f^'.s

FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

The Young Oologist.

Volume II,

>>r. >f^ff. A^//

ALBIOX. N. Y.:
FRANK H. LATTIK. Publisher.

1885.

Index to Volunie II.

Page.

Audubon's Birds of America
Bartram's Gardens

iiittern, American

Bluebird Eggs, White

Brave Bird

" Brewer "

Buzzard, Turkey f . .

California, Notes from

Chickadee, Familiarity of

Chuck- wills-widow .-

Collecting on Snipe Creek

Contest, a Novel

Correspondence 15,

Crossbill, Red or American

Crow, An Albino

Common 23,

Cuckoo, Yellow-billed 20,

" Notes on

Curlew, Hudsonian

Data Blanks

43
4
34
15
16
-5
46

47
43
29

7
24

Page.

Destruction of Birds for Millinery Purposes 27

Diver, Red-throated 17

Dove, Ground 5

" Mourning 24, 3g

Eagle, Bald 5

Egg Collection, Valuable ^ 29

Encouragement vs. Climbers 20

Express Money Orders 37

Finch, Harris 40

*' Seaside 4

Flicker 40

Florida Trip, Pleasures of 40

Flycatcher, Acadian . . 20

Frog, Wood 47

Georgia, Notes from 16

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 17

Grakle, Boat-tailed ... 4

Grosbeak, Cardinal 4

*' Rose-breasted 47

Hawk, Broad-winged 19, 20

THE OOLOGIST.

Hawk, Red-tail

** Western.Red-tail

Hawks' Reunion

Heron, Great Blue

' ' Snowy

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 21

Hummingbirds - . -

Identification

Illinois, Notes from

Interesting Happenings .22,

Jay, California

Jottings ...12

Kansas, Notes from 2

Kingbirds Using Nests of Other Birds.

Kite, Swallow-tailed

Lark, Horned

'' Loony "-looking Bird

Martin, Home of Sand

Massachusetts, Notes from

Minnesota, Notes from

Nebraska, Notes from

New Brunswick, Notes from. .

New Jersey, Notes from ...

Nest Full of Eggs

Nesting Sites, Queer

Notes, Interesting

Nuthatch, Pigmy

White-bellied

Oriole, Orchard 20

Owl, Barn

" Burrowing

" Great Horned 101 23

" Large

" Western Great Horned

Owls. Hard Time for

Partridge, Am.. Not a Quail

Pennsylvania. Notes from 16

Philadelphia Notes from .

Plucky Hen

Page.

35

Page.

Preservative Preparation 21

Quail ig

Queries Answered 21

Rail, Yellow 47

Redbird, Summer 4

Redhead -2

Rhode Island Jottings 23

Robins , 28, 42, 44

Roughleg, Ferruginous..

Sandpiper, Spotted

Scieniific Names

Shelter Nland Notes from

Skimmer, Black

South Carolina, Notes from

Sparrows, English 16, iq, 22, 28, 31, 42,

Sparrows, Fox

Swallow, Ready-made Burrows for the Bank . . .

Swallow, Rough-winged

Swallows, Submersion of . . . .

Tern , Forester's 8

Texas, Newsy Letter from 23

They. Had Reason 45

Thrasher, California 30

Thrush, Larpe-biJled Water , . 20

Titmouse, Tufted 3

Toucan 41

Vulture, Black 5

Wanted, An Explanation 44

Warbler, Golden-winged 31

Winter Birds, Notes on 33

Wisconsin, Notes from 17, 18, 38, 39

Wren, Can»lina 3

Wren, Rock 30

Wrens on the War-path 31

Explanatory: — Volume 11 of Young Oologist
consisted of the two issues indexed above. Subse-
quent issues were known as The Oulogist, the first
issue of which was published as Vol. III., No. i.

44

y A- V. V- \.A-^\- V- \- \. V- V \. V \. V- \- V- .^.- V \. \- \- \- \. \. \- \. V. \- \ ■^■ \- \. \--TT\^(: 1^

:r\r\7v^TYT;TT^7vipt^ V »,. y y \. v>>- \. \. v \. \. v- \. ■v- v \- \. \- \. v y- vttt^ \ .r

XXX

Vol. II. No. I. ALBION, N. Y., MAY, 1885. ]

Published Monthly.
$i.oo Per Year.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

In answering advertisements,
mention The Youno Oologist.

always

Birds Egfgs, Instruments, Books,
Coins, Curios, Shells. Etc. Special
Prices until June ist Send Stamp
for Lists. S. A. HOWES.

Battle Creek, Mich.

are acknowledgsd by all to be the finest in the world.
Beautiful sprigs of moss inside the hard transparent
stones. These unique and elegant gems are highly
prized fur charms, jewelry settings, cabinets and gifts
to friends. Fifty cents each my mail. Postage stamps
accepted, but no postal cards. G. G. Mead,

Rawlins, Wyoming.

^^"To every purchaser of three moss agates, at 50

cents each, I will Send The lo'iva Teacher one year.

For Sale or Exchange-

A fine copper covered Oologisls collecting box, with
partitions for instruments, data blanks, eggs, and
luncheon, and with tray for books, &c., fastened by a
hook, and with slots for straps. For the best cash
offer, or exchange in N. A Birds Eggs.

J. R. CURTIS, Painted Post. N. Y.

At Bottom Prices.

Minerals,
Curiosities.

Corals, Shells, Birds Eggs and General
Price-lists for stamp.

BENNETT & DEAN,
Natural History Dealers.

Cortland, N. Y.

COLLECTORS and parties making exchanges send
for my 25c., 50c.. and $1.00 collections of Florida.
Bahama and West India curiosities Rose Coral 15c.;
Large Bahama Star Fish, 50c. Catalogue and nice
shell 10c. All Post-paid Address,

JOHN B. WHEELER,

East Templeton, Mass

Send 25c. in postal note or silver, and receive a box
of bird hme. This lime will not harden in 3 or 4
days Full directions given with each box. Agents
wanted, write for particulars. Address,

FRANK RASTATTER, Jr.
Rear 644, N. 7th St., Philadelphia, Pa.

OUR BIRDS.

An eight page monthly, devoted to the study of
birds, their nests, and eggs, conducted by Legion I,
Knights of Audubon, and others. It contains a
Correspondent, personal, and exchange department,
together with a large amount of valuable information
for the field collector, and studeni of ornithology.
Until June ist, we will receive subscriptions at 25
cenis, post-paid Advertisers send for rates. We
circulate 2000 each issue.

OUR BIRDS,
75 Appleton St., Holyoke, Mass.

DON'T READ THIS.

Boys, if you want to get a good bargain for your
friends, as well as for yourself, send for one of our
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five per cent commission.

Amateur papers please insert for three months, and
send bill. NIention this paper.

Inter.sational Stamp Co.,
No. 9 Central St., West Gardner. Mass.

PHONETIC SHORTHAND, ^t'^^t^.

Send stamp for specimen pages, &c. W W. (3sgoodbv,

s.^Roc^Sierltt' OSGOODBY'S METHOD.

HOT SPRINGS.

All kinds of Mineral specimens found in this lo-
cality, securely packed and sent at the ver>' lowest
prices. Crj'siahzed Quartz, Loadstone, Wavellite
and deposits from the hot water are my specialties.
Send ten Cents and two letter stamps for sample of
Quartz or Loadstone.

R. C. ALLEN.
P. O. Box 475, Hot Springs, Ark.

R

TjDppp T\ Agents. Novelty Dealers and Col-
UDDEiR 1/ lectors, make Big Pay selling our

^TAMA goods. Circulars and terms FREE.

OlnlU ,_^j Page Catalogue maikd for 15c.

. J. CONOLLY & CO., Rochester, N. Y.

COINS! STAMPS ! !

My 24 Page Illustrated Catalogue, contain-
ing prices of thousands of Coins, Stamps, Cur-
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Medals, for loc. For sale only by

W. F. GREANY,
827 Brannan St., San Francisco, Cal.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

OOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS, &C,

CLIMBING IRONS.

EGG DRILLS:
No. ] , short handle, 8-100, good for all fresh eggs. $0 10

No. a. " '• 12-100. " " " 12

No. 3, " " 18-100, " " " 15

No. 4, " '• 21-100, " " " 20

No. 0, medium handle, 3. .32 in. burr 20

No. 1, ■' " 4.32 " 25

No. 2, '• " 5.33 •' 35

No. 3, " " 6.32 " 60

No. 4, " " 8.32 " 76

No. 1, long handle, 3.32 in. burr 25

-- - •■ ■ ~~ •■ 35

60

75

100

150

No. 2,

5.32

No. 3,

6 32

No. 4,

8.32

No. 5,

12.32

No. 6,

16.32

No. 7,

of im

35

^ d form, 1-2 inch in
diameter, cut coarse for thick-shelled eggs,
or fine for thin-shelled 1 50

BLOW PIPES: No. 1, br.iss 15

No. 3, nickel-plated 35

EMBRYO HOOKS: No. 1, long handles, blued
steel ; three sizes, line, medium and large,
price each

No. 3, best made, screws into a finely engraved
nickled handle. Handles, each

Hooks (three sizes), each

Handle and hook

Handle, with three hooks (assorted sizes) 75

EMBRYO SCISSORS: No. 1. cheap 25

" " No. 2, extra 50

SYRINGES: Hard rubber, fine, just the thing
for rinsing eggs

CALIPER RULES: For taking the measure-
ments of birds, eggs, etc 35

CALIPER RULES: Ivory, trimmed in nickle, 100

STEEL RULES, 3 in., marked hundredths 45

4 " " " 56

LEAD PENCILS: Soft, for marking eggs 10

DATA BLANKS; Best out, printedon white
paper, black ink, see samples in March
Young Ooiogist, per dozen 3 to 10

Per hundred 15 to 45

Per thousand 1 00 to 3 50

TAXIDERMISTS TWEEZERS 26

OOLOGISTS CEMENT: Per bottle 12

" " Large bottle 25

NATURALISTS CEMENT: Per bottle 25

CLIMBING IRONS : Two styles, per pair,

strapped, ready for use, by express 2 50

THE OOLOGISTS HAND BOOK 25

" " " " cloth bound 50

HAND BOOK OF THE AGASSIZ ASSO-
CIATION 54

RIDGEWAY'S NOMENCLATURE 35

MANTON'S TAXIDERMY WITHOUT A

TEACHER 50

DAVIE'S EGG CHECK LIST OF N. A.
BIRDS. The most valuable work ever
published for the ooiogist, it gives color,
measurements, &c., of the eggs of every
species, as far as known, in N. A 60

INGERSOLL'S BIRDS'-NESTING 125

LANGILLE'S OUR BIRDS IN THEIR

HAUNTS 3 00

SAMUELS' OUR NORTHERN AND

EASTERN BIRDS 5 00

COUES' KEY TO N. A. BIRDS 10 00

Either of the above styles sent by express, strapped
read\' for use, upon receipt of $2.50.
■ ■ FRANK H. LATTIN.

Albion, N. Y.

BIRD SKINS.

Don't pay dealers prices, but buy
directly from the collector.

I have made arrangements to sell
the following collections of skins,
made up first class, with full data of
collection, at the following rates :
Collection of lo species - $i-S°
Collection of 25 species - - 4.50
Collection of 50 species - 10.00
Collection of 100 species - 35.00

A trial order will convince you that
I will do just what I say. The
kindred study of Oology cannot be
properly studied without the bird
skins. Remit by registered letter,
and deduct same from order. Now
is the time to start a collection.

W. W. WORTHINGTON.
Box 44. Shelter Island, New York.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

— :1885:— :1885:—

THE OOLOGIST'S HAND-BOOK,

Lattizi's Catalogue and Price-List

of North American Birds' Eggs and Oological Supplies

IS NOW READY FOR DELIVERY.

Neither time nor expense has been spared to make it invaluable to the oologist, whether
amateur or professional. It contains

Eighty-six Pages of Valuable Information.

It gives our res^ular price list of ooiogical specimens and supplies (the most complete ever sent
out by any dealer.) It gives the common and scientific names of all North .\merican birds,
arranged and numbered according to Ridgeway's (the Smithsonian) nomenclature of 1881 ; it
gives the numbers used in Baird's check-list of IS59 and those used in Coues' of i883 ; it gives
the value of the eggs of over 500 species of North American birds, this fact alone making the
catalogue invaluable to collectors as a basis of exchange. It names the various families into
which the birds of North America are divided, and enumerates the birds belonging to each
family. It gives, approximately, the number of eggs in a clutch of every American bird. It
tells how to prepare specimens for cabinet, how to pack them for transportation, with many
other useful hints.

A copy of our new hand-book and catalogue will be sent postpaid to any address for only

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS,

or we can furnish the hand-book bound in cloth aud gilt for 50 cents. A good wide-awake boy
or girl is wanted in every school and college in America to sell this hand-book. Big pay will be
given them for their trouble. Full particulars for stamp.
Address.

FRANK H. LATTIN,

ALBION, Orleans Co., N. V.

JOB PRINTING.

First-class Work

and Ixoiv Prices.

Catalogues, Circulars, Price-lists, Exchange-lists, Dodgers, Note Heads,

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in the best style. Work blocked if desired.

Send copy, or write us just what you want, and get our estimate.
Write for Prices. Address.

P. O. Box 242.

A. L. STEVENS,

Claremont, N. H.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Exchanges and Wants.

Brief special announcements. "Wants," "Ex-
changes," inserted in this department for 25 centti per
25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate
of one-half cent per word. No notice inserted for less
than 25 cents. Notices which are merely indirect
methods of soliciting cash purchasers cannot be ad-
mitted to these columns under any circumstances.
Terms, cash with order.

To Exchange. — A fine collection of Minerals for a
hand-painted scenery. Must be new. Address D.
C. WOODEND. 260 Park St., Denver, Col.

To ExcHANciE. — I have representative Fossils from
the Lower Silurian, Cincinnati Group, Upper Silurian,
Clinton Group, and Trilobites Caiyi'ifne Seitaria,
which I would like to exchange for fine Fossils, Min-
erals and Coins. BRAINERD B. THRESHER,
Dayton, Ohio.

E. W. LAPP, 417 N. 32nd St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 Postage Stamps ; collection
of over 600 tin Tobacco Tags ; $i=..oo worth of Peri-
odicals, such as " Golden Days," "Harper's Young
People," etc', for a Bird's Egg Cabinet, side-blown
Bird's Eggs, in sets, with data, Oological Instruments,
or books for the Oologist. 25 rare Siamps, all differ-
ent, for everj' egg of No. 115, 128, 168, 378b, 388, 494
or 4Q5. Write first.

Over 500 fine Stamps, in a Scott's Cloth-bound
International Stamp-book, for a Cent of 1799, or for
100 different Bird's Eggs — cent preferred. S. CROM-
WELL, Dobbs Ferry. N. Y.

Eggs for Exchange. — A number of desirable
kinds in original sets, with data, including a few of
the Florida Lhnpki}t. Address with li-t.

THOS. H. JACKSON.

West Chester, Pa.

Hard Time Tokens.

I Am I not a woman and a sister, uncirculated, 5u ;
I Am I not a woman and a sister, fine, 35 ; i Am I not
a woman and a sister, good, 25 ; i Loco Foco, very
good, 50; I Plain system, void of Pomp, fair to good,
35 ; 1 Center Market, good, 10 ; Center Market, fair,
5; I Phcenix. very good, 10; i Phceni.x, good, 5 ; 1
Merchant Exchange, fine, 25 ; 1 Merchant Exchange,
very good, 20; i Merchant Exchange, good, 10; t
Merchant Exchange, fair, 5 ; i Merchant Exchange,
Wall St., very good, 20; i Merchant Exchange, Wall
St., good. 15 ; 1 Merchant Exchange, Wall St., fair, ^\
1 Jackson in Safe, uncirculated, 25 ; i Jackson in
Safe, fine, 20 ; i Jackson in Safe, good, 15 ; 1 Jackson
in Safe, fair, 5 ; i Hog running, very good, 15 ; i Hog
running, good, 10; i Sub Treasury on Tortoise,
Executive Ex., fine 20; i Sub Treasury on Tortoise,
Executive Ex., good, 15 ; 1 Sub Treasury' on Tortoise,
Executive Finomering, good, 25; i Ship, seven mil-
lions for defence, good, 10 ; i Ship, seven millions for
defence, fair, 5 ; i Wrecked Ship, with Lightning,
fine, 25 ; i Wrecked Ship, with Lightning, good, 10 ;
I Ship dismantled, fine, 20 ; i Ship dismantled, good,
10 ; I Mint Drap, good, 25 ; 10 Stove Caids, large and
small, 50 ; from good to uncirculated. Postage extra ;
I Nova Constellation, good, 75 ; 3 Virginia etc., fair,
each, 25 ; 2 Massachusetts, fair, 20 ; i Massachusetts,

good, 35;

Fug

good, 25; I Fugio, fair, 15; i

North American Token, fair, 25 ;_ i Woods half-penny,
ver^' good, i^o ; 15 Con. cent, fair to poor, lot 1.50 ; 5
New Jersey els, poor to fair, lot, 75 ; i Feuchtwanger
cent, good, 10 ; \ Feuchtwanger cent, pierced, poor, 5 ;
1 Bucfclin Book, keeping Fray, about scarce, good, 50.
Address, R. R. GAY.

30 Allen St., Rochester, N. V.

OUR SPECIALTY

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We do all kinds of Job Printing, in the latest and
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Printed to order with Neatness and dispatch.
Send us copy, or write us what you want, and get
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West Kendall, N. Y.

MINERAL CURIOSITIES

MANUFACTURED FROM

Minerals of the Rocky Mountains.

The Mineral Horse Shoe.

The shoe is about the size of a common horse's
shoe, the center is lined with satin, and covered on the
outer edges with 20 varieties of minerals, all labelledi
found in Colorado, sent Post-paid on receipt of $1.00

Mineral Collection.

A collection of 20 varieties of minerals and petrifica-
tions, all labelled, sent post-paid on receipt of 50c.

The Mineral Pin Cushion.

The Pin Cushion is a^x 3J4. The top is covered
with satin, the four sides with 20 varieties of
minerals; is very useful as well as ornamental, sent
post-paid on receipt of $i.oo.

Students Collection

of 28 minerals and petrifications, sent post-paid on
receipt of $1.00.

Boys or Anyone.

If you want a nice scarf-pin, made of Colorado's
bright gold-bearing ore, I will send you one post-paid
on receipt of 2sc.

D. C. WOODEND,

260 Park Street,
DENVER, COLORADO.

THE YODNG OOLOGIST.

VoLn.No.l. ALBION, N. Y., MAY, 1885. ]

Published Monthly.
$i.oo Per Year.

Bartram's Gardens.

Never shall I forget 1113' first impressious
on visiting these honored gardens. It was
a glorious autumn afternoon, such a day as
compels one to be satisfied with all the
world. Embarking at Philadelphia, a fif-
teen minutes' ride by rail landed me at the
modest station nearest mj- destination and
a brisk walk of ten minutes brought me to
the sacred ground ; sacred I say advisedly,
because I was confronted at the outset by
a large, rude sign, which warned all per-
sons to trespass at their peril, and some-
thing was also said about prosecution, dogs,
etc. However, I disregarded such trifling
things as these, and kept right on, up a
lane bordered by trees such as no man
would be likely to see again, over a bridge,
and here I knew m3'self to be within the
pale of the law, the clutch of the dogs, and
the gates of Bartram's gardens. They are
now untenanted save by some very fierce
bloodhounds and a watchman. Meeting
this personage I overcame his objections to
my intrusion by a large amount of dijilo-
macy and a small amount of silver.

.John Bartram, the founder, was born in
Darby, Pcnu'a. in 1699, and from a simple
ploughman became, in time, one of the
most distinguished of Botanists. In 1728
he bought at sheriff's sale a piece of ground
on the west side of the Schuylkill, below
the "Lower Ferry" on the Darby road,
and began the building there in 1730. in a
quaint, old-fashioned style of architecture,
a house of hewn stone, which, solid and
enduring in its material, has resisted the
dilapidating hand of Time for over a cen-
tury and a half. On a tablet on the west-
ern end of the house is this inscription :
".John* Ann Bartram, 1731," (the asterisk
being employed, as was the custom of that
period, to designate the male member.)
Forty 3'ears after he engi-aved with his own

hand upon the stone at the back of the
house this couplet :

" 'Tis God alone, Almighty Lord,
The only one by me adored."

John Bartk.\m, 1770.

Both these inscriptions and the house are

ill a good state of preservation to this day.
This is the house which, at a later period,
sheltered Alexander Wilson, the Father of
American Ornithologj', during which time
William Bartram, son of .John, was its
owner. The gardens in the midst of which
the house was erected are seven acres in
extent, and slope to the bank of the river,
and became one of the most attractive
places in the neighborhood of the city.
Trees from every clime were planted, the
rare.st exotics and flowers from the four
quarters of the world were here gathered
as subjects for stud}' and ornamentation.
Here it was, in his study or under some
wide-spreading tree, that Bartram wrote
the first books of travels ever published by
an American. These gardens have had a
very important bearing upon American
Ornithology, for it was here that Bartram
tirst met Wilson, and directed the poor
schoolmaster's inherent love of Nature into
that channel in which he afterwards ac-
quired such well-deserved fame. Here
Wilson spent much of his time, and from
here he gave to the world his delightful
sketches of our birds and descriptions of
his journeyings. He makes frequent allu-
sions in his life work to this spot, and to
his venerable friend, Mr. Bartram. No
admirer of Wilson can remain insensible to
the charm pervading this retired park, a
charm born of association with him and
his works. A short distance from these
gardens stood Wilson's schoolhouse (a cut
of which Coues presents in his New Key),
but alas ! the relentless march of pi'ogress
and industry has long ago removed this
humble monument to the poet naturalist.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

I cannot describe the feelings tliat welled
up into m\' throat and nearly caused the
unbidden tear to come, as I recalled much
that I had read of the struggles of poor
Wilson, with what courage and persistency
he pursued his studies of birds amidst the
most disheartening circumstances. I
thought of how he had enjoyed the shelter
of this primitive house, the shade of these
very trees. How his eye must have de-
lighted in the beautiful landscape, follow-
ing the lazy Schuylkill on its road to the
broad Delaware. What splendid facilities
must have been afforded his mind and
directed his pen in the accomplishment of
his great work by this -veritable Acadia,
God's garden spot. Numberless species of
trees and flowers flourished here, and to
this day, although the place has received
no gardener's attention for many years, are
found evidences of its botanical wealth.
For four hours I wandered about, drinking
in everything, and associating with every
object the writings and experiences of
Wilson. The place has changed sadly of
late, the property having changed owners
several times, until in 1850, ilr. Eastwick.
an American gentleman who had acquired
a vast fortune by Russian contracts, pur-
chased it and erected just to the west of
the Bartram house, and within 200 feet of
it, a magnificent castle of treacherous and
perishable sandstone, A succession of ter
races beautify the slope running from the
house down a gentle incline for a consider
able distance, until washed by the water.s
of an artificial lake, two large couchani
lions of cast bronze guard the head of the
stone stairways leading from the top ter
race down, on both sides. Fiue trees were
planted, conservatories were established
and labyrinths of imported grape vines
now uncared for and occup3'ing a position
to the west and just in front of the house,
attest to its master's love of this culture —
everything betokens the most lavish out-
lay. This castle is now unoccupied, as is
the Bartram house, except by the watch
man's family, and is rapidly falling to
pieces ; in fact everything is in a state ol
wanton neglect and semi-decay. How

strange that this noble pile, whose lofty
tower frowned down, as if in derision, on
its humbler neighbor, the Bartram house,
should be the first to crumble to dust,
while the older house is as firm and intact,
apparently-, as the day it was built. Here
every season innumerable birds build their
nests and lay their eggs, rearing their
young unmolested, owing to watchful and
ever faithful human and brute attendants.
Lucky indeed is the collector whose cabi-
net contains a nest and eggs taken from
within the precincts of this historic enclo-
sure. It will not be long before the entire
place is leveled and graded to be made into
building lots and cobbled thoroughfares,
the increasing population and the city's
rapid growth westward demanding it. A
movement was on foot some time since
among Bartram's descendants to purchase
and retain the place, but I believe it never
assumed definite proportions. The indica-
tions are that the city will run streets
tlirough within a year.

I have numbered among my friends for
many years a lineal descendant of John
Bartram, and to her I am indebted for
many reminiscences and much tluit I know
concerning the place. Through the kind-
ness of a grandson of the late Mr. East-
wick I enjoy the privilege of an abundant
entrance to these gardens whenever I make
an occasional pilgrimage to the spot.

The people of Philadelphia generally
have no conception of the veneration in
which this place is held all over the world,
a veneration which increases as the world
grows older. It is really the birthplace of
American Botany and American Ornith-
ology, and all lovers of Alexander Wilson
will regret its destruction.

Harry G. Parker,

Chester, Pa.

Notes from Kansas.

Prof. L,- — For several years' personal
observation. I have not yet seen a Shrike
puring the summer months. Many thanks
for correcting error. Nest found by me
was that of the Shore Lark, found on
March 25, 1884. In looking over the list
of large sets, I found a set of Cat-bird,
six eggs, also a set of Purple JIartin, with
six eggs. G. F. B., Seattle, Kan.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

South Carolina Notes.

The following note* were made during a
two months collecting trip, at St. Helena
Islands, and the neighborhood of the
"hunting islands," near Port Royal Sound,
in Breufort Co., S. C, where 1 arrived on
the 4th of March, after a rather boisterous
ocean voyage of four days from New York,
but felt amply repaid for the various incon-
veniences of the trip, by finding a locality
fairly teeming with bird life.

My stay was, of course, not e.xtended
enough to take in all the birds which visit
the locality, but if the readers of the
YouKG OoLOGisT take as much pleasure
in reading the notes, as I did while making
them, I shall feel fully excused for their
incompleteness.

As there were no boats to be obtained
suitable to my purpose of pursuing the
water birds. I built me a little scow, nine
feet long, and three feet wide amidship,
and I found it to be just the thing required
for exploring the winding creeks. I could
also draw it over the flats and bogs easily,
and it proved to be quite seaworthy. I
filled the seams and covered the bottom
with pitch, making it tight as a cup, and
in it I passed some of the pleasantest hours
of my life, accompanied onlj' by my trusty
16-bore double barreled breech loader, but
I find I am wandering from the subject of
this article, so will turn to it at once.

The numbers at the right are the Ridg-
way Catalogue numbers. «

1 Hermit Thrush, 56 ; a single speciman
taken on Bay Point, Id.

2 Robin , 7 ; common in cultivated districts.

3 Mockingbird, 11 ; exceedingly abund-
ant, showing scarcely any fear of man.

4 Catbird, 12 ; common, but usually
kept them.selves well concealed in the
thickets.

5 Brown Thrush, VA : not common, and
very shy.

6 Eastern Bluebird, 32 ; abundant, habits
the same as at the north.

7 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, 27 ; abundant
They were mating by the middle of April,
and the males were paying every attention

to the females. I found them both in the
dense thickets and the open woods.

8 Ruby-crowned Knight, 30 ; a single
specimen was shot by my "host," Mr.
Cuthbert, and given to me for preservation,

9 Tufted Titmouse, 36 ; common, but
difficult to observe, owing to a knack they
had of keeping themselves concealed from
view. They had a note almost exactly
like the alarm note of the Cardinal Gros-
beak.

10 Carolina Chicadee, 42 ; abundant,
exactly filling the place :n the avi-f auna of
this locality, that the Black-capped fills
north.

11 Brown-headed Nuthatch, .53 ; abund-
ant, found on the tall pines, in the forests
and swamps.

12 Carolina Wren. 60 ; abundant, fre-
quenting the sides of creeks and swamps,
and each morning treating the listener with
one of the most beautiful of bird songs,
very tame, one actually came into ray
room, and I caught him, and after a
thorough examination gave him his liberty.

13. House Wren, 63 ; not very common,
a few seen.

14 Long-billed Marsh Wren. 67 ; com-
mon in the marshes.

15 American Titlark, 71 : apparantly
quite a commom migrant, I shot one to
make sure of identification.

16 Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, 88;
common migrant, habits the same as at the
north.

17 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 95 ; com-
mon migrant.

18 White-browed Warbler, 103« ; com-
mon. I noticed this bird at once, on hear-
ing the curious " chip," and shot, and care-
fully identified it. Found on the tallest
pines, in rather open woods.

19 Pine Warbler. Ill ; common, found
in same localities with the preceding.

20 Loggerhead Shrike, 149 ; abundant
resident, most always found in pairs near
the edges of the cotton fields, and about
the hedges and thickets in the more open
fields.

21 Cedar Waxwing, 181 : a few speci-
mens seen, but not common during my
stay in the locality.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

22 Rough-winged Swallow, 158 ; com-
mon, found in the vicinity of ponds and
near the marshes.

33 Summer Redbird, 164 ; abundant. I
first noticed the curious note, being on the
edge of a swamp, in the deep woods.
Keeping a sharp lookout, I soon saw a flash
of red through the leaves, instantly I threw
my gun to my shoulder and fired, and felt
well rewarded for the rapid plunge I made
through the knee-deep water, as I held the
beautiful bird in my hand, and plugged
his throat and nostrils with cotton. This
was an adult male in full spring plumage.

After I " caught on " to the note, I soon
took several more, showing many stages of
plumage, some being no more than half
through the moult.

24 Savannah Sparrow, 193a ; common
on my arrival, but the bulk of them sooo
passed North.

25 Grass Finch, 19T ; same at the last
but not so numerous.

26 Seaside Finch, 303 ; common in the
salt marshes. I took my specimen by
poling my scow through the sedge in the
shoal water, until the bird was flushed, then
quickly grabbed the gun and brought down
the bird. Thej^ kept themselves well con-
cealed, and would not fly imlcss forced to
do so.

