlie aim of th^ journal to
stand at the head of oologi(;al magazines,
and to become something of an authority
on matters pertaining to the study ; this can
be accomplished, not by naturalists retain-
ing their notes and keeping them forever
concealed in the notebook, but by imparting
the information tlirough the proper chan-
nels. Therefore, let us not lack in scien-
tific value, what we may in other respects.

The Great -tailed Crackle (Quis-
calus macrurus).

;HP]N I think of this bird, it is always
with a smile. It is everywhere as
abundant on the Rio Grande as is
PatiHtr domesticus, P^nglish Sparrow, in our
northern cities, and, when about the habi-

tations, equally as tame. This bird is as
much a part of the life of Brownsville as
the ballero rolling along his cask of water
or the mounted beggar going his dailv
rounds. In the towns or about the ranch-
es, he knows no fear ; is always noisy, nev-
er at rest, and in all places and positions ;
now making friends with the horses in the
barns or the cattle in the fields, then in some
tree pouring forth his notes, which I can
liken otdy to the scrapings of a "■ cornstalk-
Hddle" ; now stealing from porch or open
window some I'ibbon for his nest, then fol-
lowing close behind the planter, quick to
see the dropping corn. With all his bold-
ness and curiosity, the boys of the streets
say they cannot trap or catch him in a snare.
He will take every bait or grain but the
right one ; he will put his feet among all
sorts of rags but the right ones : and the
boys are comjjletely outwitted by a bird.
He performs all sorts of antics. The most
curious and laughable performance is a com-
mon one with him. Two males will take
position facing each othei' on the groimd or
upon some shed, then together begin slowly
raising their heads and twisting them most
comically from side to side, all the time
steadily eyeing each other, until their bills
not only stand perpendicular to their bodies,
but sometimes are thrown over nearly to
their backs. After maintaining this awk-
ward position for a time, they will gradu-
ally bring back their bills to their natural
position, and the performance ends. It is
somewhat after the fashion of clowns' do-
ings' in a circus, who slowly bend backward
until their heads touch their heels, then pro-
ceed to straighten up again. It is a most
amusing thing to see, and seems to be mere
fun fur the bird, for nothing serious grows
out of it.

With all their familiarity, I have seen
these birds in the open chaparral as wild
and wary as other birds, knowing very well
when out of gunshot range. Th.eir flight is
rather slow, and when they make an as-
cent it is labored ; but once up, with their
great tails and expanse of wing they make
jrraceful descents.

54

THE OOLOGIST

As a general thing, they are gregarious
in all their habits. Great numbers breed
all along the river, usually in scattered col-
onies, similar to Redwings, but their nests
are higher, and not often near the water.
The ebony is a favorite tree for them to
breed in ; and wherever these trees exist
in towns or about ranches they are always
occupied with nests of these birds, some-
times in great numbers. My first eggs
were taken from an ebony-tree near our
room, in which were six or eight nests.
They were found in great numbers in the
young willows and rank undergrowth of the
resacas ; and in the great "• heronry" in the
salt-marshes, halfway between Brownsville
and the coast, we obtained many eggs. We
found their nests about two feet above the
water in the rushes, and from four to thir-
ty feet above the ground when in trees.
They are shaped like those of our familiar
Purple Grackle, Q. purpureus, and not
much larger. They are composed of grass-
es principally ; but, when convenient, pa-
pers, rags, feathers, anything, are woven
in, and not infrequently mud is thrown in,
as if to weigh it down. Just how far north
of the Rio Grande this species reaches, I
cannot tell. On the northern end of Padre
Island, at Corpus Christi Pass, I saw them
in abundance, and about Corpus Christi al-
so. No Quiscalus major, Jackdaw, was
secured. The first eggs were taken April
25th. In shape they are very oblong,
rounded at one end and pointed at the oth-
er, with the greatest diameter much netirer
one end. The ground color is usually of a
greenish-white, clouded with a purplish-
brown irom the small end as far as the
centre, and sometimes over the whole eg'^.
The markings are of a very dark brown,
chiefly at the small end, and consist of pen-
cillings, drops, and splashes irregularly and
grotesquely put on. Of a very large series
of eggs, the largest was 1.40 by 0.95, and
the smallest 1.12 by 0.87, with an average of
1.27 by 0.87. The narrowest egg, 0.83,
was next to the longest, being 1.39, thus
showing great variation in shape. — Geo. B.
Sennett. — Birds of the Rio Grande.

— Bubo virginianus is not so exclusively
a bird of swampy, low regions, as is gen-
erally believed. Great numbers of them
dwell in the high wooded portions of the Ad-
irondacks, in districts where one meets with
only beech, maple and spruce trees ; and
here, too, they breed. Their presence in
large numbers can be attested by those who
visit these wild regions diu'ing the summer,
for it seems almost as if they lived solely
for the purpose of hoo-hoo-'u\g in concert or
at brief intervals, during the whole night.

The Brush Turkey (Tallegalla
Lathami).

BY FRED. J. DAVIS.

"VTO country or continent on the globe fur-
nishes so many curious specimens of
the animal kingdom as the Island of Aus-
tralia. And among its many curious or-
nithological inhabitants, none are more re-
markable, especially as regards the method
of nesting and incubation than the above
bird. This bird was first described by Lath-
am, who called it the New Holland Vul-
ture, but he afterward changed its classifi-
cation from the Vultures to the Turkeys, to
which it properly belongs. That distin-
guished ornithologist, Mr. Gould, after-
ward gave a very full and accurate account
of its distribution and habits.

The Brush Turkey is about the size of a
two-thirds grown domestic Turkey. In the
adult, the whole of the upper surface is of
a blackish-brown ; the feathers of the chest
are edged with silver-gray ; the skin of the
head and neck is deep red, and thinly sprink-
led with short hair-like feathers ; the sides
of the neck at its lower part are ornament-
ed with a bright yellow wattle, capable of
being expanded or contracted at will. The
female is somewhat smaller than the male,
and her w^attles not so much develo])ed ; the
color is the same. The flesh of this bird is
very tender and delicate, and is held in
hijrh esteem.

THE OOLOGIST. 55

These birds are gregarious in habits, as- l ply of materials previously to laying. The
sociating iu small flocks, and inhabiting the mode in which the materials comprising
dense brush wood. They are extremely these mounds are accumulated, is equally
shy and wary. They are very swirt-footed, singular ; the bird never using its beak, but
and owing to the nature of the localities always grasping a quantity in its foot,
which they inhabit, easily escape from pur- throwing it backward to one common cen-
suit. The greatest enemy of the Brush ter, and thus clearing the surface of the
Turkey is the wild dog, and when closely ground for a considerable distance so corn-
pursued by them, it hops upon the lower pletely, that scarcely a leaf or a blade of
branches of a tree, and by hopping from one grass is left.

branch to another reaches the top ; the en- "The heap being accumulated, and time
tire flock acting together and having ascend- allowed for a sufficient heat to be engen-
ed to the top, either remain there oi- fly to dercd, the eggs are deposited, not side by
some distant spot where greater coucealnient side, as is ordinarily the case, but planted
is offered. They also take to the trees to at the distance of nine or twelve inches from
escape the heat of the sun at mid-day, and j each other, and buried at nearly an arm's
while thus perched are easily destroyed. A ' depth perfectly upright, with the large end
whole flock may thus be shot before they upwards. They are covered up as they are
are aroused from their repose — hardly a laid, and allowed to remain until hatched,
sportsmanlike amusement, but still furnish- 1 have been credibly inf(jrmed both by na-
ing a desirable luxury for the table, which tives and settlers living near their haunts,
is more to the purpose with the majority of that it is not unusual to obtain nearly a
the colonists. Its food consists of berries bushel of their eggs at one time from a sin-
and various seeds. Like others of its tribe gle heap, and as they are delicious eating,
it bathes in the dry dust, nuiking large they are eagerly sought for."
bare spots. 1 Some of the natives say that the female

The most remarkable circumstance con- is constantly in the vicinity of the heap,
cerning this bird is its method of nesting waiting for the eggs to hatch, and that they
and incubation. The eggs are collected to- sometimes uncover them as if for the pur-
gether into an '•^evcaleohion" where they pose of liberating the young. Others deny
are hatched with the trouble incident to oth- this, and say that the eggs are altogether
er birds. Mr. Gould gives an accurate and Ibrsakeu, and the young left to liberate
interesting account of its nesting habits, themselves. Mr. Gould inclines to the lat-
from which I quote: "■The Brush Tur- ter opinion, as the position of the eggs is
key collects together an immense heap of not altered, and although he was not in the
decaying vegetable matter as a depository districts inhabited by this bird during the
of its eggs, and trusts to the heat engender- incubation, he once foimd in searching for
ed by the process of decomposition, for the eggs a young bird, apparently just hatched,
development of the young. The heap em- It was covered, not with down, but with
ployed for this purpose is collected by the feathers, and if just hatched, was much
birds during several weeks previous to the further advanced than the domestic fowl at
period of laying. It varies in size from two the same time. The nest is placed in a re-
to four cart-loads, and is of a perfectly py- tired spot, usually in a shady glen, and on
ramidal form. The construction of the hea[) the slope of a hill. The ground above the
is not the task of one pair of birds, but is nest is always scratched clean, while below
effected by the united efforts of several ; the it is apparently untouched, as if the bird
same site appears to me, from the. great had brought the nuiterial down the hill,
size and the entire decomposition of the low- ^ The eggs are perfectly white, of a long o-
er part, to be resorted to for several years val, and three inches and three-quarters in
in succession, the birds adding a fresh sup- length.

56

THE OOLOGIST

General Items.

— I NOTICKL) ill the early part of June,
a nest of the Bahimore Oriole (^Icterus hal-
timore) in an elm tree about fifteen feet
from the ground. When 1 first visited it,
the female flew off, but there proved to be
nothing in it. 1 continued to visit the nest
once or twice a week for /b?/r ov five weeA-s,
and almost invariably found the female sit-
ting, but in an empty nest. Finally I took
the nest, though unsuccessful in my attempts
to obtain any eggs. Why the bird should
not have laid in so long a time, or why, if
not intending to lay, she should have so per-
.sistently tenanted the nest, is what I do not
understand. Jamks E. Humphrey.

— The admonitions in various newspa-
pers throughout the country are adding
more and more to the worthlessness of the
Sparrow. "Feed the Sparrows" means:
Increase their already alarming numbers ;
give them the confidence not merited ; ab-
stract their desire for caterpillars, if it is
possible they ever possessed any ; make
them depend upon man for their food ; call
them about piazzas and window-sills whence
they will not be driven. People who take
into consideration the humane side of the
question, will be glad to know that the
House Sparrow is destined neither to starve
nor freeze, and the more it is made to de-
pend upon its own efforts in winter, the more
will its services be worth in summer.

— Mr. Hutciiins, in an article on the
" Birds of Central New York," in a recent
number of Forest and Stream^ mentions a
specimen of the Raven {Corvus carnivorus)
as having been taken in the Oneida Valley.
This is only the second specimen as far as
we know which has been shot in central N.
Y., outside of the Great Woods of this
state ; for though it is found frequently in
these woods, it only aceidently happens in
the open country.

— It will soon be time for the s{)ring mi-
grations, when observations on the occur-
rence of certain species within given areas
are most readily made. The Warblers es-

pecially should be shadowed, and doubtful
visitants carefully looked for.

Recent ^HtbUcittious

AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

There is much of value and interest in
the Familiar Science, published at Spring-
field, Mass., relating to ornithology and
oology. The department devoted to gen-
eral natural history is a great aid to tliose
who should not only inculcate in them-
selves useful information in general, but a
knowledge of the feathered life about them.
We think the demands of the times and the
partiality shown the study of birds require
a change of the heading the '■'Naturalist"
to the " Ornithologist."

Among the many costly ornithological
publications with which Europe and Amer-
ica are furnished, the series of monographs
upon general ornithology by eminent savans
of Europe, now being published, form a
most valuable contribution to this science.
The forthcoming work on the Jacamars
and Puff-birds of Soutli America, species
belonging or allied to the Kingfisher fami-
ly, to be superbly illustrated with colored
plates, will be issued in parts.

Birds of North America. — The portion
of this work devoted to the water birds is
under way, and we are informed will be
ready for the press in June, when its pub-
lication will proceed rapidly until com-
pleted. Professor Agassiz has charge of
its publication, and under the supervision
of this eminent naturalist, the completion
of the work in about a year is assured.

The National Museum at Washington
will soon publish Mr. Fred. Ober's recent
notes on the birds of some of the islands of
West Indies. In his sojourn there, Mr.
Ober made important observations and (!ol-
lected many birds, among which there were
several new species.

Parts VII. and VIII. of the Birds of
Florida have been issued. Part IX. is
fbrthcomin":.

-^

oioqi

MARCH, 1879.

No. 8.

Coues on the Nest and Eggs of

the Water Thrush (Siurus

naevius).*

[From '• Birds of the Colorado Valley."]

fUNE is the lieiglit of the breeding sea- \
son with this bird. During this
month, egg-laden nests hiive been
found so fur apart as are Maine and Ahis-
ka — early in the month in the New Eng-
land locality just mentioned, and later on
the Yukon River. Doubtle.ss only one
brood is reared in the higher latitudes to
which the birds resort ; the case may also
be the same in other localities, and proba-
bly is so, considering how soon — by the
fore part of August — these birds reappear
in places where they are not known to breed,
as in Illinois and Jamaica. In the few in-
stances which have come to the knowledge
of naturalists, the Water Thrush's nest was
built on the ground or its equivalent. The
Alaskan nests to which I have alluded were
placed by the river bank, at the foot r)f wil-
low-bushes, one of them beneath a small
pile of drift-wood, and contained four to six
eggs. These and other Arctic nests, as
preserved in the Smithsonian Institution,
are about four inches across by two-thirds
as much in depth ; they are composed chief-
ly of moss, compactly matted and mixed
with little sticks and straws, one of them
having also a large amount of circularly-
woven fibrous material in a state of disin-
tegration. A nest found in Maine by Prof.
A. E. Verrill, and described with particu-
larity by Dr. Brewer, was built in an ex-
cavation in the side of a decayed log, which

*Siiitrux novcboracenain in former publications.
Dr. Coues gives preference to "Aquatic Accentor''
as the English term.

overarched the structure somewhat as the
domed portion of the nest of the Golden-
crowned Thrush covers the main part of
the structure. It was a beautiful fabi'ic,
built chiefly of green Ili/pnum mosses, with
which a few withered leaves and plant-stems
were mixed, having a compact iiuier por-
tion or lining of the fruit-stems of the same
Hypnum, and showing a number of slen-
der black rootlets intertwined around the
outer circumference. It was flatter and
shallower than the nests I have seen, being
four and a half inches across, but only one
and a half high, with a cavity half an inch
less in depth. "This nest contained five
eggs, the brilliant white grtjiuul of which,
with their delicately shaded spots of red-
dish brown, contrasted with tiie bright gi-eeii
of the mossy exterior, and set off to advaii-
tage by the conspicuous and uiii(|ue lining,
produce a very beautiful efl'ect."

The numerous eggs I have examined —
I all, however, after they had been emptied
I oftheir contents-measure from three- fourths
to four-fifths of an inch in length by a little
more or less than two-thirds of an inch in
breadth — more exactly, two selected spec-
imens give respectively the measurements
0.75x0.58 and 0.82x0.60. The ground-
color of the shell is brilliant crystal-white ;
this is marked all over, but in most cases
more thickly at and around the larger end
: than elsewhere, with small spots of reddish,
of quite dark brown, and of lilac or laven-
der— sometimes all the spots being dots
' and mere points ; sometimes many of them
beinir larirer, and more or less confiuent to
enwreathe the greater end of the egg. Oc-
casionally the other end, or evQU some con-
siderable part of the egg, is nearly free from
markings, but the shell, as a rule, is pretty
thoroughly speckled.

58

THE OOLOGIST

Note on the Nesting Habits of the

Sparrow Hawk (Falco spar-

verius).

fpHE Sparrow Hawk, like many other
birds whose persistency in occupying a
nest after repeated deprivation of their eggs
is pretty well known to oologists, often dis-
plays considerable attachment to an old hole
ill the dead limb of a tree;, and, too, this
j)ersistency often goes beyond the reasona-
ble bounds of prudence. A pair, having
nested in a squirrel's hole in a monster dead
basswood tree, reared four or five young.
The next season, the tree was broken off by
the wind two-thirds of the way up, and the
broken piece (which contained the nest) !
toppled over and lodged in a small tree, but \
renuiined attached to the standing portion
by a splinter and piece of bark. The Hawks
fixed over their old nest and laid the custom- {
ury set of eggs, which, notwithstanding the
risk attending the scaling of a rotten and in-
secure trunk, were duly taken. Undaunt-
ed, the pair laid another set, this time of
three, in the same hole, within a week after
the first set was taken, in the incubation of
which they met with as little success, for
th.ey were robbed again. Foiled in their
attempts to raise any young, it was suppos-
I'd they gave it up entirely for the season,
for the next year they came back to the
broken trunk, laid five eggs, and for a third
successive time were deprived of them.
This was too much : they left the neighbor-
hood, and whether or no they ever returned
afterward could not be ascertained. The
same year that the last clutch was taken,
llie home of another pair in the very top of
a straight, dead tree, was despoiled of five
eggs, on the 24th of May ; on June 1st it
was again visited — result, three eggs.
It was not ascertained whether this pair
deserted or not.

A lively Sparrow Hawk will frequently
show himself a noble defender of his pos-
sessions, by making it unpleasant for the
robber. While as a rule, most birds of
prey keep a respectful distance, this little

fellow has it in him to attempt resistance
by flying at the intruder when off, and by
showering blows with its sharp beak when
upon, the nest. Those spiteful notes V-/i/,
't-iit^ I'd-le, kil-le, are an alarm which all the
birds in the vicinity might recognize, were
it policy ; but it does not seem to us that
there is anything of either grief or dismay
in the notes.

The eggs of this Hawk are an interesting
study. They do not often differ in shape
and general aspect, but the variety of tints.
and the different groupings of the mottled
portions are such, especially since the egg
is always handsome, as to make a most a-
greeable display in the cabinet. Some of
them are exceedingly delicate in tint, the
creamy ground color being tantastically be-
spattered Avith red ; others are deeply pink,
with Indian red surface markings. Some-
times one end will be bare of spots, while
they will a[)pear to have crowded toward
the other, the number gradually incrci'.sing
until the ground color is indistinguishable
through the mass.

From the moment tlie young appear till
the time when they are able to catch theii-
own Sparrows, it is as much as the parents
can do to keep them from starving, for the
little things eat almost to suffocation ; they
keep up their "chil-l-l-'p" until, having eat-
en all 'twere possible to cram into tliem, they
close their eyes, their crops stick out, and
they gasp as if choked.

Nesting of the Black -throated
Bunting (Euspiza americana).

TIHIS member of the Frinfiillidce, altho'
classed among the accidental visitors to
New England, is abundantly distributed
throughout the south and west. There it
breeds, placing its nest upon or near the
ground. Several pairs associating they
undertake predatory excursions to the ad-
jacent fields, where they glean a precari-
ous[?] subsistence from the animal and
vegetable matter which collects in such
places.

THE OOLOGIST.

59

Although considered very impartial to eggs were a light buff color, covered all o-
water, I collected my first nest within two ver with lines and dashes of brown and pur-
feet of the current of a small stream ema- pie, and were very fresli. The birds did
natiu"- from the lofty peaks of the Unaka not make much outcry, but flew to a limb

range in eastern Tennessee. I was follow
iug the banks trout fishing, when my atten-
tion was attracted by a wisp of straw, caught
it seemed, by some previous inundation, in
a species of large fern. On closer exami-
nation, I found it to be a nest composed en-

near by and watched the proceedings.

