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\ JANUARY,

1901.

Vaan aN
i Yi
6 Ahab

er ROD
SC Ae

cts.a copy.
O cts. a year.

Ga-cidermy.

One hundred pages. Full of valuable
information, with complete instructions
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Birds, Animals
and Fish 3 3 3

also a complete list of all North Ameri-
can Birds, with prices of their eggs, and
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exhaustive line of Ornithologists’, Oolo-
gists’ and Taxidermists supplies, valu-
able information for the amateur, recipes,
etc.

35 Cents Postpaid.

Guide to
|

CHAS. K. REED,
Sta. A, WORCESTER, MASS.

———_ THE.

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This is.a ‘‘Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the
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Chas.K.Reed, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass. ,

American Ornithology.
For the Home and School.

EDITED BY C. ALBERT REED.

Vol. I.

WORCESTER, MASS.:
CHAS. K. REED, PUBLISHER,
TOOT.

INDEX.

: Page
Adventure of a Young Saupe Ue AR ae ord tees artnet ale SANE, See es 246
Albinos . RT Mi nctaiet Ee
Albino Blackbirds . S232
Albino Robin .. j ee ep oe . 2.226
Albino Scarlet Tanager ete aia
Announcement of Hotel de Woods... Se hala
At the Home of the Robin. . «+220
Avocet, American . Ow.
Birds: Koosting. ..-....- MaERS
Bird Strategist, A .. 22245
Beier iegee MC PNeceecetaie eb drat vs Rone aed pig wm leew GIR a enn 4. Bea eae ya 184
Bittern, American. See
Bluebird (In the Old “Apple- tree) .. ion Ee Sa 5233
Bluebird (To the eat oe gle FORMER Se cod aids tar ees as “Opp, frontis ae
Bob-white. . ces a ey an ne en «Rae: .8
Bush-tit, cal. 87
Catching a Tartar. 32
Chat, Yellow- breasted. ; Rater
Chickadee (The Lost Mate)... arate aca Mate tte? 8. ayant a oes ae
ar ee INCA Mite ie 55 dale 0g. ss CS, ER Ee Re Ree oe en I
Crow,-A. Pet:. I
Crow, (Mischievous Jim)...
Cuckoo, Yellow-billed. -154
Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, (A New y Occupant) 142
Defeat of Passer domesticus. ; LES
Dipper, American. SEP
Duck, American Eider... 22
Duck, Harlequin.. .99
Duck, Wood.. 53
Eagle, Golden (Eagle \ vs. Hounds)... wy eons .46
Fight Between Two Crows and a Fox Squirrel 226
Finch; Cal. Purple ... BE de Mil eg we 240
Flicker .....-. + a3
Flycatcher, Great-crested.. . 48
Flycatcher, Great-crested (The Legend of f Myiarchus crinitus).. SoGO
Grebe, Pied-billed. . 148
Grouse, Canada (That Bird). 1.32
Grouse, Canada oe of Canada 1 Grouse). 143
Grouse, Dusky.. . -144
Grouse (Heath Hen). . .197

ISoe26

INDEX.

Grouse, Ruffed . 5 eo ale Oatede gp Sante alls alec’ aie hg rake ene
Gull, Great Black-backed. i ys Buia ney Tare ages WALe ede ee eer
Hawk, American Sparrow. . chad ee ae of ee
Hawk, Broad-winged.. Puig tleee ec Joes pea
Hawk, Broad- ee (AB Bird 1 Strategist) aia 68 wes, bay Slee ss
Heath Hen. : tose ic ten
Heron, Green. e SE adh Watee ate ahn gs min Jee) a
Hour With the Birds, ‘An. bale te Alay ates Pe a rr
How Sabattis Got His Christmas Dinner ........ ++ +2 + ¥en) Qa
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated. . vy eet
Hummingbird, se ee Summer With a airy Housekeeper). . 195
Ibis, White. sles Sie ind aGhik lene Nea alee ss We ectiee e
Ibis, White-faced Glossy. bale Re ele Rae Wide On eee eee eer
Jay, Long-crested. . ce teceereersttrens sess ss crear esa
Lark Horned, free
Legend of Myiarchus crinitus, The. iMisle eit oe eae a olsen)
Lost Mate, The. = eeetaee DS iias Jae, See
Meadowlark . eres Pere Oe
Mischiovid@ Jutr..:0: 2c. sect keel
Dee PUNE kore pe a er
Nest, An Odd. Urbana s tahe sath se
New Occupant, " Bure ei A
Notes on a Captive Woodcock. oGwals CMSs hee er
Nuthatch, White-breasted (A Bit of Nature). Perr er
Old Methods vs. New. ie eteeser recess nese 29
One Summer With a Fairy ‘Housekeeper... 1a ot abiae ole er
Osprey, Americans s.cc5... ee
Ostrich Farm, American. ...02... ccsees co. cee ale rr
Ostrich, Young ......-- niles s Siegal ls bn aut Joeinale ana eee
Owl, Great Horned . ee nr Me ay
Or, ocreechie 5.52. ieee Di dates eae os ee
Owl, Screech (Scops and Asio) | Poem. 5g hee femuecdelh Bees pean
Owl, Short-eared.. ets Oe
Partridge, Gambel’s.. sib san 0 algagts cantata cee rn
Partridge, Mountain... ...ossps 4 ohne ok Pe ete sates anaes ae
Partridge, a IIE ap he Co Lawes as da wishes senate nn
Pelican, American White. . ees
Pelican, American White (A Pelican Pond) . J ible es fac “inks een
Pelican, Brown (Catching a Tartar)...... Wits
Phoebe at Home. cdr) SS a
Plover, Semi-palmated . aio 9 6a aia eae OS a cae ea nEZ
Plumage a Protection. 238
Poems—Announcement of Hotel de ‘Woods, 174; ‘Hummingbird, 27; Scops
and Asio, 86; The Osprey, 31; To the Bluebird, are eae ‘oupe
Red- shouldered Hawk and Crows.. oon a i
HR INV. ance we , betes tenes eereser ise 9]
Robin, Albino. co jd wide om Blain iskere «8:0 ay eae
Robin, (At the Home of the Robin) . eri res re eee Chee iS
Sandpiper, Spotted. . Shee meme
Scops and Asio (Poem)... v 56 4 dil “as aiuib ganna ot able ee aac tia

coy | =
Wp yee

ASS |} bea

Photo from life.

To The Bluebird.

. O harbinger of sunny Spring,
Of springing buds and flowers,
Of skies as blue as are your wings,
Of sunny April showers.

When borne upon the chilling wind,
It comes from field and stubble,

I love to hear your thrilling note,
Your sweet melodious warble.

The orchards soon will be in bloom,
And winds their fragrance blowing,

Shall waft their odors far and near,
O’er every field and mowing.

And soon across the field we’ll hear
The Golden Flicker, hammer,

And from the gate the robin’s call,
The first sweet note of Summer.

To thee, thou harbinger of Spring,
The naked woodland bowers
Are giving joyful welcoming
For promised April showers,

We greet thee, too, you azure bird,
Thou promise of the pleasures,

Which Spring and Summer bring to us,
With all their golden treasures.

C. E. GORDON.

INDEX.

Shelter for the Birds .. Bier a cs! Sey ee
Spnike,Nopthern, Notes on .... 2. 6... .4%
Saree Enos. «= + - Re ee
Sparrow, Grasshopper....

Sparrow, Sharped-tailed . cca Bi oh Maen eae
Sparrow, White- throated. ae D
Spring Bonnets. ere oe h
Spring Courtship .

Spring Migration. .

Stray Shot, A.

Struggle in the Orchard, ne

Summer Day’s Recollection, oe

Swit, Chimney ....:.

Swift, Chimney (Wedded f for r Life) .
Tanager, Scarlet..

Tern, Common.

That Bird. sis

That English ‘Sparrow.

Thrasher, Brown.

Tropic Bird, Yellow- billed.

True Admiration.

Virginia Turkey Hunt, A.

Vulture, California. .

Warbler, Audubon’s.

Warbler, Magnolia 1 (Black 3 ‘and 1 Yellow).
Warbler, Parula .

Wedded for Life ..........

Week With the Birds,

Whip-poor-will .

Why Our Game Birds Are Disappearing.
Winter Visitors.

Woodcock, Notes on a 1 Captive ae
Woodpecker, GolJden-winged (Flicker) .
Woodpecker, Red-bellied.

Woodpecker, Red- headed vs. _ English ae PN ny eto

Wren, Western Winter.
Yellow- PERS RAGTEARET sya\e\ tet. ei Xe
Young Cowbirds.......

ene te ROT
SOA
ales

tae
Beeb!
ie AO)
Ye eck, DS
Bn ae) =
eve
60
Il
22,< AGA
SRE LOG
.-186
-++9O

-- 169
sh SEO
i 9
Se tee
2 bao
sha oul
2 oes

»-O4

roe
Se HOM

220d
ii-sc onli
24230
Be
kOe

Aiea
en)

__-- Wover Monditele
Nes Nostvil
Lower Mondible\\ aoe ae orenead

Lue bea ce mf i Crown

Chin rae uy \ on Boel os ead

; . RN °
xe ‘ WY ; al
Th - SW) Foe,
GN. foe Back of Neck
Lor Coverts-75 é

é NS Coa Sia
Shoulder --/f-. af Ww :

‘
s

, Wy :
Breast i NN ‘ .
Se “*\ Secondaries

ee
essex 7
CovertsS ‘\

rivia fl AF NO\
val - NOXSvs *
\uney ----- sa :
Yoes 3 midaie GAR St
Outer --< | RR UM AKIES
Ry

)
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 19°

YELLOW ee a CHESTNUT
BUFF BROWN

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
Bird Color Chart
WorRCESTER. Mass.
ie jes ve
ASH GRAY
Pearl Gray SLATE

-G)— GS —- @ — 0 -G-G-G W-@-@-@-@-@-7 =G-@-G-a-G \—@— G—- - (a —- a — - @- a - SD —- —- —

Vol. I. January, 1901. No. 1

2 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

COMMON TERN.

A. O. VU. No. 70. (Sterna Hirundo.)

RANGE.

Found over the whole of North America, but more commonly in the
eastern parts, wintering in the South.

DESCRIPTION.

Average length, 14,50 inches; extent of wings, 30 inches; length of
tail, 6.25 inches. Color:—Back and wings pearl gray, with primaries
dusky on the outer webs, and white on the inner; throat white, shad-
ing to ashy on the breast; top of head black; tail white, except outer
web of outer feathers, which are dusky; bill red, tipped with dusky;
eyes brown; legs coral red. In winter, paler, and the black on the top
of the head replaced partly by white. Young:—Similar to winter adult;
bill black.

NEST AND EGGS.

Nest placed on the ground on sandy outlying islands. It is composed
of a few pieces of grass in slight hollow in the sand. Eggs three to four
in number; ground color varies from greenish white to brown spotted, and
blotched with brown and lilac of different shades.

HABITS.

This bird, also called the sea

swallow, Wilson’s tern, and mack-
erel cull, is the prettiest and most
graceful of all the sea-birds. It
frequents low coasts, the borders
of lakes and mouths of the large
rivers.

A more striking scene cannot be
imagined than a number of these
swallows of the sea flitting here
and there in sport or in quest of
their food which consists princi-
pally of small fish. Some are ex-
ecuting the most fantastic gam-
bols high up in the air; others,
seated on the surface of the water,
are rocked to and fro by the waves;
still others are skimming over the

surface of the water; suddenly one
dips his head beneath the surface
with lightning-like rapidity and
seizes some luckless fish that hap-
pened to be in his path.

They live together in colonies
of hundreds, and often thousands,
on a-single island, at night roost-
ing on the ground near the water.
They gather together about sunset
for this purpose, although — their
voices are. to be heard far into the .

-night, and again early in the
morning while trimming _ their

feathers for the day.

Perhaps a visit to their homes
will prove interesting. We make
the start before daybreak, having

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 3

engaged an old fisherman and his
sloop for the day. When the sun
shows his face above the water,
we are speeding swiftly to some
outlying islands, which our guide
informs us are thickly populated
with sea gulls and terns.

We are now approaching a low,
sandy island without a sign of
trees and shrubs; the middle, how-
ever, is covered with salt marsh-
grass. Up to this time only a few
terns have been observed, but as
we draw near the island it seems
to take life, and a cloud of thou-
sands of terns are soon circling
about us, and the air is full of
their hoarse, grating cry of
“«creak-ee—creak-ee.”’

What a sight meets our eyes
when we make a landing. The
ground is literally covered with
nests, each containing from two
to four eggs, and occasionally one
with five. There is no attempt at
nest-building, except in a_ few

cases, the majority being a hollow
It does

scooped out in the sand.

» ol? BZ
CLS Cyprus

not seem possible that the birds
can find their own nest among
that vast number, they being so
close together that we can scarcely
avoid treading on them. Having
walked the length of the island
and back, the birds meanwhile
almost deafening us with their
cries, we relieve their anxiety, con-
cerning their homes. by taking our
departure.

As long as the island remains in
sight we can hear the familiar cry,

“‘creak-ee, creak-ee;’’ ringing in
our ears. I must not forget to

add what to me proved to be a
very interesting feature of this
trip, and that is the lobsters which
our guide kindly obtained from
some of his traps and boiled for us.

What a pity that these beautiful
and interestiug birds should meet
the untimely end that awaits
them, unless some more stringent
laws are made, and enforced, to
prevent the slaughtering of them
for millinery purposes.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

MAGNOLIA WARBLER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 5

MAGNOLIA WARBLER.

A. O. VU, No. 657. (Dendroica Maculosa.)

RANGE.

Eastern North America, west to the base of the Rocky Mountains,
and casually to British Columbia; breeding from northern New England,
northern New York, and northern Michigan, to Hudson Bay territory, and
southward to the Alleghanies in Pennsylvania. In winter, Bahamas,
Cuba and south through eastern Mexico to Panama.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, five inches; extent of wing, 7.50 inches; length of tail,
2.25. iuches. Color, male (in spring), bill, bluish black; eyes,
brown; top of the head, bluish gray. A black line extends across
the forehead at the base of the bill, through the eye, where it widens
into a black patch on the side of the head, and continuing around
the base of the neck forms a large black patch in the middle of the
back. A white stripe extends from over the eye down the side
of the neck; a short white stripe under the eyes; tail black, each
feather except the middle two having a square white patch on the
inner web about midway. The upper tail coverts black, under
coverts white. Tail, rump and under parts yellow. There is a
black patch on the lower part of the throat, extending down the
sides in stripes. Wings black with inner webs edged with gray. Two
wide bands sometimes merging into one, across the wing; these
are formed by the coverts, the feathers margining- the black
patch on the back, edged with greenish yellow. (In autumn) the
black is duller, and nearly absent on sides of the head and on the
back, with less white on the wings. Female similar to the male with
black markings obscured’ with greenish, and top of the head is
paler. This warbler may be known by the white band on the tail
which is always present in all stages.

NEST AND EGGS.

Nests usually placed in evergreen trees. They are composed
of small twigs, weeds and dried grass, not very compactly woven,
and lined with fine horse hair and fibrous roots. The structures are
very neatly made. Eggs are four or five in number, oval in shape,
white, spotted and blotched with brown and lilac, mostly around
the larger end, where they sometimes form a wreath.

6 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

Among the great variety of
birds which we have in this coun-
try, none appear to attract the
popular attention to so great an
extent as the warblers; perhaps it
is because of their more brilliant
and divirsified plumage, which
renders them conspicuous among
the green foliage of the trees, and
furnishes a ready means of identi-

fication, especially among the
male birds.
The black and yellow warb-

ler, as it is commonly called, is
one of the most beautiful of this
interesting family. It might be
called one of the most common
among the rarer warblers, being
neither very common, nor yet diffi-
cult to find in his season. During
the spring migration you can al-
ways find this bright little fellow
flitting about among the lower
branches or among the thick un-
der-brush in most any low woods.
It also shows a great liking for
apple trees when the buds begin
to open, assuming every imagin-
able attitude in his search “for
small insects, and exhibiting the
greatest dexterity in catching
passing insects on the wing. Oc-
casionally it misses catching a
mcth, and it is amusing to see
him make the most frantic ef-
forts to capture his prey. He ap-

pears to lose all control of himself, °

but I have never seen him fail to
recover both himself and _ the
moth before falling to the ground;
then with a happy chirp he will

fly back to the tree in search of
more food. These warblers are
not at all timid and are very in-
quisitive. If when observing them
you remain still, they will come to
the side of the bush nearest you
then with a defiant chirp retreat
back again, and their clear sweet
song will be heard from within the
depths of the foliage.

They are very sociable birds, and
appear to be loath to leave your so-
ciety, for as long as you remain
quiet they will continue feeding
close by, every few minutes favor-
ing you with one of their choice vo-
cal selections. I think that Massa-
chusetts is about the southern lim-
it of their breeding locality. I
found several nests of this species
in Massachusetts, and all have
been in pine trees from fifteen to
twenty feet from the ground, but
further north where they breed
more abundantly they build lower,
generally from three to ten feet
above the ground.

If you happen to be in the vi-
cinity of their nest, both male and
female show great distress, flut-
ter about among the branches
with wings and tail expanded, and
uttering sharp warning chirps.
They are equally solicitious about
the welfare of their neighbors, and
if the home of any other species
is in danger they will add_ their
protestations to those of the par-
ents’ and attempt to drive the in-
vader away.

The fall

migration commences

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. z

about the latter part of August.
The old birds are then reinforced
by the young. While there are
greater numbers, they are not as
noticeable as in the spring, be-

cause of less activity and duller
plumage. The young males are
similar in plumage to the adult
female, except that the yellow
breast is a little brighter.

NEST OF MAGNOLIA WARBLER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 9

BOBWHITE.

A. O. VU. No. 289. (Colinus Virginianus.)

RANGE.

Eastern United States, excepting northern Maine and_ Florida.
West to Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and east Texas. It is gradually
finding its way farther west.

DESCRIPTION.

Average length, 8.75 inches. Extent of wings, 15.50 inches.
Length of tail, 2.75 inches. Color, male, black cinnamon rufous with
all the feathers edged with dull yellow and barred with fine lines
of black. Primaries dusky. Band of rich brown edged with black
extending from the bill through the eye and down the side of the
neck, where it is interspersed with a few white feathers; the black
edge extends across the breast in a broad band, ending abruptly
against the white throat and shading into cinnamon, mixed with
white on the breast. Under parts white, slightly tinged with yellow-
ish, each feather being crossed by a V-shaped black bar. Sides
streaked with cinnafnon and barred with black. Tail ashy gray, with
coverts cinnamon, barred with white and_ streaked with black.
Band of white extends from bill over the eye to base of neck.
Top of head cinnamon mixed with black. Eyes brown. Feet and
legs brown, with toenails and bill black. Female, similar to male,
except that throat and band over the eye are buffy instead of white,
and the black markings of the male are replaced by a dull brown
color. Young very similar to young brown leghorn chickens,
except that they are much smaller, being about two and one-quarter
inches long. Back brown, under parts buffy white, throat shows
indistinctly. Also stripes over eye show though faintly. The
black line through the eye shows quite clearly. Bill and feet brown-
ish yellow.

NESTS AND EGGS.

The favorite nesting-place of the bobwhite is on the ground in
a clump of tall grass or weeds. It may be in the corner of some fence
up against the side of a stump or a wall. Occasionally the nest is
arched over with the grass so as to form a tunnel, completely hiding
the nest, but usually it is placed right out open, except as it is con-
cealed by the tall grass.

The number of eggs laid varies from twelve to twenty-five; usu-
ally there are about eighteen. They are pure white unless nest
stained; quite pointed at one end and rounded at the other.

10 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

The bobwhite is a sociable bird
and is generally found near a farm-
house, around the edge of a grain
field, or in the stubble. As soon
as the breeding season commences,
about the middle of May, the male
may be heard almost any morning
uttering his familiar cry of ‘‘bob-
white,’’ or ‘‘Oh bob-white,’’ or as
some prefer to translate it, ‘‘More
wet,’”’? or ‘‘No more wet.’’ This
note is a clear whistle, the first
ones low and the last of a higher
pitch. It is a note very easily im-
itated, and I have frequently con-
cealed myself in a clump of trees
and kept up a spirited conversation
with him for some time. At last
his curiosity gets excited and he
starts to investigate and see what
other fellow is invading his domains.
“‘Bob-white,’’ the call sounds near-
er; then again, nearer still. Then
all is quiet for a few minutes, and |

try in vain to obtain an answer.

Suddenly from the top of the tree
against which I am leaning comes
his call, loud and clear. All my at-
tempts to see from which direction
he came have been in vain, but as
soon as I leave the shelter of the
trees and his watchful eye discerns
me. he is off with a loud whirring of
wings very different from that on
his arrival.

He is always to be found near his
mate when she is on the nest, cheer-
ing her with his song or bringing in-
sects to her. As soon as the young
are hatched they leave the nest and
follow their mother in search of

food. If they are surprised and
taken unawares, the mother gives a
warning cluck, whereupon the
young scatter in all directions and
conceal themselves under the
leaves;-and very difficult it is to
find them as they are just the color
of the ground and leaves and will
not move from their places until
told to do so by their mother, even
if in danger of being trod upon. In
the meantime the old bird is per-
forming the queerest of antics in the
endeavor to lead the one who dis-
turbed her sway from her little
ones. She performs her part so
well that most any one would nat-
urally think she had a broken wing,
or at least rheumatism in every
joint, and that he could surely catch
her. Although she stumbles over
every little twig In the way, and
actually seems to be giving the last
gasp before expiring, she always
manages to keep just beyond the
reach of the extended hand. She
leads her dupe on, until satisfied
that her little ones will be safe from
further disturbance from _ that
source, then suddenly regaining her
apparently lost strength is off with
a whirr, and circles around to her
little ones.

This strategy rarely fails with
human beings, and probably suc-
ceeds just as well with foxes, which
are one of their relentless enemies.

As soon as the young partridge
begin to get the use of their wings,
the male takes them in charge and
leads them to the grain field, while

AMERICAN OR NTTHOLOGY II

the female proceeds to raise a sec-
ond brood. Unless the birds were
wise in the choice of a nesting site,
the second brood is likely to come to
grief, as it is now mowing time and
the ruthless knives of the mowing
machines spare nothing in their
path. Large numbers of nests are
destroyed in this way. Both broods
remain together in one flock until
the spring. At night they seek an
open place on the ground and, form-
ing a circle, with their heads out-
ward, go to sleep. If disturbed,
they fly as headed, in all directions.

Their note when feeding in stub-
ble is a single whistle with a rising
inflection on the end; this is gen-
erally repeated three times. Their
call for re-assembling, after being
disturbed, consists of a soft whistle
which sounds like ‘‘cur-ee, Cur-ee.”’
Their flight, which, always starts
with a loud whirring sound, is quite

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rapid, but always in a straight line
or a gentle curve. They do not
rise until almost stepped upon, and
then fly directly away from you, not
separating much. Any hunter who
is a fair shot and has a good dog, can
secure nearly the whole flock by
following them up. How can any
one call it sport or the man a
sportsman, who thus willfully in a
single hour, wipes out of existence
a whole family of innocent and
beautiful birds.

During the past two or. three
years thousands of western quail
have been liberated in New Eng-
land in the hope of replenishing the
covers, which are almost exhaust-
ed, but although they thrive well
in this climate, I doubt much if
they will be able to stand the pace
the gunners, coupled with their
other natural enemies are forcing
them to.

GROUP OF EQS WrHilt:.

IZ AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY

TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass.
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

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We shall be glad to receive any
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Short Stories.

We want short stories or anec-
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offer each month a cash prize for
the most interesting article about
birds to contain not more than five
hundred words. We will pay three
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ceived before February Ist.

We also want photographs of
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before February 1st. These must
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kindly send description of how they
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All photographs or manuscript
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desired. Even if you do not win
the cash prize, what you submit will
undoubtedly prove interesting to our
readers, and you can try again.

If any of our readers are in want
of a camera, you can get nothing
better than a ‘‘Poco,’’ advertised
elsewhere in this number. We
have tried several kinds and use
this one entirely now. The pictures
for this number were taken with a
5x7 of this make.

MME RLCAM ORNL ERAOLCOGY 13

FLICKER.

A. O, VU. No, #12. (Colaptes Auratus.)

RANGE.

Northern and eastern North America; west to the eastern
slope of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Accidental on the Pacific
slope and in California.

DESCRIPTION.

Keneth,. 125 smenes,. Extent, 10.25: inches. -> Failve4.35 . inches.
Color, male, bill very dark slate color, eyes reddish brown, top
of the head and back of neck slate color, merging into reddish
ash at the throat and sides, ‘and shading gradually to a dull white
on the breast. The back is brown barred. with black. There is a
crescent-shaped patch of crimson on the back of the head. A patch
on the side of the head extending from the bill downward, is black;
crescent on the breast, and spots on the under parts and under tail
coverts are black. - Tail black, the outer web of the outer feather
being barred with ash; also whole of quill, of outer tail feathers, and
upper half of the rest; yellow on top, the ends being black; tail be-
neath golden yellow, except the tip, which is black. The tail
feathers are all pointed and sharp at the tips. The outer wing
feathers are black with yellow quills; the remainder are brown,
barred heavily with black. The under part of wings golden yellow.
Feet bluish ash.

NEST AND EGGS.

About the first of April the flickers begin to drill the hole for their
nest. They generally select a dead limb for this purpose. The
birds take turns in the excavating for a home, and the work pro-
ceeds quite rapidly. Sometimes the chips are carried to a distance
and deposited, but oftener they are strewn about directly under the
nest. They drill into the tree for about four inches, then down-
ward to a depth of from six inches to two feet. The flicker deposits
her eggs on the chips at the bottom of the hole, rarely lining it
with anything, except occasionally with a few grasses. She lays from
five to eight oval, white, glossy eggs, which have a_ pinkish tint
when fresh. The flicker, unlike most birds, will continue laying
after part of the eggs are removed; as many as thirty eggs have been
taken from the same nest, by removing one each day.

rik

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOC

FLICKER.

pat
Wh

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 15

HABITS,

The flicker is familiarly known
under the names of ‘‘golden-winged
woodpecker,’’ ‘‘yellow hummer,”’
‘‘vellow-shafted flicker,’? and often
as ‘‘highhole.’’ It is generally a
shy bird, and, with its watchful
eye always on the lookout for dan-
ger, most always manages to keep
a goodly distance away. Some-
times, one bolder than his fellows,
or perhaps one who has not yet ar-
rived at the age of discretion, allows
you to approach quite near. He
generally manages, however, to
keep on the opposite side of the tree
trunk, only showing his head from
time to time, to ascertain if you are
evilly inclined. }

Their flight, though rapid, ap-
pears laborious; each downward
motion of the wings gives them an
upward and forward impetus, the
force of which is nearly expended
before the next, thus making their
progress a series of ups. and
downs. Unlike most of the wood-
peckers, the flicker is at home on
the ground and is to be found there
quite often, especially in the fall,
when families of six or eight birds
may be found in a field. They hop
about with a gait which, though
awkward, answers their purpose,
and creates havoc among the ants
and worms. You will frequently
see them sitting on an ant hill,
gorging themselves with the insects.
Their tongue being very long and
barbed at the tip, is admirably
adapted to this purpose. When
disturbed at their work, they fly off

with a peculiar purring note. Their
identity cannot be mistaken, on ac-
count of the undulatory motion of
their flight, and because of the
white patch on the rump, which
shows very plainly.

The flicker is very affectionate in
the mating season, and it is an
amusing sight to see a male paying
his respects to a flicker belle. He
will sidle up to her with an en-
dearing ‘‘flick—ah, — flick—ah,”’
and then retreat and peek shyly
at her from behind the limb. This
he repeats until accepted. If on
the other hand he is rejected, he
flies away to try his fortunes else-
where.

Few birds have more command
of the vocal organs than the
flicker, and the number of their
notes is unlimited. The two most
familiar, and the ones that may be
termed their characteristic notes,
are a loud piercing shriek, and
what I think is properly the flick-
er’s song, a very loud ‘‘ki ki ki —”’
gradually falling off in pitch, and
kept up until it seems as though
he couldn’t possibly have any
breath left in him.

Another peculiar trait which is
common to all woodpeckers is their
drumming. They will cling to a
dead limb for hours and with their
long bills tap the resonant wood;
this they do with great rapidity, so
that the sound is almost continuous.
Then stopping for an instant, they
will turn their heads to one side,
as if listening for an answer; and

16 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

not hearing it, will resume their
drumming with more vim than ever.
Just why they do this is a mystery.
Perhaps they do it for exercise, to
keep the muscles of the neck lim-
ber, or possibly they may have a
telegraphic code among themselves,
and use this method of conveying
their opinions to their neighbors.
At any rate it can be heard a long
way off, and it is a sound welcomed
by all farmers in the spring, as it is
considered by them as a sure indi-
cation that spring is near at hand.

When feeding in a tree, the
flicker always commences at the
bottom and works his way to tue
top of the trees by a series of

Albinos.

There has been an unusual num-
ber of these curious freaks of nature
reported this season in this section
of the country. We have positive
records of three white-grey squir-
rels, two red squirrels, one raccoon,
one mink, a red-winged blackbird,
and a purple grackle; also a number
of English sparrows, white, or near-
ly so, are seen about the city.
Several parties also have reported
that a handsome, clear-white doe
was seen last month near Hudson,
Mass. Can any of our readers
inform us of others from other
sections?

jumps, clinging to the trunk with
his claws, together with the assist-
ance of his tail, the feathers of
which are pointed at the end, and
the quills sharp and strong, for
this purpose. After having reached
the end of a limb, he will proceed
to another, and endeavor to cap-
ture any worms or bugs which
may be concealed under the bark.
While they migrate to a certain
extent, they are often a resident
wherever found, except in the ex-
treme north. They are one of the
greatest benefactors of the human,
and enemies to the insect race,
which we have, and are worthy of
the greatest protection.

Enough to Make Summer.

Three Baby Swallows in a Chilly
Nest in Rochdale.

ROCHDALE, Dec. 6.—A nest con-
taining three young swallows was
found in the wood-shed of Andrew
Howarth & Sons’ mill this after-
noon by George Miller, who goes
to this building often, as his work
requires him to do.

He has noticed the same bird
flying around the shed _ several
times, and this afternoon he dis-
covered the nest wish the thre
little birds. |

It is thought that the young
birds cannot live, owing to the
cold weather.—The Teleoram.

North American Birds,

BY
OLIVER DAVIE.
Fifth Edition. Finely Illustrated.

Thoroughly Revised 600 pp.
Extra Cloth. Regular Price $225

The Best Book on Eggs
Published,

My Price, $1.50 Postpaid
Chas. K. Reed, Worcester, Mass. Station A.

METHODS in the ART of TAXIDERMY

BY OLIVER DAVIE,

author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,”’ etc.

NINETY FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER, A. M., M. D., the whole containing five
hundred figures, clearly illustrating the modes cf procedure in the art, together with
examples of characteristic forms and attitudes of various species of the animal king-
dom, including reproductions from photographs of actual work by American taxiderminists.
Never before has the art of taxidermy had its practical methods and beauties

portrayed as we find them interpreted in this work. It is a work of art from cover to
cover.

FORMERLY PUBLISHED AT $10.00.

NEY. PRICE ONLY $2.50 PREPAID:
Charles K. Reed,

Station A, Worcester, Mass.

This bock should ke in the library of every school.

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ba il iil Daa i>

AMERICAN
ORNITHOLOGY

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
TO: THE STUDY OP VERS. ON.

Each number contains the descriptions, habits, and
illustrations of from four to six North American
Birds, with the egg of each in full size......

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WHAT “YOU GER FOR co CENTS:

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ILLUSTRATION OF THE EGG OF EACH. FULL SIZE.

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1901.

FEBRUARY

No. 2,

Vol, I.

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North American

BY
OLIVER DAVIE.
Fifth Edition. Finely Illustrated.

Thoroughly Revised 600 pp.
Extra Cloth, Regular Price $2.25

The Best Book on Eggs
Published,

My Price, $1.50 Postpaid |
Chas. K. Reed, Worcester, Mass. Station A.

Ghe Condor for 1901.

Ain Illustrated 24-page, Bi-Monthly
Journal of Pacific Coast Ornithology

SUBSCRIPTION, $1.00 PER YEAR.

With its January issue THE CONDOR begins its third volumn. It will, as heretofore, present in attractive
form all the latest*and freshest western bird news. The two volumes thus far completed should prove a suf-
ficient guarantee for the style and contents of Volume III.

Have you seen the November-December number which completed Volume II? It contains several notable
illustrations, among them being the nest and eggs of Clarke’s Nutcracker; the first published photograph of
the egg of the California Condor in its original nesting site, together with a descriptive article by the collector;
“Nesting of the Dusky Poorwill’’ (illustrated): ‘A Breeding Colony of Tricolored Blackbirds,” by Joseph
Mailliard; ‘‘ Three New Races of Pacific Coast Birds,’’ by Joseph Grinnell; ‘‘The Birds of Mt. St. Helena,”’
by Walter K. Fisher; and shorter articles by Lyman Belding, F. S. Daggett, Ernest Adams and other well
known contributors. A sample copy of this 28-page number on application

Address all requests for sample copies, subscriptions and communications to

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Volume I of THE CONDOR, $2.00. Volume II of THE CONDOR $1.00.
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)—@— i— hb — i Gh Ch — Gi — C—O — CO —C— —

Vol. I. February, 1901. No. 2

18 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER.

A. O. VU. No. 274,

(Aegialitis semipalmata.)

RANGE.
The whole of North and South America, breeding in both the Arctic

and Antarctic regions.
Brazil.

It migrates in winter to the Bahamas and

DESCRIPTION,

Length, 6 inches; extent of wings, 15.5 inches; tail, 2.25 inches; eye,
brown; bill, black at tip, yellow at base; legs and feet, flesh color; feet

webbed only to second joint.

Adult.—Back, wings, tail and back of head grayish brown; white bar
across the wings; forehead, throat, spot under the eye, and ring around

the neck, white.

Ring around the neck below the white one, band

across the crown, line beneath the eye and across the base of bill,

black.

NEST AND EGGS.

This plover breeds from northern United States, northward.
nest is simply a cavity in the ground, lined with dry grasses.

The
The eggs,

two to four in number, are deposited during the latter part of June.
The eggs are of yellowish ash color, spotted and blotched with varying

shades of brown.

HABITS.

The Semi-palmated or Ring-
necked Plover, as it is sometimes
called, is one of our common shore
birds during the spring and _ fall
migration. It is a shy bird,
but generally tries to escape by
running rather than by flying.
It delights in the shady shores,
especially those containing — shal-
low pools of water, and can usually
be seen running hither and thither
close -to the water's. edges). iis
note is a single sharp whistle, re-
peated at intervals; this is only
uttered when it is disturbed.

It reaches its breeding grounds
in the north about the middle
of May. lt: “1s very wary
during the nesting season, and
if disturbed will run several
yards from the nest before being
discovered. If surprised on the
nest, it will use the same tactics
employed by many other birds,
those of feigning injury. The
young are very small, mottled
gray and white, and being just the
color of the pebbles which sur
round the nest, are almost impos-
sible to find.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

GREAT HORNED OWL.

20 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

GREAT HORNED OWL,

A. O. V. No. 375.

(Bubo virginianus.)

RANGE.
Whole of eastern North America from Labrador to Mexico, being a
resident wherever found except in the extreme north.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, male, twenty-one inches; extent, forty inches; _ tail,
eight inches. Female, length, twenty-three inches; extent, fifty-
one inches; tail, nine inches. Bill and claws strong and well curved.
Color, :above, including wings and tail, very dark brown, the
feathers : being mottled, and barred with white and rufous, the
barring being heavier on the wings and _ tail. Ear tufts are

dark brown, almost a black, edged with rufous on the inner margin.
The face is rufous strongly marked with black, the feathers being

lightest nearest the eyes.

There is a large patch of white across

the throat and upper part of the breast.

NEST AND EGGS.

The horned
end of April,

owl
according to

breeds from the latter part of January to the
locality, the fact that the weather is
extremely cold making little difference.

The nest is either in a

decayed tree trunk, or formed of sticks and twigs, and lined usu-

ally with a few leaves and feathers.

from two to four in number.

The eggs are pure white and

HABITS.

The: sreat” horned “owl; -also
called the ‘‘hoot or cat owl,’’ is the
largest, strongest and most de-
structive bird of this family in
the United States. It is a noctur-
nal bird and rarely ventures out
in the daylight, unless disturbed
and driven from its roosting
place, which is generally a large
oak or pine tree, where it sits all
day as motionless as a_ sphinx.
Its flight is graceful and not un-
like that of a hawk, from which
it can be distinguished by its
large and rounded wings.

Horned owls are frequently tak-
en from the nest when young
and kept in captivity for years.
They make very unsatisfactory
pets, however, as their temper is
very variable and they are apt to
attack their keeper without provo-
cation of any kind, or any warn-
ing on their part, and intlict se-
vere injuries with their powerful
talons before he can prepare to de-
fend himself. Not only are these
birds ill disposed towards man-
kind, but they are very unsociable
among themselves, the same neigh-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 20

borhood rarely being large enough
for more than one pair. Except
during the breeding. season it is
even hardly large enough for one
pair, and the male frequently has to
make lively use of his wings to es-
cape from his irate spouse, who,
being considerably larger and
stronger than himself rules the
household like a veritable tyrant.

The appetite of a horned owl is
amazing, and he has the ability to
supply it even in the coldest of
weather, as he is very agile and
daring. He will frequently enter
a hen coop and kill several chick-
ens in’ a night, devouring only
their heads, unless, unusually
hungry. His bill of fare includes:
turkey, chickens, doves, geese,
ducks, grouse, quail, woodcock,
mice, rabbits, squirrels, skunks,
woodchucks, fish, etc. He is the
greatest enemy the game birds
have to contend with, his sight
being so keen and his voracity so
great that few can escape. He
frequents heavy timbered woods,
generally near some water.

On a still night the owl’s note is
often heard, ‘‘Hoo—hoo—Tohoo—
are—you?’’ It is a dismal sound,
well calculated to cause terror in
the heart of any camper who may
be unfortunate enough to be
superstitious. They can so modu-
late their tone that while they
are really very near, it sounds as
though the cry came from a long
distance away.

Their breeding places vary
greatly in different parts of the

country. When possible, they will
choose a hollow trunk or limb for
their building site, but when such
places are scarce they will use the
old nests of hawks or crows,
which they remodel for their own
use, adding a few twigs and feath-
ers. Invplaces. where large irees
are scarce they will nest on a
rocky cliff or even on the ground.
The eround.. about’ the nést is
often covered with remains of
birds and animals that they have
destroyed. While very destruc-
tive to poultry and game birds,
in some localities they are of
ereat benefit to the farmers. For
instance,-in the West they feed al-
most “wholly on rabbits, which
otherwise would totally ruin the
crops. They show a preference
for this meat, and where hares are
abundant will seldom molest poul-
iry. The: number ofsrats cand
other rodents that they destroy,
render them of value in many lo-
calities. Thus the horned owl, like
many other birds, has his redeem-
ing qualities.

A. man? trom Grafton, + Mass.;
brought a Great Horned Owl to
our office a few days ago. It was
captured by his bird-dog. He says
that his dog brought the bird home
and dropped it at his feet, wag-
ging his tail in evident delight.
Unless the dog caught the owl un-
awares and killed him instantly,
he must have had a very lively
time before he conquered. The
bird was fat and evidently in good
health.

AMERICAN ORNTTHOLOGY

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 23

AMERICAN EIDER DUCK.

A. 0. VU. No. 160.

(Somateria dresseri.)

RANGE.
North America, on the Atlantic coast, from the Middle States to

Labrador.

Very rarely in the great lakes.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 22 inches; extent of wing, 40 inches; tail, 3.5 inches; eye,
dark brown; bill, legs and feet, olive green.

Male.—General color above, pure white; top of head, black, divided
by a band of white on back of head; throat, neck and sides of head
white tinged with green on back of neck and side of head; breast,
white shading into buff or pink; under parts and tail, black.

Female.—Brown above,
streaked with black.

mottled with black.
Two dull white wing bars; under parts, light

Head and neck

brown barred with black; chest more rufous.

NEST AND EGGS.

Nest made of dry grass and seaweed, lined with down from the

breast of the female.

Eggs.—Laid about the middle of June, six to ten in number, of a

greenish drab color.

HABITS.

This is one of the largest of the
ducks, and also one of the most
conspicuous, because of the great
contrast produced by the white
back and black breast.

He is essentially a sea-bird, and
a flock of male birds seated on the
water can be seen a long way off.
He is excelled by none in diving,
and lives upon shell-fish, which he
gets from the bottom of the
sea. Upon land, few birds are as
awkward as the eider, with his
peculiar, stumbling waddle.

lis -ilieht, is! “*quite ~— rapid,
although laborious, as its body
is quite heavy, and it is obliged to
move its wings rapidly in order

wings.

tor “SIStain.< tb: Sometimes _ it
attempts to imitate the gulls and
terns which are common in their
locality, and tries to sail with set
The attempt can hardly
be called successful, as gravity
soon overcomes the buoyancy of
his wings, and he must of necessity
work them again.

During the winter the birds
generally live in large flocks in
the, open‘séa.o3 sl hey, ares. que
timid at this time, and, if disturbed,
they rise from the water, and in
Indian file fly to a more congenial
locality. When spring comes
they mate, and in pairs swim to
land. They waddle about until

24. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

the female finds a suitable pro-
tected spot, and there she con-
structs her nest, which she lines

-with down from her own breast.

As soon as the eggs are laid, the
male deserts his mate and betakes
himself to sea again, where in
company with other grass-widow-
ers, they remain until after molt-

ing.
These nests furnish the eider-
down of commerce. About

twenty-five of the nests will yield
_a pound of down. The eggs are
also taken, as they are very good
for food. The duck lays a second
set, after having had the first
stolen; that is not disturbed, as
-the fishermen know that to do so,
would soon cut off the supply of
.down and their revenue.

The female is not timid when
sitting on her eggs, and you can
approach quite near; indeed, I
have seen it stated that they will
_allow themselves to be stroked
with the hand. As _ soon as
hatched, the young are led to the
-water, in which they: immediately
plunge and proceed to swim about
. like veterans.

We have received a number of
‘interesting articles in our com-
petition, the first one of which
= closes. Feb: 1.) - Bhe-2anicle we
. deem the best will be published in
-the March number.
better way for one to study the

= birds than to write about them.

There is no

It necessitates the
their habits from life.

For the March contest we offer
the same as last month—$3
for the best article under 300 words,
on bird life.

We will give $2 for the best
photograph of birds from life, or
photo of their nest, received be-
tween Feb. 1 and March 1.

Manuscript not accepted will
be returned if postage is sent for
same.

studying of

Acting upon the suggestion of
several of our subscribers, we are
having prepared a color chart, on
which all the colors that we shall
use in describing the birds will be
We are
also preparing a chart showing the
different parts of a bird. These
will probably appear in the April
number.

illustrated and named.

In connection with the American
Eider, presented in this issue, it
may be interesting to note that the
pair of birds from which the illus-
tration is made, are now resting
in their native element in the North
Atlantic. They were aboard the
“‘Miranda’’ which carried the Cook
expedition 1894. The
iceberg and
sank, off the coast of Greenland.
A Snowy Owl met a like fate at
the same time.

in July,
steamer struck an

AMERICAN ORNITILTOLOGY.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.

26 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIR_D.

A. O. VU. No. #28.

(Trochilus colubis.)

| RANGE.
In Summer.—The whole of eastern North America east of the Mis-
sissippi, and as far north as southern Canada.
In Winter.—Southern Florida and the West Indies to Panama.

DESCRIPTION.
Length, 3.25 inches; extent of wing, 5 inches; tail, 1.25 inches; eyes,

brown; feet, very small.

Male.—Entire upper parts, metallic green; throat, brilliant metallic
crimson; tail, black, changing to a purplish color in certain lights; tail
feathers all narrow and pointed, and tail forked; sides of body, greenish;

below, white.

Female.—Upper part same as male; no crimson on the throat; tail
rounded and outer three feathers broadly tipped with white.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is always placed on top of a branch, sometimes in vines,
apple or pear trees, but more often in an oak or chestnut tree in the

woods.

It is a beautiful, cup-shaped structure, composed of downy

fibres, and covered with lichens, which are fastened on with the saliva

of the bird.

The eggs, which are laid from the last of May to the lat-

ter part of June, are two in number, white, and equally rounded at

both ends.

HABITS. |. =>

The humming-birds are .one of
the most numerous of all species
of birds. They are an American
bird, and about four hundred
varieties are found on the two
continents. They are literally
gems, cut and polished, among
the other birds. The throats, and
on some varieties the tops of the
heads, give forth all the fire of
the ruby, emerald, sapphire and
opal. These little birds range in
size from a tiny creature two
and one-quarter inches to one

over eight inches in length, or
nearly as large as a robin.

The ruby-throat is the only one
of the number of humming-birds
found in the United States that
lives east of the Mississippi river.
It is known and admired by every
one who is so fortunate as to have
a flower garden, or who takes a
morning walk when the apple
trees are in full bloom. It is
not at all timid, and unmindful of
your presence will dart here and
there after its food, which does

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 27

not consist principally of honey,
as iS generally supposed, but
mostly of spiders, flies and small
bugs. With wings vibrating with
a rapidity that renders them in-
visible, the bird hovers over each
successive blossom, and with its
slender bill and sensitive tongue,
captures any insects that may be
concealed therein.

Possibly during your rambles in
the woods, you may hear a squeaky
chattering, and a sound not unlike
that of a bumble-bee buzzing; if
you do, you can be sure,that you
are very near the home of the bird
we are Studying, and that he is
trying his best to drive you away.
If you are keen-sighted and can
follow him as he passes in_ his
bullet-like flight, you will soon see
him alight on a twig. The nest is
only a few feet from him, you may
be certain, and if you search care-
fully you will find it perched on a
horizontal limb and so covered
swith moss that it is hardly dis-
tinguishable from the bough on
which it is placed.

What a misfortune it often
proves to these birds that, after
having built their nests so cun-
ningly, they should thus disclose
their situation, when if they were
to remain quiet they would very
rarely be discovered.

But notwithstanding the fact
that they frequently bring ruin to
their own homes, | do not think
they have decreased in numbers in
the past few years. We certainly
hope they never will, as to lose the

humming-bird would be to lose one
of nature’s brightest jewels.

THE HUMMING-BIRD.

A flash of harmless lightning,
A mist of rainbow dyes,

The burnished sunbeams brightening,
From flower to flower he flies:

While wakes the nodding blossom,

But just too late to see
What lip hath touched her bosom

And drained her nectary.