37 White-throated Sjiarrow, 209 ; quite
a common migrant.

28 Florida Towhee, 337a ; apparautly
quite common. I shot a specimen to make
sure of identification.

39 Cardinal Grosbeak, 242 ; e.xceedingly
abundant resident, found in every thicket
but hard to obtain, owing to their shyhess,
and the surprising way in which they can
conceal their brilliant plumage in even a
small tuft of leaves, keeping out of sight
so completely, that a careful observer
would not notice them, were it not for the
betraying whistle.

30 Painted Bunting. Nonpareil, 2ol ;
quite common in the latter part of .Vpril,
and easily seen, as the brilliant and man}-
colored plumage stands out in bold contrast
against the green leaves.

31 Red-winged Blackbird, 261: common.

but most all were in the "young of the
year " plumage.

33 Meadow Lark, .363 ; exceedingly
abundant. Found in all the fields in large
flocks.

33 Orchard Oriole, 370 ; not ver)' com-
mon. One specimen taken.

34 Boat-tailed Grackle, 277 ; exceed-
ingly abundant resident, haunting the
fields and marshes in large flocks. They
had just begun laying in good numbers
wheu I left for the north, building in com-
munities in the old overgrown plantation
burying grounds.

35 Common Crow, 383 ; a few seen,
but far outnumbered by the succeeding
species.

36 Fish Crow, 383 ; exceedingly abund-
ant during my stay, and the first birds
noticed on our arrival at Port Royal, where
several were seen pursuing their piscatorial
avocations within a few rods of the
steamer.

,37 Blue Jay, 289 ; Common in the pine
woods where several fell victims to their
own curiosity, which would almost always
lend them within gunshot, providing the
collector remained concealed and perfectly
quiet. They had a note, entirely different
from any I ever heard north, and I could
not believe it was the utterance of a Jay,
until 1 observed very closely and was sat-
isfied as to its origin.

38 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 325 ;
a single specimen was shot by ;\Ir. Cuth-
bert.

39 Chuck Wills Widow, 2')'i : a speci-
men of this bird was fiushed from her nest
by one of the party and shot. The nest
contained two eggs, one of which he broke,
making the set worthless in my estimation,
The eggs resemble those of the Whip-poor-
will, being of cotu-se somewhat larger

40 Hairy Woodpecker, 360 i Quite com-
mon in the pine woods.

41 Downy Woodpecker, 361 : Common
during ray stay.

42 Yellow-bellied A\'oodpecker, 369 ; a
few specimens seen.

43 Pileated Woodpecker. 371 : quite
common in the deepest woods, and on the

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

5

hunting islands, but everywhere extremely
wild and wary.

44 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 372 ; com-
mon. The notes of this bird strongly re-
semble those of the Red-headed variety.

45 Yellow-shafted Flicker. 37s ; cum-
mon in the large woods.

46 Pigeon Hawk, 416 ; a tine male was
taken, in the adult plumage, which I made
into a skin for my museum.

47 Sparrow Hawk, 430 : quite common,
one fine adult specimen taken.

48 Swallow-tailed Kite, 426 ; a beautiful
specimen of this bird passed over my head,
just too high to shoot, but I recognized
the species at once from seeing Wilson's
plate of this Kite. All the chief [joints
could be so plainly seen as to render mis-
take in the identification impossible.

49 Red-shouldered Hawk, 439 : quite
common in the heavily timbered districts.

50 Bald Eagle, 451 ; common resident.
Two nests could be seen across the marshes
on the hunting i.slands from our boarding
place, and the birds were in sight the great-
er portion of the time. I chased a fine,
White lieaded bird of this species for aliout
half a day about the island, but he seemed
to know the e.xact distance a gun would
carrj-, and I finally gave up the chase by
giving him a full br^ -adside at about si.xty
yards range, and then watched him until
he disappeared from view, evidently more
scared than hurt.

51 Turkey Buzzard, 454 ; exceedingly
abundant, and verj' tame. They may be
seen sitting in rows on the house roofs,
and in every direction sailing over the
fields, marshes and woods. They breed in
almost impenetrable jungles of the " Span-
ish bayonet," the spines of which are a
very serious obstacle to be overcome by
the collector. The eggs are laid in a hollow
on the ground among the grass and leaves.

52 Black Vulture. 455 ; exceedingly
abundant, but the bulk of these birds evt
dently spend the colder part of the season
either in the interior or further south, for
on my arrival the}' were comparatively
scarce, but as the weather grew warmer
they increased in numlier until equally as

common as the Buazards. I secured a fine
set of their eggs, collected by Mr. Cuth-
bert on Buzzard Island, abont fifteen miles
north of where I wa-s stopping. It was
very amusing to watch a crowd of the
birds gather about the refuse thrown out
at the back door. They would come from
all directions, as if bj' magic, and squabble
for the morsels among themselves, the
Turkey Buzzards standing no show what-
ever, as they had to give way, and re-
mained at a safe distance until the meal
was finished. Whether this is invariably
the case I cannot state as in the instance
mentioned the Black Vultures were in a
large majority".

53 Mourning Dove, 460 ; Exceedingly
abundant resident, evenly scattered, and
nowhere found in large flocks.

54 Ground Dove ; exceedingly abundant
resident, breeding in the hedges and
clumps of bushes in the fields. These
beautiful little birds were found in the
edges of the cotton and corn fields, near
hedges or bushes, into which they plunged
when alarmed, but if the collector secreted
himself or walked to another part of the
field the}' would come out of their retreat
and feed along on the ground, those in the
rear of the flock fl3'ing over the others and
alighting a short distance in advance, much
as the Crow Blackbirds do at hom.e Many
are the luckless Ground Doves that fell
before my gun, and as they were rapid fly-
ers, quick darters and shy, I made a spec-
ialty of pursuing them for a time. I have
in mind one flock of about twenty-five in-
dividuals I found in an old cotton field,
near a swampy fringe of bushes into which
they scurried on my appearance. I con-
cluded to spend the afternoon in extermin-
ating the flock. Just at dusk that evening
the writer of these lines might have been
seen, slowly wending his way back to the
old plantation house, cartridges all empty,
and about fagged out, but carrying a nice
string of eighteen Ground Doves, with
throats carefully plugged with cotton,
ready for the next days' skinning.

55 American Quail, 480 : exceedingl}'
abundant resident. Found in nearly every

6

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

field. Habits the same as at the north but
not nearly so wild, and nlways called
" Partridge" by the natives.

56 Great Blue Heron. 487 ; abundant
resident, rather shy and difficult to obtain.
There was, however, a colored man on the
plantation named Penitentiary William,
from the fact that he had once stolen a
cow and atoned for the offence by a so-
journ in the penitentiary, who informed us
that lie could obtain specimens of this bird,
and sure enough, after being induced to
try, he appeared one day with tive of the
largest birds of this species I ever saw. He
said he sneaked within gunshot of one and
killed it, and then braced it up with sticks
and decoyed the others within easy range.

57 American Egret, 489 ; common, but
rather shy.

58 Snowy Heron. 490 ; abundant sum-
mer resident. Breeds in colonies in
swamps. These birds were quite shy and
not easily approached except in their breed-
ing places, but I made some decoys and
found that they could be easily shot by
stooliug. When the flats were left bare
by the tide the Herons would gather on
them to feed and would remain until driven
off as the tide rose again. All that was
necessary was to place my decoys on some
muddy point near the water, pull my scow
into the tall sedge out of sight, and remain
perfectly still. I have spent hours in the
little scow watching through the sedge
these beautiful birds as they stood among
the decoys, unconscious of the hidden
danger so near them, and 1 had fine op-
portunilies lor watching their movements
and positions in life. 1 remember an in-
stance when three of them circled about
and landed among the decoys, wi.ich were
such good imitations of the real birds that
one of the Herons came up lo one and put
its beak against its head, as 1 suppo.-'ed to
see if it was alive. The ne.xt moment they
were startled to see me sitting erect in
front of them about thirty yards distant.
Instantly on my arising, with their usual
agility they sprang into the air and tried
to escape, but in tliis instance none of the
three were destined to do so. I fired the

first barrel at two as they "crossed" In

their flight and killed thom both, and was
lucky enough to secure the other one with
the remaining Ijarrel. Another incident
and I am done with this species : 1 backed
my scow within long range of one of these
Herons, and when he flew I fired, just
tipping one of his wings and caught him
alive and kept him for three or four days.
He became quite tame, although I could
not induce him to eat a morsel, and he
would expand and raise his beautiful
plumes in a way that I have never seen
equalled in the taxidermists' art.

59 Louisiana Heron, 492 ; common sum-
mer resident, associating with the Snowy
Herons, arriving at the same time and
breeding in the same localities but not
nearlj' as numerous.

60 Little Blue Heron, 493 ; not as com-
mon as the preceding. The only specimen
I saw was one shot bj- a colored man in the
marsh near the house. It was a male in
full summi rdress.

61 Green Heron, 494 ; conunon summer
re-sident, with apparently the same habits
as at the noith. 1 found them breeding in
companies, in the same place with the
Boat-tailed Crackles.

62 American Bittern, 497 ; A beautiful
adidt male of this species was shot by Mr.
(,'uthbert, and was the only specimen I
saw. The skin now reposes in my museum.

63 Least Bittern, 498 ; evidently not
common. I saw a single individual in a
swamp.

44 American Oystercatcher, 507 ; not
common and extremely shy.

65 Black-bellied Plover, 513 ; abundant
about the creeks and mud flats. I shot a
number over decoys.

66 Killdeer, 516 ; I found them common
on my arrival, but the continuous gunning
drove them from the neighborhood.

67 Semipalmaled Plover, 517 ; abundant
migrants, fairly swarming on the mud
flats. I also shot them on the border of
small fresh water ponds on the island.

68 Piping Plover, .520 ; c jmmon on the
ocean beach, but rarely seen on the mud
flats. 1 believe they prefer a clean sandy
beach to any other.

THIi YOUNG OOLOGIST.

69 Wilson's Plover, 522 ; found in lim-
ited numbers on the ocean beach. I took
several fine specimens, and noticed that
when a pair was found and I shot one, the
other would usuall}- fly about in the vicin-
ity of the dead one until shot.

70 Wilson's Snipe, 52lia ; abundant win-
ter resident. These birds afforded excel-
lent shooting. Found in the marshy
places all over the island.

71 Robin Snipe, 529 ; abundant in the
salt marshes and among the flats. They
did not appear to have any fear of a srnall
boat and I made more than otie deadly
shot at them while rowing about in my
scow as thej' flew past me.

72 Least Sandpiper, 538 : abundant
among the mud flats and also found about
the fresh water ponds on the island.

73 Red-backed Sandpiper, 539ffl/ ex-
ceedingly abundant both on the mud flats
and the ocean beach.

74 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 541 , abund-
ant. Found in compiiny with the preced
ing species, and seen in large flocks.

76 Marbled Goodwit. .^43: not very com-
mon. I secured a tine specimen, which
was shot on the mud flats in the salt mar.-^h.

77 Greater Yellowlegs, 548 ; abundant
about the creeks and flats, and much tamer
than at the north. I frequently sculled
my scow near enough to shoot them.

78 Lesser Yellowlegs, 540 ; quite com-
mon on the flats.

79 Willet, 552 ; exceedingly abundant
and not wild, coming to decoj's readily,
and often flying near enough to shoot from
the scow.

80 Field Plover, 555 ; the only specimen
I saw was shot in the fields back of the
house. The skin is now in my museum.

81 Spotted Sandpiper, 557 ; abundant.
Found about all the creeks and ponds.

82 Long billed Curlew, 558 ; common on
the marshes, but kept themselves well out
of gunshot.

83 Hudsonian t urlew, 559 ; abundant
about the mud flats, but well acquainted
with the carrying distance of a gun. Large
numbers of these birds flew to some point
further inland to feed everv morning, and

just at dusk large flocks could be seen fly-
ing in a straight line for their roosting
place which, I was informed, was "Egg
Bank," a small sandy island in St. Helena
Sound, and in which direction the birds
were flying.

84 Red-breasted Rail, 569 ; a beautiful
specimen of this fine bird was shot by Mr.
Cuthbert and presented to me for preserva-
tion, the first and only one I ever saw.
On dissecting I found a small snake in the
bird's stomach.

85 Clapper Rail, 571 ; exceedingly
abundant in the marshes and easily ob-
tained at high tide, being driven to the
bunches of floating herbage by the water,
and shot from boats.

86 American Coot, 580 ; I saw one speci-
men of this species fly across Station Creek
in front of my scow, but was unable to
obtain it.

87 Mallard, 601 ; abundant in the ponds
and lagoons on the Hunting Islands.

88 Scaup Duck, 614 ; abundant in Port
Royal Sound and all the larger creeks and
inlets.

89 BufHehcad, 621 ; not uncommon in
Station Creek.

90 Redbreasted Sheldrake, 637 : common
in Port Royal Sound and the larger creeks ;
rather shy. ,

91 Brown Pelican, 641 ; 1 saw one in-
dividual of this species slowly flying across
Port Royal Sound.

92 Florida Cormorant. 643« ; common
about the larger bodies of water.

33 Black Skimmer, 656 ; exceedingly
abundant on the outside flats, making ex-
cursions up Port Royal Sound and the
larger creeks and inlets in search of food.
I never tired of watching these birds as
thej' flew about with the tips of their bills
skinuniug through the water, and the}' al-
ways seemed to me to have a decidedly
stupid appearance. I once sculled ray
scow up to a flat, left bare by the tide,
about a mile out in the ocean, where a large
flock of these birds had congregated. There
was also a small flock of Royal Terns sit-
ting on the flat a short distance from the
Skimmers. By very cnreful maneuver-

8

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

ing and lying flat on my back in tlie Ijot-
tom of tlie scow I succeeded in getting as
«lose as I wished, and suddenly raised up
with both barrels of my gun at full cock.
The birds started up with a loud roar and
I poured one barrel into the tliickly packed
ranks of the Skimmers, and the other into
the Terns. The result was seven Black
Skimmers killed and wounded, and three
Royal Terns, which I thought good con-
sidering the size of the gun, but I had to
skip around lively to get all of the birds,
as some were only wing-broken.

94 American Herring Gull, 666a ; com-
mon about the larger bodies of water.

95 Ring-billed Gull, 668 : common in
Port Royal Sound.

96 Laughing Gull, 673 ; common in Port
Royal Sound. I secured several by throw-
ing overboard a dead Tern or Gull, when
they would hover over me near enough to
shoot.

97 Bonaparte's Gull. 675 ; abundant in
Port Royal Sound and along the ocean
beach. Easily drawn within gunshot in
the same manner as the last mentioned
species.

Roj'al Tern, 681 ; abundant in Port Roy-
al Sound and along the outside flats, some-
times going lip the creeks in search of
food. I shot on^ specimen flying down a
small creek, within a few rods of the
house.

99 Cabot's Tern, 683 : not uncommon
fl,long the outside flats off Port Royal En-
trance. I shot a beautiful specimen in
Port Royal Sound near the mouth of Sta-
tion Creek. The skin is now in my
musenm.

100 Forster's Tern. OfSo i abundant in
the creeks, inlets and along the ocean \
beach. I have thrown ox erboard one dead j
bird of this species when I saw a Hock l
passing, and as soon as they came within
gunshot, commenced tiring and kept it up
until my gun barrels were so hot I could
not bear my hand on it to take out the
empty shells and until the water around
the scow was nearly covered with tlie dead
and crippled liirds.

101 Coniiiion. Tern. 6.'^6 : a few sjicei-

mens taken, in company with the preceding
species.

103 Least Tern, 690 ; becoming common
just as 1 left. Frequenting the creeks and
marshes. The day before leaving I made
the last sally in my scow and fell in with
a flock of these birds, ttventy of which I
secured before I gave up the chase.

103 Horned Grebe, 733 ; Common in
Port Royal Sound and the larger creeks and
inlets, but all in the winter plumage.

The reader will further pardon the writer
for the incompleteness of the above notes
when I state that some of my time was
occupied in skinning over thirteen hundred
specimens. W. W. Worthington,

Shelter Island. N. Y.

Scientific Names.

The "Collector from Massachusetts,"
quoted in the February number of The
Young OOlogist, did, as the editor af-
firmed, but echo the thoughts of the ma-
jority of young students of Ornithology
when he asked if a beginner must learn all
the different names which have been given
lo each species of our birds, and when he
pleaded for a standard system of nomen-
clature, so that there might be but one sci-
entific name to be learned.

It will, doubtless, be gratifj'ing to the
"Collector from Massachusetts" and all
others of my brother amateurs who are in-
terested, to learn that such a standard is
now being iirepared, and may possibly be
issued during the present, year.

At the first congress of the American
Ornithologists' Union, held in New York
in September, 1883, a committee was ap-
pointed to maKe "A Revision of the Class-
ification and Nomenclature of North
American Birds." The present writer had
the honor of moving that resolution, and
the gentlemen appointed to take charge of
this important duty were Mr. .1. A. Allen,
Dr. Coues, Mr. Ridgway. Mr. H. W. Hen-
shaw and Mr. William Brewster.

At the S(«ond congress of the A. O. U.,
held also in New York, this committee pre-
sented a preliminary report, an abstract of

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

which appeared in The Auk for October,
1884. Dr. Cones, the chairman of the sub-
committee to whom was assigned the codi-
fication of the rules by which the commit-
tee had been governed in their determina-
tions of nomenclature, occupied over an
hour in reading the report of this branch of
the work. This report, which was pre-
pared by Dr. C'oues, and which is one of
the most masterly efforts of that distin-
guished and brilliant scholar, will be pub-
lished together with the new system of
classification and nomenclature, just as
soon as some few unfinished details are
completed ; and we shall then have a
"standard " work which all American stu-
dents will imcjuestionalily avail themselves
of.

With the liope that I will be excused for
offering an opinion contrary to that given
by the editor. I will venture to suggest that
it is not quite correct to call the system
of nomenclatui-e prepared by Mr. Ridgway
for the Smithsonian Institute the "stand-
ard " for America. The author would
doubtless disclaim such an assumption.
As a matter of fact, a large number of the
leading ornithologists use the system pre-
pared by Dr. C'oues, and some use systems
of their own.

It may be retorted, by some who remeni
ber it, that the writer has advocated the
adoption of Mr. Ridgway 's system in pre-
ference to that of Dr. Coues. He would
give the same advice still ; but it is not be-
cause he ever considered Mr. Ridgway's as
the standard, or that he presumed to judge
of the relative merits of the two. He ad-
vocated an adherence to the Smithsonian
list because it had been longer in use, and
had thus become the more generally
adopted, especially by amateurs and col-
lectors, and because the adherence to one
system would prevent the confusion conse-
quent upon the use of the two.

To the relief of all interested in the mat-
ter, this confusion will soon be at an end,
and no persons are more zealous for its ter-
mination, nor are any working more ener-
getically for the completion and establish-
ment of the new system than are the two

authors whose systems will be thus super-
seded.

It was the writer's privilege to be hon-
ored with an invitation to be present at a
meeting of this committee of revision, and
to take part in its deliberations, and he
testifies witli a great deal of pleasure to the
uniform harmony which prevailed, to the
frankness with which numerous delicate
questions were discussed, and to the fre-
quent manifestations of a very evident de-
sire to adopt only that which was the most
correct and the best, quite independent of
anj' personal consideration.

But young students need not be so much
frightened at these repulsive looking scien-
tific names, as many appear to be. There
is no necessity of beginning the study of
ornithology by loading your memory with
these words. As the writer has said else-
where. " It seems advisable to teach young
beginners that these scientific names, and
indeed all technical phrases, are simply
conveniences and nothing more ; that these
words which are to many so repulsive in
appearance and so ditficult to master, are
not, as some laymen seem to consider, the
most important part of science ; their's is a
very subordinate part, and they can be ad-
vantageously passed over hy young ornith-
ologists until they have advanced so far in
their studies that the need of these tech-
nicalities as conveniences will impart to
them an interest and remove their apparent
repulsi veness. "

Montague Chamberlain,
St. John, N. B.

Submersion of Swallows.

In looking over some old papers I found
the following. It is from the Hudson Bee
of August 4, 1803: "The submersion of
Swallows, respecting which many contrary
opinions prevail, was observed to take
place last evening at the south end of
Greenwich Street. This interesting fact in
natural history was witnessed by many
people. The flight of the Swallows ap-
peared to commence about 5:30 P. M. and
continued till after sunset." C. H.,
New London, Ct.

lo

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Nesting of the Great Horned Owl

It has been my good fortune, since com-
mencing to collect eggs, to find several
nests of this bird, and a description of
some of them may be of interest to others.
The first one I ever saw was in what had
been the nest of a Red-tailed Hawk the
year previous. I had found it when the
hawks were feeding their young, and noted
it down for a visit about Uie first of April
of the following year ; so one day three of
us started out. hoping to find some eggs to
add to our collections. Our astonishment
was considerable, when, in response to our
raps on the tree, a Bvbo flew off. We
were all quite 3'oung and not familiar with
the time when the owls should have eggs, or
we would never have ventured to climb
such a tree. It was a Tulip Poplar about
four feet in diameter, and over sixty feet
to the first limb, and nearly forty from
there to the nest ; ninety-seven feet to the
nest, as we afterwards found. I had
generally been the climber of the party, so
strapped on our old pair of "irons "and
started. At fourteen years of age such an
undertaking was not a light one, and
although I felt brave at the outset, before
I had gone two-thirds of the distance to
the first limb, my heart failed me, and not-
withstanding the assurance of my com-
panions that the worst had been passed, I
turned back and felt better when I again
found ground. Once on ground I was
ready to urge some one else to make the
attempt, assuring P., who was three years
my senior, that his extra length of arms
would make it an easy task. He finally
consented, and after a tough struggle
reached the nest, and to our great disap-
pointment called down that it contained
two young owls, and half a rabbit, which
was to serve as dinner for the family.
Without a question as to the result, F.
tumbled the contents overboard, one at a
time. No. 1 fared badly, only surviving
a -few minutes, but No. 3 seemed lo think
100 feet drop was not much worth minding,
and in a few minutes was quite lively, and
would almost twist his head off in his

endeavors lo watch on.- of us as we moved
around him. We gave him a large slat
box for his home, and had great amusement
through the summer feeding him ; after he
was able to fly he would occasionally get
out, but generally returned : his sight was
good in bright ;Jay light, and on the ap-
proach of any one he backed up in a corner
and cracked his bill vigorously. A cat or
dog seemed to excite him particularly, and
he would hop up and down, raise his
feathers and even jump against the slats in
his endeavors to reach, them. He was
finallj' shot in the following winter by a
neighbor,- who thought he was after
chickens, but we found him much reduced
in flesh, as he had been absent from home
some time before his death, and apparently
was unable to care for himself.

This same nest was occupied the two
succeeding years by a pair of Great Horned
Owls, although during the first of these
years one of the old birds was shot oS the
nest. Ten years after my first attempt at
climbing this tree I again found it occupied
by Great Horned Owls, of the eight years
not recorded I do not know whether or not
it was occupied, as I did not have the
opportunity to visit it. This time I had
more years on my back and considerable
experience in climbing. I provided myself
with a good long strap, and by passing it
around myself and the tree, I had no dif-
ficulty in reaching the first limb, where I
left my strap and proceeded. This time I
found two quite fresh eggs, and felt well
repaid. This method of climbing we had
often discussed wheh boys, but for some
reason never tried. I found it a great
benefit, as I was able to drop back in the
strap at any time, and feel perf ecth' secure.
It works admirably when there are few or
no limbs, when they are present it is often
a matter of difliculty to get the strap un-
fastened and over the limb. To give the
best results, the strap should be wide, very
strong, and have a buckle with numerous
holes to shorten up when the tree gets
smaller.

Of several other nests I have found No
1 was ninety feet from the ground, in a

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

II

large chestnut tree, the nest made of sticks,
and contained, March 6th, two eggs, both
of which had been picked by the chick,
and would have hatched in a few hours.

No. 2 was in a black birch not more than
forty feet high, in an old crows nest, and
contained two eggs.

No. 3 was in same nest as No. 2, and
contained three eggs.

No. 4 was tmder fifty feet high in a
decayed chestnut tree, the cavity was on
the side of the tree and so small, that the
tail of the owl projected out, and to this
fact I am indebted for the find. The old
bird flew ofi at my approach, and not
having my climbing irons, I returned with
them the next day to find the owl had not
again been on the nest, and as it was
freezing weather, both eggs were frozen
and cracked.

No. 5 was in a Maple tree sixty feet high,
old crows nest, and could easily be climbed
without "Irons," as cotild Nos. 2 and 3.
No. .'i contained 3 eggs.

No. 6 was in a dead snag, the top having
blown off, leaving an uncovered cavity, a
snow storm two days before my visit had
piled in around the owl to the height of
eight or ten inches, leaving barely room at
the bottom for the eggs to rest on the
decayed wood, some ice and snow actually
being in contact with one of the two eggs.
To sum up, the eight nests noted : Six
contained two eggs each ; two contained
three eggs each ; two were in cavities ; six
were in outside nests ; three were easj' of
access without irons ; three were over
ninety feet high.

I have frequently found the crows a
great help in hunting out these birds, a
flock of them will often follow and pester
an Owl for hours at a time, their continued
" caws " serving to locate the common prey.
" Orthx."
Kennett Square, Pa.

Ready-made Burrov7s for the Bank
Svsrallow ; A Large Owl.

1 do not have time to collect eggs or
watch birds, but have always, from a boy,
been a bird fancier, so I take The Young
OoLOGiST for the bird information it con-

tains, and find it a very interesting journal.
Am pleased to hear of its prospective en-
largement.

The perusal of Mr. Curtis' article on
Bank Swallows recalled to my mind a col-
ony of these birds I observed while living
in Virginia a few years ago. Several
miles south of Richmond, on the James
river, is situated the historical Drury's
Bluff. During the war, while the troops
were cannonading the enemy located on
the bank above, this perpendicular bluff
was closely perforated with erratic cannon
balls, thus forming ready-made habitations
for tliese birdburrowers, which myriads of
them were not slow in making available. I
have never, before nor since, seen so many
birds together ; the atmosphere over the
river and its banks was literally black with
them.

I caught a very large and peculiar look-
ing owl in the Chickahominy Swamp, Vir-
ginia, once, or perhaps I had better .say the
ow! caught me. A friend and myself were
hunting "coons" one night, and walking
by a deserted cabin I was almost felled to
the ground by a sudden blow on the back
of the head (and perhaps two-thirds fright)
as that was the first intimation I had of the
presence of a third party. We succeeded,
however, in capturing it and I kept it in
the basement of a mill for several weeks,
after which time I removed a pane of
glass from a window and gave it free ac-
cess. It remained several months, going
out nights and raiding hen roosts, as I as-
certained later when a "darkey" brought
me the " last remains of his mis-spent life"
riddled wiUi buckshot. This was the
largest owl 1 ever saw. Long feathers
grew from the tlu-oat, very much resem-
bling a beard. Its queer antics and beard
reminded me of an ape very much indeed.
Its head and breast were of a light yellow;
I think the rest was brown. Can you.
from this poor description, name it ?

I have contemplated writing you for a
long time, to manifest my appreciation of
The YorNG Oologist. I do not write
this for publication, yet if you think it ViiU
be interesting to your readers you may do
so, or portions of it.

I am yours truly,

G. D. P., Rhinebeck, N. Y.

12

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

THEJOUNG OOLOGIST

EDITED AMD PUBLISHED MONTHLY

— \i\ —

FRANK H. LATTIN, ALBION, N. Y.

Correspondence and items of interest to the student
of Birds, their Nests and Eggs solicited from all.

Terms of Subscription.

Single Subscription _ - -
Foreign Countries, _ - -

Sample Copies, - - -

The above rates include postage.

511.00 per annum

$1.15

- 10 cents each.

Terms of Advertising,

Made known upon application. Send copy for esti-
mate.

Remittances should be made by draft on New
York ; money order or postal note payable at Albion,
N. Y.; or by registered letter. Unused U. S. postage
stamps of any denomination will be accepted for
sums under one dollar. Address all subscriptions and
communications to THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.
Albion, Orleans i.'o.. N Y.

p^™Make money orders and drafts payable to
FRANK H. LATTIN.

Entered at the Post Office at Albion, N. Y-, as
Second-class mail matter.

JOTTINGS.

SPECIAL NOTICE. — We have
moved our mail business to Albion, N.
Y., 3 miles from Gaines, and henceforth
all communications should be addressed
us at that place.

Vol. I complete, of The Young Oolo-
GIST cau be furnished during the month of
May for 60 cents Back numbers 6 cent.s
each : five or more, 5 cents each. Vol. I
after June 1st will cost 75 cents. We
have only a few hundred sets left. Order
at once or you may be too late.

Subscribers finding a notice in this issue
informing them that this is the last num-
ber of the Y. O. their due, will please re-
new at once. We cannot afford to lose a
single subscriber. We will send the Y. O.
as long as you have paid for it and no
longer, and should you receive an extra
number occasionally do not return it bul
hand it to some bird-loving friend.

To .\NY PUBLISHER giving our little
monthly a notice, favorable or otherwise,
and sending us a marked copy of the same,
we will send them The Yodng Oologist
one year. We know the value of printer's
ink and trust our brotber publishers will
give us a liberal sprinkling of the same.
We will endeavor to reciprocate the favor
by giving them lots of notes on birds,
their nests and eggs during the ensuing
twelve months. Amateurs accepting the
above offer will please enclose 35 cents
extra.