8. Cunningham.

A CORKESPONDENT oi' Fovcfit and Stream,
C. H. Munger, makes an interesting state-
ment in regard to the nesting of Ortyx vir-
ginianus. He says : '•' 1 noticed an arti-
tirely of straw, and woven with great labor | ^,^ -^ .^ j^^.,^, ^^.^p^^. ,^^^.^ yesterday, stating

that a gentleman, while out luuiting in Cal-

into a homogeneous mass. In this nest,
which was about six inches from the ground, |
lay one egg, which, owing to a transient (
visit, I was compelled to ap])ropriate, 1
took anotlier nest of this species at Morris-
town, Tenn., Aug. 1st. Its structure did
not differ essentially from the first speci-

away Co., a county adjoining this, in the
mouth of .January, found a Quail's nest with
fifteen or sixteen eggs, and the mother bird
sitting on the nest. After she flew off the
nest he examined it carefully, the bunch of
crass covering it beins filled with ice and

men, but it was built m a bush soine four ^.,^^^^^ ^^^.^^^ ^_^,^^. .^^^^ ^^^^^ ,,^ ^,j,_

ieet from the ground, in the centre of a high , ^^^. .^ ^^^. ^,^^ ^^j^.j ^^^;^j j^^^. ^^^^^^ ^,^^,^ ^^ ,^^^.^
pasture. 1 he complement of four eggs 1 ^.^^ ^^j^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ ,^^.^^^, ^^^^^y -^ ,,^

were of an azure blue, and presented an av-
erage measxn-ement of .73 by .89. Their
principal charaeteristics are lost when plac-
ed by the side of eggs of Sialia sialis.

G. 8. 8mith.

Oological Notes for March.

Nest of Great-crested Flycatcher.

— While collecting last June, on the 15th
inst., with my friend Howard 81iields, we i

and other parties went to examine it again.
This time they found the bird still sitting on
the nest, but frozen to death. A portion of
the eggs had been hatched, but the young
were also frozen. Was this not a very sin-
gular occurrence? I should have been
somewhat skeptical in regard to it if I had
not met with very nearly a similar case
while out Quail shooting four years ago this
winter, in company with a venerable sports-
man, Mr. Pratt, of this place. Our dogs

,, , 111 made a rjoint. We flushed a single bird af-

were i)assinLr tl!rou";h an orcliaro, Avhen we ! . , , i ■ i • ^ " ^^

, , , , '^ , ^i ^ p., t^ ^ . 1 ter considerable kicking around in the grass

suddenly lieard the cry of the Great-crested ^ -i r ^ ^ ^ ^ , •".•

,., , I 1 • 1 ij !• 11- and snow, and found she had been sitting:

iMycatcher, which new from a hole m an , ' . . , .

■' , , ., . 1 ] r I I on her nest containing three apparently

apple tree, then to a dead limb near by. „ , „ ° ' ^ -'

I \ 1- r 1 »i t fresh ejjcs.

On ascending, we found the nest as we sup-

posed we would, in the hole from which the
bird had just flown. It was about two feet

About the first of last June while passing
by a small thicket of alder bushes, I dis-

deep and the bottom was lined with dried covered a nest of the Yellow Warbler. As
grass, cow-hair, &c. I did not notice any i it contained no eggs, I left it, in about a
snake-skin, which however, I might have ; week visiting it again, but still it contained
overlooked in my haste. It contained three ' no eggs. I took it home and on close ex-
eggs. The uest was not more than twenty amituition found with surprise two nests in-
rods from a farm-house, and about nine feet stead of one. One fitted closely inside of
from the ground. We did not take the the other, so as to have the appearance of

nest, as we supposed we should be able to
obtain another set ; but on returning a week
after we found the birds had deserted. The

one. The under nest contained three eggs
of the AVarbler and one of the Cow-bunt-
ing. W. B. Dickinson.

60

THE OOLOGIST

\f ^'

Tfie ©«roijtst

FOURTH PUBLICATION TEAR.

MARCH, 1879.

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY CONSIDEEED.

//. CONFIDENCE AND ADAPT-
ATION.

T^HERE is a remarkably close relation of
the confidence displayed by birds, with
the adaptation of varions places to the re-
quirements of nest-building ; and we are
i'requeutly obliged to consider both togeth-
«M- as inseparable. Whether a certain pair
of birds act out of desire ibr protection, for
advantage in situation, or in some cases,
from compulsion, there is shown in an un-
usual placing of the nest in proximity to
populated districts, houses, or window-sills,
a perception of the advantage thus to be
gained, which we might do well to term,
accommodatio covfidentia nata. Good ex-
amples of this fact are brought to our no-
tice every year, in the case of the semi-do-
mesticated birds which frequent our lawns
and gardens in the summer season ; but as
such, and being accustomed to turning to
good account all manner of positions for
their nests, we are tempted to, and gener-
ally do, look upon these little anomalies
with a small degree of interest. The very
fact of the semi-domestication of a species
is an obstacle in the way of the interest and
attention a case of adaptation to circum-
stances should call forth ; but the moment
we become aware of any unusual freak, as
exhibited by what we may here term with

propriety, wild birds, in the selection of a
nesting place, we at once exert ourselves to-
ward the explanation of the phenomenon.
We may be pardoned for want of ardor to
a certain extent in some few individual in-
stances of adaptation, both of position and
material, on account of the })eculiarity of
the species to nidificate at all seasons, in all
places, and without regard to circumstanes
— one nesting place being as usual as an-
other. The House Sparrow, for example,
is a bird of no choice of material,* we had
almost said not even for the frame of its
nest, and each disquisition on some new ma-
terial used, only renders the succeeding item
the more monotonous and disinteresting ;
while no one would think of giving partic-
ular notice to the position selected, unless
the bird be so far uncharacteristic as to
place the nest upon the ground or in unin-
habited districts.

Many circumstances may combine to im-
press a bird with confidence in man, and
the same circumstances often operate in the
adaptation of peculiar and actually unfavor-
able positions to the whims of birds ; so that
it is sometimes puzzliug to determine wheth-
er the builders really sought advantage or
safety, or exercised a degree of carelessness.
We do know, that, notwithstanding the care
which birds usually exercise in the selection
of nesting places, occasionally in the case of
too great confidence tliere will be a surpris-
ing disregard for position. We do not look
upon tlie nesting of the Chipping Sparrow
or Humming Bird within a few inches of
the window-sill, as anything extraordinary ;
but when a Yellow-winged Sparrow nests
within a few feet of a house, and that, too,
at disadvantage of position and especially
concealment ; and when a pair of Crows,
driven and harassed continually in common
with others of their tribe by a multitude of

*In eleven nests of Passer domesticus, there
was not a single spccinicu wliieli did not con-
tain at least one article of its composition dif-
ferent from all tlie rest. Cotton, wool, hair,
string, fiower stems, paper, feathers and even
bits of wire have been found in nests of tliis
bird, besides the two or three usual materials
of construction.

THE OOLOGIST.

61

boys aud men, (lelibcratcly build tlieir un-
comely home in a small evergreen tree, six
feet from the ground, in the suburbs of the
city, not lifteen rods from four or five houses
for two successive years ; in a place, more-
over, which formed the very rendezvous of
numbers of boys, — does there not seem to
be some inconsisteucy as far as the relation
(d' protection with position is concerned?
Indeed, there is something which seems al-
most unaccountable in this latter case ; for
the parents when off the nest, were as Avihl
as a Crow proverbially is, since they could
not be ap])roached within gunshot. Under
wliicli of the already suggested causes of
choice of situation can we properly place
tliis instance? It is not likely they sought
protection — at least tiie circumstances are
against such a sup})Osition. Was there any-
tliing to be gained in tlie situation? It did
not seem possible there could be, for there
were favoi-able nesting places, offering pro-
tection everywhere about the adjacent coun-
try, where Crows bred in large munbers.
Then, while we must debar this as a case
of actual confidence, there are evident traces
of whim and of carelessness, from which we
cannot always detract assurance.

If man shows toward the birds about
him his desii'e to protect them, they have
no fear of nesting in close proximity to him,
and do so sometimes at great inconvenience
of po>>^ition. Swallows will rear their young
within a lew feet of constant movement and
noise ; Cedar Birds frequently make their
nests within a few feet of the dwellings of
man ; the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles
siiow their confidence in man by nesting in
lilac bushes aud saplings close to his door.
The Wild Pigeon not a great many years
since, nested with great confidence iu the
vicinity of houses, in a number of instances
in the low orchard trees ; but when their
indiscriminate destruction was begun, they
lost their assurance and sought wilder and
safer localities. Gradually, as they were
di-i\ en fartiier and farthei- into wild regions,
we notice that they built their nests higher
until they occupied the highest beech aud
maple trees. Chipping and Song Sparrows,

Yellow Birds and Pewees show great con-
fidence in nesting close by railroads, iu
bridges, and upon supports, where trains
and vehicles are constantly passing, and in
the presence of jarring and rattling. The
same may be said of some of the Hawks
aud Blackbirds.

Let us look briefly at adiiptation. A
Robin finds the sill of a barn to answer her
purpose better than the crotch in the apple
tree, where she had nested for a series of
seasons ; and despite its proximity to pass-
ing persons and the apparent fact of nothing
gained, she forthwith builds her nest there.
There can be no doubt that in nuiny cases
of adaptation of situation, the builder is act-
uated by a desire for protection, as ofien in
the adaptation of materials for tlie conceal-
ment of the eggs. But when, as previous-
ly mentioned, birds nest close to i-ailroads
and well-traveled highways, it seems as if
there must certainly be some charm in the
situation — some advantage, — else why
leave a naturally quiet and rather retired
place for one so exposed and noisy? An
interesting instance of adaptation coming
under the head of advantage in situation,
coupled perhaps with something of a desire
for the protection of concealment, is shown
iu the choice of a nest l)y a pair of House
Wrens. Working their way through a fis-
sure caused by a powder blast in a stone
quarry, they found at the end a snug en-
largement, where they built a nest, laid
their eggs and successfully reared four little
Wrens, unconscious of the f.ict of their pos-
sible total destruction at any moment. This
is a good illustration of adaptation. Sure-
ly, the instance mentioned in our February
number, of the placing of a Broad-winged
Hawk's nest in an evergreen tree, seems to
us a singular whim on the part of the birds,
unless they became totally lost to all other
consideration.s by the temptation of an al-
ready laid foundation ; for it is a noticeable
peculiarity of the Buteouiclce to vie with
each other in placing their nests in the loft-
iest and most inaccessible trees.

There is a fitting illustration of adapta-
' tiou, combined with coufideuce and fondness

tV2

THE OOLOGIST

for locality, in the nesting of several pairs 1
of Red-eyed Greenlets for successive years,
ill the little saplings upon the edge of a path
through the woods, i'requented daily by both
men and cattle. A small group of maples
contained six of these uests ; iind the men-
tion of this circumstance induces the query
hearing upon this subject : are not Red-eyed
Vireos often gregarious in nesting? Or is
it true tliat these gi'oups of nests one some-
times finds, make up a "family settlement" ?
Vireos delight to nidificate in small trees,
iind in the vicinity of these one is most lia-
ble to find their nests : hence, if a certain
group of young trees offers suitable advan-
tages for a common nesting place, and there
is a probability of protection, the adaptation
is complete, though not marked. Crow
Blackbirds are nc^tably indillerent as regards
the position of their nests, placing them in
all sorts of odd situations — and tliei'e seems
to be nothing gained eitlier. A few years
ago (1874), large numbers of Yellow Birds
nested in the elder bushes which grew in a-
bundance beside one of the numerous New-
port roads, in Herkimer county, and the
very multitude of their nests indicated that
tliese buslies — which grew to the height of
tour or five feet — formed a most advanta-
geous nesting place.

Individual instances to a large number
might be mentioned to illustrate the desire of
birds for new and different nesting places,
anil perhaps many could be cited which
would point more strongly to adaptation ;
but limited space forbids further lengthen-
ing of what was intended to be a mere skel-
eton of the subject.

General Items.

— The " Woodruff Scientific P^xpedition
around the World" is expected to leave the
port of New York in May. Its object has
already been briefly alluded to in this jour-
nal. The material which must necessarily
accumulate to those who accompany this
expedition will be important and interesting.

— About this time of the year the Hawks,
after a hard struggle with Imnger for three
months, begin to realize something i'nnn
their predatoi-y excursions. Tlie field mice,
enticed from their burrows and nests by the
opening of the meadows, now form their
principal food, and numbers of Hawks may
be seen searching for them. On the 15th,
while watching a Harrier in his search, he
suddenly alit on the ground not many paces
away, and, grasping a mouse-nest, lilted
the whole into the air, but losing a part, lie
settled to the task of devouring what he had.
He had evidently taken the whole family in
the nest, for we found on the ground two
dead mice pierced by his talons, which he
had dropjied, and which he afterward bore
away. Doubtless a large number of these
annoying little animals are captured in their
uests by the Hawks.

— The first arrival in the vicinity of Utica
was a Robin — March 1 1 . The correspond-
ing arrival last year was March 4.

— The partial opening of the rivers and
ponds has brought the van of Ducks and
Geese, which are seen by twos and threes.

— The winter of 1878-9 has in many re-
spects been a severe one for the small non-
migratory and "winter" species, and the
finding of frozen birds is reported from
many parts of the north. Red-polls, Pine
Finches, Pine Bnlfinches and Sparrows of
many kinds have been compelled to apj)ly
at the doors of man for food ; and their ap-
pearance about gardens in the cities has
been a very common occurrence.

— It may not be generally believed that
the Crow can really be taught to talk. Sev-
eral instances, however, have come to our
notice which fully demonstrate that there
is considerable linguistic ability in this bird,
and this may be developed to a surprising
extent by proper training. It is not neces-
sary, though it probably is an advantage,
to slit the tongue, for the bird, if intelligent,
will pick up simple sounds in a short time
of its own accord.

— EvEiiY young oologist should subscribe
for this journal.

THE OOLOGIST.

63

The Great Moa (Diornis maxi-
mus.)

4 MONG recent discoveries of the fossil
■^ remains of gigantic birds, that of the
Moa of New Zeahind claims due promi-
nence, not only in regard
to its importance as a
paleontological disclos-
ure, but concerning its
history, structure, and
size, ornithologically.
There have been ascer-
tained to be a number of
species of Diornis, the
largest of which, D. max-
im us, stands about twelve
feet in height, and is a-
mong the largest fossil
l)irds ever discovered. Its
build, as will be seen in
tlie illustration, is very
stout and characteristic-
ally imcouth, which seems
to be in keeping with the
supposed slow and slug-
gish habits of the birds.
The great development of
the femur, tibia and met-
atai'sus, indicate a bird of
great power, and capable
of considerable speed, al-
though the length of the
two last seems dispropor-
tionate, and rather an im-
pediment.

It is supposed the Moa
existed until as recently
as two centuries ago, and
that its extinction is due
to "bush" fires, and to
the continual war waged
against them by the natives. The birds
were hunted for food, and if we are to take
the persistency of the natives in hunting it
for a criterion, we must conclude it to have
been a favorite article of their food. Their
liaunts were the timbered portions of the
elevated country, whei'e a number of their

SKELETON OF T

bones, together with numerous rude imple-
ments and weapons have been found. It
did not possess even rudimentary wings,
as the Apteryx, but depended solely upon
its speed of foot for means of esca|)e from
enemies. It is natural to suppose that so
great a bird, with upright mien and out-
stretched neck, and pos-
sessing ample means by
which to defend itself
against a moderately e-
qnipped enemy if it chose,
should have been regard-
ed with both fear and rev-
erence ; but it is said the
natives hunted and killed
it, and made the occasion
one of their periodical
gala-days.

The eggs of the Moa
varied somewhat in size
from five to six inches in
breadth, by eight to nine
or more in length, and
were of a dirty white col-
or. Only one egg was
laid for a hatching, for the
natives state that but a
single young bird accom-
panied the parents. The
eggs were considered a
delicacy, or at least a
much desired article of
food ; for the remains of
the shells found in various
parts of the islands indi-
cated that they must have
been very commonly eat-
en, and that the birds at
one time probably existed
in great numbers. There
are one or two eggs in
European museums, and

HE OUEAT MOA.

the Smithsonian Institution has a cast of
one in its oological collections. Little or
nothing is known of the nest, if indeed there
was any ; probably the egg was deposited
on the bare earth or in a hollow scraped in
the "round. Thei-e are a few skeletons
1 and numerous collections of the bones of

64

THE OOLOGIST

the Moa in some of tlie niuseunis. We are
iudebteil tor most of the facts in this account
of Diornis maxinms to Forest and Stream.

Jlcccut J^^bUcation6.

No. 34 of Wm. Wesley's Book Circular
on Oriiitholoiiy has been received. It is a
complete list of the more important works
publislRMl in this country and in P^uropc on
this subject, and forms also a valuable cir-
cular of reference.

Notea on the Ornithology of Southern
Texas, by Dr. James C. Merrill. — South-
ern Texas is the grand avenue of many spe-
cies of migratory birds, which prefer the
laud route in their passage to the more
southern countries ; and it is one of the
best regions in North America for the study
of ornilhulogy. Here many of the species
which spend the winter in the south are
found ; and here, also, is the rendezvous of
a large number of species from the east and
west, and from the south. Mexican birds
of many species cross the line, and our list
is thus gradually increased. We have too
little space to presume to quote from Dr.
Merrill's notes, but certainly he has done
much toward solvin^i: some of the ornitho-
logical problems of the regions explored by
him. He is to be credited with the discov-
ery tliat many species occur in Texas, of
which nothing was known a few years ago.
Among the species which are specially in-
teresting, are the Green Finch {Emherua-
gra rufivirgata), Bronzed Cow-bird (ilio-
luthrus oeneus), MyiarcJius erytJiroccrcus,
var. cooperi, Nydidromus aUnrolUs (illns-
trat'd), Amazilia fuscicaudata, White-tail-
ed Buzzard (Buteo alhicaudatus) , White-
faced Glossy Ibis (^Plegadis guaraujia).

The papers published in the Bulletin of
the National Museum, containing Mr. O-
ber's lists of birds of the islands of Domin-
ica, St. Vincent, Antigua, Barbuda, Gre-
nada and Martinique, are an important con-
tribution to the literature of ornithology.

The material obtained by Mr. Ober has been
placed in the Smithsonian Institution. This
ornithologist has done much toward deter-
mining the avi-faunal relations of these is-
lands ; and in resolving the species, Mr. G.
N. Lawrence has added largely to the val-
ue of the papers.

We note with regret the suspension of the
Valley Naturalist . It has for a year held
a good position as an exponent for western
naturalists ; and in concliology, entomolo-
gy, and perhaps geology, it has been valu-
able to the student.

Birds of the Colorado Valley ; Part I.,
by Dr. Elliott Coues. — It would be pre-
sumptuous in us to endeavor to properly no-
tice this work. It has been carel'ully and
detailedly described by the press throughout
the country, and it is enough that we should
class it among those works which are an
ornament and a monument to American or-
nithology. It bears, throughout, the stamp
of that excellence which Dr. Coues always
displays in his ornithological work ; and as
a hand-book of the birds of the Colorado
Valley, it holds a high position in our
bird literature. In addition to the ornith-
ological portion, is a Bibliographical Index,
giving a skeleton of the ornithological lit-
erature of North America up to the present
time. There is much of interest to the sci-
entifically inclined, the synonymy of the
species, especially, being very complete ;
while the fresh morsels in the life-history
of the birds, which are so numerously dis-
persed throughout th.e work, will remind
any bird-naturalist of happy days spent a-
mong them. While it is not a work for
for the general reader, it is one in which the
ornithologist is at home, and by means of
which he may and should be incited to
greater effoi't.

Dr. Jasper's woi'k on the Birds of North
America is completed, forty numbers hav-
ing been issued. The plates are very good,
and are pretty accurate, but llie text is main-
ly too general to be considered a contribu-
tiou to current oruitholoijical literature.

