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POR RHE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION
FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF

NATURAL HISTORY

American Ornithology

For the Home and School.

EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

Vol. 5

WORCESTER, MASS.
CuHAs. K. REED, PUBLISHER
1905

NATURE BOOKS.

Wilderness Ways. A second volume of ‘‘Ways of Wood Folks.’’ Written in
the same intensely interesting style that makes its predecessor so popular.
200 pages. 75 cents.

School of the Woods. By Charles Copeland. With 12 full-page pictures and
300 marginal sketches, illustrative initials, and chapter decorations. Hand-
somely bound in cloth with a design stamped in full gold, gold tops. Square
12mo, $1.50.

Mother Nature’s Children. By Allan Walter Gould. The love and care and
mutual dependence of living things, from human beings down to the plants,
set in an imaginative framework for children. With 200 illustrations. Square
12mo, cloth, 265 pages, $1.00.

Brooks and Brook Basin. By Alexis E. Frye. Every brook basin is regarded
as a miniature world. The form of the book is a story adapted to the minds of
children, in which nature speaks for herself. With full-page illustrations.
12mo, cloth, 119 pages, 75 cents.

The Americar Sportsman’s Library. By Cape Whitney. Bound in gilt.
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The Deer Family. By the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt and others. Illustrated
by Carl Rungius. With maps by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, $2.00 postpaid, M.M.Co.

Salmon and Trout. By Dean Sage, W. C. Harris and C. H. Townsend. IIl-
ustrated by A. B Frost and others. $2.00 postpaid. M. M. Co.

Upland Game Birds. By Edwin Sandys and T. 8. VanDyke. Illustrated by
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The Water-fowl Family. By L. C. Sanford, L. B. Bishop and T. 8. VanDyke.
Illustrated by L. A. Fuertes, A. B. Frost and C. L. Bull. $2.00 postpaid.

Bass, Pike, Perch and Others. By James A. Henshall, M. D. Illustrated by
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The Big Game Fishes of the United States. By Charles F. Holder. Illus-
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The Mushroom Book. By Nina L. Marshall. 24 colored plates, 24 black and
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How to Knowthe Ferns. By Frances Theodora Parsons. 150 full-page illus-
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CHAS. K. REED, WORCESTER, MASS.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. 1, Il, Il] and
IV, $1.00 each. Special:—Vols. I, II, III, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

a OO in Gull COO Sm Chas cake. ie ee

VOL. V JANUARY, 1905. NO. 1

We start the new year and our fifth volume with the best wishes for
all our readers and our friends the birds, and trust that we may become
more intimately acquainted with our feathered friends during the
coming twelve months. By the addition of more help in our other
lines of work, the editor’s duties will be lessened so that he can devote
more time to the magazine work and correspondence. We will be
more than pleased to have all our readers lend their assistance by
reporting and unusual occurrences or observations concerning bird
life and by contributing articles. It will be greatly appreciated by the

editor and other subscribers.

We are preparing a series of colored drawing of birds to be repro-
duced by the three-color process. These will be given in every other
issue. We hope to have them ready for the next number if not the

first will be showu in March.

We shall have another photo competition this year, the particulars of
which will be given in March. Very good pictures can now be made
of winter birds by baiting with crumbs, suet, etc. Bear in mind that
we consider a good photograph of a common bird to be more accept-

table than a poor one of a rare bird or one difficult to photograph.

Pde’ ,
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677 Kentucky Warbler.
679 Mourning Warbler.

678 Connecticut Warbler

680 Macgillivray Warbler.

682 Belding Yellow-throat.

681 Maryland Yellow-throat. 683 Rio Grande Yellow-throat.
(One-half Natural Size.)

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VOL. V JANUARY, 1905. NO. 1

WARBLERS OF THE GENUS GEOTHLYPIS,.

All the members of this group are ground-inhabiting birds and are
usually found in the low underbush in swamps or marshy land, They
all have olive-green backs and rounded tails, wholly devoid of
markings, and their tarsi and toes are yellowish flesh color. They all
nest on the ground or very close to it.

KENTUCKY WARBLER.

A. O U. No. 677. (Geothlypis formosa).
: RANGE.

Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf, north in the Mississippi
Valley to Michigan and on the coast to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 5.5 inches. The plumage of the adults is very similar, differ-
ing only in the slightly brighter colors of the male. They are greenish
on the back, wings, tail and flanks; the underparts are yellow, very
bright on the throat and breast; a black cap more or less broken behind,
covers the crown and a black triangular patch on the ears extends for-
ward to the bill, being separated from the crown by a yellow super-
ciliary line which curls behind the eye. The young birds differ from
the adults in having less black than the female adult.

NEST AND EGGS,

The Kentucky Warbler builds a large nest of leaves, fibres and root-
lets lined with horse hair and placed on the ground or not more than
two feet above it. Usually it is found in a clump of weeds or tall grass

7

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4 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

in swamps or beside brooks, with the bottom resting on the ground
while the top is elevated several inches and not sunken in as are many
of Sparrows and Warblers’ nests. If the weather is favorable their
nests are completed by the middle of May and by the latter part of the
month the sets of four or five and rarely six eggs are laid. The eggs
are white, specked and*spotted with reddish brown and umber, heavily
at the large end and usually in minute dots over the entire surface.;

size .72 x .56.
HABITS.

The center of abundance of this beautiful species is in the Lower
Mississippi Valley; they are only locally abundant in some of the east-
ern states. Their haunts are similar to those frequented by Oven-birds
but they are much more conspicuous in their actions than are the latter.
Their songs are loud clear and attractive, being perhaps more so than
any others of the Warblers. Their call note is a loud sharp whistle
while their song is a varied musical succession of notes. They are
very noisy during the breeding season and the male will sing for many
minutes at a time to his mate who is quietly sitting in a shady nook on
her white treasures Especially is his song merry beside a running
brook, the rippling and murmuring of which seems to incite him to
melody. While their nests are bulky they are not easy to find as it is
difficult to flush the bird from the immediate vicinity of the nest for
she will run along for several feet beneath the low foliage before tak-
ing wing. When their home is approached their notes take the form
of an excited chip, it usually being accompanied by a flirt of the tail for
emphasis.

CONNECTICUT WARBLER.

A. O. U. 678. (Geothlypis agilis).
RANGE.

Eastern North America breeding north of the United States and win-

tering at the equator.
DESCRIPTION

This and the two following species are very similar in many respects,
and in some plumages are difficult to separate. The present species
is always marked by a white or light ring completely encircling the
eye. The adult male has the entire head, neck and upper breast bluish
slate in high plumage becoming very bright and quite dark on the
breast but never black as in the Mourning Warbler. The remainder of
the upper parts, and the sides, are greenish, unmarked, and the under-
parts are yellowish. The female and young have the head, throat and
breast an olive brown color of a shade not differing greatly from the
back; the eye ring is distinct in all plumages and ages but not as white
as in the old males.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 5

NEST AND EGGS.

Nests of the Connecticut Warbler have only, as yet, been found in
Manitoba and Ontario and eggs of this species are among the most
rare of any of our North American birds. One of the nests found in
Manitoba was in a swamp embedded in the moss; the nest was made of
dried grass and the four eggs were white, sparingly sprinkled, chiefly
about the large end with specks of brown and black. Size .80 x .56.

HABITS.

Connecticut Warblers are seen in the United States only as migrants
and the route that they take in passing through our country seems to
be subject to many variations; some Falls they are very abundant, that
is you might see twenty or thirty of them in a day, while the next year
they may not appear at all; at least this is the case in Worcester County
and I understand that it is in other localities. I have never seen but
three in the spring, they seeming to take an entirely different route in
returning to their breeding ground from that taken on their journey
south. They are met with in low wet land, just such as is frequented
by the Maryland Yellow-throats, and attention is usually called to them
by a sharp metallic chip. However they do not appear to like obser-
vation for if they are noticed they quickly slink out of sight among the
weeds and underbrush.

MOURNING WARBLER.

A. QO. U. No. 679. (GeothIypis philadelphia).
RANGE,

Eastern United States breeding from northern New England, New
York and Illinois northward into Canada. Winters in northern South
America.

D=SCRIPTION.

Length 5.2 inches. The adults of this species are alike in plumage
and are both very similiar to the last but lack the eye ring entirely, and
always have some black feathers in the breast, and in full plumage have
a large black patch sharply defined against the yellow underparts.
Young birds are similar in plumage to the female and young of the
Connecticut Warbler but can be distinguished by the shorter and more
rounded wings, those of the preceding species being longer and more
pointed.

6 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NEST AND EGGS.

For the nesting habits of this handsome little bird we will quote from
Mr. Wm. L. Kells, the veteran Canadian writer, he having studied
their nesting habits for a great many years on his farm in Ontario.

The mourning warbler though not abundant in any district, is yet
pretty widely distributed over the province of Ontario, as well as other
divisions of eastern Canada, but it is among the last of the family to
announce its vernal advent amid the wild scenery of its summer haunts.
In March it begins its northward journey, but two months pass away
before it reaches the terminus of its winged voyage in the regions of
its northern range, and summer home, and here begins one of the chief
objects of its migration movements 7. e. the propagation of its species,
and when the period in which this can only be done is over the impulses
to return towards the south seem strong, and to yield to the impulses
of nature in this matter is not long delayed; for by the middle of
September , if not earlier, all this species and its genus have disap-
peared; though some individuals may linger longer amid the scenery of
their summer haunts in the thicket and the swamp, than is now known.

The haunts and home of the mourning warbler, during the period of
its residence in Canada, are generally on the margins of low-land
woods, or second-growth swamps, where there is an intermingling of
young underwood, fallen brush, and raspberry vines. It may also
occasionally be found to frequent wooded ravines, the sides of brush-
covered hills, and the margins of muddy creeks which meander their
courses through what was called “‘beaver-meadows,’’ where there are
deep concealments; and here, amid the deep foliage, one strain of the
song-notes of the male of this species, may often be heard, in the mid-
summer days, while the little performer itself is invisible. At timeshe
will rise to a considerable elevation, and after a pleasing performance
of quite a different series of musical notes, in the ventilation of which
he appears to take much pleasure and pride, and during which he
makes a rain-bow like circuit, and takes a rapid descent into the
thicket below, near where it is probable the female has a nesting
place.

During the past twenty years a number of the nests of the mourning
warbler have come under my observation, and the finding of these has
been rather accidental than the results of continuous field and forest
research; but the last of these noted up to the end of the season of
1902, is the first to which attention will here be directed. On the 8th
of June, 1902, when strolling across a piece of recently cleared fallow,
now oOver-grown with raspberry vines, on the northwest corner of

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 7

Wildwood Farm, a small bird flushed out from a thicket of vines
within a few feet of where I was passing. A little research revealed a
a new-made nest, which I inferred belonged to a mourning warbler;
though at the time I had got only a glimpse of the builder; yet, though
all the members of this genus ot the warbler family compose nests,
and deposit eggs much alike, there is always some variation on the
part of each species, by which the attentive student of bird architecture
can distinguish the owner, even in most cases without seeing the bird,
much less without resorting to the crime of murdering the mother, and
in this section of country I know of no other member of the family
except the Maryland yellow-throat that nests in a similar manner and
situation; and even between these near relatives there is a distin-
guishing difference which will be noted hereafter. This nest was not
sunk in the soil, nor yet in the herbage in which the builder evidently
desired to conceal it; but its foundation rested on some dry vine stalks
elevated a few inches above the ground; and the first strata was
formed of dry leaves and vine stalks placed loosely over each other,
and not pressed down in the centre, as is the manner of the J/arylander.
On the top of this mass of dead leaves and stalks, and partly supported
by the growing vines, the nest proper was placed. This was quite
compactly put together, as though the materials were damp with rain,
or the morning dew, when used by the builder, and may have been
further moistened by the saliva of the bird when engaged in placing
the particles together. The materials used were mostly dry leaves,
fine fibres of vine stalks, rootlets, and some cattle hair. The inside
was about two inches in diameter; by one and a half deep, the top of
the nest was quite open, their being no artificial attempt at concealment,
as is the habit of the Maryland Yellow-throat. Six days after, I
revisited this nest, the mother bird was at home and on flushing she
did not rise on the wing, but ran off among the herbage in a mouse-
like manner, for about 20 feet, when she rose and took a position on
the top of a log, about two feet off the ground, and here she remained
about a minute, twitching her wings and tail, a peculiarity of this
species when excited. She flew off and disappeared in some under-
wood; but on neither occasion did she utter a note that I could hear,
but there was no doubt of her identity as a female mourning warbler;
on parting the canes and viewing the nest I found it contained four
beautiful fresh eggs; but I inferred that the set was complete and
incubation begun. The general color of these eggs was white, with a
rosy blush, but less dotted with reddish brown spots than have been
other sets of the eggs of this species previously observed.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 9

MACGILLIVRAY WARBLER.
A.O.U. No. 680. (Geothlypis tolmei)
RANGE.

Western United States from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific,
breeding from southern United States north to the southern British
Provinces. Winters in Central America and Mexico.

DESCRIPTION.

This species is very similar to the Mourning Warbler in plumage and
size. It can be distinguished at any age and in any plumage by the
presence of two white or whitish spots, one above and one below each
eye. Inthe adult males the lores or feathers between the eyes and
bill are black, and the breast has black feathers as does the Mourning
Warbler but they are never concentrated in a solid patch as in that
species. The female Macgillivray Warbler is much duller in color than
the male but still retains the gray head and neck but of a very dull
color, and the black loral spots are wanting.

NEST AND EGGS,

These birds nest usually in small bushes at elevations of two or three
feet from the ground, sometimes as high as six feet and again they have
been found with the bottom wresting on the leaves. The nests are
‘made of dried grasses and lined with horse hair. Their eggs are
usually laid during the latter part of May; they are white spotted and
blotched handsomely with brown and gray; size .72x.52.

HABITS.

Differing but little in habits from its preceding eastern relatives, this
species is found abundantly in moist woodlands and often by the road-
side. They are very active and nervous creatures, always dancing
about among the underbrush or on the ground and scolding if one is too
inquisitive in regard to their family affairs.

MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.
A. O U. No. 681. (Geothlypis trichas).
The Maryland Yellow-throats are divided into six sub-species from
slight differences in their sizes, intensity of color and geographic dis-
tribution. It must be borne in mind that these differences are based
upon examinations and measurements of a large series from different

10 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

localities and they cannot be applied to individuals regardless of the
localities in which they are found. For instance the average of a large
number of northern Yellow-throats has been found to be slightly larger
than the southern one, but it is possible to find southern birds that are
even larger than the northern variety; and the western Yellow-throat is
said to be a richer yellow, still eastern birds are often found that are as
bright in every respect as the western. We will give the chief differ-
ences as accepted by the American Ornithological Union and allow our
readers to satisfy themselves as to which bird they are looking at ac-
cording to the locality in which it is found.

The present species is found and breeds on the south Atlantic coast
from the Carolinas to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The male has
the forehead and cheeks black bordered behind by ashy white; the back,
wings, tail and sides are greenish; the throat and breast are yellow and
the under parts are white washed with yellow. The female and young
have the upper parts greenish, lack the black mask of the male, and are
white below washed with yellow on the throat and breast.

WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT.

A. O. U. No. 681a. (Geothlypis trichas occidentalis.)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION
Western United States from the Plains to California and north to
Montana and Washington. Similar to the eastern Yellow-throat but
brighter, the yellow being richer and the border of the mask whiter.

FLORIDA YELLOW-THROAT.

A.O. U. No. 681b. (Geothlypis trichas ignota.)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION,
South Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Virginia to Florida and along
the Gulf coast to Texas. The yellow deeper and more extended on
the underparts and the black mask wider.

PACIFIC YELLOW-THROAT.

A. O. U. No. 68le. (Geothlypis trichas arizela.)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION,
Pacific coast from British Columbia to southern California. Similar
to the western Yellow-throat but slightly smaller and duller.

NORTHERN YELLOW-THROAT.

A. O. U. No. 681d. (Geothlypis trichas brachydactyla.)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION,

United States from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic and from
New Jersey north to Dakota and New Foundland. Similar to the
southern Yellow-throat but slightly larger with the yellow brighter and
more extended.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. ite

SALT MARSH YELLOW-THROAT.

(Geothlypis trichas sinuosa.)

RANGE AND DESCRIPTION,

A. O. U. No. 681e.

Salt marshes of San Francisco Bay. Smaller than the Pacific Yellow-
throat and darker.

All the Yellow-throats migrate south of the United States in winter,
those of the east going to the Bahamas and the eastern coast of Mexico
and Central America while the western birds are supposed to migrate
to Lower California and the western coast of Mexico.

Photo by J. B. Parker,
NEST AND EGGS OF MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.

NEST AND EGGS.

Yellow-throats nest on the ground or very near it usually in swampy
localities. Most of the nests that I have found have been in tangled
masses of weeds and have nearly all been built slightly above the ground
and usually with the bottom of the nest touching the earth. I have
found two that were built in tufts of swamp grass and completely arched
over. They are made of dried grasses and rootlets skillfully woven

12 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

together and lined with hair. Some of these nests that I have come
across have had leaves in their construction but the majority have been
without. They lay four or five white eggs specked chiefly near the
large end with black and reddish brown spots. Size .68x.50.

HABITS,

Few bird lovers are unacquainted with the Yellow-throats in one form
or another for they are found throughout the United States and are
usually abundant in all suitable places. While the birds are rather re-
tiring, their notes are always in evidence, either in the form of a sharp
scolding chirp, a long rattling trill or a lively “‘witchery, witchery,
witchery,’’ the latter song often uttered by the male during the breeding
season. They are very inquisitive little birds and if you goto aswamp
and quietly hide yourself you will soon have all the Yellow-throats in
the place about you to see what you are doing, all scolding with all their
might. Their nests are quite difficult to find as the birds are very sly
when building and in entering or leaving the nest afterwards, and be-
fore they have commenced incubating they will be very apt to leave a
nest if they know that it it has been found. One day I saw a female
with a grass in her bill and stopped to see where she would place it.
She knew I was watching her and was very loath to continue her build-
ing operations, but, as I remained still, after her long and violent
tongue-lashing had ended she went bravely into a clump of grass, from
which she emerged a few seconds later minus the grass which she had
carried in. As it was so close to me I moved farther away in order
not to disturb her. She soon came with another bit of building material.
but this she carried behind some broken alder stubs which I found later
to be the true site. The next trip she went to the place where she had
deposited her first load and carried the same bit of grass to the nearly
completed nest beside the alder stubs. Whether this bit of deception
was done purposely or not we cannot tell, but she showed that she was
unusually bright later. Several times, after she commenced incubating,
I tried to flush her from the nest but she always slunk slyly away in the
underbrush before I came within sight of her home, making no outcry
so that, had I not already known, I would never have suspected there
was a nest in the neighborhood. These actions were very different
from those of other Yellow-throats for, while they all leave the nest be-
fore you get too near, they will vigorously scold you as long as you are
within the danger zone. The very acme of bird pleasure seems to be

AMERICAN. ORNITHOLOGY. 13

expressed in the “‘witchery’”’ song of the male when he launches him-
self into the air from the tip of some bush and mounts skyward for fifty
or more feet, singing as he goes, and then descends either on gliding
wings or with the utmost abandon, as suits his fancy.

BELDING YELLOW-THROAT.

A. O. U. No. 682. (Geothlypis beldingi)
Range.— Lower California.
DESCRIPTION.

Similar to and as bright as the western Yellow-throat but with the
black mask crossing the head diagonally on top and bordered behind
by yellow instead of white. It also differs in being quite a little larger
that being the chief difference between the females of the two species;
length 5.7 inches whereas the common Yellow-throat is but 5.2 inches.

HABITS,

The habits of this peculiar species do not differ materially from those
of the other Yellow-throats but from all that is known of them they
appear to nest exclusively among reeds or cat-tails over water, as the
Western Yellow-throat does frequently. The nests that have been
found were from two to four feet above the water and were made of
the cat-tail leaves lined with fibre and hairs. The eggs are like those
of the preceding but slightly larger.

RIO GRANDE YELLOW-THROAT.
A. O. U. No. 682.1. (Geothlypis poliocephaea).
RANGE.

Rio Grade Valley in Texas and south. This species is of the size of
the last; it has only the lores and forehead black, the crown and cheeks
being gray; otherwise it is colored like the common Maryland Yellow-
throat. Its habits do not differ at all from the others of the genus.
They are only locally abundant in Texas.

TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

By J. 8S. Drxon.

Tom, Dick and Harry were three Desert Sparrow hawks; (Falco
sparverius deserticolus). Their first view of the world was from a
hallow limb of a white oak, which was their home. This cavity was
about 18 inches long by 6 inches in diameter, but it was large enough
to shelter a happy family of six.

My attention was attracted to this tree one day in the last week in
June 1902, by the mother bird swooping down at me as I was _ passing
by. From her angry demonstrations I concluded there was a nest of
young ones nearby. I climbed up to a favorable looking stub and
looked in. I was greeted by a scream from the inmates which were
four in number. Their cry brought both parents from a nearby tree

14 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by R. B. Rockwell.

DICK.
who swooped down at me uttering angry screams and chattering all
the while.

I reached into the hole and caught three of the young ones, but the
other one escaped and flew off down the canyon accompanied by its
mother. I then put the birds into my hat and carried them to the
cabin where I placed them in a box in the wagon and started for home
some 20 miles distant.

Upon our arrival home the birds were placed in a large cage and here
they remained for about three weeks. At first only the brightest one
(Tom) would eat grasshoppers. The other two (Dick and Harry)
would back up into a corner on my approach and present their beaks
and talons to anything that came their way. They soon became quite
tame and would take grasshoppers from my hand as fast as I could
supply them. Their capacity for consuming grasshoppers was
amazing. ‘They never seemed to get enough.

Catching grasshoppers for them was too tedious so I shot birds and
rabbits and caught lizaras and mice for them. They seemed to be
partial to mice and sometimes would not stop to tear them to pieces
but would try to swallow them whole and consequently they often got
choked. A cottontail would only last them one day; so I think they
could consume their weight in meat in 24 hours. It was amusing to

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 15

watch two of them get hold of the same piece but though they tugged
avd pulled I never saw them quarrel or fight.

After they had had their fill they would retire to their perches, where
standing on one foot they would go to sleep. After a nap they would
put in most of their time trying to get out.

It was their delight on a hot day to sit and let me spray them with
cool water. They would spread out their wings, shake their heads and
tails and ruffle up their feathers. They seemed to enjoy it immensely.
After a bath they would retire to their perches and arrange their
feathers.

As they grew older and stronger they would fly about the cage and.
their untiring attempts to escape, combined with the fact that they
could henceforth take care of themselves, lead me to give them their
liberty. So one day I took Tom out of the cage. He perched on my
finger for quite a while before he realized that he was free. He then
gave me a farewell scream and fluttered off and I never saw him again.

The next day I opened the door of the cage but Dick and Harry did
not leave at once and when they did it was only to fly up into the tree
from which the cage was suspended. They seemed to not have much

Photo from life by F. R. Miller.

TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

16 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

confidence in their ability to fly at first, but in a day or two they sailed
away very gracefully.

The next morning they were ready for breakfast and when I held up
a bird they left their perch, which was the roof of an old house and
came chattering to me. They took the bird from my hand and returned
to the roof, where they tore it to pieces and devoured it.

They became so accustomed to being fed that they would come fifty
yards to me if I whistled and called Dick! Harry! They grew more
independent however and the day soon came when they no longer
needed some one to feed them.

They remained about the ranch about a month after I gave them
their liberty, and now sometimes as I go along the road I see a little
falco perched on a telephone pole and when I whistle and call Dick!
Dick! he will cock his head to one side and bob up and down just like
he used to do.

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.

BLACK GUILLEMOT ENTERING NEST.

(Note the kelp worm with which she is feeding her young.)

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. V7

BLACK GUILLEMOT,

A. O. U. No. 27%. (Cepphus grylle)
RANGE,

Coasts of the North Atlantic breeding from Maine north to Greenland
and wintering south to the coast of Massachusetts and casually farther.
DESCRIPTION.

Length 12 to 14 in. Eye brown; bill black; feet, mouth and tongue
fiery red. Plumage an intense sooty black with a greenish lustre.
Wing coverts white, forming a large white patch called a “‘mirror’’; in
this species the bases of the greater coverts are black, in some _ birds
this color showing through the mirror and partly dividing it with a
black line. Adults in winter and young,—Above gray marbled with
white; below white mottled with gray.

MANDT GUILLEMOT,

A. O. U. No. 28. (Cepphus mandatii)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION.

This species has a more northerly distribution than the Black
Guillemot breeding in the Arctic regions and south to Labrador and
lesen Bay. It is like the preceding in all respects except that the
greater coverts are white.

PIGEON GUILLEMOT,

A. O. U. No. 29. (Cepphus columba)
RANGE AND DECRIPTION,

This Pacific coast species is found from southern California north to
the Bering Strait, breeding throughout its range and also wintering in
the same places except inthe extreme north. In appearance itis like the
Black Guillemot except that the under surfaces of the wings are sOory
gray instead of white as in the two preceding species.

4

ran

i >
P< 2 erie Bet

ee?
0%

*

18 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BLACK GUILLEMOT, (Summer and winter plumage. )

(Photographed from mounted specimens,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 19

BLACK GUILLEMOTS ON GREAT AND LITTLE DUCK ISLANDS, ME.

As our little launch sped along, her sharp prow cutting the dense
fog, splashes were heard and occasionally dark forms were seen rapidly
winging their way through the gray gloom. It was only when one
individual perhaps confused by the noise of the engine, allowed the
boat to nearly run him down that we were able to see the white patches
on the wings and identify the birds.

GUILLEMOTS NESTED UNDER THE ROCKS NEAR THE TREES.

We found that a large colony, numbering several hundred birds, were
securely entrenched on the northeastern side of Great Duck Island.
Here the shore was very rugged and boulders and granite blocks were
piled in confusion above the water line. We spent a day in watching
and photographing the Guillemot here. Upon our approach they all
left the rocks and lined up abreast about fifty yards out from shore,
where they sat watching our movements with shrill wails of alarm.

