JILIILiIL2oivNi NVIINVOTIAItOo Vo tT UV OoGI I HFM INAY EN TE LD MEME PEER NMEP NER 6F ENO a aes S = re He Oe pas, en Oo he pee 19.) = w = Vy w ke Y BY = Pe) 5 YM 2 _— Es rad = ri: Y ita -_ m ee m a m ” = ” = n BRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLIWS Salva x soz) wn 3 = z Z < = =) ZZ 4 rae 4 = oe) ac ae) x wn w Ww sn’) n (e) a Te} ee Oo = e Z, = = = = >" = > = rT Fas w Z _ NVINOSHLIWS LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUT Z| oF 2 a re a) uJ wn uw Fe 4 a a me 4 A iee = ee ‘> S 2 5 = q oO = am. — fe) = Oo ae 2) z ot z= aay = 4 BRARIES _ SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31Y¥Wd4 = 2 fe) is S) ee re) Eiri eee ‘ os - WSS fa °° > e Ce = - Gy, fa ro : = 2°) 5 Z 2 OILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3INYVYGIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN NVINOSHLINS S3IY¥VYdlI z no Zz Ze << = we < z =i Ze ¢ = oO aE ot fe) Se Oi BE Be sas = a Ee w 3 ee ce ; 7) IBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHIINS | Sa 1uVve Ne : ae Se «.¢%y fy = “ = ox < < 4 Be SS Nw SW IS | a ae 9 = 9 pee ay ee OILALILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S3I1YVYdIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN oo a i, = ~ g : : : = GY & > — = Mix ELE > = > = Ya Uf is = a = Re 2 e = 2) = w INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31uve NVINOSHLIWS SMITHSONIAN | a4 NVINOSHLIWS NVINOSHLIWS NVINOSHLINS S3!YVYE!IT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITU RARIES SMITHSONIAN LALILSNI NLILSNI ALILSNI ASTITUP 2 .S) Wasn't RARIES AILILSNI NVINOSHLING osalaGVadil LIORARICS OMITASUNIAN ITNOTITUTIN Bo 5 y a A, RARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3luVvua Ss Ssaiuvyugii \ N saiuvugdl INSTITUTION Saluvagi INSTITUTION w wn z ee = < z 0: \ n mM ~~ Wt o a oo n Uj? A\ O rT MWS SO x Oo Kis. | Z EW Zz, = idle “ss = SY = = 2 ALILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S3I1YVYAIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIC 2 2 Z >. 4 4 Yiea. 4 ems = ‘ = = = re) oO oO © e 2 RARIES SMITHSONIAN _INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVUd LNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYUEIT LIBRARIES S3IYVUGIT LIBRARIES INSTITUTION INSTITUTION INSTITUTION SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTI! NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYalI LIBRAR! ES o = dl = By aes < z 4 stl fy = = tip, re) ® LH ° 2 = Zz Gy = = G > > ; = Ss w 2 7) > ap) RAR res SMITHSONIAN _ INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI < h Z Ww 2 a 2~” ae w x. he. ac = < = < = < r = : z o o Le S = fe) ae ef 4 yee INLILSNI NVINOSHLINS SSIYVYEIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTI Shr z c Bie ys = pe) 5 > ed > fa > 2 me 70 a 2 wn a n* o = = zZ a RARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI_ NVINOSHLINS S31uVug w i wn = 5, = < = ras z x 4 z 4 = Oo NY = 2 oO Ba . He) 2 AE ZF : D wv Wr 2 : NS z, E Zz, SS aN > e 2 A eee a 2 LNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS | Sa 1YVYd!l1 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIC : < Z nt 2 3 STITUS ul Dy om VMS. ec BE ODS A OE ec Gat F THE OOLOGIST FOR THE STUDENT OF BIRDS THEIR NESTS AND EGGS VOLUME XXX Albion, N. Y. and Lacon, Ill. R. MAGOON BARNES, Publisher 1913 235324 INDEX TO VOLUME XXX CONTRIBUTORS. SES UMUC ogee EV avs. ie wists. chores) oo 8 enue 8 85, 88 EyeAeC MCU ree 2. ve soars, c-cieiere, sie! oie anaes 13, 14 19,62, 58, GL, 705.97, 106; 112, 133 Bayard Osear We ws... ees se ces 287 iBenrends, John B. ... 2 de. ea. 100, 101 EsePMerss CATCHIC. <5 s06 sec esse ee 134 Burleigh, Thomas D...55, 258, 279, 281 NG ABET ETS VV gs crcl a: 5 cele sie. ea/ava, ava 4 Ciitdensohn WewisS oo... 6s. oe a ee 287 CRIS pirbe Watts. By en dd. se eis aces ee 26, 68 Darmmstone We Is ess Sok oe coe 3. 92 DayeeGuy. Worthington ..025 2.5... 20 VSAM oie crag. < ance, 2 vaveresie ite is exes eves 263 DiWOREVASUISH AOpen eee Cee 23, 48, 74, 75, 118, 135, 146, 148, 149, 280, 299 ERENT Sees ES niente are ai aycvess avavelste ae "es 24, 25 Mdwanrds. EH. Arden! ts o.r.cccccscc0e. 74 OT lees Estee Ani rcicievs cree melereere Soin ae eke 283 GALES AED ee Via ous Ah iersiciee cise pavers colal heres 49 GOGSEY: “COIG ais es cheese & vac 116, 253 GrESneeELOLACE(O); nudes ae los shee 255 CET OUIDULE MOR sow etotace shone ateree erm chalere = 149 ETARRIS ON AV Gee tals =) ayer tenets vay ene-auie = 46 Haultain, Norman=* .. «i... 100, 102 Ibbesss TSaadGebiop aries = or 52, 54, 58, 76, 96 FLOUStON, DONMS Os oot. cas: velwere dee © 107 Howes, P. G...... Tike dios wil Aeon ih eye ELL G Jackson, “LP. Eig . ten saesceest 21, 82, 87 Ren worthy, Hie Mice csmpeeitee tte 92, 118 Kohler. Lie wiSv Sis ccc ietereie- rere nae os 81, 96, 120, 138, 141, 274 Hackey, (J. Bssi.o eetersherenet tethers 257, 263 Martin, Wier Coors ceoissaneietere petetens 61, 83 Miller, Richard F.....52, 55, 84, 85, 298 Moody,;.-CharlesSs.4 220.5600 ee 272 MOReGgR: Was 55 ok ractae tree oe 106 Murphys 'Geos/biccom soci sk cor 67, 281 Melieadyidin, Re.” Screetanvonreaatee ae 54 OsterhoutjEGeo. Wisk. soceseee 54 Palmieri Wise. o.rcreccorraw cctel ane 46 Peck: (Geos Din tain fase cle 51 Pember; Berd caine a oid bee 107 Peyton, Sidney Bra ccieone denen 78 Phillips: (Charleswlissccsra ceases 275 PODEsHs “Hh etihaaeecn ee eee 64 Raine; Walter < sehen eee 139 Read. A. Ci Sees ae. ane ee 118 Reinecke, Ottomans asses eee 276 Scott; Alys: Be. soytiaee cate 106 Sharp, C. S. (This article was erron- eously credited to C. S. Dixon) .34, 35 Sharples, Ri tBee vecccreteacra creme ore 15 Short. iss aera cee ere 118 SillowayseP = Miseocoseeen oe ee 70 Simmions* shinlayeeasase eee 299-151 Simpson; Rss. eae rere 53, 50, 32 Spellum; Rivas setae one PAT (Pops abe? Stierle, J. F...11, 94, 95, 98, 99, 103, 150 Strode. (Dre We On once eres 10 Strone,. We" He sasinee whole stars avert 268, 2 Taylor, dco)... sepctocpevs eh sete eerenretees 61 Vos Burgh, Geo. W. H....26, 30, 97, 116 Westbrook Dir Gacins a lecue cts chomisuene ore 51 Westbrooks May) <:..ss.cnecser 12, 66 Wiharrarnie sas View oareccvsrcle stern aerer 140, 87 Willard’ Re" Cos Grcs sy tpeioea 78, 96, 120 W OOG IX Claire yore rercte chore Ri vetever = 270 Wiritht s2Carnl: Ws os ssuetectcnerennes here 53 OUI VV TIN velit. coder stator c cvaleiehel sockets 116 IV THE OOLOGIST ILLUSTRATIONS Adult Birds TUCKS ere eee a A ope some Mousemat 18, 63 GECSO re iene a ras Sesh ocean 18, 63 Ganlilsiaaritie Hi arene aene cts 145, 147, 282 Hummingbird, Ricord’s ........... 269 GO OWNS, eee aed es ae ise oe eee 277 MEAT EIN, Si CUD AM: ya. t0te-e orator aucotenenn ee 128 Nighthawk, West Indian.......... 259, 260, 261, 262 Parrot cu banana sce ace eeeneoe 129 Waxwing, Cedar ........... 94, 95, 98 Young Birds Waxwing, Cedar ....... 94, 95, 99, 103 Eggs and Nests of Birds IBUZZAGd tenon. bo ee eee 59 Fagle, Golden ...............0008- 35, 37, 39, 41, 48, 45, 47, 49 Hawk, Red-tail.........06..0.558 268 27 Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-leg..... 27 Heron, Great Blue ............... 62 Hummingbird, Ricord’s .......... 269 Hummingbird, Caliope ........... 273 Martin. Cuban 252.2050 5 5 bean 128 Nighthawk, West Indian ......... 259, 260, 261, 262 Oriole, Orchard: ...5......585 02-05 113 OSPREY (ese ets eb hee ae cme eucoee ee 3 Owl, Pacific Horned ............. 24 Owl, Western Horned ............ 25 Parrot eCwban= o08 26 oie eee 129 Vireo, Yellow-throated....... 113, 114 Warblers ~ Yellow -4. 62.65. 8 oes 17 Warbler, Chestnut-sided .......... 82 Waxwing, Cedar..... 94, 95, 98, 99, 103 MISCELLANEOUS A Fine Camping Place on the Galoo- shatchie Coffee Mill Hammock, a Famous Camiupinis: Place ss os. saceieen eee 288 Early Morning on Pine River, Isle of Pines Lake Hicapogee—Snake Heaven...293 Lake Okeechapee, canal through THewSawaceTaSS: G4iak aces «peepee 295 Rope Bend—A Famous Poin in the Caloosharewie: '.).. 0. sciscseeeeeweeere 292 Royal Palms on West Coast, Isle OLMPAMES is seve co tee alae eiee 126 The Lone Sentinal of Lake Okee- CHOPCE we oo seston ene ee 296 Windmill Nest Box .............. 72 PHOTOGRAPHS Baynand, OF: Bs pes Sat vecec eee tetas 119 Purple Cassiniseyqceeewe re 6, 9; 10 Mamineo,, American ee snine ene e 102 Flicker. ...7, 28, 1aee 842, 258, 9267, 281 INorthwesteriiawocntnos oer ee 51 Red-shafted a stcc ac eines testo: 13 Biycatcher -Ashthroated) | o4.een eee 12 Crested ice e aero ee 54, 61, 104, 116, 125, 127, 138, 146 CubangCrested 25. (0.22 -s cee cee 130 Great~Crested® oc . S43 oe. 134, 135 Greens Crested: 2. 122, 123, 130 SalWwewihe@t) ae \acieieis cateuers io teenosecraere 26 Screech 2 sin caes See eee 10, 28, 32, 85, 88, 96, 116, 141, 146 ShOLt-eamedaeicm t-te eee 26, 88 SSMOW Yau mieus © «ese ee eae yeaa 26, 88 Oystercatchene-aeeca =e iter era 78 PAN O fata oiso cue isnevele ensue sys eens UB 1745) (Cli See eatin a eetenen oth ocx Giese 123 Cibane Gre em) ees oe 127, 268 Paraguet, Carolina .......2....-.- 102 IPENA ROK eos og ood poena ca dooc us uo 281 Pelican’ Brows. cee. 131, 268, 298 IDRC Fea oo OU eS nio omaod- 112 AV WAIT (fev, Stasis Soe Ae arin eR A aicl Orc 6, 112 Penne Mp eCTOR | serps) aera 52 Chine le ec tar rete ke! athe teen eee 56 Blackecappedier en eee. eerie 102 (STi, Gos Sea cadena oc 6 o-oo 0.8 298 AWTS (ONES seo eemarorers cae soci 268 IREREO Meio hittin aa mmene ica oS c 46, 123, 125 (CTU See ee Sees oad ialche. 2A, Wai WO OGY soos: che Sarees cllere 9, 134, 146, 258 Pheamopepla ey cse 4 a aecekee einer t WE Phalorope, Wilson’s........... 5 My AY JDINERIRGN Fe wana Boece ase ob obs aco oe 51 IDivelbsln Senn pao ooc Shoo cos 5 od oc 144 IPG ao oe enone 28, 140, 143, 258, 265 SAIN SSE Sais ueorots Susr-vetelueaetenneltee neleaenoas 12 IPISCOME ok hic ccs oye cre 123, 127, 130, 268 ipand-tailed: 2... .smc pe eae 102, 133 BE OWOMs saz cectamrecienee 125, 127, 13i Syorminiyeiers ade sopaocoasccgdo0ec 110 White-crowned.123, 125, 127, 131, 267 Plover Black-bellied. ..127, 133, 149, 150, 256 Galdienk sicaeee ee 102, 131, 133, 150 PSOMEISTY = 2.0 hciie ake ccs.cec siere eEMemonene 111 Ibpindtey 1Ryhokeeh As aa oo Gack Dood alatae 12s) chs aeRO cS Code Ord Or © 1000 276 Semipalmated! \.. -esrelerare 256, 276 Spur-wimged = ....05 6 620 3 eee) elie 111 THE OOLOGIST Prairie Chicken. .56, 134, 152, 266, 267 Ptarmigan, Dixon’s Rock........... 56 Quail sy jac oe oes 56, 111, 125, 253, 264 Cubanere a... 123, 127, 130, 268 1:3) Ko) ois 2 eee DRAIN Re 5 5 267 Mountain’ ....25 3.34422 eee 9 Rail, Wine: gy soccer eee 267 OLA. jadi Siete ss Sele ete 6, 266 Wirginia . 23 23h oe ss 131 RAVEN ot .4tusace cS vi ae cee 107, 140 Abyssimian 220s. .Jo5 ss. eee 108 Brown-necked: .:. 2.2.) Se eee 108 Redpoll..3.023 0.5 see eee ee 67 Redstartoniccse sate yay 1a), ise 136, 138, 143, 263 FUG Gi Wale, oe 2 cl. ie sone 138, 275, 279 Cuban 7.82. io. oe eee ee 131 Road, Runner =... 26.63. 253 IODINE = sees sa 7, 8, 9, 28, 50, 51, 54, 67, 87, 110, 116, 122, 138, 140, 141, 150, 258, 263, 265, 266, 267 Western ohio Gls ae eee 5 ROOK cies shee oes eee eee 108 ROUGE +s 6a ooo eee ee 111 Rustard. os). Basse ee ee 107 Sanderline ss 4 hers cee 149, 150, 256 Sandpiper: «i... ,ocs ee eee 118 Baird's. 7 o\sauscstayee os ans eee 150 Buff-breasted 9.:..4..425.55.0enee 298 Bartramiamn. c..0...ee eee 100, 102 Common: | 4355.4 3) 3 ote eee 111 Gréee@n 4... «dias os oe neen eee eee 111 Least..... 127, 130, V4 4A a eeeiG Pertorals vs cee ee 1025 256 Red-hacked. .3;.....4..5 eee 266 Red-breasted . .... ......,. «29s 102 Semi-palmated ............ 127, 131, 256, 268, 275, 276, 300 Solitary....... 52, 125, 127, 13k, 267 Spotted. .9, 125, 131, 138, 142, 258, 267 Sapsucker. 2.5.0. os 6 eae eee 12 Northern Red-breasted ......... 7 Williamson’s = 2.2 2.2. eee eee Tl Yellow-bellied .............. 84, 136 SCObET) <2 cholate ole oe 149, 298 Shearwater, Greater .............. 298 Shrike. tices odes bee 79, 272 oeverhead 3 .).i5.3. se eee 28 White-rumped) 2:2... «22 eee 106 THE OOLOGIST : Ix BSPTEIIO ACK os. sors) Syc eb a's ais ol aio .e'ssete, ele ig tal Wilson’s. .125, 131, 133, 138, 143, 150 SePINAUUEDITIGE<2).. «cs, ofetare sis. ove. 0.)0 saya @ 250 68 SLATIROWT 2 Rog IREnIn CCE eco on 2, 13 EPMO PINTIATIOS cere x's xsici sic crac 031818 28, 257 ETRE TRG ata oc) sitch's\ Sree of ero: sie) ors 6, 12, 67 MBPEUIPNTSLIVES. cues. vitecs eG sie oe 4, 7, 68, 71, 138, 140, 142, 263 Chipping Western ............. 5 ESPN SEUEGIAPS ha) oy'cy.ch wns! eh chesaiiclisl as! a's 28, 85, 86, 101, 106, 110, 254, 264, 265 Field..... 134, 138, 142, 263, 266, 267 “Sl. ee eee 28, 50,51 Grasshopper...... 131, 141, 142, 148 PCH OMOWES cs tea ag ake else a 299, 300 MUS Kam eteach Gyev'ci ce. a) ar Sus decanavs ial 116, 253 SMa eMC Payee) os ashe er whch sj.oisl'ay'oscsl och ols Martel a 266 RAVeLIAME CAM Pe scelciccia cea) h oso ace'e less 28, 275 DMAMP-Cawled, 2.0... seeeee ces 275, 276 120, 138, 141, 263, 265, 266, 267 SOW cea renee 29, 50; 51, DOHC OVOUNEAIN S.cik sess sees G5 of S220] D6 ococs Seen ee 84, 138, 144 “IN Niel fe) opt es Ee eee 6 IMREG Riga OR nee 50, 51, 68, 101, 281 Wesper..c....204..% 138, 143, 263, 267 White-crowned......... 6s 7, (8,.92:29 White-throated ............ 141, 150 ESSIPOSERENDIN Weng ci sievcy are aos opens, ow.8ie'e © 6.8, 8. ate ilalal EROS EMUC I 2 ioe s aie s,0-0. 805,088 102, 130, 298 SEIU ee 88, 96, 110, 138, 141 SEB lAck-necked! 056. see ee 291 Silent Oe wis's. ais oats wots ote ees 6 35's 111 ee M ACK sore) =, cis lohaca soe g.8) 510) tlers, oie. 112 VIO TEES * as Sega a eee ee eae 112 Mie ON MRY Tata area te sara est scevale SGeyae @ arse 109 WS eUIMK ae). erage. 3 118, 143, 267, 275, 276 Hse ae ce, ae 131, 138, 142, 253, 263, 265, 266, 267, 268, 275, 276, 279 CHILO ENT C] 01 BER eae ae nee ipal OTE S 3 <5 0s 125, 138, 265, 266, 267, 276 BS ASVMPR SE INS occas seteneusee. ole wists! o encheseus tants 109 Rough-winged ............. 141, 144 BRUTE earcreliatotls) cls \ae'otel cere, si c)eysce = 1 UB ISS 142, 266, 275, 276, 284 PMMUAUEEP VEN ovenetiovareydcavetars wile) G!eia) saa eio'e eters 133 WTUTNPCECY «Ae yeles. nen eiises sieys 102, 132 AINA WES Bl hh 0 f= oe 278 SHIRE A Oe ecient aie eee 131, 138 ChiImMMey: 7. Gees oe 142, 258, 265, 267 1BETY h OG BR ate cor oa Cace OO Cha RETRO 131 Tanager, Isle of Pines ....... 125, 13t Scarlet.” Lis. J Sec aste sistele sev 136, 144 DEFT Rene APRA APT SES Cen EC iy PRONE 253 GIeEeN= WIM LOM re Sreyeteaveyaorel ie. s ene ses 149 PROTTIN. -. sisse a tierra ereenenereeneterclas: 5, 105 112 BIA AS cc ousve sateenere tes 5, 6, 266, 267 COMMIOT oo ra crvetevey o helene releter sees 54, 266 Gullspilled? ac Se Reece so oe re 298 Wieast’ 23 < aetse eee Karuivecdaveseratteye ars 298 IN OG Dye eae eatterere atest st al ss bits ote 268 RIGSCALCT a raerrncheacante eis ew sucnornt re 298 ROYAL. nc sere 130, 265, 267, 268, 298 SOU Ye incassrare rorsber at atc, chance Skaytnere 268 WV TIS OM Sie tetova catexeterterene aie sia an tenet 256 Thrasher, Brown...28, 55, 70, 148, 263 EROTIC a1 cc weneteretenoreoroKer ares ses (aver obeife off 28 Sf: i eas mei or ree hel Se. ott CSOD MENG COL 12 AYA ahi KER es iricine Bed clo.c Gb Sioo amiotucii 70 Thrush, Gray-cheeked ............ 144 1S oY gh 100 | eRe eae Or BicnS Caio oe 141, 150 FLCHIMAG. SLCU Are cneyeteletel et ecen-noree 5S S59 Olive-hacked = Jaa-aston'. 10a 144, 150 Revers El Cake =ao1 0 ames Glee clciedn OLS 122, 123, 125, 127, 130, 264, 268 WWD cs on «/ocanycves TES Okt oan oo Water, Louisiana .......... 130, 263 BWHIGON’S © .-2:h- ec eer eree ator laine 50, 142 AYWYOYO6 le earls His onc 57, 96, 106, 141, 263 Titmouse; CwEtedy sence 149, 263 Mitlariks <<. choca aps sta eet eee 28 Mody Oubals «s.r 123, 125, 127, 130 TO WIIEE.. sok ecie siohanee 141, 253, 263, 281 Green-taued: 2. ct. ae Sal ee OTCLONE ce ate selon ereroas 51 Soba de(0 eee ro hic ie om oc nuepeno 12 AYMAN BSCE ta U6 Laeweichesn cia o.din bod aeuicneed 28 Trogan, Isle of Pines. .122, 123, 130, 268 STRUNK CY" Seis card wield oratey cleft nonae) ellerarate es 56 NWELEOT i. concrete ciel setae eis tore eine b availov ors 289 TUrNStON Es --V CL inlwrsrera «terre fated asi e teas Us Ware: Bel Siae crea cheta creer 70, 134 Black-whiskered ........... 125, 131 Gundlach’ secre se or: 123, 125, 130 Red-6yeds sas. e 3 os cee 118, 131, 134, 138, 143, 254, 263, 265, 266 Wii linies ee sie ake tamer oc 116, 143 Wellow-throated™ ‘i. 14 svete ala lire x THE OOLOGIST 131, 134, 1388, 143 Waetail, Gray ............ Peek 2s. 116 Vulture, Black. .28, 29, 88, 108, 267, 268 White’ ..i0.... 066 fons oe eee 110: IE VPELAM” \. |. oe etecue le accuses ans eleven eoners 408 Yellow ...2<..)5.0 03.0: epee 110: Grit: 20.5 Seta. Sais eee ee 108 Waxwing, Cedar...... 97, 142, 263, 266 Sociable oes oi. canoe eee ee: 108... Weather ’...5..20... 5 aos fo eee 110 Southern Bearded ............. 108 Whip-poor-will............ 74, 136, 146 Southern Turkey. ..125, 130, 364, 268 Cuban’= Soa. «83 be Jee 125, 131 MURKCY <\55.5.5 56 ates mastehe ee 28; 58; 88; ~ Willett... .2.00.0 5.4 oe 102 123, 134, 140, 253, 265, 267 Woodcock ................:-. 133, 136 Warbler 4328 26s note eee 16° “Woodpecker ~....2...n%. cee 12 PANTCADONMIS ea « siele oie recto 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 Cabaniss’s. = .ch.2. 6c)) See 5 IBACHMATI'S .¢ soe oe een eee 131 Downy....101, 118, 134, 143, 253, 258 Blacks me, WV Wate sicher ere 127, Green, Cuban..... 125, 127, 130, 268 131, 135, 138, 142, 263 IAIRY Ses es See eee 134, 255, 256 Blackburnian ......... 131; 136,254 “Northern Pileated . ..----eeeeaee 280 Black-throated Blue ........... 130, : 135, 144, 253, 275 Pileated> (co... se Hill Black-throated Green........... 131, Red-headed ............ 84, 118, 154, 135, 148, 253, 275 138, 144, 253, 258, 265, 267, 298 SRCEDUL se sconoc. Tee a. Red bellicdas ana 123, 125, 146 PR ce oon e Red-bellied, Cuban.....127, 130, 268 Gapet May. 2. 320) 2 eee 131 Wihite-headed:..:..... eee 9 @ernulean: .5-.55 sss Soe 130° WON iss dad cee so eee 118 = Clanl bite ete mereeesne Marre s tact munttie bre. 130 Bewicks\:- eee 96, 119, 136 Chestnut-sided ................. 136, Catolinasl so ae 28, 141, 146 141, 143, 274, 275 Gaidenaineed ee 263 Dotted Cannon. =...) ae eee 67 HiGodede oe ee eee Rie 146, 254 FIOUSESS. cvs eee ei ee 46, 54, 138, emt Chey 55.24 ay Soke energie oe 263 143, 263, 265, 266 EONS or .sciaus sie paapel ba fe BO Te Orie em Glee kara O) =~ LO a eo ode SaeeerOr om 9), I will buy a large number of each of the above back numbers for cash at the rate they are listed at, as being for sale in this number of THE OOLO. GIST. Address, R. M. BARNES. Lacon, Il. Vili THE OOLOGIST The Oologist “¢ EOR 1912 WL BEST .n EE. Babe Bird Publication in America It is not too scientific to be interesting nor to popular in contents to lack scientific value. It is the only Birds Egg publication in North America, and indispensible to all forming a col- lection. It is by far the best advertising medium in this country for the sale of Taxidemist and Oological instruments and accessories. No publication anywhere is its equal as an advertising medium for the sale of bird books pamphlets and magazines. Its pages are a mir- ror of current prices for such. -_ - - = we All new subscriptions received before January 1st 1913 will be credited for the December issue free. Subscription 50 cents The Oologist : Lacon, Ill. or Albion, N. Y. E OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. 2. ALBION, N. Y., Fes. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 307 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, Hor Sale, Etc. inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist: It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 304 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 293 your subscription expired with December issue . Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office, at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Con- gress of March 38, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention ‘‘THE OOLOGIST,”’ and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself, We will not advertise the skins, nests, eggs, or mounted specimens of North American Birds for sale. These columns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purposes only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Ill. IRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. ERANK S, WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Aa eure, D -D WANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird Pos oeraphing camera for cash. CORNEL- S BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) TO EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, Rees and eggs in sets and singles. Want A A ican and Foreign bird skins. JESSE T. CRAVEN, 811 Roosevelt \ve., Detroit, Mich. => bo 0 = TO KXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. So Ss. 80 Killingsworth Ave., oreus. re. -p I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, o ) (-p Duplicate mounted birds and skins, many rare, at bargain prices. I need room. Send stamp and state your wants. A. RUSSELL SMITH, Edge Hill, Pa. (1-p) WANTED.—A No. 1 skin of male Golden Pheasant, and fresh skin of black squirrel for mounting; will pay cash or exchange A No. 1 mounted specimens or skins. O. 8. BIGGS, San Hose, Ill. (1-p) WANTED.—First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will give in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) FOR EXCHANGF.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. eer ae -p WANTED.—First class skins of 585b, 550a, 550b, 550c, 547a, 546a, and many others. Have fine skins of 650, 549, 549.1a, 575a, and others in oo e. Collectors please send lists. C. 7 MBERLAIN, 36 Lincoln 8t., peon Ones (2) FOR SALE.—Exceedingly rare sets, full dataof Comatikis comata Geronticus eremita) North Syrian Deserts for $25. (the two eggs). Ch. GIRTANNER, Clarens, Switzerland. —-) FEB 14 1912 9 a nsenian NStity, I THE OOLOGIST EGGS In sending in your exchange notices for nests skins and eggs, we would appreciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. EXCHANGE.— Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 529, 540. 584, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 3384a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, 356, 360c, 361 and many others. DAVID E. BROWN Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, ee 2 a FOR SA LE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all sizes and in good condition. I will to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. C. M. CASH, 7 Holeomb St., Hartford, Conn. “Tdeal’” data blanks, your name and address inserted, exchanged for sets of birds’ eggs listing 25 cents or over. C. F. STONE, Printer, Branchport, N. Y. (i-p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. 7. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, Enea ‘ -p EXCHANGE.—A tine series of ten of the Pallas Murre from Cape Hope, Alaska. I want 188, 332, 343, 348, 362, 364 and many others, . E. BROWN, 6044 Ist Ave.. No. W, Sta. F. Seattle, Wash. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. io) TO EXCHANGE— Sets with data, North American and Foreign. Canuse many com- mon kinds of both. Dr.T. W. RICHARDS cee Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W.. Washington vc FOR EXCHANGE—For anything of use tO a sportsman. A. 1. mounted birds and, skins of water fowl andowis. MILO DENNY Waubeek, Iowa. (1-p) EXCHANGE.—Vol. 23 Physical Culture. Want Reed’s Color Key to North American Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hummers, Sets of 144 Eggs. flying squirrel skins. EARL HAMILTON, Yohoghany, Pa. (1-p: FOR EXCHANGE —A 1 sets taken this season, Glaucus Wing Gull, Pigeon Guillemot Violet Green Cormorant. W. F, RTON, Esq., 937 St. Charles 8S. T., Victoria, B. C. WANTED.—To hear from collectors who have sets with Cowbird eggs in them. Who wants skins of the Wild Turkey, 310 A? Last year I put up ten. Ineed many of thecommon sets with nests, Canada Jay, Northern Raven, Audubon’s Oriole. and nests, Cooper’s Tana- ger, Warbling Vireo and nest, numerous Warblers, ~t. Lucas, Mearn’s and LeCont’s Thrashers, and Varied Thrush and nest. H. H. BAILEY, Newport News, Va. (1) One Portable Tradic Medical Battery, two cells with all appliances good as new. 40 issues of Recreation. Dry platecamera4x 5. Exchange for birds’ eggs. C. B. VANDER- COOK, Odin, [1]. FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data and singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, Mars, (1-p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Choice cabinet sets with full and accurate data for exchange for sets and large rare singles. DR. M. T. CLECKLEY, 457 Greene St.. Augusta, Ga. (2-p) Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Identification, for specimens and curiosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 Ist North, Seattle. Wash. (1-p) WANTED —Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459; also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a, 474b, 533, 558, 641, 648, 673, 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—A large list of fine sets with data, to exchange for fine sets of Rap- tores and large singles. Exchange also de- sired in minerals, sea shells, butterflies and moths. L.C. SNYDER, Lacona, N. Y. (i-p) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.—For skins or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. VIII, Vol. VII, No. 5-6; Vol. IX, No.1. Nidiologist, Vol. III, No. 1; Vol. II, No. 9; Vol. IIT, No. 2; Osprey. Vol. 1-3; Condor, Vol. 2-1; Museum, Vol. 1, No. 3-4-5-12. Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XVIIT; Oologist, Vol. XXIII-XXVI-X XVII- XXVIII; Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7 and 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV, No. 3 and7. ARTHUR W. BROCK WAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) 281, 286, 288, 293. 308, 309, 311, 325, 326, 327, 362, 370, 377a, 381, 443, 471, 476, 483, 487, 513, 513a; Mounted Mole (Scalops), Civet (Bassariscus', Southern Fox Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Texan Pecarry, Antelope head, Gila monster and 3 foot Alli- gator. List everything you can offer. No eges wanted. W.E,SNYDER, R. F. D. No. 6, Beaver Dam, Wis. (1) eS [ have the following North American Birds’ Eggs in original sets with full data, to ex- change for others that Ineed to add to my collection. A.O,U. Nos. 471-3, 761-1, 79 1-1, 86 1-1, 108 1-1, 132 1-8, 144 1-9, 1-11, 172 1-4, 191 1-5, 208 1-10, 219 1-8, 221 1-12. 275 1-3, 277a 1-1, 326 1-2, 337b 1-2. 339b 1-3, 462 1-3, 405 1-2, 478a 2-4, 2-5, 417 1-2, 429 3n-2, 430 n-2, 594a 2-4, 631 1-3. Many of these are extremely rare, especially the Florida Burrowing Owl which are absolutely authentic, haying been a part of the collection formed during the ’80’s by S. B. Ladd. R.M. BARNE&S, Lacon, Il. THE OOLOGIST. VoL. XXX. No. 2. ALBION, N. Y. Fes. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 307 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. OOOOOOOOOO A PROMISE By Rachel West Clement. The driving mist obscures the view, But high on yonder tree I see A robin tilting in the breeze, As he pours forth his melody. The chilly day is at its close, What joy was mine the whole day long, As o’er the patter of the rain I paused to marvel at his song. What ecstasy is in that laugh! For laugh it really seems to be— As he rocks gaily in the breeze, And sings again his song to me. It is the trill of joy he gives! And cheerfulness within me springs. Tho’ wint’ry blasts may threaten me, *Tis hope and cheer his coming brings! © ©) ©) ©) © ©) ©) ©) ©) @ ©) @ 2 OODOOOOVOO ‘uey ‘eq WolWeg 7 IMO" PIIM SYSNVM SNIVId 37138 MeVd S4L3TLYVa LY INVUS GNW 3S339 ‘song aim aWwos THE OOLOGIST 18 THE OOLOGIST 19 Domesticating Wild Fowl. Many of our readers know that The Editor of THE OOLOGIST has for years been endeavoring to demonstrate that the ordinary breeds of North American Wild fowl may, with proper surroundings and reasonable attention to detail, be domesticated. This in our judgment is the only solution for the wild fowl question. The great in- crease in gunners, the wonderful out- put and improvement in the various machines of death, the extraordinary manufacture of cartridges and all man- ner of improved paraphernalia for the purpose of luring the birds to their death, will ultimately exterminate ail of the wild fowl on this continent un- less something is done. From one “blind” within twenty miles of the writer’s home, 1200 ducks were slaughtered in the fall of 1912, all being shot over wooden decoys among which were placed live call ducks. The birds cannot stand this character of persecution long. The keeping of nature wild fowl in confinement is one of the most alluring of amusements. The study of the birds themselves is productive of many hours of pleasure. Each species has its own individuality, and each bird apparently its own peculiarity. Nearly all kinds of North American wild fowl may be successfully kept with proper surroundings, and many of them will breed prolificly. The day this is written both varie ties of North American Swan and eleven varieties of geese included in the North American A. O. U. list, as well as a number of ducks, are run- ning at large on our premises without artificial heat or shelter. On yesterday, a radical change in atmospheric conditions took place; the wind being very high and to the Northwest, the mercury falling rapid- ly, and near the middle of the fore- noon, a very heavy snow squall blew up from the Northwest. The geese on seeing this coming, became very un- easy and noisy; several of them mounted high in the air and after cir- cling a little, returned to the ground and to their mates, refusing to leave the place where they were well fed and protected from attempts on their lives. The illustration on the foregoing page shows what an attractive addi- tion to the landscape a small pond with a few of these birds will make. It is with pleasure that we note a number of our bird friends are endeav- oring to get into this line of ornithol- ogy. It requires but little water and not very much attention to succeed. This coming spring, thousands of birds will be crippled by the gunners as the birds fly Northward. By pro- curing many of these that are wing- tipped and taking them: home and car- ing for them, a start may be made in this most alluring line of bird study. ee pee Wag eer 2 er Sorrow. Sadness and grief has entered into the home of our western subscriber, EK. J. Dietrich of Canby, Oregon, when 1913, was taken from him, at the age of 70 January 3, his beloved mother years and two months. Mr. Dietrich writes that owing to her long, severe illness, he has been most reluctantly compelled to _ post- pone and neglect his ornithological and social correspondence and trans- actions. He begs for the kind indul- gence of those friends who hold claims against him and trusts he will be able to straighten all claims in the very near future. No greater sorrow can visit any man. We extend our heartfelt sym- pathy.—Hditor, 20 THE OOLOGIST Hawk and Owl Collecting in Cham- paign County, IIlinois. In the year 1904 I was employed at Philo, Ills., and made the acquaintance of Isaac EH. Hess, the Bird Man. See- ing his fine collection so often, im- bued me with a deep interest in a branch of natural history that had al- ways appealed to me. I began studying up birds but did not attempt to collect until I had be- come acquainted with birds and their habits long enough to obtain a col- lecting permit. I have had some fine luck since, especially among the “Rap- tores” and as these are the difficult sets to obtain in most any vicinity, I will offer my experiences to the read- ers of THE OOLOGIST. The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo bore- alis) commences to build in the month of February and have the nests ready for eggs by the last of March. Nests are large and bulky and composed of dead grass and cornhusks. They are very shallow when compared with the bulk of the nest? I have, however, seen nests nearly a foot deep. The Red-tail will use the same nest for years if undisturbed and sometimes will any way if not disturbed too often. Hach spring the old nest is re- modelled by adding a few sticks and fresh lining. One pair of my Hawks has two nests,—one in a large Syca- more and the other in an Oak. When I take my toll from one nest she re- sorts to the other for her second set which I never disturb but allow her to hatch them. As the Red-tail hatches but one brood in a season, I figure that I do not reduce the supply of Red-tails at all—merely making the appearance of the new family a month later in the season. In addition to not lower- ing the supply of Hawks, I have some beautiful sets of Hawk eggs in my cab- inet. Mr. Hess says some of the mark- ings, especially from the older pairs, ‘seeker to some extent: are almost as heavily marked as Vul- . ture eggs. The Red-tail will begin lay- ing her second set usually twenty-one days after the first set is taken. I al- ways find them setting steadily by twenty-eight days after losing the first set. The nests are placed in the forks of the largest trees to be found in the creek bottoms. In 29 sets of eggs I have collected, the nests have ranged from 57 to 102 feet from the ground. As I always let the eggs down in a small tin bucket attached to a stout cord the distance is easily determined by tying a knot every 10 feet in the string. The Hawk usually flushes from the nest as I ap- proach, uttering a shrill scream or whistle and flies high in wide circles over the tree I am climbing. I have found a few that would stick to the nest until I rapped with a hatchet. The common set is two or three eggs. Have never taken a set of four, but ten sets were of three, thirteen sets of two eggs each and six sets held a sol- itary egg. A few sets are almost plain white but others range from light markings to those covered heayv- ily with spots and blotches. Eggs from the same pairs offer the same type of markings each season and both Mr. Hess and I can usually tell which pair of Hawks layed the eggs, except when we run across a new pair. Following are the dates of twenty- nine sets which may help some Hawk Set 1--2, Apr. 20, 1904; set 1--1, Mar. 29, 1905; set 1-3, Mar. 31, 1905; set 1--2, Apr. 20, 1905; set 1-2, Apr. 12, 1906; set 1--1, Apr. 15, 1906; set 1--2, Apr. 15, 1906; set 1--2, May 7, 1906; set 1--2, Apr. 1, 1907; set 1--8, Apr. 3, 1908; set 1--3, Apr. 4, 1908; set 1--2, Apr. 13, 1908; set 1--2, Apr. 17, 1908; set 1-2, Apr. 25, 1908; set 1--2, Apr. 2, 1909; set 1-3, Apr. 3, 1909; set 1--8, Apr, 5, 1909; set THE OOLOGIST al 1-1, Apr. 8, 1909; set 1--1, May 14, 1909; set 1--2, Mar. 27, 1910; set 1--2, Mar. 27, 1910; set 1--8, Mar. 31, 1910; set 1--1, Mar. 31, 1910; set 1-3, Apr. 7, 1910; set 1--3, Mar. 31, 1911; set 1--1, Apr. 7, 1911; set 1--8, Apr. 7, 1911; set 1--3, Apr. 29, 1911; set 1--2, May 11, 1911. This season I have taken 3 sets of two eggs each and have not been to all of my friends. The American Sparrow Hawk. This pretty little Hawk (Falco spar- verius) is probably the most common of our Hawks. It nests in natural cav- ities and old Flicker holes in the trees bordering the creek banks. The nest- ing sites vary from 12 to 75 feet from the ground. 3 No lining is used but eggs layed simply on the bottom of the cavity. I have been quite successful in finding their nests by rowing down creek in a boat and approaching the sycamores growing on the bank. When near enough I strike the tree with a stout pole and if occupied, one or both Hawks are usually in the air at once. . Have taken twenty sets of eggs and the sets are numbered as follows: 11 sets of five eggs each. 9 sets of four eggs each. Most of these sets are heavily mark- ed, especially from the older birds and make a beautiful series. not over twenty feet from the ground. I sounded the tree with my hatchet but could not scare the bird out. 1|- climbed the tree and lifted the female from her five fresh eggs. She did not seem the least frightened when I turn- ed her loose but flew slowly and silent- ly away. This little Hawk is apt to use the same tree and nesting place for. years. I have collected sets from the same tree three and four years regu- larly. The best time to locate their homes is in the last half of May and Last: year I located one nest in a dead elm. — “* Sidney, Tl. first part of June when I find them very noisy in feeding the young. Then next season visit them when eggs are ripe. I have watched the Sparrow make ten and even twelve trips in an hour to the nest when feeding. young which goes to show what splendid mousers they must be. The Barn Owl (Strix pratincola) The Barn Owl or Monkey-face is a rare bird in this locality and I have seen but four in seven years. When out collecting, May 20, 1909, I found a nest in a large Sycamore cavity which had six young. The next year on April 2, 1911 I found four fresh eggs in the nest. I took the eggs and, returning a week later got the rest of the set, making nine eggs in all. The tree was a sycamore leaning out over the Salt Fork creek and the nesting hole was twenty feet above the water. On this visit I scared both birds from the cavity. They sat in the tree only ten feet away while I took the eggs. They hatched a set the same summer but not at the same place. The Owls might never have been discovered by me had [I not heard _ them a winter night when I was sleep- ing in a tent while on a trapping trip. The Owls are at the same place this year (1912) but up to April 12th, had not layed yet. Guy Worthington Day. >: The Duck Hawk. When at Lehigh University in 1893 a fellow-student and myself visited the “Narrows” of the Delaware River, some twelve miles below Easton, Pennsylvania, on several occasions. Here a precipitous cliff rises from al- most the water’s edge four hundred feet, near the top of which are many narrow and inaccessible ledges. The whole region, which was then but thinly settled, is well known to Natur- 92 THE OOLOGIST alists. Here the Lepidopterist comes for several species of butterflies, said to be found nowhere else. Here the botanist replenishes his herbarium with specimens of the rare Sedum rhodiola, indiginous to Greenland, and only of very local occurrence in the United States. Here, also, that splen- did fern, known as the. Ostrich ‘fern, (Struthiopteris germanica) develops its full proportions. To an Ornithologist the locality is not likely to be forgotten as the home of a famous Raptor, the daring and merciless Duck Hawk (Falco Pere- 2rinus anatum.) Our first trip on May 7th was re- warded by seeing one of these birds start out on an expedition from the cliff, evidently in search of food. Its deep salmon breast and enormous tal- ons, together with its swift and pow- erful flight, made it a conspicuous den- izen of the air. We learned that the week before a party from the Academy cf Natural Sciences in . Philadelphia, had visited the cliff, and descending from above with ropes had secured a nest containing two eggs. It was hardly to be expected, then, that we would be thus rewarded. But on May 14th we returned to the Narrows and collected the Sedum in full bloom. We also located a nest of Oven Birds and secured a _ set of Cooper’s Hawk in the ravine below, and then ascended the cliff from its Southern slope. From the summit: the view was inspiring. Far below flow- ed the mighty Delaware dividing two states by the proud curves of its course, and beyond the river, stretch- ing far to the Hast, were spread out the rich and fertile plains of New Jer- sey. The air was fragrant with the pervasive perfume of the crab apple, the mountains round about were robed in the freshest of Springtime greens, the birds, ecstatic with song, were voicing the best optimism of Nature and prophesying the song of the reaper in harvest. It was worth a tramp of twenty miles just to be thus inspirited. Climbing cautiously down the treacherous ledges of that dizzy height my companion suddenly per- ceived below him, cn a very narrow shelf of rock, the nest of a Peregrine Falcon. There was the bird also! With much excitement he looked for some way to reach that point of pe- culiar interest. Thinking he had found an easy descent between two boulders he let himself down on his elbows pre- pared to drop, when to his horror he saw that the ledge at that point was chopped off, and furnished no safe fall. But hanging thus he could not get back, his strength would not hold out until help could reach him, he must drop, but should he miss that edge of rock it was a straight fall— 300 feet and more! There was an agonizing moment of indecision, then shutting his eyes and stiffening his legs, he let go, and landing true, fell trembling against the face of the cliff. Now the Hawk, startled by this un- requested intrusion, and- relishing nothing in the way of human compan- ionship, prepared to resent the situa- tion and defend her nest... It contained four beautifully-marked and freshly- laid eggs—treasures well worth de- fending. The male answered at once the shrill summons of his mate, and both birds made swift and repeated dashes at the unapologetic ornitholo- gist, though not quite daring to strike him, and continued to express with their incessant screaming their un- tempered indignation. Securing his trophies in his handkerchief which he carried in his teeth, my friend prepar- ed to regain the brow of the cliff above. Growing in a crevice of the rock there was a small sapling which held his weight, and by adroit climb- THE OOLOGIST 23 ing he made his way up from ledge to ledge, until at last he was on top. Gratefully he threw himself down to rest after this thrilling experience. The nest was a shallow affair, mere- ly a scouping out of a “place” among the broken rocks. Two of the eggs are in the collection of Prof. H. H. Beck of Franklin, Pa., and two occu- py a place of honor in the collection of the writer. The rich coloring mat- ter so lavishly spread over the surface of the first three eggs deposited, seems to have nearly given out, for the fourth shows the creamy white ground color with much fainter painting of reddish brown. This locality is the same as ae given by Dr. Detwiler in Bendire’s “Life eee of North Amelseon Birds.”* Evidently the birds © are Late in April a couple of years since, I happened to be out for a tramp only two miles distant from Waynesburg, and upon entering a small woods, which was situated on the side of one of the hills forming a deep, narrow hollow, I remembered having seen an old Hawk’s nest a few weeks previous. At once I made my way toward the tree containing the nest, which was a rather tall, leaning white oak (Quer- cus alba) standing at the top of one bank of a ravine and at the lower edge of the woods. Upon procuring a satisfactory. view. ofthe nest a pecu- liar projection WAT be scen Above its rim. This projection: sproved to be re héad® ‘of a hawk, the bird sailing away from the nest as I approached. 1, °F Course,” ‘suspected the. nest to belong’ to a Red- tailed Hawk, and put- much less common now than then.” “ting my. climbers on, slowly ascended There are undoubted records of its e having nested on the cliffs of the Sus quehanna River in Pennsylvania, but whether any sets have been taken in recent years I have not learned. Ben- dire’s supposition that the Duck Hawk - breeds in Georgia, Alabama, or Ten- nessee lacks, as far as I have been able to inquire, any confirmation whatever. Years ago it was reported by Mr. B. T. Gault on the Sandstone Bluffs of Little Red River in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Who knows whether it breeds anywhere in the Mississippi Valley today? * See p. 293 Seg. Oe The Red-shouldered Hawk, a Summer Resident in Greene County, Pa. Although nesting in certain of our eastern and northern counties and parts of eastern Ohio, the Red-should- er Hawk must be considered a rare summer resident in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Previous to a single in- stance of its nesting, which I shall here mention, no nests to my knowl- edge have been discovered. the tree. As I neared the nest’ both the” “male and: female — Hawks sailed above mé and soon séttled on the high- er branches of an oak ‘situated at the upper edge. of. the ‘woods, Here they screamed’ in agPeculiar” way, and I wondered*at, suck eés from a Red- = Hurriedly. I: -elimbed to- ward the: ‘Rest. and with much excite- “ment, looked over the rim upon thr ee bluish awhite eggs which were some- what spotted with dark brow. These lay upon a. ‘lining consisting of bits of corn stalk, strips of erape- vine barks The nest, upon measurement. was found to be 60 feet above the: ground. The eggs, I thought, - -were rather small for Red-tail’s so I compared them with 50 eggs of the latter species in my collection and found them much smaller. Not being satisfied with this proof, I sent them to several of our foremost Oologists, among them Mr. Barnes, editor of THE OOLOGIST, and each pronounced them eggs of Buteo 1. lineatus. . S. §. Dickey. Washington, Pa, 24 THE OOLOGIST Nest and Eggs of Pacific Horned Owl —Photo by J. B. Dixon 25 THB OOLOGIST —Photo by J. B. Dixon Nesting Site of Western Horned Owl 26 THE OOLOGIST The Owls of Southern Wisconsin. Our Owls, interesting and highly useful birds of prey, are to me almost the most interesting division of North American birds. Although mainly use- ful, they do not escape being continu- ally persecuted. Seven species have come under my observation. Of the seven I have found nests and eggs of threer What the hawk is in the day time as a mouser, etc., the owl is at night. Long-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus). The Long-eared, found usually in the woods, is quite often seen and shot by the thoughtless gunner. They nest in deep woods, generally in an old abandoned crow’s nest. Some at least, winter with us, probably those from farther north. Their food consists chiefly of mice and small rodents, and a few wild birds. Common, though not often seen by the inexperienced. Hees, four and five. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). I once procured one of these of a boy, but aside from this I have observed few of them. Have never succeeded in finding a nest. It prefers open places to woods, feeding mainly on mice. Nest on the ground. Not plentiful. Barred Owl (Strix varia). quaintance with the Barred Owl is limited to a few individuals at differ- M4 ent times that I heard hooting. In the bluffs along the Mississippi River, in the winter of 1896-7, I heard a num- . ber of these owls, and several times, I have noted them calling in the tim- ber around Columbus, but there is slim chance of a nest, as about all of the old big trees have been cut out, and consequently few hollow trees are to be found. The Builogical Survey has proven that this owl is beneficial, few stomachs containing poultry. Their food consists principally of mice and other small mammals, in- sects, birds, crayfish, frogs and fish, . forest, My ac- Saw-whet Owl (Cryptoglaux acadi- ca). This tiny representative of the owls, I am quite sure I once observed a bird, but could not get close enough to make sure the identity. Screech Owl (Scoops asio). The little mottled owl I have found here in numbers, in both the red and the gray plumage, the gray predominating. They nest in hollow trees early in March and April. The food of this owl is principally mice and insects, and some small birds, lizards, frogs and crayfish, and I am glad to add, English Sparrows and for this alone, should receive every protection and encour- agement to nest about cities and towns,, also farms. HWeggs four and five. Great Horned Owl OOLOGIST—FIVE. ianus). This noble bird-stays with us all the year around and while we are toasting our feet around a good hot fire through a cold February snap, ac- companied by a northwest blizzard, mamma owl is sitting high in some great nest in some tall tree not far away perhaps, maybe deep in the patiently brooding a fine set of eggs, that almost any oologist would be glad to add to his collection. They feed. on poultry, game birds to a great extent, also" on mice, rats, rabbits, and other small mammals, and some birds and® insects. “fhese birds are fairly (Bubo virgin- common, though not numerous. I have collected sets of two, and sets of — three, of their eggs. ; Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea). The Snowy is altogether a straggler from the far north. I have noted them once: or twice. The last time I saw one sitting on the ground in a plowed field; could have easily shot. him. Geo. W. H. vos Burgh, Zion City, Tl. uosyoer Aq oJOYG— U01}D9|]OD S,uosyHoeP "H "1 $0 “ozo ‘ymepY Haq YyYBnoy snoushouse4 ‘symeH JIPL pay 40 Ssaluas e 2) oral ies) 2) ooL THE 28 THE OOLOGIST The Lure of the Wild, and the Bachelor Nest of the Bald Eagle. On January 23, 1912, my partner and myself left Salem, N. J., for a trip in the Southland on business and pleas- ure, my pleasure was to be on the lookout amongst the feathered tribe, and also to meet our brother oolo- gists in the places we touched. Pro- curing our passage on the Steamer Lexington of the Merchant and Min- er’s Transportation Co. we left Phila- delphia, Pa., bound for Savannah, Ga. On the morning of the 24th, when we awoke we had cleared the copes and out to sea. The ocean was as placid as the waters of the lake. During the journey noted Herring gulls flying and feeding in the wake of the ship -and probably a Leach’s petrel. On the 25th, toward evening three Myrtle Warblers struggled to the ship apparently exhausted, we being from fifteen to twenty-five miles from land opposite Charleston, S. C. I followed one about the boat from time to time. Every once in awhile they would all leave the ship, apparently bent on go- ing for good, but before out of sight they would come flitting back glad to get a resting place, and I thought then that was the fate of many of our land birds. that get lost at sea and exhaust- ed, especially if a storm arises and the waters and sky look all the same. Our enemies that keep knocking us for taking a few paltry sets, do not say a word in protest to the time when providence destroys whole colonies in a few hours. On the 26th we entered Savannah river, said to be thirty-five miles in length to Savannah, but only eighteen as the crow flies. Two Great Blue Herons were feeding in the shallow water along the bank and several Cor- morants were seen swimming and fly- ing about. While standing on the star- board of our vessel she blew a salute looking to port. On the Veranda of a cottage stood a woman waving a sa- lute. Whereby hangs a story. Several years ago her sweetheart went to sea and never returned, she mourned his loss so much that she lives alone in the little cottage by the river bank and waves the red lantern by night and the banner by day to all passing crafts. On the 27th, in Savannah about the docks, Ringbills and immature Laugh- ing gulls were cavorting, and our friend, Mr. Troup D. Perry, whom I met, tells me a Bonaparte was secur- ed there this winter. On the 28th, with Mr. Perry to the woods of Georgia; it was a treat to me. The long needle Pine and Cy- press were the most plentiful trees, festooned with the Spanish Moss which hangs on the trees in more or less profusion as far north as Nor- folk, Va. Many of the birds we noted were ones I was acquainted with and just enjoying a milder climate than their summer home in the north. English names of A. O. U. no medieval names—Loggerhead Shrike, Bluebird, Phoebe, Red Tailed Hawk, Horned Owl, Bob White, Pine Warbler, Tur- key and Black Vultures, Fish Crows, Robins, Mockingbirds, Brown Thrash- ers, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Flick- ers, three Bachman’s Sparrows, sev- eral each of White Hyed Towhees, Myrtle Warblers, Fox Sparrows, Her- mit Thrashers, and a large flock of Meadowlarks. . Heard the Florida Jay, English Sparrow, and Carolina Wren. January 3d. Went with Professor Walter a near the coast in quest of Bald Hagle nests and procured a Louisiana Heron and a species of Tit- lark and noted Savannah Sparrow, Maryland Yellowthroat and some others I previously mentioned. Eagle eyre No. 1 was deserted ;and walking five miles Professor pointed to two THE OOLUGIST re islands a mile or so away, reached only by boat, that contained three nests, but too late to get there now. We returned home and the follow- ing morning I investigated the nests myself, hoping for one of the three that were liable to go with me. The sky was overcast, damp, chilly, with a stiff North wind hitting it up hard just as near freezing as could be not to freeze. The boatman, of whom I previously had engaged a ten foot bateu, asked me if I was going this morning. I told him I would try it, so I pulled out. If my energies were greater than the forces I had to con- tend with I would succeed, but if less, I stood a good chance of being taken to sea as the wind and tide both were traveling in that direction. By lining objects on shore I could see I was holding my own. Soon I was on the lee, on up to the bend all right; here the battle had to be renewed, pulling off my overcoat and gloves I bent to the oar, I won, soon to the lee again. Soon to Eyrie No. 1, in a pine tree on an island surrounded by marsh and water. Deserted, the oft repeated word. Across to Island No. 2, birds at home, not sitting but flying about; I just had to go up anyhow to investi- gate. I knew what had happened be- fore I looked into the nest,—the lit- tle fellows had been in the world about six days and were peeping like little chickens. This nest was in a crotch of a dead pine tree seventy feet up, nest about 4 feet by 4 feet, tree about two and one-half feet in diameter. One of the little fellows I made a speci- men of, the other I named Professor, and sent him north to take a series of photographs of him; he died on the - journey. ee February 25th, left for Norfolk by rail after bidding another one of our friends, Mr. Gelbert Rosignall, Jr., goodby, and by nightfall the land of scrub Palmetto and most of the Cy. press was left behind. At New Beme, (9/, and Washington, North Carolina, there were no signs of eagles; near Jackson- ville, North Carolina, noticed Black Vultures. On the 28th, met another one of our friends, Mr. H. H. Bailey of Newport News. On the 29th we visited an Hagle’s nest up a live pine, 75 feet up, contained 1-2, 1-3 incubated, nests 7 ftx4 ft.x3 ft. Bird was sitting tight but left nest at our near approach. This nest as all previous, and subse- quently contained the feathers, flesh and bones of Wild Ducks, no fish be- ing seen but would probably be seen if visited later in the season. March ist and 2d visited 4 deserted nests. March 3d, another nest, a dandy, it looked in the distance, a dandy when underneath, 100 feet from the ground in an original growth pine three feet in diameter at base, seventy feet to first limb. No birds were about but the nest had been repaired, I went up. It looked fine, just good enough to contain eggs, but it had none, the re- mains of Wild ducks were here in profusion. This is one of the bachelor nests, the definition of this term is where one or both eagles repair their home each year but do not raise a brood. No doubt being too old to lay. This is not the first nest I have had experience with. My theory is that many of the Eagles, like Turkey Vul- tures are too old to lay eggs, and bring off their nestlings. White Crowned “and Song Sparrows, Juncos and Car- dinals were noted. Eyre No. 8 deserted; flushed one} i i On the 4th, four inches of snow. Wood Duck, three Black Ducks and town, with cold damp feet. ne then pulled for landing and home in aBoroce twelve miles from home to a mprospect near a lake, We were tired The 5th, Mr. Bailey and myself wr 30 THE OOLOGIST out from our long journey, as the roads were deep with mud and slip- pery from the remaining snow. We were on our Way home when we got our clue to the other site. After go- ing down a lane about a mile we found a nest which was occupied, up a dead pine tree that was situated on the edge of a slope adjoining a marsh at the end of a fringe of woods. One of the birds was sitting tight. This was real- ly a nasty looking climb with peeling bark, rotten limbs, and enlargements of the trunk. However, I succeeded in getting up without undue exertion and found the nest to be eighty feet up, very small for Eagles, being less in dimensions than many Ospreys, being not more than three feet in diameter by 18 inches deep on outside. It con- tained two eggs and small ones at that, and if any Florida speciman can beat it on smallness I would like to see it. The next morning there was more snow and [I prepared for my journey northward arriving in Washington, D. C., on the 7th. I. visited the National Museum with Mr. E. J. Court and en- joyed it very much. I was not done with the Hagles yet so on the 9th I collected another set of two eggs heavily incubated, in a live cottonwood tree only fifty feet up, the second easiest tree ever climbed for Hagles. These eagles had nested here thirty years according to the re- port of the older residents there, thus showing that eagles inhabiting the trees do not always kill the tree as many people think. The nests are al- ways made of sticks and lined with straw, husks or marsh grass; and in the south, with an occasional bunch of sea grass or Spanish moss. On the 10th, I visited another nest for a friend of mine; it contained one fresh egg. The bird was sitting but not tightly, On the 11th, I visited another that contained two eggs, also very fresh. I told my friend I was as bad off as he, as my set might have contained three or four eggs, he thought his bird might have laid another egg if collect- ed later, as both birds were not sit- ting very tight. Both birds were 12 to 14 days late, while the set collected on the 9th, was right on time regard- less of the severe winter. My exper- ience with the above fact holds that during adverse climate conditions a large percentage of birds will be late while a few individuals will be right on time. Arriving home on a lucky day—the 13th,, thus ended a two thousand mile journey for a small number of Hagles’ eges. The above summary of eagles nests is: Five nests contained eggs. One nest contained young. One nest contained birds that had not laid. One nest a Bachelor nest. Twelve nests deserted. The latter part might alarm some people, while no doubt some of the birds have been killed. I have known eagles to leave their good substantial eyre and make a new nest a mile awav without apparent cause unless from looking in the nest. At other times if a lumber company has been slashing near, they will leave; and again at other times I have known them to stay while timber was being cut occasion- ally all around them. If the Bald eagle does not offer the greatest diversity of study of any bird of the Hastern States, I will give it up. Wm. B. Crispin. Salem, New Jersey. Malka ope eee The Hawks of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The Hawks are I think, a very inter- esting and useful class of birds, with THE but few exceptions. With us they are fairly well represented, ten species having come under my observation in this locality. Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius). This well known hawk is easily recog- nized by its manner of flight, as it flies low over marshy places, search- ing for mice, and by its long tail. This hawk also has.a peculiar habit of turn- ing somersets in the air. They spend the summer with us, and occasionaliy I have seen them during open winters. I found nests of these birds both in Wisconsin and Illinois. The usual nesting time is in May. They feed chiefly on small mammals, such as meadow mice, field mice, gophers, etc., reptiles such as snakes, lizards, frogs, etc., insects of various kinds, and small birds. Is often ruthlessly shot by the thoughtless hunter ;neverthe- less is quite plentiful. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter ve- lox). Iam quite sure I have seen these hawks in the timber, but have never found them nesting. The U. S. Biolog- ical Survey found it necessary to brand them as an evil as they feed to a great extent on small birds and small chickens. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperi). This hawk is common with us in sum- mer, nests in May mostly, though I have found them in April and June. They are bold, dashing birds, always go as if they knew where they were zoing. Their food consists principally of small birds and poultry, which they are not at all backward about taking. They also feed to some extent on small rodents, reptiles, bartrachians and insects. Noted in both states. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis). The Red-tail, often seen high in the air, soaring in great circles, reminds me more of an eagle than a hawk. Some of them pass the winter with us, but whether they were the ones that OOLOGIST 31 breed here, or the migrants from the North, I cannot say. They nest in the tallest and largest trees in heavy timber. I have collected their eggs in Wisconsin, in March, April and May. A great amount of the poultry taken is layed to this “Chicken Hawk,” but careful study by the Biological Sur- vey shows them exempt, or nearly so, as they usually feed on mice and other small rodents, only a small per cent. consisting of poultry. Nevertheless they are ruthlessly hunted and killed by the farmer who receives most of the benefit from them. They are quite plentiful however. Noted also in Illinois. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo Linea- tus). During some thirty years of field work I found this hawk nesting but once, and then I had the misfor- tune to tumble the beautiful eggs from the nest and of course smash them all. It is a most useful hawk to the agri- culturalist, feeding principally on mice, snakes, frogs and insects, very rarely on birds or chickens. They are also relentlessly hunted by the farmer. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platyp- terus). I saw one of these hawks in the timber on the bluffs of the Wis- consin River in Iowa County, in 1911. It is a beneficial hawk, feeding prin- cipally on small mammals, reptiles, bartracians, and insects. Golden Hagle (Aquila chrysaetos). This magnificent bird has frequently been captured or killed in this part of Wisconsin. One was for a year or more kept in a cage in Columbus, that was caught during the winter of 1897- 8 by a farmer south of the city a few miles. The food of the Golden Eagle consists of small mammals and game birds, and sometimes a lamb or pig (dead animals?) Bald Hagle (Haliaectus leucocepha- lus). These fine and dignified birds are quite common some years, and sev- 32 THE OOLOGIST eral have been killed near Columbus that came under my notice. Also two or three were kept for some time in confinement at this place (Columbus). They are considered beneficial, feed- ing mostly on fish which forms more than half its food. It also kills birds, chiefly waterfowl, and many mammals of the smaller kind, and the young of the larger ones. It sometimes Kills small lambs and pigs. I do not know but it may nest in the bluffs in the southwestern part of Wisconsin, along the Mississippi River. Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius). I have observed these hawks in both Wisconsin and Illinois, and am quite sure one had its nest in the main park at Zion City, Illinois in, 1909, but could never exactly satisfy myself about it. Its food consists chiefly of smaller wild birds and mammals and insects. Is sometimes quite destruc- tive to small chickens. Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius). This beautiful hawk is a summer resi- dent with us. I have found it nest- ing several times in Wisconsin, but have never been able to get a set of its eggs. During the summer it feeds almost wholly upon insects, especially grasshoppers. Nests in April and May, in hollow dead trees. It is quite com- mon. Geo. W. H. vos Burgh. Zion City, 111. ait SST es ae ae Some Raptore Notes. This past spring the Birds of Prey did not seem quite as common as usual. The Red-shouldered, our most com- mon hawk, was not as plentiful as usual and only three nests came und- er my observation. At one of these nests up in the big birch tree I got a quite nice photo of three pretty egg. On May 5th I was lucky enough to find two nests of the Sharp-shinned Hawk from each of which I later on took nice sets of fresh eggs, Both were as usual in second growth hem- lock and the old birds were noisy. The Coopers and Red-tails have been scarce this season. My Goshawks were about early in February, but a pair of Horned Owls used their nest in the pine tree and the Goshawks left the vicinity. These woods are of considerable extent and they may have nested in some other part. Anyway I didn’t find the nest this season. Early in June I saw an adult Goshawk about fifteen miles from here near some very large tracts of virgin timb- er. I found nests of both the Barred and Horned Owls this spring but a cou- ple of little stubs nearby in which Screech Owls annually nested I found had blown over during the storms this past winter. Last season I captured a young Acadian Owl so I had intended making search of that vicinity this spring in hopes of finding a nest, but I found that the bark peelers had got busy and considerable timber had been cut. I could find no sign: of the little Owls. Warren, Pa. R. B. Simpson. ies Ne a Copy. Dear Mr. Reader: We are just about out of copy. We have not enough on hand to print the next issue of THE OOLOGIST from. Perhaps it might be interesting to you to know that an Oologist of this size contains approximately, exclusive of illustrations, 7500 words. This means 216 inches of typewritten mat- ter when double spaced, and written on the ordinary 814x13 typewriting paper. All. of which means that it takes lots of copy to keep us going, and to supply this is up to you. We do the work and foot the bills. We trust that you can furnish us at as early a day as possible, such readable notes as have come under your obser: vation. THE OOLOGIST Collectors, Naturalists Do you want a nice mounted bird to adorn the top or your cabinet or to hang in your den? If so, then send your specimens to me where they will be properly mounted by an expert Bird Taxidermist, one who has spent years in the field and knows how a bird should look. I am going to make some pecial prices students,, so send on your specimen, or address R. FE. MULLEN, Taxidermist Studio 2419 Q St. South Omaha, Nebr. The Condor” A Magazine of Western Ornithology Edited by J. GRINNELL. Associate Editors: Harry S. Swarth, “Official Organ of the Cooper Orni- thological Club.’’ Vol., XIV 1912 will contain the. usual interesting articles by live active ornithologists and will be illustrated by the high- est class of half tones. You can- not afford to miss a number. Published bi-monthly at Holly- wood, California. Subscription : $1.50 per year net in advance- Single copies: 30c each. Foreign subscription. $1.75. W. LEE CHAMBERS, BusinessjMegr. EAGLE Rock, CAL. to collectors and — Vu Birds, Labels, Mammals C LLECTION OF C, IRVIN CLAY | STYLE 1 Size 7-16 in. by 2 1-2 in. Lot'of 250 for $150 Lot of 500 for $2.50 Lot of 1,000 for $4.00 one COLLECTION OF C. IRVIN CLAY HUMBOLDT CO. CAL. STYLE 2 Size 1-2 in. x 2 3-4 in. Price same as above Printed on 100 Ib. Bristle Board Special styles to suit All sent postpaid Very Neat C. IRVIN CLAY P. O. Box 353. Eureka, Calif- BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and a free copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- Self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. Vii THE OOLOGIST The Oologist FOR 1913 WILL BE THE B Eom Bird Publication in America It is not too scientific to be interesting nor to popular in contents to lack scientific value. It is the only Birds Egg publication in North America, and indispensible to all forming a col- lection. It is by far the best advertising medium in this country for the sale of Taxidemist and Oological instruments and accessories. a No publication anywhere is its equal as an dvertising medium for the sale of bird books pamphlets and magazines. Its pages are a mir- ror of current prices for such. Subscription 50 cents The Oologist , Lacon, Ill. or Albion, N. Y. ——————————.” A a Ye 4 = Fe THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. 3. ALBION, N. Y., Mar. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 308 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc. 2 al inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 304 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 293 your subscription expired with December issue 1 Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office, at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Con- gress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention ‘‘THE OOLOGIST,”’ and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. _ We will not advertise the skins, nests, eggs, or mounted specimens of North American Birds for sale. These columns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purposes only.—E DITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Ill. BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. FRANKS. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, N.Y. (2-p) WANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird ee sae ee camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- NETT. “Naturalist,” Cambridge, Ohio. (1-p) TO KXCHANGE.—A large collection o birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. ee 80 Killingsworth Ave., Fora re. -p I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, Mae ) (-p Duplicate mounted birds and skins, many rare, at bargain prices. I need room. Send stamp and state your wants. A. RUSSELL SMITH, Edge Hill, Pa. (1-p) First class skins L[llinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (1) —— Eel WANTED.-— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and_ female, for which I will give in_ exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. q) FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. co nr “p ————E—E—EEEE———EE————————— ~ WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting, two Am. Avocets, male, ads., two Am. Wood- cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts, male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads. Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds, FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. EGGS In sending in your exchange notices for nests skins and eggs, we would appreciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Ss “oy, be RAs Ootae I THE OOLOGIST EXCHANGH.— Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 529, 540. 584, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY, Hatley. Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets. CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (1-p) Collector personally taken specimens only (has permit) would locate in situ one or two sets Barred and Great Horned Owl. Within about hundred miles of Chicago, Ills. H.R. FORD, 4816 N. Winchester, Ave., ebicaso ( I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (851) 352a, 356, 360c, 361 and many others. DAVID H. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, HE p FOR SA LE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all sizes and in good condition. I will (1-p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange Huropean for North American sets. H. T. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, ose (1-p HXCHANGE.—A fine series of ten of the Pallas Murre from Cape Hope, Alaska. want 188, 332, 343, 348, 362, 364 and many others, D. E. BROWN, 6044 Ist Ave.. No. W. Sta. F Seattle, Wash. Printer, Branchport, N. Y. Lol Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 36Va. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. mon kinds of both. Dr.T. W. RICHARDS ae Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W., Washington FOR EXCHANGE—For anything of use tO a sportsman. A. 1. mounted birds and, skins of water fowland owls. MILO DENNY Waubeek, Iowa. (1-p) EXCHANGE.—Vol. 23 Physical Culture. Want Reed’s Color Key to North American Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hummers, Sets of 144 Wggs, flying squirrel skins. KARL HAMILTON, Yohoghany, Pa. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE—A 1 sets taken this Violet Green Cormorant. W. F, BURTON, Esq., 937 St. Charles S. T., Victoria, B. C. WANTED.—To hear from collectors who have sets with Cowbird eggs in them. Who wants skins of the Wild Turkey, 310 A? Last year Iputup ten. [need many of thecommon sets with nests, Canada Jay, Northern Raven, Audubon’s Oriole, and nests, Cooper’s Tana- con Warbling Vireo and nest, numerous arblers, >t. Lucas, Mearn’s and LeCont’s hrashers, and Varied Thrush and nest. H. . BAILEY, Newport News, Va. (1) One Portable Tradic Medical Battery, two cells with all appliances good as new. 40 issues of Recreation. Dry plate camera4x 5. Exchange for birds’ eggs. C. B. VANDER- COOK, Odin, fl. (2-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data and singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, MaSees (1-p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Choice cabinet sets with full and accurate data for exchange for sets and large rare singles. DR. M. T. CLECKLEY, 457 Greene St.. Augusta, Ga. (2-p) Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Identification, for specimens and curiosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 tst North, Seattle. Wash. (1-p) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459; also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a, 474b, 533, 558, 641, 648, 673, 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—A large list of fine sets with data, to exchange for fine sets of Rap- tores and large singles. Exchange also de- sired in minerals, sea Shells, butterflies and moths. L.C. SNYDER, Lacona, N. Y. (1-p) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.—For skins or eggs in sets. ; XXVIII; Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7 and 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV, No. 3 - and7. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—My entire collection of several hundred sets of eggs. Want bird and mammal skins, mounted birds and animals, game heads, beetles, old relics, stamps and curios. My special wants are skins of Bull Crested Sandpiper and female Dickecissels, mounted birds, A. O. U. N bers 11, 32, 47, 64, 74, 80, 125, 128, 134, 150, 166, 169, 171a, 177, 206, 211, 218, 225, 226, 258, 260, 269, 280:. 281, 286, 288, 293. 308, 309, 311, 325, 326, 327, 362, 370.. 377a, 381, 443, 471, 476, 483, 487, 513, 513a; Mounted Mole (Scalops), Civet (Bassariscus), Southern Fox Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Texan Pecarry, Antelope head, Gila monster and 3 foot Alli- gator. List everything you can offer. No eggs wanted. W.E.SNYDER, R. F. D. No. 6, Beaver Dam, Wis. (1) SS eee [have the following North American Birds” Eggs in original sets with full data, to ex- change for others that I need to add to my collection. .0O,U 86 1-1, 108 1-1, 132 1-8, 144 1-9, 1-11, 172 1-4, 191 1-5, B. Ladd. R.M. THE OOLOGIST. Vou. XXX. No. 3. ALBION, N. Y. Mar. 16, 19138. WHOLE No. 308 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. THE APPEARANCE OF THE BLUEBIRD By Jacob Green, Professor of Chemistry in Jefferson College. What sounds now fill the wintry air, What music floats upon the breeze; Whilst all the fields are bleak and bare, And verdure breaks not from the trees? Oh! ’Tis the bird with plumage blue, The herald of approaching spring, Still to his native forests true, The echoing woods his welcome ring. No opening violets perfume, Now scents for thee the chilly air, No lone anemones in bloom, A downy couch for thee prepare. But yet I hale thee, beautiful bird, For soon will come the time of flowers, When thousand warblers will be heard, Filling with song the budding bowers. Say, what impelled thy venturous wings, To bear thee here from southern skies, ‘ Where never-ceasing verdure springs, And ever blooming flowerets rise. Oh, it was the same tireless arm, Which holds the sun-guides every where That power whose influences warm, To life and light the opening year! Yes—it was that same kindly hand, Which marked thy path through trackless air, And bid thee to this distant land, Thy native home,—in haste repair! Thrice welcome to those wonted haunts! Endeared to thee by love and song, Where erst I’ve listened to thy chants Speeding the gladsome hours along. Published in “The Cabinet of Natural History and American Rural Sports,” Vol. III (1833) pg. 57, 34 THE OOLOGIST The Nesting History of a Pair of Golden Eagles. (Aquila chrys#eos). By C. H. Dixon. ; In this section of the country there are nesting places of the Golden Hagle that have been occupied for a length of time beyond the memory of the old est inhabitant. Our birds do not mi- grate and each pair of birds seems to have its own chosen territory where it leads its life, unafraid and not often molested. It would seem as if birds recognized each others rights and did not encroach upon preempted terri- tory. As a rule the nesting ranges are far apart and I have never known a pair to take another’s nest or build near to another’s range so it gives us a very good opportunity to follow quite closely the activities of the dif- ferent birds. For many years I have kept track of a pair of Hagles that have their home in a canyon a few miles from my house. The country occupied by them is a somewhat rectangular strip of rough foot-hill land, lying from about five to ten miles or more in from the coast, and with a width of perhaps six or eight miles between more open country to the north and south. At the upper eastern end are large open valleys, farming lands, vineyards and orchards at an elevation of about 650 feet above sea level. At the western end the hills, gradually decreasing in size, resolve themselves into flat mesa (table land) and, where the river comes out, into a large salt marsh, dry for part of the year, which reaches away to the sea. Down through the middle of this country, through the river ~ canyon, runs the country road. On either side the hills rise to a pretty uniform elevation of 1300 feet. The highest point being 1750 feet (U. S. Geological Survey). To north and south is per- haps three miles or more of rough, hil- ly country unoccupied except by wild things. On the sheltered northern slopes the brush grows to a height of eight cr ten feet, in places nearly in- penetrable. Along the river there are some fine groves of live oaks, and a few syca- mores and cottonwoods on the river bank. The other slopes of the hills are bare in places and most of what undergrowth there is, is, at the most, ~ barely five feet in height. The river bed is a mass of water-worn boulders. The hills rise steeply from the river canyon and there are many large rock heaps and isolated monoliths, they might well be called, that raise their heads high above the surrounding brush, fine lookout stations for the Hagles and Buzzards. It is an ideal home for Hagles and their long residence here would prove it to be satisfactory as a home and hunting ground, for no eagle would long stay in a territory where the hunt- ing was not good. Rabbits, ground squirrels, wood rats, quail, and other things are here in abundance, all of which are important items in their food supply. That Hagles inhabit this section was known to me for several years before, in 1898, I was able to make a search for their nesting places. In that year two nests were lecated, one in a corner formed by natural cleavage in a huge monolith-like rock half way to the top of the hill above the river and the other on a shelf of an immense ledge which formed the whole rocky front of a hill a quarter of a mile away. The first nest was very old and in bad shape. It has since fallen out entirely. Number two was comparatively new, but was not in very good condition. Nothing evidently had been done to it that year. In 1899 three trips were made to the THE OOLOGIST Escondido Golden Eagle—Nests 2 and 3 36 THE OOLOGIST canyon with no results, the nests ap- parently being untouched. In 1900 the first nest was about gene, and a Barn Owl had his home in a cleft of the rock behind it. The other seemed to have had a few sticks added to it and I was greatly surprised to find that a new nest had been start- ed on a projecting point of a big ledge a few feet above. The birds un- doubtedly changed their minds about locating there, for though two more trips were made to the canyon that year I was sorry to find that nothing more had been added to the nest. On the first trip in 1901 I found the upper nest on the ledge, number 3, completed, apparently, except for the lining. Work had been done on the lower nest, number 2, also, to a slight degree, but two more trips failed to show any further developments. In 1902 the old number 1 nest had gone out entirely, probably during a heavy rain. With the others condi- tions were apparently the same as last year, the nests being untouched. In 1903 the upper number 8 nest was lined, but no eggs were in it on my first visit. The lining was encourag- ing; but I made two more trips to the canyon that year to find no change. I find myself wondering in my notes about this time if it is not getting rather tiresome to make so many trips for nothing and lamenting that my ranch duties are so exacting that I eannot take time for an extended hunt for other nests that these birds must be occupying. In 1904 I could see from below that both nests had been largely rebuilt, the lower especially; that now being quite equal to the other in size. This was very encouraging but by no means a proof of success, for we often find our nests well rebuilt and then desert- ed. In climbing up the ledge both nests were hidden by a projecting point. This was safely overcome and I looxe® round the corner in time to see the biggest and blackest Hagle I ever saw go off the nest not five feet from me,, leaving behind what was ample reward. for all my labor. The nest was finely built up and lined with grass, strips of the dry inner bark fibre of the cottonwood pieces of dry corn stalk and Spanish bayonet leaves and contained two eggs which have proved to be the larg- est eggs of the species of which I have been able to obtain a record either in this country or abroad. These were described at the time of taking in The Condor, Vol. VI, page 166. In that paper there are one or two slight inaccuracies as proved by subsequent knowledge, and a slight variation from the correct measure- ments, the result of using calipers that were too small. The correct meas- urements are given below. The following year, 1905, there was every reason to expect another set from these birds, but though the nest was all fixed-up and “ready for eggs” three trips at proper intervals were unproductive of results. It began to be more evident that the birds had other nests somewhere around, a fact I had been quite sure of since 1900, when the new number 3 nest was com- menced and abandoned. I was unfor- tunately not able to put in the time necessary for a more extended search. A hunt for Hagles nests in our hills is about like the proverbial search for the needle in the haystack unless one has some data to go by and my time — was too limited to devote to it. In 1906 my first trip to the nests proved barren of results. No birds were seen and the nests apparently - had not been touched. That was not . very encouraging, but as it always ap- peared to be my duty to make at least one more trip to the canyon if my first THE OOLOGIST C. S. Sharp Climbing to Golden Eagle nests Nos. 2 and 3 : 38 proved unsuccessful I tried again a month later and was very well pleased to find a fine set of two eggs in the nhew nest of the lower pair number 3. The nest was finely lined* with the usual ingredients. The number 2 nest below it had not béén touched at all. In 1907 the birds rebuilt the upper nest of the two, making a beautiful nest out of it for so large an affair, well built up and lined to an unusual degree and there were two well mark- ed and very large eggs for me. On July fourth of that year I took a friend down the’canyon to show him the nest, and on going up was surpris- ed to find in it some pieces of broken egg shell, unquestionably Eagles, very clean and bright and the markings showing clearly. This might have been a third egg of the set taken ear- lier, possibly a second set of one. If so, it was the first time I ever knew any of my Eagles to occupy the same nest a second time in a season. In 1908 the birds had fixed up the | 1907 nest quite a little and that was all. them away for nothing was done fur- ther te either that nest or the one be-. low. They had evidently gone else- where but I had no time then to hunt them up. On June 16th Mr. CG. F. Schnack and I went down the canyon to see if we could locate another nest about a mile away in a place where he had heard some young Hagles had been taken about 1896. We found two nests in a big rock pile jutting out near the top of the ridges; one on an Open and quite exposed shelf, being only slightly overhung by the bould- ers behind and the other on the top of an Overhanging boulder at the en- trance to a sort of cave formed by the upheavel of these rock masses in the far distant past. This“was quite near the bottom: but very difficult to get at without artificial aid on account » Perhaps my early visit had scared THE OOLOGIST of bulging out of the boulder upon which the nest was placed. It was very well overhung and protected by the recks above. To our very great surprise this nest contained two eggs evidently deserted and the smallest in size of any yet taken from these birds. In 1909 the lower nest of the first pair (No. 2) was almost wholly re- built after its long disuse, but there Were no eggs in it, and no nests of the birds then known to us were oc- cupied that season. In 1910 although the upper nest of the lower pair (No. 3) was all fixed up and ready for eggs on my first visit, neither it nor any of the nests proved to be satisfactory to the birds who rebuilt an old nest, hitherto un- known to us, located about 20 feet from the ground, in a small oak near the top of the ridge, about midway be- tween my two pairs of nests. This evidently had been a very old nest and probably had not been very much oc- 'cupied, for the foundation sticks were well rotted out and, except for the re- built super-structure, was rather frail ‘and shaky. This was found by Mr. J. B. Dixon who got a fine set of 3 from it, all very large. This is nest No. 6. _ In 1911 the nest No. 3 was again prepared, but the birds went back to No. .6. where Mr. Dixon got another set of two. The nature of the country is very well shown in the photograph of this nest which appear in The Oolo- gist of August 15th, 1911, in which a paper by Mr. Dixon on these Hagiles appears. figs t. The hill is very steep and rises. about 800 feet from the bottom of the canyon, and is covered with very high brush, in places almost too dense and thick for anything but a coyote or jackrabbit to. penetrate. The outlook from this nest is very fine. » Last ‘season, 1912, although my No. THE OOLOGIST Escondido Golden Eagle Nest No. 7 in Live Oak Tree 89 40 THE OOLOGIST 3 nest showed evidence of having been fussed over a little it was abandoned, as were all the nests in the upper canon and the birds moved away. In March we were honored, and it is needless to say pleased by a visit from the editer of The Oologist, who stopped over for a couple of days on the way overland from Los Angeles to San Diego. He promised to stop again on his return, so Mr. Dixon and Mr. Schnack, who, though not an orni- thologist, is considerable of an enthu- siast, and remarkably well posted in matters ornithological, got busy. Act- ing on some information obtained from a Mexican rancher, a systematic two days search was made of a section of country not hitherto explored by us with the result of the discovery of two more very old and long abandon- ed nests in oak trees and other newly rebuilt nest, also in an oak, where a few days later Mr. Barnes had the pleasure of gazing on his first set of Golden Eagles eggs in situ. This nest was about 30 feet from the ground; the tree standing on a steep hillside. It is an immense affair of sticks, large and small, lined with strips of cottonwood inner fibre, willow, small twigs of oak with leaves attached, dry leaves of corn and leaves of the Spanish bayonet plant. It measures about 4 feet in diameter by 5 in height. The nest proper being only a slight depression which wouid be deepened and enlarged by the bird in in incubating the eggs. The photo- graph of this nest by Mr. Dixon, well shows its immense size and location. It is one of the best built and larges: nests we have ever found here. [n addition to the nests here given, there are several very old and dilapidated nests in the rock piles in the hills, long abandoned, evidently nests in the past, though scarcely more than rem- nants now, and there are doubtless many more unknown to us, for there are many large rock heaps that we have never visited and much of the country we have never hunted over at all. During the two years, 1905 and 1909, when no eggs were taken, it is prob- able that the birds occupied the 1908 nest and the No. 6 nest in the tree, this opinion being based on the gen- eral conditicn of these nests when found. Altcgether I have personal knowl- edge of some 20 or more nests of the Golden Hagle, belonging to five pairs of birds, that are occupied with more or less regularity. These are mostly in reck piles or on ledges, a few in trees. It has been my experience that the nests in trees are always lareg- er, more bulky,. more built up, and I believe would contain more cubic feet of material than the nests built on ledges, and they are also much better built. The nests on ledges generally occupy the entire ledge, which is not a very large one as a general thing, and do not appear to require the amcunt of rebuilding that the tree nests do, the new material appearing to be placed mainly on the front and more exposed portions of the nest. I have generally feund them better lined however. Mr. Dixon does not wholly agree with me on this point and of course no positive rule can be laid down, as the birds doubtless build as their tastes and needs demand. It is probable that no more remark- able series of eggs ever gathered to- gether than these eggs, all that are known, of these Eagles. The size of an average egg is about 2.95 by 2.30 inches. In 1904, when preparing my Condor paper, I obtained all the in- formation possible as to large eggs, both in this country and abroad, from all oologists whom I knew to have large series of eggs of the species. 9j6eq uspjoy Oplpuoosy yo SHhHA pue 7 ‘ON 3S9N bh ‘4 o fo) 4 © fe) S| TH 42 THE OOLOGIST At that time, in over 300 seis heard from some 650 eggs in all, there were only 22 eggs that measured over 3.1) inches in length; of these only 15 measured over 3.15 and only 4 exceed- ed 3.20. The largest eggs were in the large series of Mr. A. W. Johnson, a former resident of California, but now of England, measuring 3.26 by 2.34 and 3.23 by 2.34. These were taken in Spain. Another large egg, taken in Scotland, measured 3.26 by 2.55. Mr. A. E. Price also had one that measured 3.238 by 2.44. Since then Mr. Dixon has taken sets of two and three from another pair of birds with measure- ments as follows, 3.10 by 2.39; 3.11 by 2.41 and 3.20 by 2.34, 3.10 by 2.32, 3.00 by 2.32. This makes in all 26 eggs measuring 3.10 or over in length. Of these 16 are between 3.15 and 3.20 and only 5 exceed 3.20. A comparison of these figures with the measurements of the eggs of our birds will give a better idea of the remarkable size of the eggs of the series. The measurements of all the known eggs of our pair of birds are as fol- lows: Set No. 1, Coll. C. S. S—1904, 3.50 by 2.62, 3.40 by 2.64. Set No. 2, Coll. C. S. S—1906, 3.39 by 2.62, 3.25 by 2.64. Set No. 3, Coll. C. S. S—1907, 3.40 by 2.62, 3.85 by 2.56. Set No. 4, Coll. C. S. S—1908, 3.29 by 2.50, 3.15 by 2.55. Set. No. 5, Coll. J. B. D—1910, 3.20 by 2.48, 3.36 by 2.55, 3.26 by 2.58. Set No. 6, Coll. J. B. D—1911, 3.26 by 2.68, 3.23 by 2.49. Set No. 7, Coll. R. M. B.—1912, 3.32 by 2.48, 3.23 by 2.49. The accompanying photograph, re- produced through the courtesy of the Condor, is of the largest egg, measur- ing 3.50 by 2.62, an average-sized egg of the Golden Hagle, measuring 2.95 by 2.30 and a large egg of a Western Red-tailed Hawk, measuring 2.52 by 2.00. This comparison shows very well the great size cf the eggs. The eggs cf the series are, as a rule, rather well colored, some rather profusely. The coloration is mostly in soft shades of reddish and with lavender and grayish shell markings. A few are bright in coloring but the general tendency is subdued. In one of Mr. Barnes’ pair, which, unfortunately, do nct appear in photcegraph of the series, a heavy rusty-reddish blotch nearly covers the large end. In cne of mine a blotch of- the same character covers the small end. Three eggs cf the series are prac- tically unmarked, what marking there is being in the nature of rather fine dotting, not at all prefuse. The rest of the eggs are variously marked in blotches, spots and smears, some quite brilliant, in shades from reddish to a light tan. None, however, has the sharply defined blotches that show on the central egg of the photograph. In addition to the unusual size of these eggs, a most remarkable thing in connection with them is the fact that every egg has been infertile. It ' is unusual to find infertile eggs in the nests of the raptores. J have found them most often among the Owls and sometimes in the nest of a Duck Hawk, but in the latter case always after a heavy rain which had saturated the ground and doubtless chilled the eggs after incubation had commenced. They never build a nest, laying on the bare ground. These Hagles’ nests were all quite well sheltered, being on the North, or protected sides of the two hills; the nests in the rocks being all somewhat overhung and sheltered. It would be most unusual to find even one infertile egg in an occupied nest of a Golden Hagle; but that it should be the invariable rule, and occur year after year, as it has with these birds, is a most remarkable thing. bs a o 3 rs fe) 5 fa be = {GA eh “eu, NR, : Nest No. 7 and Eggs of Escondido Golden Eagle A4 _ THE OOLOGIST I am very well convinced that the female of this pair is a very young bird (for an Hagle, that is). When I made her close acquaintance in 1904 she was very large and unusually dark and in perfect plumage. Young Hagles are always very much darker than the old birds, which grow grayer and more golden with age. In a band of eagles one can distinguish the young birds almost as far as he can see them. In 1908, the year before the first large set was taken, it was reported that an Hagle had been shot in the canyon. This may have been the female of the eld pair, the survivor seeking a new mate in the present incumbent. We found that all our birds here, large and small, will lay a second set when the first is removed and it has always been our custom to allow such second sets to hatch as we are all interested in the conservation of the bird supply, but we have no reason to believe that a second set is ever laid by these birds, the only indication of it ever found being the piece of shell found in the nest in 1907 and that was probably a third egg of the set of two taken ear- lier in the season. A single abnormal or infertile egg might be merely an ac- cident, a repetition of it a coincidence, but when, year after year, eggs both abnormal in size and infertile as well are laid it would seem to show a most remarkable physical condition. I have been told recently, that another Hagle had been shot in the canyon a few weeks ago. It is to be hoped that it was a visitor only, as it would be most interesting to watch these birds to see how soon, if ever, they return to nor- mal conditions. In the latter part of August Mr. Dixon and [ again visited the canyon. We found the lower nest (No. 2) near- ly gone, nothing remaining but some sticks on the outer edge and a mass of thoroughly decayed rubbish in the their new ones. bottom. In Mr. Dixon’s Oologist pap- er he speaks of the birds taking ma- terial from the old nests to rebuild This fact appears to be verified from the condition of this. nest, an examination of the rocks and hillside below the nest failing to show any debris of any description that could have ceme from it. It was originally a very large nest, containing enough material to fill a small wagon and the fact is significant. The nest No. 3, on the ledge above, was-in re- markably good condition, even to the lining. It has not been occupied since 1905, although patched up more or less most every year since. It is placed on a jutting semi-eliptical ledge or shelf about 7 feet long by 4 feet deep, somewhat over-hung by the face of the cliff above. This was completely filled by the nest, which was built up to a height of a little over 2 feet, the lined nest proper being about 16 inches in diameter and hollewed out to a depth of about 4 inches. The protographs illustrated in this article are by J. B. Dixon of Escondi- do, Cal., except the one showing the comparative size of three eggs—the largest laid by this bird, the average ege of the Golden Eagle, and a West- ern Red-tail Hawk’s egg. The plate for which is kindly loaned us by The Condor, and to Mr. Dixon and Mr. Sharpe, ourselves as well as the read- ers of this article are certainly under much obligation. For further information relating to the eagles of the Escondido country, see The Oologist, Vol. XXIII, pg. 126-9. It is the purpose of Ye Editor some- time in the future to publish a half tone photo of the set of eggs taken in March, 1912, above referred to, to- gether with a half tone photograph of the nest and eggs in situ and of Ye Editor looking into the nest, together ? 45 THE OO’ OGIST >AMEH Pe!eL pay Usoysa~q e& yo HHa ou} pue Hho s,ajbegq uspjo5 obeuaAy ue pue oj/6eg siy} Jo ysabueq 94} Jo SHHQ jo 9azis anlzeuedwog 46 THE OOLOGIST with the impressions made upon the mind of an enthusiastic Oologist of a triumph of this kind.—Hditor. ere eet An Apology. Owing to an illness confining Ye Editor to his bed for the first time in more than twenty years, much of our ornithological and oological corres- pondence has been neglected, and we tender this as an excuse. Being now on the mend we hope to catch up with the same in the course of the next few weeks. po eS ee Do Birds Return To Old Nests? Whether birds, especially migratory ones, return to the same nests year after year is a question of much in- terest to the naturalist. We know that the Owls and Hawks will use the same nest year after year if not dis- turbed. But the smallest birds that spend the winter in the south—-How are we to know if the same pair re turns to the nesting place, or even to the same locality, unless we have some special mark to recognize them by? In looking over my notes I found a record of a female Purple Grackle that had only one leg. This bird was carry- ing nest material and was caught in a tree by a piece of string, and was found hanging head down by one leg. The leg was broken when the bird was found, and the broken leg was eut off. This one legged bird return- ed each year for five years, and nest- ed almost in the same place. A pair of Pewees have nested in the porch at my summer cottage near the Mississippi river for about fifteen years. They failed to return in the spring of 1912. I have always believed that they were the same pair. Prob- ably both the old birds died during the winter in the South. The little House Wren comes back 4n the spring and makes his nest in the same box, or old tin can that he used the year before. If the nest box is not in the same place, how the lit- tle fellow will scold and make a fuss about it. There is an island in the Mississippi near here. This island is grown over with willows so thick that it is almost impossible to walk through. A pair of Green Herons have made this willow patch their home for several years, during the nesting time. If they are not the same pair of birds, then why is it that there is a pair of nests almost in the same place each year? Whit Harrison. La Crescent, Minn. Bluebird Notes From Trenton, N. J. In the August number of The Oolo- gist, the writer mentioned under “Field Notes,” the great scarcity of Bluebirds in the Delaware Valley. Since then and in fact ever since the first of last year, on all of my tramps through woods and fields, along can- als and streams, both on the Pennsyl- vania and Jersey sides of the Dela- ware, my one thought has _ been, “Where are the Bluebirds?” Sunday morning, December 8th beamed on us bright and clear with a temperature of about 40 degrees, and at 11 o’clock as I had completed my usual morning tramp along the River road and just as I was passing under the new Philadelphia and . Reading Railroad bridge located just a little east of the foot bridge that crosses — the Delaware at Yardley, ’Pa., my thoughts at the time lamenting the fact of not having seen a single bird all morning, my attention was sudden- ly attracted to a small flock of Blue birds, roving about in the tops of two or three trees along the side of the road and bobbing in and out of the holes in the top part of the trunks. As my eyes feasted on this sight, a THE OOLOGIST 47 Series of Six Sets of Eggs of Escondido Golden Eagle 48 THE OOLOGIST sight which I had long been wishing for, it seemed to bespeak the truth of that old biblical saying “Seek and ye shall find,’ and with a long stroke of my pencil I jotted down in my note book these seven roving minstrels with a feeling of great satisfaction. Sunday, December 22d, weather clear and temperature about 28 de- grees, found me back at the same spot for it eccurred to me that they might be wintering in this locality. My suppositicn was correct, for on this memorial morning, five of these little strangers of the year were carefully marked down in-note beok. * William M. Palmer. Trenton, N.4J.. é Nesting of the- Prairie Horned Lark se 1n Southern Pennsylvania. Ea {Qtocoris where the road led through plenty of brush and grape vines I found a very large flock of Juncos. They were everywhere, and with them were a few Song and Tree Sparrows and a few Fox Sparrows. At the lewer side of the mountain I found a very large ficck of Juncos. At the flats I found the river had completely submerged the first or low- er flat and the overflow extended back through the woods to the second flat. I went down through the woods care- fully along the overflow and soon flushed a Black Duck but out of range. Then I came upon three Red-breasted Mergansers. There was plenty of brush and they were well hidden and saw me as soon as I saw them. But I dropped a nice drake with each bar- rel. I next noticed a pair of Black Ducks feeding well out amongst the trees, but no way to get out there. A Great Blue Heron had been walking about in the snow but I didn’t see him. A pair of Hooded Mergansers were along THE OOLOGIST 51 shore amongst some brush and logs and jumped up quite close. I dropped the male and he was a beauty. Let the female go. In a large field at the lower end was a big overflow. All along the edge was a bare strip about twenty-five feet wide where the water had receded. This little strip of shore was free of snow and covered with feeding birds. There was a great racket going on when I got in hearing. A flock of a dozen Mallard and Black Duck were feeding, but were very wild and left at once. There was a large number of Crows but they soon followed the ducks. I went along very carefully and found large numbers of Robins. One flock of twenty-five or thirty Killdeer. A good lot of Purple Grackles and with them a few Rusties in full dress. There were a few Song and Tree Sparrows and Juncos at places where the over- flow was near brush. I noticed three small birds along the waters edge and on gathering them in found they were titlarks. On my way back up along the over- flow in the woods I saw a couple of Muskrat but didn’t shoot. Was also entertained by a Pileated Woodpecker that alighted close by but finally de- tecting me, he left in a great hurry. Just after this I noticed a ripple on the water along shore and keeping still, I soon saw amongst the brush three Wood Ducks, a drake and two ducks. When the drake got just where I wanted him [I took him in and let the -hens go. He was in beautiful plumage and made a handsome specimen. The Wood Duck is scarce of late years and seems to be getting more so. On the big hill I took in two nice Fox Sparrows. Arrived home hungry but satisfied with my trip. Noted 33 species on this trip. Five of them new arrivals. R. B. Simpson. Warren, Pa. Winter Notes, Salem, Oregon. We are having a snow here in West- ern Oregon; we now have as much as fourteen inches. This will kill the pheasants by the hundreds. They are a helpless bird in the snow with their long tails and naked legs and feet; while our Sooty Grouse sits in the tall firs and has plenty of food the pheas- ant is almost helpless. Our native birds here perish by the hundred when we have snow. I feed the small birds when I can. This morning I noticed the follow- ing birds near the door: Northwestern Flicker, Western Bluebird, Oregon Junco, Oregon Towhee, Vigor’s Wren, Oregon Chickadee. The Northwestern Flicker is not a hardy bird here; they die easily and then the Cooper and Sharp-shinned Hawk have a feast. The Western Meadowlark winters here. I think this snow will thin them out. The Golden-crowned Kinglet is com- mon in winter. The Ruby-crowned nearly all migrate. George D. Peck. Salem, Ore. ee ee ee Large Set of Mourning Dove. D. C. Westbrook, of Griffin, Georgia, writes: “In notes of the January is- sue of The Oologist, Mr. Ray Dens- more of Painesville, Ohio, stated that he found a nest of Mourning Doves containing three eggs. I found a sim- ilar occurrence in June, 1910.” pee eas St Bird Magazines. We have just had bound up and added to our library complete files of the following magazines, all in their original covers, viz.: The Atlantic Slope Naturalist. The Avifauna. The Bay State Oologist. The Bittern (Cedar Rapids, Ia.) The Bittern (Damariscotta, Me.) The Hawkeye O. and O. The Naturalist and Collector. 52 THE OOLOGIST The O. and O. Semi-Annual. The Spy Glass. The Sunny South Oologist. The Taxidermist (Medina, O.) The Wisconsin Naturalist (Madison, Wis.) Zoe. > — Early Solitary Sandpipers. In my paper on “Harly Sandpipers in Philadelphia County, Pa.’ in the November, 1912, Oologist, (p. 370) there occurs this palpable error,— “the latest I have ever seen the spe- cies here has been August 10 (two records). It should have been Octo- ber 10th. This year (1912) I have also seen several early transient Solitary Sand- -pipers.° On July 16, I cbserved one at the identical place (Frankford) where I saw a bird on July 18 and 25, 1911, and it is my next earliest record. While camping in late July on the North Branch of the Pensauken Creek, in Burlington County, New Jersey, on July 27 I saw a lone Solitary Sandpip- er and on the following day three birds © were seen together at the same place. Richard F’. Miller. Philadelphia, Pa. Books Received. The Breeding Birds of Southern Center County, Pennsylvania, by Rich- ard C. Harlow. : This is a very excellent treatise in this paper, published in Volume XXX, pp. 479 of The Auk, and is a cerefully prepared, exhaustive local list. Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1911. This report, as previous ones, con- tains many interesting papers on var- ious subjects; those in this volume be- ing: “A History of certain Great Horned Owls,’’ by Charles R. Qeyes. “The Passenger Pigeon,’ by Peter Kalm (1759) and John James Audubon (1831). “Note on the Iridescent Colors of Birds and Insects,” by A. Mallock. “On the Positions Assumed by Birds in Flight,’ by Bethany Beetham. ..A Revision of the Forms of the Great Blue Heron, by Harry C. Ober- hauser, December 12, 1912; a separate from Volume 43, page 531-59, proceed- ings of the U. S. National Museum. This revision evidences the same painstaking attention that is shown by all of Oberhauser’s papers. It design- ates nine varieties of this bird of which Ardea herodias adoxa, and A. h. hyperonea, and A. h. oligista are new; but of course it is not confined to the territory covered by the A. O. U. check list. 2 Albino Meadowlark. Last September a farmer friend breught me a fine specimen of Albino Meadowlark which he captured in his meadow. It had been set upon by other birds until exhausted. The bird was in pure white plumage with exception of the breast which was of the pure cadmium yellow. The pink eyes were especially prominent. As the bird was alive and in good condition I put it in a cage and placed in the front window of my store. A card asked “What is it?” and only Dr. Jessee, our other Bird Man was able to name it. It was my first experience with Al- binos. Isaac #. Hess. Philo, Ills. ieee EY Sepa es Winter Ornithology. In the published diary of the unfor- tunate Captain Scott, who recently perished in the Antarctic, is found some information relative to the breed- ing habits of the Emperor Penguin. He states that on June 27th—mid- THE OOLOGIST o3 winter in that country—four of his as- sistants started on a sled journey to observe the incubation of the Emper- or Penguin. That a fortnight was taken in the journey necessary to reach their rookery; that the temper- ature ranged between sixty and seven- ty degrees below zero, the lowest seventy-seven below. That compara- tively few birds were found at the rookery but they had already begun to lay eggs, and a number of eggs in different stages of incubation were se- sured. It makes the average searcher for rare warblers’ eggs in June, shiver to think of a trip of this character.—KEd. a SE ee Large Set of Cuckoo. June 3, 1912 while Mr. R. C. Har- low and myself were looking for nests near here we found a Black-billed Cuckoo at home on seven eggs. Be- fore she flushed we noticed that she seemed to sit rather high and on look- ing in we were certainly surprised to find the nest actually full of eggs. They all looked like the laying of one bird. There is usually a full set here. Sometimes four. Have never before personally found one with over four and think this must be a record. R. B. Simpson. Warren, Pa. ie Re Re eee Just Notes. I have not seen much out of the ordinary the past season, but as usual- ly is the case, every year brings forth some interesting occurrence. On April 18th while out looking up nests of the Red-shouldered Hawk, we flushed a crow off her nest. My com- panion climbed the nest, and at first said there was nothing in it. How- ever, feeling around some more he brought out a small egg which proved to be that of a crow, and just the size of our Robin’s egg. We took this egg. Again on May 4th while rounding up a hawk’s nest, in the same woods, we were surprised to flush a crow off the same nest. My companion again climbed to the nest and was surprised to find three more crow’s eggs. One was just a trifle larger than the first mentioned. Another was about twice as large as the first, and the last was a normal egg. The smallest egg only had the white in it, and the others were advanced in incubation. This set, which I prize very highly, is now in my collection. Also I will mention another pecu- liar incident which happened this fall on a hunting trip of mine. I was spending my Thanksgiving vacation at Fair Haven on Lake Ontario on a duck hunt. On Thanksgiving after- noon when stooling in Fair Haven Bay a bird came into my decoys that ap- peared nearly white. I shot it, and when I got it in my hands I did not what I had shot. I knew it was a Grebe of some kind, but did not know the species on account of the color. Brought the bird home, and my father at once identified it as a Holboell’s. Grebe, not only a good record in it- self in this locality, but a half albino. The breast normal; head and neck a little lighter than usual. Back nearly all white. Not the glossy white of the breast, but the white common to albinistic forms. The wings were uni- formly marked with white and were mostly of the latter color. A very pretty bird, and is now in my father’s collection. In the spring of 1912 I took 48 eggs of the Red-shouldered Hawk. I am making a specialty of this bird and eggs. Carl F. Wright. Auburn, N. Y. ee eee About Barn Owls. Since reading the Hawk and Owl 54 THE OOLOGIST article by Guy W. Day, of Sidney, Ills., in February issue of The Oologist, I have wondered if the Illinois read- ers recognized the record as probab- ly the first authentic set of Barn Owl eges taken in Illinois. [ have care- fully perused the lists and have been unable to unearth an Illinois record. I have met the same difficulty in try- ing to find a bona fide record from our sister states of Indiana and Wiscon- sin. A number of works give the Barn Owl as resident in these particular states but no one seems to have the set of eggs and data to show for it. It is undoubtedly a more common resident in all three states than the average student realizes. As data of its nidification is so scarce, the nests must be particularly difficult to locate and Mr. Day is to be congratulated. I am watching that same stump for the next set. I have an incomplete set of 5 eggs taken from an ice-house near my store in Philo in 1910. The Owls nested within 100 feet of my collection but I was in ignorance of their presence un- til the old ice-house was demolished. Last year a pair made their home in our village and the hideous throat- rattling cries were heard every night but a fine tooth comb search all over town failed to reveal the nesting place. Isaac H. Hess. Philo, Ills. as preter CTS ey ero eS Two Rare Birds in Colorado. When Prof. W. W. Cooke, then of the Colorado Agricultural College, published his bulletin “The Birds of Colorado,” in 1897, the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) had not been taken in Colorado. On May 14, 1908, there were three of these birds about a small lake at Windsor, in Weld Coun- ty, and on September 16, 1912, there were a dozen or more of them about the lake, and on September 19 I no- ticed several cf them again; they re- mained for some days. They seemed to be feeding on small fish; they would fly at some little distance above the lake and dart down into the water and catch their prey in their beaks, after the manner of the Kingfisher. On August 17, 1911, I noticed a strange Flycatcher feeding about my garden; a common Kingbird was at- tacking it. It proved to be a Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus ecrinitus). It was a young bird and must have wand- ered some distance, for I saw no others like it, and the books tell us that this bird is not found farther west than Nebraska. So far as I know my record is the only one for Colorado. Geo. E. Osterhout. Windsor, Cclo. ee eee House Wren Destroys Eggs. Several years ago I lived in the country. One summer day while sit- ting on a beam in a barn, enjoying the breeze that blew through the open doors and gables, I witnessed the fol- lowing: A Robin had built its nest on the two wooden pegs that join the top brace to the top plate of the barn. The nest contained three fresh eggs, and — was about twenty feet from where I was sitting. A House Wren had a nest at the other end of the barn, the entrance be- ing a knothole. The wren had been flying in and out for about ten minutes chattering and scolding as wrens do, when it flew up to the pegs on which the nest rested, and from there to the rim of the nest. Then it gave three or four pecks, and as I got up it flew away. I climbed up to the nest and found that each egg had been punc- tured once and one of them twice by the little rascal. Do wrens ever suck other birds eggs? Perhaps some of THE OOLOGIST 5d your readers may know of cases. My getting up frightened it away before it had a chance to do so. This is the only time I have ever heard of wrens acting so. J. R. McLead. London, Ont. GE ere Unusual Nesting Sites. During the Spring of 1912, I was in the field a good deal and consequently came across a number of unusual places where the birds were nesting. The first that came under my notice was that cf a Purple Grackle contain- ing five eggs. I had noticed a pair of these birds continually around a large telegraph pole and finally, on the 26th of April, I climbed the pole and dis- covered the nest. It was firmly built between a cross beam and the pole, and considering its bulk was surpris- ingly well concealed. The pole was located beside a large grove of trees and I was surprised that the birds had built where they did. Several weeks later on the 8th of May, I found another nest of the Pur- ‘ple Grackle containing four eggs lo- cated in a hole in a dead tree. I had seen some straws sticking through a erack in the wood and thinking that it was an English Sparrow’s nest, I climbed up and was amazed to find that it was that of a Purple Grackle. The nest was built but fifteen feet from the ground. On the 5th of May, I came across a Cardinal’s nest containing two newly hatched young and an egg, located to my great surprise in a large brush pile. This is one of the few nests that I have ever found of these birds, not built in a grape vine. The bird had concealed. its nest better than it probably suspected for had I not seen the female flying out, I would never have thought of looking there. The most peculiar position chosen — by a Yellow Warbler that I have ever seen I found on the 22d of May when I located a nest of this bird contain- ing two eggs built on the top of an old Gold Finch’s nest. The nest was placed in a small locust tree about twenty feet up and was entirely con- cealed from the ground, being found by seeing one of the birds fly from it. Why it chose such a position I do not understand, but if they did so for protection, they certainly chose a good position. On the 28th of July, as I was pass- ing a small maple tree, I noticed a large nest in one of its crotches and on investigating I was amazed to find that it was that of a Brown Thrasher containing one egg. It was built about fifteen feet from the ground and is the highest nest of this species that I have ever seen. Thos. D. Burleigh. Pittsburg, Pa. esr Se Late Nesting of the Common Crow. On May 30, 1910, at Avalon, Cape May County, New Jersey, on Seven Mile Beach, I collected a set of four fresh Crow’s eggs from a nest about 35 feet up in the top of a holly in the forest on a sand dune, which is the latest I have ever taken eggs of Cor- In the woods I examined another Crow’s nest vus brachyrhynchos. same of this species containing four or five small naked This nest was in a cedar, 30 feet from the ground young. and ten feet out on a horizontal limb. The birds were flushed from both nests and identified by their sweet voices. We also found young Crows on the wing in this forest, a family of three or four birds; and I examined a new Fish Crow’s nest in it, situated about 35 feet up in a cedar top, show- 56 THE ing the lateness which some of the Os- sifrage begin nesting in South Jersey. My next late record of the nesting of the Crow is also a New Jersey one; on May 23, 1909, I collected four Crow’s eggs from a nest 36 feet up in a black gum in a narrow belt of trees on the low bank of Pensanken Creek, near Maple Shade, Burlington County; three eggs were infertile and the fourth contained a living embryo over one-third developed. Both of these sets were undoubtedly second ones of birds that had lost their first clutches by accident or rob- bery. The latest I have ever taken a set of Crow’s eggs in Southeastern Penn- sylvania, is May 18, 1898, when I col- lected a set of five fresh eggs at Frankford, Philadelphia County. The nest was 30 feet up in a thin scarlet oak in a corner of a thick woods. This was a second set, for I collected the first clutch, consisting of four fresh eggs, with the nest on April 30th ult., from another part of the woods. It was about 30 feet up in the top of a slender cedar, the only evergreen in the woods. The two sets were sim- ilar in coloration, etc., so there can be no doubt that both were laid by the same bird. However since then, I have several times taken the first and second sets of crows and yet there are ornithologists who contend that the bird will not lay again if robbed. My next latest record of the nesting of the Crow near Philadelphia is June 6, 1907, when R. C. Harlow and I found a nest containing two young under a week old and an infertile egg. It was about 25 feet up in a yellow birch in edge of some trees along the Wissa- hickon Creek at Fort Washington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and was examined by the writer. Richard F. Miller. Philadelphia, Pa. OOLOGIST | Miscellaneous Bird Notes. September 12th a Sea Gull attracted by the sight of fish swimming slowly within an aquarium at Venice, Cali- fornia, crashed through a pane of glass in its effort to seize the fish and was seriously injured, and captured - by those in charge of the aquarium. November 22d, President Taft pro- claimed the reservation of 1613 acres of additional land on the abandoned Fort Niobraria reservation in Nebras- ka as a bird sanctuary, to be continu- ally maintained for the breeding of Prairie Chickens, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Quail and other native birds. November 22d, the annual “Turkey Trot” attended by Governor Colquitt and his staff, passed through the streets of Cuero, Texas. The proces- sion consisted of 18,000 live turkeys on their way to the Thanksgiving slaughter pens. The parade was view- ed by from 12,000 to 15,000 people. Sergeant George Willetts has re- cently returned to San Francisco from Alaska, where he went for the Smith- sonian Institution for the purpose of collecting birds and other specimens. He brought back with him more than three hundred specimens, including 85 different species; among them, Dixon’s Rock Ptarmigan, one of the rarest birds of the North; also Mar- bled Murrelet, and many Petrel. As the result of his trip, Kruzofft Island has been set aside by the Goy- ernment as a preserve for birds and animals. He estimated there were 22,- 000 pairs of petrel breeding on St. Lazaria Island, and one of the curious things discovered was the fact that the large brown Cedar bear swam from the mainland out to this island and dug these birds and their nests out of the ground and devoured them by the thousands. THE OOLOGIST Collectors, Naturalists Do you want a nice mounted bird to adorn the top or your cabinet or to hang in your den? If so, then send your specimens to me where they will be properly mounted by an expert Bird Taxidermist, one who has spent years in the field and knows how a bird should look. I am going to make some pecial prices to collectors and students,, so send on your specimen, or address R. FEF. MULLEN, Taxidermist Studio 2419 Q St. South Omaha, Nebr. THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop2r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. vu Live North American Wild Fowl for Sale In order tu stimulate the interest in this most fascinating branch of bird study, we have determined to place a part of our large collection of these birds on the market, and offer for sale, mated pairs of the following species: Blue Geese Lesser Snow Geese American White-fronted Geese Hutchins Geese Canada Geese at prices which will be found attractive on application. But unless you really purpose buying some of these, do not annoy us with correspondence relating thereto. R. M. BARNES, LACON, ILL. BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and a free copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. | $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. Vill THE OOLOGIST The Oologist FOR 1913 WILL BE THE. BE Sm Bird Publication in America It is not too scientific to be interesting nor to popular in contents to lack scientific value. It is the only Birds Egg publication in North America, and indispensible to all forming a col- lection. It is by far the best advertising medium in this country for the sale of Taxidemist and Oological instruments and accessories. a No publication anywhere is its equal as an -@vertising medium for the sale of bird books pamphlets and magazines. Its pages are a mir- ror of current prices for such. ; Subscription 50 cents The Oologist Lacon, Ill. or Albion, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VOI exo. No; 4. ALBION, N. Y., APRIL 15, 19138. WHOLE No. 309 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, serted for less than 25 cents. -d, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid, 304 your sub- . scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. We will not advertise the skins, nests, Ss These columns are for the use of those desiring North American Birds for sale. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. eses, or mounted specimens ot to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses onlv.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Ill. BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. FRANK S. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, MY) (2p) WANTEHED.—To exchange skins, also bird oe ee camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) SE eee a ee WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- NETT. “ Naturalist,’ Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) ae See eee TO #XCHANGEH.