• m

-i4 ®

oioqi

APRIL, 1879.

No. 9.

Nest of the White -bellied Nut-
hatch (Sitta carolinensis).

E were roamiug over tlie fields on a
bright clay in June, soarcliiiig for
what we might find, aud particular-
ly interested for the moment with the an-
tics of a Field Sparrow, when our inform-
ant asked us if we "• wanted a Woodpeck-
er's nest?" We did, most certainly, and
he agreed to conduct us to the tree, where
he said a pair of these birds had nested for
two or three years. We were led over the
country two miles or so and finally brought
up in a beech wood. Our guide pointed
out a huge beech in whose trunk, twenty
feet up, there was a knot-hole, directly be-
neath a large limb. To scale the trunk
was not the easiest matter, but after a short
struggle, with the aid of a broken bough
placed against the tree the hole was reach-
ed, when out flew, not a Woodpecker, but
a Nuthatch, with vociferous cries aud an-
gry contortions. The cavity was deep and
the entrance small, so it required some
time to reach the nest proper, and when we
did feel the chips, out scrambled two little
ones, who, with open mouths and weak
cry, rather surprised and disappointed us,
since it was with the hope of obtaining a
set of eggs that we tasked ourselves. But
after counting five young of about five days'
or a week's growth, there was still some-
thing left in the bottom of the nest which
turned out to be an egg, rotten and some-
what soiled, but otherwise a good speci-
men. This egg was white, covered with
small speckles of reddish, distributed over
its entire surface.

The next year, and the next, we visited
the Nuthatch's nest in hopes of obtaining a

full set of eggs, but the parents had aban-
doned it and probably repaired to some oth-
er locality. The nest proper was merely
a bed of chips and ^ saw "-dust, with a few
feathers as a lining. The year after ob-
taining the egg, another nest containing
young was shown to us, high up in a bass-
wood tree.

The nest of the Nuthatch, though by no
means rare, is not very well known to
young collectors, and therefore the eggs are
desirable for cabinets. Of a number of
holes occupied by these birds for nesting
places, all but one were knot-holes. The
nest above alluded to evidently had contain-
ed six eggs, of which one as stated, did not
hatch ; but probably this is an exceptional
number, five or four oftener constituting a
set. Whether this species occasionally does
deposit a large set of eggs, like the Downy
Woodpecker or Flicker, we are not pre-
pared to state. When the nest is approach-
ed the parents run excitedly up and down
the adjoining trees, displaying an agility not
observable in their ordinary habits of search-
ing for insects, and their contortions seem
at times almost reckless and absurd ; while
the grating notes so often heard, are uttered
in such rapid succession as to appear al-
most continuous.

The first instance of the occupation of a
Robin's nest by the Cow Bird came to our
notice on the 26tli of this mouth. Though
the nest was not quite completed, it was es-
pied by a roving trio and one of the females
quickly dropped into it. The next day the
Robin was seen completing her nest, and in
all pi'obability the egg of the Cow Bird, if
one was deposited, was covered up or de-
stroyed.

66

THE OOLOGIST

Seasonable Suggestions. — The season
for birds' eggs being at hand, perhaps a few
suggestions relating to the collecting and
preparing of specimens may not come amiss.

First — It should be remembered that eggs
blown in the field will withstand much more
jarriug and shaking than unblown ones ;
hence, mauy of the best collectors prefer to
prepare them as soon as obtained.

Second — Make ample notes concerning
the surroundings of a nest, and do it before
leaving the locality.

Third — If it is necessary to climb decay-
ed trees, take time for it, and under no cir-
cumstances become so flurried as to step
upon a limb before testing it.

Fourth — Do not, in momentary excite-
ment concerning an im})ortant find, pack
the eggs hastily in your box, trusting to care
in their con\'eyance ; for the box may fall
or be forcibly shaken when least expected.

P^ifth — If you are disappointed after hav-
ing climbed for eggs, do not revenjiefuUy
destroy the nest ; it may, if a new one, re-
pay the trouble of a later visit.

Sixth — Make but one hole in the egg,
and remove every particle of the contents,
for moths and divers other pests will take
advantage of half blown specimens and de-
stroy them.

Nesting of the Sharp-tailed Finch
(Ammodromus caudacutus).

BY G. S. SMITH.

T^lIIS species is rarely seen north of Mass-
achusetts. In that state it is not un-
common, though it is found only as a strag-
gler in the more northern sections. The
Sharp-tailed Finch is never found over a
mile or two from salt-water : thus many of
its most notable habits, here related, may
be of interest to the inland readers of The

OOLOGIST.

This bird selects the salt marshes and
meadows adjacent to our sea-coast, where
it remains during its stay. Here it may

be flushed from the rank grass, or it will
run before you, dodging round any little
hummocks rising above the ground, thus
managing to keep pretty well concealed ;
and here it is seen alonji the margins of
pools, gleaning its sustenance from the mi-
nute crnatacece which inhabit such places.

For their breeding place these birds pre-
fer meadows where the grass is short and
not so abundant. About the last of April
each bird selects its consort, when the new-
ly made pair proceed to select a suitable sit-
uation ibr a home. This is generally un-
der the shelter of an over hanging lump of
peat, wliere the little creatures pat with in-
finite labor a considerable depression in the
thick grass-roots. In this hollow the nest
is placed, composed entirely of dried mead-
ow grass, and not infrequently intermixed
with fine sea-weeds. It must needs be very
thick and warm to protect the young from
the dampness of the ground. After the
nest is completed, the birds form a canopy
over it, by bending the neighboring grass-
blades, leaving only a small orifice for en-
trance and exit.

Tlie collector may be traversing a moor
when he will be surprised by a little bird
jumping from the ground at his feet, and
fluttering before him, feigning all the tor-
tures of a broken wing. The experienced
oologist will immediately recognize his
proximity to a nest. His search will be
long and tedious, but if it is about the first
of June, his labors will be rewarded by a
complement of from four to six eggs, near-
ly spherical in shape, and covered over their
entire surface by contiguous dots and blotch-
es of chocolate-brown, imder which may
be distinguished a ground color of light
green. Proceeding forward, the above gy-
rations will be re])eated by another bird,
but in all probability, instead of flying up
dii'ectly from the nest, your approach has
been discovered, and it will jump up ten feet
away ; this may be considerably out of the
direct line of your approach, the bird desir-
ing to conceal the situation of its nest, and
you must make a large circuit ere the eggs
are found.

THE OOLOGIST

67

I know of no place where this Finch
breeds so abiiiulantly as in a salt meadow
comprising about fifteen acres, situated
near this city (Boston). It was first bro't
to my attention by a boy finding what he
supposed to be a nest of M. meloJia in a
certain salt marsh. Never having heard of
a parallel case I wished to investigate the
matter, and one of the birds being shot it
was recognized as belonging to the species
named as the subject of this article. Here
I alterwards found several complements of
eggs, they and the nests not differing essen-
tially from the description given above.
Their variation is very slight, being but
.80 to .70 inch in lengtli by .74 to .68 inch
ill breadth.

After rearing one brood, these birds
gather in scattered flocks, and frequent the
same places as in early spring till the first
of October, when their shrill chee a dee dee
dee is no more heard in New ICngland, hav-
ing gone to more southern localities to pass
the incjement season.

Oblogical Notes for April.

TllK Journal d' Agriculture Progressive,
says : *" In France it is forbidden, under a
penalty of from 16 to 100 francs, either to
tiike or destroy the nest or eggs of wild
birds, with the exception of the Crow, the
Magpie, the Wood Pigeon, and birds of
JJl't'y. Familiar Science.

In the government of Cherson, Russia,
in the bed of a river, a peasant found an
egg of unusual size. It is equal to forty
hens' eggs, whereas the Ostrich egg is equal
to only twenty-four. It is of a yellowish
color, and, being found between the clay
and gypsum layers, is supposed to belong
to the tertiary formation. The purchaser
of this ^gf^ offered it to the Imperial Acad-
emy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, for 1,000
roubles [a little over $700]. The Acade-
my failed to buy it on account of lack of
means, but asked permission to take a mould

from it. The British Museum has now
bought this unique egg, to the grief of the
Russian students of natural science.

Chicaijo Eveniufi Journal

Allow me to take exception to the state-
ment in the February number of your jour-
nal under the head of "Oological Notes for
February," that the Woodcock and Ruffed
Grouse nest during March and April. In
central New York the former may some-
times nest in March and undoubtedly does
in April, but I doubt that in the same lati-
tude the Ruffed Grouse ever nests in March,
and I should be surprised to find the eggs
much before the first of May. In eastern
Massachusetts (south of the latitude of cen-
tral N. Y.) during ten years of observation
I never knew of an instance of this bird's
breeding earlier than the fii'st of May, while
the newly hatched young are most often met
with during the last of May and the first
half of June. So far as my own observa-
tions go, the same holds true for New York
state. Relatively to the time of breeding
of other birds, I should say — look for Wood-
cocks' eggs while the Blue Birds are sitting
on their first set of eggs, and for those of
the Rufl'ed Grouse wlien the Blue Jay and
Brown Thrush begin to build.

W. B. Bakrows.

[" The Woodcock is an early layer, gen-
erally in April, but even, according to Au-
dubon, in March or February at the South
— the period varying a month or more ac-
cording to latitude." — CouES, B.N.W. . .
"May 5, '74. — This afternoon, while en-
gaged in examining some bushes in what is
known as Cascade Glen, from which a Spar4
row had flown, a Grouse ran out followed
by nearly a dozen little ones, which immedi-
ately sought concealment." . . *■'. . Mav
10, '76. — On the 19 ult. the farmer's son
informed me that he had foimd a ' Par-
tridge's ' nest with s^j^ eggs in it, but would
not tell where. . . " — Ed. 's Note-book. 1

April 22 ; Robins carrying materials.
Song Sparrows building. Chipping and Bay-
winged Sparrows mating. — 24 ; Grackles
carrying mtU;erials.

68

THE OOLOGIST

Tfie ©oro^ist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

APRIL, 1879.

In remitting subscriptions, etc., it would
save u!^ much vexation if our patrons would
remember to enclose the requisite amount.
It your letter states that you have enclosed
sixty cents, please be careful that that a-
mount, and not fifty or forty cents, in en-
closed ; and if data blanks are wanted, en-
close thirtij cents, the price announced.

We desire also to state, that, owing to
the great accumulation of postage stamps
upon us, we prefer that in all cases our cor-
respondents send silver if paper money can
not be procured ; it is safe to enclose am'ts
of coin less than one dollar. We cannot
use more tiian one half the [)ostage stamps
sent to us in letters, and since money is pref-
erable we would suggest that postage stamps
be sent only when positively necessary.

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY OONSIDEEED.
00 LOGICAL MEMORANDA.

TkURING the season of 1876 we had oc-
casion to make ample data in regard to
our oological collections, and the results of
that season, though not as important in re-
gard to the number of specimens obtained
as to the data secured, were especially grat-
ifying. The note book was constantly em-
ployed, find much of value, as exhibiting
the phenomena which a collector is likely

to meet with during the season of oviposi-
tion, was observed and recorded : the few
specimens taken possessed a history, with-
out which they would have had little or no
value. The season in itself was a poor one
for oological observation in this portion of
the country, and there seemed to be a re-
markable scarcity of interesting species, the
commoner ones with their numbers seeming
to make up what-there was wanting in va-
riety,— and the summer would indeed have
been most unpromising, had it not been for
the interest which attached to the eggs of
those few common species. The value of
oological memoranda was then brought out
in all its force.

The habits of the Bay-winged Buntings,
whose eggs and nests up to that season had
been regarded small prey, furnished mate-
rial for reflection and deliberation. One
pair had so far forsaken their old liabits as
to place their nest a foot above the ground,
in the top of a bunch of tall grasses, which
even swayed considerably when the wind
blew ; another pair of the same species
placed their home against a fence-post, quite
down in the ground. Then a pair of 8ong
iSparrows built a pretty nest of very fine
materials in an elder bush, away up near
the top, four feet from the ground. This
nest was built early in the season, and was
probably given a high position to escape the
snow and the dampness of the ground. An-
other pair of the same species hatched one
egg, the sole occupant of the nest, and an
early laying, too. This same pair, later
in the season, laid four eggs and reared the
young, with the addition of a bouncing
Blackbird. A little colony of Crow Black-
birds selected a site by no means roomy,
for nesting, since a tree not over ten feet
in height was made to serve the purposes
of three pairs, notwithstanding that the
crowding of their bulky nests into the small
space at its slender top, bent it over almost
enough to tip out the eggs. In an old saw-
mill, upon the beam which serves as a sup-
port to the saw guides, our two pairs of
Pewees again deposited their eggs, one pair
laying three out of the set of four with

THE OOLOGIST

69

speckles of reddish, an occurrence never be-
fore happening with tliis pair in six years,
for twenty-seven eggs, tlie aggregate of that
period, were all wliitc Some species were
remarkably late in tiieir honseiiold duties.
It required one pair of Chipping Sparrows
a whole month to get ready for niditicatiou :
they built a nest in a spruce tree, but the
position was so exposed that the cats troub-
led the unlucky pair, and they left it just
before the lining was put in. Another nest
was commenced in an apple tree a few rods
away, but the situation was still more un-
favorable, and this, too, was left to its fate.
The third and last nest — a poor, hastily
built tiffair — was not begun till a number of
days afterward, but they laid their eggs in
it, and in a couple of weeks four little Spar-
rowlets appeared, which, alas, were sacri-
ficed to fill the greedy maw of some prowl-
ing cat.

It will thus be seen that to be a profita-
ble season to the collector, he need not nec-
essarily find new specimens, or even rare
ones. If the data of one's work among the
birds for a season are faithfully kept, and
even the most familiar species watched with
assiduity, the collector may be surprised at
the results. His note book will not pre-
sent the appearance it often does : as if the
items had been selected — picked out, as it
were, from the many observations, great
and small, important and trifling, which he
had made. It is frequently the case with
the young collector, after he has once been
brought into contact with rarer species, to
wholly ignore those which he sees about
him every day ; and thus many interesting
bird-traits pass unobserved. Date and lo-
cality of a nest, with the number and con-
dition of the eggs it contains, are usually
tlie most important particulars ; but when
other facts are observed in connection with
these, es{)ecially in case of abnormity, they
should be recorded for a precedent. Un-
usual appearances in a nest or eggs, or
strange demeanor on the part of the parents
should be closely observed, since this por-
tion of the study is the most interesting and
often most valuable. A cabinet of birds'

eggs — the mere existence of the specimens —
is indeed but a portion of a good collection :
the other portion consists of their history —
a complete, substantial record of their latent
value, their intrinsic worth, their scientific
merit, — that which exists after the speci-
men itself is lost or destroyed, and serves to
establish the facts concerning it with due
prominence for years afterward.

Oological memoranda are not less import-
ant than ornithological data : the establish-
ing of a given locality as the breeding ground
of a certain species, by the finding of its
nest, forms an important era in the history
of its nesting, just as the discovery of a spe-
cies does its range of habitat ; — the discov-
ery of some new feature concerning the nest
or eggs of a species is equally as valuable
as the observation of some new peculiarity
in its habits. Thei'efore, every new item,
however small, connected with the eggs or
nestiujr habits of birds, should be eagerly
recorded by the collector.

It is interesting to study the changes in
plumage wliicli some birds undergo when
moulting. The transition, especially in tin-
case of cage birds, is frequently accompa-
nied with odd appearances in coloring, an<l
this, too, often changes several times before
the normal plumage is obtained. Two Bob-
olinks, kept for a year in a cage, exhibited
during the period of shedding their feathers,
peculiarities of an amusing nature. One
seemed more forward than the other in sev-
eral respects, and when the season came for
the new, shining black plumage, he was the
first to moult. But the operation was ex-
ceedingly slow, and it required a long time
to bring out even a few new feathers. Af-
ter the breast had begun to exliil)it a few
dark spots, the belly began to show signs
of whiteness and in a week or two was quite
pale. Sinuiltaneously, on the back and
sides and top of the head appeared black
feathers. The plumage thus remained,
with here a little bla(;k, there brown, and
once in a while a white feather, for several
weeks, when the bird died.

70

THE OOLOGIST

The Gilded Cuckoo of Africa,

(Chalcites auratus.)

i

j^ljrHIS beautiful bird, closely resem-
l i 1 bliiig the European Cuckoo in form
^-\ and habits, is found in Caffraria, in
Africa. The female deposits its eggs in
the nests of other species, in which respect
it resembles the European Cuckoo and the
American Cow Bird ; but there is a pe-
culiarity connected with the oviposition of
this species which has engrossed the atten-
tion of naturalists — that of the female's sup-
posed habit of conveying the egg in her
mouth or throat to the nest in which it is to
be deposited. Le Vaillant, a naturalist of
considerable study, has made inquiry con-
cerning this singular habit, and after con-
siderable observation, found it to be true.
His own narrative may prove interesting :
"Although this bird be so common if not
in the immediate environs, yet about one
hundred leagues from Cape Town, it was
scarcely known in J2urope before my voy-
ages, and in France there was only one mu-
tilated and badly preserved specimen of it
to be seen in the Royal Museum at Paris.
I myself brought over one hundred and fif-
ty males and females as well as young birds,
which are now exhibited in the chief cabi-
nets of Europe. To this beautiful species
I am indebted for my chief knowledge of the
Cuckoo family. From the facility I had
of leisurely and successfully observing its
manners, I always entertained the hope that
I should one day surprise a female Didric
in the act of depositing its egg in the nest
of another bird, but having been disappoint-
ed in this respect, I began to imagine that
my ignorance on this point would never be
removed, when one day having killed a fe-
male of this species, and Avishiug to intro-
duce a plug of hemp into her throat accord-
ing to my custom after bringing down a
bird, in order to prevent the blood from
staining its plumage, I was not a little sur-
prised, on opening its bill for this purpose,
to find in its throat an entire egg, which I
knew immediately from its form, size, and

beautiful whiteness, to belong to the Didric.

Delighted at length, after so many useless
efforts, at having obtained a confirmation
of my suspicions, I loudly called my faith-
ful Klaas, who was only a few paces dis-
tant from me, to whom T imparted my dis-
covery with much pleasure, as he had used
his best exertions to second my views.
Klaas, on seeing the egg in the bird's gul-
let, told me that after killing female Cuck-
oos, he had frequently observed a newly
broken egg lying upon the ground near
wliere they had fallen, which he supposed
they had dropped in their fall, being at that
moment ready to lay. I recollect very well
that when tliis good Hottentot brought me
the fruits of his sports, he frequently remark-
ed, as he pointed to the Cuckoo, ' This one
laid her egg as she fell from the tree.' Al-
though I was convinced from this ('ircum-
stance that the female Cuckoo deposits her
egg in the nests of other birds by conveying
it in her beak, I was desirous to collect
what facts I could on the subject ; Klaas
and 1, therefore, began to shoot as many
Cuckoos as we could meet with, which ac-
counts for the great number of tliis species
we procured. However, among all the
specimens there occurred only one instance
similar to that 1 have just mentioned, name-
ly, that of a second fenude, which was
trjuispoi'ting her egg in her mouth, like the
former. "

Empidonax flaviventris is rather abund-
ant in the Adirondack region of New York.
Its retired habits, however, would lead one
to suppose it very uncommon. The swampy
places, thickly studded with a species of wil-
low and scrubby trees are its favorite re-
sorts. Wliile maay other species of bird
came readily to the call, the Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher would invariably remain silent-
ly perched ujjon a low limb, not even essay-
ing to utter a sound. It is easily approach-
ed and seems to care little for the hunter.
It is, however, an active bird.