We selected a rift in the rocks near the water, into which we crawled
and covered the top with our tent cloth and seaweed. They soon
seemed to forget our presence and those in the water swam ashore
while others flew in and alighted on the slippery weed-covered rocks.

20 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

In some places a dozen or more would be sitting erect in a row, like
black soldiers, while others would be reclining and still others were
continually passing overhead on their way to and from their nests
which were farther from the shore. The only notes that we heard any —
of them utter were while they were in the water; they were very high
pitched, long-drawn whistles or wails, a sound which, while not loud
would easily carry for a distance of perhaps three or four hundred
yards. While they did not move about much on the rocks, their walk
when they did so was not ungraceful. Their flight was very rapid and
always performed at a low elevation above the water, I do not recall
at any time during our stay, of seeing one more than twenty feet above
the water and the majority were much closer than that.

One of the most noticeable facts observed was that practically every
bird seen, except those that were flying out from the rocks after having
been to the nest, had a long red kelp worm or clam worm in its beak.

Every few minutes each bird in the water would dip his head beneath
the surface and we concluded that it was for the purpose of wetting
these worms and keeping them alive, for we could see that those held
in the beaks of birds on the rocks were still alive and squirming.
Evidently young Guillemots like their food served fresh and while still
alive.

The waves broke over the rock-weed covered rock upon which the Guillemots sit and sun
peer eee ice. The bird flying has a worm in his bill; others are lined up at a distance in the
water.

These worms were held in the bill by the extreme end, allowing them
to hang down to their full length, and in no instance did we see one of
the birds holding them in any other way.

We watched the birds very closely when they went in shore to feed
their young but it was afternoon before we could locate a single
entrance where there was any liklihood of being successful with the
camera. We could easily see where the bird went but nearly always

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 21

they would emerge from some other crevice, and as they could go for
a long distance beneath the rocks we could not be positive just where
any particular bird would light before going to her young. Finally we
found one crevice where the same bird went four different times and
each time emerged from the same place; so we selected this one for
illustrative purposes. We concealed the camera as skillfully as we
could on a rock about four feet distance from the entrance and worked
the shutter with a long black thread which ran to our place of conceal-
ment. When we retired it was with very great doubts as to whether
the bird would use the same entrance now that the surroundings had
been added to, but fortunateiy she did not notice the change and we
were enabled to secure several very satisfactory pictures,

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.
GUILLEMOT LEAVING NEST.

Although we managed to move a great many of the boulders we were
unable to find either the young or eggs, they being deeper down among
the rocks where we were unable to penetrate. As so many of the birds
were carrying food, evidently for their young it is very doubtful if any
eggs could have been found at this date, July 2lst. Not more than

22 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

twenty feet farther inland from where we made these pictures were
several Petralgburrows; these birds we found to be very tardy in their
incubating, for of a dozen nests examined, in none had a single egg
hatched. In an“old dead stump standing almost directly over the
Guillemot nest'was the nest of a pair of Tree Swallows and one or
the other of the old birds was nearly always on guard on one of the
smaller limbs. He was very tame and allowed us to stand directly
under him'about four feet away.

The next day we took a dory and rowed over to Little Duck Island a
mile away. It was early in the morning and the fog had not lifted so
we could see or be seen but.a short distance. As we rowed with as
little noise as possible, we surprised a number of the Guillemot in the
water and were within a boat’s length of them before fhey knew of our
approach. They would leave the water with a noisy splash caused by
their wings and feet striking the water at the same time and after two
or three steps on the surface they would launch themselves safely in
the air.

We found the number of these birds on the smaller island to be larger
than on the Great Duck and it was no uncommon sight to see from a
dozen to in one case nearly a hundred lined up in a row on the rocks.
If we had had more time to devote to the Guillemots on this island it is
probable that we could have unearthed a few nests for some of them
undoubtedly nested under some of the scattering rocks back of the
tangled mass at high water line.

A few of the birds already showed signs of moulting, some individ-
uals having white feathers mixed in with the black while the wings
were very worn and shabby, and in a few weeks more some of them
would probably have been in their winter dress of gray and white.

By the latter part of October they begin to leave the vicinity of the
nesting island and in flocks of a few individuals spend the winter
roaming along the coast as far south as Long Island. Very few know
them by their name of Guillemot and we were unable to find out if any
were on the island by inquiring for them by that name but ask if there
are any ‘Sea Pigeons’’ about and you will get the information that
you wish. All three kinds of the Guillemots are known throughout
their whole ranges by this same name. ‘They all have the same nesting
habits placing their eggs underneath or behind boulders or in crevices
where they are more or less difficult to get at. A small number of
Pigeon Guillemots breed on the Farallone Islands but they do not nest
in any great number except north of the United States coast. They
lay two or very rarely three eggs having a ground color varying from
grayish white to greenish white, handsomely marked with brown and
black.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 23
MY CHOICE.

If I could choose the way
That I should like to sing,
I’d make a vow today
To sing upon the wing.

If I could choose the words
For every poet’s song,

I’d borrow from the birds
That never sing of wrong.

If I could choose the strain
To play upon my lyre,

I’d ask their sweet refrain,
Nor ever faint nor tire.

If I could choose the day
On which for me to die,
I’d have it in the May,
When birds and bees are nigh.

C. LEON BRUMBAUGH.

THE WATER OUSEL IN THE KING’S CANYON.

This summer when I was in the King’s River Canyon. I was much
interested in watching the Water Ousel. They build their nests close
to the water in some low tree or bush. Almost every morning or
evening rnd shmetimes in the middle of the day, you may see them
ducking their heads into the water, under some fall. I sat one day on
a flat rock and sat very still, till suddenly I heard the familiar sound of
the Ousel. It came out into the water and seemed to sort of test it,
then running back, returned with another large Ousel and several
small ones. I think it must have been only the first or second time
the babies have been under the water, for they behaved so strrngely.
They seemed half afraid and hung back as a naughty school-boy, Our
guide suddenly came up and scaren them rway to their nest. I saw
quantities of birds to this summery, but I think perhaps the Water
Ousel is the most interesting.

LUCILLE KEYES,
Berkeley, Cal.

24 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

FR RIE ND DS

Address communications for this department to
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT, 156 Waterville Street,
Waterbury, Ct.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKs:

Dorothy and Harold have asked me to tell you about the Christmas
tree which they trimmed for some little neighbors of theirs, and I am
glad to do it, for perhaps some of you may like to decorate one too.

There was one morning during the past week when mother did not
have to call you. Before it was fairly light we heard little feet
scampering across the floor, to where the row of stockings hung,
bulging most amazingly. Then what chattering and giggling, there
was as treasures were pulled forth from their depths. Had you been
in a certain town in Connecticut, that same morning, you might have
seen a row of stockings so tiny, that they would fit only the foot of a
fairy, and so full of holes that you might wonder if Santa Claus would
dare attempt to fill them, but they were filled to the very top, not with
candy and toys, but with bits of bread, cake, nuts and fruit, neither did
they hang in a warm chimney corner, but swayed in the December
winds from arbor and syringa bush in the door yard. You have
already guessed who claimed the contents of these stockings.

Not far above the house, Dorothy and Harold had trimmed a little
spruce tree for the Bird’s Christmas. It was still growing and its
green branches were filled with a motley array.

Festoons of red berries, sunflower seeds and pop-corn were looped
from twig to twig on the top of the tree tips and on the trunk were
fastened pieces of suet, with tiny bright red peppers for a relish; a
marrow bone, some pumpkin seeds, some grapes and peanuts added
variety and on the tip top ot the tree was a great bunch of holly tied
with one of Dorothy’s red ribbon’s.

It did not take long for the birds to discover the feast. All day long
there was a jolly company there, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Creepers, Nut-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 25
hatches, Woodpeckers and Tree sparrows, each in his own way made
merry on this Christmas day and joined in a Bird’s Christmas carol
chirping a “thank you’’ to the two little folks who had prepared
such a fruit tree, when a snowy blanket covered the ground.

We wish for the bird of our comer, a very happy new year aid
include in our greetings the many new comers who join us for the first
time this month.

Cordially, your friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

James H. Chase, Logansport, Ind.

ANSWER TO DECEMBER PUZZLES.

Enigma No.

iH

White-breasted Nuthatch.

Lye)

Enigma No.

Summer Yellow-bird.

What Is My Name?
Screech Owl.

WHAT IS MY NAME?

“Say! Say! Say!’’ Boys and girls, do you know my name? I wear a
fluffy bluish gray coat with a black velvet collar and a white crown
and a vest of a delicate gray. I like pretty cold weather and so do not
venture very far into the United States. I begin to build a nest for
my babies in February, when there is still a soft white covering over
the earth, I build it in a fir tree, of twigs and long strips of bark with
a warm lining of moss and feathers. I ama very sociable bird, often
taking my meals with the lumbermen and eating from their hands.
Indeed, I do not always trouble them to feed me, for I can help myself
to meat, butter or other dainties which they leave about.

They nickname me Whisky Jack, Meat Hawk and Moose-bird, I
wonder why.

26 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

DIAMOND.
O —A consonant.
O OO —A pronoun.
GEO OOO. A wieked act:
© OFOnO7 O70 ©: —An insect:
OO" 0-0-0: 00 0 OO. —Aawinter friend
OO00O00000 —A conveyance.
© © 0 O O '—A prize:
O OO —A number.
O —A vowel.

RUSSELL ADAMS,
St. Johnsburg, Vt.

ENIGMA.

Two 16-1-12-13-3-13 named 14-3-17-17-3 and 9-16-7-4-1 went out with
their 6-1-2-3-4-7-I2 to take a picture of a 10-15-17-16 which 10-1-8 1-9-
4-11-13-13 a field 8-6-7-4 by, they stopped to pick some 6-10-3-12-13
from the brook near the deserted nest of an 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Goldfinch.
As they 4-7-8 through a 17-7-8-3 Miss 9-16-7-4-1 caught her 7-4-2 on a
branch of a tree and fell and hurt her 8-11-13-3, this made her 9-10-11-
12-13 but they went on and took a snap-shot of some ducks swimming
in the old 2-5-16-17 pond.

PI.
The Winter Birds.
B Rese ere Wp ota oe) op eS! ov 6. sCojun.
2. Dorewopche. 7. Kirshe.
32> elbija: 8. Dickcheea.
4. Rollbssie. 92 -eGawnixo.
5. Owns-bitgunn. 10. Netwir-newr.

GLEANINGS.

Who has not listened to a mother quail calling her hunted family
together when the snow and the night were falling? It is most
sweetly, tenderly human, the little mother, standing upon the fence or
in the snow of the silent fields, calling softly through the storm until
the young ones answer and, one by one, come hurring to her out of the
dusk, and murmuring. Some of them do not hear. They have been
frightened far away. Louder now she whistles; Whz7-rl-le, whir-7-rl-le
whir-r-r-rl-le! But there is only the faint purr of the falling snow,
only darkness and the silent ghostly fields.

DALLAS LORE SHARP,
(Roof—Meadow.)

o©©_©_©- —-©-©>_©_©_©-©-®
Methods in the Art of Taxidermy

©
By Oliver Davie, Author of ‘Nests and ¢
Eggs of North American Birds*” ©
©
©

90 FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS.

oy

>—<O>—_~

its practical methods and beauties portrayed
as we find them interpreted in this work. It
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paid or Given Free for 6 new subscribers.

>

“4

©

<> < ¢

© Never before has the Art of Taxidermy had
©

®

>—<

© Chas. K.Reed, Worcester, Mass. Nd
© DOO ®_O_®>_@— — DOO

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VOL. V FEBRUARY, 1905. NO. 2

NEST AND EGGS OF OLIV&-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

BBR SERBS RBEE GEE SSUES BBB BBBBBBBB SBE

: The Great Gray Shrike.

Pee) Ee yoyo ee, | | |

fi nee:

j

When other birds have southward flown,
And winter winds so bleak and chill,
Through naked branches sadly moan,
The Great Gray Shrike is with us still.

He braves the danger of the plain,
’Mid the desolate wastes of snow
And in the woods the feathered slain
His deeds of cruel warfare show.

The tree-top is his turret high
Where he watches his thoughtless prey,
And sallies forth with practiced eye,
Relentless to pursue and slay.

The sparrow searching in the snow,
Cheerful over his frugal meal,

Gives one despairing note of woe
As he feels that fierce warriors steel.

No knight that ever harness wore,
And charged the foe with lance in rest,
What e’er the emblem that he bore,
Showed greater courage in his quest.

I fain would speak of him with praise,
Respect his courage and his skill,
But pity for the one he slays,
Has ever kept those praises still.
HATTIE WASHBURN.

soo | |) OS eo | ee eo SS A oo So eo

ee | oe | oo oo oo oo oe | oe, | oe a | oe ooo | |

B88

oe eel Re | | oo | A | | oo | oo

28 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

IN THE MEADOW,

In a small quiet meadow at the back of a certain farm a pair of
Meadow Larks, last summer, chose to make their home and rear their
young.

A small stream, whose source was a spring in a neighboring’ field,
ran lazily through the meadow. A few cows lived here feeding on the
rank grass in the early morning and late evening and lolling in the
shade of the trees or standing listlessly in the stream, during the heat
of the day. Such was the scene that was to greet the eyes of the little
Larks when they were old enough to sail above the grassy wilderness
in which they found themselves when first they opened their eyes.

The nest was incidentally discovered May 18th, at which time it
contained four helpless little Larks that looked as if they had just
made their exit from the shell. I visited them frequently during the
course of the next few days and noted with pleasure their rapid growth
and how thrifty they looked. But on May 27th. when I went to see
them it was a sad sight that met my eyes. After searching several
minutes for the nest I was shocked to find in it’s stead a cow track in
the bottom of which there was a bloody mass of flesh and feathers. A
sad fate for such a promising family.

I wasn’t in this meadow again for nearly two weeks and then,
knowing that birds are not easily discouraged even by such misfortunes
as above, I concluded they would be well under way towards raising
another brood, consequently the afternoon of June 9th, found me
making my way down the lane to the meadow gate. When I reached
it, having absorbed just about as much sunheat as I care to stand at
one time, I stopped a few moments to cool off. A Dickcissel sitting
on a fencepost bravely chirped away as if in open defiance to the sun.

From a weed thicket came the clear notes of the Maryland Yellow-
throat while from somewhere in the distance came the ditty of the
Indigo Bunting. But not a sight or sound did I get of the Meadow
Larks- ‘Perhaps they are enjoying their siesta,’’ was my thought and
I turned towards a shade tree that grew on the banks of the stream
intendfng to follow their example, As I neared the tree a Red-winged
Blackbird which had been concealed in the foliage, darted out at me
and hovered above my head uttering a loud “‘Chee-oo-o,’’ His spouse
hopped nervously about in the tree protesting my approach. In their
efforts to protect their nest they only served to betray it’s presence,
for until I saw them I hadn’t the least idea there was a Red-wing’s
nest in the meadow. Inaclump of dogwood sprouts growing almost
in the water and appearing as if thep all sprung from one root I found

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 29

the nest. It was a bulky affair, firmly suspended between four of the
sprouts, and contained three pale blue eggs curiously scrawled with
black. The Red-wing’s kept up such a clatter that I left their domains
after making these observations, and it was just here that I heard what
I had wished for, the loud sputtering call note of the Meadow Lark.
I preceived her on the topmost bough of a nearby tree, with head erect,
tail nervously twitching, her golden breast flashing in the sunshine.
She sat there several minutes occasionally repeating her call note
and then, leaving her perch, sailed out across the meadow, alighting on
a weed that swayed to and fro under her weight. Assuming the same
alert attitude as when in the tree she uttered her call note once and
then dropped lightly into the grass below. I waited and watched for

Photo from life by N. W. Swayne.
BARN OWL.

twenty minutes and as she didn’t appear again I decided to try to find
her though I didn’t much expect to find her nest for if she had one there
it didn’t seem probable that she would have approached it so openly,
however, when I neared the spot where she she disappeared she flew
up with a loud flutter of wings that startled me even though I was
expecting it. I drew the grass aside where she had been sitting, and

30 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by N. W. Swayne.
EGGS AND YOUNG OF BARN OWL.

The Barn Owl lays one egg every day or oftener every two days, so that a period
of perhaps two weeks elapses between the laying of the tirst and the last. As she
commences to incubate as soon as the first egg is laid, they hatch at different
periods and the young show great variations in size.

beheld one of the finest specimens of bird architecture that it was ever
my good fortune to see. Perhaps the Larks thought by concealing
this nest well, they would avoid a repetition of the sad accident that
happened to the first, anyhow this one was very carefully hidden and
it would have been almost impossible for me to have found it if I hadn’t
had the builder to aid me. It was a veritable little bower extending
back ten or twelve inches under the grass with only one doorway. At
the back end there reposed five handsome pinkish white eggs freely
speckled with reddish brown.

On June 18th, when I looked in the nest it contained four little birds
and one egg. I didn’t happen to be in this vicinity again till in July.
As I neared the nest two half grown Meadow Larks flew awkwardly
out of my path. I found the little bower in the first stages of decay.
It still sheltered one soiled egg.

EpGAR BoyeEr.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 31

: Vie eee

Crow Traits.

phusbuaiaba Bhatt sbiaaahiidbiabsiabiabic

Although our American Crow is black in color and by reputation, he
will afford the bird lover many pleasant hours studying his traits and
habits before he can feel that he is acquainted with Crow life. It seems
as if the Crow was possessed of much the same kind of shrewdness
and longing for mischief as the dirty, ragged urchin who makes his
headquarters on some street corner. The most prominent character-
istic of the Crow is his curiosity. Let a person do any work in woods
or field and almost as soon as his back is turned, from one to a _half-
dozen crows will appear to inspect his work.

But for all of his inordinate curiosity the Crow’s natural wariness
usually keeps him from harm. First he will take a flight high in air
over the suspicious place, if all appears safe he will take a flight near
the ground and then alight in some open spot and inspect the
surroundings. If, perchance a good shot brings one to ‘an untimely
end what precautions are then taken; if two or three are searching for
food there is sure to be a sentinel post on the summit of some tall tree,
dead stub or failing these, the tallest stake or fence post available,
and any unual movement will send the whole flock into the air with
loud caws. Generally if there are any large trees overlooking their
late feeding ground and at a safe distance from it, they will take
refuge in these and exchange audible remarks about the prospects,
present and future.

By most farmers the Crow is condemned as a bird possessed of little
good and almost unlimited powers of evil; often when the farmer’s
crops are coming up the Crows will proceed to render assistance by
catching the visible part in their bills and carefully pulling the whole
affair, stem, root and all, out of the ground. It is very rare that they
make any use of these plants thus pulled up, dropping each in its turn
and proceeding to the next. It is amusing to watch two or three Crows
when at work; for several minutes they will work as lively as possible
then one will raise his head and utter a kind of questioning caw as
much as to say, “Have you fellows found anything,” then he will fly a
few rods and the work of inspection will go on as rapidly as before.

32 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Their actions around their nests vary so much in different localities
that one cannot be sure what they will do. in some localities they will
never fly directly to the tree where their nest is located but will fly over
the tree-tops to some other part of the woods and then, low down
amongst the trees, will fly to their nest.

In some other places I have watched them for several days fly to a
certain tree in a piece of woods, and, upon investigating found a nest
therein, This freedom and openness I have never observed except in
a few districts where several deserted farms adjoin and the Crows are
left in undisputed possession from one year’s end to another. When
the time approaches for their autumnal migrations they will congre-
gate in large flocks, sometimes as many as 100 to 200, and their move-
ments have all of the appearance of a lot of school boys at play. Now
they will start and follow this leader tarough a series of evolutions,
then several will seperate from the main body and go through various
feats of speed and agility and at last after the games are all ended
they will divide into squads of five or six and start off in search of food.

Altogether there is a certain fascination in watching the adroitness
and dablerze of their movements that will be felt by every bird lover
who comes in contact with them.

Harry L. SmirH, Me.

Photo by N. W. Swayne.
YOUNG BARN OWLS.
Before the hoods have commenced to develop or pinfeathers to appear.
Notice that the bird on the left is much the largest.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 33

BARN OWL.
A.O. U. No. 366. (Strix pratinecola.)
; RANGE,

This species is foun] in a warmer portion of the United States from
the Gulf north on the Atlantic coast to southern New Engtand, on the
Pacific to Oregon and in the interior to southern Minnesota. It is
only casually or accidently found north of these boundaries. They are
slightly migratory throughout their range, that is the birds in the south
go farther south white those from the north take their places.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 16 to 20 in. Eyes dark brown; a very pronounced and
lengthened facial disc. Above finely mottled with gray, buff and
white; below white, more or less washed with buff and specked with
black. The young are more buffy below than are the adults. Facial
dise white tinged with buff and bordered with blackish brown.

NEST AND EGGS,

Barn Owls Owls are very indifferent as to their nesting sites. They
are equally well satisfied with the cavity of a dead tree, holes in banks,
deserted crows nests or even with a simple hollow on the ground.
When the opportunity occurs they will probably choose the hollow
tree. Many have also been found in barns and under sheds. In
various'sections: of the country they may be found nesting from March
to the end'of June. There eggs are white, equally rounded at each
end and number from four to ten, usually about six or eight; size 1.75
x 1.30:

HABITS.

Owls of this genus are the oddest of the family; their queer faces and
expressions have caused them to receive the name of Monkey-faced
Owls. Their most noticable difference from other Owls is in the small
dark colored eyes, the distance from the eyes to the mouth, and the
long legs. All the Owls are more or less nocturnal but this species is
rather more so than the others; it is rarely seen moving about, in the

34

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from lite by N. W. Swayne. |

BARN OWL. :
ae (winner of 4th prize in our photo contest.)
Bi sneha sete pase oh eee apes ee the long legs. Fer

SS FAT:

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 35

daytime unless disturbed from its resting place either by human beings
or crows, the latter detesting the sight of any member of the Owl
family.

Lea ae % % ee sae

ne

id

Photo by N. W. Swayne.
YOUNG BARN OWLS.

The young have now assumed attitudes common to the adults, their hoods are
well developed and the wings fully feathered, but the bodies are still covered with
soft white down.

They are found most abundantly in low meadows and marshy ground
where, soon after the sun has sunk behind the hills, they commence
their hunting. The appetite of all Owls is something astonishing, but
that of the Barn Owl is almost beyond belief. Only a few days ago a
friend brought me a Screech Owl which he had caught the week before
and kept in the stable. He said it had seemed perfectly well when caught
and he had fed it a mouse every day and he could not understand why
it did not live. The reason was very apparent for it was nothing but
a skeleton and had died of starvation. Instead of a single mouse a
day it should certainly have had a dozen and in its wild state probably
it devoured more than that number in every twenty four hours. A

36 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

single Barn Owl has been known to eat eight mice, one after the other
and then at the end of three hours to be ready for another meal. It
has been found by examination that their food consists of, almost with-
out exception, rodents which are harmful both to crops and trees, so
that probably this bird is the most useful one, in the amount of good
work done, of any that we have in this country. Besides rodents they
catch insects and also eat some fish.

In Europe, Barn Owls breed most commonly in barns, church towers
orruins, while in this country they are most often found nesting in
holes in trees or banks. Usually the bottom of the cavity is scantily
lined with feathers but this is not always the case. The eggs require
about three weeks in which to hatch and as the bird commences to sit
before the set is complete the eggs do not hatch at the same time.
Young birds several days days old and eggs are often found in the nest
together, and usually over a week elapses from the time of the
hatching of the first egg to that of the last. The breeding season,
especially after the young have hatched, is a very’ busy one for the
adults, for their large family is always hungry and trips between the
nest and the hunting grounds have to be made regularly and often.

The young are first covered with a soft white down; in about a week
or ten days a few pinfeathers make their appearance and then their
development is more rapid but it is several weeks before they can
leave their nest and follow their parents across the marsh to take their
first lessons in mouse-lore. The plumage of Barn Owls is soft even for
that of an Owl and their flight, which is very easily performed, is
entirely noiseless as they sweep in long curves just over the tops of
the meadow grass. They have two distinct notes, one a shrill cry and
the other a deep-toned, long-drawn grunt. They are more gregarious
than the other Owls except the Burrowing, and are often found in
colonies. In the day time they remain concealed under dense foliage
or in hollow trees.

OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS,

3y WILLIAM GAYLORD TAYLOR.

I want to tell you what a great amount of pleasure I had last winter
feeding the birds in my back yard. Fourteen varieties and 25 to 30
at a time, and all but one have readily eaten the food which I put out
for them, and that one was the most beautiful and loving of them all,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 37

the Bluebird. He seems to be satisfied with Nature’s store. Ibegan
early in the fall and put out bones and suet for the Woodpecker, Nut-
hatch and Chicadee and for the two latter I cracked butternuts till'I had
used a half bushel of them and when they were gone I resorted to pea-
nuts, which I fed raw, shelling and chopping them fine, and I used 15
quarts in all.

The wary crow even, has come to “pick the bones’’ in the apple tree,
not more than 25 feet from my door, but he always came very early in
the morning, just at daybreak, thinking there would be no one stirring.
I have seen three at one time picking a scanty breakfast from the
bones, but a face at the window was all that was necessary to cause
them to take wing and with loud “‘cawing”’ hastily seek safer quarters.
The sweet little Chicadee seemed the least suspicious of any of my
flock and he readily took food from my hand and as long as I kept
perfectly still, was contented to sit and eat, casting wondering side
glances at me occasionally. Both he and the Nuthatch seemed to fear
that their food supply would run out, for they carried away great
quantities of the nuts and hid them underneath the bark of trees and in
cracks in the shed, everywhere and anywhere they could find a place to
tuck them away and here the little Brown Creeper, with curved and
slender bill, finds an abundant food supply and I can imagine poor
littte ““Dee’s’’ disappointment when he goes to look for some of the
dainty morsels he has so carefully tucked away. The Downy and
Hairy Woodpecker have both been callers, the former constant but the
latter only occasional, and last winter is the first time I have seen him
in this locality and he seemed to heartily enjoy the suet which hung in
a temporary cedar (one which adorned my parlor as a Christmas tree)
and not 10 feet from my door, where I[ stuck it in a snow bank.