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. oo 80 Killingsworth Ave., Fortine re. (2-p I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, se Dp) EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. HUR ‘ PROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from_other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (i) EEE EE EEEEEEEEEEEE WANTED.— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will give in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) De ee SS FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. 2 aed Mo. =p WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting, two Am. Avocets, male, ads., two Am. Wood- cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts, male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads. Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds, FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) en eee WANTED. Scientific skins of A. O. U. 20, 242, 289a, 320, 320a, 327, 360. 357, 372a 373a, 373b. 373c, 373d, 373e. 373f. 373g, 373h, 373,1, 373.2, 374, 374a, 377, 378a. 379: 379.1, 380381. Willexchange, for them A. O. U. 34, 380. The Owls must all be the small Genra of the Varieties. H. W. AITKEN, 1521 Vine St., Phi APR21 1918 I THE OOLOGIST EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. FOR EXCHANGE.—Foranything of use to a sportsman. A.I. mounted Birds and Skins of water fowl and owls. MILO DENNY, Waubeek, Iowa. EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528. oe 540. 584, 624) for sets of Warblers only. . MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant on exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacitic Grove, Calif. (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID BE. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Wash. (1p) FOR SA LE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all sizes and in good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. J] have also many maga- zines for exchange. C. M. CASE, 7 Holcomb St., Hartford, Conn. Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. T. BOOTH,8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, Bugiand, (1-p) KHXCHANGE.—A fine series of ten of the Pallas Murre from Cape Hope, Alaska. I want 188, 332, 343, 348, 362, P64 and many others, D. E. BROWN, 6044 Ist Ave.. No. W. Sta. F. Seattle, Wash. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON. Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. TO EXCHANGE —Sets with data, North American and Foreign. Can use viel com- mon kinds of both. Dr. T. W. RICHARDS a2 Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W., Washington EXCHANGE.—Vol. 23 Physical Culture’ Want Reed’s Color Key to North American Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hummers, Sets of 144 Eggs. flying squirrel skins. EARL | HAMILTON, Yohoghany, Pa (1-p: FOR EXCHANGE—A 1 sets taken this season, Glaucus Wing Gull, Pigeon Guillemot iolet Green Cormorant. W. F, BURTON, Esq., 937 St. Charles S. T., Victoria, B. C. WANTED.—To hear from collectors who have sets with Cowbird eggs in them. Who wants skins of the Wild Turkey, 310 A? Last year I put up ten. Ineed many of the common sets with nests, CanadaJay, Northern Raven, Audubon’s Oriole, and nests, Cooper’s Tana- fer, Warbling Vireo and nest, numerous arblers, hrashers, and Varied Thrush and nest. H. . BAILEY, Newport News, Va (1) st. Lucas, Mearn’s and LeCont’s Ss. WANTED. I will collect sets in North West Canada this season. I want sets of Eagles, Hawks and Owls. THOS. 8S. HILL,. Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (1-p) One Portable Tradic Medical Battery, tw® cells with all appliances good as new. : issues of Recreation. Dry plate camera4x d.. Exchange for birds’ eggs. C. B. VANDER- COOK, Odin, Til. (2-p) FOR EXCHANGE. —Sets with data and singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, Magee (1-p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Identification, for specimens and. ouriosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 ist North, Seattle. Wash. 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Two hundred sets. with data, in first class condition, including 50 European (without data) in cabinet. List sent on application.—DR. JAMESON, 105 N. Washington St., Titusville, Pa. (4-p) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial— ly 459: also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a. 474b. 533, 558, 641, 648, 673,. 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que: (-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—A large list of fine sets: with data, to exchange for fine sets of Rap- tores and large singles. Exchange also de- sired in minerals, sea shells, butterflies and moths. L.C. SNYDER, Lacona, N.Y. (-p) FOR SALE.—At less than half cost; Oak -Egg Cabinet, nine drawers; 26x35 inches; 209 permanent divisions 22 to 3 inches deep. Made especially for my Water Birds Egg. THOS. H. JACKSON, 304 N. Franklin St., West Chester, Pa. (2) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.—For skins or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. VIII, Vol. VII, No. 5-6; Vol. [X, No. 1. Nidiologist, Vol. III, No. 1; Vol. II. No. 9; Vol. III, No. 2; Osprey. Vol. 1-3; Condor, Vol. 3. -1; Museum, Vol. I, No. 3-4-5-12.. Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXITI-XX VI-XX VII- XXVIII; Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7 and 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV, No. 3 and7. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—My entire collection of several hundred sets of eggs. Want bird and mammal skins, mounted birds and animals, game heads, beetles, old relics, stamps and curios. My special wants are skins of Bull Crested Sandpiper and female Dickcissels, mounted birds, A. O. U. Num- bers 11, 32, 47, 64, 74, 80. 125, 128, 134, 150, 166, 169, I7la, 177, 206, 211. 218, 225, 096." 258, 260, 2 69. 280, 281, 286, 288, 293. 308, 309, 311, 325, 326, 327, 362, 370, 37a, 381, 443, 471, 476, 483, 487, 513, 513a; Mounted Mole (Scalops), Civet (Bassariscus), Southern Fox Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Texan Pecarry, Antelope head, Gila monster and 3 foot Alli- gator. List everything you can ee No eggs wanted. W.E.SNYDER, No. 6, Beaver Dam, Wis. ti THE OOLOGIST. Vou. XXX. No. 4. ALBION, N. Y. APRIL 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 309 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. THE WOOD THRUSH. By Jacob Green, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in Jefferson College. When bright Aurora gilds the morn, And music breaks from brake and bush, And loity oak, and lowly thorn; Oh, then is heard the thrilling Thrush. He from some branching aged tree, The early breeze with rapture fills, The joyous notes sweep o’er the lea, And echo from the grassy hills. The plowboy blithe at peep of dawn, Whistling along his wonted way, New pauses on the dewy lawn, To catch the warblings of his lay. But when the sun in glowing ear, Rolls glittering o’er the panting plain, Then deep in shadowy glens afar, - He whispers there a lovely strain. But at pale evening’s pensive hush, When the gay glow-worm trims his lamp Again is heard the thrilling Thrush, In dewy dells and valleys damp. Published in The Cabinet of Nat- ural History and American Field Sports, vol. II], page 79 (1838). 58 THE OOLOGIST A Correction. Through an oversight of the printer, the article beginning on page 34 of our March issue entitled “The Nesting History of a Pair of Golden Hagles,” is eredited to C. H. Dixon, whereas it should be credited to C. S. SHARPH. We regret this very much. 2 SO OE ee ee Kill The Cats. Farmers’ Bulletin No. 513 of the United States Department of Agricul- ture, among other things, contains these words: “One of the worst fces of cur na- tive birds is the house cat, and prob- ably none of our native wild animals destroy as many birds on the farm, particularly fledgings, as cats. The househoid pet is by no means blame- less in this respect, for the bird-hunt- ing instinct is strong even in the well- fed tabby; but much of the loss of our feathered life is attributable to the half-starved stray, which in summer is as much at home in the groves and fields as the birds themselves. Forced to forage for their own livelihood, these animals, which are almost as wild as the ancestral wildcat, inflict an appalling loss on our feathered al- lies and even on the smaller game birds like the woodcock and bobwhite. If cats are to find place in the farm- er’s household, every effort should be made by careful feeding and watch ing them to insure the safety -of the birds. The cat without a home should be mercifully put out of the way.” Fully seventy-five per cent. of the birds hatched within the limits of the incorporated towns and villages of the United States are destroyed by cats. Every real bird lover will seize upon every opportunity to place one of these enemies of our bird friends “hors de combat.” It is a duty that we owe the birds to exterminate as nearly as possible the cats, and the Editor hopes every reader of The Oologist will make a record along this line in 1913.—Hdi- tor. : = ae Buzzard Egging. About the first Sunday in May each year, an irresistible voice I hear, that draws me cut to the deep dark woods, where there in the soothing solitudes, I look for friends midst fairies and gnomes, and visit them there in their wild wood homes; : Out in the midst of the thickest part, in a huge old elm with a hollow heart, I hurry to look with a most intense, expectancy for its residents; For the same old hollow for years has blessed a pair of Buzzards and sheltered their nest; Now a beautiful Turkey Vulture’s egg, just seems to look in my face and beg for a place in my Oological case, and seldom is it that I am so base, and diffident as to scorn the request, when I stumble onto a Buzzard’s nest; Now this is the way I figure to please, my Oological wants and ease the conscience that needs no pardon beg of the goose that layed the golden ege: We observe that it is the Vul- ture’s way (like the Raptores and the birds of prey) to be satisfied with the work and cheer, of rearing ONE fam- ily every year; Now this longing of Buzzards is so intense that when we appear and collect our rents, the Vul- ture persistently up and lays, a dupli- cate set in thirty days; Two young soon break from the thin shell walls, looking quite like two cotton balls; The. Buzzardine crop is increased two more, and as fine as if hatched a month before; Just a sim- ple retarding of Nature’s way—mere- ly our making the Vulture pay, a sort of a tribute that I might get, two more fine eggs for my cabinet; This was the magnet that led the way and drew me Lynn Groveward THE OOLOGIST x The Buzzard’s Home —Photo by Isaac E. Hess 59 60 THE OOLOGIST the first of May; The trees were dressed in the restful green; flowers and birds made bright the scene; up in the air (a pleasing sight) a Buz- zard was sailing in graceful flight; Only one Vulture was sweeping the air, which meant that the female was then somewhere, probably covering with wings and legs, two beautiful cream-colored brown-blotched eggs. Tip-toeing up to the hcllow tree, I placed my tripod where it would be, just right to catch the hostess on a camera plate ’ere she was gone; Fo- cusing into the cavity, with diaphragm stopped down carefully, I attached a string to the shutter’s release and prepared to scoop in a masterpiece; And here is the place to offer a tip— _ “There’s mony a slip twixt th’ cup and th’ lip’—My visions of photos went up in thin air, for when I arrived, Mrs. V. wasn’t there; I was disappointed all over in spots as big as a blanket however my thoughts, led me away to another site, where both the Buzzards occasionally light; But in neither place was my friends at home, and but for an acci- dent quite, this “pome’’ would never have found space on this page, nor the beautiful set my heart assuage. I had given up my search in disgust; was in a lethargic state I mistrust, when I was accosted by a Kentuck, who lived in the Grove; now wasn’t it luck, that the subject reverted to Buzzard eggs? I told him I had nearly walked off my legs; “I reckon I know whar she’s settin,” sa id he; “You all want me to show you whar she be?” —Said I “I’d sure like to see the nook in this old grove where I didn’t look” He grinningly volunteer ‘wal I guess, I sure got one on you, Mr. Hess” —“TJ was comin’ this mornin’ through the bog and see’d her a settin’ in a log.” And through the brush he took the lead—hbare-foot, bare-head, true type indeed, of Nature’s child who under- stood each little mystery of the wood; “She hatched in that thar log last year,’ he added and then to me ‘twas. clear, why I collected no Buzzard set to add to my last year’s cabinet; Yes, here was the log and when I sized, it up and down [I realized, I had sat upon that dog-goned log, when if I had only been a dog, I'd shortened much my hunting process, by using first my old proboscis. I Knew that at first I must accustom myself to the dark or I might bust ’em, so patient’, no impatiently, I strained my eyes till I could see, two great big globules lying there—an innocent conspicuous pair, of eggs that stared in mute sur- prise, for those big blotches seemed like eyes, and seemed to say “Oh res- cuer brave, release us from this dis- mal cave’; Quoth I “you’re rescued pretty eggies now I’ll sure win one of Carnegie’s medals that he with great tact, distributes round for each brave act. The female left without a word; she is you know, a silent bird; We heard no wild blood-curdling squawks, like when we rob the Red-tailed Hawks; She sailed around with furtive gaze as though just counting up the days when she would have another set, and present tragedies forget; The log was lying north and south and looking in the tunnel’s mouth, I saw the eggs ten feet from each, near or far side and out of reach; The facts and figures to be faced, were, hole too small, and all incased in wood so hard, I could but scratch it, nor hope to dig through with my hatchet; Whistling an inspiration song, I cut me down a sapling prong and rolled into my eager hands the finest set in fourteen lands; ’Tis beautiful to see and my, but— *twas a pleasure to describe it, on my data; Do you know it—every single THE OOLOGIST 61 time I show it, egg cranks seem to want to nab it? Ask our friend G. Alan Abbott. Isaac EK. Hess. Philo, Ill., Dec. 8, 1912. 2) ee eee Blue Geese. Easter Sunday, _March 23d, four Blue Geese, evidently young birds of last season’s raising, dropped almost exhausted into the flock of wild fowl on our grounds at home, showing every indication of exhaustion and being exceedingly thin. The white about the heads and faces of these birds is marked with the usual rusty eolored stains produced upon white birds by contact with salt water. At this writing, April 4th, they are still with us, and apparently propose to stay, the same as the white-front- ed Goose did in the same manner two years ago this spring, and that is now one of our tamest birds, never having been either clipped or pinioned. —<—o An Odd Bird Box. On May 12, I put up a smal! wind- mill, the wheel of which is nearly six feet in diameter, and has eight arms. The whole wind-mill turns on a pivct in the top of a twelve foot post set in the ground about thirty feet from our dining room windows. Just aS an experiment I placed a bird box on the top of the windmill Tight above the pivot, with the door facing away. from the wheel. Of course the direction in which the box faces depends upon the direction in which the wind is blowing. On June 1, I examined the box and was surprised to find that it contained the nest of a Crested Flycatcher (Myarchus crinitus) with a set of six eges which appeared to be badly in- cubated. As usual the nest was com- posed of dry grass, feathers and pieces of cast snake skin. The box has a tin roof, painted on the outside. The birds did not seem at all afraid of the wheel, even flying through be- tween the arms when it was in mo- tion. On June 9th, I observed the birds carrying food to the nest at short in- tervals, which indicated that the eggs had hatched. The Crested Flycatcher is rather un- common in this locality (Hamblen County, Tennessee). This being the second nest I have found. Is is not very unusual for these birds to nest in such a place, especially when the wheel in rotating almost constantly, at times making perhaps seventy-five revolutions per minute and also a good deal of noise? Joh Taylor Morristown, Tenn. a He a The Chewink. Pipilo Erythrphthalumus. The Chewink is often called Ground Robin, Towhee, Towhee Bunting and Towhee Ground Finch. It is about 8 or 8% inches; a little smaller than the Rcbin. The color of the male is as follows: upper parts are black, breast is white, rump and sides are chestnut, the three outer tail feathers are white and can easily be seen when the bird is flying; the bill is black and heavy, the eyes are red and the feet are brown. The female is brown where the male is black. The color of its breast is a mixture of chestnut and white. The Chewink is often taken for a Robin, and why? Because the under- parts are of a reddish color, but by leokine carefully one will see that the Chewink is smaller than the Robin, and that it is also colored darker. Its forms and habits are that of a Finch and not that of a Robin. The sunken nest is on the ground and looks much like the surroundings. One can hardly see it and it often happens that it is stepped on without knowing THE OOLOGIST ‘ezUesely, ‘I Jo kson09 YeLA SUSUR) JOAIY Weog Ul punousy 94} UO UOUS}] On| g }eOUH Jo SHHA pue yson eG ot > eae ox rer are ra bs THE OOLOGIST —Photo by F. C. Willard Some of the Editor’s Wild Fowl 63 64 THE OOLOGIST it. The female, who is much smaller than the male, deposits the eggs, which are of a dirty white color and speckled with brown, in the little nest. Mostly one brood is reared dur- ing one season, but sometimes even two. The Chewink derives its name from the resemblance of its note to these syllables, while those calling it Towhee hear the sound, “to-wick,” “to-whee.” Its song is rich, full, pleas- ing and is uttered only when the bird has risen to the branches above its nest. The Chewink’s favorite place is the border of swamps and bushy fields. It is generally looking for earthworms and larvae of insects, on the ground among the dead leaves. Once in a while it refreshes itself on the dropping berries and fruits. When startled the bird rises about 10 to 12 feet from the ground and ealls its famous note. On account of its habit of flying low and grabbing among the leaves it is often called the Greund Robin. The Chewink is one of our most useful birds. Wm. C. Martin. Illinois. et ola ee Se The Swallow-tailed Kite. I think it was about May 10th, 1889 —my note book recording the incident was destroyed by fire—that I sallied forth on a warm sunny morning in quest of nests of the Swallow-tailed Kite. A brisk walk of four or five miles took me to the large cypresses of Billums Creek bottoms, where I had found a few nests in the past, but generally in inaccessible situations to me, equipped as I was then. But now I had an extra good pair of climbers and a belt of extra length, so I felt like tackling most any kind of a tree. A cypress is a very easy tree to climb if it is not too large, as the wood is very soft and yielding, allowing the spurs to be socked in as far as they will go, with little effort. Sure enough, when I got down among the lofty cypresses, just above their featherly tops, a beautiful Swal- low-tail floated lazily, describing the matchless graceful curves that only this bird can. The Turkey Vulture appears to float in the air with very little effort, but it takes the Swallow- tailed Kite to do the trick with abso- lutely no visible effort whatever. Oh man! you may fly, but not in a thous- and centuries can you hope to fly as does this beautiful creature. . ‘ihe bird in the air proved, as I sus- pected, to be the male, for I soon lo- cated the nest with the tips of the tail of the female showing. But shades of Pinchot, what a tree! At least ten feet in diameter at the base, tapering to abeut eight feet a few feet up and holding this for at least forty feet, when it widened or flattened out to abcut ten feet wide and four feet thick and then divided into two prongs, each of which was about four feet in diameter, towering afolt at an angle of about ninety degrees, for more than 100 feet. Near the top of the west prong, a limb four inches in diameter had been blown off, causing three young sprouts to grow out and shoot straight up for about six feet. Right in the tops of these young branches the nest was placed on a network or platform form- ed by small horizontal branches put- ting out from the three main shoots. The latter were about 11% inches in di- ameter at the bases and much too frail to bear my weight. The main trunk was covered with large wart-like protuberances, appar- ently stuck on to make what would otherwise have been an almost impos- sible task, a cinch. The trunk was hollow, and by striking on it a heavy club it gave a sound that caused Mrs. Kite to leave her nest in haste. She was at once joined by her mate and both birds remained in the vicinity as THE OOLOGIST 65 long as I was there, showing mucn concern at my intrusion. The situation looked hopeless, but I was satisfied that the nest contained eggs, and I wanted those eggs, oh, so badly. My belt was much too short to encircle the tree, and even if it had been long enough it would have been impossible for me to have work- ed it up over the aforesaid tumors, some of which stuck out for a foot or more. Equipped as I was, I do not think the most expert steeple-jack in the world would have attempted the climb. But I was bound to have those eggs, or at least break my neck in the attempt to get them; so I went home, secured a good Indian bow and arrows which I happened to have, a couple of hundred feet of silk bass line, a like quantity of good strong cord and about 100 feet of %-inch Manilla rope. Thus equipped, I again made my ap- pearance on the field of action, at about 1 p.m. Mrs. Kite was on again, leaving the nest at my close approach. She gave a few faint whistles, and her mate joined her instanter. Removing the point from one of the arrows I attached one end of the bass line to it and coiled the line so it would run free. ‘Before proceeding further I had to climb two trees and chop off some limbs in order to get a clear space for the flight of the ar- row and line. This accomplished, I let drive, but the arrow went much too low. After about twenty trials and much entangling and untangling of line, the feat was finally accomplish- ed. But when I attached the cord to the line and attempted to draw it through the crotch of the tree, the bass line stuck, and I dared not pull on it very hard. Coiling the line, I climbed a nearby tree till well above the crotch in the cypress, when I had no trouble in getting the line over. After tying knots in onehalf of the rope, I found it was too short, but this was soon remedied by attaching a generous length of grape vine at the bottom end, when I hauled it through the crotch and made one end fast to a tree. Strapping on my climb- ers I was soon up to the crotch, but here I met with difficulty in getting into the crotch. The rope hung over a slight hump and swung clear of the tree far enough to allow me to get my hands around it, but when I arriv- ed at the hump, which was just below the crotch, it looked like Waterloo. But after resting a bit I brought my climbers into play and finally worked up above the hump and fell into the crotch. I gazed down at the bristling cypress knees below and _ realized what would be my fate if I should fall. All this time the birds had been making vicious dives at me, some- times coming so close that I could feel the wind from their wings on the back of my head. After a good rest, I adjusted my belt and went up with- out difficulty till I arrived at the large limb, growing on the broken stub of which were the young sprouts which held the nest. Here I had to do a bit of ticklish crawling, while the wind swayed the limb in a way that I did not like. The wood of the tree was old and brittle and I realized that the limb was liable to split off at any moment. However, no such thing happened, and I soon found myself just beneath the nest. I dared not try to get up far- ther, so I tip-toed on the swaying limb and could just put my hand in the nest. Two eggs! Taking off my collecting box, which I had carried up swung over my shoulder, I pulled off a piece of Spanish moss with which the nest was festooned, packed the eggs and lowered them to safety. The ground color of the eggs was a pale bluish white; the larger egg was boldy splashed near the larger end with 66 THE OOLOGIST brown, varying from almost black to a rich Vandyke; the smaller egg had lighter shades of brown rather evenly distributed over the entire surface, in smaller spots. The eggs are not in my possession, and I have forgotten the measurements, but the larger of the two was rather large for this spe- cies and: was an unusually handsome ege. Incubation had just begun and I blew them through 1-16-inch holes, first cutting the lining neatly with a small curved knife which I made from an embryo hook. The nest was a beautiful affair of ' rather smali sticks and Spanish moss, lined and gaily festooned with the lat- ter. It was about 24-inches in diame ter and fully one foot thick, depth in- side about three inches, a very sym- metrical and compact structure—a better grade of workmanship than I have ever seen in any kind of hawk nest, or any other kind of nest of so large a size, except, perhaps, one of an American Raven which I[ found in the mountains of New Mexico. First and last, I have collected quite a few sets of this species, but this was the worst climb I ever had. The ma- jority of the nests in this locality, Tyler County, are placed in tall pines, seldom below 100 feet from the ground. The one referred to above was just 155 feet up, as I determined by tying a knot in the string with which the egzs were lowered and later measured—the string. Fifteen or twenty years ago, Swal- low-tails were very abundant here, so much so in fact, as to be regarded as a nuisance on account of their fondness for young Mockingbirds. I have seen them rob these nests dozens of times, but never saw them pilfer any other kind of bird’s nest. They are very fond of young wasps. They will swoop down and pluck a wasp nest with their claws and eat the young wasps at leisure as they float around in the air. Small green snakes and chame- leons, Anolis, also figure prominently in their bill of bare. The birds are getting rare here now. Have never known them to occupy the same nest- ing site twice. ‘HY. EF. Pope. Colmesneil, Texas. a Seer ne Sis SS From Utah. According to promise in The Oolo- gist of January 15th, I again show up as I am some 3000 feet higher as to al- titude, not in stature—being only five . feet four. Leaving our camp of yesterday (June 1, 1911) as recorded in my pre- vious letter, we make an early get away, up at 5 a. m. After a hasty breakfast we soon had our harness en, and material necessary for collect- or’s outfit in Utah, which consisted at the time of a U. S. knapsack well filled with provender (an essential), a Tommy hatchet, pruning shears, an- other essential to the Oologist, saw and climbers. We started for the up- per zone of the Tintic range which is some two miles Hast of camp. The sloping hills spoken of before comes to an abrupt end, when we reach the foot of this precipitous part of the earth, “The Tintic Range,” and where one is fortunate to find water to drink. On the way to the foot of the range, on the S. W. slope of an abrupt bluff, a Western Flycatcher, with a set of four fresh eggs, in a cavity of an old. half dead, scraggy Cedar, six feet up. Farther along on the steep side of a deep arroyo stood a lonely Pine on which was seen a male Sparrow Hawk, perched on its topmost branch on guard. On examination we find a large portion of the tree had been burned out many years ago. One lit- tle Hawk had a finely marked set of THE OOLOGIST 67 eggs in a burned cavity, black as night, twenty feet up. One can hardly forget the picture with such a setting, five bright eyes peering out of the coal black hole. While one of my companions was climbing to the Hawk’s nest I noticed a small bird fly up and into a small hole, which ap- peared many times smaller than the bird, yet it had free access. With saw and hatchet we soon had an opening which disclosed a handsome set of seven eggs of the Western Winter Wren—such beauties! Elated over our success so early in the day, we go on with renewed vigor, looking for- ward to a good day's work, we start up the steep and rocky mountain side. Saw Chickadees, one pair Pine Gros- beaks also a small Flycatcher, not known to me. After reaching the top, we keep on the ridge, we locate an- other Sparrow Hawk’s nest in an old Fir stump, only five feet up, with the female on the eggs. I was not alto- gether acquainted with these little fel- lows, and being assured that no harm would come of it, I put my gloveless hand into the hole, to be quickly grasp- ed as in a vise. My hand came back to me with a jerk and our little Madam with it. She was so attached to me she did not want to let go; my companion took hold of her, and with much stroking of the head and back coaxed her away, when she sat calm- ly without fear for several minutes, while the eggs were taken from the nest—was I scared? Some. We continued on to the Hast, to the highest point, some 2000 feet then the camp and fully eight miles away. We now turn back, taking a narrow deep canon until we reach Santchi’s Camp; where we find a Western House Wren had taken possession of a corn- er of the bedroom; only three eggs, left for future call. Saw several Rock and two Dotted Cannon Wrens in this canon. It is now near three o’clock and seven miles from camp, we hurry on. In a Mountain Maple copse near the mouth of the canon we locate a Sharp-shinned Hawk in a Maple 15 feet up with five eggs; these birds were some fighters, one’s hat was not safe for a minute. It took two per- sons to keep them away from the one in the tree. Must be seen to appre- ciate fully. About three rods away, in an old Magpie’s nest a Long-eared Owl had five pipped eggs. We hasten on to the sloping hills, wherein we flushed a Brewer Sparrow from her fresh eggs. It was now grow- ing toward dark and three long miles from camp, which we reached late and weary, having lifted ourselves 2500 feet and traveled at least 22 miles in 14 hours. We spent ten days on this trip. May Westbrook. Utah. ox oF See Vermont Notes. This has been a rather nice winter for birds so far. Robins are reported as being around all winter and about a month ago a flock of wild geese was seen. I have heard Crows cawing a number of times. I was out for a walk a few weeks ago and I heard a Chickadee whis- tling. I got under an evergreen tree and answered him; in a few minutes he came right into the tree and seem- ed very much surprised to find me instead of another Chicadee. There is at least one man in town who has a “bird table” and feeds the birds. He has Chicadees and Nut- hatches. Last winter the Redpolls were very plentiful, but haven’t seen any this year. There were a few people that had a treat in seeing a large flock of Even- ing Grossbeaks. I haven’t looked it 68 ; THE OOLOGIST up, but they say they have never been reported here, although one bird book says they were in the Hast in 1889-90. They are in color, males, brownish- yellow, with wings, tail and crown black. The upper parts of the wings are white. The females are dingy brownish-grey, with a yellowish tinge; the belly and throat are whitish; the tail feathers on inner web are tipped with white. The call notes are rather loud, and the scng is short, but melo- dious, like that of the Robin. I have seen a few flocks of Snowbirds or Snowflakes. The Tree Sparrows were quite thick, they resemble our Chipping Sparrows, but you can tell the difference, by the black dot in the center of the Tree Sparrow’s breast. George H. Murphy. Vermont. —_—_—_—_—__<>>_e—_____—_- Books Received. Fifty Common Birds of Farm and Orchard, Farmers’ Bulletin No. 513, U. S. Department of Agriculture. This little pamphlet of 31 pages gives a description as well as colored plates of fifty cf the commoner birds found in the vicinity of the improve- ments on farms, and is a credit to the department. More publications of this kind would be beneficial. It is especially to be commended because of the colored plates illustrating the dif- ferent species from which the ordin- ary layman can immediately recognize the bird seen, provided of course, it is therein illustrated. The Canadian Alpine Journal, Spe- cial number, 1912. This splendid little publication of 97 pages contains lists of the mam- mals and birds collected or observed on the expedition taken by the Alpine Club of Canada to explore Jasper Park, Yallowstone Pass, and the Mount Robinson region in the North- ern Rockies, a territory seldom visited by scientists. These lists are by M. Hollister. It also contains a list of the plants observed by Paul G. Stanley. All of these lists are published by permis- sion of the Smithsonian Institution. The list of birds contains only the surprisingly limited number of 78, showing that birds in that territory must be few and far between. The publication is certainly a credit to the Alpine Club which has its head- quarters at Banff, Alberta. These lists will without doubt sometime rank as authority upon the subject of which they treat in the territory covered. Cassinia for 1912, contains the fol- lowing articles: George Archibald McCall by Whit- mer Stone. Bird Migration in Pennsylvania a Hundred Years Ago, by Wells W. Cook. Roosting Habits of the Purple Grackle in the Delaware Valley, by Julian K. Potter. Pigeons by the Million, from N. Y. Times, 1886. In Days before The Club, by Spen- cer Trotter. List of Unusual Records. Spring Migration Report for 1912. —— BALD EAGLE. As I have said before, all was never told about this well known bird’s nest- ing habits. In heavy timbered sec- tions where nesting trees are plenti- ful, this bird will desert the nest and build a new one the following year a mile or sO away in another tree, or likely so far away that you will be un- able to find it. In the year 1912 two nests that were occupied and contain- ed eggs were absolutely deserted this spring of 19138. Another nest that contained a set THE OOLOGIST. 69 of two eggs last season, was occupied this year. This site was the most fav- orable for many miles around, being situated up a Sycamore tree on an is- . land in the river though some one took the eggs ahead of me. Another nest that was occupied in 1909, contained one egg, complete set. This nest was deserted for two years and occupied by another pair of birds in 1912. The reason I know it was another pair of birds was this,—this ' female was more daring, and the seta collected this year contained two eggs, which were about one-quarter larger. My old original pair of Eagles have given me cne of the greatest of stu- dies yet. On May 10, 1899, I discov- ered a nest up a large Chestnut tree, up 80 feet, dead in the top, containing two half grown young. The follow- ing year, 1900, on April 8, I visited the nest again but was too late, the nest contained one young and one addled egg; this broke the ice at last, so in 1901, cn March 8, I went again each year going a month earlier. The nest was deserted, I might have known better than to undertake going up, and I had probably gone 30 feet up, when my spurs slipped and down I came, skinning my chin on the bark and landing at the base of the roots with such a jar that one tooth pene- trated clear through my lower lip. When landing my spurs embedded in the large approaches of the main stem and the weight of my body was too much for my lower limbs to hold in elastic rigitity, and the result was I went clear down to heels but with quite force enough to overbalance me. The resertion of this nest was caused by my taking the little bird the year previous. I was about doomed to disappoint- ment when a man in town asked me if I had not ‘been after Eagles, and he told me of a new nest about two miles from the old one. It was in a tall Pine Oak tree, about 120 feet up, on a hillside swamp. The tree stood in the lower part of the swamp and loomed high above its neighbors, that stood around it. As I was done with spurs for that day, I managed to get up and down without them. The nest contained two incubated eggs which I broke while blowing, the only ones I have ever broken, thus I had failure: all around but it was my own fault, poor equipment, ete. Winter of 1902-03. Tree cut down. March 38, 05 new nest lower down in swamp; looked in nest from adjoining tree and birds left. March 5, 1905. New nest but seem- ed unoccupied. I actually gave them up for five years, but in March, 1910, I took a set of two from a new Chestnut in original wood, a tree very similar to the one from which I fell. March 4, 1911, this nest contained another nice set of two eggs, same nest as 1910. March 11, 1912, they built a new nest about 300 yards distance in a Black Oak tree, which contained their usual number, two eggs. March 3, 1913, they had returned to the Chestnut I had taken two sets from previously. The four good sets saved from this pair of birds all bear a uniformity in size, also the set that was broken. The addled egg is some- what longer. I give these notes to warn the read- ers of The Oologist not to put too much dependence on a Bald Higle’s nest if eggs were taken the year pre- vious. Eggs taken by me in the Middle At- lantic States show a great diversion in size the smallest measures 2.13 x 2.62; the largest 2.32 x 3.03. Their color is a yellowish-white, or a blue-white. I think age makes the: 70 THE OOLOGIST blue tinge leave, although the differ- ence would not be noticed in a single set by itself. Wm. B. Crispin. New Jersey. i White Thrashers Eggs. We have recently placed in our col- lection a very valuable edition in the shape of a set of four white eggs of the Brown Thrasher—Texostoma ru- fum—presented to us by our friend, EH. A. Ford, of Chicago. This set is, to the naked eye, almost pure white, but when held up to a strong artificial light or put under a strong magnify- ing glass slight traces of a few brown pigment markings can be seen. The ground color is white. The set was taken by Mr. Ford at Glenco, Cook Co., May 25th, 1907. The nest was on the ground under a heap of dead bushes, in a bed of dry leaves under the bush. It was 5%4 inches in diameter and 1% inches deep, composed of leaves, twigs and rootlets, and lined with fine dark colored rootlets. The bird was flush- ed from the nest. We are under obligations to Mr. Ford for one of the real raraties in our large collection. 2+—<-—_0- Random Notes in Review. May 31. In a clump of tangled bushes in a hedge corner the voice of Bell’s Vireo guided me to its secluded quarters, and I was afforded an oppor- tunity of extending my acquaintance with this interesting greenlet. The song of this diminutive bushman is not loud, but its hurried enunciation, its somewhat scolding inflection, its frequent repetition in the vicinity of its nest, its true vireo-like equality, and the elusiveness of the author, make the song and songster easy to identify after an acquaintance has be- gun... The singing of the Bell Vireo can not be heard far away when other members of the bushland choir are performing, and hence this bird doe; — not seem to be generally noticed. J the bird-gazer, however, will folloy the quiet hint that comes to his ear, from the clustering: shrubbery, ani trace the persistent musician to th center of his round of song, he wi': find the home of this neglected Vire and learn something of the ways oi the little greenlet moving restlessly in the copse. Like some others of our songsters in midsummer, the Bell Vireo affects two keys for the execution of its songs. The singing in the higher key is clearer and more distinctly articu- lated, while the other phase of execu- tion is much lower, harsher, and seems to be forced through the closed or nearly closed mandibles. The latter performance is not heard nearly so frequently as the regular ditty, but it appears to be the expression of a fer- vent affection to its listening mate. All our Vireos sing while moving rest- lessly among the foliage or hopping nervously from twig to twig, peering upward or sidewise to detect any suit- able food morsels, and this habit - necessitates the frequent moving of the observer to follow the actions of these woodland songsters. The Bell Vireo prefers the edges of the clumps it haunts, seldom getting out into the full sunlight except when it flits out sportively in its nuptial movements. Its attachment to the clump contain- ing its pendent nest is extremely noticeable, and when driven away by the presence of wandering disturbers, it can be heard singing there as soon as the disturbance has removed. When the nest has its complement of eggs, however, the birds generally do not leave the place, but indicate their ob- jections to the presence of observers by.. weak, vireo-like chirping, sound- ESS * ve ing much like the scolding calls of the ‘ Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos. ite resorts. ¢ June 4. Further observations on the “abits of the Yellow-breasted Chat dis- lose the fact that it possesses a larger *epertoire of notes and calls than I ver imagined. In a locality where ob-whites were frequently calling, I ~eard the Chats utter calls closely imi- ative of the full whistling of the well- cnown game bird. In the same local- uty the chats uttered calls much like the cries of the Blue Jay. Lately I heard a Chat imitating the notes of a Towhee, both birds being in the range of vision in positions where I could not mistake the calls and auth- ors, and repeatedly the so-called yel- low-breasted mocker gave evidence of his power by whistling in imitation of the Towhee. Hidden in the covert, I recently watched a Chat as he sat and gave ut- terance to his peculiar calls. He was in a low tree out in the full sunshine. Throwing his head upward, his rich yellow throat swelled as he emitted the single whistle with which he be- gins his regular performance. Then he turned his head quizzically to one side and uttered a series of sharp cack- les. Turning to the other side, he gurgled a few harsh gutterals in a tone thus far unused; and then he continued in a round of calls and cacklings peculiar to the Chat vocab- ulary. I have no hesitation in pro- nouncing this Chat a mocker of abil- ity, not surpassed in this region by the Catbird, though the latter is class- ed with our best mimics. Ordinarily it is difficult to observe the movements and antics of this Chat, for bushes and coverts are its favor- As the would-be obsery- er penetrates the copse in hopes of surprising the hidden whistlers, they ‘recede in the most approved will-of- the-wisp fashion. They are very lo- THE OOLOGIST 71 quacious near the spots where their mates are sitting on their eggs. Near a nest which [ visited lately was a pile of sawed and split wood, towering several feet above the bushes, and this eminence was a tavored site for the male to alight and utter his med- leys. When he perceived that he was the subject of observation, however, he would drop into the covert with loosely hanging wings and tail, and there continue his sputterings and ejaculations. July 14. The Chipping Sparrow frequently employs the hour between sunset and dusk in feeding. This evening I watched a family of four gleaning along a railroad track over- grown with weeds, principally pepper- grass. The Sparrows worked leisure- ly along the track, loitering under the pepper-grass herbs to pick up fallen - seeds. At times one of the gleaners would hop into the shrub, apparently to give it a gentle shake, after which action he would hop down and pick up the results. At other times one of the sparrows would flutter upward, grasp a branch or seed-pod, and then drop back to the ground. Sometimes after pulling down a branch they would hold it down with the feet and peck away the coveted seeds. July 21. Today in the stillness and heat of the noontide my attention was attracted by a low, sweet crooning in the foliage of a nearby tree. The music had all the qualities of the Rose breasted Grosbeak’s, but the subdued execution and continuous production left me in doubt as to the author. It was like the crooning of the Catbird in mid-winter, or the gentle effusions of the Warbling Vireo in a late summer afternoon, or the feeble pulsings of ‘the ebbing tide of Oriole music in early July, or a Robin’s poetic whisp- ‘erings; but so rare at this season, so ‘tender in quality, so appropriately in 72 THB OOLOGIST Windmill Nest Box —Photo by J. F. Taylor accord with surrounding circumstan- ces that I was immediately led out- doors to, identify the noonday vocal- ist. It was a young male Red-breast- ed Grosbeak, closely attended by his mother. Hopping from one station to another, he frequently paused to give expression to that murmured melody, not the consecutive songs which char- acterize the singing of the mature songster, but a continuous flow of touching minor measures. I took it to be the first attempts of the young- ster to attune his vocal mechanism to the lyrics we love to hear in the vVer- nal season. While the promising young songster practiced his measures, the mother bird kept within a suitable distance, uttering approvingly the well- known “chick,’ and quivering her wings and tail with all the fervor of material admiration. Yes, Mr. Editor, there are many strange and interesting things we can see and hear in birdland if we only listen and look for them. P. M. Silloway. Virden, Illinois. Index for 1912. 7 During the year 1912 THE OOLO GIST published contributions from 89 different contributors, and 50 illustra- tions, and published observations re- lating to 420 different species of birds. Some ‘Oologist,” Eh? THE OOLOGIST Collectors, Naturalists Do you want a nice mounted bird to adorn the top or your cabinet or to hang in your den? If so, then send your specimens to me where they will be properly mounted by an expert Bird Taxidermist, one who has spent years in the field and knows how a bird should look. I am going to make some pecial prices to collectors and students,, so Bend on your specimen, or address Re EF. MULLEN, Taxidermist Studio 2419 QO St. South Omaha, Nebr. THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop2r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “‘The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study” can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. Vil BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN,N Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. If not the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regular Egg Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, as No, 2, 25c:. No. 3, 35c; No. 4, ‘45¢; No. 5, 50c Blowpipes: All pext nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c Embryo Hooks: Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Embryo Scissors: Finest quality straight, or curved, 50c. $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back volimes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. VIII THE OOLOGIST Live North American Wild Fowl for Sale In order tu stimulate the interest in this most fascinating branch of bird study, we have determined to place a part of our large collection of these birds on the market, and offer forsale, mated pairs of the following species: Blue Geese Lesser Snow Geese ~ Hutchins Geese Canada Geese American White-fronted Geese at prices which will be found attractive on application. But unless you really purpose buying some of these, do not annoy us with correspondence relating thereto. R. M. BARNES, LACON, ILL. Soins arene enenanen ae ontenonooeee an | Egg Collectors Take Notice I want this spring the following first class eggs in original sets accompanied by reli- able data. I have a most attractive exchange list to offer for those I want, including many exceedingly desirable specimens. First come, first served! Fer those that I want and can- not get by exchange I am willing to pay a fair cash price for. These are the eggs I want, Viz: . ONE set each of A. O. U. Nos. 42, 79, 120a, 135 ded2> 138, 167% 178, 179, 184° tea Dis, 261 1-4, 310, 319, 332 1-4, 341 1-4, 343, 359 1-4, 375 1-4, 375a, 375d, 419, 423, 454, 493, 1. T. S., 507, 586, 597, 652, 674, 707a. TWO setc each of A. O. U. Nos. 25, 26, 29, 103, 129, 142, 145, 148, 154, 160, 161, 180, 195, 207, 252, 260, 289b, 295, 335 2-4, 339 2-5, =F 341 2-2, 356, 377, 397, 409, 457, 477, 498e, 510 2-5, 511b 2-6, 529b, 554, 581, 611, 639, 657, 676, 698, 733. THREE sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 13a, 21, 430 DA, eld: ode HO, hd 62s eee Great Os 211c¢, 228, 229, 243, 300a, 309, 310a, 310b, 337b 3-3, 347, 351, 352, 356a, 376, 383, 387, 396, 374e, 293a, 337b 4-2, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FOUR sete each of A. O. U. Nos. 10, 14, 34, 38, 81, 82, 83, 123, 128, 185, 192, 264, 286, 293a, 3837b, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FIVE sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 52, 92, 120b, 123a, 141.1, 194b, 204, 206, 213, 220, 222, 2 227, 258a, 272, 278, 281, 287, 289a, 292, 298, : 200e; 334; 345, 3738; Sisb, sie, woila, cet ee 488a, 570, 58le, 621, 622, 702, 744. Address, R. M. BARNES Lacon, Til. =f =i = =i ii on =I ii an a THE OOLOGIST. — BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY Won sock. NO. 5. ALBION, N. Y., May 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 3810 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. serted for less than 25 cents. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your ‘subscription expires. Remember we must ‘be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 310 your sub- acription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 19 Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one mumber per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention ‘The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. —_———_—_—_——— ee VO Specimens of specimens 0 We will not advertise the skins, nests, eg s.. These columns are for the use of those desiring North American Birds for sale. gs, or mounted to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, [11 BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. ae S. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Aubara. aN. . =p WANTHD.—TO exchange skins, also bird hotographing camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BU Y—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- NETT. *‘ Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) ES SE Eee eee EEE TO #KXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- dection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. > cea 80 Killingsworth Ave., Beene, re. 2-p - I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, Ce ) -p _ EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- .dt’s .Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. PROCK WAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) First class skins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (1) ne EEE WANTED.-— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will give in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) Cee ee FOR EXCHANGE.~—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. ary es Aw i: fi eee ee See WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting, two Am. Avocets, male, ads.. two Am. Wood- cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts, male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads. Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) WANTED. Scientific skins of A. VU. U. 20, 242, 289a, 320, 320a, 327, 360, 357, 372a 373a, 373b, 373c, 3730. 373e. 373f, 373g, 373h, 373,1, 373.2, 374, 374a, 377, 3784, 379. 379.1, 380381. Willexchange, for them A. O. U. 34, 380. The Owls must all be the small Genra of the Varieties. H. W- AITKEN, 1521 Vine St., Poona -p I THE OOLOGIST EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. FOR EXCHANGE.— Foranything of use to asportsman. A.I. mounted Birds and Skins of water fowl and owls. MILO DENNY, Waubeek, Iowa. EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 4124, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 629, 540. 584, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) Ihave afew good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID EK. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, west D) zines for exchange. St., Hartford, Conn. Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. elke BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham. Hueleee -p D. E. BROWN, 6044 Ist Ave.. No. W. Sta. F Seattle, Wash. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. a Se Si Se TO EXCHANGE—Sets with data, North American and Foreign. Can use many com- mon kinds of both. Dr.T. W. RICHARDS Re Navy, 1911 N.St., N. W., Washington els| EXCHANGE.—Vol. 23 Physical Culture’ Want Reed’s Color Key to North American Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hummers, Sets of 144 Kegs. flying squirrel skins. KARL HAMILTON, Yohoghany, Pa. (1-p) Esq., 937 St. Charles S. T., Victoria, B. C. WANTED.—To hear from collectors who have sets with Cowbird eggs in them. Who wants skins of the Wild Turkey, 310 A? Last year I putup ten. Ineed man sets with nests, Canada Jay, er, Warbling Vireo and nest, numerous arblers, ~t. Lucas, Mearn’s and LeCont’s hrashers, and Varied Thrush and nest. . BAILEY, Newport News, Va. WANTED. I will collect sets in North West Canada this season. I want sets of Hagles, Hawks and Owls. THOS. S. HILL, Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (1-p) One Portable Tradic Medical Battery, two cells with all appliances good as new. 40 issues of Recreation. Dry platecamera4x 5.. Exchange for birds’ eggs. ©. B. VANDER- COOK, Odin, Ml. (2-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data_and' singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, Mase (1-p. FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith— sonian Identification, for specimens andl ouriosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred,. W. W. WESTGATE, 809 Ist North, Seattle. Wash. 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Two_ hundred sets: with data, in first class condition, including 50 European (without data) in cabinet. List. sent on application.—_DR. JAMESON, 105 N.. Washington St., Titusville, Pa. (4-p) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial— ly 459; also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a, 474b, 533; 558, 641, 648, 673, 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. \1-p): FOR EXCHANGE.—A lIarge list of fine sets: with data, to exchange for fine sets of Rap- tores and large singles. Exchange also de- © sired in minerals, sea shells, butterflies and moths. L.C. SNYDER, Lacona, N. Y. (1-p) FOR SALE.—At less than half cost; Oak Egg Cabinet, nine drawers; 26x85 inches; 209) permanent divisions 24 to 3 inches deep. Made especially for my Water Birds Egg.. THOS. H. JACKSON, 304 N. Franklin St... West Chester, Pa. (2) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.—For skins: or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. VIII, Vol. VII, No. 5-6; Vol. EX, No.1. Nidiologist, Vol. III, No. 1; Vol. 1I, No. 9; Vol. IH, No. 2; Osprey. Vol. 1-3; Condor, Vol. 3-1; Museum, Vol. I, No. 3-4-5-12. Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXITI-XXVLXXVII- XXVIII; Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7and 9: Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV, No. 3 and7. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY ,Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—My entire collection. of several hundred sets of eggs. Want bird and mammal skins, mounted birds and animals, game heads, beetles, old relics, stamps and curios. My special wants are skins of Bull Crested Sandpiper and female Dickcissels, mounted birds, A. O. U, Num— bers 11, 32, 47, 64, 74, 80, 125, 128, 134, 150, 166, 169, 171la, 177, 206, 211, 218, 225, 226. 258, 260, 269, 280, 281, 286, 288, 293. 308, 309, 311, 325, 326, 327, 362, 370,. 377a, 381, 443, 471, 476, 483, 487, 513, 518a; Mounted Mole (Scalops), Civet (Bassariscus), Southern Fox Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Texan Pecarry, Antelope head, Gila monster and 3 foot Alli- gator. List everything you can offer. No eggs wanted. W.E.SNYDER, R. F. D. No. 6, Beaver Dam, Wis. (i) THE OOLOGIST. Vou. XKX. No. 5. ALBion, N. Y. May 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 310 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill O. E. Baynard, of Florida 74 THE OOLOGIST California Condor. Friday, February 14, 1913, while my wife and I were strolling across a field in the valley of Hagle Rock, California, some seven or eight miles northeast of Los Angeles, I casually glanced sky- ward and the next instant nearly frigh- tened my wife to death with a startled ery of “Condor! Condor!” It was a few moments before she caught the drift of my cry, but when she did there were two of us standing in that field with some queer emotions in our breasts. The great bird was directly over- head, at the time, and very low down, about two hundred feet, as near as I could judge; and flying very slowly, so it seemed at first, but nevertheless traveling out of sight in a surprisingly short time. Its method of flight was seven or eight wing beats and then a prolonged soaring, and the light color- ed areas under the wings were very plain, as was its entirely naked neck. Its general color seemed to be a rusty black; but could not tell this positive- ly. It was flying north, and when it eame to the foothills of the Sierra Madre Range, which at this point are about 600 to 1000 feet, it barely cleared the top of the hills. There can be no question of the iden- tity of this bird, as its great size would distinguish it from all other birds at once, without the distinguishing whit- ish patches under the wings. As near as I could estimate in flight, its breadth should be about ten or eleven feet. This will always be a red’letter day for me, for at this day and date, the California Condor seems to be a rarae avis indeed. In over eight years of steady tramping through the Southern Sierras, only once before have I seen or thought I saw one of these giant vultures. But it was so late in the evening and at such a distance that I - have never been absolutely sure. And now to have had the pleasure of such a near view of one in my own home is luck indeed. ‘ While never hoping, I have cherish- ed a-much hidden dream that some day in some lonely canon I may stum- ble across the nest of this species; but it’s only a dream; yet a pleasant one, whether it ever comes true or not. And many a lonely campfire has been made brighter by just such dreams as these. H. Arden Hdwards. Los Angeles, Cal. 0