Our new catalogue of Minerals, Shells,
Naturalists' Supplies, etc., will be sent to
every subscriber of The Y'oiing Colo-
gist as soon as issued.

Knowing that our readers would much
rather have The Young Oiii.oGisT twelve
months without a colored cover than one-
half that time with one we start Vol. II
coverle.ss. In this form it will be just as
valuable to them, containing just as much
intei-esting matter, be just as convenient,
if not more, for the binder, and last, but
not least, save us several hundred dollars.
Vol. 1 cost us many dollars more than we
received for the same, besides donating our
work gratuitously. We cannot afford to
publish Vol. II unless is pays at least our
printers' bills. If subscriptions continue
to pour in at present rate we feel assured
that our friends will see us through.

Our Premium List in a Nut Shell.

For every rune subscriber, one of our
present subscriber.s may send us, at $1.00
per year, we will give thirty-five cents
worth of anything we advertise, or offer
for sale in The Young Oologist, out
Catalogue, or any circular we may send
out. We trust our friends will obtain
for us as many new subscribers as possible.
We consider our premium list one of
the largest and most varied ever sent
out by any publisher in America. Parties
desiring to obtain a costly premium can
send in their names, as fast as obtained,
and we will give them a check good for
35 cents, in trade, when the required num-
ber of checks are obtained they may be
sent to us and we will send the premium
desired. Parties prefering cash in place
of the above will be allowed 25 cents on
each sub.scription.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Knights of Audubon

All communications relating to this department
should be addressed to Mr. Jose R. CiRTrs, Painted
Post, Steuben County, N. Y.

SALUTATORY.

Painted Post. March 10, 1885.
To (he Collertm-8 of Americii :

Gentlemen — Shall the " Knights of
Audubon " be a permanent and successful
a.ssociation ? Your unanimous reply is
" Yes." But j'our affirmative answer is
not only required, but tlie more indicative
actions and efforts of every interested or-
nithologist and oiilogist in America, wliich,
combined witli the admirable magazine,
our orticial organ, and the never-failing
changes of nature, should propel the
"Knights of Audubon" to the highest
pinnacle of success.

The diligence and faithfulness of every
officer and the authentic and reliable re
ports of every member are also necessary.
Let the reports especially be correct in each
particular. You are all well aware of the
fact that a great number of persons, in
writing an account of a collecting tour or
slight adventure met with while on an
oological expedition, will fill out and ex-
pand the narration with nigh-sounding
phrases, numerous quotations and unes-
sential epithets, which, wlien thoroughly
sifted, will usually produce, in about one-
fourth of the language used, a few solid
and interesting facts. The former, if .sent
in by many memljers, would require page
after page of unnecessary mamiscript, as
well as the tiresome labor of inspection.
Now, let your monthly reports be the »pice
of the writings of the several members of
your Legion, not to exceed three pages of
single sheet note paper, written on one side
only. These will be expected.

Communications have been received from
various ones who state that "It is almost
impossible to form a Legion here, as I am
the only one interested in birds, their nests
and eggs, in this place," and other similar
remarks. Do not give up so easily. If
there is no one whom you know is inter-
ested, the next thing to do is to intereU

some of your friends. Call a meeting of a
few of them ; tell them of the organization
of the " Knights of Audubon," and its pur-
pose ; read the constitution and remarks in
the March number ; tell them of the ad-
vantages of such a society, sandwiching in
a few appropriate remarks, and before you
will have finished your discourse nine out
of teh of your listeners will consent to join.
Then appoint a subject for discussion at
next meeting, draw up your by-laws, and
send the report to the Chief Secretary and
receive the certificates of membership.

Also let your meetings be conducted in
proper shape, as becoming a regular assem-
bly, and not the mere gathering together of
a few for the ex|)ress purpose of having
tun. They may not be especially formal,
but with sufficient dignity and appropriate
ness, and with proper enactment of the
regulations governing your gat'iCrings.

In the department devoted to the
" Ivnights of Audubon" there will be a
'■query column," open to all who have
questions to ask the Secretary, or other-
wise, but entirely devoted to our organiza-
tion. W'e will be happy to hear from you,
one and all, in regard to any intpiiry which
puzzles you, and we will try to enlighten
your mind in that direction.

Also a " correspondence colunm." to con-
tain the letters and notes from various ones
containing items of interest to the society,
which is open to correspondents.

Now, collectors, W(^ leave the question to
you, and upon your endeavors depends the
future of the society, and with you rests
the prosperity and success of the "Knights
of Audubon."

Let the next report show an increase in
the number of both Legions and members,
not a decrease.

Yours fraternally,

Jose R. Curtis,
Chief Sec'v.

CHIEF SECRETARY'S FIRST MONTHLY
REPORT.

April, 1885.— The first one to respond to
the call for the formation of Legions, was
Mr. Frank H. Metcalf, of Holyoke, Mass.,

14

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

who is now secretary of a Legion of eight
members iu that place.

The following is a list of the Legions,
their officers and addresses, received since
the announcement in the March issue ;

Name

Address

Location of observations

Member of Legion. . . . Date.

COMPLETE REGISTER OF LEGIONS.

No. of Leg. Name and Address.

'* Pioneer."
No. 75 Applelon St., Holyoke, Mass

• " Towanda," Pa.
Box 5j8.

" Sharon," Wis.

No, of Members.

" Reading," Pa.
No. 418 Washington St.

'■ Devil's Lake," D. T.
Lock Box No. 6.

■' Millville," N. V.

7. " Roxbury." Mass.
Box 5,287, Boston.

8. " Cincinnati.', Ohio.
No. 496 Sycamore St.

•• Buffalo." N. V.
No. 69 Park Place.
Explanatory. — The President's name is placed
Secretary. For example : should you wish to write
Appleton street, Holyoke, Mass.

Pres. and Sec'y.

8 Richard S. Brooks

F. H. Metcalf.

5 Jacob Albert.

J. Elmer Post.

4 Edw. L. Durkee.
Chas. Dickinson.

3 Geo. H. Hepler.

Robt. H. Irvine.

5 C. P. Brainerd.
B. E. Cole.

3 Herbert Westwood.
S. D. Bennett, Jr.

T. Wairen.
Herbert S. Bradt.

4 Edward Catlow.
Miss Edith Catlow.

4 S. J. Larned,

E. M. Chamot.
above the Secretary. The address given is that of the
to Legion No. i, address F. H. Metcalf, Sec'y, No. 75

The " Pioneer Legion," of Holyoke,
Mass., has about decided to issue an ama-
teur paper in the interests of birds, their
uests and eggs, to be entitled Our Birds. A
communication from Mr. Metcalf, the Sec-
retary, on this subject will be found among -
"Legion Reports."

Various questions have been sent in, in
regard to the admission of single members,
or those who could not find enough per-
sons interested in ornithology and oology
to join. To accommodate these, it has
been decided that a due of 7.5c. be paid to
the Chief Secretary, so that in case mem-
bers should chance to be added to form a
Legion, the sum can be used as a subscrip-
tion fee,

To aid in our study of ornithology and
oology, it has been decided to require a
monthly report from each individual mem-
ber, and signed by himself, containing no
more than five and not less than two pages
of common note paper, written on one side
only. These will be folded from side to
side, and signed as follows ;

The contents of these reports must re-
late to the observations of the member on
birds, their nests and eggs, contain no per-
sonal or individual remarks, and, above
all, be concise and to the point. Interest-
ing reports will therefore be expected on
the first of every month from the Corre-
sponding Secretaries of the Legions, to
whom the reports will be handed by the
members. Tlie best and most valuable of
these will be selected for publication. Sec-
retaries will please see that this regulation
be carried out.

Several Legions have thus far sent in
copies of their by-laws, and while some of
them are brief, others are too long and con-
tain too much unnecessary matter. The
following is an extract from the by-laws of
Pioneer Legion, No. 1 ;

Fees. — Any member not attending a reg-
ular meeting, and without satisfactory ex-
cuse, must contribute some specimen to-
ward a general museum," etc.

The above is an excellent rule, and it
will be advisable for all Legions to adopt

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

15

it. Ill case there is no regular place of
meeting the speeimens should be kept in
the most convenient and accessible situa-
tion.

If possible everj' Legion should have one
place of meeting, as the officers or commit-
tee see best. Should this be an impossibil-
ity meetings at the different members' resi-
dences, in succession, will be in order.

Legions sending subscriptions to The
YoDNG OoLOGiST must State at what time
it is to be commenced, and these remit-
tances must be made b}' postal M>te or m<mey
order, paj'able at Painted Post, N. Y.

Address all communications for this de-
partment to .T. R. CnuTis,
Painted Post,
Steuben Co., N. Y.

LEGION REPORTS.

A report is expected monlhly from each
Legion for this column.

ITOLYOKE, Mass,, March 24, 1NS5.
Our Legion has derided to publish an
eight-page monthly, devoted to the study
of " Birds, their Nests and Eggs." We
also decided to call it Our Birds.

The colk'cling season is near and we are
all prepared for it. Last January, during
three weeks of spring weather, a pair of
House Sparrows remodeled an old nest that
was on oui' barn, and on the Kith ult. I
found six fresh eggs. ■

Yours, &c. ,

C. H. M.. Cor. Sec.
Reading, Pa., March 24, 1885.
We met last night, drew up our by-laws
and made a plan of work for the coming
spring and summer. Had quite an enthu-
siastic meeting.

Yours, R. H. .1, Cor. Sec.

Devil's Lake, Da,, March 15, '85.
We write to inform you that we have
organized a Legion here, and respectfully
request that we may be enrolled in the
" Grand Army" as the Devil's Lake Legion
of the Knights of Audubon. We have
four members, but what we lack in mem-
bers we hope to make up in enthusiasm
and in hard work.
Yours, &c.,

B. E. Cole, Cor. Sec.
TowAKDA, Pa., March 14, 1885.
Have formed a Legion here with five
charter memliers. Our topic for discus-
sion at the next meeting is " Catbirds."
Yours,

F. Elmer Post, Cor. Sec.

Buffalo, N. Y., March 28, 1885.
We have decided to form a Legion of
the Knights of Audubon, in response to a
call in The Young Oologist. We now
number four members, but soon expect to
enlarge our membership.

\\^e record this morning the first Blue-
birds of 1885. My attention was first
drawn to them by their unmistakable call,
and, upon following, I soon found them.
I received a commimication to-day, stating
that in a part of this city near the suburbs
the Robins, Bluebirds and Song Sjaarrows
were quite plentiful. I recorded the first
Robin March 30th, but have heard that
they were quite abundant before that date.
This morning the Robins were quite abund-
ant, as were the Bluebirds, while yesterda)'
I couldn't find or even hear ohe.

Yours, E. M. C, Cor. Sec.

Cincinnati, C, March 23, 1885.
Reading in the March number of the
formation of the Knights of Audubon, and
being interested in birds, their nests and
eggs, we have formed a Legion with four
memliers. Hoping we may prove a faith-
ful and working Legion, we remain.
Yours, i&c,

MissE. C, Cor. Sec.
Sharon, Wis., March 14, 1885.
We met on the 13th and organized a
Legion of three members, expecting to add
more soon.

Yours, C. H. D., Cor. Sec.

"A Novel Contest."

I have read in The Young OOlogist of
fights between Hawks and Jays, Jays and
English Sparrows, etc., but never of any
between a Hawk and a Wild Duck. I
send j'ou an account of an exciting contest
between the two latter birds, which I cop-
ied from a Chester county daily paper,
thinking it might interest some of youi'
readers :

"A Novel Contest. — A gentleman
driving into West Chester on Saturday last
witnessed a novel contest. It was a fight
between a Chicken Hawk and a Wild
Duck. The attack was made by the Hawk
on the Duck, at the Brandywine, in East
Bradford. After an exciting contest the
Duck proved victorious, and the Hawk
gave up the battle without making a meal
of the toothsome Duck." F. L. B.,
Berwyn, Pa.

i6

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Corresponcence.

FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

I am taking notes on the migration of
birds, for tlie Ornithologists' Union. The
following are a few of the " notes " taken.
You are welcome to all that I can give, and
I think your scheme a most excellent one.
The Young Oologist is doing more for
oology than any journal or society yet
founded.

Feb. 17. About 20 Am. Titlarks noticed
on the snow and ice. Clear,
Feb. 20. One Song Sparrow.
Feb. 23. Saw one Am. Goldfinch in
winter plumage. Slightly warmer,

Feb. 2G. Snow yet on ground. Two
flocks of Horned Larks ( Shore Larks ) on
road feeding. They were quite tame. ,
March 2. Two Field Sparrows.
March 1. Robins.
March 10. Killdeer Plover.
March 15. Purple Grackle— Swamp
Sparrows.

March 16. Chipping Sparrows in small
flocks

March 17. Bluebirds, Red-and-buff-
shouldered Blackbirds.

March 20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
March 37. First nest, containing four
fresh eggs of the common Crow taken to-
day. Saw several Fox Sparrows.

Noticed the Red-tailed and Cooper's
Hawk (here called "Chicken Hawk") this
spring.

Feb. 37. Captured some Siberian Snow
Fleas on top of the snow. There is no
freeze in them.

I do not send complete list of arrivals ac-
cording to your answer to C. K., Milwau
kee. 'Wis., in JIarch number.

H. K. L.,
Landis Valley, Pa.

tips white instead of red. Our weather is
still chilly, and very few of our birds have
arrived as yet, ^\'ill let you hear from me
as soon as "l have anything worth noting.
Yours in haste, T. D. P.

Savannah, Ga.

FROM GEORGIA.

I found my first nest for 1880 on JIarch
20th. It wa"s a Screech Owl, containing
3 eggs, incubation slight, female caught
and skinned, and on dissection found iJ
eggs in 3 stages of development, proving
that she would have laid 13 eggs in all
during the season.

Cedar-birds have been quite numerous
here for the past month, and I had quite a
good time shooting them. I would like
for some of the readers of the Young
Oologist to tell me if they have ever seen
a Cedar-bird, such as described below,
"While out shooting with Mr. Geo. Noble,
a Taxidermist, the" other day, one Cedar-
bird was shot, which was different from
all the others I have ever seen. Breast
pure white, tail feathers on the ends
instead of being yellow, were white ; wax

FROM NEW JERSEY.

I received Davies Egg Check-list, find it
to be an excellent book, a great deal more
than 1 expected, also blow-pipe, which I
find to be excellent ; JIarch Young
Oologist at hand ; I received it at noon ;
in the morning I was walliing down the
street, on a tree not ten feet from me, was
a woodwecker, it was either a downy or a
haii-y woodpecker, but they resemble each
otheV so much, I am unable to say which it
was ; on the other side was an EugUsh
Sparrow, which every now and then the
sparrow would ptep around the tree. I
watched them for about two minutes, when
the woodpecker flew to another tree, the
sparrow following ; he was on the tree for
about a minute, when the httle bully flew
at him, driving him from the tree, across
the street, and around a house, where I
lost sight of them ; that brought into my
mind the idea of writing to you. When I
received The Young Oologist at noon,
1 found ilr, E. E. piece, askii-.g for the
opinion of other Oologists ; my opinion is
that they are little pests and ought to be
exterminated from Ameiica, at least I
myself have seen them attack the Cuckoo,
Cat-bird, Oriole, and even our domestic
pigeon, and drive it back to its cot. One
of our neighbors ne.xt door to us has a fine
large bird house, which is just packed with
sparrow nests. Last summer I was witness
to a fight between Purple Martins and the
English Sparrows, the sparrows gained the
battles and drove the Martins away. The
Bluebirds also have been driven from the
bird houses around our place, and any
person can see that it is not an insect-eating
bird by the shape of the bill, which is hard
and differently shaped from the general
insect-eating bu'ds. I think that if every
collector would take all the eggs, destroy
the nest and parent bird if possible ; it may
seem cruel, but it is about the best way I
know of, and it is better to destroy birds
which are of no, if any use, than have the
birds which cheer us with their sweet littie
songs and destroy the vermin which infests
our trees.

Respectfully yours. H. W.,

Millville, N. J.

Mr. Editor ;— 1 would like to say a word
about the English Sparrow.

They are fairly over-running this town,
all through the public streets they build

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

17

behind signs, in tjie mouldings, in fact,
every place there is room to squeeze. I
have put up several houses with tops,
which can be opened. From one nest 1
took my "egg-a-day" as regular as I did
from my hens. I took seventeen eggs from
that nest. I then tacked a piece of tin
over the door with one lack, and tied a
string to it ; at night 1 pulled the string
which pulled the tin over the door, and
then take the bird out. I killed many that
way. I also took over seventy eggs of the
sparrow last summer. Let us hear from
others, and all help to drive o>it the pests.
J. S. G.,
Vineland, N. J.

FROM NEBRASKA.

After reading the article from ''L.," of
Manhattan. Kansas, in regard to the Song
Sparrow, I will sa)' that 1 have been seven
years in Nebraska, and have never found a
Song Sparrow's nest, nor ever seen the bird.
I live about 100 miles N. W. N. from
Manhatlan. Being a native of western
Massachuselt-i. I am as familiar with the
bird, as with the crow or robin.

Thi-ee years ago I saw the lirst roljiu that
I ever encountered in this count}'. I
enquired diligently, and could only find
one man who had ever seen the bird here
before. He saw a pair the year before.
Last year I found five nests in this vicinity,
and the other day (March 11th) I saw a
pair out in mj- front yard, which I can see
among the little apple trees as I wrile.
Last summer I took 4 eggs of what I sup-
posed to be the Blue .Jay, but which, on
reaching home, differed so radically from
mj' other Jay eggs, that after a very care-
ful study nf Corns' description, I concluded
to call them the eggs of Woodliouse Jay.
Coues says : Rocky Mountain region from
"Wyoming and Idaho, "southward" and
says also, "they live in the scrub-oak and
other thickets." I found this nest in a
hedge of young l)0.\'-elders and cotton-wood,
built in four rows to protect some young
fruit trees. Tlie Jleadow Lark came this
year Manli lOtli, when I was building a
house jiiht outside of town, and perched on
the dead corn-stalks, and uttered its pecu-
liar cry occasionally all day, hid did not sing
until the following morning, when it
greeted me with its well known melody.

I omitted to mention while speaking of
the sparrows, that the Black-throated
Bunting .seems to take the place of the song
sparrow here, being found in large num-
ber,s. They came this year Mai'ch '2d. in a
large tiock.

iPhe Chipping Sparrow I have never
seen here.

Can some of vour southern readers tell

me the true name of the "Moss Bird," I
cannot describe the bird, but found its
nest on the dry limb of an Ash tree, a hall
of moss deeply hollowed, with eggs about
(he size of the chickadee, white, dotted all
over with minute dots of various shades.
The eg.gs I have were so far advanced in
inculiatiou, that the shells are rather
difficult to describe. Perhaps the foregoing
attempt at a description will be sufficient
for some reader to identify them.

Yours, N. A. S.

York, Nebraska.

We think friend S's. "Moss bird" is

doubtless the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.— [Ed.

FROM WISCONSIN.

During the past winter a farmer near
here was in the habit of regularly putting
out oats and bread for a pair of White-bel-
lied Nuthatches (Sitta earoliruiims) which
remained about his house. The birds
would take the oats and deposit them in
the rough bark of an oak which grew near
by. eating them at their leisure. Was all
this trouble taken for convenience in eating
or as a provision against future want ?
They ate the bread where it was placed.
Thought thev lived entirely on insect food,
lias any one'else found them eating vege-
table food ?

Six Redthroatcd Divers {Colymbus sep-
l,'n(rionalis)wtiTL- caught on the lake near
here during the past winter. Some, if not
all, were caught by boys who went out on
the ice. When once "lighted it was with
s;Teat difficulty that they could get started
again, and if one was" quick enough he
could easily catch it. The bird is rarely
found here I am told.

Shot a Cedar Waxwing (Ampelis ceco-
driiiH) last spring with the tail feathers tip-
ped with the w^ix-like api)endages. They
were imperfectly developed, some of the
feathers lacking" them entirely. Is this a
usual occurrence ?

BIRD AHR1VALS FOR 1885.

Shore Lark{Eir»ii>p/iilit (ili'i'str'H) Feb. 28.
Northern Shrike [Liiiiinx Imrealis) Mar. 2.
Blue Jay {Ci^anoeitta crininta) March 3.
Red-headed 'Woodpecker (Melaiwrpfs ery-
throcqihalui) March 7. C. A. K.,

Milwaukee, Wis.

March 1, 1885 While out in the woods
to-day I saw the feMthers and skeleton of
an owl in the narrow crotch between two
trees, and under these were the skull and
Ijones of a rabbit. They had evidently got
caught there while the owl was sirugglmg
with his prey. Found a Little Red Screech
Owl dead in the snow.

i8

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

March 3. Have heard several Lark
Finches singing around in the fields.
Heard the "scream" of a Red-shouldered
Hawk.

March 9 . A flock of Cedar-birds alighted
on our grapevine. I shot one and was dis-
appoint'ed to tind it was not its cousin, the
Bohemian. Saw a Red-headed Wood-
pecker which had evidently wintered here.

March 28. Heard a Bluebird.

March 29. Found a flock of Red Cross-
bills in a tamarac swamp ; they were feed-
ing on the tamarac seeds and were very
tame ; I shot eleven of them. The male is
a yellowish-red mixed with dark brown.
Tlie female is yellow and gray. It is a rare
bird for this part of the country.

E. L. B.,
Durand, Wis.

I thought perhaps you and some of the
readers of The Young Oologist would
like to know when ducks, etc., are tirst
seen at our Lake. Figures at the right lei I
how many seen in the flock :

March 38, Gull (unknown species) 4

" 29. Killdecr 6

" 29, Golden Eyes 23

■' 29, Sheldrake 10

" 30, Red-heads 4

30, Black-heads 11

" 30, Teal (Blue-wing) 2

" 31, Wood Duck 1

" 31, Mallard 13

" 31. Coot 1

April l,;Butterballs 8

•' 1, Ruddy Duck- 14

'• 1, Wild Gee.se 41

" 1 , Magansers 7

' ' 2, Widgeon 2

" 2. PintaiLs 8

•' 2. Spoonbill 1

" 2, Ring-billed Black-heads 4

" 3, Canvas-back 10

B. W..
Lake Koshkonong, Wis.

usually get a Great-horned Owl or two, but
have seen none this winter.

H. H. M.,
Oak Bay, N. B.

FROM NEW BRUNSWICK.

On June 1st, 1884. I found a Yellow-
shafted Flickers nest containing ten eggs.
It was the largest set I have ever seen, but
unfortunately they were too far advanced
to blow, so I left them to hatch.

On June loth I took a set of four eggs of
the White-bellied Swallow from a hollow
fence pole. The nest was built on top of
an old nest, wliich also contained four eggs
with holes in them.

A friend of mine found a Summer Yel-
lowbird's nest with five eggs. Was it an
unusually large set ?

During the past winter I have taken three
Barred Owls, one Hawk Owl, one Rich-
ardson's Owl and one Saw-whet Owl. I

FROM MANY.

I saw my first robin on April 1st, first
blackbird April 1st, first Black Snowbird
April 2d, first Bluebird April 7th.

T. C, SeaforthOnt.

The Westfield, Wis., Union says a red-
winged blackbird has been staying on the
preniises of several farmers in that section
all winter.

On April 4 I found a nest of the Red
tailed Hawk, containing three eggs, which
I took. April 0 another nest I got contained
four eggs of same bird. Incubation far
advanced.' Is not that early for them ?
C. S., Des Moines, la.

While in Florida about four weeks ago
(Feb. 10) I found a Loggerhead Shrike's
nest with four eggs in it. Isn't it right
early for birds to lay. I found several
other nests not completed.

J. M. A., Jr., Murfreesboro, Tenn.

AVhile walking along the western shore
of Con:inicut Island last summer I saw a
flock of Purple Grackles feeding on the
shore. Curious to know what they found
to eat upon a beach and in apparently
great abundance, 1 watched and saw that
they were small clams. The biids breed
veiy plentifully in ihe swamp just beyond
this beach. J. M., Newport. R. I.

1 lliink G. H. S. is a little late on the ar-
rival of >the Red-tailed Hawk as in the
March number. On ilarch 30. 1884, I
found a nest of this species complete and
obtained the set on April 15. He st<ated
they arrived about the middle of April.
Yours truly, F. T.

Lake City. Minn.

On the first of this month (March) I
found a nest of the White Rumped Shrike
contiiining five eggs ; two days later I
looked in the nest and saw seven eggs. A
friend of mine found a nest of the Mourn-
ing Dove, two eggs which were fresh. I
think that is very early for a Mourning
Dove to lay. Yours truly, H. C. L.,
Hanford, Cal.

I saw in the ilarch number an account
of a friend seeing Meadow Larks upon
December 31. In "this part of the country
they are quite common in the coldest win-
ter weather, while the snow eo\ers^ the
ground several inches thick. W. S.,

Lewiston, Idaho.

Fully a score of collectors informs
" Hawk " that Catbirds frequently lay five

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

19

eggs, and from the testimony received
spotted Robin eggs can hardly be called
" very, very rare."

PUMP THUNDER ; BROAD-WINGED
HAWK.

The " Pump Thunder " enquired about
by J. W. L., Brandon Vt. , is undoubtedly
the American Bittern ; through central
New York it is properly styled the
" Thunder Pumper " from its peculiar
note, supposed to be made by the bird
immersing its bill under water, and
■ ■ pumping " the air out of its lungs.
Answering the question about the southern
limit of the nesting of the Broad- winged
Hawk, I would say two nests with eggs
have been tiAen in this county, about 20
miles west of Philadelphia. I have not
the data at hand, but will endeavor to
obtain it and report.

I have received the copy of "Davie's

Check-list." and consider it a very valuable

addition to the literature of the subject,

and worth far more than the price asked.

Very truly, C. J. C,

Kennett Square, Pa.

• FROM MINNESOTA.

On the 2yth I found a new nest of the
Red tailed Hawk, nearly completed, hav-
ing been made since the}' arrived on the
2.5th. They will probably begin to lay in
about two weeks. In a recent number of
the Y. O. I noticed that your correspon-
dents at Durand and Milwaukee, Wis., ob-
served no Pine Grosbeaks and Northern
Waxwing.s in their respective localities this
winter, 1 would say they, as well as the
Evening Grosbeak, (a regular winter visi-
tant here) have not i)een seen in this vicin-
ity this winter. I cannot see any reason
why tliey should not visit us this winter,
unless it may be on account of the un-
usual cold. Let us hear from others on
the subject. G. H. S.,

Lake City, Minn.

FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

Dear Sir : — Cannot you give a few notes
on Larks in Tuk You.ng OiiLocisT. It
would be of interest to me, and, I think to
manj' otlier readers. If you would give
a description of the different kinds, stating'
the locations where they breed. We have
the .Meadow Lark here ; it builds in
meadows, making a very neat and con] pact
nest out of dead grass, ic. It is covered
over, something like the Golden-crowned
Thrush's, having an opening in the side.
Will you please state if the Meadow Lark,
Horned Lark, and Skylark are all different

birds. Will you also state if the Black
and Purple ilartin are the same.

I have a word to say in regard to the
English Sparrows. I had nothing against
them until last spring, I found a nest May
16th, in a dead limb of an apple tree.
After taking out the nest, which was com-
posed of feathers mostly, I found a White-
bellied Swallow dead. My opinion was,
that after the swallow had chosen that place
to build, the sparrow had interrupted
them, and finding one in the hole, had
picked it until they succeeded in killing it.
Then, as they could not get their murdered
victim out, they built their nest on it.

Is not the " Baltimore Oriole" a properly
used name ? Id a book by J. D. Champlin,
Jr., it is given as "Baltimore Bird,"
saying it is wrongly called Oriole as there
are no Orioles in the United States.

C. W. S.,
Tyngsboro, JIass,

The Larks mentioned are different
descriptions in future issues. Black and
Purple Martins are the same.

"A LOONY' LOOKING BIRD."
I have before me a "loonj'" looking
bird which I would describe about as fol-
lows ; Throat and underparts white ;
nucha and cervix hoary gray ; vertix, oc-
ciput, wings, tail and back (which has a
few small whitish spots) are about the same
color, a pale black, perhaps the occiput is
more of a drab ; the primarys are black.
The bill, which I think is faded, resembles
in form that of the Western Grebe and is
about three inches long. The anterior toes
are palmate, the outer ones being the long-
est and measure 3f inches. Length, 36i ;
ext., 42i ; wing, 19+ ; tail, 2}.

I was not able to determine sex, the bird
having been shipped in from an adjoining
town nearly a week ago was not in a con-
dition to invite close scrutiny. Perhaps
some of the numerous, and no doubt bet-
ter posted readers of Thf Yovng Oolo-
GiST could tell me " what is it '!'

R. B. T., Valparaiso, Ind.

THE AMERICAN PARTRIDGE NOT A

QUAIL.

TO THE EDITDH OK THE YOUNG OOLOCilST.

Dear Sir: I noticed in the March num-
ber that E. T. M. speaks of flushing Jl'jcks
of Quails.

As for speaking of tlocks of Quails it is
an error. Flock should be applied to wild
ducks, shore birds or wild fowl of every
description, teal and reed birds (bobolinks).
But calling our bird a quail, it is most de-
cidcdlv a mistake.

20

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

It has been stated that our bird (Perdix
Virginianus, Bob White, or Partridge) is
more closely allied to the European quail
than to the English partridge, but such is
not the fact, as our bird resembles the
quail in no one particular save in the habit
of partial emigration, which it exhibits at
the running season

The meat of the European quail is dwrk,
and often loaded with fat, while that of our
bird is lohiU. and invariabh' lean.