I was much surprised, late in December, to receive a call from a
Cedar Waxwing. I first noticed him eating the dried grapes that hung
to a vine on my back shed, so I threw out some seeded raisins which
he seemed to enjoy greatly. He also fed on the berries of a honey-
suckle, which covers a porch; his visit was short as I missed him after
two or three days. My greatest surprise, however, was to see, one
very cold day in January, a Song Sparrow nestled in the vine on the
south side of our shed. He looked cold and forlorn so I at once set
about making him comfortable. I arranged a shelf on the shed high
up and partially hid it with cedar boughs and then scattered grass seed
over it. He very soon got it and ate ravenously, but one very cold
morning after a visit of only three or four days, I missed him and
suspect he was frozen on his perch at night.

38 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo. from life by C. A. REED.
TREE SWALLOW.

The Tree Sparrow finally found the seed, and from one lone bird the
flock grew till there were 14. They were constant visitors all winter
and were with metill March 12. Timothy and millet seed was their
principal diet, although for a change and in way of dessert they ate
peanuts and fat meat. They are an extremely happy set, full of life
and fight, and I never tire of watching them, they readily drive the
English Sparrow, and when one ventures to alight among them a
sudden dash from a Tree Sparrow caused him to “‘light out.’’ I greatly
missed them when they left for their far northern home.

The Junco with his modest slate colored coat and white vest came to
the number of two, but they did not seem to be welcome visitors
among the sparrows, and came only occasionally. The Goldfinch did
not find his food supply in the seed which I put out as I did not see
him eating anything except the berries on the honeysuckle: One
Sunday morning in February, I was overjoyed to receive a call from a
Purple Finch the only specimen I have ever seen here. He came while
I was watching the other birds, alighting on a clothesline directly in
front and not five feet from my face, he then flew to the path and
picked up a few seeds but his stay was very short, efforts to locate him
later failed, much to my regret, as I should like to have had a better
opportunity to study his plumage and general make-up.

As the warm spring days advanced I regretted to see my Tree
Sparrow family making preparations to leave for their Northern home,
but the migratory birds from the South have kept me busy thus far

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

40 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

through the spring and I have discovered some new varieties for this
locality, among them being the European Starling. He is a handsome
bird, a good songster and great worm and insect destroyer, conse-
quently of great value to the farmer. He builds his nest in a hole in
the trees. With all the pleasure I have had with the summer birds I
look forward with greater pleasure to the coming of the bleak North
winds and snow and areturn of my Winter visitors.—|7he Newtown
Bee. |

IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER.
A.O.U No. 392 (Campephilus principalis. )
RANGE,
Florida and the Gulf Coast to Texas north to Indian Territory and,
rarely, to the South Atlantic States.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 20 in. Eyes yellow: bill ivory white. Male glossy blue-black
and white, with a long pointed crest of scarlet. Female similar with a
crest of black.

HABITS.

These are the largest and decidedly the most distinguished appearing
of American Woodpeckers. Their glossy black plumage and gorgeous
pointed crest impart a regal look which is not attained even by the
Pileated Woodpecker.

Like that of all the members of the Woodpecker family, their flight
is apparently laborious and performed with that undulatory motion so
noticable in the flight of the Flicker. Unless unduly alarmed they
rarely fly for any considerable distance ata time They are very shy
and fully realize the folly of getting within range of a two legged
animal with a gun. It is this wariness that has preserved them from
extermination for so long, as man has been ever wont to kill them on
sight just for vain glory.

They are most apt to be found in burned over pine barrens where
insects thrive in the decaying wood and furnish a sumptuous repast for
the Ivory-bills. They are usually silent birds but during the nesting
season have a sharp trumpeting note frequently repeated and also the
long rolling drumming sound performed with their bill upon a resonant
limb. Careful observers believe that they remain mated for life.
During February and March they retire to the depths of impenetrable
swamps where they rear their young. Their nesting site is chosen in
the top of a tall tree and the two birds take turns boring the excavation
in the live wood. Usually it is located under the protection of a pro-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 41

jecting limb which keeps out the rain. The entrance to the nest is
usually oval in shape and varies in size from five to eight inches in
width by eight to ten inches in length. The cavity is excavated to a
depth of from a foot to two feet. With the cunning of the Flicker they
carefully carry the chips away from the nesting tree, whereas when
they are simply feeding chips will be found by the bushes around the
base of the tree. They lay five or six glossy white eggs, measuring
about 1.45 x 1.05. They are very industrious birds and hack great
quantities of chips from trees in their search for grubs. They do not,
however, to any great extent, except for nesting purposes, deface
living trees.

KILLDEER.

A. O. U. No. 273. (Oxyechus vociferus)’
RANGE,
North America from the southern British Provinces southward. Rare
on the Atlantic coast north of New Jersey. Wintersin southern United
States and south to South America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 10 inches. Upper parts grayish brown; forehead, line over
eye, throat neck, and underparts white; breast crossed by two black
bands, the upper one being the widest; upper tail coverts and rump
reddish brown. The downy young show evidences of the two breast
marks as soon as they leave the shell.

NEST AND EGGS

Kildeers build no nest, unless the occasional scratching together of a
few pebbles or bits of straw into a hollow can be called such, but lay
their eggs in hollows in the ground in fields, marshes, or even on plow-
ed ground, but usually in the immediate vicinity of water. Their three
or four eggs are very handsomely marked, as indeed are nearly all the
shore birds; they are very pointed, of a greenish buff color and heavily
blotched and scrawled with blackish brown; size .55 x 1.10.

HABITs.

Like all of our true Plover, except the Black-bellied, the Killdeers
have but three toes. In the greater part of the United States they are
the most common shore bird, even outnumbering the Spotted Sand-
piper, and their loud “‘kill-dee, kill-dee”’ is frequently uttered for their
own amusement as well as for warning when they see anyone approach-
ing. For this reason they often prove to be very useful birds, for they

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

42

{Us TOeds[payUNOUL |e WOdy poydessoj0y |
“MHAUCTIIMA

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 43

warn other less suspicious birds of approaching danger and cause them
to escape, to the disgust of the hunter. Their flight is usually quite
straight or in gentle curves, except sometimes when suddenly startled
they may resort to the zig-zag mode of flight adopted by many of the
shore birds. They are very devoted parents and, were they able, would
forcibly protect their young, but, being birds they have to resort to
numerous artifices to draw intruders away, such as feigning broken
wings, legs, etc. If these devices fail they will stand off at a safe dis-
tance and continually repeat their cry until danger is past.

They are very often found in cultivated fields, where they often lay
their eggs. They run rapidly and gracefully along, in the furrows,
catching insects which form a large part of their food. They often
escape notice by standing perfectly still, their colors matching their
surrounding perfecty. The downy young are especially adept in thus
concealing themselves.

One Bird fay:

By Dr. C.8. MOODY.

The man who returns in after years to the haunts of his early boy-
hood realizes, if he be in touch with Nature, the great decay of bird
life. It was my fortune to return once to the old homestead and
wander among the wood paths and down the meadow brook that was.
of yore replete with feathered songsters. Alas, now you can hardly
hear the sound of a happy bird voice. All day long I sought for the
presence of my youthful friends, the Thrushes, Vireos and Sparrows
and sought in vain. Nowhere in the deep blue of Heaven’s vast
vault could I see the circling form of sailing hawk. In the deep beech
woods where once was the Partridge wont to beat his “throbbing drum’’
now was silence. I sought in my pilgrimage for the nest of the merry
little Quail beneath the blackberry bush beside the old line fence and
found it not. What, I ask myself, is the cause? The answer was
found in a man with a basket and climbing irons wheeling along the
high road upon nesting bent. Thousands upon thousands of birds are
every year robbed of their homes to pander to the taste of men and
women who are possessed by the idea that by collecting eggs they are

44 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

pursuing the study of birds. Ina vast majority of instances this is
not true. The average nest hunter is usually as ignorant of the actual
home life of the birds he robs as we are of the condition of life on
Mars.

{ will plead guilty of this sin of commission myself. I have a col-
lection of eggs gathered from various quarters of the globe and repre-
senting many families of our feathered friends. I cannot express
with what degree of regret and shame I now look upon those mute
evidences of the rapacity of man. I sigh when I contemplate the vast
deal of harmony that has been stilled forever when those tiny treasures
were clutched from beneath the little mother’s breasts. Every day
now I go forth and follow my inclinations for nest hunting but instead
of being armed with drills and egg boxes and collecting pistol I have
only my faithful camera. Its cyclopean eye looks momentarily into
the nest and brings away a lasting impression of the contents and often
before I am out of sight, the avian resident is back at home in undis-
turbed possession of her treasures. My delight in seeing the image
impressed upon the glass is far greater than even in the old days, when
I gloated over my stolen spoils.

Let me give you the result of one day’s sojourn on lake shore and
in forest in North Idaho. As the sun’s rays were just gilding the
mountain tops and the friendly robins were straining their throats in a
matin of praise to the Giver of all Light, I strayed from the busy
haunts of men armed as aforesaid. My path led me along the shore of
the beautiful Lake Pend d’Oreille whose placid waters mirrored back
the deep blue of the towering mountains. While picking my way
around some drift wood I startled from her nest of softest down, a
Mallard and before she had ceased circling around watching me with
anxious eye I had set my machine and her olive eggs were glued to
my dry plate with a flash of light. I passed on and she returned to
her duties of incubation.

Donald, my Chesapeake dog, enjoyes the hunting of birds in his
doggish way, fully as much as his master, and to him belongs the
honor of locating the next nest. We were tramping a burn of several
acres in extent when he nosed up an Ashy Gnatcatcher from her brood
of nestlings. Poor little mother when she saw that great red mouth
opened over her defenseless darlings she was wild with grief and fear.
Her frantic cries soon brought me to the spot and at my word of com-
mand the obedient animal lay down and watched my preparations for
the photographing, with a great deal of interest. The little mother
was an interested spectator as well, but I very much fear that her
interest had a different motive. The youngsters, taking advantage of

AMERICAN. ORNITHOLOGY. 45

the protective coloring that a wise Nature has provided them with,
shrank down into the nest and keep becomingly quiet. I could not
help thinking that they might serve as models for some children of
other bipeds that I have attempted to photograph. The proper focus
obtained, then a click of the shutter and I was off again. I can
imagine that the parent birds (the father had made his appearance by
this time) heaved a huge sigh of relief when they saw my retreating
form lose itself in the woods beyond.

We have one of the thrushes occassionally nesting in this locality
that the chronic egg hunter would give something to possess. My
collection does not contain a set of the eggs and unless chance should
throw me in the way of a deserted nest, it never will. The
Varied Thrush is one of the most retiring of all our summer residents.
Nesting deep in the tall firs, and selecting a leafy topped one for her
home it is a difficult matter to find one of the nests. I seemed to be
followed this day however, by the spirit of Good Fortune. As the
morning grew on to mid-day and I was gradually drawing my circle
nearer and nearer home and lunch, I was. startled while traversing a
coppice of deep woods by a bird note that was new to me. Crouching
near the root of an immense cedar I waited. Before long a bird came
spying out my hiding place. Silent asa ghost she came and flitted
from limb to limb, looked me all over. It was a Varied Thrush and
soon I had the satisfaction of seeing a nest some thirty feet up in one
of the red firs. My climbing irons were some donned and I was
prodding my way up the body of the tree. A nest and its four blue
eggs was the reward of my efforts. I took the strap from the camera
case and tied the camera to a limb some four feet from the nest and
sitting upon another swaying branch focussed the lens upon the nest
anditseggs. Theresult I give toyou. The eggs I gave back to the
silent mother that was watching me from a near by tree and never
uttering a sound.

Right back of the house in the edge of the pine woods, where the
ground is all strewn with the last years needles from the trees is a
dainty little nest all made of dried grass and neatly lined with hair;
within reposes two beautiful brown spotted eggs. This little domicile
is presided over by Mrs. Merrill Song Sparrow. I have had difficult
work keeping the ubiquitous small boy from destroying the home.
When I called that evening to ask the madame for a sitting of her
home she was not there but soon arrived and entered her protest. All
to no avail however, for I plumped my one-eyed battery right down
over her home and that night watched the shadowy representation of
her embrvo sparrows come into being under the dim light of a red
lantern. Thus ended the first day with the camera. A day devoid of
robbery of happy homes, yet to me, replete with all that goes to make
the life of a bird lover one of pleasure.

46 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

af
y pana
oot Nam) pene
1 Y ve :

OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

It must have been just sucha day as this that one of our nature-
writers wrote in his journal—‘Another bright winter's day; to the
woods to see what bird’s nests are made of.”’

That is what Dorothy and I did yesterday, and we had such a nice
time although we saw but few birds. Some Blue-jays, very charming
in their brilliant blue and pure white gowns, scolded us in harsh
voices— ‘go away! go away! away!’’ A flock of jovial chickadees wel-
comed us, for they knew that with the passing of a certain rosy-cheek-
ed little girl, was found substantial good cheer at the foot of the great
pine tree.

We watched an acrobat walking upside down along a tree-trunk call-
ing ‘““Yank, yank, yank!”

White vested juncos and tree-sparrows with bay crowns greeted us
with soft trills, and a solitary song-sparrow gave promise of approach-
ing spring. Here at our feet among the low bushes was a bulky nest
which this self same little song sparrow may have occupied last sum-
mer.

Birdnests—we found dozens of them, where we had least thought
when trees and shrubs were clothed in green, and we could now pull
them apart and examine them to our hearts content without fear of dis-
turbing the little builders. Right by our path swung a marvelous cup,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 47

as good as new in spite of winter wind and storm. Here mamma
vireo had fed four babies months ago. The flat rim of a peewee’s
nest was piled high with a feathery ring of snow. As we climbed the
fence by the great elm, there swung to and fro in the wind, an oriole’s
closely woven gray pocket.

We have not time to tell you of the treasures we found, but I am
sure you will agree with Dorothy and me that there is fun afield even
on a midwinter day. Cordially, your friend,

MrcG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ANSWERS TO JANUARY PUZZLES,

What is my name? Canada Jay.

DIAMOND.

C
Cak
CoA 5 basil
ioe!

M

ENIGMA,

American Crossbill.

PI. TEN WINTER BIRDS,

1. Nuthatch. 6. Sunco.

2. Woodpecker. 7. Shrike.

3. Bluejay. 8. Chickadee.

4. Crossbill. 9. Waxwing.

5. Snowbunting. 10. Winter Wren.
ROLL OF HONOR.

1. Lillian M. Weeks, Marietta, Ohio.

2. James H. Chase, Logansport, Indiana.

3. Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.

4. Clifford S. Merrick, Curran, II].

48 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

LETTER SQUARE.
Find thirty-six birds.

Regn Do lol Rial ol Ke C2 ee
Bet Oe Ueno K ON Tt LO, Be Oar
DaAUeDEBlCAOaM Tk Ns ykis Onslcswiten
POR USB AKA GIy WORT S Bak
J Uesd ety) geo) fi od Ca Mi als el seal OM Sha nla Gece Gac))
Rh OF RUE AAR VA .C.-0. We To N SAR as
ONS EON: Blok Det of Ee oie
AONE OTH ol OR Der ko PaO
POR OVUS Pl A. i iOreN 5 1 2p Re
Rav BON EN GG oR OS Behe
DUAN Go) NSS EV (02D 4He Nem
Te SEN NY al A oOr bes KC Onni ay
OW L ETE D AA WNT Rake
OR 1 0 bE oA 1 Ori aa
IN Pero ATO PR NN eae

G. L. HARRINGTON, Langdon, Minn.

What birds are suggested in the following sentences?
1. I shall severely punish my son William.
2. Jchn, bring a crowbar to move this stone.

3. With flushed cheeks he ran quickly from us toward the train, for
the conductor had called “‘all aboard.”’

4. Ben painted the handles of his hatchet and hammer alight yellow.

5. Silently the flakes of suow floated through the air.

6. They crossed the brook on a rail from the fence.

7. He consulted a high official in the Roman Catholic church.

8 A large kettle swung from an iron arm in the old-fashioned fire-
place.

9. King Edward caught a basket full of fish.

10. The Knight wrapped his mantle more closely about him, for
the wind blew fiercely.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 49

ENIGMA,
(A bird of eleven letters.)

Little 7-5-4-8 7-5-5 had a pet 1-5-4 which she called 6-2-9-8. Early
in the spring this 1-5-4 made up its mind to set: So brother 4-5-6
placed some ducks eggs in the nest. These in course of time, changed
into nine downy yellow balls. But very 11-2-2-4 trouble began for
6-2-9-8. These nine little ducklings wou/d go to the pond in the 7-8-4-5.
In vain the mother 1-5-4 clucked, coaxed and scolded, her babies would
surely drown! Morning 4-2-2-4, and night would find the little family
enjoying the pleasures of this watering place. In June they were left
to follow their own sweet will on 7-8-4-6 or 11-5-8 for about 6-8-3-10
one afternoon, 7-5-2-4, 3-5-56 knocked at the 6-2-2-0. He had a basket
in his 1-8-4-6 which he said held something for 7-5-4-8. When she
raised the cover there were 11-5-5-4 cuddled in the lining of grass, ten
tiny brown quails, which 7-5-2-4 had found in a field where the men had
been mowing, the mother bird 1-8-6 been hidden by the tall grass, and
been killed by the machine. The orphans were placed in 6-2-9-8-11
care and she became as proud of her adopted family as if they had been
1-5-3 own. It was apretty sight during the rest of the summer, to see
the ten little brown birds following their foster mother about the yard
and they grew, and grew, and grew. But, 8-7-8-11, as they grew larg-
er, they grew more independent, and 2-4-5 frosty September morning
6-2-9-8 was again in trouble. The ten little quails had disappeared as
completely as if the ground 1-8-6 opened and swallowed them, 4-2-9
were they 11-5-5-4 again untii a few weeks ago as 7-5-4-8, 7-2-2-10-5-6
toward the woods she saw what seemed like eight brown globules roll-
ing down the snow crust upon the slope. As they came 4-5-8-9-5-9
she clapped her hands in delight, pressed by 11-2-3-5 hunger, her
6-5-8-9 little wanderers had returned.

She and 4-5-6 cleared the snow from around the lilac bushes, and the
little flock were soon feasting on buckwheat and oats. The birds re-
treated to the woods again, but now come nearly every day for the
grain scattered for them beneath the bushes, and 7-5-4-8 and 1-5-3
brother hope to coax some of the other birds to share in the goodies
5-9-5 the long winter months 8-3-5 gone.

50

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

GLEANINGS,

Where, twisted round the barren oak
The summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke,

The crystal icicle is hung.

Alas! how changed from the fair scene,
When birds sang out their mellow lay,

And winds were soft, and woods were green,
And the song ceased not with the day.

But still wild music is abrcad;
Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.

Chill air and wintry winds! my ear
Has grown familiar with your song:
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long.

Longtellow.

American Bird Magazine

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FOR $3.50.

These FIVE VOLUMES will contain over 1700
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Volumes I,

iterature, with nearly 1300 illustrations, many of

them photographs of live wild birds.

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ESTABLISHED 1801.

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Contains each month appropriate reading matter and
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NEW BARGAIN LISTS.

Our new Winter Bargain Lists are just out.
Fine assortments of Minerals Shells, Curios,
and everything required for a Natural His-
tory Collection. Wecarry the finest assort-
ment of the kind in America and sell the
cheapest. Write today. WALTER F.WEBB,
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BOYS AND GIRLS
Nature Study Magazine

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ITHACA,N. Y.

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The Condor

A Magazine of Western Ornithology

Secretary

EDITED BY WALTER K. FISHER

For 1995 THE CONDOR has been
fortunate in securing cooperation of
Mr. William Lovell Finley and Mr.
Herman T. Bohlman whose superb
photographs of wild birds have never
been excelled, and rarely equaled.
They will contribute to each issue dur-
ing 1905 and the collection of photo-
graphs will be notable in the history
of ornithology.

The first article, in the January
issue, details the photographing of
in aerie of Western Red-tails, and as
illustrated by superb photographs,
taken in a huge cotton-wood, 120 feet
above the ground.

Volume VII begins with the January
issue and will be better than any pre-
ceding volumes.

Subscription $1.00 a year. Sample
copy, twenty-five cents. Order of

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American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, II, Ill and
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1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——

VOL. V MARCH, 1905. NO. 3

Photo from life by J. M. Schreck

YOUNG KINGBIRDS.

Photo from life by R, H. Beebe.
ADULT KINGBIRDS ON MULLEIN STALK.

52 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
A DRUMMER BOY.

My interest in the Partridge was roused by reading William Long’s
story of the ““Ol’ Beach Pa’tridge.’’ This is the story of a bird, which
roamed for years, over a certain tract of land, claiming it as his own,
and from it, driving off every other cock Partridge that dared approach
the region of his two favorite drumming logs. He was the target of
many a hunter, and many a noble dog tried to hold him but in vain.
As a last resort, a small boy set a trap for him, but through the curiosity
of a Blue Jay, the’Ol’ Beech Pa’tridge’s life was spared.

Due to the large number of devotees of the hunt, the woods in this
region, have been largely depopulated of these birds. So it was to me

Photo from life by J. M. Schreck.
MOTHER KINGBIRD AND YOUNG.

a matter of joy and interest when an opportunity was presented of ob-
serving the Partridge.

Tired from a long bird walk, which had just led through an old wood
lot, densly covered with a low growth of bushes and brambles, I sat
down to rest. At my feet trickled a little brook, and opposite rose a

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 53

gentle slope covered with hickories, seemingly an ideal place for birds.

As I looked about, my eye rested on a stump, and standing on it,
scarcely discernible on account of the blending of color, was a Partridge.
The bird strutted about on the stump with drooping wings, his fine tail
spread and ruff raised, apparently looking to see if he was observed.
No one was looking, he concluded, and so he stood erect and preened
himself. Then the woods resounded with his drumming. He seemed
to produce the sound by striking his wings against the side of his body.
‘This, he did very slowly at first, then after a short pause, he gradually
increased the speed until the sound died out in a continuous whirr.

Ten consecutive times I saw this Partridge drum, and every time he
went through the same preliminary movements.

After watching for a time, I made my presence known, by going
nearer, only to see him hop from his stump and disappear in a great
flurry. About fifteen minutes later, as I stood at the edge of the woods,
some distance from this spot, I again heard the sound of his drumming,
which seemed to come from a long distance.

All summer I thought of this persistent fellow, drumming on his
stump to calla mate. Always there came the wish that the ruthless

hunter would spare his life, and that he might secure a loving mate.
ELSIE SPACE JACKSON,

A MUNICIPAL BIRD TRAP,

By BERTON MERCER.

A recent article in the Philadelphia “‘Public Ledger’’ brings to the
attention of the general public some very interesting facts concerning
bird life and travel in this locality.

Probably few persons are aware that hundreds of migrating birds are
ensnared annually in the heart of our city by one of the largest bird
traps in the world. This trap is no less than the immense bronze figure
of William Penn on the top af City Hall tower. The distance between
the pavement and the statue is about 549 feet, and around the base of
the figure is a circle of mammoth arc lights that burn throughout the
night. This circle of light—the highest point for miles around—has
been the destroyer of many birds during their nocturnal migration be-
tweentheir winter andsummerhomes. They become temporarily blind-
ed by the strong light and fly against the statue, dropping in the bal-
cony be-neath either dead or mained.

The lights were turned on for the first time on the night of the Fourth
of July 1897, and the next morning the body of a young Sora Rail was
found in the balcony. This Rail was the first bird to meet death in

54 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

the great trap. Since the above date, upwards of two thousand birds,
representing 60 different species, have been killed at the top of the
tower. Following is a list of the different birds which have been found
in this lofty balcony.

List OF BIRDS COLLECTED FROM - HALL TOWER.

Horned Grebe Magnolia Warbler
Ruddy Duck Chestnut-sided Warbler
Sora Rail Black-poll Warbler
Mourning Dove Blackburnian Warbler
Sparrow Hawk Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Palm Warbler
Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow Palm Warbler
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker Prairie Warbler

Flicker Hooded Warbler
Phoebe Tennessee Warbler
Wood Pewee Water Thrush

Bobolink Purple Finch

Savannah Sparrow Pine Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow Bay-breasted Warbler
White-throated Sparrow Cape May Warbler
Chipping Sparrow Nashville Warbler
Field Sparrow Connecticut Warbler
Slate-colored Junco Oven Bird

Song Sparrow Maryland Yellow-throat
Towhee Yellow-breasted Chat
Indigo Bird Redstart

Scarlet Tanager Catbird

Cedar Bird Brown Thrasher
Red-eye Vireo House Wren

White-eye Vireo Marsh Wren
Blue-headed Vireo Brown Creeper
Black-and-white Creeper Red-bellied Nuthatch
Parula Warbler Golden-crowned Kinglet
Black-throated Blue Warbler Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Myrtle Warbler Wood Thrush

A prominent electrician, connected with the equipment corps, has
taken a great interest in studying these birds, and has secured a col-
lecfion of 130 handsome specimens which have been mounted and are
on exhibition in his office. A large number are also turned over to the
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. This gentlemen states
that thousands of birds pass close to the lights, while comparatively
few strike.

The majority of the birds found dead are young ones, which would
seem to indicate that the old birds who have made the journey before,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 59

have learned the fatal character of the iights and avoid them. It has
also been noticed that no birds strike on moonlight nights, at least until
towards morning when the moon sinks below the horizon and leaves the
heavens darkened. The largest flight of birds takes place in the spring
and fallmonths. The above report is valuable from the fact that it gives
an accurate idea of the dates of migration, and of the different species
which travel over this section.
Extracts from Philadelphia “‘Public Ledger,’’ Jan. 31, 1904.

A. O. U. No. 444. (Tyrannus tyrannus.)
RANGE,

Whole of temperate North America, but chiefly east of the Rocky
Mountains as they are only rarely and locally found on the Pacific coast;
their range extends north to the southern parts of British America; in
winter they go beyond our borders to Cuba, Central America and
northern South America.

DESCRIPTION,

Length about 8.5 inches. Upper parts slate color, blackest on the
crown, wings and tail; the underparts are white, and there is a semi-
concealed orange patch in the center of the crown; only the adult birds
have this latter mark, the young having the crown solid blackish.

NEST AND EGGS.

King birds nest in open places either on the edge of woods or in or-
chards; their nests are placed’at moderate distances from the ground;
say four to fifteen feet. Nests may be found in a great many varieties
of trees but by far the greater percentage are in apple or pear trees.
Their nests are made of grasses, fibres, twigs, and especially in the
neighborhood ‘of houses, string; this structure is quite large and is
usually lined with horse hair.