—__ —_____ Birds of Prey, Northern Ohio. For several years I have been study- ing the birds of prey in this part of the State. Within the last twenty years the Bald Hagle has become scarce here. I have not seen but one of these birds in two years. Formerly they were quite common. I[ have seen them feeding in early Spring on the dead body of a horse in common with crows. For many years there was a nest of this bird in the top of an old pine tree that stood on the bank of.Grand River. The tree was taken down by a wind storm some years ago. After that the birds nested in a large oak over near 88. THE OOLOGIST the lake until some gunners from the city interrupted them. Since then I have lost trace of them, although there may be other nesting sites in this section. I do not know of them. The Osprey is occasionally seen here but I do not know of any nesting sites in this corner of the state. It is quite interesting to see them catch fish from the river and lake. During the early Spring Black Vul- tures are quite common but I have never seen them here later than the middle of May. The Turkey Vulture is also common during the Spring and Summer, but I have never known of any nests be- ing found in this section. Of the Hawks that are common nest- ers here, we have the Red-tailed, Red- shouldered, Coopers, Broad-wing, Skarp-shinned, Sparrow, and Marsh Hawks, and put them in an open coop out in a pasture field. The old ones were very attentive and fed them reg- ularly. Nearly every day they brought them young chickens. One day last April while out col- lecting I tock one set of two badly in- cubated eggs of the Red-tail from a nest 56 feet up in a big beech. Also one set of three fresh Cooper’s at 70 feet up. Also one set of three fresh Red-shouldered. This nest was in a three prong crotch of a beech 76 feet up. Without limbs and as I never use climbers this was no cinch for an old man, but it was worth doing. Such beautifully marked eggs and a hand- some nest lined with small hemlock twigs. These three nests were all found within a distance of one-half mile. Of the Owls we have the Great Horn- ed Owl which is quite common. Bar- red Owl very common; screech Owl, very common. Aside from these we have occasionally the Long and Short- eared owls. The latter I have only met with from early fall until early Spring. For two seasons the Saw-whet owl has been here and I am sure that a pair nested last season in the big woods near here. It is very seldom we see the Snowy Owl here. During thirty years of observing birds in this section, I have seen but two specimens of Barn Owl. During the winter of 1901 two Great Gray Owls lived in the big woods. I saw them almost daily while at work; they seemed quite tame. Since then I have not seen any of them. On February 21, 1913, I located a nest of the Great Horned Owl 60 feet up in the crotch of a big Swamp ma- ple; the nest seemed built by the birds themselves. Later on I will write from the big woods. S. V. Warram. ee ee Virginia Bird Notes. This is the mildest winter we Hane had in many seasons. Last year, 1912, the Starlings appeared for the first time on January 4th; were again seen on the 8th, and last seen on March 6th. None remained during the summer, and this winter was not severe enough to drive them down here again. Eagles were two weeks earlier in coming this season. February 9th found them settled and two sets taken the 18th were incubated nearly three weeks. But I shall not go into detail about the Eagles, for W. B. Crispin of Salem, N. J., came down again to visit me and he will tell you of this year’s experience. Ducks and Geese are migrating Northward in great quantities already, while the warm weather has been disasterous to the markets, wild water fowl shipped in being in terrible condition, and I was informed about 50 per cent. of those killed were spoiled. H. H. Bailey. Newport News, Va. THE OOLOGIST Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of ee of Europe - $ .50 Smith’s The Canary, 12 colored plates, 1870 - 1.50 Tegetmeier’s The Hone Pigeon, Eiius., 1871 - - 1.25 Canary Birds, A Manual for Bue Keepers, Hiway < - Bird Neighbors, School ie colored plates, 1899 - - Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - 1.50 A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by yeipieice artists - 1.00 Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 2215thSt. Philadelphia, Pa. 1.0C THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Cooper Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study’’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. Vib BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN, N. Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. Ifnot the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regulsr Egg Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, 20c; No, 2, 25c: No. 3, 35c; No. 4, ‘45¢; No. 5, 50c. Blowpipes: All best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Embryo Hooks: Nickle plated, 25c. Embryo Scissors: No,2, best quality straight or curved, 50c. Finest quality straight, $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol.mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and a free copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. Vill Seema ii ue aii eli =i oii ei ii ii =i in oii THE OOLOGIST Egg Collectors Take Notice I want this spring the following first class eges in original sets accompanied by reli- able data. I have a most attractive exchange list to offer for those I want, including many exceedingly desirable specimens. First come, first served! Fer those that I want and can- not get by exchange I am willing to pay a fair cash price for. These are the eggs I want, Viz: ON# set each of A. O. U. Nos. 42, 79, 120a, 135 1-12, 138, 167, 178, 179, 184 1-4, 218, 261 1-4, 310, 319, 332 1-4, 341 1-4, 348, 359 1-4, 375 1-4, 375a, 375d, 419, 423, 454, 493, I. T. S., 567, 586, 597, 652, 674, 707a. TWO sete each of A. O. U. Nos. 25, 26, 29, 103, 129, 142, 145, 148, 154, 160, 161, 180, 195, 207, 252, 260, 289b, 295, 335 2-4, 339 2-5, 341 2-2, 356, 377, 397, 409, 457, 477, 498e, 510 2-5, 511b 2-6, 529b, 554, 581, 611, 639, 657, 676, 698, 733. THREW sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 18a, 21, 43, 54, 115, 131, 150, 153, 162, 171, 196, 210, 211c, 223, 229, 248, 300a, 309, 310a, 310b, 337b 3-3, 347, 351, 352, 356a, 376, 383, 387, 396, 374e, 293a, 337b 4-2, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FOUR sete each of A.-O. U. Nos. 10, 14, 34, 838, 81, 82, 83, 123, 128, 185, 192, 264, 286, 293a, 337b, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FIVE sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 52, 92, 120b, 123a, 141.1, 194b, 204, 206, 213, 220, 222, 227, 258a, 272, 278, 281, 287, 289a, 292, 293, 300c, 334, 345, 373a, 373b, 3875c, 377a, 384, 488a, 570, 58le, 621, 622, 702, 744. Address, R. M. BARNES Lacon, Ill. FEAT URE EUS Eee ee = OrIeAlan THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY Von. XXX. No. 6. ALBION, N. Y., June 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 311 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. serted for less than 25 cents. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 311 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your een expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. We will not advertise the Skins, nests, eggs, Or mounted specimens OL North American Birds for sale. These columns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Ill. BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. FRANKS, WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, N. Y. (2-p) WANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird Bee bine camera for cash. CORNEL- Us BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- NETT., “Naturalist,” Cambridge, Ohio. (1-p) TO KXCHANGH.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. Bess, 80 Killingsworth Ave., ae re. -p I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREH, Roswell, Wie -D EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as} Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. PROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Il. (1) WANTED.—First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will give in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) Se ee eee ee FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. mopar pee -p W ANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting, two Am. Avocets, male, ads., two Am. Wood- cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts, male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads. Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) WANTED. Scientific skins of A. O. U. 20, 242, 289a, 320, 320a, 327, 360. 357, 372a 373a, 373b, 373¢, 373d, 373e. 378f, 373g, 373h, 373,1, 373.2, 374, 374a, 377, 378a, 379. 379.1, 380 381. Willexchange, for them A. O. U. 34, 380. The Owls must all be the small Genra of the Varieties. H. W. Philadelphia, Gos AITKEN, 1521 Vine St., [ THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued WANTED.—General birdskin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though [ solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. (1-p) EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the think justly so. FOR EXCHANGE.— For anything of use to asportsman. A.I. mounted Birds and Skins of water fowl and owls. MILO DENNY, Waubeek, Iowa. EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sete 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 529, 540, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY. Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- I have a few Sane sets to Sciance Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (851) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID E. BROWN Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, eee. 1p FOR SA LE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all sizes and in good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I phave also man zines for exchange. M. CASH, 7 St., Hartford, Conn. Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America. also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, “England, -p EXCHANGE.—A fine series a ten of the Pallas Murre from Cape Hope, Alaska. want 188, 332, 343, 348, 362, 364 and many ess E. BROWN, 6044 1st Ave.. No. W. Sta. F. Seattle. Wash. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each _of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: JS. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co.., Cal. TO EXCHANGE—Sets with data, North American and. Foreign. a use many com- mon kinds of Hee Dr. oo . RICHARDS = Be Navy, 1911 N. St., . Washington ~) EXCHANGE. VoL 23 Physical Culture Want Reed’s Color Key to North American Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hummers, Sets of 144 Eggs. flying squirrel skins. EARL HAMILTON, Yohoghany, Pa. (1-p) WANTED. I will collect sets in North West Canada this season. I want sets of Eagles, Hawks and Owls. THOS. S. HILL, Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (1-p) One Portable Tradic Medical Battery, tw® cells with all appliances good as new. issues of Recreation. Dry platecamera4x 5. Exchange for birds’ eggs. C. B. VANDER- COOK, Odin, Il. (2-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data and singles for first class bird skins. .G. WIL LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, Mass., (L-p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Identification, for specimens and ouriosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 Ist North, Seattle. Wash. 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Two hundred sets with data, in first class condition, including 50 European (without data) in cabinet. List sent on application._DR. JAMESON, 105 N. Washington St., Titusville, Pa. (4-p) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459; also rare pestage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a. 474b, 533, BOS, 641, 648, 673, 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. d-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—A large list of fine sets with data, to exchange for fine sets of Rap- tores and large singles. Exchange also de- sired in minerals, sea shells, butterflies and moths. L.C. SNYDER, Lacona, N. Y. (-p) FOR SALE.—At less than half cost; Oak Egg Cabinet, nine drawers; 2ox inches; 209 permanent divisions 23 to inches deep. Made especially for my Water Birds Egg. THOS. H. JACKSON, 304 N. Franklin St., West Chester, Pa. (2) FOR SALE OR _ EXCHANGE. or skins or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. VIII, Vol. VII, No. 5-6; Vol. [X, No. 1. Nigloteatat, Vol. IIT, No.1; Vol. II, No. 9; Vol. III, No. 2; Osprey. Vol. 1-3; Condor, Vol. 3-1; Museum, Vol. I, No. 3-4-5-12.. Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXIII-XX VI- KMS XXVIII: Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7and 9; Vol. Xie Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV, No. 3 and’. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, -Hadlyme, onn. (1-p FOR EXCHANGE.—My entire collection of several hundred sets of eggs. Want bird and mammal skins, mounted birds and animals, game heads, beetles, old relics, stamps and curios. My special wants are skins of Bull Crested Sandpiper and female Dickcissels, mounted birds, A. O. U. Num- bers 11, 32, 47, 64, 74, 80. 125, 128, 134, 150, 166, 169, 171la, 177, 206, 211, 218, 225, ‘006. 258,’ 260, 269° 280, 281, 286, 288, 293. 308, 309, 311, 325, 326, 327, 362, 370, 377a, 381, 443, 471, 476, 483, 487, 513, 513a; Mounted Mole (Scalops), ‘Civet (Bassariscus), Southern Fox Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Texan Pecarry, - Antelope head, Gila monster and 3 foot Alli- gator. List everything you can eae No eggs wanted. W.E.SNYDER. R. F. D. No. 6, Beaver Dam, Wis. (1) THE OOLOGIST. Vout. XKX. No. 6. ALBION, N. Y. JUNE 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 311 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. The Late William B. Crispin, Salem, New Jersey, 90 THE OOLOGIST eat fle WILLIAM B. CRISPIN Seeks Eggs; Dashed to Death—Falls 200 Feet on Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. Salem, N. J.. May 21.—William Crispin, a collector of birds’ eggs, lowered himself 100 feet by a rope in the Pocono mountains, near Haston, iPa., last Friday in quest of eagles’ eggs and fell 200 feet to his death. News of the accident became generally known when his body was brought to his parents home near here. Mr. Crispin, who was 33 years old, had collected birds’ eggs all over the country. Last week he had an order from New York for a certain kind of eagles’ eggs and set out for the Poconos to find them. He was last seen alive Friday afternoon near the place where he was killed. Saturday several women, who were picking wild flowers, came across his body. High up the perpendicular mountain side they saw the end of the rope. Papers of identification were found on the body, and the police learned by long distance telephone from Crispin’s father the object of his mission into the mountains. Crispin left a widow, and three chil- dren. His father is a former member of the New Jersey legislature.— Chicago Daily News, The foregoing clipping from the telegraphic column of the Chicago Daily News, May 12, 1913, tells its own sad story. Mr. Crispin was a naturalist of ability, a man of integrity, a good husband and father, and a credit to himself and to those who were his. It shows the dangers which a field naturalist necessarily incurs at times. The manner of his death recalls that of John C. Cahoon, who fell in like manner from the cliffs of Newfoundland on the shore of the sea. The readers of THE OOLOGIST will well remember his splendid powers of description and the accuracy of his observations, as he has been for sometime an occasional contributor to these cclums. To the bereaved ones he leaves behind, we extend our sympathy. The following is a list of his contributions to THE OOLOGIST since we became proprietors of the magazine: Wild Pigeon Eggs, Vol. 28, No. 5, pg. 91. The Downy Woodpecker, Vol. 29, No. 9, pg. 344. A Bartramian Sandpiper’s Nest, Vol. 29, No. 9, pg. 346. The Lure of the Wild, and the Bachelor Nest of the Bald Hagle, Vol. 30, No. 2, pg. 28. It is a pleasure to publish also the contributions of those who knew him better than we did, which here follow: Mr. Crispin’s death is a distinct loss to all lovers of “Oology and Ornithol- ogy.” He was a great enthusiast and tireless in the pursuit of rare speci- mens. His untimely end came while in search of the eggs of the Duck Hawk. He was a man of excellent habits and enjoyed a reputation for strict integrity, always dealing fairly in all his buisness relations. He will ever be remembered as a faithful friend, a good comrade and an honest man. Ernest A. Butler. Wm. B. Crispin Killed by a Fall. On May 9, 1918, William B, Crispin, THE OOLOGIST 91 of Salem, N. J., was instantly killed by a fall from the Nockaminon Cliffs, a few miles above Philadelphia, while endeavoring to get down to a Duck Hawk’s nest. He went up the Delaware River about noon of that day in the steam cars, and stopped at a nearby canal lock to get the attend- ant to go with him, to the site of the nest, but was compelled to go alone. He took with him a well-used one- inch rope, and also a new one of the same size—the latter four hundred feet long. With these on his shoulder he climbed to the top of the cliff 385 feet high, and when there used his older rope to lower himself down a steeply sloping bank about 100 feet to the brink cf a sheer drop clear to the bottom. At this point his rope was found, neatly coiled ready for use, and his hat lying on top of it. The site of the nest was about fifty feet below him, on. a ledge only one foot wide and about six feet long. He evident- ly lost his footing, while looking. down head foremost into the rocks 285 feet below. The body rolled into a little clump of bushes and was not found until the next afternoon, when a party of girls gathering wild flowers came across it lying within a short distance of the public road. Mr. Crispin is well known to our readers through the interesting arti- cles which he has from time to time written for the columns of THE OOLOGIST. This spring he took a trip after Bald Hagles’ eggs in Vir- ginia, and around Washington, and was very successful. He was a most remarkably easy and agile climber, and absolutely fearless. His local col- lection of eggs was a fine one, and in- cluded among its treasures a series of some ten sets of the Eagle eggs, all of his own taking; a series of thirty sets of Osprey eggs; a set of locally taken Wood Duck eggs, and a hand- some set of five Upland Plover, which - has already been noticed in THE OOLOGIST. He was a member of the A. O. U. and also of the Delaware Val- ley Ornithological Club, and altogeth- er one of the most likable young fel- lows that anybody ever met. A wife and three young children mourn his terrible death. The Nockaminon Cliff on the banks of the Delaware river, is quite noted locally as a nesting place of a pair of Duck Hawks. Mr. Gillem, of Ambler, Pa., has a dozen sets of eggs taken in different years from probably the same pair of birds, and only about ten days before the accident, had let himself down the cliff in search of another set. He stated that he believes the birds did not nest there this year, and it is certain that they were not there when Mr. Crispin had his fall, for another local Oologist scaled the rock only the day before. R. P. Sharples. West Chester, Pa. In Memory of William B. Crispin. I first became acquainted with “Billy” Crispin in the summer of 1908, through Mr. Carpenter, of Salem, N. J. On September 12, 1898, he came over to see me for the first time, and I returned the visit May 13, 1899. At that time he was a boy in his teens, just commencing to make a col- lection of eggs. I had started over again, after many years of inactivity, and was eager to have a young man like Crispin with me in the same hob- by. Being reared in the country, Cris- pin had a good opportunity to procure the eggs of all the birds that nested in his locality. In the summer of 1901 he yearned for new scenery, and started July 10, on his wheel to Buffalo. After taking in the exposition, he rode on to Maine, and returned to my house on. 98 THE OOLOGIST his machine. On the outskirts of the town he broke the barc-bow of his bi- cycle while descending a steep hill. He fell on his hands and knees, bruis- ing them, and tearing his clothing in a frightful manner. This trip did not satisfy him it only gave him an appe- tite for more, so he started for F'lor- ida, on November 7th, of the same year. His idea for going at this time of the year, was to be there when the Bald Eagle nested. Being unfamiliar with the locality and having no knowl- edge about the nesting sites, he fail- ed to take any eggs. He went on down to Miami, with the intention of look- ing for Everglade Kites, in the spring, but met with no success. On May 3, 1903, I bought all the eggs he had, so he has really made his col- - lection in the past ten years. I be- lieve he has about 85 different species personally collected, of the birds of New Jersey, besides many others taken in trade. Crispin was a great tree climber, as most egg men know. He never turned a tree down, no matter how large, how tall, or how rotten. I have seen him climb dead trees that had no limbs, only forks, shooting out like a crooked finger and a Fish Hawk’s nest near the end. He would get the eggs every time, sure. He was a close friend of mine, and we kept up a regular correspondence during the fifteen years. If he got anything new, he told me about it, and if I got anything I told him, so we had no egg secrets. He has gone, never to return. It was a great shock to all of us. He had gone out many times before, and stayed over the alotted time, but would always come back. This time he lay at the bottom of a cliff, bruis- ed, crushed, dead! How it happened no one can tell. Crispin was a care- ful climber, fearless, daring and brave, He must have slipped, lost his bal- ance and fell, all so quickly that it was all over in a second. His body rests under the shade of a large tree in Salem. The long branches stretching out from the trunk, makes a fitting canopy for the dead, the birds that he loved so well, singing in the top, will be his con- stant companions forever. EH. J. Darlington. Delaware. SRSA Ses IP a CHARLES J. PENNOCK MISSING. Kennett Square Business Man Sud- denly Drops Out of Sight. Charles J. Pennock, 55 years, jus- tice of the peace, tax collector and the all-around confidential man in business matters of Kennett Square, is missing. He disappeared Thurs- day night of last week, and his friends fear that he has either been foully dealt with, has become dazed and wandered away or has been suddenly overcome with serious illness. So far as is known, all his accounts are cor- rect, and no reason is given by his family for his mysterious disappear- ance. -Mr. and Mrs. Pennock left Ken- nett Square Thursday morning and went to Philadelphia, where he was to attend a meeting of the Delaware Valley Naturalist Union at the Aca- demy of Natural Sciences. She was to do some shopping. At 10:30 that evening Pennock went to Broad Street Station and complained of not feeling well, but in- sisted on taking the next train for his home. That was the last intelligence any one had of him, though the police of city hall have been trying to get some clue to his whereabouts, at the ‘hospitals and other points. Mr. Pennock was burgess of Ken- nett Square a few years ago, besides being justice of the peace and tax THE OOLOGIST 93 collector, he represents three insur- ance companies, is a director of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, is ornithologist of the State Board of Agriculture in Delaware, president of the Lake Makomer Re- sort Company, near Williamsport, is prominent in Masonic circles, a natur- alist of well-known ability, brother of the member of the State legislature, Theodore Pennock, and an uncle of Herbert Pennock, pitcher of the Ath- letic base ball team, of Philadelphia. He is 5 feet 10% inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He had on when he went away a dark suit with grey stripes, straw hat with card bearing his name inside, wore a stand up col- lar, dark necktie; he has closely crop- ped whiskers, which, like his hair, are mixed with gray. He has been twice married and has three children. A country-wide search has been go- ing on ever since his disappearance, but up to this writing his whereabouts remains a deep mystery. 2 se Ae Enoch J. Dietrich. A communication from H. F. Diet- rich brings the sad news of the death of Enoch J. Dietrich of Canby, O., re- gon, his brother, at the family home, Sunday, May 4th of pneumonia. Mr. Dietrich was well known to the the readers of THE OOLOGIST as an occasional contributor to these col- ums. During the last number of years he has been a more or less regular cor- respondent of Ye Editor, and we have quite a number of specimens furnish- ed by him in our collection. It is a pleasure to testify that in all his dealings, uprightness and straight- forwardness have been his absolute rule. His powers of observation and his ability to disclose what he saw were of the first order. The family and the oologists of the country have sustained a loss in his death, and to the bereaved ones we ex- tend our sincere sympathy. 2a ee ees Sorrow. James C. Cannon, formerly of Lake- wood, Ohio, now of Cleveland, is be- reaved by the loss of his wife, which estimable lady died a short time ago at his home in Lakewood. Mr. Can- non is an oologist of note, and to him Wwe extend our sincere sympathy. a HAROLD H. BAILEY wishes to an- nounce that the J. P. Bell Publishing Co. of Lynchburg, Va., have started work on the publication of his book “The Breeding Birds of Virginia, which they hope to have before the public on or about June Ist, 1913. There will be fourteen original full page colored plates of the birds, which with the one hundred and eight half tones, represent the greater part of the species of birds figuring in the text of over three hundred pages. Vir- ginia being the overlapping boundary of many of the northern and southern forms, the field covered should be of special interest to the ornithologist. As this will be a limited edition, those desiring to secure copies should noti- fy the author at Newport News, Va., as early as possible. The publishers are noted for their high class work and both they and Mr. Bailey guar- antee the whole work will be above the ordinary. The price will be ($3.00) three dollars.—(Adyv.) ee A Strange Egg. On May 3, 19138, I was out after eggs with Mr. EH. J. Darlington, near Hope Farm, Del. Seeing a Purple Grackle flush from a nest not more than six feet above the ground, I thought I would investigate. The nest was composed of dried grass and con- tained five little birds and one egg, which I took on account of its strange 94 Nest, Young ‘THE: OOLOGIST and Parent, Cedar Waxwing—Taken July 21, 1912 —Photo by J. F. Stierle, 95 THE OOLOGIST Nest, Young and Parent, Cedar Waxwing—Taken July 23, 1912 Stierle. —Photo by J. F. 96° THE OOLOGIST appearance. The egg measured one and one-sixteenth by seven-eights inches, and was white, thickly covered with reddish markings, and was very badly incubated. Mr. Darlington nor I could identify it. HK. M. Kenworthy. Delaware. rire An Albine Starling. Among the several breeds of Star- lings (Sturnus vulgaris) which were reared in my bird-cottage during the spring of 1912, there was one brood of four which was a true albine. As this bird lived to be but four weeks old, when a neighbor’s cat devoured him, it is rather difficult to say if this first plumage would have been replaced by the normal plumage of the adult stages. However, the first plumage of this bird was a glistening white with- out the least traces of markings of any kind. Its bill was quite normal, its eyes, straw-color, tinged with pink and its feet and legs, straw-color with slight traces of red appearing at num- erous places on their surface. Louis S. Kohler. Blocmfield, N. J. a ar ee Nesting of the Wood Thrush in Mississippi. In looking over one of my books the other day I was surprised to find the breeding range of the Wood Thrush given to be from North Carolina and Kansas north to Northern United States, as I had always regarded it as being one of our common birds down here in South Mississippi. In 1909 I tock my first set of four eggs of the Wood Thrush, on May 20th. The nest was about eight feet up in a small cedar and the bird was on the nest. This set was badly incubated but I took no more sets of these this year as it was late in the season. The next year I took a set of two on May 15 and found another set the same day which held two eggs. On the 16th I found a nest with two eggs and on the 21st I found two nests with four eggs each, one of which I took. On May 24th I found my last set of four. In 1911 I found five nests. On May 2d I found the first nest which held one egg. One nest was found on the 7th, two on the 12th, and the last on the 21st. In 1912 I did not take any sets as I was at work on the Coast all the spring, but I used to scare the birds up from the palmetto thickets on Deer Island quite often when I would go over there. So this year I was on the watch early and on the 28th of April I found a nest with four eggs and nearby another new one which four days later held four also. Then I found my old pair. nesting on the campus of the College and on May the 2d this nest held four greenish-blue beauties. JI have noticed that it is al- ways the same piece of woods that they nest in and so I am going out soon and see how many I can find. Early Spring Notes. Under date of April 1st just twen- ty species of our birds have arrived. As I write I am listening to the sweet incomparable warble of Bewick’s Wren. He has been here for several days and for three seasons past the welcome little southerner has been coming regularly. Last May a pair built a nest in a lumber pile here in the village only a stone’s throw from the store and I secured a photo of an- other family of young Bewick’s in a paint bucket hanging in a brick milk house. Have taken, in the village, under date March 29th, a fresh set of six Sereech Owl, the earliest set I have ever taken outside of timber. I have always found the timber Screechers from two to three weeks earlier than THE OOLOGIST 97 those residing in the orchards and towns. My pair here gives me a nice set each spring then promptly depos- its another set in the same place. The second set is just 30 days later and family number two is just as happy as if born a month earlier. As only one family is reared each season, I figure that my annual set does not reduce the number of Screech Owls. Have just received word from Guy W. Day of Sidney, Champaign county, who recorded the first authentic set of Barn Owls taken in Illinois, that he had a pair located already for 1913 and when ripe, he would give me the honor of taking the second set for IIli- nois. Ill be there. Isaac E. Hess. Philo, Ill. =) ere Series of Eggs of the Cedar Waxwing. Five eggs, incubation slight, ground color a light slate or bluish gray, sparcely marked with dark almost black brown spots and specks, scat- tered over the whole egg; with similar undermarkings of pale lilac and pur- ple; form long oval; measure .89 x LOUPEE Sonex OO, .89) X 261s .8%) x 262, 08S. x .61 inches; nest compactly built of small twigs, fine rootlets, weeds and leaf stems, mosslike and seedy fibres, dried stem, with stone of wild cherry attached, grass, wool, etc., lined with fine weed stems, and horsetail hair. The moss and wool are around the rim; nest on limb in White Oak; local- ity, Dodge county, 11% miles southeast of Columbus, Wis.; date, July 6, 1892. Four eggs, fresh, light bluish drab ground, not very heavily marked with seal brown and vandike brown in coarse bold dots and spots, and a few scrawls, finer and fainter undermark- ings of lilac with a faint cloudiness of a pale pinkish or reddish brown, prin- Cipally in the larger end; form oval; measure, .77 x .63, .75 x .63, .80 x 66, .79 x 62 inches. Nest in leaning clus- ter of swamp willow, composed of small twigs and reed stems, stripping from weeds, lined with this stripping and a little dry grass; quite bulky. Locality, Columbus County, Colum- bus, Wis.; date, August 8, 1895. Three eggs, slightly incubated, ground slate gray, with a greenish metallic tint, quite \ thickly marked with blackish brown, and undermark- ings of lilac, in specks, spots and dots; some of the spots the two col- ors seem to be mixed; two of the eggs show several scrawls of a dark metal- lic green; the darker markings are principally on the larger end of the egg; shape, oval; measure, .85 x .63, .83 x .62 inches. Nest was in swamp willow, of dead grass and weed stems, and hemplike strippings from weeds, and lined with the same. Locality, Columbia County, Columbus, Wis.; date, August 20, 1895. Four eggs, slightly incubated, dark ashy ground color, thinly and uneven- ly specked and spotted, over the whole ege with dark lilac and purple black, one being nearly destitute of the lat- ter markings; form oval; measure, 80 .& 262; :81- x .655°.83 262) inches’ nest of woodstems and small twigs, grass willow leaves and cotton, lined with a heavy lining of dead grass, vegetable down, wool in small quanti- ties, and a considerable quantity of a kind of moss stuff, placed in a willow; locality, Columbia County, Columbus, Wis.; date, August 18, 1898. ¥, These eggs are very difficult to save if advanced in incubation and for this reason I lost a large number of sets. George W. H. vos Burgh. Zion City, Tl. poe Se See More Big Eagle Eggs. J. B. Dixon, of Escondido, Califor- nia, this spring secured another set of three eggs from the same nest from 98 THH OOLOGIST Nest and Young of Parent, Cedar Waxwing—Taken July 24, 1912 —Photo by J. F. Stierle. THE OOLOGIST Nest and Young of Cedar Waxwing—Taken 1 day before leaving nest —Photo by J. F. Stierle. 100 which Ye Hditor took the set of two Bald Hagle eggs last spring. These three eggs were of the same general unusually large kind, and addled as has always been the case with this bird. This is the second set of three of which there is any history from this bird, and is to be congratulated this bird, and Mr. Dixon is to be con- gratulated on securing them. OC ta Se eet ES A Record. On April 26th, 1913, a friend of mine observed a pair of Bartramian Sand- pipers in a soggy field about six miles from town, and believing that they might nest in this locality, he went out again in the first week in May. He found a nest containing four beau- tifully marked eggs. This is a very rare find for this locality, and he prizes the set very highly. Norman Haultain. Ontario, Can. fee Aa The Catbird. The Catbird is not a very popular bird with most of us on account of his fruit eating habits. He is a saucy fellow, but aside from his fruit eating habit has no other faults, if fruit-eat- ing can be called a bad habit. He ar- rives here in the spring, along in the latter part of April. They are first seen after their arrival in the spring, in pairs in our orchard, or in small eolonies on the brier patches or under- brush, which places are their favor- ite residences. They are a common bird with us here in Central Illinois, and are fairly abundant. They sing a great deal all spring, and even far into the summer. They leave us, to journey southward, about the first of September. The catbird also frequents hedgrows as well as briar patches, and one finds them and the Brown Thrushes the most numerous birds to be found in such places. Several pairs THE OOLOGIST are generally found in orchards and groves about our homes, but tangled underbrush and woodland bevy pat- ches appeal most strongly to his na- ture. The Catbird is of a gray slate color, being somewhat darker colored in the wings and tail, with chestnut under- tail coverlets. It is a medium sized bird, being somewhat smaller than the Robin, and can be better compared with the Red- headed Woodpecker. To me it seems as though some of these birds are larger than others. They generally rear two broods a season, but their second nest is often uncompleted when the time arrives for them to migrate. They commence building their first nest shortly after their arrival in the spring, or about the first week in May. The nest is composed of sticks, cornhusks, twines and strips of bark, and is lined with rootlets and hairs. The nests are built at all sorts of elevations, ranging from three to thirty feet above the ground. They generally build in small trees or a tangle of vines, but when no such places can be found, they build at quite high elevations in our orchard trees. There is generally one pair in our orchard on the farm. One year they built their nest in a hedgerow about three feet above the ground, and the next year they again built in the hedgerow about one hun- dred feet from their previous nest. This nest was built up higher from the ground, at about an eight or nine ele- vation. (I remember, I could just barely reach it.) About one-half of the nest was composed of cornhusks. The following year this same pair built in an apple tree about thirty feet north of the hedge, at a height of about twenty feet. The tree died that fall, and was cut down, so the next year they moved to the north part of THE OOLOGIST is 101 the orchard and built in the tip-top of a willow-twig apple tree. This nest was about thirty feet from terra firma. The succeeding year they moved to another apple tree, the same kind of a tree in which they had first built, (that is the tree that had died and Was cut down.) From this one would infer that they preferred some trees to others. This nest was about fifteen feet from the ground. The Catbird lays four or five pretty eggs, pale blue in color. The Catbird is a great fruit eater, hence he incurred the special hatred of the fruit grower, who is always putting up scarecrows to frighten him away. This bird also eats a goodly portion of insects during the summer months, being especially fond of grass- hoppers. I remember while putting up hay, adjoining a woods in which there were dense tangles of vines, briers, and small wild crab and plum trees, a regular mecca for Catbirds: the woods fairly rung with their song, while they were flying back and forth from hay-field to woods. One could see great numbers of them hopping about on the ground between the win-. with that most pecu- liar little hop of their’s. They were busy catching grasshoppers, which were quite plentiful, and very easily caught. It was a sight worth seeing. The Catbird has been correctly call- ed the mocking-bird of the north. His chief song is a jerky roundelay inter- spersed by other birds’ songs which he has copied and puts in whatever he chooses. It somewhat resembles the song of that brilliant songster, the Brown Thrasher, but more jerky, and is not quite so long. I remember once, when I was walking through the orch- ard, how I thought I heard what sounded like a Bluebird singing, in the middle of the orchard. I thought it rather strange to hear a Bluebird’s droms of hay, notes from the middle of the orchard, as they were generally seen around the western or more open side. I went to investigate and found the composer of the song to be a Catbird. Beside imitating to perfection, the warble of the Bluebird, I heard him mock the Baltimore oriole, the Che- wink, Dickcissel, and other _ birds, while I was watching him. He is a great songster. One of his other notes is the catlike call ‘meow,’ another note, which seems to be the alarm call is a harsh “adt.” All of these are accompanied by more or less jerk- ings and flirtings of the tail. John B. Behrends. Illinois. Watching the Chickadee. It was Saturday afternoon and free- dom from school. I was at liberty to do as I pleased. I walked away up to the north end of town, or up to Avery- ville. I followed the Rock Island rail- road from here on northward into the country, to see what birds I could find. Juncoes and English Sparrows were seen in large numbers. I also saw a Downy Woodpecker. and heard several Tree Sparrows. I had followed the railroad north- ward for about a half mile, when 1 heard a Chicadee, tis-a-deeing in the woods to the right of the track. I decided to watch this interesting lit- tle member of our bird family. There was something peculiar about his notes that I wish to speak of. In fact he uttered some notes which I had never heard from a Chicadee before. He seemed to be very restless and generally kept flying about rather high in the tops of the tall oak trees. Chic- adees seldom maneuver about at a great height from the ground when searching for food. Besides their usual notes of “chica- dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, their plaintive 102 “Pee-wee, and similar ones, I heard this bird utter a peculiar note for their kind. In fact I heard him utter two notes new to me. One was a two syllabled “se-clear, se-clear,” very closely connected and twice repeated It resembled a Butcher Bird’s notes, only being lower and more modified. The other peculiar tune he pulled off, was a “rittery-rittery,” like that of the Maryland Yellow-throat, only probably more rapidly. I had a hard time keep- ing up with him, because he moved on so rapidly, that he was generally just within sight. John B. Behrends. Illinois. cof 2 The Greater Yellow Legs. On May 31, 1913, while crossing the mud-flats of Corbett’s pond, two large waders flew out quite close to me and lit on the edge of the creek several hundred yards away. I hurriedly stalk- ed them, and they turned out to be the Greater Yellow Legs. They were quite tame, and allowed me to get about fifty yards from them. This is the first time I have ever seen the Greater Yellow Legs in this section. On May 14, 1918, while at Port Britain, (this is a marsh on the shore of Lake Ontario) I put up two Lesser Yellow Legs from a small pool about fifty yards from the main marsh. They flew down the creek and lit at the mouth of the creek. These birds were more wary than their greater broth- ers. While shooting at this place in the fall of 1911, I secured one Lesser Yel- low Legs. These are the only record I have cf these birds in this vicinity, evidently they are stragglers. On April 26, 1913, a pair of Bartram- ian Sandpipers were seen in a marshy field several miles north of here, they are also very rare in this neighbor- hood. Norman Haultain. Ontario, Can, THE OOLOGIST Books Received. Our Vanishing Wild Life, by W. T. Hornaday; Charles Scribner & Sons, New York, publisher. ; This publication is absolutely the best on the subject of any that we have ever received into our lidrary. It is dual in nature. A description of the causes leading to the extinctior of wild birds and animals and sugges- tions as to the prevention of the ex- tinction of others. Some very startling information is to be found within its pages. The following North American birds are stated to have become extinct within comparatively modern times: The Great Auk, Labrador Duck, Phallas Cormorant, Passenger Pigeon, Eskimo Curlew (this is an erroneous statement); Carolina Paraquet (this ~ is doubtful). : The following North American birds are seriously threatened with extinc- tion: Whooping Crane, Trumpeter Swan, American Flamingo, Roseate Spoon- bill, Scarlet Ibis, Long-billed Curlew, Hudsonian Godwit, Upland Plover, Red-breasted Sandpiper, Golden Plovy- er, Dowitcher, Willet, Pertoral Sand- piper, Black-capped Petrel, American Egret, Snowy Hgret, Wood Duck, Band-tailed Pigeon, Heath Hen, Sange Grouse, Prairie Sharp-tail, Pinnated Grouse, White-tailed Kite, and some very interesting information is fur- nished in relation to many of these species. The last Whooping Crane seen alive was seen by the writer and John F’ Ferry at Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, in 1909. The Trumpeter Swan is stat- ed to be represented by but one pair of birds in the New York Zoological Gardens. (This is an error as we have three live birds on our grounds.) It is stated that a well equipped and armed army of 2,642,274 gunners THE OOLOGIST Nest and Young of Cedar Waxwing—Taken 1 day before leaving nest —Photo by J. F. Stierle, 104 take the field each year in the United States against the wild animals and birds. How long will they last at this rate? A great many more million bird skins and animal pelts are sold an- nually on the London market than even those best advised have any idea of, and the prices they bring are some- what interesting in some instances. One illustration shows 1600 humming bird skins sold at 2 cents each. We have never examined a stronger, more forcible or more sensible resume of the subject of bird protection than this work. It should be in every pub- lic library and in every school library in the United States. Second Report of the Meridian Bird Club, 1912. One of the best bird reports that we have seen for a long time, filled from cover to cover with interesting bird information, and illustrated with a lot of good half tones, some of which are particularly interesting; all of which are instructive. Containing as it does, two maps, a resume of the financial operations of the club, and a membership list, it is a publication of which this club may well be proud. Food of Some Well Known Birds of Forest, Farm and Garden, by F. EH. L. Beal and W. L. McAtee. This is Farmers Bulletin No. 506 of the U. S. Department of Agricul- ture issued September 25, 1912. (We are unadvised why it has not reached our desk prior to this time; there must me something wrong with the mailing department at place of issue.) This pamphlet of 34 pages, gives the result of food investigation resulting from the examination of nearly five thousand stomachs taken from four species of woodpeckers, two species THE OOLOGIST ce of hummingbirds, three species of fly- catchers, one species of horned lark, one species of junco, two species of sparrow, one of shrike ,two of warb- lers and the ruby-crowned kinglet, and teems with valuable information on the subject treated. National Reservations for the Pro- tection of Wild Life, by T. S. Palmer, Assistant Chief, Biological Curvey, De- partment of Agriculture, Bureau of Bi- ological Survey, Circular No. 87. This is a historical review of the various bird and game reservations and national parks under the juris- diction of the United States and con- tains also a bibliography of the pub- lications relating to the fauna of na- - tional reservations. It is an interest- ing resume of the subject treated. Food of Our Important Flycatchers, Department of Agriculture, Biological Survey, Bulletin 44, by F. EH. L. Beel, Assistant, Biological Survey. This is a splendidly prepared paper of sixty-seven pages giving deductions arrived at from the examination of nearly 3400 stomachs and bristles with desirable information from be- ginning to end. It is a splendid paper on the subject. Criticism if any, should be directed to the colored il- lustrations; the one of the Kingbird being more apparently the result of the artist’s imaginative and artistic taste than any sketch from nature, and the one of the Arkansas Kingbird being too highly colored on the under parts. And the one of the Crested Fly- catcher being the worst of the lot, the inner webs of the tail feathers not being colored true to nature and neith- er are the throat, neck or under parts. Improvement could be made in this respect in future papers of this char- acter. THE OOLOGIST vil Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of Birds of Europe - - $ .50 Smith’s The Canary, 12 eesetEL plates, 1870 - Tegetmeier’s The Hens ee . Illus., 1871 - - - 1.25 Canary Bids, A Manual for a Keepers, Illus. - - HOC Bird Neighbors, School edition; colored plates, 1899 - Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - 1.50 A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by a artists - 1.00 Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 2215thSt. Philadelphia, Pa. THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop2r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “‘The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN,N Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. Ifnot the best you ever used re- turn and get your monpy. Regular Egg Drills: 0. 0, 20c; No. 1, 20c; No, 2, 25¢e: No. 3, 35c; Ne ‘4, 45c; No. 5, 50e. Blowpipes: AJ] best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Finest quality straight, Embryo Hooks: Embryo Scissors: or curved, 50c. $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol1mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many hali-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. ii in ii ii ii ii ein ii ii ii ii in sii ofl THE OOLOGIST Steiner Egg Collectors Take Notice I want this spring the following first class eges in original sets accompanied by reli- able data. I have a most attractive exchange list to offer for those I want, including many exceedingly desirable specimens. First come, first served! For those that I want and can- not get by exchange I am willing to pay a fair cash price for. These are the eggs I want, Viz: ONE set each of A. O. U. Nos. 42, 79, 120a, 135 1-12, 138, 167, 178, 179, 184 1-4, 218, 261 1-4, 310, 319, 332 1-4, 341 1-4, 343, 359 1-4, 375 1-4, 375a, 375d, 419, 423, 454, 493, I. T. S., 567, 586, 597, 652, 674, 707a. TWO setc each of A. O. U. Nos. 25, 26, 29, 103, 129, 142, 145, 148, 154, 160, 161, 180, 195, 307,252, 260. 289, 295) 835 2:4) 839 25 341 2-2, 356, 377, 397, 409, 457, 477, 498e, 510 2-5, 511b 2-6, 529b, 554, 581, 611, 639, 657, 676, 698, 733. THREE sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 18a, 21, 43, 54, 115, 131, 150, 153, 162; 171, 196, 210; 211¢c, 223, 229, 243, 300a, 309, 310a, 310b, 337b 3-3, 347, 351, 352, 356a, 376, 383, 387, 396, 374e, 293a, 337b 4-2, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FOUR sete each of A. O. U. Nos. 10, 14, 34, 38, 81, 82, 83, 123, 128, 185, 192, 264, 286, 293a, 337b, 357, 478, 482, 486, 497, 708, 726. FIVE sets each of A. O. U. Nos. 52, 92, 120b, 123a, 141.1, 194b, 204, 206, 213, 220, 222, 227, 258a, 272, 278, 281, 287, 289a, 292, 293, 300c, 334, 345, 373a, 373b, 375c, 377a, 384, 488a, 570, 58le, 621, 622, 702, 744. ’ Address, R. M. BARNES Lacon, Ill. eet ete =t \ ue CATS Tey Tet et et ett Ao oAonon THE QOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. 7. ALBION, N. Y., Juny 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 3812 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents serted for for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. No notice in- less than 25 cents. TAKE NOTICE. Entered as second-class matter De- SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 312 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one . number per month. % We will not advertise the skins, nests, Se These columns are for the use of those desiring North American Birds for sale. cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. efges, or mounted specimens of to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R.M. Barnes. Lacon, [1]. BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. ie S. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., ae ANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird hotographing camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagdes, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- N#TT. “Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, sr : (-p EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. GREENWOOD, 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa. (1-p) a Want following hummer skins: 427-429- 430-432-433-437-439-440-440-1-441,_ Exchange Owl and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan- ser, Bale Eagle. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- any, Pa. TO EXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., Portland, Ore. (2-p) EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who ‘will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, ete. ARTHUR W. PROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) First classs kins Dlinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from_other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Il. (1) WANTED.— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will give in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) WANTED. Scientific skins of A. O. U. 20, 242, 289a, 320. 320a. 327, 360. 357, 372a 373a, 373b, 373¢, 373d. 373e. 373f, 373g, 373h, 373.1, 373.2, 374. 374a, 377, 378a, 379. 379.1, 380381. Willexchange, for them A. O. U. 34, 380. The Owls must all be the small Genra of the Varieties. H. W- AITKEN, 1521 Vine St., Philadelphia, st =p ~ JUL16 1913 ; (-p) nse nian [nsf fi a i) / é ‘0, 4/ [ THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Avocets, male,ads., two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts male, ads.. and two Boxwhiteés, male, ads Offer. A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (£ctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take Logie cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ayve., Joplin, Me: (1-p WANTED.—General birdsxin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, -Wis. (1-p) « WANTED.—A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which I can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate ppoonmill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. (1-p) OWLS.—I want the scientific skins of the Elf, Hoskins Pigmy, Dwarf Screech Owls Flamulated, Mexican, Texan, Rocky Mt., Kennicots, Small Floria Screech Owls, Skins of Baby Moles, Baby Bats, Birds of Prey, Shore Birds in the Downey Stages, or the Nestlings, skins of Gophers, Burrowing Owls, newly hatched Green Turtles, Hawks- pill Turtles, Land Tortoises, and Wood Turtles, Will exchange Ferrig Pigmy Owls or Dovekis skins or other specimens. Baby Amidillas. H. W. AITKEN, 18 So. 20th Street, Philadel- phia, 1ey. (1-p) EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Send for my list of fine Southern and South- western sets. E. F. POPE, Colmesneil, exas WANTED.—Three or four good sets of Sage Grouse. Address, JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, Floral Park, New York. (8-t) EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, ee 540, 584, 624° for sets of Warblers only. . MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I haye a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, er 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID E. ROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, yeahs 1p Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. BOO 'H,8 Cranbury Road, Fulham, - England, =p) * FOR SALE—700 egg trays, made with whit e& paper all 4zes andin good ‘condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. C. M. CASH, 7 Holcomb St., Hartford, Conn. , EXCHANGE—Bird skins, books, bird craft, squirrels and other fur bearers, wild animals Ihave known. Want skins, 155, 293, 294, 295, 331, 337b, 443. EARL HAMILTON, Y ohog- hany, Pa. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49. 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J. 8. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. WANTED. I will collect sets in North I want sets of Eagles, Hawks and ‘Owls. THOS. 8. HI ILIA Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (ap) TO EXCHANGE.—Sets with data, North America and Foreign. C re : mon kinds of both. DR.T. W. RICHARDS, 5 a Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W., Washington bas } FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data_and' singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, a -p Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smitb- sonian Identification, for specimens and CES of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 1st North, Seattle. Wash. G 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE,—Two_ hundred sets. with data, in first class condition, includin 50 European ee — Ke cabinet. bite ep) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459; also rare pestage stamps, British, North American colonies oa Offer sets with nests 228, 227a, 474b, 533, 558, 641, 648, 673, 743c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. (1-p) list of fine sets ne sets of Rap- - FOR Ee ah lar EXCHANGE.—Vol. 23: BOWER Culture. Want Reed’s Color Key to North Americam Birds, Holland’s Butterfly book, Hurimers,. sets of 144 eggs, flying. squirrel skins. eat HAMILTON, Yohogany, Pa.. _ } (1-p) eudar Vere aaa Oologist, XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXITI-XXVI-XXV : at 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos. jand 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 11; Vol. XIV 3 and7. ARTHUR W. *BROCKWAY, Tiyan oie: Conn. ' (-p) THE OOLOGIST. Went woe. NO. 7. AUBYON, N. Y. Juuy 15, 19138. WHOLE No. 312 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. Milo Bennett Denny 106 THE OOLOGIST Milo Bennett Denny, Artist and Natur- alist. As we came out of the thick under- brush we were surprised to find a beautiful little rustic log cabin pic- turesquely located in.virgin forests, . overlooking the beautiful Mapsie Riv- er, seven miles from a railroad and ~ apparently serving no purpose except for the beauty and charm with which it inspired the lonely spot. But in this rustic retreat away from the haunts of man an eccentric young artist and naturalist, namely, Milo Bennett Den- ny, fights out his problems of nature and art all alone, painting nature as he sees it through the eyes of a nat- uralist in a slightly impressionistic technique, yet with meaning to every stroke of the brush and with such col- or and atmosphere as only can be grasped by constant study in the open under all conditions. In this humble country studio Mr. Denny has produced some landscapes which have brought him a reputation few artists of his age can boast. He is not only an artist with brush and pencil but has displayed his superior artistic ability at the taxidermist’s art as well. Most of his mounted spe- cimeéns are donated to public museums from time to time, thereby applying his ‘art for art’s sake” to his scienti- fic productions as well as his paint- ings. Oh that more taxidermists might do as much. ee Do not conceive that our subject is a hermit who never leaves his cabin— —“far be it from such” for he_ has traveled and painted extensively through the west and Canada, has. studied at Cornell, Chicago Art Insti- tute and Fog at Harvard. When the trees lose their autumn leaves and the birds go South he too hies to the city to await the coming of another season. Mrs. Alys M, Scott. Personal. Mr. Karl W. Kahmann, of the Aca- demy of Science, Lincoln Park, Chi- cago, spent Sunday, June 29th, at the home of the editor. He comes in the interest of his institution to collect local birds and mammals, for life groups. es About the 9th of July Ye Hditor, accompanied by his mother and wite and a driver, left for an overland auto trip to the Hast. It is intended to visit Lake Champlain, the White Mountains, besides the principal ci- ties ,and return home by way of Long Island, Philadelphia and Washington. We hope to meet a number of our or- nithological friends on the trip. aPstett anes Bird Notes. Last year I reported Hnglish Spar- row with white head, this old bird with us this year and one of her young with her has partially white head, white spot on one wing and one side of tail white. On May 29, found nest A. O. U. 329% spotted eggs. One has several large splotches and good many necks: the other has numerous small markings in order of usual markings though barely so plain. On May 14, found nest of white- rumped shrike with seven eggs. Mark- ings, shape, etc., evidently bear out that one bird laid entire clutch. © On May 17, found long-billed Cur- lews on the plains: more plentiful than in a long time; several nests of 4 each and no trouble to find. R. L. More. I noticed with interest the article in the June OOLOGIST, “Nesting of the Wood Thrush in Mississippi.” I have read several articles on the Wood Thrush and in each of them they plac- ed the breeding range of this member of the Thrush family in the northern part of the United States, ranging THE OOLOGIST 107 from North Carolina and Kansas or Virginia and Missouri northward. Now the Wood Thrush is a common southern bird; certainly in this sec- tion, and I have collected a number of sets of their eggs in this, Gwinnett, county. I consider the Wood Thrush a common breeder in Georgia, and I believe an investigation will prove the same thing to be true of all the other southern states. John C. Houston. Lawrenceville, Ga. ae ee Se Winter Birds of Egypt. By F. T. Pember, Granville, N. Y. It was my good fortune, in the win- ter and spring of 1912, to spend six weeks on, and to travel by boat 700 miles up the river Nile, or as far as Nubia in tropical Africa. This, with almost daily donkey rides through cul- tivated fields and over deserts, to visit the vast ruins of tombs, temples and pyramids, gave me the opportunity to observe the birds of that country, though as they were mostly new to ame, I failed to identify many of them. IT am glad that the sentiment to spare the birds, and to study them without shooting is growing, though in many years of collecting for mu- seum purposes, all over the country, I found that I could positively iden- tify more birds with a 12 gage Greener than with an opera glass. I like them in hand for study, but the birds enjoy the “absent treatment” ‘Dest. The great triangular section called the Delta, is roughly 150 miles on each side. It comprises the most of Lower Egypt,—is made wonderfully productive by yearly inundations—and ‘with the great, shallow Lake Menza- leh, is a perfect paradise for many spe- cies of birds. ¥ The irrigated section of the Nil walley above Cairo, is from one to our boat, twelve miles wide, and then the vast verdureless Libyan Desert on the west, and the utterly desolate Ara- bian and Nubian Deserts to the east. The first is rich in bird life, and a route of migration, while the desert, though destitute of plants and water, still has birds—Sand Grouse, Ravens, Rustards, etc., though how they man- age to sustain life is a mystery. On the great river, a very conspicu- ous bird, which easily claims most at- tention, is the Hgyptian or Parasitic Kite (Milvus ergyptinus). It is as large as our Red-shouldered Hawk, and at first I supposed it to be one of the buzzard hawks. The tail is rather long, slightly forked and banded, and the whole plumage is a very dark brown, almost black. These birds have much the habit of vultures and act aS scavengers in city and village streets. They are almost as tame as chickens, and often snatch meat or ‘other food from the trays being. car- ried on the heads of the natives. They are so abundant that many are always in sight, and at Luxor and other places along the river, I have often counted over 50 flying like gulls about and they are circling in dozens over every town and city of Egypt. I also found them very plen- tiful in Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Greece, and several times I counted 80 to 100 and over, from our hotel window in Damascus, as they sailed about over the city or rested on towers or prominent places, and [I could not overlook one-third of the city at that. I found that they could easily pick up any scraps or refuse they might fancy from the water, while on the--wing, and that without making even a rip- ple, using the beak only and not-the -claws for the purpose. I found these ‘birds nesting in February and March on the lofty ruins of the great Temple of Ammon, at Karnak, and on other 108 THE structures, as well as in the sont and lebbakh trees wherever they could find them, even in village streets, and always felt surprised at their tame ness, since our own Hawks and Kites are so wild and shy in the breeding season. 