THE OOLOGIST

71

Studies on Certain Fringillidae. —
The White-throated Sparrow.

fpiIE birds liuve all made preparations I'or
departing to tlieir winter homes, and tlie
hedges and fences are occupied now and then
by a little bird whose ruffled appearance and
melancholy look plainly say : "1 am cold
and this country is dreary ; why linger long-
er when I might be enjoying with my fel-
lows, the bright, sunny south? Winter is
near, and snow is on the horizon — why
should 1 linger?" Soon he, too, is gone ;
and the days become dark, clouds — cold,
heavy clouds — lill the sky, searching winds
conuiience to herald the approach of a sea-
sou of ice and snow, and flurries of sleet
admonish the husbandman to be looking a-
bont him — then there comes another little
l)ird, a pert, jaunty little fellow, whose
quick, lively "chink" neutralizes half the
dreariness, and whose beautiful song is
cheering amid the waste of blast and storm.
This is the White-throated Sparrow or Pea-
body bii'd. Perhaps he is not alone : there
may be numbers of White-crowned and Fox
Sparrows, Snow Birds and Tree Sparrows
with him. He does not care for the cold :
winter, with all its fierce storms and pene-
trating cold, has charms for him, and while
his less hardy companions quail before the
prospect, he, with cheerful song and exult-
ant mien, makes nature seem glad again.

The White-throated Sparrow (^Zontrich-
ia alhicollis of most scientists) is usually
considered a migratory species in the Middle
States, but it certainly breeds, and quite
abundantly, in New York, and likely also
in Maine. It is seen in the fall and spring
about low pastures, especially on the bor-
ders of the woods and iu swanipy, bushy
localities, where its lively habits and pleas-
ing song are most often uoted. It is easily
recognized, and when once seen is never
confounded with another species. In the
early morning the fiute-like uotes, repeated
in a quivering, delicate, and exceedingly
mellow tone, the first usually commencing
high, the other three somewhat lower, or

vice versa, have a great charm for the lis-
tener. It is not a very shy bird, but is
never so intimate as the Song and Swamp
or Bay-winged Sparrows. It is wont to vis-
it our gardens quite frequently to pick up
the crumbs and grain which are always
more or less abundant about the walks and
steps.

In the mountainous portions of the United
States, north of about 43^ 10' N. Latitude,
the White throated Sparrow breeds. Its
eggs and nest are not as well known to col-
lectors as they would be if it bred in more
accessible situations ; for among those who
spend the summer in the northern wilder-
nesses, there are remarkably i'ew natural-
ists,— although there is a vast amount of
material and rare opportunities offered him
who would make these regions a field for
investigation in ornithology. The nest is
commonly built in low bushes or upon the
ground. It does not differ much from the
nests of our familiar ground-building Spar-
rows, though it may be larger and occasion-
ally supplied with material different from
that which is employed in populated dis-
tricts. The eggs, laid during tlie last week
in May, are five, from .5G to .G4 in breadth,
by .88 to .92 in length, and covered with
markings of burnt sienna, burnt umber,
chocolate brown and paler tints of the same
colors ; the ground color is grayish or ash
white, with a slight tinge of bluish. The
eggs greatly resemble those of the common-
er ground-building Sparrows, and it is of-
ten difficult to decide the difference between
them ; the liability to variation is probably
also as great as iu the eggs of other species.

The sound of running water has a great
charm for confiued birds, and singing birds
will start up a most enthusiastic strain when
they hear it, which usually subsides as the
sound ceases. This is especially true in
the mating and nesting season.

Read the announcement in the supplement
and show it to your oblogical friends.

72

THE OOLOGIST

The Flamingo.

Have you ever heard

Of the creature absurd —

That ridiculous bird — the FlaiiiiugoV —

With neck long and slim,

And legs lean and trim,

And the funniest sort of a lingo ?

When a-fishing he goes

He thrusts in his nose, —

This humorous bird — the Flamingo —

Without bait or hook.

His long neck a-crook,

Aloft in the air see his wing go.

A plunge and a dive,

And a fish all alive

This wonderful bird — the Flamingo —

Brings out to the land

And'gobbles ott'-hand :

In a twinkle he makes the whole thing go.

Then the mate — the old womau^

As though she were human, —

And not like a growling Flamingo —

For lack of her share

Sets up a great flare.

And makes everything in a din go.

But a screech loud and shrill

Comes out of the bill

Of the masculine bird — the Flamingo —

His eyelids both close,

And he stands on the toes

Of one leg — he's asleep, bj' jingo !

Toronto Globe.

General Items.

— Three Carolina Doves {Z. carolinen-
.s/.-,) remained here tliis winter. They ob-
tained tlieir food from under a large barn,
where I saw them several times. About
March first two more arrived. They were
seen by several persons besides myself. . .
I shot a Pine Finch from a flock of six or
seven on Nov. 2yth, '78, but have seen
none since. Redpolls arrived about the
15th of Nov. and remained till about Jan.
10th, when they and the Snow Buntings
went south. About March loth the Snow
Buntings returned in two flocks, but none
are here now. . . . Robins arrived March
20 ;* Blue Birds March 14. f A lew Rob-

* Utica : 1878— March 5 ; 1879— March 14. West-
em N. Y. : 1879— March 18. Penna. : 1879— March
8.

t Utica : 1878— March 4 ; 1879— March 24. Conn. :
1879— March 20. N. J.: 1879— March 1. North'n
N. Y.: 1879— April 1.

ins remained all winter, as some Avere seen
in the middle of January. Swamp Spar-
rows reached here about Mitrch '2'2 ; Cedar
Birds the 29 ; heard House Wrens singing
on the same day. The last may have been
Winter Wrens. P. Thalimer.

Troy, N. Y.

The ninth pai't oi' Birds of Florida has
made its appearance. Mr. Maynard's work
is written in a style calculated to appeal to
the sympathies of everyone who reads it.
The method of writing the life-histories of
birds in narrative style is and ever will be,
the most popular, and the author of this
work has the faculty of making his descrip-
tions interesting. Part X. is forthcoming.

Town and Countrij is the name of a
monthly paper publislied by E. A. Samu-
els. It has a department devoted to or-
nithology, the editor's favorite study. Mr.
Pope writes a series of articles on the game
birds of the United States, illustrated bv
his own hand.

Nests and Eggs of American Birds, by
Ernest IngersoU. — We were somewhat dis-
appointed when we received the first part
of this work. Its size, we think, should
have been larger, with corresponding si/e
of printed matter; for, if it is to be a na-
tional work, its points of excellence must
necessarily be consistent with the magni-
tude of its mission. The typography and
general appearance otherwise, are excellent.
Ten species and their varieties are discuss-
ed, the particulars of nidification and ovi-
position being given minutely. The plates,
representing eggs of the Robin, Oregon
Robin, Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Ol-
ive-backed Thrush, Oregon Thrush, Wil-
son's Thrush, Mountain Mockingbird,
Mocking Bird, Cat Bird, Brown I'hrasher
and a variety of the last species, are very
accurate. The work promises to be one
of value to the student of oology, and when
completed, will form an important addition
to any library.

Drawn, Engraved and Printed in Colors by S. L, Willard,

(FIG. 1.)

Nest and Eggs of the American
Bittern (Botaurus minor).

15 Y D. H. KATON.

T^HIS bird, as far as my experience goes,
is, contrary to the testimony of Mr,
Samuels, solitary, it being very seldom that
more than one, or at most a pair (;an be
found in the same slough. Indeed it is
comparatively rare to find two pairs breed-
ing in sloughs which are very near togeth-
er ; oftener they are separated by several
juiles.

Their nests are built of the reeds and
lushes growing in the sloughs. Sometimes
a kind of platform is built a few inches a-
bove the water, and fastened to the reeds ;
on this dried reeds and rushes are placed
without any attempt at arrangement, and
the eggs are placed in the centre. Again,
the nest rests on the water, and is moored
to the growing reeds. These nests are gen-
erally placed in the middle of the slough,
and often cover three or four squai'e feet
of surface. The high, thick growth of the
riieds com])letely hides them from view, and
one may pass within a foot of the nest Avith-
out discovdring it, unless he chances to flush
the bird.

Occasionally their eggs are laid in a slight
liollow of the ground, on the border of a
small slough or wet place in a pasture. In
this case there is no appearance of any en-
deavor on the part of the birds to keep the
eggs or chicks from contact with tlie earth.

Samuels says that their nests are placed
" on low bushes, or thick tufts of grass,
sometimes in low, thickly-wooded trees ;
and are composed of grasses, twigs and a
few leaves." 1 think that this may be ow-

ing to some accident — driving them from
their usual haunts — for it is directly oppos-
ed to my observation of their habits, as well
as to that of other ornithologists much bet-
ter known than the writer of this article.

On being frightened from the nest, the
bird rises, uttering a hoarse croak, and flies
slowly off', barely clearing the tops of the
rushes. It is very easily killed, a few pel-
lets of number 8 or 10 shot bringing it to
the ground. When wounded it is well for
the shooter to be Avary in picking it up. At
such times, on being approached, it throws
itself on its back, and with head drawn
back, watches its enemy closely. Let a
hand be approached nearer than coincides
j with its ideas of safety, and, like a flash,
I its head is thrown forward, and an ugly
thrust given with its sharp, strong beak.

The eggs are from 3 to 7 in number, gen-
erally 4 constituting a set, 7 being a very
unusual number. I have never seen but
one set of that number, and unfortunately
they were so far gone in incubation that I
could not save all. They are of an olive-
green color (that is what I should call the
color, though perhaps drab, with a slight
grayish shade would be nearer ; at any rate,
after once being seen they can always be
recognized, since they never resemble in
color the eggs of the Herons), without spots
or markings of any kind. They generally
measure from 1.90 by 1.50 to 2.00' by 1.50,
though occasionally an egg will be found
which is very nearly round.

Its food consists of various small aquatic
animals, such as crawfish, small snakes,
lizards, frogs, etc. It also eats insects. In
its ordinary movements the Bittern is slow
and awkward, but wiien engaged in catch-
ing its food, which it does by using its long
bill as a spear, it is veiy quick and skillful.

THE OOLOGIST

Its note resembles the noise made by driv-
ing a stake into the ground ; hence its name
in some sections, of " Stake-driver." The
note may be represented by the syllables :
"• chunk- a-hmk- chunk, quank." This note
is uttvred in the spring, during the breed-
ing season, and on calm, clear nights may
be heard a long way. At other times it is
a very silent bird, uttering when alarmed,
a single note like " quark."

They make their first appearance in the
north about the 15th of April, and by the
10th or 12th of May the eggs are laid and
incubation commenced.

'J'heir flesh is not highly esteemed as a
table luxury, and such is the prejudice a-
gainst it that I doubt if the ardent natural-
ist, desirous of testing its qualifications as
an article of food, would find it an easy
matter to persuade his wife or house-keep-
er to cook it for him.

The above remarks are based on obser-
vations made in the northern part of Illi-
nois.

(FIG. 2.)

The Curve - billed Thrush ( Har-

porhynchus curvirostris), its

Nest and Eggs.

BY. GEO. B. SENNET^T.

[Advance sheets of Notes of 1878 on the Ornithol-
ogy of the Lower Rio Grande.]

fTlHIS Thrush, by some called the Gray
Curve-bill, reaches into our southern
border from Mexico, and its limit within
the United States, so far as is known, is
confined to the valley of the lower Rio
Grande. Its nearest relative. Palmer's
Thrush (var. pahneri) and other curve-bill-
ed forms of the genus are found in the high-
er latitudes of New Mexico and Arizona.
The northern limit of this Thrush is not
fully determined, but it can only be consid-
ered common in southern Texas, and most
abundant between Fort Brown and Ring-
gold Barracks near the river. The great
alluvial deposits here produce berries and
insects in abundance for food ; and tangled

thickets as well as great prickly pear cac-
tuses for cover and breeding resorts. In
1877 1 collected from Hidalgo nearly down
to the mouth of the river. In the follow-
ing season I was for some weeks at a point
several miles above Hidalgo in the heart of
the greatest growth of timber to be found
on the river ; and it was here that I found
the Curve-billed Thrush more numerous
than ever before. In point of numbers it
nearly equaled the Mocking-bird and Long-
billed Thrush or Texas Thrasher. The
three species comprise all the varieties of
the family observed by me in that locality.

The Ciu've-billed Thrush in color nearly
resembles the JNIocking-bird ; and in the
bushes, where its longer tail and curved
bill are not readily distinguished, may be
taken for it at short range. This species
is usually more fond of dense cover than
the Mocking-bird, and while not often found
in the heaviest timber, yet will be found in
the thickets commonly on the margins of
such tracts. In open woodland, where
clumps of tall thorny bushes and cacti sur-
round the scattered trees, it will surely be
found, and probably in company with the
Long-billed Thrush.

I did not obtain many fresh plumagcd
specimens. By the first of April the plu-
mage becomes faded and much worn, and
by the latter part of May they commence
to moult. About this time also the small
black fruit or berry of the como tree, upon
which they feed, ripens, and it becomes al-
most impossible to shoot and prepare a spec-
imen without the plumage becoming stain-
ed with the purple juices. I brought home
from this trip five birds and forty sets of

In nesting, their habits vary to suit the
locality. In sections where the chaparral
covers the country, and where no respect-
able growth of timber is found, save now
and then in openings principally occupied
by cactus and scattering mezquite trees ;
their nests will be found in cactus, more
frequently perhaps, than in trees. But at
Somita Ranche I found five nests in trees
to one in the cactus.

THE OOLOGIST

75

For a bird so suspicious and wary they
are wouderfiiUy bold at times iu buildiujjj
nests and rearing young. In my Notes oC
1877 I mentioned a nest with four eggs ta-
ken from an outhouse in the center of a vil-
lage. At Somita Kanche, close by a large
and much frequented gateway, I took a nest
and four eggs in April of the following sea-
son. On May 20th 1 took a nest and three
fresh eggs, which I discovered some four-
teen feet high in a lai'ge ebony tree close
by the pathway on the edge of a coi-nlield.
These were the highest nests found, and in
both instances the birds wei'e as tame as
our Robins, and were watched for several
days before taking their treasures. Nests
are seldom found lower than four feet from
the ground.

On the last of May, the last nest I ex-
amined before leaving the ranche was a
very bulky one of this species in a small
tree close by the house. It was situated on
the lowest branch and close to tlie body of
the tree, entirely exposed to view and while
standing on a chair I examined the inte-
rior. It was just completed and ready for
the eggs but I did not disturb it. I saw
the pair construct the nest on the very same
place, where, a number of days before, I
had destroyed the nest of a Mocking-bird
after its young had departed. The last nest
was much larger than the first, and com-
posed, quite similarly, of thorny twigs,
and lined with a few grasses. I'his tame-
ucss is exceptional, but indicates that, were
the country thickly settled, this bird might
become as domestic as the Mocking-bird
or Robin.

It is resident where found, commences
to breed in March on the Rio Grande, and
rears several broods in a season. The first
brood is hatched in April and generally
numbers four. By the middle or latter
part of May clutches for the second brood
arc full and consist nearly always of throe

The eggs vary in shape from oblong oval
to almost pyriform ; the ends ai"e round-
pointed and the greatest diameter nearer
one end. The color is pea-green and cov-

ered more or less over the entire surface
with fine brown dots. Of the great series
of eggs taken by me only one set was com-
paratively free from spots. A set of over-
sized eggs taken May 24th average 1.25 by
.83. The general average is 1.12 by .79.
The shell is strong enough imless incuba-
tion is well advanced, iu which case it be-
comes so tender that it is almost impossible
to save a fair specimen. The color becomes
dull and faded when long sat upon, so that
their condition can generally be told with-
out haudlinjf.

(FIG. 3.)

Nest and Eggs of the Texas

Thrasher ( Harporhynchus

rufus van longirostris.)

rpmS species is a rather conmion resident
of lower Texas, and is seen most fre-
quently in the scrubby and overgrown coun-
try, the thickets being its usual haunts. In
its usual habits, it seems to be the counter-
part of the Brown Thrasher, although, ac-
cording to eminent authorities, it builds its
nest higher, while the eggs are somewhat
different. Dr. Merrill says that the nest
is a well built, substantial aflfair, resembling
that of the typical rufus. Mr. Sennett, hav-
ing found and examined several nests, states
that they are composed of stems and sticks,
and lined with grasses, Spanish moss, bark
or fine roots. 'I'he depth is from one to
two and one-half inches. " Of those taken,
the lowest was four feet from the ground
and the highest some eight feet, averaging.
I think, five and one-half feet. I found their
nests in a variety of places — j)rickly-pear
cactus, Spanish bayonet, chaparral, and
most commonly in the dense undergrowth
under the heavier timber. I saw no nest
of this bird iu an exposed position ' above
the upper branches.' Its usual position is
in the very heart of the tree or plant select-
ed, and, like most of the nests of this re-
gion, not capable of being detached from
the thorny bushes without falling to pieces."

76

TEE OOLOGIST

There is a great similarity between the nests
of this species, the Curve-bill and the Mock-
iug-bivd, and iu most cases they so closely
resemble each other in position, material,
etc., that it is not ordinarily easy to tell one
from another.

The eggs, four iu number — occasionally
five — are " marked very much like those of
H. 7-ufus, and are hardly distinguishable
from them. The typical egg has a ground
color of the faintest greenish-white, and is
finely speckled all over with brown, the
dotting being thickest at the larger end."
Dr. Merrill says that " the usual number
of eggs is three, often two, more rarely
four ; the ground color varies from green-
ish to reddish-white, more or less thickly
sprinkled with reddish and brownish dots
and spots. One set is sparingly covered
Avith lar<;e clouded blotches, <jivin<2; the eirsrs
an appearance unusual in this genus." To
show what variation there may be in eggs
of this species, although there is no remark-
able point of variation, the following from
Mr. Sennett's notes will add to the above :
" Several sets were obtained with the
ground-color yellowish-white, and so thick-
ly speckled as to have a general color of
ochre. One set is nearly pure white, speck-
led thickly only in the form of a wreath at
the larger end, otherwise very sparsely and
faintly marked. The shape is usually imi-
form, like all the Thrushes' ; but I have
one egg shaped exactly like a Quail's egg.
The largest egg was 1.12 by 0.84, and the
smallest 1.01 by 0.75. I'he average length
was 1.07 by 0.78."

The eggs of the Texas Thrasher or Long-
billed Thrush are not unkngwu in cabinets,
though until late years they were considered
rare. The nests are found rather abund-
antly in suitable localities.

One will be surprised sometimes at the
number of different species to be found nest-
ing in close proximity to one another in a
swamp or on marshy ground. Such re-
gions are generally the best for the collector.

(FIG. 4.)

Nesting of Accipiter fuscus.

T^HE Sharp-shinned Hawk, known local-
•^ ly as the "Pigeon Hawk," "Chicken
Hawk," etc., is rather abundant through-
out North America and is well known to
naturalists. Its numbers can generally be
estimated best in the spring of the year, just
before nesting season, when, at times, the
air seems to swarm with them, and many
are seen in the woods. They prefer wood-
ed and hilly country, being found iu the
heart of the deepest forests, sometimes fly-
ing about in the high trees, at others low
down, quite near the ground, where they
obtain large numbers of mice and small
birds. The hunter will frequently come
suddenly upon one silently perched on the
lower limbs of a tree in the depths of the
forest, wat(;hing for its prey. But they are
by no means uncommon in open country ;
every farmer's boy knows him and well,
for he is accustomed to fly over the mead-
ows at sunset in search of mii-e and moles.

The nest of this Hawk is placed in trees,
usually of the hard-wood species ; some-
times, according to Dr. Coues and others,
on rocks. It is built of sticks, in the man-
ner of other Hawks' nests, and lined with
a few feathers or rootlets ; in some cases
without any lining whatever. It is about
as large as a Crow's nest, but not so bulky
as those of its larger relatives, and is built
generally in accessible trees, often as low
as fifteen feet from the ground iu some por-
tions of the country, where '

" familiarity breeds contempt ;"
many nests being taken and destroyed by
boys ; but in its northern home, it selects
a position some twenty-five to forty feet
high. It nests during the latter part of A-
pril and the first week in May.