Quails seldom form themselves into
coveys, while our bird almost always does.
The quail is also less prolific than our bird.
When quails migrate they assemble in large
numbers, but as soon as they arrive at
their destination they separate and each
one seeking his own food and guarding his
own safety. How widely, different is all
this from" the habits of our bird ! Is not
this enough to convince one that our part-
ridge is not a quail ?

Our bird should be called partridge. Bob
White, or by the scientific name, Perdix
Virginianus.

Hoping that the readers of The YonN(i
OoLOGisT will no longer call our partridge
by the very common, but unmistakal)ly
wrong name of quail, (as we have no quail
in our couutrv), 1 remain, your obedient
servant, " N. S. H. S.,

Concord, N. II.

BROAD-'WINGED HAWK.

To the friend from Chester county. Pa. ,
who wants to know how far the nest
of the Broad-winged Hawk has been
found I can tell him that I found one on
the shore of Lake Harney in Florida with
four eggs in it. I think that Charles J.
Maynard found some there last season.
J. T. J., Maiden, Mass.

Mr. Nehrling (ii.uk) gives the Broadwing
Hawk as nesting in the vicinity of Hous-
ton Texas. G. H. R.,
Gainesville, Tex.

ORCHARD ORIOLE.

If from tliis description you can name
this bird, will you do so in The Young

OOLOGIST.

Locality, Waterloo Alabama. Nest
built in the top of a mulberry tree tweiUy
feet from the ground, and compo.'^ed en-
tirely of fine dry grass, cup-shaped like a
Baltimore Oriole, perhaps not quite so
deep. The nest contained four eggs. The
one 1 now have has lines and blotclies like
an Oriole but is smaller, lueasuring .85 by
.58. The bird was yellowish color.

Yours truly, ,1. C. W.

Orchard Oriole. — [Ed.

ENCOURAGEMENT vs. CLIIVIBERS.

One day a friend and I went to a place
called Carr's Thicket, near Ridley Park,
Del. Co. , Pa. As we were hunting around
we spied a nest about 50 feet up in a large
black oak tree. My friend put on his irons
and commenced to'ascend, as he got higher,
he got more frightened, but my telling him
that if he could not go up, there was not
one in Morton that could. By coaxing
him in this manner a while, he reached
the nest, and had to grab hold of it and
pull himself up so that he could look over.
The first thing he said was, the are five
large eggs, as big as flour barrels. We
went home with our prize to tr}' and find
out what kind they were. The only thing
we thought the}' were, were Qsprey's.

The nest was in a large black oak tree,
about 50 feet from the ground. The nest
was about as large as half a flour-barrel,
made of coarse sticks, lined with shreds of
bark. The eggs, five in number, were
about 3.35x1.75 in., color dirty light green,
one egg had fine small specks on liutt end.

As we got near the nest the bird sat very
erect, like an owl. add was al)Out 10 inches
high. We don't think it was any species
of heron, for it had sharp lalo is and a
hooked beak. What was it V •

W. I. D.. Morton, Pa.

Nates From Philadelphia.

Large-billed Water Thrush.— .May 31st,
1883, while going through a thick woods,
I 'discovered a nest of this bird in the dead
leaves under a lam-el bush. It contained
four eggs, almost incubated ; they were
brittle and very hard to blow. The nest
was situated on the side of a hill near Wis
sahickon creek.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo.— .July 12, with a
friend I visited a nest of this bird at Mill
creek. It was in a tree, 13 or 15 feet up,
and contained two young and four eggs.
The nest was right over the road and only
about twenty yards from a railmad.

Acadian Flycatcher.— .June 8tb, 188-1,
found a nest containing two eggs, which
had been set on about four days. This
was a very pretty set, one egg having spots
on it as large as a Wood Pewee's. This
year I have found about eight of these
nests, and all but two contained two eggs.
Last year all I saw containeil three eggs.
E. C. E.,
Manavunk, Phila.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

21

Queries. Answered.

Queries to be answered in these columns should be
written an a postal or slip of paper — never mix them
in your letter when writing about other matters.

T. N. J., Santa Barbara, Cal.— Your
" bush bird " is the Crimson House Fincli,
and your " liang bird." ■•titmouse" is tlie
Least Tit.

W. H. T. Jr., Pliila., Pa.— Tlie Bar-
tram's Vireo ( Vireo virescens) is a Soutli
American species, and was consequeiitlj'
omitted from "Ridgwaj''s Nomenclature of
Nm'th Americd ti Birds.,'

H. T. E., Bradford, Pa.— Tlie measure^
ments given in Davie's Kgg Check List of
the eggs of the White-bellied Nuthatch are
correct. Your small Nuthatch eggs are
Black-capped Chickadee's.

F. C, Ashland, O. — From description
of the nest and eggs of your " Mumac-
bird, " would say that it is either the Y'el-
low-bilkd Cuckoo or Green Heron. Send
us measurements of the eggs and we'll in-
form you.

G. G. ('., Minneapolis, iliiui. — There is
but slight if any difference between the
eggs of the "western" and "eastern" vari-
eties of many birds, but the birds them-
selves, of these varieties, can be more or
less readily distinguished. Renewals can
be sent in at any time.

H. S. W., Normal. III. — We have never
used or tried the "Preservative Prepara-
tion " you mention, and consequently can
neither praise nor condemn. We take the
following from our scrap-book, and think
it will answer the purpose just as well, and
possibly is nearly the same preparation :
"To preserve small birds entire, take
strong alcohol and dissolve in it about one
drachm of corrosive sublimate to every
quart of the spirits. Test with a black
feather to see that it is not too strong of
the sublimate. Soak small birds in this
preparation three or four days, then take
them out and allow to drj'. For a bird the
size of a pigeon, remove the entrails, wash
it clean and let it remain ten to tifteen
days."

J. R. H., San Francisco, Cal, The eggs
of the Arizona Goldfinch are a trifle
smaller than those of the American.

H. P. B., New Y'ork ( ily.— Portions of
the embryo can he pulled through the hole
in the shell and can be flipped off with the
eml.iryo scissors piece-meal. The Wilson's
Thrush nests on or near the ground. The
Wood Thrush usually nests in saiiliiigs in
thickets.

M. G., Basil, O.— The Little Screech
Owl lays from four to seven pure white
eggs, nearly round, about 1.38 by 1.19 in.

E. L. W., Chatham Centre, O.— The
eggs of the Ai-ctic Bluebird are similar to
those of the common Bluebird. Davie, in
his Egg Check List, gives them a little
larger. Also from the same we take the
following description of the eggs of the
Baird's Sandpiper : ' ' Buff or clay colored,
spotted and blotched with varying shades
of chestnut-brown ; size variable, average
1.30 by .90 in."

H. C. L.. Hanford, Cal.— The Red-
shafted Flicker replaces the Y'ellow-shafted
in Western N. A. Cones' Key is the
standard work.

F. E. W., Oskaloosa, Li.-The Y'ellow-
breasted Chat has a golden yellow breast
and olive green back.

O. P., Little Neck, N. Y., would like to
know the various local names by which
the Yellow-shafted Flicker is known, and
suggests that the subscribers of The
YoijNG OoLOGisT Send in the names by
which it is known in their respective local-
ities. Let us hear from all. This list will
prove e.xceediugl}' interesting.

R. B. T.. Valparaiso. Ind. — Glass and
lic|Uids are immailable unless packed in
wooden, or some equallv strong substitute,
boxes. •

A. S, R., Sycamore, 111. — The Downy
Woodpecker is a permanent resident here,
and is doubtless in your locality.

H. N. B.. Polo, 111., desires to learn the
correct name for the Colorado bird known
as the " Camp Robbrr. "

A. C. S., Toledo, O.— The bird which
you call "Ground Chippie" is llie Field
Sparrow.

Nest of the Ruby-Throated Humming-
bird.

I received your monthly yesterdaj-, and
read it through last evening ; was very
much interested in it, but can hardly think
that the Hummingbird ( T- cohihris) covers
the nest with a large leaf during a rain
storm, as one of your correspondents
mentioned. I have observed Humming-
birds' nests from the time the young were
hatched, until they left the nest, and never
saw anything to indicate that they were
covered up. I have six nests and eggs,
three of w Inch 1 found in an apple orchard
within W trees of each other, in 1883.

22

THE YOUNG OO LOG I ST.

The first on July 3(3th. containing 2 fresh
eggs. August 6tli. I fonml an empty nest
in which had been young birds, and
within an hour, three trees from the nest
found July 36th, another containing 1 egg
and a piece of dead bark. I -watched it for
two hours that day and the next, but saw
no bird, and concluded it had lieen deserted
on account of the bark getting into it ; the
egg was fresh. I came to the conclusion
that all three nests were made b}' the same
bird. The empty nsst containing the first
brood, the one with two fresh eggs the
second, and the one with 1 egg and bark
the third clutch. I have them all in shape
of a tiepot. under a glass shade :' two of
the nests were on dead branches, with no
chance to empale a leaves during rain
storms. The other three nests were also
found in one orchard, and much nearer
togerher than thee reported, but in two
seasons. The first I found June 32d, 1881
with two eggs nearly ready to hatch ; 35
days after, in the next tree of the next
row, 1 found the second with two young
just out of the shell. May S.'ith, 1883, in
the next tree of the next row, I found the
third nest with two fresh eggs within three
feet of the second, but I broke one of the
eggs in taking it from the nest ; none of
the nests I have found were (wer nine (9)
feet from the ground, and all in apple trees.
J. L. D., Lockport, N. Y.

Interesting Happenii.gs.

E'litor nf the Y. 0. — I saw a vcrv inter-
esting performance this morning. A crow
flew down under an apjile tree and began
walking around on the snow as if he was
looking for something. Pretty soon he
found what he w-as looking for and began
to bore in the snow witli his bill. He
worked away till finally he pulled out a
decayed apple. He then stuck his bill into
it, flew up in a tree and there ate it. How
he knew where to look for the apple floored
me.

As 1 was walking along the shore of a
small lake I came suddenly upon a 3'oung
Spotted Sandpiper. As soon as he saw me

he ran along the shore and stuck his head
in a bunch of grass, thinking, no doubt,
that bis whole body was concealed because
his head was. I picked him up, when he
began to utter shrill cries, which attracted
the parent bird. She, on seeing that I had
one of her young, feigned a broken wing
to attract me away. I took the young one
to the water and let it go, when it started
out and swam for quite a distance like a
duck. It soon tired and came back to the
shore. I started on a run towards the little
fellow, when he quickly plunged under the
water and swam out for quife a distance,
using his wings for paddles. He then rose
to the surface and landed on a small rock
to dry his feathers. W. G. T.,

Plymouth, Ct

English Sparrow.

EDITOIl YOUNG OOLOGI8T

Dear Sir : — I am glad to see this subject
brought forward in your colums ; "what
is to be done with the little tyrants," is a
knotty question. I remember, when about
1877 the En'.^rsh Spa'row first made its
appearance, that Robins and Orioles were
quite numernus about the house, and the
nest of either species could be found with-
out any difficulty. As the sparrows became
more numerous, other birds fell off, and
last spring 1 could not find a single Oriole's
nest, or a pair in their old haunts. It's
high time these interlopers were stopped
in their depredations. As for those be-
niglited people who imported them, scarcely
enough can be said to censure such an
unwise act. Everyone asks how they cau
be gotten rid of ; can no one answer the
([uestion ? Last summer I invested in an
air rifle, inexpensive, and very useful : it
is nearly noiseless, and the little pests so
tame, that one can get within easy range
and slaughter half-a-dozen or so, before
they suspect your iiresence. With this little
weapon I Killed nearly two hundred in a
week, until they bec;ime q\iite wild. I
have vowed vengeance on the little rascals,
and never spare the eggs or young.

Yours truly W. M.

Rochester, N. Y.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

23

Rhode Island Jottings.

Dear Sir : — Enclosed you will find some
notes on collecting, taken from my note
book, which were made in the vicinity of
Providence. They are large sets, and I
thought they might interest the readers of
The Young Oologist.

Robin; May 20th, 1884, a set of five
fresh eggs, nest built on side of a stone
wall in a pasture.

Catbird ; .June .5th, 1883, brought me a
nest and five eggs, nest in a lilac bush, this
will answer ' ' Hawks " querry in the March
Young Oologist.

Bluebird ; April 30th, 1884, set of six,
nest in a post ; May 2d, 1884, six eggs,
nest iu a hole in an apple tree ; May 14th,
1884, took a nest and six eggs out of a
piece of drain pipe setting on end, on a
shelf in a shed ; .Tune 7th, 1884, six, one
very small.

Purple ilartin ; .July .5fh, 1883, I col-
lected sets of four, and one nice set of five,
fresh.

Barn Swallow ; .June 10th, 1882, I found
a set of six.

White-bellied Swallow ; June 5th, 1882,
a set of six fresh eggs, nest in a hole of a
maple tree.

Bank Swallow ; .June 8th, 1882, sets of
six.

I{ed-eyed Vireo ; .June 10th, 1882, I col-
lected a set of five eggs, nest in a maple
tree over a road.

Goldfinch ; Aug. 7th, 1884, brought me
a nest and six eggs, perfectly fresh, nest in
a maple by side of road.

Red-winged Blackbird ; May 2oth, 1883,
sets of four and onl}' one of five.

Baltimore Oriole ; .June 6th, 1684, I
found a nest of six, nest suspended from
an orchard tree.

Purple Grackle ; May 8th, 1882, I found
a set of six ; May 15th, 1882, six, and May
7th. 1884, a nest and six, nests in spruce
trees, birds breeding in community.

Crow ; April 1882, six eggs out a nest in
a maple.

Blue .Jay : May 19th. 1883, I collected a
set of five out of a nest in a cedar, and

May 17th, 1884, a set of four, nest in an
apple tree.

Pewee — Pha-be ; May 12th, 1883, 1
found the only set of six I ever saw, nest
built on side of stone underpinning under
a bridge.

Least Flycatcher ; May 31, 1884, I col-
lected a nest and five eggs of this bird out
of a wild cherry tree.

Yellow-shafted Flicker ; have found
surely fifteen sets of eight, and only one of
nine during 1883 — 4.

Black-billed Cuckoo ; .July 4th. 1883, I
found a nest containing three eggs, incuba-
tion slight, and one young bird.

Osprey ; May 20th, 1884. I collected a
handsome set of four out of a nest built in
a dead locust tree, the birds were very
fierce, one knocked off my cap ; in the side
of this nest a pair of English Sparrows
had built, and I obtained five eggs out of
this nest.

Red .shouldered Hawk : April 16th, 1884,
1 found a handsome set of four, nest in a
maple tree in deep, swampy woods.

C. E. D., Prov. R. I.

A Newsy Letter From Texas.

Editor Tilling Oulogisl: A few notes
from the Lone Star State will probably be
iu order. The campaign opened on Feb
ruary 27th. when I took a fine set of three
eggs of the Great Horned Owl. March 2d
I took another set of this species that would
probably have taken the " cake " for earli-
ness if I could have taken it fresh. The
nest contained two eggs badly spoiled and
one young owl fully half-fledged. Count
back and see how early this set could have
been taken. March 7th, 11th, 13lh and
18th I took sets of an Owl and H;.wk that
are new to me. I shot and .skinned a spec-
imen of each and will report names as soon
as determined. March 21st I took my first
set of Blue Jay for the season. On the
25th I secured a fine set of Red-bellied
Hawk, two eggs ; I also found another
nest of the Great Horned Owl. Hunting
up my climber. I sent him up the tree.
What was found in that nest will liardly

24

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

ever enter a cabinet. I give a list : Two
young Owls, the leg and thigh of a grown
chicken and a half-consumed polecat. The
nest I found March 2d contained nearly a
whole rabbit, and one of the unidentitied
Owls taken out of a hollow tree had a ban-
quet spread in the shape of a dead rat and
a Cedar Waxwiug— quite a varied l)ill of
fare.

Some of our birds, I. c. Turkey Buzzard,
Black Vulture and Hawks, are behind
time in nesting this year, owing, no doubt,
to the backward spring we are having. I
have held back this report until I could
take a few more species that generally fur-
nish their quota ere this.

The arrivals to date (March 26th) are as
follows, given about in the order of their
coming, viz ; Purple Jfartin, Lark Finch,
Yellow-winged Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, and
on Sunday, March 22d, I saw the first
Swallow-tailed Kite. On the 21st inst.,
while hunting in the bottoms, I saw plenty
of Robins and Cedar Waswings, in fact
"the woods were full of 'em." On the
23d I could not find a single bird of either
species, tlicy having started on their jour-
ney North.

I have been looking over TuE Young
Ooi.OGisT to-day. Nos. 1 to 11 inclusive,
and, in the vernacular of the natives, must
say it has " come out right smart " in the
short time it has been published. The in-
crease in size is a good idea, and I think an
issue of twice a month instead of once, as
now, would be acceptable.

A few remarks as to my experience with
some of the birds that liave been written
about in the back numbers of The Young
OoLOGiST may not be out of place. The
habit of the Orchard Oriole (mentioned bj'
Mr. Perry) of nesting with other birds has
been noticed by me. I have always found
them in company with the Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher. During '88 I was generall}'
accompanied by two young collectors on
my egging e.xpeditions. and it was a com-
mon expression of theirs, after finding a
nest of the Flycatcher, " Now, let's look
for the grass nest" ((. c. Orchard Oriole.)
Mr, Perry says of the Cardinal Grosbeak :

"They only lay three eggs. " Here they
do sometimes lay four, as I have taken sev-
eral sets containing that number. Best of
all, one day while out egging, I found a
nest of this species with four eggs of the
Grosbeak and one of the Yellow-billed
Cuckoo. Has any other collector ever
found the Yellow-billed Cuckoo to lay in
the nests of other species ?

H. E. Deats mentions finding the eggs of
the Carolina Dove in the nests of other
species. I have taken out of the same
nest, first, a set of eggs of the Lark Finch,
next a set of Carolina Doves, and third and
last, another set of the Larlv Finch ; pretty
good for one nest. The Dove often takes
possession of the old nests of other species,
at least such is my experience. I find
many of their nests on the ground.

The " Reunion of Hawks " mentioned on
page 85, October number of The Young
OoLOGiST, is a yearly occurrence here —
can be seen every autumn.

The collecting season will open in earn-
est about April 1st, and then 1 will spend
the most of my time in the woods, doing,
as a severely practical ('/j friend of mine re-
marked, ' ' climbing tree.< after eggs, just
like a varmint." " Varmint " is the Texas
vernacular for wild cat, raccoon, opo.ssum.
&c. When I do get to work in earnest in
the pursuit of " our hobby," I hope to be
able to send you some interesting items.
J. A. Singlet,
Lee Co.. Texas.

Data Blanks for Collectors.

We now furnish Data Blanks ))ut up in
pads of 100 each, i. e., glued on tops and
sides, making them much more convenient,
as they are not so liable to be destroyed or
lost when in this book form. For the
present we shall make no extra charge, but
you should order at once if you wish to
gain this advantage. No collector should
be without them, as trusting 3'our memory
on so important a subject as identity ought
to be discontinued. Accuracy is what is
wanted, and you cannot obtain that with-
out the Data Blank.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

OUR BIRDS

— IN —

THEIR HAUNTS.

\ pi'fl.'LAR TREATISE "N

THE BIRDS OF EASTERN N. A.

— BY —

Rev. J. H. LANGILLE, M. A.

Orleans Co.

ALBION, N. Y.

TIGER COWRY,

(CVPR-«A TIGRIS.)

From the East Indies, is one of the handsomest and
most durable shells in the market. Size 2x2x3 in.,
usual retail price 26c., but owing to our large stock
will send a sample by mail, post-paid, for only 12c.
One dozen by Express for 60c.; fifty by Express for
$2.00. FRANK H. LATTIN,

Albion, N. Y.

DILLS USED BEFORE THE REBELLION.—
^ Set containing $1, $2, $3 ; Post-paid, only 15c.
Address, R. R. GAY,

30 Allen St., Rochester, N. Y.

Established 1823.

WM. H. WARNER & BRO.,

MEDALISTS.

1123 Chestnut St,, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Inauguration Medal. Obverse— bust of Cleveland
and Hendricks. Reverse— Eagle, Shield and Flags,
Epluribus unum. Inaugurated March 4tK, 1885.
Size 23, white metal, fine proof, forwarded to any
address on receipt of 20c, Circulars giving full
account of our latest publications of fine proof medals
forwarded to any address Free.

*^END stamp for lists of Black Hill and other
Minerals, Curiosities and Naturalists Supplies.
(No Postals received.)

EDWARD L. DURKEE,

Sharon, Wise.

Black Hills Cabinet Minerals.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

Brief dc-criplions, and for the most part
FULL LIFE HISTORIES are given of
all the species common east of the Mississippi,
with special attention to the songs and nesting,
and the curious and fascinating, of which there
is so much in the lives of these wonderful
creatures. The narrative follows, for the most
part, the order of the seasons, and groups itself
about certain interesting localities, as Niagara
River and St. Clair Flats. Migration, instinct,
the analogy of nidification, the specialized
forms and adaptaiionsof .structure in birds, etc.,
all made readable.

The work is mo.stly from personal observa-
tion, incorporating a full report for Western
New York and the adjouiing regions of the great
lakes, and a pretty full report for Nova Scolia.
also a good deal of direct information from
Hudson's Bay, by means of on excellent cor-
respondent.

In cloth and on fine tinted paper,
PRICE $3.00.

Address al! orders to

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST,

4,000 lbs. constantly on hand. 30 varieties ; any
size, some of them are Tin Ore, Mica, Selenite^
Dendrite, Needle Crystals of Tuurmaline, Dog Tooth
Spar, Garnet Slate, very black Biolite, Fossiis, Baccu-
lites, Nautilus, Ammonites. Also elegant polished
Colorado Agates, Smoky Topaz and Amazon Stone,
Hot Springs Ark. Quartz Crystals and Indi n Relics.

See advertisement in Januarj' and Februarj'
\'nr:\r. ( )olo(;ist. Write for price-list.

L. W. STILLWELL.

Deadwood, P. T.

Mention "Young Oologist."

TEXAS SPECIMENS.

Bird Skins, Nos, 11, 242, 263, 289, 372, 460, 48ubv
25 cents each. 362, 50 cents. Minerals, Selenite,
(ver>' fine,) Fossiliferous, Cretaceous Rock, Fossil
Wood. Silicified Wood, Flint, 2x2 inch specimens, 10
cents each ; Scorpions, 10 cents ; Centipedes, 25 to 50
cents, according to size ; Florida Moss, package 10
cents, pound 30 cents ; Land and Fresh Water Shells,
labeled with scientific name, eight species, twenty
specimens, 30 cents; Fragments Indian Pottery, 5
cents; Flint Arrowheads, c. 20 and 25 cents;

Javelin Points, 50 cents; all by mail, post-paid.

Remit by Postal Order, Note, Registered Letter or
two-cent stamps. Orders of One Dollar, or over, will
be packed in Florida Moss. Address

J. A. SINGLEY,
Giddings, Lee Co., Texas.

Refer to Publisher Young Oologist.

N. B. — I neither have, nor will have. Birds' Eggs
for Sale or Exchange.

Oldroyd's National inks

These inks have been sent to over twenty States in
this Union, besides Canada, India and .\sia. Rev.
Samuel G. McFarland, Superintendent of Government
Schools in Siam, Asia, says he has used them a great
while, and Hkes them better than any he, has ever
tried. A. I. Root, of Medina, Ohio, editor and pub-
lisher of Gleanings in " Bee Culture," says he has
tested and sold thousands of bottles of Olroyd's inks,
and has sold thousands of bottles of others, but Old-
royd's excell all others as a writing ink. They are
not injured by freezing, and will not corrode a pen.
A package in powders, sufficient for one pint of either
black, blue, violet, green or red, sent free to any part
of the United States upon receipt of fifteen cents.
EIGHT PACKAGES, - - $1.00
FIVE DOZ. PACKAGES, $6.00

^^™ Simply add one pint of pure rain water. If too
thick at any time, reduce with water. Address
WM. OLnnOYD,

ColunibuSf Ohio,

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

S§§s, Zxistruznents and Supplies^

-<£^T -<^ ^)isoo"cra:NrT-

All orders will be filled promptly, and forwarded bj' return mail or express, at my risk, postage or ex-
press CHARGES PREPAID.

Remit at once by draft on N. Y,, money order or postal note on Albion, N. V., registered letter, or stamps.

OUR SPECIAL RATES. GOOD UNTIL JUNE 25TH.

Collectors sending $ .50 can select fiom the following list eggs to the amount of $ .60.

1.00 *' " " " 1.30.

2.00 " •* " " 2.75.

0.00 " " ** " 7.00.

10.00 " " '* " 15.00.

Small orders undei fifty cents will be filled at prices named.

FIRST CLASS EGGS.

Russet-backed Thrush

American Robin

Mockingbird

Catbird - - - -

Brown Thrasher

Bluebird

Boat-tailed Grakle

Cactus Wren

House Wren - - -

Western House ^yren

Summer Yellowbird

Black-and-yellow Warbler

Black-poll vVarbler

White-rumped Shrike

Purple Martin

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Summer Redbird

English Sparrow

Crimson House Finch

American Goldfinch

Lark Finch _ - -

Western Lark Finch

Chipping Sparrow -

Field sparrow

Song Sparrow

Californian Song Sparrow
Texas Sparrow

Californian Brown Towhee
Cardinal Grosbeak
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-throated Bunting
Cowbird - -
Bronzed Cowbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird -
Red-and-buff -shouldered

Blackbird - - -

Wagler's Oriole
Hooded Oriole - - -
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Crackle -
Bronzed Grackle
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Kingbird, Bee Martin
Phoebe bird, Pewee
Western Yellow-bellied Fly^
catcher _ _ _ _

Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Groove-billed Crotophaga
Burrowing Owl - ,

Red-bellied Hawk - -
Black Vulture, Carrion Crow
Mourning Dove - - -
White Fronted Dove
White-winged Dove
Ground Dove

Sage Cock - - _ _
Californian Quail

25
03
10
03
05
03
20
50
08
16
06
80
75
2-.
20
05
05
40
05
12
OS
20
35
03
08
03

■ 20
1 00

25
15

■ 20

- 15
05

1 25
15

03

1 00

75

- 12
60
10
25
05
05

40

12

05

3 00

- 60
1 50
1 00

10

- 65
50

- 50
75

- 20

Wilson's Plover -
American Coot
American Flamingo
Maltiird - - - -
Redhead
American Eider
Ruddy Duck

Double-crested Cormorant
Great Black-backed Gull
American Herring Gull -
Laughing Gull
Forster's Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Roseate Tern
Razor-billed Auk
Common Puffin
Common Guillemot
Californian Guillemot
Alligator - - _
Guinea Fowl - - -
Domestic Pigeon

CENTRAL AMERICAN EGGS.

Meleagris oceliata, Ocellated

Turkey - - - 3 00

Ortyx nigrogularis - - 1 00
Geococcyx affinis, Mexican

Paisano - - - 2 00

Centurus Albifrons, White-
fronted Woodpecker - 1 00
Turdus Grayi, Gray's Thrush 40
Mimus Gracilis, Long-tailed
Mockingbird _ _ _
Polioptila albiloris
Thryothoriis albinucha -
Euphonia affinis, Euphonia
Saltator atriceps - _ _
Icterusgularis - _ _
Icturusauratus, Golden-winged

Oriole - - - - 1 00

Lampropsar divas - - - 56
Tyraunas satrapa, Gold'

50
15
25
25
40
30
I 50
35
80
25
25
30
10
15
15
40
40
30
35
30
12
05

Blue Grosbeak - - - 25

Vellow-headed Blackbird - 10
Red-and-buff-shouldered

Blackbird - - - - 02
Red-atid-white-shouldered

Blackbird _ - _ 10

Blue Jay - - - - 06

Pewee _ _ - _ 06

Red-headed Woodpecker - 10

Yellow-shafted Micker - 04

Burrowing Owl - - 30

.Vlourning Duve - - - 04

Ground Dove - - - 25

American Quail - - - 08

California Quail - - - 10
Mallard ----- 20

Redhead - - - - 30

Ruddy Duck - - - 75

American Herring Gull - 18

Least Tern - - - - OS

Leach's Petrel - - - 15

Common Guillemot - - 20

English Sparrow - - - 02

EGG DRILLS :
No. 1, short handle, 8-100

mediu

12-100
18-100
24-100
handle, 3.32 in

10
*I2
15
20

20

65

No. 2.

No. 3,

Na. 4.

No. 0,

burr - - -

No. 1, medium handle, 4.32 in.
burr - - - - 25

No. 2, medium handle, 5.33 in.
burr - - - 35

No. 3, medium handle, 6.32 in.
burr - - - - 50

No. 4. medium handle, 8.32 in.
burr - - - 75

Long handle, dental burrs, (same
as many dealers use for long-
handled drills) 1.32. 2.32, 3.32,
each 3- - - - 25

4,32,5.12, 6.32 - - 30

Blow p pes, No. 1, brass - 15

" No. 3. nickel-plated 35

Caliper rules, for taking the
measurements of birds' eggs,
etc. - - - 35

Lead pencils, soft, for marking
eggs - - - - 10

Data Blanks, best out, printed on
white paper, black ink, see
samples, per dozen 3 to 10

Per hundred - 15 to 45

Oologists' Cement, per bottle 12

'■ largeSjottle 25

Noturalists' Cement, per bottle 25

The Oologists' Hand Book 25

" " cloth

bound - - - 50

FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y.

crowned Flycatcher
SECOND CLASS EGGS

Robin - - _

02

Mockingbird _ - .