1 give but one instance to il- lustrate their utter fearlessness: While stopping at Shepard’s Hotel in Cairo, I found that a pair of these Kites had a nest in a carob shade tree, in front of the hotel. Now Cair9 is as large as Boston and this was its busiest street, with thousands of vehi- cles and people on foot passing under it every hour. I judged that the nest was 40 feet above the walk, and not over 50 feet from my window, and my room being on the third floor, I could look directly into it, and I watched the family for ten days with great interest. The young were hatch- ed on our second day at the hotel, and the mother would rise up every few minutes to take a look at them, show- ing great concern and affection. I of- ten saw them fed, and one of the old birds was with them all the time, though they often changed places on the ,nest. I left Cairo reluctantly wishing I could stay till the young left the nest. The brood doubtless came to maturity, as no one molests them, the people according them pro- tection for the good they think they do. The next bird to claim our atten- tion is the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), very abundant in the Delta and all the way up the river, as well as in all the countries we visited in Europe and Asia. It is fully as large as the American Crow, and is con- spicuous by its light slate-colored body, with jet black head, tail and wings. It is as tame as the Kite, al- lowing one to walk within a few feet of it, and I often saw it looking for food within ten feet of people work- OOLOGIST ing in the fields. It breeds in Febru- ary and March, nesting in great num-— bers in the zoological garden and parks of Cairo, in the groves of date palms, or anywhere they can fire u carob or sont tree in which to piues the bulky nest, which may not be over ten feet above ground. Though it is so numerous, I never saw them in flocks. It feeds on dead animals, grain, insects, lizards, frogs, etc., but it is not a persistent hunter of birds’ eggs. like our crow. The Rook, (Corvus fruglegus), was. fairly common, but most seen about parks and gardens and near towns and cities. Not common in Upper Heypt. Egypt has two Ravens. The Brown- necked Raven (Corvus umbrinus) and the Abyssinian Raven, (C. affinis). The first I saw several times on the desert. The last, while probably seen, could not be positively identified. There are eight Eagles in the lists. of Hgyptian birds, most of them rare. I positively identified only the Spot- ted Hagle (Aquila nevia). Of five Vultures of Hgypt all were seen. The giant of all, the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), I saw many times, singly, or in twos or threes, on sand bars or low islands of Upper Hgypt. The black and white Hgyp- tian Vulture (Neophron percuopterus) was noticed but once, the Black Vul- ture (Vultur monachus) and the So- ciable Vulture (V. Auricularis), sey- eral times each, while I saw three of the great Southern Bearded Vulture (Gypetus nudipes) sailing about the base of the Mokattam hills to the east of Cairo. Over the river, the Fish Hawk, (Pan- dion Naliztus)—(Identical with ours) —was seen a few times. The Merlin. (Falco esalon) was noticed daily, while the Kestrel (F. tinnunculus) was abundant, and the lesser Kes- THE OOLOGIST trel (H. cenchris) rather common, and both were breeding, and _ feeding young, in the cliffs and great temple ruins all through the Nile valley. Other hawks were seen but not deter- mined with certainty. At night the hooting of the Hagle Owl (Bubo ignavus) was heard from cliffs and ruins, and must be rather common. The Barn Owl (Aluco noc- tua) was abundant everywhere. It is largely diurnal, inhabits all the old ruins and rocky cliffs, and was often seen sunning itself at midday, even in exposed situations. This is the bird -pictured on old Grecian coins, and by the Greeks was made sacred to Pallas Atnene. Hence its generic name. Some years ago noted naturalists thought best to introduce the Little Owl into England, and great num- bers were imported yearly, with strict orders to game keepers to protect them. Like our English Sparrows they increased beyond all expectation, and spread out over all adjoining counties, and they have become the worst pest that ever tortured the soul of game preservers. In that country thousands of partridge and pheasants are annually hatched under hens, and these broods are put out in the copes with the foster mother in a coop, but which does not confine the young. So with nothing to protect the downy game birds, these diurnal owls take daily or hourly toll to feed their own young, until all are destroyed. And now in place of being a pleas- ant addition to the bird life of the British Isles, the Little Owl is de- clared a nuisance and a scourge, and a relentless war of extermination has been declared against it. It is prob- able however, that it will pretty nearly hold its own against all efforts to re- duce its numbers. I saw the Wryneck (Yunx torquilla) © 109 common during migration, while the beautiful Hoopoe (Upupa epops) with its banded wings and magnificent crest, was conspicuous everywhere, and they were feeding their young in nests built in cracks and holes of the’ ruined walls and towers of ancient temples. This bird takes its name from its rather musical notes. The brilliant little European Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida) may be seen all along the river, and they are really abund- ant in some places. Equally plentiful was the much larger Black and White Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), a most beautiful daring bird, nearly the size of ours. It was particularly numerous about the First Cataract, and later, I found it very common about the river Jordan. There is a smaller bird than the first, and of nearly the same color, the Little Indian Kingfisher (Alced bengalensis) found in Egypt, but I failed to identify it. There are three Bee-eaters, two of which are only seen during migration, but the Little Green Bee-eater (Mer- ops viridis) is resident, and very abundant throughout Upper Egypt. This is a beautiful bird, bright green in color, with the two central - tail feathers much lengthened. It has the habits of our flycatchers, and they show great affection for their mates, and they are seen sitting on telegraph wires as close together as it is pos- sible to get. The common Swallow’ (Hirundo rustica) which abounds in Europe and England, is not rare in most of Egypt, but the Egyptian Swallow (Hirundo savignii) is unusually numerous, and I saw thousands every day. Both of these birds have a long deeply forked tail and are similarly colored above, but the creamy under parts of the first are a dark rich reddish-brown in the last, and which is also an inch short- Cr, oy 110 THR The Sand Martin (Cotile riparia) exists in countless thousands in all of Upper Egypt, and the banks of the Nile for miles are honeycombed with holes for their nesting sites. This is like our own Sand Martin. There is a smaller one in Hgypt, as well as sev- eral other swallows and swifts, but I failed to identify them certainly. An exceedingly common and most charming bird, seen everywhere in the Nile valley, is the White Wagtail (Monticilla alba) and said to be one of the smallest birds that both walks and runs. They deserve their name, for they always give the tail a jerk upward after alighting as also at other times. Their motions are quick and lively, and they seem to be all the time in pursuit of flies. It was one of this species that I saw on our steamer, while crossing from Africa to Southern France. At that time we were 200 miles from land. It was with us at least 100 miles further, and ex- pect it spent the night on the vessel, reaching shore at Monte Carlo in the morning. The list of the birds of Egypt has three other Wagtails. They were the Gray Wagtail, (Monti- cilla boarula) and the Blue Headed or Yellow Wagtail (Montacilla flava). The first deserves the name of White Wagtail. I saw more of them in Pales- tine and Syria. One of the Yellow Wagtails, with five other birds, was with us on the steamer Berlin the morning after leaving Gibraltar for New York. It was about the ship till nightfall, 400 miles * ~ land, but did not see it after, bul aort-toed Lark, was with us the nheac day when 70! miles from land. Of 20 Larks and Pipits credited to Egypt, but few of which I] identified, will mention but one, the Crested Lark (Galerita cristata). This bird in point of numbers probably exceeds that of any other in all Egypt, for OOLOGIST they are most exceedingly abundant everywhere. While the general plum- age is grayish brown like a dweller of the desert, its lofty crest; spright- ly ways and sweet warbling song, made it my especial favorite. While we would consider it too small for a game bird, it is netted and trapped in great numbers by the natives to be used as food. Throughout all Hgypt the Weather (Saxicola oenanthe), Stone Chat (Pratincola rubicola), Robin (Hritha- cus rubecula), Nightingale (Philomela luscinia) and the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) were often seen. Of 100 other small birds, Warblers, Sparrows, Thrushes, etc., part were determined, but I can say little of interest about them. So I only mentioned one, an old acquaintance, the Hnglish Spar- row (Passer domesticus). I found it over Hgypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Greece, as also at Naples, Monte Carlo, Algiers and Gibraltar, in fact every place visited except the island of Madeira. Being non-migrant, the remotest islands of the sea are the only places that are safe from theit intrusion, though I must say that ! nowhere saw them so plentiful or in such large flocks as at home, and con- clude that something operates to hold them in partial check. Heypt has eight doves, and while the Rock Dove (Columba livia), Schimp- er’s Pigeon (C. schimperi), Turtle Dove (Turtur auritus), Sharpes Tur- tle Dove (T. sharpii), and the Egyp- tian Turtle Dove (i. senegalensis), are all common, the last in beauty and abundance seems to lead them all. It is also called Palm Dove because it nests in and is always found about the numerous groves of date palms. Its pretty color of pinkish-brown, umber brown, with a touch of pearl gray and black, looking in sunlight like bur- nished metal, with its charming ways THE OOLOGIST 411 and the saintly character given to all doves, makes it a favorite even with the native people, who give it their protection. The Seven grouse and partridges of Egypt are- mostly desert birds, and I saw little of them. But I must not omit the Quail (Coturnix communis), one of the most abundant of birds. - So plentiful are they that they were cooked by hundreds on the Nile steam- ers, and in the hotels. These are mostly caught in nets, and during migration the shores of the Mediter- ranean for 150 miles along the Delta, are a complete line of nets for their capture, and they may still be as plenty as in the time of Moses. It is said that in Coronation year, 5,000,000 were ordered, and shipped from Egypt to the English market. They are only half the size of Bob White, but are plump, fat and of fine flavor, and are in great demand for the table in a land Where meat is scarce, and high. In April these Quail seemed to be pip- ing their pleasing call notes to their mates, from every grain field, in Palestine, and a short walk in the di- rection of the sound would start the birds on the wing, fcr a low, short flight. No wonder it is numerous for it breeds over such a vast extent of country. For a species so excessively abundant, no other keeps so well hid- den, and is so little seen by travel- ers. I well remember the time, some thirty cr more years ago, when these Quails were brought to this country, and liberated in various sections by thousands, with the expectation of adding this, most prolific of all, to our list cf game birds. Many hundreds Were turned out near my home, and were later found with nests and seem- ed to be doing nicely, but their migra- tory habits took them away in autumn —no one knows where— and not one ever returned, and it is still an un- solved mystery what became of them. The family of waders is pretty well represented all through the Nile coun- try, but being largely new species to me, and not having a good work on Egyptian birds with me at the time, were difficult to determine. I could, however, identify the Lapwing (Vanel- lus cristalus), and Ruff (Machetes pugnax) which were common, and al- so the Spur-winged Plover (Hoplop- terus spinosus), Kentish Plover (Aegi- alitis contianus), Little Ringed Plover (A. minor), Jack Snipe (Gallinago galliruna), Little Stint (Tringa minu- ta), Greenshaw (Totanus canesecens), Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus), Com- mon Sandpiper (Actitis hypolencos) and others. The large fine Common Crane (Grus communis), Spoonbill (Platel ea leucorodia) and Night Heron (Nyctocorax griseus), were of- ten seen all up and down the great river. The Common Heron (Ardes cinerea (much like our Great Blue Heron), was numerous, while the Common Coot (Fulica atra) was very abundant in all shallow, still water, even in the parks and the Sacred Lake of Karnak. The prettiest of all the waders was the Buff-backed -Heron (ardeola rur- sata). They are snowy white, with a slight shading of reddish-buff on the back, though except in the breeding season it is practically white all over, and always looks so at a distance. This bird is often erroneously called Heret, by natives and others, and as tourists all want to see the Sacred Ibis of the Nile, (Ibis ethiopica) and enquire for it, the Arab dragomen have learned to please, and cheat them at the same time, by assuring them that this is the bird they so much desire to see. By the way the Sacred Ibis is three times as large, black and white in color, and is-no longer a bird of Egypt, and is only found, rarely, a 112 thousand miles further up the Nile. The Buffed-backed Heron is seldom geen alone, but keeps in flocks of con- siderable size, and I saw many on the river sand bars, but many more on the cultivated lands, in places fairly whit- ening the fields, and large flocks were seen about herds of domestic animals, with whom they were very familiar; even to perching on the backs of cat- tle and tame around them when lying down, and picking flies, ticks and other insects from their eyes, ears and noses, to the evident satisfaction of the animals. Their services are appreciated by the inhabitants, who think them their most beneficial bird. Anything that catches flies is deserving of gratitude, for this plague of Hgypt has never been suppressed, and there are more today to the square inch than in any country [I ever saw, and they are the most annoying, bloodthirsty, and pesti- ferous. IT saw the Black Stork (Ciconia nig- ra) in. four places, but the White Stork (C. alba) of world-wide renown, was seen at various places, without being very plentiful. It was abund- ant in Palestine, and I must have seen several thousand of them. I no- ticed 100 cr more circling over or alighting about a slaughter house, a mile or so out from Jerusalem. As they are perfectly fearless of man, they will look for food anywhere. But. it was reserved for Turkey to show these birds in greatest numbers, and the fields in places were closely spot- ted with them.for miles. In Constan- tinople, a place with a million people, they were breeding in the parks, shade trees or whenever it was pos- sible to locate a nest. One open space of less than one-half acre, and entire- ly. surrounded by tall buildings, and located on the west side of the Gol- den Horn, held seven or eight trees. buffalos, or walking - -(Mareca penelope), THE OOLOGIST One of these was a monster spreading sycamore, with numerous forked bran- ches, and at the risk of being disbe-~ lieved must say, that I counted twenty storks’ nests in it, with as many more in the smaller trees, so that forty pair, or eighty birds were breeding in this limited space. This bird is held in great respect and is considered as the harbinger of good luck, and so is likely to keep its numbers good. There are many ducks on the Nile, but they are more abundant on the lakes of Caior Zoological Garden. Among them I noticed the Mallard (Anas boschas) Pintail (Dufila acuta), Shov- erller Spatula clypeata), Widgeon Scaup (Fuligula marila), Tufted Duck (F’.. cristata) and many Others. Wild Geese were- seen several times but two distant for iden- tification. oS ee I also recognized the White Pelican (Pelacanus onocrotalus), and the Les- ser Pelican (P. minor) while the Little Grebe (Podicipides monor) are com- mon in still water in cultivated sec- tions. : : There are two dozen Gulls and Terns in Sgypt bird list, but thev scarcely go inland even on the great river above Cairo, and while I thought that I determined many of them, my knowledge is too uncertain to write about them, and so close my list of some of the most noticeable birds of HKeypt, from observations made in the month of February and March. At other seasons different species might be more conspicuous and these much less So. On the whole, Egypt, though hav- ing a very scant flora, is rich in bird life, and more particularly so during the season of migration. Two Old Timers. While at La Crescent, Minnesota, the first week in May (1913) we met __THE OOLOGIST Sa Nest and Eggs of Orchard Oriole —Photo by P. G. Howes THE OOLOGIST geass ona Ye. Nest and Eggs of Yellow-throated virec —Photo By P. G. Howes “THE OOLOGIST a Nest and Eggs of Yellow-throated Vireo —Photo By P, G. Howes 116 _ a couple of old time ornithologists and oologists, Frank I. Harris, who was one of the best known of western bird students from 1885 to 1893, and Whit Harrison. Both are now advanc- ed in years, Mr. Harrison being the older. While there we learned from Mr. Harris that he was dismantling his home in the country with a view of moving to the village of La Crescent, and that he had disposed of his large collection of bird skins sometime ago; whereupon we promptly made a deal with him for about one-half. of his collection of eggs—getting a little over 2000 specimens. It is his pur- pose to rearrange the residue of his collection and donate it to some pub- lic institution. One of the really remarkable things we observed in his den was a mounted wild cat which for size, exceeds any- thing we have ever seen, and the his- tory of which is unique in that years ago Mr. Harris trapped the animal and desiring to preserve it for mount- ing purposes, and fearing he might in- jure it for that purpose in killing it, seized it and choked it to death with his hands, an undertaking which stands alone in its class so far as “our information goes, and one which we would not care to undertake. _Mr. Harrison lives in the village and has a_ beautiful collection of mounted birds, a number of rare skins and quite a lot of eggs, though in taxidermy he seems to have cen- tered his interest, having a collection of birds prepared by himself which it is well worth a visit to see, including Many: rare and unusual specimens for that locality. He is especially proud of a Turnstone secured by himself many years, and mounted, which is the only one of which there is any rec- ord in that locality. Mr. Harrison still keeps up his interest in ornithology, THE OOLOGIST and has been on the books as a sub- scriber to THE OOLOGIST for lo, these many years. Mr. Harris dropped out of ornithol- ogy and oology about 1893, since Which time he has done nothing to add to his large accumulations. The pleasure of meeting these gentlemen was one that will be long remembered. a eee Good News. The song birds in this part of the country, (Dallas Co., Tex.) are cer- tainly increasing, especially the Moek- ingbirds, Cardinals and Orchard Ori- oles. There is an abundance of Blue Jays, Crows, Lark Sparrow- Scissor- tailed Flycatcher, Crested Flycatcher and a few Blue Herons. But sad to relate, there were no Robins in Dallas Co., or adjoining counties this past winter. Cole Godsey. Dallas, Texas. 2~< -o Runt Prairie Horned Lark Eggs. One day recently I found a set of eggs of the Prairie Horned Lark, con- taining three eggs, one of which was only half size. A family of Screech Owls, male red, have raised a family close to the house this spring. The male is usually to be seen on the house, and brings the family around for a concert every evening. Blue Jays were very scarce; Robins and Bluebirds not common. George vos Burgh. Clinton, Wis. ees Some 1911 Nests and Sets. May 15th. Noted a Warbling vireo, Vireosylvia gilva, carrying a long strip of bark to her nearly completed home in a maple tree. The nest was placed 35 feet from the ground in a small crotch at the end of a limb, about 29 feet from the main trunk. It was very compactly constructed of bark strips, grasses and pine needles, well ornamented with spiders eggs and a THE OOLOGIST few lichens. One week later, a Cow- bird, (Peace be to her ashes) ruined a beautiful set of four. On the same day I came across a nest of the Blue-winged warbler, Hel- minthophila pinus, just ready for the eggs. It was placed on the ground be- tween four dead weed stalks in a thicket near a small swamp. A won- derfully woven creation of grasses and a few leaves, slightly arched over with the entrance facing west. The birds were both in evidence, but not nearly as active as when being rob- bed of their egzs. In another thicket, close to a road- Way, two nests of the Yellow warbler, Dendroica estiva, were found, both ready for the materials, but one of them was perhaps somewhat shallow- er than the average, and was placed in a quince tree, three feet from the ground. The other nest was situated four feet from the ground in a dead spice bush which had been overgrown by honey-suckle vines. May 23d. Visited the Blue-winged Warbler’s nest, but it contained broken eggs of the owner and two of the Infernal Cowbird. Found a nest of the Ruby-throated humming bird, Trochilus colubris, sad- dled on a hemlock branch, six feet above the Mianus river, four miles north of Stamford. The nest was com- posed of soft yellow down, resembling fern down, and the exterior complete- ly covered with small scraps of lichen. Two enlongated, fresh eggs were the contents. May 25th. Found a beautiful nest of the Orchard Oriole, Icterus spur- ius, containing four fresh eggs, green- ish white, exquisitely marked with chocolate, umber and lavender, the spots being chiefly around the largest end. They measure well under the average, being only .65 x .43. The nest was, as usual, of fine green 117 grasses, lined with a small amount of fern down and placed 20 feet from the ground in a maple tree. May 29th. Took another set of four fresh eggs of the Orchard Oriole from a nest 20 feet up in the fork of an apple branch. This nest was exact- ly like the one found on the 25th, but the eggs are quite different, being very lightly spotted and blotched with grey, lavender, brown and light yel- lowish brown. One of the eggs bears a cross at the largest end. This set also measures .65 x .43 inches. The birds were very brave while I was robbing the nest, coming so: close to my face that I could feel the wind from their wings. The tree from which this set was taken, was in an orchard containing perhaps 25 others, and like all of the apple trees in this section of Connecti- cut which are not well cared for, they had been nourishing countless num- bers of Cancer worms. These hords of caterpillars must have all dropped from the trees to the ground to make their cocoons during the night of May 28th, for when I entered that orchard at sunrise on the 29th, the sight which met my eyes was one never to be for- gotten. From every conceivable spot on every tree in sight there were actually millions of silken threads drooping to the ground, the threads by which the insects had let themselves down to earth during the night. Each of these tiny lines of silk had become spangled With dew and as the sun shown through, the whole orchard resembled a gigantic display of pyrotechnics, such as one sees at the resorts in summer. Two sets of the Yellow-throated vireo, Lanivireo flavifrons, were the next finds of the day. The first nest was placed in a fork of a _ gmall branch, close to the trunk of a maple 118 tree, just 15 feet from the ground. Composed of strips of bark and grasses, held together with spiders webs and lined with fine green grasses. The exterior was ornament- ed with birch bark, spiders eggs and lichens. Four fresh eggs, white; spot- ted at the largest end with deep cho- colate and lavender. The birds were very quiet while I was taking the nest. The second nest is a larger and more loosely constructed affair of bark strips, lined with extremely fine grass. The entire exterior of this nest is or- namented with large strips of birch bark, paper, spiders webs and eggs. It is the most exquisite vireo’s nest that I have ever seen. It was situat- ed in the fork of a small basswood branch, close to the main trunk 25 feet from the ground. Unlike the other pair, these birds were very noisy while I was at the nest. May 31st. Found a nest of the Dow- ney woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens, ’ which the birds had drilled on the un- der side of a broken off maple branch, 20 feet from the ground. The cavity in the limb, which is now be- fore me, is gourd shaped, seven inches in depth. It is three and one- half inches wide in one way and two and three-quarters inches the other way, a cross section having more or less the shape of a Lima bean. The entrance faced directly towards the ground and is only one inch in diame- ter. The two fresh eggs were desert- ed by the birds. They measure .71 x Spilled, 261 exe 50) June 6th. Took a nest and three eggs of the Red-eyed vireo, Vireosylvia olivacea, placed in the fork of a maple branch ten feet above the edge of a much used roadway. The nest is firm- ly built of moss-covered strips of Ar- bor-vitae bark, lined with shreds of bark and pine needles. A few pieces of birch bark, paper and spiders web THE OOLOGIST adorn the exterior. Measurements of the nest are, inside diameter, 1% inches. Outside diameter, 3 inches. Inside depth, 1% inches. Outside depth, 2% inches. The eggs were fresh and are white, lightly marked with minute specks of brown and lay- ender. All of the Vireo sets describ- ed above possessed a wonderful pink- ish hue when in the nest, but of course all of this was lost upon blowing. Paul G. Hawes. oe eee The Red-eyed Vireo as a Mocker. On June 23, 1913 I was walking along a small creek in Swarthmore, Pa. Suddenly I was attracted by notes similar to those of the Catbird, only more rapid. I was interested so I made up my mind to investigate the matter more closely, and the investi- gation proved it to be a Rey-eyed Vireo trying to mock a Catbird, and indeed it was a good imitation. E. M. Kenworthy. Wilmington, Delaware. (Se ee A Sunday Morning Walk. May 11, 1913. I was up at 7 o'clock and, after a good breakfast I took my rifle and dog “Sport” and started for a walk along the river, and in the woods. I crossed to the south side of the river (the Sangamon) and started into the woods along its banks. As I went along I saw many birds. Kingfishers were flying about, a large flock of Crows were making the woods noisy, and the Redheaded Woodpeck- ers could be heard drumming away on an old rotten limb. Crow-Black- birds, Wrens, Redbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Bank Swallows, Sandpip- ers and a good many other birds seemed to be happy as they went dart- ing back and forth in the woods and along the river. I went on down the river to a place THE where the woods were pretty thick. On the outer edge of these woods stands an old Elm which is entangled with Wild Grape vines. In the top of this old tree there are several hol- low limbs. Wondering if any bird or animal stayed in one of these hol- lows, I climbed up to one that was in the very top of the tree, and saw one of the prettiest sights that one could wish to see. The hollow was in the end of a limb, and was about two feet. deep and six inches in diameter. The sun was just high enough to flood it with light and there in the bottom Was five young owls and the mother bird. The mother was asleep or pre- tending to be when I first looked into the nest. She played a fine game of Opossum for I took her out of the nest twice and examined her and the sec- ond time I set her on the edge of the hollow she flew into a near-by tree. The young Owls were of a Maltese color speckled with brown, and I judged them to be about ten days old. They were all asleep except one little fellow who seemed to be very much awake, and eyed me with great awe. I took that one home with me and he is making a dandy pet. In the same tree was another hol- low not three feet from the Owls’ nest and as I was examining the Owls I heard a scrambling noise and looked just in time to see a large Red-eyed Squirrel leap to the ground and scamper off into the woods. There was nothing else in the hollow. By that time I thought that it must be getting pretty late and I started for home getting there at 11 o’clock. If any one ever wished for a cam- era of any make or description that morning I surely did, for I could have gotten a picture that would have been well worth the trouble. Wm. Young, Jr. Decatur, Ill. OOLOGIST 119 Where Are Our Purple Finches? I have asked a number of ornitholo- gists this question during the past six years, and no one gives me a satis- factory answer. My active collecting days have long been a matter of past history, but 25 years ago I should not have hesitated to agree to locate 30 pairs of these birds breeding in a cir- cle two miles in diameter, around my father’s home. This spring I had occasion to visit two ‘of their most popular haunts of the old days, and took what leisure time [I had to look up my old friends the Finches. Not a bird could I lo- cate, and this is in line with my ex- perience for some time back. : They used to coconixe in any place Where Spruce or Austrian Pine had been planted, and I have seen fifteen pairs nesting in one dooryard, in 1892. So common, in fact, that I did not care to take any sets. Just went through the cocony and threw out the Cowbirds’ eggs; usually one or two of these in every nest. Have these birds moved permanent- ly to other parts, or are they becoming extinct? If the latter it cannot be laid to the shotgun, as few went that way. The horse car was always their worst enemy. Ernest E. Short. New York. os Se are en Nesting of the Bewick’s Wren. (Thryomanes pbewicki) During early May, 1911, I became especially interested in the Bewick’s Wren. Several times during previous springs I had seen a pair of these lit- {le wrens, flitting about, and singing their pretty songs, in the vicinity of a small farm house that stood near the top of a high ridge. This house was four miles from my home, so to- wards noon on May 5th I set out for a walk to it. My intentions were to 120 find a nest, and, if possible, secure a set of eges. When I came near the farm house IT heard the beautiful music of a wren’s song as he perched on a fence post below the farm yard. I at once began the search for a nest. All small build- ings were carefully inspected, with no results. Finally I came to a small wood shed very close to the dwelling house. Going to the lower side of this shed I saw a number of small twigs protruding from a shelf formed by a board which was nailed to a studding, just beneath the floor. I placed my hand back into the little room formed by the board and felt some tiny eggs. These I earefully removed, one by one, until I had counted eight—that was all—just eight; but that was cer- tainly a large set. It was a very beau- tiful clutch. The eggs were heavily marked on the larger ends by thick wreaths of dark red, and the entire shell surface was well speckled with tiny reddish dots. The nest consisted of a foundation of small twigs and coarse mud stalks, and was warmly lined with chicken feathers and horse hairs. The nesting site was just three feet above the ground, and only a short distance from the back porch of the house. This species of Wren seems very much to prefer the out buildings about farm yards as a sum- mer home; especially those situated on ridges. The wrens return year at- ter year to the same farm, and, if un- disturbed, they will use the same nest several times, only relining it each season. These birds rear two broods in a season; the second set being de- posited during late June, or early July. S. S. Dickey. Waynesburg, Pa. Two Unusual Sets. At Pequannock, N. J., on May Ist, a nest of the Song Sparrow, (Melospiza melodia) was located in which were THE OOLOGIST seven eggs. This nest was located under a clump of sod on the west bank of the canal and was discovered through a noisy battle between two females, apparently struggling for the possession of the nest. It is my opin- ion that two females had deposited eg2s in this nest owing to the uniform- ity of four which were well incubat- ed and the other three which indicat- ed but slight traces of incubation. Be- cause of this latter fact, I visited this nest on the 5th and found four young about a day old and the three other eggs in the nest. On the 9th the nest was again visited and found to con- tain five young, two about a day old and the others being the remaining members of the first brood. At this time three adult birds were bringing food to the young, a male and two fe- males. At Midvale on April 30th, 1913, a nest of the American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) was located with four eggs. Of this set, three were quite normal in appearance, but the fourth was of the usual ground color, greenish white, but wholly devoid of markings, except for a few spots about the size of a pin head at the larger end. The eggs in this set measured 1:58 x L103: 1.6) x Les Seer and 1.58 x 1.15, the latter being the ab- normal egg. This nest was visited on the 12th of May and found to contain three young, the abnormal egg being infertile and did not hatch. This the adult birds had pushed to one side among the coarse twigs which formed the base of nest. Louis S. Kohler. Bloomfield, N. J. Set se eee I do not want to lose any numbers. You are doing some good work on it. Your picture of the Red-shouldered Hawk I thought fine. E. B. Trescot. July §, 1912. THE OOLOGIST Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of Birds of Europe - - $ .50 Sn.ith’s The Canary, 12 eee plates, 1870 - Tegetmeier’s The Homine Pigeon, Illus., 1871 - - 1.25 Canary Birds, A Manual for Bird Keepers, Illus. - - = i O00 Bird Neighbors, School edition; colored plates, 1899 - - Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by Usenet se artists - 1 Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 2215thSt. Philadelphia, Pa. 1,50 1.50 THE CONDOR A Magazine of ‘Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Cooper Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study” can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. Vil BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN, N. Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quetations. by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. If not the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regular Egg Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, 20c; No, 2, 20c: No. 3, 35¢; No. 4, 45¢; "No. 5, 5 50c. Blowpipes: All best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Embryo Hooks: Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Embryo Scissors: Finest quality straight, or curved, 50c. $1.00; curv ed, $1.25 Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. Ican supply anything in print, and: always have old out of print books and back vol:mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrieburg, Pa. Vili THE OOLOGIST I shall pay a 700d price for the following magazines, in good order and in their orig- inal covers, suitable for binding: The lowa Ornithologist (Salem, Iowa). Vol. 2, all except No. 3. Vol. 3, all except No. 4. Vol. 4, all. The Stormy Petrel (Mendota, Ill.) All issued except No. 5 of Vol. 1. The Oregon Naturalist. Vol. 4, Nos. 10, 11 and 12: The American Osprey (Ashland, Ky.) All Nos. issued after No. 9 of Vol. 1. Wilson Bulletin. No. 3 and Index to Vol. 12. Bul. Mich. Orni. Vol. 1, No. 1. Club. Naturalist (Kansas City, Cont. of Hoosier Naturalist). - All Nos. issued after No. 1 of Vol. 4. Oologist’s Advertiser. All Nos. issued except No. 2 of Vol. 1, Ornithologist & Botanist. Vol. 2. All Nos. except Nos. 1, 2. and 6. The Wolverine Naturalist. All issued after No. 4 of Vol. 1. The Empire State Exchange. Vol. 1, all except No. 3. Vol. 2, all. Vol. 3, Nos. 1 and-3 GEORGE SETH GUION, The Hawkeye Ornithologist and Oolo- gist. Vol. 2, all after No. 6. The Humming Bird (Sans Souci, N.C.) All issued after No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Cedar Rapids). All issued except June, August and October, 1900, and January, 1901. The Bittern (Damariscotta, Maine). All issued after No. 6 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Canisteo, N. Y.) Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1891. The Exchange (Mendota, Ill.) All Nos. issued except No-3 of Vol. 1. The International Naturalist (Canis- Wee, ING YG) All issued except Nos. 4 and 5 of Vol. 2. The Naturalist (Des Moines, Iowa). . All issued except No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Curlew (Orleans, Indiana). All issued except Nos. 3, 4, 5 of Vol. 1. And many others too numerous to mention, so send me list of what you care to dispose of and either make me a cash offer, or let me make you one: Napoleonville, La. THE OOGLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VOL, ox x. No: 8. ALBION, N. Y., Ava. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 313 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. serted for less than 25 cents. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. _It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 312 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. ——_—— ee OO Specimens.6 OF. WwW mounted specimens 0 e will not advertise the skins, nests, = These columns are for the use of those desiring North American Birds for sale. efeegs, or to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- EDITOR. BIRDS ses only. WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Il BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally. oe cine S. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, N (2-p) WANTED.—10 exchange skins, also bird ee bos camera for cash. CORNEL- Us BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea Saas and all wild animals, IRL E. BEN- ETT. “Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, rie EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. GREENWOOD, 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa. (1-p) a Want following hummer skins: 427-429- 430-432-433-437-439-440-440-1-441. Exchange Owl and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan- ser, =e Eagle. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- any, Pa, | TO EXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins asa whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., Portland, Ore. (2-p) EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese. Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (1) aa ae ee ee eee eee WANTED.— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will ive in exchange first class skins of Heath ens. FRED H. KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) WANTED. Scientific skins of A. O. U. 20, 242, 289a, 320. 320a. 327, 360. 357, 372a 373a, 373b. 373c, 373d. 373e. 373f. 373g, 373h, 373,1, 373.2, 374. 374a, 377, 378a, 379. 379.1. 380381. Willexchange, for them A. O. U. 34, 380. The Owls must all be the small Genra of the Varieties. H. W- AITKEN, 1521 Vine St., Philadelphia, aw -p conian | ASTI Ege ‘ an a i Pc et * THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued WANTED.—Skins of California Vulture, Whooping and Little Brown Crane, Trum- peter Swan and Falcons. Cash or good ex- change. A. H, Helme, Miller Place, New York. (1-p) WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Ayvyocets, male,ads.,two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts male, ads., and two Boxwhites, maJe, ads Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. Jovle Mo: (-p WANTED.—General birdssin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. Gees =10) WANTED.—A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which I can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. (1-p) OWLS.—I want the scientific skins of the Elf, Hoskins Pigmy, Dwarf Screech Owls, Flamulated, Mexican, Texan, Rocky Mt., Kennicots, Small Floria Screech Owls, Skins of Baby Moles, Baby Bats, Birds of Prey, Shore Birds in the Downey Stages, or the Nestlings, skins of Gophers, Burrowing Owls, newly hatched Green Turtles, Hawks-bill Turtles, Land Tortoises, and Wood Turtles, Willexchange Ferrig Pigmy Owls or Dovekis skins or other specimens. Baby Amidillas. H. W. AITKEN, 18 So. 20th Street, Philadel- phia, Pa. (1-p) EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. # Send for my list of fine Southern and South- ester sets. E. F. POPE, Colmesneil, exas. WANTED.—Three or four good sets of Sage Grouse. Address, JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, Floral Park, New York. (3-t) EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 529, 540, 584, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (1-p) Have some personally collected finely pre- pared sets of eggs from the Farallone Islands to exchange. Satisfaction guaranteed. < W. CARRIGER, 5185 Trask Ave., Oakland, Calif. (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID E. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Waste D) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. T. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, See -p FOR SALE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all 2zes andin good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. C. M. CASH, 7 Holcomb- St., Hartford, Conn. EXCHANGE—Bird skins, books, bird craft. squirrels and other fur bearers, wild animals Ihave known. Want skins, 155, 293, 294, 295, 331, 337b, 443. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- hany, Pa. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. WANTED. I will collect sets in North West Canada this season. Hagles, Hawks and Owls. THOS. S. HILL’ Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (1-p) TO EXCHANGE.—Sets with data, North America and Foreign. Can use many com- mon kinds of both. DR.T. W. RICHARDS, . Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W., Washington FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data and singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, Mass (1-p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Identification, for specimens and curiosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 Ist North, Seattle. Wash. a 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Two. hundred sets with data, in first class condition, including 50 European (without data) in cabinet. List sent on application.—_DR. JAMESON, 105 N. Washington St., Titusville, Pa. (4-p) WANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459; also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, 227a..474b, 533, 558, 641, 648, 673, 748c and others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. 1-p) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.—For skins or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. VIII, Vol. VII, No. 5-6; Vol. IX, No.1. Nidiologist, Vol. III, No.1; Vol. II, No. 9; Vol. IIT, No. 2; Osprey. Vol. 1-3; Condor, Vol. 2-1; Museum, Vol. I, No. 3-4-5-12. . Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXIII-XX VI-X XVII- XXVIII; Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7 and 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and 115 Vol. XIV, No. 3 and7. ARTHUR W. BROCK WAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) THE OOLOGIST. Vout. X¥KX. No. 8. ALBION, N. Y. Aua. 15, 19138. WHOLE No, 313 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. A. C. Read, of McKinley, Isle of Pines 122 Impressions of the Birds of McKinley, Isle of Pines, Cuba, Made on an Early Spring Morning (March 18, 1911). As I awoke about 5 a. m. the first sound which reached my ears was the note of the Cuban Pigmy Owl; a shrill, sharp, short whistle beginning very high pitched, running down the scale and repeated over and over again. This owl is very small as its name sig- nifies and measures 7.2 inches in length. Glauciduine siju as it is scien- tifically known, is only partially noc- tual, feeding in the day time as well as at night. It is an inhabitant of the jungles along the rivers and arroyos although sometimes found in the open pine woods. Its food consists chiefly of chameleons, field mice and grass- hoppers, though on one occasion I saw it tackle a Meadowlark and kill it. The little fellow was then attadked by a half dozen Meadowlarks and driven off. : The voice I heard next was that of the Cuban Kingbird (Tolmarchus cau- difasceatus) or rather several were in chorus. This is very similar to our northern Kingbird, being about the same size and color but lacking the white tip of the tail and shows a light patch at the base of the tail when in flight. After breakfast I started to walk to the office, a distance of perhaps a mile and a half, part of the way being along the beautiful Nuevas River, which is bordered by thick jungles. The rest of the road is through open pine country and clearings until we come to the big 500 acre grove. The office is situated a little northwest of the center. 2 Just as I turned out of the tract on- to the main road a Red-legged Thrush, perched high on the topmost branch of a beautiful elm-like ‘Jucaro,” burst into full song, if it can be called such. THE OOLOGIST This is locally called Cuban Robin and in general habits is similar to our American Robin, but is perhaps a lit- tle more fond of the woods. Mimoci- chla rubripes is about the same size as its northern cousin but it is slatey- gray in color, about that of a Catbird. It has a black throat bordered on each side with a white line; the lower breast and belly is tinged with rusty red about the color of an immature rcbin’s breast. Most of the time it is very silent only emitting occasional robin-like chirps when startled but at this season, especially in the early morning, as the sun rises from the heavy bank of clouds in the east, and in the late evening just as the sun is sinking in a blaze of glory which is beyond description in this country, it gives a poor imitation of the robin’s rain song. As I passed slowly down the road the prettiest bird of this section, the Isle of Pines Trogon, came into view perched in a thicket where a single ray of sunlight fell on its bright plum- age. This bird Priotelus temnurus vescus, measures about 10 inches, and has the crown of the head black shad- ing into purple on the neck and a green on the back. Its entire upper parts are iridiscent, changing from purple to green as the light falls dif ferently on it. The throat and breast are pure white while the belly is a bright vermillion. The outer tail feathers are shorter than the rest and have a peculiar curl outward. The Trogon inhabits thick jungles and nests in cavities of broken stubs of the Bottle Palm. & Coming to the river I looked down stream and saw a short distance off on a sand bar a lonely Limpkin, Ara mus giganteus, hunting snails, its principal diet. Often one finds a Limp- kin with its bill twisted out of shape by extracting the snails from their THE OOLOGIST shells. This bird is the connecting link between the rails and herons. It is solitary in its habits and is more of- ten heard than seen, especially at night. It has a peculiar, high wailing note from which it gets its name “Cry- © ing Bird,’ but when alarmed it utters at regular intervals a croak not un- like that of a frog. In the thickets along the road were Catbirds, Palm Warblers, a Gundlach’s Vireo, Redstarts, Florida Yellow- throats, Anis, commonly known as Black Parrots though they belong to the Cuckoo family, Cuban Orioles and Grackles, Melodious Grassquits mem- bers of the fiinch family, and a Cuban Tody. This last is a small bright green bird with a large, flycatcher- like bill, a vermillion patch on the throat, breast and belly white, sides tinged with vermillion and some blue in the wings. It certainly lives up to its scientific name, Todus multicolor.” Its note is like hitting two small stones together. Back in the woods Cuban Parrots were screeching, the West Indian Mourning Doves cooing, and yet a good many people claim that there are no birds here. Arriving at the grove the Cuban Meadowlarks were just beginning to whistle while a few Turkey Buzzards were circling about adding all that had been lacking to a typical morning in this southland. A. C. Read. SSS. eee A Trip to Pine River, Isle of Pines. Wednesday morning, July 12, 1911, a survey party of six set out for Pine river to take soundings and stake out the channel preparatory to opening the harbor. We met at Commodore Cleland’s and from there the run down the Nuevas River to the mouth, a dist- ance of four miles was very interest- ing, as well as beautiful. - The upper river has good banks lined with Royal 123 Palms, palmettos and hard wood jun- gles while back a short distance were open pine woods among which were seen (Cuban) Quail, Meadowlark, Sparrow Haws, Kingbirds, Pewees, Ground Doves, Red-bellied Woodpeck- ers, and Parrots. In the jungles were Cuban Grackle, Isle of Pines Trogons, Isle of Pines Lizard Cuckoos, Cuban Pigmy Owls and Anis. The West In- dian Mourning Dove and Pigeons (Col- umba inornata) were also plentiful. The lower river is wide and lined with mangroves. The bird life here is al- most entirely aquatic, although some land birds were seen flying across. But one West Indian Tree Duck was seen. White Ibis were abundant, Lit- tle Blue Herons, Green Herons and Limpkins were also in evidence. The twenty-mile sea trip was most enjoyable, but practically no _ birds Were seen except several hundred Florida Cormorants. We arrived at Pine River about 2:30 p. m. About half a mile up the river it widens out into a large bay or sort of inland lake a mile long by a half wide. This is surrounded by a mangrove swamp ranging in width from 150 feet to over 1690 feet. This basin ranges in depth from five feet to over fourteen feet, and is full of large fish. Several croc- odiles were also seen. Besides the birds recorded on the first part of the trip were added, Black-crowned Night Herons, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Cuban White Herons, Cuban Green Heron, Cuban Crane, Ward’s Heron, West Indian Killdeer, Antillian Night- hawks, White-crowned Pigeons, Yel- lowfaced Grassquits, and Red-legged Thrush. There was a fine moon on the night of the 12th and over the still waters it was almost as light as day. The water fowl were seen and heard a great deal during the night, but of course nothing was identified. We finished our work and got back THE OOLOGIST 124 o Ines Isle of P River, Early Morning on Pine —Photo by A. C. Read. wcll THE OOLOGIST 125 just at dusk, July 13th. Nothing new was seen and in fact very few birds were seen on the return trip, due to a heavy wind and sea, A total of thirty- three species of birds was recorded on this trip, which considering the season, and that the Isle is not rich in bird life, generally speaking, was excepticnally good for one day, the second day being simply a repetition of the first. A. C. Read. Isle of Pines, Cuba. ; eS ees Summer Birds of Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines, Cuba. Of course we have various members of the Warbler family here all winter, so that it is very difficult to say which are spring migrants and which are winter residents. Thefefore, strictly speaking the first warning we have that summer and the rainy season are coming is when we hear the sweet warble of the Black-whiskered Vireo, one of our most abundant summer residents. It is found here in almost every thicket or small grove during ‘the summer. About the first arrival is the 15th of March and the last that it is still common is October, although a few stragglers may be found almost any time during the year. Inland the shore birds are another harbinger of spring, though on the coast they may be found all winter. Among these are the Spotted Sandpip- er, Solitary Sandpiper, West Indian Killdeer, and Wilson Snipe. All but the Killdeer are on their northward journey. | The next to arrive (about the last of March) is the Cuban Martin. It is the fore runner of the Swallow family, which straggle in from the middle of April. The Cuban species of Martin and Cliff Swallow are the only kinds which I have found staying all sum- mer. The Antillean Nighthawk arrives about the first week in April and its “Spiggoty” is one of the commonest bird notes during the summer even- ings. It is shortly followed by its very rare cousin the Cuban Whip-poor- will. Among other of our summer birds to arrive in April are the Gray King- bird, White-crowned Pigeon, and “El Bobo” Pipeon, Columba squamosa. The latter is fast nearing extinction. Though formerly abundant all over the Isle, it is now only locally found on the West Coast or perhaps more correctly speaking the extreme west- ern side of the island including the South Coast. ; Some of our summer birds which are here the year around are as fol- lows: the Cuban species of Ground Dove, Meadowlark, Sparrow Hawk, Kingbird, Oriole, Grackle, Parrot, Crested Flycatcher, Tody, Pygmy and Barn Owls, Green and_ red-bellied Woodpeckers, Pewee, Quail, Crane, Green and White Herons; Southern Turkey Buzzard, Isle of Pines, Tanag- er and Lizard Cuckoo, Ani, Yellow-fac- ed and Melodious Grassquits, Red-leg- ged Thrush, W. I. Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Ricords Hummer, Gundlachs Vireo, Louisiana Heron, Black and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Great and Little Blue and Snowy Herons, White Ibis, W. I. Tree Duck, Fla. Cormorant, Caracara, Rudy Quail Dove and Cuban Crab Hawk. A. C. Read. +> Books Received. Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America, Revised Edition, May, 1912. This work needs no commendation nor introduction from us nor from any other oologist. It stands in a class by itself and speaks for itself, is typical- ly Chapman, and that means that it is a valuable production, containing as it does something over 500 pages, a 126 THH OOLOGIST Royal Palms on West Coast, Isle of Pines —Photo by A. C. Read. THE OOLOGIST very large number of colored plates and the description, technical as well as popular of all birds found within the territory which it covers. It is indeed one of the most valuable bird books that can be acquired by either amateur or scientist, and within its pages will be found not only the de- scription of the birds, but a complete and thorough treatise of the manner of collecting, photographing or pre- serving the birds, their nests or eggs. Would that there were more Chap- mans in the ornithology of the coun- try, and more Chapmanlike books ac- cessible to us all. We can recom- mend this as standard in every way. oe Birds of the West Coast Section of Santa Barbara, During the Month of September. As this is the wind-up of the rainy season and because of new roads be- ing soft, we will go on horse. We leave Santa Barbara after an early break- fast riding along the fine main roads lined with open pine woods, pretty bungalows, pineapple patches and cit- rus fruit groves. In these the Cuban Quail, Robin (red-legged Thrush) and Yellow-faced Grassquit are in evi- dence. After about two miles we leave the main road and start west. Almost im- mediately we notice a change in the bird life. We pass a small marsh in which we notice a pair of Florida Gal- linules which the quite rare here; a Cuban Green Heron, also a rare bird; Southern Green Herons and Cuban Grackles. As we ride along, the road passes through a thick jungle (wet), the ditches at this time of year full of water. Here we see Little Blue Her- ons, Snowy Herons, Solitary Sandpip- ers, Least and Semi-palmated Sand- pipers and Yellowlegs. Feeding in the road are West Indian Mourning Doves, 127 Pigeons (Columba inornata) and the ever present Cuban Ground Doves. In the brush are Cuban Pewees and Crested Flycatchers while feeding on the “nuts” of the “Bottle Palms” are a score of Cuban Green Parrots. Passing through this we come to a higher rolling country, four hundred acres of which is being developed by Winnipeg people. This is the virgin open pine woods cut here and there by small streams lined with real tropical jungles. : First let us proceed to the main pineapple patch of over 20,000 plants. Here we see the Cuban Meadowlarks and West Indian Killdeer with an oc- casional Black-bellied Plover running between the plants looking for grubs and flitting from plant to plant are Yellow Palm Warblers and Yellow- faced Grassquits. From here let us go North a short distance for it is nearly lunch time, and find a cool shady spot on the panks of “Arroyo Largo.’ While here eating if we are quiet. we may see a Limpkin, Belted Kingfisher, Giant Kingbird, Cuban Tody, Florida Yellow- throat, Black and White, Blackpoll and Sycamore Warblers and also the Water thrush. While returning, at the edge of the jungle we see the Cuban Green Wood- pecker busily pegging away at an old stub while on a distant Palm is a Cuban Red-bellied Woodpecker. Here again we are in the pine woods and see some White-crowned Pigeons (rare at this time of year), also some “H] Bobo” or fool pigeons (Columba squamosa) the largest of our pigeons; in fact, it is as large as the domestic bird and greatly prized for food. It is only a question of a few years be- fore it will be entirely exterminated. Formerly it was abundant all over the Island and now it is only in a few places where it is found at all. At \ 128 THE OOLOGIST Nest & Parent Cuban Martin, in Stub of Pine Tree, 30 ft. up, Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines, May, 1912. : —Photo by A. C. Read. 129 THE OOLOGIST Nest & Parent Cuban Parrot in Bettle Palm, 30 ft up, —Photo by A. C. Read. Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines 130 : certain times it is still common on the West Coast. In a small tree is an Isle of Pines Lizard Cuckoo, while in the grass catching locusts are a flock of Cuban Grackles. In a “Hobo Plum” tree are several Cuban Orioles while in the “Ceco Plum” bushes are three or four Cuban-wings, also a rare bird. This is typical of the West Coast and is a daily experience for me as I have charge of the development in this section. Besides the birds I see lots of the so-called wild pigs and an occasional crocodile or more correctly I believe, “Cayman.” A. C. Read. Isle of Pines. Oo Isle of Pines Note. A. C. Read writes under date of December 19, 1912, as follows: “Some - specimens of note have just been taken here by Professor Linke of the Carnegie Institute, to-wit: Cuban Crow, Cuban Bullfinch, and Roseate Spoonbill. ; — 2 3 April 134 6.—Red-tailed Hawk .... 7.—Barred Owl ......... 7.—Red-tailed Hawk .... 10.—Barred Owl ........ 13.—Great Horned Owl ..: 14.—Barred Owl ......... 20—Barred Owl ......... 20—Red-tailed Hawk .... 21.—Red-tailed Hawk .... 28. —Red-tailed Hawk .... May 4——_Barred Owl 25. 5.---- 11—Barred Owl ......... 11.—Sparrow Hawk ...... 12.—Turkey Vulture ..... 12.—-Red-tailed Hawk .... 12.—Cooper’s Hawk ...... 14.—Swainson’s Hawk ... 14.—Cooper’s Hawk ...... 14.—Cooper’s Hawk ..... 15.—Hairy Woodpecker .. 15—Swainson’s Hawk ... 17.—Long-eared Owl ..... 17.—Prairie Hen ......... 18.—Cooper’s Hawk ...... 19—Swainson’s Hawk ... 19—Swainson’s Hawk ... 21.—Red-bellied Hawk ... 21—wWhip-poor-will ....... 24—Swainson’s Hawk ... 24 —Red-bellied Hawk ... Hi —lbeieke Iino 65.6500 0e 25—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 26.—Swainson’s Hawk ... 26—Purple Martin ...... 27.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 27.— Field Sparrow ....... 27.—Green Heron ....... 29 —Yellow-breasted Chat 30.—Redstart ............ 31—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 31.—Downey Woodpecker 31.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher THH ee cer steer eee eee eee oe eee reece rr eee eee eee see eet eee eee ee ee ee a ee eee ew eee ee ace cee eee eee eee eee sere ee eee ee oor eee eee a ee eee wees see eee eee a er ee eee eee eee see eee eee eC i's je).6\ve,0) 6 ja. eee eee wee 31—Reose-breasted Grosbeak....... 31.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 31.—Yellow-throated Vireo June 1.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher eee s cere ‘OOLOGIST 2 3.—*Swallow-tailed Kite.......... 3 3 3.—Dickcissle in 2c. Yo eee eee 4 3 3.—Purple Martin 2... 2s2eo sees 6 iL 4.—Rose-breasted Grosbeak ...... 3 3 4.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ........ 5 2 4—Field Sparrow ............... 5 2 8.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ........ 5 2 8.—Yellow-bellied Cuckoo ........ 2 2 8.—Least Flycatcher ............. 4 2 8.—Great-crested Flycatcher ..... 6 8—Lark Finch ....... 3 iE See 4 2 8.—Yellow-breasted Chat ......... 4 B} 8.—Yellow-breasted Chat ......... 4 5 8.—Yellow-breasted Chat ......... 2 2 8.—Red-eyed Vireo .............-- 3 2 8—Bell’s’ Vireo >: ... 2. cee poeeeeeee 5 4 8.—=Bell’s: Vireo 5. i. ws. esac eeeene 3 2 8:—Bell’s* Vireo: S.. ~ <1 see 4 4 10—Great-crested Flycatcher ..... 6 4 10—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ....... 3 5 10—Red-headed Woodpecker ...... 4 1 10—Green-crested Flycatcher ..... 2 7 10—Swainson’s Hawk ............ 2 5 12—Green-crested Flycatcher ..... 3 7 12—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 5 12-—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ........ 4 3 12-—Yellow-throated Vireo ....... 4 3 12-—Yellow-throated Vireo ........ 1 3° 12-“Bell’s Vireo... oe eee 4 2° 12:—Green, Heron: =...) eee 4 3 12—Green-crested Flycatcher .... 3 2 14—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 3 14—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 5 14-—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 2 14—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 6 14—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 5 14—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ........ 5 2 14——Red-eyed Vireo: 2:22... meee 4 4 14—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 2 15.—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 4 15—=Wood “Pewee... 1s joe ee 2 5 15—Great-crested Flycatcher ..... 2 5 16—Great-crested Flycatcher ..... 3 5 16—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 3 16—Red-bellied Woodpecker ...... 5 5 16:—Least” Bittennis 2 oe ee 2 3) 17 Least“ Bittern. ....css reine 4 17.—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 4 17.—Swallow-tailed Kite ........ ty chee THE 17.—Blur-gray Gnatcatcher 19.—Ruby-throated Hummer ....... Z 22—Great-crested Flycatcher ...... 4 3—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 .4.—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 27.—Ruby-throated Hummer ...... 