. JOHN B. TABB.

The pertinacity and lack of fear
of the Northern Shrike are well
shown by the following: As I was
sitting at my desk | heard an un-
usual chattering among the Eng-
lish sparrows. outside. 1 looked
out and saw perhaps twenty-five
or thirty of them in a circle about
one of their number which lay on
the ground in the grasp of a
shrike or ‘‘Butcher-bird.’’ They
were all screaming with all their
power, and trying to frighten him
away. Aman passing by stepped
into the street and picked up the
shrike and brought him into the
office. We were obliged to pry
his bill apart to make him release
the sparrow, which by this time
was dead. We liberated the
shrike, and he is probably busy
now satisfying his appetite with
other sparrows.

Earl S. Baxter shot a guillemot
at Colebrook River, Litchfield
county, Conn., recently. The
bird is very rare in this region,
being an arctic bird, and, so far
as known, this is the first one
killed in that section. The bird is
jet black on his back and has a
black head, but otherwise is pure
white.

28 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass,,
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

In the United States, Canada and
Mexico, fifty cents a year postpaid.
Single copies five cents.

To all countries in the International
Postal Union, seventy-five eents a year
postpaid.

Entered at the Post Office at Worcester, Mass.,
as second-class matter, Jan 16, rgor.

Probably all are aware of the
difficulties that beset a new pub-
lication, especially one on_ birds.

Hundreds have started only to
give up the struggle in a few
months. The reason for this has

been that until recently there has
been very little interest among the
people in regard to bird life.

Our magazine is entirely eiffer-
ent from anything hitherto pub-
lished, in that we propose to give
the life history or four or five birds
each month, the illustration of the
birds being of sufficient size to be of
value, and the eggs of each bird
illustrated full size.

The time is now ripe for just
such a publication, owing to the
great and increasing interest in
nature study, especially in the
schools. The time is coming when
one of the qualifications required of
a school teacher will be to have a
fair knowledge of our birds.

Judging from the numerous let-
ters of commendation that we have
received, we shall surely havea
successful career. Anyone who
subscribes to our publication from
the start will have a work on
North American birds that will be
of great value to any library, and
will represent an enormous amount
of labor, skill and expense.

The March number will contain
Screech Owl, Great Crested Fly-
catcher, Mountain Partridge, Great-
er Yellow Legs and White Ibis.

The April number will contain:
Gambel’s Partridge, Long-crested
Jay, White-throated Sparrow, Au-
dubon’s Warbler and Wood Duck.

Any notes of interest in regard
to these birds will be greatly ap-
preciated by the subscribers as
well as the editor.

We have received a copy of Vol.
1, No. 1, of The Petrel, published
by J. H. Martin, Palestine, Ore:
It is an attractive appearing mag-
azine and _ contains interesting
matter. We wish it success.

We note a great improvement
in the January number of The
Bittern, in the size, print, paper,
and veneral appearance. The pub-
lisher, G. M. Hathorn, Cedar Rap-
ids, lowa, has our congratulations.

Bird Lore, The Osprey and The
Condor, copies of which we have
received, still maintain their high
standard of excellence.

HAWERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

30 AMERICAN ORNITIIOLOGY.

AMERICAN OSPREY

(Pandion halaeitus carolinensis.)

A. O, VU. No. 364.

RANGE.

North America, from Hudson bay and Alaska to the West Indies
and northern South America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 25 inches; extent of wings, from 50 to 56 inches; tail,
9.5 inches.

Adult, Male and Female.—General color above, dark brown; under
side of wing, white, barred with brown; top of head, brown, mottled
with white bases to the feathers, which are pointed at the tips. A
broad white streak extends from behind the eye down to the side of the
neck; remainder of head and under parts, white; tail above, light brown,
barred with dark; bill, black; feet, bluish gray; eyes yellow.

Young.—Similar to adult, except that the feathers of the back are
edged with white, and the back of head is whiter.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is generally placed in the top of a dead tree and is a very
cumbersome affair, being built of large sticks, twigs, and sea-weed.
In localities where trees are scarce, the ospreys nest on the ground, or
on cliffs and ledges.

In Florida, nesting commences about the first of February; in Cali-
fornia, early in April; in New England, in May and June.

The eggs are from two to four in number; the ground color is creamy
white, thickly blotched and spotted with various shades of brown.
These markings vary greatly in size and amount, and in some cases
completely obscure the ground color.

HABITS.

The American osprey, sea-eagle,
or fish-hawk, as it is commonly
called, is one of the best known of
American birds. He comes from
his winter quarters in the south
the latter part of March, and his
coming is regarded by seafaring

people as a sign that winter is
breaking up.
He is never found far from

water, and can be observed almost

any day, circling slowly up the
creek: or fiver~.in. search of his
food, which, as his name implies,
consists wholly of fish. After
wheeling about for a short time at
a height of perhaps 60 to 75 feet
above the water, his vigilance is
rewarded, and he sees a finny
creature near the surface. Pois-
ing himself for an instant, he
closes his wings and darts down-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 31

ward like an arrow, strikes the
water with a splash, that on a still
day may be heard half a mile
away, disappears for a_ second,
then rises with a wriggling fish in
his talons. His feet are especially
adapted for his purpose, as they
are very powerful, and the bottoms
of them are very hard and rough
to enable him to firmly hold his
prey.

iis chief enenty “is the ‘bald
eagle. Not that this bird destroys
the osprey or its nests, but he has
another use for him. He knows
that the fish-hawk is a clever fish-
erman, and while he himself occa-
sionally goes fishing, he much pre-
fers to rob the osprey of his right-
ful spoils. The latter, as soon as
he sees that he is pursued, en-
deavors to escape by mounting

skyward, meanwhile uttering
piercing shrieks. His pursuer re-
lentlessly follows, and, — with

scarcely a perceptible motion of
his wings, rises higher and higher,
until the osprey gives in to his
superior strength and _ swiftness
and drops his prey.

The osprey uses the same nest
year after year, adding a few
sticks and more seaweed each sea-
son, so that in a few years, it be-

comes an enormous affair, some-
times four or five feet across. The
bulkiness of his nest is very forci-
bly apparent to many would-be
collectors. After having climbed
to the top of a tree, some 50 or 60
feet high, and braved the attacks
of the parent birds (for they are
fearless in the protection of their
eggs and young), he finds to his
dismay that he cannot reach over
the nest to get at the eggs, be-
cause of its size.

The osprey is not particular
about the location of his nest, as
long as it is near good fishing
grounds. It has been known
to build on a chimney-top, also on
the cross-piece of a_ telephone
pole.» “A «man in Bristol, R. i
erected in his yard a pole about
30 feet high, and placed a plat-
form with a few scattered sticks
on it at the top. The following
year a pair of fish-hawks occupied
it and have continued to for sev-
eral years since.

It is protected by law in a
number of states, and its trem-
ulous, piercing whistle may be

heard at all hours of the day. The
fishermen regard it kindly, and
will not allow its nest to be
disturbed if they can prevent it.

THE “OSPREY.

Soon as the sun, great ruler of the year,

Bends to our northern clime its bright career,
And from the caves of ocean calls from sleep,
The finny shoals and myriads of the deep;

When freezing tempests back to Greenland ride,
And day and night the equal hours divide;

True to the season, o'er our sea-beat shore,
The sailing osprey high is seen to soar,

With broad, unmoving wing, and circling slow,
Marks each loose straggler in the deep below;
Sweeps down like lightning; plunges with a roar,
And bears his struggling victim to the shore.

ALEXANDER WILSON

32 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Catching a Tartar.

I wonder how many readers of
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY _ ever
caught a bird when it was asleep.
I caught one once to my sorrow
and to the great enjoyment of
several companions who were with
me. Of course there are different
kinds of birds, some large, others
small, some weak, others strong;
the one I happened to get hold of
was rather powerfnl.

Well, it was this way. A party
of us were camping out on Mer-
ritt’s island in Florida. Not far
from us, across the Banana river,
was a long, sandy point on which
hundreds of sea-birds roosted ev-
ery night. One evening one of
the party proposed going over to
the point to see and hear the birds
rise. No sooner said than done. So
we Started across in our canoe. As
the craft grounded on the beach,
large numbers of terns and gulls
arose and circled around us with
shrill cries of alarm. As we con-
tinued up the beach the birds con-
tinued to rise until there were
thousands of them. Ahead I saw
what I supposed was a stump, but
as | drew near, it gradually as-
sumed the form of a bird. ‘‘Ah!’’
I said to myself, ‘‘a brown peli-
can asleep. He must be deaf;
guess I’ll surprise him.’’ Well, |
surprised him, and incidentally he
surprised me too. Without thinking
of possible results, | reached down
and grasped him by the neck.
Well, for about a minute I wasn’t
sure whether it was a cloudburst,

a cyclone or a sandstorm of the
desert, such as you. read about,
that had happened, but gradually
my mind cleared and I was sure it
was a threshing machine in full
operation that I had caught. I
held on to his neck with one hand
while I tried in vain with the other
to catch those flopping wings or
his revolving legs. Well, after
a while my companions, who had
all this time been doubled up with
laughter, came to my relief and
tied the pelican’s legs together,
and after I had picked myself up,
brushed the sand out of my eyes,
nose and mouth, and given my
clothes a good shaking, we carried
my trophy back to camp. Every
day while we kept the bird, I had
an invitation to come out and
give the show over again; an invi-
tation that | always declined with
thanks.
A Camper.

Spare the Birds.

On a recent visit to Florida we
learned that the slaughter of birds
there for millinery purposes is great-
er this winter than ever before.
Gulls and Terns are hunted for their
wings and Pelicans and Eagles for
the large quill feathers now so freely
worn in ladies’ hats. The beauti-
ful Egrets are so nearly extinct that
the hunters get $16 per ounce for
Egret plumes. The Bald Eagle, our
national Emblem, will be next to
disappear. Whata pity to lose this
picturesque bird that does no harm
to man or beast, as it lives almost
wholly upon worthless fish, such as
mullet and menhaden.

“‘The Warbler.”’

METHODS in the ART of TAXIDERMY

BY OLIVER DAVIE,

author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,” etc.

NINETY FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS

Never before has the art of taxidermy had its practical methods and beauties
portrayed as we find them interpreted in this work. It is a work of art from cover to

GOVEr.

FORMERLY PUBLISHED AT

PRICE ONLY

$10.00.

$2.50 PREPAID.

Charles K. Reed,

Station A,

Worcester, Mass.

This book should be in the library of every school.

TAXIDERMISTS’ OUTFITS.
GLASS EYES ™,Birdsana

FEIT T OASONSIN. Yall eA OC

Taxidermists’ Pocket Case, only $3 postpaid.
Cartilage Knife, Scalpel, Dissecting
Point, Scissors,Forceps, Hook and Chain,
Blowpipe and Drill. Best of steel, nickel-
plated, in polished hard wood case.

Leather Pocket Case, two fold, $4, postpaid.

Cartilage Knife, Large and Small Scal-
pel, Brain Spoon, Fine Scissors, 5-inch
Forceps, Four Curved Needles and Probe.

If you need ANYTHING about your taxidermy,
send at once for our catalogue.

CHAS. K. REED.

Sta. A. Worcester, Mass.

Polished Gem Stones...

12 Fine Ones for 50c, postpaid.

Wood Agate, Tiger Eye, Moss Agate, Carnelian,
Garnet, Turquoise, Amethyst, Malachite, Bloodstone,
Ribbon Agate, Gold Stone, Quartz Diamond.

Chas. K. Reed, Sta. A, Worcester, Mass.

INDIAN BASKETS.

Makahs’, Klamaths’,

Alaskans’

: Pimas’, Apaches’ and many weaves
Mexican Drawn Work, Mexican Hand-carved Leather
Belts, Chatelaines, etc., Indian Bead Work, Pottery,
Alaska Ivory Carvings, Minerals and Fossils, Elk
Teeth, wholesale and retail. Forty-page illustrated
catalogue for Five Cents. stamps. L. W. STIL-

W.
WELL, Deadwood, Blacks Hilis, South
Dakota.

BIRD HOMES.

BIRD HOMES by A., R. Dugmore.
With the nests and eggs of our birds in
natural colors, also a number of half-tone
illustrations. Postpaid, $2.00.

Chas. K. Reed, Sta. A, Worcester, Mass

Naturalist Supply Depot

DEALER IN

SUPPLIES. BIRD SKINS AND EGGS, GLASS EYES

Mounted Specimens a Specialty.
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MUSEUM, - = - HYDE PARK, MASS,

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A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
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CHART SHOWING THE COLORS OF BIRDS.

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which show over a
Thousand Species of American Butterflies

with all their native beauty
and brilliance of coloring.

This is a ‘‘Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the
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about Butterflies, and tells it in a way anybody can
understand. Everyone interested in buttertlies should
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STATION A. WORCESTER, MASS.

———_ hE

MINERAL COLLECTOR

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Vol. I.

No. 35

GREATER YELLOW LEGS.

A. OV. No. 254.

(Totanus melanoleucus.)

RANGE.

North America generally,
northward: to Labrador.
tine Republic.

breeding from
‘Migrates in winter: to Chili and the Argen-

northern United States

DESCRIPTION.
Length, 14 inches; extent of wings, 25 inches; tail, 3 inches; Dill
slender, black, and about 2.25 inches long; eyes brown; legs long and

slender, yellow.
black.

Rump and tail white, the latter barred with brown.

Upper parts grayish brown spotted with white and

Throat

and under parts white, streaked with black on breast, head and neck.

NEST AND EGGS.
The nest is simply a slight depression in the ground lined with grasses.
The eggs are three to four in number, grayish buff, blotched with varying

shades of brown.

HABITS.

The Greater Yellow-legs, Tell-
tale, or Winter Yellow-legs is
rather a common shore bird during
migrations; which occur during
early May and August.

When flying or on the ground,
they continually utter a shrill whis-
tle from which they get their
name, ‘‘Tell-tale.’’

They are sociable, and travel
together in quite large flocks.
They can be called easily by imi-
tating their whistle.

They are well known to sports-
men, and also to the opposite class,
I mean those individuals whose
sole aim in life seems to be to see
how great a number of birds they

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 37

can slaughter in a day. These
birds furnish an easy mark for
this class.

These men set out a number of
decoys on some favorite marsh,
then conceal themselves in a blind,
covered with marsh grass. When
a flock of Yellow-legs is heard, they
attract their attention by imitat-
ine tne call. The birds’ see the
decoys, and executing a wide cir-
Cle amey. = come up- over “them,
hover for an instant with their
long legs hanging downward __pre-
paratory for lighting, and—
well, suffice it to say that several
of them never see their home
again, and another sportsman (?)
goes home to brag about his skill.

After alighting on the beach,
these birds have a habit common
to several others of their species,
of raising their wings high over
their head before folding them.
They feed on shell-fish, worms and
insects, and may frequently be

seen wading in a pool of water
several inches deep, in quest of
food.

When alarmed, their flight is.
generally swift and quite: erratic,
and it is quite amusing to watch
them as with their long neck and
bill extended before them, and
their long legs hanging behind,
they double and turn in their haste
to escape.

Their eggs are _ occasionally
found in the central part of the
United States, and a few may
breed in the marshes in the north-
western United States, but the
greater number pass on to Labra-
dor.

With their confiding nature in
allowing themselves to be so easily
decoyed, they would long ago have
been exterminated but for the fact
that they do not tarry long in one
place, but hasten on to their breed-
ing ground, where they are not
persecuted.

= ee

GROUP OF WADERS

.>
\7

AMERICAN ORNITHOLO

WHITE IB

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 5p

WHITE IBIS.

A’ O. VU. No. 184.

(Guara alba.)

RANGE.

South Atlantic and Gulf States, southward to the West Indies, and

northern South America.
Long Island.

Rarely on the Atlantic coast as far north as.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 24 inches; extent of wings, 38 inches; tail, 4 inches; legs,

Orange or red; eye, blue.
feathers, orange or red.
Tips of primaries, glossy black.

Bill, head and throat, which are devoid of
Entire upper and under parts, pure white.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds live together in large colonies, hundreds and sometimes.

thousands breeding in the same marshes.

The nest is composed of

closely woven reeds, and is fastened securely to the upright reeds in.

the. marsh.
islands of the Gulf. coast.

They also breed abundantly in the low bushes on the
The eggs, two or three in number, are of

an ashy color, spotted and blotched with brown and reddish brown of.

different shades.

HABITS.

The immense colonies of the
beauliful waders, formerly num-
bered by thousands, but now

rapidly dwindling away, present a
wonderful picture at their breed-
ing grounds. The marsh is liter-
ally a white mass, the reeds bend-
ing under their heavy burdens.
Besides the marshes, they fre-

quent the shores of lakes, ponds

and rivers. They are wild and’
quite difficult to approach. When
alarmed they take flight in great
confusion, rising in every direc-
tion. However, they soon restore

order, and flying side by side in
an unbroken line, they move off.
They feed on small fish, mollusks,
crickets and other small
frogs, etc.

insects,.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 41

SCREECH OWL.

A. O. VU. No. 375.

(Megascops asio).
RANGE.

Eastern United States, from southern Canada to southern Georgia. It
is a resident and breeds wherever found.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 9 inches; extent of wings, 22 inches; tail, 3.25 inches; eye
yellow; bill, grayish; feet, feathered; ear-tufts, conspicuous. Sub-
ject to two distinct variations in color, the red and the gray, the
markings in either phase being the same. Under parts mottled with
either rufous or gray, and black. Below, mottled with the same colors,
the black taking the form of bars crossed by numerous streaks.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nesting site is nearly always in a natural cavity or a deserted
wood-pecker’s hole, varying in height from 4 to 50 feet from the
ground. The eggs are laid in the bottom of the cavity on the bits of
dead wood, and possibly a few dry leaves that have accumulated there.
In the southern part of its range, the eggs are laid the latter part of
March, while in New England and the northern states, they are laid
about the middle of April. Usually four, five or six eggs are laid.
They are white, fairly smooth and a little glossy.

HABITS.

The Screech Owl is readily iden-
tified, being the only one of the
very small owls having ear-tufts.
This is the most common and best
known of our owls, although to the
majority of the uninitlated it is
only a ‘‘cat owl,’’ as are all others
that have ear-tufts. It is not
known what causes the difference
in coloration of these birds. It is
not due to difference in the
sex, or to age, as young birds are
often found in tne same nest show-
ing both phases of color when the
parents are both the same color.

An old orchard is the favorite

haunt of these birds. They pre-
fer an apple tree to any other for

their nesting site, although when
nesting in the woods, they gener-
ally use an oak. After incubation
has commenced, both birds may
generally be found on the nest to-
gether. I have found both parents
and five young in a hole which ap-
peared to be hardly large enough
for one.

Their note is not a screech by
any means, and although at times
is a very mournful, uncanny sound,
at others it is a not disagreeable
trill. The screech owl is a very
sociable bird, and is easily tamed,
especially if taken when young.

What a queer little bird the
young screech owl is, with his

42 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

bright, yellow eyes peering out at
you from the mass of fluffy, gray-
ish down that envelopes him from
head to foot. How defiantly he
snaps his bill at you if annoyed.
He seems to say: ‘‘I’m small, but
take care.’’

An experience of the Worcester
Natural History Society shows
that they are very affectionate
towards each other sometimes, but
I think this case was an exception.
The society came into possession
of a pair of screech owls and placed
them together in a room. The
next morning, on entering the
room to feed them, the most con-
spicuous objects were a_ solitary
owl, and on the floor, a bunch of
feathers, which anyone at ll
versed in ornithology would at
once pronounce those of Megas-
cops asio. The remaining owl did
not appear to be very near the
point of starvation. In all proba-
bility, at some prior date, they had
both been suitors for the hand of
the same owless, and at this time
had a good opportunity to settle
old scores.

Speaking of screech owls al-
ways carries my thoughts back to
my early school days. In the cor-
ner of a yard in Barrington, R. I.,
stood one of the largest elms. that
| ever saw. It had numerous de-
cayed limbs which each year fur-
nished homes for four of five pairs
of screech owls. At all hours of
the day, one or more heads could
be seen at the openings. These
birds were doubly secure, as the
nests were between forty and fifty
feet from the ground, and the
owner of the place had very

strong objections, as any sensible
farmer should, to the disturbance of
his owls.

The little screech owls are very
useful in destroying rats or mice,
and they frequently take up their
abode in old barns or _ pigeon
houses, and | might add that soon
after, the mice take their depart-
Ure:

These little feathered mousers
are very light and active, and fly
swiftly about without a perceptible
sound. You can imagine the sur-
prise and horror of a mouse, en-
gaged in his midnight search for
edibles, to suddenly find himself
grasped by eight small, sharp tal-
ons, and conveyed to a convenient
beam (for the owl). What follows
may interest the reader, but the
mouse is probably beyond any fur-
ther concern in the matter. Slow-
ly, and with the deliberation that
always attends an owl’s move-

ments when not in the pursuit of
prey, he proceeds to swallow the
mouse, head foremost. Six or
eight hours later a small ball of fur,
all that remains of the poor little
mouse, will be ejected from the
owl’s mouth.

They also eat large numbers
of grass-hoppers and insects. Eng-
lish sparrows prove a very accept-
able article of diet, as do other
small birds occasionally. |

Now there are many persons
who never notice good deeds, no
matter how numerous, but let
a single fault present itself and
they will condemn the perpetrator
forever. While the screech owl
has his faults, he has good traits
to counterbalance them many times
over.

AMERICAN

MOUNTAIN

ORNITHOLOGY.

PARTRIDGE.

45 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

MOUNTAIN PARTRIDGE.

A. O. 'V. No. 292. (Oreortyx pictus.)
RANGE.
The Pacific coast of the United States from middle California through

Oregon and Washington. It is a resident where found.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 10 inches; extent of wings, 16 inches; tail, 3.5 inches; eye,
brown; feet, brown. Adult, upper parts and wings olive brown, top of
head, neck and breast, slate color; throat, chestnut bordered with line of
black; white extending from base of bill over the eye and down the sides
of the neck; sides, chestnut barred with black and white; belly, white;
under-tail coverts, black.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest of this partridge is usually placed in a clump of weeds, grass,
or more often of ferns, well concealed from view, and is composed of the
above-named materials. Their usual site is near an opening in the woods,
or near the edge of timber, usually in thick wooded fields, rarely in an
open place. The eggs, generally from eight to twelve in number, are
usually deposited from the latter part of May to the middle of June. The
eggs vary in color from a pale cream to a rich buff color, and are unspot-
ted.

HABITS.

This large, handsome partridge
is only found near the coast line,
and while quite common in some
localities, is not seen so often by
the casual observer, as they run
quite a ways before flying.

Their food consists of insects
and seeds of various kinds. They
never refuse grain if it is obtaina-
ble.

Its flesh is very good to eat, and
large numbers are shot by sports-
men, while more are trapped and
snared for market. Their habit
of running a distance before fly-
ing often prevents their destruc-
tion, as neither the man nor his

dog can tell when or where they
will rise.

Dr. A. G. -Pril of Sein, “rer
writes: ‘‘This beautiful partridge
is abundant in and around the
foot-hills of the Cascade mountains
in Oregon. I have found them
within thirty miles of the summit
of these mountains. During the
winter months they congregate in
large bands, fifteen to fifty birds
often being seen together. Their
nesting season is the month of
June, although sets are found in
May and July.

‘‘! believe in many instances two
broods are raised in a_ season.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 46,

This occurs most frequently when
we have an early, warm spring. |
found two sets last year, one on
June 15, containing eleven eggs,
and the other on June 18, this also
containing eleven eggs, but under
peculiar circumstances. The last
set mentioned contained, besides
the eleven partridge eggs, seven

eggs of the ring-necked pheasant.
The partridge had possession and
was sitting, although not able to
cover the eighteen eggs, some of
which had spoiled. Incubation was
about ten days advanced. What
battles were fought over the pos-
session of the eggs and nest can
only be imagined.”’ .

EAGLE vs. HOUNDS.

I once saw a golden eagle play a
teal. meaty, trick: on: a pack... of
hounds that were after a rabbit.
I should like to have a picture of
it asiit is in my mind’s. eye. It
was one of those mild, calm days
in the late fall. The bunch-grass
on the side hills, the blue-stem of
the hollows, and the light buffalo-
grass made the only shading in
the scene. There sat the eagle, a
half mile distant, looking like a
man sitting with his head drawn
down close to his shoulders.

The hunters were off on a long
slope, out of sight of the eagle.
Soon the deep baying of the
hounds can be heard in the dis-
tance, and here comes Mr. Jack-
rabbit, just sailing around the hill,
across a long slope covered with
buffalo-grass, too short to inter-
fere with his running. The hounds
were good ones, big, buff fellows,
almost matching the grass in
color, and were keeping well up
with the rabbit. On they came;
the rabbit, as is its custom, see-
ing nothing in front of it while

running, coming straight for the
eagle. When close to it, the eagle
rose straight in the air, hovered
there a moment till the bewildered
jack was under him, then dropped
down and seized it as compla-
cently as if he had always got his
grub that way. The hounds
swung off to one side and circled
back to the hunters, who seemed
to think that the dogs had _ lost
the trail of the rabbit, and they
surely had.
A. K. BOYLES.
Salina, Kansas.

Our Color Chart will be ready
for the -April number.) These
charts require twenty-two impres-
sions each and are therefore ex-
pensive. We have decided to give
these to yearly subscribers only.
We would suggest that you bind
this sheet in your first number,
where it can always be found. It
will be an invaluable aid when
studying the birds in our magazine
or any other bird book. Single
copies can be had for ten cents
each.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAM ORNITHOLOGY. 49

GREAT-CRESTED FLY-CATCHER.

A. O. VU. No. #52.

(Myiarchus crinitus.)

RANGE.

Eastern United States and southeastern Canada, west to the Missis-

sippi valley, south into Mexico and Central America.
throughout their United States range.

They breed

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 9 inches; extent of wings, 13 inches; tail, 4 inches; eye, brown;

feet, dark; bill, broad, dark at tip, yellowish at base.

General color above,

olive-gray. The inner webs of the tail feathers (except the two middle

ones are chestnut, as are the outer webs of the primaries.

short crest on head.
breast. Under parts, pale yellow.

There is a

Throat light gray, changing to ashy gray on the

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is always built in a cavity in a tree.

They are not particu-

lar about the size or shape, and frequently use a deserted woodpecker’s

nest.
in addition.

number.

The nest is built of grass and straw, and frequently has feathers
A dried-up snake-skin generally enters into the construction.
The eggs are laid about the first week in June.
The ground color is buff, and the markings brown and purple.

They are four or five in

It is one of the most handsome and strikingly marked eggs that we have.

HABITS.

This fly-catcher has the unen-
viable reputation of being the
noisiest and most quarrelsome of all
birds. He certainly does like to
hear his own voice, and_ while
perched on his favorite lookout is
continually uttering his discordant
‘“‘waugh,’’ followed by an amusing
chuckle or whistle. His note can
be heard when far away, and once
heard will never be mistaken.

What an odd looking figure he
makes as, perched on a dead twig
of an apple tree, with tail hanging
straight down, he constantly turns

his head up, down and sidewise,
looking for any insect that may
pass his way. Seeing one he
dashes after it, catches it and
quickly returns to the same twig,
and is on the lookout for the next
victim.

His greatest delight is in torment-
ing smaller birds. As soon as he
perceives one of the latter, he is
after him, and snapping his broad
bill chases the poor bird over and
under branches and around trees,
until he leaves his territory. How
proudly he returns to his point of

50 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

vantage, and he sits so erect it
really seems as though he were
about to fall backward as he gives
voice to his peculiar cackle.

Like most human bullies, this
bird is at heart a coward, and the
least show of resistance will send
him back to his lookout with the
meekest air imaginable.

That the snake-skin which is
placed in their nest is not put there
by chance, is shown by the fact
that it is found in about three-
quarters of the nests of this bird.
This habit is also followed by sev-
eral other birds, although to a less
extent. The only explanation that
can be advanced for this habit is

that it may afford some protection
from squirrels, jays and crows,

who, having a_ great liking for
eggs, may imagine that a snake is
coiled up in the nest and leave it
alone.

The Legend of ‘“‘Myiar-
chus Crinitus.”

Who has not heard the loud
voice and emphatic notes of the
king fly-catcher of the forest?
Perhaps you were familiar with his
song many years before you were
able to name this ever-present
companion of your boyhood fishing
excursions. It is he who mounts
that tall, dead tree growing by
the water’s edge, and unhesita-

tingly announces to the world that
he is ‘‘lord of the woodlands.’’ He
launches himself into the air, and
snapping up some unfortunate in-
sect, immediately returns to his
lofty perch.

NEST AND EGGS OF CRESTED FLY-CATCHER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 51

Away down in perhaps this same
tree is an old hole or natural cavi-
ty. In this odd but comparatively
safe place, he builds his queer
little home—so different from those
of his cousins, the smaller fly-
catchers. With his nest-building is
linked a curios habit —a habit in-
dulged in by his forefathers from
the early ages, and which in all
probability will be connected with
the life-histories of his progeny in
centuries to come. No well-regu-
lated family of crested fly-catchers
will set up housekeeping without a
snake skin—an old, cast-off. snake-
skin, which it places in its nest in
much the same way that we would
place a horseshoe over our door-
way, and perhaps for the same
purpose.

Ornithologists can not agree on
the object for this odd but estab-
lished custom of Myiarchus crini-
tus—whether he uses it as a scare-
crow for the benefit of inquisitive
squirrels, or whether it is his own
particular idea * of ornamental
beauty.

THE LEGEND.

And it is written that Noah in
the last days took within the ark
of safety, of all animals, a male
and a female of each kind, and of
all birds a male and a female of
each kind, that a2 might not be
destroyed, but that each kind
might be perpetuated on the face
of the earth.

As Myiarchus (great crested fly-
catcher), with his heart full of mis-
chief, noted the arrival of each pair

of birds, he noisily commended
his friends or strenuously objected
to his enemies until, to avoid fur-
thur annoyance, he and his mate
were taken inside.

Now it so happened that Myiar-
chus and his wife Crinitus were
the first of all living creatures to
enter the much-talked-of-haven of
safety, while Pelias and his wife
Berus, the serpents, were the /ast
of all animals to gain admission.

Myiarchus was well pleased with
this distinction, and being of an
egotistical nature, utterly over-
looked the motive that placed him
first on the list.

Said Archus to his wife: ‘‘Crin-
itus, dost thou observe of how
much greater value and _ import-
ance are we than those lowly ones
who follow us? We shall demand
separate quarters and shall hold
aloof from all other birds. And—
mark thou, Crinitus—that Conto-
pus, Sayornis, Milvulus and Acad-
icus are only poor relation and
must be taught their proper places.
Use caution and judgement, how-
ever, when thou art in the pres-
ence of Cousin Tyrannus. He has
a vile temper and will surely re-
sent any inference that he is not
the real king bird. All others do
thou completely ignore. Deignest
thou not to look upon them.’’ And
growing more conceited as the ark
continued its journey, Myiarchus
became abusive of all birds and
animals alike, and his vain boast-
ings and self-praise became un-
endurable.

And’ Noah, the ‘keeper,— over
heard him say to the serpent:
‘‘Pelias, thou loathsome and de-
testable creature, how gainest thou
admission in mv presence? Because
thou layest eggs, thou feelest ex-
alted—thou who canst but bore

an ugly hole for a nest. Wouldst
thou be a bird? Ha! where art thy
wings? Oh! thy ugly spotted

skin’’—but no more could he say,
for Noah interrupted him.
‘‘Myiarchus, thou vain and con-
ceited creature, the same God
gavest a// life alike. Were I not
commanded to deliver thee safely,
thou shouldst surely die for thy
wicked boasting. A curse shall
follow thee all the days of thy life;
thou and thy sons, and thy sons’
sons. Thou and thy family Tyr-
annidae are kings of nest-builders,
but thow shalt lose thy talent.
Henceforth ¢hv home shall be a
dark and ugly hole. Thy round
and well-built nest shall henceforth
be a heap of trash, and thine im-
maculate eggs, of which thou art
so proud, shall be marked with
bloody, wriggling serpents. So
desolate thy home shalt be that
thou thinkest the ugly spotted
serpent-skin an adornment upon
thy walls, and ever shall it serve
to remind thee of thy wickedness.’’

ISAAC E. HESS.
Philo, Ill.

A SUMMER’S-DAY RE-
COLLECTION.

My favorite haunt during the

warm summer days was a beauti-

52 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ful bit of woods near a small creek.
After following the many windings
in and out among the rocks and
trees, the creek gradually widens,
forming a diminutive pond. On
both sides of this pond are small
knolls covered with emerald grass
and studded with gigantic oak
trees, which invite the wanderer to
retire in the cool shade, away
from the burning heat of the sun.
The banks are the homes of nu-
merous gophers, who notify us of
their whereabouts by their pecu-
liar chuckling noise. During this
time of the year we may see the
dab-chick, or, as he is more often
called, hell-diver, performing his
aquatic feats on the pond. Noth-
ing can be more magnificent than
to observe the numerous warblers
as they hop about among the limbs
of the great oak trees or fly about
searching for food, which at this
time affords ample supply for their
hungry stomachs. It is here that
I heard. for the first time “the
sweet song of the hermit thrush,
our sweetest American singer. He
was concealed among the small
shrubbery near the lower end of
the pond, and it took me quite a
time to find the author of this
sweet strain. Near this lower end
where the pond joins the brook, is
a ford made of stones just pro-
truding above the surface, where
the mud-turtle enjoys a bath in
the hot sun and spends a good part
of his short life.

A place like this must be seen to
be appreciated, but every lover of
nature can see from the above why
I am drawn to this peculiar spot
more than any other.

H. E. NEUMANN.

Pe PBDD BBO?

By OLIVER DAVIE.

1GEE SEES
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Methods in the
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Taxidermy,

BY OLIVER DAVIE,

author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,”
etc. etc.

90 Full Page Engravings

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER A. M.,M.D..
the whole containing five hundred figures, ‘clearly
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Never before has the art of taxidermy had its prac-
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Formerly Published at $10.
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Chas. K. Reed,

Station A. Worcester, Mass.

This book should be in the library of every school.

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Methods in the Art ¢ Tacxcitdermy
BY OLIVER DAVIE.

Author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,”’ etc.

Ninety Feull Page Esngravings.

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER, A. M., M. D., the whole containing five-
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{TTI
Lin i

Vol. I. April, 1901. No. #

WOOD DUCK.

A. O. V. No. 144. (Aex sponsa.)
RANGE.

From Hudson Bay to Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pa-
cific. They breed practically throughout their range.

DESCRIPTION.

Male.—Length, 18 inches; extent, 28 inches; tail 4.5 inches. Bill.—
Tip black; oblong spot of white between nostril and lip; remainder pur-
plish red, changing to scarlet back of nostril, and outlined at the base with
yellow. Legs and feet, olive yellow; webs dusky. Eyelid and eye, red.

Forehead and crest, green and purple metallic hues. A white line ex-
tends from bill, over eye to end of crest; also one from back of eye to base
of crest. Cheeks, violet and purple. Side and back of neck, violet
green, as is also the back and tail. The white on throat extends, in a
crescent, across base of neck and also back of cheek to the eye.

Wings chiefly black with metallic greenish reflections. Outer webs of
primaries white. Ends of secondaries tipped with white. Breast pur-
plish chestnut, this color extending nearly to the back of the neck.

Breast dotted with V shaped white spots which grow larger as they ap-
proach the belly. There is a crescent of white, bordered by black on the
lower side, extending across the shoulder. Sides buffy, crossed by fine
wavy black lines, the feathers on the upper and outer edges being edged
with a broad band of black and white. On each side of the rump is a
patch of purple excepting the last three or four feathers which are orange.

Female.—Length, 17 inches; extent, 26 inches. Legs, a yellowish
brown. Eyelids, yellow. Eye, reddish brown. Forehead, space about
the eye and throat, white. Head, crest, rump, back, and tail brownish

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WOOD DUCK.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. Bs

glossed slightly with metallic green. Wings, brown, the secondaries be-
ing’ broadly tipped with white and crossed by a broad band of metallic
green, separated from the white tips by black. Breast reddish brown
spotted with white. Flanks brown spotted with white. Rest of under
parts white.

NEST AND EGGS.

With a few rare exceptions the nest is placed in a hole of a tree, either
one formed naturally by the breaking off of a large limb or in a deserted
woodpecker’s hole, the opening of which has been slightly enlarged by
decay. A site is always chosen near the water, the tree frequently over-
hanging the latter. The nest is composed of weeds and grasses and lined
with downy feathers from the breast of the female. From eight to four-
teen eggs are laid about the latter part of April or first of May. They are
of a pale buff color and vary considerably in size.

HABITS.

According to all authorities and and secluded lakes and ponds _ Per-

the testimony of all who have seen
the bird, the Wood Duck is the
most beautiful of all the several
hundred of this species found on the
globe. He is truly a peacock among
the ducks and like the majority of
both the human and animal races
who are graced with unusual beau-
ty, he is fully aware of it, and does
his utmost to display it to the best
possible advantage at all times. His
graceful movements and_ resplend-
ent colors are the admiration of the
females, which except for their lithe
forms would be but-an ordinary ap-
pearing duck,

Just imagine the male, with all
his gorgeous, irridescent plumage
replaced by a dull, sooty brown,
and you will see the female.

As if to have as little in common
with other species of ducks, the
Wood,’ Summer, Tree, Acorn or
Bridled Duck, as it Is locally called,
frequents chiefly fresh water rivers

haps this may be the choice of the
male for personal reasons. Surely,
when seated on the still water,
shadowed by the overhanging
branches, his beauty is doubled by
the inverted image reflected by the
mirror-like surface.

In the Spring, about the latter
part of March, is the time to see
these ducks to the best advantage.
Dr. P. L. Hatch who has _ observed
them in Minnesota says:—‘‘In the
denser portions of the vast forests
which embrace the inlets and bays
of many clear and beautiful lakes,
| have cautiously sought a quiet
covert toward the evening of some
warm day, from which to observe
this charming species in Spring.
Perfectly concealed in the thickets
within a yard of the deeply shad-
owed water, with my field glass in
hand, I have many times watched
them by hundreds, until darkness
hid them from my sight.

56 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

“These occasions were in the
season of their love, when the
matchless plumage of the males was
displayed as at no other timegin
their entire history. With the
crest elevated, and like a coronet
on the head, which is drawn , back-
ward as proudly as the Swan’s,
each male, the undisputed monarch
of the mirror lake, glides here and
there, in {and out, in his ingenious
and undisguised endeavors to outdo
every other in his imperial display,

until the seething resplendence
seems to be one moving scene of
grace and indescribable beauty.

During this wonderful spectacular
exhibition of motion, the woodland
echoes have frequently borne away
the characteristic and impassioned
notes of the rival lovers, ‘O-o-o-eek,
0-0-0-eek,’

“Thus completely concealed as |
was they would approach me closer
and closer, as the shadows deep-
ened, until verily I could have
touched the nearer birds with a
coachman’s whip.’’

These dainty birds never nest on
the ground, but either in the hollow
end of a broken stump, or branch or
a deserted Woodpecker or squirrel’s
hole.

The trees chosen are either over-
hanging the water or within a few
yatdsof it: Mr. seh. Ferbush
states that the late J. J. Coburn,
when alive, an enthusiastic observer
of bird life, while removing a stove-
pipe from his boat house at Lake
Quinsigamond, found a dead female
‘Wood Duck in the pipe near the

stove. It had probably entered the
pipe thinking to find a good nesting
site, and was unable to escape and
so perished.

Wen the female is sitting on the
eggs, the male always stands on
guard near by, but never assists in
the process of incubation. When
the female leaves the nest for any
reason, the eggs are covered with
down with which the nest is lined
so that they will retain their
warmth.

When hatched the downy young
either fall into the water or, if the
tree is some distance away, are Car-
ried to it by the mother, who takes
them, by the wing or the back of
the neck, in her bill. As soon as
the young are able to fly, these and
other broods, together with the par-
ents, congregate in flocks, prepara-
tory to migration to the South in
October. Their flight is very swift
and graceful. They wing their
way between numerous trees and
branches without difficulty.

In the fall they feed largely on
acorns and chestnuts, from which
fact they derive one of their local
names.

If any of our readers are so for-
tunate as to have the opportunity
to observe these birds at close quar-
ters, I trust that they will shoot
them with a camera and nota gun,
as they are getting altogether too
scarce, and | fear their days are
numbered. Where ten years ago
there were dozens, there are now
none. The causes of this decrease
in numbers, are many. They are
much in demand for ornaments in
the home; large quantities of the
barred feathers on the flanks, are
used for tying artificial flies for
trout fishing; and the gourmand
pays a high price for their flesh.

AMERICAN. ORNITHOLOGY. 57

LONG-CRESTED JAY.
A. O. VU. No. #785. (Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha-)
RANGE.

Western United States in the Rocky Mountains; north to Wyoming,
west to Utah, and south to Northern Mexico. It is a resident and breeds
wherever found.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 12 inches; extent, 18 inches; tail, 6 inches; crest, nearly 3
inches. Bill and feet, black. Eye, dark brown.

Adult male and female.—Entire head, crest and neck black, changing to
a sooty brown on the back, and to a blue on the breast and rump. Wings
and tail rich indigo blue barred with black. The feathers on either side
of the forehead are tipped with bluish white. A spot of the same color
on both eyelids.

Young.—Much more sooty, and the black bars on the wings are very
faint.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds generally nest in small pines, not very high from the
ground, usually between six and twenty feet. The nest is composed of
small sticks and lined with fine roots and pine needles. The eggs are
four or five in number, of a greenish ground color, blotched with olive
brown and purple.

HABITS,

The Long-crested Jay while not equal in destructiveness and general
as handsome a bird as his eastern’ mischief making. They _ inhabit
relative, the Blue Jay, is fully his the mountain slopes, generally pre-

AMERICAN OKNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 59

fering the outskirts of the forests
near some water course. They are
inveterate scolds and thieves and
they are never as happy as when
teasing a smaller bird or committing
some petty depredation. They
seem determined to find out the
why and wherefor of everything
they see or hear, and they can be
quite easily called by imitating their
call or by making any unusual noise.

They are generally very shy
and quite difficult to approach, as
they contrive to keep two or three
trees ahead of their would be slayer,
and while their voice is very much
in evidence, they are only seen oc-
casionally as they fly from tree to
tree: They are unexcelled as
mimics and can imitate almost any
sound,. from the shrill cry of a
hawk to the chattering of a squir-
rel. Many a weary hunter, return-
ing from his day’s tramp, has heard
what he supposed a hawk, and
thinking to add to his trophies for
the day, has started in pursuit. He
is led a merry chase through the
thick brush, always hoping to find
his prey in the next tree, till in de-
spair he gives up the chase. To
add to his discomfiture, he finds
that he has not been pursuing a
hawk at all, for as soon as he turns
back, the harsh discordant cry of
the Jay mocks him from the depths
of the next pine.

Although generally wary, where
not molested they become quite
tame, and will come about the farm
houses and feed on the pieces of
bread or meat that are thrown out

for them. While very greedy at
all times they always show fore-
thought by laying by a store of.
food for the morrow. After having
eaten all they can, they will carry
off piece after piece and conceal it.
They are not at all particular about
their food and will eat anything
that is edible. In winter, pine
seeds form a considerable portion of
their diet. I am sorry to say that
they are also extremely fond of
the and young of other
birds. Thus they are the cause of
breaking up many a happy home.
Their feet are strong and are used
in holding their food while tearing
it up into pieces suitable for swal-
lowing.

All birds have a song of some
sort. The Jay appears to-realize
that there is a ludicrous lack of har-
mony in his, and rarely utters it in
public. In the early spring it may
be heard as he endeavors to win
the love of some coquette.

With numerous bows and gro-
tesque antics, he proceeds to uttera
series of low warbling notes, inter-
spersed with shrill whistles and im-
itations of the notes of many other
birds.

They are very quiet during nest-
ing Mime.> -The- femalecsis very
close and will allow you nearly to
touch her before leaving the eggs.

eggs

When disturbed both birds will
unite in most vigorous outcries.

They evidently do not realize that
they are being treated just as they
themselves have treated scores of

other birds.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 61

AUDUBON’S WARBLER.

A. O. VU. No. G56. (Dendroica auduboni.)
RANGE.

The Pacific slope west of the Rocky Mountains, from British Columbia
south to Central America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5.25 inches; extent, 9 inches; tail, 2.25 inches. Bill and feet
black. Eye brown. .

Male.—Entire upper parts including head and neck, bluish ash, streaked
with black. Cheek dark gray. Chin, throat, rump, middle of crown, and
patch on sides of breast, yellow. A white streak extends from eye to
back of head, also a white spot on lower eyelid. Wings black, the coverts
broadly edged with white on outer edge, forming a large white patch on
the wing. Upper tail coverts gray, the feathers having black centers.
Tail black, the five outer feathers having white spots on the inner webs,
varying in size from small on the inner feathers to large on the outside
ones. Breast, black, this color extending down the sides in streaks. Be-
neath white.

Female.—Similar to the male with duller markings and brown back.

NEST AND EGGS.

This Warbler builds a neat nest of fine strips of bark, roots and grasses,
lined with fibrous down, horse hair and feathers. This nest is placed
either in the forks of willows or on the outer branches of firs, ranging in
height from three to thirty feet.

The eggs are laid in June, they are four or five in number, of a grayish
white color, specked with black and reddish brown, chiefly at the larger
end.

62 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

This little bird which, with the
exception of the yellow throat, is
almost the exact counterpart of the
eastern Myrtle Warbler, is a very
common bird throughout the north-
west. They arrive from their south-
ern quarters early in April, and are
very active, flitting about among

About
the towns they display considerable

the oaks and gigantic firs.

familiarity, resorting to the gardens
and hedges in company with the
sparrows.

In winter they prefer to frequent

willow swamps in search of insects.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

A. O. VU. No. 558.

(Zonotrichia albicolis.)

RANGE.
Eastern North America from Georgia to Labrador and west to the Great

Plains.
the Middle States southwards.

Breeds from northern United States northwards.

Winters from

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 7 inches; extent, 9.5 inches; tail, 3.25 inches.

yellowish brown. Eye brown.

Bill and feet

Adult male.—Two black stripes on the crown, separated by a medium

one of white.

A broad stripe extends from base of bill, over the eye and

down sides of the neck. This stripe is white except that part in front of

the eye, which is yellow.
eve:
Two narrow white wing bars.

A black streak on sides of head back of the
Back, chestnut streaked with dark brown.
Throat white edged with black on sides

Edge of wing yellow.

and ending abruptly against the dark ash of breast and sides of head.

Belly white.

Female and young.—Colors duller and throat gray.