The eggs, four in number — frequently
five — are always easily recognized ; they
resemble nearest those of the Pigeon Hawk.
They are variable, so much so that one
specimen may be entirely free from spots,
while another may be almost totally covered

THE OOLOGIST

77

with them. They are certainly the hand-
somest of Hawks' eggs, the distribution and
appearance of the markings of some speci-
mens excelling Sparrow Hawks' eggs in
beauty. On a yellowish-, pale, or slightly
bluish-white ground color, are irregularly
scattered, usually at or about the large end,
in all the fantastical shapes imaginable,
blotches and spatters of various shades, a
single specimen frequently exhibiting three
or four tints, including yellowish, reddish
and blackish. A set of eggs will thus be
seen to present a good effect in the cabinet.
Kggs sometimes have few markings on
them, these in the form of dots and pale
spots, while occasionally a specimen will
be found without any markings whatever,
lu general, the eggs of this species may be
said to be splashed with a rich reddish-
brown. From an extensive series of eggs,
three specimens taken at random exhibit
the followinjr measurements : 1.39 by 1.10,
1.41 by 1.13 and i.44 by 1.14. The shape
is sphero-ellipsoidal, both ends being the
same ; some eggs are almost round. When
held toward the light, the inside of the shell
will be seen to have a greenish tint, like

A

Nesting of the Barred Owl (Syr-
nium nebulosum).

BY C. ALGER HAWES.

8 the nest of the above bird is very sel-
dom found in the vicinity of Boston,
the following account will, I think, prove
interesting to the readers of The Oologist.
On April 3rd, 1879, while collecting along
the banks of tlie Charles River, on the out-
skirts of the town of Wellesley, I was for-
tunate enough to find a nest of this species.
I was about to enter a very dense copse of
soft pine trees, when I observed a large
Owl fly into the woods about two gunshots
from me. Knowing that it was high time
for the nests of the Strigidce I began a care-
ful search, and after climbing to several old
squirrels' nests, and wasting ( ?) about
twenty minutes 1 at last found tlie nest.

It was built iu a soft pine tree, resting up-
on two branches, each about two inches in
diameter, and close against the trunk, about
forty-five feet from the ground. 1 ascend-
ed to the nest and found it to be an old
Crow's nest, repaired to suit the new ten-
ants, and as I thought, completed. The
hollow in the centre of the old nest was
filled in with small twigs and several pieces
of fresh evergreen. On the edges of the
nest were three of the feathers from the
side of the breast of S. iiehidonum^ which,
from the long stripe and fur-like appear-
ance were unmistakable ; and also on a
branch just under the nest was a primary
wing feather of this bird. Slightly disap-
pointed not to have been able to add the
globular treasures to my oological collec-
tion, I descended, with the idea of again
visiting the nest at an early date. 'J'wo
days alter, April 5th, I again ascended to
the nest, and this time had a fine view of
the bird as she flew off. The nest contain-
ed one egg, very large for the size of the
bird. I did not again visit the nest until
April 12th, and then found tliat the prolific
female had accommodated me with four
eggs. From all accounts of the nesting of
this bird that I have access to, all authors
agree that three eggs is the number usually
laid. Two were of the usual si/e, meas-
uring 2.02 by 1.62 and 2.04 by 1.64 ; the
third is somewhat larger and measures 2.09
by 1.70, while number four was the first
egg laid, doubtless, and measures 2.23 by
1.75. This day there were two fine sec-
ondary feathers on the edge of the nest, and
these identify the eggs beyond dispute. Af-
ter preparing the eggs (for to me, it seems
very dangerous to travel with unblown
eggs) I left the grove without disturbing
the nest, for I thought that the Owl might
lay a second time, and perhaps in the same
nest. Impressed with this- idea, I visited
the old nest on April 27th, but found it de-
serted and much impaired by the recent
rains and wind. As I walked on farther,
however, I observed what I supposed to be
an old squirrel's nest in the fork of a pine
tree, about thirty-five feet from the ground.

THE OOLOGIST

While I was watching it, off flew the Owl
that I was in search of. I climbed to the
nest, and found that the lower part certain-
I3' had once been occupied by a gray squir-
rel, but now simply forms a rest for the
nest of the Owl, which this time they had
built themselves of coarse sticks, roughly
placed together, and lined (I will call it a
lining) with smaller sticks and some leaves
of the pine. Tiiere were also several breast
feathers of S. nehulosum in the hollow of
the nest, whether placed there for lining
purposes or were simply the worn plumage
of the bird, pulled out by accident, I was
unable to determine. The nest contained
three eggs, of a very globular appearance,
yet not ditfering materially from the first set.
They average a trifle larger, measuring
2.06 by 1.65, 2.10 by 1.68 and 2.10 by
1.69. Had I a gun with me, I should
have shot the bird as it left the nest, for I
think there is no possibility of my being
able to send a postscript of au account of
the third laying of this pair of birds to The

OOLOGIST.

Since writing the above account, I again
visited the second nest referred to on May
3i'd, and found that in spite of her former
fruitless attempts to propagate the sub-fam-
ily SyrninxE, she had again laid three eggs,
not differing materially from the first two
sets.

Oblogical Notes for May.

I TOOK the first full set of Magpie's eggs
(7) April 12. H. W. Nash.

Puehlo^ Colo.

In my note book 1 find an entry under
the date of May 10th : Set of 10, Ruffed
Grouse, fresh ; same date, set of 11 eggs,
nearly fresh. Both nests were found on
the 4th of May, and each had 7 eggs. A-
bout a week ago [about April 26] a boy
told me that he had found a Partridge nest
with three eggs. C. iCrnest Knight.

Wiscasset, Maine.

The question as to whether Cow Birds
ever deposit their eggs in the nests of larger

birds is permantly settled, so far as I am
concerned. April 28th I saw a Robin's
nest finished, but empty ; to-day, May 5th,
I visited it again, and found the female sit-
ting on three of her own eggs and one Cow
Bird's Q^^. Rev. J. Walton.

Rochester, N. Y.

Set of 2 eggs Barred Owl, . March 15
4 Mottled Owl, . April 11

4 Blue Bird, 11

3 Red-should. Hawk, 11

4 Mottled Owl, 14

5 " " 16
4 " '' 16
4 " " 16
3 Red-should. Hawk, 26

Brooklyn, N. ¥. T. B. Stearns.

[Our correspondent is of the opinion that
the publication of brief memoranda as above
from all parts of the country will be of great
benefit to collectors. It is a good idea, and
we accordingly invite oologists to send such
notes for publication, with items concern-
ing any observation made in connection
with the discovery of nests and eggs, that
will be of interest. — Ed.]

The eggs of Swallows differ as much as
their modes of nesting. As might be ex-
pected from consideration of the slender-
bodied form of the birds, the eggs are rath-
er narrow, elongate, and pointed. In the
typical hole diggers, who retain their orig-
inal habits most tenaciously, the eggs are
pure white, as in the case of the Bank Swal-
low, and as the rule is with birds which,
like Owls, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and
many others, lay in holes. Many Swal-
lows' eggs, however, are colored, and, in
fact, profusely speckled with reddish and
brown shades. I presume, without the
slightest proof, but judging by reasonable
analogy, that Swallows' eggs were original-
ly or primitively white, and tliat they be-
came colored somewhat according to in-
creasing degree of exposure to which they
may have been subjected during the long
time in which the nesting habits of the
birds have undergone modification.

Coues : Birds of the Colorado Valley.

THE OOLOGIST

79

Last August collecting coleoptera I found
a Ground Robin's nest in a hazel bush about
three feet from the ground containing two
eggs ; incubation in the first stages. The
female flew oiF when I was within four feet
of the nest, and hopped about on the lower
limbs of the hazel. The nest was compos-
ed of weeds, &c., lined with round stems of
fine green grass. 1 also found a nest on
the 23rd of this mouth (May, '79). This
nest was situated in the side of a sloping
bank, a narrow passage running uuder the
dry grass and leaves tor two or three inch-
es, at the end of which it suddenly widen-
ed, and where lay on a bed of grass, four
egors of the Chewink, and two of the Cow
Bird, the group almost filling up the nest
to the top. The birds had evidently left
the nest, for the entrance was covered over
with a spider web ; the eggs were fresh.

. . Is it not an uncommon occurrence to
find eggs of the Cow Bird iu Crow Black-
birds' nests? Last spring a young collect-
or here found a nest containing five eggs of
the Crow Blackbird and one of the Cow
Bird. The latter was nearly covered up
with the lining of the nest.
Galesburg, Ills. C. W. Strumbekg

[As a general thing, the Cow Bird does
not deposit her eggs in larger birds' nests ;
but sometimes she is constrained to do so,
and in such cases the fear of possible disa-
greeable consequences is doubtless overbal-
anced by the necessity of ejecting the egg
at once, for when a selection can be made,
the smaller species are almost invariably
imposed upon. What we should like now
to ascertain, is, Avhether any collector has
found eggs of the Cow Bird on the ground,
as if dropped there by the burdened female.
Vide supra. — Ed.]

The Indigo Bird nests rather commonly
in the Middle and New England States.
About June 10th full sets of their eggs are
laid in the nest of fine straws, weed stalks,
rootlets and hairs. The nest is placed in
low bushes, from one to three feet above
the ground. Frequently it is fortified by
the thorns of raspberry bushes in which it

is placed. The outskirts of woods, espe-
cially on side-hills and where there is con-
siderable undergrowth, are the usual haunts
of the Indigo Bird, and furnish it the best
nesting places.

The eggs are clear, with the slightest
tinge of blue, and four in number. They
are of the size of Chipping Sparrows' eggs,
but not quite as pointed at the small end.

Nest and Eggs of the Chestnut-col-
lared Bunting. — Dr. Coues says of the
nesting of this bird : "The Chestnut-col-
lared Bunting breeds in profusion on the
plains of Northern Dakota. On the bare
plains, away from a single laud-mark, it
is perhaps the most abundant bird of all,
though Baird's Bunting and the Missouri
Sky-lark are not far behind in this respect.
The nest of the present species is placed on
the ground, effectually concealed beneath
some little tuft of grass ; it is a slight affair,
merely a few fine grasses and slender weed-
stems, for the most part circularly disposed,
and considerably hollowed. It measures
about three and one-half inches across out-
side, and more than half as much in depth ;
the bottom is very thin in comparison with
the brim, which is well defined. The eggs
are usually four in number, measuring
about four-fifths of an inch long by three-
fifths broad, and are not peculiar in shape.
They are grayish-white, more or less cloud-
ed, and mottled obscurely with pale pui-
plish-gray, which confers the prevailing
tone ; this is overlayed with numerous sur-
face-markings of points, scratches, and
small spots of dark brown, wholly indeter-
minate in distribution and number, but al-
ways conspicuous, being sharply displayed
upon the subdued ground color. When the
nest is approached, the female generally
walks quietly off, after a little flutter, thread-
ing her way through the grass till she is at
a safe distance, and then taking wing."

May 12, Broad- winged Hawk, 2 eggs
20, Carolina Rail, 4 eggs.

so

THE OOLOGIST

Tfte ©oroaist

FOUKTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

MAY, 1879.

I^'A NUMBER of subscriptions expire
with this issue of The 0(3logist. Those
Avhose subscriptions terminated immediate-
ly prior to this number have been informed
by postal card. Will they renew at once
and save the delay in adjusting our subscrip-
tion book?

1^ Arrangements have been made
whereby subscribers to the American Nat-
uralist may receive also this journal at
S4.00 per annum. This is an unusual of-
fer to naturalists, who should at once avail
themselves of it.

Our Plate. — As an experiment, per-
haps the plate which accompanies this num-
ber may be considered tolerably accurate.
So far as we are aware, this is the first in-
stance of bird egg illustration in colors pro-
duced by wood engravings in this country ;
and the defects which must of necessity
occur from an experiment in this field, con-
sidering the admitted ditHculty in properly
portraying the eggs of birds, are happily
fewer than were expected. The figures are
sufficiently correct to exhibit the typical pe-
culiarities of each egg, while the coloring
is sufficiently exact to represent the average
run of specimens, excepting it be that the
blotching on eggs of Accipiter fuscus is more
of a yellowish-red, or dirty red color.

A series of trials in this process of pro-
ducing figures of birds' eggs might, doubt-
less, be attended with excellent results ; and
they would vie with the best efit)rts of the
lithographer, for all the nicety of outline
and configuration of markings, may with
study, be obtained. As regards the present
plate, it is hoped that the defects will be
considered merely as those resulting from
experiment.

Attention is called to our prospectus in
another portion of this number. Oologists
are referred to this announcement as a state-
ment of what our journal proposes to ac-
complish, provided it receives their encour-
agement. If our readers will show this
number to their friends who collect birds'
eggs, they may succeed in arousing a deep-
er interest in this study, and thus imbue in
them a desire to promote the science thro'
our journal. Subscribe for it.

Copies of the plate may be obtained for
ten cents each or eighty cents per dozen,
postage paid.

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY OONSIDEEED.

IV. ON THE RELATION OF NID-
IFIGATION TO CERTAIN OTH-
ER HABITS OF BIRDS.

ANE of the most notable facts presented
^ to the ornithologist for study and phi-
losoj)hy, and which often serves as a key to
the character of a bird, is the great conform-
ity of its general habits with some one
prominent peculiarity. As in human be-
ings, a trait which is marked in one bird,
may be modified or wanting in another of
the same species, and whatever this trait
is, it points as a sort of index to the whole
demeanor of the individual. Prominent
and noted as are the peculiarities which dis-
tinguish one family, genus, or species from
another ; and closely as all the individuals
of a species are connected by a common

THE OOLOGIST

81

bond iu habits, no extensive series of birds
of the same species will be found to have
inherited the same and all the features of
their predecessors or companions ; there
will be some marked latent or obscure —
mental, as it were — quality which distin-
guishes the every movement of this bird
from that one. Authors have been profuse
in writing upon the ability of one bird to
build a beautiful nest ; while the sheer in-
ability or negligence of another of the same
species is manifest in the adjustment of ev-
ery straw. None the less true does it seem
in regard to the powers of singing possessed
by different individual birds ; and to the
unstudied person probably this fact, from
the opportunities afforded of noticing it, is
much the more evident. More than this,
is it not probable that the reasoning facul-
ties of one bii'd (for we most rigidly hold
that all the actions of birds are not instinct-
ive, any more than are those of the more
intelligent lower animals) in other depart-
ments— in selection, procuring of food, pro-
tection, etc. — whether the department be a
well known one or the converse, are more
decided than the same faculty or group of
faculties in another? The demeanor of
birds certainly does often bring out quali-
ties in quick succession, which we have nev-
er before noticed in others of the same kind,
and we can do no better than to put it down
to the credit of the author, that that partic-
vdar trait iu him is more largely developed
than in the generality of his fellows.

But isolated as one well developed trait
may be in some individuals, others will be
Ibuud possessing a goodly number, all pret-
ty prominent, and rather diversified ; while
another individual or class will lack one or
all of them. A bird may have little taste
in nest-building, and following out the ac-
cessory characteristics, we see negligence
in its every action. She places her nest in
the first location that is fit for a bird's nest ;
its construction occupies her attention seem-
ingly only casually, and she appears to be
half-hearted iu the task of putting the ma-
terials together. Days will elapse between
the justification of one mass of material and

another, when they could evidently be in-
corporated together to-day as well as to-
morrow. Close observation of the birds
shows them to be sitting about — not even
searching for material. This bird is inat-
tentive to her own eggs, and is away from
them during the pei'iod of incubation about
as many days in the aggregate as she is
upon them ; and when hatched, it will be
after the normal period of time required ;*
tlie young will receive little attention — be-
ing however usually well fed, but sometimes
unprotected, and this in cold, damp weath-
er quite as often as at other times. The
only satisfactory conclusion to be arrived
at to account for the finding of whole sets
of Bank Swallows' eggs unliatched and
spoiled, is that the parents must have been
negligent in caring for them. Observation
of various species during the breeding sea-
sou, has revealed the fact that frequently
the predominance of one peculiarity relating
to nesting is indicative of the cluiracter of
others ; and that where this one is strong, its
counterparts are likely to be strong also, as
in the instance of the bird above mentioned.
Birds naturally indifferent in their ordi-
nary habits, frequently exhibit indifference
in nest-building. We are often struck by
the taste displayed by a builder on one day,
while on the next we find a nest of the same
species quite shabby, not only in selection
of material, but the manner iu which it is
put together. There seems to be a perfect
coalescence of the constituent actions wliich
make iq) the carriage of some species with
their nesting habits, and tracing them out,
we note that one peculiarity in every posi-
tion in which we see the bird. A bird
careful in the construction of its nest is care-
ful of its young, and will endeavor to defend

* This has been observed a number of times in
late j'ears ; two cases have tlius far come to qui-
notice this year — botli Robins. In one case t\u:
pair, tliough oif the nest nearly half the time, sue
eeedecl iu rearing two young, having sat upon the
eggs sixteen days, two or three days over time. In
the other instance, the female did not give the care
whicK even some of the more inattentive species
would to the young, and it seemed indeed surpris-
ing that the young should have been able to sur-
vive the cold and rain to which they were exposed.

82

THE OOLOGIST

til em to tlie last in its own particular way.
This quality of carefulness seems to per-
\ ade the bird's whole being. We thus see
that the general character of a bird is often
determined by its demeanor in nest-build-
ing; and this is a fair criterion to judge
from, on account of the greater facility for
noticing differences, and better opportuni-
ties for observing numbers of cases which
to compare together. So when we observe
;in instance of largely developed instinct,
which seems almost reason, in the selection
of a nesting place offering the best conceal-
ment, we see also the tendency of the birds
to place reliance in it, since they will not
leave it till the last moment, when discov-
ery is almost certain; then, in the same
occult manner, they glide off and away,
while to perfect the situation many species
utter no sound whatever. To follow this
out, it is unnecessary to state that as a gen-
(^•al thing, birds which are themselves the
most conspicuous build their nests and have
th.e approaches to them in exposed situa-
tions. One of a nestfull of birdliugs will
leave home sooner than another, and will
(■at and become domesticated long before
its companions ; its whole development, in
fact, is more rapid.

Of course there are reverse instances : it
is absurd to say that because a bird may
l)e able to sing better than his fellows, that
he can build a better nest, or vice versa.
Or a bird may construct a poor nest, but
be attentive to the eggs and young — shift-
lessuess in nest-building is so marked a
trait in some birds, that did their other ac-
tions entirely correspond with it, there
would indeed be material for theorists and
philosophers which would fill a volume.
Nor can it be said that a connected train
of characteristics, chiming together, as we
have observed, will hold good in any ex-
tended series of cases — it is not as good as
a rule. Birds appai'ently negligent of their
eggs are often known to be greatly attach-
ed to their young. As above remarked,
however, a broad application of the subject
is in the case of marked development of the
faculties as a whole, as opposed to natural

weakness or stupidity. The comparing of
cases wherein points illustrative of Avhat
has been said may tend to show the collect-
or much of importance relating to the inter-
nal or inside liistory of birds ; and many
curious anomalies and incongruities will
present themselves, which grow more inter-
esting as one's study in this field is en-
larjred.

A Day's Spring Collecting.

BY FRED. J. DAVIS.

fN the spring of 1874, we were engag-
ed collecting the birds of New York
state for a prominent educational in-
stitution,* and a page or two from my note
book at that time may be of interest as
showing the variety of birds which are of-
ten congregated within a comparatively
small district.