2 * Of 14 sets of this Kite collected in Iowa, this is the only one containing three eggs. J ee eee The Louisiana Water Thrush. (Seiurus motocilla) In Southern Pennsylvania the Louis- iana Water-thrushes arrive from their winter home early in April. At this time one may find them busily engag- ed in searching the muddy banks of creeks and runs, bent upon securing their food. As the warm days of late April ap- pear, these birds seek a mate and re- pair to the brooks that slowly wind their way through the small clumps of woodland; these woods abounding in the locality. Here they wade about in the sparkling water, or flit from stone to stone, in search of some dainty mersel of food. Nest building is begun late in April or early in May, depending upon the weather. The sites chosen are varied. Some birds build their nests under overhanging rooty sod; others build their homes in crevices among a mass of fallen dry leaves; while a few Se- lect a bunch of tangled roots that dangle from a small tree, standing near the water. All of these situa- tions are near the clear water of a breok. The materials used for nest con- struction are dry oak or chestnut leaves, bits of dry grass, some root- lets, and a few horse hairs. From three to six eggs are deposit- ed in this cozy nest—three being a full clutch when the lazy cowbird adds one or more of her eggs. These have a pure white ground color, and are OOLOGIBT 135 either heavily spotted, or lightly speckled with reddish brown and lilac. During a tramp of a single day I have found as many as 15 nests. Had I searched especially for nests of the waterbrush, I have no doubt that I should have found many more. The song is commonly a_ sharp “chip, chip’; but at times a very beautiful song is uttered from the. darker and quieter parts of the wood- land. Water-thrushes are busy birds, and seldom do we find them at rest. They are quite interesting to a bird lover, and great entertainment may be de- rived from studying their habits. S. S. Dickey. Waynesburg, Pa. aS eee Breeding Warblers of Harvey’s Lake, Luzerne County, Pa. Harvey’s. Lake is situated among the foot hills of the Blue Mountains, in Pennsylvania. It is the largest lake in the state, covering about six square miles, and is surrounded by high hills covered with Hemlock, White Pine, and a few Chestnut, Beech and other deciduous trees. My father and myself during two trips have found the following Warb- lers breeding: Black and White Warb- ler with young, and nest placed among roots of upturned tree; Parula Warb- lers were abundant among the higher Hemlocks, and evidently breeding. We found no nests. Black-throated Blue Warblers were fairly common, and several nests were seen among the Laurel and in small bushes. Of all the Warblers the Magnolia was by far the most abundant. We counted at least a dozen nests, and found a most beautiful set of five eggs which unfortunately were too much in- cubated to preserve. Most of the nests were on low branches of the Hem- locks. E 136 Chestnut-sided | Warblers were scarce, although we found one pair that evidently had a nest in the bushes. Blackburnian Warblers were scarce. One pair was noted feeding young at the nest, which was situat- ed in a large Hemlock and far out on the end of a limb. An almost inac- cessable place. My father observed a female of this species at work on a nest, the first nest having evidently been destroyed. Black-throated Green Warblers were common and were certainly breeding, but no nests were found. Ovenbirds were common breeders. One pair of Water Thrush were feeding their young. Nest under bank of small stream. Only one pair of Mourning Warb- lers was seen, and were evidently breeding in the underbrush, although we could not find the nest. A nest of the Yellow Warbler was found in an Apple tree with five small young therein. Maryland Yellow - throats Were breeding commonly in the bushes and briars along the lake. Yellow-breasted Chats were breed- ing also among the low bushes. Cana- dian Warblers were very common, and undoubtedly breeding, but no nests were located. Redstarts were nesting commonly along the edge of the lake in Beech trees. Some of the other birds we found breeding in this locality were Yellow- bellied Sapsucker (with young); Win- ter Wren, Bob-o-link, Least Flycatch- er, Bewick’s Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Marsh Hawk, Great-horned Owl, Woodcock, Nighthawk, Whip- poor-will, Brown Creeper, Scarlet Tan- Bob-white, Buffed Chickadee and Sparrow Hawk. Wren, ager, Grouse, Archie Benners. Ambler, Montgomery Co., Pa. THE OOLOGIST NOTES. Sad. Pingrey I. Osborne of Pasadena, California, who at one time had a bright and brilliant future as a promis- ing young naturalist, has been expelled from membership by the Cooper Orni- thological Club upon charges prefer- red against him. Those interested in knowing what the charges are can learn them by referring to the Jan- uary-February issue of The Condor. It is sad indeed that a young man in the morning of life will wreck a promising future in such a manner. And it leaves a feeling of dissatisfaction and suspicion lingering in the minds of every one of us who are unfortunate enough to have any of his specimens in our collections. “Skeered.” An ex-oologist calls upon the Su- preme Being to protect Ye Hditor un- til he shall meet us, that he may have the privilege of delivering the per- sonal violence that his communication threatens. We trust all interested oologists will-lend us their prayers until that occasion arrives, because we are “skeered.” Notice. The following persons will be denied the use of the advertising columns of THE OOLOGIST until further notice: Pingrey I. Osborne, J. D. Sornberg- er, D. Wilby. We have one or two others under consideration. To Panama. H. B. Bailey of Newport News, Va., one of the veteran Oologists, has been spending the last two months collecting birds and eggs in the Canal Zone. THE OOLOGIST Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of Birds of Europe - - $ .50 Sn.ith’s The Canary, 12 ectored plates, 1870 - 1.50 Tegetmeier’s The aaiae Pigeon, Illus., 1871 - - 1.25 Canary Birds, A Manual for — Keepers, Illus. - - 1.0¢ Bird Neighbors, School edition; colored plates, 1899 - 1.00 Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of a by Lenses artists 1.00 Autograph atin of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 221 5Sth St. Philadelphia, Pa. 1.50 THE CONDOR A Magazine of ‘Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Cooper Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. Vit BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN, N. Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books ang Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quetations by letter. Ican save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. If not the best you ever used re- turn and get-your money. Regular Egg Drills: No. 0,20c; No. 1, 20c; No, 2, 25c: No. 3, 35c; No. 4, 45c; No. 5, 50c. Blowpipes: AJ] best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30¢; 20c. GINO. 0; Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Finest quality straight, Embryo Hooks: Embryo Scissors: or curved, 50c. $1.00; curved, $1.25 Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol1mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. Viti THE OOLOGIST I shall pay a good price for the following magazines, in good order and in their orig- inal covers, suitable for binding: The lowa Ornithologist (Salem, Iowa). Vol. 2, all except No. 3. Vol. 3, all except No. 4. Vol. 4, all. The Stormy Petrel (Mendota, II1.) All issued except No. 5 of Vol. 1. The Oregon Naturalist. Vol. 4, Nos. 10, 11 and 12. The American Osprey (Ashland, Ky.) All Nos. issued after No. 9 of Vol. 1. Wilson Bulletin. No. 3 and Index to Vol. 12. Bul. Mich. Orni. Club. Vol. 1, No. 1. Naturalist (Kansas City, Cont. of Hoosier Naturalist). All Nos. issued after No. 1 of Vol. 4. Oologist’s Advertiser. All Nos. issued except No. 2 of Vol. 1. Ornithologist & Botanist. Vol. 2. All Nos. .except Nos. 1, 2. and 6. The Wolverine Naturalist. All issued after No. 4 of Vol. 1. The Empire State Exchange. - Vol. 1, all except No. 3. Vol. 2, all. Vol. 3, Nos. 1 and 3. GEORGE SETH GUION, The Hawkeye Ornithologist and Oolo- gist. Vol. 2, all after No. 6. The Humming Bird (Sans Souci, N.C.) All issued after No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Cedar Rapids). All issued except June, August and October, 1900, and January, 1901. The Bittern (Damariscotta, Maine). All issued after No. 6 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Canisteo, N. Y.) Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1891. The Exchange (Mendota, III.) All Nos. issued except No. 3 of Vol. 1. The International Naturalist (Canis- teo, N. Y.) All issued except Nos. 4 and 5 of Vol. 2. The Naturalist (Des Moines, Iowa). All issued except No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Curlew (Orleans, Indiana). All issued except Nos. 3, 4, 5 of Vol. 1. And many others too numerous to mention, so send me list of what you care to dispose of and either make me a cash offer, or let me make you one. Napoleonville, La. THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. 9. ALBION, N. Y., Sepr. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 314 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. serted for less than 25 cents. No notice in- TAKE . NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 314 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1908, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. eS HHOUNted «Specimens. «(Of €s, or mounted specimens 0 We will not advertise the skins, n These co North American Birds for sale. ests, eg sae lumns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Il. FOR SALE.—Pair of live Sand Hil] Cranes, live Hutchins and Blue Geese. PORTAGE WILD ANIMAL CO., Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, Box No. 223. (1-p) SA al ee Dt he EXCHANGE.—Bird Skins of Eastern United States for exchange and a 44c Stevens Pocket Collecting pistol for sale. J. H. WEBER, Palisades Park, N. J. (1-p) BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally FRANK S,. WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn: Nae (2-p)_ WANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird hotographing camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live witd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pies and _ all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- ETT, “Naturalist,” Cambridge, Ohio. (1-p) pik Rc Ce ne I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins. andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, it ) (-p EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. GREENWOOD, 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa. (1-p) Want following hummer skins: 427-429" 430-432-433-437-439-440-440-1-441. Exchange Ow! and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan™ ser, Bald Eagle. EARL HAMILTON. Yohog™ any. Pa. TO KXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., Portland, Ore. (2-p) WANTED.—General birdssxin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. Gp) =) C} SS First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Il. (1) 2o eee Eee eee WANTED.—First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will gvie in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H.KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mas s. (1) ~ ee qnsonian Instig-~ ey (es SEP19 1913 / [ THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued WANTED.—Skins of California Vulture, Whooping and Little Brown Crane, Trum- peter Swan and Falcons. Cash or good ex- change. A. H. Helme, Miller Place, New York. (1-p) WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Ayocets, male,ads..two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts male, ads., and two Boxwhites, malJe, ads Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Zctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. Tone Mo: (1-p EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) WANTED.— A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which I can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. (1-p) OWLS.—I want the scientific skins of the Elf, Hoskins Pigmy, Dwarf Screech Owls, Flamulated, Mexican, Texan, Rocky Mt., Kennicots, Small Floria Screech Owls, Skins of Baby Moles, Baby Bats, Birds of Prey, Shore Birds in the Downey Stages, or the Nestlings, skins of Gophers, Burrowing Owls, newly hatched Green Turtles, Hawks-bill Turtles, Land Tortoises, and Wood Turtles, Willexchange Ferrig Pigmy Owls or Dovekis skins or other specimens. Baby Amidillas. H. W. AITKEN, 18 So. 20th Street, Philadel- phia, Pa. (1-p) EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them tegether hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Py : Send for my list of fine Southern and South- western sets. E. F. POPE, Colmesneil, Texas. W ANTED.—Three or four good sets of Sage Grouse. Address, JOHN LEWIS CHIU s: Floral Park, New York. (3-t) EXCHANGE. — Personally taken. sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, 529, 540, 584, 624, for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (1-p) Have some personally collected finely pre- pared sets of eggs from the Farallone Islands to exchange. Satisfaction guaranteed. H. W. CAR RIGER, 5185 Trask Ayve., Oakland, Calif. (1- p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (351) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID BE. BROWN Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Wash. 1p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. | Will exchange European for North American sets. H. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, - England. -p FOR SALE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all 2.zes andin good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. M. CASE, 7 Holcomb St., Hartford, Conn. EXCHANGE—Bird skins, books, bird craft, squirrels and other fur bearers, wildanimals Ihave known. Want skins, 155, 293, 294, 295, a eels) 443, EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- any, Pa. EGGS FOR EXCHANGE.—A few sets each of the following to exchange for other sets. Nos. 49, 120c, 122, 127, 294a. 360a. Send full list: J.S. APPLETON, Simi, Ventura Co., Cal. WANTED. I will collect sets in North West Canada this season. I want sets of Eagles, Hawks and Owls. THOS. 8. HILIA Relics, fossils, sheils, Moodys. Okla. (1-p) TO EXCHANGE.—Sets with data, North America and Foreign. Can use many com- mon kinds of both. DR.T. W. RICHARDS, ie 5 Navy, 1911 N. St., N. W., Washington FOR EXCHANGE.—Sets with data_and singles for first class bird skins. B. G. WIL- LARD, 30 Huntington, Ave., Boston, ee ; -p FINE COLLECTION BIRD EGGS, many birds and nests photographed, to exchange for microscope, fly rod, casting rod, or tackle Box 775, Stanford University, Cal. Marine Shells, Pacific Coast species, Smith- sonian Tdentification, for specimens and curiosities of any kind, Birds’ Eggs preferred, W. W. WESTGATE, 809 Ist North, Seattle. Wash. 1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Two_ hundred sets with data, in first class condition, including 50 European (without data) in cabinet. List sent on application._DR. JAMESON, 105 N. Washington St., Titusville, Pa. (4-p) W ANTED—Fine sets Flycatchers, especial- ly 459: also rare postage stamps, British, North American colonies only. Offer sets with nests 228, IRE 474b. 533, 558, 641, 648, 673, Wee ane others. H. MOUSLEY, Que. d-p) FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. Rash skins or eggs in sets. Bird Lore, Vol. Vol. VII. No. 5-6; Vol. IX, No. 1. Nigloloulat, Vol. III, No. i Vol. II, No. 9; Vol. III, No. 2; Os te. Vol. 1-3: Condor, Vol. 3-1; Museum, Vol. 3-4-5-12. Ornithologist and Oolo ist, Vou, XVIII; Oologist, Vol. XXTII-XX TeX XXVIII: Vol. X, No. 4-7-11; Vol. XI, Nos.7 and 9; Vol. XII, Nos. 10 and Il: Vol. XIV, No. 3 and7. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) THE OOLOGIST. VoL. XXX. No. 9. AuBtIon, N. Y. SEpr. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 814 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. Frank |. Harris, La Crescent, Minn. 138 A May Day Arfield. On May 11, 1913, in company with Mr. John Bausewein of Bloomfield, the writer spent five of the most pleas- ant hours afield that he has experi- enced for many a day. The country canvassed was that part of Morris County, New Jersey, which is known as the Troy Meadow section. Starting at the terminus of the trolley line in Caldwell, the course pursued was along Bloomfield Avenue to Pine Brook, thence over the Hanover Neck Road to the Rockaway, thence along its. southern shore to the Junction of the Whippany, thence to the Pleasant- dale Road to Swinefield Bridge over the Passaic River and finally to Beau- fort. While walking over this section many novel and interesting features, ornithologically and oologically occur- red and these are worthy of more than passing interest. On the way from Caldwell to Beaufort many spe- cies were encountered and numerous nests of the resident species located. Those which appeared in abundance were: Crow, Meadowlark, Field, Vesp- er, Chipping and Song Sparrows, Gold- finch, Redwings, Flicker, Starling, Barn and Tree Swallows, Catbird, Bluebird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Robin, Swift, Yellow Warbler, Purple Grackle, Kingbird, Redstart, Balti- more Oriole, Rose:breasted Grosbeak, Red-eyed Vireo and Bobolink. These species were heard many times and were present throughout the period spent afield. Just after leaving Cald- well a pair of Cliff Swallows were ob- served circling about over the low pasture lands on the right side of the road. For some unknown reason these birds have been rather scarce in this section for several years past. In this immediate vicinity a Marsh Hawk and a House Wren were seen and the latter often heard, THE OOLOGIST At Pine Brook a Great Blue Heron was seen and as he stood in the water calmly and _ silently watching its depths for a passing member of the finny tribe, presented a very beauti- ful and imposing picture. Along the Rockaway a Chewink was heard call- ing, as well-as several Blue Jays. In the open fields adjacent, a pair of Cow- birds were silently but very indus- triously searching the newly plowed surface for grubs and insects which prevailed in great abundance. At the junction of the Whippany and the Rockaway a pair of Chebecs were bus- ily engaged in completing their home in a low maple sapling. At the foot of this tree a pair of Swamp Spar- rows were also working on their fu- ture domicile. In the shallow waters of the Whippany a Green Heron was seen in about the same attitude as the Great Blue. Along the Whippany 14 or 15 Wilson Snipes. were seen and often heard. Along the Pleasantdale Road a Sparrow Hawk was seen feast- ing upon the remains of a batrachian (species unknown). At the Swine- field Bridge a Red-headed Woodpeck- er was seen flying low over the water and as we left the vicinity its rolling tattoo was heard several times. Near Beaufort in a copse of White birches and Maples on the bank of the Pas- saic, numerous species were found and a number of these were nesting. Among these species were: Five Chickadees and one half completed nest in a white birch; one Crow’s nest with three young about ten days old and the parents in the near neighbor- hood uttering cries of protest all of the while we were in the vicinity; five Crested Flycatchers, three Killdeers, a Spotted Sandpiper, an QOvenbird, fe- male with completed nest; five White- breasted Nuthatches; a Downy and five Black and White Warblers. These latter were frequently heard as they THE OOLOGIST searched the tree trunks in the vicin- ity for the hidden larvae. An Orch- ard Oricle was also located here and its song often heard. In this section the country is but little populated and the birds have al- most a free range, and to the natur- alist this is, indeed, a Mecca well worth visiting, even if only for a few hours. Today 48 species of birds ap- peared and in addition an abundance of natural life, both botanically and otherwise, was apparent, sufficient to satisfy the cravings of the most en- thusiastic observer regardless of the department of the nature study which he may be seeking. A striking incident of the days out- ing was the battle between a Black Snake (Coluber constrictor) and a Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) in the grove near Beaufort for the pos- session of a small Green Frog (Rana clamata) which the Black Snake had captured and the Garter Snake was trying to get away from him. The battle lasted for about fifteen minutes during which the Black had complete- ly crushed the Garter Snake until all life was apparently extinct and then he swallowed the frog with a gleam in his eyes of apparent satisfaction as he coiled himself up to digest his prey and enjoy the heat of the sun as it receded over the western horizon. Although the T. Sirtalis was fully six inches longer and considerably stout- er than the C. constrictor, he was completely outclassed and fell an easy victim to the squeezings of the lat- ter. Louis S. Kohler. Bloomfield, N. 1. te eck. ASR Unusual Nesting Sites of the Ameri- can Merganser. (Merganser americanus.) By Walter Raine, Toronto. In all works on North American birds, nests and eggs the nesting sit- 139 uation of this species is given as be- ing in a hole ina tree, after the man- ner of the hooded merganser, buffle- head American golden-eye and wood duck. I was therefore very much sur- prised to find American mergansers nesting in holes under boulders on an island in Lake Winnipegosis, Manito- ba, during June, 1903. My son and I found about 30 pairs nesting on Gun Island on June 16th. All the nests that we could reach were built far back at the end of dark pas- sages under boulders on the highest part of the island, some nests being from four to six feet back from the en- trance and were hard to get at; in some cases my boy had to crawl be- tween the boulders to reach the eggs and I had to pull him out by the feet. In one hole he caught a female on the nest, and afterwards my boy tied a fishing line to its leg and let it swim around the boat. It was astonishing with what speed it cut through the water using its wings and fairly flying under water, after which we gave it its liberty and it flew away. The nests contained from 8 to 12 eggs, one nest containing as many as 13. They are easily distinguishable from other duck eges by their very large size and pale buff tint, averaging 2.60 x 1.80. One nest contained: eggs laid by two fe- males as half the eggs were of a deep- er tint and different size and shape than the others. The down is pale greyish-white after the fashion of all other ducks that nest in holes in trees or in the dark. The male mergansers flew away as our sail boat approached the island, but the females sat close dashing past our feet as we scrambled amongst the boulders where they were nesting. On this same island sev- eral red-breasted mergansers had nests containing 8 and 9 eggs each;, their nests were not at the end of burrows, but in depressions und@¢* dense under- 140 growth. The eggs are smaller than those of the American merganser and of a darker tint, being yellowish-drab or warm drab; average size 2.50 x 1.70. The down is also darker and of a warm greyish tint. Both ducks are very destructive to fish and are there- fore disliked by the fishermen. They are known to gunners as sawbills, and their flesh is rank and unpalatable.— The Ottawa Naturalist. PE SIE) 6 AE Field Notes. On May 9th I discovered a Marsh Hawk’s nest containing three eggs. Visited it again on May 10th, it then contained five eggs, and on the 17th it contained seven eggs. They meas- ured from 1.75 x 1.98 to 1.75 x 1.3. When I visited the nest on the 24th, all of the eggs had been punctured and all were in a different stage of incu- bation. This was the largest number of eggs I have ever found in a nest of this species. During the first week of April, 1912, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks be- gan building in a beech tree in the border of the woods. They built a large nest and were about it until other birds of this kind left their nest- ing sites. The female set on the nest much of the time, but deposited no eggs. Again in April, 1915, a pair built in a beech about 15 rods from the first nest, and this one has not been used. I am convinced these are the same birds that built the first nest. Is this common and can any one give a reason for it? In April, 1912, I found the nest of a barred Owl containing three eggs. When the young were about one week old they disappeared from the nest, and a few days later I found three young Owls in an old stub about 30 rods away. The last of March, 1913, I found this stub again occupied by a Barred Owl who deposited but two THE OOLOGIST eggs. When the young were six days old they also disappeared, and the sec- ond stub again contained two Owlets. Both seasons I examined these stubs, and nothing was in the stub up until within ten days of finding these. Do the old Owls carry the young away when disturbed? I am quite sure they did in this case, as the Owl at both stubs had lost part of its tail. Since sending in my article on birds of prey, which appeared in the May number of THE OOLOGIST, I was told by a man that Ravens were seen about an old slashing some 25 miles away. As this is a rare bird in this section I decided to visit the place. So on May 20th in company with a young friend we wheeled to see the Ravens and look for the nest. But when we ar- rived we found the man had mistaken Turkey Buzzards for Ravens. We wanted to explore that slashing which contains about 1200 acres of land and is the home of many Turkey Vultures. It began to thunder so we left off hunting for nests and returned home. But in the heart of the woods and in a swampy part we found one of the finest large Herons I have ever known. With nests in all stages of construc- tion even up to good sized young Herons. My article in the May issue should have read, “I put the Young Ma Marsh Hawks in the coop.” The English Sparrows are here. I have watched them pick up many in- sects while I have been plowing, and that is good. This spring they have destroyed many nests and of more useful birds than they. Two nests of Phoebe, four of the Chipping Sparrow and three of the American Robins, all in my yard. These I have seen being robbed, and since then the shotgun has been doing good. S. V. Warram, Ohio, THE OOLOGIST 141 May Birds in Essex County, N. J. During May, 1912, bird life in this section of northern New Jersey was unusually abundant and many species were found building homes and rear- ing their progeny in greater profusion than ever before. It is the concensus of opinion of lo- cal ornithologists, as well as my own, that this superabundance of our feath- ered friends was largely, if not whol- ly, due to the delightful weather con- ditions which were prevalent through- out the entire month. In all ninety- three species appeared locally during the month, which is far in advance of the usual quota of visitors and resi- dents, especially in view of the dense- ly populated district such as this coun- ty is. Among the above number were such species as the Least Sandpiper, Black- crowned Night Heron, Rough-winged Swallow and Carolina Wren which are very unusual, and, in fact, are the first of their kind which have appear- ed upon my personal records for May during the past decade. Other species such as the Grasshopper Sparrow, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ruby-throat- ed Hummingbird, Mourning Dove and Screech Owl were found nesting to- wards the end of the month, the rec- ords of which are worthy of more than passing interest. The biggest find, of all, however, was a nest of the Blue- winged Warbler in a Platanus occiden- talis at Montclair Heights. Below will be found an annotated list of the species as they were record- ed during the month: (1) Starling—Sturnus vulgaris. Common on every day except the 6th and 16th. On these days they were for some reason, wholly absent. Seventy- six nests of this species were located during the month in many places, some odd and others quite usual. (2) American Robin—Planesticus Migratorius. Common on each day. Forty-two nests located and of these forty families reached maturity so far as I know. The other two were de- stroyed by several house cats, shortly after the eggs hatched. (3) Wood Thrush—Hylocichla mus- telina. Numerous birds of this spe- cies were present on fifteen days and three nests were located in Branch Brook Park, Newark, N. J. (4) Towhee—Pipilo erythropthal- mus. Present on eleven days. Two nests located both with young about five days old. (5) Hermit Thrush—Tylocichla gut- tata pallasi. But one of this appeared on the ist. It was probably a strag- gler or last of the spring migrants to appear locally. (6) White-throated Sparrow—Zon- otrichia albicollis. Numbers of birds appeared on nine days during the ear- lier part of the month and were in full song whenever located. The last ap- peared on the 20th. (7) American Goldfinch—Astragali- nus tristis. Common on twelve days. One nest located in a pear sapling in southern Bloomfield, containing a com- pleted set of five eggs. (8) Cowbird—Molothrus ater. Pres- ent on eleven days. Two nests of the Red-eyed Vireo and one of the Yellow Warbler found with eggs of these birds in them. (9) Bluebird-—Hialia sialis. Pres- ent on eight days. No nests of this species were located this year any- where within the precincts of,the county. (10) Song Sparrow—Melospiza mel- edia. Common throughout the month and many nests were located in many places throughout the county. (11) Meadowlark—Sturnella mag- na. Present on eighteen days. Four nests located in old stubble fields, all of which contained completed sets of four and five eggs. 143 THE (12) Red-winged Blackbird — Age- laius phoenicous. Common on twenty- eight days and numerous nests found throughout the country whereever swampy and marshy grounds were lo- cated. (13) American Crow—Corvus bra- chyrhynechos. Present on fifteen days and usually quite common. Two nests were located in a small swamp in southern Bloomfield in immense elms about sixty feet from the ground. (14) Flicker—Colaptes auratus lu- teus. Present on seventeen days and fifteen nests were located all of which contained completed sets in an advanc- ed stage of incubation. ee (15) Purple Grackle—Quiscalus quiscula. Present on twelve days and on most of these days were quite com- mon. Two nests were located in a pine near Bloomfield Centre. (16) Chipping Sparrow — Spizella passerina. Common on sixteen days. Five nests located, each of which con- tained broods of four and five fiedg- lings. (17) Junco—Junco hyemalis. One of this species appeared on the Ist day. ie (18) Barn Swallow—Hirundo ery- throgastra. Common on twenty-one days and two nests located with six eggs in each in old barns near the northern limits of the county. (19) Grasshopper Sparrow—Ammo- dramus savannarum australis. Pres- ent on three days in the northern part of the county. On each of these days a single nest was located containing uncompleted sets. ‘ (20) Yellow Warbler — Dendroica aestiva. Common on twenty-one days and numerous nests were located, all of which contained eggs well advanc- ed in incubation. (21) Pine Warbler—Dendroica vig- orsi. One individual of this species on the 2d. OOLOGIST (22) Wilson Thrush — Hylocichla fuscesons. Present on six days. No nests located this year, but in prior years usually one or two were found in isolated spots in this county. (23) Spotted Sandpiper—A ctitis macularia. Present on sixteen days on Newark Meadows and when present were usually very abundant. (24) Catbird—Dumetella carolinen- sis. Present and common on eleven days. Three nests with young found in Branch Brook Park. (25) Black and White Warbler— Mniotilla varia. Found on four days. Quite common on the eleventh. (26) Least Flycatcher—Empidonax minimus. Common on fourteen days. Four nests located in maple saplings containing in each case a completed set of four eggs well along in incuba- tion. (27) Cedar Waxwing—Bombycilla cedrorum. Present in small flocks on the 2d, 15th, 19th and 28th. (28) Field Sparrow—Spizella pusil- la. Common on nine days and twenty- seven nests located in hedgerows ia numerous places about the county. Some contained young four or five days old and others eggs which had just been laid. ; (29) Chimney Swift—Chaetura pel agica. Present in goodly numbers on fifteen days, and two nests were lo- cated containing freshly laid eggs in ‘several house chimneys. (30) Tree Swallow — Iridoprocne bicolor. Common on fifteen days but no nests found this year where they have heretofore been located. (31) Killdeer—Oxyechus vociferus. Present on the 2d, 3d, 5th, 138th and _15th. Quite common on the 13th. Yellow Palm Warbler—Den- One (32) droica palmarum hypochrysea. of this species appeared on the 3d. (33) Blue Jay—Cyanocitta crista- ta. Common on ten days. No nests THE OOLOGIST located this year, whereas in prior years usually ten or twelve were lo- cated. (34) Wilson Snipe—Gallinago deli- cata. Located on the 3d, 6th and 11th. Common on the morning of the 3d. (35) Bank Swallow—Piparia ripa- ria. Present on eight days. Two nests located apparently with young as the parents were carrying insects into the openings and removing the excretia. (36) Kingfisher—Ceryle alcyon. Present on six days near the brook- sides in the northern half of the county. (37) White-breasted Nuthatch—Sit- ta carolinensis. Individuals located on the 4th and 12th. (38) House Wren—Troglodytes ae- don. Common on nine days. One nest located with five young about ten days old. (39) Kingbird—Tyrannus tyrannus. Present on eight days. Common on the 19th, 20th and 26th. No nests lo- cated this year. (40) Sharp-shinned Hawk—Accipi- ter velox. Only one of this species ap- peared. This was on the 4th. (41) Baltimore Oriole—Icterus gal- bula. Present and common on thir- teen days. Seven inaccessible nests located especially in elms and cher- ries. (42) Vesper graminous. Sparrow — Pooecetes Individuals present on five days. No nests located this year. (48) Ovenbird—Seiurus aurocapil- lus. Present on ten days. Two nests with young located on Crow Hill near State Normal School at Montclair Heights. (44) Phoebe—sayornis Present on six days. 12th and 26th. phoebe. Common on the (45) Redstart — Setophaga ruticil- la. Common on nine days. Three nests located with young in each, ranging between ten and twelve days. 148 (46) Rosebreasted Grosbeak—Zam- edodia ludoviciana. Present on seven days. Common on the 11th and 19th. One nest located with three nestlings about four days old. (47) Parula Warble r— Compsoth- lypis americana usneae. Present on the 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 19th. Com- mon on the 11th and 19th. (48) Black-throated Green Warbler —Dendroica virens. Present on the 5th, 19th and 20th. Common on the 19th. (49) Warbling Vireo — Vireosylva gilva. Present on eight days. Com- mon on the 20th and 26th. (50) Yellow-throated Vireo—Lani- vireo Flavifrons. Present on twelve days. Common on the 12th and 19th. Two nests located with uncompleted sets. (51) Brown Thrasher—Texostoma rufum. Present on six days. Com- mon on the 26th. (52) Myrtle Warbler — Dendroica coronata. Present on the 5th only. Two individuals, both males, were seen this day. (53) Downy Woodpecker — Dryo- bates pubescens medians. Present on the 5th, 12th, 20th and 26th. (54) Sparrow Hawk—F alco spar- verius. Individuals present on 5th, 10th, 11th and 28th. (55) Maryland Yellowthroat— Goothlypis trichas. Commen on nine days. Fourteen nests of this species located within the limits of the coun- ty. (56) ca magnolia. 11th and 19th. (57) Chestnut-sided Warbler—Den- droica pensylvanica. At Montclair Heights on the 10th three pairs were located with partly completed nests. (58) Indigo Bunting—Passeriza cyanea. Present on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th and 26th. Com- Magnolia Warbler—Dendroi- Common on the 10th, 144 THE OOLOGIST mon on the 19th and 20th. No nests were located this year, which is very unusual. (59) Cooper Hawk—Accipiter coop- eri. An individual of this species ap- peared in Branch Brook Park on the 10th. (60) Purple Martin—One appeared on Newark Meadows during the after- noon. (61) Least Sandpiper—Pisobia min- utilla. Common on Newark meadows on the 10th, 11th, 13th, 22d, 25th and ATG Ov (62) Red-eyed Vireo — Vireosylva elivacea. Common on 12 days after the 10th. Thirteen nests located to- wards the end of the month. Three of these had eggs of the Melothrus ater in them. (63) Canadian Warbler—Wilsonia canadensis. Individuals present on the 1ith and 19th. (64) Wilson Warbler — Wilsonia pusilla. Two seen on the 1ith. Com- mon on the 19th. (65) Bobolink — Delichoynx eryzi- vorus. Common on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 19th. (66) Red-headed Woodpecker— Melanerpes erythrocophalus. Individ- uals present on the 11th, 19th and 29th. (67) Black-throated Blue Warbler —Dendroica caerulescens. Common on the iith. Individuals present on the 12th, 14th and 19th. (68) cichla ustulata swainseni. Individ- uals appeared on the 11th and 14th. Common on the 19th. (69) cichla alicae. On the 11th ten appear- ed. On the 19th were very common. On the 20th an individual was record- ed. (70) Worm-eating Warbler — One appeared on the 11th in Branch Brook Park. Olive-backed Thrush — Hylo- . Grey-cheeked Thrush — Hylo- (71) Black-crowned Night Heron— Nycticorax nycticerax naevius. One appeared in Branch Brook Park on the 11th. This was an adult male and in excellent plumage. : (72) Ruby-throated Hummingbird —Archilochus colubris. One pair with nest located at Montclair Heights on the 11th. Individuals appeared on the lith and 20th. The nest mentioned hereto was placed on the horizontal limb of a cherry sapling in a sheltered grove on the northern slope of Crow Hill and both birds were busily en- gaged in putting the finishing touches just prior to the depositing of the eggs. On the 25th the nest was again visited and found to contain two eggs. Neither of the birds were to be seen anywhere within the vicinity (73) Swamp Sparrow — Melospiza georgiana. Individuals present on Newark Meadows on the 11th and 19th. (74) Yellow-breasted Chat—Icteria virens. Individuals present on the 12th and 20th. (75) Yellow-billed Cuckoo—Coccy- zus americanus. Common on the 12th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th. (76) Rough-winged Swallow—Steig- idopteryx serripennis. One male of this species appeared in Branch Brook Park on the 11th. (77) Orchard Oriole—Icterus spur- ius. Individuals appeared on the 12th, 19th and 26th. (78) Scarlet Tanager—Piranga ery- thremelas. Common on the 12th, 19th, 20th and 26th. Three nests lo- cated in oaks on South Mountain Re- servation. (79) English Pheasant—Phasianus colchius. Individuals present on the 12th and 138th. (80) Mourning Dove— Zenaidura macroura carelinensis. Individuals present on the 12th, 13th and 20th. Two nests located on the 19th at Mont- clair Heights. THE OOLOGIST 145 The Gulls, Catalina id., Calif., March, 1912 —Photo by R. M. Barnes 146 (81) Hooded Warbler — Wilsonia citrina. Individuals present on the 19th, 20th and 26th. (82) Wood Pewee — Myiechanos virens. Individuals present on the 19th and 20th. This bird was unusual- ly rare during the month. Prior to this time the bird was always a reg- ular resident and home-builder here. (83) Blackpoll Warbler—Dendroica striata. Common on the 19th, 20th and 26th. (84) Black-billed Cuckoo — Soccy- zus arythroohthalmus. Individuals present on the 19th and 20th. (85) Crested Flycatcher — Myiar- chus crinitus. Common on the 19th, 20th and 26th. (86) Blue-winged Warbler—Vermi- vera pinus. -— Tufted Titmouse. There lies at the head of a long, narrow ravine, some four miles from my home, a grove of oaks, consisting of both the red and white varieties. It was my great pleasure to stroll through this cluster of trees upon a bright, sunny morning, late in April, of a few years past. As I neared a splashing brook which merrily made its way down the ravine, I caught sight of a Tufted Titmouse with nest- ing material in its bill; it flitted from tree to tree finally reaching a large white oak that stood on the very bord- er of the grove. After pausing a mo- ment to look about, it flew to a cavity in the end of a partly dead limb, and disappeared within. Of course it was too early to expect eggs, so I departed intending to return early in May. May 4, appeared,—dark drizzly, and wet. I left the house immediately af- ter dinner, and splashed along the muddy road. I reached the ravine about 3 o’clock and made my way to the nesting tree of the Titmouse. Sinec the day was so dark and wet there were few birds to be seen, and no signs of the Titmouse could be noted. Upon my reaching the limb OOLOGIST 149 which held the nest the female Tit- mouse dashed out scolding and flutter- ing about. I reached the cavity, af- ter I had removed sufficient dead wood to admit my hand, and found six, seven —surely that was the full set—no there were eight lovely eggs! These rested upon a lining of black horse hair and soft green moss. S. 8. Dickey. Waynesburg, Pa. OS a eee After Ducks and Shore Birds. Several years ago while spending a few days on the “Peninsula” at Erie, Pa., in the fall I found quite a flight of birds on October 6th. All day it was cloudy and sultry with a moderate and rather warm S. W. wind. I crossed Misery Bay at day light and went at once to the outside beach. Three Mallards flew over but were a little too high. Noticing a small duck coming I laid low but it alighted just out of range. The instant it struck the water I rush- ed it and by the time it got started out again I was in long range and se- cured a fine Greenwinged Teal. See- ing one large and several small shore birds along the water edge, I sneaked up and gathered in a Black-bellied Plover. Following up the smaller ones I found one Dunlin and four or five snaderlings. I shot the Dunlin but iet the others go. Off shore aways several dark ducks were flying low over the breakers. I think they were Scoters. A few Her- ring Gulls were about and here and there a little bunch of Horned Grebes. Noticed several Loons flying during the morning. Quite a few flocks of ducks passed but were all well off shore. Seeing a bunch of eight or ten Sanderlings I sneaked up and noticed two odd ones among them. These I shot and found them to be a Dunlin and a Semipal- 150 THE OOLOGIST mated. A Black-bellied Plover came speeding along and I dropped him. Farther up I found a bunch ef a dozen Sanderlings and with them one Dun- lin. These I passed by. The next bunch contained about fifteen birds and noting the direction they were working I made a detour and hid be hind some wreckage. They passed very close and I saw that there were three Dunlins, one Semipalmated, one odd one and the rest Sanderlings. I shot the odd one and found it to be a Bairds Sandpiper, a rather rare bird in this state. At the report of the gun a larger bird got up off the high beach and as it swung around me I connect- ed with a load of 8’s and got a Golden Plover. A few more Dunlins and Sand- erlings were along the beach but noth- ing rare. As I was well up toward the Flash Light I turned inland to the woods and ponds. I found large numbers of birds. Some places fairly swarmed with small migrants. The great bulk seem- ed to be Whiteythroated Sparrows. There was many flocks of Robins and quite a few Hermit and Olive-backed Thrushes. Myrtle and Black-poll Warblers were quite plentiful, but the most of the Warblers had passed at this date. Going around one of the ponds I shot a Rusty Grackle in fine rusty plumage and flushed and shot about the largest and nicest specimen of Wilson’s Snipe that I ever took. At the next pond, I saw two Mal- lards and a Black Duck feeding, but they were out of range. From some wild rice at this pond I bagged a pair of Coots. In the thicket I saw what I am sure was an Orange-crowned Warbler, but lost sight before I could slip in a light load. At the next pond which was always the best, I took a good look and soon made out some ducks feeding. Sneak- ing out a little wooded ridge until I got about opposite I crawled out through the brush and bog until I got into the long grass then I took a care- ful look and in nice range I saw three Black Mallards and two smaller ducks. When the Mallards got bunch- ed I saluted them, killing two and badly wounding the third. When the two smaller ones jumped they happen- ed to get in line and I dropped both dead with the second barrel. Another shot was needed for the wounded Mal- lard. The smaller ducks were a Green-wing Teal, and a fine Pintail. ‘I was just in sight of the bay again, when I saw a long necked duck feed- ing and I crawled up and bagged a drake Pintail. - This concluded the day’s perform- ance and I had a nice string of game. The best specimens I saved, and the rest kept us in meat for several meals. R. B. Simpson. Warren, Pa. ; bee eee Great Blue Heron. On April 27th, 1913, visited the Herony here, which is seven miles north of Spencer, Wis. and contains about seventy-five nests. It is located in an interminable, dense, wooded district. The nesting grounds are partly in the lowlands and about one mile from the Hau Plaine River. The nests are placed near the out- er ends of the topmost branches of the largest Elms, but few were in Birch and Bass wood trees. There is an in- termingling of fine Hemlock trees, but none contain nests. As we entered the grounds, we at once busied our- selves with the camera, and a few ex- posures were made. The Herons would soar over our heaflis at low elevations, and a dozen or more could be seen ata time. With slowly beating wing, flying about in large circles, they kept an eye on their intruders. THE Strange to say, they were not very noisy, and not many sounds escaped the birds. It was only frequently that a harsh squeak was heard. Nor were they very timid, lighting high up in the trees, at almost a stone’s throw. J. W. Stierle. Marshfield, Wisconsin. Frank I. Harris. We are in receipt of a card from Frank I. Harris of La Crescent, Min- nesota, an oologist well known threughout the country, advising us that he had the misfortune to break one of his legs and is now confined to a hospital at La Crosse, Wis. We trust he may be favored with an early recovery. Notes on the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. My seeing an article on the Scissor- tailed Flycatcher in THE OOLOGIST (Vol. XXVIII, No. 6, June, 1911) has prompted this attempt to add further notes to the data already acquired in reference to this interesting bird. There is very little variance in the dates of arrival at Houston, the birds usually making their appearance about March 23d. Found breeding in the neighborhood of ranch and farm houses in the prairie districts, but never in wooded localities or, to the best of my knowl- edge, on the edges of woods or for- ests. About the 26th of April the birds be- gin courting, and perform many queer aerial gymnastics, which, to the casual observer, would indicate that the bird had gone crazy. The males dart at each other angrily, sometimes as many as four or five seemingly en- tangled and rising straight up in the air with a gyroscopic motion. The first nests are usually complet- ed about May 10th, and the first egg laid on the 11th; the first full sets of eggs were found on the 17th and 18th, OOLOGIST 161 and the first young hatched on May 3lst. There are rarely any variations in these dates for the first brood from year to year, but the second brood, wherever one is raised, comes any time in June and July. The nests are built in isolated hui- saches on the prairie, in the occasion- al oak ‘‘mottes,’ and in the trees which grow around every house on the prairie, planted there by the hand of man. They are placed in the extremi- ties of the branches and very difficult to reach, as low as six feet and as high as thirty. They are composed of weed-stems, small twigs and thistle down, and lined with thistle down, cotton or small fibrous rootlets. Some- times the nests contain pieces of string, newspaper, rags and other rub- bish; all thrown together into a very untidy structure. All the sets which have come under my observation were composed of four and five eggs, never Six A nest found on June 21, 1911, on the coastal prairie south of Houston, was placed in the structure of a wind- mill behind a ranch house. The nest Was under the gearing near the top and within six inches of the flying planes of the fan. This did not seem to bother the bird at all. Nest com- posed of twigs and clover stems, and lined with a small quantity of cot- ton; and contained four slightly in- cubated eggs. The birds are very pugnacious when the nest is reached, and quite often I have felt their wings fan my face as they flashed angrily about their pos- sessions, all the while keeping up an excited twittering. A set of four eggs measures: .870x J6f%8,, 850 x653, 877 x: 645e8 870 x1653 inches. The annual molt takes place about July and August, when the birds as- semble in small flocks and wander 152 THE around the cotton and corn field after the breeding season is over. Observations made of a pair of these birds from which a set of eggs had been collected, showed that within forty-two days they selected a site, built a nest, laid five eggs, hatched them and raised the young. In other words within forty-two days after their first set was collected, they had fully grown young flying about. When flying, the bird goes in a di- rect line with the long tail streaming out straight behind; there is no undu- lating motion as is observed in the flight of most Passeres. The last Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were observed on the 18th of October, although the majority leave for the south about the last of September. Finlay Simmons. Houston, Texas. Personal. The Editor returned to his office after seven weeks’ absence, on the last day of August, and is again able to take up routine matters. Our cor- respondence has got badly behind dur- ing our absence but will receive at- tention in due time. All that those awaiting reply need is a little pa- tience, and in due time we will also enlighten our readers on some things that we observed during our absence, during which we met many of the leading ornithologists of the Hast. Our old friend, Charles Russell Orcutt of San Diego, California, is at it again. We are in receipt of Vol- ume I No. 1, August,-1913, of OR- CUTT’S MEXICO, published in the City of Mexico. Orcutt for many years was one of the best known pub- lishers of amateur and scientific mag- azines on the west coast. It seems like a disease, when you once get it, you can’t let go. We trust he will re- ceive the best of encouragement and success with his new undertaking. OOLOGIST te he) Harry C. Bigglestone sends us a separate from the Wilson Bulletin of June, 1913, “A Study of the Nesting Behavior of the Yellow Warbler,” which is a very exhaustive and thor- ough treatise of the subject. We are in receipt of a sample “Bird Study Note Book,” published by Clara Cozad Keezel at Carnett, Kansas, which is one of the best arrangements for notes on bird study that has come under our observation in a long time, and would be of great deal of service to the fraternity were it adopted gen- erally. We are glad to note that Isaac E. Hess is meeting with unusual success in his weekly bird talks published in the Decatur (Ill.) Herald, with the re- sult that the Herald subscription list is growing because thereof. o> _._—__- —_ — —- Editor OOLOGIST:—Have you ever heard of a Blue egg of the Prairie Hen? It is about the shade of the eggs of the White-faced Glossy Ibis. C. H. Vandercook. Odin, Il. No; it is unusual.—Hditor. ee Another Double Shelled Hen’s Egg. Arthur W. Brockway, of Hadlyme, Connecticut, writes: “I have the larg- est double shelled hen’s egg that I have heard of as yet, measuring 9% inches by 7%4 inches. It weighed be- fore its contents was removed, seven ounces and was laid by one of the Rhode Island Red variety.” = Our Birds. ~ Last summer C. F. Willard of Tomb- stone, Arizona, who is well known to the readers of THE OOLOGIST as one of the leading bird students of the Southwest, spent the day at Ye Editor’s home and during that time took some photos of our wild fowl, two of which are published in this issue of THE OOLOGIST. THE OOLOGIST Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of 20S of Europe - $ .50 Sn.ith’s The Canary, 12 colored plates, 1870 - 1.50 Tegetmeier’s The Hemine Pi dee Mus., 1871") - - 1.25 Canary Birds, A Manual i Bund Keepers, Illus. - - 1.0€ Bird Neighbors, School edition; colored plates, 1899 - 1.00 Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - 1.50 A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by cepaniese artists - 1,00 Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 221 Sth St. Philadelphia, Pa. THE CONDOR A Magazine of ‘Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Cooper Ornithological Club of California Edited by J: Grinnell and Harry B. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study’’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. vii BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN, N. Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quetations by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. Ifnot the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regular Egg Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, 20c; No, Beane: No. 3, 35¢; No. 4, 45c; "No. 5, 50c. Blowpipes: All best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Oa; Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Finest quality straight, Embryo Hooks: Embryo Scissors: or curved, 50c. $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol1mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. VIli THH OOLOGIST | shall pay a good price for the following magazines, in good order and in their orig- inal covers, suitable for binding: The lowa Ornithologist (Salem, Iowa). Vol. 2, all except No. 3. Vol. 3, all except No. 4. Vol. 4, all. The Stormy Petrel (Mendota, III.) All issued except No. 5 of Vol. 1. The Oregon Naturalist. Vol. 4, Nos.-10, 11 and 12. The American Osprey (Ashland, Ky.) All Nos. issued after No. 9 of Vol. 1. Wilson Bulletin. No. 3 and Index to Vol. 12. Bul. Mich. Orni. Club. Vol. 1, No. 1. Naturalist (Kansas City, Cont. of Hoosier Naturalist). All Nos. issued after No. 1 of Vol. 4. Oologist’s Advertiser. All Nos. issued except No. 2 of Vol. 1. Ornithologist & Botanist. Vol. 2. All Nos. except Nos. 1, 2. and 6. The Wolverine Naturalist. All issued after No. 4 of Vol. 1. The Empire State Exchange. Vol. 1, all except No. 3. Vol. 2, all. Vol, 3, Nos. 1 and 3. GEORGE SETH GUION, The Hawkeye Ornithologist and Oolo- gist. Vol. 2, all-after No. 6. ' The Humming Bird (Sans Souci, N.C.) . All issued after No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Cedar Rapids). All issued except June, August and October, 1900, and January, 1901. ~ The Bittern (Damariscotta, Maine). All issued after No. 6 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Canisteo, N. Y.) Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1891. The Exchange (Mendota, Ill.) All Nos. issued except No. 3 of Vol. 1. The International Naturalist (Canis- teo, N. Y.) All issued except Nos. 4 and 5 of Vol. 2. The Naturalist (Des Moines, Iowa). All issued except No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Curlew (Orleans, Indiana). All issued except Nos. 3, 4, 5 of Vol. 1. And many others too numerous to mention, so send me list of what you care to dispose of and either make me a cash offer, or let me make you one. Napoleonville, La. THE OOLOGIST. Zag FZ Synian Taste. So KS OCT16 1913 A< BIRDS--NESTS--EGG TAXIDERMY = VoL. XXX. No. 10. ALBION, N. Y.,.-0cr. 15; 1913: WHOLE No. 3815 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, serted for less than 25 cents. Etce., x ) inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 315 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. North American Birds for sale. We will not advertise the skins, nests, These columns are for the use of those desiring Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office al Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention ‘‘The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. or mounted specimens oO esss, to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Il. FOR SALE.—Pair of live Sand Hill Cranes, live Hutchins and Blue Geese. PORTAGE WILD ANIMAL CO., Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, Box No. 223. (1-p) EXCHANGE.—Bird Skins of Eastern United States for exchange and a 44c Stevens Pocket Collecting pistol for sale. J. H. WEBER, Palisades Park, N. J. ‘1-p) BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally ae W RIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., evar: p) ost ED.—1To exchange skins, also bird Pos ening camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) "WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pigs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- NETT. “Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins. andeggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, Ga. : (1-p a —— ——— EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. Se 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa (1-p) Want following hummer skins: 427-429" 430-432-433-437-439-440-440-1-441. Exchange Ow! and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan™ ser, Bald Eagle. EARL HAMILTON. Yohog- any. Pa. TO tXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins asa whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. Pa tis CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., aoe Ore. WANTED.—Generai birdsxin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. an (1-p First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (1) EXCHANGE.— Male Passenger Pigeon fine- ly mounted, nearly perfect, for Winchester automatic shot-gun, or might consider a Winchester pump gun asapart. PHILO W. SMITH, 1915 Penn. Ave., Joplin, Mo. (1-p) { THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued EXCHANGE.—Skins of male and female Wood Duck, for first class eggsin sets. Write and make offer. ERNEST A. BUTLER, 3875 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, Pa. (2-p) WANTED.—Bird skins American or For- eign; offer in exchange mounted birds, skins and eggs in sets. Send lists. JESSE T. CRAVEN, 811 Roosevelt Ave., eg eae 19) EXCHANGE.—Southern bird skins and birdeggs. Tensets of Turkey and Black Vul- tures with datas. RAMON GRAHAM, Taxi- dermist, 401 W. Lenda St., Ft. Worrh, Hens. - -p' WANTED.—First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will gvie in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H.KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) FXCHANGE-Bird skins, books, bird craft, squirrels and other fur bearers, wild animals I have known. Want skins 155, 293, 294, 295, 331, 337b, 448. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- hany, Pa. WANTED.—Skins of California Vulture. Whooping and Little Brown Crane, Trum- peter Swan and Falcons. Cash or good ex- A. H. Helme, Miller Place, New York. (1-p) WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Avocets, male,ads..two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked_ Stilts male, ads., and two Boxwhites, malJe, ads Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. Jopue Mo: (-p EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan. Canada Geese, Old Squaw. etc. ARTHUR W. BROCK WAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) WANTED.—A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which I can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingtisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Coyina, Cal. (1-p) OWLS.—I want the scientific skins of the Elf, doskins Pigmy, Dwarf Screech Owls, Flamulated, Mexican, Texan, Rocky Mt., Kennicots, Small Floria Screech Owls. Skins of Baby Moles, Baby Bats, Birds of Prey, Shore Birds in the Downey Stages, or the Nestlings, skins of Gophers, Burrowing Owls, newly hatched Green Turtles, Hawks-bill Turtles, Land Tortoises, and Wood Turtles, Willexchange Ferrig Pigmy Owls or Dovekis skins or other specimens. Baby Amidillas. H. W. AITKEN, 18 So. 20th Street, Philadel- phia, Pa. (1-p) EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Send for my list of fine Southern and South- Wester sets. E. F. POPE, Colmesneil, exas. WANTED.—Three or four good sets of Sage Grouse. Address, JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, Floral Park, New York. (3-t) EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a. 498, 528, 529, 540. 584, 624 for sets of Warblers only. H. MOUSLEY Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (1-p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. red bs BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road, Fulham, Ene . -p Have some personally collected finely pre- pared sets of eggs from the Farallone Islands to exchange. Satisfaction guaranteed. H. W. CARRIGER, 5185 Trask Ave., Oakland. Calif. (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (251) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. DAVID E. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Vee p) FOR SALE—700 egg trays, made with white paper all &zes andin good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also man zines for exchange. C. M. CASH, 7 St., Hartford, Conn. EXCHANGE.—I have for exchange sets of Woodcock, Wilson’s Snipe, Upland Plover I want choice sets of Falcons, shore-birds and Warblers. G.A. ABBOTT, 945 Marquette Bldg., Chittee ao WANTED.—The following eggs in A 1 sets: 186, 196. 215. 224. 249, 277, 277a, 291, 298, 299. 304, 308b. 310. 310b. 328, 347a, 377a, 432, 435, 463, 644. 647. 660, 675a. 685. Can ofier good exchange in ] G.. B. BENNERS, Ambler, Mont- gomery Co., Pa. (1-p) , , EXCHANGE.—A. O. U. Nos. 114.1. 2-3; 122, 5-4: 194, 2-3, 2-4; 394a, 1-3; 430. N-2; 498e, 2-3; 573a, N-3. N-4; 591.la, 1-2; 607, N2-3; 633a, N-4; 741b, N2-6, N-5; first class, with data. Wanted first class sets with data; no_nes's. G. K. SRN 142 W. Jefferson St., Los Apeee 19, j ( -p P THE OOLOGIST. VoL. XXX. No. 10. Auption, N. Y. Oor. 15, 1913. WHOLE No. 315 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. Notes from Texas. Bird life is certainly holding its own down here. I think I found alto- gether over 200 nests of the Mocking- bird this summer. The following is a list of birds taken from a buggy that was driven on a rural mail route and therefore I had several varieties of road: Pelion Muar kas ParlOW: ct... 6-0 100 Kingbird)... 02 66. Biwi. 5 (CLOW ae rico eile cisteteuss Bs 5 Oy ayileee es ealcraiexalcietaccle cscud 3 Mo@kainie Bird! se. ccs ee as 27 Sissor-tailed Flycatcher... 26 OrehardvOriole 22%... <5... ig Burkey Vulture, 2.265. 9 Red-headed Woodpecker.. 1 TBI CS) Ona ee eee aie eee 3 Mourning Dove, ....abundant Cowbird (Female)........ 11 Cowbird (Male) .......... 2 IME RU aan oe ccishietioe ce se +s 4 FUGA eMEUUTIMGT (frente teehee f.«. 7 (Opie buna baie en oe 5 Aug. 20. Orchard Oriole........... 11 Turkey Vulture Red Headed Woodpecker.. 2 BIG SWIRG eee ays ce Nees ss 4 Mourning Dove .......... 35 WMIGADEE Toc, nes cs sees es 5 Cowbird (Female)........ 6 Cowbird (Male) .......... 4 JST ALAA Awe cence teens See eeee 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo...... 1 Road PRUNNMer ss. i. oe ete 2 2 5 Downey Woodrecker ..... i Sissor-tailed Flycatcher... 20 MOGCKINe DIT. is .o-dt.ne)syo0 ois os 3 Qa re irc acc ios whekauers stele acai 1 Candee. pr, vs Mea ee eee coke 3 COW? Sas cies once se 3 Kane bird! ik, 2. eee sae 3 Aug. 23. Sparrow Hawk .......... 11 Red-tailed Hawk ......... if Cooper’s Hawk ........... 1 iplancdeelOvermeara ances i CROW soe o2 ae on ce ee tl Quail So. Shie eee Pee 5 WOVEMe Sache See abundant Kailldieermy as asreeera abundant Barn Swallows...... hundreds Mallard (range 2 miles)... 