NEST AND EGGS.
The White-throated Sparrow breeds abundantly throughout northern

New England, New York, and Michigan and eastern Canada.
placed on the ground, rarely in*,bushes.
under a fallen branch or placed under an overhanging stone.
a’ bulky nest composed of grasses and weeds.

June.

Song Sparrow by the larger size.

The nest is
It is often slightly concealed
It is rather
The eggs are laid early; in

They are four or five in number, pale greenish blue, sprinkled and
blotched with brown, chestnut and lilac.

Distinguished frem the common

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

THROATED SPARROW

WHITE

64 AMERICAN ORNITITOLOGY.
HABITS.

The Peabody Bird, by which
name the White-troated Sparrow is
frequently known, is unquestion-
ably the most handsome of all the
Sparrows. His plumage, not in the
least gaudy, harmonizes perfectly in
every detail and presents a very
pleasing picture to the eye. The
colors on his back, as in most of
the Sparrows, correspond closely to
those of the dead leaves, and as he
spends most of his time on the
ground 'he is a very inconspicuous
subject.

If anyone doubts the value of our
song birds as insect destroyers, you
can easily convince him of his error.
About the first week in April or the
latter part of September, when these
birds are in full migration, take this
doubter out with you and watch
them. Low brush, in a somewhat
swampy locality, is their favorite
abiding place. Just before reach-
ing this place you will hear a com-
motion among the leaves. Now
approach quietly so as not to disturb
them, and when close enough stop
and watch a moment. Ah! sure

enough, there are perhaps fifteen or

twenty White-throated Sparrows in
sight, each one scratching as though
his life depended on it, and throw-
ing the leaves in all directions.

Now if your friend ts at all sincere
and is willing to be convinced, he
will know that these birds are not
working so diligently for their
health, but that they are destroying
countless numbers of insects, and

therefore that they are of the great-
est value to mankind.

Another step and perhaps one
sharp eyed little fellow sees you.
With an angry, business-like chirp,
he hops upon a branch and with his
fellows, who at his first warning
followed his example, proceeds by
his vigorous chirping, to inform
you that your presence is not want-
ed, his whole body quivering mean-
while from the vehemence of his ar-
guments.

Early in the morning and toward
dusk their song rings out sharply
and clearly, amid the babble of the
other - birds. | While. at times iE
sounds rather melancholy, still it is
a more perfect song from a music-
ian’s view than that of any other
bird. No artist on his flute can pro-
duce a clearer, sweeter note than
can this gifted songster. The song
consists mainly of six notes, the
first generally low and the remain-
ing ones of a higher pitch. He
seems to delight in seeing how many
variations he can get on these notes
by changing the length and key.

During a warm shower in spring,
when the other birds are silent, you
will see him perched on one foot in
a low bush, with tail drooping, and
head up, merrily giving voice to his
welcome carol.

But they cannot tarry long as
they must hurry to their nesting
places, so that they may be ready
to return again in the fall, before

the weather is too severe.

WMERTCAN ORNITHOLOGY. 65

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass.
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

In the United States,
Mexico, fifty cents a
Single copies five cents.

To all countries in the International
Postal Union, seventy-five cents a year
postpaid.

Canada and
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Copy must be received not later than
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as second-class matter, Jan. 16, roor.

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from this you will have the satis-
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and furthermore, we intend to in-
crease the size of AMERICAN ORNI-
THOLOGY (not the price) as soon
as subscriptions warrant it.

Don’t be afraid to send in notes
in regard to the birds which we are
to publish. One person’s observa-
tions are of just as much value as
another’s, and yours may be just

what we want. Grammatical er-
rors, or mistakes in spelling or
punctuation, make no difference.

What we want is reliable notes.

Our June number will contain
Western Winter Wren, Meadow
Lark, American Avocet, Harlequin
Duck, and Parula Warbler.. Any-
thing of special interest in regard to
these will be appreciated.

A word about photographs. Do
not send blue prints, as we cannot
nse them; prinjs may be on brown
or black and white paper.

We have awarded the short story
prize for February contest to Miss
Mary G. Townsend. Her article is
entitled ‘“‘Spring Migration,’’ and
will appear in our May number.

The photo prize goes to Wm. H.
Fisher, who sent an excellent photo
of the nest and eggs of the Least
Tern in situation. This will appear
with the article and illustration of
the bird in a later number.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 67

GAMBEL’S PARTRIDGE.

A. O. VU. No. 295. (Callipepla gambelli.)

RANGE.

Principally Texas, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, breeding through-
out its range.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 10 inches; extent, 15.5 inches; tail, 4.5 inches.
Legs and feet brownish. Eye brown.

Male.—Top of head bright chestnut, bordered with black on the sides.
Crest black.& Forehead, grayish black and separated from the chestnut by
a narrow white line which crosses the crown and continues down the side
of ‘the neck.©3 Chin, throat, and sides of the head below the eye, black,
bordered with white. Entire upper parts, including the wings and tail
bluish gray. Wings tinged with olive, the inner webs of the secondaries
edged with white. > Breast, bluish gray shading to buff on the lower side.
Abdomen*:black. ‘Flanks bright chestnut, each feather having a white
Stripe in the center.

Female.—Back tinged with ‘brown. Head brownish. Crest gray.
Throat buff, changing to gray on the breast, and again to buff below.
Wings and;flanks as in the male but duller.

Bill black.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest of Gambel’s Partridge is usually simply a hollow scratched out
in the sand, though occasionally it is lined with a few grasses. It is gen-
erally ;concealed either under a pile of brnsh, or beside a clump of grass,
the tops of which bend down so as to hide it from view.

The eggs are laid during May, June, and July, the bird frequently rais-
ing two broods in aseason. They are from eight to sixteen in number;
although frequently as many as. twenty-four are found in the same nest,
being without doubt the product of two birds. They have a cream colored
ground and are blotched and spotted with chestnut, drab and buff.

HABITS.

This regal looking bird, with his
black feathered crest, is the hand-
somest of the western partridges,
with the possible exception of his
near relative, the California Part-
ridge. Although a very distinguish-
ed appeasing bird, I do not think in
point of beauty alone he outranks
the eastern Bob-white. In some

respects, however, he is far super-
ior «to If the
eastern sportsmen who are worry-
ing their brains about the future of
the Bob-white, would only send some
of them out west to take a few les-
sons in tactics from Gambel’s Part-
ridge, they would on their return
be much better qualified to escape

his eastern Cousin.

68 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

from their human enemies at
least. :

While the Bob-white will stand
still until discovery is certain, and
then take wing affording an excel-
lent chance for the sportsman to
drop him, the western bird will at
the first suspicion of danger pro-
ceed to, as the farmer would say,
“‘leggit’’ as fast as he can. Away
he goes, dodging over stones, under
bushes and around boulders, until he
has put a safe distance between
himself and danger.

These birds may be found in al-
most any localtiy in their range in
the southwest. It seems to make
little difference with them, whether
it be a dry, sandy region, a rocky
mountain side, or an impenetrable
thicket.

They are found on the mountains
at an altitude of over five thousand
feet. As they are not generally
found at a very great distance from
water, a traveler across the sandy
deserts always welcomes the sight
of these brave little inhabitants of the
hot sandy waste. Mr. G. F. Bren-
inger of Phoenix, Arizona, in speak-
ing of a trip about seventy miles
north of that place writes:—‘‘A
good portion of the road was with-
out water, and warnings were plac-
ed at watering places to warn the
traveler how far to the next water.
In crossing a canal ten miles out, |
was struck with an illustration on

Gambel’s Quail. The guide board
said after the index finger ‘Camp
Creek forty miles to water,’ and on
this stood a male Gambel’s Part-

ridge.
at least
water.”’

They are generally quite abun-
dant in their localities, and in the
spring coveys of them can be found
scratching about in the sand and
chasing grasshoppers and other in-
sects. At this time they are very
sociable and are constantly calling
to each other with a low, rapidly
repeated, and rather harsh whistle.
During the intense heat of the Ari-
zona Summer these game birds pre-
fer to remain in the shady spots in
the creek bottoms.

During the mating and breeding
season, according to Capt. Bendire,
the male frequently utters a call like
“‘Yuk-kae-ja, yuk-kae-ja,’’ each
syllable distinctly articulated and
the last two somewhat drawn out.
He says:—‘‘A trim, handsome and
proud looking cock, whose more
sombre colored mate had a nest
close by, used an old mesquite stump
about four feet high and not more
than twenty feet from my tent as
his: favorite perch, and I had many
excellent opportunities to watch him
closely. Standing perfectly erect
with his beak straight up in the air,
his tail slightly spread, and wings
somewhat drooping, he uttered his
call in a clear strong voice every
few minutes for half an hour or so,
or until disturbed by something.
This he repeated several times a
day. | consider it a call of chal-
lenge or of exultation, and it was
generally taken up by any other
male in the vicinity at the time.”’

| have met with this species
twenty miles from

AMEKICAN: ORNETITOLOG Y. 6g

The males have perfect control of
the feathers forming their crest,
even toextending them forward so as
to touch the bill. During the mat-
ing season they use this to good ad-
vantage to give expression to their
words of love. They are very pug-
nacious at this time, and combats
between the males are frequent.
The mother shows great anxiety
about the safety of her little ones,
and employs all manner of tactics to
enable them to escape. Owing to
their habit of running from danger,
and of roost-.ng in trees at night,
which they do when the locality is
favorable, these attractive
birds are on the increase.

game

Winter Visitors.

One cold day last March, when
the thermometer was hovering close
to zero and the ground was covered
by an icy coating of snow, a_ flock
of Redpolls came to visit me. They
were very tame and _ particularly
one, who worked for hours in the
Wheel-ruts of the driveway. He
seemed so indifferent to my pass-
ing to and fro, that | became con-
vinced he was either numbed by
the extreme cold or perhaps had
something the matter with his eyes,
so | thought | would try to catch
him, bring him in where it was
warm, and feed him. It proved to
be an easier task than I had expect-
ed. Creeping cautiously up to the
unsuspecting little Redpoll, | quick-
ly seized him in my hand and car-
ried him into the house, where I
put him into a cage provided with

seed and water. He did not seem
at all afraid in’ his new surround-
ings, but immediately began eating
as though he was half starved. At
intervals he would fly against the
bars of the cage in his attemps to
regain his freedom and then, seem-
ingly forgetting about it, return to
his feast of canary seed. When
darkness came, he tucked his head
under his wing and went to sleep.
The next day as the weather had
moderated, I gave him his liberty.
But instead of flying away as I had
expected, <he:- continued to
about the grounds, even if some-
what more timid, for several days,
when he disappeared, probably hav
ing joined his mates.
MISS RACHEL LOWELL.

feed

A Virginia Turkey Hunt.

‘‘Pardner, let’s do the Turkeys a
turn today,’’ said my friend, John
Seymour, to me one fine morning
in late fall. He himself was a typ-
ical southern gentleman of rather
an inactive temperament, although
a great Nimrod. I had™“been stay-
ing at his residence on the _ historic
James for some days, but thus far
only squirrel, quail and hare had
fallen victims to my amateur efforts
at gunning. Of course I readily
consented to my friend’s plan, and ten
minutes later saw us provided with
guns and a good supply of shells,
loaded with BBs and buck shot, for,
in that sparsely settled country the
chance of seeing a deer is great
enough to warrant being prepared
for such an event.

70 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Thus prepared, we proceeded up
one of the runs for which that sec-
tion of country is famous, and after
walking some minutes, crossed over
and found ourselves in a_ forest
of “immense *oaks:+: Heres siy
comrade told me the Turkeys were
likely to be found at this time of
the year, as they feed upon the
small acorns. But in the woods
our search proved fruitless, as it did
in several others which we subse-
quently visited, and it was almost
noon and my _ patience was nearly
exhausted, when from a slight rise
of the ground on the right a large
gobbler raised majestically in the air
and flew away parallel to the course
we had been taking, Although the
distance was rather great we both
fired and by some lucky chance
hurt him badly enough to capture
him. This occurrence revived my
‘‘drooping spirits’? wonderfully, and
| trudged along untiringly by the
side of my companion. Soon we
began to feel the pangs of hunger
and net having brought anything
for the refreshment of the inner
man, we had resource toa neighbor-
ing peanut field, paying for our
lunch after ordinary tramp fashion.
Nothing more than squirrels, quail,
etc., was seen until late in the after-
noon as we were nearing home, and
theu, as we had almost given up all
hopes of seeing anything more, we
suddenly came upon two large birds
that were feeding on the small nuts
just over the brow of a ravine. Un-
luckily they saw us aS soon as we
did them, and I must say they act-

eda great deal quicker, for upon
the instant they sighted us, they
started for ‘‘green fields’’ not liking
our company I suppose. We fired
but only had the satisfaction of see-
ing one of them drop, while the
other flew grandly over the farther
side of the ravine, doubtless well
pleased with himself. We, too,
were well pleased and considered
our day’s work a good one.
FRANK R. WHEATON.

DEAR SIR:—Sample copy of the
February number of AMERICAN OR-
NITHOLOGY Enclosed
find money order to cover eleven
subscriptions, names _— enclosed.
These are all teachers in this school.
If the succeeding number is equally
good you may expect as many more

received.

‘from this locality..—B. W. JOHN-

SON.

DEAR SIR:—You have struck the
key note for a publication in regard
to birds. Have shown the sample
copy to seven interested bird part-
es and enclose check for seven
subscriptions..; 48. the. Kesultjeeum
prophesy success from the start.—
—L. M. JAMES.

DEAR SiR:—Enclosed find fifteen
more subscriptions to your A. O.
Kindly send me a few sample cop-
ies as | have worn mine out show-
ing it, and am not done yet. You
may expect more soon,—F. C.
CLARK, Napa, Cal.

[Mr. Clark had already sent in
seven subscriptions. ]

Curiosities

Tarantula Spider, finely mounted in box.50
Trap-door Spider, finely mounted in box.5o0

Trap-door Spider nest, .50
Horned Toad, mounted on Orange wood.75
Scorpin, mounted in box, .50
Centipede, mounted in box, .60
Alligator, one foot long, 1.00
Silk-Worm Cocoons, .10
Lizard, mounted on card, 125
Sea Urchin, .10
Sea Urchin, with spines, oS
Starfish, eee 0:
Horsefoot Crab, > 25
Sawrfish Saw, 25
Sand Dollar, -. .10
Shell Scarf- pin,’ 10
Sea Beans, 3 for .1o0
Sea Mosses, mounted on card, 3 for .1o
Chinese Horn Nut, 05
Oregon Arrow Points, 6 for .25

Siempre Viva or Resurrection Plant.

Place this curious’ dry and withered-
loooking bulb into a plate full of fresh
water and in a few hours it will open out
into a beautiful green plant. When de
sired, remove from the water and allow
itto dry. It will then return to its former
condition ready to be opened again at
pleasure. 15c., two for 25c.

and Shells.

Pearly Nautilus,
Ivory Shell,
Black Murex,
Pink Murex,
White Murex,
Bleeding Tooth,
Bull Conch,
Silver Lip,
Crown Shell,
Money Cowry,
Arabian Cowry,
Panther Cowry,
Ringed Cowry,

ARR

Tent Olive,
Lettered Olive,
Harp Shell,
Hooked Scorpin,
Pelican’s Foot,
Marlinspike,

W orm Shell,

Owl Shell,

Mussel Shell,
Scallop Shell,
Tulip Shell,

Red Ear,

Bla k Ear,
Trumpet Shell,
Melon Shell,
Thorny Oyster,
Green Snail,

Ostr ch egy large,
Emue egg large,
Rhea egg large,
Sa‘ fish Thermometer
Angel wing The mometer
Brain coral

Pink coral

Branch coral

+75, 1

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School Collections of Mounted Birds and Animals, Shells, Corals, Minerals, Birds’
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We shall be pleased to quote prices on anything in the natural history department
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For $2.00 select from this page to value of $2.50, all sent prepaid.

SEND FOR COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE.
CHARLES K. REED;

WORCESTER. MASS.

STATION A,

North American Birds,

BY
OLIVER DAVIE.
Fifth Edition. Finely Illustrated.

Thoroughly Revised 600 pp.
Extra Cloth, Regular Price $2.25

The Best Book on Eggs
Published,

My Price, $1 50 Postpaid.
Chas. K. Reed, Worcester, Mass. Station A.

4 DOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOHOOOOLOGOHOQOOSH DOO OOOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO 3
< >

(f you teach or study Birds S

3 Te es BY 2
‘LOR

EDITED BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN
@ Will tell you just What to teach and just What to study at the proper season.

DODDS DDO DODGE

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OS crs.a copy.
IO cts. a yeur.

» 1901.

MAY

Vol. f.

No. 3.

S\N

erate So tn 4 y > <<
: 1 NSS
ES SBS EG vo)

WSS : ———— wm YS =
Sa we ONS N

VN \\ on ae
KGS 2Y- ¥
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+ A ee.

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For Photographing Birds

————— — FROM NATURE

FOR PORTRAITS, OR FOR USE ON ANY PLEASURE TRIP,
NO CAMERA IS BETTER THAN THE

. LELE-PHOTO (CAYO LE POs

IT IS AN IDEAL CAMERA.

Tele-Photo Cycle Poco D.

This camera has an extra long bellows, allowing the use of a long-focus lens, or the rear combination of
the regular lens. This is a great advantage when photographing a distant object, as it will show the object
about twice the size that you would get without it. Also has reversible back so that either horizontal or verti—
cal pictures may be taken without changing the position of the camera. It has the rising front, fine rack and
pinion focusing movements, view finder and Unicum shutter; fitted with symmetrical lens; carrying case and
one plate holder.

4x5, $20.00. 5x7, $23.00.
CYCLE POCO No. 3.

While not the equal of the above camera, this is the

best camera made to sell at a popular price. It has the rising
front, view-finder, Poco shutter and rapid rectilinear lens;

also has leather carrying-case and one plate-holder.

Price Complete:
4x5, $12.00 5x7, $15

TRIPODS FOR THE ABOVE CAMERAS.

The ‘‘Compact”’ tripod is made of best spruce, all metal parts of brass. It can be adjusted to any re-
quired length. When extended it is 58 inches long; 23 inches when closed.
PRICE: 4x5, $2.00; 5x7, $2.50.
Extra Plate Holders:—These are the latest and best holders. They are made of selected cherry,
with hard rubber slides. Price: 4x5, $1.00; 5x7, $1.25.
Any of above sent prepaid on receipt of price.

CHARLES K. REED, Sta. A, Worcester, Mass.

Vol. I. May, 1901. No. 5

Photo by Chas. S. Butters.
YOUNG RED-SHOULDERED HAWK AND CROWS.

Four young crows on a rail, with a hawk,

Came together one morning for a sociable talk.
Crow number one says to crow number two;

‘Let us meditate over what we shall do

In regard to this new fangled notion, or fad,

With the rich and the poor, the good and the bad
Of shooting at birds, their nests, and eggs

With a box and glass eye, stuck up on three legs.”’
Up stood Mr. Hawk and says to crow number three:
‘They are trying to take photos of you and of me.”’
Crow number four quietly remarks, ‘‘let’s not fret.
But we’ll all sit still, and see what he’ll get.”’

72 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

RUFFED GROUSE.

A. O. VU. No. 300. (Bonasa um bellus.)
RANGE.
Resident in northeastern United States, ranging from southern Canada

south to Georgia, and west to Mississippi, Arkansas and Minnesota.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 16 inches; extent 23 inches; tail 6.5 inches. Bill dark gray.
Legs feathered nearly to toes; feet brown. Eye brown. Weight from 16
to 26 ounces. The Ruffed Grouse is subject to a red and gray phase, the
same as the Screech Owl. The gray is by far the most common. In the
red phase, gray is replaced by the red, being brightest on the rump and tail.

Male.—Top of head, neck, back and wings brownish barred with white.
Rump and tail gray, the former covered with lengthened spots of buff
edged with black, and the latter barred irregularly with brownish bands
and terminated by a broad black band, edged on both sides with a band of
gray. Throat and breast, buff shading into white on under parts. Breast
and sides barred with brown. Ruff, broad and glossy black.

Female. Similar to male except that the ruffs are small and brown, and
sometimes lacking.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is placed beneath a fallen tree, under an overhanging stone, in
a brush heap, or at the foot of a tree. It is generally located near the
edge of the woods or near a clearing. It is simply a depression in the
leaves, sometimes lined scantily with a few pine needles or feathers.
The eggs are laid from the middle of April to the middle of May. They
lay one a day until the complement is complete. Incubation lasts from
three to four weeks. The number of eggs varies from seven to fifteen.
They are cream color, varying in shade from almost white to a rich. buff,
in some Cases.

HABITS.

tions as this one, and itis due solely
to their craftiness that any are left
about the more thickly settled cities

Ruffed Grouse, the king of Ameri-
can Game Birds. He inhabits chief-
ly heavy timbered districts, and is

commonly but erroneously known in
New England as the Partridge, and
in the southas the Pheasant. These
grouse furnish an excellent example
of the cunning that a bird will de-
velop if forced to. No other bird
has been subjected to such persecu-

and towns. Originally and even now
in sparsely populated districts, they
are quite tame and will allow them-
selves to be approached to within a
few yards, merely staring curiously
at you. But how this changes with
the advance of civilization. Ever on

AMERICAN

SYR

»
~" ema *

ORNITHOLOGY.

74 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

the watch for danger, they either
depart from the locality before you
are near, or perchance think to con-
ceal themselves from your view, and
only take wing as a last resort.
Many a wanderer through the woods
has been startled by a tremendous
disturbance, resembling the rumbling
of thunder, just beside him, and was
unable to account forit. Evenafter
long association with the grouse,
unless your nerves are remarkably
steady, your pulse will quicken at
the sound as they rise. The grouse
can fly as noiselessly as an owl if
they wish, and why they should
make all this commotion is rather a
mystery, although some hazard a
guess that it is to warn other birds
in the vicinity that danger is near.

As spring approaches they begin
preparations for housekeeping. At
this time, oftener than any other,
you will hear thc male drumming.
His vocal ability is very limited so
he has to resort to other means to
produce his music. He is very par-
ticular about the audience he plays
to, and few persons have an oppor-
tunity to witness the spectacle. I
have been fortunate enough to ob-
serve it twice, the last time under
very favorable circumstances. |
was watching some small birds when
I heard a rustling at one side, and
looking up saw a grouse standing on
a stump not over thirty feet distant.
Which way he came from I could
not tell as | had not heard a sound
until he landed. He turned around
on the stump several times looking
for anything suspicious. At last he

satisfied himself that he was alone.
Spreading his tail and inflating his
chest he commenced to beat his
sides with his wings, first slowly so
that I could count the strokes and
hear each one fall with a dull thud
on his side, then faster and faster
until the sound merged into a con-
tinuous rumble. This he continued
for perhaps ten seconds, then stop-
ped and listened intently for as much
longer. He then silently flew away
and soon I heard another low rumble
from a distant part of the woods.

Probably many of our readers, es-
pecially those living in the country,
have often seen a Plymouth rock
rooster standing on a barrel and
beating his sides lustily. While his
is a very crude performance com-
pared to that of the grouse, it orig-
inates from the same motive, either
desire to show his strength to the
females or as a challenge to other
males. There is a difference of
opinion as to how the grouse drums,
and several noted ornithologists have
claimed they do not allcew the wings
to touch the body, but that the sound
is produced by the wings beating the
air. In this latter case you could
hear only a humming sound caused
by the air rushing through the
feathers, whereas you can distinct-
ly hear the beating of the wings on
the sides too. I have never heard
anyone as yet claim that a rooster
does not strike his sides.

After having obtained a partner,
they commence building their nest,
that is she does for he is too proud
to work. It is not a very severe

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 76

task though as it is simply a hollow
in the leaves The one shown isin
a favorite location. It is an excel-
lent photo, both from a photograph-
er’s and a naturalist’s view. The
nest contains fourteen eggs although

part of them are hidden by the sides
of the hollow. In regard to this
nest, Dr. J. B. Pardoe writes, ‘The
nest was found near here (Bound
Brook, N. J.). 1 tried hard to pho-
tograph the mother bird on the nest.

NEST AND EGGS OF RUFFED GROUSE.

but she always glided quietly away
when | approached. I watched the
nest very carefully, as I wanted to
photograph the young if possible.
One night when | looked at it one
or two of the eggs were pipped.
‘Now,’ I: thought, ‘by tomorrow
noon | can photo the young ones.’
But when I got there they had all
hatched and gone. An old settler
told me they would start to run with
one half of the shell fast to them.

They are very sturdy and forward.”’

In all probability you would pass
right by the nest without noticing it,
especially if the bird was at home.
She knows that her colors and mark-
ings resemble the dead leaves so
closely that she is not apt to be
seen. She will remain upon the
nest until in danger of being trod
upon, and then leave with a loud
whirr. If, after recovering from
your surprise you try to find the

76 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

nest you may be baffled for some
time, as the rush of air caused by
the bird’s sudden flight causes a
number of leaves to be thrown over
the eggs, partly concealing them.
The eggs hatch in about four weeks,
and the young immediately leave
the nest. They are cute little fel-
lows, little balls of brown and yel-
lowish down, supported on pink feet
that carry them over the ground at
a surprising rate. Although not
yet acquainted with danger, at the
first shrill warning cry of the mother
each one instantly conceals himself
under a leaf or branch, while she
leads the cause of the alarm away
from the vicinity. Soonshe returns
and at her first sharp cluck, each
“peep
peep”’ springs from his place of con-

little chick with a happy

cealment and hastens to her side.
At night she gathers them under

her the same as a domestic fowl.

As soon as their wings are strong
enough to support them, the young
roost in trees as do the old birds.
In the fall they stay in bands of five
or six birds each, and live on acorns,
choke berries, wild grapes, all kinds
of berries and foliage of numerous
plants. In the winter their food
consists mainly of buds, that of the
apple tree being the favorite. They
roost in coniferous trees unless the
ground is covered with a fall of light

snow, which they will burrow into,
and find a warm resting place. If
disturbed while feeding they do not
While

their wings are short they are pow-

all rise at once, but singly.
erful, concave, and the feathers
rigid, thus making their flight ex-
tremely rapid. They dodge through
the branches without any diminution

of speed.

An Hour with the Birds.

April 14th I took my first tramp of the
2oth century. The day was perfect; nota
cloud in sight. I mention this as for the
past three weeks it has rained almost con-
stantly. I started,out about two o’clock,
which is rather late to find the birds mov-
ing about much. My first signs of bird
life were observed immediately on opening
the front door. There perched on the
front steps, the walk, gate, fence and rose
bushes were upwards of twenty-five of the
Passer domesticus (more commonly called
“those ugly little English sparrows’’) all
squawking for all they were worth. I
saw several flocks of Redpolls and Gold
finches, the latter still in their winter gar-
ments. One clump of pines contained a
flock of Siskins. They were very tame
and | could almost catch them. Juncos,
Song, Fox and Tree Sparrows were abund-
ant; Bluebirds not so much so as I would
like to see. The birds are somewhat
backwards about coming north this spring,
owing to the inclement weather. A few
warm days will bring them along in great

numbers.
R. A. S., New York.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 7h

The Lost Mate.

““Chickadee dee, Chick a dee dee

No bird of the winter so merry and free;

Yet sad is my heart, though my song one
of glee

For my mate ne’er shall hear my chick a
dee dee.”

The last day of winter, a cold
windy day, I went out on the hill
side of an old apple orchard, to see
if the bluebirds, who usually make
their homes there, had yet arrived,
and finding none went on to the
edge of a wood listening to a flock of
Chickadees as they repeatedly told
their names, as very few birds are
willing to do, so plainly.. Now and
then one would give their plaintive
little love song of ‘‘phoebe’’ and
from a distant tree, made sweeter
by the distance ‘‘phoe-be’’ ‘‘phoe-
be.’’ A little apart from the other
trees came the most mournful bit of
bird music I ever heard, and for a
time I thought I must be near some,
to me, unknown bird, but on follow-
ing up the new song | came directly
upon a dear little Chickadee, all
alone, and he confidingly repeated
over and over to me, these three

syllables:—‘‘poor bird- ie’’ ‘‘poor
bird- ie’? in the most plaintive,
mournful tones | ever heard. For

nearly half an hour I remained with
him, hoping, in vain, to hear one

note from the little fellow that would
show him to be after all, the bright,
sociable, happy bird I had always
known, but he constantly mourned
for the ‘‘poor bird-ie’’ until I felt
sure that his chosen mate must
have met with some sad end, and |
went home to examine all my bird
books, but I found no mention of
the sad song, Emerson says
‘Thy call in spring

As ’twould accost some frivolous wing,
Crying out of the hazel copse, Phoe-be
And in winter Chick-a-dee-dee.”’

Bicknell speaks of ‘‘a short run
of low, musically modulated notes,
in fact a short warble.’’ I have for
years known the Chickadee and
never before heard their song of

mourning.
Rest H. METCALF.

Exhibit of Birds and In-
sects.

The Bird Protective Association of
America will have an exhibition at the
Pan-Amerioan exposition which will in-
terest bird lovers and agriculturists. The
exhibit will consist of infested sections of
trees on which will be mounted the de-
stroying insects in their stages of develop-
ment, together with the birds that eat

these particular insects. It is the first ex-

hibit of the sort, and will convey a great

many lessons.

78 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SHAR P-TAILED SPARROW.

A. O. VU. No. 549.

(Americanus caudacutus.)

RANGE.

The Atlantic sea coast from southern Maine to Georgia, breeding from

New Jersey northwards.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 5.25 inches; extent 7.5 inches; tail 2 inches:
Feet brown.
Male and female.—Head brown streaked with black.

below and brown above.

buff through middle of crown.

Bill yellowish
Eye brown.
A broad stripe of

Line from bill over the eye and down the

side of the neck a bright yellowish buff. Cheeks ashy, bordered below by
a yellowish buff band, which extends from the bill downward. Back, rump

and tail olive brown.
edged with white.

white.

Wings brown, the secondaries and coverts being
Throat white, bordered on sides with a black line.
Breast and sides buff streaked with black.

The remaining under parts

Tail rounded and each feather sharply pointed.

Young.—More yellowish above and below.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is always on a salt marsh, and is generally fastened to the
marsh grass, sometimes being as high as a foot from the ground, and under

a piece of dried sea weed.

It is composed of loosely woven pieces of
marsh grass and is rather bulky for the bird.

They generally raise two

broods in a season, the first set of eggs being laid the latter part of May,
the last in July. They lay from three to six eggs thickly sprinkled and

oo”

specked with reddish brown, and a few black spots.

HABITS.

The Sharp-tailed Sparrow or Finch
is different from other sparrows, in
that because of his habits he might
almost be classed with the waders
instead of sparrows. They are found
exclusively about the salt marshes
on the sea coast, and feed largely
on minute marine insects. I have
had excellent opportunities for study-
ing these birds in the marshes about
Narragansett Bay where they are
very abundant. They are very shy,
which seems very strange as they

are never hunted, and will not al-
low you to get a good view of them
at close range. The ease and rapid-
ity with which they thread their
way through the closely grown
reeds is marvelous, and you have to
walk at a rapid gait in order to
make them take wing. Their flight
is peculiar. They fly low and with
tail drooping, and hardly raise their
wings above the level of the body.
They go but a few yards in the air
before dropping into the marsh grass

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SHARP-TAILED SPARROW.

80 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

again, as they seem to be aware
that they are safe as long as they
keep out of sight.

If you force them to the edge of
the marsh, they will fly over the
water and make a wide detour back
to land. As long as you remain on
the marsh you will hear their song,
first on one side, then an answer
from the other. They havea pecul-
iar song too, to correspond with their
habits. It consists of two or three
chirps, followed by a rasping ‘‘tzee-
ee-ee.’’ It is not a loud note, but it
has considerable carrying power,
and you can hear it at a distance of
several hundred yards. }

Although shy they are inquisitive
too, and from time to time they will
come to the top of the marsh grass,
to see where you are. — Instead of
flying or jumping up as other spar-
rows would, they walk up until they
reach the top. Having satisfied
their curiosity, they relax the grip
of . their..toes “and <slide~ down
again.

Mr. J. B. Canfield, of Bridgeport,
Conn., writes:

“Last June I spent two days ona
marsh bordering Long Island Sound
in Connecticut, and I had the good
fortune to take several sets of eggs.
The bird when disturbed will slip
off of the nest and run along the
ground for four or five yards before
flying. A peculiar thing is, that if
the bird has just left the nest, it will
always excrement when it begins its
flight, something a feeding bird sel-
dom does. Although of retiring
habits, it seems to be of a social dis-

position, for | have found the Vir-
ginia Rail, Seaside and the Sharp-
tailed Sparrow nesting within a
radius of 75 feet. Their eggs and
young are very often destroyed by
an unusually high tide, and I have
seen nests containing dead young
and with addled eggs.

“‘This marsh is covered with a
growth of fine wire-like grass that is
used extensively as bedding for cat-
tle and for packing goods. In many
places it is matted down the same as
grain will often be after a storm. In
these places you will often find the
nest, sometimes under a piece of
sea-weed left by the tide, and |
have found several nests by turning
over these pieces of sea-weed.

‘The nest is a rather loosely
woven structure of the marsh grass,
lined with fine pieces of same, and is
often constructed partly of green
grass.

‘‘The eggs are very hard to blow,
the whites being very gummy and’
thick in fresh eggs, and if left a few
days, it is almost impossible to blow
them. This may be caused by
the action of the-salt air and

water”’
This habit of depositing the nest

under seaweed which has been de-
posited on top of the grass, by the
tide seems to be very prevalent.
Of all the nests I have found (some
twenty-five in number) fully three-
fourths of them were hidden in this
way. I have found them where

the water at high tide would cover
the ground under the nest, and come
within two inches of the bottom of
the nest

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY SI

To Rent.

A suite of rooms for a family of
wrens. Location elevated. Large
spacious rooms. Building made of
squash, with fine balcony. — En-
trance made proper size for wren,
nothing larger need apply. Beauti-
ful surroundings, flower garden,
fruit trees, etc., etc. Ready for oc-
cupation at once. Apply at 23
George St., Danbury, Conn., Ruth
L. Comes.

Struggle in the Orchard.

Imagine if you can, a battle be-
tween a robin anda rat. A curious
picture that. It happened last week
in the orchard just back of our
house. Mr. Robin was out looking
for some breakfast, when a large
rat appeared, evidently with the
same intentions. Neither paid any
heed to the other until the robin
found a choice bit of something
which the rat wanted also. 1 could
not see what it was, but it was too
large for Mr. Robin to carry, so he
tried to break off a bit. The task
took some time, for he was forced
to stop every moment and drive off
the rat. At last the food was brok-
en and the robin quickly swallowed
one piece and seized the other in his
bill. Ha! Now the fight began in
earnest. Mr. Rat in despair tried to
snatch the food from his antagonist’s
mouth. How they did jump about.
The rat had hold of one end while
the robin bravely held on to the
other. It seemed as though good
fortune was smiling on the rat, for

at every tug he drew the robin
nearer to the house, but suddenly
the robin seemed to gain new
strength, and although the rat danc-
ed about him tugging fiercely, he
Just then the

food broke and both contestants lost

stood his ground.

their balanee. I had been craning
my neck farther and farther out of
the window during the excitement,
and when the catastrophe came, |
burst out laughing. The foes dis-
appeared like magic, and the field
where they had fought so bravely
was deserted.
MILDRED B. MONCK,
Cleveland, Ohio.

Spring Bonnets,

As far as | can see, the continued agita-
tion against the wearing of birds as orna-
ments, has had little effect here in Boston.
Nearly half the hats seen on the street
have on them various parts of what. once
were beautiful, happy birds. On some,
heads; some, tails; some, wings; and on
What heathenish
ideas of beauty some folks have.- Can

some the eutire bird.

you imagine anything. more ridiculous
than a young woman sporting an entire
Herring Gull on her head? I have seen
one such, and scores with smaller gulls
and terns. It seems a pity that women
should cling to this barbarous fashion un-
til actually forced to put it aside to escape
prosecution Perhaps they do not realize

what they do.
EFFIE, Boston, Mass.

82 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK.

A. O. VU. No. 560.

(Falco sparvericus.)

RANGE.
Whole of North America east of tho Rocky Mountains.

DESCRIPTION.
Length 10 to 12 inches; extent 21 inches; tail 5.25 inches. Feet yellow-

ish brown. Eye brown.

Bill blackish.

Male.—Top of head blue gray, with a chestnut patch in middle of crown.

Hind neck, back, rump, and tail, reddish brown.
Broad band of black across end of tail.
on each side of the head back of the eye, black.
Breast varies from white to reddish, spotted
Wings slaty blue spotted with black on the
Wings narrow and pointed.

Female.—Back, wing coverts and tail barred with dusky.

from the eye downwards.
with black on lower part.
shoulder. Primaries nearly black.

thickly spotted than on the male.

Back barred with black.
Crescent back of the neck, also
Black band extending

Breast more

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is generally in the cavity of a tree, either a natural one or one
formed by a woodpecker. Lacking these sites they will build in most any
place where they can find the semblance of a cavity. The eggs are laid
from early in March in the south, to the latter part of May in the northern
part of its range. They number from four to six, and have a white ground
color, sprinkled and blotched with chestnut and reddish brown. They
vary very much in the marking, some being nearly white, just barely
sprinkled with red, while others have the ground color nearly obscured by
the markings. The blotches are frequently heaviest at the smaller end.
There is much variation in shape also, sometimes being nearly round.

HABITS

This is one of the hawks against
which little can be said. They do
little harm and much good. Itis not
because of their diminutive size (for
they are the smallest of our hawks)
that they do so little harm, for they
are strong and active, and one has
been known to kill a quail, a larger
bird than himself. In fact they fre-
quently drive other hawks from the
vicinity of their nests. by their val-
iant and repeated assaults from

above. When they can choose as
they wish, they eat little else except
grasshoppers. Their slender feet
are perfectly adapted to holding
these pests. These same little slen-
der, but strong feet, with their sharp
claws are equally well fitted for
holding small birds, and it is fortu-
nate that they prefer a different diet.
Soon after the first of April they
commence looking about for a place
for their nest. Most of them find a

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SPARROW HAWK.

84 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by Dr. J. B. Pardoe.

deserted Flicker’s nest that suits

their fancy. If it happens that the
hole they choose has already been
appropriated by a pair of Flickers,
it makes no difference, the latter
must leave, if not willingly then by

force. It sometimes happens that

hollow trees are scarce in. their

neighborhood. | When this occurs
they use the next best place that
they can find. Their nests have
been found in a sand bank, in an old
Kingfisher’s hole, in crevices in
cliffs, and several times in pigeon
houses about barns. Wherever the
nest is placed the result is the same,
the parent birds must work diligent-
ly from morning till night to satisfy
the hunger of their little ones. Once
in a while in order to get a little
respite from the task of catching
grasshoppers one of the old birds will
bring them a small bird which will
stay their appetite for a time.

As soon as the young are able to
fly they become a very noisy lot.
They will make short excursions
from the tree and try tocatch grass-
hoppers for themselves. They seem
much elated if successful and return
to their home uttering a loud mirth-
ful cackle of ‘‘gill-ee, gill-ee,’’ this
repeated perhaps a dozen times.
Their flight is peculiar and will al-
ways identify them. They fly with
a succession of rapid wing beats,
followed by a short sail of twenty
ot thirty feet. l-am glad to see
that the farmers are beginning to
distinguish between their friends
and enemies among the hawks, and
no longer kill those that do more

good than harm.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 85

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass.
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

Canada and
year postpaid.

In the United States,
Mexico, fifty cents a
Single copies five cents.

To all countries in the International
Postal Union, seventy-five cents a year
postpaid.

ADVERTISING RATES.

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accompany all

One dollar per inch.
per page. Cash must
orders.

Copy must be received not later than
the roth of preceding month.

Entered at the Post Office at Worcester, Mass.,
as second-class matter, Jan. 16, 1901.

Kindly remember that all notes or
matter for publication must be re-
ceived here before the 1oth of the
month in order to go in the next
issue.

To those who have not yet sub-
scribed: Kindly read the offer on
outside back cover. Can you invest
50 cents to better advantage?

Have you any friends who are in-
terested in birds, or do you know of
anyone in your town or elsewhere,
who is? If you will send in their
names and addresses we shall be
glad to mail them a copy of AMERI-
CAN ORNITHOLOGY.

We have received quantities of
fine photographs the past month,
and can safely say that for the sub-
jects, most of them are superior to
any that have yet been published.

We want photographs of the nests
and eggs of all North American birds
in situation, and photographs from
life of any birds. ‘May and June are
the best months in which to obtain
them. See what you can do for us.
We will pay fifty cents each for
what we accept, and return those
that we cannot make use of. If you
have anything unusually fine or
difficult to obtain, send it to us for
inspection, with your valuation, and
we will either accept or return same.

If you take a day’s outing, or see
any unusual, interesting, or amus-
ing occurrence in regard to bird life,
write it up for AMERICAN ORNI-
THOLOGY.

We shall be pleased to receive
notes (for the July number) on the
following birds, from all sections of
the country where they are found:—
Scarlet Tanager, White Pelican,
Green Heron, Yellow-breasted Chat,
and Bonaparte’s Gull. When send-
ing items in regard to any of the
birds, make special note of the fol-
lowing:—Any striking features in
their habits; describe note if possi-
ble; state if rare or common; nature
of the country where most abund-
ant; any peculiarity in flight; any
observations about their food; com-
position of nest, where placed, and
time of laying of the eggs.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by Dr. J. B. Pardoe.

YOUNG SCREECH OWLS:

SCOPS AND ASIO.

We are two little owls just from the nest,
Out on a limb, and taking a rest,

My name is Scops, I’m older than she,
Her name is Asio, what else could it be?
Father has gone to catch us a mouse,
Mother’s inside taking care of the house.

Brother and sister are in there with Ma,

They are too young to get out so far,

The down on us all is light and fluffy,

On me it is gray, while on sis it is buffy.

Pa says he’ll be glad when our feathers are grown
So we can go and get grub of our own.

He seems to forget he was once young like us,
And probably made just twice as much fuss
When he was hungry, for something nice,
Such as a sparrow, robin, or several mice,

I see he is coming with a nice plump quail,

So must ask you to wait for the rest of this tale.
SELRAHC, Worcester-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 87

CALIFORNIA BUSH-TIT.

A. O. U, No. 743a. (Psaltriparus minimus californicus.)
| RANGE.
The whole of California except the northern coast district.
DESCRIPTION.

Length 4 inches; extent 6.5 inches; tail 2.25 inches. Bill and feet near-
ly black. Eyes dark brown.

Male and female.—Entire upper parts dark gray, the head being tinged
with brown, and the wings having the primaries and secondaries edged
with lighter gray on the outer web. Below dull brownish white changing
to a brighter shade on the sides.

NEST AND EGGS.

The Bush-tit builds 2 beautiful purse shaped nest which appears large
for so small a bird. The one shown is a typical nest. Mr. Clark of Napa,
Cal., gives the data for this nest:—‘‘Length of nest over all 6.5 inches.
Diameter at opening, which is .5 of an inch from the top, 2.5 in-
ches. Diameter of opening .75
of an inch, and it is protected by
a hood. Greatest diameter
(where the eggs rested) was 3.5
inches. The thickness of the
nest walls is about .5 in. except
the bottom which is about an
inch. The nest was fastened to
a small twig which ran through
at the lower edge of the opening
and served as a foothold for the
birds. The nest is composed of
lichens,moss,grass, oak blossoms,
and various downy leaves, the
whole being wonderfully bound to-
gether with silk from the cocoon of
our large Cecropia.. These nests
are generally lined with feathers
or other soft material, though this
one had no lining. I have found
these nests at altitudes varying
from eight to thirty teet.’’

The eggs range from 4 to 9g in
number. They are pure white, laid
usually about the middle of April.

Photo by F. C. Clark.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 89

HABITS.

These long tailed, mouse colored
little birds occupy the same position
in California that the Chickadee
does in the East. They are known
and loved by all. They have a
trustful, confiding nature, and seem
to have no fear of man while hop-
ping about among the bushes, intent
on their search for insects. While at
work they assume all possible po-
sitions, and keep up a continual
twittering. They are very inquisi-
tive little fellows, and will come
about to see what you are doing,
approaching so closely that you can
nearly touch them. Mr. Clark
writes:—“‘The habitat of this tiny
weaver is California except north-
ern coast district. They are with
us in flocks during the winter, but
pair and begin building as early as
Feb. 25, this being the earliest date
upon which | have found them build-
ing in 1900. On April 19, 1899, as
I was strolling over the hill near our
town, I saw a pair of California
Bush-tits collecting material for a

nest. When I first saw them they
had their tiny beaks filled with
lichens and were flying from bush to
bush, straight up over a hill. In
order to keep them in sight I had to
run as fast as | could, and even then
they were: the first to: reach the

summit and were lost to view.
Their continual ‘pit’ —‘pit’—‘pit’

revealed their whereabouts
and I found a very pretty and near-
ly typical nest at an elevation of
about fifteen feet. The finishing
touches were just being made. One
week later it contained six eggs.
Wonderful acrobats are these litttle
friends, for they never suffer a rush
of blood to the head, although they
are upside down at least one_ half
the time, when feeding among the
leaves. I have never taken a skin
of this bird and think I never shall,
unless I find one dead. I can shoot
a Jay or a Woodpecker when I think
it necessary but have not been able
thus far to take the life of a Bush-

soon

jaa

go AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Why Our Game Birds are
Disappearing.

What is a game bird? You may
say, ‘‘One whose flesh is good to
eat,’’ but that is too broad. Robins
and blackbirds are considered as
very good eating, but they are not
by any means game birds. | think
on the whole a definition that will
cover the question is, ‘‘A game bird
is one that by special legislation, is
allowed, at certain seasons, to be
slaughtered in unlimited numbers,
by a body of men called sportsmen.”’
Not a very pleasant outlook for the
birds is it? All birds are endowed
with a good share of common sense,
and under ordinary circumstances
are amply able to protect them-
selves. ft does not take them long
to distinguish between their friends
and®enemies. While foxes, skunks
and a few other animals have
killed a number of the game birds
every year, still their depredations
have caused no serious decrease in
the numbers. Likewise with the
few hawks and owls that prey upon
them. Now.,we [come {to man the
most ingenious, creative, and de-
structive of all animals.