- 06

Catbird

02

Brown Thrasher

- 03

liluebird _ _ -

02

White-rumped Shrike

- 12

Purple Martin

12

Cliff Swallow

- 02

Bank Swallow

03

Crimson House Finch

- 08

American Goldfinch

06

Chipping Sparrow - -

- 02

Field Sparrow

06

Song Sparrow

- 02

Cardinal Grosbeak

10

AND

':M<2^ fvauc rttabc 0Lz^aiiqc)iiC4tt'^ to cFut-ni^f^ tfoii I'uitfv a. ^oo^

1-line Stamp, 30 cents

2-line Stamp, 35 cents

3-line Stamp, 40 cents

4-lins Stamp, 45 cents

5-line Stamp, 50 cents

For a long time we have been inconvcnieni-cd by parties sending us Orders, Letters, Pack-
ages, Etc., Etc., some of which we have never received, others, which lacked either Name or
Address, of the Parties sending. We are only one of many who have been incon-
venienced. For a long time we have been trying lo devise some Cheap Method by which this
could be avoided. We well knew that with the use of a Neat Label or RUBUER STAMP, our
friend's Letters or Packages, if misdirected or miscarried, would be returned to them. But we al-
so knew that a Good Rubber Stamp with outfit, would cost at least $1.00. This we knew
was nvMe than many of us were willing to ]iay- So, not long since, we went to One of the
Leading Stamp Manufacturers in the United States, and briefly stating lo hun our diffi-
culty, inquired what lie c.iuid du for us. During our talk with him, we gently hinted that there
were over Twenty Five Thousand of us, Colleciori and Exchangers, besides hundreds of others in
the U.S. who needed a Cheap Eubber Stamp, not only for Markmg Packages, but for mark-
ing their Clothing. Books, Piinting their own Cards, Labels Tags, Envelopes, Etc., Etc. Before
leavii g ihe Mcinufactory we had made arrangements with the Propriemr to furnish our fi>end-- with
a Good Rubber Stamp, inrhiding Ink and Pads, all in a neat Box, •'

When twelve or more parlies club together and send in their orders at one lime, we can furn-
ish them at Cents each. Give Plain Directions and State the Style of Stamp desired, Styles
given below, also, the color of Ink you prefer, we can furnish Red, Blue, Violet, Black, Green, or
Indelible. Please send Postage Stamps or Postal Note for Address,

Frcux'k. H. LcLtttrt, Albion, N. Y.
1. 2. 3.

J./^ -qL^^. printed matter. ^^Tf ^"^^^

cy §Tand Rapids, <M}ch.

4. 5. 6.

'\WWvolloll>Wvj|5 Wcwvv^ "iox^es, FRANK RYAN

Specimens Only.

"Sos,\o\\, ">\«.?,%. 1132 Grand Street,

7.

St, Lauis,
9.

Mn.

8.

TheYoungOolomt ^ j. g. white from

LOCKBOX 101 Ciirinsity DsalBr George Tone,

Gaines -NY ^^" Francisco, Cala. Brooklyn, J\f. Y.

10.

If not Called for ia TEN DAYS

Keturn to

Wm. spencer,
chicago, ills.

11.

Natural History Specimens,

-*5-FP.OM-<S-

H. S.Brown,

BUFFALO,N, Y.

THli YOUNG OOLOGIST.

DAYIE'S EGa CHECK LIST,

— OF —

ITorth. American Birds.

This work contains accurate descriptions of the Color and Size of the
Eggs, and location of the Nests of the Land and Water Birds of North
America, together with " Notes " and Directions for Collecting Birds' Eggs
and Nests.

The following specimen description plainly shows how invaluable the
work must be to every collector:

•'315. PHOiBE BIRD: PEWEE— sayorms FUmbs.— Color, pure white, sometimes
sparsely spotted with reddish brown at the lari^er end ; number of eggs, five ; size, .80 by .60 ;
nest in stone culverts, bridges, under the roofs and against the walls of old houses and barns ;
nest is composed of mud, twigs and leathers ; habitat. Eastern United States."

It is intended that this work will enable the collector to identify Eggs
while in the field, and will take the place of those e.>;pensive works which are
usually beyond the reach of many collectors.

No Oologist or Collector of Eggs, be he amateur or professional, can do
without this work.

It is printed in large type, on heavy, tinted paper, and bound in antique,
Japanese paper cover. PRICE BY MAIL, ONLY 60 CENTS.

IiE-^X3 T7v^2a:,2^T OTHEX^S S-^-ST.

I sincerely hope that your efforts in behalf of
Oologists will meet with the favorable reception which
they deser\-e. Your little list is just the thing to take
into the field, not too bulky, yet giving the main
essential facts in each particular case. — William
Breivster , Ca/nbridg-e, Mass.

I am much pleased with the Catalogue, and consider
it a valuable contribution to ornithological literature.
It should be in the hands of every collector. I only
regret that I have nothing at present to offer in
reciprocation o your kindness. — T. G. Gentry.

Have just received your little treasure " Davie's

Check List" from my friend and so much am

I pleased with its contents after 3 ho»irs perusal, that
I cannot refrain from telling you direct how much 1
welcome this helpmeet in my studies and researches,
in short, in a consise and thorough manner it supplies
a long felt want. Add my name to the long list of
admirers, which this charming little book must have
made for you. — Harry G. Parker, Chester, Pa.

I take pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of
your "Key to Eggs of North American Birds. ' It
IS very handsomely gotten up, and is unique. It will
certainly take a permanent place in the ornithological
literature of the U. S. Fifteen years ago what would
I not have given for such a volume ? and to-day I
welcome it h.artily, I wish it great success, which it
will surely have, unless I misjudge the sense of all
working Oologists. — Dr. Howard Jones, A uthor 0/
the " Illustrations 0/ tke Nests and Eggs 0/ the Birds
0/ Ohio:'

I am sure vou have made a most useful little book,
one that everj- young ollector (and many who are not
young) ought to have.— /"rtj/. B. W. Ei'ermann^
Camden, Ind.

It is just what every egg collector in the land should
have. I will send for several in a few days. — R. B.
'Fronslot, Valparaiso, Ind.

"Davies Egg Check List" is a beauty, the typography
and paper unex'celled, ana deserving all praise bestowed
upon it. — E. B. Cornwell, Kitl>icoft, Wise.

I " think it is worthy of recommendation to my
friends" and I thing the younger collectors will hail
it as a " long felt want" while the older ones will duly
appreciate it. — Charles R. Keyes. Des Moities, la.

'' Have looked it over, and find it invaluable to the
egg collector. The descriptions are accurate and the
work meets a long felt want. The topography of the
work is perfect and the price brings it withm reach
of all." — A, N. Fziller, Lawrence lias.

*' It is worth ten times the price." — Philip Laurent^
Philadelphia, Pa.

" The List will be a great help to the working
Oologist."— /F. W. WorthifigtoN, Shelter Island,
N. V.

" It is just the thing we have needed, and should
be in every collector's hands, both old and young." —
W. Otto. Emerson, Hayivurds, Cala.

Dealers and Agents.— We will send you one dozen copies by express, and print your
name and address in the Young Oologist, advising collectors of your vicinity to purchase oi
you, for S4.80.

FRANK H. LATTIN,

ALBION, N. Y.

rpxi:

;^:^.^A■v^7vA^;^^v.^■v.v.\■^■^Ajjv^\^^^:^.,^7^

Vol. II. No. 2. ALBION, N. Y., JUNE, 1885.

j Published Monthly.
i $1.00 Per Year.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

In answering advertisements,
mention The Young Oologist.

always

Pdbber p

^^ stamI

Agents, Novelty Dealers and Col-
lectors, make Big Pay selling our
poods. Circulars and terms FREE.
144 Page Catalogue mailed for 15c.
C. J. CONOLLY & CO., Rochester, N. Y.

To Exchange. — I have representative Fossils from
the Lower SilurJaH, Cincinnati Group, Upper Silurian,
Clinton Group, and Tnlobites CalymcUL- Senaria.
which I would like to exchange for fine Fossils, Min-
erals and Coins. BRAINERD B. THRESHER,
Dayton, Ohio.

A Large Assortment of Rare American Copper and
Silver coins for sale. Send list of wants, en-
closing stamp for reply. Address

W. W. EGGLESTON,

Albion. N. Y.

Mazan Creek Fossils, consisting of Ferns. Plants.
Fish remains. Crawfish, Insects. Bugs, Flies, Cater-
pillars, etc. Choice collections of these fossils from
$r.oo to $100.00, sent to any part of the world. Sat-
isfaction guaranteed. The Mazan Creek Fossils are
the finest in the world. For further information
.-ladress H. D. HILL. Morris, Ills]

^©^Send 25c. in stamps, and receive by return
mail a sample of these Fossils.

Published monthly by Hoffmeister i: Burgess, 54 N.
Green St., Balto., Md., 40c. per year. Send for sample-

LOOK! LOOK ! !

Send Stamp for Price-list of
MINERALS, SHELLS,

CORALS, BIRDS EGGS,

AND CURIOSITIES.

30 Minerals, ixi, for $i.oo.
Address,

BENNETT & DEAN,

Cortland, N. Y.

HARRY B. LATTIN,
Albion, N. Y.,

Breeder of Mottled Java Fowls and Red Polled Cattle.
Stock, first-class. Write, enclosing stamp, for what
you want.

^^"Eggs in season $3.00 for 15 ; $500 for 30.

Collectors.

Send for my 25c., 50c., and $1.00 collections of
Bahama, Florida, and West India Curiosities. Rose
Coral. 15c.; Branch Coral. 15c.: Red Coral, 25c.; Sea
Bean, 7c , Liver Bean, loc; Cotton Balls. loC; Ivory
Nuts, 15c.; Key-hole Urchins, loc.; Sunrise Shells,
7c.; Cowry Shells, 10c.; Oliva Shells, loc.; Haliotis,
I2C.; Gold Mouths, 25c.: Area, 7c.; Saw Fish Saw's
50c.; Whale Teeth, 45c.; Corallean, 10c.; Mounted
Florida Birds, $1.25 ; Catalogue and nice curiosity,
loc.; all Post. paid. Address

JOHN B. WHEELER,

East Templeton. Mass.

CTUFFING Birds by a new method. Skinning
•^ unnecessary. The receipt for a chemical compo-
sition that preserves and hardens the flesh, leaving
the body perfectly natural in form and color, with
comple e directions for preser\'ing and mounting birds
by this process, sent to any address for $2. 50.

Anyone can do it and the spec's look much better.

Especially desirable for ladies.

Send $1.00 for sample bird stuffed by this process,
E. L. BROWN.
Durand, Pepin Co., Wise.

Alligator Eggs,

by return mail securely boxed. iS cents each,

DAVIS & BAKER.

North Granville, N. Y,
Send Postal Note on Granville, N. Y. No stamps
taken.

The Ornithologist's Journal.

An eight page monthly, devoted to birds and eggs.
Items solicited. Subscriptions untill June i8th, 40c.
After said date, 50c.

CHAS. H. DICKIKSON ,

Sharon. Wise.

O KA Well mixed foreign stamps 6c.; set 4 Mexican
^*^y 6c.; 8 Egypt IOC.; 10 U. S. Officials 6c.; 5
Foreign Corns lOc; 2 Confederate Notes loc.; Bird
Egg list free. F. E. THORP,

Norwich, N. Y.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

No.

I

4.32

No.

2

5-32

No.

?,

6.3c

No;

4

8.32

No.

=;

12.32

No.

6.

16.32

DUILLS! DRILLS!! DRILLS!!!

We have just received the neatest lot of Egg-Drills from our
eastern manufacturer ever offered to collectors. These drills have a
burr which is an improvement on our old long-handled Drill, and the
handles are nicely

ENGRAVED AND HEAVILY NICKELED.

We can furnish them to our friends either long or medium handled at
no advance on old prices, viz :

, burr, ... 25

- - - - 35

- - - 50

.... 75

$1 00

- I 50

We have been appointed wholesale agents for these Drills, and
want an agent at once in every village in the United States and Can-
ada. If you have a sample, will guarantee you to find ready sale for
lots of them, for they are the best, handsomest, neatest and cheapest
(taking quality into consideration). Drill ever placed in the market.

We also have a new 20 cent, medium handle, 4.32 inch burr, drill
better than any 25 cent Drill now offered. And a fine lot of Embryo
Hooks in engraved nickeled handles which_ we can retail at 30 cents
each. We want good, active agents and dealers at once to introduce
the above goods, and any collector purchasing any of the above Drills
or Hooks to the amount of $1.00 we will give them our wholesale
prices on the same, making them our Agent, and will send them a
copy of our 25 cent Hand Book gratis. If on receiving the instru-
ments you are not more than pleased with them, you can return the
same to us at once, will refund your money and make you a present
of the Hand Book for your trouble. Obtain samples at once, before
some wide-awake brother collector gets the start of you. The first
collector in a locality offering these instruments is sure to sell lots of
them. Write at once. In a few weeks 'twill be too late.

Our short handled, fine cut drills, are good for fresh eggs, and are the
best fine cut drills in the morket ; yf^r, loc-; T^cr. 12c.; ■^^, 15c.; -^u, 20c.

Address,

FRANK H. LATTIN,

THE YOUNG OOLQGIST.

— ;1885;—

THE OOLOGIST'S HAND-BOOK.

:1885:-

Lattixi's Catalogue and Frice-List

of North American Birds' Eggs and Oologicai Supplies

IS NOW READY FOR DELIVERY.

Neither time nor expense has lieen spared to make it invalua):)le to the oolotjist. whetlier
amateur or professional. It contains

Eighty-six Pages of Valua"ble Information.

It gives our rei;ular price list of ooiogical specimens and supplies (the most complete ever sent
out by any dealer.) It gives the common and scientific names of all North .American birds,
arranged and numbered according to Ridgeway's (the Smithsonian) nomenclature of 1881 ; it
gives the numbers used in Baird's check-list of IS59 and those used in Coues' of iS83 ; it gives
the value of the egL(s of over 500 species of North American birds, this fact alone makmg the
cataloL'Ue invaluable to collectors as a basis of exchange. It names the various families into
which the birds of North America are divided, and enumerates the birds belonging to each
family. It gives, approximately, the number of eggs in a clutch of every American bird. It
tells how to prepare specimeiis for cabinet, how to pack them for transportation, with many
other useful hints.
A copy of our new hand-book and catalogue will lie sent postpaid to any address for only

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS,

or we can furnish the hanti-Iwok bound in chilh aud t;iU for 50 cents. A gnod wide awake boy
or girl is wanted in every school and college in America to sell this hand-book. Big pay will lie
given them for their trouble. Full particulars for staniij.
Address,

FRANK H LATTIN,

ALBION, Orleans Co.. N. Y.

Hard Time Tokens.

I Am I not a woman and a sister, uncirculHted,5o ;
a Am I nol a woman and a sister, fine, 35 ; i Am I not
g woman and a sister, good, 25 ; i Loco Foco, very
30od, so ; 1 Plain system, void of Pomp, fair to good,
15 ; I Center Market, good, 10 ; Center Market, fair,
5 ; I Phrenix. ver>' good, 10 ; i Phoenix, good, 5 ; i
Merchant Exchange, fine, 25 ; i Merchant Exchange,
very good, 20; 1 Merchant Exchange, good, 10; i
Merchant Exchange, fair, 5 ; i Merchant Exchange,
Wall St., very good, 20; 1 Merchant Exchange, Wall
St., good, 15 ; I Merchant Exchange, Wall St.. fair, 5;
I Jackson in Safe, uncirculated, 25 ; i Jackson in
Safe, fine, 20 ; 1 Jackson in Safe, good, 15 ; i Jackson
in Safe, fair, 5 ; i Hog running. ver>- good, 15 ; i Hog
running, good, lo; 1 Sub Treasury on Tortoise,
Executive Ex., fine 20; i Sub Treasury on Tortoise.
Executive Ex., good, 15 ; i Sub Treasury on Tortoise,
Executive Finomering, good, 25 ; 1 Ship, seven mil-
lions for defence, good, 10 ; i Ship, seven millions for
defence, fair, 5 ; i Wrecked Ship, with Lightning,
fine, 25; 1 Wrecked Ship, with Lightning, good, 10;
I Ship dismantled, fine, 20 ; i Ship dismantled, good.
10 ; 1 Mint Drap, good, 25 ; 10 Stove Caids. large and
small, 50; from good to uncirculated. Postage extra ;
I Nova Constellation, good, 75 ; 3 Virginia etc., fair,
each, 25 ; 2 Massachusetts, fair, 20 ; i Massachusetts,
good, 35 ; I Fueio, good, 25 ; i Fugio. fair, 15 ; i
North American Token, fair, 25 ; i Woods h.-ilf-penny,
very good, so ; 15 Con. cent, fair to poor, lot 1.50 ; 5
New Jersey cts, poor to fair, lot, 75 ; 1 Feuchtwanger
cent, good, 10 ; i Feuchtwanger cent, pierced, poor, 5 ;
I Bucklin Book, keeping Fray, about scarce, good, 50.

Address, R. R. GAY.

30 Allen St., Rochester. N. Y.

OUR SPECIALTY

Low Prices and Good Work.

We do all kinds of Job Printing, in the latest and
best styles, at bottom prices.

Data Blanks, Natttralists Labels,

Cards, Note Heads,

Envelopes, Tags, Price Lists, &c.

Printed to order with Neatness and dispatch.
Send us copy, or write us what you want, and get
our prices before giving orders elsewhere. We will
save you mcney. Address

A. M. EDDY,

West Kendall, N. Y.

HOT SPRINGS.

All kinds of Mineral specimens found in this lo-
cality, securely packed and sent at the verj- lowest
prices. Crystalized Quartz, Loadstone, Wavellite
and deposits from the hot water are my specialties.
Send ten Cents and two letter stamps for sample of
Quartz or Loadstone.

R. C. ALLEN.
P. O. Box 475, Hot Springs, Ark.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Exchanges and Wants.

Brief special announcements, "Wants," "Ex-
changes," inserted in this department for 25 cents per
25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate
of one-half c6nt per word. No notice inserted for less
than 25 cents. Notices which are merely indirect
methods of soliciting cash purchasers cannot be ad-
mitted to these columns under any circumstances.
Terms, cash with order.

Exchange, — I have eggs of numbers 4, j^et, 252
and 483, first-class, thoroughly authenticated, with
full date, for first-class eggs with good date. No
Postals wanted.

WARREN CARTER,
Wallingford. Del. Co.. Penn.

Will exchange U. S. Coins, War Tokens. Store
Cards, Jackson Cents, Medals, &c., for U. S. Cents,
Send condition, date and price list.

R. R. GAY.
30 Allen St., Rochester. N. Y.

Wanted — Bird's Eggs. I will exchange Rubber
stamps of any size or style, with or without outfits,
for first-class bird's eggs, in sets or single. Send list
of eggs and state what you want, enclosing postal for
reply. G. H. WILKINSON,

Crystal Springs, Copiah Co., Miss.

Wanted— To exchange a Prize Demas Lathe and
Scroll Saw. designs, tools etc., for eagle cents and
other coins. Also four thousand foreign stamps for
eagle cents, or best offers. Write.

PHIL. S. BONNY,

Little Sioux, lowat

To Exchange.— A $12.00 Magic Lantern Outfit,
for best offer of curiosities. Will sell for cash.
E. S. TUCKER,

Chardon, O.

I will exchange eggs with all collectors throughout
North America. Please send list and receive mine in
return. PHIL. SCHWARZ.

Gainesville, Box 484, Texas_

Notice to Card Collectors. — I have an elegant
collection of cards, consisting of 1275 cards, or 249
sets, which I will trade for Nickels without the word
cents on, 1883 coinage, or will trade them forauto-
graphs of distinguished men Correspondence so-
licited. OTIS T. MOUNT.

Box No. 9, Station B. P. O., Jersey City, N. J

KxCH.\NGE. — International Stamp Album, contain-
ing 500 all different stamps, and Volume 5 of Golden
Days, for a Shot Gun in good order, single or double
barrel. W. A. DARDESS,

Chatham, New York.

Wanted. — To exchange Birds eggs with collectors
throughout the United States and Canada. Please
send list and receive mine in return.

E. C. DAVIS,
Gainesville, Texas.

Wanted. — U, S. silver and copper coins. Will
pay cash. Send stamp for list.

A. T. JOHNSON,

Hiawatha, Kansas.

First-class eggs of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,
Mourning Dove, Mocking-bird, Robin, Pewee,
Cedar-birds, Bank Swallow, Field Sparrow, Ac,
single or in sets, also a large variety of Minerals.
Fossils, Curiosities, &c., for side blown eggs in sets,
with data. J. E. JONES.

Box 20, St. Johnsbur>', Vt.

I have _ just issued special list of Minerals.
Indian Relics and curiosities, (send for stamp). Any
2x2 Iowa Minerals, 10 cents each. 50 kinds of rare
minerals (2x2 and over) sent by express, charges
unpaid, for only $2 00.

P-S.— Best chromo cards in the world, no two alike,
with name in gold, 10 cents.

J. C. JAY,

La Hoyt, Iowa

For Sale.

A limited number of Gambeis White-crowned
Sparroiv s eggs at 25c. a piece, in sets with data or
single. Warranted genuine. Address

R. W. FORD

Bristol, Ct.

For Sale.

A fine pair of Nickel Plated Vineyard Roller
bkates, size io>l. Have been used only a few times.
As good as new ; cost $6.. c ; will sell reasonable.
Write, enclosing stamp, for particulars.

NAHUM A. LATTIN,

Gaines, N. Y.

Collectors Look.

We are now selling nice Oologists collecting satchels,
made of the finest leather, and are provided with lock
and key, and nice strap with Buckle, so they can be
strapped on the shoulder, and makes no inconveni-
ance to carry them. Each one provided with a place
to keeB,.drills, blow-pipes, &c. A place for eggs, and
also a place for minerals, ic. Every collector should
have one. They are cheap and satisfaction guaran-
teed or money refunded. They are also provided
with a place for Taxidermists tools, &c. Price only
$1.00, 4 for $3.00, on receipt of which they will be
sent by mail. Post-paid. Remit in Postage stamps
2C. preferred, or a one dollar bill. We have no
Money-Order Office, no Bank. Address

JNO. T. INKLY Sl Co.

Hiram, Tennessee.

Fine Cabinet Minerals,

For Sale by

H. W. LOCKETT,

Cranford, Union Co., N. J.

2500 lbs. on hand at all times, and for this reason
we are enabled to furnish our minerals to both retail
and wholesale customers as cheap as any dealer tn
the United States.

Collections are our specialty, and our " Students
collection" and our '"Beginners collection" cannot
be excelled. The first consists of 50 fine labelled
minerals, size of each 2^4x3 in., price $4 00. The
beginners collection consist of 20 labelled minerals,
selected especially for beginners, price $1.00, Both
collections contain with others, Anthoplyllite, Kya-
nite (fine pale blue), Zincite (ruby zinc), Willemite,
Sphalerite, Tremolite, Pyrolusite, Jasper (ribbon) etc.

We also have on hand a fine assortment of large
specimens for colleges and advanced collectors.

Good commission given to agents in cash or
minerals. Send stamp for list. Address

H. W. LOCKETT,
<^ranford, Union Co., N. J .

THE YODNG OOLOGIST.

Vol. n. No. J.

ALBION, N. Y., JUNE, 188.5.

\ Published Monthly
) " $i.oo Pek Year.

American or Red Crossbill.

This peculiar bird is very seldom seen in
this latitude, 41° N., except during very
severe winters. We were favored with
quite a number last spring, and as they are
rare in these parts, having not been seen
during the last fifteen or twenty years, I
paid particular attention to them while they
remained in the neighborhood. I saw them
first on the 22d of February, 1884, Seeing {
that they were a strange bird to me, I shot I
several and gave them a careful examina- 1
tion. The birds vary, according to their
age, in plumage. The males, from the {
deep scarlet of a male Scarlet Tanager, to i
a light bronze ; the females, from a slate
color on the breast and neck, to an almost
bright yellow on the bacii. They have a
very peculiar cry, which is very much sim-
ilar to that of the Pine Grosbeak. There I
are several characteristic features about j
this bird that may be of interest to some.
They crawl about like the Parrot, using
their bill like that bird. They are. I found
out, capable of inflicting a severe wound
with their bill, which is very sharp and
strong. They are very gentle, and if ap-
proached, will permit you to get very close
to them. I have been within three or four
feet of about a dozen, while they were feed-
ing on the cones of the fir and spruce, the
seeds of which seem to be their chief food.
I even took a thin stick and toucktui one,
and it did not fly away, but continued to
work away at the cone it was on I I took
my trout rod with me one day, and also a
piece of thread, thinking that I might, per-
haps, snare a pair of them. I found them
at their usual place among the evergreens
of the cemetery. Quite a number were on
the ground, hopping about. They seemed
quite unconscious of my approach. I
jointed my rod and made a running noose,
and in a very short time had one. The

cries of the captured bird somewhat
alarmed the others, but in a short time all
were as hard at work again as they could
be. I caught nine in this way. I fed them
on mixed bird seeds, which they seemed to
be very fond of. They got so fat that they
all died, after keeping them about five
months. I noticed that several had pin
feathers. I also mw an old female /eerf one.
This, I suppose, was a young one, as I un-
derstand they breed early in .January The
last that I .saw of them was on the third of
.July. There is an old legend connected
with this bird I am told, which is still be-
lieved in some parts of Germany : It is
said that when Christ was nailed to the
cross, that one of these binls, which then
had straight bills, tried to draw the nails
out, and in doing so, bent its bill. It was,
on account of this, ever after, to be called
th'- Crossbill.

E. T. Mack.

Xazarelh, Pa.

Audubon's Birds of America

We take pleasure in making the announce-
ment that the entire remainder of the mag-
nificent plates to Audubon's world-famous
" Birds of America" have recently come
into the possession of a Boston firm. As
enough of the plates are missing to make it
impossible to make them up tnto complete
sets, they have determined to sell them
separately. ^Heretofore these beautiful por-
traits of our native birds, have been sold
only in complete sets and necessarily at a
high price. There are undoubtedly many
persons in every portion of the country
who, knowing these masterpieces of art at
least by reputation, even if they have not
had the good fortune to be able to examin e
them, would gladly avail theiuselves of an
opportunity to procure one or more for
I the purpose of framing, could theyl.e pur-

26

THF. YOUNG OOLOGIST.

chased separately. Certainly, for no lover
of the beautiful in nature, much less for
any one who has made the fascinating
study of Oriiithologj' either a business or a
recreation, can there easily be found a pic-
ture more truly grand and beautiful, or
one which would possess so many and
varied attractions as one of these famous
plates of Audubon's. It is perhaps need-
less for us to say much here in praise of
these plates or in explanation of their his-
tory. Their production was the result of
the labor of a lifetime spent, as it was, in
the constant pursuit of this one great ob-
ject, in which he was sustained liy a lofty
enthusiasm which no difficulties nor no
amount of danger could overcome. In
every plate it is Nature herself that is
copied. They are full of vivacity, the
birds being represented in action amid the
scenes, or on the plants and trees most com-
mon to their habits, all carefully drawn
and colored according to naliue He has
not contented himself, as others have done,
with single profile views, but in man_y in-
stances has grouped his figures so as to
represent the originals at their natural avo-
cations ; and has placed them on branches
of trees decorated with foliage, blossoms
and fruits, or amidst plants of nu-
merous species. Some are seen pursuing
their prey through the air, searching for
food among the leaves and herbage, sitting
in their ue.sts, or feeding their young ;
whilst others of a diiierent nature swim,
wade or glide in or over their allotted ele-
ment. In this consists the superiority of
Audubon's delineations over those of other
naturalists, wherein the birds are represent-
ed in as stifl' a posture as if thi y were sit-
ting for their portraits.

The prices have all ben placed extreme-
ly low, and we feel confident that where a
single plate is ordered ;is a specimen, the
result will be so satisfactory to the pur-
chaser that other orders will quickly follow.

Of many of these plates there is but very
few copies, and as there can never be any
more (the original stones having been de-
stroyed), early orders will be necessary to
to take advantage of the present offer.

Each plate will be carefully packed in a
heavy pasteboard roller, specially made for
the purpose, and forwarded by mail, post-
age prepitid, on receipt of the price quoted.

Thinking a description of these plates
might be or interest to the readers of The
Young Oologist, we shall give descrip-
tions of them as our space permits. Should
any of our friends desire to purchase any
of these plates their orders should be ad-
dressed to to the Publisher of The Young
Oologist.

c.\nv.\s-b.\cked duck.

Of this celebrated Duck, far famed as
food for epicures, Audubon presents in
this magnificent plate three fine specimens,
two males and a female. One of the males
is gracefully sailing along on the water,
with head erect and as if fully conscious of
the beautiful spectacle he presents ; while
the other standing upon the shore, with
outstretched neck and open bill, is prepar-
ing to snatch at some object on the surface
of the water which has attracted his
eye. The female is represented standing
upon a -rock on the edge of the water. In
the background is a view of the city of
Baltimore. All three of of the birds are
drawn life size and colored from nature,
and in their easy and graceful positions
form a truly magnificent spectacle. Plate
39x26 inches. Reduced from ^Sii.OO to
110.00.

PUKPI.E GH.\KLE OR COStMON CKOW BLACK-
BIRD.