‘They lay three, four, five and sometimes even six eggs ina set, four

56 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

and five being the number most often found; they are creamy white
handsomely specked and spotted with reddish brown and blotched with
lavender and gray. Size .95x.70.

HABITS.

Was ever a bird more aptly :.amed, a king by name, by nature and,
if we may consider the little orange patch on the head as a crown, in
dress. To be sure their feathers are of a sombre hue, but any plain-
ness in attire is more than offset by their vivacious manners, for they
are very active and pugnacious and even more fitting than their common
name is the scientific one of tyrannus. They are faithful allies to their
friends—swift, sure and relentless pursuers of those who incur their
displeasure. Without fear they will attack birds of many times their size
and drive them away; Hawks, Crows and Jays flee from them in appar-
ent terror. Their method of attack is always the same,—darting down
at the enemy from above as if they were going to tear him to pieces.
While it is very improbable that they ever do any injury to the larger
birds that they attack, it is strange that none of them ever attempt to

NEST AND EGGS OF KINGBIRD.

AMERICAN. ORNITHOLOGY. 57

offer the slightest resistence but appear to exert every muscle in an effort
to escape. After chasing the object of his hate sometimes a mile away,
this valiant little tyrant will proudly sale back to his lookout with ex-
cited cries of victory.

In this way they do good service for farmers by protecting his poultry
from the depredations of birds of prey. While never at peace with
birds that are in the habit of preying upon other birds or their
eggs, King birds always seem to be on good terms with all other kinds
and birds of other species are often found nesting in the same tree with
them. Not only do they protect their own nests with great valor, but
they will do their utmost to drive intruders away from the home of any
of their neighbors in distress.

One pair of King birds that I began to feel as though I was acquaint-
ed with, returns to the same orchard year after year. They have taken
upon themselves the duty of police, and try to look after the welfare of
all their neighbors.

The first time I approached the place, this pair of birds came out to
greet me, not with words of welcome, but with notes of alarm and
warning; so vociferous were they that they soon had all the bird popu-
lation in a panic, and Robins, Blue birds, Chipping and Song Sparrows,
Orioles, House Wrens and a pair of Tree Swallows swarmed about me
uttering their varied notes of alarm. It required only a few minutes of
this din to bring forth the farmer to investigate.

I first made my peace with him and then tried it with the birds, which
was a more difficult matter. All except the King birds soon quieted
down but these would have nothing to do with me and it was only after
I had visited them half a dozen times that they would omit their angry
greeting. Finally, however, they did become reconciled to me and my
photographic outfit.

Their food is almost wholly of insects, which are caught on the wing,
and so keen is their vision that they will, from their lookout on a dead
branch, see a favorite insect fifty or more yards away and immediately
dash out in pursuit, and a snapping of the mandibles announces his
success. While most of their food consists of obnoxious insects, they
also eat bees, which causes them to be in ill-repute with bee keepers,
who call these birds Bee birds or Martins. They arrive at their northern
breeding ground early in May and remain until their food supply is
getting scarce which occurs after the first frostof Autumn. Most farm-
ers now realize the value of insect-eating birds and offer them what pro-
tection they can from human enemies and, at least in Massachusetts, I
think that King birds have been increasing in numbers during the past
few years.

58 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

> pa

What the Birds Said.

By CLARENCE HAWKES.

Hi
— ee ewe = ee en eee ee = nat We ae

The birds were always a source of sweet delight to the children. It
mattered not, whether it was early in the spring and the bluebird had
just come with his sweet song, gay in his bright coat of blue and
crimson; or whether it was late in the autumn and the last faint call
of the robin was dying away as he flew southward to his winter home.
The song was alike welcome.

The children could not always tell what the birds were saying in
their low musical language, so their mother who was a bird lover and
understood bird language made some pretty little jingles which told
just what they were saying. Some of these rhymes I remember and
you shall have them so you may know what the birds are saying when
you hear them sing.

When Blue-bird sat upon the clothes post and the bright sunlight
falls upon his rich coat, he would pour fourth his pure sweet song
which was all the more welcome as none of the other birds had yet
come north.

Cheery, cheery, low and clear,
I can charm the dullest ear,
Singing when the air is chill,
Calling for the daffodil.

The next one of the children’s little feathered friends to arrive from
the south was robin. Some mornings they would get up and look out
of the window and there he was hopping about in the meadow, getting
his breakfast. Huis breast was just as bright as when he flew away and
he was the same pert fellow. When he had finished his morning meal
he would fly up into the o!d elm tree, and swelling out his breast to its
utmost, begin, his song.

Cheer up, cheer up, when the sun
Is rising in the east,

Cheery cheery when we've done
The work of man and beast.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 59

Next after robin came phoebe, who was a quiet little fellow, with a
sweet sad song. His coat like his song was very modest, but he was
welcome nevertheless.

The children were apt to discover him flying about in the shed
looking for some convenient beam upon which to build a nest for Mrs.
Phoebe.

Phoebe, phoebe, all day long,
Just that plaintive little song,

If he knows another note,
It is hidden in his throat.

Next after the phoebe, came the swallow, flying along the meadows
like the wind. He always wore the same brown coat, and was always
the same noisy fellow. You might see him perched upon the top of
the barn, or under the eaves, or he might be trying his wings over the
corn stubble.

Chatter chatter in the air,
Chatter chatter neath the eaves,
Chatter chatter everywhere

*Till the falling of the leaves.

It was some time before the most beautiful song of all was heard,
but like all good things, it came at last. May be you discovered him
flying above the grass in the meadow, or perhaps he was perched upon
the top most branch of a small tree or bush, but there was no
mistaking the song.

Gurgle, ripple sweetest song,
Sparkle, bubble, all day long,

Merry music don’t you think
From the wonderous bobolink.

Then there were oriole and song sparrow each with a wonderful
song of his own, and a host of others that only chirped and _ twittered,
but all did what they could to make the summer days glad.

Over in the beach woods was a very shy fellow. The children rarely
saw him, and even when they did, it was not much of a sight, for his
coat was arusty brown, but he had a very peculiar song which you will
never forgot when you had heard it once.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, in the woods,
How he loves the solitudes,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, calling yet,
He is asking for more wet.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

60

‘aqaed “H “M Aq ay] Wor O}OUd

“‘DNOOA GNV GUIANNIN LTIAGV

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 61

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER.

A. O. U..No. 663. (Dendroica dominica)
RANGE.

The breeding range of these Warblers is in eastern United States,
chiefly east of the Alleghenies, where it is found from southern Flori-
da to Maryland and casually Pennsylvania. They winter in southern
Florida, the Bahamas and the West Indies.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5 to 5.25 in. The adults of this species are very similar in

color and markings, the female being only a trifle duller colored.

SYCAMORE WARBLER.
A. O. U. No. 663a. (Dendroica dominica albilora.)

RANGE AND DESCRIPTION,

The western form of the Yellow-throated Warbler is most abundant in
the lower Ohio Valley, ranging from the Alleghenies in Virginia west to
Nebraska and from Michigan and Wisconsin south to the Gulf. It
differs from the eastern form in having the lores white or nearly white
instead of yellow as in the preceding and in usually having the chin
white also. The habits of the two very similar birds do not differ.

NEST AND EGGS.

The eastern Yellow-throated Warblers nest commonly in the South
Atlantic States, building their homes upon the horizontal boughs of
pines or oaks, or sometimes in pendant bunches of Spanish moss
something after the style of the Parula Warbler; asa rule their nests
are placed at quite an elevation from the ground, the distance varying
from fifteen to forty feet. When placed on limbs the nests are made
of fine twigs, grasses and shreds of bark and lined with feathers. They
lay three or four, and rarely five, eggs of a pale greenish-white color,
specked or wreathed with brown and lavender. Size .70 x .50.

HABITS

These birds are one of the earliest ot the Warbler migrants, due per-
haps to the fact that many of them winter along the Gulf coast and in
Florida. They arrive at their summer homes and commence breeding
early in April, usually rear their families and commence to take their
departure in the latter part of July or August. Their song is loud and

62 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

clear and with a faint suggestion of the Indigo-Bunting melody, it
being an unusual song for a Warbler. Their habits are quite similar to
those of the Black and White Warbler, being in fact, as much like those
of a creeper as a Warbler. They are persistent gleaners and often
give voice to their little song as they clamber about among the branch-
es. It will be noticed that their bills are longer and more curved than
those of the other Warbler.

GRACE WARBLER.

A. O. U. No. 664. (Dendroica graciz).-
RANGE,

Western United States breeding in the mountains of Arizona and
New Mexico, and wintering in the western part of Mexico.
DESCRIPTION AND HABITS.
This species averages about a quarter of an inch less in length than
the last, to which it bears some resemblance although it has a typical
warbler bill; the entire supercialiary line is yellow, the sides of the

head are gray and the back is marked with black streaks or arrow
heads. These birds are quite abundant in pine woods at high elevations
in southern Arizona. Their nests are placed high up in coniferous
trees usually in a bunch of needles at the end of a limb. ‘They are
therefore quite difficult to find and their eggs are scarce. ‘The nests
are made of grasses, bark, needles, etc., and are lined with hair and
feathers; the eggs are white with reddish brown specks, chiefly on the
larger end.

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.

A.O. U. No. 665. (Dendroica nigrescens.)
RANGE,

Western United States, breeding from southern Arizona and south-
ern California north to British Columbia and east to the middle of Col-
orado. They winter in the southern part of Mexico.

HABITS.

Black-throated Gray Warblers are easily identified by their black,
white and gray colors and the small yellow spot on the lores. These
birds return to our country from their winter quarters about the first

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WARBLERS.

Yellow throated
Townsend

Black-throated Gray

Black-throated Green

Grace
Golden-cheeked

Hermit

63

64 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

week in April and reach the northern limit of their breeding area about
the third week in that month. They are usually found on high dry
areas, seeming to prefer tall coniferous trees within which to construct
their nests, although these are sometimes found in bushes as well.
The female does the greater part if not all the nest building, the male
merely superintending the work. Their nests are placed at heights of
from five to twenty or more feet from the ground and are usually sit-
uated in a small bunch of leaves which effectually conceals it from the
view of prying eyes, whether of man or bird, fer Crows, California and
Steller Jays are common where these warblers nest and are always in
search of a breakfast of eggs or young birds. Their nests are com-
pactly made of dried grasses and lined with feathers or hair, or both.
Four eggs usually constitutes a complete set, these being laid early in
May. While quite common in the spring and fall, but few of them are
seen during the summer as during the nesting period they are shy and
retiring. The male bird frequently sings while the female is on the
nest, but usually at some distance from it. Should any danger appear
the female will quietly glide away through the underbrush and seek her
mate, upon finding whom they will both return and scold the intruder.
While they are naturally shy birds, they are not opposed to becoming
friendly with anyone that they feel that they can trust, and so accurate
is a bird’s intuition that its confidence is rarely betrayed. Young birds
in the fall show but few traces of black on the throat, the crown is
grayish and the back is without streaks; the adult female is similar,
but shows more black on the throat, the crown is mixed with black and
the back is streaked with the same; as is usual among the Warblers,
the male is the most beautiful, this species having an intense glossy
black crown and throat, which requires the out-of-door light on the
living bird to display its complete beauty.

GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER.
A. O. U. No. 666. (Dendroica chrysoparia.

RANGE,

This rare species is found in the United States only in Texas where
it breeds in the south central portion; in the winter it migrates into
Mexico and Central America.

HABITS.

These beautiful birds are, perhaps, the rarest of the North American
Warblers. The male bears a strong resemblance to that of the Black-
throated Green Warbler, but the back and crown are a jet black, the
latter often with a nearly concealed spot of yellow in the center, and
the sides of the head are a brighter yellow with a narrow black stripe

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 65

through the eye. The female is much brighter than the female of the
Black-throated Green having a bright yellow throat mixed with black,
and bright greenish-yellow upper parts with black streaks. The birds
are found entirely where there is cedar timber, and they build their

nests in these trees, usually at low elevations, such as five or ten feet
from the ground. The nests are handsome structures, compactly
woven of grasses, mosses and cobwebs, and lined with hair and feathers.
The four eggs that they lay are white, specked chiefly around the large
end with cinnamon or reddish brown. They average about .75 x .55
inches. The birds first appear in Texas about the middle of March
and may be found breeding during April and May.

BLACK-THRORTED GREEN WARBLERS.

A. O. U. No. 667. (Dendroica virens).
RANGE,

The United States and southern Canada east of the Great plains,
breeding in the northern half of the United States and in the Alleghenies
south to Georgia; in the fall they migrate through Texas and Mexico to
Guatemala where most of them winter.

HABITS.

With the possible exception of the Pine Warbler, Black-throated
Greens are most abundant of resident Warblers in eastern United States.
During migration, Black-polls and Myrtle Warblers are also very abun-
dant but they all pass on beyond our borders. During the summer
these birds are found almost exclusively in coniferious trees but in the
spring and fall, during migrations they may be met with anywhere; in
the fall migration especially, they like to keep in the tops of tall trees in
company with many other varieties and then they are very hard to
identify as at that season they sing but very little. They appear in the
United States about the first of April reaching their breeding grounds
in the north after the first of May. By the end of the month they have
all mated and retired to the pine covered hill-sides to breed. In ex-
tensively wooded districts, they nest in communities but in isolated
pine trees in other woods a single pair may often be found nesting.
As arule they like low growths of pines but many may be found in
very large trees; in either case the nests are usually placed well up
towards the top and wholly concealed from below by the numerous
needles. The birds are bright little fellows, ever on the watch to see

66 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

that no one is watching them while they are house-building or, later,
when they are feeding their little ones. I have often known them to
build decoy nests when they knew that they were observed, and have
known them, too, to leave a nest when they were certain that it had
been found. The only evidence of short-sightedness in their endeavors
to keep their homes secret is.the violent scolding to which they treat
every intruder, thereby notifying him of the fact that they have a home
near by.

Their nests are made of grasses, rootlets and fibres, lined with horse
hair. They lay four, and sometimes five white eggs specked and
spotted with brown and lavender; size .60x.50 inches. Their song is
one of the most familiar and characteristic of the eastern Warblers. It
is a spirited, high-keyed ditty, something like “‘zee-zee-ze-ze-zee-zee”’
with the first four notes high pitched, the fifth considerably lower and
the sixth mid-way between the others. It is a very welcome song and
one not to be mistaken for that of any other bird.

TOWNSEND WARBLER.

A. O. U. No. 668. (Dendroica townsendi.)
RANGE,

Western North America, breeding from southern California north to
British Columbia and southern Alaska; east to western Colorado.
Winters in southern Mexico and Guatemala.

HABITS.

These birds are very similar to, and almost might be called the
western Black-throat Greens, differing only in the black ear patches
aud blackish crown. They are found in coniferous districts and are
common in certain localities.

In the spring they first reach the United States from their winter
quarters in Guatemala about the middle of April where they are quite
common in the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona. They slowly
work their way nortnward, bands dropping out to settle in certain
regions, until they reach British Columbia and southern Alaska, which
marks the northern limit of their distribution, about a month later.
They at once commence house-keeping, building their nests in the
same situations that the eastern Black-throated Greens do; their four
eggs are very similar to, and usually cannot be distinguished. from
those of the preceding. They raise but one brood in a season and by

~AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 67

August first, at the latest, these are able to fly, and by the last of the
month they commence to travel southward in preparation for another
winter.

HERMIT WARBLER.

«A. O. U. No. 669. (Dendroica occidentallis).
RANGE,

This Warbler is foumd in the Pacific coast states from California and
Arizona north to British Columbia. They reach the United States at
about the same time in the spring as the last but are usually several
weeks later in leaving.

HABITS.

These handsome Warblers are wholly different in plumage from any
other American variety and can easily “be recognized in any plumage
by the evidences of the yellow head. They cannot be called common
in any locality but may be met on any of the Pacific coast mountains
usually being found at quite an elevation. Owing to their extreme
westerly distribution they are frequently known as Western Warblers.
They nest high up in pines, concealing their nests so that they are very
difficult to find. ‘The nests are made of fibres and rootlets, lined with
shreds of bark and hair. The four eggs have a pale greenish white
ground spotted and blotched with reddish brown and gray.

THE HUMMING BIRD.

At frequent intervals this summer I watched the Humming birds as
from time to time they visited the canna-beds on the lawn. It is an in-
structive and delightful occupation for busy people as well as those
who are leisurely inclined, to watch these beautiful creatures amid nat-
ural surroundings, and to know some of their habits and peculiarities
from original investigation and observation. When first I knew them
as the most diminutive of all feathered tribes, I occasionally swept my
net over them—only to behold with one mighty regret their immediate
and plausible disappearance. It is peculiar that such a charming bird
—so diminutive that in fact its name a couple centuries ago was synony-
mous with mosquito, should be found in our own American gardens
Its gorgeous changing colors are peculiar to birds of tropical regions;
but, aft€r the migratory season, they are found everywhere east of the
Mississippi, and are considered quite numerous by persons who are
habitually and diligently observant. The statistics claim that 450
species are found on the American continent; but only ten or eleven of

CM

IRNITHOLOC

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68

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 69

these venture into the states. One of these, the Ruby-throat, notice-
able by:a patch of color—‘‘metallic in hue, but in the sun lights to a
flame,’’—is found in abundance and ought to be familiar to everybody.

Everyone knows the the Rcby-throated Hummidg bird, or would do
so, only that some people confuse him with the bright-colored long-
tongued sphinx moths that are seen hovering, mostly in the early even-
ing, over the flowers of the garden. The average person seldom:
notices one on a branch, they are so small and easily overlooked, and
occasionally a person perceives not one under his very nose, except
when guided by the gesticulations of some one else. Many persons,
also, imagine this bird lives constantly on the wing, they never saw one
otherwise, they say. Yet, if they observed attentively, they could often
see them basking in the sun on some quiet twig. Recreation, to these
plumed bipeds, is of considerable importance, and there they pass but
a fraction of their time in aerial navigation.

It is curious and interesting to watch the male, who is more gorge-
ously attired than the female, glide upward to the height of twenty or
thirty feet, and then descend like a bullet, instantly rebounding to the
same height as before, as if he was suspended by a rubber band, the
elasticity of which caused him to bound back and forth thru the air.
In order to see this process of gymnastics, I had to “‘freeze,’’ that is,
standing as still as possible whenever his quick eye scanned the place
for moving objects. This is necessary—all naturalists realize this—no
matter how painful or ludicrous your position may be, asa single move-
ment, visible to wild creatures in their natural state, will always con-
sider you dangerous to them. Then, after he had fairly cut the air with
his marvelous gyrations, he settled himself comfortably on the fence
and yawned a little yawn, sick of the sickening honey and excitement
of the day. I, also had ample time to notice his apparently useless
ebony-black feet, which were subjected to strong muscular tension in
its efforts to preserve equilibrium of a fat and supple body, weighing
on the average only twentw-eight grains.

The plumage of this bird is of special interest, ahd its arrangement
and color vary with the species. All the most magnificent and brilliant
colors you can imagine are fairly showered upon them. The wings and
tail of the Ruby-throat are a soft brown, and as its name signifies, it
carries a patch of scarlet at its throat. Otherwise, the bird is of that
bright color which alternates in green and gold. All Hummers have
ten feathers in their tail, and their position differs widely with each
variety. One certain kind carries all the glory of a peacock’s tail in
miniature, and another the correct fac-simile of a Lyre-bird’s graceful
plumes.

70 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Their principal food is the nectar found at the bottom of tubular-
shaped flowers, which they extract while on the wing by means of their
long and slender bill. Their bill, by the way, is shaped according to
the flower it feeds upon, and their long tongue is “bifid and filiform
nearly to the base.’’ This enables them to make short work of the
beetles and winged insects which are captured within the carollas of
flowers. It is a well known fact that a caged Hummer will droop and
die if fed on exclusive honey diet. But in their rural state they vary
their delightful diet with a “tender spider or a dainty ant.’’ Last sum-
mer I grew quite familiar with one Hummer thru his frequent visitations
to the cannas and late Easter lilies. Every morning and evening he
fairly gobbled down the surplus honey-dew, slayiny all the unwelcome
intruders, and then this cannibal king feasted himself sick on all the
delicacies within his domain.

Every year these emerald pygmies are guided by the migratory im-
pulses, and are seen in this vicinity by the first day of June. In ten
days nest building isin progress, but they remain and luxuriate through-
our Indian summer until September, and again that strange instinct
guides them, in all possibility, back to the West Indies. Yet, their
manner is not affected by latitude, very quick and active as they dart
in the sunlight and display their bright colors. The note usually heard
from the Hummer is a squeak which seems to be an expression of
nervousness or annoyance, and is uttered whenever an intruder
approaches its nest. It will ofted hover around the head of the intrud-
er, squeaking and fluttering, defiantly inviting battle, all for the sake of
its young ones.

Their nest is generally found firmly attached to some dry limb of a
tree. It is difficult to locate one, for they are so often mistaken for a
small kuot. The edge of the nest curves in, probably to prevent the
contents from getting spilled out. Internally, it is lined with the soft-
est vegetable fibers, and extcrnally, whether put on purposely or for
ornament, are chips of lichens and soft mosses, glued on with the bird’s
saliva. Ten days after the nest is built, two eggs are laid, about the
size of peas, and are hatched after an interval of three weeks. Then the
female is kept constantly busy feeding them, for the male absents him-
self as soon as incubation begins. I once saw the female probe the
little ones in such a way that it sent a cold chill thru me. When the
little Hummers grow, they also grow more pugnacious and quarrelsome
among themselves, and the little black-capped Chickadee retreats before
them without the slightest risistence, as if he had long ago acknow-
ledged their superiority. A friendly duel is the ‘“‘acme of Humming
bird happiness,’’ and then they come together with about as much noise

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 71

as two balls of yarn. I once saw a Yellow Warbler—by comparison a
mammoth—pestered by a little Hummer. It could not learn that the
midget was only a miniature bird, but regarded him asa creature great-
ly to be feared, and fled before him to the best of his clumsy ability.
But the agile little Hummer followed him like a shadow, and pestered
him exceedingly, by makiug feints at him or even giving playful jabs
with his rapier-like bill. It ended with the Warbler making a deliberate

retreat for life thru the thick bushes and briers.
M. R, Simonson, Wis.

GLEANINGS.

THE SONG SPARROW.

Glimmers gay the leafless thicket
Close beside my garden gate,
Where, so light, from post to thicket,
Hops the sparrow, blithe, sedate,
Who with meekly folded wing,
Comes to sun himself and sing.

It was there, perhaps, last year,
That his little house he built,
For he seems to perk and peer,
And to twitter too, and tilt,
The bare branches in between,

With a fond, familiar mien.
LATHROP.

72 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

Once upon a time, (when I was a child) I saw in a little magazine a
picture of an old man with birds flying all above, some eating from his
hand, and some upon his head and shoulders, and the story told how
he had tamed the birds by kindness so that they would come at his
call. I thought it a charming sight, but classed it with my favorite
fairy tales.

But many dreams of my childhood have come true, and during the
past year I have known personally a half dozen people who have so
tamed the little feathered folk that they come at their call and eat from
the hand. I have in mind one busy man who never goes out without a
supply of broken raw peanuts in his pockets with which to regale three
or four chickadees that he usually meets as he goes to and from his
place of business.

The chickadees seem to be the most easily tamed—what dear cheery
little fellows they are—but time and patience will conquer many
others, and it is a much more delightful sport than to hunt them with
the gun. Probably there are few of our boys and girls who do not
have some birds about their homes, (we always except English Spar-
rows). Coax them to be friendly by an abundance of food, and fresh
water, protect them from cats, then get them used to seeing you, and
knowing that you are harmless, and that your presence always means
something good to eat—for the way to a bird’s “heart is through his
stomach’’—and by slow degrees win their confidence, and with patience,
patience, and more patience, by the end of the season you can each one

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 73

of you have at least one or two saucy chickadees come at your bidding.
Try it. Cordially, your Friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

1. Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.

2. Russell S. Adams, St. Johnsburg, Vt.

3. Samuel D. Robbins, Belmont, Mass.
4. Frank B. Clark, Jr., Glastonburg, Ct.

5. James Chase, Logansport, Ind.

ANSWERS TO FEBRUARY PUZZLES.
Birds in Letter Square.

1. Redstart. 19. Evening Grosbeak.
2. Red-throated Loon. 20. Dunlin.

3. Red (bird). 21>. “innet:

4. Hermit Thrush. 22 OW le

5. Oven (bird). 23.‘ Ortole:

Gee Ain, 24. Nuthatch.

7. Hawk. 25.. ‘Teal,

8. Finch. 26). Chat.

9. Wren. 27>. Cat (bird).
1OS> Crow. 28. Knot.
11. Heron. 29. Ruff.
125 ulay. 30. Pipit.
13. Kestrel. 31. Brant.

14. Bobolink. 32. Reed (bird),
15. Flicker. Rae Aare

16.» Ibis. 34. King (bird).
ew -COot. 353 85kaa:

18. Tern. 536.) Dick:

Suggested birds. 1. Whip-poor-will. 2. Turnstone. 3. Redstart.
4. Yellow-hammer. 5. Snowflake. 6. Rail. 7. Cardinal. 8. Crane.
9. King-fisher. 10. Nightingale.

Enigma. Hornen Larks.

EXTRACTS FROM OUR MAIL BAG.

I have enjoyed feeding the birds tnis winter. The Red-breasted
Nuthatch that ate from my hand last winter did not return this winter,
and the female hairy woodpecker has been succeeded by a male, other-
wise I have the same birds I had last year, some twenty in all. The

74 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

chickadees fed from my hand, while the white-breasted nuthatches,
juncos, and brown creepers fed from a board restaurant that hangs
from a wire out of harm’s reach. The brown creepers and nuthatches
are very awkward when they are not upon the tree, and the nuthatch is
still more awkward when he tries to perch upon the wires near the res-
taurant. Many of the birds even come to my window-sill when I am
very near. The woodpeckers enjoy suet with the above mentioned
birds, and the blue-jays on a large nut tree near by. Strange to say,
the English sparrows seldom, if ever, attempt to eat of the food I pro-
vide and I have never seen them drive away another bird.
SAMUEL DoOWSE ROBBINS,
Belmont, Mass.