Let us commence at the begin-
ning. Our forefathers by much
practice with their flint-locks be-
came expert marksmen (to which
fact we owe our freedom today).
They were dependent upon their
rifles for their supply of meat, and
therefore cannot be criticized for
killing the few birds that they did.
Later the breech loading shot gun

was invented. Now comes the com-
mencement of the downfall of the
birds. Hunting which had hitherto
been mostly through necessity now
became a pastime and was pursued
everywhere. Next a brilliant mind
conceived the idea of having two
barrels on one gun, thus giving him
another chance to get a bird if he
missed the first. So the double-bar-
rel shot gun was formed. The cry
on every hand was ‘‘birds, more
birds,’’ and the one who could bring
in the most game was considered
the best sportsman. At last one
more clever than the rest struck a
new idea. He thought, ‘‘If I could
only know where the birds are be-
fore they fly | could get more. Ah,
1 have it.”’ With great persever-
ance, he at last succeeds in training
his dog to accomplish what he is un-
able to do, that is to find the birds.
With his superior sense of smell,
the dog could scent a game bird at
some distance, and he trained him
to stand still, and as it is now called
‘‘point the bird.”’. This step creat=
ed a new impetus to the game de- °
struction, and the man who didn’t
have at least one bird dog, was not
a ‘‘thorough sportsman.’’ There is
one part of the outfit that I have
overlooked, the hunting coat. Hunt-
ers soon found that the birds were
keen sighted, so in order to approach
as closely as possible, before being
seen, they had hunting coats con-
structed of brown material to match
the general color of the woods.
These coats were made for use as
well as looks, for they were covered

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. gi

inside and out with capacious pock-
ets to hold the game.

Here you have the complete, up-
to-date, modern sportsman: A man,
a gun (not the old double-barrel,
however, they use a six shot re-
peater now), a hunting coat, hat,
cartridge belt, leggings, pair of
hunting boots, and lastly (but most
important) either a pointer or setter
dog. Quite a formidable outfit to
make war upon a flock of little
birds.

As the matter stands now, the
game birds (quail, woodcock, grouse,

and many ducks) are rapidly disap-
pearing in many sections of the
country.

It does not take a Solomon to see
what the remedy should be. Many
a hunter who now comes home with
a tull game bag, could not even get
a sparrow if deprived of his four-
footed companion. Now you wise
men who make the laws. Just one
more. ‘‘Hunting with dogs prohibit-
ed at all seasons.’’ The game birds
will then need no more protection.

AVICULA.

KING RAIL.

A. O, V. No, 208.

(Rallus elegans.)

RANGE.
Fresh water marshes of eastern United States from southern New Eng-
land, New York, and Illinois, southwards.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 18 inches; extent 24.5 inches. tail 3.25 inches.

Bill blackish

above, yellowish below, shading to dark at tip.
Male and female.—Upper parts including top of head, dark brown. Pale

streak of buff extends from bill over the eye.

lower eyelid, white.

of wings and back edged with olive.

Chin, throat and spot on

Sides of head, neck and breast, reddish brown.
Flanks and lower part of abdomen black crossed by white bars.

Feathers

Distinguished from the Clapper Rail

which it resembles in size and shape, by the brighter markings on the

back, and reddish color below.

NEST AND EGGS.
These rails make a rude nest of grass and weeds, which is placed on the

ground, in a marsh, or in a clump of grass just above the water.

They

lay from six to twelve cggs, of a pale buff color, sparsely spotted with

reddish brown.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

>
ee

RAS,

ee oy, <a)
+ a

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 93

HABITS.

ine largest) ol, the rails. *"-Ttis
known as the fresh water Marsh
Hen in distinction from the Clapper
Rail which is called the salt water
Marsh Hen. These rails are very
sly, and it is difficult to flush
one. If they do fly they go but a
very short ways, before dropping
down into the marsh again. Doubt-
less in crossing some swamp, you
have come across a bog, and have
had to walk quite a ways to get
around to the other side. The rail
has the advantage of us human be-
ings here, for he does not have to
go around, neither does he fly
across. With out-spread wings he
will run across the water, utilizing
every Stick or leaf that may be on
its surface, for foothold. He also
proves that it is not necessary for a
bird to have web feet in order to
swim. All birds can float on the
water, and by using their wings as
paddles make some progress, but
the rail unless wounded and closely
pursued, uses his feet alone for this
purpose. It is also stated on good
authority that when wounded they
will sometimes dive under water
and hold fast to the reeds with their
long slender toes, just allowing
to project up out of the water, their

bills so they can breathe. As their
bill closely resembles the reeds
they frequently escape in this man-
ner.

The downy young are blackish all
over. They leave the nest almost
as soon as hatched and follow their
mother about the: marsh. — Their
food and that of the old birds, too,
consists of seeds and leaves of var-
ious water plants, worms, and _ all
manner of insects common to the
marshes. They are somewhat noc-
turnal, and feed after dusk. Often
in the evening or on a dark day,
when the sky is heavily overcast
with clouds, you can hear the loud
harsh cry or scream of the rails
coming from the marsh. If after
dusk you go to a marsh where these
birds are plenty, the first rail that
you disturb will run off through the
bushes uttering his cry, which will
be taken up by all others on the
marsh.

Their flesh is good, so many of
them fall before the gun, but they
are more fortunate in this respect
than their other relatives, the Clap-
per and Sora Rails, for most of the
hunters prefer the salt marshes
where these last mentioned birds
are killed in great numbers.

94 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Spring Migration.

Spring. What heart does not re-
joice at the sound of the name?
What fond recollections it brings to
mind of other springs; and of de-
lightful rambles o’er fresh green
fields and through scented woods.
The snowy mantle gradually un-
folds itself from Mother earth, and
in its place comes a warm coat of
green. The barren trees and shrubs
commence to send forth their tender
buds in anticipation of the coming
of the little feathered beauties, for
whom they annually furnish dwell-
ing places, not, however, without
ample compensation in the way of
the destruciion of their enemies tie
insects. Even now the great semi-
annual bird wave has started on its

welcome invasion. Slowly rolling
northwards with ever increasing
force, it envelops the whole coun-
try and transforms the lonely fields,
and silent woods into a veritable
paradise teeming with joyous bird
life. How we envy those who
know the birds, their songs and
habits; but patience, we shall know
them yet. Armed with a field glass
and accompanied by one learned in
the craft we sally forth to conquer
new fields. Under his skillful guid-
ance the mysteries begin to vanish,
and we soon learn to distinguish be-
tween sparrows and warblers, and
to know some of the common birds
by their songs.
MARY G. TOWNSEND.

How Sabattis Goi His Christmas Dinner.
DR. GEO. MCALEER.

=<, ‘‘The daughter of Natanis will

te | @ have fresh meat for Christmas
a and be merry. Sabattis’ bow

7
=
N

is strong and his arrow true.
Sabattis will go.’’
The great logs in the crude

stone fire-place burned fiercely, and the
crackling flames gave warmth and added
cheer and comfort to the little log cabin.
Jerked moose meat of the last killing in

the deep snows of winter time hung suspended from the rafters, bear skins
and other peltry adorned the walls, and beds of elastic, fragrant spruce
boughs built a few feet above the floor, upon light, spring poles of hack-
matack, in the corners of the cabin opposite the fire-place, together with
some cooking utensils, and rude articles of furniture, completed the fur-
nishing and adornment of the cabin home of Sabattis and the daughter of
Natanis, the chief of the tribe, now his squaw of a few years.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 95

Humble as was this home, it was a palace in convenience and comfort in
comparison with the bark and skin wigwams of but a few years before,
and which were the only habitations known to the Indians even in coldest
winter weather before the advent of the missionaries, Recollects and
Jesuits, who thus impressed them with christian influences, the sancity of
the family, the superiority of the sedentary as opposed to the nomadic life,
and other christian virtues.

“But sposem bad Heengleeshmans come ag’in from the land of the
south-wind way off and shootem our Black gown, burn our church, and
kill your squaw and papooses, and all the peoples? Then there is no snow
to get him the game.’’

‘“‘Natanis is strong. His braves have the hearts of bears and the eyes
of all the stars. If the Engleesh come they will find a graveyard. The
snow-maker made a big ring around the moon last night,—he will give
plenty of snow. Sabattis will go before the sun gets out of bed tomorrow
and our fire shall cook fresh meat to make us glad at Christmas.”’

This conversation took place more than one hundied and fifty years ago
at Naurautsouak, near Norridgewok, on the banks of the Kennebec river,
in the language of the Connibas, later known as the Norridgewoks, an ex-
tensive tribe of the great Abenaki nation.

During the afternoon Sabattis visited some of the warm ravines between
the jutting, craggy hillsides and gathered an armful of trailing arbutus,—
the great pink, swelling blossoms needing only the blessing of warmth and
moisture to blossom forth in all their wealth of color and fragrance as in
early spring.

He fashioned three beautiful garlands which he placed in water in water-
tight basins made from white birch bark, and as the little chapel bell
sounded the Angelus he wended his way hither and placed one upon the
main altar beneath the lamp of perpetual adoration, another upon the altar
of Our Lady, and the other upon the altar dedicated to the holy man,
Saint Joseph.

Long before the break of day Sabattis set out alone upon his journey to
secure good cheer for the Yuletide season in his humble cabin. Winter
had not yet set in, there was but an apology for snow upon the ground,
and but little ice had formed along the shores of the rivers at the slack
water.

His moccasins pointed towards the head waters of the Sebasticook
where it takes its course from the foot hills and mountains beyond. Camp
was made the first night many miles away in the wilderness towards the
land of the setting sun. He had seen no game nor signs thereof, but when

the snow would come all would be changed. The trail was resumed with

96 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

earliest dawn and every nook and corner carefully, noiselessly scrutinized
and explored,—and yet no deer, caribou or moose.

The day was leaden and lifeless; dense snow clouds banked the horizon;
no sunshine broke through the tree-tops to tell him the hour or location.
Snow in great broad flakes began to fall, aud darkness following soon after
Sabattis made camp near the summit of the divide which separates the
Androscoggin from the Kennebec. The hooting of owls and the howling
of hungry wolves were his only companionship during the night. The
morning broke clear and intensely cold and plenty of dry, fluffy snow
upon the ground made ideal conditions for successful still hunting.

Sabattis would now surely get fresh meat for Christmas. With brave
heart he started out early following along the highlands which skirt the
southern shore of the principal tributary stream as it journeys along in its
course to join with its fellows to swell the waters of the Kennebec.

He soon came to the tracks of a large buck which led up the sloping hill-
side towards the heavy growth at its summit. These he stealthily followed
for some time until he came to a place where a Loup Cervier had pounced
down from a tree upon the unsuspecting deer and dragging him to earth
had killed him, tearing to pieces and destroying in his blind rage what he
could not devour.

He was soon upon a new trail which he followed for miles only to find
where a pack of wolves had taken it up and cut him out;—and so it was
throughout the day ,—trail after trail taken up and followed only to end in
disappointment.

The nightof the third day found him making camp in a ravine which
lies between the range of hills which divide the Wabaquasset, now the
Sandy River, from the Sebasticook. He was tired. Every arrow was
still in his quiver. But he was not dispirited. He was going to have fresh
meat to furnish good cheer for the Christmas dinner.

The night was intensely cold, but in a hastily constructed and comfort-
able lean-to before a roaring fire on the leeward side of a great boulder in
the ravine, and wrapped in his blanket and caribou skin and fatigued with
the exertions of the previous days, but entirely confident of ultimate suc-
cess, Sabattis was soon lost in deep and restful sleep.

With the earliest dawn he was again upon the trail when his keen eyes
soon discovered a magnificent buck above him on the hillside within easy
range. He had just arisen from the bed wherein he slept and was in the
act of stretching himself as is their wont.

With the seeming speed and stillness of a flash of lightning sped the
flint-tipped arrow of Sabattis, and soon the snow was crimsoned with
the spurting heart’s blood of the noble buck. A few wild bounds and to
earth he fell never to rise again,— a few convulsive twitchings of muscles
and soon all was over.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 97

“Le bonne sainte Vierge tells true! Le bonne sainte Vierge tells true!’’
rang out clear and joyous on the morning air. The act of dis-embowelling
was soon performed, and cutting some small beech saplings Sabattis re-
turned to his camp-fire where he passed and re-passed them over the coals
and finally twisted them into an endless rope withe of sufficient length to
encircle the antlers and pass over his shoulders, and so harnessed to his
quarry he turned his steps homeward.

Strengthened with the strength born of success and cheered by the wel-
come which he knew awaited him from the anxious ones at home, his bur-
den slipped lightly over the snow and scarcely impeded his footsteps.

He journeyed on until he had crossed the last ridge of land which divides
the Wabaquasset River from the Sabasticook, the shore of which he reach-
ed soon after mid-day. Here he made his camp-fire, broiled tid-bits of
venison, impaled upon a green forked sapling, over the burning coals, and
ate his noon-day meal.

He tested the ice upon the river, and on the flat water at least it was
safe and his heart was glad. He could now more easily and quickly make
two miles than he could one through the woods, and the log cabin and the
loved ones were already several miles nearer.

He was now hurrying along upon the ice which was slightly covered
with snow and his burden was much lighter.

Ah! But what sound is that? A tremor shook his sturdy frame. A
deathly pallor spread over his bronzed face. He stood as if paralyzed.
Again? Ah, yes! and nearer! The dreaded wolves are in full pursuit!
It required but a moment to think, decide, and act!

He would leave the forequarters to satisfy the ravenous wolves while
he escaped with the saddle. They were soon cut asunder and shoulder-
ing his burden Sabattis ran as Sabattis never ran before. Fear accelerat-
ed his steps and hope spurred him on.

Louder and more fierce grew the howling of the pack, and as he cast a
backward look at a bend of the river, a mile away, he saw the angry
wolves fighting and tearing each other in their attempts to secure a morsel
of the meat.

Lucky escape for which Sabattis was duly grateful and he forgot not to
offer a prayer to the holy Virgin in thanksgiving for her good offices in his
behalf.

But would the wolves be content with their portion and slink back into
the depth of the forest when they had devoured it? Or would they again
take up the trail and follow in pursuit?

He well knew their cowardly nature when alone, but what would they
not do when gathered in a large pack and spurred on by hunger and the
taste of blood?

98 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Beads of perspiration rolled down his cheeks, but with renewed energy
he increased his pace and hurried on. The hideous howling of the wolves
had died away in the distance and he took new courage.

He must now be miles away from them. Fatigue seemed to overpower
him. He would rest a few minutes.

He swung his load from his shoulders and sat down upon a rock beneath
a towering pine tree upon the bank of the
river, turning his face in the direction of Ihe
enemy.

He had scarcely sat down when, horror of
horrors!—there in sneaking, noiseless and
swift pursuit came the fleet-footed, blood-
thirsty enemy, hot upon his trail! Scarcely
had he time to climb the tree beyond their
reach before it was surrounded, his saddle of
venison torn to shreds and devoured—and ~
the friendly pine tree was his only salvation
from a similar fate.

Be the disappointment now what it may
Sabattis was too well instructed by the Black
gown to forget to offer up a fervent prayer
for his merciful
deliverance, and
although he could
not now see how,
the good sainte
Vierge would yet
make glad his
Christmas!

Itwasa gloomy,
murky after-
noon. No ray of
sunshine gave
added light or
warmth, There

; is no twilight in
the woods in the winter. Sabattis will have no comfortable lean-to to-
night. Sabattis can build no camp-fire to give him warmth and comfort.

Sabattis must stay in the tree-top. How long? Until help comes. When

will help come?

[ Concluded in next issue. ]

6he Condor for 1901.

Ain Illustrated 24-page, Bi-Monthly
Journal of Pacific Coast Ornithology

SUBSCRIPTION, $1.00 PER YEAR.

With its January issue THE CONDOR begins its third volumn. It will, as heretofore, present in attractive
form all the latest and freshest western bird news. The two volumes thus far completed should prove a suf-
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Have you seen the November-December number which completed Volume II? It contains several notable
illustrations, among them being the nest and eggs of Clarke’s Nutcracker ; the first published photograph of
the egg of the California Condor in its original nesting site, together with a descriptive article by the collector;
“Nesting of the Dusky Poorwill’’ (illustrated); ‘‘A Breeding Colony of Tricolored Blackbirds,’ by Joseph
Mailliard; ‘* Three New Races of Pacific Coast Birds,’’ by Joseph Grinnell; ‘‘The Birds of Mt. St. Helena,”’
by Walter K. Fisher; and shorter articles by Lyman Belding, F. S. Daggett, Ernest Adams and other well
known contributors. A sample copy of this 28-page number on application

Address all requests for sample copies, subscriptions and communications to

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Volume I of THE CONDOR, $2.00. Volume II cof THE CONDOR $1.00.
PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 1, ‘‘Birds of the Kotzebue Sound Region,
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Frank H. Lattin, M. D., Albion, N. &.,
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Voi. I. June, 1901. No. 6

HARLEQUIN DUCK.

An On VU; Nor 135; (Mistrionicus histrionicus. )

RANGE.

From the northern United States northwards. Breeds in the Rocky
Mountains in northern U. S., in central Canada, Alaska, Newfoundland,
Greenland and Iceland. South in winter to Maine on the Atlantic coast.

DESCRIPTION.

eneth, 17-5 i0-; extent; 25 in,; tail, 3.5. in. Bill olive black. - Feet
grayish. Eye reddish brown.

Male.—General color above ashy blue. Rump and tail coverts pur-
plish black. Tail black. A few white tipped feathers on either side of
tail. Head and neck dark slaty blue. White spot on ear coverts. A
white band (changing to chestnut over the eye) extending from bill over
the eyes and down the sides of the neck. A broad white crescent on the
side of the neck, and another lower across the breast, both of these being
bordered above and below with black. Wings dark slate. A white band
at one end of the secondaries, and a large white patch on either side of the
back. Flanks bright chestnut. The remainder of the under parts rather
lighter and more brownish than the back. In summer the male is much
duller in color.

Female.—Very different from the male. Head, neck, back, wings and
tail, uniform sooty brown. A white spot before the eye and also back of
it. Breast gray changing to white below.

Ico AMERICAN “ORNITAOLOG..

HARLEQUIN DUCK.

AMERTCAN ORNILIOLOGY.

IOI

NEST AND EGGS.

In this country Harlequins breed along streams in Alaska; about ponds

in Labrador and around Hudsons Bay; and along a few mountain streams

in western United States.

the water, and is composed of grass lined with feathers.

The nest is always placed within a few feet of

The eggs are

six to eight in number of a yellowish buff color.

HABITS.

By many this is known as the
“<“Painted ~Duek,”’.and* surely no
other of the duck species is more
deserving of the name for the effect
produced by its color and markings
is somewhat startling. But the
very oddity of his appearance and
the softness of his plumage makes
him one of the prettiest of the spe-
cies. Some years ago on a visit to
the Maine coast | was made mysti-
fied by hearing an old fisherman
speak of shooting ‘‘Lords and
Ladies.’’ After much questioning
I discovered that he meant these
ducks. Their bright plumage hay-
ing gained for them this name,
which is commonly used throughout
the Northwest. He is equally at
home whatever the conditions. He
is found far out at sea, where he
rides lightly over the crest of the
highest waves; in some sheltered
bay; or inland on some turbulent
stream. In the United States with
the exception of a few about some
streams in the Rockies, they are
found only in the winter, and on
the coast they are regarded as a
deep sea bird. They are most

often seen singly or in pairs, al-
though sometimes in winter flocks
of from fifteen to twenty are found.
Much remains to be discovered in
regard to their nesting habits. The
next few years will develop much
material ccncerning the home life
of this and many others of our
feathered friends who live princi-
pally in the far north. As far as
can be learned a great deal depends
upon the nature of the country as
regards their nesting habits. Prob-
ably in favorable localities they will
build in a hollow stump, as they
have been found in these situations,
lacking these they build on the
ground or in burrows, but always
within a few feet of water. They
are known to nest about some
streams among the mountains in
the west, as young have been seen
there. These ducks both young

and old are adepts at all aquatic
feats both on and under water. It
must tax even their skill to keep
right side up on some of the western
streams with their numerous water-
falls and rapids.

102 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WESTERN WINTER WREN.

AWG." VU. Now Leea- (Troglodyies hiemalis.)
RANGE.

Pacific coast region from Alaska to southern California, and eastword to

the mountains of Idaho.
DESCRIPTION.

Length, \4-1n.,-extent,-6im.; tail, 1.25 i Bye, Gank browns

Male and female.—Size small; tail always carried erect. Above brown
changing slightly to reddish on the rump andthe tail. Back, wings and
tail banded with darker brown. A dull white line above the eye. Below
brownish shading darker towards the tail. The flanks and under tail
coverts crossed by wavy black bars. The Western variety differs from
the Eastern in being darker and lacking from its back most of the white
specks of the latter.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is placed in an old brush heap, generally near the edge of the
woods, or against a wall. The nest is made of twigs and lined with moss
and feathers. The one shown is lined with feathers from a Ring-necked
Pheasant. The eggs are laid during May. They number from four to
six, and are clear white in color, speckled with reddish brown chiefly at
the larger end.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

103

HABITS.

The Wren is one of our most fa-
miliar species, and is a personal fav-
orite with everyone. Its familiar-
ity justifies the affection with which
it is generally regarded, for it is
one of those tame little visitors
which frequent the neighborhood of
our homes in winter. It hops about
in the shrubberies and _ searches
carefully among the fallen trees for
the tiny insects upon which it feeds.
In its.actions it resembles a mouse
creeping through brush heaps and
about stone walls. Occasionally it
appears to view on top of the wall
and utters its musical song. This
is a very quick, brilliant and rattling
performance, wonderfully loud for
so diminutive a bird. The illustra-
tion depicts him in natural size.

This variety is considerably dark--

er than the common Winter Wren,

though the habits are the same. ..

They have a very irritable temper
and will scold at'you as long as you
remain near, accompanying their
notes by vigorous jerks of
tail, which is always carried erect
aver their back. = Mi. A. G. ‘Prill,
of Scio, Oregon, writes as follows
concerning the habits of this inter-
esting bird:—‘‘This beautiful little
wren is quite often seen in the foot-
hills of the Cascade Mountains in
Lime County, Oregon, and is most
conspicuous to the observer during
the winter months, being a constant
resident, At this time they come
close to the habitation of man.
During the Spring and breeding
season they are but seldom seen,

their

but generally found in and about
some dead brush heap, or in a tan-
gled mass of vines and brush, from
which they bob in and out with
lightning like rapidity.

Their nest is hard to find, being
well concealed in an old brush pile, or
a brier patch, generally close to the
ground andnear woods. Two broods
are usually reared tn a season. It
was my good fortune to find two
nests of this bird during 1900, and I
will give a brief description of these.
Both sets were undoubtedly laid by
the ‘same: bird....Whilé out in the
country one day I came upon a
small unused cabin or outbuilding
some three or four hundred yards
from a farm house. Near one cor-
ner of:this building was a mass of
dead brush-and tangled grapevines
and berry bushes. Seeing a Win-

ter.,.Wren.-disappear in this I pro-
ceeded to investigate and soon found

the nest about two feet above the
ground. ~The nest is composed out-
wardly. of moss, dried grass stems,
strips.of fine bark, and considerable
hair, aad was completely lined with
black .and white feathers anda strip
of snake skin about three inches long.
There were five eggs, the markings
of which were so faint that one at
a short distance would call them
white. The second set was found
in a brush heap less than fifty feet
distant on May 22, 1900. The nest
was similar to the first but was not
so compactly built, containing less
weeds and moss and more feathers.
It also contained snake skin.

104 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WESTERN WINTER WREN.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Nature’s Church.

A bright beautiful Sabbath morn-
ing, and I am to attend service in
Nature’s own church, and among
her choir of the richest of all sing-
ers, our birds. A favorite resort of
mine during the early spring is
along the banks of a brook, over-
hung with willows, birches and ald-
ers. The brook in many places
making a joyous song of its own as
it falls over the rocks, and then
passes quietly through a low piece

of meadow land on one side, and on *

the other an old orchard. This
combination seems to be just
what is wanted by our early
spring birds, and _ this
lovely morning the air
is full of their song.
Long before |
reach my fav- —
orite rest- i
ing place

i
Sl eer
Ya eee
i; mirmnee
i
nd tA,
v) Dieatbee* y ze

——
waar Ny
errr .

—

1 hear the deep rich notes of the
Scarlet Tanager, Oriole and Rose-
breasted Grosbeak. The _ notes
very much alike in tone, and yet
so easily separated one from the
other. A Maryland Yellow-throat
looks out at me from a pile of brush,
and speaks his little piece in a
short, business-like way, while

105

nearly over my head an Oven-bird
is sedately walking along on the
low limb of a small oak, stopping to
give me a few of his notes, begin-
ning low, then up louder and strong-
er, and finally flying to the ground
within a few feet of me, and walk-
ing about as if he was the only one
there, looking under leaves and
picking out dainty morsels of food.

I keep
on a little
farther up the

brook to where
it is falling and

singing over the rocks,

and making a comfortable

seat for myself get out my

field glass and note book as |
find so many of the warblers
have come | cannot trust to my
memory, so make a note of them.
I see a movement near the edge. of
the water and my first thought is
that my Ovenbird still likes my
company. But no, it is another,
the Water Thrush this time moving
about if anything more quietly than
his cousin ‘‘Auro.’’ He did not
favor me with his song. Now join-
ing the chorus of warblers comes
the sweet notes of Wilson’s Thrush,
and only a moment later the clear
and flute like note of the Wood
Thrush. Our friends the Brown

106

Thrasher and Catbird adding to the
full chorus their ever changing
notes. The bright flashes of yel-
low and orange, or the twitter and
song of the many warblers among
the fresh green leaves, keep my
glass, and pencil well occupied. In
my short outing | find I have a list
of forty-seen different varieties of
our birds, all in this small piece of

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

woods. Reluctantly I turn my steps:
homeward, wondering how many
of these same songsters will be
here a week later. Most of them
will move along to their summer
homes in the far north, and our
only opportunity for seeing and
hearing them until another year

will have passed.
CARRIE H. ADAMS, Mass..

AMERICAN AVOCET.

A. O, VU. No. 225.

(Recurvirostra americana.)

RANGE.
Abundant in the western part of the United States, on the plains of Da-

kota, Montana, and Colorado, and in the southwest.

on the Atlantic coast.

Found occasionally

Breeds abundantly west of the Mississippi.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 17 in.; extent, about 32 in.; tail, 3.5 in.
Feet webbed and flesh color.

Legs pale blue.

Eye carmine.

Male and female.—(In summer) Entire neck and head except portion
around the base of the bill, reddish buff. Wings black except the second-

aries which are white.

winter).

Entire under parts, back and tail white.
patch on both sides of the back separated from the wings by white.
The head and neck are pearl gray, otherwise similar.

A black
(in

NESTS AND EGGS.

The Avocet builds its nest in the tall grass about the marshes.
formed of grass and occasionally of seaweed.

breeds its eggs are laid in June.
spotted heavily with brown.

It is
In most sections where it

They are a dark greenish buff color,
The number laid is three or four.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 107

108

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

This species is a very handsome
bird. He is one of the largest of
the plover family. His very light
plumage makes him a most con-
spicuous bird, and also gives him
the name of ‘‘White Snipe”’ and be-
canse of the color of his legs he is
frequently known as ‘‘Blue Stock-
ings.’? His webbed feet are small
for so large a bird, and his long up-
curved bill would cause the impres-
sion upon first sight that Nature
had made a mistake and got it up-
side down. They are seen in quite
large flocks, and present a fine ap-
pearance as they run daintily along
the wet sand near the water’s edge.

Hardly a moment but what one
of the number is extending his
handsomely marked wings in the
bright sunlight. They appear to
be very happy in their mode of
- living, and are continually utter-

ing a clear pleasant sounding whis-
tle. The reason for their peculiar
shaped bill appears when you see
them on a mud flat feeding. Their
food is mainly insects, worms; and
small crustaceans. With a side-
wise motion he scoops his bill along
the surface of the mud and secures
the food he seeks. When feeding
they will wade out until the water
reaches their belly, and frequently
venture farther for they are very
graceful swimmers. They are very
dexterous also in catching the small
insects which hover over the water.
They are not shy birds, that is un-
less they are hunted persistently.
They show signs of great distress if
their breeding grounds are invaded.
Then they mount into the air and,
uttering a harsh whistle, wheel
about you with their long legs hang-
ing out behind to balance their neck.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass,,
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

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To all countries in the International
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This number will be received at
the period of the year that is the
most interesting to the bird student.
For a short space of time, you can
study the birds in their home life.
Think what inveterate travellers
they are. Only at home for about
three months in the year.

All of our readers, who are able,
ought to take a walk in the country
every pleasant morning. now. __Be-
tween half past five and seven is
the best time, and it will not inter-
fere with your work. Those who
have not been out do not realize
how pleasant it is early in the

1cQ

morning, and how much jollier a
bird’s song is at this time than it is
later in the day.

No matter how many _ books
you have, or magazines you read,
you must go out and become ac-
quainted with the birds themselves.
Books are a great and necessary
help, bub (Natures the real in-
structor. Learn to know the birds
by their song as well as by sight.

We have heard many expressions
similar to this, ‘‘If I had only taken
my camera along with me, | could
have got a fine picture of ae
I hope our readers will not have to
make this remark. Take your
camera with you always. It may
be a bother, but you will not regret
it afterwards.

The August number of A. O.
will contain descriptions and_ illus-
trations of Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
Savanna Sparrow, Pied-billed
Grebe, Dusky Grouse, and Calif.
Purple Finch.

Send in any items of interest in
regard to any of these birds.

We are in receipt of a copy
of ‘The Birds of Springfield and
Vicinity’? by Robert O. Morris.
This is a fifty-four page, cloth
bound book, and the neatest local
list that we have seen. It is pub-
lished by Henry R. Johnson of
Springfield, Mass.

110 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

We are familar with the plaintive
call of the Phoebe, but a few days
ago | heard an addition to its notes,
which I had never before observed.
I heard a sweet trilling melody, as
a bird flew through the air above
me, and was surprised, as it alight-
ed upon a dead branch beyond, to
see it was my old friend Phoebe.
I wonder if others of your readers
are familar with her song.

One of the most ludicrous sights
in the bird world is that of a great
ungainly cowbird
domineering over
its tiny foster par-
emts. ihe lazy
cowbird does not
take the trouble to
build a cradle of its
own, and train up
its young in_ the
way they should
go, but drops its
egg in the nest of
some small bird, and
MVves TO: more
thought or care to
it. The Summer
Yellow-bird often
builds a floor over this egg, and
then goes on with her own plans re-
gardless of the egg in her cellar.
Sometimes the cowbird comes a
second time, another floor is laid,
and occasionally nests are found
four stories deep; but usually the
Stranger’s egg is brooded over by
the little mother, and in the course
of time the rightful occupants of the
nest are crowded out by the in-
truder.

One day last summer | heard a
great commotion in a _ woodside
thicket, and on quietly parting the
branches found a young cowbird,
evidently just out of the nest, for it
was still unfledged, but its vocal
chords were in good condition, as it
ordered breakfast, and that quick-
ly. A Redstart was in attendance
and did its best to satisfy the crav-
ings of this tyrannical infant.

Several weeks later we found a
pair of Maryland Yellow-throats

wy) busily engaged in
collecting food for
an older intruder of
the same kind,
which was four
times as large as
his foster parents.
The little yellow-
throats flew back
and forth from the
ground to the tele-
graph wire where
the lazy bird sat, in
vain attempts to
quiet its clamor.
The tid-bit brought
was speedily swal-
lowed and the awkward gray bird,
like Oliver Twist called for ‘‘more,

more.’’ These tiny yellow birds
were a marvel of patience and in-
dustry, but alas, | fear their young
ward proved anything but a com-
fort to them when it reached years

of discretion.
Mary HAZEN ARNOLD,
Connecticut.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ELE

PARULA WARBLER.

A. O. VU. No. 648.

(Compsothlypis americana.)

RANGE,
Eastern North America, south of Canada. South in winter to Mexico:

and the West Indies.

Breeds in favorable localities throughout its range.

DESCRIPTION.

Rene, “o5.il. extent, 7. it.; :tail-1.75-in.
Eye brown.
Male.—Entire upper parts, dull blue.

flesh color. Legs, yellowish.

the middle of the back.

white cross the wings.
edged with blue.
white on the inner webs.
show small white spots.

A white spot on each eyelid.
secondaries, black, edged on under web with blue.

Bill, above, black; below,

A patch of greenish yellow on
Primaries and
Two broad bands of

Tail, black, the outer webs of the feathers being
The two outer feathers have large square patches of
Generally the third and fourth feathers also
Sides of head and neck darker than back. Chin,
throat and breast, yellowish, changing to white on the belly.

Breast

spotted with orange brown, the spots being darker on the throat, and

sometimes forming a black collar.

Female.—Upper parts paler; less white on the wings and tail.

Paler

yellow beneath, and spots on the breast generally lacking.
NEST AND EGGS.

They nest in moss covered trees in swamps.
turning up an end of the long hanging moss so as to form a pocket.
is sometimes lined with grasses or feathers, but oftener not at all.
eggs are white, faintly spotted with reddish.

Massachusetts) about May 3oth.

The nest is formed by
This
The
Four in number and laid (in

HABITS.

This, the smallest and liveliest of
our warblers, is known everywhere
as the ‘‘Blue Yellow-backed Warb-
ler.’”’ He returns from his winter
stay in the South early in May,
reaching Massachusetts about the
1oth. These little fellows combine
the habits of the creepers with those
of the warblers, and as they search
low bushes and apple trees for in-
sects, they assume all manner of
positions.

In the fall of the year before

they leave us, they are found in
flocks, generally climbing about
among the upper branches of tall
trees. But in the Spring they seem
to prefer low trees and bushes.
Other than an occasional warning
chirp, they pay little attention to
you, even if you go quite near to
them.

They seem to delight in climbing
to the top end of the highest branch
and pour forth their simple but
merry, little trilling song.

I12

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

PARULA WARBLER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Near their nesting locality though,
is where their song is the merriest.
They nest in colonies in old
extensive swamps - where the
trees are covered with long droop-
moss. Hundreds of them sometimes
occupy the same swamp. Little
outbursts of song are heard on every
hand.

The birds
turn up) the
end of a long
piece of moss
S10. EEbage.” Ab
forms a_ sort
of pocket in

which they
deposit their
eggs. Al-

though there
may be many
nests close by,
they are diffi-
cult to find as
the moss that
contains the
nest does not
look any dif-
ferent from
the thousands
of other pieces
hanging near by.
Another necessary adjunct to
studying these birds at home is a
pair of rubber boots. The moss
covered floor of the swamp is treach-
erous in places, and any step you
find yourself in water from two
inches to two feet in depth. By
way of variety for bird notes you
may frequently hear that of the
Olive-sided Flycatcher, who builds
in the same locality. His is a very

Tei

loud voice, and you are aware of
his presence long before you reach
the swamp.

An Odd Nest.

Mr. A. E. Van Vleck, of Lansing-
burgh, N. Y., has kindly sent us for
inspection a nest of a Chipping Spar-
row, that is a curiosity. It shows
. the ingenuity

and patience
that some of
our birds
have. . rhe
Swrside.. 1s
made entirely
of fine wire

(about num-

ber thirty).

This is twist-

ed and inter-
woven ina
manner that
would do cred-
it toa weaver.
The next lay-
er is made up
of strings and
threads wov-
en in with fine
grasses. The

inside is as usual made of horsehair.
Mr. Van Vleck says ‘‘I found the
nest in a plum tree. This is a great
place for brush manufacturing, and
the drawers throw the waste in the
yard. This is what the wire partis
composed of. I read of a nest that
was found in Switzerland made of
watch springs. | think this is fully
as curious a nest, considering the
size of the bird and the work re-
quired to bend all the wires.”’

ORNITHOLOGY.

=
/

AMERICAN

II4

ADOWLARK.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 115
MEADOWLARK.
A. O. VU. No. 5SO!l. (Sturnella magna.)
R ANGE.
Southern Canada and eastern United States, west to the Plains.
DESCRIPTION.

ene. ApOUL TOM.) extent, 17 in.; tail, 3.8.1.
Bill, light horn color.

low. Eye, brown.

Legs, brownish yel-

Male.—Above dark brown, streaked and barred with brownish white.

Top of head streaked with brown and black.
exception of the outer feathers, buff barred with dark brown.

Throat and breast rich yellow, changing to a lighter
Sides buff streaked with brown.
the middle of crown and over the eye.

feathers white.
shade below.

between the eye and bill is yellow.

Wings and tail, with the
Outer tail

A light stripe through
That portion of the latter stripe

Female.—A little paler than the male.

NEST AND EGGS.

Nesting commences about the middle of May.
coarse grass outside and lined with finer.
The eggs are from four to six in number, creamy

in a tussock of grass.

The nest is made of
It is almost always concealed

white sprinkled with brown and purple.
HABITS.

Hark! A loud shrill whistle comes
from the meadow. The Meadow-
lark is up and about his day’s work
long before the majority of mankind
have awakened from dreamland.
Many a morning have I been roused
by the welcome and unmistakable
call of these handsome birds. They
are quite commonly called ‘‘Marsh
Quails,’’ because of a similarity in
the markings on the backs of these
two birds.

Once, (but before my time) |
presume they had little fear of man,
but having seen many of their kind
fall before the gun, they have come
to regard all mankind as their ene-
mies. 1am sorry to say that when
I first became the possessor of a

gun, | had the same insane desire
to kill all living creatures, that is
common to all boys. It was my
ambition to kill one of these senti-
nels of the field. I did not succeed
then, but | remember the chase that
one led me, back and forth from
one end of a half mile long field to
the other, until I was thoroughly
tired out. I think he enjoyed it.
He ought to have any way.

With the sun full on their bright
yellow breast and throat, they can
be seen at quite a distance. Most
always, however, they keep in the
taller grass and only expose their
heads to view at times in order to
see if anyone is coming.

Mistaking the identity of a

116 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

‘marsh quail’’ is hardly possible.
His short white tail betrays him at
once in flight, as does his manner
of dropping his wings when sailing
as he does at frequent iutervals.
And to make sure that you know
him, he almost always utters a pe-
culiar chattering ‘‘che--che--chee--’’
as he flies away.

He and his mate, who is only a
little duller in color than he,
have their home in the middle of a
large field, where the grass is rather

tall. Sometimes the top is arched
over. They are careful to keep the
location a secret, and always alight
at some distance from it and ap-
proach by a circuitous route. The
same tactics are used when leaving.
Now is the time when the male is
most jolly, and he will perch ona
fence post or tree top and sing, or
rather whistle, to his mate for hours
atatime. His note is chiefly two
consecutive, long drawn whistles
with a falling inflection.

A Red-headed Woodpecker ap-
peared in town this:Spring and was
an object of great interest, as he is
claimed to be the first one seen here
in twenty years. He is alone and
his favorite perch is at the top of a
dead tree by the roadside.

ARTHUR C. OGDEN,
Newton Highlands, Mass.

I wish to report the finding and
probably breeding of the Burrowing
Owl in Williamette Valley. They
remaining here the whole year near
Lebanon on Peterson’s Butte. Al-
so received a fine male specimen from

within a mile of Scio, last January.
A. (GS PRED,
Scio, Oregon.

How Sabattis Got His Christmas Dinner.
DR. GEO. MCALEER.

[Continued from last issue. }

Meanwhile the air was violently assailed by the most hideous noises,—
snarling, growling and fighting among the wolves over some piece of bone
or shred of meat which had escaped their fury.

With a heart less buoyant than at any time since he left home he cross-

ed the river to the opposite side from which the straggling wolves had tak-
en their departure and hastened with all speed until he journeyed several
miles away knowing that it was useless to look for any game nearer to
the scene of the uproar and conflict of the previous afternoon and night.

With advancing day he became more wary and cautious. His stealthy
step fell noiseless upon the fleecy snow, his keen eyes sought out and in-
vestigated every likely spot and possible lurking place where the quarry
he sought might be concealed. All the knowledge and skill of the wily In-
dian were working at their best.

—

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 117

But no game came in range,—and not even an old track was found in
the snow to give encouragement. Every hour brought him nearer to the
settlement and his chances were rapidly growing less and less, but the
Virgin’s promise still buoyed him up, and the goddess Hope still spurred
him on.

He needed no sun in the heavens to tell him it was past mid-day ani
that night would soon be at hand. He worked back toward the top of the
divide where he hoped he might find some game yarded. He followed the
crest of the hill with all the patience and.skill of the most ardent still
hunter,—every sense keen, alert, tense. But no pleasing sight of game
rewarded his efforts. His heart sank within him.

Must he go home empty-handed? The afternoon was well spent and
he had now but few miles to go.

But what a Christmas eve for the proud a
Sabattis! Fate, as cruel as stern, had deprived eS Nee
him of his fresh meat and Christmas good cheer. pm et
The day was spent and night was at hand. ad
There was no use to hunt longer. He would go home.

The relation of his adventure will at least tell the tale of his success,
and his fortunate escape will break the force and dull the edge of the cruel,
crushing disappointment. With tired footsteps and a heavy heart Sabattis

cgi slowly descended the sloping hillside and in the
early twilight he was again upon the ice of the
Sebasticook. The ice along the shore was safe
but occasional reaches of open river were dis-
cernible where the current was swift.

sale He hastened on,—but was it the haste of de-
spair? Sabattis would have said no! He will yet succeed; he cannot
now see how,—but somewhere, somehow. ‘‘Sabattis will succeed!”’
“Sabattis will succeed!’ kept ringing in his ears,—and to him the promise
was as real as life itself.

The twilight of early evening deepened into the darkness of night and
he hurried on.

The great full moon rose resplendent in the east, and the outlying
cabins of the village came into view. Already the windows of the little
chapel are aglow with light, as loving hands of old and young make it
more beautiful with a wealth of fragrant evergreen as a fitting decoration
for the midnight Mass which is soon to usher in the feast of the Nativity.

The open channel in the river swept in close to the shore.

But hark! what music is that in the air? The honking honking of a
flock of wild geese on their way to their winter home in southern waters
fell like sweetest music upon the ear of Sabattis. He crouched low in the

118 AMERICAN ORNITITOLOGY.

bushes. Down pitched the flock into the open waters for the night with-
in easy range.

They had scarcely alighted when the sharp twang of the bow string is
heard on the still night air, and there running and floundering about are
two fat geese pinioned together by an arrow which passed through the
neck of one and was safely anchored in the body of the other.

He cut a long sapling with which he brought them within his
reach and soon there was joy in the cabin of Sabattis, and fresh meat and
good cheer for the Christmas dinner.

The Defeat of Passer
Domesticus.

Ah! What’s that? Some new
bird! Iwas going quietly through
a small piece of underbrush, looking
for specimens, when I had heard a
strange sound. I crept nearer and
nearer the spot whence the strange
noises proceeded, looking carefully
to see what was causing it. | soon
saw, and was much surprised to find
that it was a lot of English Spar-
rows, no not all sparrows, for there
on a twig beside a small hole in an
old apple tree was a little house
wren. A battle royal was in pro-
gress. The sparrows were trying
to drive the wren away, and the
wren was not inclined to be driven.
The wren would chase one sparrow
off, then fly back to its perch, only
to be confronted by others. This
it repeated time after time, until I

took pity on the poor little persecut- °

ed wren, and showed myself. The

sparrows flew away, and _ after
waiting awhile to see if they were
going to molest my charge further,
I left. About a month later | pass-
ed the same way, and found that
the wren was still in possession and
had a nest and set of eggs in the
trees
W. H., Valway, Ohio.

Sunday, April 7th, while walking
through a small scrubby oak grove,
I flushed seven large pigeons. It
being Sunday | carried no gun, and
consequently cannot prove the iden-
tity of the birds. They flushed
rapidly and were soon out of sight.
I am certain they were not Mourn-
ing Doves, and am satisfied that
they were Passenger Pigeons.
This is the first record I have here

for many years.

J. C. KNOX,
Jackson, Minn.

Winans

OF
North American Birds,

BY
OLIVER DAVIE.
Fifth Edition. Finely Illustrated.

Thoroughly Revised 600 pp.
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My Price, $1.50 Postpaid
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METHODS in the ART of TAXIDERMY

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lil ld A il all ll lh >

AMERICAN
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A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
TO -THE-STUDY OF BIRDS OnE.

Qi inant id al Mid An dial a a ci vats idly nal al ly al ca le

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North American Birds,

OLIVER DAVIE.
Fifth Edition. — Finely Illustrated.

Thoroughly Revised 600 pp.
Extra Cloth, Regular Price $2.25

The Best Book on Eggs
Published,

My Price, $1.50 Postpaid
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Ghe Condor for 1901.

Ain Illustrated 24-page, Bi- Monthly
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Have you seen the November-December number which completed Volume II? _ It contains several notable
illustrations, among them being the nest and eggs of Clarke’s Nutcracker; the first published photograph of
the egg of the California Condor in its original nesting site, together with a descriptive article by the collector;
“Nesting of the Dusky Poorwill’’ (illustrated): ‘‘A Breeding Colony of Tricolored Blackbirds,’ by Joseph
Mailliard; ‘‘ Three New Races of Pacific Coast Birds,’’ by Joseph Grinnell; ‘‘The Birds of Mt. St. Helena,”
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Vol. I. July, 1901. No. 7

GREEN HERON.
A. 0. VU. No. 201, (Ardea virescens)

RANGE.

Entire North America from southern Canada, southwards. Migrates to
South America and the West Indies in winter.

DESCRIPTION

Length) 18 ins extent; 25..1n<; tat); 3° in. Eye, yellow.) Bill, -ereenish
black. Legs, greenish yellow.

Adult.—Top of head, crest, and back, glossy green. Sides of the head,
neck, and lengthened feathers in front, chestnut. Chin, white, and line
down the middle of the neck is variegated with white and dusky. The
wing coverts are edged with yellowish white. Plumes on the back are
grayish white. Under parts mostly dark grayish.

Young.—Head less crested, and the back plain greenish without the
grayish plumes. Below mottled with white, brown and gray.

NEST AND EGGS.

The Green Heron nests on the branches of trees. Sometimes these are
at quite a distance from the water and occasionally in an apple tree in an
orchard. In some places they nest in small colonies or in a colony with
Night Herons, but most often they will be found to breed in pairs. The
nest is a loosely made structure of sticks and twigs. The eggs are pale
greenish blue and vary from three to five in number. They lay from the
middle of May to first of June.

120 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 121

HABITS.

The Green Heron is well known to all who spend much of their time out
of doors. He is known by all manner of names in different localities. It
will be a waste of time to learn them. It is much better to know the birds
by their true names. The habit of giving birds so many local names
causes much trouble to the real bird student.

This is the heron that you most frequently flush from any pond hole.
He always gives a shrill squawk or shriek, or series of them, as he starts
his flight. His flight is easy and not ungraceful. He carries his head well
back on his shoulders, and his legs hanging behind so that they resemble
a lengthened tail feather. The description of this bird given by two cas-
ual observers would be apt to disagree in one particular, the length of his
neck. If you see him only when flying or running along the edge of a
stream you would think that he had a very short neck, for he keeps it
drawn well back on his shoulders. In reality it is very long for the size
of the bird. Just watch one when he lights on top of a tree after being
started from a pond hole. His body is scarcely visible but his neck is ex-
tended to its full length.