This beautifully colored and life-like
plate represents both male and female bird
on a stalk of rich green Maize or Indian
Qirii. and exhibits them in the full exer-
cise of their nefarious propensities : -The
male, as if in full delight at the sight of
the havoc which he has already committed
on the tender, juicy, unripe corn on which
he stands, has swelled his tnroat and is
calling in exultation to his companions to
come and assist him in demolishing it.
The female has fed her.self and is aboat to
fly off with a well loaded bill to her hun-
gry and expectant brood that from the
nest look on their plundering parents, joy-
ously anticipating the pleasures of wh

ich

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

27

they shall ere long be allowed to partici-
pate. Plate 39x26 inches. Reduced from

$20.00 to $7.00.

WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE.

This noble bird, so well known through-
out the civilized world and emblazoned on
our national standard, is here represented
in the act of landing his prey, a large Yel-
low Catfish. The great strength, daring
and cool courage of the White-headed Eagle,
joined to his unequalled power of flight,
render him conspicuous among his breth-
ren. The bird is here drawn and colored
from life, the general color of plumage
being deep chocolate, the head, neck, tail,
abdomen and upper and under tail-coverts
white.

Notes From Northern Illinois.

The Ruby-throat Humming Birds are
very numerous around here. I was watch-
ing a flowering currant bush for about half
an hour, and saw fifteen or twenty birds
during that time. Two birds could not
be at the bush at one time, as when the sec-
ond one came, the one already at the bush
would fly out afler it and chase it for some
distance. I had a good opportunity for ob-
serving one of these birds as it sat on a
limb, remaining quiet for some time. As
it sat with its side towards me I could see
no "ruby" feathers at the throat, but when
the head was turned it would flash out with
remarkable brightness, like a flash of fire.
It seemed quite tame, as it was not over
ten feet from me, and knew of my presence.

Last year a dead bird was found on these
premises. It had evidently dropped from
a passing flock, as it was an entire stranger
here, and accustomed to colder climates.
It was about as large as a duck, covered
with a ver}- thick, tine, slate-colored down,
was iveb-footed, legs black and short, the
bill was black and pointed like a chicken's.
A similar bird was started by m)' dog,
which ran very rapidly for a short distance,
when he rose and flew away.

We also caught a live Crossbill, who had
flown into an open building, and was try-
ing to escape through the window glass.

It had no fear of persons, and would allow
itself to be handled. We fed it on pine
cones, whicn it would "clean out" in a short
time, and tear them to shreds. It also ate
hard-boiled eggs, which it seemed to enjoy.
Its sojourn was short, however, as it died
after a few days' captivity.

The English sparrows are very numer-
ous here. For the past few years they have
reduced the number of birds verj' much.

This, however, seems to be a "good year"
for birds, as there are a large number here
this Spring.

There is a new bird here, that I saw for
the first trme last year. It is about the size
of a Cat-bird. The back, tail and wings
are black, with white markings on wings
and tail when spread. The body is white;
on the throat is a small tuft of brilliant red
featners, looking very much as if it had
had its throat cut. Its bill is yellow, and is
short and thick. I also noticed another
bird with it — evidently its mate. It was of
the saw build, with yellow bill, but the
plumage was entirely different, this one
being of a dirty black color, somewhat
speckled with a dirty yellow. Thej' seemed
to be very familiar. Can you tell me what
kind of a bird it is?

Yours respectf ulh",

"KlXXEY."

Lena. 111.

Destruction of Birds for Millinery Pur-
poses.

The destruction of birds for millinery
purposes is at present attracting some at-
tention. The question is of interest, not
only to the naturalist, but also to the farm-
er. Among the best friends of the latter
are the birds. There is the crow, whieh
injures the crops, and the hawk which
makes an occasional meal upon his chick-
ens, but the number of those which do him
good by destroying insect pests is much
greater. Wanton destruction of bird-life
for the sake of the milliner is inexcusable.
The farmer is not the onty one who sor-
rowfully watches this destruction of some
of our birds. Every lover of Nature, and

28

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

every friend of tbe birds, watches it with
the same feeling. How large a part of the
pleasure of a Summer's ramble through
Nature's wooded haunts will be destroyed
when the melodious song of the bird and
his beautiful feathered form flitting from
tree to tree are no longer there. Is the
destruction of birds for millinery purposes
more than a sentimental grievance? is a
question that may be asked. There can be
but one answer to it when such interests
are at stake. Many prominent scientists
reply with us in the affirmative. Large as
is the number of birds destroyed by hawks,
eagles and other birds of prey, the number
killed ))y man is far greater. "Experience
is the best teacher," says an old adage.
Looking into tbe past we learn some inter-
esting facts. We find many cases where
species of birds have been exterminated
with sad results to the farmer. Several
years ago the woodpeckers were thought
to be injuring the trees in some portions of
Virginia and North Carolina. These birds
were indiscriminately slaughtered, and as
a result, acres of forests were ruined by the
larvae of a species of boring beetle. Large
tracts of forest in Saxony and Branden-
burg have been devastated under similar
circumstances. Prof. Jenks writes that at
Bridgewater, about sixty years ago, the
farmers held a shooting match on slection
day, and a large number of birds were
killed. On many acres of pasture land the
grass soon assumed a white color. Investi-
gation revealed the fact that it had been
destroyed by the larvse of some insect, the
result of the destruction of the birds. But
it is apparent that some of our birds are be-
coming scarce, through the ravages made
among them for the millinery trade, and
only the above results can follow. In 1883
the Caspian Tern was abundant on Cobb's
Island. Feather hunters have been at work
there since, and the result is that scarcely a
specimen has been secured this season.
Men engaged in this business received
orders for thousands of birds every day.
The Kittiwake Gull is becoming rare in
some portions of England. Many species
of birds are decreasing through the exorbi-

tant demands of this trade, as for example,
the Gulls and Terns on the New Jersey
coast, the EgTets and Pelicans in Florida,
the Swallows in some parts of Long Island,
and the Parrakeet in several Southern
States, We say in conclusion; Protect the
birds for the good they do.— Editorial in
tlie Woraul r County Xatiiralmi.

A Nest Full of Eggs.

Three years ago I took a set of ten
Robin's eggs from a nest that was in a
hemlock within ten feet of our back door.
The nest was built by a pair of Robins
about the middle of May, and after' occu-
pying it for a week it was deserted for
about as long. When I noticed it it was
again in the possession of either the same
or another pair, but after a short stay these
too were disturbed, and father not thinking
Robins worthy of his hospitality, pulled
the nest down and gave to me, and to my
surprise it contained ten eggs, all of which
were the same in size and color. Kobins here
universally lay five eggs in the first set, but
later on they seldom exceed four. I think
this is the case with most birds of the
North, and that the birds, by some means
or other, know that those reared in the lat-
ter part of the season require more care
than those that have a chance to prepare
themselves for the hardships of winter, or
of the migrations southward, and there-
fore have a smaller family. I would like
to hear from others regarding this.
Yours Resp't,

E. W. Judge, Jr.
Woodbridge, Conn.

Eat the Sparrows.

It is in print that the English* Sparrows
which are eaten in Philadelphia for Reed
birds, are considered as a great delicacy.
The flesh of the Sparrow is darker than
that of the Reed bird, but the Philadelphia
cooks say that only those who have never
eaten anything but Reed birds can tell the
difference. People who consider Sparrows
a nuisance need no further light as to how
they may be properly uWWzeA.— Clipping.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

An Egg Collection Worth $9,000.

The Executive committee of the Public
museum lield a meeting last evening, at
which a resolution of thanks to B. F. Goss,
of Pewaukee, for the presentation of a very
choice collectton of eggs of North Ameri-
can birds was vmanimously adopted. The
collection embraces the eggs of 46.5 species
of birds. It has taken Mr. Goss nine years
to make the collection and has cost about
$9,000. Mr. Goss delivered the collection
to the museum and put it in place himself
and at his own expense. It will be opened
to public inspection at once. — Milwaukee
Sentiiul.

Notes on the Cuckoos.

July 13th, 1«83, found a Black-billed
Cuckoo's nest in a low pine tree ; the bird
was on the uest and would not move until
my hand was almost on it, then, ruffling its
feathers, it left the nest and flew directly at
my eyes, and then retreated to a neighbor-
ing tree, where it watched me as 1 exam-
ined the nest. Finding only two eggs in
the nest I left them and when I returned on
Monday,— three days later,— the nest con- :
talned three eggs : still thinking that the
bird had not yet completed the clutch, I 1
selected the freshest eggjand left the other i
two. On the following Monday I found ]
the nest to hold an addition of two Yellow-
billed Cuckoo's eggs. This is my way of
explaining it : On my ^second visit to the
nest I handled the three eggs to tind the
freshest ; the bird, on its return, noticed
this and abandoned the nest. Through the
week a Yellow-billed Cuckoo found the
nest ; being burdened with eggs, pi-ompted
with the same instinct as the European
Cuckoo, and the nest having no occupant,
it depositetl its two eggs. I turned the set
over to a prominent ornithologist, who con-
sidered the occurrence as very remarkable.
Have any of the readers of the Y'ditng
OoLOGiST ever found Cuckoo's eggs in
other than their own nests '!

The tirst Yellow-billed Cuckoo's nest
that 1 ever found, contained two eggs ; I
took only one, hoping that more would be

added to the other. On my return I found
bits of the shell lying under the nest and
have no doubt but that the bird itself de-
stroyed the egg.

On the ITth of August, 1884, I was
rambling through the woods when I met
a friend who told me of a Cuckoo's nest
which he had passed. I soon hunted it up
and found it to contain two fresh eggs ; it
was situated in a small tree in the midst of
a thicket and was about twelve feet from
the ground. While I was at the nest one
of the birds arrived with a bit of dried leaf
in its bill, which proves that the female be-
gan to deposit her eggs before the nest was
completed. This is my latest date of find-
ing a nest with fresh eggs.

H. K. Jamison,

Manayunk. Pa.

Notes From California.

On April 4lh, I tooli my first nest for
1885. It was that of the Western Rest-
tail Hawk {Buteo horealk calurus.)

The nest was built in a redwood tree, fifty
feet from the ground. It was composed of
large and .small sticks, and lined with moss,
straw and feathers. The eggs, two in
number, were dull whittish, with a few-
pale markings, and Pleasured 3.27 by 1.75.

The nest was found two miles from
Santa Cruz, overlooking the bay of Mon-
terey.

April 6th I found a nest with five young
ones of the Western Meadow Lark. The
young were about a week old.

April 7th I found, live miles from Ber-
keley, Cal., the nest of the Great Western
Horned Owl. The nest was a last years'
one, of the Western Red tailed Hawk, but
the Owls had made it their home this year.
When I found it there was only one young
owl in it, but I found out afterwards, that
this nest was found on the 27th of March,
it then had three young owls about three
weeks old. Not far from the Owl's nest I
found a nest and three eggs of the Western
Red-tailed Hawk, in on oak tree, fifty feet
from the ground, composed of moss, iiay
and sticks. In the same tree was a nest

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

which the Hiiwks had used last year.
About two miles from this nest, I found a
nest on the face of a large rock, which I
thought at first was that of the Horned
Owl, because I saw two Owls of this
species around the nest, Imt I soon found
out that it was that of the Red-tailed Hawk.
While I was climbing up to the nest, the
Owl flew at me, as if she was going to
fly into my face, I put out my hand to
knock her off, and when I did so, she took
me by the arm and came near pulling me
off of the rock. She would have done so
if the cloth in my sleeve had not gave
away, and let her fly away with a large
piece of it. When I reached the nest,
I found one fresh egg of the Red-tailed
Hawk. I do not know what made the
Owls try to drive me away from this uest
for ; they must have had a nest of their
own hid in the rock, but I could notlind it.

April 8th, I found the nest of the Barn
Owl in a hole on the fhce of a cliff. The
eggs had hatched, and the young had
deserted the ntsl. I will say that I found
this nest on the .'ith of July, 1884, it then
had three fresh eggs of this Owl. When I
was going into the hole, 1 heard a loud re-
jiort \inder me. and when I had cleaned
away the ground I found it came from the
breaking of an egg which had not hatched.
I found thus covered up, five eggs in this
hole, and three in a hole five feet from it.
This must have been the home of the Burn
Owl for many years.

April 10th: I found a nest and five fresh
eggs of the Rock Wren, in a hole under ii
large rock. It was composed of fine sticks
and dry grass.

April 20th and 21st : I took sets of four
and five egg.s, of the Western Meaflow
Lark.

April 22d: I found a nest and five frish
eggs of the California Jaj', in an oak tree,
eight feet from the ground. It was com-
posed of sticks and lined witn horse hair
and white moss. On this same date, I
found a nest and six fresh eggs of the
Meadow Lark, it was of dry grass with a
cover over it.

April 24th ; I found a nest and three fresh

eggs of the California Thrasher, It was built
in a chaparral thicket, four feet from the
ground, formed of rough twigs, and lined
with grass. On this date I found a nest
and two young ones, of the California
Jay, in a tree fifteen feet from the ground.

April 28th: I found a nest of the Red-
tailed Hawk in a redwood tree, ■ about
seventy-five feet from the ground. The
tree was on the side of a hiil, and by going
up to the top, I could look into the nest
and see three or four young Hawks in it.

April 30th: I found a nest and five fresh
eggs of the Least Tit, in a tree, fifteen feet
from the ground. For a more interesting
account of the nest of this bird, see H. R.
Taylor's account on page 100, Vol. 1, of
The Young Oologirt.

E. H. FisKE,

Santa Cruz, Cal.

Hummingbird.

1 see the Yodkg Oologist that a per-
son wishes to know if a Humming-bird
lays eggs liefore the nest is finished. lean
say from experience in finding these eggs
in different places that they do. Last
spring, while gunning on the Oclanahaw
River, Fla., I came across a fine little
thistle swamp, and close by was a number
of wild orange trees, and as this tree is
very knotty it naturally leaves small holes in
the side of the tree ; and after I had col-
lected a number of Green-back Hummers
I noticed that they all flew to this orange
grove, so I thought I would see if it wa&
the orange blossoms that they went after,
but to my surprise I found that they all
went into these little knot-holes. When I
looked into them there was no sign of a
nest ; only a litt'e down, and out of these
I procured some of the flnest specimens of
Hummers' eggs I have ever seen. I took
from this swamp over 200 Hunmiers' skins,
1 collected also, near the line of the Pana-
ma Railroad, some very line Rocket-
tails. Yours,

J. T. Jones,
Maiden, Mass.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

31

Wrens on the War Path

Of the pugnacity of the Wren there is
no doubt, but I never observed such cases
of outrageous impudence in this great in-
sect destroyer before.

Xear here, in a bird house against a
building, a blue-bird had in peace built its
nest, and deposited five eggs ; but this was
distined not. long so to be, for a Wren
having no doubt settled upon the same
place as it future nur.sery, one day in the
bluf-birds absence, proceeded to lay the
structure in ruins forthwith ; entering the
house stealthily, it thrust its bill into each
egg, carried them outside and dropped
them to the roof below ; proceeding then
to carry out the sticks he was driven away,
with much scolding, however, and the
blue-bird arrived in time to see the said
distruction of its treasures. Hither and
thithi.'r it darted, utleriiig alternately angry
and agonizing cries, doubtless in .search of
the depredator, but after sorrowfully ex-
amining its nest, it flew away and was
seen no more. Tin- Wren is now carrying
out the old materials and carrying in the
new for it-; own nest, ever aud anon giving
utterance to triumphant songs, no doubt
referring to its own valor.

If the English Sparrow " must go," give
the Wren commission, involving full power
to kick him out. Four pairs of English
Sparrows liaving appropriated a bird-house
of four compartments for their own use,
proceeded to construct their nests with all
expedition, for they were rather late, when
about half finished, a Wren constituted
itself a committee to investigate, which
investigation did not seem very satisfac-
tory, judging from the waj' he scolded
those sparrows ; they did not pay much
attention to his protestations but con-
tinued, amid storms of abuse to construct
their nests. At last, one of the middle
ne>ts contained one egg and, at the same
time, the Wren's patience seemed ex-
hausted ; the Wren with many angry
chirps and much eccentric hopping ar9und,
finally and fiercely delivered his proclama-
tion iif war. at the same time with a flank

movement and a bold dash invading the
obnoxious ones retreat, thrust his bill in
the egg and threw it to the ground. This
was a signal for a battle, the Wren in the
box peeping out made such a racket as
only a Wren can make (1 wish I could
have understood him), while the sparrows
beseiged him from the outside ; soon the
Sparrows flew off, and the Wren, boiling
over with wrath, commenced throwing
sticks, feathers, everythsng out with an
angry flirt, scolding all the while as se-
verely as he could. Soon six sparrows re-
turned, and taking him unawares, cut off
his retreat and compelled him to evacuate,
but disputing every inch of ground. JIany
such encounters occurred — the Wren hav-
ing the majority of victories on its side.

At present, affairs stand thus : as fast as
as the Sparrows carry material in the Wren
picks it out, carrying in material for itself
at the same time; the other compartments
are left undisturbed, but why the Wren
should build its nest among such neigh-
bors, especially as they now seem to agree,
is more than I can imagine. I am anxious-
ly awaiting further developments.
H. K. Laxdis,
Landls Valley, Pa.

Nest c f the Golden-Winged Warbler.

( llitiiiiidhaphagn C/jrsojiteni).
In the early part of June of tlie past
year, as I was passing through a piece of
low second growth woodland, I flushed a
small bird, of whioh, however. I got only
a glimpse as she darted from a clump of
tall weeds into the thick foliage of some
underwood that partially overhung the
spot. A momentary' search among the
weeds revealed the nest, which contained
one egg. The nest was placed upon the
ground, but among and sheltered by the
weeds. There was first a strata of dry
weeds, then a rude formation of dry leaves
and inside of this the true nest was placed;
this was composed of small stalks of dry
weeds, vines, anil rootlets, being about two
inches in diameter, by one and a half in
depth. An exaniiiKition of this nest, with

32

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Another glimpse that I got of the bird, as

with notes of disiipproval slie returned and
loolced at me, wliile I stood beside her pos-
session, convinced me that it belonged to a
species of which I had no previous personal
knowledge. I was also confirmed in this
conclusion by the song notes of a strange
bird near by, which I took to be her mate,
but when I tried to get a nearer view of
both, they darted off among the dense
foliage of the underwood. As 1 was anx-
ious to obtain the eggs of this species, and
also see more of the parent birds, I looked
again at the nest next day, but found that
no other eggs had been deposited. Fearing
that the one egg might be taken by some
•other species of egg collector, I removed
it, and put in its place an egg of the Red
start. Two days afterward I again revisited
the nest and found that two more eggs had
been deposited. These I also took, and
finding after another day or two that no
more eggs were laid, I took away the nest
and both it and the eggs are are now in my
collection. In size the eggs are as large as
those of the Red-eyed Vireo, which they
also resemble in form, the ground color be-
ing pure white ; they are marked with
irregular spots of reddish-brown on the
large end and toward the middle. Except
on the first day I did not see the birds, but
from reading I am led to believe that this
nest was that of the Gold-winged Warbler.
Wm. L. Kells,

Listowel, Ont.

The Fox Sparrow.

mained on the margin of the woods near
where I was sugar-making, for several
daj's, and I then thought that their song
notes were among the most pleasing that I
had ever heard, having tlie resemblance to
the song notes, both of the Song Thrush
and the Song Sparrow. Mr. William Can-
per, naturalist, of Montreal, who visited
Labrador, in the spring of 1867, for the
purpose of collecting a series of birds eggs,
and determining the species that breed
upon that coast, maKes the following in-
teresting statement regarding this bird :
" The sweet song of the Fox-colored Spar-
row is pleasing to the ear, as we wande''
through the open parts of these northern
forests, and it was with no little joy that
we discovered the nest on the loth of
June, and authenticated its eggs for the
first time. Audubon has made a mistake
in his description of the eggs of this
species. The egg is larger than that of any
other Sparrow found in this latitude, and
they are completely covered with blotches
of a ferruginous tint. Contrary to the
habits of Sparrows, this nest was built in a
low fir-tree, about three feet from the
ground." Wm. L. Kells.

PASSERELLA ILI.\^CA.

This species (.so called, on account of tlie
plumage on the upper parts resembling the
color of a Fox), is a rare visitant in the
vicinity of Listowel, and only as a spring
migrant does it occur here, being on its
passage from the South, where it has
passed the winter season to northern lati-
tudes, where it makes its summer home.
Last season, in the later end of March, I
observed one solitary individiial. but a
number of years ago. when residing in
i^ortb Wallace, a pair of these birds re-

The Redhead.

This Duck, which I think resembles a
Canvasback more than any other bird, and
in fact is said by some to be the result of a
cross between a Canvasback and a Scaup
Duck, is a somewhat rare bird during the
winter in this locality, but begins to make
itself quite conspicuous on our lakes and
ponds as the spring months waft out the
colder winter Ides.

Its favorite haunts are large shallow
ponds, with water say from three to nine
feet deep, and the ponds are especially at-
tractive to this bird, if they are supplied
with a margin of high thick reeds or bul-
rushes. It delights to feed among this
latter growth during and often pulling up
tender young sprouts by the root, and
wherever you find a tolerably good sized
pond of water where bulrushes fringe its
mai-gin, there you may confidently look

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

35

out for Redhead, and often in the same
company you will find a few of its near
relatives, the C'anvasbacks, in a sociable
little flock together.

This bird breeds very freely in this local-
ity. In fact it seems as if every pair of
birds which remain with us during the
summer do so to breed and rear their
young. So accustomed have I become to
this fact that in the months of May and
June, whenever I see an old Drake Red-
head placidly swimming around on some
pond or asleep on its bank, immediately
institute a search among tbe nearest bimch
of rushes with the hope of finding the old 1
mother duck sitting on a nice nest of eggs.
I have become so used to the locality' gen- ]
erally selected for a nest that I often go
straight to it and am seldom disappointed
in finding the object of my search. Along
towards the last of June the old ducks be-
gin to appear with a nice little flock of
from seven to fourteen little toddlers, all
yellow and downy, "the latest out."
Sometimes I have caught two or three of
the shy little fellows and tried to raise and
domesticate them, but there seems to be an
unsurmountable disposition to "roam" in
these little fellows, and although they will
eat heartily and thrive while in a coop the
moment they get out of confinement they
quickly proceed to make themselves scarce,
for which propensity they are remarkably
well gifted.

The Redhead usually begins building
about the 1st of May ; from that time fresh
eggs may be obtained till about June 1st.

The locality generally selected is among
thick reeds in four to six feet of water.
In fact the birds will, generally, commode
himself to an old coot's nest which he
readily remodels to suit his taste by a few
slight additions.

The eggs are of a brownish white or
blue color, generally of a more oval shape
than the generality of ducks. The number
of eggs is from seven to fourteen at a
litter, I have also found other eggs
in the nest of the Redhead. I recall one
special instance which fell under my ob-
servation last season on the middle of May.

I found a Redhead's nest containing /wi^r-
teen Redhead's eggs, three eggs of the Svddjf
Duck and five of the Coot, quite a nestf ul in
all. The Coot eggs were somewhat cov-
ered up by a thin layer of dry reeds, still
they appeared perfectly fresh, while the
Rudd}' Duck and Redhead appeared
slightly advanced in incubation, as I flushed
a hen Redhead from the nest on my dis-
covery of it, I presume that l)ird had been
successful over its antagonists and co-
claimants of the nest, the Coot and Ruddy
Duck, in any possible previously disputed
contest, or had the Coot or Ruddy Duck
mutually agreed to let the Redhead incu-
bate their eggs, and who would claim the
various progeny on its issuance from the
egg? I was somewhat puzzled over this
state of affairs, but dispensed with any
possible chance of causing tlie poor birds
any future opportunity for dispute and
warfare by taking the whole twenty-two
eggs, blowing them and transfering them
to my collection, where tliey still remain,
accompanied with their properl}- gotten up
data blank.

A. M. Shields,
Los Angeles, Cal.

Notes on Our Winter Birds.

By way of introduction to the subject of
"Bird Migration" (some notes regarding
which I may from time to time contribute
to "The Young OiJLOGiST "), let me note
that there are about a score of different
species of birds ; that permanently remain,
or occasionally visit this locality during the
winter season Prominent among the
smaller species are those is the Black-cap
Chickadee, the Brown C'reeper, and the
White-bellied and Red-bellied Nut-hatches.
These species remain here all the year
round, and are known to breed, though it
is difficult to discover their nesting places.
Ne.xt to these, as commonly met with in the
winter months, are the Hairy and Downy
Woodpeckers, which also nest here. Some-
timeSj though now rarely, the Pilated
Woodpecker, is also seen or heard at this
season. The Blue Jays are common, and
sometimes appear in large stocks. Speci-

34

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

mens of the Ruffed Grouse are also met

with, and during the past two winters a
covey of Bob-Whites have frequented the
barn-j'ard on "Wild "Wood." The Snow
Buntings are always here from October
till the latter end of March, and the En-
glish Sparrow is now a permanent resident
and yearly becoming more numerous, but
onlj' on one occasion have I ever noticed
the Bohemian Chatterers. The Northern
Butcher bird always pays us a visit in the
coldest months, but though the Pine Gros-
beaks were here in large stock in the win-
ters of '83 and '84, not a single specimen
has been observed this season, and the
same may be noted of the Crossbills and
the Redpolls. Occasionally a Jinco and a
Tree Sparrow have been noticed in the
winter months, but this year none have
yet been observed, and the same remarks
will also apply to all the Owl species,
though often some specimens of the Snowy
and Great Horned species have been seen
and taken in the winter months, and last
w'inter a number of the Mottled and Aca-
dian Owls were captured in barns and
other out buildings in this vicinity. In
the early part of Februarj', 1884. I heard
the hollow croak of a Raven coming over |
the woods, north of the town, and soon |
afterwards saw a pair of these birds flying
in a southern direction. These were the I
onlj' specimens of this species that I ever
saw in this neighborhood.

Specimens of Eagles are also sometimes
seen passing over the country. On the 23d
of January past I observed a large indi-
vidual of the White-headed Eagle a few
miles north of the town. When first no-
ticed it was soaring away towards the
northwest, but it gradually curved around
and disappeared in a southward direction.
With this exception I have not observed
one of these birds in this section for several
years past, though occasionally the press
reports specimens being shot, or otherwise
captured in various parts of the province.
On the 33d of February a pair of Shore
Larks — the first of our spring birds — were
observed. Since then they have became
quite numerous iu the streets and on the

roads in the vicinity of the town. On the

28th of the same month the notes of the
Red-shouldered Hawk were heard, and on
the 3d of March a Crow was first seen.
Since then man)' others have been noticed.
On the28tli the first Robin was seen, and
the month closed without any other of our
spring birds making their appearance.
Wm. L. Kells.

Listowel, Out.

Collecting on "Snipe" Creek.

On the afternoon of Aprii 13tb I started
on a collecting trip on ' ' Snipe " creek,
about two miles distant. I had the pleas-
ure of seeing more rare bird life in short a
time than ever before. I reached the
timber by 1 o'clock and the first thing that
called my attention, was a hole about ten
feet up in a dead oak stump, thinking it
may contain the nest of the Little Screech
Owl, I scrambled up, looked in the cavity,
but nothing met my eyes save a few frag-
ments of egg-shells, perhaps carried there
bj' squirrels. I started my course up the
creek and the next that Crossed my path
was a Crow's nest in a Red Elm tree, some
thirty-five feet from the ground, after
climbing up found it contained two eggs,
these I left for a set, and I then started
back again on the other side of the stream.
After walking along narrow paths, climb-
ing banks and working my way on through
bush and tangled undergrowth, I came
upon my second Crow's nest, this con-
tained a set of five eggs; not far from this
in an oak tree, I took another set of Crow's
eggs. I then walked some over a half
mile when I run upon a Great Blue
Herony. The three nests were all placed
in a tall cotton-wood tree, seventj'-five feet
from the ground, the Herons were on their
nests at the time, but left when I was yet
a good distance. The tree had no limbs
for forty feet, making it an impossi-
bilit}' for a collector to get their eggs.
While trying to devise a plan to reach the
nests, I chauced to look up the creek wheu
I saw a large bird leave its nest, high up
in an elm, this was suppo.sed to be a Hawk.

THE YOUKG OOLOGIST.

35

I climbed up about fifteen feet in the main
fork, when the distance from where I stood
was to far for me, not knowing what to
do, I happened to think of the chisel and
hammer that were in my pocket. I ap
plied tlie use of these, cut a foot-hold in
the body of the tree and soon was within
a few feet of the nest. No sooner did I
looli over the edge of tlie nest, than two
young Great Horned Owls flew to the op-
posite side of the stream while the third one
sat still, not willing to leave, with ruffed
feathers and out-spread wings he offered
fight, but soon left him hanging by his
claws on the outer limbs of the tree. In
the nest was the body of a Grebe, which
the young owls had not been able to de-
vour.

Again I was uu my road, after walking
through thick growths of trees, I at last
reached the road, this I followed, it led me
to an open field where I could see down
the creek for half a mile, when I spied a
nest, darkly outlined against the distant
hills, this I started for and was soon mak-
ing my way through a large patch of hazel
bush, when at some distance a Red-tailed
Hawk tlew out from the nest. The
nest was placed in a black walnut tree,
about forty feet from the ground ; by the
aid of a sapling that grew up the side of the
walnut tree, I reached the nest, it was but
slightly hollowed and contained three eggs,
unlike the set of three that I had taken but
a few days before, but very near pure
white with the exception of a few reddish
dots around the larger end. and incubation
was far advanced. I packed them safely
first in a collecting box and climbed
down. I brought them safely to the
ground and started on.

The sun was fast working its down-
ward course, warning me that it was time
to go home. I did not waste any more
time in looking about, knowing the long
distance I had to go required time. I
reached home at dusk, with sore and bleed-
ing wrists, tired but yet pleased with my
afternoon's collecting. G. F. B.