6 Ga se ecevo sep ROTReeee A cue cie ene tes 5 I visited a Lake Club several times and saw several Coots, Mallards and a bunch of White Cranes. There were about 25 in the bunch and they were eating dead fish along the bank. There were many small water birds, Kill- deer, Plover, Blue Heron, etc. Taking it all around I saw more birds this summer than ever before. I think that the recent bill that was passed by Congress is about the best thing that could be done, if it is only enforced. I wish THE OOLOGIST could print the rules of that fine bill. Cole Godsey. Dallas, Texas. ——_— _ ——_* <> _ e—_ Bird Life on the National Pike. During the latter part of June and the first of July, 1913, I had the pleas- ure of spending several weeks in the Allegheny Mountains and the bird life there differing so much from the local- ity from which I had come, I had a very interesting time. There was hardly a place within five mlies of my 254 residence, that I did not visit but my favorite walk was on the National Pike and it was there that I saw many birds found in no other locality. The highest point on the Pike is known as the Summit and from there, for a mile or so toward Farmington, Pa., the place is extremely wild, quite free from any civilization whatever. This is the favorite haunt of many unusual birds, and one of the most plentiful of them is the Slate-colored Junco. I had in no other place seen this bird during the summer months and I soon found that its habits were quite dif- ferent from those I had always known, watching it in the winter. The males were most often seen and almost in- variably, they would be perched on a telegraph wire or pole, singing occa- sionally, to be sure. J found them feeding on the road but usually when I came across them in this position it would turn out to be a female or a young bird. I was somewhat surprised to find them feeding on Horse-manure after the fashion of the Hnglish Spar- row, and often seemed so eager for it that I could walk up to within a foot or so of them before they flew. Asa matter of fact, I always found them quite tame and easy to approach. Another bird which I also saw for the first time during the summer, and which was around in unusually large numbers was the Canadian warblers. I never walked along the Pile with- out seeing at least ten of them and of- ten I saw many more. They were al- ways very inquisitive and when I stop- ped near one of them to look at a bird it would come within two or three feet of me, so I never had any trouble in watching them. At this time of the year they had young just out of the nest, and when I would appear they would by their excited shipping, cause quite a number of the birds to come around. The majority of these birds THE OOLOGIST would, however, always turn out to be Canadians. Next to them in abundance, were the Black-throated Blue Warblers. At all times I could hear their notes com- ing from the woods near me but I did not see them often. They usually fed in the larger trees and were quite adept to keeping out of sight. I soon found a way, however, by which I could always get them quite close to me. This was by exciting a Canadian Warbler. All the birds seem to enjoy coming around when there is any dis- turbance and I found that the Black- throated Blue Warblers were no ex- ception to this. In most cases, how- ever, it was the males that appeared; only once did I see a female. It was in this manner that I saw two Warblers, the Blackburnian and the Black-throated Green Warbler. These birds were rather scarce, and I saw each of these but twice during my stay. One oi the rarest Warblers that I saw, I came across quite accidentally and in an unexpected manner. I was watching a Red-eyed Vireo when I noticed a small bird in a bush near me and on looking at it carefully I was delighted to find that it was a Hooded Warbler. It was an adult male, quite a handsome bird, and proved to be rather tame. allowing me to get a fine view of it. In passing this place the next day, I looked for it again and was fortunate enough in soon seeing it, al- most in the same place. It evidently had a nest nearby but although I searched for it, I was unable to find it. Another bird which was quite plen- tiful was the Vireo, but unfortunately, it was also very timid. For three days I heard its peculiar song without get- ting a glimpse of the bird, although at every opportunity I followed it until it disappeared. Finally, I was reward- ed. Though so plentiful, 1 saw them THE OOLOGIST 255 so seldom that I always considered myself fortunate when I did so. Besides these more or less rare birds, the common ones such as the White-throated Nuthatch, Hairy Wood- pecker, Oven-bird and Towhee were around in large numbers, so that it would be hard to find a place that con- tained more birds that this nole or so on the Pike. Thos. D. Burleigh. Pittsburg, Pa. ts BOS Se eee STATEMENT OF THE OWNER- ship, Management, Circulation, etc., of The Oologist, published monthly at Albion, N. Y., required by the Act of August 24, 1912. Editor, R. Magoon Barnes, Lacon, Ill.; Managing Editor, R. Magoon Barnes, Lacon, IIl.; Busi- ness Manager, R. Magoon Barnes, La- con, [ll.; Publisher, R. Magoon Barnes, Lacon, Ill. Owner, R. Magoon Barnes. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders, holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None. R. MAGOON BARNES. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23d day of Sept., 1913. (Seal) Erma Thiedohn, Notary Public. 1+ <2 Cape Cod Notes. With a friend, Mr. Howard A. Jones, of Greenwood, Mass., I spent three days August 30th to September Ist, 1913, at a hunting camp at Great Her- ring Pond, near the town of Cedar- ville, Cape Cod. This pond is perhaps two miles long by three-fourths of a mile wide, and is connected by Car- ter’s River with a smaller pond called Little Herring, about one-half a mile to the North. These two ponds are situated on a narrow part of the Cape, and are only about three miles from Cape Cod Bay, on the North and pos- sibly a little longer distance from buz- zard’s Bay on the South. The coun- try around the ponds is rather hilly. with very sandy soil, the prevailing vegetation consisting of scrubby oak brush three or four feet high, which at this season of the year bears an abundand supply of unripe acorns. Formerly a thin growth of pitch pine forty or fifty feet tall was scat- tered over much of this territory, but the forest fires, which annually sweep over the Cape districts have killed most of the trees near the ponds, and their bear trunks and limbs stand out very prominently above the oak growth. The path, or wood road, from the camp to the beach on the north or Cape Cod Bay side, leads through this kind of country for about two and one- half miles, the remainder of the way being an ordinary carriage road where we pass through the village of Cedar- ville. Occasionally a few bushes of beach plums, with clusters of purple fruit nearly ripe, relieve the monotony of the scrub oaks. The beach of coarse yellow sand, is about seventy-five feet wide at ordin- ary high tide, and, on the side toward the woods, the sand bluffs rise almost perpendicularly to a height of about fifty feet, and in a few places the higher peaks are fully seventy-five feet above the sea level. As we travel eastward along the beach these sand bluffs gradually de- crease in height, until finally, at a distance of possibly three miles, the land becomes a flat point of sand, sparsely grown with patches of coarse beach grass, and soon we come to a river flowing down from the _ salt marshes, which are situated a few hundred yards inland from the beach proper. Saturday, August 30, we spent most of the day at the beach described above. Of the shore-birds which we 256 found there, the Semipalmated Sand- pipers were the most abundant; hun- dreds of them were seen, both on the beach and on the salt marshes. Close- ly associated with them were the Semipalmated Plovers, which were also quite plentiful. On the beach Sanderlings were quite common, and four or five Black-breasted Plovers were scattered along the end nearest the river. One of the latter birds ap- peared to be in full plumage, with a glossy black breast, but this bird could not be approached within gun range. A pair of Knots were feeding among the Sandpipers. A few Gulls were present, mostly Herring Gulls. Hundreds of Terns were in the air, the greater part of them were Wil- son’*s Terns, but other species were undoubtedly with them. A Harbor Seal came up to breath a few yards off shore. On the salt marsh a flock of about twenty-five Lesser Yellow Legs were feeding in a shallow salt pond. I flushed one Pectoral Sandpiper from the grass. We collected the following birds for specimens: Two Black Breasted Plov- ers, (adult birds, but in transition plumage), two Knots, two Lesser Tel- low Legs, one Pectoral Sandpiper, six or seven Semipalmated Plovers, a few Sanderlings and some Semipalmated Sandpipers. Sunday, August 31, I spent most of the day in camps making bird skins, for shore birds will not keep very long without spoiling during the hot weath- O=; Late Sunday afternoon I took a walk around the shores of the two ponds. I saw an Osprey and an immature spe- cimen of the Bald Eagle on some dead trees in the scrub oak country. At the Northern end of the Little Herring pond I saw a fine adult Red-shouldered Hawk, several green Herons, a pair of Nighthawks and a flock of eight Wood THE OOLOGIST Ducks. The latter appeared to be still in their summer plumage. White tailed Deer are rather plen- tiful on this part of the Cape, and we found fresh tracks of two which had been down to the ponds. Monday, September ist, we again made the trip to the beach. Along the wood-road we saw the tracks of Ruffed Grouse, and Bobwhite, but saw no birds of either species. A flock of four Wood Ducks flew over our heads, going toward the larger pond. Hairy Woodpeckers and Chickadees were seen on the dead trees along the path and one lone Chipmunk fearless- ly watched us from the lower branch of an old stub. Towhees were com- mon under the Oak brush. A fiock of Crows started an outcry in a grove of pitch pine, and just as I went in to investigate matters a warning shout from Mr. Jones noti- fied me that something had taken place at the other side of the grove. When I rejoined him, he said that a White-tailed Deer had jumped from the bushes and had just crossed a nearby clearing. Whether or not this deer was the cause of the excitement among the crows I am not certain, but it seems very probable. When we reached the beach we found the Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Sanderlings and Terns as common as they were two days before. On the salt marsh we found but one Lesser Yellow legs. We saw four Pectoral Sandpipers, which we collected. As we walked along the beach on our return to camp we saw a flock of thirteen Loons, (Gavia imber) swim- ming about two hundred yards off shore. Their loud, laughing cry was repeated many times as long as we were in hearing distance of them. An Osprey sailed over us, quite close, apparently not at all disturbed by the proximity of hunters. THE OOLOGIST 257 When we once more reached Great Herring Pond we saw a young Bald Eagle, probably the same one which we saw the day before. He attempted to catch a fish with his talons while we were watching him, but I could not see whether he was successful or not. Although this was the only Bald Eagle seen on our trip this species is still common around these ponds. Of course they are not so numerous as they were twenty years ago but for the last ten years they seem to have held their own pretty well. I believe this locality not only is, but will be for years to come, one of the last strongholds of the Bald Eagle in Mas- sachusetts. The above notes are by no means a complete list of the birds which we saw during the three days. I have simply mentioned these, which for various reasons, most strongly attract- ed our attention. Even the common Chicadees, Towhees and Hairy Wood- peckers prove highly interesting in a locality where they are practically the only small birds to be seen in a wild bush grown country which stretches for mile after mile as an unbroken waste. Although trips like this lack the ex- citement of hunting in the wilderness proper, remote from civilization, nev- ertheless they are a source of pleas- ant recreation to those of us who are unable to make long excursions. Horace O. Green. Stoneham, Mass. Ooi eo Notes from Mississippi. In the five years that I have been collecting I have observed that the Bob White is a rather careless bird in its nesting habits. I have found single eggs a number of times in fields. Last January I found a fresh egg in the middle of an old cotton field. I have seen their eggs in Meadowlark nests at least twice and have found them in guinea fowl nests as many as three times. One day this summer I came upon a guinea nest out in the field and flushed a female Bob White from the nest or very near it. I was surprised to find that the nest had six guinea eggs and three Bob White eggs. I have found or examined about fifty Cardinal nests as my notes show and have found that the full comple- ment of eggs is usually three or some- times two. But on May 8th, 1911, I found a nest in a thick tangle of vines which held four eggs. All were natural but appeared to be advanced in incubation so I did not take the set. This is the only case I have ever seen or heard of that had over three eggs. Sometime ago a number of Hungar- ian Partridges were liberated near Starkville, in the Northwest part of the state and a few days ago while out walking I flushed a single bird. I could find no others although I tried, so I suppose they are making poor headway. I have searched long and earnestly for a set of Bachman Sparrows in a pasture near here which has several groves of pines in it but could never even find a nest although a school mate of mine took a fine set of four in this same pasture. The birds were plentiful but no amount of watching would help and searching was no bet- ter. But this spring quite by accident I stumbled on what I took to be a fresh nest. I watched from a dist- ance and sure enough one of the birds soon went to the nest. I watched that nest carefully and always from a dist: ance but never got a thing for my pains. I finally concluded that it was an old nest and so am biding my time until next year, when I’ll be on hand early. 258 This spring while I was on my way to what I thought was a Red Shoulder- ed Hawk’s nest I saw a large nest in an oak which was in an open place by a big pecan grove. The nest was about sixty-five feet up and out of a large limb but was an easy climb to me. It was a fresh nest not quite fin- ished, and of decided Hawk architec ture. But as I had accidentally put my hand in it I was not expecting any- thing from it. I went on down the branch to the swamp where my other nest was located. This was about ninety feet up in a tall sweetgum and was the hardest climb that I have ever had. It had five young Crows in it and I was disappointed, but going back I found another nest, apparently fresh, in a small piece of woodland not far from the first nest. This had nothing in it and so I went back two weeks later but only a little work had been done on both nests. A week later I heard that the hawks were still hang- ing around and so I went back. The first nest held two beauties and the second nothing. I left the eggs three days to see if I could not get a third put no more were laid. This nest was found on March 21st but did not contain eggs until April 14th, which is rather late for these birds in this state. I am almost certain that the same pair of Hawks worked on both nests, but have wondered why. I am rather looking for a set of eggs from the second nest next spring as the Hawks are still in that neighborhood. J. B. Lackey. Clinton, Miss. —_____—_—_o<@ e—__—_—_—_—_ A July Tramp in Allegheny Co., Pa. July is the month when everything in bird life is at a stand still. The month before the birds were still nest- ing; the next month the Autumn mi- gration will have begun; but in July, there is little of interest for the bird THE OOLOGIST student. Birds are usually scarce and far between and those seen are usual- ly the ones that, at any other time can be seen without looking for them. So, when I started out on the 19th of July, 1913, for a long tramp through the country, I had little expectations of seeing many birds, but I was inter- ested in seeing what birds were still in evidence. From the minute I start- ed out however, when I came across a Sparrow Hawk trying to do away with a Robin, until I arrived home, I found the birds plentiful and things were almost as interesting as they were in June. The following are the species ‘seen with notes as to their abundance, etc.: Spotted Sandpiper—Seen occasion- ally at small creeks. Bob-white—Heard several times; gradually increasing within the last few years. : Morning Dove—Rather scarce. Sparrow Hawk—Seen but once. Black-billed Cuckoo—Scarce. Belted Kingfisher—Common at large creeks. Downy Woodpecker—Fairly mon. Red-headed Woodpecker—Seen but once. Flicker—Very common. Nighthawk—Seen toward end of. walk. Chimney Swift—Common, small flocks. Ruby-throated Hummingbird—Seen twice; both males. Kingbird—Rather plentiful. Phoebe—Scarce. Wood Pewee—Scarce. Least Flycatcher—Seen but once. Crow—Rather scarce. Meadowlark—Not very plentiful. Baltimore Oriole—One bird, an adult male, seen. Bronzed Grackle—Scarce. American Goldfinch—Very plentiful. _ com- seen in 259 THE OOLOGIST ‘peoy ‘D0 ‘W Aq oJoYG— "eUQWeD WOdJ RY 9 ‘ }S9N UO 4MeYYBIN UeIpuy ysaM THE OOLOGIST 260 “‘peey “0 “Vv Aq ojo G— e1OWeD Woy }0904 “Ap {SON uo yYMEYYBIN UeIpUul ISOM 261 THE OOLOGIST “‘pesy “DO “Vv Aq 0JOYG— "EUBWIED WOds 399} YZ JSON UO YMEUYBIN UeIpU] sam THE OOLOGIST 262 “‘pesy “DO “Vv Aq 030Ud— "sould #0 ojS| ‘euequeg BJUES ‘ymeuyBIN UeIpul 32M 40 SHBA pue 3SON THE OOLOGIST Vesper Sparrow—Fairly plentiful; feeding in the road. Chipping Sparrow—Common. Field Sparrow—Common. Song Sparrow—Very plentiful. Towhee—Quite abundant. Cardinal—Rather scarce. Rose-breasted Grosbeak—Seen but once; a female. Indigo Bunting—Scarce. Barn Swallow—Common; seen in small flocks. Cedar Waxwing—Rather scarce. Red-eyed Vireo—Scarce. Golden-winged Warbler—One bird seen. Black-and White Warbler—Scarce. Yellow Warbler—Rather plentiful. Oven-bird—Somewhat scarce. Louisiana Water Thrush—Seen but once. Kentucky Warbler—Scarce. Maryland Yellow-throat—Very plen- tiful; heard and seen all day. American Redstart—Scarce. Catbird—Very plentiful; found nest- ing. Brown Thrasher—Scarce. Carolina Wren—Rather common. House Wren—Plentiful. Tufted Titmouse—Little flocks ob- served. Chickadee—Plentiful. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher—Fairly plen- tiful; seen occasionally. Wood-thrush—Scarce. Robin—Quite abundant. In all, forty-eight species were seen, which is not, I think, a bad showing for a hot July day. Thomas D. Burleigh. Pittsburgh, Pa. eS BB ee 5 ee. Records. The following records may be of in- terest to your readers, as it is the first time I have met these species in this locality, although I have resided here for several years, making numerous 263 hunting and fishing trips into the sur- rounding country. Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macrou- ra). On Sunday, August 24th, 1913, while spending the day at Silver Is- land, a deserted mining settlement on the north shore of Lake Superior about five miles from Thunder Cape, now used as a Summer resort; my at- tention was attracted by a bird of this species feeding on the trail in front of the cottages, it did not seem in the least disturbed by passers by, only flying out of their way, to resume its feeding after they had passed. I saw it frequently during the day and on one occasion was able to get within a comparatively short distance of it. It was apparently alone and though I have spent a considerable time at this spot during the summer, this was its first appearance. Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias). I came across an individual of this species, on Monday September 1, 1913, while on a fishing trip to a small lake about 35 miles east of this city (Fort William, Ont). It was first ob- served flying overhead, but I later saw it wading in the shallows of the lake. I have frequently seen this bird in the vicinity of Guelph, Ont., but this is the first time I have met with it in this northern country. L. S. Dear. Fort William, Ontario, Can. oe eee The Yellow Warbler. Since 1909 I have been trying in vain to find a nest of this pretty lit- tle warbler in Mississippi, but my search has been in vain. When I started collecting in 1909 I remember that one of the first nests I ever found was one that I was sure was a Yel- low Warbler’s nest. It was in a good place, along the railroad but I never took a setting of eggs from it and thus spoiled what was my only chance 264 to take a setting here. I have seen the bird here only twice in the sum- mer that I can remember and while I have searched carefully for their nests I have about decided that they do not nest here. They are fairly common in the fall and even in the winter I have at times seen numbers of them but I am sure that those two I saw in the summer were isolated cases. I have looked their range up in several books by various authors and have found that they are supposed to breed here, but neither myself nor another collector, A. W. Hager, have ever been able to find nests or rec- ords of nests. I have tried in three counties of the state, widely separat- ed. Of these three counties Hinds Co. is well adapted for the birds, but brought no results. If anyone has a record of their nesting, especially in the central or southern part of the state, I would like to hear of it. J. B. Lackey. Clinton, Miss. Rare Bird Thought Extinct, Found by Standfordite. Professor Harold Heath of the zoology department of Stanford Uni- versity, reports the discovery made this summer of a colony of the rhi- nocerous Auk, supposed extinct. The birds were found in large num- bers on Forrest Island, off the south- ern coast of Alaska. Heath also found that the King Sal- mon were not being destroyed by native birds, as has been thought. He was sent to Alaska by the National Audubon Society expressly to investi- gate the report. The Auk Heath found to be a noc- turnal bird, about the size of a large pigeon. It makes its home in the earth, burrowing about fifteen feet be- low the surface.—San Francisco Bul- letin. THE OOLOGIST The articles published in this is- sue of THE OOLOGIST entitled “Cape Cod Notes,” and “Birds on the Nation- al Pike,’ are specially interesting to the editor, as he passed over both of these roads in last summer auto trip. We propose giving our readers, in due time, some news and notes gathered while on this trip. San ee ne eee eee Birds Seen on a Long Journey. As I made a business trip from the Island last month to Winnipeg, Mani- toba, and was constantly on the look- out for my old friends the birds, I thought that my observations might be of interest to you. The start was made Thursday, July 3, at 2 p. m. for Nueva Gerona, where we took the boat for Batabano, Cuba. The following birds were seen from the machine: . Cuban Quail. W. I. Mourning Dove. I. of P. Lizard Cuckoo. . Southern Turkey Buzzard. . Limpkin. . Red-legged Thrush. . Florida Cormorant. . White Ibis. . Snowy Heron. 10. Cuban Barn Owl. July 4, Batabano to Havana, Cuba, 30 miles. 1. Southern Turkey Buzzard. 2. Cuban Grackle. ; 3. Red-legged Thrush. 4. Cuban Red-winged Blackbird. © 5. Cuban Sparrow Hawk. 6 7 8 9 wom nm or WD . Cuban Kingbird. . Cuban Crow. . W. I. Mourning Dove. . W. I. Killdeer. 10. Ani. 11. English Sparrow. 12. Cuban Meadowlark. 13. Cuban Ground Dove. 14. Cuban Green Heron. Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Fla., THE OOLOGIST 92 mfiles. 15. Royal Tern. 16. Noddy. 17. Frigate Bird. July 5, Carson to Jacksonville, Fla. . White Ibis. Fla. Grackle. . Kingbird. Fish Crow. Great Blue Heron. Fla. Ground Dove. . Turkey Buzzard. . Fla. Cormorant. . Nighthawk. 10. Little Green Heron. 11. Purple Martin. 12. Royal Tern. 13. English Sparrow. Ww OW OMAAD 1. co July 6, Bolingbroke, Ga., to Ind. . English Sparrow. . Red-eyed Vireo (Tenn. Mts.) Meadowlark. Turkey Buzzard. Red-winged Blackbird. . American Goldfinch. . Phoebe (Gutherie, Ky.) . Robin. . Red-headed Woodpecker. 10. Bronzed Grackle. 11. Song Sparrow. 12. Kingbird. 13. American Crow. 14. Purple Martin. July 7, Homestead to Chicago, II. 1. Mourning Dove. 2. Crow. 3. Bronzed Grackle. 4. Song Sparrow. 5. English Sparrow. Chicago to Saint Paul, Minn. . Barn Swallow. . Red-headed Woodpecker. . Crow. . Kingbird. . Meadowlark. . Bronzed Grackle. . Red-winged Blackbird. . Yellow-headed Blackbird. . American Sparrow Hawk. SContnanrr won r 10. Cowbird. 11. House Wren. 265 12. Western Red-tailed Hawk. 13. Song Sparrow. 14. Goldfinch. 15. Pied-billed Grebe. 16. Chimney Swift. July 8, Saint Paul to Winnipeg, Manitoba: 1. Red-winged Blackbird. Crow. Eng. Sparrow. Meadowlark. . Great Blue Heron. . Barn Swallow. . Killdeer. . Kingbird. 9. Chimney Swift. 10. Purple Martin. 11. Barn Swallow. 12. Red-eyed Vireo. 13. Robin. 14. Song Sparrow. July 9, Assiniboine Park, “10 OF PB WLW DO ee) peg. 1. Song Sparrow. 2. Cliff Swallow. 3. Barn Swallow. 4. Yellow Warbler. 5. Robin. 6. Bronzed Grackle. 7. Meadowlark. 8. Kingbird. 9. Red-eyed Vireo. 10. Chimney Swift. Winni- July 11, Auto ride through the eile of Winnipeg. . Song Sparrow. Purple Martin. Robin. . Red-eyed Vireo. . Bronzed Grackle. . Chimney Swift. Do Pw de sil 13, Kildonan Park, a natural 1. Bronzed Grackle. 2. Robin. 3. Crow. 4. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, park on the Red river, Winnipeg. 266 ao 1 THE OOLOGIST . Cedar Waxwing. . Barn Swallow. . Red-eyed Vireo. 8. Song Sparrow. July 16, Winnipeg Beach, 60 miles north of the city on the lake of the same name. 1 Oo od SD Ol B® CO bo HH SS) Be ee ol Be co LS Bronzed Grackle. . Prairie Chicken. . Robin. . Kingbird. . Meadowlark. Crow. . Song Sparrow. . Franklin’s Gull. . Common Tern. . Purple Martin. . American Bittern. . Cowbird. . Red-eyed Vireo. . Black Tern. . Barn Swallow. 16. July 19, Red-headed Woodpecker. Winnipeg to Manitoba Beach, 60 miles west on the lake of the HCOOADAPwWhH same name. Robin. . Purple Martin. . Bronzed Grackle. . Kingbird. . Red-winged Blackbird. . Meadowlark. Robin. . Song Sparrow. Barn Swallow. . Crow. . Goldfinch. 12. 113%. 14. iby. 16. Wie 18. Field Sparrow. Pied-billed Grebe. Prairie Chicken. Black Tern. Franklin’s Gull. Herring Gull. Long-billed Marsh Wren. July 20, Manitoba Beach is ideally located for the observation of differ- ent mile old birds. The beach lies about a from the station which is in an French village, between which is a good sized marsh; the village (St. Laurent) lies in an immense prairie, while east of it is a large poplar thicket. il. bo FPwuoanNn sD of co Black Tern. . Bonaparte Gull. . Yellow-headed Blackbird. . Kingbird. . Bronzed Grackle. . Prairie Horned Lark. Meadowlark. . Song Sparrow. . Field Sparrow. . House Wren. . Purple Martin. . Tree Swallow. . Red-winged Blackbird. . Long-billed Marsh Wren. . American Goldfinch. . American Robin. . American Bittern. . Herring Gull. . Crow. . Virginia Hail. . Common Tern. . Barn Swallow. . Black Duck. . Mallard. . Catbird. . Red-head Duck. . Cliff Swallow. . Little Green Heron. . Cowbird. . Marsh Sparrow. . Sora Rail. . Killdeer. . Red-backed Sandpiper. 34. Franklin’s Gull. July 21, Manitoba Beach to Winni- peg. j SAND OTP wb . Black Tern. . Bonaparte Gull. j . Yellow-headed Blackbird. . Kingbird. . Bronzed Grackle. . Bobolink. Robin. . Meadowlark. eae . Common Tern. THE OOLOGIST 10. Juke 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. ive 18. Killdeer. Cowbird. Song Sparrow. Prairie Chicken. Crow. Franklin’s Gull. Red-winged Blackbird. Barn Swallow. Cliff. 19. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 20. Goldfinch. July 22, Winniueg, Nighthawk. July 25, Red River, Bank Swallow. July 26, To Winnipeg Beach, 6:30 E . Kingbird. . Bronzed Grackle. . Robin. Meadowlark. Crow. . Barn Swallow. . Herring Gull. July 28, Winnipeg to Saint Paul, PAD pe 1 . Bronzed Grackle. . Robin. Crow. Barn Swallow. . Mourning Dove. . Sowbird. . Kingbird. . Song Sparrow. 9. Red-winged Blackbird. 10. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 11. King Rail. 12. Black Tern. 13. Long-billed Marsh Wren. July 29, Saint Paul to Chicago, IIL., :30 a.m. 1. Mourning Dove. . Bronzed Grackle. . Song Sparrow. . Red-winged Blackbird. . Flicker. . Chimney Swift. . Sparrow Hawk. . Crow. 9. Kingbird. 10. Goldfinch. 11. Barn Swallow. SI oo Ot He Co BS AANA PWN con D OF PR W LO 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. ie 18. 19. 20. 21. 267 Red-headed Woodpecker. Spotted Sandpiper. Bobolink. Field Sparrow. Solitary Sandpiper. Meadowlark. Belted Kingfisher. Vesper Sparrow. Marsh Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk. July 31, Cincinnati, O., to Chattanoo- ga, Tenn. BAD OTP WF DW FH 9 10. Belted Kingfisher. Barn Swallow. Crow. . Mourning Dove. . Sparrow Hawk. Meadowlark. . Bobolink. . Yellow Warbler. Goldfinch. Bronzed Grackle. August 1, Jesup, Ga., to Jacksonville, Fla. ile We Be 4, August 2, la: Black Buzzard. Sparrow Hawk. Belted Kingfisher. Turkey Buzzard. Keylargo to Key West, . Everglade Kite and nest. Great Blue Heron. Louisiana Heron. . Little Blue Heron. Fla. Quail. . Spotted Sandpiper. Belted Kingfisher. . Little Green Heron. . Mourning Dove. . Fla. Ground Dove. . White-crowned Pigeon. . Fla. Cormorant. . Royal Tern. . Snowy Heron. . Crow. . Kingbird. . Great White Heron. . American Egret. . Turkey Buzzard. Ani. 268 THE 21. Barn Swallow. 22. Killdeer. 23. Red-winged Blackbird. 24. Brown Pelican. 25. Black Buzzard. 26. Fla. Fish Crow. 27. Semi-palmated Sandpiper. 28. Frigate Bird; Key West to Ha- Seine). 29. Noddy. 30. Wilson’s Petrel. 31. While 50 miles from Key West a Yellow Palm Warbler flew aboard several times but did not settle down. Havana, Cuba, to Los Indios, of Pines, August 5 to 8; 300 miles. 1. Royal Tern. 2. Noddy Tern. 3. Sooty Tern. 4. While 180 miles west of Havana during a small squall a Parula Warbler flew aboard of us and all around the cabin. August 9, Los Indios and dock. 1. W. I. Mourning Dove. 2. Cuban Crab Hawk. 3 4 Isle . Ani. . Cuban Ground Dove. 5. Cuban Green Parrot. 6. Cuban Green Woodpecker. 7. Cuban Grackle. 8. White fbis. 9. Pigeon (C. inornata). 10. Black-crowned Night Heron. 11. Fla. Cormorant. 12. Royal Tern. 13. Southern Turkey Buzzard. 14. Mangrove Warbler. 15. Cuban Meadowlark. 16. Cuban Kingbird. 17. Red-legged Thrush. 18. Cuban Red-bellied Woodpecker. 19. Cuban Quail. 20. I. of P. Lizard Cuckoo. 21. I. of P. Trogon. 22. Antillean Nighthawk. 23. Great Blue Heron. A. C. Read. Isle of Pines. OOLOGIST Hanford, Sept. 4—Sportsmen who annually hunt ducks on the shores of Lake Tulare see before them this sea- son a dismal outlook. The same strange disease which in 1910 and 1911 appeared among the ducks has broken out and thousands of birds are dead and more are dying. The birds, while fat and apparent- ly in the healthiest condition, become seized with paralysis and are unable first to fly and then to walk. The University of California in 1911 investigated the disease, but was un- able to trace its origin—The San Francisco Hxaminer. W. A. Strong. San Jose, Cal. ———__—__*+-~ «—--- »— The Isle of Pines. We propose to devote the August issue of THE OOLOGIST to The Isle of Pines. This little-known Isle has a splendid bird student now and we and our readers are in luck that he takes time to send, for our and your benefit, notes on the birds from time to time. Our August number will be good. Mark that. ee ee I also want to take this opportunity to tell you what a fine little magazine The Oologist is. I read quite a num- ber of the current bird magazines but I always look forward with greater pleasure to the coming of The Oolo- gist than to any other. I have yet to find an article in it that isn’t re- liable and any magazine that can have that said of it, is bound to be good. June 3, 1912. Thos. D. Burleigh. ee eee Personal Notice. As this issue of THE OOLOGIST is closed (Oct. 6th), the Editor leaves for California on a sad errand, occa- sioned by the death of a very dear brother-in-law, and expects to be ab- sent until the 25th of the month; dur- ing which time our correspondents will have to bear with us, as we leave directions. that no ornithological mail be forwarded. THE OOLOGIST vil Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of uss of Europe - $ .50 ©._‘th’s The Canary, 12 wate plates, 1870 - - - 1.50 Tegetmeier’s The Homing Pigeon, Miug:, 1871 . - - - 1.25 Canary Eas. A Manual for Bod Keepers, Illus. - - 1.0C Bird Neighbors, School adiion: colored plates, 1899 - - Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by eee artists - Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 221 5th St. Philadelphia, Pa. 1.50 THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop=r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry S. Swarth ‘“‘The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN,N Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. I can save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. Ifnot the best you ever used re- turn and get your monpy. Regular Ege Drills: No.0, 20c; 2, 25¢e: No. 3, 35c; No. 4, 45c; Nw No. 1, 40c; No. 2. el 20G3) No , 00¢. Blowpipes: AJ] best nickle. 30c; No. 3, 20e Embryo Hooks: Nickle plated, 25c. Embryo Scissors: No,2, best quality straight or curved, 50c. Finest quality straight, $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: With strap, $2.75; with- out, $1.90 Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol7zmes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1913, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your: self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa THE OOLOGIST I shall pay a good price for the following magazines, in good order and in their orig- inal covers, suitable for binding: The lowa Ornithologist (Salem, Iowa). Vol. 2, all except No. 3. Vol. 3, all except No. 4. Vol. 4, all. The Stormy Petrel (Mendota, III.) All issued except No. 5 of Vol. 1. The Oregon Naturalist. Vol. 4, Nos. 10, 11 and 12. The American Osprey (Ashland, Ky.) All Nos. issued after No. 9 of Vol. 1. Wilson Bulletin. No. 3 and Index to Vol. 12. Bul. Mich. Orni. Club. Vol. 1, No. 1. Naturalist (Kansas City, Cont. of Hoosier Naturalist). All Nos. issued after No. 1 of Vol. 4. Oologist’s Advertiser. All Nos. issued except No. 2 of Vol. 1. Ornithologist & Botanist. Vol. 2. All Nos. except Nos. 1, 2. and 6. The Wolverine Naturalist. All issued after No. 4 of Vol. 1. The Empire State Exchange. Vol. 1, all except No. 3. Vol. 2, all. Vol, 3, Nos. 1 and 3. GEORGE SETH GUION, The Hawkeye Ornithologist and Oolo- gist. Vol. 2, all after No. 6. The Humming Bird (Sans Souci, N.C.) All issued after No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Cedar Rapids). All issued except June, August and October, 1900, and January, 1901. The Bittern (Damariscotta, Maine). All issued after No. 6 of Vol. 1. The Bittern (Canisteo, N. Y.) Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1891. The Exchange (Mendota, IIl.) All Nos. issued except No. 3 of Vol. 1. The International Naturalist (Canis- teo, N. Y.) All issued except Nos. 4 and 5 of Vol. 2. The Naturalist (Ves Moines, Iowa). All issued except No. 1 of Vol. 1. The Curlew (Orleans, Indiana). All issued except Nos. 3, 4, 5 of Vol. 1. And many others too numerous to mention, so send me list of what you care to dispose of and either make me a cash offer, or let me make you one. Napoleonville, La. THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. ll. ALBION, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 316 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, Etc., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each additional word 1 cent. serted for less than 25 cents. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid, 316 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue 1912. Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. — We will not advertise the Skins, eae8, or mounted specimens of We will not advertise the skins, nests, North American Birds for sale. These columns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses only.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, Il. cone RETESET SSS eR ENE Ae EXCHANGE.—Bird Skins of Eastern United States for exchange and a 44c Stevens Pocket Collecting pistol for sale. eds WEBER, Palisades Park, N. J. \1-p) BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally FRANKS, WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, Ni (2-p) _ ANTED.—TO exchange skins, also bird Heo oe camera for cash. CORNEL- US BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BUY—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea pies. and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- ETT, “Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs with all collectors; send full list of skins. andeggs. D. V. HEMBREH, Roswell, Ge. ; (-p EXCHANGE.—Skins of male and female Wood Duck. for first class eggsinsets. Write and make offer. ERNEST A. BUTLER, 3875 N. 7th 8t., Philadelphia, Pa. (2-p) ee eee EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. GREENWOOD, 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa. (1-p) Want following hummer skins: 427-429- 430-432-433-437-439-440-440-1-441. Exchange Owl and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan- ger, Bald Eagle. EARL HAMILTON. Yohog- any. Pa. TO EXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., ea ee Ore. 2-p WANTED.—Generai birdssxin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. fo) =D First class s kins Dlinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K. COALE, Highland Park, Ill. (1) EXCHANGE.— Male Passenger Pigeon fine- ly mounted, nearly perfect, for Winchester automatic shot-gun, or might consider a Winchester pump gun as a part. PHILO W. SMITH, 1915 Penn. Ave., Joplin, Mo. (1-p) : \ ANA Vy d 8 1912 { THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued WANTED.—Bird skins American or For- pie m, offer in exchange mounted birds, Sane and eggs in sets. Send lists. JESSE CRAVEN, 811 Roosevelt Ave., Detroit, ain: 2-p EXCHANGE.—Southern bird skins and bird eggs. Ten sets of Turkey and Black Vul- tures with datas. RAMON GRAHAM, Taxi- dermist, 401 W. Lenda St., Ft. Worth, ones -p) WANTED.—Good. skins: 65, 79, 222, 281, 286, 8371. 372. 404, 415, 424. 588, 592, 623. ©. L: PHILLIPS, 5 West Weir St., Taunton, de 1-p EXCHANGE-—Bird skins, books, bird craft, squirrels and other fur bearers, wild animals I haye known. Want skins 155, 293, 294, 295, 331, 337b, 448. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- hany, Pa. WANTED.—Skins of California Vulture, Whooping and Little Brown Crane, Trum- peter Swan and Falcons. Cash or good ex- change. A. H. Helme, Miller Place, New York. (1-p) WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Avocets, male, ads..two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Hureka, Cal. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGH.—Fine skins of 278, 289a, 320, 395. 477a, 479, 501, 51a, 513, 549, 550, 575a, 703, 729. and others, for skins or eggs not in my collection. Send lists. C. W. CHAMBER- LAIN, 36 Lincoln St., Boston, Mass. (11-13) EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) WANTED.—A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which I can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A.B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. (1-p) WANTED.—Five Mounted Horned Owls, five Barred Owls, three American Bitterns, five Woodcocks, two Ruffed Grouse, a few Hawks, a lot of smaJ] western birds. western mammals, first class; have fine sea shells, mammal specimens, Indian relics, minerals in large or small collections. Send lists. JOHN B. WHEELER, East Templeton, tee WANTED.—First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which I will gvie in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H.KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will take part cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. Jovi ae (1-p EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap- preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Send for r my list of fine Southern and South- mcsuere sets. EH. EF. POPE, Colmesneil, exas Eggs of many common and rare species for exchange. Many common ones desired. poo me your list. R. M. BARNBS, Lacon, EXCHANGE.— Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, Oe 540, 584, 624: for sets of Warblers only. . MOUSLEY, Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacific Grove, Calif. (-p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic America, also Antarctic. | Will exchange European for North American sets. H. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, - England. 2 Have some personally collected finely pre- pared sets of eggs from the Farallone Islands to exchange. Satisfaction guaranteed. H. W. CARRIGER, 5185 Trask Ave., Oakland, Calif. (1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (851) 352a, 356 ue 361 and many others. DAVID E. BROW Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Wash: 1p) FOR SALE--700 egg trays, made with white paper all 2zes andin good condition. I will also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. M. CASH, 7 Holcomb St., Hartford, Conn. EXCHANGE.—I have for exchange sets of Woodcock, Wilson’s Snipe, Upland Plover and afew rare Warblers. I want choice sets of Falcons. shore-birds and Warblers. G. A. ABBOTT, 945 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, ne (1-p WANTED.—The following eggs in A 1 sets: 186, 196. 215, 224, 249, 277, 277a, 291, 298, 299. 304, 308b. 310. 310b. 328, 347a, 377a, 432, 435, 463, 644, 647. 660, 675a, 685. Can ofier good exchange in A 1 sets. G.B. BENNERS, Ambler, Mont- gomery Co., Pa. (1-p) HXCHANGH.—51, 59, 64, 202, 318, 364, 375, 385d, 477, 488, 528, 587, 637, 639, 674, 681. 7194, 725, 7éla. I want all Sandpipers 970, 272, 309, 328, 330, 332, 370, 371, 398. 399, 400, 401, 446, 451 and others. R. P. SHARPLES, West Chesten a. EXCHANGE.—A. O. U. Nos. 114.1. 2-3; 122, 5-4; 194, 2-3, 2-4; 394a, 1-3; 480, N-2; 498e, 2-3; 573a, N-3, N-4: 591.Ja, 1-2; 607, N2-3; 63a, "N-4: 741b; N2-6, N-5: first class, with data. Wanted first class sets with data; no_ nests. K. SNE, 142 W. Jefferson St., Los Medics: a -p THE OOLOGIST. Vou. XXX. No. 11. ALBION, N. Y. Novy. 15, 1918. WHOLE No. 316 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. Ricord’s Hummingbird and Nest, 34 life size, Sept. 22, 1912, Los Indias, Isle of Fines. Nest in Grapefruit tree. —Photo by A. C. Read. 270 Bird Tagging. J. Claire Wood. What wonderful impulse causes the great southward movement of vast multitudes of birds and directs their return in Spring? All attempts to solve this problem will ever remain, in my opinion, just as satisfactory as the origin of species and sources of life. The key to the whole mystery concentrates in the materialization of the properties of instinct. Despite all that has and will be said, the only probable satisfactory explanation is the guidance of that mighty and mys- terious influence that directs the work- ings of all nature. I believe in trans- mutation of species on the data gen- erally accepted as absolute fact of gradation. Though less definite, a ’ consideration of such problems as nat- ural selection, law of design, condi- tions of existance, etc., where they bear in any manner, on migration to- gether with traits I have observed in both birds and mammals (even very young examples of the genus homo) has convinced me that migration is hereditary habit. But I would like to see it proved. To attempt this, in- volves consideration along the lines of contradictory evidence. I frankly confess a confusion of understand- ing, and as a recreation turn to a consideration of the floral and other beauties of summertime in northern climes and look upon migration as a provision of nature that birds should swarm into the scene, and by their beauty, melody and activity, assist in making it a season of delight. Warn- ed, by instinct, of winter’s approach, they retreat into the land of perpet- ual warmth, timing their departure according to their constitutional sus- ceptibility to the cold or the first promptings of an inner foreboding. Many, like the Bobolink, abandon an abundance of food to begin the jour- THE OOLOGIST ney and never wait until warned by physical contact with cold weather. The Bobolink is southward bound in August and does not reappear until the fruit trees are in blossom. And so strongly is he influenced by the southward impulse that he passes beyond our border, even to the marsh- es of the Rio de la Plata. Contemplating the wonderful in na- ture, we fail to understand why an evolutionary tendency has not hard- ened these birds to endure the severity of winter as some species do; but these species are in turn, more or less migratory; being forced southward by extreme cold or failure of food sup- ply. There is nothing remarkable in being driven by a sense of feeling and hunger, but what more impressive of intelligence and design in nature than the early migrants taking an unerr- ing direction to continued warmth and plenty? The glacial epoch theory gives no reason why birds should leave warmth and plenty beyond the rather weak ex- planation of seeking the barren waste to rear their young safe from numer- ous tropical enemies, but we know if birds possessed such intelligent sa- gacity they would take advantage of the many southern retreats affording almost absolute security. The ques- tion naturally arises of how they ex- isted before this northern land became accessable, if it is now necessary to them. Thousands perish during these migrations, and it might be asked if the movement is not a natural cause to check increase beyond stipulated bounds; or, on the other hand, to as- sist in keeping down the over-produc- tion of tropical insect and plant life; but all such questions are mere spec- ulation; and of no value except to stimulate discussion. Some endeavor has been made to prove a “law of re- tracement” and again to show that THE OOLOGIST 271 birds are guided on their journey by landmarks, the adults acting as pilots, but as the majority travel by night, this would necessitate a knowledge of astronomy, nothing said of those that travel in cloudy weather or over a vast expanse of water, while we meet with numerous small parties of juveniles working southward without an adult among them. Despite the various theories and convictions entertained by the Orni- thological world regarding the phe- nomena of bird migration, we all have a common interest in the great move- ment, and as a detailed discussion of the general subject is not my inten- tion, those who are not wholly famil- iar with it, are referred to Leon J. Cole’s paper in Vol. IV, No. 1, of the Michigan Bulletin, but it is Mr. Cole’s second communication in No. 4 of same volume that has induced me to take up the subject there presented, in order to efface the erroneous im- pression that considerable difficulty would attend the securing of birds for the purpose of “tagging’’, and fur- thermore to second his proposition that the work be taken in hand by an Ornithological organization. The possibilities of bird “tagging” offers far greater satisfaction and stimulates a greater interest than the method of tracing the migratory move- ment by records of arrivals, depart- ures, etc., where so much depends up- on the data of individuals without posi- tive proof of their competency or ve- racity. The return of a tag, however, is proof beyond question; and hence of the highest value and interest. Young birds, just prior to leaving the nest, furnish an abundance of ma- terial. A reference to my note book for the season of 1903 reveals a personal find of 2015 eggs and nestlings in Wayne and Oakland Counties, and this does not include the finds of other members of the party. Making every allow- ance, I could have easily “tagged” one hundred nestlings of appropriate spe- cies, and at least a dozen bird stu- dents in the state could have done the same. And surely the neighborhood of twelve hundred labeled birds could not fail to produce some results. It is an accepted fact that many birds return yearly to the same nesting site or vicinity, but what -becomes of the young? The proposed system is doubtless the only satisfactory road to a solution of the question. Per- sonal observation has shown conclus- ively that Great Blue Herons and Red- shouldered Hawks reared in this lo- cality do not return to breed, and this is probably the case with most spe- cies. A majority of the few new pairs of Red-shoulders that nested here were shot and examined and were in the first adult plumage. For years my field work was confined to Greenfield township and every pair of hawks, and all the larger nests of the various pieces of timber were well known to me; so probably the pair of Broad- wings that nested in that township were the only ones to do so. The nest was located by Mr. Bradshaw Swales, who secured. the female, which is now in his collection. But the bird is in the immature plumage of the second year. Six species of birds were selected for especial observation by the Com- mittee on Geographical Distribution. One of these is resident and none are suitable for the proposed system. This is obvious when we contemplate the vast area to the south and the comparative small number of Orni- thologists in it; but sportsmen invade every section of the country, and who knows of a village, no matter how small, that cannot claim a gunner or so. And nearly every farmer pos- 272 THE OOLOGIST sesses fire arms. Few can resist a shot at hawk or crow, and the village or city boy will down any bird of size, while the sportsman enjoys blackbird and meadow lark shooting in the ab- sence of more worthy game. It thus becomes evident that meadow lark, blackbird, jay, shrike and any bird of much greater size should be select- ed. Red-winged Blackbirds could be easily obtained as they are found in every piece of marsh land of any size, but are the least desirable by reason of migrating in large flocks, and re- taining this social tendency at the winter quarters, and the same may be said of the crow, though to a lesser extent, but fair results could be ex- pected after their return in Spring. My choice would be the meadow lark and hawk, with preference to the latter as the larger the bird the less an artificial weight would hamper it. 2 Note. A female Red-tailed Hawk was brought to me for mounting today, of which the stomach contents proved very interesting. The stomach contained one com- plete Grey Squirrel torn to pieces, for swallowing; one Garter Snake, 21 inches long, and one Water Snake 15 inches long. The heads of both snakes were missing, but otherwise the bodies were not mutilated and the Due to the crowded condition of the stom- measurements are of the pieces. ach, the Garter Snake was contained in the mouth and gullet of the bird and several folds of the snake could be seen on opening the beak. This is the first case of snakes in this bird’s food with me, and I wondered if it was common. Raymond Spellum. Viroqua, Wis. The Caliiope Hummingbird. By Charles S. Moody. The theory of protected mimicry may be overworked as some natural- ists insist, but that the Calliope Hum- mingbird is advised of its value will be equally patent to any person who has put in any time hunting one of their nests. Most birds resort to some degree of protection, either by position, manner of nest building, or concealment, but none, so far as I have investigated, takes the pains to blend the nest so perfectly with the surroundings as this aerial sprite. The Calliope is a western bird, the smallest and most unobtrusive of the family. It is quite different from the eastern and southern species which nest about farm houses, even in rose arbors in towns and villages. Calli. . ope is a forest lover, haunting the deep confiers of the Pacific slope, north into Alaska, south into nortih- ern California. I have found them at an altitude of 11,000 feet in the Bit- ter Root mountains, again at sea level in the Douglass fir belt along the Pa- cific Ocean. The nest is invariably placed upon a iow horizontal branch of cedar, spruce, or black pine, extending over a mountain stream, and in plain sight—if you can see it. There’s the rub; no larger than an English walnut, composed of cotton- wood down, sitting flat on the branch, the outside covered with fine bits of gray bark lain on with glue, it is the most baffling thing in nest hunt- ing. You may be positive that the tree contains a nest, but you cannot find it. An amusing incident occurred at Mullan, Idaho, a few years ago. The teacher of ornithology in one of the state institutions visited our country during the nesting season. His edu- cation had been accomplished in the THE OOLOGIST 273 Nest and Eggs of Caliope Hummingbird —Photo by Chas. S. Moody 274 east, and he was making a study of western birds. A few days previous I had located three nests of the Calli- ope in one tree, a black pine. Black pine trees retain their cones for a year or more. This tree was covered with them. I took the professor down and asked him to locate the nests. He spent an hour without avail. All the time the three were within four feet of him. They so closely resembled the cones that he could not distinguish them apart. SS Whit Harrison, one of the real old time ornithologists of La Credcent. Minnesota, sends us the following clip- ping from one of the local La Crosse, Wisconsin, papers, which will be of interest to all of the older readers of THE OOLOGIST. Mr. Boehm was known throughout the northwest as a student of nature and a taxidermist of unusual ability as well as a man havy- ing real scientific attainments: “Albert Boehm, taxidermist, orni- thologist and student of nature, is dead. “Apoplexy called one of La Crosse’s well known men at the age of almost 84 years, at 3:19 o’clock this morning, at his home, 512 Oakland street. He had lingered a week after being stricken. His wife was at his bedside when death came. “Mr. Boehm was in apparently good health and active in his wark, for which he was known throughout the northwest, until his first attack on Tuesday of last week, since which time he gradually failed. “Over a thousand birds and animals which at present adorn the new east room at the La Crosse public library were preserved and mounted by him and it is considered one of the finest exhibits of its kind in this part of the country. Every bird from the smalJ- est humming bird to the largest hawk THE OOLOGIST and eagle was stuffed by Mr. Boehm. Hven the snakes of all varieties and species are the produce of his labor. “In his study of nature, birds, bees, butterflies and the trees, hundreds of children of this city became associated with him. Whenever a dead bird or animal was found, the thought which was uppermost in many of their minds was to take it to Mr. Boehm to-have him preserve and mount it. “A number of prizes were awarded Mr. Boehm for various exhibits of his. He received several awards from dis- plays at the World’s fair at St. Louis in 1904. “Decedent was born in Germany on December 4, 1829, and came to Amer- ica when a small boy. He has resided in La Crosse for the past 27 years. “Surviving are a widow and four children. The children are Mrs. A. J. Lange of Superior, Mrs. M. Rassmann of Beaver Dam, Charles A. Boehm of Neenah and Mrs. J. T. Riordan of Marion, Ind. “The remains will be taken to the home of a sister at Beaver Dam to- morrow noon and interment will be at that town. Previous to the sending of the body, short services, conducted by Rev. D. C. Jones, will be held at the late home of the deceased.” ee Migration Notes. On the 13th of May, 1908, while visiting at Pompton Lakes, N. J., I witnessed one of those scenes most deplored by the bird lover and over which he can have but little or no control. On the morning of the 12th I found at the foot of a rather lofty windmill the dead bodies of two Myr- tle and three Chestnut-sided Warb- lers, they having apparently hit the blades of the wheel in their flight over this section on their way north- ward, as I found traces of bloodstains on several of the steel blades upon close inspection. THE OOLOGIST On the evening of the 13th a heavy wind from the southeast prevailed and the mechanism of the mill became dis- engaged from the heavy strain and it was hecessary to carry a light upon the tower to the point of trouble and repair the damage before a far greater trouble might arise. We found that it required several hours of hard and constant labor to get things back into shape. While thus engaged during the first hour I was hit about the legs and body by several small birds, but in each case they righted themselves and continued their flight. Close on to midnight this flight increased in immense numbers, and, as the light which we had was apparently drawing the birds towards it, they were con- tinually striking against mine and my helper’s body and on all parts of the wheels. As it was very dark and the high wind made it rather difficult to maintain our foothold and together with the trouble in hand, we were given but little opportunity to think of anything but our own and the wheels’ safety and but little attention was paid to the migrating birds. When, after two hours and a half of hazardous labor we had fixed things up temporarily for the night we both went to the house and retired. I arose shortly after sunrise the next morning and immediately went to the windmill to see if any further trouble had arisen, but found things in the same condition as left the night before. But on the ground at the foot of the mill I beheld a sight which was indeed very heartrending. All about were the bruised and maimed bodies of Warb- lers and other small Passerine birds. On gathering them up found thirty- two all together. There were six Chestnut-sided, two Black-throated Blue, four Black-throated Green, four Magnolia, two Parula, five Canadian 275 and five Myrtle Warblers, two Mary- land Yellowthroats, an Indigo Bunt- ing and a Savanna Sparrow. On the platform near the tank were six more Canadian and four additional Myrtle Warblers. Since that time I have often visited this mill to see if any further trage- dies of this kind had occurred, but have never found another occurrence in the vicinity. Louis S. Kohler. Bloomfield, New Jersey. Saat eS ee Notes From the Lower Connecticut Valley. The following records from my note- book may be of some interest to the readers of THE OOLOGIST: Aug. 16, 1911. At Saybrook Point and up the valley. Warm and clear. Thousands of Swallows, mostly Tree, some Barn and Bank, were perched in rows along the wires. The pass- ing trains would send clouds of them into the air. Blackbirds were as abundant. These consisted of Red- winged, Bronzed and Purple Grackles and Cowbirds. Kingfishers, Green Herons, Meadowlarks, Savannah and Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Ducks—too distant to identify—and Semi-palmat- ed and Least Sandpipers were com- mon. The very extensive marshes at this point, and the numerous creeks connected with the river, make it an ideal resort for marsh loving birds. Aug. 6, 1912: Warehouse Point, Conn. Hot and clear. Great flocks of Tree Swallows were noted, flocking for their southern movement. Six Sparrow Hawks observed in the val- ley and as many Nighthawks were zig-zagging over Hartford last even- ing, uttering their peculiar and char- acteristic notes. Aug. 14-15, 1912. Saybrook Point. warm and a little fog. Tree and Baru Swallows abundant. Red-wings, 276 THE OOLOGIST Bronzed and Purple Grackles, Night and Green Herons, Bitterns, Sharp- tailed Sparrows and Semi-palmated Sandpipers common. Saw flocks of 20 to 50 of the latter. Kingfishers not so common as previous year, when they were very plentiful for the spe- cies. Saw five Summer Yellow-legs hurrying around in shallow water near hotel. I watched them for five minutes, not over forty feet away. They were securing food in shallow water and their long legs and bills were perfectly adapted to the work. One took a nice bath in six inches of water. He partly spread his wings and fluttered and shook himself and spent a minute in apparent enjoy- ment. Aug. 16, 1912. Clear and cool. Saybrook Point. Noted on and around muddy beach, near Long Island Sound: 200 Semi-palmated Sandpi- pers, 50 Least Sandpipers, 300 Semi- palmated Plovers, 75 Summer Yellow- legs, 2 Night Herons, 2 Green Herons, 1 Sharp-tailed Sparrow, 6 Kingbirds, 1 Kingfisher and 1000 Swallows, most- ly Tree and Barn, a few Bank and Cliff observed. The small Sandpipers frequently flew, wheeled, showing white under- parts, when they might easily be mis taken for Sanderlings or Piping Plov- ers, and returned to nearly the same spot to resume feeding. They con- stantly emitted their low, peeping notes. A flock whesled over my head as I was standin, ~» «a ridge the evening before. I cow: ea: the vari- ous species whistling all the evening. There was a small crescent moon. The small Sandpipers frequently bathed in two inches of water. The Yellow-legs, Plovers and Sandpipers kept in separate companies, as a rule. The former preferred shallow water to the bare flats. All frequently changed position. This locality is exceedingly rich in bird life and it would pay one to spend some time there in observation and study. Charles L. Phillips. Taunton, Mass. ea ot a a ele Urinator Imber—Loon. This wild inhabitant of our north- ern lakes and ponds possesses all the characteristic traits of the Divers. It is rarely seen on ponds of less than several acres in extent and is never common, except on the larger rivers and lakes, where it keeps in the open water and escapes its pursuers by div- ing and swimming long distances un- der water. In this manner it can elude the swiftest oarsman, but when cornered in shallow water, it takes wing and makes a long flight before alighting. When on land the Loon is a very ackward fellow. He stands with his body erect and his tarsi usually rest- ing on the ground. He cannot walk, but progresses by tumbling forward and flopping his wings and pushing his feet in a most ungainly manner. it is asserted by the best authorities that this bird can evade a gunshot by diving at the flash, and I have no doubt that this is true when black powder is used, but with a modern gun loaded with buck-shot there was no trouble to secure a fine male on Muskoko Lake, in Canada, where they breed quite abundantly. Our guide told us that he never saw more than 2 eggs in a nest, which is invariably near the waters edge, so that you can easily wade to the same. It is a mere depression in the rock or ground. T:2 upper parts, wings, tail and neck black with bluish or greenish reflections, spaces on the side of the neck streaked with white; back and wings spotted and bar- red with white; breast and belly 277 THE OOLOGIST uoo7 ajewey pue sew Vv 278 white; sides around a band at the base of the under-tail-coverts black, spotted with white. The fe- male has none of those gorgeous cdl- ors, which proves that in all animal life for beauty the male is superior. The eggs are grayish, olive-brown, thinly spotted with blackish, size 3.50 x 2.20. The young are covered with a soft down, sooty-brown in color and leave the nest as soon as hatched. What a fine group, a male and fe- male with the two young would make when given to our artistic taxiderm- ist, Mr. H. Grieb in Buffalo. Such a group would equal those of the Great FIVE—OOLOGIST Blue Herons and theWhistling Swans in the Buffalo Society of Natural Sci- ences. The food of the Loon consists en- tirely of fish, which it catches by swimming after them beneath the sur- face of the water. In the early spring some can be found near Navy Island, above Niag- ara Falls and some have been seen in our Buffalo harbor near the new water works before their northern mi- gration to their breeding places and in the same localities late in Septem- ber on their southward journey to the Gulf of Mexico. I am indebted for an exceedingly fine male, which can be seen at my home, to Mr. Christ Schwartz, of Ni- agara Falls. Ottomar Reinecke. ee Notes on the Kingbird from Harris County, Texas. The Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is a common summer resident of the prairie districts of Harris county, Texas, one or more pairs being found in every orchard, “motte”, or ranch yard. They inhabit the same locali- ties as frequented by the Scissor-tail- ed Flycatcher, although the Kingbird THE OOLOGIST is more often seen along the edges of woods. They arrive at Houston from their winter quarters about April 2, and by the 27th the birds are mated and be- gin their nests. The first nests are completed May 10 and the first egg laid the following day. By the 17th or 18th the set is usually completed and the birds commence incubation. The first young noted were hatched on May 31. In this locality I think only two broods are raised yearly, the second set being laid about the end of June or first of July. August 1 sees the birds gathering in flocks and wander- -ing around cotton and corn fields and by the end of that month they begin migrating southward. This migra tion continues up until the first part of October, when the last stragglers are seen. The food in this locality consists of insects, fruits and berries; num- bers of times I have seen these birds feeding on ripe figs, grapes, pears and various berries, as well as following plows, in company with many other species, securing the worms brought to light. The birds are very vicious in the defense of nests and young, and dur- ing the nesting season I have seen vultures, hawks, and many smaller species fleeing panic-stricken before the rush of this dauntless little war- rior. The nest is placed in the orchard trees, and in the “mottes” and shade trees around the ranch houses or farms, on either horizontal limbs or in crotches near the tops of the high- est branches. It is a bulky structure, and, like the Scissor-tail’s is a very untidy structure and very easy to find; composed of twigs, weed-stems, grasses, rootlets, cotton, string and thistle-down, and lined with thistle- wa THE OOLOGIST down, cotton or rootlets. For the last four years a pair has nested in a certain persimmon tree in a Red-wing colony near Houston, and it would be of interest to know whether this is the same pair of birds each year, or the offspring of the pre- ceding pair. The eggs are either three or four in this number, some of the eggs be- ing identical with those of the Scis- sor-tailed Flycatcher. The smallest eggs are those from a set of three taken June 21, 1911, from a nest in a hui sache five feet from the ground. They measure: .86x.70, .90 x .69, and .87x.70 inches. On the other hand the largest set of eggs measures: 1.04 x .70, 1.02 x .70, 1.03 x .70, and 1.04 x.70 in. This set was taken May 27, 1912, about seven miles south of Hous- ton. Other sets from this region yield the following measurements: 91x .64, .94x.64, .92x.66, and 94x -67; .90 x .64, .96 x .68, .86 x .69, and .87 664; .92x..65, .92x..68, .94x.67, .87-x Se eONexX.