He is an expert at fishing, using his bill for that purpose. If you are
fortunate and can secure a good place of concealment without his seeing
you will see how he gets his meals. You will see him standing in a shal-
low pond or brook, his eyes fixed steadily upon the water. His head is

GREEN HERON NEST.

122 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

drawn back ready to strike, and few fish escape that long unerring beak.
They appear to hunt alone and seldom are more seen together when thus
engaged. Frogs are a favorite article of food with them, and they will
stand in water up to their knees for hours at a time patiently waiting for
one to rise within striking distance.

Nearly every boy, and man too for that matter, considers herons good
game for his gun, and never misses a chance of getting one. Naturally
under these circumstances the birds are not very tame. Still if they think
there is a chance to escape observation they will hide rather than fly.

YOUNG GREEN HERONS ON NEST. Photo by J. B. PARDOE.

There is one heron in particular, that | always find in or about the same
small pond. There are a few small rushes growing in this pond, and he
alwaysCtries to pass himself off as one of these. He will stand beside
them with his body erect and head and bill pointing straight upward. No
one unless he was looking expressly for him would ever notice him. I
have walked entirely around the pond and passed within six feet of him,
and could not see that he moved a muscle.

The illustrations of the nest and eggs and the nest with young birds
photographed by Dr. Pardoe give a good idea of the appearance of a Green
Heron’s nest, and of the young birds. A more ungainly, awkward, and
shabby looking lot of nestlings it would be hard to find. Only those who
have tried to obtain photos of nests situated as these, can begin to realize

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 123

the difficulties encountered. To climb a tree with your 5 x 7 camera, and
find a suitable position from which the nest can be viewed to good advan-
tage, and focus the camera and get a good picture, is a feat to be proud of.
I think that the majority of people do not give the credit due those who
obtain good pictnres under such circumstances.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN.

A. O. VU. No. 125. (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
RANGE.

Abundant along the Gulf coast, in the Mississippi River valley, and on
the California coast. North in the interior of the country to Manitoba in
Canada. South in winter to Mexico and Central America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5 ft.; extent, oft.; tail, 6 in. Eye, varying in color from white
in the adult birds to brownish in the young. Bill and feet usually yellow.
During the breeding season the bill and feet are reddish. The pouch at
this time is white on the fore part changing through yellow to red at the
base. Plumage above and below in white. The primaries are black.
The lengthened feathers on the back of the head and on the breast are
tinged with golden.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds nest in large colonies on isolated islands. The nests consist
of a number of twigs laid on the top of a small heap of sand. The eggs
are laid soon after the first of May, and from then until the middle of June.
They usually lay two eggs, although sometimes three or four are found in
anest. The eggs are dull white, but soon become nest-stained and a dirty
yellow color.

HABITS.

These immense birds are among the most interesting that we have.
Owing to the peculiar pouch that is suspended from the lower mandible,
they are objects of curiosity wherever seen. This pouch is made of very
thin skin and lined with slender fibres. The birds have the power of ex-
panding or contracting it. When expanded it has a capacity of three or
four quarts.

124 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

They live on fish. The smaller ones they catch in their pouch using it
as a dip net. When they have got a number of fish in its interior they
close the bill, raise the head and contract the pouch, causing the water to
run out through the corners of the mouth. Large fish they catch by
quickly thrusting their head beneath the water and seizing the unsuspect-
ing prey in their bill. As they swallow their food whole they must of
course havea fish head first. In order to get him in this position they toss
him in the air and catch him as he comes down.

Not only is their pouch an object of interest but they have cther pecul-
iarities as well. During the breeding season only they have a peculiar
appendage on the upper mandible. The bill at other times is perfectly
smooth along the top, but at this time, a high, thin, horny, but flexible
comb grows about midway on it. This is of a dull whitish color. No one
yet has been able to give a satisfactory reason for the appearance of this
appendage.

A few of the pelicans remain on the Gulf coast during the summer, but
the majority go farther north and make their homes about the lakes in the
Dakotas, Utah, and California, or in the interior of Canada.

During migrations they fly at great heights, and like the Canada Goose
their voices can be heard long before they appear in sight, or when they
are at such an altitude as to be almost invisible

It is said that during migrations the Pelicans use their pouch as a lunch
basket to carry provisions for the journey. They sometimes cross belts
where the ponds are all frozen and unless this is so, they would be greatly
inconvenienced by the lack of food. Some ornithologists have objected to
this theory on the ground that a Pelican could not fly with so much weight
in his pouch as it would destroy his balance. This objection cannot hold
on these grounds though, as in order to restore his equilibrium he would
simply have to carry his head a little farther back.

Early in May I noticed a pair of House Wrens about an old brush heap
near the house, and thinking that possibly they might build in there I
placed a couple of one gallon paint cans in the brush good and firm. Only
a few days after I had the pleasure of seeing one of them being occupied,
and both Mr. and Mrs. Wren busy in moving in their household goods, and
making all preparation for spending the summer. Two weeks later there
were six pretty pink spotted eggs in the cottage and we hear and see the

pair of birds about their homes every day.
HENRY JOHNSON, Massachusetts.

126

American Ornithology.

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A Week With the Birds.

Not long ago a friend and myself spent a
week among the birds in a beautiful little vil-

lage in the Connecticut valley.

This Bird’s Paradise was profusely decorated
with countless trees laden with apple, pear and
peach blossoms in all their sweetness; their
pink and white beauty enhanced by the emer-
The hill tops

ald background of velvety grass.

were clad in many soft shades of green; the delicate leaves of the white
birches, the darker maple leaves, the elms and oaks just putting forth their
tender foliage, with here and there a tall cedar lifting up its dark green
arms, and the creamy blossoms of the dog-wood, made a picture never to
be forgotten, of a world clad in beauty.

Into the midst of this loveliness came the birds. The reception began at
an early hour. Ere the first rays of the sun had appeared, a gentle twit-
tering was heard, growing louder and louder as the day dawned, until the
air seemed alive with melody.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. BOG

I think Mr. and Madam Robin were the first arrivals. (Bright cheery
fellows. | was glad they were invited.) I heard their soft chirpings,
which soon swelled into a chorus of good cheer as they were joined by
‘‘their sisters, their cousins, and their aunts.”’

Then the greetings of the Brown Thrasher were heard. A long tale he
had and it was sweetly told. The Vireos were there in full force, very
dapper and slick; the Red-eye, the White-eye, the Warbling, and the
Yellow-throated. They found some flexible branches, which made delight-
ful swings, on which they swayed to and fro, pouring forth thrills of music,
stopping occasionally for a lunch on a fine fat worm, then hiding behind a
leafy screen and calling, ““Here] am. Here I am. Here, see me, here,
here.’” The Bluebirds came, too, with loving words singing of ‘‘Bermuda,
Bermuda.’’ The Chewinks kept urging ‘‘Drink your tea. Drink your
tea,’’ and ‘‘Sweet birds sing. Sweet birds sing.”’

The Goldfinches, arrayed in new gowns of yellow satin and black, cried
“‘Hear me, dearie. Hear me, dearie.’’ Then curved through the air with
sweet songs. Hilarious Bob. O. Link and Mrs. Link were there and helped
to keep the company in good humor. Our old friend Phoebe was present,
too, with her Quaker cousins, kingbird, pewee, and chebec. Mr. Chebec
talked incessantly so that he grew rather tiresome. The Flicker and Hairy
Woodpecker found drums and beat vigorous tatoos when not engaged in
the study of Entomology. The Maryland Yellow-throat, looking through
his black spectacles, seemed to marvel at the wondrous transformation
which had been wrought in a few short weeks, and could only exclaim,
“Witchery. Witchery.’’ Little Jenny Wren sputtered and scolded all
day long, but no one minded her. But even at a bird’s carnival, discipline
must be maintained, for at nightfall we heard a sad voice reiterating,
““Whip-poor-Will. Whip-poor-Will.’’ What poor Will’s misdemeanor
was I knew not, but later in the season we may learn that Will was not
the real culprit after all, but that ‘‘Katy-did’’ it.

Time permits of but a brief description of some of the costumes worn on
this occasion. The gentlemen of the party wore the brilliant colors.
Bright yellow and orange seemed very fashionable, and were prominent in
the garbs of the Goldfinch, Summer Yellow-bird, Black-throated Green
Warbler, Golden-winged, Prairie, and Blackburnian Warblers, Chat,
Flicker, and Yellow-throated Vireo, while the Tanager seemed to come
direct from the golf links in his flaming scarlet.

The Crows, Grackles, and Red-wing Blackbirds came in suits of glossy
black. The Indigo Bunting looked charming in a beautiful suit of dark
blue.. The Chewinks each had a fresh white vest, chestnut waist-coats
and black and white coats. Mr. and Mrs. Catbird’s suits of slate fitted
perfectly, without wrinkle or crease, and the Orioles were dazzling in

128 AMERICAN ORNITIH/OLOGY

black and gold. Mr. Grosbeak had on a new neck tie of bright red, which
was very effective against the soft white of his waist coat, and with his.
black velvet cap, and black and white coat, presented a contrast to his:
mate in her quiet colors. Even Mr. Partridge stalked forth with great
dignity and deliberation, conscious of the admiration which the beautiful
ruffle around his neck elicited. The blue and white of the Blue Jay were
very becoming, but alas, his clothes were better than his manners, in fact,
he had no manners at all. Last and least in the brilliant assembly, came
the Hummingbirds, ‘‘winged gems,’’ darting about in great haste, not one
whit behind the greater guests in beauty of attire. We enjoyed meeting
over fifty of these songsters. There were others among them whom we
desired to know, but they were very shy and kept themselves out of sight
in sheltered nooks, from which we could occasionally hear their soft
whisperings and catch a glimpse of color.

Time forbids more than the names of other distinguished visitors: The
Black and White Warbler, the Black-poll Warbler, with the Nuthatch and
Chickadee. The English Sparrow was there of course, with the Song,
Field, White-throated, and Chipping Sparrows as well. A large flock of
Cedar Birds, a Quail, Redstarts, a Cuckoo, sweet voiced Wood Thrush,
and Oven-bird, with hawks, pigeons and swallows, swelled the numbers
present.

When we left them, the Carnival was still in progress, and the happy

guests were pouring forth their joyous carols of praise with unabated vigor.
Mary HAZEN ARNOLD, Conn.

SCARLET TANAGER.

A. O. VU. No. 608. (Piranga erythromelas.)

RANGE.

The United States and southern Canada, east of the Plains, They
migrate in winter to the West Indies, eastern Mexico, and Central Ameri-
ca, returning to their breeding localities about May 15.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 7 in.; extent, 12 in.; tail, 3in. Eye, brown. Feet and
bill yellowish horn color.

Male.—(In Spring) rich scarlet. Wings and tail, black. (In Fall) like
the female.

Female.—Back, olive green. Below, olive yellow. Wings and tail,
dark greenish brown.

Young.—Like the female. The male when changing to the scarlet phase
is patched with red, yellow, green, and black.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 129

130 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NESTS AND EGGS.

The nest is completed and eggs laid about the latter part of May. It is
placed not very far from the ground on a horizontal limb. It may be in
any variety of tree, but one near the edge of the woods or a Clearing is
generally used. Sometimes they will build in an orchard. The nest is
made of twigs and bark, lined with grasses and rootlets. It is rather
loosely constructed. The eggs are three or four in number, of a greenish
blue ground color, spotted and blotched with reddish brown, rather most
at the larger end.

HABITS.

‘‘Cher-ee, cher-er-r-r, cher-ee-er-r-r,’’ a clear warbling whistle comes
from the depths of the woods. You pause and listen. Soon it is repeated.
Perhaps this is a new note to you. Guided by the strange sound which is
heard at frequent intervals, you go forwards. Finally you come to a stop
under a large pine that raises its head proudly above the surrounding oaks.
You walk about it looking closely along all the branches. Surely the sound
comes from this tree, but where can the bird be. Ah! You do not know
him. Just step back a few paces and look at the very top of the tree.
There with head raised just giving forth his unmistakable song is the bird.
And what a bird! The Tropics contain many gaudy and varicolored spec-
ies, but none can surpass this. The bright intense scarlet of the tanager
cannot be imitated by man. Nature alone can attain such perfection. To
render the red more brilliant by comparison, his wings and tail are coal
black. As we have .so good an opportunity, we will watch this bird
awhile. For some minutes his song rings out at regular intervals. Then
doubtless thinking he is wasting too much time, he decends to the top of
an oalx, and goes to work. He is one of the most persistent destroyers of
caterpillars that we have.

As if realizing there is danger in his bright plumage, he does not hop
about as most birds do, thereby rendering themselves conspicuous, but
perches quietly in one place until he has consumed everything edible that
is within reach, when he flies to another branch. This accounts for
the Tanager being called a rare bird in many localities, when they are
in reality quite common. His brilliant coat, which would attract atten-
tion to him at once if he were in motion, is scarcely noticeable among the
green leaves if he is quiet. _The Tanager, and all other birds, too,
should be hunted by ear rather than by eye. His note can easily be
heard and recognized at a distance of half a mile, whereas you may pass
right by and not see him if your ears are not open to the bird music about
you.

But come back to the bird that we were watching. We notice that he
has been gradually approaching a clearing. Now he appears to notice you
for the first time and instead of hearing his cheerful song, you are greeted

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 131

with a deep, ‘‘chip, churr-r-r.’’ He seems quite excited now and contin-
ually utters this new scolding note. Perhaps we can find the cause of his
anxiety. Just scan closely the lower limbs of the surrounding oaks, and
about midway of the branch on one of them we will see an ordinary
appearing nest composed of twigs and grasses. This is the Tanager’s
home, and he always stands ready to guard his yellowish green colored
mate and the four spotted blue eggs that she is sitting on. I have seen
him repeatedly carry her choice worms or caterpillars while she was on the
nest. One of the prettiest sights | have seen in connection with bird life,
was of six or eight male Tanagers feeding on a freshly ploughed field.
These Tanagers, together with several Blackburnian and Magnolia Warblers
that were in the field at the same time, in company with many other var-
ieties, furnished the most-color to a bit of plowed land that it has been my
fortune to see.

Photo by GEO. C. EMBODY.

Mr. C. E. Hoyle of Millbury, Mass., says that, ‘‘after a severe storm he
once saw a flock of about four hundred male Tanagers in a field. They
were completely exhausted. This was about fifteen years ago.’’ It must

have been a grand spectacle, though they were in a pitiable condition and
probably many perished.

At no time during the past twenty years has there been as many Tanag-
ers about here as this season. I frequently hear them in the center of the
city.

132 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

A Pelican Pond.

There are many features at the National Zoological Park at Washing-
ton, which attest the aim and desire of the superintendent to provide for
the animals under his charge, the natural environments to which they have
been accustomed in their wild life.

Not the least of these is the Pelican Pond, situated near the entrance to
the grounds. While covering only a very limited area of territory, it is
nevertheless an admirable illustration, on a small scale, of the advantages
attained by restoring to animals in captivity, the surroundings to which
they are adapted by nature, and of making these as near like their original
haunts as possible.

This pond has been so constructed as to make an ideal summer home for
a large flock of American White Pelicans, owned by the Zoo, showing to
the visitor a glimpse of the life history of these birds that could not well
otherwise be obtained. The margins of the pond on one side are sandy
and bare of foliage, while on the opposite side, a dense growth of bushes
overhangs and fringes the banks to the waters edge, and offers abundant
shade. On the cleared side, several artifically constructed sand-bars pro-

ject out into the pond, and on these the birds, when tired of swimming,
rest and preen in the sunshine.

They seem perfectly at home and happy in their exile, fishing in small
squads, swimming and diving, or resting on the sand bank, and living in
every way the same mode of life as they are wont to live in their native
haunts.

PELICAN POND, Washington Zoological Park. Photo by J. W. DANIELS, JR-

They have become quite accustomed to man and show no fear whatever
when closely approached, allowing one to get within a few feet of them,
thus offering splendid opportunities to the naturalist photographer. During
summer afternoons, when shadows fall on the lake, they present a beauti-
ful picture as they sit in groups on the sand bars preening, their snowy
plumage contrasted with the green of the landscape, and their every move-

ment reflected in the crystal mirror of the lake.
JNO. W. DANIEL, JR., Washington, D.C.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 133

Copyrighted 1901 by A. H. VERRILL.

YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD.

134 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD.

A. O. VU. No. 112. (Phaeton flaviros tris.)
RANGE.
From Florida and the Bermudas southwards.
DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 28 in.; extent, about 36 in.; tail, 16 in. Eye, brown.
Bill and feet, yellow. Toes, black.

Adults.—White tinged with rosy on the under parts and the lengthened
tail feathers. There is a black crescent before the eye and continuing
through it. A black band crosses the wing coverts and the inner second-
aries. The inner webs of the outer primaries are black. The two middle
tail feathers are lengthened.

NEST AND EGGS
The eggs are generally laid on the bare rock in holes or crevices in the
cliffs. Sometimes moss and a few sticks are gathered together, but oftener
there is no nest at all. The single egg has a white ground, but this is
generally concealed by the numerous spots of chocolate brown.

YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD NEST. Photo by A. H. VERRILL.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 135

HABITS.

The Yellow-billed Tropic Bird, although found throughout the West
Indies and in fact a large portion of Central and South America, is in no
locality so abundant’ as in the Bermudas. Here, protected by wise and
strict laws, they come annually to breed in thousands. Arriving during
the latter part of March they at once enter on domestic cares and as soon
as their young are able to accompany them leave the little mid-ocean islands
for another season. For the few months during which they remain, they
fill the air with their cries, and one can scarcely look seaward in any
direction without seeing a score or so of the beautiful creatures flying rap-
idly to and fro or resting gracefully on the azure waters, with tail perked
upward to protect the slender plumes.

When a few months ago I sailed for Bermuda, | determined to secure
photographs of the Tropic Birds from life. This, | supposed, would be an
easy matter to accomplish, as I had repeatedly heard of their tameness and
abundance. I found the birds plentiful enough and every rough and jagged
limestone cliff had one or more pairs breeding therein. Even close to
houses and settlements, when suitable holes or crevices were to be found,
they laid their handsome, chocolate-colored eggs, apparently oblivious of
the proximity of man.

It seemed, however, as if my hopes of photographing them would be
shattered, for nest after nest was discovered, only to ffnd that in each case
photography was out of the question. In one, the hole would be so deep
and narrow that only the long tail of the sitting bird was visible. In an-
other, the hole would be large and the inmate clearly discernible, but in
such heavy shadow that only a long, time-exposure would be possible, to
which the parent strongly objected, ruffling her feathers and squalling at
the queer instrument at the door of her snug home. In still another, where
light and all else was favorable, it would be necessary to cling to the per-
pendicular rock by fingers and toes, and setting up a camera was out of the
question, while by far the greater number of nests were absolutely inac-
cessible.

The birds sat very close, however, fighting and biting when disturbed
and showing not the least sign of fear, returning immediately to the nest
when removed. Of course it would have been possible to capture a bird
and securing it, take a photogaaph while in captivity, but that was not
what I wished, and day after day | visited fresh nests in the hopes of find-
ing at least one suitable for my purposes.

At last the hoped for opportunity arrived. On the shore of a small un-
inhabited island I found a bird sitting quietly on her egg in a wide, shal-
low crevice at the base of a cliff. Here I could set up my camera and
focus at leisure, while the inmate of the hole watched operations with ap-

136 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

parent interest. When everything was arranged to my satisfaction the
exposure was made, and then, much to my chagrin, | found my holders
contained but one more unexposed plate. Much as | desired to take two
negatives in order to be sure of good results, | was forced to content myself
with one, the last plate being used for the nest and egg.

Imagine my disappointment when | developed the plates to find that
both were fogged by the dampness of the climate, and while the nest and
egg were not beyond repair, the bird on the nest was worthless. This
nest was rather remarkable, being well built of sea-weed and Sargassum,
whereas usually the egg is laid on the bare rock.

A few days later I received a fresh shipment of plates and again set
forth.

During the interval, however, I had learned much in regard to the habits
of my intended subjects. 1 found among other peculiarities that whereas
from about 9 o’clock until noon they were constantly visible, at other por-
tions of the day they disappeared. An investigation disclosed the fact that
at these times they retired to their nests, where they dozed and slept.
Sometimes both birds would retire to the nest, but usually the female
would stay on the egg while her mate took up quarters near by, either in
a shallow cavity or beneath some overhanging or projecting rock. More-
over I found that at these times they were exceedingly loth to take flight,
and even when lifted from their feet and tossed in the air, they would
tumble clumsily to the rocks, and flapping and fluttering about, again
scramble to a satisfactory position, where blinking stupidly, they resumed
their siesta.

With this knowledge | immediately directed my steps to an overhanging
cliff, from whose face a number of great masses had fallen, and which,
resting in the water below, formed a sort of natural causeway. Here, as
1 expected, | found the female sitting on the solitary egg, while her mate
dozed nearby. Without the least trouble the camera was set up on the
fallen rocks and several perfect negatives of the male secured, as well asa
very satisfactory one of the female on her nest.

The Tropic birds I found did not feed exclusively on fish or marine life,
but were very fond of land snails, which they obtained along the edges of
the cliffs, and also on beaches, where they were often lying in winrows
cast up by the tide. See urchins also furnished a considerable portion of
their diet.

Although the pairs are always together when on the nest or rocks,
when flying about they almost invariably fly in groups of four or five.
Their power of flight is very great and they daily travel over a hundred
miles out to sea and return.

A most remarkable-effect is produced when these graceful birds are fly-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 137

ing over the shallow water. The sunlight reflected from the snow-white
bottom through the wonderfully colored water, giving their breasts and

under side of wings a most delicate and beautiful sea-green color.
A. HYATT VERRILL, New Haven, Conn.

Albino Scarlet Tanager.

While walking in the woods on Long Island early one May morning in
1899, I heard the note of a scarlet tanager, and while I did not wish to col-
lect one, | walked a considerable distance in the direction from whence the
sound came for the purpose of seeing the bird, it being always a delight to
feast my eyes upon such bright plumage. Before 1 reached the spot the
bird flew across an opening to the trees on the opposite side, and I took
my course in that direction. As I approached I saw the bird sitting upon
the low branches of an oak, and to my amazement, noted that it had white,
yellow, and black wing and tail feathers.

I shot it, but my bird flew, wounded, across the open space to the wood
at my left, and perched again in an oak tree. I walked leisurely to the
spot, expecting every minute to see it drop dead to the ground. | approach-
ed quite closely, but no inclination to fly was shown, indicating that the
bird was badly wounded. Not wishing to injure its plumage by shooting
again, | threw a stick into the branches of the tree for the purpose of start-
ling the bird and causing it to drop, but to my dismay it made a strong
flight, taking a bee line into the dense forest and was out of sight in an in-
stant, but I got a good glimpse of its great and peculiar beauty, and deter-
mined to spend the rest of the day, if need be, looking for it. I followed for
a long distance in its line of flight, scanning every tree, bush and the
ground hoping to see it again.

I marked the course of its flight by breaking twigs and branches, that it
might again be identified if | wandered from it. After going as far as |
thought the bird would be likely to fly, | commenced a circular search and
wandered a considerable distance from the trail, which | lost.

I succeeded in finding it again by means of the marks | had left.

By following it back, a few rods to the left, I soon discovered the bird
upon a tall tree and immediately shot it, this time bringing it to the ground,
dead. It is now mounted and the gem of my collection of over 600 spec-
ies of N. A. Birds.

That it is the most beautiful bird ever taken on this continent there is
very little doubt. It even surpasses in beauty the most brilliant of foreign
birds. c Its variationcin plumage comes from the fact that it is partially
albino. The body plumage is light, transparent scarlet, while the wings
and tail,' instead:of being all black, are a, mixture of bright yellow, white,
black, and pink, contrasting magnificently. ‘JOHN LLWIS CHILDS, N. Y.

138 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Birds Rvoosting.

Everyone has watched caged canaries sleeping upon their perches, or
seen fowls at roost at night in the hennery. Wild birds roost and sleep
much in the same manner, but few observers have seen the wild bird with
its head under its wing. Ihave never been able to watch a wild sleeping
bird in the open, for the alert fellows always heard me when | tried to in-
spect their methods of sleeping on the perch. I believe all the perchers
sleep with their’ heads beneath the wing, but am not satisfied that all
species follow this plan. A captive barred owl was carefully watched,
but I could never catch him sitting with his head under his wing, though |
visited him at all hours of the day and night. All of the young of the non-
precocious birds keep the eyes closed when young, and the nestlings of
the robin and young sparrows, as well as young canaries keep the eyes
closed most of the time until about ready to leave the nest. The young
of the przecoces, however, are ever alert, and I have noticed young of the
killdeer, plover and ruffed grouse, not more than two days old that used
their eyes, and feet too, to good advantage.

Most birds have practices in roosting and these are but slightly varied in
a species. Strangely enough, many ground species, as the Turkey, al-
though nesting on the ground, make a practice of roosting in trees.
Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Wrens and several other species which build
in cavities often roost in holes. The smaller birds select the evergreen
as a good place to roost in cold weather, and I have frequently routed
dozens of sleepers from these situations in my investigations after dark.
The chimney swift is always gregarious in its habits when not engaged in
the duties of nesting, and in the spring and summer may be found roost-
ing in large chimneys, sometimes several hundred in one place, all hang-
ing onto the sides of the interior of chimney like a flock of bats, for which
they are frequently mistaken by the ignorant. Ducks and all water birds
that I have been able to learn of differ in their choice attimes. Atcertain
times ducks sleep upon the water, and again they range along the shore,
or as the wood duck, roost in trees, particularly in the nesting season.
The smaller shore birds roost in compact groups upon the shore, at least
this is so when they flock at the time of migrating, The Bob-white roosts
in family groups in the form of a circle on the ground with the heads _ pre-
senting outward. Morris GIBBS, Mich.

Have just received sample copy of June number of your publication.
So many papers of this nature have started only to give up after two or
three issues that | have hesitated about subscribing. This looks now as
if it had come to stay so send you one dollar for the two names enclosed.

S. M. K.

METHODS in the ART of TAXIDERMY

BY OLIVER DAVIE,

author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American:Birds,”’ etc.

NINETY FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER,.A. M., M. D.,,the whole containing five
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Never before has the art of taxidermy had its practical methods and beauties
portrayed as we find them interpreted in this work. It is a work of art from cover to

cover.

FORMERLY PUBLISHED AT $10.00.

MY PRICE ONLY $2.50 PREPAID.
Charles K. ‘Reed,

Station A,

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This book should be in the library of every school.

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This work, by Oliver Davie, is descrip-
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Vol. I. August, 1901. No. 8

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

A. O, VU. No. 546. (Ammodramus savannarum passerinus.)

RANGE.
Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to the Plains, south
in winter to Florida, Cuba and Central America.

DESCRIPTION.

Eeneth,.5 m., extents im.; tail, 2.1n. «Feet, flesh’ colored... Bill.and
eye, brown. Entire upper parts variegated with black gray yellow and
chestnut. The crown is nearly black with a brownish yellowish stripe
through the middle. A line of buff extends over the eye. Primaries and
tail feathers dusky with light edges. Below buff changing to whitish on
the belly. Edge of wing and spot on cheek yellow.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is on the ground and concealed by a thick tussock of grass; it
is frequently placed along side of an overhanging stone. It is composed
of grasses. The eggs, four or five in number, are laid about the middle of
May. They have a clear white ground color, spotted with reddish brown,
chiefly at the larger end.

HABITS.

The Grasshopper Sparrow, or Yellow-winged Sparrow by which name
it is often known, is one of our commonest birds in the East. All of us
have seen him. He loves the green fields of clover and the sunshine of
the open. He loves the ground rather than the leafy foliage of the woods.
Among the grass he is at home. His short wings teach us that he is not
a species given to much flight, and his short tail indicates that he is not

140 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

{ ee
Wahaceah
Poe 90.

YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 141

decidedly a perching bird. We all know that he is distinctively a ground
bird.

In the meadows, green with grass and weeds, where the land is rather
dry, is his favorite resort. When flushed from his grassy coverts, he
rises with a quick rather rapid flight, flying low over the grass tops, usual-
ly, not to go very far before alighting. Oftentimes he perches upon fence
posts, but more often upon grass stems or a single rock in the middle of
the field.

His song is a twittering and rather pleasing little ditty. It closely re-
sembles the shrilling of certain grasshoppers, but if one will listen closely
he will detect in the prelude and ending a faint warbling note. © On account

of the resemblance of the squeaking part of its song to the noise made by
grasshoppers, we understand how it came by its very appropriate name.

It is a sociable bird, loving the company of its fellows, and wherever
one pair is noted there are likely to be others in the neighborhood. Mr.
Langille tells as in his ‘‘Our Birds in their Haunts,’”’ that this bird shows
a very jealous disposition as regards his singing habits. He says; ‘‘Un-
pretending as this song is the singer is, nevertheless ambitious, for on
hearing another of its species singing near by, it will fly to it, and, diving
into the grass, soon put it to silence. The nest is made entirely of dried
grass tufts. The nesting season is late in May. In Virginia it is exceed-

142 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ingly abundant, its presence greatly enlivening the green fields along the
slopes and meadow lands. The accompanying illustration is kindly fur-
nished by Mr. Percy Shufeldt, and is a good likeness of the species.

Jno. W. DANIEL, JR., Lynchburg, Va.

A New Occupant.

Perhaps the least sociable of our feathered acquaintances and even tha
most retired of his own family, is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, commonly
known as the ‘‘Rain Crow.’’ Yet in spite of his secluded habits, where
can we find a more valuable friend, one that is more deserving of our ad-
miration and protection than he?

It is in regard to one of his peculiar habits that I wish to call attention,
peculiar, yet I fear, not wholly abandoned by some of his higher neigh-
bors, that of his failure to provide a well built home for his mate and
young. The fact that the nest of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is formed of
twigs and small branches loosely thrown together, forming a mere frame-
work upon which the eggs lie is probably known to most of his admirers,
while a few even accuse him of allowing his young to be reared in the
home of some unfortunate, who may have taken up his abode near by.
This latter lack of parental love, however, is very rarely practiced by
‘‘americanus.”’

While out one fine morning listening to the various songsters as they
poured forth their sweet notes from every bush and tree top, I chanced to
pass under a small box elder, in which the year before-1 had discovered
the nest of a Little Blue Heron. Glancing carelessly upwards, merely to
ascertain if it was yet in the old position, | noticed a flutter of brown dart
from the nest and disappear among the leaves of a tree near by. Ina
moment more I saw our friend ‘‘Coccyzus americanus”’ fly quickly to the
tree beyond and realized that a Yellow-billed Cuckoo had made his home
in the old nest. On climbing to it I found two young cuckoos and one
egg lying upon the old twigs, which apparently had not been changed
since the Blue Heron placed them there the year before. The cuckoo
had undoubtedly decided, since he had found a nest which answered his
purpose, that there was no need of exerting himself more in the building
of a new one; and therefore proceeded to rear his young in the heron’s

nest.
SHERIDAN R. JONES, Vermillion, S. D.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 143

Canada Grouse (Spruce Partridge) Nest.
‘Dendragapus Canadensis.

While following the trail from B. Pond to Upton, Maine, | was fortu-
nate in finding the nest of the Spruce Grouse. It was placed on the
ground within five feet of the trail, where men were passing nearly every
day. It was on a knoll (not in dense swamp) being placed under a small
fir balsam (Abies Balsamea) and resembling very much the nest of a Ruffed
Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) both in the location and the construction.

On May 13th the nest was discovered with only one egg; the next day
another was added. On going to inspect and get a photograph of the
nest, the male was met about two hundred yards from it. He strutted
about like a turkey gobbler and was very pugnacious. It was a curious
fact that every day the nest was visited, the male was found in the same
place and went through the same performances. He never came nearer
the nest even when we were right beside it.

On May 15th there were three eggs. The bird was on the nest but
glided off when approached. She appeared to be getting tamer; on the
16th there were four eggs and the bird was very tame. On the 17th it
rained all day and the bird did not add to her clutch nor was she on the
nest. I was afraid she was going to desert it. It was not visited again
until the 24th. The bird was incubating and was exceedingly tame, al-
most allowing herself to be taken off. There were six eggs. She showed
great distress while we were near and remained close by, while the male
did not appear. The nest was made of small twigs, bark, moss, leaves
and a few feathers of the bird herself. Most writers say that this bird
lays from eight to fourteen eggs, but on talking with a good many old
guides who have seen a great many broods, they say they have never
seen more than six or seven in a brood. | cannot agree with what they
say in regard to the spots on the eggs of this bird. They are not on the
surface nor do they rub off. | regret very much that the photos I took of
the bird and nest did not prove successful. The weather was very bad
for such work. JOHN E. THAYER, Lancaster, Mass.

I44 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

DUSKY GROUSE.

ASO: Uo. 2oF. (Dendragapus obscurus.)

RANGE.

This Grouse is found in the Rocky Mts. from Montana and Idaho on the
north to Arizona and New Mexico on the south.

DESCRIPTION,

Length, about 22 in.; extent, 30 in.; tail, 7.5 in. Bill, black. Eye,
brown.

Adult male:—Back and wings brownish black, finely marked in wavy
cross lines with gray and yellowish. Outer webs of primaries mottled
with gray and white. Rump, black, waved with whitish. Tail,. black,
with a broad terminal bar of gray; it contains 20 feathers and is slightly
rounded. Top of head and cheeks blackish, shading to blue gray on the
back of neck. Throat, white, barred irregularly with black. Breast and
under parts dark slate. Feathers on the sides tipped with white and with
white shafts.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest consists of a slight depression, alongside an old log or under
a small bush. This is lined slightly with a few pine needles or dried
grass. The number of eggs varies from eight to twelve. The set is com-
pleted about the first of June. The eggs are of a cream color, finely
spotted with brown, the spots more numerous at the larger end.

HABITS.

A great deal has been said about this bird but there is yet a great deal
to be said. I have been acquainted with this species for many years
past, but each year discloses something new and something interesting
concerning them. Nearly every summer I find very young birds that are
unable to fly, but | have never been fortunate enough to find its nest and
egos. When the young are following their mother about is the time how-
ever when the ever watchful mother is the most cautious. 1 will explain
that in these mountains the Bob-white and even the Scaled Quail cannot
prosper. Of course they are not grouse and their habits differ. The
quail spend the night on the ground all huddled together and are the easi-
est sort of prey for the many foxes and ‘‘Bob-cats’’ that infest the moun-
tains, while the grouse like the turkeys go to roost in the trees after the
manner of chickens. This is all very well after the young are grown and
can roost with the old birds, but when they are quite small and cannot fly
a new difficulty presents itself to the mother.

Their accustomed haunts are the coniferous belts and aspen groves.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 145

146 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

No doubt she is occasionally flushed by foxes during the day, in fact the
two places last named are the stamping grounds of the fox. Generally
among the trees there is very little tall grass, but in the high clearings the
grass is tall and affords good cover. So here is where the young grouse
are taken to spend the night and here Reynard seldom goes, and if he did
he would probably be baffled nine times out of ten when he came to
search for the scattered fleeing brood. So even when the young are
quite small the mother is able to keep them out of harm’s way. The
skunk is not frequently seen as high up in the mountains so danger from
that source is eliminated. During the time when the mother grouse is
leading her young she varies her diet from the habitual bugs, buds, etc.,
to the blossoms of certain blue flowers and nice ripe strawberries. A
dozen little chicks may sometimes be surprised when feeding with their
mother in an aspen grove. In an instant they have disappeared, but by
describing a large circle, and kicking the bunches of grass you may gener-
ally scare out one or two. They are pretty little fellows, cream color and
streaked and spotted with brown. They will not live in captivity,at least
all attempts to domesticate them that have come under my notice have
failed. They generally die or escape.

During the mating season this grouse makes a peculiar drumming
sound, as in others of the genus, and goes through many ludicrous antics
in attempting to win over the fair object of his affections. Of course like
nearly everyone else the grouse has enemies. | don’t mean Reynard this
time, but a winged enemy called a hawk. When a hawk starts a grouse
on a pleasant wooded hillside, the grouse makes right down a hill as he
can fly faster down hill than up; and all the while he is watching for some
brush to disappear into. Well, the hawk just follows along rather closely,
trying to crowd the grouse out of an opportunity to conveniently drop into
a brush heap, until the pursued is forced to ascend a hill on the other side
of the canon, when the hawk cuts off about half the distance by taking a
straight line and lands squarely on his victim’s back. A short struggle
ensues but the grouse is a poor combatant. It seems as though the hawk
had studied geometry, when he makes this short cut while the grouse
laboriously measures off the angle.

The grouse is very agreeable to the palate, except in the early spring,
when they eat the tree buds and this taints the flesh and makes it rather
unpleasant to the taste. The grouse is said to spend the winter in the
dense foliage of the spruce trees, where it feeds on buds and quenches its
thirst from the drops of water from the melting snow. Hunting this bird
is rather tame sport as it rises rather clumsily and flies for the branches of
some tree, where it can be killed with almost any weapon. They are
often knocked over with a stick, while sitting in the middle of the trail.
This species is often known locally as the blue grouse.

EMERSON ATKINS, Las Vegas, N. M.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass.
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

In the United States, Canada and
Mexico, fifty cents a year, postpaid.
Single copies five cents.

To all countries in the International
Postal Union, seventy-five cents a year
postpaid.

ADVERTISING RATES.

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as second-class matter, Jan. 16, 1901

147

The Great-crested Fly-

catcher.

In the March A. O. in the article
on the G. C. Flycatcher in regard
to the sentence:—‘‘The nest is al-
ways built in a cavity in a tree,”’
will you kindly allow me to disa-
gree in using the word always as
exempt. I have observed the fol-
lowing: June 4, 1894, I found a
set of four eggs of this species in a
Martin box at Girard, Kans. This
box was 18 ft. up at the top ofa
pole attached to a shed in my back
yard. I watched the building of
this nest with glowing interest as
their combats with the English
Sparrows and the Martins were
many. Again in 18921 knew of a
pair which nested in the corner of
an unused log cabin near Aurora,
Mo. These instances are no doubt

quite rare but are worthy of note.
WALTER SCOTT COLVIN, Osawatomie, Kans.

Books Received.

WITH THE WILD FLOWERS (from Pussy Willow to Thistledown)—by
Maud Going. With illustrations. New York; The Baker & Taylor Co.
Price $1.00. A charming story of some of our wild flowers. In this
book the auther accomplishes a two-fold purpose. It is a very interest-
ing book for an afternoon’s reading and at the same time you are gain-
ing much valuable and accurate information in regard to the habits and
peculiarities of our more common flowers.

MR. CHUPES AND MISS JENNY by Mrs. Effie Bignell. Illustrated. New
York; The Baker & Taylor Co. Price $1.00. A story of the doings
and misdoings of two Robins during a three years’ sojourn with the
author. They were rescued after being blown from the nest during a
storm, and became much attached to their benefactor. The author’s
quaint humor and original language holds the reader’s attention through-
out the book.

THE HOME LIFE OF WILD BIRDS, by Francis Hobart Herrick. With 141
illustrations from nature by the author. New York, G. P. Putnam’s
Sons. Price $2.50. As the title indicates this is really the home life
of the birds. The .author literally camped out beside the birds’ nests

148 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

and took numerous views of the parents feeding and caring for their
young. The results show that Mr. Herrick is an expert photographer
as well as naturalist.

PIED-BILLED GREBE.

A. O. VU. No. 6, (Podilymbus podiceps.)
RANGE.
Entire North America from the British provinces southwards.
DESCRIPTION.

Length, 13 in.; extent, 24 in. Tail consists of a tuft of downy feathers.

Adult (in summer) :—Bill bluish, encircled about midway with a broad
band of black. Eye, brown; eye-lids, white. Feet, grayish black.
Crown; back of neck and back, grayish black. Under parts, silvery-
gray, mottled with dusky. A broad black patch on the throat.

(Winter plumage) :—Bill yellowish without the black band. No black
on the throat. Upper parts more brown than in summer and the feathers
edged with light. Neck, breast and sides light reddish brown. Rest of
under parts white. The feet on all the grebes are entirely different from
those of a duck, each toe having its own web.

NEST AND EGGS.
The nest of the Grebe is a floating structure of reeds. It is made by

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 149

putting down the flags and winding them around until a platform several
inches above the water is formed. During the latter part of May from 5
to g eggs are deposited in this nest. The eggs are a chalky greenish
white but they soon become discolored by the wet mass beneath them so
as to appear brownish.

HABITS.

Here is one of the most peculiar of our birds. It is one of the best
known too. They frequent the larger cities in great numbers especially
in the colder months. They do not congregate here for protection against
cold weather, in fact they are beyond having any feeling in the matter.
But fashion holds sway in the cities and fashion calls the grebes hither.
As a high premium has been put upon their breasts they come in great
numbers. Fortunately there has been a large decrease in the city grebe
population the past year, and in a few years more the grebe will be as ex-
tinct in fashion’s realm as the Great Auk is in Nature’s.

Whatever the grebe does it does well. In two of its attainments in par-
ticular it stands at the head of all other birds. No bird can equal it in
aquatic feats. In these it has attained perfection. No other bird is quite
as awkward as they are while on land. It is with great difficulty that
they can walk at all. You will notice from the illustration that his legs
are situated at the extreme end of his body. ~ Although this is a decid-
ed inconvenience to him in walking, it gives him a great advantage over
the ducks in quickness in diving and in:speed.

With the possible exception of the Loon I do not think there is a bird
that can approach this in point of speed in swimming especially. under
water. And as for diving, it is claimed he will dodge a rifle ball at the
fiash of the gun. In my boyhood | frequently: cornered these birds in a

creek or small cove, so that in order to escape it was necessary for. them
to swim under the boat. At these times we could plainly see their’ mode
of progression. They flapped their wings in much the same way. as in
flying, and this in addition to their feet is what gives them their great
speed. On one of these occasions, as the grebe was going under the
boat, my companion in his excitement leaped overboard clothes and all.
By some accident he happened to catch the bird by the neck. We kept
him a couple of days; but as he would not eat let him go.

In the summer two or three pairs may be found breeding on the same
pond. They are exceedingly wary and will glide off the nest on the first
suspicion of anyone’s presence. Before leaving the nest they carefully
cover the eggs with flags so as to conceal them from view and to protect
them from the sun. They frequently leave the process of incubation to
the sun during the day time and only return to the eggs at night.

The young as soon as hatched are expert swimmers and are difficult to
capture. The old bird frequently gathers them under her wings and
swims away from danger.

150 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 151

152 AMERICAN: ORNITHOLOGY.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.

A. .O: VU. No: G&S: (Icteria wvirens).
RANGE.

The United States, east of the plains, excepting northern New England.
South in winter, to eastern Mexico and Central America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 7.5 in.; extent, 10 in.; tail, 3.5 in. Eye, brown. Feet, brown-
ish. Bill, black.

Adults and young alike.—Entire upper parts including wings and tail are
an olive green color. The throat is a rich golden yellow, changing
abruptly into white on the belly. A spot on the lower eye-lid is white,
and a white line extends from the bill over the eye, as does one from the
lower bill down the side of the neck.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds nest in tangled briar thickets and in small scrubby growth.
A number of pairs of the birds frequently breed in the same locality. The
nest is made of strips of bark, dead leaves, and grasses. The eggs are
laid about the latter part of May. They are glossy white, specked and
dotted with reddish and chestnut. They are most heavily marked at the
larger end. They lay from three to four eggs.

HABITS.

If ever a bird was rightly named this one is. His breast is the brightest
of yellows, and if he does not chat with you, he surely has a sufficiently
large variety of notes.to enable him to converse in almost any language.
He is remarkable not only for his variety of notes, but he has developed
into an accomplished ventriloquist, and this gay deceiver practices his art
upon all who have occasion to pass his abode.

Chats are quite rare in Massachusetts and I only see a very few every
year. There is one side hill where for a number of years | have found
them. It is covered witha new growth of chestnut trees and briars.

A few days ago | visited the place and found that they had returned
again this year. I had no sooner crossed the wall separating this growth
from a growth of larger trees adjoining, than | was greeted by a querulous
squawk. | parted the bushes in front of me tosee if | could see him. I
could not. I think that he was waiting for some one to come along with
whom to amuse himself.

The brush was very thick, and I made slow progress through the patch.
Now a tremulous whistle, a deep chirp, a whining cry, or sounds resem-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 153

bling the barking of a small dog would sound from the next bush, to en-
courage me on. Once I! stumbled among the thick vines, which fact
caused him to burst into a boisterous, chuckling cackle. Soon I came toa
narrow open space where there were no briars. This was my opportunity.
Whereas up to now I had through necessity been proceeding slowly, |
rushed across this space and through the next brush as fast as | could. I
was just in time and had a good view of him as he lit in the next bush.
This sudden move on my part was more than he had reckoned on and I
really think that he was ashamed of himself for being caught in his game
of hide and seek. He gave one disgusted chirp and disappeared.

Photo by J. B. PARDOE

NEST OF YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.

Aside from his remarkable vocal attainments, the Chat has other pecul-
iarities in his manners that call our attention to him. During the mating
season, he feels called upon to make as much noise as possible. Probably
his weird uncanny notes are music to his ears and he seeks by this means
to win the fair one he has set his heart on. Having been accepted his ex-
huberance of joy knows no bounds, and he mounts skywards uttering his
choicest selections, and performing the most grotesque evolutions. No
other bird that I know is as boisterous in his enthusiasm as this one.

154 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.

A. O. V. No. 3587. (Covey fas Americanus.)
RANGE.

Southeastern Canada and the United States from Dakota, Indian Ter.
and Texas eastwards; also in the West Indies. They arrive in the north
about the first week in May and leave for their winter quarters in Mexico
and Central America soon after September.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 12 in.; extent, 16 in.; tail, about 6 in. Eye and feet brown.
Upper mandible, black; lower a bright yellow.

Above glossy brownish gray. The central tail feathers the same color
as the back.’ The remainder black with white tips. The inner webs of
the primaries are a bright reddish brown. Entire under parts white. It
perches with two toes in front and two behind.

NEST AND EGGS.

The Cuckoo builds the most shabby looking of nests. It is like a
Green Heron’s nest on a small scale, with the addition of a few blossoms
or catkins. It is placed in most any position not high from the ground.
1 think that the greater number of them prefer a thick tangled mass of
briars or a thorn bush to a more open site. The eggs are laid about the
latter part of May and the bird commences to incubate them as soon as
the first is laid, so that it is not unusual to find both young and eggs at all
stages in the nest at the same time. They lay three or four eggs, there
generally being an interval of several days between each. They are
light blue in ‘color.