One day last summer when I was picking wild azalias, I saw a nice
bush of it and ran there and began to pick the flowers. While I was
doing so I spied a newly made nest in the center of the bush. I knew
other people would come there to get the flowers and find the nest, so
I picked off all the blossoms. Seeing no bird around to claim the nest
I did not know what kind it was. I visited it a week affer and found
a brave little mother sitting on four eggs.

I fouad out that it was a Chestnut-sided Warbler. The next time I
came there were four newly fledged birds. She did not mind if I came
within a yard from her. The birds had all flown in a week, and I took

the nest.
ALFRED Boyp, Waterbury, Conn.

ENIGMA.
My 1-9-18-13 is a metal.
My 2-8-5-17-9-6 is a state.
My 7-12-11-20 is a piece of money.
My 3-2-6-4-9-16 is a foreign city.
My 14-15 20-20-19-11 is a young animal.
My 7-8-9-10 is a black bird.
My 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8t9-10-11-12-13-14-12-16-17-18-19-20 is a small bird.

RussEL 8S. ADAms. St. Johnsburg, Vt.

PI. TWELVE BIRDS WHICH WALK INSTEAD OF HOPPING,

1. Tailkrt 7. squila

2. sadpinsper 8. clakb-dribs
3. spines 9. slow-slaw
4. rovelsp 10. deamow-ralks
5. sourge 11. skilbobon

6. gonesip 12. lono-ridbs

Guide to Taxidermy

Full of valuable infermation.
COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO PREPARE AND MOUNT

Birds
Animals
and Fish

Also contains a com-
plete list of all North
American Birds, with
prices of their eggs,
skins and mounted
specimens; also an ez-
haustive line of Orni-
thologists’, Cologists’
and Taxidermists’ sup-
plies, valuable infor
mation forthe amateur,
recipes, etc. Bound in
cloth, 35c, postpaid

104 Union St., CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

Covers the entire field of

Western Sports

by land and sea

MONTHLY DEPARTMENTS
Hunting and Shooting Fish and Fishing
Game Protection Physical Culture

150 pages beautifully illustrated. Clean, auttemsk and
autboritative. published at
4 Sutter Street, Sam Francisco, Cal.

10 cents the copy $1.00 the year
Sample Copies with pleasure

1 Address

The Moth Book.

By W. J. HOLLAND.

Fully illustrated by color photography.
The illustrations of the moths are natural
size and the coloring is perfect. With this
book it is easy to identify any moth at a
glance. It is by far the best work on moths
ever published. $4.00 PREPAID.

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

N We can
4 teach you
; how.

LEARN. TAXIDERMY BY MAIL.

| We can te1ch you BY MAIL to correctly

mount Birds, Animals, ete. Nothing is
more fascinating or profitable. Every
NATURALIST, TEACHER, SPOTRSMAN Should
know this art. We have thousands of
successful students. If interested in
3irds, Nature and Outdoor Life. ask for
our new illustrated catalog. ITS FREE.
| WRITE TODAY. THE NORTHWESTERN
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Have Your Magazines Bound.

Send your magazines to us prepaid (if well wrapped

| postage will be ro cents), we will bind them in an at-

tractive cloth cover, stamped with AMERICAN OR-
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to you
FOR 75 CENTS PREPAID.

American Ornithology,

Worcester, Mass.

JAMES P. BABBITT,

—— DEALERS INE

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mist; Fine Glass Eyes a Specialty.

TAUNTON, MASS.

Bargain Lists free upon application. ;
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Naturalist Supply Depot

DEALERS IN
Supplies of all Kinds, Glass Eyes.
Mounted Specimens a Specialty. Send roc for catalog

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American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, Il, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, Ill, 1V and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

——_ COPYRIGHT, (190 5. BY. CHAS. kK REED

>

VOL. V APRIL, 1905. NO.

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. The new Screen Focus Kodak, advertised in this num-
ber, will overcome the chief objections to a tilm camera, and these campact in-
struments may now be used by the bird photographer. Anyone may send in as
many photos as they wish, and the awards will be made upon the clearness and
beauty of the picture, with due regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining.
As in our last contest the pictures will be grouped in three classes. All desirable
photos, which do not win prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.
CLASS I, Live, wild birds.

1st prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No. 3A.......List, $20 00

ERO PTIZe; MAI HLCLG AG-LASSES. ) ca eee TASt, = On00

3rd prize, Color Key to North Am. Birds......List, 2 50
CLASS II. Young birds.

LSUDTIZE, Al VUStQsCONNelGnn-t ae ee eee List, $20 00

SHOAMDTIZGs LOIN ENClGeGlASSCSa. 1st pene eee List) 500

Sra. prize, COlOT: Ke OY ic. on ue nan hee i List, ¢ 2°50

CLASS III. Birds’ Nests.
1st prize, Pair Field Glasses
2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eqqs

The editor would like information .as to the places on the South Atlantic
Coast where the following birds can, to your own knowledge, be found breeding
(in colonies preferred) and directions for reaching the same and the best time
in which to tind both eggs and young. Laughing Gull, Gull-billed, Royal or
Least Terns. Skimmers, Anhingas, Cormorants, Pelicans, Herons, Oyster-
catchers. Any information that you can give concerning the above will be duly
appreciated.

AN OSPREY'S NEST.

It was a beautiful June morning when I started to take a walk in the
Maine woods. There could not be a more beautiful spot than Pema-
quid Point, a narrow neck of land, with the blue ocean on either side,
stretching out in all directions above the green fir trees that help so
much toward making the point beautiful. I started along a narrow and
dusty road that wound in and out among the fir trees which were so
thick, that a human being could hardly penetrate them without the help
of a hatchet. Now and then an old house came into view, having a
clearing, a few fruit trees, a hen house and possibly an old barn beside
it. Doubtless some old patriarch, who risked his life for his country in
the Civil War, lives here, who would, if you happened to ask him, tell
you stories about the fighting he did.

The birds were singing on both sides of me as I walked merrily on,
and flowers of all kinds were waving in the gentle breeze at my feet.
My intentions were to follow this road to New Harbor, and thence take
another road to Pemequid Beech, but the time for my return was slow-
ly approaching, much to my regret, so I decided to go back through the
woods, thus avoiding the dusty road and the sun which was becoming
rather hot. I found a place where the trees did not grow as closely
together, so I decided to strike in there and feel my way homeward as
best I could.

Although these woods were too thick for rapid walking, they were
just what I liked. The wider the woods are, the more wood folk live
there; so I walked along, hoping to make some new discovery of the
ways of the wood folk. I was not sorry, however, to run upon a nar-
row path once in a while, that led me in the direction in which I was
going. It was on one of these narrow paths that I discovered a very
interesting bit of bird life. I heard some strange and alarming cries
above my head, such as I had never heard before, and, glancing in the
direction of the cries, I saw two Ospreys flying about high in the air,
calling their cry that in osprey language must mean, “Danger is com-
ing, be on the watch.’’ Looking around, I saw that I was in a clearing
that had been recently robbed of its trees by some woodcutters. Near
the edge of this clearing were two tall hemlocks, both of which were
dead at the top, and at the top of the lower of the two was a large pile
of sticks, which I soon found to be the osprey’s nest. ‘The nest was
made entirely of sticks, which were woven tightly together, being over
three feet in diameter and about three feet deep. It projected far over
the topmost branches of the tree.

76 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

While I gazed at the nest, the birds became more anxious and
screamed much louder. The birds became still more terrified when I
photographed the nest, and the female, who 1s larger and stronger than
the male, swooped down suddenly, as if to take me in its terrible talons
and carry me away, but luckily for me it turned out of my way a few
feet from my head.

I noticed that the father bird was carrying a fish in his talons which
he undoubtedly intended to give to his little ones, but as he did not
care to let us see him give it to them, he told us as nearly as he could
in osprey language to go off his grounds and very likely called us tres-
passers. Although his proper name is American Osprey, he is more
frequently called fish hawk, for he makes his living by fishing and he
is an expert fisherman too. The Osprey looks quite like the bald eagle,
but can easily be distinguished by his different habits and his smaller
size. The osprey is from 22 to 23 inches in length. The upper parts
are of a brownish black and the nape and underparts are white. The
wings are very large and powerful and enable the birds to sail for a
long distance. This nest was about one quarter of a mile from the
sea, where the birds could easily get all the fish they needed for them-
selves and their little ones. They never left their young exposed to
danger; the mother stayed by the nest, while the father got fish enough
for his whole family. Very few male birds feed both mate and young
as the father osprey does.

Much delighted with my new discovery,.I started homeward, resolv-
ing to go again in a few days, to see what more of interest I could
learn about the Ospreys.

A few days later, I started bright and early to see how my friends
the Ospreys were getting along. It was rather a cloudy day, but it did
not look as though it would rain. I went slowly along, stopping to
turn off the road now and then to go into the woods to see what strange
birds I might find. I had not gone far beyond when I perceived it was
beginning to rain, so I knocked at the door of the nearest farmhouse
to see if I could gain admittance until the shower was overr The
hostess gave me a cordial greeting and I got into the house just as it
began to rain in torrents. It rained “cats and dogs’’ as some people
say, but I could not find either cats nor dogs that had not been there
before the shower. However, I never saw more cats and kittens than
there were in that house and spent the whole of the fifteen minutes
playing with the whole families of kittens and asking questions about
them. It soon stopped raining, so I resumed my walk toward the
nest, thinking nothing about how wet the grass and trees would be.
As I proceeded, I saw plenty of chickadees, nuthatches, yellowthroats,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by A. J. Myers.

OSPREY RETURNING TO ITS NEST,

egy

78 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

crows, warblers, thrushes and the like, but no osprey. While I was
hunting for the nest, one of the Ospreys spied me and gave his call of
danger. With his help I finally found the nest, and the birds near by.

Soon I saw a violent thunder storm coming up, so I thought best to
be starting back. I had not gone out of sight of the nest before it be-
gan to rain harder than I had seen it that day. It thundered and light-
ened also, so I stood under some thick hemlocks, thinking they would
keep me dry until the shower was over. It did not, however, prove to
be a shower, but a heavy storm. In ten minutes the trees began to
let the water drip down my neck, so I decided to go home as fast as I
could and risk a ducking. I risked my ducking and got it without any
doubt. Like a spring, in the months when water is plenty, the water
was running out of my boots every step I took all the way home. I
shall always remember that funny walk home, with the water just run-
ning off of me.

My third visit found the mother Osprey on the nest, though the nest
was so large and at such a height I could not see her. The mate was.
soaring around, uttering his danger calls, and telling me to go away
from his treasures, but, as I would not go, he tried in vain to chase me
away by making believe pounce upon me. ‘This was an old trick of
his so it did not bother me in the least. He would rise high in the air
and remain still, flapping his wings as fast as he could make them go,
while he screamed as loud as he could scream. He no doubt thought
I must be a queer kind of thing not to be afraid of him when he was
doing such alarming things.

When the father Osprey flew back of a hill where I was standing to
rest, I crawled into some thick underbrush and concealed myself as
best I could, hoping to see the Ospreys feed their nestlings. I knew
he must have some little ones by the way he tried to frighten me away
from his nest. I lay perfectly quiet to see what the Ospreys would do.
The father Osprey did not hear me walking around, so he concluded I
must have gone away, after circling around to see if he could see any
traces of me, he gradually stopped his screaming, and sat down on the
top of the hemlock tree near the nest to rest himself and guard his
mate and little ones. He was a beautiful sight as he sat there so near
me. All the time he stayed there he was uttering some quiet notes
which I could not understand, but which his mate very likely did. Mr.
Osprey had not been on the tree long, before a head peeked over the
top of the nest. I thought it might be a young bird so kept very
quiet, but as it slowly rose, Mrs. Osprey soon stood on the top of the
nest. After looking around, she slowly flapped her wings and flew
away. As I was anxious to know where she went and what she would

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. ia

do when she came back, I waited quietly for over half an hour, but she
did not return. Meanwhile the father stayed near the nest. I could
not spare any more time that day, so I started for home. Mr. Osprey
heard me at once and left his comfortable perch, calling his alarm cry.
Immediately I heard a second cry of alarm and Mrs. Osprey came into
sight. She must have wanted to stretch herself and so left the nest
and flew to some perch just out cf my sight, staying there until she
heard her mate calling for help. Their danger call grew less and less
as I left them.

EGG OF OSPREY, [NATURAL SIZE].

On my next visit I learned more about Ospreys than I had learned in
all my other visits put together. I saw the mother bird on the edge of
the nest, talking to the young birds, before she saw me. When I
approached a few feet nearer a stick cracked under my feet and announc-
ed my arrival. Mrs. Osprey flew around giving the note of alarm,
and Mr. Osprey came in a few minutes with a large fish in his talons.
I sat down with my camera near the nest. The Ospreys knew they
must give the fish to their hungry little ones, yet they did not want to
let me see them do so. I don’t see why they were so bashful. I had
no objections to seeing them in the act of feeding their young. I had
been near the nest fully an hour, and the fish had been cooking in the
sun for the same length of time. The birds held a consultation and
planned how they could deceive me. Mother Osprey secured a big
stick, thinking I would suppose it to be a fish, for it did somewhat re-
semble one, and, holding it in her talons just as her mate held the fish,
she circled around the nest for a few times, then alighted on the nest,
stick and all. She soon flew off with the stick, and, after circling
around again, went stick foremost into the nest out of sight. She
stayed there until she had told her children the plan, then flew off back
of the hill to where her mate was. They could see me but I could not

80 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

see them. As soon as they found out that I did not attempt to get the
fish out of the nest as they had expected, Mr. Osprey came along with
the fish, and, after circling around a few times, left the fish for his
hungry children to eat. He then flew away triumphantly to tell his
mate how they had deceived me.

I know of no birds that are trained as well as the young Ospreys.
They did not utter a sound during the several hours that I watched
them, nor did they show their heads above the top of the nest. What
would a nest full of hungry Robins do if left for over an hour without
food. Any passer by would hear the screaming and easily find the young
robin’s nest. The Ospreys must train their young to keep perfectly
quiet and not make a sound, even if they are starving, while the dan-
ger call is heard. If all young birds wereas obedient as the Osprey’s
how much better it would be for the parents.

I secured my best photographs this day beside learning the most
about their habits. The day before they were much afraid of me, but
today, after quietly watching them for over an hour, they found I was
their friend, and went to and from their nest without minding me. I left
them quiet and happy with the mother on the nest. It takes patience
to prove to any bird that you will not harm it, but after it once finds
you to be its friend, it is no longer afraid of you; then is the time to
study and photograph your bird and get the best result. Patience is
the one great thing necessary in studying birds.

On my last visit to the nest, I found the Ospreys in their usual position,
Mrs. Osprey on the nest, and Mr. Osprey on the tree close by. I took
several photographs of them this time. As I approached they were
quieter than usual and seemed hardly to mind me. I found nearly a
half dozen trees, all of which were dead at the top, thus affording
perches for the Ospreys. I saw them use all of these. Thus the mis-
tery was solved and I found out where the birds stayed when guarding
the nest. The next day I was obliged to leave Pemaquid, but a week
later a friend wrote me that the two young Ospreys were flying around
with their parents, and that they were so large it was hard to tell them
apart.

I shall always remember my pleasant experiences with these Ospreys,
and if I ever am so fortunate as to go and visit Pemaquid again, I shall
expect to see these or some other Ospreys occupying the same nest,
for the nest is repaired and used by the owners every year until death,

and then occupied by their descendents for many years.
By SAMUEL DOWSE ROBBINS.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by R. H. Beebe.
A PAIR OF BLUEBIRDS AND THEIR NEST IN AN OLD FENCE POST,

8]

82 * AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

THE COMING OF THE BLUEBIRD.

For months we have been snowbound, and our favorite woods,
where, last summer, we trod the soft moss carpet amid ferns and
green leaves and to the accompaniment of myriads of bird voices, have
been buried under two feet of dazzling whiteness from which the tree
trunks protrude like gaunt spectres. Everywhere is - - silence, broken
only at intervals by the coarse cawing of Crows, the harsh scream of
the Jay, and the plaintive calls of the few small birds that are brave
enough to face the rigor of a New England winter, notable Chickadees,
Kinglets, Crosshills, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and, occasionally
a Robin, that in its devotion to its home-land, shows more courage
than wisdom. It has always been a mystery how small birds could
stand zero weather for days and weeks at a time, and, even though
they are capable of withstanding such cold, why they should do it
preferance when they have the ability to go to a land of sunshine and
plenty. Undoubtedly a large percentage of our resident birds perish
every year from lack of food and severe cold and one, the Bob White,
is almost exterminated from New England, notwithstanding the fact
that thousands of western birds have been liberated in hopes of
replenishing the depleted covers; while large numbers cf these have
met their end at the hands of gunners, most of them are victims of
snow and ice storms and continued cold, during the winter, and wet
weather during the nesting season.

Now comes the longed-for season—Spring. All eyes are strained to
catch the first glimpse of blue; all ears alert for the first glad carol of
the Bluebird, that forerunner of the myriads of birds soon to start
northward. It is strange with what accuracy birds can reckon time;
what should cause our Bluebird, basking in the sunny land of the
Bermudas or the Antilles, to, on a certain day, start on his long journey
northward? Some instinct, more subtle than we know prompts them,
for they arrive in the land of their birth with remarkable regularity.
In this county the earliest date that we have record of their positive
arrival is February 14th., while the latest is March 10th.

The first few weeks they spend in renewing old acquaintances.
Each bush and stone and tree is examined with the same enthusiasm
that is displayed by a man visiting the scenes of his childhood, but
probably from a different motive, for fcod is very scarce at this time
of the year and they must thoroughly examine every crevice if they
are to obtain their daily fare.

All birds are proud and our Bluebird is no exception. It is his
delight to parade before his chosen mate and, with drooping and

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 83

trembling wings throwing off blue flashes as the sun strikes them, to
coo sweet refrains to her. In choosing a nesting site, tastes of
different birds vary greatly: One may build in acavity of an apple tree
barely two feet from the ground while another chooses a hollow limb
in a chestnut forty feet above the earth; still others find suitable houses
in fence posts, bird boxes, etc., and one pair, as shown in our illustra-
tions has even resorted to the arm of a scare-crow.

Wherever we meet them they are the same gentle, confiding birds,
very devoted to their off-spring, and it is little wonder that they have
so endeared themselves to the hearts of all who know them.

Photo by A. R. Spaid

AN UNUSUAL NESTING PLACE.

This scare-crow was adopted as a nesting site by the pair of Blucbirds which are
secn perching on it. The entrance to the nest is in the arm under the lower bird.

84 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by R. H. Beebe.
BLUEBIRD ABOUT TO FEED YOUNG,
{Winner of 4th Prize in Class 2. |

Magnolia Warbler.

A. O.U. No. 657. (Dendroica maculosa.)

RANGE,

United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, this species
being casual or accidental on the Pacific Coast. The breeding rage
includes the whole of eastern Canada except the barren regions of the
north; in the United States it is found in the northern parts, south to
Massachusetts, northern New York and Michigan and in mountains
south to Maryland. They pass the winter in southern Mexico and
Central America, principally at high altitudes; the birds in eastern
United States make the journey across the gulf while the western ones
usually follow along the east coast of Mexico.

DESCRIPTION,

Length 5 inches. Can be identified in any plumage by the yellow

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 85

Photo by A. R. Spaid.
NEST OF BLUEBIRD IN ARM OF SCARE-CROW.
rump and white band across the mzdd/e of the tail, the spots being
large, square and on inner webs of the feathers. The female is much
duller in color than the male, having few if any prominent black
markings. Winter adults and young birds are similar to the female
but the back is more greenish and the yellow usually brighter beneath.
NESTING HABITS.

This species nests almost exclusively in coniferous trees at
elevations of from three to forty feet from the ground. The nests are
made of fine grasses and rootlets lined with fine black rootlets or hair.
They lay from three to five eggs of a creamy white color wreathed
about the large end and sparingly sprinkled with reddish brown and
chestnut. Nests and eggs will usually be found the first of June.

HABITS.
Magnolia Warblers, or as many know them, Black and Yellow

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLO

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. S7

Warblers are one of the most strikingly beautiful species of the family.
In the spring they are very active and often seen flitting out among
apple trees when the latter are in bloom, their brilliant black and
yellow plumage contrasting beautifully with the delicate pink and
white tints of the blossoms. Large numbers of them can also be
observed in the underbrush of open woods or on hillsides. They show
little fear of man, but are very curious to see all that is going on; they
are usually noticed peering out from beneath the foliage with tail up,
wren fashion, and expanded so as to show the prominent white band
while the yellow rump is also much in evidence. They seem loath to
leave your society and may be seen first on one side then on the other
as you may make your way through the woods. Their notes are of
the same character as those of the Yellow Warbler, Redstart and many
others of the more familiar birds, a loud whistling ‘‘chee-chee ---- ”’
usually uttered about six times. They chirp loudly and with great
energy if any one approaches the vicinity of their nest, a fact that
usually betrays that they have one, for they are _ skillfully
concealed and their presence would not be suspected if kept a secret
by the owners.

During the latter part of September great numbers of these birds,
both old and young, pass through our land on their way to warmer
climes in which to pass the coming winter.

CERULEAN WARBLER.

A. O. U. No. 658 (Dendroica rara).
RANGE,

The breeding range of the Cerulean Warbler is in the Mississippi
and Ohio Valleys. ‘They are rare east of the Allegheny Mountains but
are occasionally found as far east as Connecticut and Rhode Island.
In western New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia they are found
as commonly as might be expected for a bird that is nowhere abundant,
but the center of their abundance is in Ohio and Illinois. In winter
they are found in northern South America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 5iuches. Above, a light blue or grayish blue with black
streaks on the back; below white with a gray blue breast band and
darker stripes on the sides. The adult female and young are a gray
blue washed with greenish above, and white washed with yellow below.
They also have a white superciliary line.

88 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NESTING HABITS.

These birds are usually met with in the tree tops and they also build
their nests at high elevations from the ground. Consequently they are
quite difficult to locate and are not often seen in collections. The
nests are placed on horizontal branches usually in a fork; They are
small and compactly made of strips of bark and grasses lined with
finer grass or horse hair. Their four eggs are white, sparingly
specked with reddish brown.

HABITS,

The little sky blue creatures are also known as Azure Warblers.
From their habit of keeping in the tops of the trees, where they feed
upon small insects, they are rarely known by the masses of even bird
lovers in the localities where they are most abundant. Their song isa
high-keyed and rather faint “‘zeep-zeep’’ repeated several times and
coming from the tree tops is barely noticable to an observer below.
My personal experience with these beautiful creatures is limited to not
more than three individuals that I observed in Rhode Island about ten
miles below Providence. Here they were found in tall trees in the depths
of a swamp and could not possibly have been identified without a gun
or powerful field glasses. I have never found their nest, although as
this was in July there is little doubt but what they were breeding there.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.
A. O. U. No. 659. (Dendroica pensylvanieca).

RANGE,

United States east of the Mississippi and in southern Canada.
South of Pennsylvania they are found breeding only in the Alleghanies.
Their winter range is in Central America from Mexico to the Isthmus.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 5 inches. Adults may always be recognized by the yellow
crown and chestnut stripe on the sides. Young birds and adults in
winter plumage are plain greenish yellow above and white below with
no black or chestnut markings.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 89

NESTING HABITS.

Chestnut-sides always nest at low elevations usually within three
feet of the ground. Their favorite location is in the top of a small
shrub where the nest is completely concealed from view by the cluster
of leaves. I have found a great many nests in patches of sweet fern.
They are made of fibres and grasses tightly woven together and lined
with fine grasses and hair. They lay four or five creamy white eggs
quite strongly marked with reddish brown and usually with obscure
markings of gray or lilac.

HABITS,

In New England, New York and Pennsylvania these birds are very
abundant, in some places even outnumbering the Yellow Warbler.
They are commonly found on low hillsides and in pasture land
wherever low brush is to be found. Their song is very similar to that
of the Yellow Warbler and also the Redstart and only the most
practised ear can identify the birds by their notes. The best way to
find their nests is to stoop so that you can look up under the tops of
the bushes and if the nest is within a few feet you will surely see it,
whereas hunting them from ahove is very difficult. The birds are
very tame when sitting on their nests and a number of times, by
carefully parting the leaves over a nest, I have stroked the back of the
sitting bird before she would leave. ‘They can very readily be tamed
so as to take insects from the hand when they are offered and
especially easy to photograph. They moult during the latter part of
July and August, and toward the end of this month and in September
it is difficult to find an individual with any chestnut, black or yellow
in the plumage.

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER,

A. O. U. No. 660. (Dendroica castanea.)
RANGE,

This species breeds in the southern parts of the British Provinces
west to Manitoba. In the United States they breed only in northern
New England and Michigan. Their routes of migration vary in differ-
ent years so that they cannot be looked for with certainty in any local-
ity. They winter in southern Central America and northern South
America.

90 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 5.5 inches. Adults in spring and summer may readily be
identified by the chestnut crown, throat and broad strip on the sides,
the female differing from the male in being marked less conspicuously;
young birds and winter adults are greenish gray above with black
streaks on the back, grayish buff below and usually have a trace of
chestnut on the flanks.

NESTING HABITS.

Nests of these Warblers are usually found in swampy woods at ele-
vations of from ten to twenty feet. The usual location is in the crotch
of some coniferous tree. The nests are made of fibres and grasses
closely woven and lined with fine rootlets or shreds of bark. The four
eggs are white, with a bluish tinge, spotted and blotched about the
large end with brown and stone gray.

HABITS.

While these birds at times are abundant, as much is not known of
their habits as might be desired because of the uncertainty of their ap-
pearance. I have not seen them in Worcester County since 1896 when
there was a large flight of them, lasting several days. While indi-
viduals probably pass through here every year they do not appear in
sufficient numbers to attract notice. I have always met them along the
banks of streams or ponds usually at low elevation. Their notes are
slight in volume but have good quality and are similar to those of any
of the others of the family.

BLACK-POLL WARBLER.