Beattie, Kansas.

From Pennsylvania.

I have been taking the YiJrxG Oologist
since March, 1885, and like it very much.
The ilay number is very interesting and of
great help to amateur ornithologists. I
think a law putting a reward on the head
of the English Sparrow, the only solution
of the mj-stery, but we can do much to-
wards keeping the pests down, l)y killing
the old birds, destroying nests, etc.

Jlay 17, 1884, took a clutch of eight
Rough-winged Sw'allows' eggs, and on
June 3 a clutch containing six. Both sets
were fresh. The two nests were placed
about three feet from each other, in cavi-
ties of their own making, in a sand bank,
where a road had been cut through. It
was over one hundred yards to water. I
caught the female on the second nest and
held her in my hand until I finished ex-
amining her.

May 28, 1882, and June 3, 1884, found
the Coupen-bird's egg in the nest of the Or-
chard Oriole.

In the spring of 1884 found the nest of
the Purple Grackle in an old pear tree, in
a hole excavated by a Flicker, containing
four large young. U. 6. G.,

Lancaster, Pa.

Kingbirds Using Nests of Other Birds.

About two years ago a pair of Black-
birds made a nest in an oak tree near our
house. I watched them and when they
had laid their eggs I climbed up and took
two ; there were six eggs in the nest. The
birds went on sitting as though nothing had
happened, and hatched out the remaining
four. After the Blackbirds had left the
nest I noticed some Kingbirds going to the
same nest. I watched them for a few days
and then concluded that they had appro-
priated it for their own use; so I climbed
up, and sure enough there were four eggs.
Thej' had put feathers and straw in it and
fixed it all up new. I would like to know
if this is a common habit of the Kingbird.
E. G. M.,
San Ramon, Cal.

36

THE YOUNG UOLOGIST.

THEYOUNGmOGIST

EDITED AND PUBLISHED MONTHLt""

— uv —

FRANK H. LATTIN, ALBION, N. Y.

Correspondence and items of interest to the student
of Birds, their Nests and Eggs solicited from all.

Single Subscription
Foreign Countries
Sample Copies

Terms of Subscription.

The above rates include postage.

:?i.oo per annum.
- $1-15 "

:> cents each.

Terms of Advertising-,

Made known upon application. Send copy for esti-
mate.

Remittances should be made by draft on New
York ; money order or postal note payable at Albion,
N. Y.; or by registered letter. Unused U. S. postage
stamps of any denomination will be accepted for
sums under one dollar. Address all subscriptions and
communications to THE YOUNG OOLOGIST,

^^^^ Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y.

^P^Make money orders and drafts payable to
FRANK H. LATTIN.

Entered at the Post Office at Albion, N. Y.,
Second-class mail matter.

JOTTINGS.

SPECIAL NOTICE. — We have
moved our mail business to Albion, N.
Y , 3 miles from Gaines, and henceforth
all communications should be addressed
us at that place.

We have a fine .sccond-hanil copy of
C'jue's Key, First edition, bound in moroc-
co. We will forward this copy prepaid to
the first person sending us .|;.5.00.

Davies' Egg Check List is coming into
greater demand daily. Friend D. has al-
ready disposed of the first edition. We
have about one hundred copies left. Order
if you want one. The second edition will
be changed in make-up, &c.

We have in press a large illustrated cat-
alogue of 'everything." We intended to
run this out before the June Y. 0., but
finding we could not, have been obliged to
run in the Y. O. a little late.

Owing to the fact that we are now offer-
ing the Y. O. for eighty cents per year,
we will send our friends, who have so
kindly sent us $1.00, twenty-five cents
worth of anything we advertise.

Exchange — We cannot take specimens
in pay for The Young Oologist, or for
supplies of any kind. In the future we
cannot make exchanges unless especially
advantageous to ourselves. Small ex-
changes amounting to less than S.5.00 are
not solicited.

We are bound to obtMn .500 new sub-
scribers within the next thirty days, and to
help obtain this number we -nail give The
Young Oologist one year free to every
person sending us an order amounting to
12.00 for Bird's Eggs at regular prices, or
$3.00 for anything we offer for sale.

One of our most pleasant surprises dur-
ing the past month was the receipt of Davis
& Baker's New Directory. The boys put
their shoulders to the wheel and have made
It a big success. Several collectors have
already written us saying it's worth three
times the low price they paid for the same.

Mr. C. H. Wilder of Wayland, N. Y.,
is an enthusiastic student of reptiles — es-
pecially snakes. Our readers having any
notes or observations in that line will please
forward to him ; he will doubtless arrange
them in shape for The Yodng Ooi,ogist.

" Thou Shalt not steal" says the Book of
Books, The foUowmg letter is self ex.
planatory. In the future we trust our
friends will be Jionest enough when sending
us eopkd articles to state plainly the
WTiter and the source from whence ob-
tained.
F. H. Lattin:

Dear Sir: — I send by this mail a copy
of the Touno Scientist of date April, 1883.
By turning to page 116 you will find a
paper entitled "Our Birds." Will you
please compare with " Study of Birds " in
the March Young OOlogist ? I will only
say that tlie writers are not identical, and
will leave you to draw the inference.
Sincerely,

C. H. Wilder,

Wayland, N. Y.

THi:: YOUNG OOLOGIST.

n

The YotixG Oologist, Thirty ■ Two
Pages Monthly, at Eighty Cents
Per Year. — Our friends during the
past year have made our little monthly
in more than one sense of the word a suc-
cess, and we are certain that the larger our
subscription list the more interesting and
more valuable we can make our mimthlj.
Our suliscription list now outnumbers that
of any two other magazines devoted to our
hobbj' ; but we are not satisfied, and during
the next mouth wish to double the number
of names. Will our friends help us ? We
are willing and will do our share. During
the next thirty days, until July 10th, we
will .send The Young Oologist one year
for Eighty Cents. Send in your
subscriptions and renewals at once. We
are bound, during the next thirty days, to
add 500 names to our roll ; if we do. The
Young Oologist can and will be publish-
ed in the future at eighty cents per year,
makng .The Young Ooloc;ist one of the
lowest priced magazines published. Remit
80 cents at once. Tell your friends and
show them a copy of The Young Oolo-

CilST.

Identification. — During the past few
years we have cheerfully attempted to iden-
tify all specimens our friends have sent us,
and this without remuneration ; but owing
to the fact that we are now receiving
packages by the dozen for this purpose,
and that our time is more than occupied
witli our regular business, in the future we
shall be obliged to charge our friends in
additifin to return postage the following
nominal rates:

Single or tirst specimens, 10 cents.

Second to tenth " 3 "each.

Eleventh specimen and over, 2 " "

The above rates for identifying speci-
mens we consider very reasonable. We
have spent several years in handling and
studying specimens of various kinds, and
have on hand a very large stock with which
comparisons can be made. We also have
the leading works to use as reference. The
advantage of having specimens properly
identified is invaluable to collectors.

A few days since we received a card
from our express agent reading as follows:

Dear Sir: — Recognizing the great in-
conveuieuce to the public heretofore attend-
ing the transmission of small sums of
money, the American Express Company
has organized and put in operation a Money
Order System, through which it offers
3Ioney Orders, that

"Are ab.solutely safe against loss by theft
or otherwise."

"Contain a receipt, which the remitter
retains."

"If lost, money is refunded without un-
necessary delay."

"Can be deposited in banks, .same as
checks or drafts."

The cheapest, safest and most convenient
method of transmitting money by mail.

Rates — For over %\ to .S-i, 5 cents; for
over |5 to iJlO, 8 cents; for over $10 to $30,
10 cents; for over $20 to $30, 12 cents; for
over S30 to $40, 1.5 cents; for over $40 to
$50, 20 cents.

Believing a trial sufficient to convince
you of the superiority of this .system, we
would respectfully ask that you make your
remittances, and that you request remit-
tances be made to you (when possible) by
American Express Co. .MoneyO rders.

This is one of the best and safest methods
of remitting money, and our patrons having
an office of either the American or United
States Express Co., can use these money
orders, payable at Albion, N. Y., when
sending money to us.

The Knights op Audubon is promising
to be a great success. Owing to a slight
misunderstanding between the publishers
of the Young Oologist and Chief Secre-
tary Cuitis's reports come to late for publi-
cation this month. The following is a cir-
cular the Chief Secretary is sending the
members.

Painted Post, May 20th, 1883.
My Dear Sir: —

Thinking that perhaps you do not fully
understand the method of sending reports
to me, I will explain : Every member not
excepting officers, is required to hand or
send to the Corresponding Secretary,
on the first of each month, a report
of authentic notes and observations gath-
ered during the preceeding month, written
on one side of single sheet note paper, not

38

THE YOUNG OOLUGIST,

to exceed three pages, folded once, and
signed, giving Town, County and State, in

full. ,

These will then be forwarded to me, and
from them I select the spiciest and most in-
teresting for publication. Let them be
consise and to the point, with no attempt to
expand by use of unnecessary words.
Hoping to receive the reports June 1st,

I remain.

Fraternally,

Jose R. Curtis,

Chief Secretary.

From Wisconsin.

I am observer at station fifty-three, Pro-
fessor W. W. Cooke, Moorhead, Minn.,
superintendent. I enclose a few notes of
arrivals to fill out some vacant corner.

This has been a cold backward spring
and some of the little birds have had a
hard time of it, hut the majority of them
have made their appearance at last, and the
air is filled with their songs.

April 1 . A flock of about a dozen robins
lighted on a tree near the house, and after
resting a few minutes continued their
journey towards the north.

A number of Hawks, single in pairs,
sailing towards the porth.

April 2. Black Snowbird and Fox-
colored Sparrow, Wood Duck, Mallard.

4. Jilourning Dove.

5. Meadow Larks, singing. One pair of
Chipping Sparrows, Kingfisher; heard a
few faint croaks from the frogs: found a
stupid Mud Turtle and Water Snake, they
both seemed to have just crawled out of
the mud.

6. Purple Grackle, Chipmunk. Grass

Finch.

9. Redpoll Linnet, last seen.

14. White-throated Sparrow, Am. Bit-
tern, Osprey sent in from Wabashaw.

16. Pair of Blue Jays, commenced
gathering Plum twigs for nest. White
Rumped Shrike.

18. Golden-crowned Kinglet. Ruby-
crowned Kinglet.

19. Bees commenced carrying in loads
of pollen.

.50. Yellow Shafted Flicker. Yellow-
rumped Warbler. Coot.

21. Water thrush, quite common and
quite sharp when you want to shoot them.
First toad.

Chewink, Whipporwill, Brown Thrush,
the last of the Snow birds and Fox-tailed
Sparrow, that gives them a stay here of
about three weeks.

28. Hermit Thrush.

29. Purple Martin, Bank Swallow.

30. Had an old "resident " of an Am.
Bittern brought in, he had a pickerel in his
throat eia:ht inches long by the rule, be-
sides some small fry and weeds, no wonder
they make a splashing in the water when
they fly up.

:May 2. A man brought in two Double-
crested Cormorants, which he had killed at
one shot as they were sitting on an old
stump.

5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Killdeer.

6. Storm of rain and snow, with falling
temperature. One of the merchants in
town caught a little Yellow-breasted
Warbler that was cold and hungry, and
took it into the store and fed it on some
pieces of meat, but it got lost behind some
of the boxes the next day.

7. Twenty-eight degrees at 7 A. M.,
ground covered with snow, froze one-half
Inch last night, snow squalls all day. I
went out in the morning and found the
little birds all rufflled up and hunting all
over the ground and everywhere for some-
thine to eat. Shot five Golden-Crowned
Thrushes, all males ; two Hermit Thrnshes
and about a dozen Black-and-white
Creepers, Yellow-rumps, and some not yet
identified. The Black-and-AVhite Creepers
seemed to suffer the most with the cold
and hunger ; had several brought in that
were found dead. Found iny first set of
four Blue Jay's eggs.

8. Wilson's Thrush. Spotted Sand-
piper. Oriole. Barn Swallow, found dead
in a barn; Bank Swallow and Striped
Creeper found dead ; Black-throated War-

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

39

bier ; set of four Pewee's eggs and a Bat,
and that ends the list for the present.

E. L. B.
Durand, Wis.

The following is a descripti.m of a War-
bler : Could you please identify it from the
poor description given? Length, five in-
ches, extent, 7.75 ; Tarsus' dark flesh
color. Toes, three inches front, one be-
hind ; bill black, rather stout for warbler ;
breast, abdomen, under tail coverts, white ;
throat and sides of head black ; tail dark
brown, two while tail feathers seen in
flying. Beak and head dark blue ; pri-
maries and secondaries biown. secondaries
edged with blue ; lertiaries uiostls' blue ;
wings longer than tail : rictal bristles very
indistinct, and not reaching beyond nos-
trils ; tarsus longer than longest toe.

Saw an English Sparrow's nesi in the
fork of a large tree in this city. It was
rather a bulky affair and displayed no
neatness in form or construction. Think
it is rather unusual for them to build in
trees.

I hear that the Ked Crossbill is rare
about Durand. Hear that it is probably
the commonest migrant in certain places.
They feed on hops near a brewery and, as
they have not left yet, they will probably
breed. The earliest date was March 23d,
when several flocks were seen. A number
of boys caught them under a bird-cage on
the end of a long pole, showing how- tame
they were. I caught three and kept them
alive. They act very much like a parrot
in confinement using their bill in climbing.
They ate bird seed, apple and pine cone
seeds. Here are a few more arrivals :

March 22. Am. Gold Finches, Pine
Finches, Robin, Cedar birds.

March 28. Blue birds.

March 30. Song Sparrow.

March 31. Snow birds (.Junco) Meadow
larks.

April 1. Crow Blackbird, Purple Mar-
tin.

April 4. White-bellied Swallow. House
Wren.

April 23. Virginia Rail. Seen in the
city on the street.

April 22. Phoebe bird.
April 30. Black-and-white Creeper.
May 5. A bird wave arrived consisting
of warblers. Among them were several
like the one described above, and several
black-and-white creepers.
May 6. Towhee buntings.

C. A. K.
Jlilwaukee.

Mourning Dove ; Burrowing Owl.

The Mourning Dove has its home in many
parts of our country. It is a familiar bird
to almost every person in Southern Cali-
fornia.

They generall}- stay in flocks, or in pairs.
I have seen flocks of them in the fields
about here, numbering nearlj' one hundred.
Sometime they are very tame ; while other
times they will not allow- a person to come
very near them.

The nests, which are frail affairs, are
composed of dried grasses or roots. The
eggs are two in number and white, about
the size of the common pigeon's egg. It is
a wonder why the eggs do not roll off the
nest, which is not hollowed out.

I have found three eggs in the same nest
several times, and once I found a nest
within one foot of another birds ; the Dove
nest was under the other, on the ground.

The latest nest I found was on Septem-
ber 15th, 1884. and last Monday (March
39th,) 1 found a nest containing one dove
not quite all feathered. These birds re-
main with us during the winter. The
nests here may be found from April to
September.

THE BIRROWIKG OWL, OR COQUIMBO.

This species of owls may be seen sitting
on the brink of their burrows in the eve-
ning. On the appearance of an enemy
they will take a farewell look at it, and
hurry down their burrows, or fly a short
distance, alight, and then stare at the object
of disturbance. These ow-ls maj- be seen
from the middle of March to the latter part
of autumn. They live in deserted squirrel
holes, etc. The nest is sometimes made
with a few grasses, but the droppings of

40

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST

animals is tlie chief substance of its struct-
ure. Tlie nest is generally placed at the
very end of the burrow. The eggs are
four to nine in number.

I have found snakes and black spiders,
and once I found a large tarantula in their
holes.

Once, to my surprise, I was digging in
a hole after the nest, and got about to the
end, when I saw something gray reaching
in my hand ; I found something very dif-
ferent from an owl, as instead of feathers
it had fur. I did not know what it was at
first, but reaching in my hand I happened
to catch it by the leg and pulled it out. It
proved to be a fine Cotton-ttiil. I soon
reached the end of the hole and found five
fat young owls and the parent at the far
end. The nest of this owl may be found
bj' the manure collected at the entrance to
the burrow.

H. C. LiLLIE,

Pleasures of a Florida Trip.

As I have a few moments to spare. I
thought I would tell you a little of my ad-
ventures in collecting skins of birds in
Southern Florida. In the winter of '83,
just when the rush of trade was over, a
friend of mine, (Dr. Small) who is now at
Los Angeles, C'ah, says to me, "Let's go to
Florida for a few weeks, for some fun," so
I said yes and we started — this was my
third trip to Florida, but his Brst. We
bought tickets for Enterprise, and went
by steamer to Savannah and from there
to Jacksonville by cars, and then by the
Steamer John Sylvester up the St. John
river to Enterprise. Let me tell all col-
lectors to keep away from hotels if they
wish to have money in their pockets.
Having had a taste of this once, it was a
good lesson forme; we took our two large
trunks in which was all our stuff and guns,
and one folding canoe and a small tent; we
hired a mule for $'> a week, and went
about. 1 should ihink si.xty miles into Ihe
interior. We pitched our tent on the bank
of a small river called Snake Creek, and
well it deserved its name, for it was full
of water Adders of all kinds.

About a week or ten days after we had
been there, a camping party of men from
New York came and pitched about a mile
above us. They were up there for tishing
more than gunning. One night when my
Pard went off to get some owls, which he
had heard the night before, these three men
came up to our tent to pass away the even-
ing, we were just commencing to enjoy a
good social game when in came my Pard,
mad as a wild bull, and said I was a nice
kind of a man to leave a log in front of the
dooi-. I told him I did not, so we all went
to see, and low and behold there was a.
large Alligator just crawling away. I
jumped into the tent and grabbed my forty-
four Winchester rifle, but was just in
time to see him go into the stream ; but we
killed nine on that very same river before
we left. Now people talk abo\it snakes in
Florida. Let me tell my young friends
that snakes will not trouble you if you will
not trouble them, for here is an instance :
One day I was after a flock of Paroquets,
and going on to a small field of wild rice,
and looking to one side of me I saw a
round ball as I thought, and went to go
over to it. liut was surprised to find it a
large Rattlesnake, (you bet I made tracks
out of its reach), and it did not notice me
more than to raise its head. I got my senses
pretty quick and let her have two barrels of
No. V-i shot of my faithful Hammerless.
When we skinned the snake we found twen
ty-one eggs in Uer. She had twenty-six rat-
tles, and is the fine.st snake I ever saw. We
left soon after and went home. We col-
lected in all over 400 eggs, and over 1,100
skins of various species. I will tell you
more ue.xt time. J. T. Jones.

Flicker.

Editor : — The Yellow-shafted Flicker is
known in this locality as Yellow Hammer.
One is building in a maple in the center of
our little city has hollowed its nest out of
the growing tree. L'ntil lately they seemed
to be rather scarce, but now their well-
know cr_v is heard in nearly every direc-
tion. One woke us up the other night by
drumming on the shingles, and kept us-
awake for nearly half an hour.

Yours. A. S. A., Osceola, Iowa.

THK YOUNG OOLOGIST.

41

The Horned Lark.

A few notes on tliis bird from Kansas
may be of interest to the i-eaders of tlie
Young Oologist.

The Horned Lark is quite plentiful with
us during the winter months, together with
the Snow Bunting, visit tlie barn-yards in
diligent search for food.

At times wlien the ground is covered
with Decern ber'.s white sheet they may be
.seen in flocks .searching the bare places for
food, all the titne stnaller flocks coming
from other places alight, while others are
flying on, uttering all the while a low twit-
tering.

The Horned Lark is our first songster of
the spring, taking precedence even of the
Blue-bird ; from the top of some stake or
fence post they may be heard singing.

Noticing that their number in the sum-
mer months are nothing to compare with
the great numbers seen at all times in the
winter, I, for the past season, have been
a little doubtful that but few remain here
in the summer season and that the greater
part go north to breed, I am now fully
convinced that but few remain here to
breed.

The.y may Ije found on prairie lands,
where herds of cattle have lieeu pastured
and grazed the grass close to the ground.
As a rule they never are to be found where
the old grass is still standing, perhaps their
instincts teach them not to nest there for
fear it will get run over by prairie fires.

Of the two nests that came under my
observation in the past two seasons, both
■were on the south slope of a hill.

One nest was found while riding along a
well traveled road (on one of the last days
of ..March). I noticed a Horned Lark busilj'
engaged in collecting nesting materials
which she found in the road. I turned my
horse at a safe distance, so as not to fright-
en the bird, and waited to see where she
was going with her load. I had not long
to wait till she was ready to fly to her
nest. I rode to the spot where I saw her
alight. The bird flew just before I reached
the place. The nest was ou the south side

of a hill and ou the side of a grass tuft,
thus breaking the cold winds from the
north and getting the warmth of the sun
from the south. A hollow was scooped
close up to the tuft, two inches deep, well
hilled up around the edge of the cavity, to
prevent water from running in, ami lined
with fine gi'ass and horse hair.

It being four miles from home, I did not
return till I thought it due time for the full
set. In a week I again visited the nest,
finding no eggs. I dismounted aud exam-
ined it, aud found small fragments of
shells and moisture at the bottom of the
nest. I have since thought that some
hungry dog devoured the eggs and left me
minus.

G. F. Breunikger,

Beattie, Kas.

Homes of the Sand Martin and Toucan.

Thinking that perhaps a few words
about birds and their homes might interest
the readers of the Yocng 05logist, 1 will
give the following sbort sketches :

The Sand Martin, so common in Eng-
land, is an excellent example. Few would
suppo-^e that the tiny bill of this prulty lit-
tle bird was capable of boring tunnels into
sand stone. The Sand JIartin, however,
prefers an easy task, when that is possible,
and will always avail itsels a locality where
the soil is loose and yet where the sides of
the burrows will not collapse. Having
fixed upon a suitable spot, it commences
to work in a circular direction, using its
legs as a pivot, and by dint of turning
round and round, and pecking away as it
proceeds, soon chips out a tolerably circu-
lar hole. After the bird has lived for some
time in the tunnel, the shape of the en-
trance is much damaged by the incessant
passing to and fro of its inmates ; but,
while the burrow is still new and unten-
anted, its form is almost cylindrical. In all
cases the tunnel slopes gently upward, so
as to prevent the lodgment of rain. At the
farthest extremity of the burrow, which is
always rather larger than the sliaft. is
placed the nest, a very simple structure,

42

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

upon which are laid the eggs, which are
very small and of a delicate pinky white-
ness.

Few foes can injure the Sand ilartin
during incubation, because of the difficulty
of gaining admission to the nest. Man is,
perhaps, its worst enemy, for there is a
mi.xture of adventure and danger in taking
the eggs, which is irresistible to the British
schoolboy; to climb up a perpendicular
rock, to cling with one hand, while the
other is thrust into the burrow, and to
know that a chance slip will certainly snap
the invading arms like a pipe stem, is a
combination of joys which no well condi-
tioned boy can withstand.

The Toucan is remarkable for its enorm-
ous bill, which is decorated with brilliant
tints of orange and black, scarlet and yel-
low, or red and green, varying in different
species. Whether this huge bill is the tool
with which it excavates its burrow, is un-
certain. It is said, however, that the young
of the Toucan, being liable to the attacks
of monkeys and birds of prey, whenever
the parent bird is alarmed, all she has to do
is to poke her beak out of the aperture
leading to her nest ; the assailant seeing so
huge a bill, fancies an animal of corres-
ponding size and hastily llees.

Cii.\s. Miller, Jr.

Queer Nesting Sites

Editor Young Oologist :

I have taken the Young Oologist since
its commencement in May, 1884, and I
value it very highly.

Wishing to contribute my share, 1 send
following :

" The story is~ that a coal vessel from
Newcastle put into Navin, in Scotland,
and while there two Sparrows were often
seen to alight on the top of the mast.

" The crew thought nothing of this, as
Sparrows are a common sight everywhere.
But after putting to sea again these same
Sparrows were seen following the vessel,
and having reached it they took up their
old post on the mast. Crumbs of bread
were scattered on the deck to entice the

Sparrows down, and they came to the feast
fast enough, ate heartily and then returned
to their favorite post on the mast-head.

" They soon learned to come down for
crumbs as a matter of course.

" When the vessel reached port a nest
containing four young was found on the
mast-head.

' ' It was carefully taken down and placed
in a ruined house on the bank of the rivers,
and a gentleman who had watched the
subsequent actions of the birds, says that
they reared the brood as though nothing
had happened."

I give one or two more incidents further
illustrating the queer places sometimes
chosen by the English Sparrows for nest-
building purposes.

In the right liand of a statue of Daniel
Webster in Central Park, New York, a
Sparrow built her nest last year (1884).

In the mouth of the stone lion in Charing
Cross, England, Sparrows regularly build
their nests.

A bronze statue (which was, of course,
hollow), which stood in one of our cities,
was taken down recently andtln- inside was
found to have bten taken possession of by
Sparrows and Swallows, and every " nook
and craunj' " contained a nest.

The statue represented Gen. .Jackson on
horseback and contained nearly fifty nests.
1 have a Natural History scrap-book
from which I get a great many incidents
of bird life, which not infrequently prove
very useful.

Wishing success to the Young (.)()i.o(iist,
I remain Yours Resp't,

W. V. O.
Providence, R. 1.

A Brave Bird.

While a pai-ty of ladies were chatting on
a piazza at Clifton, New York, one pleas-
ant afternoon la.st month, their attention
was attracted by the swift descent of a
sparrow-hawk. A moment later the pirate
of the air was seen soaring upw'ard with a
poor little chippy bird in his talons. The
ladies were not the only spectators of the

HE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

43

tragic incident. >fo sooner did a robin,
•n-hicb liad been putting the finishing
touches to her nest, in a tree near by, see
the distress of the chippy, than she took
wing, and darted in pursuit of tlie hawk.
Overtaking the robber, tlie robin at once
attacked him with much courage. She
dealt blow after blow with her beak on the
hawk's body, each blow being followed by
the scattering of a tuft of feathers plucked
from the plumage of the marauding hawk.
That party to the battle in mid-air seemed
dazed at first, and rose straight upward,
the robin following. Then the hawk
swooped downward, and turned abruptly
in another direction. Still the plucky
robin kept close, and at every stroke of
her beak the hawk uttered a cry of pain.
Thus the combat was continued in a nar-
row circle near the piazza for more than a
minute. The spectators were much excited.
The J' clapped their liands and tried to en-
courage the robin as much as possible, and
they were well pleased, indeed, when the
hawk dropped liis prev and fled afar.
The chippy fell like a plummet toward the
ground. It seemed as though it had es-
caped from the hawk only to be dashed to
death on the earth, when suddenly it found
its wings, and, fluttering for an instant,
gained a safe poise, and flew to the robin's
tree. Meantime the robin had returned to
her nest, where she resumed her work as
though nothing had happened to mar the
serenity of the peaceful afternoon. — Ex.

Familiarity of the Chickadee.

I thought that the readers of the Young
OoLofiisT might like to hear an account of
the familiarity of the Black-capped Chick-
adee, which I think is unsurpassed. While
choppiuiT wood, nearly a year ago. in a
sugar orchard, the Chickadees were very
plenty and a]ipeared quite tame for food,
and keeping up an incessant chattering.
They seemed so tame that I thought I
would see how near they would approach,
so I stood perfectly still and in less than
five minutes one was standing on one of
my feet, peering up into my face as if try-

ing to determine what sort of an animal I
was. He seemed satisfied that I was harm-
less. After this investigation and gaining
courage he flew to a small branch about
two feet from my head, thence he hopped
on my shoulder. He surveyed me in a very
serious manner and very deliberately too,
so deliberately in fact, that I began to get
tired, and I moving slightly, he flew to a
neighboring tree and began to scold, which
collected a flock, every individual of which
seemed to think that he was called upon to
assist in the scolding. I hope never again
to receive such a scolding as I received
from those birds. If any of the readers of
the Young Oologist ever witnes-sed any
such incident, I should like to hear from
them. Hoping, yet hardly expecting, that
this article will be favorably received, I
remain Yours truly,

Fred B. Spaulding,
Lancaster, N. H.

Queries.

What is Southern breeding for American
Goldfinch and for the Chewink or " Joree,"
as we say, and which seems to express his
song ?

Who has seen the Great Northern Shrike
as far South as 35 degrees '!

J. T. P.,
Rising Fawn. Ga.

M.\Y 5, 1885. — I found a set of six Robin
eggs in a railrond bridge. To-day I found
a Blue-bird's nest in a hole in a tree con-
taining four Blue-birds and two Cow-birds.
F. L., Ashland, Ohio.

North Turner Bridge, May 10, 1885.

Mr. F. H. LnlUn : — I would like to say
a word in regard to Friend Singley's ques
tion in the Young Oologist about the
Yellow-billed Cuckoo laying in other birds
nests. Last summer while out collecting I
found a C'edar-biru's nest in an elm tree up
about fifteen feet from the ground. On
climbing up I found five Cedar-bird's eggs
and one egg of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Let us hear from other collectors on the
subject. S. .1. O.

North Turner Bridge, Me.

44

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

Pigmy Nuthatch.