( Oy con XL, 90 X.125 and another set of three.91 x .68, .94 x .68, .92 x .67 inches. Unusual Wintering of the Catbird at Pittsburg, Pa. Thomas D. Burleigh. On the 10th of November, while out on a tramp, I was surprised to see a Catbird fly out from a thicket of grape vines, the first I had seen for over a month. It appeared in good condi- tion, but was entirely silent for the few minutes that I observed it. I was very much surprised at seeing it at this late date, but I was more sur- prised when several weeks later, on the 23d of November, I saw another of these birds. The first one was seen near Harmarville, some eight miles from where the second one was seen, at Pittsburg, and so whether they were the same bird or not, I do not know. ~<. _- 279 Like the first, the second was seer in a thicket of grape vines and was also entirely silent, making no sound at all. I visited this place the next day but found the bird gone, and I had no idea of seeing any more of these birds until the following Spring, but was surprised a month or so later to find it still around, although again in a different place. With Henry S. Frank I was, on the 4th of January, 1913, exploring Mc- Kinley Park, a small park on the out- skirts of Pittsburg, near Mt. Oliver, when I heard a Catbird calling (or mewing) and soon saw it in a dense thicket of bushes. The weather on that day was fairly cold and very windy, temperature 32 degrees, with several inches of snow-on the ground, but the Catbird seemed contented and appeared well fed. A week later, on the 12th, I was at this place again and had the satis- faction of finding the bird in the same place, in as good spirits apparently, as on a warm day in June. From that date on, I have been at the park once a week and have always, except once, on the 18th of January, found it at the same place, up to the present date (February 16th.) I fully expect that it will remain there the remainder of the Winter, and I intend to continue my visits until the other Catbirds arrive, as I wish to make my record as complete as possible. Why, however, a bird like the Catbird, one of the last to arrive in the Spring and one of the first to leave in the Fall, should re- main here during the winter, I am unable to understand. I would al- most as soon have expected to see a Nighthawk or a Barn Swallow, for I have never before heard or read of a Catbird wintering anywhere except in the extreme southern parts of the United States. Thomas D. Burleigh, Pittsburg, Pa, 280 The Northern Pileated Woodpecker. May 7, 1913, a friend and I left State College, Pennsylvania, for a moun- tain valley, situated on the northern border of Huntington county, and about fourteen miles distant from the college. The country here is much covered with timber slashings, which provide excellent abodes for the Northern Pileated Woodpecker. Late in the afternoon of this day we reached a low, wet timber slashing in which there were many dead snags that showed evidence of former nest- ing places of this Woodpecker. We soon found an old logging road by which were enabled to penetrate the thick undergrowth of laurel and rho- dodendron. We had just crossed a swift stream when my friend caught sight of a Pileated Woodpecker as it Silently flitted from the trunk of a large sugar maple tree that stood by our road. The presence of this bird gave us great hope of finding a nest, so we carefully scanned all the old snags in sight. Evening was now fast approaching and we made our way down the valley to a farm house where we spent the night. On the following morning we arose early and started on our way to the haunts of the Pileateds. No sooner had we entered the slashing than we heard the peculiar notes of a Wood- pecker as he called from some dis- tant hemlock spike. The search for a nest was begun where we left off last evening. On account of the thick undergrowth we found it difficult to reach and properly examine many of the dead snags. Upon approaching a forty-foot, leaning, dead red maple snag I could discern two newly exca- vated entrance holes; and beneath these there were many large chips. This snag stood by a small open space, close to a clump of young hem- locks, Vigorous pounding on the THE OOLOGIST stump failed to arouse the Wood- pecker, but as the holes appeared so new, I decided to investigate them. I procured the climbing irons:-and as- cended to the lower cavity; it was new, but only slightly excavated. As I neared the upper cavity, which was thirty feet above the ground, my friend called out from below, “there she is!” A female Woodpecker left the nest and hurriedly secluded her- self among the neighboring trees. From her hiding place she sent forth vigorous alarm notes which soon brought the male bird to the vicinity. I carefully examined the nest-hole and found that it contained four large, glossy, white eggs, quite fresh, and resting on soft chips of wood. The entrance hole measured three and one-fourth inches wide; it was not circular, but ovate. The cavity turned downward after extending in for an inch or more. The eggs rested fifteen inches below the entrance. While I was at the nest the female bird flew quite near, clucking and making a great fuss. She soon set- tled herself on the higher part of an old snag, from which she sent forth her loud cries. With a camera I secured a number of views of the nesting snag and its surroundings. The two days follow- ing were spent in other parts of the. mountain valley searching for nests of this Woodpecker. Two more pairs were located and a promising looking nest found. It was inaccessable to me, however. Throughout the mountainous coun- try of central Pennsylvania many bare. snags show the remnants of former nesting sites of these great Wood- peckers. However, the lovely birds are seldom met with, and it will not be long until they will all vanish from our forests. S. S. Dickey. Waynesburg, Pa. THE OOLOGIST Unusual Winter Birds. Thomas D. Burleigh. The winter 1912-13 was remarkable to me because of the number of Sum- mer residents that remained here, many of which I had never before seen during the winter and had never heard of anyone seeing. The one that most surprised me was the Cat- bird, but as I have dealt more fully with it in another article, let it suffice to say that it was seen occassionally the entire winter, remaining for the last two months in almost the same thicket. The Flickers were quite plentiful and I was surprised at their abund- ance, especially as I have never re- corded them here in the winter be- fore. Up to the middle of October, I saw them almost daily, but at that time they suddenly dissappeared and I saw no more of them until the 9th of November. On that date I saw two and after that I occassionally came across them; seldom, however, in the same place. On the 28th of November, while watching a large flock of Tree Spar- rows, I was amazed to hear a Towhee. At first I thought I must have imag- ined it, but I soon found out that I had not, for while I was listening for the sound to be repeated, the bird, a male, very obligingly hopped into view from a dense thicket, allowing me to absolutely identify it. I came back to this place several times later, hoping to see it again, but with no success and I finally gave it up. It must have wintered there, however, for as I was passing the same place on the 18th of February, I again saw a Towhee, presumably the same bird, for as before it was a male and was exactly in the same place. The crow is more or less of a resi- dent here, but I was rather surprised on the 31st of December, while out on, 281 a tramp near Harmaville, to come across a flock of about one hundred and fifty of these birds. They were feeding in a large field, almost cover- ing it, and, as I approached, flew off in small detachments, continuing to do so for quite a while. On the same day, I also saw two Golden Crowned Kinglets feeding in some hemlocks, the first ’ve ever seen during the winter. While crossing a large field on the 22nd of January, I flushed two Mead- owlarks from the ground (or snow) and I was delighted to see them, as they very rarely winter here. They must have left soon after, for although I searched for them several days later I was unable to find them. While out on a tramp on the 11th of January, I came across a flock of ten birds feeding near the tops of some large trees, which I did not at first recognize. One of them, how- ever, finally flew down to the ground and I saw at once that they were Bluebirds. Most of them were males and I certainly did enjoy watching them (what ornithologist would not?) Just about a month later, on the 12th of February, I saw another little flock of Bluebirds at this same place, but whether they were the same birds, I do not know. Ce ee Two Partridge Nests. Geo. H. Murphy. How many of you have ever seen a Partridge nest? I remember of seeing one about ten years ago. My sister and I lived at our uncle’s, and he had a habit of wandering around the woods. One Sunday he told us he had found a Partridge nest up in “Aunt Betty’s” woods, but he would- n’t tell us just where it was for fear we would spend the whole day in looking for it, and he didn’t like to haye us do that, We went to church 282 THE OOLOGIST The Gulls, Catalina Id., Calif, March, 1912. —Photo by R. M. Barnes, THE OOLOGIST in the morning and in the afternoon we decided we would find the Part- ridge nest without any more asking. The woods were not very large, and we carefully hunted and had about given up when, just as we were com- ing out of the woods we heard a slight rustling and turned just in time to see Mrs. Partridge leaving the nest—we were within a few feet of it. It was at the foot of a maple tree, and in plain sight of anything that passed. There were twelve or fourteen brown- ish-buff colored eggs in the nest. The nest was simply a hollow lined with leaves. About a week ago we were at our uncle’s and he told us he had found a Partridge nest with twelve eggs in it, out in the west woods. Now, in the ten years that have gone, I have become a “Camera fiend”, as some of my friends now call me. Here was a chance for a picture, I thought, so next day I got permission to try it, if I would get back as soon as I could. I loaded up the No. 2A Brownie and took my Vest Pocket Kodak and ask- ed my brother if he wanted to go; he said he did, so we cranked up the Overland and in about thirty-five min- utes we were at uncle’s. It didn’t take any urging to get him to say he would show us the nest. They thought it best that I take the auto and go out to my Friend Bill’s and get his five-by-seven camera, which I did. While I was gone, they thought they would go out to the woods and I would come in on the other side. I didn’t expect to find Bill home, but did, and it didn’t take very long to get some holders loaded. When we got to the woods the other fellows were there. Uncle told us to go quiet and we would probably see the Partridge leave the nest. . We soon came to the nest and they gave me the big camera and thought L 283 might get a snap shot as she was leaving. I nearly strained my eye- sight trying to see the nest. The other fellows kept telling me they could see her head move, but I soon discovered that it was a leaf moving in the breeze instead of the bird. I finally got clear up to the place where my uncle said the nest was. Uncle said he might have got mixed up, but he was quite sure we were in the right place; all at once he knelt down and lifted up some cedar branches, and there underneath was all that was left of a once beautiful nest, just a hollow in the ground lined with leaves. We knew the eggs had not hatched, as there weren’t any shells scattered around. We looked around closely, and found quite a few feathers, wet down by a yesterday’s rain, and we then knew that the little mother Part- ridge had met her death as she was covering her precious eggs. Uncle was mad. “Some hanged old fox has done this,’ he said; “if I knew there was a den of foxes in this wood, I would dig them out to pay for this.” “Tt’s against the law,” I cautioned him. “Well, I would be a law-breaker then,” he answered. As we were going out of the woods, we heard a Partridge fly by, and it was the drummer. We soon left for home, feeling sorry about the little tragedy that had been enacted there in the lonely wood road. Vermont. — al Owl Nesting on the Illinois. Big floods in Ohio and Indiana; dangerously high water in Southern Illinois; streams full everywhere. The Illinois river was no exception and at the end of the railway trip, the bridge at Lacon being submerged to reach the home of the Editor of THE OOLO- GIST a motor-driven flatboat was prought into requisition, It was a 284 pleasant passage across the flooded bottoms, the willow-haunting song sparrows and cardinals singing their vespers, and on the morrow the broad expanse of the river a mile or more in width, was to be traversed to the site of a barred owl’s nest, previously located by the Editor Barnes. Day broke unpromisingly but the adventures set forth, and before the motor boat, ready at the river side, had cast off the sun began to shine. Soon a fair progress was had against the stormy current which, even in the dead water covering cornfields and willow swamps, was to be reckoned with, and the voyage bade fair to pros- per. On the way birds of recent ar- rival were noticed. One was struck, particularly, with the large numbers of male tree-swallows, evidently hav- ing come with the warm rain of the night before. The writer had never before met a sight such as was afford- ed by a raft of blue-bills, some three or four thousand in number. All the blue-bills on the river, it seemed, had gathered in one flock. We were told by Mr. Barnes, that a greater flock had not been seen at this point for sey- eral years. A barred owl, we may judge, will not be denied residence of its form- er home. At least the bird to which our visit was paid showed some such pertinacity. A river fisherman had set up his tent beneath her ancient bass wood tree long before the duties of incubation had urged her to select a nesting -site; but no other would do. Into the domain of the fisherman and the owl, enter the editor and the re- porter of this tale. Of the former one may be sure that he is no more closet naturalist; as a witness the account given in the paragraph below. Now the well-built young man who piloted us up the river seemed the log- ical person to climb thirty feet into THE OOLOGIST that tree;—a fine vegetable seven feet around—but no! in a twinkling the editor-guide and woodland expert, had harnessed on his climbing irons. It was no slight task for a younger man —the Editor of THE OOLOGIST is more than fifty,—but the difficulties of protruding knots and snags were over- . come with a skill nothing short of sur- prising. The Owl left the hollow as the climb- er put spurs in the base of the tree,— this is contrary to the belief of the writer, who held that the species sets closely. Flying into the upper bran- ches of a nearby tree one or two fur- ther flights lost her in the timber and she was not seen again. The nesting site was a natural elliptical hollow, the lower portion descending below the rim of the ellipse and in a measure protected by the extension of the eaiv- ity above. The eggs were far advanc- ed in incubation. An invitation to the fisherman to guide us to other owl trees of which he had knowledge was declined. A heavy wind had come up blowing con- trary to the current, and the river man didn’t “like the looks of things out there.’ But the leader of the expedi- tion obtaining directions from our squatter-host, we undertook to reach two more “snags” supposed to contain nesting owls. These were, however, untenanted and so the run was made for home with a stop enroute in the shelter of a timbered “hog-back” to lunch and talk and let the sun and wind “soakin.” Nothing is lacking of a successful Oologist experience when a bright April day, good company and to ac- quire the special treasure sought are all so happily combined. 5 E. A, Ford. Chicago, Illinois, THE OOLOGIST vil Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of Birds of Europe - - $ .50 Sr.ith’s The Canary, 12 once plates, 1870 - - Tegetmeier’s The Homing ee Illus., 1871 - - - 1.25 Canary Birds, A Manual for Ue Keepers, Illus. - - 1.0€ Bird Neighbors, School edition; colored plates, 1899 - il Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of a by EpAnERe artists 1.00 Autograph aes of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 2215thSt. Philadelphia, Pa. 1.50 THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop2r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry S. Swarth “The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.75 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN,N Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. Ican save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. Ifnot the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regular Eee Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, 20c; No, 2, 25c: No. 3, 35c; No. 4, ‘45¢; No. 5, 50c. Blowpipes: AJ] best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Nickle plated, 25c. No, 2, best quality straight Finest quality straight, Embryo Hooks: Embryo Scissors: or curved, 50c. $1.00; curved, $1.25 Best Steel Climbers: out, $1.90. With strap, $2.75; with- Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back volmes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1914, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and a free copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. Vill: THE OOLOGIST 1914 The Oologist will improve with the New Year. | 3 It has improved with each New Year under the present management. The friends of The Oologist have been loyal in the past and they will continue so in the future. Will you be one of us in the futurer We hope so and you will never regret it, and neither will we. For all NEW subscriptions received before January I, 1914, we will send the Christmas issue of the Oologist free of charge. It will be some issue, be sure of that. THE OOLOGIST. BIRDS--NESTS--EGGS TAXIDERMY VoL. XXX. No. 12. ALBION, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1913. WHOLE NO. 317 BRIEF SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted, Exchange, For Sale, serted for less than 25 cents. Ete., inserted in this department at 25 cents for each 25 words for one issue; each udditional word 1 cent. No notice in- TAKE NOTICE. SUBSCRIPTION, 50 CENTS PER YEAR Examine the number on the wrapper of your Oologist. It denotes the time your subscription expires. Remember we must be notified if you wish it discontinued and all arrearages must be paid, 316 your sub- scription expires with this issue. 305 your subscription expired with December issue Other expirations can be computed by intermediate numbers at the rate of one number per month. Entered as second-class matter De- cember 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. In answering advertisements in these columns mention “The Oologist,” and thereby help us, as well as the ad- vertiser and yourself. We will not advertise the skins, nests, eggs, or mounted specimens of North American Birds for sale. These columns are for the use of those desiring to make bona fide exchanges of such specimens for scientific collecting purpo- ses onlyv.—EDITOR. BIRDS WANTED-—Live American Wild Trumpet- er Swan. R. M. Barnes. Lacon, III. El EXCHANGE.—Bird Skins of Eastern United States for exchange and a 44c Stevens Pocket Collecting pistol for sale. J. H. WEBER, Palisades Park, N. J. ‘1-p) BIRD SKINS .—Exchange generally FRANK S, WRIGHT, 14 Cayuga St., Auburn, N.Y. (2-p) WANTED.— 10 exchange skins, also bird photographing camera for cash. CORNEL- IUS BUS, Detroit, Mich. (1-p) WANT TO BU Y—Live wi'd ducks, geese, swan, cranes, stork, Pelican, eagles, Guinea igs, and all wild animals. IRL E. BEN- ETT. “Naturalist,” Cambridge. Ohio. (1-p) I desire to exchange bird skins and bird eggs With all collectors; send full list of skins. and eggs. D. V. HEMBREE, Roswell, ac ( = D) EXCHANGE.—Skins of male and female Wood Duck. for first class eggsinsets. Write and make offer. ERNEST A. BUTLER, 3875 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, Pa. (2-p) EXCHANGE.—Mounted birds, skins and many books on different subjects, for any- thing pertaining to ornithology. Send lists. O. M. GREENWOOD, 240 E. Main St., Man- chester, Iowa. (1-p) Want following hummer skins: 427-429" 430-422-433-437-439-440-440-1-441. Exchange Owl and Hawk skins for males, Hooded Mergan- ser, Bald Eagle. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- any. Pa. TO EXCHANGE.—A large collection of birds’ skins as a whole only for a large col- lection of stamps. No trash wanted. F. T. CORLESS, 80 Killingsworth Ave., Eon Ore. -p ee WANTED.—General birdssin exchange, particularly Pacific Coast and Southern Col- lectors, though I solicit lists from anywhere. RAYMOND SPELLUM, Viroqua, Wis. cea) -p eS eee First class s kins Illinois, California and Costa Rica to exchange for birds from South- ern or Western States, or from other coun- tries. H. K.COALE, Highland Park, Il. (1) psec Se rg eh a ep eee EXCHANGE.— Male Passenger Pigeon fine- ly mounted, nearly perfect, for Winchester automatic shot-gun, or might consider a Winchester pump gun asa part. PHILO W. SMITH, 1915 Penn. Ave., Joplin, Mo. —(1-p) ! THE OOLOGIST Skins Continued ae WANTED.—Bird skins American or For- ere offer in exchange mounted birds, ae and eggs in sets. Send lists. JESSE CRAVEN, 811 Roosevelt Ave., Detroit, Mich, -p EXCHANGE.—Southern bird skins and bird eggs. Ten sets of Turkey and Black Vul- tures with datas. RAMON GRAHAM, Taxi- dermist, 401 W. Lenda St., Ft. Worth, teas -p) WANTED.—Good skins: 65, 79, 222, 281, a 371, 372. 404, 415, 424. 588, 592, 623. ©. PHILLIPS, 5 West Weir St., Taunton, . Mass! 1-p FXCHANGE-Bird skins, books, bird craft, squirrels and other fur bearers, wild animals I have known. Want skins 155, 293, 294, 295, 331, 337b, 443. EARL HAMILTON, Yohog- hany, Pa. WANTED.—Skins of California Vulture, Whooping and Little Brown Crane, Trum- peter Swan and Falcons. Cash or good ex- -change. A. H. Helme, Miller Place, New York. (1-p) WANTED.—Extra fine skins for mounting two Am. Avocets, male, ads.,two Am. Wood cocks, male, ads., two Black-necked Stilts male, ads., and two Boxwhites, male, ads Offer A 1 Skins or mounted birds. FRANK- LIN J. SMITH, Box 98, Eureka, Cal. (1-p) FOR EXCHANGE.—Fine skins of 273, 289a, 320, 395. 477a, 479, 501, 51a, 513, 549. 530, 575a, 703, 729, and others, for skins or aeees not in my collection. Send lists. C. CHAMBER- LAIN, 36 Lincoln St., orice Mee (11-18) EXCHANGE.—Can offer good exchange in skins and eggs to anyone who will mount some dried skins for me, such sets as; Man- dt’s Giullemot, Whistling Swan, Canada Geese, Old Squaw, etc. ARTHUR W. BROCKWAY, Hadlyme, Conn. (1-p) WANTED.— A fine skin of Eskimo Curlew, for which IJ can offer such skins as Surf Bird, Black and Socorro Petrels, Xantus Murrelet, Ringed Kingfisher, Harlequin Duck, Roseate Spoonbill and others too numerous to men- tion. A. B. HOWELL, Covina, Cal. \1-p) WANTED.—Five Mounted Horned Owls, five Barred Owls, three American Bitterns, five Woodcocks, two Rutfed Grouse, a few Hawks, a lot of smal] western birds, western mammals, first class: have fine sea shells, mammal specimens, Indian relics, minerals in large or small collections. Send lists. JOHN B. WHEELER, East Templeton, Mees: WANTED.— First class skins of Passenger Pigeons, male and female, for which IJ will gvie in exchange first class skins of Heath Hens. FRED H.KENNARD, 220 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. (1) FOR EXCHANGE.—I have left one pair Passenger Pigeons, (Hctopistes Migratorius) nicely mounted and good condition. Will pene cash and part in rare sets or birds. PHILO SMITH, 1824 Byers Ave.. out Mc (1-p EGGS. In sending in your exchange notices: for nests, skins and eggs, we would ap— preciate it if you would arrange the numerals in your exchange notice in their numerical order, and not tumble them together hit and miss, as some of our readers are complaining, and we think justly so. Send for my list of fine Southern and South— western sets. E. F. POPE, Colmesneil, exas Eggs of many common and rare species for exchange. Many common ones _ desired.. pend me your list. R. M. BARNES, Lacon,. EXCHANGE.—Personally taken sets, 263, 300, 388, 412a, 444, 466a, 498, 528, oe 540, 584 for sets of Warblers only. ” OUSLY” Hatley, Quebec’ (1-p) I have a number of sets of Brandt’s Cor- morant for exchange. Can use duplicate sets, CHAS. H. CULP, Pacitic Grove, Calif. (1-p) Fine sets from Greenland, Iceland, Arctic: America, also Antarctic. Will exchange European for North American sets. H. BOOTH, 8 Cranbury Road. Fulham, England, -p Have some personally collected finely pre- pared sets of eggs from the Farallone Islands- a exchange. Satisfaction guaranteed. : CARRIGER, 5185 Trask Ave., Oakland, Cait ( 1-p) I have a few good sets to exchange. Want 334, 334a, 337a, 337d, 340, 344. (B51) 352a, 356, 360c. 361 and many others. AVID HE. BROWN, Room No. 11, Federal Bldg., Tacoma, Wash... (1 p) FOR SALE -700 egg trays, made with white paper all 2zes andin good condition. I wilk also exchange for sets of eggs for others new to my collection. I have also many maga- zines for exchange. C. M. CASE, 7 Holcomb: St.. Hartford. Conn. EXCHANGE..--I have for exchange sets of Woodcock, Wilson’s Snipe, Upland Plover and afew rare Warblers. I want choice sets of Falcons. shore-birds and Warblers. G. A. ABBOTT, 9145 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, es (1-p WANTED.—The following eggs in A 1 sets:. 186, 196. 215. 224, 249, 277, 277a, 291, 298, 299. 304,. 308b. 310, 310b. 328, 347a, 377a, 432, 435, 463, 644,. 647. 660, 675a. 685. Can ofier good exchange in: A lsets. G. B. BENNERS, Ambler, Mont-- gomery Co., Pa. (1 -P)' EXCHANGE.—51, 59, 64, 202, 313, 364, a1: 385d, 477, 488, 528, 587, 637, 639, 674, 681, "719d, 76la. I want all Sandpipers 270, 272, 309, pe 330, 332, 370, 371, 398. 399, 400, 401, 446. 451 and. oe R. P. SHARPLES, West Chester a EXCHANGE.—A. O. U. Nos. 114.1, 2-3; 122, 5-4; 194, 2-3, 2-4; 394a, 1-3; 430, N-2; 498e, 2-3; 5738, N-3, N-4; 591. la, 1-2: 607, N2- 3; 633a, 'N-4: 741b, N2-6, N-5; first class, with data. Wanted first class sets with data; no nests. G. K, ae YDER, 142 W. Jefferson St., Los ee: al (i-p THE OOLOGIST. Vou. XXX. No. 12. ALBION, N. Y. Dec. 15, 19138. WHOLE No. 317 Owned and Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N.Y., and Lacon, Ill. 1913 and 1914 Anno Domini 1913 is behind us. The year has been prolific in good bird news. The Federal Game Protection Act has become a law, much to the delight of all true lovers of nature. This is the chief stride forward made in bird protection in the past year. Muck has been added to our knowledge of Ornithology during the past twelve months. Species whose nidification has hee unknown, have revealed their nesting treasures and secrets. Interest in our favorite study was never at a higher pitch than at this time. All has not been of pleasure to the bird men. Sorrow, misfortune and death have stalked ruthlessly amongst us. Some of our leaders, beloved and revered, are no more. The process of consoe- lidation cf the smaller with a few of the very large collections continues. All this leaves a most alluring opening for the beginner with a real nature lover’s desire to learn and to do. THE OOLOGIST for 1914 will be conducted along the lines of the past. We have, with the aid of its friends, made it better than it was. We will make it better than it is. To this end we crave the aid of all its friends. The end of the year is a good time to pay up subscription, and this is a good time to send THE OOLOGIST to some friend as a Christmas present. The Hditor. 286 THE OOLOGIST Fred B. Spaulding THE OOLOGIST 287 Fred Spaulding. Mr. F. B. Spaulding of Lancaster, N. ‘H., died October 22d. What this means to me and to many other of his friends, the heart has not power to express. To have known Mr. Spaulding, long and intimately was an honor. Viewing his character from every standpoint, it may well be said that he was one of the noblest works of God. My acquaintance with him dates back to 1901, and from our first meet- ing I have prized him as a friend and as aman. Calm, deliberate, unpreten- tious, intelligent, accurate, loyal and true, with a heart that knew no limits in love and sympathy, and a nature that knew no limits in kindness and hospitality. In him a sterling man has gone to his rest and the places that knew him will miss him for all time. I believe Mr. Spaulding never recov- ered from the loss of his little daugh- ter Helen, in August, 1910. She was a remarkably lovely child whom I knew and loved from the time she was four years old. At the age of seven she developed a disease of the heart, from which she died six years later. The anxiety and untiring effort during this period of time to save her life was worthy of success, but it was not to be so, and the blow which finally fell did much to shatter Mr. Spaulding’s hold on life. The last letter, which I received from him, only a month or two ago, related tears in his words as he spoke of his lonesomeness in the woods, on collecting trips, “now that the sweet little face that always greet- ed me on my return, to ask- what new eggs I had fennd for myself and what new flowers I had found for her, was no more’—a wail from the depths of a wounded soul—heart-yearns that only death can calm. Mr. Spaulding was born in Lancast- er, about thirty-eight years ago and has been all his life an enthusiastic student of Ornithology, and he has done valuable work in a most prolific locality, that has scarcely been touch- ed by any one else—the White Moun- tain region. Energetic, tireless and observant, never jumping at conclusions, the ac- curacy of his records has never been questioned. The variety of Warblers, which he found breeding in his local- ity, is most remarkable, and the state of New Hampshire is indebted to him for many of its rarest records. Among a wide circle of friends and corres- pondents, particularly in Oology, Mr. Spaulding will be missed, possibly more than any other, who might have been removed from the sphere of use- fulness in that field. John Lewis Child. October 25, 1913. i eg ee ee Two Months in the Everglades. PART te By Oscar E. Barnard. The Spring of 1911 saw the fulfill- ment of a trip I had long planned for and I was able to spend part of Febru- ary, all of March and part of April in this wonderful ‘“‘Naturalist’s Paradise.” To treat the subject right I will divide it into two parts, first the one describ- ing the water trip, the second the land trip. T left Fort Myers one evening on the “Wanderer,” a cabin launch with my canoe behind. The trip up the Caloos- ahatchie River is one of the finest to be had any where. The river is very crooked, one is always being surprised at the natural scenery, it flows be- tween high banks and for several miles flows through a settled country and some of the finest groves of citrus fruit to be found any where are along its banks. The vegetation is largely hammocks of the beautiful Cabbage Palmetto, Pine and Oak. Very few 288 THE OOLOGIST Coffee Mill Hammock, a Famous Camping Place —Photo by O. HE. Baynard Lirds were seen excepting Kingfishes and Water Turkeys until we passed Fort Thompson the end of the River, and the beginning of a 40 mile canal running through the fiooded marshes and Lake Flirt. Bonnet Lake and Lake Aicopogee and then into Lake Okeechobee. After leaving Fort Thompson large flocks of White Ivis, all the Herons and Egrets, Gallinules, Coots, Bitterns, Blackbirds were to be seen at all times until we reached Lake Okeechobee. Sanhill Cranes were heard now for the first time trumpeting in the adjacent marshes and occasionally a bunch of a dozen or more would rise in the air with a great noise and go sailing off, a very shy bird this, but one of the most in- teresting to study. While passing through Lake Flirt i saw my firsi Swallow Tailed Kites for the trip. Four of these most handsome and graceful ‘“Forked-Tailed Fish-Hawks,” (their local name here) kept sailing over our boat for several hours and it is beyond me to describe their won- derful and graceful antics in the air. I saw them catching wasps on the wing. These birds are becoming scar- cer yearly and it wont be long before they are in the missing column. I have heard of one licensed Hog com- ing down here earlier in the Winter and collecting 22 of these fine birds for scientific (Spare the word) purposes. However he will never get another license to collect in Florida as we have the “dope” on him now. After crossing Lake Chicapogee we entered a canal leading to Lake Okee- chobee and now we could see the real saw grass, as far as the eye could see, nothing but vast sea of saw grass resembling in color a half ripened wheat field waving in the wind. This is murderous grass alright and true to its name and to penetrate in any distance requires grit, it is from ankle THE OOLOGIST 289 deep in mud and water to passed one’s armpits and snakes, snakes, every- where, and the nasty Cotton Mouth Moccasin at that. After a few excur- sions into it I would pass it up for anything but the mysteries of a Cary Bittern or Everglade Kite’s nest. The saw grass abounds in snakes, frogs, frogs and aligators and is the feeding grounds of Ibis, Herons, and in fact all birds of this character, which con- gregate here by the thousands. The canal enters Lake Okeechobee by a large flat topped cypress ‘the lone sentinel of the Lake” and camp- ing here for the night I experienced the first real trouble. This is, I guess, mosquito factory for the world and to cook in a closed cabin was an almost impossibility and I took to my mos- quito bar at once. This was invari- ably the case at night during my whole trip and on three occasions during the day I had to seek the shelter of the net. Lake Okeechobee is a wonderful body of water, 70 miles long by about 59 wide, it looks like a real Ocean and in the canoe, I was several times out of sight of land. I left the launch here and taking the canoe I struck out on a trip by myself for exploring the lake and everglades. I pushed up every canal, river, creek, slough, bay or ditch around the Lake, penetrating south into the sawgrass as far as pos- sible and in all covered about 300 miles in this way. On one occasion was eight days without seeing a white man. It was lonely alright but being all new to me, never noticed the lack of human company for did I not have the better company of Nature’s chil- dren? Birds were everywhere feed- ing and flying, very few were nesting at this time but saw migrants on their way north. Next to snakes in abund- ance were the frogs and to. them I am indebted for most of my fresh THE OOLOGIST 290 puvudeg Oo Aq 0}04q— ajyo,eysoojeg 9y} UO adRj}q Buidweg ouy THE OOLOGIST 291 meat. Suitable camping places are hard to find in this country and many nights had to bunk down in the bot- tom of my canoe on my blankets. Here under the net I passed the long hours of the night and they were long, believe me. Would have to eat before dark on account of “Skeets” and I would pass the time before becoming sleepy playing my harmonica and lis- tening to the eternal song of the “Skeet” and the never ending “glug- glug-glug” (frog talk for O-you Kid) very often changed to a cry of distress and help as some wily old Moccasin would make a meal off him. Then for a few seconds there would be quiet, then the frog chorus would resume. About 8:30 one night I arrived at a small camping place on a canal bank on edge of Lake, I should of stopped earlier but wanted to make a camp where I could do a little cooking as grub out of cans, and crackers were beginning to become too much like “monkey food.’ I carried no tent as was traveling light, so put down my poncho on ground, spread blankets on it and hung net over them, then an- other poncho over net to keep off the heavy dews and fogs, getting inside and tucking net under blanket I was ready to sleep. This was the regular way I camped on this trip. Just as day was beginning to show signs of breaking I was awakened by a violent movement of the net, thinking it was only a raccoon, of which I usually had plenty as nightly visitors, I called out and rolled over. The net kept moving so I knew it was no coon and looking sharply I saw a hugh Moccassin was outside nosing the net and evidently trying to get inside. I slipped out the cpposite side and soon put an end to his fun with a stick and killed two others equally as large that had just crawled out of the saw grass. There was a well worn path around the net showing the Moccasin had trailed around the net a long time. When broad daylight had again wak- ened me, I came out and saw four more large Moccasins on the camping ground, making seven in all killed there. I camped one night with a fish- erman and as the gators had been mo- lesting his nets and lines, he suggest- ed a gator hunt for the night. I put a Bulls Eye Lamp on my head and seated in bow of his boat he noiseless- ly paddled me around the winding creek in the Everglades. It was weird and then some, the rays of the lamp catching the eyes of Coon and a few Wild Cats, besides the eyes of gators, often having to break away through the ever hanging moss, and hearing large snakes slipping off logs and once an ottor slid into the dark water of the creek. The absolute quiet neces- sary to hunt the gators made the dark- ness more intense. Once we were nearly startled out of our senses by a Barred Owl right over our heads let- ting loose his weird ‘‘Whoo-Whoo- Whoo-Whoo-ah”. After several hours we succeeded in killing five gators. Ospreys were very abundant around the Lake and Eagles very scarce, even in Hagle Bay saw not a single one. Hence its name? Had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful Black Necked Stilt, saw seven in one bunch mating and was sorry was too early for nests, same way with Everglade Kites, found them beginning to build in the saw grass. Found one rookery of over 400 pairs of Florida Corwarants with new- ly hatched young late in March, while 10 miles further along there were two small rookeries that had hatched off in December. One cypress had 32 rests in, another 55 and the fishermen had named the nearest camp “Nigger Duck’. This is the local name here for the Camorants and is a fitting one as they are hatched out black and THE OOLOGIST 292 preudeg “@ °O Aq 0,04q— 8149}eYSOO|eD 94} UO yUuIod snowes, e—puag edoy 293 THE OOLOGIST a pieudkeg "q ‘°O Aq 0104q— UdsAPDH B4eUS—=sddBHodod!IH, 2y4e7 a eee ee” ee ee — tg rm penne e - ae 294 never recover from it. Boat Tailed Grackles were nesting and over 600 nests were counted in less than one-fourth mile in saw grass along an old abandoned canal, all of which contained three eggs. Here in this old canal choked with water let- tuce I had another seance with the snakes, every dip of the paddle brought one of the wriggling monsters out and one landed in the canoe but started something he could not finish, as his tanned hide on my wall will tes- tify. It was about this time I had a mix-up with a steamer carrying sup- plies to the dredges. We met in a narrow crooked canal and I was wash- ed bodily out of the canal, canoe and all, into the saw grass, losing over- poard a large box of nearly all of my dry plates and what sets I had collect- ed, into over 20 feet of swiftly run- ning water. It was hard to see all my photographic work go after the hard time I had in getting it. However, the Captain of the steamer heard a few “new ones” beside my usual stock on hand before he got away. I was lucky to get away alive under the circum- stances, I suppose. March 24 and 25 will long be remem- bered days to me. I was in one of those severe galls on the lake that sometimes sweep across this part of the world. I had chartered a small launch to carry me across the lake to a camp of a guide who was to go on the Prairie with me. Having the canoe in tow we came out of the creek and onto Okeechobee where the waves were piling up 10 to 15 feet high and wind was blowing a gale. After a few minutes run we decided it was too rough to cross and so head- ed in for harbor in Hagle Bay. This we nhiade after two hours of the wildest riding I ever experienced. We drop- ped anchor in the bay but lost it right now, and the wind then blew us up in- THE OOLOGIST to the saw grass and here we stayed, as our old-styled propellor would not work on the grass and weeds. Two days and nights we stayed here until the gale abated somewhat. We had plenty of rations to cook but no land to get on to build a fire. A few cans of sardines and Uneeda Biscuits on board and we sure lived high on them. We would change our menu from Uneedas and lake water for breakfast, to water and Uneedas for dinner and plain Uneedas for supper. Uneedas are good, no doubt of it, but very slow in filling up. IT recall the supper of the second night, sitting with one arm around a stan- chion to keep from being blown away eating Uneedas and drinking water, the ‘Cracker’ owner of the launch spoke up, “Say, Professor, how many of these d—— crackers does it take to fill a man up, no how.” We were each in the middle of our fourth package then. Sleeping on a 12 inch seat has its disadvantages also, when one has to keep an arm around a stanchion to stay in the boat, and there might be harder beds than a board, but I never slept on them. However, as is usual in such cases, the wind died down the next day and by nightfall we arrived at the guide’s camp in time for supper. As luck would have it, he had a part ot four ducks and two squirrels stew- ed with potatoes and remarked that for men who had been dining so freely on Uneeda biscuits, “we could sure eat some.” (To be continued.) 2) Books Received. Game Laws For 1913—A summary of the provisions relating to seasons, export, sale, limits and licenses, by T. S. Palmer, W. F. Bancroft and Frank L. Hrnshaw. This bulletin of 59 pages, is a com- prehensive review of the subject 295 pavudeg “ °O Aq OJ0YG— sseuB mes 34} YBnouy} jeues ‘sadoyosay%O 9y4e7 THE OOLOGIST THE OOLOGIST 296 pavudvg ‘a ‘O Aq ojoYG— asdoysse%7O eye 7 pe) Jeulzuag suOF SUL THE OOLOGIST treated. It is to be hoped that the laws with reference to the protection of game will be rigidly and impartial- ly enforced and this summary of the laws on these subjects is issued for the purpose of enlightening all those who desire to know what the law is. North American Fauna, No. 35—Life Zones and Crop Zones of New Mexico, by Vernon Bailey. This Fauna contains 100 pages, is well illustrated, and has an addenda of bibliography relating to the sub- jects of the bulletin. Much valuable and desirable information is included within its pages, including lists of birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and the like which are to be found within the territory covered. The Defenseless Child, Dayton Curtis. Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, Ill. 1912. This small book is an appeal for the helpless and homeless little ones, and touches the tender chords of any and all who peruse its pages, setting forth as it does, the work of caring for the homeless children in attractive well chosen sentences. Catalogue of a Collection of Books on Ornithology in the Library of John E. Thayer. Compiled by Evelyn Thayer and Virginia Keyes, privately printed, Boston, 1913. This is a well arranged, beautifully by Josie bound and splendidly printed cata- . logue of the wonderful collection of books relating to the subject of birds that have been gathered together by Honorable John E. Thayer, than whom no better known ornithologist and collector exists on the North Ameri- can continent. The catalogue is arranged alphabet- ically under the names of the authors, contains 187 pages, and within its cov- ers will be found nearly all of the works relating to North American or- nithology, as well as many very rare 297 titles. It is especially rich in Audu- bonia, is a monument to Mr. Thayer and a credit to the compilers, as well as a pleasure to those who are favored with a copy. The Birds of Virginia, by Harold H. Bailey. J. P. Bell Company, pub- lishers, Lynchburg, Va., 19138; with 14 full page colored plates, one map and 108 half-tones taken from nature. This monumental work, treating of 185 species and sub-species of birds that are known to breed within the state of Virginia, is the result of years and years of laborious field work and close library study. It is dedicated to the father of the author, and without doubt, will remain for many years the standard work upon the subject of the breeding birds of Virginia. It is especially rich in half tones and a perusal of its pages will delight the lover of birds as well as store his mind with much that we have no doubt is new. This at least was the result of our investigation. The arrangement of the species is that of the A. O. U. list, giving the A. O. U. number, the scientific name and the common name of each variety in that order, following this with the description of the range and then a popularly written description of the breeding habits of the species. Interpolated throughout the work are numerous species treated under the head of “Hypothetical,” and under these headings are placed all of those species which are not absolutely and authentically known to breed within the state. The volume contains 362 pages, is nicely bound and will be a valued addition to the library of any scientific ornithologist or amateur bird lover. 298 Preliminary List of Water Birds of the Middle Delaware Valley. A Correction. In the September, 1912, OOLOGIST, I published a paper, “Preliminary List of Water Birds in the Middle Delaware Valley,” which was severly criticized in the Auk, 1913, p. 139; and Cassinia, 1913, p. 64. These criticisms seem to call for a reply and as Mr. Barnes has asked me to explain what there is in them it is necessary for me to do so. The chief faults of my article, ac- cording to the critic, appears to be its lack of originality and the enumera- tion of some species of which there are no published records, but as I wrote the paper without any pretention to originality and as it is only a prelim- inary list I really cannot see where J have erred in enumerating the doubt- ful occurrence of these species, par- ticularly in view of the fact that full data upon these misleading? records were to be given in the final report. My paper, moreover, was purposely written to excite the professional or- nithologists to adverse criticism—and it seems to have accomplished its pur- pose! But it may not be as mislead- ing as they appear to think or believe. Mr. Whitmer Stone has written me upon this subject and I present here- with a list of most of the species which are supposed never to have occurred in this region or are of exceedingly rarity, as accidental stragglers, which struck Mr. Stone as open to criticism. ‘The quotations are his: Kittiwake—“‘No published evidence as far as I know.” Franklin’s Gull—‘Purely accidental. No record but mine in the Auk, 1912.” Gull-billed Tern—“I know of only one not very satisfactory record.” Royal Tern—‘No record.” Foster’s Tern—Purely surmise, as you say, ‘There is no evidence’.” Least Tern—‘‘No evidence that it THE OOLOGIST was anything but an extremely rare straggler.” Roseate Tern—‘‘No evidence.” Greater Shearwater—‘No record.” Strom Petrel—“One record which is probably erroneous as has been point- ed out.” Brown Pelican—‘No record.” Scotters—‘Pure guess work for two at least.” - White-franted Goose—“Only one rec- ord.” Roseate Spoonbill—‘“No record.” White Ibis—‘‘No record.” Buff-breasted Sandpiper—‘No rec- ord.” With several exceptions, there are no authentic records of the occurrence of most of the foregoing species in the Middle Delaware Valley, but that does not indicate that they have never oc- curred or been taken here because their capture or observance were never recorded. - In conclusion I will again assert that what I shall have to say in re- gard to the unfortunateness and mis- leadings of my paper apropos my lack of annotations, etc., will be dealt fully with in my final report upon the “Water Birds of the Middle Delaware Valley.” Richard F. Miller. Philadelphia, Pa. —___4 o—_______—_ Notes on the Red-cockaded Woodpeck- er From Texas. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is an extremely rare resident of pine woods near Houston, Texas, and in all my roamings about Harris county in search of interesting bird nests since moving to Houston in 1909, I never found a nest of this bird until one day in May, 1912. The birds had occasionally been seen in a certain tract of pine woods bordering Buffalo Bayou west of Hous- ton, so on May 25, I gathered my out- THE OOLOGIST fit together and struck out for that locality. A brisk. walk brought me to the locality about eleven o’clock, for it was a good eight miles from town, and I begun my search. One of the birds was seen on a tall dead pine over a pigsty on the edge of this tract, but a careful search failed to show a likely looking hole in any of the trees, so I crossed over on the north side of the stream, and began searching carefully among the dead pine stumps. I had hardly gone a hun- dred yards before I spied another Red- cockaded Woodpecker on a tall dead pine in a small clearing, and just above the bird a likely looking hole. With difficulty I reached the base of the tree, for a dense thicket covered the clearing and it was almost impos- sible to pass through on account of the thorns on the Cherokee rose and blackberry vines. Strapping on my climbers I was soon at the cavity, twenty-one feet from the ground, and by removing the front I found the nest contained two well-incubated eggs, nest stained and laid on a small quantity of pithy pine chips. The bird was very shy while I was at the nest and stayed a consid- erable distance, now and then utter- ing their short, shrill, and very clear note. The birds are extremely active in their movements and very difficult to observe for the reason that they al- ways keep the tree trunk between themselves and the observer, as well as keeping to the tops of the tallest trees. The two eggs taken from the nest 87 x 69 and .91 x69 inches, and are very glos- mentioned above, measure: sy. Finlay Simmons. Houston, Texas. 299 The Henslow’s Sparrow A Summer Resident in Central Pennsylvania. (Passerherbulus h. henslowi.) During early May, 1913, Mr. R. C. Harlow and I made a visit to a moun- tain valley on the northern border of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. One morning as we tramped along a road bordering a low, boggy pasture field, Mr. Harlow discovered the pres- ence of a Henslow’s Sparrow as it ut- tered its peculiar notes while perched on a tall weed. May 23d, we returned to this field and made a search for the nest. The Sparrows were there and flitted about in the grass, but were unable to find their nest. On the evening of the day follow- ing we again went to this field and, with long switches, beat over the clumps of grass quite thoroughly. Just about dusk I flushed one of the Sparrows from a tuft of grass, but failed to see a nest. However, I hid myself nearby and saw the bird re- turn. Upon my hurrying up to the spot she flittered from the nest and secluded herself in the grass near at hand. The nest held five slightly incubat- ed eggs and was composed of soft blades of swamp grass, being lined with fine grass stems. It was placed on a deep clump of grass and was slightly arched over. This bordered on a slight, damp depression in the ground, and was about thirty feet above a small swamp. One week later Mr. David E. Har- rower and I visited this valley and I was fortunate enough to locate a sec- ond pair of these sparrows. They were in a low, wet field about one- half mile from the preceding field. After we had spent several hours in careful search for the nest Mr. Har- rower was so fortunate as to locate a second one. On this day, which was 300 May 30, the nest held but a single egg. Five days later we returned and flushed the female bird from the nest of four eggs. This nest was not so well concealed as nest number one; it was built in a depression beside a tuft of grass and was near several wet places. The nest was, as in the first case, composed of soft grass blades. The finding of this second nest caused me to search for another pair of birds. On June 4, I returned to field number one. Farther down this field I found another pair of Sparrows. They frequented the very center of a small swamp that contained many large tufts of swamp grass. With a switch I carefully worked over the whole area. Finally I flushed the Sparrow from her nest and found that it held four quite young birds. The nest was built in the center of a large clump of grass which grew beside several wet places. The construction of this nest resembled that of the others. The two sets of eggs were very much alike in ground color which is a faint greenish-white. The first set Was more heavily marked in the form of wreaths about the larger ends of the specimens. The set of four con- tained the markings on all parts of the shell. These eggs remind me of large specimens from the field Spar- rows. To my knowledge these are the only records of the MHenslow’s Sparrow nesting in Pennsylvania. S. S. Dickey. Waynesburg, Pa. AN Rc oe ly es en i See Notes. We have recently come into posses- sion of the larger portion of a collec- tion of eggs made by Lieutenant F. B. Eastman of the U. S. Army at differ- ent places where he has been station- ed, and have just settled up with him. THE OOLOGIST lt is a pleasure to quote, for the bene- fit of our readers, a clause in the let- ter which we sent him at the time of the final settlement which is as fol- lows: “T have at last got your specimens unpacked and proved up with data, and I want to say to you that they are the most satisfactory lot of speci- mens as a lot that I have received in many a long day.’” Among the rarities included in this collection, is a full series of beautiful sets of the Semi-palmated Sandpiper, and many others equally as rare, though none showing a more beautiful variation in series. We notice by the Associated Press dispatches that Dr. Ora W. Knight of Bangor, Maine, has recently bequeath- ed to the United States National Museum (Smithsonian) his entire col- lection of Ornithological, Oological, and Hntomological specimens. Some time ago the Doctor sent us a list of the eggs contained in this collection which at the time impressed us as be- ing one of rare value. * * * Finlay Simmons of Houston, Texas, has contracted with the Houston Post, a leading daily of that city, to supply them a weekly article on the subject of birds of that locality, and it is a pleasure to note the success he is hav- ing along these lines. The articles first appear in the Sunday Post and later in the Farm and Fireside, reach- ing approximately 80,000 readers ulti- mately. A vast amount of good can be done by work of this kind, and we should be glad to see it taken up by other competent ornithologists in different parts of the country. THE OOLOGIST vn Bird Books Bonaparte’e List of Bus of Europe - $ .50 Sr_-th’s The Canary, 12 colored plates, 1870 - 1.50 Tegetmeier’s The Hosiae Pigeon, Eibgs:, 1871: 2 - Canary Birds, A Manual for eu Keepers, Illus. - - 1.0C Bird Neighbors, School canons colored plates, 1899 - - Life of Andubon, edited by his widow; Portrait, 1869 - 1.50 A Book of Wild Things. Colored plates of Birds by ap are artists - 1.00 Autograph letters of John Burroughs and other naturalists; also engraved portraits. State House Book Shop 221 Sth St. Philadelphia, Pa. THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology Published Bi-monthly by the Coop2r Ornithological Club of California Edited by J. Grinnell and Harry S. Swarth ““The Condor’’ is strictly scientific but edited in such a way that a be- ginner of ‘‘Bird Study”’’ can easily un- derstand it. The articles in ‘‘The Condor’’ are written by the leading Ornithologists of the United States and are illustrated by the highest quality of half tones. Our subscription rates are $1.50 per year in the United States and $1.76 in a Foreign coun- try. Sample Copy 30c. Address W. LEE CHAMBERS, Bus. Manager, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Cal. BENJAMIN HOAG STEPHENTOWN,N Y. Oologists Tools and Supplies, Books and Magazines of every description. Send for lists. Write your special wants for quotations by letter. Ican save you money. Cut the Lining Egg Drills: 4 selected sizes for $1.00. If not the best you ever used re- turn and get your money. Regular Egg Drills: No.0, 20c; No. 1, ate: No, 2, 25c: No. 3, 35c; No. 4, "45¢; No. 5, 50¢ Blowpipes: AJ] best nickle. No.1, 40c; No. 2. 30c; No. 3, 20c. Embryo Hooks: Nickle plated, 25c. Embryo Scissors: No, 2, best quality straight or curved, 50c. Finest quality straight, $1.00; curved, $1.25. Best Steel Climbers: With strap, $2.75; with- out, $1.90. Books and Magazines: Let me quote and send list. I can supply anything in print, and always have old out of print books and back vol mes of magazines. All prices prepaid BIRD-LORE FOR CHRISTMAS Tell us to whom you wish us: to send Bird-Lore for you dur- ing 1914, and we will forward a Christmas Card, giving your name as donor, and afree copy of the 100-page Christmas num- ber of Bird-Lore, containing three colored plates and many half-tones. They will go in time to be received, with your greetings, on Christmas Day, and Bird-Lore will follow, as published, throughout the year. A valuable present, easily made, whether to a friend or to your- self. $1.00 a Year For Christmas: Five Subscriptions for $4.00, Three Subscriptions for $2.50 BIRD-LORE, Harrisburg, Pa. VIll THE OOLOGIST 1914 The Oologist will improve with the New ear. It has improved with each New Year under the present management. The friends of The Oologist have been loyal in the past and they wiil continue so in the future. Will you be one of us in the futurer We hope so and you will never regret it, and neither will we. 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