In the early morning of the 'iOtii of May,
after a lovely drive in the cool air we ar-
rived at our destination. About four miles
from the city we heard and saw tlie Orioles,
/. haJtimore^ among the elms and the little
Yellow Warbler, Dendroeca cestiva., flitting
by the roadside, while the Crows croaked
their satisfaction in the newly })lanted corn
field ; these and their surroundings tended
to make up an ideal picture of country life.
But not until we reached the woods did we
see our feathered friends in all their prodi-
gal abundance. The place we had chosen
for our day's campaign against the harm-
less beauties was a hill, covered with fine,
large old trees, while once tlie top was a
small cedar swamp and at tlie foot a swampy
grove of second growth extending its entire
length — about two miles. After seeing
our horse comfortably in the farnner's barn,
we walked up through the orchards and
fields, where the Bobolink and Meadow
Lark made the air melodious and the Spar-
row Hawk sat like a sentinel on the old
elm, in which his mate was sitting on her
nest. We soon reached the woods, and

*Hamilton College.

THE OOLOGIST

83

here a perfect Babel of music greeted our
ears. The loud " teacher " of the Golden-
crowned Thrush, and the clear song of the
Indigo Bird could be distinguished ; higher
up ou the hill we heard the loud song of
tlie Rose-breasted Grosbeak, — not one but
a dozen or more. Nearer the outskirts, like
a gleam of fire among the trees, sat a Scar-
let Tanager ; in the trees we heard the
plaintive note of the Wood Pewee ; flitting
liere and there in the tree-tops and in the
bushes were a great variety of wood War-
blers. Everywhere we turned we could
see the bright colors and hear the clear
songs of some feathered treasure, and we
spent the day wandering along the hill, shoot-
ing the birds here and there as we needed
them, or sitting on some mossy bank list-
ening to the beautiful and varied songs.
We flushed the Ruffed Grouse from her
smoothly lined nest wherein lay twelve
eggs, winch we left that we might enjoy
the shooting in the fall. We frightened
the Crow off her nest in several instances,
and the Grass Finch and Song Sparrow
from theirs in the clearing. And thus we
wandered until late in the afternoon, when
we brought up at our starting place.

Here we reviewed the result of our ram-
ble. Carefully unwrapping the birds, we
laid them down beside one another, and
found we had the following species : Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, Guiraca ludoviciana ;
Scarlet Tanager, Fyranga rubra ; Canada
Flycatcher, Myiodiodes canadensis ; Black-
buruian Warbler, Dendroeca blackburniw ;
Black-throated Green Warbler, D. virens ;
Black-tliroated Blue Warbler, D. canaden-
sis ; Yellow-rumped, D. coronata ; Mourn-
ing, Geothlypis j^hiladelphia ; Black-poll,
D. striata ; and Chestnut-sided Warblers,
D. pennsylvanica ; Redstart, Setophaga
ruticilla ; Black-and-White Creeper, Mni-
otilta varia ; Golden-crowned Tlirush, Siu-
rus auricajjillus ; Wood Thrush, Turdus
vMstelinus ; Nashville, Hehninthophaga ru-
ficapilla ; and Blue Warblers, D. ccerulea,
besides many commoner species. We saw
some varieties which we did not shoot, not
needinjr them. Of some of the birds men-

tioned we had several specimens.

Putting our horse to the buggy we rode
home in the light of the setting sun, much
fatigued though well satisfied with our day's
ramble. This is only one of many pleas-
ant days I have spent in this way, but
never have I found the birds so plentiful as
ou that bright spring day of 1874.

The Caracara Eagle. — This bird,
known as Audubon's Caracara, inhabits
the middle portions of America from Cuba,
whence its place southward is taken by the
true Caracara, to the sojithern portions of
the United States, extending along their
border from Mexico to Florida. Its union
with its more southern ally, of which itself,
according to the best authors, is merely a
variety, may be said to be in Central Amer-
ica. The specimens of eggs in possession
of various naturalists seem to confirm the
belief in two distinct forms, though author-
ities have hitherto considered the existence
of but one species. The Caracara is nei-
ther an Eagle or a Vulture, and yet is both ;
its structure and much of its outward ap-
pearance claim a place for it among the
Falconidce ; while its sluggish, undeter-
mined, negligent mien, together with its
propensity for feeding upon carrion an<l
gorging itself until scarcely able to move,
brand it as but little if any superior to the
Vultures in these respects. Its habits are
interesting because they show so many con-
flicting traits ; — while one must readily ad-
mit the indolent bearing, combined with
two or three marked external features as
typical of the Vulture, there is still some-
thing in its appearance which shows it to
be not entirely the scavenger a Buzzard is
— a combination of features which have
suggested the name of Vulture-eagle. Ac-
cording to Darwin, however, this bird of-
ten shows activity, being sometimes quite
fierce, and certainly the aspect of the head
and form of the beak indicate aquiline fea-
tures which are hard to overlook in spite
of its ignoble habits.

84

THE OOLOGIST

General Items.

— M. A. BouCARD, who has spent five
months studying the ornithology of Costa
Rica, collected 250 species of birds, many
of which are new to science, and many oth-
ers are of rare occurrence. . . . The late
English Arctic Expedition collected sixteen
species of birds on the shores of the Polar
Basin, and north of 82^ North Latitude.

Chicago Tribune.

— Professor Duges, of Mexico, in a
recent letter to the Smithsonian Institution,
speaking of the enormous numbers of the
common Cow Bird, or 3Ioluthrus pecoris,
in his neighborhood, refers to a certain
flight supposed to have been 12,000 yards
iu length, six yards wide, and probably
over a yard deep, and estimates the num-
ber contained in it to be from nine to ten
millions. A flock of one or two thousand
of these bix'ds is very common, generally
mixed with the Xanthornus icterocephalus.,
and to some extent with the Red-winged
Blackbird. JETarper's Weekly.

— Early in the morning, if the collector
will take his position near the foot of a tall,
decayed tree, and imitate the notes of dis-
tress of a young bird, if the locality is of
the right kind, the decoy will generally suc-
ceed iu bringing about birds of prey, who
will naturally alight for a moment upon
the top of the tree, which the collector must
keep covered with his gun. In this way
good specimens may be procured without
much difficulty, whose capture by other
methods might be impossible. We have
tried this method with great advantage, for
some species is pretty sure to be allured by
it, if within hearing distance. The same
decoy may be used with success in discov-
ering the whereabouts of small species, and
in calling to one those which might be pur-
sued for hours without being secured. The
more excruciating the imitation, of course
the more potent will it be in alluring little
birds. Spring and summer are the times
when such stratagems may be most suc-
cessfully employed.

— The science department of the Chica-
go Tribune is edited by W. H. Ballou,
whose name will be recognized in connec-
tion with this journal.

Jtcccut JhxbU cations

AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

A new journal iu the scientific field is the
Meteorologist., a small 8vo monthly devoted
to the subject of meteorology. • Its object
is a good one, since it should encourage ob-
servation on the part of young scientists
throughout the country. It might be print-
ed better.

Familiar Science still continues to con-
tain fresh things about the birds. Dr. Wm.
Wood's series of papers on the Birds of
Connecticut appear in each number.

Science Observer., of Boston, conducted
by the Boston Scientific Society, though not
an ornithological publication, merits notice
as a contribution to the scientific serials of
the day. Its subjects of discussion are al-
most wholly astronomical.

The Birds of Neiv York, by C. Hart
INIerriam, M. U. — The great want of an
authentic work upon the birds of New York,
and the abundance of material which has
accumulated since the publication of De-
Kay's state work, have called upon Dr.
Merriam to bring together the existing his-
tory of the birds into as exhaustive a treat-
ise as possible. He has had ample means
of procuring the desired information respect-
ing the habits of little known species, and
proposes to discuss minutely the general
habits, nests, eggs, and descriptions of each
species. This work will be important be-
cause it will contribute another to the series
of local ornithologies, and also because it
will be thorough. Dr. Merriam states that
it will require three years to complete the
work. Collectors living in this state or in
localities contiguous to it are invited to cor-
respond with the author, and to furnish
notes upon the eggs and breeding habits of
as many species as possible.

SlogisLl^i

/ rT Vol. IV.

Parasitic Birds.

i;y t. m. hhrwkh.

J HAVE recently received i'roin a tiieiul
some Eaft ludiau eggs. Amougtliese
was the loug desired egg of the Eu-
(li/nann/H orientalin. This bird is a large
Cuckoo, and, like all the Cuckoo tribe of
the Old World, imposes its eggs upon oth-
er birds not of its owu kiud. It is an in-
teresting fact that many of the Asiatic Cuck-
oos not only lay tlieir eggs in other birds'
nests, but select, in so doing, the nest of
some bird of whose eggs its own are in close
imitation. Thus the egg I have received
of the Kii<iytiainiis is like a small Crow's
i-gg. ami this egg is always laid in the nest
of the common Indian Crow, Corvus spleii-
(h'nu. Their eggs are about one third small-
<M- than the Crow's egg and are more oval.
The eggs of the Crow always come to grief,
the Cuckoo's oidy being hatched. It is
supposed the (Juckoo punctures them when
she lays her own.

Another species of Euihjnatyiys always
lays its eggs in the nests of the Corvua cul-
iiiiiialus. This species is the E. honorata.,
the Coel of Western India. It always de-
sti-oys the Crow's eggs, and its own only
are luitched and brought up by the pool',
<heated Crow. Its eggs are exactly like
the Crow's egg in color and markings.

The Cuculus himalayimsDi lays eggs just
like those of a Shrike and always drops its
eggs in the nests of Lanias erythronolus.
These are also Indian birds.

Some of the habits of these Cuckoos are
very curious. Thus the (Jundus driatus
lays its eggs in the nests of the Laughing
Thrush, Trocalopteron liniatHni. The eggs
are so much alike that the Thrush is at first
(■heated and sits upon them. But as soon

JUNE, 1879.

^

No. II.

as they ai'e hatched out the foster mothei-
finds out the fraud, and abandons the young
Cuckoos to their ftite. Then their own
mother thinks it time to interpose, ami
comes in and takes care of her children un-
til they can shift for themselves. A veiy
interesting story might be made by one on
the spot, of the remarkable habits of these
Cuckoos who lay eggs imitating those of
some other bird. If Mr. Hume ever pub-
lishes his long promised work on Indian
Birds, his accounts of the Indian Cuckoos
will be well worth reading, as he has made
their habits a matter of close observation.

Nest and Eggs ok Empidonax tkailii.
— A nest of this species, found on the 21st
of June was placed in a small bush, two or
three feet above the ground, on the border
of a deep swamp. It contained three jaggs.
which had not been sat upon.

The nest was much like an Indigo Bird's,
(composed wholly of dry grasses, neither
deep nor shallow, and rather strongly de-
posited in a fork formed by three twigs. Ir
was well calculated to escape observation :
while to perfect the obs(!urity of its owner-
ship, the bird, like a swamp Warbler, glided
noiselessly off through the bushes, close to
the ground. The female was exceedingly
shy.

The eggs were white, ovoidal, as large
as those of the Phoebe, and marked sparse-
ly on tlie large end with clear i-ed spots,
not large enough to be called blotches. Be-
fore being blown, they received a slighr
rosy tint from the yolk.

This species inhabits the swampy por-
tions of the country, resembling the Yel-
low-bellied Flycatcher in this respect. The
male is very active, though not vociferous.

86

THE OOLOGIST

uttering a short note similar to that of the
Wood Pewee. Its appeurunee is such as
to readily coutbuTid it with the two or three
conimoner species, unless a close compari-
son is made.

Nest and Eggs of the Blue -gray
Gnatcatcher.*

^pillS little sylph of the woodland wau-
<lers southwardly across the continent,
on the Pacific coast reaching northward to
latitude 42'^, on the Atlantic slope to south- [
ern New England, and in the interior north-
ward to Iowa and central Michigan ; south-
ward it ranges to Central Ainerica and the
West Indies, breeding throughout all this
area. Reaching the Middle States rather
early in the season it quickly mates and se-
lects a site for its exquisite liome. This is
usually among the twigs on a horizontal
branch of a forest tree, from ten to sixty
feet above the ground, — preferably the lat-
ter height. The nest-building is begun in
Texas about April 10 ; in the Ohio valley
early in May. In West V'irginia, where
they were abundant, 1 found them working
at it on May 8, both parents seeming very
busy'; in Michigan, eggs are taken about
June 10.

The nest is very elaborately constrncted,
with thick, warm walls of soft materials,
which, although slight and perishable, like
very fine, wiry grass, husks of buds, stems
of old leaves, withered blossoms, down from
milk-weed pods and the stalks of ferns,
are strong and elastic. It is two inches or
more deep, and the top nan-ower than the
base, as though the rim had been "puck-
ered to prevent the eggs being rocked out
by some too-rude breeze." The outside is
artfully made to reseml)le tlie limb upon
which the nest is saddled, and so guard a-
gaiust observation, by being coated with
yellow, greeu and gray wood-lichens, firm-
ly pressed into the walls and further kept
in place by a netrwork of gossamer. The

lining is of yellow and white plant-down,
lichens "and horse-hair, often the last alone,
or sometimes downy feathers, the quills of
which are skiliully thrust into the wall of
the nest, so that only the soft tips can be
felt. Being no lai-ger than a tea-cup, and
looking precisely like a scar on the limb,
this nest is not an easy one to find ; but its
perfection costs the birds a full week of la-
bor. The eggs are four to six in number,
shortly oval in form, somewhat pointed ;
white in color, spotted and blotched with
varying and blending shades of reddish
brown, lilac and slate. The egg varies
greatly in the amount of speckling, which,
however, ispretty evenly distributed. Blown
specimens are frequently faint bluish- or
greenish-white. Their average dimensions
are .58 by .48. These Flycatchers are said
to sil fourteen days, but do not rear more
than one brood each season if their nest is
undisturbed. Mr. Ragsdale notes that half
the nests lie has met with in Cooke Coun-
ty, Texas, where the bird is abundant, are
destroyed before completion, most of them
being totally obliterated. He attributes this
to the battles which take j)lace between the
PMycatchers and some intrusive Cow-bird,
in the coui-se of which the fragile structure
is demolished. It is certain that this nest
is a favorite hospice tor the Cow-bird's egg.

*Ingersoll's "Nests ami Eggs of A
I'.ir.ls," Part IL, p. 41.

merican

A srNUL'LAK oological fact came to our
notice some years ago, which deserves to
be recorded among those occurrences which
collectors are now and then brought into
contact with, but find difticult to account
for. In the steep bank of a gully east of
Utica. we found a hole — large enough to be
a Kingfisher's. After due labor, the nest
proper was reached, and an egg of the al-
cyov taken out. The next time, instead of
a Kingfisher's egg, two or three of Bank
Swallow's were removed, and when the nest
was entirely emptied, five eggs each of the
two above species were counted, all lying
together in the same nest. The birds were
not in si'rht.

TEE OOLOGIST

Oblogical Notes for June.

On the 24th of May, hearing that the
Blue Hcrous had a ucstiug ph\ce about
twenty miles from here, we set out to ob-
taiu some of their eggs, aud alter a long
drive over a muddy road we reached the
swamp at 1 : 00 p. m. We found the nests
in tall dead tamaracks, usually about sixty
feet from tlie ground. JMany of the trees
were not safe to climb, as they were not
more than three or four inches in diameter
where the nests were. Still we secured four
full sets of four eggs each and also four old
birds. We were rather late as most of the
eggs were nearly ready to hatch.

Jasper, in his birds of N. A. says that
the Blue Heron lays two or three eggs —
not more than three. We found four in
each nest examined, and two nests of yoiaig
contained live each. German boys living
near the swamp say they lay five or six
eggs to each nest. Del<xs Match.

Fond da La<\ Wis.

[Let us hear from you in regard to the
nesting of the Black Tern. — Ei>.]

TiiK question as to whether the Ruffed
Grouse will propagate in conliuemeut seems
to be affn-matively determined by Mr. M.
W. Clark of Maine, who, in a communica-
tion to Forest and Stream.! states that lie
has a male and two female Grouse, that
the two latter have made nests and up to
his writing laid one and two eggs respect-
ively. The result is eagerly awaited.

Fourteen eggs were found in a Black-
capped Chickadee's nest on the 8th of this
month by two collectors in Utica. Con-
sidering the usual size of sets of this bird's
eggs, this seems to overstep the usual bound-
aries in point of mmiber. It may be pos-
sible, though it does not seem prolnible, that
(wo j)airs of birds occupied the same nest,
which, by the way, is a pretty and well built
affair. The eggs are so placed that the
wonder is how the undermost ones could be
heated in incubation, the nest being rather
deep and narrow.

We have since learned that eisrht of the

eggs of the above large set were addled,
which renders a different aspect tc the cir-
cumstance, and one which our rcsxlers will
probably be able to account for tlu niselves.

Two weeks ago I secured the eggs of the
Broad-winged Hawk ; there were three eggs
in the nest, two of which were covered with
the usual blotches, while the third was of a
uniform light color. Is it generally the
case that eggs vary so much in color? . . .
Also found a Crow's nest with six (6) egcs.
Milford, N. H. J. O. TiLTON.

[Our observations fully convince us that
there is no strict rule for the coloration of
eggs of B. pennsylvartlacus . Blotched and
inmiaculate specimens nva frequently found
in the same nest. — Ed.]

This morning (June 23) I found a Yel-
low-shafted Flicker's nest containing six
eggs, two of which were of an uncommonly
large size. They wei'e so far advanced in
incubation that 1 was unable to blow them.
I therefore broke one open, and to my sur-
prise it contained tivo young birds instead
of one, both alive and in good condition. I
also broke the other, which contained but
one. C. W. Strumbek(;.

Galeshurg, III.
I [A man exhibited a basket of twenty-
one chickens in this city recently, stoutly
: claiming that they were hatched from six-
, teen eggs. At first thought, this appears
quite improbable, but there are many wh(»
have found double-yolked eggs in hens'
nests, and if the germ is perfect, there is
no reason why, cceteris paribus^ they should
not develop as many chickens ; but such
[ anomalies are usually short lived. ( )ur (;or-
I respondents should preserve such cuiiosities
I in alcohol. — Ed.]

I From reports of collectors, it may be iu-
' ferred that the season just past has been
somewhat remai'kable for its brevity. The
birds seemed to arrive and nest later than
in previous years, but nevertheless they nest-
ed nearly imiformly in regard to date, ear-
I ly and late species very close together. The
i Yellow Bird yet remains to nest and rear
' its young.

88

THE OOLOGIST

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY CONSIDEEED.

V. THE PROXIMITY OF A NEST

INDICATED BY THE DEMEANOR

OF THE PARENTS.

Tfse ©ytoyist

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

JUNE, 1879.

We desire to direct the attention of col-
lectors of birds' eggs and all who are study-
ing the natural sciences, to the announce-
ment of Professor Ward in this number.
His series of obje(!ts in nature, made up
with care, for cabinet and educational pur-
poses, are probably the most complete of
auv furnished in this country, and embrace
a large number of species from all parts of
the irlobe.

Can those who publish articles taken
from tlie columns of The Oologist not
give credit when this is done? We are
surprised to see not only quotations, but en-
tire articles in other journals and publica-
tions, taken from this paper and published
as if original with them. Perhaps this may
not be inapplicable to a few of the latt st au-
thoritative ornithological works.

OoLOGiOAL notes are mostly made up for
the season. Cannot collectors favor us
with their items? They will prove valua-
l)le to those who live in remote parts of the
country, and have no other means of com-
paring notes.

Copies of the May number with the
plate may be ol>tained in New York of the
Am. News Company, or at the office of the
American Atjriailturist.