A. O. U. No. 661. (Dendroica striata.)
RANGE,

The breeding range of the Black-poll Warbler is in Canada north to
the limit of tree growth and in mountains of northern New England,
New York and Michigan. Their migration route lies chiefly east of
the Rocky Mountains and their winter home is in northern South
America.

DESCRIPTION.

Length, 5.5 inches. The male in spring may be recognized by his

streaked black and white plumage and solid black cap which easily

a

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 91

separates him from the somewhat similar marked black and white
Warbler. The female is greenish gray above streaked with black but
with no black crown. The underparts are less distinctly streaked with
black. Winter adults and young are very dull colored birds, brownish
gray above and buffy below with indistinct dusky streaks.

NESTING HABITS.

Nests of this species are usually placed at low elevation among the
outer branches of spruces; they have been found at elevations of from
five to ten feet usually in swampy localities. The nests are made of
slender twigs, rootlets, mosses ect., and lined with fine grasses or
black rootlets. The four eggs are dull white, usually blotched and
specked with various shades of brown.

HABITS.

Black-polls are one of the most abundant birds during migration
and are met with in woods, orchard or swamp. They seem
very slow motioned compared to the agility displayed by most of the
family, and attention is usually attracted to them by their rather faint
and jerky ‘‘zee-zee’’ slowly repeated about seven times; it is a song re-
minding one of an insect, most resembling that of the black and white
Warbler but very much slower. In the fall when the adults return, re-
enforced by their young, they are the most abundant bird that we have
and are found in flocks everywhere. Owing to their very obscure
plumage they are very hard to separate from several other species at
this season.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.
A.O U. No. 662. (Dendroica blackburniae. )
RANGE.

These Warblers breed in the higher portions of northern United
States and in southern Canada. They are konwn to nestas far south as
central Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania and a few breed in
the Alleghanies to the Carolinas. Their winter quarters are chiefly in
northern South America.

DESCRIPTION,

Length, 5.5 inches. Being the only North American warbler except
the Redstart to have any amount of orange in its plumage the male of

92

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WARBLERS.

Magnolia. Cerulean.
Chestnut-sided. Bay-breasted.
Black-poll. Black burnian.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 95:

Photo from life by L. 8. Horton.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER ON HER NEST.

94 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

this species is readily distinguished. Both the female and the young
possess the same markings but the orange is replaced by a more or

less bright yellow while all the black parts of the male are a greenish
brown.

WESTING HABITS.

Nests of these warblers are found in coniferous trees usually well
‘out towards the end of the limb and ten to thirty feet trom the ground.
‘The nests are made of grasses and rootlets lined with hair and closely
resemble those of the Chipping Sparrow. The four eggs have a blu-
ish green ground, specked, spotted and blotched with several shades of
brown and gray.

HABITS.

Without doubt this is the most exquisite of North American warblers
and is the one most eagerly sought in the spring by all bird lovers. A
more beautiful combination cannot be imagined than that of the black,
white and intense orange plumage of these birds when set off by the
green leaves and pink and white blossoms of an apple tree for they al-
ways reach here when the latter trees are in bloom. Some years they
are especially abundant and I have seen as many as two dozen in sight
at once. One of the prettiest sights that I recall is that of several of
this species in a freshly plowed field together with a few Magnolia
Warblers, several Tanagers and numerous sparrows. Their brilliant
plumage stood out like gems in the midst of the dirt.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 95

OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

Address communications to MEG MERRYTHOUGHT, 156 Waterville St.,
Waterbury, Ct.

My DEAR YOUNG FoLks:
We are all rejoicing in the swelling buds, the fresh sweet odors of
spring, and the return of the birds.

The severe cold and storms of the winter brought some unusual
visitors to some parts of the Atlantic seaboard. Flocks of Snow-
buntings—fittingly called Snowflakes—with fluffy white breasts and
cheeks with rufous trimmings, the feathers on the back of a soft chin-
chilla, and white banded wings and tail, walked over the snow, now div-
ing into a snow-bank for a choice bit, coming fearlessly so close to the
windows that the admirers within could have reached out a hand and
touched them.

They seemed very plump, and as downy as little chickens. I know
you would have wanted to cuddle them in your hands, though they
were nearly as large as robins. The markings varied greatly. Some
had bright rufous necklaces, cheeks and sides, others were entirely
without these markings.

It was a pretty sight to see the flocks containing hundreds of these
birds rising together into the air, as at a signal, then floating like
flakes of snow to the earth with soft rippling notes.

Contrary to the traditions of bird historians, they often alighted in
the tops of some nearby maple trees. They ate a water pail full of
cracked corn daily, yet were ready each morning for a fresh portion.

96 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

With the Buntings were quiet Lapland longspurs, in winter dress of
white, tipped black feathers and pure white throats. They too, had
yellow bills and black feet, with a long hind claw. They seemed to
have a single thought to eat the greatest possible amount in the short-
est possible time.

They had still other companions, also walkers, wearing a black cres-
cent upon their light breasts, and upon their heads two horn-like tufts,
now you have guessed their names—perhaps you know the Horned
Larks in their pretty pinkish grey summer suits.

More shy were the Red-poll Linnets, crimson tinged, swaying upon
snow-powdered sprays. All of these little visitors had au added charm,
because they came to us when all was so cold and bleak that nothing
seemed alive but the ever cheerful chickadees and nuthatches.

Cannot some of you tell us something of these birds as you have
met them in their summer haunts?

Cordially, your friend,
MrcG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Russell Adams. St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Huldah Chace Smith. Providence, R. I.

ANSWERS TO MARCH PUZZLES.
Enigma—Golden Crowned Kinglet.

PI
Titlark. Ouails.
Sandpipers. Blackbirds.
Snipes. Swallows.
Plovers. Meadow-larks.
Grouse. Bobolinks.
Pigeons. Oven-birds.

A CUCKOO FAMILY.

Seeing Cuckoos so many times in a lot above our house led me to
believe they nested there. One day while I was near there I saw a
Cuckoo fly into a thicket of briers and shrubs. I made up my mind to
find out where it went to. After I had looked around for quite a while,
it flew up right in front of me. I looked at the place where it flew
from and.spiedits nest. It was not so neat a nest as many other birds
build. It consisted of quite a number of twigs laid in the center of

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 97

five or six limbs branching out of a small dead tree. Inthe center of
the twigs it was lined with grasses. The hollow of the nest was about
one inch deep, just enough to keep the three blue-green eggs that were
in it from rolling out.
About three days had elapsed before I went there again. This time
I found three little black birds with a number of white feathers, and
large mouths like all young birds. Thinking they would not fly for
some time, I did not go there till a week after. I found but one bird
in the nest and it was dead, having been killed in a late storm.
ALFRED Boyp,
Waterbury, Conn.

ENIGMA NO. l.

My Ist is in cold but not in hot.

My 2nd is in shoot also in shot,

My 3d is in light but not in dark,

My 4th is in flicker but not in spark,

My 5th is in hawk but not in owl,

My 6th is in rag but not in towel,

My 7th is indumb but not in talk,

My 8th is in saunter but not in walk,

My 9th is found in the short word me,

My whole is a bird you are glad to see.
CLARENCE C. ABBOTT,

New York City, N. Y.

ENIGMA NO. 2
My 1-2-3-4 is a planet.
My 6-7-3-4-5 is severe.
My 4-2-8 is a carpenters tool.
My 1-7-3-4-6 is a swamp.
My 8-2-4-5 is to cleanse.
My 4-5-7-3-9 is a large fish.
My whole is a field bird of 9 letters.

CHARLES C. LEwIs,
Philadelphia, Penn-~

98 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

CHARACTERISTIC INITIALS.

The initials of these words are the initials of a bird described by the
words.

1. Cherries Wanted. 5. Sweet Singer.

2. Prettily Flushed. 6. Diligent Worker.

3. Summer’s Torch. 7.. Constantly Social:

4. Ever Supplanting. 8. Brilliant Wanderer.

QUERIES.

1. What birds walk head downward?

2. What birds have no crop?

3. What birds sew leaves together for a nest?

4. What birds’ nests are good for food?

5. What bird carries its young as a cat carries her kittens?

6. What birds do not raise the head to swallow?

7. What bird has three toes but no hind toe?

8. What bird has two toes but no hind toe?

9. What bird courtesies when any one passes its home?
10. What bird builds no nest?

GLEANINGS.

I, country-born an’ bred, know where to find
Some blooms that make the season suit the mind,
An’ seem to match the doubtin’ bluebirds’ notes,—
Half-vent’rin’ liverworts in furry coats,
Bloodroots, whose rolled-up leaves ef you on curl,
Each on ’em’s cradle to a baby-pearl.—

But these are jes’ Spring’s pickets; sure ez sin,
The rebel frosts ’ll try to drive ’em in.

Though I own up, I like our back’ard Springs,
That kind o’ haggle with their greens and things,
An’ when you ’most give up, without more words.
Toss the fields full 0’ blossoms, leaves an’ birds
Thet’s Northern natur’ slow and apt to doubt,

But when it does git stirred, ther’s no gin-out.

NATURE BOOKS

A Birding on a Broncho, by Florence A. Merriam, Illus...... .............. $1.25
A Bird-Lover in the West, by Olive Thorne Miller......................25. i.25
Birds of Village and Field by Florence A. Merriam, illus.... .......... oes Zee
Birds Through An Opera Glass by Florence A. Merriam.................... 75
Bedaaysipy live: Thorne Millerss... cing sxe cate wee ve Saban sary ae 1.25
Evenveaveninas py Bradtord: Votrey, [ilus. .vr..3000.52 coer oe eee el le eo 1.00
First Book of Birds by Olive Thorne Miller, illus............ ........4.... 1.00
Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York by Ralph Hoffmann,

MRE eon cl alehale ahs i x I PR se Fete ee Se ds OA 1.50 net.
Handbook of Birds of the Western United States by Florence Merriam

aN RPMI LN Se Soink feces YS EO ES Lac fand reek ed Bian Red Ua ae eee 3.50 net.
Panestnamune by Olive: LhormesMillerés.. i... ce. Cos. fos. deh wv aciom nar 1.25
Land Birds and Game Birds of New England by Henry D. Minot, Illus...... 3.50
Little Brothers of the Air by Olive Thorne Miller...................2.6 00. 1.25
Second Book of Birds by Olive Thorne Miller, illus............ .......... 1.00 net.
True Bird Stories from My Note-Books by Olive Thorne Miller, illus...... 1.00 net.
Upomimemree Tops by Olive ThorneMiller..... ic... .n 2. eee ide dese es 1.25
With the Birds in Maine by Olive Thorne Miller.:-..2... 0... 2... 0... ces. 0s 1.10 net.
Moedpeckers by Fannie Hardy.Eckstorm, illus... s0.8 02.60 0.06. osu 1.00

Bird Neighbors, by Neltje Blanchan.
Has 52 colored plates, and describes 150 of
our song birds and other more common
feathered neighbors. With the aid of
these life-like plates there can be not the
least doubt as to the idenfication of a
bird. It is a sufficient commentary on the
volume that there have been nearly 20,000
copies sold since it appeared. Postpaid,$2
Given as a premium for six subscribers.

Bird Life, Popular edition in colors.
12 mo. cloth: $2.00 postpaid. A Guide to
the Study of our Common Birds by F. M.
Chapman, representing 100 Birds in their
natural colors.

Given as a premium for four subscribers.

Birdcraft, A Field Book of Two Hund-
red Song, Game and Water Birds. By
Mabel Osgood Wright. With Eighty
Plates by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Small
4to $2.50 net. Postage toc.

Given as a premium for six subscribers.

Bird World, by J. H. Stickney and
Ralph Hoffman. A charming bird book
for young people. With ten full-page
illustrations by Ernest Thompson-Seton,

Square 12 mo. Cloth. 214 pages. 75¢

Given as a premium for three subscribers.

The Moth Book, by W. J. Holland.
Fully illustrated by color photography.
The illustrations of the moths are natural
size and the coloring is perfect. With
this book it is easy to identify any moth
ata glance. It is by far the best work on
moths ever published. $4 prepaid.

Given as a premium for {0 new subscribers.

Bird Homes, by A.R. Dugmore. With
the nests and eggs of birds in natural col-
ors, also a number of half-tone illustra-

tions. Postpaid $2.00.
Given as a premium for six new subscribers.

The Butterfly Book, by W. J. Holland
D. D. has, besides hundreds of text illus-
trations, Colored Plates which show over
a Thousand Species of American Butter-
flies with all their native beauty and_bril-
liance of coloring. This is a ‘‘Popular
Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies
of North America.”’ It tells everything
about butterflies, and tells itin a way any-
body can understand. Every one interes-
ed in Butterflies should own this book.
Price is only $3.00 prepaid.
Given asa premium for 10 subscribers.

Any of the above books will be sent prepaid on
receipt of price.

CHAS. K. REED, WORCESTER, MASS.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, II, Il] and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, Ill, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.
COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——

VOL. V MAY , 1905. NO. 5

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. The new Screen Focus Kodak, advertised in this num-
ber, will overcome the chief objections to a film camera, and these campact in-
struments may now be used by the bird photographer. Anyone may send in as
many photos as they wish, and the awards will be made upon the clearness and
beauty of the picture, with due regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining.
As in our last contest the pictures will be grouped in three classes. All desirable
photos, which do not win prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.
CLASSI. Live, wild birds.

ist prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No. 3A.......List, $20 00

ONG prize, pair Hield GLASSES. 2. .-..5.4a5. eee List, 5-00

3rd prize, Color Key to North Am, Birds...... List, 2 50
CLASS II. Young birds.

USE DTAZE* CALs VAStORGONUEN Ga ase cee eee List, $20 00

ond prize, Pair Mietd: Glasses --..362 2 a0 eee List, 5 00

SQ TiZe, COLTER Ci na cramer. olin eaaec eer eee List, 2 50
CLASS III, Birds’ Nests.

Ist prize, Pair Field Glasses List, § 5 00

2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eggs List, 2 50

The editor would like information as to the places on the South Atlantic
Coast where the following birds can, to your own knowledge, be found breeding
(in colonies preferred) and directions for reaching the same and the best time
in which to find both eggs and young. Laughing Gull, Gull-billed, Royal or
Least Terns. Skimmers, Anhingas, Cormorants, Pelicans, Herons, Oyster-
catchers. Any information that you can give concerning the above will be duly
appreciated.

OUR BIRDS WILL YET RETURN.

Hattie Washburn, Goodwin, 8. D.
Why moan the winds so sadly
Amid the naked trees?
Why rush the leaves so madly
Before the chilly breeze?

Why are the skies so dreary
In somber robes of gray,

And flowers with life grown weary
Have sadly passed away.

Why are the birds all winging
Their weary southward flight?

No more we hear them singing
Their songs of pure delight.

The stern Frost King is sailing
Across his frozen sea

And Nature sad is wailing
To see her minstrels flee.

But the sun follows the rain,
Each night a day shall know,

There’s a balm for ev’ry pain,
An end to ev’ry woe.

So the Spring will shine once more,
Our hearts will cease to yearn,
With songs joyous as before
Our birds will yet return.

100 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

COSTA HUMMINGBIRD IN THE VICINITY OF SANTA MONICA,
CAL:

W. LEE CHAMBERS.

This beautiful little hummer was named by M. Bourcier in honor of
Mlle Marquis Costa de Beauregard and is one of the three hummers
which nest in this vicinity, and is the rarest of the three, the other two
being Anna and Black-chinned. It arrives in Southern California
about the first of April after spending its winters in Lower California
and Western Mexico.

NEST AND EGGS OE COSTA HUMMINGBIRD.

5

The above cut is from ‘‘North American Birds Eggs.’ In making up, two
plates in some way became shifted so that this nest is erroneously ascribed as the
Allen Hummer, Mr. Chambers kindly called my attention to the fact.] ED.

The breeding season of Calypte Coste extends from about the
middle of May to the first week of July, and so far as I have found the
birds invariably choose as a nesting ground some barren dry wash far
from water or else a barren hillside. They seem to be quite sociable
and like to build their homes somewhere in the vicinity of their friends,
for I have found as many as eight nests within a hundred yards of each
other along one dry wash and going a few hundred yards farther up the
wash would find none. I have also noticed this among the eucalyptus
groves, they seem to colonize. In some particular grove where
one will find a dozen pair, maybe the following year they will
desert this grove and select another. As far as I have investigated I
can find no reason why this hummer should go so far from water to
rear its young. I will not put this down as always the case for once in
a while a nest will be found in some rocky canyon over a stream of
running water.

Nests of Costa Hummingbird are typical and when one has been
described you practically have finished as far as the composition of the

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 101

nest is concerned. They are composed of vegetable down, small
strips of dull colored bark, small leaves, seed pods, dull gray lichens
and tiny downy feathers held together by spider web. I have yet to
see my first nest of this species which has any decorations, although
most of the hummers do. _ I do find however, that quite often the nest
will contain one or two small soft feathers as a lining and I have one
set in my collection where the feathers are so plentiful that the eggs
are scarcely visable in their downy bed.

For a nesting site, the birds of course adapt themselves to surround-
ings. If it is a narrow dry wash, one will generally find the nest on a
bush or small tree overhanging the bed of the wash, but sometimes,
you may find it on a sage bush on the rocky side of the wash, on some
small cliff or clearing. Very often the bird will choose a cactus plant
or a seed pod of the Yucca should any happen to be in the vicinity.
Should you find a colony in a eucalyptus or gum, as we commonly call
them, look about waist high among the dead leaves of the lower
branches and you will locate it nine times out of ten.

About the first of October we find our pretty little summer visitor
has departed for his winter home and we will see no more of him until
the winter is gone and spring is once more with us.

A STRANGE VISITOR.
By Harry H. Dunn.

Ordinarily the bush-tit is one of the shyest of all of California’s birds
except when met with in its breeding resorts in the oak groves of
the hills, but I had an experience with a pair of these interesting little
fellows some months ago which is quite different from anything which
I had heard of them before and which I believe, illustrates a new trait
in their character.

At the home of my father-in-law, in the heart of a populous resi-
dence section of Los Angeles—a city, by the way, of more than
150,000 souls—there is an old garden, covering a space equal to two
average city lots and grown up to stately palms, ivy-screened pines
and rose trees of varying ages. Here always is bud and blossom and
all things green; and here, too, as might be imagined, come many of
the city dwellers among the birds. The linnets, miserable yet amus-
ing pests that they are, are always here, nesting in every available
corner of tree and house cornice. The English sparrows have not
come yet, but when they do I look for trouble for the house finches in
short order. Some strange power has held the dreaded sparrows north
of the Tehachepi mountains on this coast, but they are in San Francis-

102 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

co in myriads, and should the migrating spirit lay hold upon the hordes
of the northern city, there is no preventing them from overrunning
“our Italy’’ as well.

The grackles, great, bronzed, saucy fellows, called Brewer’s black-
birps out here by way of courtesy, fill this yard with their chatter
throughout the winter, and an occasional redwing, bound to the seaside
marshes of the southern end of the state, flutes his silvery note from
the top of a tall walnut. But all these and many more, such as the
goldfinches and humming birds, are more or less acquainted with and
accustomed to the sight and presence of people moving about their
nesting places, so my curiosity was aroused when, one day last sum-
mer, my wife called me into the garden to see the nest of a ‘‘new bird.’”

Sure enough, there in the heart of a rosebush some twelve feet in
height was the swinging home of a bush-tit, while from a nearby
oleander came the contented ‘‘twit, twit,’’ of its owner as she diligent-
ly searched the gray trunk for that pest of the California rancher—
black scale. The nest seemed fully complete, and presently another
bird joined the one in the flowering tree, seemingly as intent on its
work as though we had been out of sight and out of mind. Investiga-
tion with one long fore-finger showed that no eggs had been laid,
though the pair came as anxiously about the little home when we ap-
proached it as if there had been a nestful of pearly eggs in its downy
bottom. How long they had been occupied in making this home, no-
body about the place seemed to know; in fact no one noticed them un-
til we came, though children played through the old yard almost every
hour of the day, and some one or more of the family usually spent
some time in pruning and training the various plants. On account of
this the birds must have been very quiet, doing most of their work in
silence—a condition of affairs quite contrary to their own habits when
among the oak groves where they are very noisy. This will seem to
show, then, that they had adapted themselves to the circumstances
which they found round about—but, first of all, I would like to know
what brought the little gray coats to the city in the beginning. There
were no heavy winds which might have blown them in off the hills, in
fact no storms of any kind, so it may well have been merely curiosity
that set them down in what doubtless seemed to them very like some
of the wildwood thickets they had known in previous nesting seasons.

Unfortunately, I was permitted to see the end of this charming little
domestic drama, for some miscreant of a boy took nest and limb away
with him one night, and the birds deserted the old garden for all time.
They had laid no eggs, for which I was glad because the boy would
find none when he opened the home he so ruthlessly destroyed. This
is the only time I have ever heard of this bird leaving the borders of
the woodland, and if there is any one who has known of such an in-
stance I should be very glad to hear from them concerning it.

103

Photo by A. R. Spaid,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NEST AND EGGS OF KILLDEER.

104 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

WINTER BIRDS SEEN FROM A WINDOW.

{t may be of interest to readers of American Ornithology, especially
to beginners in bird lore, to learn that many of our common winter
birds, perhaps most of them, can be seen in one’s dooryard or from
one’s window, if only a little pains be taken to allure them. A _ back
door, where a few crumbs, cracked nuts, or a little grain can be
scattered, is a good place for this purpose, and one which lies within
reach of almost every one. A piazza roof, or that of a bay window is
a still better place.

The birds about to be described, numbering eleven were, with a
single exception, seen by the writer, from one window, in the village
of Brooklyn, Connecticut, between the dates of December first 1903
and January tenth, 1904. The one exception was the Pine Grosbeak.
On January ninth a flock of these birds appeared in a larch tree on our
lawn. They seemed to be feasting on the tender buds formed for next
summer’s foliage. In this flock of from twenty to thirty birds, I noted
only one or two adult males, these having carmine-red on head, rump
and breast, while the females and young males were clad in sober
livery of ashy-gray, tinged with greenish-yellow or reddish-brown on
those parts.

The window from which the other birds were seen opens upon a
bay-window roof. A pear tree stands near by, some of whose branches
come almost in contact with this roof. The first winter bird which I
saw here, was the Golden-crowned Kinglet, which came into this tree
one morning early in December. My attention was at first called to it
by its low, sharp, piping note, which it constantly uttered as it darted
about from limb to limb, sometimes head downward after the manner
of the Chickadee, thus frequently exposing the golden feathers of its
crown. The next visitor was a Brown Creeper. So nearly the color
of the tree was he, that, had he not been in motion, he might have
remained unnoticed. his greyish-brown coat, varied with white, dark
brown and dusky, closely resembling the bark of the tree with its
crevices. Not infrequently Downy Woodpeckers, in their unchange-
able dress of black and white, visit this tree, the bright red spot on the
heads of the males distinguishing them from the females. These birds
are sometimes enticed to take a meal from a piece of meat fastened to
a tree, those previously mentioned having foraged for themselves,
seeming neither to expect nor need the human assistance, which many
other birds so gladly accept. The Chickadees, with their black
crowns, white cheeks and ash-colored backs; the White-breasted Nut-
hatches, with upper part of head and neck black, glossed with blue;
and the slate-colored Junco or Snowbird, whose under parts are white,

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 105

are too well known in this section to need detailed description as to
their markings. The tiny Chickadee is such a bold, courageous little
creature, that he never seems to fear any larger birds, neither will he be
driven away to any distance by them. He is however so unobtrusive,
that I have often seen him, when not allowed to approach the dish
where another bird was feasting, retire a very short distance away, or
perhaps hang upon the window blind, and there patiently wait until the
place was vacated. This vacancy he would instantly fill, and as quickly
vacate again, after having secured his “nut in the half shell’
which he firmly held with his tiny claws, resting it upon the branch of
a tree, while he eagerly devoured its contents. Then he would
suddenly drop the empty shell and repeat the process. I have noticed
that the Blue Jay adopts this same method of holding his food between
his feet while eating. Although very shy at first, this handsome bird
is now a regular visitor, and his appetite seems insatiable. The
Tree Sparrows are such well-disposed, tastefully attired little birds,
that they deserve special mention. Their distinguishing mark is the
obscure, blackish dot in the center of the breast, which one writer has
appropriately called the bird’s breast-pin. Now a word in favor of the
much abused English Sparrow, I once shared the almost universal
prejudice against him, but a‘ter having witnessed his humility, and his
courtesy toward the Tree Sparrow, which he brings as an occasional
guest I am in a great measure disposessed ofthat prejudice. This bird
is not responsible for his foreign nationality, neither did he seek trans-
portation to this country. An involuntary immigrant, why should he
be denied a living? The allegation that he drives away other birds is
contrary to my observation. I have seen fifteen or twenty of these
sparrows sitting patiently upon the limb of a tree, awaiting their turn
for food, while Snowbirds and others were enjoying their repast. If
one or two of these sparrows a little bolder than the rest, ventured to
approach, upon being turned upon by the other birds and thus warned
that they were intruders, they would immediately and humbly retire to
their former positions, as if conscious that they were rightful owners
neither of the soil nor its products. Only one more bird remains to be
mentioned, the Song Sparrow. Although not strictly a winter bird,
one of these little songsters appeared on my roof a few days ago, in
company with the Snowbirds. The sight of this little friend, on that
cold, wintry morning, filled me with a longing to hear his beautiful
song, which with us is considered a never failing harbinger of Spring.

I feel confident that if those who take the slightest interest in the
study of birds, were to try the simple allurements I have mentioned,
an increased interest would be the result, and a great amount of

106 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

pleasure would be derived, with the expenditure of only a little trouble.

(After the above was written, a tragedy occured under my window.
A Northern Shrike or Butcher bird killed a dear little Chickadee,
impaled it upon a shrub, then proceeded to devour it, beginning with
its head. Upon being shot at, it flew away, returning soon to continue
it gruesome meal. Frightened away again by another shof, it returned
a second time, seized its victim and bore it off where pursuit through
the deep drifted snow was impossible. This adds one more to the
number of birds seen from my window, twelve in all.)

C. H. PAIMER

OUR SUMMER BIRDS.

The past summer was made very pleasant and interesting by the
large number of birds singing and nesting about our home.