Photo by J. B, PARDOE.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 155

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.

156 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

For generations this quiet, unobtrusive and useful friend has been
abused at the hands of those ignorant of his true character. He has been
charged with never making a home for his offspring, with laying eggs in
the nests of other birds, and with devouring the eggs and young of other
birds. These statements are true as concerning the European Cuckoos,
but our American ones are more civilized. The habits of the present spe-
cles differ as much from the English representative of this family as those
of our gentle, useful sparrows do from those of the imported, indolent and
insolent English Sparrow. His ways are very quiet and his dismal croak
is suggestive of evil. His deeds, however, are good and without his help
many a farmer would gather a poor crop of apples. There are few birds
that eat the hairy caterpillars that infest apple orchards and none to the
extent of the Cuckoo. About the second week in May the Cuckoo be-
gins to build his house, if a flat platform of sticks can be called a house.
To make amends for the small amount of labor put in their houses they
usually decorate them with a few apple blossoms or catkins.

Cuckoos have peculiar ideas in regard to rearing their little ones.
They lay their eggs at intervals of two or three days, so that by the time
the last egg is laid the first is hatched. Perhaps they think that in this
way the task of feeding the little ones will be lightened as by the time the
last egg has hatched, two of the young will be large enough to shift for
themselves. The photo taken by Dr. Pardoe gives a good idea of the ap-
pearance of the young.

Mr. Jas. K. Thibault, Jr., sends the following notes from Arkansas:

‘“‘The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, ‘Caw Crow,’ or as it is more often called
‘rain crow,’ is a very common bird here. The name of ‘rain crow’ is un-
doubtedly given it on account of its uttering its croaking sounds more
frequently just before and after arain. This habit has brought down upon
it the vengeance of all the small boys as they believe that it calls for
more rain and thus breaks up a fishing trip or ball game. The tree frog
has the same superstition attached to it.

“‘One of its calls that it is very fond of uttering when in some secluded
spot well hidden by the luxurious foliage somewhat resembles that of the
Mourning Dove, though the time is different. ‘Koo-uck, koo-uck,’ re-.
pealed seven or eight times. Besides this note it has several others the
interpretation of which is very difficult. As it moves about like a spirit
among the green foliage constantly giving its harsh, gutteral call, with its.
tail slightly:drooped, its body in a horizontal position, and its head lower-

ed to almost the same level it forms one of the most striking pictures im-
aginable. Its soft colors render it very difficult to see this bird when it is.
sitting still as its dark back and white breast give the same effect as that.
produced by seeing the white clouds through a small opening in the foliage.’”

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 157

A Pet Crow.

Looking one morning in June out of my window, I saw two Crows fly-
ing about a certain small tree, and making a great fuss.

Immediately I started for the woods to see what was the matter, and
when I arrivee there the Crows flew away, and I saw a young Crow sit-
ting on a branch of this tree. It sat on the limb and gazed at me, and |
walked up and caught it in my hands. Then it began to squawk and the
old birds flew around near by but soon went off. Then I took my captive
home, put him in an old cage, and gave him some bread and water.

At first he would eat nothing, but when I gave him a few pieces of raw
meat he ate them eagerly. Soon he would eat bread soaked in milk, but
he never drank water, so | gave him milk instead. He would eat a few
worms but he never cared as much for them as he did for raw meat.

We called him Lucky, because, | suppose, he was caught on the 13th
of the month. Lucky was a very bright Crow, and when he wanted food
he would begin to squawk, and keep on squawking until some one came
to feed him. rum ait

At first we had to push food into his mouth but after a while he learned
to feed himself.

During this time his parents had not forgotten him, for they .came to
see him every morning, that is they came as near as they dared to come,
and kept up a loud cawing while they were near.

One day Lucky pushed open the door of his cage and after hopping
around on the ground for a while he began to fly. In about half an hour
he was sitting on the top of a tall chestnut tree, taking his first good look
at the world. But his view was cut short, for a friend of mine climbed up
and brought Lucky down.

After awhile we got tired of hearing Lucky squawk so | carried him
Over into the woods and let him go. But that afternoon a man who lived
in the next house saw Lucky and climbed up into a pine tree and caught
him. This man called him Joe and kept him in his barn for a time.

Joe, or Lucky Joe, as we now called him, grew very tame and would
follow the man like a dog. When the man was hoeing in his garden Joe
would sit on his master’s shoulder and talk to him. But the minute he
saw a worm he would jump down and get it.

The man taught Joe several tricks, one of which was as follows: Joe
would be standing on the ground when his master would give him a small
stick and then say, ‘‘Now Joe I am going to get that stick.’’ Immediate-
ly Joe would dodge behind a tree and the man would chase him. Round
and round they would go, sometimes Joe would run to the next tree and
continue dodging around that, until at last he would get tired, and then he
would fly off.

158 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Another trick he taught him was this. He would say, ‘‘Joe, come up
on my arm;’’ Joe would obey; then, ‘‘Joe, pick up that apple and bring it
to me;’’ and Joe would always pick. up the right apple and bring it to his
master.

Still another was this. Joe’s master would hold out a stick and Joe
would jump up on it. Then the man would say, ‘‘Joe turn round,’”’ and
Joe always would turn round.

This kind man kept Joe some time, but one day a large number of
Crows had a meeting in the woods near Joe’s house and when they left
Joe was not to be found. Either the Crows killed him or else they made

Joe go with them. But whichever it was Joe was never seen again.
T. B. PARKER, Mass.

| have in my possession a Green Heron, male, in the breeding plumage
but instead of having green legs it has bright red legs. The Green Heron
is quite a common bird in this locality, feeding along the creeks and breed-
ing in the swamps. | have looked over: quite a number of bird books to
find out the cause of the red legs, but I can find no mention of any hav-
ing been seen. Several Taxidermists have seen it and all say they have

never seen one before like it.
ERNEST A. WATTS, Canandaigua, N. Y.

Inclosed find check for the eight subscriptions to your magazine for one
year. Begin all with number one. This is the second lot | have sent in
and you may expect more. We are more and more pleased with each fol-
lowing number, and we do not see how you can give such pictures for so

little money.
CHAS. M. HIGHT, Franklin School.

Received the sample copy of American Ornithology, and our bird class
thinks it just fills the bill for our bird studies. Find inclosed money order
for the seventeen names on separate enclosure. Kindly send all back
numbers. Several others will probably follow these in a few days.

Wishing you the success that the work deserves, | am cordially,
EBEN FRANK WINSLOW, Chicago.

IF YOu
TEACH OR
STUDY
BIRDS

Bird-Lore

EDITED BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN,

Will tell you just what to teach and just
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From hundreds of unsolicited, commendatory letters
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I wish to congratulate you on the excellent features;
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THE MACMILLAN COMPANY,

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Methods in the
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BY OLIVER DAVIE,

author of ‘‘Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,”’
etc. etc.

90 Full Page Engravings

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER
A. M., M. D., the whole containing five
hundred figures, clearly illustrating the
modes of procedure in the art, together
with examples of characteristic forms and
attitudes of various species of the animal
kingdom, including reproductions from
photographs of actual work by American tax-
idermists.

Never before has the art of taxidermy
had its practical methods and beauties
portrayed as we find them interpreted in
this work. It is a work of art from
cover to cover.

Formerly Published at $10.
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Chas. K. Reed,

Station A. Worcester, Mass.

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STUDER’S
BIRDS of NORTH AMERICA

Over Eight Hundred Birds

FINELY COLORED
On ly $1 BY EXPRESS

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Eek eskes ol Nes
Supplies for the Naturalist and Taxider-
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Who, some years since, did the largest
mail order business in the specimen and
supply line in the World, is now devoting
his entire time and energy to his Profes-
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heard of prices.”

AMERICAN
ORNITHOLOGY

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED

TO . THE. STUDY, OF BikDs comer
Each number contains the descriptions, habits, and
illustrations of from four to six North American
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Unless otherwise stated subscriptions will commence with current number.

WHAT. YOU.-GET -ROR) yox@E Nis:

AT LEAST 60 FINE LARGE PICTURES OF N. A. BIRDS.

AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE DESCRIPTION OF EACH BIRD.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE EGG OF EACH. FULL SIZE.

MANY FINE PHOTOGRAPHS OF NESTS AND EGGS IN SITUATION.

NUMEROUS BIRD PHOTOGRAPHS FROM LIFE.

SHORT STORIES AND NOTES FROM BIRD OBSERVERS IN ALL PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY

CHART SHOWING THE COLORS OF BIRDS.

CHART NAMING THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A BIRD.

ADDRESS

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Begin Your Subscription with No. 1.
We can Supply Back Numbers.

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er
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XX: SS

SEPTEMBER, 1901.
U

Go
“Len

Z LZ

SS
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AW

is) as -—- S
53 DEQ — - Weed
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Bird Glasses

We have secured a quantity of

FIELD GLASSES
MADE EXPRESSLY FOR
BIRD STUDY.

Ghese Glasses give an immense Sield
of view and magnifying power, and com-
pare favorably with many of the high priced glasses
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They are made of Aluminum and covered with
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study. Each one is ina silk lined leather case with
strap. List price of these is $10.00.

WE WILL MAKE OUR READERS A SPECIAL
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Pair for only $5.00, prepaid.

If you do not find them perfectly satisfactory return
them and we will refund your money.

CHA.S. K..REED,
STATION A, WORCESTER, MASS,

Methods in the
Art of
Taxidermy,

BY OLIVER DAVIE,

Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,”’
etc. etc.

90 Full Page Engravings

chiefly drawn by THEODORE JASPER
A. M., M. D., the whole containing five
~ hundred figures, clearly illustrating the
modes of procedure in the art, together
with examples of characteristic forms and
attitudes of various species of the animal
kingdom, including reproductions from
photographs of actual work by American tax-
idermists.

Never before has the art of taxidermy
had its practical methods and beauties
portrayed as we find them interpreted in
this work. It is a work of art from
cover to cover.

Formerly Published at $10.
My Price Only $2.50 Prepaid.

Chas. K. Reed,

Station A. Worcester, Mass.

This book should be in the library of every school.

author of **

STUDER'S
BIRDS of NORTH AMERICA

Over Eight Hundred Birds

FINELY COLORED
Only, $1 BY EXPRESS

PREPAID.
WE HAVE ONLY THREE COPIES AT
THIS PRICE xexexe THIS ELEGANT
WORK WAS PUBLISHED TO SELL
AT FORTY DOLLARS. . 3

CHAS. K. REED,
WORCESTER, MASS.

JAMES P. BABBITT,
— DEALER IN —

Supplies for the Naturalist and Taxider-
mist; Fine Glass Eyes a Specialty.
TAUNTON, MASS.

Illustrated catalogue and bargain list
of Birds’ Eggs and Skins upon application.

Naturalist Supply Depot

DEALER IN

SUPPLIES. BIRD SKINS AND EGGS, GLASS EYES

Mounted Specimens a Specialty.
Send ten cents for a catalogue.

FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER CO.,

MUSEUM, - . HYDE PARK, MASS,

Sta. A.

Frank Lattin, M. D., Albion, N.Y.

New lists have just

out specimens,
heard of prices.”
been issued on ‘‘Books for the Ornitholo-
gist,’ .. Scientific “Shells,” fF Selectad
Corals, Shells, Minerals, Curios, Relics,
etc.”’? ‘Barrel of Shells,’’? ‘Nature Study
Collection’”’ also a selected list of ‘‘speci-
mens, curios and publications’? which are
being closed out at one-fourth rates.
Other lists are to follow as time will per-
mit. All are free upon request Write
today.

O-—G—-@ - GO -G- 0-9-8 -9-- 9 - Oo - -@- SS - 9

Vol. I. September, 1901.

No. 9

AMERICAN OSTRICH FARMS.

Nearly a thousand Os-
triches, the descendents of
African imports, are vege-
tating in California and Ar-
izona at this writing. A
pair of these creatures have
been known in California
to hatch thirty-seven chicks
in one year; a brief reflec-
tion upon these figures with-
outa lively imagination will
ina very short time show
large prospective profits in
the culture of the American
Msirich; experience, -the
best teacher, shows that
this rate cannot by any
means be depended upon,
but that different localities
even in the same district
affect very seriously the
health of this strange spec-
imen of the bird creation.
Cold winds and the want
of green food are often fatal
to the Ostrich young; even
the embryo is not free from

OUR CORRESPONDENT.

160 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

danger of destruction by the parent, either caused by fright on the part of
the hen Ostrich, resulting in breaking the eggs while in the nest, or by
the irregular appetite of the male, who will in some cases acquire a habit
of eating the fresh laid eggs of his partner. The Ostrich industry has al-
ready attained proportions of sufficient size to interest capital; and today
not a single Ostrich can be bought for love or money uncontrolled by the
competitive demand of this Ostrich trust. For purposes of revenue most
of the Ostrich farms of America are dependent upon the object of interest
which thése strange bipeds are to the tourists from the north; who annual-
ly visitthe warmer climates of this country, in which only can the African
Ostrich thrive. Exhibitions are made of the birds at Northern expositions,
but these exhibits are by no means Ostrich farms in the true sense of that

OSTRICH FARM.

term, as seen in California, and but very few chicks are ever hatched at
these temporary displays.

One of the most perfect and entertaining Ostrich farms of America lies
on the border of a small town in Southern California called Pasadena.
Here, at the head of the San Gabriel Valley and within five miles of Los
Angeles, the metropolis of Southern California, is found an ideal procreat-
ing location for the Ostrich. Sheltered somewhat from the sea breezes,
about three hundred feet above the level of the ocean, fed carefully on the
bestthe market affords and regularly attended by the most skilled Ostrich
farmer in the country, these collections of Ostriches, numbering altogeth-
er one hundred and twenty-five birds of all ages, are increasing rapidly;
seldom is a death recorded and the proximity of the institution to the pop-
ular Los Angeles and Pasadena, so much visited by tourists, insures a con-
stant flow of silver, through the gates of the Ostrich Farm.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 161

The Ostrich is not hard to raise. One man can take care of and do
justice to a hundred ostriches; the creatures feed on chopped beets,
oranges and corn, though too much of the latter edible has a tendency to
make the males fight. They are peacable and even timid as a rule; dur-
ing the breeding season the males becomes ferocious and stand ready to
attack all intruders at all times, but the hens always run away when ap-
proached. All day long in the warm California sunshine the little chicks
may be seen feeding upon the well kept lawns of the Ostrich farm; the
flocks of adult birds hurriedly chase around the large corrals; from morn-
ing till night the mating Ostriches in the pens march up and down or se-
quester peacefully on the family nest, gazing with their large beautiful
eyes upon the passing crowd. While the brain of an Ostrich weighs

YOUNG OSTRICH.

only an. ounce and a half, it is possessed of a memory. If a man ir-
ritates a large male Ostrich in the breeding pens the creature will remem-
ber him; and upon his appearance weeks afterwards will advance to at-
tack him. The keepers can go into the pens without danger, although it
is noticed that they are constantly on the watch when they do so. One
of the tallest of keepers at this farm has frequently held out at arm’s
length a belligerent Ostrich, the creature’s legs flying out with marvelous
force and rapidity but not quite reaching the body of the individual. With
wings outstretched and mouth open the bird is truly a startling sight, but
the denoument of his rage is after he has set down a minute and worked
himself with open wings from side to side; this must be his challenge; he
then rises and rushes at the object of attack with great speed, at the same
time kicking to the front with his long muscular legs; a blow on such oc-
casions has been known in Africa to result in death to the attacked
whether man or horse.

One of the largest expositions of Ostrich feather manufacture in the
world is contained in the large show room of this Ostrich farm; beautiful
long Ostrich feathers of all shades and qualities, retaining their natural

162 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

curl, are displayed
on every hand,
forming an exhibi-
tion that particular-
ly delights the heart
of womankind.
There also may be
seen rows of stuffed
little Ostriches,
who have _ passed
away, from catch-
ing cold, or have
eaten something
dry which has in-
terferred with their
digestions. Four
salespeople are con-
stantly employed
5 ‘ attending to the
~ OSTRICH WITH WINGS RAISED. wants of the visit-
ors; and indeed it is quite probable that a desire is born as soon as a
woman enters this institution.
The prospect for this new industry is indeed promising. A very brief
glance at the experience of the British ostrich farmers at the Cape of Good
Hope will satisfy the most critical calculator that this business is a profit

FEEDING THE OSTRICH.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 163

able investment; ostriches furnish an average annual revenue of some
thirty dollars a year each for their feather product; added to this must be
taken into account their natural increase; and added also, for the present
at least. while the ostrich is a curiosity in America, the immense fund de-
rived from exhibiting ‘the farms as ‘‘sights.’’ Three hundred thousand
ostriches now yield their revenue to the English capitalists; and the time
is not far distant, perhaps in this generation, when the ostriches of Califor-
nia, Arizona, Florida and Texas will cover the southern lands of the United
States as they do the vast plains of Africa to-day. As regards the Afro-
American ostrich it may be safely asserted that the experiments so far
conducted with such enterprise and enthusiasm have resulted in unquali-
fied success and achieved the task of domiciling this giant of the African
desert, this fleet wanderer of the Soudan, among a civilized community for

the good of all parties concerned. ERNEST HORSFALL RYDALL, Los Angeles, Cal.

Phoebe at Home.

I have been interested in a Phoebe bird who built her nest under a bal-
cony of the boat house at Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester. After her nest
was completed and she was sitting on her eggs it was found necessary to
renew the rails and floor of the balcony. She remained on her nest all
the time the men were at work, not seeming to be disturbed by them or
_by their pounding directly over her. She was seen on her nest after the
men were gone, for a few days, but from six o’clock of the afternoon of
May 18th she was not seen again for about a week. About that time a
swallow either started to use her nest or to build under the eaves on that
side of the house but the phoebe objected and spent two or three days
fighting with the intruder, till at last she won and the swallow left. The
phoebe went to work and built a new nest over the old one and the stale
eggs and laid a tresh set of eggs and hatched them.

Miss JANE WOODWARD, Worcester

Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, author of ‘‘Chapters on the Natural History of the
U. S.’’ and for many years Associate Zoologist at the Smithsonian Insti-
tute, writes us of his removal from Washington, to New York City. His
address now is 502 West.142 St., Hamilton Place, N. Y. City. We ex-
pect the Doctor will favor our readers at an early date with some interest-
ing bird stories and illustrations.

164 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
CALIFORNIA VULTURE.

A. O. VU. No. 524. (Pseudogryphus californianus.)
RANGE.

Coast range of mountains from the northern counties of California to
northern Mexico. Their range is very restricted and they are found out-
side of these limits only as stragglers. They are usually found at altitudes
of from three to five thousand feet from the sea level.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 3.5 to 4 ft.; extent, 9 to 11 ft.; tail, about 1.5 ft. The general
color is black. The feathers on the under side of the wings and in mature
male birds, the points of the feathers of the shoulder, are white. Feathers
on the breast are of a fine silky appearance, resembling hair. The head
and neck are bare for the greater part, the feathers of the lower neck meet-
ing the bare skin in a beautiful collar. The tail is black and each feather
is nearly square across at the tip. The skin on the neck and feet of the
male birds is yellow. On the females it is darker. The feet have no
talons like an eagle, but resemble those of a domestic turkey. They
weigh from twenty to thirty pounds, the males being about five pounds
heavier than the females. The color of the eyes is a dark blue.

NEST AND EGGS.

The single egg of the Cal. Vulture is laid on the bare rock in small caves
or holes in some of the most inaccessable cliffs within their range. This
egg is laid during Feb. or March. It is a plain ashy green egg and might
almost be called white. The surface is rather rough.

By permission of ‘‘THE CONDOR.’

VULTURE: NEST, AND “EGG.

165

"OLOGY

AMERICAN ORNITI

CALIFORNIA VULTURE.

166 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

VULTURE EGG,

HABITS.

If measured by its extent of wing, this vulture is the largest bird in the
United States. One that was secured in the Loma Pelon Mts. measured
eleven feet and four in. in extent. This greatest of all feathered scaveng-
ers is strictly a mountain bird. If he descends to the valley, it is only to
gorge on a dead carcass. After finishing his meal, with a few flaps of his
enormous wings, he mounts into the air, and then without any further
perceptible effort, and taking advantage of every favorable current of air,
rises skywards until a sufficient altitude is reached, when he starts home-
wards. For a habitat he selects the roughest and most rugged mountains,
and only those covered with coniferous forests and high cliffs. On these
cliffs he sits sunning himself for hours. At night he will select the dead
branches of some large pine for his perch and unless disturbed does not
leave it before eight o’clock in the morning.

A large hole in a cliff, usually facing towards the south, is chosen for a
nesting place. The bottom of this cave is covered with sand or broken
bits of rock. A hollow is scratched out in this for the nest, sticks or any
other material generally being omitted in the construction.

I am glad to be able to send you some photographs of the nest and eggs
of the Condor. The photo of the egg is just as it was in the hole of the

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 167

rocks. The ledge below the hole was only eighteen inches wide so the
camera had to be set right at the mouth of the hole, showing only one
side.

Could the camera have been set a little farther back the entrance to the
nest could have been shown. In the photograph of the cliff, the streak
near the bottom is the narrow ledge and the hole with the nest is the one
nearest the center of the picture. This photo was made from arock stand-
ing about forty feet from the cliff containing the egg. The cliff faces the
west or north-west and is several hundred feet high. The photo was made
at 2 p. m. and was a very hazardous undertaking.

The large photo of the egg was made outside of the nest and is the same
size as the egg. It is rarely that a nest is found where a photo can be
made that will show the egg, and most photos of this kind are made
by placing the egg in a hole in the rock that is accessable to the camera.
It is not so in this case as the egg was found in the rock as shown.

Photo by W. D. WoobD.
VULTURE’S EGG IN CAVE.

The eggs are laid in Feb. or March, and by May the young birds are
well grown. One which was captured April 24, measured twenty-four
in. from point to point of its wings. If they are not disturbed they will
nest in the same place year after year. A young bird was taken from a

168 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by W. D. Woop.
CLIFF SHOWING NESTING CAVE. (Hole above center. )

nest in 1890 and another in 1896, from the same nest, but they did not
nest there between these dates.

The collector who tries to obtain these birds has a hard task as usually
they are far back in the mountains and must be carried on pack horses for
miles. Indeed, he is fortunate if, after having found one, it is not sitting
on the brink of a precipice, where if shot it would fall to the bottom, many
hundred feet below, and be picked up a worthless mass.

It is a fact greatly to be regretted that many hunters make a practice of
shooting these birds whenever an opportunity occurs. They have no use

for the bird, but kill it just because it is a rare one.
ARTHUR WILCOX, Arroyo Grande, Cal.

The ‘‘School Curiosity Box’’ that you sent us for the fifteen subscrip-
tions to AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY was received yesterday. The speci-
mens are much nicer than we expected. The sea fans and some of the
shells are just beautiful. My scholars are completely carried away with
them. Some of the boys are getting up a new club to send in fifteen more
names so as to havea duplicate collection. We thank you for your prompt-

ness in sending the premium, and wish your magazine great success.
Miss HELEN Moser, St. Marks Schoo.

———e

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 169

SHELTER FOR THE BIRDS.

With every recurring year come back the countless hordes of insects to
prey upon our crops, and the repetition of more or less futile attempts to
check or exterminate. But there is little use in trying to sweep the sea
back with a broom, or to stay an avalanche with a straw. We must find
an antagonistic cause, or make one, that when the time of development
comes, it may do away with or neutralize the effect we fear.

But it is not in the power of man, with all his science, unassisted by the
birds, to prevent the multiplication of insects from being the cause of his
crops’ annihilation. He may destroy trees and shrubbery: about his bord-
ers which are supposed to harbor insects, clip his hedges, and grub out all
the bits of wild growth in the neighborhood, and all the time be working
to his own undoing. Money spent for insecticides is but a straw in front
of the invading horde, and all the inventions and appliances and makeshifts
never destroy one ten-thousandths of the host that encompasses and dis-
mays him.

How much better it would be to accept the co-operation of the opposing
army, which is both eager and able to do what we cannot, and which,
moreover, is only waiting for our permission. Why not leave them a bit
of woodland or wild shrubbery for nesting, in return for the protection of
our crops?

All species of insects multiply in cultivated grounds, while the birds,
with a few exceptions, that feed upon them, can find a nursery and protec-
tion only in the woods. Insects deposit their eggs in the soil, on the
branches of trees, about fences and buildings, and are nowise dependent
on a wild growth of wood and shrubbery. They need nothing better than
the under edge of a clapboard or a shingle whereon to suspend their co-
coons or lay their eggs, and so minute are the objects that will afford them
all the conveniences they need, when hatching and when passing through
all their transformations, till they become perfect insects, that no artifice
or industry of man can deprive them of their nurseries, or appreciably les-
sen their numbers.

It is a significant fact that birds increase with the advance of civilization.
The forest yields them but a scanty subsistence, and though its border is
their nursery and shelter, their best feeding places are the cultivated
grounds. There is not a single species whose means of subsistence are
not increased by the clearing of the forest and the cultivation of the land,
but they require a certain proportion of wild wood for their habitation.
This is partly because of their naturally wild nature, and partly because
we never attempt to win their confidence. While our grounds offer them
a tempting feeding place, yet our very presence is always felt by them to
be a menance. Very few species build their nests in the trees.and shrub-

170 AMERICAN ORNITIIOLOGY.

bery of our gardens, unless they are near a wood. In thatcase some birds
nest in the garden, that during the rearing of their young they may be
near the grounds that produce larve.

Most of the woodpeckers, the silvias, and the small thrushes, including
some of our most valuable birds, cannot rear their young except in a wild
wood. Yet all these, solitary as they are in their habits, increase under
favorable conditions with the multiplication of insects consequent upon the
culture of the soil.

That the presence of birds means a scarcity of insects, and the destroy-
ing of every acceptable harbor for them a corresponding increase of the
agricultural pests, is borne out by incontestable facts. An orchard that
is nearly surrounded by a wild wood of much extent is not often infested
by borers and other injurious insects, and an apple tree growing in a little
clearing or open space is invariably exempt from the ravages of the com-
mon apple borer. The same exemption is observed in those fruit trees
that stand very near a wild wood, or any wood containing a spontane-
ous undergrowth. The explanation is that the wood affords a harbor to
the birds that destroy these insects in all their forms. Orchards and gar-
dens, on the contrary, which are located at any considerable distance from
a wood, have not this security. It is true that robins are very abundant
in orchards, which are their breeding places; but robins, though the most
useful birds that are known to exist, take all their food from the ground.
They destroy vast quantities of cutworms and chrysalids buried in the
soil, but they take very little of their insect food from the trees. The
birds that perform this work are the sylvias, woodpeckers, creepers, and
other species that live only in woods and thickets.

The locust, which ravages the east with its voracious armies, is bred in
vast open plains, which admit the full heat of the sun to hasten the hatch-
ing of the eggs, gather no moisture to destroy them, and harbor no bird to
feed upon their larvae. It is only since the felling of the forests of Asia
Minor and Cyrene that the locust has become so fearfully destructive in
those countries; and the grasshopper, which now threatens to be almost
as great a pest to the agriculture of North American soils, breeds in seri-
ously injurious numbers only where a wide extent of surface is bare of
woods.

When the farmer destroys the border shrubbery in his fields and the
thickets and woods on his hills, he exterminates the birds by hosts, while
the mischievous boy with his gun destroys only a few individuals. There
is no queston that if their increase were not checked by the tree-destroying
habits of model farmers, and the sporting habits of men and boys, birds of
every species would increase in the same ratio with the multiplication of

their insect food, and proportionally diminish their ravages.
FRANK H. SWEET, Waynesboro, Va.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. bara

SHORT-EARED OWL.

A. O. V. No. 567, (Asfo accipitrinus.)

RANGE.

About equally distributed throughout North America, not being especi-
ally abundant in any part of its range. It breeds throughout Canada
and the northern part of the U. S.

DESCRIPTION,

Length, about 15 in.; extent, 4o in.; tail, Gin. Eye, bright yellow.
Bill and toes dark gray. Entire upper parts variegated with brown and
tawny yellow; the markings on the back and back of head taking the form
of streaks, while the wings and tail are barred. The under parts are buff
streaked with brown. The face is a dull white except for a black ring
about each eye. The ear tufts are very small and hardly notice-
able.

NEST AND EGGS.

These owls will nest
in any marshy locality.
Generally no nest is
built, aithough some-
times a bird will be
thrifty enough to wind a
few grasses around the
inside of the hollow in
the ground and may go
so far as toline it with a
few feathers. In their
breeding range in the U.
S. they lay their eggs
about the last week in
April; in the more north-
ern sections of the coun-

try theyclay later..; The
eggs number from four
to seven, and are white

NEST OF SHORT-EARED OWL.

and only slightly granulated.
HABITS.

This trim, intelligent looking owl has a much wider distribution than
most birds can claim. He has brothers and sisters in practically every

172 AMERTCAN ORNITITOLOGY

SHORT-EARED OWL.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 173

country on the globe. Wherever found, his habits appear to be the same
and he shows preference for marshy regions, thereby earning his local
name of ‘‘Marsh Owl.’’ They are somewhat of a migratory nature and
travel in small flocks.

On cloudy days you will sometimes see them skimming over the marsh;
slowly flapping their long wings, they swiftly and noiselessly glide over
the grass looking for trouble. The trouble in this case comes to the objects
-of their search, which are field mice and shrews. These small creatures
are not given long to prepare for the next world, as their winged destroyer
silently pounces upon them and hardly an instant elapses ere they are
securely resting in his internal regions. Rarely does this gentle bird prey
upon any of the smaller feathered bipeds, and if perchance you learn that
one of them has been guilty of such transgression, do not at once rush for
a gun with which to slay the offender; better to pay tribute to his skill and
perserverance which have enabled him to rid the marshes of the obnoxi-
ous mice, and thus forced him to this diet.

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus (406).
OSs.
Passer Domesticus (E. S.)

’Twas one bright May morning when I was on my way to my daily
work, I noticed that considerable disturbance was taking place about half
way up a maple tree. The tree had previously been cut near the top to
make it spread. As is always the case, the branch stumps had decayed,
and a pair of red-headed woodpeckers had decided to locate in one of the
stumps. Making a suitable hollow, their home was completed.

The ever-present English sparrows, spying the opening in the stump
evidently resolved to locate there also. Upon their examination of the
premises the woodpeckers resented and manifested that the sparrows’
presence was not desired. A few flutters and squeals and the sparrows
were victorious. Ina short time they began to have everything in readi-
ness for an abode.

Three days later, upon passing the same place, the same noise was
heard overhead, and! stopped to watch. Evidently the same woodpeck-
ers had returned and resumed the battle, which was more furious than
the previous one. Twenty minutes passed and still the battle raged,
but in a few more moments, one sparrow dropped to the ground helpless,
and the remainder gave way to the more formidable foe. The woodpeck-
ers seemed to be joyous over their victory, although nearly exhausted.

The woodpeckers hold control of their home to this day and are now

rearing a family of four, seemingly as happy as ever.
J. B., Illinois.

174

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The house is now filled with guests.
Some staid here through the year.

A few prefer their last year’s nests
Which they find waiting here.

The warblers, too, make gay the place,
But transient guests are they.

Such beauty rare; such winged grace!
Would they could longer stay.

The rowdy sparrow too is found,

An ever present pest.

He haunts the place the year around;
He will not be suppressed.

Brown Thrasher, and the sweet Wood
Bunting of rarest blue, Thrush, ]
The Maryland Yellowthroat, midst the
Chewinks and Robins, too. [ brush,

Miss Jennie Wren, and Bluebirds dear,
Are found in many a nook.

All these and other guests are here,
Their names are on our book.

Our bill of fare fills every need.

’Twould suit an epicure.

Moths, worms, and bugs, and ripened seed,
And sparkling water pure.

On the owl train I think some came,
And some on fast express.

Sir Oriole, Bob White and dame,
Waxwings in Quaker dress.

Hotel DeWoods it’s greeting sends,
And as the summer’s here,

Begs to inform patrons and friends
It’s opened for the year.

The Grosbeak with a scarlet tie,
And dapper Catbird grey.

The Vireos on tree-top high,
The Chat and cross Bluejay.

Some gloomy rooms on the ground floor
Are left to Mrs. Snake.

Woodchucks, field-mice, and many more,
Will well repay your search.

A welcome is assured to all;

Dame Nature is in charge.

We hope that you, at least, will call,
Inspect our hotel large.

The rocks are crowned with lichens grey,
The banks with mosses green.
While verdure soft and blossoms gay

Deck sloping hills serene.

The music here is of the best.

At Vespers, Veery sings;

And when the sun dies in the West,
Wood Thrush, the curfew rings.

A summer school is held here too,
With long curriculum.

Science and Art, by methods new,
Are taught to those who come.

Freshly refurnished, is the place.
Brown rugs replaced with green.
Green draperies of sheerest lace
On every tree are seen.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 175

Come fill your lungs with pure sweet air For those who spend the summer here.

’Twill drive away the blues. We’ve something more than wealth.
Put far away each anxious care, Come to Dame Nature, never fear,
And every worry lose. She proffers you—good health.

AMERICAN DIPPER.

A. O. VU. No. 701. (Cinclus mecvricanus.)
: RANGE.

The mountainous parts of western N. A. from Alaska to Central Amer-
ica, and from the Rocky Mts. to the Pacific coast. They are resident
throughout their range.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 6.5 in.; extent, 10.5 in.; tail about 2 in. Eye, brown. Bill,
black. Feet, yellow. Entire upper and under parts, dark gray, the under
parts being paler than the upper. The young are white beneath and the
bill is yellowish.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds always build their nest near swiftly flowing streams or
creeks. It is sometimes placed under an overhanging bank, on a rock in
a crevice among the rocks, under the roots of a tree or possibly about the
timbers of an old bridge. It is a large ball of green moss with an entrance
at the side, the nest part proper being lined with grass. Their pure white
eggs, three to five in number, are laid about the first part of June.

HABITS.

The American dipper, water ouzel, or water thrush, for it is closely
allied to the thrushes, is a very unique, interesting and quite remarkable
bird. Technically, it is named Cinclus mexicanus, for it was first described
from the mountains of Mexico. It exists, however, along the entire Rocky
Mountain range from Alaska to Mexico, and is peculiarly restricted to that
region. It is the only member of its family in North America, though
there is one species in South America, and another in Europe.

176

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 177

It belongs, systematically, to the perching birds, or passers, having the
true and characteristic perching foot, and judging from its appearance and
structure, one would imagine that like all similar birds its habitat would be
in leafy groves and bosky glens, or on the upland pastures. But this rara
avis is, indeed, an anomaly in ornithology, for it was never known to alight
on a tree, but prefers a rock or piece of drift-wood beside the babbling
stream. And while it is quite swift on the wing, darting like an arrow up
or down the stream, it never flies overland, but always follows the stream
in its devious windings, where it is a familiar object to the observant
angler.

It wades along in shallow water like a snipe or plover, though its legs
are short. It swims on the surface like a duck, though it is not web-footed.
It dives like a grebe or loon, and swims, or rather flies, under water for
long distances, using its wings alone, its legs stretching out behind. It
walks on the bottom of a stream or pond like a submarine diver in his
armor.

It is of a uniform, ashy hue, or mouse color. Its bill is short, like all
passerine birds, and its short tail is carried vertically. It is a very rest-
less bird, nearly always in motion, and has a comical and characteristic
habit of bobbing up and down, when standing on a rock, somewhat like
the teeter-tail or tip-up sandpiper.

It feeds on insects and their larve, and other small organisms that find
a home in the water. It emits a short, sharp note when startled, or on the
wing, somewhat like the modified ‘‘scaipe’’ of the snipe.

I cannot but think that the cry and the genuflections just mentioned are
in imitation of the snipe or plover, for the purpose of deceiving its prey.
For as the waders can only go to the depth that their legs can carry them,
in seeking their food, insects and worms in deeper water have no fear of
them. But the ousel, bobbing on the brink, while pretending to be a wad-
ing plover, and seeing its prey in deeper water, suddenly plunges in, or
walking along the bottom of the stream secures the unsuspecting creatures
—the victims of misplaced confidence.

The water ouzel, as one might suspect from its resemblance in structure
to the thrushes, is the finest and sweetest singer among all the feathered
songsters of the Rocky Mountain region. Its song is not unlike that of the
canary, but far more sweet and tender. Standing on a rock beside a
waterfall, its throat swelling with pride, it pours forth a sonata of exquisite
tenderness and feeling, with liquid trills and joyous cadences, while the
deep monotone of the waterfall hums a fitting accompaniment.

It builds its nest in a cleft of rock or other sheltered nook beside the
stream, sometimes on the very edge of a waterfall, or even behind it. It
is constructed of dried moss and leaves, and the opening is rather on the

178 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

side than on the top. It lays four or five white eggs, as 1 was_ informed
by a lad who found a nest for me after much patient observation. I was
exceedingly desirous to secure a nest and eggs, for I had never seen them.
In my boyhood days of egg-collecting I would have secured and added them
to my collection without compunction, but with the accumulation of years
I have become more thoughtful and humane, | suppose, and I could not
make up my mind to rob the mother ouzel of its home and future brood;
and in order to resist the temptation I did not visit the spot until the eggs
were hatched and the fledgelings flown.

These birds cannot be said to be abundant in this section (U. S. Fish
Commission Station, Bozeman, Mont.), as I have never seen more than
three or four pairs on the creek near Bridger Canyon. They remain with
us during the entire year.

During my first spring and summer in our hatchery | was much inter-
ested in the ouzels. There was one pair that somehow found our ponds
and were frequent visitors. They were very tame, sociable and compan-
ionable, as most anglers are aware. | watched them and studied them for
an hour ata time. I saw them alight on the edges of the ponds, running
along the brink like a pair of sandpipers, then suddenly walk into the water
and along the bottom across to the other side, where they would emerge,
and with their heads on one side look up at me quite knowingly, for I was,
perhaps, not ten feet from them.

I have seen them plunge into the water, while flying, and continue their
flight under the surface for the length of the pond. 1 have also seen them
dive, like kingfishers, from the top of the drain boxes into the water.
Then, again, | have observed them leave the shore and swim away on the
surface like so many ducklings. As the water in the ponds, at such times,
was very Clear and still, the opportunities for these observations were very
favorable, for every motion, even under water, could be distinctly seen.

It would be of the greatest interest to know how this aberrant species of
the perching group adopted the habits of a water bird,—habits so at vari-
ance with the rest of the passerine tribe. It would also be of equal inter-
est to imagine if in the future, after countless generations, the feet of the
ouzels would become webbed, and their bills and legs longer and better
adapted to their acquired habits, for acquired they must have been. On
the whole, however, this does not seem to be really necessary in the
economy of the ouzel, for it has certain physical advantages that the swim-
mers and waders do not possess, in addition to its imitative faculties.

That the ouzel is a very intelligent bird, and one that is always ready
to take advantage of any circumstance or situation wherein its well being
is concerned, cannot be denied, for I have already mentioned some of its
habits wherein its ability for finesse and stratagem has been demons trated.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 179

But | will go further and say that its limitations have not been determined,
and that it is equal to any emergency that may arise, in which it is espec-
ially interested, or in which it may hope for gain—and thereby hangs a
tragic tale.

One day my foreman informod me that the ouzels were stealing our
young trout which had been recently placed in the nursery ponds. I re-
sented the imputation and said he must be mistaken, but he insisted that
it was a lamentable fact that could be proven by watching them, and this
I proceeded to do; and this is what I saw:

On the nursery ponds we have board floats as a shade and refuge for
the young trout. While seated near the ponds I saw the ouzels alight on
the edge of a float, stick their bills in the water and wiggle them. This
attracted the baby trout, and as their curiosity took them near enough to
investigate the matter they were remorselessly and greedily grabbed up
and swallowed by my ouzels. Well, | was sorry, and told my foreman to
shoot one, which he did. It died a martyr to an inquiring and inventive
mind, or at least a victim to an instinct adapted to all sorts of expedients.
On examining the contents of its stomach I found undoubted evidence of
its guilt in quite a number of infantile trout.

But that was the last foray of the ouzels on my: preserves, though one
portion of the creek is but twenty yards from the ponds. They have not
offended since—another evidence of the ready wit, if not reason, of this
remarkable bird, the confiding companion of the trout fisher of the Rock-

ies.
Dr. JAMES A. HENSHALL.

BROWN THRASHER.

A. 0. VU. No. 705. (Harporhynchus rufus.)

RANGE.

The entire United States east of the Rocky Mts., with the exception of
the northern part of Maine. It breeds throughout its range.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 11 in.; extent, 13 in.; tail, about 6 in. Eye, yellow. Bill,
dark brown, except the basal portion of the lower mandible, which is yel-
low. Feet, light brown. Entire upper parts uniform light reddish brown.
The feathers of the wing coverts blackish towards the ends and then tip-
ped with white, forming two narrow wing bars. Throat, white bordered
on each side with small brown spots. Rest of under parts, duller white,
the breast and sides being covered with lengthened spots of dark brown.

180 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is

s { a
“ 5 pie 4 { ; a x«
ie a. BS ng 4-
—— Na, cxry x
bd 1 ; Jie ra 7 . 4
j . rn Lis Bows vie | Cathe 4 eo)
| 4 ; ¢ eg | CK ’

BROWN THRASHER AND NEST. ;

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is built at varying heights, from the ground: up to six ft. It is
located preferably in a dense scraggly thorn bush. or thicket, surrounded
by briars. It is rather compactly built, considering the material used, it
being constructed of small sticks and twigs and lined with fine roots. By
the latter part of May the set of four or five eggs will be completed; the
ground color varies white or creamy to a very pale greenish blue, and they
are thickly specked over the entire surface with reddish brown.

HABITS.

There has always been a doubt in my mind as to there being anywhere
a sweeter songster than this. With the exception of a few weeks in the
summer he is the life of the bird neighborhood, as he leads their joyful
chorus from morning till night.

Once a year in every bird’s life comes a period of misery. This is dur-
ing the summer molt, and the misery is probably caused more from the
feelings of the mind than from any bodily discomfort. They are conscious
that at this time they look rather shabby and they try to be as little conspi-
cuous as possible. During the last week in August I traversed a section of
country where, a week before the thrashers were pouring forth their mel-
ody on every hand. Nota sound was heard from them, and during my
day’s trip, | saw but one of these birds, and as he disappeared | noticed
that a number of his tail feathers were several inches shorter than the
others.

182 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Perchance a few of our readers
have not yet made the acquaintance
of this general favorite; a word to
such. Led by unusual sounds you
approach acertain tree carefully un-
til you can see the source of them.

On the top of the tree, or at the end
of a branch, you see a brown bird,
say perhaps, ten or twelve inches
in length, the greater part of this
being tail. He stands with head up
and tail drooped straight down, and
from his throat comes the most de-
lightful warbling, whistling and tril-
ling that it has been your pleasure
to hear. You may safely put this

down in your note book as the

BROWN THRASHER.

Brown Thrasher.

One of the first nests that I found this season was that of this bird. It
was conveniently located on the south side of a thorn bush, and near the
outside. As the Brown Thrasher is not a timid bird and will almost allow -
you to remove her from the nest with the hand, I anticipated no difficulty
in obtaining some good photographs of her. Although | got the pre I
had more difficulty than with any other that I have attempted.

About nine o’clock on a bright morning | called on her armed with all
the utensils necessary for picture taking. After tying back a few of the
branches to obtain a good view of the nest, I focussed the camera and re-
tired to watch developments. After the first numerous angry expostula-
tions against being driven from her home, she calmy perched on a branch
about six or eight feet from her nest and waited to see what my next move
would be. After waiting about four hours, watching her performing her
toilet and apparently giving no thought to her home, | gave it up for that
day.

After going through the same operation for several days, sFe concluded
that since there was an easy mode of exit from the nest from the rear, that
she would settle down to business and pay no attention to me, as Icng as
| remained a safe distance away. Unfortunately the next day after this
decision, some young hopeful chanced to discover the nest and appropriated
the contents to adorn his cigar box collection of eggs; thus my expected
series of pictures of this bird were broken soon after the start.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

American Ornithology.

A MAGAZINE DEVOTED WHOLLY
TO BIRDS.

Published monthly by Chas. K. Reed,
75 Thomas Street, Worcester, Mass.
Edited by C. Albert Reed.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

In the United States, Canada and
Mexico, fifty cents a year, postpaid.
Single copies five cents.

To all countries in the International
Postal Union, seventy-five cents a year
postpaid.

ADVERTISING RATES.

Page one month $20 00
One-half page one Oath fee 10 00
One-quarter page one month ..... 5 00
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Copy must be received not later than
the roth of preceding month.

Entered at the Post Office at Worcester, Mass.,
as second-class matter, Jan. 16, rgo1

Several of our subscribers have
expressed the wish that we continue
to announce in advance the birds
that will appear in the two following
numbers. This we will be glad to
do, and we shall endeavor to keep
to the schedule, although force of
circumstances may cause us to sub-
stitute some other bird at times.
We hope that you will send in your
experiences or observations in re-
gard to any of them. Remember
that the copy for each month is
made up by the roth of the month
preceding, so that it will be neces-
sary to have your notes here before
that time.

183

The October number will contain
the following birds: Heath Hen,
Chimney Swift, White-faced Glossy
Ibis, Cal. Purple Finch, American
Crow.

November will have: Black-bel-
lied Tree Duck, Spotted Sandpiper,
Broad-wing Hawk, American Bit-
tern, Indigo Bunting.

How interesting it is to read an
account of an afternoon spent with
the birds. I have no doubt that
every one of our subscribers has had
experiences with the birds which
would prove very interesting if they
would just take a few moments to
write about them. Just try it and
See:

We appreciate the many good
comments that we have received,
both by letter and through the press.
It is always encouraging to know
that your work is appreciated.
There is a small favor that we
should like of each of our subscrib-
ers. There are thousands of per-
sons throughout the country that are
interested in nature and would be
glad to subscribe to A. O. if they
knew such a magazine was in exist-
ance. What we want is the names
of some of these. Can you not
send us a postal with the names of
a few of your friends who you be-
lieve to be interested in our subject,
so that we can send them a sample
copy? Or if you will state how
many samples you can use to ad-
vantage we will be glad to send them
to you.

184 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

A BIT OF NATURE.

This spring a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches selected a hollow chest-
nut tree within reach of our piazza for a nest. I was very glad to have
them there because they are insectiverous, and because they have an ac-
tive, business-like air about them, which is very interesting. I was never
tired of watching them.