T^XPERIENCE is an important factor in
the education of an oologist — in fact,
one cannot be called a naturalist until he
has mastered those parts of a science whicli,
in practical language, are beyond the gen-
eral scrutiny of avei'age mankind. In the
study of birds' eggs, especially, one should
possess considerable experience — knowl-
edge of the birds themselves — of ornitholo-
gy, to pursue the study profitably. Hence,
it is seen that in the minute details which
the student nmst ever keep in view, person-
al experience is an aid which no literary
inculcation in this direction can supercede.
Anyone can describe what he has seen a
bird perfoi'm, or measure and name an egg
when he has the parent before him ; but
when called upon to make deductions and
apply the result to future use in the study,
it is evident that some knowledge of bird
nature is required. That a llobin is build-
ing a nest is manifest when she is observed
with straws in her beak ; how long it will
take her to build it, lay her eggs and rear
her young, requires patient observation to
determine. Moreover, if one is able to
predict with tolerable accuracy the position
of the nest, from certain unanticipated or
uncalled-for demeanor on the pai't of the
parents, lie has, at least, the qualification
of being a studious observer.

In a previous paper,* it has been observ-
ed that many birds demean themselves o-
penly in sucli a manner as to give an im-
portant clew to the whereabouts of the nest ;
but the circumstances in the present case
are very ditlerent. In the article just quot-
ed, mention was made only of those actions
elicited or provoked hy anticipation of dan-
ger ; but in the present connection, we have
to deal with those little studied and seem-
ingly commonplace, though often siguificant

i *Page 44, Number 6, for January, 1879.

TEE OOLOGIST

89

exhil)itious of couduct, which surely mean
much more thau th(!y seem to at first tlio't.
These little displays are, however, very de-
ceptive at times, siuce birds freciueatly uot
only dissemble those actions which would
indicate the proximity of the nest, but on
the contrary, impress the observer very
strongly that there is one, by little move-
ments which he is almost positive could
mean nothing else. As in the study of oth-
er l)ird-traits, the observer has many difii-
cult puzzles to solve, so these are difficulties
in which the greatest experience sometimes
avails little or nothing. There nevertheless
seem to be a few general principles which
experience teaches, that go a long way in
solving intricate bird-problems : a species'
or group of birds are found by the ofilogist,
to have a way of displaying those actions
which might be indicative of the position
or the nearness of tiie nest on all occasions,
and he must treat the circumstance accord-
ing to the principle which he thinks is the
most satisfactory explanation ; while, on the
other hand, he has ascertained that certain
other species are ever reticent and inactive.
But the truth is, one cannot depend upon
"•general principles" beyond a certain point.
A Hawk sits placidly upon a limb near its
nest for some time, which means to the un-
observed collector that there is a nest close
by, and if successful, the next time his
search for a quiescent Hawk as an indica-
tion of a nest, may Vje vmrewarded ; while
he disregards the circling bird but few feet
above the tops of the trees. This is not to
be understood an actual case, but simply in
illustration of the position here described.
I Not many weeks ago, while awaiting the
return of the owner of a nest whose identi-
ty was doubtful, we Were, meanwhile, in-
terested in the maneuvers of a Flycatcher
a few rods away. He caught flying in-
sects, and invariubly alit within a radius of
tour or five rods, often flitting quite close
to the nest and perching on the topmost
sprays of the adjoining bushes. This de-
meanor seemed in itself to have little or no
significance, and at first little attention was
given it, especially since it was believed the

nest belonged to a different species ; but the
bird continuing to remain within the area,
and very frequently alighting within a few
feet of the nest, aroused the suspicion tiiat
he was one of the parents, which was short-
ly verified by the return of the female.
There is something in the manner of the
Sandpiper and Plover tribes, which, having
once been observed, form a pretty accurate
guide to the presence of eggs or young.
The almost proverbial anxiety ever display-
ed by these birds, when an intruder is es-
pied too close to the little home, is so nat-
ural with them, that almost their every
movement during breeding season betrays
the proximity of the nest. A collector
coming unobserved upon a Sandpiper, can
hardly fail to note how carefully she exam-
ines the surrounding objects before proceed-
ing to the nest : the very aspect of the bird
indicates the presence of eggs or young.

A large class of birds, by their songs,
taken in connection with other circimi-
stances, unconsciously disclose to the col-
lector the fact that tliey have a nest, and
not far a way. Tliese birds are wont to
perch upon some eminence — tree, bush or
rock — almost invariably in the same posi-
tion during the time the female is upon the
nest, whence, in the intervals between their
melodies, they occasionally flit about in the
immediate vicinity of the nest, thus indi-
cating, though in a remote and somewhat
uncertain manner, that the female is sitting
upon her nest in ch)se proximity. The stol-
id aspect of some species, the Cedar Bird,
King Bird and Sparrow Hawk, for exam-
ple, perched for a considerable length of
time and often, upon a tree, is usually a,
sign that there is a nest in its branches ;
the Cedar Bird, especially, is one whose
appearance in the top of an apple-tree dur-
ing nesting season, may be regarded as fa-
vorable to the finding of a nest not many
yards away. Other instances might be
mentioned to show the force of the present
subject, all tending to verify the statement
that the position of the nests of some bii'ds
is frequently discovered to the oologist by
certain of those little characteristics which

90

THE OOLOGIST

only a naturalist knows how to interpretate.

Studies on Certain Fringillidae. —
The Black Snow Bird.

A MONG the numerous winter visitants
to the United States, the Snow Bird,
Junvo hijemalis, is one of the most abund-
ant. It appears in cultivated districts of
the Middle and New England States about
the first of September, in company with
Sparrows of various species, and also fre-
(juently with Kinglets and Warblers. Its
habits are not imlike those of most fringil-
!ine birds, while its plumage is nearly al-
ways a distinguishing feature. In breed-
ing season the female is quite drab allover,
the distinction between the darker upper
parts and the light under parts being, in
>ome cases, almost imjjerceptible a few rods
away, iu which case the whitish beak and
Sparrow-iike twitter readily distinguish it.
It is never shy, penetreting into tlie hearts
iif cities in quest of food iu severe winters,
and alighting on windowsills aud door steps ;
it is the same bird, both in its breed-
ing grounds and during its winter visits.
Its care of the young is noticeable for the
/ealousness with which they are guarded,
the least approach to the sacred spot being
greeted with chipperings aud quickly re-
peated notes, which express genuine solici-
tude, while the parents hop excitedly from
one spriti to another and peer down through
the leaves iu an entreating attitude.

Janro hyemalis nests regularly in the
wooded and hilly portions of the Northern
States, as far south as the 43rd Parallel.
It is common throughout the Adiroudacks
in nesting season, and may be seen there
in any favorable situation. We have found
it especially abundant near the edge of the
Great Woods, where both old and young
were abundant. They seemed to prefer
the bushy and scrubby portions of the for-
est, and were met with even in the densest
regions, where many young were seen. It
probably nests in these secluded retreats,
and if oui' experience may go toward shdw-

ing its fondness for any particular locality,
we should look for their nests in the deep
woods rather than in open, treeless places.
The parents and young remain about the
breeding ground until it is time to flock,
when, the adults having acquired a new
phmiage and the young attained full feath-
er, they gather together and commence the
journey southward. They ramble about
from field to field in an uncertain manner,
visiting one place perhaps but for a mo-
ment, when they are off to another, where
they may remain for weeks. Their ap-
pearance in open districts is an indication
of cold weather, and if early, of the searing
of the fields and coloring of the leaves.

These birds migrate iu flocks of from a
few to a hundred or more individuals. Their
habits at this time are mainly terrestrial,
a great change from those of its nesting
grounds, where it occupies the trees and
saplings, often at considerable elevation.
It is mainly a grain eater, and like its con-
geners, will eat apple and otlier fruit blos-
soms when obtainable. It is very fond of
crumbs, and will often remain about the
garden throughout the winter if well fed.
It undoubtedly destroys many insects dur-
ing the breeding season. It is commonly
seen about spruce and hemlock trees, where
it doubtless obtains seeds and insects. When
suddenly surprised the Snow Bird litters a
twitter and flies hurriedly up, alighting a
few rods distant,. whence its further flight
is proclaimed by another quickly uttered
twitter. It may often be seen on the se-
verest days of winter, like the Snow Bunt-
ing, feeding in the roadway or on the bare
spots in meadows and pastures. It is a
quiet bird, always agreeable, aud seldom
quarrels with its own or other species.

CoLLKCTOits report not only good success
from oological rambles, but that the rarity
of specimens taken in various places, has
been such as to add greatly to the value of
the year's collection of skins. Quality has
seemed to rule.

THE OOLOOIST

91

On Changes of Habit among

Woodpeckers.* i

BY SAMUEL CALVIN. ]

I

TT has loug been kaowu to uaturalists that
-*■ certain genera of Woodpeckers have
wholly or partly adopted habits quite incon-
sistent with those generally suggested when
we think of the group.

Within the past two or throe years 1 have
frequently had the pleasure of observing the
Red-headed Woodpecker in tlie act of catch-
ing flies on the wiug. Seating itself on the
summit — not on the side — of some fence-
stake or other elevated perch, it watches,
as does the King Bird, for passing insects. ;
Having singled out the desired victim from
among many not worth catching, it darts
forward, catches it, and returns, usually to
the same perch, to wait for the next. This \
any one may see repeated over and over a-
gain by the same individual, showing that
it is no mere chance departure from Wood-
])eckeriau dignity into which the bird is in-
advertently betrayed, but is rather one of
the ordinary and settled practices resorted
to in procuring tbod.

The movements in the air of this Wood-
pecker are very similar to those of the King
Bird ; it executes the gyrations and pecul-
iar gymnastics necessary to follow the dodg-
ing insect with great adroitness.

What is the meaning of all this? The
barbed tongue, stout, straight bill, muscu-
lar neck, and structural adaptations for
climbing, all point tu a different mode of
life. None of them, certaiidy, cau be re-
garded as rendering the bird any special fit-
ness for fly-catching. It must be that the
struggle for life among bark-searching birds
has i-ecently — within the past two or three
geological epochs — become more severe, so
much so as to drive some of them to the a-
doption of other habits, quite regardless of
structural fitness. The Golden - winged
Woodpecker { Colaptes atiratus), as all
know, has been driven from the trees to feed
laigely on the ground. Its near relative

*American Naturalist, Vol. XI., No. 8, p. 471.

(Colaptes campestris), of some parts of
South America, frequents open plains, and.
according to the testimony of competent ob-
servers, is never seen on trees at all.

As bearing upon these changes of habit,
and perhaps furnishing a suggestion in part
of their compelling cause, it is interesting to
note that quite a number of the perching
birds have settled into the questionable hab-
it of systematically poaching upon the spe-
cial domain of the Woodpecker. Among
the Warblers, even, we have in Iowa the
Black-and-white Creeper {Mniotilta varia)^
that excels most Woodpeckers in ability to
scramble over and thoroughly search tlu'
bark of a tree. The whole family of Creep-
ers, the Certhias, — represented with us by
the little Brown Creeper, ( Certhia/amilia-
r/s), — is also able to compete successfully
with Woodpeckers on their own ground.
But perhaps the most expert of all the perch-
ers that have taken to clambering over trees
are the Nuthatches. A very common one is
the Sitfa carolinensis, which may be seen al-
most any day on trees in om* streets an<l
door-yards. Its nervous and rapid move-
ments, its slaty-colored back, and black
crown must be familiar to all. It moves
upward and downward with equal facility
and always head foremost ; the upper and
under side of a limb are explored with equal
ease ; rarely resting, it frisks up and down,
round and round, over and under, in and
out, finishing a tree and ready for the next
long before the average Woodpecker woulil
be able to collect himself and get fairly un-
der way.

The habit of climbing is certainly an an-
cient one among Woodpeckers. All the
genera have the feet, tongue, bill, tail feath-
ers, etc., modified in substiintially the same
way, and this would point to an ancestor
that practiced their characteristic habits be-
fore the modern genera began to diverge.
On the other hand, we may fairly conclude
j that since climbing is rather exceptional a-
j mong perchers, the few groups that prac-
tice it have acquired it at a comparatively
recent date, and it is quite possible that
competition with climbing perchers may

92

TRE OOLOGIST

coustitute a large share of the disturbing
cause which has compelled certain Wood"
])eckers of late to abandon the habits of
their ancestors.

It is worthy of note, too, that the species
whicli have suffered most in this competi-
tion are among the largest of our Northern
Woodpeckers. With the exception of the
Pileated Woodpecker, they are in fact the
largest, and furnish another illustration of
the fact that nature looks with but small
favor upon mere bulk. A little nerve often
outweighs a large amount of muscle. \

The Pileated Woodpecker frequents deep
forests, and I have never been able to ob-
serve its habits. Its retirement, however,
has withdrawn it from competition with the
more agile forms we have noticed, and if
food is only sufficiently abundant there is \
no immediate necessity for giving up its an-
cestral habits. The Red-head and Flicker,
preferring open glades, are brought into '
constant and active competition with more
sprightly and energetic climbers, and find
themselves obliged to adopt other habits in
great measure, or perish.

known that thousands are obtained annual
ly for taxidermists' purposes, and to escap
this destruction, many doubtless learn ti
evade certain localities which were danger
ous to them. However this may be, an(
whatever the reason, where once'the Tan-
agers occurred in large numbers quite reg-
ularly, they have gradually become lest
common, until now, they are to be num-
bered among the occasional summer res-
idents.

Itcccut gxiblicntions.

Comparative Scakcitv of the Scar-
let Tanaoer. — A perceptible diminution
in the numbers of this bird has been re-
marked in many localities where it was once
one of the most abundant species. For
Central New York, this seems certainly
quite true, for it is clear that there have been
fewer Tanagers observed within the past
iew years than formerly ; and tiiis can be
due to no lack of observation, for collectors
have been as diligent as ever — even more
so. What can this diminution be due to?
Such attractively plumaged birds naturally
not only I'all prey to those in search of pret-
ty specimens for ornament, but are sacri-
ticed to the destructiveness of rambling boys,
and it is probable that experience has done
much in teaching the birds to be more wary,
and to secrete themselves as much as pos- !
sible upon the approach of a gunner. This I
seems more probable than that the birds I
are actually becoming scarcer. It is well

Fhotographed Birds' Eggs. — A new de-
parture in bird-egg illustration, combining
; merits seldom obtained by the usual pro-
t cesses, the figures possessing a remarkably
natural appearance, has been made in the
; production of plates by the camera. The
; illustrations are indeed excellent, the finish
and general appearance being very good,
while the aiTangement and backgrounds are
I such as to make the figures — all life size —
appear, through a roll of paper, very natu-
ral. Tlie purpose of the publishers is com-
; niendable, and being in a fair way to advance
illustrated oological literature to a point
nearer perfection than is usually attained,
we trust the enterprise may succeed. We
understand the publishers propose to render
their plates as far educational as possible,
by illustrating the eggs in natural series, ac-
companied with appropriate explanatory
text uj)on the reverse side of the cards. The
plates would be a good acquisition for any
young oologist, and if colored, as we sup-
pose they will be at a slight additional ex-
pense, will prove a by no means small con-
tribution to current oological literature.

Nests and Eggs of American Birds. — Fart
II. of this work contains two plates, repre-
senting the eggs of fourteen species, includ-
ing varieties, among which may be mention-
ed figures of the Cape St. Lucas Thrasher,
Sickle-bill, Wheat-ear, Ruby-crowned and
Golden - crested Kinglets, Black - headed
Gnatcatcher, Tufted, and California Tuft-
ed Tits.

o[dqi0)

SUMMER, 1879.

No. 12.

Nesting of Swainson's Thrush
(Turdus swainsoni).

Wild roses and other bright colored flowers
hung out over the deep, clear water, where
they were reflected as in a mirror. Tall
tamaracks, covered and fantastically draped
'E were "rafting" up a deep and with moss and lichens, rose into the air on
beautiful Stillwater of Mill Creek in each side, overshadowing a vast field of im-
Herkimer County, New York, penetrable swamp alders, giant ferns and
searching for birds and enjoying to the masses of decaying vegetation. Farther

NEST AND EGGS OF TURDUS SWAINSONI. {% Natural Size.) '

fullest extent the bracing air and varied [ 00 rose the outline of a hill, whose forest
scenery which every turn of the stream of trees lifted their heads in awful majesty
seemed to render more and more enchant- ; above the surrounding landscape. Now
iug, while the melody of numerous song- 1 and then some unfamiliar bird would flit
sters and the strange notes of birds only to across the water, and, uttering a note of
be heard iu the heart of the deep solitudes, surprise, plunge into the bushes ; anon from
accorded happily with the surroundings, the forest would come the weird sounds

94

THE OOLOGIST

which every hunter is accustomed to hear
in the wilderness.

Progress with the raft was necessarily
slow, but this gave us ample opportunity
to examine the bushes for birds and nests.
Warblers of various and desirable species
were secured ; Flycatchers chased insects
through the air ; Woodpeckers rattled on
the tops of the adjacent dead trees, and as
if to complete a scene whose every aspect
was already charming, the Wood Thrush
and Veery, as if in mutual rivalry, poured
out their beautiful songs, which, re-echoing
and reverberating through the woods, lent
us an appreciation of the admirable dispo-
sition of nature which will never be forgot-
ten. Almost every bend in the stream
seemed to reveal new birds and furnish ad-
ditional material for study. Here we saw
the Black-and-Yellow Warbler, here a Red-
bellied Nuthatch, there a Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher ; while the hearty little song of
the Black-throated Blue Warbler seemed to
proceed from all quarters. The plaintive
note of some parent bird whose nest was
already the home of several little ones, and
the indignant cry of another protector vvei'e
among the incentives to careful search for
eggs, even though the season was well ad-
vanced.

Our raft had been poled some distance,
when a nest was espied in the bushes on
our left, just above the water. It required
but a few moments to reach the place, but
with all the caution which it was possible
to use, the sitting bird must have been
frightened, for she evaded us. The nest
was that of a Thrush, and the eggs told
plainly that the species was the Olive-backed
or Svvainsou's. There were only three
eggs in the nest. Without disturbing ei-
ther eggs or nest, we retired and awaited
the return of the parent, and in half an hour's
patient quiescence succeded in obtaining the
female. Like many other smaller species,
she had uttered no note whatever, but had
glided noislessly from her nest upon our ap-
proach, only returning when assured of our
apparent harmlessness. The male bird was
heard singing in the trees a few paces from

the nest. Being near the edge of the wa-
ter, and but four or five feet above it, the
nest was easily discovered ; but had we
been obliged to search for it without other
indication of its presence than some action
of the bird, we never should liave found it ;
the usual circumstances were reversed —
having found the nest, which surely inti-
mated that one parent was near by, we had
no difficulty in securing her.

This nest was composed of rootlets, slen-
der and rather stiff grasses and bits of moss
in nearly equal proportions. The bed of
the nest, as well as the lining or interior
consisted mainly of dried leaves, some of
them skeletonized ; the edges were mostly
of fine, compact, hairy moss ; while, worked
in the outside and forming part of the main
structure were stems of various kinds. It
resembled a Cat Bird's nest more than those
of either Wood Thrush or Veery, for no
mud Vi^as used and but very few leaves,
while rootlets were a prominent material.
A horizontal position between three or four
slender twigs had been selected by the
builders, their nest settling into, and not
resting upon, the sprigs ; the support was
not strong, inasmuch as the bush itself in
which the nest was placed was frail, and
bent to the touch. The nest measured 2.5
and 4.5 inches in inside and outside diam-
eters, and 1.5 and 2.5 in inside and outside
depths, respectively ; its general aspect was
indicative of solidity, and it could easily be
lifted from its position without disintegra-
tion.

The eggs were pale green, covered with
light brown spots, most of which, however,
were collected about the greater end ; in
shape they were like a Robin's egg — a
rather long ovoid ; their measurements were
about equal to those of a Baltimore Oriole's
or Cat Bird's egg. Though it was the lat-
ter half of July, the eggs had not been sat
upon more than two or three days at the
most, which pointed strongly toward the
probability of the clutch being a second
laying ; for by the first of the month, the
first brood of young would have become
competeut to take care of themselves, even

THE OOLOGIST

95

if the nest had been begun no earlier than
the last week in May. Eggs of 1\ swain-
soni are readily told from those of the oth-
er North American species, with the excep-
tion of the eggs of variety ustulatus, with
which they exactly correspond ; but the ge-
ographical range ot each species will usually
determine to which bird a nest belongs.