One pair of Robins built their nest on the front porch and became so
tame as to eat bread from my hand, but resented any attempt to handle
the young ones.

One day we noticed a pair of Yellow Warblers swinging on the bell
rope, picking the fluffy ends and carrying it to the upright honeysuckle
just a few feet from the kitchen door, so taking a piece of cheese cloth
for they will use white material only in the construction of their dainty
cradles, we tossed the ravellings about on the shrubs, the birds taking
it almost as fast as given, they seemed in such haste, but the next day
they tore the nest apart, and upon investigating we found the egg of
the Cowbird in the little matted cup remaining.

Our old tenants, the Barn Swallows with their merry chatter and
eraceful flight are a constant pleasure.

Bobolinks were unusually numerous and as the hay fields extended
right up to the lawn, we had their delightful melody all about us, the
notes dropping in a silvery shower as the birds flew from field to field,
reminding us of Lowell’s bobolink whose song, “‘Runs down a brook
of laughter in the air.’’

Our Maryland Yellow-throat built his odd nest in a tangle of black
berry vines near the barn well and the Indigo Bird a nest in bushes
near by.

Seeing the Baltimore Orioles carrying material to the tallest apple
tree on the west lawn, we hung a quantity of bright colored strings on
the clothes line and surely no baby orioles were ever reared in a more
gorgeous home than this.

The King Bird made his home in the Pound Sweet tree, and came

107

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

LThis picture shows acharacterfst

YOUNG KINGFISHERS,
[Winner of 2nd Prize in Photo Contest. |

ic habit of these interesti ng and amusing birds;

Photo by J. M. Shreck.

that of heading in one direction, lined

up liké soldiers on parade. Their minds seem to work alike for they usually move in unision, march ing either forward
or backward in close file and perfect step.].

108 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

daily to the row of bee hives for his dinner, but perhaps it was only make
believe, and he didn’t like them after all. I think this tyrant calls
“King” plainly as he flies. ;

The little Grasshopper Sparrow under and the Chippy among the
branches of a spruce made a lively corner very early in the morning
and my sleepiest time.

Late in the afternoon the Brown Thrasher would give us a splendid
concert from the topmost branch of the old apple tree on the front
lawn and continued singing almost to mid-summer which I think is
unusual.

The lovely Cedar Waxwing came to the croquet arches (wound about
with white cotton) for material and moved it into the nest found in the
pippin tree later.

The Field Sparrow comes singing up the orchard a wild sweet song,
that recalls to your mind the cool depths of the green forest, at this
hot noon hour, when he loves to sing his best.

While lying quietly reading in the hammock stretched between two
cherry trees and over-arched by an elm, I aroused the curiosity of our
Catbird who come peeping and scolding and making a great demon-
stration among the branches and at last came down on the foot of the
hammock intent on seeing just what I was doing, then satisfied, moved
off and gave me one of his incomparable ““performances”’

One morning while busy in the garden I was very much startled by
the loud rapidly uttered notes of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, who had
came in his silent way, into the grape trellis almost over my head.

The Mourning Dove, the Vesper and Song Sparrows, Orchard Oriole
and the Bluebird have their home in a group of old Johnny Appleseed
trees standing in a wild tangle of briars and locust; indeed most of our
common birds find their way to this spot, the notes of the Cardinal
Grosbeak, the Pewee, the Yellow-throated Vireo, Woodpeckers and
even the Yellow-breasted Chat, can be heard here during the summer.

The clear echoing notes of the Veery come floating up from the
woods, in the long twilight hours and with the Vesper’s hymn near by
close the delightful summer days.

Of all our birds we could least afford to miss the sweet notes of the
Meadowlark, and the cheery whistle of the Quail, the birds we loved
long before our trees and shrubs grew up to shelter the host that
followed, and how little did we dream when planting them, of the won-
derful fruit they would bear in the years to come.

ANNA LEUTTMER,
“The Sandbank Farm,” Mansfield, Ohio.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 109

A SONG AT EVENTIDE.

It was on the eve of May 4th. I was sitting near a small stream
alone with Nature. I had sat there an hour watching the outdoor
world go to sleep. As the sun neared the western horizon, the birds
had dropped out of their choir one by one. <A pair of chats that were
so boisterous a moment ago had now sought out their retreats for the
night; a cardinal, from the top of stately sycamore had whistled his
last ‘what cheer;’’ an indigo bunting mounted laboriously into the air
chanting his little ditty and then dropped abruptly into the thicket, even
the dickcissel that is ever ready to display his dry parched voice, did
not offer to break the stillness which now reigned supreme. Once a
rabbitt, made bold by the silence, ventured from cover. Spying me
he sat up and regarded me long and silently with his great bulging
eyes; seemingly satisfied he dropped on all fours, nibbled mincingly at
the tender grass, then, without any apparent reason, darted into the
under-brush.

The pink and yellow glow of the western sky was fast dying out.
The air—it seemed as though there was none—it was so still.

Just then a voice broke the silence; low and clear—inexpressible in
its sweetuess—inimitable in its simplicity. It seemed as if Nature
murmured in her sleep. As it had begun, the little song ceased sud-
denly in a confused jumble of notes. As I glanced around the singer,
a Harris sparrow, flitted from it’s perch, the topmost bough of a brush-

heap, and disappeared in the gloaming.
: EDGAR BOYER.

110 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by Isaac E. Hess.
MOTHER ROBINS CARES.

You can see from her thoughtful pose that she has just been conversing with
them. You can readily ascertain trom the size of the photo, that I was quite near
when I pressed the bulb, near enough in tact to hear (2?) her recital of her hard
mornings work. Seriously, I don’t think she was complaining, merely the
natural result of a work-weary matron who could not help noticing that the mas-
ter of the household was shirking his share of the task. Happily I was well hid-
den behind a box and was able to catch (by shorthand) a few of her sentences.(?)

You have Mrs. Robin’s and my permission to reproduce the picture and im-
mortalize her words in your excellent Bird Magazine. I. eae

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 111

Si.

We 7
Os Sawa e

oe MOTHER ROBIN'S ae er

es cfe esate) iba abate Bec sanias

Oh dear! dear! my children,
Are you hungry still?

I’ve been earnestly hoping
You’d gotten your fill.

I declare I’ve been working
Since just after dawn

And have made a full hundred
Long trips to the lawn.

Each time I have brought you
A long fat earth-worm; g
You’ve no idea the trouble é
I’ve hearing them squirm.

I must listen so closely
My ear to the ground,

To catch (while they’re working)
The least little sound.

I cannot just fly there
And find them at will;

I must pull each one out of
The sod with my bill.

I’ve cleaned all the spiders
And bugs from the vine;

The small ones, I brought you—
The large ones were mine.

Your too small for cherries,
And now I’m perplexed

My babies, to know what
To get for you next.

(oe

112 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

MEMORIES.

I became vaguely aware of a breeze fanning my face—a breeze fra-
grant with a perfume indescribably sweet. Awakening with a start, I
glanced through the open window to see the apple trees laden with
their delicately pink-tinted blossoms. I was out under the trees in a
moment, literally drinking in the fresh scented air. And there were
others too who enjoyed the society of the apple blossoms, for busily
moving about among them were numerous little golden yellow sprites,
veritable little sunbeams, who in very ecstacy, exclaimed “sweet,
sweet, sweet, aint they sweet!’’ and I agreed heartily. These little
birds were the Yellow Warblers fresh from long sojourn in the South,
each little individual bringing with him a portion of that far away
land’s sunshine. Small though they were they scattered it generously
everywhere, and the supply seemed in no danger of becoming exhaust-
ed. And so it was all the balmy days of spring. Wherever we went
we found them, busy as ever, and ever singing their little song,
“Sweet, sweet, sweet, oh so sweet!”’

x * = x *

It was late in the afternoon, I walked down the hill road stopping at
the bridge. Surrounding it were weeds, bushes, and shrubbery, a regu-
lar haven for birds. And birds there were, galore. Thrashers, Cardi-
nals, Chats, Phoebes, Yellowthroats, Dickcissels, Catbirds, Vireos and
Indigoes were all to be found there. I could not see the singer, but
ever and anon, I| heard a familiar little song. ‘Sweet, sweet, sweet,
oh so sweet.’’ Near me was a clump of densely leaved dogwoods.

Suddenly a Blue-jay dropped apparently from the clouds, and disap-
peared hastily within them. Instantly there was acommotion. There
issued from the clump numerous short sharp commanding ‘“‘Tsips,’’
and now and then | caught a glimpse of yellow, and I knew the Jay was
tresspassing on forbidden ground for that clump of dogwoods sheltered
the nest of the Yellow Warblers. And they didn’t trust him. No bird
ever does. He is branded a murderer in all birddom and where ever
he goes he is met with angry potests. And he has earned his reputa-
tion, for though in the autumn and spring he is the handsomest, bold-
est, loudest bird we have. When the nesting season comes around, he
assumes a hangdog sneaking air, rarely appearing in the open when he
can keep under cover, and never uttering a sound. He is the sneak
thief and scoundrel of the bird world, ever ready to strike when his
victim’s back is turned, but never caring to meet him face to face.

And such was the visitor our tiny Warblers had. Probably he had
no idea he was trespassiug when he entered the clump, but the War-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 113

blers soon made the fact evident, and he left, swiftly, silently as he
had come. And with his departure came relief to the Warblers, and to
me. The sunhad set. It was becoming dusky. The many sounds
and voices of the day were becoming fewer and more subdued—the
world was going to sleep. From over the hills came the low, far-away
but distinct ““Hoo-o, hoo, hoo,”’ of the great horned owl. Our day was
done, we must retire and make room for him. Next day I visited the
clump of dogwoods. As I entered I glanced up and there, just above
my head as I had known it would be, was the little woolly nest, fasten-
ed firmly inacrotch. Drawing myself up, I could look down into the
little home. Inside were five little eggs, white, speckled with brown.
s * x * *

Glancing down across the bleak fields into the valley, I saw, skim-
ming along just above the little stream, following its every crook and
turn, a flock of wild ducks. Suddenly, as if by one accord they all
dropped down between the banks of the stream. Hastily but cautious-
ly going down the hill road, I reached the bridge, and crept in under a
clump of leafless dogwoods. The ducks, a band of five Greenwing
Teal, came on down passing me and going out of sight around a bend
below. As they moved along they probed in the mud with their bills,
or strained the cold water through them as only a duck can. They
passed within a few feet of me and never suspected my presence.
After they had gone, I rose from my cramped position, and as I did so,
spied just above my head a little wooly, weather-beaten nest. Drawing
myself up I glanced in. It was empty, save for a single tiny faded
yellow feather. Carefully I cut away the bough that supported it and
brought it home. And sitting with it before me, I dream of the time
when the joyous little cries, “Sweet, sweet, sweet, oh how sweet.”
coming through my open window on the perfumed air of an early May
morning, shall once again waken me to the world and to the joy of
living.

EDGAR BOYER.

114 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

\

PAINTED BUNTING OR NONPARIEL,

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 115

A BIRD TRAGEDY,

Spring time in the country! Why those poets of the old Smoky-city
class-room were not so flightily unreal after all. Spring is a wondr-
ous, glorious panorama; and we who—many years ago—more than
half believed in the wonderful Genius of Aladdin’s Lamp; stand to-day
in awe before the wondrous transformations wrought by an unseen
hand. Yon trees but yesterday bleak, black, leafless—laugh now in
leaves of tenderest green or in blossoms pink or white: the air is
redolent of blossom and vocal with the song of birds.

Previous to this my first experience of Spring time in the country,
bird-life was quite unknown to me. I admit, too, a feeling somewhat
of irritation at the frequent allusions to birds made by poets, prose-
writers, spring-enthusiasts etc. But, as so frequently happens that
which one condemns in another comes sooner or later to dominate
over him—and I found myself to-day fairly fascinated by the birds.
Bird Magazines, Ornithological treatises, Audubon and even bird-poets
are eagerly sought and now, for the first time, understood.

Shelley’s “Sky Lark’’ unfolded a whole world of meaning as I read
it whilst listening to the vesper strain of the little Song Sparrow. I
too echoed:

“Teach me half the gladness
That thy heart must know,

Such harmonious madness
From my lips would flow

That the world would listen then as I am listening now.”’

O the birds!—they fill my field vision now—happy, amorous, all-
natural little life-merchanisms, yet, containing in themselves and
enacting before the eyes of the patient observer, all the passionate
loves and hates of the old human drama.

The other day I watched a duel unto death between two Chipping
Sparrows. For some time the issue seemed doubtful and either might
have sought safety in flight; but the Spartan-mother war cry—Return
with your shield or upon it—was evidently the spirit actuating the
combatants.

A dexterous peck at the eye gave advantage to the stronger; the
injured bird fell to the ground: the ensuing scene was simply murder.
O the joy of triumph—satiated revenge! Why—the spirit of Marius
seemed palpitating in that little hate-embodiment as he pecked and
pecked and chirped and pecked and dragged his victim and shook him
and even chirped and pecked and pecked long after life had, appar-
ently, departed from the poor tortured little form.

116 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Another bird which from a neighboring tree had evidently watched
the fight now fluttered down to the scene. He or she—more probably
the latter—perched on a stone near by and intently watched the
struggle whether with looks expressive of admiration for victor or of
secret lament over victim I could not tell. Perhaps my own feelings
protruding themselves through my field-glass perceived in her the
latter; certain itis she did not join the triumph song—but just as

certain it is that she flew away under the voluble protection of her

triumphant Lord and Master.

And there lay the dead chippy, his chestnut head dyed crimson now,
and his poor bleeding eyes closed forever; and there—right before my
eyes, on this glorious Spring day—had been enacting just another
expression of that tragedy old as the world.

A very demure robin has her nest in a locust tree near my window.
She is evidently a staid old matron secure in a nest that proved faithful
last year and kindly tolerant of all the chatter and fuss of the inexperi-
enced young nest-builders about her.

The Red-headed Woodpecker may be seen flashing in crimson and
white amid the foliage and performing acrobatic feats apparently for
the amusement of his admiring mate.

The Baltimore Oriole known colloquially as the Fire Bird or Golden
Robin; has made his appearance; he is in richest color-glory just now
a most beautiful Oriole alights upon a nearby tree upon which hangs a
last year’s Oriole nest. Perhaps he grows reminiscent for his pure
whistling melody modulates into full pathetic cadences as he suddenly
flies away.

Another bird not often seen though frequently heard is the Turtle
Dove; its plaintive “‘Coo, coo”’ or its more prolonged call ““Achg coo,
coo, coo”’ breaks sadly upon the country stillness. Its note is that of
warning nay of rebuke to the chattering, quarrelling, carolling,
rollicking young Warblers around it. Yet if—Cassandra-like—it tells
of storms, and cats, and bad boys, and grape-shot, and telegraph wires,
and all the thousand natural ills that bird-flesh is heir to, it is—also
Cassandra-like-heard but not heeded. The morning concert wakens
hopeful as ever, nature-demands have as joyous fulfilment, and no

to-morrow shadows darken the happy to-day of our wise little brothers
in Bird-land.

SISTER M, FIDEs.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 117

A GOOD MEAL,

Who does not love that large majestic bird, who haunts our inland
lakes, the Herring Gull? He comes to us in the spring, as the ice
begins to break up and spends whole days with many of his compan-
ions enjoying a free ride on the floating ice cakes. He not only enjoys
it, but very unselfishly he tells all of us how very pleasant itis. Ihave
watched these Gulls, sometimes as many as 40 or 50, through the
cpera glass and felt well repaid. I have also watched them, as they
soared aloft and passed with graceful flight over the lake, showing to
good advaatage, their beautiful wings tipped with black.

I love tne lake shore walk especially in the early spring. It is on
this walk, I receive some of my greatest discouragements in trying to
identify the ducks and it is here that I see some most interesting
sights.

On the 21st of March the ice in the lake had not broken up, only
near the shore, but there was sufficient open water to entice the ducks
and gulls. At least it had enticed one gull, for there he stood on the
edge of the ice not more than 40 feet away. What a beauty he was as
he stood there in his rich, pearly mantle and how gracefully he carried
himself! Quite an aristocrat! He was so near me that without opera
glass, I could easily observe him ‘to my heart’s content, for he was
interested in the one thing he was doing. He was having a most
sumptuous feast with no one near with whom to share it unless
perhaps with his spectator. He had got from the lake a small fish
which looked like a horned pout. His manner of eating a morsel of
fish reminded me somewhat of a robin’s manner of eating an earth
worm. He gave the fish a good many hard shakings then ate some of
it, he put his foot on it and pulled to get a good, big bite, then walked
very proudly about it, watching lest it should disappear. He continued
this for some time and when he had finished, there was not much left
of the fish.

I was just as willing, if not a little more so, that the gull should
have this fish as that some sportsman, later on, should add him to his
string. I was also grateful to the gull for choosing a place to fish on
this side ot the lake instead of the other.

ELSIE SPACE JACKSON,

118 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

SOME STRANGE BIRD NOTES,
A MYSTERY.
By EpwAarpD HOWE FORBUSH.

The second week in June 1903, while living in a cabin on the banks
of the Musketaquid, I heard one morning a succession of strange notes
coming from a tree in the woods immediately behind the cabin. The
bird that uttered them was concealed by the foliage; but after the per-
formance was finished a Black-billed Cuckoo peered out from among
the leaves and gave a few rattling call-notes. I was unable to find, in
in the vicinity, any other bird to which the notes could possibly be at-
tributed; therefore I set down the Cuckoo as the possible author of the
sounds and determined to investigate the matter further at the first
opportunity.

On June 27th I heard the same notes again coming, this time from
the pines on the top of the hills behind the cabin. By creeping care-
fully along I succeeded in getting directly beneath the tree on which
the strange performer sat. There were, in the tall pines on the hill-
top, three Crows, one of which could be plainly seen as he engaged in
this vocal performance. From my notes made at the time I take the
following ‘extract: “‘The Crow says, Kep! kep! kep! woo! woo! and
many other original things, some harsh, some very pleasing; but many
of them are much more like the hooting of an owl or the cooing of a
dove than the notes of a Crow.”’

This Crow remained about the hill all summer and frequently in-
dulged in the most varied and peculiar music. Some ot it had a singu-
lar melody.

One day in the fall, while concealed near the river bank, I heard a
noise much like the whining of a young puppy. A little later three
Crows that had been hidden by underbrush on the shore, rose into the
alders and I saw one of them open its beak as the melodious whining
sound again fell on the ear. They soon saw me and flew off to the
meadow whence I presently heard the sound again.

Through the summer of 1904, I listened in vain for the crow-song,
hearing a faint attempt at it occasionally, but no such varied outpour-
ing as in the previous year. Crows were not so common as usual this
season, owing perhaps, to the hard winter of 1903-1904 which killed
many of them. Possibly the cooing Crow of 1904 was a young bird
that had taken a few lessons from the star performer of the year before.

These notes regarding the strange crow music have been mentioned
not so much because of their unusual nature (for Crows have fine vocal
organs which are capable of producing varied and musical tones) but
because of some closely related sounds which were heard later from a

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 119

bird probably beionging to a different order. I take the following from
my note book. It was written on September 24, 1904.

Last Sunday night as I paddled by some maple and willows on the
meadow shore, a voice came from among them, giving plainly the
“wakeup” of the Flicker but in a softer and more pleasing tone and
ended in a series of flute-like calls. I wondered what could be respon-
sible for these.

To-night as I opened the cabin door, similar notes came from the

margin of the river near by.
Then there ensued a most unique musical performance. Itis impossible
to render much of it in words except the wakeup or wickeup. There
ways in it something of the same quality that was heard last year in the
tones of the gifted Crow. While seeking to identify the notes, the only
other birds that were suggested to my mind were the Screech Owl, the
Whippoorwill, the Bobwhite and the Sora Rail. I never have heard
any other bird than these and the Crow give similar sounds and I never
before have heard any bird produce them all.

The bird, if it was a bird, was evidently in the pickerel weed which
grew in the water and its voice moved along the shore from place to
place. I heard, in the still night the splash and gurgle of the water as
if the creature were wading and sometimes swimming. It moved along
some four or five rods during the five or six minutes it continued the
first serenade. I was able, by whistling, to imitate closely much of its
melody, but cannot remember and repeat it, for it was long, wild and
varied.

I fancied at first that a young Whippoorwill just learning to sihg
might compass some such sounds as the beginning of the melody, but
it soon transcended all Whippoorwill music in sweetness and variety,
though not in volume. Then came some tones in imitation of the
Screech Owl’s note: not the ordinary tremulous whine but the rarer
sliding tones that run up the scale, like a siren whistle.

When I had begun to think the bird might be an Owl, it struck into
a whistling imitation of the whine of a puppy, much like that given by
the Crow, but far sweeter.

That non-plussed me. There were given later, however, many
notes that seemed to have the quality of those of the Sora Rail. It
was as if the bird had been startled into song by my opening the door;
for it was plainly complaining at first, though in the most dulcet and
millifluous tones imaginable.’’

At last, after perhaps ten minutes of this most delightful perfor-
mance, it stopped short.

It was a glorious night, clear and still. Not a ripple marred the

120 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

surface of the river in which the great fair moon, well risen, was now
reflected from the depths. In the moonlight I tried in vain to find or
see the creature that was stirring the gurgling water.

Soon its wild sweet music poured forth again. I quote from the
note-book. “I am able to translate some of it into English, Bobwhite,
Bobwhite, it says; but it belies itself, for no Bobwhite would be
whistling there at this hour, ‘Wickiup, wickiup;’”’ but probably this
bird has never seen an Indian wickiup or wigwam. ‘Whew! whew!
(Well, the night is growing cold). Andso it goes, but as I take a
boat to find the bird, the music ceases and I listen in vain.

A Night Heron croaks harshly: A Snipe flies wheezing duwn the
meadow anda Great Horned Owl hoots from the swamp. These honest
creatures are unmusical but intelligible: not so my invisible serenader.

Again the strange notes burst forth. The voice seems to have the
quality of ventriloquism. Now close at hand; now up the shore; now
down; now far in air. Now comes the sound of the rushing wings of a
bird in flight high over the stream, but probably they are those of some
night-bird flying by.”’

The serenade was continued with intermissions for about two hours.
I heard it last after eleven o’clock; but briefly and rather petulantly and
lessvaried than before as if the bird were sleepy, and ready to retire
for the night.

The next morning, I was out bright and early. Soon the same note
came up from the shore, but somewhat subdued and chastened as if
the bird were abashed by the glare of day. Cautiously I crept to the
spot and was soon listening to the dulcet sounds as they came from
the water-brush a rod away. I searched every inch of the thicket with
my glass and scauned the pickerel weed and lily pads; but could see
nothing, though I heard faint plashing now and then. Finally I raised
my head slowly to look over a leaning tree-trunk. There was a
sudden splash as of some heavy body plunging into the stream, some
circling widening ripples—and that was all, I never saw the bird nor
heard it again.

It looked like a case of suicide for fear of discovery.

I have described the notes to Mr. William Brewster, whose experi-
ence is much more extended than mine, and he cannot suggest an
explanation of them.

By elimination, we may arrive at the conclusion that the sounds were
produced by some kind of a rail, but I have listened to rail notes north,
south, east and west and have never heard anything like this.

What was it that I heard that moon-light night on the banks of the
Musxetaquid?

AMERICAN. ORNITHOLOGY. 121

Photo by A, R. Spaid.

NEST AND EGGS OF YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.

122 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

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BIRD CHATS WITH OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

Address communications to MEG MERRYTHOUGHT, 156 Waterville St.,
Waterbury, Ct.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

There is a plump robin looking in at my window. He seems to say.
“Quick! quick! quick! Please write for me a message to the lads and
lasses who read your magazine. Tell them that a host of my relatives
have come to spend the summer here and we hope to make the world
brighter and happier for them, and ask very little in return. If they
will let us alone, we ask nothing more. We wish to protest against
those boys who are studying about us, that is what they call it, and
some of the mothers are so pleased that their boys are interested in
Nature Study.

Let me tell you how they do it. They gather for their collections,
our eggs, our feathers, our zests, and even our 6odzes, besides nearly
frightening us out of our wits. You may be surprised that this so
called study is going on today, but only yesterday three boys passed
me, one had a camera, but each boy also had some kind of weapon to
destroy life.

Will not the boys who are gaining bird lore in the right way do their
best to interest these young folks in a better way of becoming familiar
with the birds?”’

Here Mr. Robin bowed a farewell, and with a chirped “‘Thanks!
Thanks!’ flew down upon the lawn, where he now hops about, busily
destroying the one hundred and one angle worms which have come to
the surface for a drink of fresh rain drops.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 123

I am glad to pass on this suggestion of Sir Robin’s to our young
folks, knowing you will be ready to advance the better ways of bird
study.

In the walking bird’s pz, in the March Bird Chats, number 12 should
read veno instead of lono, making oven-birds instead of loon birds.
In the February word square the 5th letter on the second line should
be K, and the 9th letter in last line should be F. The answer to
number 6 should be ani instead of am.

These mistakes may be the fault of the printer’s devil, or due to my
poor penmanship. I prefer to lay the blame to the former.

Cordially, your friend,
Mrc MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Harry E. White. Lisbon, Ohio.

Huldah Chace Smith. Providence R. I.
J. Howard Binns. Adena, Ohio.

Katherine Stilwell. Phoenix, Arizona.
Charles C. Lewis. Philadelphia, Penn.

ANSWERS TO APRIL PUZZLES.

Enigma Number 1.—Chickadee.
Enigma Number 2.—Marsh Hawk.

CHARACTERISTIC INITIALS.

1. Cedar Waxwings. 5. Song Sparrow.

2. Purple Finch. 6. Downy Woodpecker.
3. Scarlet Tanager. 7. Chipping Sparrow.

4. English Sparrow. 8. Blackburnian Warbler.

1. Nuthatches walk head downward.

2. Birds like ducks, gulls, puffins, rails, etc., which find their food in
abundance and take it in small quantities at short intervals, possess no
crops and the food passes directly into the stomach, also all the insect-
ivorous birds (which include many of our common song birds) have no
crop.

3. The tailor-birds of India sew leaves together to hold their nests
using fiber for a thread and their bills for a needle.

4, The nests of a variety of swallows which build in caves in China
and are composed of a gelatinous substance, are esteemed a delicacy
by epicures.