When they decided to take the tree for a nesting place, they evidently
thought that the piazza went with it, for they told me plainly that I wasn’t
wanted, whenever | tried to get acquainted with them. | succeeded at
last, however, and in time they took no notice of meatall. They allowed
me to hang a hammock within a yard of their nest, and in fact they seemed
to take everything in good part except English sparrows. With the num-
erous other birds they lived harmoniously, but if a sparrow came near that
precious nest, there was sure to be a fight, and that excitable little male
was no mean pugilist either. Once or twice | went to his rescue with my
gun and shot the invader, but the little fellow always regarded me and my
gun as secondary matters. He seemed to think that he had killed the
sparrow and could drive me away if | did anything which was not to his
liking. He never tried to, though, but contented himself with driving
sparrows, and the latter soon found that our grove was no place for them.

As soon as the sparrows were driven away, the birds began house-
building and it is of this that I wish to tell... As the hollow in the tree was
‘too large they began-to fill it up with soft, gray lichens from the nearby
tree-trunks. Both birds worked with a will, but there is no question but
what the work would have progressed faster if the pair had been longer
wed. They were too attentive to do much work at first, but when they
did settle down to work in earnest, they set a good example for some of
our workmen.

When the hollow in the tree was about half filled up there came a very
long, cold rain, which, perhaps, my readers can remember. During this
rain | forgot my new neighbors for a short time, and when | did think of
them it was still raining. [I wondered where the little creatures could find
dry material for their house when so much rain had been falling. Here it
was almost time for the eggs to be laid, and this pair of birds had not yet
finished their nest. It seemed to me that the rain had spoiled all the
material for at least a week. Surely this was a serieous problem for these
little birds, which some people claim are devoid of the power of reason.

But when I stepped out onto the piazza, to my surprise | saw that the
birds were bringing load after load of dry lichens, just as though the sun
had been shining for a week! I could not think where they could find dry
lichens after such a rain, and at first the birds did not seem disposed to

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 185

show me, but after a little watching I saw that the material came from the
leeward side of the largest tree-trunks, where there is always a dry strip.
Who would have thought that these little birds, which some people claim
cannot think, would have known where those dry lichens were to be
found? Surely instinct, which most people claim governs wild creatures,
does not lead in so small a detail. 1 believe that I never would have
noticed this dry strip on the leeward side of trees, if these birds had not

showed me.
WALTER E. BURNHAM, Mass.

SPRING COURTSHIP.

Although there is a vernal period of mating and love making, it does not
follow that these striving birds take a new mate each year. I am fully
satisfied that most birds are mated for life, at least this is more often the
case than is generally supposed. 1 believe that the demonstrations of valor
with which we are entertained are in nine cases out of ten simply a part of
the annual love making. Asa matter of course the male robin, or other
bird will valiently defend his rights against all comers, and therefore when
interference occurs battles are sure to follow. In the case of the Bluebird,
the same demonstrations occur each season between well mated birds
which have been consorting for years, that are seen between birds just
mated. The valiant behavior of the birds of spring may be compared to
the periodical tilting matches of the knights of old. It not infrequently
happens that a male songster, after assurance of success in his suit, is sup-
planted by another of brighter color or sweeter song, or more likely, a
stronger bird. However in all communities there are some individuals
who have failed to secure a partner, and it is therefore an easy matter for
the rejected bird to form new attachments, the only disadvantage being
that nest building takes place a little later than the general run of nesters.
It is pleasIng to note that differences never arise after the pair begins build-
ing the nest. Occasionally one of the birds is killed after the nesting has
fairly begun. When this happens to the female, the male gets a new mate
at once and if the nest is still incomplete it is sometimes finished and the
eggs laid. 1 have observed this act where the mother bird was killed, the
hawks being much attached to a nesting site and returning to it year after
year. Have also observed the act in the case of the robin. If the maleis
removed before the emerging of the young, the mother bird goes away,
apparently out of the neighborhood. If there are young in the nest at the
time the male is killed the mother generally brings the nestlings through
successfully, but not always, if the young are small. I have always

186 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

observed in cases of this kind that the nestlings do not leave the home so
soon, probably because development is impeded from lack of a full supply
of food. With polygamous birds the loss of a mate is of less importance,
but it would be interesting to learn what would happen to the cowbirds if

nine out of ten of the males were destroyed.
MorRIS GIBBS, Mich.

Whip-poor-will.

When we were having our garden plowed this spring, the horses started
up a whip-poor-will from a large flat stone near by. I ran tosee what was
there and found two large grayish eggs, spotted with dark brown and light.
We thought the plowing might disturb the bird so much that it would leave
its eggs, so had the garden made in another part of the field.

| have been to the rock every day, sometimes several times a day, and
the bird became so accustomed to me that she took no notice of me in any-
way but seemed asleep on the ‘‘nest,’’ if a bare rock without a straw or a
stick can be called a nest. The eggs were moved about by the bird each
day, yet were kept in the few grains of sand that had washed over the
edge of the rock.

One day as I came past, the bird flew up and I saw that the eggs had
hatched. There were the two young birds, covered with downy feathers,
brown and gray, sitting so flat to the rock that at first | did not see them,
but thought them a piece of gray moss. They looked so cunning that |
took them up and cuddled them. After they were replaced they would
hop after my hand as | drew it from them.

After a little I lay down in the grass and kept as quiet as possible to
watch them. Soon both the old birds came with flies, which they fed to
their baby-birds, and were off for more. The bird does not seem to brood
her little ones as most mother birds do, but sits, apparently aslesp, on the
rock a few inches away from the sleeping little ones, looking, at first
glance, as much like a large toad as like a bird, being speckled and spotted
with very nearly the same colors.

The weather has been so hot that we have almost expected to find
broiled whip-poor-will some days, but instinct has taught them to move

with the sun, and so keep in the shade of the tall thick grass that surrounds
their dwelling place. They are growing rapidly and I fear the little family
we have watched with so much interest will soon leave us. We shall miss
the bird that comes at evening to our open door or window and sings whip-
poor-wil, whip-poor-wi in such a jolly way. :

RANDOLPH LAWRENCE HAYDEN, Haddam, Conn.

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Vol, I,
No.10.

RWS

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OCTOBER, 1901.

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Vol. I. October, 1901. No. 10

AMERICAN CROW.

A. 0. U. No. #88. (Corvus americanus.)

RANGE.

The United States and Canada, being more common in the east than in
the west. It is practically resident where found.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 19 in.; extent, about 30 in.; tail, 8 in. Eye, very dark
brown. Bill and feet, black. Entire upper and under parts, wings, and
tail, glossy black. The rich metallic lustre is most pronounced on wings
and back.

NEST AND EGGS.

The crow builds a bulky nest of sticks. The nest is placed at most any
height, on any kind of tree, but almost always they will attempt to con-
ceal it in the topmost branches. Where pine trees are to be found they
will choose the top of these for their home. The eggs may be found
from early in May to the latter part of June. They are four or five in
number and have a greenish or bluish ground, more or less thickly
blotched with greenish brown. The illustrations show the variation in
markings and shape.

HABITS.
Unprotected by law, with every farmer regarding him an enemy, and
nearly every owner of a gun always on the watch to get within shooting
distance of him, the crow still lives and is yearly increasing in numbers.

188 AMERICAN ORNITHOLGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 189

I doubt if any other bird (with the exception of the English Sparrow),
could exist under these persecutions. As to whether they are merited or
not is a question still undecided. | think that the matter will stand much
more investigation before it is decided that we would be better off without
the crow.

It is with great interest that these black fellows watch the farmer at
his task of preparing the soil for his crops. And it is not wholly with a
view to regaling themselves on the seed that attracts them, for they know
that later they will feast on the grubs and worms that attack the young
grain. While they destroy considerable corn, they at all times preter
worms, grubs and any animal matter, and only consume the farmer’s
products when the food of their choice fails them.

Photo by J. B. PARDOE.

YOUNG CROWS IN NEST.

To determine the economic value of the crow the U. S. Dept. of Agri-
culture has examined the contents of the stomachs of many, and found
that, during the summer and spring, their food consists of at least two-
thirds animal matter; during the winter, grain, acorns and the seeds of
numerous wild plants form their diet. During the summer they frequent
the shore of rivers and the marshes searching for small fish, shell-fish,
lizards, snakes, etc., and mice, beetles and spiders are not passed by.

The greatest fault of the crow and one that condemns him with many
is his wanton destruction of the eggs and young of smaller birds. He
knows that he is doing wrong and therefore is very quiet and cunning in
his actions. He watches until the little owner of the nest is away, and

1g0 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. :

then slyly sneaks up and in an instant the destruction is complete. Al-
though a large bird, he is very cowardly and will flee from any of the
smaller birds if they detect him in the act.

Mr. Walter E. Burnham, Greenfield, Mass., writes:—‘‘We hear a great
deal about the destructiveness of the crow, and no doubt it is true to some
extent. Even if it is I should be sorry to see all the crows exterminated.
They are so bold and independent in their way, that one soon learns to
like them (if he has no corn for them to pull up). To me the scene of an
autumn cornfield lacks something if a few crows are not flapping over it;
and a September sunrise is incomplete if a crow is not cawing, somewhere
in the distance. Every fall | see enormous flocks flying southwards along
the river, and numbers of them winter in the Deerfield meadows. I have
seen them walking upon the ice within a few inches of the channel,
caused by the rapidly flowing water, searching for any refuse that might
be washed up. In the spring the crows that left in the fall return and
spend a few days together sporting in the wind. On a mountain east of
of my house used to be a large pine, and every morning in the spring and
fall the crows held many meetings in this tree.

‘“‘They spread out over the country as the weather moderates and
breed in May. When the female crow is setting, she frequently squawks
like a setting hen, and 1 have found many nests, because of this. If she
hears you coming, or the male warns her, she invariably slips quietly

Si
Wat

a i Ee faidy (aad tn ¥

Mg sk 2 Hitt

Photo by J. B. PARDOE.

YOUNG GROWS (Just able to fly).

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. IQI

off the nest and flies away. If she does not happen to notice you as you
approach, she will caw with all her might and attract all the crows in the
neighborhood to her assistance.

‘Early in the morning they come quite near the house and feed, and I
have frequently seen them strip a piece of bark from a dead limb and eat
the insects found there. The young birds ina flock at this time can be
recognized by their rough plumage and cracked voices. As the season
advances the young grow more wary, and soon acquire the beautiful
glossy coat of their parents; their voices also develop into the strong ring-
ing note of the old birds. +

‘‘Crows are very difficult to approach, and, I think, can tell when a
man has a gun. While out walking with my father one Sunday an old
crow started up from a field and lighting in a pine near by, kept scolding.
and cawing. I waved my arms, but still he showed no signs of fear; at
last my father slowly raised his cane to his shoulder and pointed it at the
bird, whereupon the crow dropped from the tree and flew away in great
haste. Crows soon learn to distinguish their friends, and I have known.
them to come to a farmer’s dooryard for food placed there for them. At
Pualap Reservation, Wash., father has seen an Indian plowing in the
field, and the crows walking about within a few yards of him, apparently
without fear, but a white man could not get within ten rods of the same
birds. They know that the Indians never shoot crows, believing that the
spirits of their ancestors go into these birds. Crows are surely wise
birds, and no doubt have a great many habits of which we know nothing.’”

CHIMNEY SWIFT.

A. O. V. No. 425. (Chaetura pelagica.)
RANGE.
North America, east of the Plains, and as far north as Labrador.
South in winter to Mexico.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5 in.; extent, about 13 in.; tail, 2 in. Eye, brown. Bill and
feet black. Sooty brown above, being slightly glossy on the back. The
under parts are much paler and nearly white on the throat. The wings
and tail are black; the latter are slightly rounded and each feather ended

in a spine.
NEST AND EGGS.

Formerly the Chimney Swifts made their homes in hollow trees, but
since the localities where they formerly bred have become thickly settled

mg2 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Photo by TROY W. EARHART.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 193

and their old homes cut off, they have adapted themselves to the new
condition and now dwell in chimneys that are unused in the summer. A
narrow platform is formed on the side of the chimney, by fastening.
numerous twigs together with their glutinous saliva. This is lined with
a few grasses and four or five white eggs laid, during June and July.

In some places remote from human habitations, they still build their
queer domiciles in hollow trees, and in many instances have been known.
to attach it to the eaves or rafters of a barn.

HABITS.

To observe or study most of our birds, it is necessary to leave the heart
of the city and seek them in the suburbs. Not so with this long-winged,.
sharp-tailed, sombre colored bit of bird life. The occupant of an apart-
ment in the city can sit at the window and observe these birds as readily
as the one who resides in the country.

Just before dusk, large flocks of swifts wheel back and forth over the
city, each individual keeping up a continual chattering twitter, as he darts.
about catching small insects for his evening meal. As darkness comes,
one by one they disappear down neighboring chimneys, and the silence of
the night is unbroken, that is, outside. Within the chimney it is not al-
ways silent. The swift is a restless sleeper, and in changing his position
frequently disturbs another which has just fallen into a sound slumber;
this one in order to show his displeasure, repeatedly jumps backwards and
striking his wings against the opposite side of the chimney, springs to his.
former position again. When a number of them get aroused in this man-
ner, the effect on the occupant of a room adjacent to the chimney is any-
thing but soothing. I have slept in a room where the chimney was oc-
cupied by but two pairs of swifts, and from the experience gained thereby
wish to be excused from occupying a house similar to the one described in
the following notes submitted by Mrs. J. E. Chapman, Richmond, Me:

“The Swifts arrive here some time in May, | cannot give the exact time,.
but they do not all come at one time. Comparatively few come for per-
haps two weeks, and then they come in such numbers that it would seem
impossible for them to pack themselves in the chimney. They fly mostly
in the evening. At about seven, they begin circling around at some dis-
tance from the chimney. They will act as if they were going in but then
dart off and fly around for perhaps an hour, when one or two will go
down the chimney and in a short time they all follow. One person says
he counted fifteen hundred go in, in one night, but I do not see how it
would be possible to count them as the air is full of them.”’

‘(One summer we were having some repairs made in our house and they
seemed anyry about it, and left and went across the street and lodged on

194 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

the branch of a tree, packed one on the other, making a solid mass of
birds as large around as the trunk of a large tree, but the next year they
returned again. Some years there are less than others; this year there
have been great numbers of them. They have been leaving now for two
or three weeks (Aug. 25) and few are left.”’

“‘They do not fly much in the morning, only coming out and circling
about to get their breakfast and then go away for the day if it promises
to be fair. If 1 want to know what the weather is to be, I watch ‘the
swallows. They have never failed me. If they go away from home, it
is going to be fair, and if they return in the morning, it will not be pleas-
ant. They have never built a nest in the chimney they live in, but once
they took possession of another one and I heard young birds near the bot-
tom of the chimney in the cellar. They are always noisy in the night,
but this summer have been more so than commonly. It sounds like the
roaring of a great fire. They came out into one of the rooms one summer
and I caught one to examine and see how they cling to the sides of the
chimney. The tail feathers have a sharp spine at the end, and I suppose
that these with the aid of their wings and sharp claws enable them to
maintain their seemingly uncomfortable position, but I cannot see how so
many of them get inside the chimney unless they crowd themselves one
on the other.”’

WEDDED FOR LIFE.

Just beneath the diamond shaped opening in the hay loft of my father’s
carriage house was placed the rustic summer home of a pair of swifts. |
remember my father telling me that this nest had been there to his knowl-
edge for fourteen years; and well I recall when a boy of ten climbing to
the nest to look at the five white eggs. I used often to catch the birds as
they clung to the side of the loft, and show my playmates the spikes in
their tails. This was during the season of ’80. The following Spring,
acting on the advice of my father, | made two bracelets of coiled hair
wire, and catching the birds, fastened one about the leg of each. For the
following five years the same pair of swifts occupied the nest.

About this time business took me to New York, and I have only occas-
ionally visited the old haunts. The summer of ’90 | climbed into the old
loft, and found to all appearances the same old. nest, and upon catching
the old birds, found that one still had the copper wire upon it’s leg.
Whether the other bird was a new mate or had lost the wire, I cannot
state. Two interesting facts were however demonstrated, first that the
swift at least remains mated for life, and second that they are a long lived
bird. I cannot of course state whether this pair were the same ones first
observed by my father fourteen years before my observations commenc-
ed, but ‘‘my birds’’ nested ‘‘on the old camp ground’’ from ’80 to ’go, a
period of ten years, and the nest to my knowledge has been there over
thirty years. Howarb L. Woop, M. D., Groton, Ct.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 195

ONE SUMMER WITH A FAIRY HOUSEKEEPER.

Amid the noble trees and green hills of a beautiful country village not a

thousand miles from Cromwell, Conn., stands one of the charming homes
which dot the New England hills. In the orchard at one side may be
seen the homes of many of the feathered tribe, the chattering wren, king
birds, pewees, the swaying hammock of the oriole, the mud hut of the
robin and phoebe, while from the green fields across the way comes the
plaintive song of the meadow lark, and Bob-o-Linkum’s jubilant, tinkling
notes. .
In the hollow trunk of one of the rows of maples which affords a leafy
screen by the roadside, a pair of flickers have made their home, and dur-
ing the warm summer days the mother bird might be seen sitting at her
circular doorway, with head and neck extended, and bill open as if pant-
ing for breath. But interesting as the examination of these homes might
be, it.is not of them | wish to tell you, but of another little family which
held many formal receptions, and were greatly admired.

In the early part of June a very tiny couple darted in and out among the
flowers and trees looking for the best place to begin housekeeping. They
finally selected the branch of a tall larch tree by the veranda about ten
feet from the ground as a home site, much to the delight of their friends,
who from behind the blinds but a few feet distant had the rare opportun-
ity of looking out directly upon the nest, and observing every detail of
their domestic affairs.

The second week in June, Mrs. Hummingbird began her labors; adjacent
hill sides and valleys were searched for the softest fern wool and plant
down for lining a dainty cradle. Not until the interior was fitted up and
upholstered to her taste did Madame Hummer turn her attention to the
decoration of the outside walls. She would dart away, to return in a
short time; apparently bearing upon the feathers of her breast some sticky
substance with which to attach the mossy covering to the exterior walls
of her domicile. She would scrape her breast feathers with her slender
bill, and apply it to the outside of the nest, passing her bill round and
round the structure with lightning rapidity, and with machine like regular-
ity. Then away she would fly for bits of gray lichen which she quickly
put in place. Many of the gray shingles she obtained from the bark of a
magnolia tree close at hand. At last the dainty home was completed,
blending perfectly with the supporting branch of the larch, and no objec-
tions could be made by the most fastidious hummer couple.

_Then Mr. Humming Bird, who had hovered about and given his august
approval while Madame did the work, disappeared, and was seen but
once again about the habitation. The petit bride devoted herself to

Pl Seiten!

a ’
be
= ag

196 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. =

housekeeping cares, and soon the soft walls encircled two diminutive
white eggs, no larger than a field bean. For two weeks the patient mother
sheltered them with her soft feathers, entirely oblivious of the loving
scrutiny of her interested admirers behind the blinds. Nor was she
frightened from her post of duty by invaders beneath the tree, but would
slowly move her head to and fro with the regular swing of a pendulum
till the intruder disappeared.

Daily she fluffed up the downy
bed with her feet, and daily she
glued fresh bits of lichen on the
outside of her dwelling, after sal-
lying forth as before for the
mysterious adhesive matter. She
invariably alighted upon the
nest, not upon the side walls.
Whenever she left the nest she
would apparently pull up the Iln-
ing around the eggs to keep them
warm, and even after the coming
of the little ones would pull up
the soft wool blanket about
them.

birds emerged from their white
prison houses, ‘‘featherless bi-
peds,’’ with short yellow bills,
looking much like little grey
grubs, no larger than the nail of
my little finger. It seemed that
not even a mother’s love and
faith could see promise of the
wondrous possibilities they con-
tained. The babies grew and
grew, but not until two and a
half weeks had elapsed were they able to raise their tiny heads above the
edge of the nest and peer into the wonderful world outside.

One morning when our wee friends were about two weeks old, grandpa,
desirous of a close acquaintance, decided to make them a friendly call. In
spite of his three score and sixteen years, he bravely mounted chair, box,
and plank, and presented his compliments to the occupants of the nest,
but what they said to him, or what he said to them, they have never
divulged. July twenty-second when these infants were just three weeks

The first day of July the baby ~

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 197

old, they decided to leave home and try their fortunes in the wide, wide
world. They perched awhile on the edge of the nest, then, late in the
afternoon one flew up and lighted on one of the small feathery branches
of the larch just above him. Here he remained for nearly half an hour;
apparently very much frightened to find that the world was so large, es-
pecially when his resting place was swayed by a passing breeze. Then
back he flew to his home; settled down in a satisfied way, and doubtless
told in bird language marvelous tales of his adventures to his brother who
had not yet plucked up courage to venture forth. At nightfall when the
nest was visited, but one little bird was found. Startled by the investiga-
tion, he bravely flew out to a dead branch on a magnolia tree, he was not
going to be left behind all alone, not he. Here he clung in terror until
dark, when his mother coaxed him away to a safer place. The next
afternoon he was seen in an apple tree not far away, where the mother
fed him in her own peculiar way, pumping the partly digested food into
his throat. The next night the litthe wandcrers camped out in a maple
next the larch. Until the coming of cooler nights which warned them to
begin their long journey to the South country, the little family sported
about their summer home. When it became certain that the little house
in the larch would be occupied no more by its owners the branch which
held it was cut off, and treasured as a beautiful memento of the charming

little hummer friends who had beguiled away so happily the summer hours.
MARY HAZEN ARNOLD, Waterbury, Conn.

HEATH HEN (Hethen).

A. O, VU. No. 306. (Tympanuchus cupido.)
RANGE.

Island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

DESCRIPTION.

Rencth, 2O 10 1S. ;-extent,.27 10.20) ins; tall 4)10.§ in: Bill; horn
brown; feet yellow; eye, hazel. Male and female, above, variegated with
brown and tawny. Below barred regularly with dark brown, but in
some cases almost pure white on the abdomen. The chief differences be-
tween this bird and the Western prairie chicken are as follows:—The
pinnated feathers of the male are much smaller, quite sharply pointed and
fewer in number. The general color is much darker and browner. The
markings under the wings are much stronger. The tarsus somewhat
shorter. The bird averages smaller than the Western bird and does not
bring so much into the market on that account. Marketmen who have
handled this bird tell me it is not so desirable for that reason.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

198

HEATH HEN.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOG). 199

PRAIRIE CHICKEN (left).
HEATH HEN (right).

Showing the difference in their
pinnates. The former square at
the end, the latter lance shape.

NEST AND EGGS.

Very little is known of the breeding habits of this bird. Mr. C. J.
Maynard procured a set of six eggs on July 24, 1885. In 1889 a nest was
found near West Tisbury, by a school girl, containing seven eggs. This
was found the latter part of June in the scrub on the ground. A female
was captured alive in middle of June, 1892. This bird laid one egg while
in captivity, which was unfortunately destroyed by rats. Only one other
egg is known to the writer. It was taken from the oviduct of a female in
the Autumn of 1896. The dimensions of the Maynard set were:—length,
one and thirteen-sixteenths to one and two-thirds inches. The greatest
width of all five eggs of this set was one and one-fourth inches. The
length of the egg taken from the oviduct was one and one-half inches;
width one and one-eighth inches. The color of the eggs taken by Mr.
Maynard were creamy buff with a greenish tint and unspotted. The color
of the single egg given above was much lighter, which can be accounted
for from the fact that the color had not been deposited on the egg.

Thus closed the history of one more interesting member of our New
England fauna, which, with the wild turkey has disappeared from the
Eastern states forever, and can only be represented in the future by its
introduced Western relatives.

200 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

HABITS.

The writer of this article has had more opportunities for observing this
bird than perhaps any other observer. The period covered is more than
twenty years, and the number of specimens seen during that time would
probably reach into the hundreds.

After a careful study of my notes, along with all the information I could
gain from the hunters who were intimately acquainted with the bird, I
have come to the conclusion that it differs but very little in its habits from
its Western relative, and the differences that there are, are caused by its
restricted environments. Its range covers all the barren portion of the
Island and it prefers the more open portions to the wooded ones, and sel-
dom takes to the woods unless driven there by inclement weather, lack of
food, or enemies.

Its food in the summer time consists very largely of grasshoppers,
crickets, spiders and other insects. I have found few berries in the crops
of such as I have had the opportunity of examining, and my opportunities
have enabled me to make examinations at all seasons of the year. Later
in the season these are interspersed with wild cranberries and cranberry
leaves, of which they are very fond. And these, with the addition of
sorrel and clover, constitute practically all their food during the later
Autumn and Winter, except at such times as through heavv snow falls or ex-
tremely stormv weather, thev are driven to the more sheltered portions of the
woods to find food, then they eat acorns. But 1am satisfied they only eat
them when they cannot find other food. They roost on the plains in
small scrub oaks.

Mr. Chas. E. Bendire, in his history on North American birds, states
the hethen is almost exclusively a woods bird, seldom coming into the
open except in early morning and evening. My experience has been that
at all times of the day, for every bird that | have seen in the woods there
were at least twenty-five out in the open. This bird used to be very
common on the Island. Old hunters have told me that they have seen as
many as two or three hundred birds in a flock. They have gradually
dwindled in numbers through being hunted very closely by native hunt-
ers, many ot the birds finding their way to the Boston and other markets,
but a great many more being used at home.

I saw a bed tick filled with the feathers from this bird. In 1892-3 men
who had watched this bird closely on the Island, stated to me that they
had diminished in numbers in the previous five years to about one-quarte1
what they were previously. In June, 1894, a fire swept over. practically
all their breeding grounds, and in the Fall of that year I spent two weeks
going over their whole ground. We found many skeletons of the birds
that had been destroyed in this fire, and where the previous Fall we start-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. “201

ed up one hundred birds,.we did not start up five. Added to these two
causes for its diminuation in numbers, must be added a third, i. e., the
destruction done by foxes. A number of years ago there were no foxes
on the Island, but some one thought it would be a good thing to have fox
hunts and introduced them. This bird being an easy prey for the fox, a
great many were undoubtedly destroyed by this animal.

Since 1894 these birds have been very few in number compared with
the years previous, and in 1897 they had practically been exterminated or
died out. The Fall of that year, | went over the ground again and in one
week’s time, with good dogs to locate any birds there might be, I did not
start a single bird.

HEATH HENS.

In the Spring of 1898 two mated pairs of western prairie chickens that
had been on exhibition in the Boston Sportsmen’s Show, were liberated
by one of the local sportsmen on the Island. This I am positive of, be-
cause I am well acquainted with the man who liberated the birds, and
others who saw them. These birds have undoubtedly bred, for in the
Fall of that year two broods of young birds were located in the region
where the prairie chickens were liberated. The old birds were also seen
at various times through the summer in the same locality. Since that
time they seem to be gradually gaining in numbers, though they are very
few but it is undoubtedly owing to the introduction of these Western birds

and their interbreeding with the few that were left.
CHAS. E. HOYLE, W. Millbury, Mass.

202 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

MISCHIEVOUS JIM.

He was brought to me one beautiful spring morning, soon after he had
taken his first lessons in flying, and just old enough to be taught how to
rob the farmer’s newly planted corn field. It was in this act that he was
captured. When he was comfortably perched upon my finger, his eyes
twinkled saucily at me from his glossy black head, and his bill opened
every now and then for something to eat.

I tied the end of a string to one of his legs and fastened the other to the
back of a chair, leaving it just long enough for him to fly from his perch to
the ground, and placed it outside the kitchen window where he could
watch me at my work. As long as I remained where he could see me he
was quiet enough, but if | went away he would beat his wings against the
window screen and make a mournful noise until | appeared again, then he
would chatter constantly, sometimes as though scolding, then in a happy
contented tone when I talked to him. If | scolded him he tucked his head
under his wing, and when | stopped he would take it out again, while his
merry eyes danced mischievously and his saucy chatter would begin again.

When he was hungry he made a mournful noise as though he was hurt,
keeping time with the opening and shutting of his beak. He was very
fond of fish worms and if he saw me digging them he would not taste his
other food, which consisted of cracked corn, seeds, and bread and milk,
but would wait for me to feed him the worms, one at a time, into his wide
open mouth. When he wanted water he would quickly cry ‘‘ca-caw’’
and close his eyes soberly.

Oftentimes when the fowls were being fed, the first | would know of
his presence would be when | heard the rustle and whirr of his wings as
he would come swooping down from the towering oak tree tops, and he
would flap his wings excitedly when the fowls scattered in all directions,
for he was the daily terror of their lives. At these times his tantalizing
spirit showed itself, and he would monopolize the hen yard and would not
leave it until he was driven away. Then he would hop onto a poor un-
suspecting hen’s back, holding on so tightly that do what she would, she
could not shake him off.

As he grew older the thieving instinct grew with him, and his most bit-
ter enemies were caused by this habit. They were a pair of industrious
kingbirds, who had built their nest in an old apple tree close to the house.
After the eggs were laid the mother bird used to fly off some distance
away. When Jim, as | called my pet, saw her leave the nest, he would
fly stealthily up to it, light on the edge, sieze an egg in his beak, and fly
as fast as he could towards the house. After a while one or the other of
the birds stayed around all the time, so Jim used to have a hard time get-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 203

ting at the eggs then. However he would approach the nest very brave-
ly until the birds spied him, then he would fly to the house the shortest
way possible. One morning on looking out of the window I saw the poor
fellow trying to get to the house, with a kingbird picking feathers from his
back and another attacking him from the front. Above the loud whirring
of their wings rose the angry voices of the owners of the nest, mingled
with the most heartrending cries of the crow. Moved by his sorry plight,
I opened the door so that he could fly in. When he saw it he instantly
darted toward it, closely followed by the angry birds, who came in through
the open door before they realized that he had escaped. A happier crow
never lived, when he saw his assailants leave. As it was, Jim was a sad
looking bird. His once smooth glossy feathers are now sticking up in all
sorts of ways, and many lay scattered about. The poor crow was tremb-
ling all over while his black eyes glistened excitedly. It was some_time
before he got over his fright and ventured to go out.

Not only did he break up birds nests,
but he stole everything that he could
carry away. One day after he had
been in my room I saw him hop steal-
thily through the open door, then fly
quickly up to the roof of the house
with my scissors in his beak. | shout-
ed to him to bring them back, but he
only twisted his head around and
blinked at. me. After awhile I persuaded him to drop them over the
eaves; as | stooped to pick them up down came thimble, thread and nu-
merous other small articles which | had missed for a long time, and over-
head Jim was scolding in an undertone. I never missed anything after
that, for he didn’t like the idea of being found guilty.

He was exceedingly vain. After standing by the hour in front of a
mirror he would strut haughtily by, and not deign to look at any of us if
we spoke to him. One day after he had primped up and tired of the
mirror he flew out of doors. Just outside was a tub of clear water. As
Jim flew by he caught a glimpse of himself. The temptation was too
great; he perched on the edge of the tub and began to chatter. | Whether
he lost his balance or whether he thought there was another crow in the
tub I cannot say, but there was a squawk and a splash and he went to the
bottom. Not to stay, however, for in less time than it takes to tell it, he
was out of the tub and in the house drying himself. All his fine looks
were gone, and nothing but a plastered lot of feathers wrapped about the
shivering body of a sadder but wiser crow, was left.

2P4 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Nothing seemed to
please Jim more than
to get in everyone’s
way when we were
about the daily house-
work, and ironing day

was his delight. If pos- pe : AY
sible he would get in

Oy a

the clothes basket and =
: ee
jump up and down on GIS os:
the clean clothes with EE Bo PMN
his dirty feet,and when Bi aa AO

iA ae EX vo > eye oe :
driven off,run under the BR A Se
table cackling with Se gee ;
ereat -olee:, “But. this

gravest fault was his inquisitiveness. No human being possessed a larger
bump of curiosity than he, and it often caused him great inconvenience.
Alas it was the death of him. It happened on a beautiful day in October;
one of those days when our hearts are filled with joy, and everything
seems to go along just right. Well, Jim had spent the day in mischief
generally; parading around on the backs of the terror stricken hens; driv-
ing the chickens from their meals; calling for something when he didn’t
want it; startling some unsuspecting member of the family by suddenly
alighting upon their head and shoulders, and then flying away cawing
mockingly. He was snapped at by Nero, when poking his beak into his
ear; rescued in time from pussy when his curiosity led him to’ molest her
kittens; he was scolded by his master when he picked his shaving pad to
pieces, and by his mistress when he picked currants from her cake. At
last he was put out of doors. Still he
couldn’t rest easy. Our hired man
(a more tender hearted man never
lived than he), was cutting up some
small twigs for kindlings. Jim would
not let him alone, but kept lighting
on his head and bothered him in all
ways possible. He also thought it
was his duty to assist in putting
twigs up on the chopping block.
Alas, at one trip he missed his calcu-
lations, and before the fatal weapon
could be stopped it had done its ter-
rible deed, and poor Jim never moved
again.

FLORENC? E. DUNN, Auburn,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 205

WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.

206 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.

A. O. VU. No. 187, (Plegadis guarauna.)
RANGE.

Chiefly southwestern United States. Found occasionally in Oregon,
British Columbia, and on the eastern Gulf States. Southwards into
South America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 24 in.; extent, 38 in.; tail; 4 in-- Eye, red. Bill sbrowmisu
changing to reddish towards the tip. Feet and legs dark red. Sides of the
head bare between the eyes and bill. Entire under and upper parts a rich
glossy purple, the back and wings being very iridescent with blue, green,
purple and gold reflections.

NEST AND EGGS.

These birds nest by thousands in company with other herons, along
lagoons in the southern parts of Texas. They build their nest of dead
reeds woven and wound about the living ones, forming a deep structure
wholly unlike the slip shod affairs of the herons. The eggs are laid early
in May and are three or four in number and of a deep greenish blue color.

HABITS.

This is the most common of the Ibises in America, and like all others of
the family they are graceful in action and always present a well groomed
appearance. On the wing it is not only strong, but swift and graceful.
Its wings are extended to the full length and moved in regular succession.
Sometimes they will sail along for some distance or soar in half circles.
They generally fly quite high and when a large flock alights and also
when they take wing the utmost confusion reigns.

They feed on small fish, mollusks, insects, beetles and various water
plants. In search of these they frequently wade quite deep and do not
object to occasionally swimming. Although great numbers of the Ibises
are shot every year, just for ‘‘sport,’’ and thousands of their eggs are
taken, still their numbers are so great that probably the protecting arm of
the law will extend to their localities in time to preserve them from total
destruction.

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Vol. I. November, 1901. No. 11

YOUNG OSTRICHES.
California Ostrich Farm (See Sept. No.).

The most interesting thing about the juvenile ostriches is the rapidity of
their growth; they emerge from their ostrich shells the size of full grown
ducks and begin to eat the green alfalfa. This alone must be their diet
for several months, for dry food has been found to be very injurious to
young ostriches. In Africa many thousand of the ostrich young perish
from a disease termed ‘‘yellow-liver,’’ but this pest has not so far affected
the American ostriches. Given plenty of grass and water they increase
in height at the marvelous rate of twelve inches a month, so that in six
months they are nearly as tall as their parents, but by no means so mus-
cular. While very young they are nightly housed in what are called
brooders, consisting of long boxes about 30 inches wide and high and eight
feet long; in the morning after sunrise they are turned out upon the alfalfa
and remain until sundown. Thus cared for and protected the mortality
among the ostrich young in California has not exceeded ten per cent; in
Arizona they have not so far made as good a showing. Each ostrich
chick the moment it is hatched is worth twenty-five dollars; time only in-
creases this value, so that at two years of age a pair would cost $250, but
who shall figure on the exact value of a prolific pair of adult ostriches

hatching thirty-five chicks in one year, each chick being worth $25?
E. H. RYDALL, Los Angeles, Cal.

208 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK.

A; O. Uz No. S43. = (Buteo latissimus.)
RANGE.

North America east of the Great Plains, and from southern Canada to
the Gulf and in winter to Central America. Breeds throughout its U. S.
range.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 14 in.; extent, 33 in.;
tail;..7 in. .Bill, hormcolor. = Bye,
brown. Feet yellow. Adult:—
Above, dark brown, the feathers
having lighter edges and the
shafts black. Primaries and
secondaries black on the outer
webs and white barred with
brown on the inner. Tail cross-
ed by three black bars, separat-
ed by narrower ones of gray.
Entire under parts white. The
throat is finely streaked with
dark brown, which changes to a
lighter shade and heavier mark-
ings on the breast. On the un-
der parts and sides the markings
are light brown and take the
form of wavy bars. Young:—

Feather on the left from the breast of an adult
Under parts marked with dark bird—on the right from a voung bird of the year

showing difference in their markings.
brown longitudinal spots.
NEST AND EGGS.

This species constructs a nest of sticks loosely put together and nearly
always lined with bits of moss and bark. The nest is located at various
heights; generally from ten to thirty feet although they have been found
within three feet of the ground. They appear to favor the dense wood-
land for their nesting site to a greater extent than most other species. -
They lay two or three eggs, rarely four, of a grayish ground color blotch-
ed with lavender and chestnut. The eggs are laid during May.

HABITS.

This hawk in regard to size is in the intermediate class, being neither
very large nor very small. In point of usefulness however they should
be placed at the head of the list. They are entirely inoffensive and are

209

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK,

210 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

unfortunate in being shot down indiscriminately with other kinds. It has
always seemed strange that so many persons can see no difference among
the hawks. They appear to recognize but one class, the fowl destroyer.
All large hawks are to them ‘‘hen hawks’”’ and all small ones ‘‘chicken
hawks.’’ In their narrow mindedness they consider they are doing the
country a favor in ridding it of these imagined pests, and they wonder
why the insects are destroying their trees and the rodents their crops.
But to return to the ‘‘Broad-wings.’’- They feed chiefly on meadow mice,
squirrels, grasshoppers, frogs, and beetles, and rarely destroy birds.

Some localities seem to have a strong attraction for them, particularly
heavy pieces of woodland near some lake or pond, and they return to the
same place year after year. As long as | can remember a pair of them
have occupied a small piece of woods near here. Although they have fre-
quently been molested they show no desire to leave. They build a new
nest each year, the one of the previous year generally having fallen to
pieces during the winter. To my mind the birds are always associated
with the creaking of the trees during a storm, their note to me resembling
that noise. Others liken it to the notes of the Killdeer.. Always during
the breeding season, as I enter the wood I am greeted with a ‘‘cree-ee’’
from the farther end. They are very keen sighted and glide away from
the nest as soon as the woods are entered, and rarely come in sight even
when you are very near the nest. Their wailing cry is continued at in-
tervals until you leave the neighborhood.

Photo by E. E. JOHNSON.
NEST OF BROAD-WINGED HAWK.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 211

NOTES ON A CAPTIVE WOODCOCK.

Towards the latter part of June of the present year (1901) a remark-
ably fine specimen of an adult female woodcock (P. minor) in perfect plum-
age came into my posseseion. Some lawless person had evidently shot at
it somewhere in the immediate environs of Washington, D. C., and the
bewildered bird flew into the very heart of the city, where it was captured.
Upon examination | found that it had received but two very slight wounds
made by small-sized shot. One was in a middle toe of one of the feet and
the other a wing shot; that was not discovered until the bird had been in
my keeping a day or so. This latter injury prevented it from making any
extended flight, while it admitted of giving it its liberty in the court in the
rear of my residence, where it could go about among the flowers and long
grass to its heart’s content. At the end of a week, however, it made
good its escape, but not until every possible advantage had been taken
to study its habits in confinement, and I had succeeded in making an ele-
gant series of photographic negatives of it, representing the bird in a
variety of attitudes, together with a life-size figure of its head. Two of
these photographs have been reproduced to illustrate the present article.

Captive snipe and captive sandpipers and all their near allies are no-
torious for their extreme gentleness under these conditions, but of all the
birds | ever handled in captivity this woodcock was certainly the most so.
From the very first it made no attempt to resist my handling or to escape
from my holding it. Ina few hours it readily ate several large angling
worms out of my hand, and drank freely of water as I held it near a
large-mouthed bottle I had filled for it. After feeding, it would regard me
with its great, soft brown eyes filled with every expression of gratitude,—
and surely no bird in all the world has a finer or a more lovely pair of
eyes in its head than our woodcock.

After I became the owner of this specimen, it was my hope that it
might be possible to find out something not already positively ascertained
in regard to the production of its notes, and what sounds its wings gave
rise to when excited to rapid motion. But in all this | was doomed to dis-
appointment, for this particular bird could in no way be induced to utter a
single note the entire time it was in my possession, beyond one or two
little sort of plaintive bleats; while, when it was held by its bill, and its
wings set in violent motion, the sound they gave rise to was more like
that emitted by a rapidly revolving fan, than anything they produce
probably during the normal impulsive flight of the woodcock in its natural
haunts. After a few attempts my experiments in this direction were re-
linquished, and in any event, such investigations should be made upon
individuals that had in no way been injured, however slight the wounds
might be, and for such purposes woodcocks taken in nets or other kinds
of traps or snares ought to be the only kind employed.

212 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

In the matter of examining the peculiar mechanism of the distal extrem-
ity of the superior mandible however, the opportunity was taken advan-
tage of to the fullest extent, and the observations of others on this sub-
ject fully confirmed. It would seem, however, that an anatomical exami-
nation of the parts involved, and a research into the physiology of the
function of the curvature of the distal end of the upper jaw in any of the
true snipe family would not altogether be lacking in interest. For a long
time I was under the impression that the well known ornithologist of this
country, Mr. Gurdon Trumbull, a member of the American Ornithologists’
Union, was the first to publish an account of this power of the woodcock
to curve the end of its superior mandible when seizing its food in the soft
mire of the bog or marsh, and I so stated in a recent article of mine on
‘“‘Woodcocks of the Old World” (Shooting and Fishing, Vol. XXX, No. 9,
New York, June 13, 1901, p. 164.), but I find now I was in error. Pro-
fessor Alfred Newton of England, upon reading my article in Shooting and
Fishing, kindly furnished me with the following information on the sub-
ject. This distinguished authority states that ‘‘Mr. Trumbull was by no
means the first to notice the flexibility of the upper mandible in Scolopaci-
da, and the muscular mechanism seems never to have been properly de-
scribed. In ‘Exploration Scientifique de |’ Algérie’—Otzseaux ii. pl. 9 bis
figs. 3, 40, the muscles etc. are delineated in the ‘‘Becassean Guignatee”’
[qu. Actitis hvpoleucus?] but there is no description of the apparatus in
the text I can find, though under Scolopax rusticula the fact is mentioned
(ii p. 293). This work bears 1867 on the title page, but the plate was
published, I believe, many years before, perhaps in 1857, and the text
was printed about the same time.”’

“R. Hill in Proc. Acad. Phida. 1864 (p. 65) notices the power of
inflexion possessed by ‘‘Eud albus,’’ but a subsequent note (p. 68 note)
makes it likely that he had some species of Numemius before him. Beck-
man treated of this subject in S. rusticula, Zool. Garten, 1865 (pp. 130-133,
figs. I-IV) and it is again referred to in the volume for 1867 (pp. 445-448),
Journ. f. Ornith., 1867, pp. 110-112 and Ibis 1868 (p. 109) as well
as in Hoffman’s Monograph (Die Waldschaeffe, 186, ed. 2, 1887). The
matter needs further investigation, which it well deserves.’’ This com-
munication of Professor Newton’s was dated at Magdalene College,
Cambridge, England, June 25, 1901, and is a very helpful bibliographical
notice of the subject. It will not however be touched upon further in
this place, whatever the writer may do with it anatomically in the future.

To return to the live specimen here being described, it was very inter-
esting to watch it as it cautiously skulked through the long grass in my
yard, or stalked among the more open places where the flowers grew.
Many of its motions were doubtless the same as those it went through in

AMLERBICANVORNITHOLOGY,

a
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wy
cm
=
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a
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a

214

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by Dr. R. W. SHUFELDT,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 215

its natural haunts. It resorted to one however, that | had never noticed
before in the wild bird in nature, that is where it was performed half so
well. When somewhat cornered in the open air and:looking about for the
means of escape, this bird struted along like a little turkey cock, dragging
its wings along the ground as it stretched them downward at its sides.
At the same time the head was drawn well back and depressed between
the shoulders, while the beautiful subcircular tail was spread out to its
full extent, bent far forward, so as almost to conceal the major part of
the back. It was a pretty sight to see it thus walk off, and the instant it
came near any suitable cover to reverse the position of the tail, putting it
almost completely out of view as it was directed backward, and with
head and neck extended forward, it, with marked cunning, ran into the
place of concealment, either to squat down or to stand perfectly motion-
less when it thought it was no longer observed. (Fig. 2). Of course, it
is a well known fact that when on the ground, in situations favorable to
it, its color markings assist to protect and conceal it admirably. Among
other things this applies especially to the three transverse dark brown
bands on the top of the head, which for all the world resemble the
shadows of the reeds or blades of grass in the vicinity of the place of the
bird’s concealment (Fig. 2).

In obtaining the life-size photograph of the head of this bird shown in
Figure 1, of the present article, it was taken instantaneously as the bird
stopped for a instant in a walk down a short stretch of turf I had pre-
pared for it, in front of a white back ground, in order to cut off all sur-
rounding objects. It is an excellent portrait of Phi/ohela as it momen-
tarily stands in such an attitude, and doubtless as fully awake to every-
thing going on about it as though it were enjoying the solitude of some
favorite retreat in a shady creek-bottom, a branch of the upper Potomac.

Dr. R. W. SHUFELDT, N. Y. City.

216 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

A. O. VU. No. 265. (Actitis macularia.)
R ANGE.
The entire North America. They winter in the southern states and
in Central and South America. They breed throughout temperate Amer-
ica, more abundantly in the central and eastern parts.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 7.5 in.; extent, 13.5 in.; tail, 2 in. Bill and’ feet, flesh colar,
the former being tipped with black. Eye, brown. Head, neck and back,
olive brown, slightly glossed. Head and neck stretched longitudinally,
and the back and rump crossed with wavy black lines. Throat, breast
and under parts white, spotted with dark brown. The wing coverts like
the back; primaries brown with a spot of white on the basal portion,
which shows only when in flight; secondaries edged with white. The
outer tail feathers barred with white.

NEST AND EGGS.

The Spotted Sandpiper breeds during the latter part of May and early
June. You may look for their nests in the grass just above high water
mark along the sea coast, or near the edge of ponds or pools, and in the
grass bordering on some cultivated field. The nest is formed of a few
grasses. The three or four eggs are of a buff color spotted and blotched
with reddish brown and black.

NEST OF SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. ey!

218 AMERICAN ORNITHOLGY.

HABITS.