Oological Notes for Summer.

June 25 while out collecting I came a-
cross what I took to be a Yellow Warbler's
nest, but on bringing it in it proved to be ;
— that a Chipping Sparrow had built its
nest in an old Golden Oriole's nest, in which
were three young birds and one egg. The
egg was clearly a Chipping Sparrow's.
Now is it common for Chippies to use oth-
er birds' nests? If so, I should be glad to
have any ornithologist notify me of the fact,
as it is the first instance of the kind I have
seen. E. M. Hasbronck, Syracuse, N. Y.

eggs.

Turtle Dove,

April 20,

2

Robin,

23,

4

Blue Bird,

22,

5

Blue Jay,

May 10-15,

5

Meadow Lark,

26,

5

Browu Thrush,

28,

4

Blue Martin,

June 10,

4

Ground Robin,

July 27,

4

L. H. Johnson, Mt. Vernon, Ills.

The birds nested from one to two weeks
later in this locality this year than last.
April 26 a pair of Purple Grackles built a
nest in the top of a large spruce in a gen-
tleman's door-yard in the midst of the city
and on the 29th of May the young were out
of the nest.* June 18th I shot a fine male
Hooded Warbler. The same day, while
out collecting, my attention was called to
a very large bull-frog in a fish trap, which
had swallowed a Cedar Bird. When I saw
him the ends of the wings were sticking out
of the frog's mouth, on opening which I

* The Grackles are now engaged in incubating a
Becond set.

could see the bird had just been swallowed
and appeared as if just killed. I think the
bird must have alighted on the edge of the
trap to drink and was seized by the frog.
I now have him preserved in alcohol with
the bird in his throat. June ISth, young
Water Thrushes able to fly. May 22ud I
took a set of Red-shouldered Hawk's eggs
pure white. May 8th, saw a single speci-
men of the Red-bellied Woodpecker — this
is only the second specimen of this bird I
have ever seen about here. May 30th saw
three Turtle Doves, — very rare about here.
Purple Finch very scarce this year — always
before very plenty.

D. D. Stone, Osivego, N. Y.

Red-tailed Hawk
Loggerhead Shrike

Cooper's Hawk
Ground Robin
Maryland Yellow-thr't
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-breasted Chat
Philadelphia Vireo,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Great-crested Flycatc'r
Black-throated Bunting
Killdeer Plover
Green-crested Flycatc'r
Black-throated Bunting

C. W. Strumberg, Galesburg, Ills.

The Hermit Thrush {Turd7is pallasi) is
a very abundant bird in the Middle States.
It nests in suitable places very near the
ground : two nests were both within two
feet of the earth, both also built in the top
of the dead branches of fallen trees. In one
instance the female was quite demonstrative
over our close jipproach to her nest, which
contained young ; in the other, both pa-
rents appeared and regarded us silently
from a distance until we had departed. The
nests were composed largely of rootlets and
very small twigs, with leaves and a little
dry moss intermingled. Both the nests a-
bove referred to were built in rather open,
elevated woods.

klarch 17

2 eggs

April 21

6

30

6

May 8

3

23

4

23

5

26

4

28

4

June 2

4

3

3

5

4

8

4

17

4

26

3

July 22

4

96

THE OOLOGIST

T^fte ©otogi^l

FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR.

SUMMER NUMBER, 1879.

Bound copies of Volume IV. of this jour-
nal may be obtaiued at this office. Price,
75 cents. Unbound, 60 cents.

Volume V. — Subscribers to Volume IV.
whose terms of subscription expire with this
number, are referred to the notice accom-
panying this issue. We hope that every
one will renew.

We have printed a complete index to
the volume just ended, wliich our readers
will find accompanying this number. Vol-
ume IV. contains one hundred pages of
oological and ornithological information,
which we feel qualified to pronounce fully
equal in value to the subscription price, not
to speak of the engravings which have been
published from time to time.

SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY CONSIDEEED.

VI. REFLECTIONS.

T^HE season for birds' eggs being nearly
at an end, collectors have begun to elab-
orate their notes and arrange their cabinets.
There are a few species yet to be found
nesting, but with the majority the chirp of
the birdling announces the waning of anoth-
er year. In looking over the season's notes,

there are to be noticed a few late sets of
eggs taken in July, when most birds are
quiet and nature seems to be dead. Some
of these were second depositions and others
the last of the year's extended fruits, from
which there always happen many late
broods. Our book shows a larger number
of late sets than usual, excluding those
which are to be sought for latest. Nests
whose contents were expected to furnish
material for skill with the embryo instru-
ments were, with but one or two exceptions,
found to be only partially used, incubation
having advanced but few days ; and this
was the more fortunate, since many of the
sets were valuable. Various reasons might
be assigned for the lateness of these clutch-
es, but on account of the isolation of many
of them, with a small degree of satisfaction :
the season has been in all respects favora-
ble to early and quick house-building and
oviposition, so we must look to the minor
causes of tardiness, and these are not easi-
ly and satisfactorily disposed of, unless the
collector has been in the same local field
during the season, and has had ample op-
portunity for giving close attention to and
keeping each of several species under his
constant vigilance.

— In connection with the above might
be mentioned the frequency with which the
collector is brought into contact with addled
eggs, sometimes in a nest together with
young birds, at others after parents and
young have taken their departure. In the
former instance, it is fortunate for the col-
lector ; in the latter it is equally mortify-
ing, for in the one case the identity may be
certain, in the other not merely doubtful, but
impossible to be determined with accuracy,
excepting, perhaps, in regard to some of the
best known species, whose eggs resemble
those of no other bird. Occasionally one
comes upon " rare" specimens in this way,
which search during thei season of oviposition
had failed to reveal. It is surprising how
some eggs, the contents of which have been
spoiled in incubation, can withstand the
rough usage which they must undergo before
the young quit the nest, and yet often be found

THE OOLOGIST

97

without a scratch or crack. Reference to
this subject recalls the frequency with which
collectors meet with nests out of season —
some new, others in the last stages of de-
letion. Nests in unaccountable positions
and of unfamiliar materials and construc-
tion appear in localities, the oology of which
one thinks himself familiar. It seems the
more aggravating because there are no
means of ascertaining to what species these
nests belong, and they are useless except
as ornament.

— Nests vary considerably according to
location, even when the difference geograph-
ically or botauically seems so slight as to
make noticeable variation in materials or
positions appear unlikely. These varia-
tions, moreover, occur constantly, and teach
us not to expect too great an uniformity in
nature. One point is noticeable : that is
the fact that nests constructed in populated
districts, where such materials as twine,
rope, yarn, wool, cotton and other like sub-
stances are easily procured and quickly ap-
propriated, possess an appearance not read-
ily reconciled with that of nests of the same
species, built where none but the raw ma-
terials of nature can be obtained. Dried
leaves and grasses predominate in these lat-
ter, where we should expect to find a vari-
ety of materials if built near the dwellings
of man, and a somber sameness seems to be
present in all nests of the wildernesses.
Hair and rootlets and occasionally a iew
feathers are used in nests built in unculti-
vated places and deep woods, in many
cases where we find soft plant down and
cottony materials at home.

— A favorite nesting place of wood birds
is near water, and here the collector may
always be sure of a diversified and general-
ly desirable field of search. As a rule, the
edge of a stream, lake or other body of wa-
ter, in the woods, furnishes specimens which
both in value and number, far exceed those
to be tound elsewhere. With equal truth
it may be said that the borders or vicinity
of the borders of forests are more produc-
tive to the collector than their wildest and
darkest recesses. There are, to be sure,

species whose nests and eggs are very de-
sirable, to be found breeding in the midst of
heavy timber ; but the variety is limited,
and the surroundings such as to render gen-
eral search much less profitable to the oblo-
gist than the more open localities referred
to ; for, with very few exceptions, deep
wood birds build their nests in places offer-
ing concealment from the most laborious
search. Swampy shores are even more pro-
lific of birds' nests than dry ones, for then
may be found birds of no less than four or
five diff"erent classes or groups, according to
the number of different characteristics pos-
sessed by the locality.

— Isolation does not always have the ef-
fect of inducing birds to build lower in trees
or in more accessible positions. Indeed, to
state the proposition in another form, the
instances are comparatively few, in which
birds in inhabited places have gone to ex-
tremes in placing their nests out of danger.
There are in fact, as many, if not more en-
emies in places not frequented by man as iu
populated districts. Animals and birds of
prey and plunder are most to be feared by
wood birds, and instead of gaining confi-
dence in the wilduess and supposed security
of the locality, as some writers have endeav-
ored to show beyond a reasonable limit, the
birds have used all their old and much of
recently acquired ingenuity in protecting
their treasures, A comparison of a given
number of nests found in an uninhabited re-
gion with a like number about home, in po-
sition, will show very little difference — per-
haps none as regards the safety of the loca-
tion. Exception must be made, of course,
in consideration of the abundance of a spe-
cies in one locality and its scarcity in anoth-
er, since a colony of birds will frequently
nest differently from a single pair — the
Herons furnish a good example. Ground
building birds conform their nests to an es-
tablished position more noticeably than
most other groups ; admitting some promi-
nent exceptions, their habit is the same in
all places. Another group of birds — the
Woodpeckers and their allies and the Belt-
ed Kingfisher furnish examples — are never

98

THE OOLOGIST

known to change the general character of
their nesting places ; a Woodpecker's nest
in the wildest region imaginable is as likely
to be found in the top of a forest monarch
as lower down ; while Kingfishers' holes
are as often to be met with in easy reach
as in the side of an inaccessible cliff — more
so, in our experience.

— Search for a nest whose owner you
have disturbed, till you find it, if you have
reason to believe it is within a certain lim-
ited area ; it is fully worth while in the
case of a desirable species. Patience is as
great a virtue to the oologist as to any one
else, and may often serve him better than
natural quickness of perception. To give
up a search without due examination of all
the immediate surroundings is often to leave
behind treasures of great value ; and even
though it is to be considered fortunate for
the parents, it may be the sacrifice of a lit-
tle information which to the scientific world
would prove a most important acquisition.

Note on the Olive-sided Flycatch-
EK. — The isolation of Gontopus horealis
from cultivated regions, and the occupation
by it of little known or densely wooded
tracts, where those who study birds seldom
penetrate, may be taken as a reasonable
ground upon which to build up statements
of its rarity. That it is not an abundant
bird we do not question, but from recent
observations in its own haunts, we found
material sufficient to justify the assertion
that in certain localities, it does breed in
by no means small numbers. One locali-
ty— an extended, rather marshy tract, bor-
dered or either side by almost impenetrable
clumps of bushes and trees, studded here
and there with tall dead hemlocks — was
particularly noticeable for the number of
birds of this species which the high, clear,
though somewhat plaintive cry proclaimed.
These birds always occupied the topmost
twigs of the dead hemlocks, and flew from
one to another as if it were ordained they
should never descend any lower. The young

birds, nearly full feathered, were not so ex-
clusive in their selection of a perch, but
none were seen lower than forty feet from
the ground. No specimens were met with
excepting near the water, over which, at
considerable elevation, the air swarmed
with insects. The Olive-sided and Yellow-
bellied Flycatchers are thus seen to have
their own separate spheres, though both oc-
cur in localities of the same character.

Notes on the Dusky Grouse (Can-
ace obscurus).*

BY CAPT. CHAS. BENDIRE, U. S. A.

A COMMON resident throughout the
mountains. We have two varieties,
fuliginosiis and richardsoni, the former be-
ing the most abundant. They seem to pre-
fer the more open forests to the dense tim-
bered sections, and while the young are
small they frequent the creek bottoms and
open side hills almost exclusively. At such
times 1 have found them twenty miles front
timber of any size. After pairing, the males
separate from the hens, and are frequently
found in small coveys, from four to six,
sunning themselves on high rocky points,
crouching close to the rocks if anything ap-
proaches to disturb them. In the early
part of tlie fall they rarely fly into trees
when flushed, but later in the season they
do so almost invariably. It is said that
where a number are found in one tree, by
shooting always the lowest first the rest will
remain, and that they can all be killed ; but
I never got more than two shots at birds in
one tree. They sit close, and usually
lengthways on a limb, like Night Hawks,
as long as they think they have not been
discovered, but after the first shot they gen-
erally all take wing. In the winter they
seldom alight on the ground, excepting to
get water. They feed on the tender buds
of the spruce or pine, and their flesh is not
palatable. In the fall they are in splendid

* Birds of Southeastern Oregon, p. 137.

THE OOLOGIST

99

condition, and without a doubt the best
game bird in this country. They feed then
ahnost exchisively on wild berries, of which
they find an abundance, preferring a species
of wild gooseberry, but eat service, thimble
and salmon-berries, wild currants and cher-
ries, with an occasional cricket or grass-
hopper, and now and then a few tender tops
of plants. The full complement of eggs is
from eight to ten. These vary considera-
bly in size, shape and color. In some the
ground color might be called a creamy
white, in others it is a pale, and again a
very deep buff'. The eggs are evenly spot-
ted with specks of reddish brown, and none
of these larger than an ordinary sized pin
liead. Their shape is an enlongated oval,
and they measure as. follows, each egg out
of different nests : 1.99 x 1.30, 2.02x1.33,
1.84x1.35, 1.90x1.30, 1.86x1.40 and
1.80 X 1.23. Considering the size of the
bird their eggs are very small. They com-
mence laying about May 1. Their nests
are always on the ground, generally close
to, or mider a fallen tree, occasionally in a
cavity of a burnt and fallen log, and also in
the open air without any cover whatever.
I found such a nest on June 7, 1876, near
the summit of the Canyon City mountain.
It was placed in perfectly open ground about
two feet from the roots of a young fir tree,
and contained nine eggs on the point of
hatching, all being chipped already. The
eggs were laid on the bare ground, a few
feathers of the bird and a little dry grass
being placed around the edges of the nest.
I liave several times flushed quite young
birds and noticed how quickly they hide
themselves, even where there is little to con-
ceal them. The young can soon fly, even
when not larger than a man's fist. The
love notes of the male, called here hooting,
in the early spring, are very peculiar and
hard to describe.

Clubs of five subscribers may obtain this
journal for $2.50 ; clubs often for $4.20,
or 42 cents each. Scientific societies should
avail themselves of these terms.

Le Conte's Thrasher (Harporhyn-
chus lecontii).

T E CONTE'S Thrasher still bears oflf the
^~* palm for rarity, even in competition with
the newly-found H. hendiri. Though it has
been known for about a quarter of a cen-
tury, only three or four specimens have
come to hand. The original was taken at
Fort Yuma, at the junction of the Gila with
the Colorado. Dr. J. G. Cooper states
that he secured two near Fort Mnjave, along
the route in the Colorado Valley on the San
Bernardino Mountains, where, however, he
found them "rather common" in thickets
of low bushes. He discovered an empty
nest built in a yucca, like that of H. redivi-
vus. In September, 1865, I had the pleas-
ure of meeting with the bird myself, about
fifteen miles east of the Colorado River, at
a point a little above Fort Mojave, and I
managed, not without difficulty, to secure
a single individual. It was in excellent
plumage, and, having been killed with a
touch of fine shot and preserved with spe-
cial care, made a very fine specimen. We
had come through the " Union Pass" of a
low range of mountains, or high line of
bluifs, which flank the eastern bank of the
river, and were preparing to make a " dry
camp" in a sterile, cactus-ridden plain,
which stretches across toward the broken
ground where Beale's Springs are situated,
when, in the dusk of the evening, this sin-
gular whitish-looking bird caught my eye.
Though I was not at the moment in an en-
thusiastic frame of mind respecting ornith-
ology, the siglit was enough to arouse what
little energy a hard day's march had not
knocked out of me, and I started on what
came near being a wild-goose chase after
the coveted prize. It is bad enough to play
the jack-rabbit among Arizona cactuses in
broad daylight, and to be obliged to skip
about in the uncertain glimmering of the
evening is discouraging in the extreme. My
bird had the best of it for awhile, and seem-
ed to enjoy the sport, as it fluttered from one
cactus bush to another, with the desultory
yet rapid flight that is so confusing, and

100

THE OOLOGIST

makes one hesitate to risk a poor shot, in
momeutary expectation of getting a better
chance. At length, it dived into the recess-
es of a large yucca, where it stood motion-
less just one instant too long. I did not
see it fall, and feared I had missed, till, on
gaining the spot, I found the body of the
once sprightly and vivacious bird hanging
limp in a crevice of the thick fronds. As
I smoothed its disordered plumage, and
strolled back to camp, I felt the old-time
glow which those wlio are in the secret
know was not entirely due to the exercise
I had taken.
Elliott Coues. Birds of Colorado Vallei/.

The Gigantic Kingfisher of New
Holland (Dacelo gigantea).

rPHIS remarkable bird is a native of New
-*- Holland. The plumage is full and soft ;
and the feathers of the head are enlongated
into a crest. The bill is large, long, pow-
erful, and swollen at the sides ; the edge of
the upper mandible is bowed in near the
point, which latter is acute and bends over
the point of the lower mandible. The tar-
si are stout ; the toes armed with sharp
claws ; the wings are rather long, advanc-
ing when folded halfway down the tail —
this is long, broad, and somewhat rounded.
The eyes have a forward situation, being
placed close to the base of the beak, impart-
ing a sharp, cunning and even fierce ex-
pression to the face, and well depicting the
disposition of the bird, which is daring and
rapacious. Among the wooded mountain
districts in many parts of Australia, and es-
pecially those which border the Murrum-
bidgee River, this species is very common,
and may be observed sitting on the watch
for its prey, which consists of insects, small
quadrupeds and reptiles. Ever and anon
it breaks out into a singular and abrupt
laugh, somewhat resembling the syllables
yah-yah-yah, commencing in a low and
gradually rising to a high and loud tone,
startling when heard amidst the solitudes
of the woods. From this wild and discord-

ant cry it has obtained from the colonists
the title of the " laughing or feathered jack-
ass." The natives call it gohera or gogob'
era. One seldom laughs without being an-
swered by a second, and among diurnal
birds it is the first which is heard in the
morning, and the last at the close of even-
ing ; it rises with the dawn, when the woods
re-echo with its gurgling laugh, and at sun-
set they are heard again in dissonant cho-
rus.

Unqualified for plunging in the stream,
this bird is vigilant in the pursuit of rep-
tiles and insects. Snakes are said to be a
favorite food, and it may often be seen fly-
iug to a tree with one of these reptiles in
its beak, holding it just behind the head.
Generally the snake is killed before being
carried away : but sometimes the bird is
observed on the branch to break the rep-
tile's head in pieces with its strong sharp
beak. Occasionally, it is asserted, the Gi-
gantic Kingfisher will kill young chickens
and carry away eggs ; but its services in
destroying reptiles compensate the settler
for these petty depredations. We have
seen specimens of this bird in captivity :
generally they sat quietly on their perches,
earnestly watching all around them, and
now and then uttering their abrupt laugh ;
on food being presented, they became high-
ly excited, traversed the cage, repeatedly
mingling their voices, and manifesting by
every action the utmost eagerness and spir-
it. The general color above is olive brown ;
beneath whitish, with obscure dusky bars
on the breast ; top of the crest, brown ; a
white belt above each eye goes round the
occiput ; and a broad white collar extends
from the throat over the sides of the neck ;
the tail is banded with black and ferrugin-
ous— white at the tip. Its total length is
eiirhteen inches.

The Golden Eagle, once seen frequently
in the eastern portions of the United States,
has gradually retreated before the rapid
population of the country to the most inac-
cessible places in the mountains.