This diminutive species, accarding to
the specification to Siiider, Davis' Check
List, etc., breeds only on tlie Pacific
Coast. But this season while in com-
pany with Mr. George Noble, I had
the good fortune to find them. They seem
to be quite numerous, both in Georgia and
South Carolina, as I found them in both
states this season. They are among our
earliest breeders, commencing to build the
latter part of JIarch The first nest I
found was on the 12th of April, situated in
a dead Pine tree, about fifteen feet high,
which contained young, my second was on
the same day in a live pine tree, about
fifteen feet high, which also contained
young. I did not go up to either of the
nests as I knew it would be useless, as I
saw the parent birds feeding the young —
both these nests were found in Georgia.
My third nest was found on the 19th of
April, in Beauford County, South Carolina,
the nest was situated in a pine stump, four
feet from the ground, which contained five
young about one week old. My fourth
nest I found on the 30th, in a pine stump,
six feet from the ground, which contained
four eggs, but incubation was so far ad-
vanced I was unable to save them, whether
they rear more than one brood during the
season, I am at present unable to say.
There can be no doubt about the identifica-
tion as the male birds were shot, and are
now in the possession of Mr. George
Noble, a taxidermist of this place.

T. D. Pehky,
Sani, Ga.

An Explanation Wanted.

Editor of The Voiing (Mogist :

In collecting this spring, I have met
with quite an interesting experience.

I found a robin's nest on the 2nd inst.,
containing three eggs. I took the eggs
but afterwards replaced them as I did not
want so small a set. On the 4th I again
visited the nest expecting to find a full
set. The eggs were gone, and as there

were no foot prints l)ut mine visible, I con-
cluded some other birds had destroyed
them. But on the 13th 1 found another
robins nest containing tliree eggs. One of
them was fast losing its identity as an egg
and was trying hard to become a robin.
The nest No. 2 was certainly not built on
the 2nd, as 1 had carefully looked for one
in that trre on that day. Now I don't
believe Iht-re is any robin smart snough to
build a nest on the 3d, lay three eggs and
have one hatched by the 13th of Jlay. So
I concluded that the birds to out-wit me,
constructed another nest and carried them
thither ; fully 200 yards.

Have you seen anything similar? "I
know what I have seen."

Yours, D. B. P.

Oljerlin, O.

Ferruginous Rough Leg.

Editor Toiiny Ouhyiat :

While spending a few days at the sheep
ranche on Lone Tree Creek I obtained a
few notes which I thought would be of in-
terest to the readers of the YouNo Ooi.o-
GisT. They are concerning the Ferrugin-
ous Rough Leg ; or, California Squirrel
Hawk. When we located the ranche on
the creek we noticed in a cotton-wood
tree, about 100 yards from the tent, an im-
mense nest, and in a fLW days a large pair
of these hawks took possession. They did
not mind our presence at all, and with the
aid of a good field glass I watched the
pair pretty closely. At first the uest was
lined with immense tufts of dry grass,
root and all. And the first egg was laid
on Monday, April 18. The male bird
never visited the nest after this, but would
sit out upon the prairie catching gophers,
etc. , which were turned over to the fe-
male. On Tuesday I went up again while
they were away, and there were three or
four gopher-heads and tails, but no more
eggs. The first one verj' much resembled
a Fish Hawk's egg, having a light blue
back-ground with rich rufus, brown and
chocolate markings blotched all over 2..'iOx
1.95. The .second egg was not laid until

THE YOUI^G OOLOe.lST.

45

Wednesday afU'rnoou, and this was con-
siderably lighter, less marked than the
first. What blotches there was were gath-
ered around the smaller end and run back
in long lines.

The birds never made any attempts to
drive me off while I was up the tree and
I waited until Jlonday. the 20th. for an-
other egg, but thinking that the set was
complete and wishing to obtain fresh eggs,
I took the set on the afternoon of the 20th.

I thought at lirst that the bird was a
Fish-Hawk, so I shot the female in order to
make sure. In the birds fall a large egg
about to be laid was broken, the shell of
which was clear sky-blue, and there were
ten or twelve distinct eggs of all sizes in the
hawk, three of them quite large. The
nest was composed of dry limbs and sticks,
some as large as broom-sticks. It was
three feet in diameter and about two feet
deep, situated only twelve feet from the
ground. Length of bird-wings. l,s.,50 ;
tail, 10 ; length. 2-t ; spread. 60.

F. 31. DiLLE.

Greeley Col., April 25, 1885.

Sparrows ; A Plucky Hen.

A Philadelphia man seems to have
found a method of getting rid of the
" Hoodlum." He was annoyed ver}- much
by the English Sparrows in the ivy along
the walls of his house. A bright idea
struck him. and he went to the store, pi-o-
cured a pound of pepper, raised one of his
garrett windows and scattered the pepper
among the ivy. The effect was instan-
taneous, for the sparrows quitted that ivy
in double quick, and according to latest
accounts have not returned jet.

That is one way of getting rid of them.

The following is an extract from one of
our county papers, and I send it to you.
hoping it may prove interesting :

" Four miles from Aiken, S. C, at the
home of Mr. T. C. Harker, recently a ma-
tronly hen was cheerily clucking to her
downy.brood and industrious!}- scratching
for their matutinal meal when there ap-
peared in tlie sky overhead a huye hawk

whirling in concentric circles. A sharp
note of warning from the patriarchal cock
hurried the feeding fowls to places of con-
cealment, and, followed by the sharp
cluck of the old hen, sent the infant spring
chickens scurrying beneath the protecting
wings of their mother. And none too soon
came the alarm. The next instant there
was a whirring sound in the air, and, with
wings clo.se into his bod}', coming head
foremost like a shot from a cannon, the
hawk landed among the panic-stricken
brood. But he had reckoned without his
host. The old hen had sand in her gizzard
and was true blue. With her wings ex-
tended and the feathers on her neck stand-
ing apart, she met the onslaught of the
bird of prey. No sooner had he touched
the ground than she was upon him. The
conflict, which was witnessed by several
parties, was as brief as it was brilliant, and
before succor could reach the plucky little
hen she had stretched the feathered pirate
lifeless at her feet. The hawk measured
just four feet from tip to tip, and was
carried to Aiken and exhibited. A lucky
blow from the beak of the hen entered the
eye and penetrated his brain.

H. K. L., Landis Valley. Pa.

They Had Reason.

Editor Young Oologist : A line in the
letter of your correspondent H. S., on page
149 of your March number, attracts my
atteniou. "The people here (St. Clair
Flats) called it (an apparently hybrid duck
shot by him) a Breieer." It is a curious
fact that they have genuine high ornitho-
logical warranty for the name. On page
277 of Audubon's Synopsis, 1839, will be
found a description of "Anas Breireri :"
"Very nearly allied to the Mallard; one
specimen procured in Louisiana." This
has long ago been pronoimced not a good
species, and Dr. Coues .says it was no doubt
a hybrid Mallard, like the bird above. But
how came the Michiganders to have the
name /« fnmmon usi-? F. C. B.,

Fiamingham, Mai^s.

46

THE YOUNG OOLOGI.sT.

From Shelter Island.

We huve liad a week of pleasant weather,
and the birds are becoming abundant.
Have noted the following arrivals :

JIarch .5. Redwinged Black-birds.

March 7. Crow Black birds.

March 11. Robins.

March 17. Took a Fish Crow. Rare so
far north.

March 27. Kingfishers.

March 38. Field Sparrows and Cow
Buntings.

March 31. The Wild Geese took advan-
tage of a fair wind, and passed over in
hundreds, on their northern journey.
Ducks becoming more abundant.

April 8d. Fox-Sparrows arrived and
heard the first Woodcocks.

April 6. Saw four White-bellied Swal-
lows, sitting on a fence, apparently stupe-
fled by the chilly weather.

April 14. Great Blue Herons.

April 18. Spotted Sandpipers and Pur-
ple Finches.

April 21. Common Crows and Jcreech
Owls Un-ing,

April 33. Bi'own Thrushes and Barn
Swallows.

April 34. Green Herons and Towhee
Buntings.

I believe the birds migrate more slowly
on the coast than inland, on account of the
atmosphere being colder in the vicinity of
large bodies of water.

Yours truly, W. W. W.

From Kansas.

Kdit'V Y'lMiitj (Jidiifiist :

De.^r Silt — Your correspondent, N. A.
S. , from York, Neb,, is probably in error
in regard to the nesting of Woodhouse's
Jay in that state. Extreme variation in
the eggs of the common Blue Jay is too
common to base upon it the identity of the
eggs. Especially is this true when the
locality is outside the range of the bii'd to
which the eggs are assigned.

He is also undoubtedly in error as to the
time of arrival of the Black-throated

Bunting, which he notes as occurring
jVIarch 3. The Black-lhroated Bunting ar-
rives about the last week of April or first
week in May, and neeci- m flocks. Its songs
is the first evidence of their presence, for
it is in full song when it reaches us. Your
correspondent has, no doubt, mistaken the
Harris Finch for this bird. Harris Finch
arrives in flocks about March 1. It differs
radically from the Black-throated Bunt-
ing, but resembles it in having a black
throat-patch. It is a larger bird, keeps
about hedges and brush heaps, and has a
peculiar complaining song, from which
circumstance, as well as on account of the
black head and throat of the male, it is
called the " Jlourning Sparrow." The
Black-throated Biuiting keeps mostly to the
open fields, and the male seems to sing
throughout the day. There is no variation
in its song, which is repeated at short in-
tervals from the top of a weed or bush.

The ' ' Moss-bird " referred to is. no
doubt, llie Blue Gray Gnatcatcher.
Yours truly, D. E. L.

Manhattan, Kan., May 4, 1885.

An Albino Crow.

While going down White River in Indi-
ana about the first of Decendier, 1884, when
about seven miles below Freedom and one
mile above Farmers, on ihe Indianapolis
and Viucennes Railway in Indiana, I found
a crow, in every respect like other crows
only its feathers were white as snow, in a
steel irap caught to its toe. I took the
crow out and took it to Farmers, where I
found a man by the name of Dohme, who
stated that he had set the trap for the pur-
pose of catching the white crow, which
had been mated to a black crow and was
raising its young every season in thai local-
ity. I delivered the crow to the man and
he sold it to a doctor living at Freedom, by
the name of Minich. who gave |.5 for it
and sent it to his brother, who is a surgeon
at the Surgical Institute in Indianapolis.
Ask the edhor of The Yovng Oologist
what be thinks of this and let me know.
Your cousin, R. K. Y ,

Freedom Ind.

The above was forwarded us by Mr. E.
Chandler, Eunka Springs, Ark.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST,

47

Yellow Rail, Wood Frog, Jordan's
Manual,

Yellow Rail {Porzami norelmracinm) —
Rathbon, is his " Birds of Central New
York, catalogues this bird as follows :
" Very rare. One taken September 20th,
1Q72.— Gilbert." The Oologist, Vol. i.
No. 5, p. 40, July, 18T8, note the capture
of a second. The third, of which I have j
known, was shot at the Canandaigua
Lake, Ontario County. October 6, 1883.
I believe that the rarity of the species is
largely uppnrent and not real, as the habits
of the species are not such as to expose it
to sight.

Wood Frog {Rana leitiporaria yyltn-
tica). — I found this species very abundant
near Wayland, Steuben County, N. Y., in
the summer of 1884.

Jordan's Manual. — I must beg leave to
differ with the opinion expressed in the
YouNo; OoLOGTST for March. The M(tn-
iiid only profes.se'! to lie a key, and as such,
I con-ider it unexcelled. I use it con-
stantly for birds, reptiles and batrachians.
C. H. Wilder,
Wayland. N. Y.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.

{Ziiinelixlia ludmiciana.)
This bird is very common in this local-
ity, building its ne.st in all places suitable
to its taste.

The male bird is aljout the size of a
Wood Thrush ; the upper parts are shiny
tilack ; the under parts are white ; the tail
and wings arc marked, with a broad baud
of white, similar to the Red-headed Wood-
pecker. The breast is marked with a tri-
angular spot of rose-carmine ; the bill is»
very large — half the size of its head, —
tapering suddenly to a point.

The female is of a brownish cast, dotted
with gray and black ; under the wings is
marked with pali' yellow ; is considerablj-
larger than the male ; she also has a large
bill like the male. They sing sweetly, their
song being a clear whistle ; this is done in
the thickest of the woods. They are pe-

culiar to hard- wood countries, seldom be-
ing found in other places.

On Jlay 2'-'d, 1884, while out egging. I
suddenly came upon the nest of a Grosbeak
with the male bird sitting on it. The nest
was in a slender sapling, about ten feet
from the ground ; it was composed of root-
lets ; I counted the eggs through the nest,
this can most generally done, owing to the
frailness of structure. I climbed the tree
and procurrd the eggs, which were three,
about 1 in. by f of an inch, of a clear green
spotted with olive brown, chiefly at tho
large end. I was anxious to .secure the
bird, as he was in perfect plumage, I
whipped out my sling-aliot and shot him in
thi- wing, wounding him to badly to fly.
When I went to pick him up, he grabbed
me by the linger very hard, which instantly
drew the scarlet. I tried to shake him off,
but he hung like a bull dog, and did not re-
lease his hold until I squeezed him to
death. The eggs are very hard to getfrom
the nest, owing to the slimuess of the trees,
in which they luiild.

BURTCH MOFFETT,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Common Crow.

This bird, although very abundant, and
breeding here in large quantities, the eggs
are quite difficult to obtain, owing to the
height and difficult trees they select for
breeding. To do any collecting one must,
be accompanied by climbers and a good de-
termination. On April 5lh. 188.5, while in
comiiany with three friends, I took ray first,
set of eggs. We entered a thick woods, in
which no sign of opening buds was to be
seen, but plenty of oak trees with the dead
leaves still clinging to them. It was in one
of these the nest was placed, being only
about twenty-two feet from the ground.
The nest was near the edge of the woods.
We cautiously approached, 1 leading, and
were soon informed of the idea that it was
inhabited, by the fact that the tail of the
female was sticking out. Arrived at the
foot of the tree, and I searched an appro-
priate missilr, which was soon.found in the

48

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

shape of a club. This wms hurled, and like
an ari'ow the startled bird left the nest,
made one "caw," was joined l)_v another
crow, probabl_y her mate, and seen no more
that day. One of our number immediatel}""
took off his coat, vest and shoes, and was
soon up, where he reported to the eager
^roup below " three eggs." Two of these
were placed in a small box, the other one
in his mouth, and the nest was dropped to
the ground, and collapsed in the operation.
Another of our party climbed and secured
the egg from the collector's mouth, when
all three were safely brought to the ground
and securely packed. I then took an ac-
count of the nest and wrote my data. The
iiest contained some queer things, among
which was a spider's nest, some horse hair,
and a bunch of cow's hair. We proceeded
on our journey, and although traversing
some ten miles of country and seeing many
iiests, we got no more eggs that day.
Wabken Carter,

WalUnifford. Pa.

Great Horned Owl.

A. friend and myself started for a day's ,
trip in the country for owls. When about ]
five miles from town we reached a nest
whicli was used by Red-tails a year ago.
The luiwks were back and flying over the
nest with shiill screams. When about five
hundred feel from the nest, 1 observed
through my field glass the tufts or horns of
an owl. "When some three hundred feet
from the place the male flew from a neigh-
boring tree. The female refused to leave
the nest, but stood up with ruffled feathers
until I threw a snow-ball. She" flew in the
■direction which her mate had taken, the
.snow then at that place was knee deep.
After a hard climb I secured a nice set of
two. Incubation well advanced. Proceed-
ing on about two miles we came to a lie*
nest which was not there the summer be-
fore. I saw nothing of Owls, but on the
outside of the nest there were several Owls'
feathers, which induced me to climb. On
reaching the nest, 1 found one frozen egg,
which proved to be that of a Great Horned

Owl. The nest had been deserted. Re-
turning home a different route, we found a
pair of Red-tails Inisily engaged in build-
ing their ue.st, which was nearly complete.
A few years ago a pair of these Owls
built a nest directly over a large den of
rattlesnakes. The snakes soon disap-
peared. I have known Red-tailed Hawks
to kill snakes also. It looks to me that if
it was not for the.se two species we would
be overrun with snakes and gophers. Per-
haps some of the readers can throw some

light on this sub !ect.

Frank A. Patton.
Lake City, Minn.

■White Blue Bird Eggs.

Editor Young OnlogisI :

As I see occasionally in your paper some
items about Blue-birds' eggs being found
found white instead of their natural color,
I would like to ask whether this is a dis-
tinct kind of Blue-l)irds or not. There
has been found here four sets of the Blue-
birds' eggs. Three of the nests were found
nearly at the same time, so I am sure that
there are four pairs of the birds here that
lay white eggs, if not more. Hoping to
hear from you soon in regard to this. I re-
main Yours Resp't.

R. J. R.. El Paso, III.

The Bluebird that lays while eggs is not
a difEerent variety. Ed.

A Hard Time for Owls

During the past winter I have skinned
and mounted seventy-one Owls of different
species. They were as follows :

Great-horned Owls 7

Barred Owls 18

Hawk Owls 41

Long-eared Owls 2

Little-horned Owl, (.Mottled) 1

Flaminulated Screech Owl 1

Richardson's Saw-whet Owl 1

I handled many other Barred and Hawk
Owls which I should have liked to add to
mv list. .T. JI.. Quebec. Canada.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

OOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS, &c.

EGG DRILLS:
No. ], short liandle, 8-100, good for all fresh eggs. $0 10

No. 2, " •■ 12-100, " " " 12

No. S, •■ " 18-100, " " " 15

No. 4, " ■■ 21-100, " •• " 20

No. 0, medium handle, 3.32 in. burr 20

No. 1, " " 4.32 " 26

No. 2, '• " 5.33 " 35

No. 3, " " 6.32 " 50

No. 4, " " 8.32 " T5

No. 1, long handle, 3.32 in. burr 26

No. 2, " 5.32 '• 35

No. 3, " 6 32 " 50

No. 4, ■' 8.32 " T5

No. .5, ■■ 12.32 " 100

No. 6, ■■ 16.32 •■ 130

No. 7, " of improved form, 1-2 inch in

diameter, cut coarse for thick-shelled eggs,

or fine for thin-shelled 1 50

BLOWPIPES: No. 1, brass 16

" No- 3, nickel-plated 35

EMBRYO HOOKS : No. 1, long handles, blued
steel ; three sizes, fine, medium and large,

price each 30

No. 3, best made, screws into a finely engraved

nickled handle. Handles, each 25

Hooks (three sizes), each 20

Handle and hook 40

Handle, with three hooks (assorted sizes) 75

EMBRYO SCISSORS: No. 1. cheap 25

" " No. 2, e.xtra 60

SYRINGES; Hard rubber, fine, just the thing

for rinsing eggs 36

CALIPER RL'LES: For taking the measure-
ments of birds, eggs, etc 35

CALIPER RULES: Ivory, trimmed in nickle, 100

STEEL RULES, 3 in,, marked hundredths 45

4 " " " 55

LEAD PENCILS : Soft, for marking eggs 10

DAT.\ BLANKS: Best out, printed on white
paper, black ink, see samples in March

Young Odlogist, per dozen 3 to 10

Per hundred 15 to 45

Per thousand 1 00 to 3 50

TAXIDERM ISTS TWEEZERS 25

OOLOGISTS CEMENT ; Per bottle 12

*' Large bottle 26

NATURALISTS CEMENT : Per bottle 25

CLIMBING IRONS: Two styles, per pair,

strapped, ready for use, by express 2 60

THE OOLOGISTS HAND BOOK 25

*' " " cloth bound 50
HAND BOOK OF THE AGASSIZ ASSO-
CIATION 54

KIDGEWAVS NOMENCLATURE 35

MANTON'S TAXIDERMY WITHOUT A

TEACHER 60

DAVIE'S EGG CHECK LIST OF N. A.
BIRDS. The most valuable work ever
published for the oologist, it gives color,
measurements, Arc, of the eggs of every
species, as far as known, in N. A 60

INGERSOLL'S BIRDS'-NESTING 126

LANGILLE'S OUR BIRDS IN THEIR

HAUNTS 3 00

SAMUELS' OUR NORTHERN AND

EASTERN BIRDS 6 00

COUES' KEY TO N. A. BIRDS 10 00

CLIMBING IRONS.

1

Either of the above styles sent by express, strapped
ready foru-e, upon receipt of $2.50.

FKANK H. LATTIN.

Albion, N. Y.

BIRD SKINS.

Don't pay dealers prices, but buy
directh' from tlie collector.

TO EEO-IItTiTEI^S.

I have made arrangements to sell
the following collections of skins,
made up first class, with full data of
collection, at the following rates :
Collection of lo species - S^-S^^
Collection of 25 species - - 4.50
Collection of 50 species - 10.00
Collection of 100 species - 35. 00

A trial order will convince you that
I will do just what I say. The
ki-ndred study of Oology cannot be
properly studied without the bird
skins. Remit by registered letter,
and deduct cosi of same from order.
Now is the time to start a collection.

\V. W. WORTHINGTON.
Bo.x 44. Shelter Island, New York.

THL YOUNG OOLOGIST.

DAYIE'S EGG CHECK LIST,

— OF —

ITorth. Axnericaxi Birds.

This work contains accurate descriptions of the Color and Size of the
Eggs, and location of the Nests of the Land and Water Birds of North
America, together with " Notes " and Directions for Collecting Birds' Eggs
and Nests.

The following specimen description plainly shows how invaluable the
work must be to every collector:

"315. PHGiBE BIRD; PEWEE— sayornis fuscus. — Color, pure white, someti mes
sparsely spotted with reddish Ijrown at the larger end ; number of eggs, five ; size, .80 by .60 ;
nest in stone culverts, bridges, under the roofs and against the walls of old houses and barns ;
nest is composed of mud, twigs and feathers ; habitat, Eastern United States."

It is intended that this work will enable the collector to identify Eggs
while in the field, and will take the place of those e.xpensive works which are
usually beyond the reach of many collectors.

No Oologist or Collector of Eggs, be he amateur or professional, can do
without this work.

It is printed in large tvpe, on heavy, tinted paper, and bound in antique,
Japanese paper cover. PRICE BY MAIL, ONLY 60 CENTS.

I^E-,i^3D -"^^T-^^-A-T OTHEI^S S-i^-2-.

I sincerely hope that your efforts in behalf of
Oologists will meet with the tavorable reception which
they deserve. Your little list is juht the thin^ to take
into the field, not too bulky, yet giving the main
essential facts in each particular case. — \Villiii7n
Brervster^ Cambridge^ Mass.

I am much pleased with the Catalogue, and consider
it a valu;tble contribution to ornithological literature.
It should be in the hands of every collector, I only
regret that I have nothing at present to offer in
reciprocation o your kindness. — T. G. Getitry.

Have just received your little treasure " Davie's

Check List" from my friend and so much am

I pleased with its contents after 3 hours perusal, that
I cannot refrain from telling you direct how much 1
welcome this helpmeet in my studies and researches,
in short, in a consise and thorough manner it supplies
a long felt want. Add my name to the long list of
admirers, which this charming little book must have
made for you. — Harry G. Parker, Chester^ Fa.

I take pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of
your "Key to Eggs of North American Birds. ' It
is very handsomely gotten up, and is unique. It will
certainly take a permanent place in the ornithological
literature of the U. S. Fifteen years ago what would
I not have given for such a volume? and to-day I
welcome it h.artity, I wish it great success, which it
will surely have, unless I misjudge the sense of alt
working Oologists, ^/?r. Hoivard Jones^ Author 0/
the "Illustrations 0/ the Nests a nd Eggs of the Birds
0/ Ohio"

I am surevou have made a most useful little book,
one that every young ollector (and many who are not
young) ought to have. — Pro/. B. II'. Eie'-mann,
Ca7!idefi, hid.

I I is just what every egg collector in the land should
have. 1 will send for several in a few days. — R. B.
Tronslot., Valparaiso^ Itid.

"Davies Egg Check List" is a beauty, the typography
and paper unexcelled, and deserving all praise bestowed
upon it, — E. B. Cornzvell, Rul'icoti, Jl'isc.

I " think it is worthy of recommendation to my
friends" and I thing the younger collectors will hail
it as a " long felt want " while the older ones will duly
appreciate it. — Charles R. Keyes. Des Moines^ la.

" Have looked it over, and find it invaluable to the
egg collector. The descriptions are accurate and the
work meets a long felt want. The topography of the
work is perfect and the price brings it within reach
of all." — A. N. Fuller, Latvrence Kas.

"It is worth ten times the prlce."-
Philadelphia, Pa.

-Philip Laurent,

" The List will
Oologist."— J/'. W
N. V.

be a great help to the working
, / V'orth ingto n , Sk elte r Is la nd ,

"It is just the thing we have needed, and should
be in every collector's hands, both old and young." —
ir. otto. Efrierson, Hay'Murds, Cala.

Dealers and Agents, — We will send you one dozen copies by express, and print your
name and address in the Young Oologist, advising collectors of your vicinity to purchase ol
you, for $4,80.

FRANK H. LATTIN,

ALBION, N. Y.

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST.

OT7K BIRDS

— IN —

THEIR HAUNTS.

A I'ciin I.AR TRtAriSE I'N

THE BIRDS OF EASTERN N. A.

— BY —

Rev. J. H. LANGILLE, M. A.

Bl ck Hills Cabinet Minerals.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

Brief descriptions, aivi tor the mosl part
FULL LIFE HISTORIES are given of
all the species common east of the Mississippi,
with special attention to the songs and nesting,
and the curious and fascinating, of which there
is so much in the lives of these wonderful
creatures. The narrative follows, for the most
part, the order ol the seasons, and groups itself
about certain interesting localities, as Niagara
River and St. Clair Flats. Migration, instinct,
the analogy of nidification, the specialized
forms and adaptations of structure in birds, etc.,
all made readable.

The work is mostly from personal observa-
tion, incorporating a full report for Western
New York and the adjoining regions of the great
lakes, and a pretty full report for Nova Scotia,
also a good deal of direct information from
Hudson's Bay, by means of on excellent cor-
respondent.

In cloth and on fine tinted paper,

PRICE $3.00.

Address all orders to

THE YOUNG OOLOGIST,
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Hot Spnngs Ark. yuartz Cr).>tals and Indi n Relics

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L. W. STILLWELL.

Deadwood. D. T.

These inks have been sent to over twenty States in I
this Union, besides Canada, India and Asia. Rev. I
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and has sold thousands of bottles of others, but Old-
royd's excell all others as a writing ink. They are
not injured by freezing, and will not corrode a pen.
A package in powders, sufficient for one pint of either
black, blue, violet, green or red, sent free to any part
of the United Slates upon receipt of fifteen cents.
EIGST PA.CKAGES, - - $1.00
riVE noz. P-iCKAGES, $5.00

^^ Simply add one pint of pure rain water. If loo
thick at any time, reduce with water, -\ddress
WM. OX-DBOTD,

Coltimbuaf Ohio.

Me.nTIO.N "You.\G OuLOGlST.

Taxidermists. — Special.

Send four (4) cents for my special Price-list of
Moudted Birds. Low prices. Be»t work. Owls.
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Satisfaction guaranteed. Address

J. B. UNDERHILL,
Fork Union, I- luvanna Co.. V'a

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Inauguration Medal. Obverse— bust of Cleveland
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address on receipt of zuc. Circulars giving full
account of our latest publications of tine proof medals
forwarded to any address Free.

are acknowledgad by all to be the finest in the world.
Beautiful sprigs of moss inside the hard transparent
stones. These unique and elegant gems are highly
prized for charms, jewelry settings, cabinets and gifts
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accepted, but no postal cards. G. G. Mead,

_ Rawlins, Wyoming.

E^"To every' purchaser of three moss agates, at 50

cents each, I will Send The loara Teacher one year.

Send 25c. in postal note or silver, and receive a box
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days Full directions given with each box. Agents
wanted, write for particulars. Address,

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PHONETIC SHORTHAND. ^S^^^J^^

Send stamp for specimen pages. &.c. \V. \V. Osgoodbv

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THli, YOUNG OULOGIST.

THE NEW KEY TO

ITorth. Azxiericazi Birds,

Contains a concise account of every species of living and Fos-^il Bird at present known on the Continent
north of the boundary line between Mexico and ihe United States, including Greenland.

SECOND EDITION, REVISED TO DATE AND ENTIRELY REWRITTEN,

WITH WHICH ARE INCORrOR ATED

GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY— An outline of the structure and classifi-
cation of birds; and

FIELD ORNITHOLOGY — A manual of collecting, preparing and preserv-
ing birds.

By ELLIOTT COUES. M. A., M. D., Ph. D., Member of the National Academy of Sciences, &c.
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. The original edition of this Standard Text Book of Oriiithology being
entirely ont of print, and still very much in demand, the publishers have spared neither pains nor expense
in the preparation of *' THE NEW KEY," in which the whole subject is carefully brought down to date.
Coue's " Key is loo well known as a leading and authorative treatie to require remark, having for
twelve years held its place as the Standard work of Reference for Professional ornithologists, as well as
for students and amateurs. For complete prospectus of this work see Voing Oologist Vol. L, No. i,
page 12. The work is fully indexed with several thousand entries. Price complete in one stout volume.

fiOFal Octavo, Vellum Clotli, $10 Royal Octavo, LlDrary SlieeD, $11,50

Royal Octavo, Halt Morocco, Extra, $13,50

Orleans County. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y.

THE OOLOGISTS' DIRECTOEY

DAVIS & BAKER,

Is now ready tor delivery and contains the names and addresses of
over four hundred collectors of Oological, Ornithological, and Tax-
idermal specimens, and twenty-one pages of advertisements of the leading
dealers. The Directory is the best and cheapest ever offered collectors and
is worth double the amount for which it sells. It is printed in good, suitable
tvpe, on 36 pages, (size of the Young Oologist), of heavy tinted paper,
and bound in antique Japanese covers.

PRICE, POST PAID,

OD^Xj"Y 30 oeisttsi

Address, FRANK H. LATTIN,

ALBION, N. Y.

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