The ‘‘Peet-weet’’ of the Spotted Sanppiper is a familiar sound to every
one who has traversed the fields near some body of water. Well known
too is their habit of teetering and the names ‘‘Tip-up’”’ and ‘‘Teeter-tail’’
are both suggestive of this habit. Why they indulge in this performance
is a mystery. It can hardly be a sign indicative of either anger or pleas-
ure as the same exercise is repeated at frequent intervals either when
alarmed or when supposedly they are contented, as when they are feed-
ing. I have watched a ‘‘tip-up’’ for fifteen or twenty minutes, standing on
a lone rock some six or eight feet from shore, turning this way and that,
and appearing to make the most profound bows of admiration to his re-
flection in the water. The sandpiper is an affectionate parent and holds
very closely to her nest, and if forced to leave feigns lameness. They
rarely fly in a straight line, but make a wide curve from one point on the
shore to the other. At the commencement of their flight their wings are
flapped with a slow but powerful motion and barely raised above the level
of the back. Before alighting they sail with fixed pinions for some dis-
tance. One June day as | was silently riding my wheel along a country
road, I heard the low musical ‘‘peet-peet’’ of a sandpiper. I dismounted
and walking carefully up to the stone wall looked over. Evidently the
field had been cultivated the year before, for grass was lacking and only a
few weeds together with numerous stones covered the ground. As the
call was repeated, I located the sound and saw one of the prettiest sights
to be imagined;—that of a Sandpiper and three young. The little ones
were not far enough advanced in sandpiper ways to have acquired the
teetering habit, but they did know how to catch insects. Now and then
two of them would spy a wholesome grub at the same instant and a lively
race would ensue. To the credit of the loser in the race, it may be said
that he accepted his defeat in good humor, unlike many children | have
seen. Wishing to become more closely acquainted, | climbed carefully
over the wall. The watchful eye of the mother perceived me at once,
and a warning note sent the little ones scampering in all directions, and
they concealed themselves so that if | had not watched one of them close-
ly, I should not have found any. Going directly to the spot where | had
seen one disappear | found him nestling closely to the side of a stone, and
perfectly motionless. He was a cute little ball of gray down, streaked
with black. When I released him, he ran about four feet and hid himself
effectively beneath a weed.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 219

OLD METHODS vs. THE NEW.

During the past summer there appeared a new book, describing a new
method for the study and photography of birds. _ This method was to cut
down and remove the branch containing the nest and young, to a conven-
ient place, near by, in the bright sunlight, and erect beside it a tent from
within which the observer could watch the birds, who overcome by the
desire to care for their offspring would finally come to feed them in their
new situation. |

Verily, the lot of the birds is a hard one. No sooner is one enemy dis-
posed of than another appears in his place. I venture to say that no book
that has yet been published can produce the harm to our birds that this
one is capable of. I have examined the book thoroughly and fail to find
one logical reason as to why this method should prove beneficial to the
study of bird life.

Most birds are extremely sensitive, and at least one-half of them will de-
sert a nest if it is removed. Besides the danger to the young from the de-
sertion of the parents is another equally as great. In order to successful-
ly photograph a live bird, it must be in the bright sunlight. The heat of
a summer sun is very intense, and consequently fatal results are apt to
follow from this method, in fact the author mentions that the occupants of
three nests out of twenty-six upon which he experimented, died from the
heat or storms. It is safe to say that from the care they will receive from
most followers of this method the mortality will be much greater. These
facts should condemn this method at once, even if the danger from their
other enemies were not increased by leaving them in such an exposed
position.

Even supposing that there were no bad results, where are the advant-
ages from this new method? If a person be not too critical and senti-
mental, the pictures in this book are pretty. But where is the beauty in
a picture when the leaves are all wilted and dying, and of what value is a
photogravh depicting a bird standing over her nest, with bill open gasping
for breath,’and feathers standing on end in the vain endeavor to keep cool
and also to protect the little ones from the heat? It certainly shows the
birds’ devotion to their young, but it is not nature, as nearly all birds pro-
tect their nests from the sun by overhanging leaves. Photographs from
life to be of value must show a bird attending to its duties in a natural
manner, and such cannot be obtained under these conditions. Further-
more, with a camera, a field glass, a long string or tube to release the
camera shutter, and an assistant with a mirror to throw the light where
wanted, there are few nests so situated that photos of the old birds feed-
ing the young cannot be obtained without disturbing the nest or branch.

220 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

But the height of folly is reached when, as to my knowledge has been
done a number of times this season, a person uses this method merely for
observation. He hasn’t a possible excuse to offer for the destroying of a
bird’s happiness and perhaps also its home.

Every act of a bird that is seen at the nest in its unnatural situation,
can, with a pair of field glasses, be observed equally well from a distance
and without disturbing the nest from its original site. Really, I should be
ashamed to see my name attached to an article describing how I had, de-
spite the agonizing cries of the parent birds, cut down a nest and removed
it fifty or sixty feet away, just to see if they could find it again, and have
to show, as an offset to the tortures to be endured by the young, only a
few notes describing how often the little ones were fed.

Now I want to say to all readers of A. O.:—If you want to study or
photograph the home life of wild birds, don’t remove the nest or branch from
its natural situation, and do what you can to discourage others from doing
this.

This is an era of protection, and while the ‘‘New Methods’? might have
proved a success years ago it is sadly out of place now.

AT THE HOME OF THE ROBIN.
WITH PHOTOS FROM LIFE.

At about eight o’clock on the morning of May 27th there boarded a cer-
tain suburban electric car, a man loaded down with several suspicious
looking packages. In fact he was a burglar. As the car sped on its way
he was forming plans to rob a home. The burglar left the car at the near-
est point to his destination, and continued up a side street until opposite
an apple orchard. The home he sought was some distance from any other
house, and was occupied by a middle aged couple and three children.

After having gone nearly through the orchard, this man came to a stop
under a tree and proceeded to undo his bundle. First appeared a large
mirror, a camera, tripod, and the traveling bag was filled with a miscel-
laneous lot such as nails, twine, hammer, etc. A strange outfit for a burg-
lar? Well, the fact is the burglar was the writer who had planned, with-
out the owner’s consent, to steal a likeness of the robin whose nest was
in the tree overhead. After having got the camera in readiness I climbed
the tree and, by the way, I was thankful that ivy had no terrors for me
as the tree was covered. You all probably know that a robin is a very
noisy bird if frightened from the nest, and I can assure you that if I had
been a bonafide burglar, and the inmates of the house had given me the
reception that I received here, | should have beaten a hasty retreat. It

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 221

took only a
short time to
draw up the
camera and
tie each tripod
leg toa branch
thereby mak-
ing the whole
outfit really
ono Tr & Secure
than if stand-
In@= on, tema
firma. By the
time bshrad
everything
INSPECTING THE CAMERA. arranged to

my liking the sky had become overcast with clouds, and my hopes of get-
ting a good negative were dimmed. I withdrew to about forty feet and
with bulb in one hand and field glasses in the other, | waited for- further
developments. The female was very much excited, and continually flit-
ted from tree to tree scolding loudly. The male on the other hand seemed
to take a philosophic view of matters, and regarded the camera curiously
from the next tree. By the way the camera was covered with a gray
cloth and was only two feet from the nest. Soon he ventured to come
to the outer branches of the tree containing the nest, and a little later
hopped up on the side of it. The instant he touched the nesting branch,
up went three
heads with
mouths wide
open, each eager
foube, served
first. Alas they
were all doomed
to disap point-
ment this time
for Mr. Robin
had merely come
BO see What
damage had been
dione “Dy the
queer looking
Dox werthat was
perched so near WORMS FOR THE LITTLE ONES

222 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

to his home. Finding
everything as usual,
he decided to get some
worms for his hungry
little ones, but not be
fore | had pressed the
bulb and made one
exposure. As | had
expected this and the
three other exposures
that I made were so
much undertimed that
they were not satis-
factory. At my next
attempt, made several
days later, | changed

CLEANING THE NEST. my plans slightly.
Finding it rather tiresome climbing the tree to insert a new plate after
each exposure, I decided to remain in the tree to watch operations more
conveniently. Although I was in the same tree and only about twenty
feet from the nest the male Robin paid no attention to me and came to
feed the young about every five minutes. From my elevated observatory
I watched developments at the nest for several days, and | doubt if Mr.
Robin will ever forgive me, for he had to do all the work while I was
about. Although | left the nest for hours at a time with the camera about
four feet from it, | could not induce the female robin to return although
the male showed no hesitation whatever. Of the many photos taken at
this nest, four are reproduced herewith. The three smaller pictures were
snap shots on a sunny day at four feet distance, and the other was taken
on a cloudy day,
one-fifth sec. expos-
ure, and at a dis-
tance of two feet. |
have spent many
pleasant hours dur-
ing the past sum-
mer, camped near

Various bo iatad
homes, and can as-
sert that there is
no more beneficial
or instuctive recre-
ation open to the
American public
than this.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 223

AMERICAN BITTERN.

A. O. VU. No. 190.

(Botaurus lentiginosus.)
RANGE.

The United States, southern Canada, and the West Indies. Breeds
throughout temperate North America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, about 30 in.; extent, about 4o in.; tail, 4 in. Bill, brownish
black above and yellowish green below. Eye, yellow. Legs, yellowish
green. Back, wings, and tail mottled with several shades of brown, black
and yellow. Top of head brown. A buff stripe over the eye. The adult
birds have a large velvety black patch on each side of the neck. The
under parts are whitish, each feather having in the center a black edged
stripe of brown. The feathers on the breast are somewhat lengthened.

NEST AND EGGS.

NEST OF AMERICAN BITTERN

The nest is on the ground in a marsh or bog. I have found them where
the nest was lined with a few grasses, but nearly all are simply a natural
hollow in the ground. The eggs are laid about the middle of May. They
number three or four and are of a plain brownish color, unspotted.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

224

BITTERN

AMERICAN

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 225

HABITS.

All birds have their peculiarities, and this one is no exception. The
most interesting and extraordinary performance of the Bittern is his sing-
ing, if it may be designated as such. Because of his vocal abilities he is
often known as ‘‘Stake Driver,’’ ‘‘Thunder Pump,”’ and ‘‘Indian Hen.’’
This performance has been described time and again, but the best explan-
ation of a witness of the action, is that of Dr. P. L. Hatch in the ‘‘Birds
of Minnesota.’’ The act of a Prairie Hen cock in booming, the Turkey
Gobbler in gobbling, is no more extreme or characteristic than is that of
the Bittern in the act of disgorging himself of his inexpressibly infelicitous
love notes. Standing perfectly erect and motionless, his bill pointed ex-
actly towards the zenith, the head is seen to be very slowly sinking while
the body correspondingly assumes the horizontal position and the neck
becomes sigmoid by its double flexion, it suddenly shoots forwards and
downwards and laboriously pumps out its amorous utterances, doubtless
to the entire satisfaction of the waiting ear, whether the mate’s or another
masculine representative of the species, that accepts the challenge to come
over and get most ingloriously thrashed. Aspectively the performance is
suggestive of strangulation until ‘‘Kunk-ah-whulnk’’ has all been ejected.

The Bittern prefers a marshy locality and as a rule may be found
where the footing is treacherous. He likes to build his home on the cen-
ter of some bog where in order to reach it one must risk taking a sudden
bath in several feet of slimy water. When not hungry they are lazy
birds and instead of flying will try to escape by running through the tall
grass, that is if they do not stand perfectly still and try:to escape observa-
tion by passing themselves off as one of the rushes. If you come upon
them suddenly, they will start up with a croak, as though disgusted at
being obliged to fly. They are remarkably adept at catching frogs and
can strike a powerful blow with their large beaks. Their flight is slow
but easy, and at a distance while on the wing they do not look unlike a
large hawk except that their wings are rather broad.

226 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

FIGHT BETWEEN TWO CROWS AND A FOX
SQUIRREL.

About three o’clock in the afternoon of a bright sunshiny day in June,
I was taking a pleasure ride on my wheel in Garfield Park, one of the
Cleveland public parks, I was riding along the main driveway which is
lined with tall oaks, cedars and maples when I heard a loud screeching
from overhead.

I got off my wheel and looked about to see where it came from, when
suddenly I saw a large crow fly upwards from a tall oak, whirl about and
dart down at something in the top of the tree. Its mate soon did the same
as the former.

I tried to discover the cause for this funny performance by walking
around the tree and peering through the places where the foliage was
scarce. Near the top of the tree I could see a nest which the crows
seemed to be trying to guard against some intruder, but could see no cause
for their funny performance and making such a racket.

I was just going to get on my wheel and ride off, when I saw the crows
fly downward from the top of thc tree and pick at something which seem-
ed to be coming down the tree. I now thought it must be a snake as |
had often heard of snakes climbing trees to get birds eggs. I waited a
minute and a large fox squirrel came running down the side of the tree
and;stopped on one of the lower branches which was about thirty feet
from the ground.

I now found out the cause of the crows acting so. The squirrel had
been after the eggs in the nest and the crows had been trying to defend
their nest from him.

The crows not satisfied with driving the squirrel from their nest came
darting at him again. The squirrel in trying to defend himself from their
attack lost his balance and fell to the ground.

I thought he must be hurt so I ran toward the spot where he lay to see
if | could catch him and see how badly the crows had hurt him. 1 got
within about seven feet of him when he jumped up and ran to a nearby
tree. 1 got near enough to see that the crows had in several places pierc-
ed through his skin and pulled off quite a bit of his fur. The place on
which he fell on the ground was a spot of blood from the wounds the crows
had given him. J. F. Goss, Ohio.

Guy Emerson of Duxbury, Mass., reports seeing a partly Albino Robin,
the tail, wings and head being nearly a pure white, while the body was
the usual robin color. It was with several other robins and was last seen
on July roth. °

‘ —
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ri NESTS and EGGS

r of NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. te

# By OLIVER DAVIE.

The Best Book on Eggs Published
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Vol. I. DEC poise nial 1901. Bo com oye

No. 12

Al | gS ry rIGAD

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Vol. I. December, i901. No. 12

HORNED LARK.

A. O. VU. No. #74. (Oftocoris alpestris.)
RANGE.

Northeastern North America. In winter south to Eastern United States.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 7.5 in.; extent, 13 in.; tail, 3 in. Above and on the sides,
pinkish brown. Wings and tail, brown, the former edged with pinkish,
and the outer feathers of the latter, white. Forehead, line over the eye,
and throat, pale yellow. Crescent on breast, patch extending from bill to
below eye, and bar on top of head, terminating in ear tufts, black. Be-
low white.

NEST AND EGGS.

The nest is a deep cup shaped structure of grass placed on the ground
generally in marshy places and concealed by moss or tufts of grass.
Their eggs are three or four in number, grayish white, and speckled with
brown and dark gray. Their breeding range is north of the United
States.

HABITS.

These birds are perhaps more commonly known by the name of Shore
Lark rather than Horned Lark. They are rather common winter residents
in eastern United States. They come to us from their northern breeding
grounds about the first of November, and can be found, especially near

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

228

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 229

the sea coast, in flocks of from ten to twenty or more. They frequent
sandy or marshy places where they can procure seeds of the various
weeds and grasses. When the snows cover their feeding grounds, they
quite frequently take to the country roads or visit farm yards where they
can procure food. They appear to be entirely a ground bird, and are
rarely seen perched even as high as a fence post. When alarmed the
whole flock arises in a body, with shrill whistles, and after circling about
alight not far off. In this respect their behavior is different from that
when at their breeding grounds, at which time they will escape by hiding
rather than by flying. About the latter part of February or early March,
they leave us for the locality that is home for them. As the flocks go
northward they disintegrate, and one or two pairs will settle down in a
locality. Their manner, which during the winter is suspicious, is now
confiding and cheerful. Dr. Cooper says that in May and June the males
rise almost perpendicularly into the air until almost out of sight, and fly
around in an irregular circle, singing a sweet and varied song for several
minutes, when they descend nearly to the spot from which they
ascended.

According to Audubon, these larks breed abundantly on the high and
desolate tracts that abound along the coast of Labrador. These rocks are
covered with large patches of moss and lichens. In the midst of these,
this bird places her nest, disposed with so much care, and the mosses so
much ‘resembling the bird in hue, that the nests are not usually noticed.
When flushed from her nest she flutters away, feigning lameness so cun-
ningly as‘to almost deceive any one not on his guard. The male at once
joins her and both utter the most soft and plaintive notes of woe. The
nest is imbedded in moss to its edges and is composed of fine grasses cir-
cularly disposed and forming a bed about two inches thick. About a
week before they can fly, the young leave the nest and follow their parents
over these beds of mosses to be fed. They run nimbly and squat closely
at the first approach of danger. If observed and pursued, they open their
wings and flutter off with great celerity. It is said that in their breeding
grounds the male birds are very pugnacious, fluttering, biting and tumb-
ling over one another in the manner of English Sparrows. Their long,
sharp hind toes are very apt to inflict serious injury to one another.
There are many sub-species of these birds in different sections of the
country, and in localities where two or more kinds are to be found, it is
very confusing, even to experienced ornithologists to distinguish one from
another owing to the very slight differences between them.

AVERTCAN ORNITHOLOG Y¥

230

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 231

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.

A. O. VU. No. 409 (Melanerpes carolinus.)
RANGE.

The United States east of the Rocky Mts. and south of New England,
New York, and Michigan. It is seldom found north of these boundaries.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 9.5 in.; extent, 17 in.; tail, 3.5 in. Eye, reddish brown. Bill
and feet, horn color. Top and back of head, crimson red, shading to whit-
ish on the forehead. Sides of head and middle of the belly tinged with
reddish. Back, wings, and tail, black, closely barred with white. Under
parts, dull white. The female differs from the male in plumage in having
the red on the head restricted to the back part, the crown being ashy.

NEST AND EGGS.

During May, this bird lays from four to six glossy white eggs. They
are deposited on the bottom of cavities in almost any variety of tree.
They do their own excavating for a nest, and occasionally bore into a
sound limb. The entrance when newly made is small and nearly always
perfectly round.

HABITS.

The subject of this article is one of the most strikingly marked, and cer-
tainly is one of the most handsome of the entire Woodpecker family. He
has the same general colors that are found on many of the family, but
their arrangement is unique, and has given him the name of ‘‘Zebra
Bird.”’- They are distributed very locally; in some sections they are very
abundant, while in others they are very rare. According to Audubon they
were confined to the denser forests and were very shy. Now, especially
in the south they are very abundant and are no more timid than the other
members of the family, frequently coming about the farm houses for food.
There is an old saying to the effect that fine feathers do not make fine
birds. This bird surely has fine plumage, and | think that on the whole,
we will agree that he is a fine bird, although he may not be as useful a
one, as some others of the woodpecker family. It has been found that he
feeds only to a small extent on insects, and that the greater part of his
food consists of animal matter. The orange growers in Florida have
given these woodpeckers the names, ‘‘Orange Sapsuckers’ and ‘‘Orange
Borers,’’ and say that they eat the oranges and suck the sap from the
trees. [| do not think we can blame the birds for their choice of food,
though if they were especially abundant in any one section, the fruit
growers might see their profits vanishing rapidly.

232 AMERICAN ORNITITOLOGY.

Mr. Warren in his book, ‘‘Birds of Pennsylvania,’’ says:—‘‘l examined
two dozen or more oranges which had been attacked by the wood-
peckers and found that all had been bored about midway between the
stem and blossom end. These holes, always round, varied greatly in
size. The birds usually, I think, pick off the skin from a space about the
size of a five cent piece and then eat the pulp. On one occasion | saw a
Red-bellied Woodpecker eating an orange. He evidently recognized the
fact that it was about the last of the season, as he had enlarged the open-
ing sufficiently that his head was almost entirely hidden in the yellow
skin, from the sides of which he picked the few remaining particles of
pulp. 1 was shown orange trees that these sapsuckers were said to have
bored. These borings, however, did not appear to injure the trees, as
they seemed to me to be equally as flourishing as other trees whose trunks
showed no marks of a woodpecker’s bill.’’

Probably the loss to the fruit growers is more imaginary than real. |
figured in a case of this sort this summer. While crossing the corner of a
three acre field of grass, the owner held me up. We had a lengthy argu-
ment in which he severely scored all gunners and camera fiends, and if
his estimate of the damage done in the short distance I had traveled was
correct, my shoes must cover over an enormous amount of territory. For
my part I would gladly give up the pleasure of eating a few oranges for
the benefit of these handsome birds, and would gladly welcome them to
Massachusetts, although as yet I believe they have not been recorded,
at least in Worcester County.

ALBINO BLACKBIRDS.

Between the widening fork of Lowell street and Massachusetts avenue
lie the Great Meadows of East Lexington. They are surrounded by
sunburned fields which make the electric cars seem far away; and here the
flowers bloom and the birds sing as though in a remote wilderness. If an
ornithologist once visits this place, he will remember it for it is the resort
of many of the rare ducks and waders, and one is sometimes startled by
the wierd cry of the loon. One day this past spring while walking along
the shore I noticed several blackbirds in some button bushes, and creeping
near without letting them sight me, what was my Surprise to see among
them, two birds with singular plumage. The head, throat and upper part
of the back was white, and the wings and tail feathers tipped with black.
Some of the birds flew deeper into the marsh but the albinos remained,
and presently uttered the ‘‘tchuck, tchuck’’ followed by the liquid ‘‘cong-
ka-ree,’’ though when one of them flew to a dead tree, he showed no
scarlet epaulette. I continued to watch them until they took flight, with
a happy sense for the moment, that nature had favored me with the sight
of a white blackbird. WEES

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 235

IN THE OLD APPLE TREE.

When God had made a host of them,
One little flower still lacked a stem
To hold its blossom blue;
So into it he breathed a song,
And suddenly with petals strong
As wings, away it flew. JOHN B. TABB.

A sweet melodious warble, a flash of
blue, and there upon the decayed end
of an apple tree bough, ‘sits one of our
most welcome summer guests, the
Bluebird. Surely fortune smiles upon
us today, for the nest hole is barely
above our head. How could a location
be more convenient for the use of the
camera? To be sure the hole is on
the north side of the tree and conse-
quently out of the sun, but we are
prepared for that and soon, by means
of reflected light from a mirror, the
place is as light as if in the bright sun-
light. When we have the camera set
up in readiness for business, and the
mirror readjusted to make allowance
for the shifting of the sun, we will hide
behind the next tree and see what the
anxious parent birds will do. As the
male bird flits to and fro in the sun-
light his blue coat. is dazzling in its
brilliancy. His sombre colored, but
equally melodious mate is intent upon
examining her household, but cannot
quite satisfy herself that the large box,

Photo from life. so uncomfortably close to her head-
quarters, is not some sort of a trap. Each successive move brings her
nearer to the desired goal, and at last she lights upon the edge of the nest-
inghole. Instantly a sort of dazed expression comes over her. Some-
thing is wrong. She looks first at the dazzling reflection down in the
grass behind her, and then at the sun which is still doing duty in its prop-
er location for the time of day. Evidently the problem is too great for her
to solve or else she has not the time now, for she has disappeared down
the hole. In a moment she reappears and flits to a dead limb on the top

234 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

of anear tree. This limb appears to be the favorite perch forsMrs. Blue-
bird, and is used as a lookout. As soon as she sights a grasshopper or
caterpillar, she drops down upon it and bears it away to her young. In
this case it is the male bird that shows thc greatest fear. He positively
refuses to have his picture taken and will not go to the nest while the
camera is near. He shows, however, that he is willing to work and that
it is only fear of the camera, or that mysterious sun in the grass that pre-

vents his doing his duty. He will get a choice morsel, carry it to a
branch, perhaps three feet from the nest, and there wait for his mate to
come and carry it the remaining distance. Rather ungallant for Mr. Blue-
bird to expose his mate to fancied dangers which he dare not face. Later,
however, he atones for his lack of gallantry. Owing to the convenient
situation of the nest, we soon have all the photographs that we desire, so

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 235

we will remove our outfit and retire a short ways and watch these gentle
housekeepers. Soon the female enters the nest and remains, while he
shoulders the responsibility of procuring food. He makes longer journeys
than his mate has, and sometimes is away ten or fifteen minutes. A
tremulous warble announces his approach, and he plumps down wood-
pecker fashion on the edge of the hole and delivers to his mate the prize
he has found. After seeing that it is safely fed to the young, he starts on
another search. [| had intended to obtain photos of the young when they
were just able to fly, but owing to a mistake in my calculations, | arrived
there the day after they had gone and found the nest empty. The
patience and industry shown by our common birds at this period is amaz-
ing. With the nest building, incubation of the eggs, and the care of the
young, they hardly have a moment’s leisure from the time of their arrival
in the spring to their departure in the fall. C. ALBERT REED.

TRUE ADMIRATION.

Truly the birds admire the beautiful in nature. Just notice their homes.
| have seen some wonderful ones this summer, showing the beautiful artis-
tic natures of the birds who built them.

I have often heard it said that ‘‘a man could find what he was looking
for,’’ but I began to think it did not apply to a woman, for all summer I have
looked for the nest of a humming bird; but on the tenth of July my eyes
just feasted on a little cotton nest all covered with lichens about twenty .
feet from the ground, on a small limb of a large maple tree. | think I never
should have seen it but for the evident admiration of a yellow-throated
vireo. He hovered near the nest singing soft little love songs, looked it over
from either side, fluttered over it with quivering wings, vibrating so rapid-
ly, then flew to one side singing his most beautiful song, then back again
repeatedly showing his admiration. The little hummer had left the nest
and | could not leave it longer in the tree to.watch, for fear of its being de-
molished. O, that I could interpret those soft cooing notes that he uttered
repeatedly. Was it not true admiration? From my own feelings, when
the nest was finally in my hands, | think I can fully appreciate the little
vireo’s ecstasy, for a daintier little home I am sure could never be found.
I wonder if other birds stop to look and admire these dainty little homes?

REST H. METCALF.

236

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 237

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.
A, O. VU. No. #7. (Larus marinus.)
; RANGE.
The Atlantic coast from Maine northwards in the summer, and south in
the winter as far as Long Island.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 30 in.; extent, about 5.5 feet; tail. 7 in. Adult in summer:—
Bill, yellow, the lower mandible having a crimson spot near the end.
Eye, yellow; eyelid, red. Legs and feet, flesh color. The head, neck and
tail, and under parts, pure white. Back and wings, dark gray, almost
black. Primaries, secondaries, and coverts tipped with white.

In winter the head and neck are slightly mottled with gray.

Young:—Bill, black; feet, brownish. Upper parts, dark brown mottled
with white and buff. Under parts mottled with white and gray, being
lighter on the throat.

NEST AND EGGS.

These gulls breed during the latter part of May and June on the numer-
ous small islands along the Atlantic coast, north of the United States.
Their nests are rather large structures of dry grasses. They generally
lay three eggs, the color of which varies from a bluish gray to an olive
brown, and blotched with. reddish brown and gray.

HABITS.

Old Saddle-back is the name by which this large gull is known to near-
ly all Atlantic fishermen. This name is applied to him because of the
saddle like appearance of the dark gray mantle resting on his back be-
tween the white head and tail. He is one of the most tyrannical of all
the water fowls, and does his own will at all times, irrespective of the
rights of any other bird. He is a very powerful bird and those that can
dispute his title to ‘‘king of the seas’’ are few in number.

The Great Black-backed Gulls are not as sociable as most of the others
of the family, and rarely do more than eight or ten pairs occupy the same
island. They have a very keen sight and although they are not afraid of
any other bird, they always, unless by accident, keep at a respectful dis-
tance from mankind. In this respect they are sometimes useful to others
of the water fowls that are less suspicious, acting as sentinels for them.
They do not by any means do this as a matter of accommodation; it is
simply that they are looking out for their own safety. In fact, instead of
doing any of their neighbors a favor, they are always looking for a chance
to rob them of their eggs or young. They feed on fish, shellfish, eggs
and meat, either fresh or otherwise. Many a member of the duck family,
wholly unable to cope with this powerful antagonist, has been compelled

238 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

to desert her nest and witness its complete destruction, in order to satisfy
the greed of this bird pirate. Like many other birds whose character is
similar to these they are graced with good looks, in fact, I think they are
fully as handsome as any other member of this graceful family. Their flight
is powerful and majestic. At times they float aloft on motionless wings,
wheeling round and round in a chain of circles. They float buoyantly and
swim well. No marine view would be complete without a few individuals
of the gull family, either wheeling about in graceful circles or seated on
the surface of the water, and rising and falling in unison with the waves.
None of the gulls have a very musical note, and this one’s is rather less
so than the others. It is characteristic of the disposition of the bird; a
coarse, gruff ‘‘kac, kac, kac,’’ a note that penetrates a considerable dis-
tance. They are not very particular about the character of the islands
that they choose for their homes. Probably the chief factor in their
choice is the proximity of a good food supply. Some build their nests on
high rocky islands, which are also the breeding places of murres, cormor-
ants, and numerous smaller gulls, while others will construct a house for
their young on some low, sandy, and marshy island, in company with
many terns and Herring Gulls. These latter, murderers themselves, to a
considerable extent, now have to suffer the penalty for their wrong do-
ings. The Saddle-backs lose no opportunity to rob the nests of their
smaller neighbors, indeed they are not above stealing the property of their
own kind. Quite frequently the devastion is made more complete; a fish-
erman’s boat anchors under the lee of the island; after its departure not
an egg that bears any semblance of being fresh, remains on the island.
These eggs and those of the murre are considered a delicacy by the fisher-
men, and the islands are frequently raided. The birds do not lose a great
deal of time bewailing their loss, but go ahead and lay a second set, and
if necessary, a third.

PLUMAGE A PROTECTION.

May we not see protective wisdom in the way nature clothes her birds,
giving them plumage to harmonize with their natural surroundings, as
though to protect them from the keen sight of their enemies? Thus many
of the small birds that flit among the foliage are distinguished by beautiful
colors, while those that run upon the ground are generally marked by
neutral tints. Quails, partridges and grouse are colored like the ground,
being of a speckled or brownish hue, and are seen with difficulty when
sitting or standing among the berry bushes, or gleaning their repast in the
cornfield. Too small to defend themselves, their colors are adapted to
protect them by concealment. The sparrows and larks that build upon
the ground are plainly dressed; and the thrushes, which are equally neu-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 239

tral in tint, build in low bushes and take their food chiefly from the ground.
Water birds are generally gray all over. except a tinge of blue in their
plumage above. Ducks, however, are many of them variegated with
green and other colors that harmonize with the weeds and plants of the
shore upon which they feed. Bright colored birds in nearly every case
frequent forests and leafy trees. Among familiar examples of these are
woodpeckers, the blue jay, and the cardinal grosbeak. Many of the sing-
ing birds, as the finches and buntings, find most of their sustenance in the
grasses; but high colored ones, like the purple finch and red poll, usually
build in trees. Conspicuous for their brilliant colors are the golden oriole,
the scarlet tanager and the American goldfinch. All of these species build
their nests in trees, and seldom run on the ground. The goldfinch feeds up-
on the seeds of compound flowers which are mostly yellow. His plumage
of goldand olive allow him to escape the sight of his enemies while picking
seeds from the disk of a sunflower, or from a cluster of golden rods. The
species that frequent our shrubbery are of a brown or olive brown of dif-
ferent shades. .They are dressed in colors that blend with the general
tints of the ground and herbage while they are seeking their food or sit-
ting upon their nests. Birds, however, do not differ much in the hidden
parts of their plumrge. Beneath they are almost universally of grayish
or whitish tints, so that while sitting on a branch, anyone looking up-
wards can scarcely distinguish them from the hues of the clouds and the
sky and the grayish under surface of the leaves of the trees. But why,
it may be asked, are the females more plainly dresssed than the males?
Perhaps it is because the female perfcerms the duties of incubation, and if
she were brightly colored, she would be more readily descried by birds
of prey while sitting on her nest. The male bird on the contrary, while
hunting among the blossoms and foliage of the trees for insect food, is not
so readily distinguished from the flowers, for in the temperate latitudes
the breeding season is the time when the trees are in blossom.. Again at
this season of courtship among the birds, nature has given the males a
more brilliant costume. Thus the bobolink changes his winter garment
of yellowish brown for one of gorgeous straw color and black; and the red-
winged blackbird casts off his tawny suit for one of glossy jet, with epau-
lettes of scarlet. After the young are reared and the flowers have faded,
they dispense with their brilliant colors and assume the plain hues of the
female. And as with the birds so with the insects. The toad is colored
like the soil of the garden, while the colors of the common frog that lives
among the green rushes and aquatic mosses are green. The tree frog is
of a mottled gray, like the outer bark of old trees. Grasshoppers are
generally greenish; but there is a species found among the gray lichens on

our rocky hills, which is the color of the surface of these rocks.
FRANK H. SWEET.

240 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 241

CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH.

AO... No.-S1 sa. (Carpodacus purpureus californicus.)

RANGE.
The Pacific coast region, west of the Rocky Mountains, from British
Columbia to southern California.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5.75 in.; extent, about 10 in.; tail, 2.25 in. Bill and feet,
brown. Eye, brown. Male:—Head, neck, back, rump, and breast, rosy
red, brightest on the head and throat. Wings and tail, brown, the feath-
ers being edged with reddish. Under parts dull brownish.

Female and young:—Upper parts olive brown, rather brighter on the
rump. Under parts white, marked in streaks with olive brown.

NEST AND EGGS.

This finch nests preferably in coniferous trees, although often nests are
found in other varieties. Most all of them are placed near the top of the
tree. The nest is composed of grasses and fibres and lined with hair. In
May they lay from three to five eggs of a bluish green color sprinkled
rather sparsely with reddish brown, these markings being sometimes
chiefly at the larger end and at others over the entire surface.

HABITS.

This western form of the Purple Finch of eastern North America is an
abundant summer resident of some parts of British Columbia, chiefly west
of the Cascade Mountains, and on Vancouver Island. But though affect-
ing a large range of country, it is rather local in its distribution, owing to
its fondness for certain kinds of food, and its partiality to nest in certain
woody sections, especially low growths of coniferous trees. It is gen-
erally from the topmost bough of a member of this family of trees, that
the pleasing refrain of the male of this species is heard from early spring-
time till the middle of the summer, or until after the nesting period is
over, when it begins to moult, and its melody generally ceases for the
year.

To the residents of the rural sections, and especially to those interested
in gardening, the appearance and food seeking habits of this species may
soon become known, and for the credit of the bird’s harmlessness, unpleas-
antly so, for if the horticulturist is interested in the development of turnip,
cabbage or other small seeds of that character, companies of these birds
will make daily visits to the premises, until every seed is appropriated, if
means are not taken to prevent the loss. This species also feeds on var-
ious kinds of small fruits, both wild and cultivated, and also, especially
when the young are to be fed, on various kinds of insects. It usually

242 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

places its nest at the top of a medium sized balsam, or other conifer, or
among the thick vines, or where small shoots project from the sides of a
small sized deciduous tree.

With the exception that the nest and eggs are both larger, they closely
resemble those of the chipping sparrow. If the first clutch is taken the
female lays again, otherwise she raises but one brood in a season.

When not much disturbed she prefers to nest in the vicinity of human
dwellings, rather than in the wilder woods, and at no time does it pene-
strate far into the pathless forest. When the nesting period is over, this
species generally associate in small flocks, and in the spring season these
do much damage to the fruit trees by picking the blossoms and buds.
The male in the spring is a handsome bird with his rosy red plumage and
clouded brown back. The more plainly colored female is altogether of a
duller hue than the male, and in general appearance might be taken for a
female English sparrow. Wh

AUTUMN BIRD GOSSIP.

‘] hear the cry
Of their voices high,
Falling dreamily through the sky.’

—LONGFELLOW.

There is a decided pleasure that savors not at all of spring time enthus-
iasm,’in observing the autumn and winter migrants. A quiet content
seems to permeate their life and movements that tends to impress one
with the similarity between their characteristics and emotions, and our
own. They, like us, seem imbued with a consciousness of the sadness of
the season that precedes the bitter days of ice and snow. The enthus-
iasm of love and courtship has passed away, and the content of accom-
plishment is upon them, the peace of the aftermath as it were. Their gre-
gariousness is a strong evidence of their freedom from the individual inter-
ests that so absorbs them during the season of parental cares, and now
they are willing to quietly enjoy the rest and pleasure of friendly associa-
tion with their kind.

Only the other day I met a flock of migrants consorting as merrily as a
party of human pleasure seekers out for a holiday. There were white-
throated and white-crowned sparrows, and by the way, there is no more
stylish, dapper young dandy in bird society than your white-crowned
sparrow, whose every movement betokens a supercilious vanity quite in
keeping with his human pretotype, Juncos in abundance were with the
party and also a few groundsels—a gold finch or two—and | heard though
I did not see, a bluebird ‘‘with a bit of blue sky for a back,”’ but there

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 243

was no mistaking his autumnal song note of ‘‘cheery-up’’ and ‘‘thorough-
wort.’’ And by the way, I had an opportunity this fall while crossing
Lake Huron on a steamer, of associating intimately for several hours with
a number of these migrants. After a heavy gale on the previous night
which doubtless blew the migrating birds out of their course seaward, our
boat was boarded by juncos, white-throated sparrows, pine warblers, yel-
low warblers, a pair of wrens, a grackle, a Blackburnian warbler, and a
black-throated blue warbler, and exhaustion and hunger had rendered
them so tame that they hopped about our steamer chairs like pet chickens,
picking up the numerous insects that swarmed about the deck. It was a
truly delightful experience to a bird lover, this intimate association with
birds naturally so shy and timid.

Another sign of the approach of winter is the return to city quarters of
the English sparrows from their summer résidence in the surrounding
country where many of them had the good sense to immigrate during the
heated term. After all these poor little beggars are better than no feath-
ered associates to house-bound ornithologists during the long winter days,
and after all is said and done. they are birds, and no bird is without inter-
est. A few robins are to be seen here in the deep woods during the win-
ter, also an occasional blue jay and crossbill, but for constant association
we have to depend mostly upon the chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers,
crows and their ilk. However, if one is interested, there is always a good
deal of wild life about, if one but takes the trouble to seek it out, for my
observation has taught me that, in reason, one can always find what one
looks for. ALBERTA A. FIELD.

244 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

A STRAY SHOT.

It was early in the morning, that is early for the use of the camera, and
I was walking briskly through a pasture, which was dotted here and
there with clumps of thorn and oaks. | was on my way to the home of a
bird, the growth of whose family I was interested in. As usual, | had
with me a complete line of picture taking utensils, and was prepared to
spend the day, if necessary, to ob-
tain the desired views. A shadow
crossed the path; glancing up, I
caught sight of a Brown Thrasher,
just disappearing into a low bush,
and saw that she carried a grub of
some sort in her bill. Naturally, |
stepped over and parted the branch-
es, to see what she was doing there.
Evidently I broke in upon them at
just dinner time, and Mrs. Thrash-
er was very much displeased, for
she did her best to drive me away
from her nest. Hissing and squeal-
ing, and with wings and tail spread,
she kept darting towards me, and
Photo from life. Once even pecked the fingers that
ON GUARD. held the branches aside. I had seen
no sign of the male bird, but as I turned to leave, I saw him perched on a
dead twig above the next bush. As he was so quiet I decided to photo-
graph him if | could. He was a very accommodating bird, and remained
still while | went back to the path, got the camera, set it up, focused it,
and got an exposure. This was one of the many stray shots that are
obtained. It was taken with the back combination of the lens, at a dis-
tance of about fifteen feet. Cy OTBE oa

THAT “ENGLISH” SPARROW.

(Passer domesticus. )

Perhaps there is not one of our feathered acquaintances that is so un-
justly abused by all as our little friend, Passer domesticus, that ‘‘English’’
Sparrow. To be sure he is a willful little creature and takes delight in
tantalizing his smaller door yard neighbors, but bleak indeed would be our
city streets, when baked by the summer sun, or clothed in the chilling
snows of winter, were it not for his cheery chirp. It is with the hope that

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 245

a little of the interest, so freely lavished upon some more beautiful; may
be tendered a deserving one, though a mere waif of the streets, that I
offer this short anecdote. In the back door yard of my home, there stands
a large apple tree which a family of cat birds once made their home.
While walking about one morning as the tree was just coming into bloom,
I noticed a small bird busily engaged in the old cat bird’s nest. Upon in-
vestigation | found it to be none other than an English sparrow, but could
not just understand what he was about. Presently he darted away with
a stick that he had stolen, and flew straight to an old tree where | discov-
ered the outlines of his nest. This was of great interest to me and I re-
solved to watch him, as domesticus, in this locality at least, rarely builds
his nest in trees, choosing rather some nook aboot the house or stable. In
a short time he was back, selecting again one of the outside sticks of the
nest. Back and forth he went, again and again, until within a very short
time the old cat bird’s nest had entirely disappeared, and had been trans-
formed into the nest of Passer domesticus, in the old tree.

It may have been that the mere abundance of nesting material in this
place caused the little fellow to return from time to time, but the fact that
he first took the sticks from the outside and then, as his own nest increas-
ed, those of the inner, ending with the soft stuffs that lined the old nest,
suggests to me that perhaps even the despised little English sparrow pos-
sesses more of that higher instinct, call it ‘‘reason’’ if you will, than we
accredit him with. SHERIDAN R. JONES.

A BIRD STRATEGIST.

So far as is known to any of us boys, there is but one pair of Broad-
winged Hawks in Kennebunk, Me.; and these have, for four years, per-
sistently nested in the same locality, a wooded valley on the river bank,
and for four years they have been robbed. In 1898 | saw one of the birds
with about three feet of rope in its talons going to the nest, and in June I
found the young about ready to fly.

The next year they built about half a mile from the old site, and the
young birds were taken. In 1900 they used the old nest of the first year.
This year the old hawk seemed to know that all the boys were on the
watch for her eggs, and that extra precautions would be necessary, so
she set her wits to work to outgeneral them. On the 24th of April I was
strolling down that way, when I saw in a tall pine, a mass of sticks and
moss, looking like a last year’s squirrel’s nest. After looking at it from
all sides, | went on thinking it nothing but a bunch of sticks. 1 went to
the tree where the nest of ’98 had been and found there was a crow’s nest
in the top, the hawk’s nest being empty and unrepaired.

246 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Three days later | saw the hawks carrying sticks to the mass that | had
supposed to be a squirrel’s nest. They completed this nest and then | did
not see them for several days. On the fourth day somewhat disgusted |
walked on to the old original claim and when within about ten feet of the
tree off went Mrs. Hawk with a scream that made my hair stand on end.
I went up that tree fast. In the old nest was as fine a specimen of hawk
egg as | ever saw. It was lavender gray with blotches of dark chestnut.
Two days later I went again, but the eggs had been taken. On my way
back | stopped at the new nest, built this year, and found an egg of the
same size and color but covered with fine brown markings. Now the
question is, did Madame Hawk build a second nest just to throw the boys
off the scent and then use it when she found her ruse had not succeeded?
If so she is a smart old bird. GEORGE W. FISK.

THE ADVENTURE OF A YOUNG SANDPIPER.

One day late in July, | was walking along a narrow path by the shore
of the lake. On one side of me were thick clumps of briars and birches,
and on the othér, a broad level sandflat reaching to the water. Every
few feet along this flat, were clumps of tall and waving reeds. As I was
passing one of these, | was startled by a whirr of gray wings, and a large
female sandpiper flew straight out to a small pebbly beach, where I could
just see her teetering body and hear her anxious peeps. I knew she had
just left her nest, ran a few feet, and then suddenly flown. Determined
to find the nest | moved forward cautiously scanning every inch of sand,
and each clump of reeds until I found it, which took me no short time.
I took one of the four spotted eggs which were in the nest, and quietly
left. When I reached home I placed it in my egg case, intending to blow it
the next day, but it was forgotten, and it was the third day before | thought
of it again, | hastened to the box, and upon opening it a faint but clear
“‘peep, peep’’ greeted me, and over in one corner was a young sand-
piper, it having hatched in the warm cotton. I gave my foster child a
little warm milk, which he greedily sucked from the palm of my hand.
The next morning | returned him to his nest, where he was probably
greeted in true brotherly fashion, for the others had hatched. The fol-
lowing day I went to the nest again to see how they were, but was disa-
appointed for the nest was empty. Probably they were out on the little

pebbly beach taking their first lessons in teetering.
A. L. HARRIMAN.

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A sample copy will be sent free.
Subscription price, soc a year.

EUGENE GLASS, Publisher,
Battle Creek, Mich.

It is a Curious Fact

that a large number of our noted botanists
were students of birds earlier in life. Many
of them continue to be bird-lovers and no
doubt many ornithologists would like to
know more about the plant world. If you are
one of the latter send a 2-cent stamp for a
sample copy of ‘eZ we “Z Sd

The American Botanist
BINGHAMTON. N.Y.

THE ONLY UNTECHNICAL BOTANICAL JOURNAL.

JAMES P. BABBITT,

— DEALER IN —

Supplies for the Naturalist and Taxider-
mist; Fine Glass Eyes a Specialty.
TAUNTON, MASS.

Illustrated catalogue and bargain list
of Birds’ Eggs and Skins upon application.

she A. O. BINDER

Will Keep Your Copies :in Perfect Condition.

OUR BINDER will hold from one to twelve
copies as firmly as if bound in a book.

No Springs to! get out of order.
No Holes to punch in your book.
No Strings to tie.

Je Easy to Operate. Je

Handsome cloth cover with neat and attrac-
tive design and lettering in gold.

60 cents, postpaid.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY,

Sta. A, Worcester, Mass.

+ Christmas Books +

~ FSye< women 3 =

One Volume

American &
Ornithology

250 pages. 150 fine illustrations
Nicely bound in Cloth, with cover design in Gold
$1.50 Postpaid.
Se

. <= gms ,
:* , ¥ ‘
aa

Nests and Eggs of
North American Birds.

¢
;
|
4
;
¢
@
By Oliver Davie. 3
The Best Book on Eggs Published.
* Finely Illustrated. bs
Thoroughly revised, 6oopp. Fifth Edition.
Extra Cloth REGULAR PRICE $2.25. 3
My Price $1.50 Postpaid. :

Methods in the Art of Taxidermy

By Oliver Davie, author ‘‘Nests and Eggs
of North American, Birds,’ EtCyciesrete

A 90 Full Page Engravings ss

The whole containing five hundred figures, clearly illustrating the
modes of procedure in the art, together with examples ot charac
teristic forms and attitudes of various species of the animal king
dom, including REPRODUCTIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS OF ACTU
AL WORK BY AMERICAN TAXIDERMISTS.
Never before has the art of taxidermy had its practical methods
and beauties portrayed as we find them interpreted in this work
It is a work of art from cover to cover.

Formerly published at $ro. My price only $2.50 prepaid

The Butterfly Book.

By W. J. Holland, D. D., has besides hundreds of text illustrations
Colored Plates which show over a THOUSAND SPECIES OF AMER-
ICAN BUTTERFLIES with all their native beauty and brilliance of coloring.
This is a “*Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North America.”’
It tells everything about Butterflies, and tells it ina way anybody can under-
stand. Everyone interested in butterflies should own this book. Price is

only $3.00 prepaid

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