124 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

5. The Whippoorwill carries its young from place by the back of the
neck as a cat carries its kittens.

6. Pigeons do not raise the head to swallow, as other birds do, but
keep the bill immersed until through drinking.
7. The Kildeer has three toes, all fore toes, no hind toes.

8. The Ostrich has two toes in front, no hind toes.

9. The Burrowing-owl courtesies when anyone passes its nest, so is
sometimes called the “How-do-you-do owl.”’
10. The Cow-bird lays its egg in the nest of some other smaller bird,
and the European Cuckoo shirks its duties in the same manner.

EXTRACTS FROM OUR MAIL BAG.
SOME MARSH BIRDS.

One afternoon in June (1904) I put on my rubber boots and went to
a marsh, of which I knew in a neighboring village. It is not very
large but it is the home of numerous marsh birds.

As I approached the place I heard the rollicking song of the long-
billed Marsh Wren and heard the merry “‘okalee’’ of the red-winged
Black-bird. My real object was to find the nests of these birds,
especially the Marsh Wrens’. I began to examine every clump of
cat-tails to see if I could find one.

Ah, yes, there was one, but to my great disappointment it contained
nothing. I found three nests but all of them were empty. I have
heard of long-billed Marsh Wrens building sham nests to attract the
attention away from the real nest, and it must have been one of these
that I found. Pretty soon, however, I found the real gamie article
containing one egg. The bird had probably just begun to lay. I also
found a red-winged Black-bird’s nest just ready for eggs.

While I was wading around among the cat-tails I frightened an
American bittern, which flew slowly down the marsh, its long legs
dangling out behind it.

I was listening to the Marsh Wren’s singing so joyfully, when I
heard a noise like the grunt of a small pig. The noise seemed tocome
from about ten feet ahead of me. I followed it around and around the
marsh but I could not see anything, for the cat-tails were three or four
feet high. Pretty soon I came to an open space and found that I was
following a bird that I had never seen before. I wrote down its des-
cription ina note-book, which I always carry with me, and when I got
home I looked it up in a book and found that it was a Virginia Rail.

CLARENCE C. ABBOTT,
New York City.

€

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 125

FRIENDLY BIRDS.

My sister, brother and I are interested in the study of birds. We
have a bird-shelf and the birds are so tame since we killed all our cats.

Fourteen different kinds of birds have eaten off of our bird-shelf, the
Chickadees, Tomtits, Winter Wren, Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Carolina Wren, Bewick’s
Wren, Lark, Finch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Junco, Blue Jay and
White-breasted Nuthatch. The Tomtits, Chickadees and Carolina
Wrens eat out of our hands, one Red-bellied Woodpecker ate out of
my sister’s hand’ and one Winter Wren out of mine.

We carry a can of nuts for the Tomtits, and when we see them even
in the woods they ate out of our hands. Three Tomtits came in the
house last winter.

I have seen 92 different kinds of birds.

There is a Bluebird nesting in the garden and a Carolina Wren has a
nest in an old store room.

Last summer a Mocking-bird built in a honeysuckle close to the
house, a Blue-jay built in the rafters of our barn, a Cardinal built in our
garden, a summer Tanager built in our back yard, the little ones were
so tame they would perch on our fingers, and a Carolina Wren built in
the buggy-house and we could sit in the buggy and watch it feed the
little ones; when they were learning to fly they would light on our
heads and crawl upon our necks. A Bewick’s Wren built under an old
straw shed, a Maryland Yellow Throat built in our plum orchard, and a
Mourning Dove and Bob White built in our orchard.

Mary Barry, (12 years old)
Columbus, Kentucky.

Some Pi, made by J. Howard Binns of Adena, Ohio.

ie eke Ti up 0. 6. Lnest

2. drieeuk cd. i. aws fo .acee:

fast arilos a. Bo S10 ke:

Roabe paic.l. 9. esege.

Sur p lee, 10. wean s.
QUERIES.

1. What bird eats and sleeps upon the waves, scarcely coming to land
but to nest?

2. What bird hangs his food upon thorns for future use?

3. What bird carries its young in its bill from its nest in a hollow tree
to the water?

126 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

4. What is the largest bird’s egg in the world?
5. What is the smallest bird’s in the world?

ENIGMA.

My 3-2-4 is a small animal.
My 1-2-5-4 is not the whole.
My 3-6-7-8-9 is an elevation.
My 1-6-4 is a large hole in the ground.
My whole is the name of a game bird.
CHARLES C. LEWIS,
Philadelphia, Penn.

GLEANINGS.
THE FIRST WOOD THRUSHES.

Was it a richer robin? The cherry’s snow
Waved signal: wandering with enchanted feet
In columbine bells and violets dewy sweet

I walked into the springs of long ago.

No robin: for the dim ravine below

Echoed with voices in a golden trance,

Welled with the pure deliberate jubilance

Of flutes that none but Wood Thrushes could blow,
So, they shall rise up at the voice of a bird,
The buried years; the unmemorial years;

All hope, all love, all memory long deferred
Flooded my heart and eyes with happy tears.
The golden-throated thrushes in the May!
Spring, the sweet spring, and my love far away!

mencdctc Faxidermy |i °° <2 °° © °° @

Full of valuable information. ; Methods in the Art of Taxidermy

COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS Z By Oliver Davie, Author of ‘‘Nests and

& Eggs f North A ic Birds:’”’
HOW TO PREPARE AND MOUNT zs fe) or merican irds
>» 90 FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS.

~, Birds d
ao, Animals | -
and Fish | ¢

Also contains a com-
plete list of all North
American Birds, with y
trices of their eggs, >
skins and mounted
specimens; also an ex- >
haustive line of Orni- ©
thologists’, Oologists’
and Taxidermists’ sup-
plies, valuabie infor Y ;
imation forthe amateur, © Never before has the Art of Taxidermy had
}

YY 3 recipes, etc. Boundin its practical methods and beauties portrayed
: 1 5 y ee as we find them interpreted in this work. It
cloth, 35c, postpaid is a work of art from cover to cover. Form-

: 4 erly published at $10. My price $2.50 post-
104 Union St., CHAS, K. REED, Worcester, Mass. paid or Given Free for 6 new subscribers.

® Chas. K.Reed, Worcester, Mass.
Ob 66 ~~ --©©-©-©

The Journal
| Of the Maine
1 Ornithological
: aA Society

Volume seven will consist of
Al issues the first of March, June,
4 September and December. There
will be articles on Maine birds by
the leading ornithologists of the
state as well as copious bird notes
of current interest.

Covers the entire field of

Western Sports

by land and sea

MONTHLY DEPARTMENTS
| Hunting and Shooting Fish and Fishing \y

Game Protectio: Physical Culture i 6 A
ems Masse ding i. i Subscription 50 cents a year.
Tennis Yachting = A
Canoeing Athletice S W. H. Brownson, Portland,
Natural History The Dog ls .
Adventure Fiction ° /
am eae Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
150 pages Deautifully illustrated. Clean, autbeate end Associate Editor.
autboritative. published at 5
4 Sutter Street, San Francisco, Cal,
10 cente the copy _—‘$1.00 the year Address W. H. BROWNSON,

Sample Copies with pleasure

97 1-2 Exchange St., Portland, Me.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, Il, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. |, II, III, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.
COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——

VOL. V JUNE, 1905. NO. 6

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. Anyone may send inas many photos as they wish, and
the awards will be made upon the clearness and beauty of the picture, with due
regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining. As in our last contest the pic-
tures will be grouped in three classes. All desirable photos, which do not win
prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.

CLASS TI. Live, wild birds.
1st prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No. 3A.......List, $20 00
2nd price: Pair Field. GlAS8eS.«. <2. atc ee Tist, 3
3rd prize, Color Key to North Am. Birds...... Inst, 2

CLASS II. Young birds.

LStHD TZ Al VSLONOOINVEN Oi eieeaetee ee nie List, $20 00

ONG DTZ. EOI AHVELG.G-LOSSCSe i ce mene ee List, 5 00

: Sra prize; Color TRAY ., &.8% ales oss eae List, “2.50
CLASS III. Birds’ Nests.

1st prize, Pair Field Glasses List, $ 5 OO

2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eggs EAst,— 2250

A VISIT TO A REDTAILED HAWK'S NEST,

High up in a towering hemlock which stood one-third of its length
above the other trees of the forest, a pair of redtailed hawks had built
their nest. Year after year it grew as the birds returned and repaired
it; and year after year it was the home of a happy family. High above
the cares and troubles of the world; unmolested, save by the sun and
shadows, it cradled its restless brood in summer, sheltered the squir-
rels in autumn and rocked the little owls in winter. Deep in the roomy
crevices many a brown nut was hidden by deft little paws, and over the
openings spiders spun their webs, like sentinels to guard the stores
within. g

One sunny morning, just as the crows were nesting and the leaf buds
bursting in the soft air of early spring, I happened to be near this tree,
glass in hand, watching the newly-arrived warblers and the growing in-
sect life about me. Little spiders were hanging their first webs in the
sun, newly-matured flies sported on crisp new wings, and the black ants
in a dead tree nearby kept dropping down little bits of decayed wood.
Chipmunks raced and chattered on the dry leaves and gazed curiously
from vantage-points on stumps and rocks. The crow cawed and called
from the spicy pine tops back of me; and the broody call of the female
on her nest seemed to take in, from the air and sunlight, a sound of
dreamy softness. Everything was peaceful and happy. All of a sud-
den the loud, quick scream of a hawk came from over head. It sent
the warblers helter-skelter and the chipmunks to their holes. Soon it
was repeated, and from away off in the distance an answer came float-
ing back as though born of the wind. A swift moving shadow shot past
and I saw a hawk alight in the tall hemlock ; and soon it was followed
by another, which settled in the same tree. I listened and waited. It
seemed as though the sunlight would betray me or the soft breeze of
springtime would carry tidings of my presence to that lone treetop and
its tenants would be gone. But no, for soon I heard the loud voice of
the male bird calling and crooning a love-song, so wild and weird,
and fantastic that it seemed as though the winds and wilderness had
lent their voices to it and made it like themselves. For fully an hour I
listened to it, but without seeing much. Then both birds left and I
ventured out. Great was my satisfaction when I saw the nest,.and for
the next few days I watched it closely. Though I tried to keep out of
sight as much as possible, the hawks, in some mysterious way seemed

128 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

always to be aware of my presence and they never let me see them in
on near the nest. When ten days had passed and I still saw ho sign of
the birds. I determined to climb the tree and get, if possible, a picture
of the nest and eggs. And right here, let me add, my troubles begun.
The tree was three feet and a half through at the ground and the
branches were few and far between for some distance up. Besides this,
my camera and all the accessories made a burden that didn’t help me
any.

Though I approached the tree with the utmost caution, the mother bird
heard me and slipped off the nest and away before I was hardly in sight.
After much trouble with the camera I reached the live limbs above the
lower dead ones and from there the way was easier. When I was with-
in twenty feet of the nest, a crow, one of that noisy crowd that was
nesting in the pines nearby, saw me and began to caw with all his
might. Soon it was joined by another and soon the woods and air
seemed full of crows,—indeed I begun to think that the crows had some
claim on the nest above after all and that the hawks were fooling us.
Even now I cannot understand why the crows were so interested,—it
surely was not because the hawk is a particular friend of the crows, for
they take delight in tormenting him whenever they can. ButasI neared
the nest the crows begun to disappear and soon there was not one in
sight. The size of the nest surprised me, indeed I could get around it
on one side only, the side on which the trunk of the tree stood. Some
of the sticks were fully a yard long, and of a weight that seemed incred-
ible. Almost half a cartload of sticks and leaves were gathered there,
and ’tis well for the owners that the branches under it were strong, else
the whole would long ago have fallen to the ground. You may be sure
that I was eager to look over its rim and see what was in it, for I had
always longed to see a real, live hawk’s nest. And I saw one this time
surely. Two large dirty white eggs rested there as peacefully as

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 129

though their mother was a domestic fowl, and not a wild hunter of the
wilderness. The sun played upon them and danced with the shadows
over the nest, and naught was in sight to show that this was the home
of a warrior, a hunter whose very existence depended upon killing.
Little bits of white down from the birds’ breasts clung to the nest and
to the nearby branches like flakes of snow in winter. The bark of
some of the larger branches about the nest bore little scratches and
furrows as fine as those from an engraver’s point, which were made by
the birds’ talons in alighting.

I was about to take a picture, which was no easy task so high above
ground, when a scream from the treetops nearby told me that one of
the hawks had returned, and I wondered if it meant ill or good for me.
Soon I heard another scream, far away and faint in the distance. I
looked up and far above me in the silent ether, a black speck appeared
which rapidly grew larger, and I knew that the mate was returning.

ropping down like a comet out of a clear sky, the large bird alighted
with a thud on a large oak limb, not forty feet from my head. Writh-
ing and twisting in its heavy yellow talons was a black and yellow
snake over three feet long. The bird was entirely unaware of my
presence, for it quietly began to smooth the glossy feathers on its broad
back with its bill; all the time, however, keeping an iron grip on its
feebly struggling prey. For fully a minute I watched it in the great-
est admiration and delight, and then I moved, ever so slightly and the
spell was broken. Those restless yellow eyes, trained to catch the
slightest motion met mine so quickly that they startled me, and the
whole appearance of the bird changed like a flash. The snake dropped
unnoticed to the ground, where, though its spine was broken, it
squirmed as though alive. The bird crouched low on its perch, as a
cat does before it springs; its glossy coat ruffled and its yellow eyes
glaring defiance. It flew directly toward my head and broughtit wings
together just above me with a snap that made me dodge. Several
times it wheeled and snapped above me, so quickly that I could not turn
my head rapidly enough to follow its movements. The last time it
bumped into a bough which was almost touching my shoulder, and its
black tipped yellow talons came much too near my face for comfort.
Then for a while it circled madly about, now and then swooping down,
but never coming so near as before. Soon it was joined by its mate,
which had been out of sight in the dense tree tops nearby all the while,
and gradually they circled off into the clear blue sky; farther and farther
away until their voices died in the distance. And as they circled away,
sick at heart though they must have been, no majesty was lacking in

130 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

those broad, even sweeps; and as they rose higher one would never
have surmised that they left, for aught they knew, all hope behind.
When they were gone, I ascended the tree somewhat above the nest
and took some pictures. When about to expose the first plate, and
when I was just steadying the camera for the picture, the shadow of a
crow skimmed past like a shot, and I involuntarily dodged it, thinking,
in the short time I had to think, that the Hawks had returned. My
hand pressed the bulb, upon which it was already tightning, and the
result was a photograph of just half of the nest, so nearly half, indeed,
that it showed but one egg, and the eggs were touching each other too.
When my pictures were taken I hung the camera upon a branch and
begun to iook about me. It seemed as though I were in another world,
high up in the wavy, leafy tree tops. All was peaceful and quiet. Far
away, like a dim picture, the distant rivers and meadows basked in the
soft sunlight, and here and there, patches of snow still lingered in the
deepest hollows. In the wood below I could hear the slightest sound
with a distinctness which surprised me and I understood, as I listened,
how the hawks, with their more acute senses of hearing had so soon
become aware of my presence at all times. A Warbler calling in the

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 131

thicket below, or a chipmonk scampering over the dry leaves, could be
heard with the greatest clearness, and, as I heard them I realized their
disadvantage when stalked by an enemy from on high.

The breeze swayed the lofty tree top gently and imparted to it a
dreamy restful motion; and I surmise that the joy of bursting spring
set me to thinking. Here beside me was the home of a bandit, a high-
wayman whose very appearance lent terror, and yet it was quiet and
happy. Whatever the owners’ lives were abroad, they were gentle and
loving at home. However merciless the Hawks were when hunting,
they had a home, which, for quietness and repose, all of us might envy.
The sun and wind played upon it as softly as they ever would on the
Yellowthroat’s nest in the thicket below, and yet in one they caressed
a family of marauders; in the other a type of gentleness. And so it
seems that ones home, like his life is what he makes it. Thesame love
that lived in the Yellowthroat’s breast and nursed her wee eggs into
life, soothed the firy spirits and cruel natures of these unquiet war-
riors and made their home an ideal of devotion and happiness.

Before descending the tree, I dropped a weighted line to the ground
to ascertain how high it was. It was just sixty-five feet to where the
eggs rested and of course the camera was considerable above that. I
intended to return to the nest after the eggs were hatched and get a
picture of the young birds, but business that interrupter of our pleasures,
hindered me and I was obliged to leave home before I again had an
opportunity of climbing the tree.

But I trust that the nest still rests there in that massive hemlock, as
it did that morning when I left, just as the crows were nesting and the
leaf buds bursting into the soft air of spring time.

WALTER E. BURNHAM.

BIRD FOUNTAINS IN THE SCHOOL YARDS,
By C. F. HopGE, CLARK UNIVERSITY.

For several years past the most interesting thing about my place
during the summer months has been the bird fountain in the garden. I
have snap shots showing as many as eight robins bathing, drinking, or
waiting their turns. The way they make the water fly is delightful to
see and their evident enjoyment is infectious.

A good deal of attention is being devoted to feeding the birds in win-
ter and, valuable as this is, I do not think it compares in either import-
ance or in the delight to both giver and recipient that attends a cup of
cold water in the name of a disciple. We often see the birds panting
about the arid streets with their bills open, or drinking and bathing in
the filthy pools of the gutters; and it is little wonder that they leave

132 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BIRD FOUNTAIN IN A SCHOOL YARD.

our towns and cities to their insect fates as soon as their early broods.
are able to fly. Ifa constant and safe supply of water is provided they
will remain to rear a second or even a third brood. At any rate the
birds’ nests about my place have increased almost six fold in the last
five years, and I think the main reason for this increase is to be found
in my bird fountain.

I shall reserve the description of my own bird fountain for another
occasion. For this time we have the much more interesting case of a
fountain built especially for the use of the birds by the efforts of the
children and teachers in a public school. As far as I am aware the
honor of erecting the first bird fountain in the yard of a public school
must be awarded to the Downing St. school, of Worcester.

This fountain is built of rough stones laid in Portland cement, to re-
semble as much as possible a woodland spring, and the children have
brought in ferns, mosses and wild flowers and planted all about it and
in the shelves and chinks of the rocks. At the top is a small pool into
which the water runs (piped from the building) and from this it trickles.
down into a larger pool among the rocks below. At the base on one

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 133

side is a still larger and deeper pool in which to hatch frogs’ and toads’
eggs and rear aquatic animals and plants.

The fountain was dedicated to the birds by appropriate exercises on
the morning of May 12th, and the littlest girl in the building turned on
the water. Remarks were made by Miss Smith, Principal of the build-
ing, Dr. Overlock, member of the school committee, superintendent
Lewis, and Mr. Kuma, of Tokio, Japan, and the writer. A bird song
was rendered by a group of the girls and the exercises were closed by
a song by Mr. Rice, supervisor of music for the city schools. As an
encore Mr. Rice proposed three hearty cheers for Miss Smith, to whose
efforts the success of the undertaking was largely due; and after giving
these, as happy a school as could be found anywhere filed back to their
rooms.

Picture the combination—rocks and ferns, wild flowers and mosses,
flowing water and birds. What better could we have to stimulate na-
ture study in a public school? I hope all the children will enjoy their
bird fountain as much as I have mine.

‘Shee tens

eto
Gun

iP,

o#

my u
Se

DEDICATING THE FOUNTAIN.

134 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by H. B. Stough.
NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE.

THE MOURNING DOVE,

Bs Vrota McComm.

Who has not heard at twilight the desolatecall of the Mourning Dove.
At any time of day it may be heard, but it is under a gloomy sky or at
dusk we are apt to notice it. And ever from a distance the sad notes
seem wafted,—we feel that the bird is so entirely alone in her sorrow.
It is to me the saddest of all bird calls; yet it is in reality the love coo
of the male.

Although appropriately named Mourning Dove, the bird—in this
locality at least—is more commonly called Turtle Dove. While it is
classed as only a summer resident of this portion of Kansas, yet some
remain with us all the winter.

One of the best known characteristics of the Dove is her habit of
feigning a broken wing to lure one away from her treasures in the nest.
If followed she will continue the deception until she has led her pursuer
many rods from the nest.

Upon seeing a nest of a Turtle Dove it recalls the legend related by

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 135

Mary Merrill in regard to nest building. She tells that ‘“‘once upon a
time the Oriole was appointed by somebody or something high in
authority to teach the art of nest building to her brothers, sisters and

cousins.’’ The birds assembled and the lesson began. ‘‘First of all,”
said the teacher, ‘always be extremely careful to select proper building
material.’’ We already know that,’’ came the reply in concert. And

the author relating the legend here inserts this appropriate comment:
“I have always suspected that the Turtle Dove left at this point. For
her nest remains to this day nothing more than a collection of nest
material piled together promiscuously.’’ Thel egend goes on to tell
how the Oriole made two attempts to impart further knowledge, and
was each time interrupted by the chorus exclaiming, ‘‘We know that.”’
So although she proceeded no farther in her instruction than telling
them as to the best building site, she gave up in disgust and ended by
indignantly crying: “‘Why do you come to me to learn if you know all
that I know? Build your nests where you choose and how you choose.”
So the Oriole remains to this day the master architect of nest building.

NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE.

136 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

While the Turtle Dove is too lazy or too careless to expend much
energy in making a nest, yet you find some that are much better than

others.

While passing under a peach tree about the first of July, a sudden
whistle of wings led me to believe that a Dove’s nest was just over my
head. Glancing upward I saw the nest that had just been vacated.
But surely, I thought, it does not belong toa dove. Although resting
on the branches yet it was of good depth and quite substantially built.

YOUNG MOURNING DOVES.

Drawing the limb down I found the nest was composed of weeds,
weather-beaten corn-husks and grass; and the pepper grass and grass
were so arranged as to form a good lining. But dove’s nest it was.
It contained two beautiful eggs which were of a very faint pink hue.
In a few days, however, they were of the regulation white color.
Doves are not particular as to the kind of material for the nest. They
perhaps more often pile loosely together a few small twigs or sticks,
and on top of these place a few fine weeds. But you may come upon
one made entirely of a tough sort of vine that twines over the weeds

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 137

binding them together; or you may find one composed entirely of
several kinds of weeds.

Although more often found upon the spreading branches of a tree
from which they are easily blown off in a storm, yet they are some-
times built in a crotch at the trunk. Among the fresh green grass of a
closely burnt prairie a Dove’s nest is sometimes found,—there in a
little depression on the bare earth the eggs are laid.

In the green field many doves fly up just ahead of the reaper, leaving
nests that are little better than the bare earth. You will notice that
such a nest does not even have a lining—only a few straws being
scattered over the depression. And since the food of Doves consists
largely of seeds and grain, these birds are more plentiful in the great
wheat belt than elsewhere.

One moring last June I chanced to notice a new Cat-bird nest con-
taining one Cat-bird egg. That afternoon as I passed the place I
noticed a Dove perched across the nest, and later I found a white egg
beside the other one. But the next moring I found that Mrs. Cat-bird
would not tolerate trespassers—the egg had been promptly thrown out.

The nesting period of the Doves continues about all through the
summer; but a set of eggs consists of only two.

YOUNG MOURNING DOVES.

138 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The young are easily distinguished from those of other birds. You
at once notice the dark skin and dark bill. At the end of the upper
piece of the bill is a small triangle of ivory white, and from near the
tip of the lower one a tiny barb of the same color slants downward and
and toward the rear. These patches of ivory color are retained until
after the bird has left the nest, but the adult does not possess them.
When the doves are but a few days old they are sparingly covered with
tufts of filaments about the color of unbleached muslin. Later it is
seen that these were really the feathers just coming through.

When on the wing its sober color seems only relieved with a little
white; but when closely approached it is found that for beauty of plum-
age the dove has few equals. The modest shades of its satiny coat,
which seem never ruffled, blend so beautifully, and in harmony with the
black bill are a few black markings. Even the legs which are lake-red,
seem in harmany with the red tints in the beautiful bronzing about the
throat and below.

Last summer I spent much time in an effort to obtain a photo of a
dove on her nest. Several different nests were subjected to the eye of
the camera—a string device having been arranged to use in making the
exposure—but with no success. In one instance the camera was
fastened to a step-ladder and directed at a nest and left about all
day without the dove returning. So the camera was removed and a
similar bundle with the same covering was left in its place. Although
reluctant to do so the dove ventured under this and hovered her bird,
After this had been left several days the camera was substituted for
the bundle, but the bird immediately detected the difference, and al-
though the camera was left about all day she would not even perch up-
on the nest. Yet her mother love and wise precaution were beautifully
shown by her alighting upon a limb just below and back of the nest so
that the young bird was but a few inches from her and in plain view.
After her remaining patiently in that position for about an hour—just
beyond the plane of good focus—I decided to remove the cause of her
anxiety and worry her no more. But it was worth all the bother just
to witness the display of the Dove’s noble traits.

==s WSS aaa
: Au a

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Photo from Life.

A MERRY BROWN THRASHER.

By Dr. J. HoLBRooK SHAW.

A Harporhynchus rufus
Sat in a quircus tree,
And as he closed one optic
Said, in song of course, to me;

“In assuming the prerogative
Of a highly cultured race

To apply succinct appelatives,
And assign to each his place,

You can scarcely call it delicate
To refer directly to

My romanesque probosis
And my Titian tinted hue.”’’

139

140 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

LEAST BITTERN,

A.O. U. No. 191. (Ardetta exilis.)
RANGE,

Common in suitable localities throughout the United States and
southern Canada. Winters in southern United States.

NEST AND EGGS.

Least Bitterns nest in the rush-grown marshes where they are
usually found. The nest is a platform of rushes sometimes rudely
thrown together and again woven with some skill, and placed on the
ground, in low bushes or attached to the growing rushes, sometimes
over the water. Their first set of eggs is laid about the middle or
latter part of May and sometimes. especially in the south, another set
is laid the last of July. The eggs number four or five and are a pale
bluish white in color; size 1.20x.92.

HABITS

Wherever you find a pond, lake or stream bordered with reeds or
rushes you will be apt to meet with this smallest representative of the
heron family. They are very abundant in the south, but in northern
United States and southern Canada they are only found in certain
localities. As they are so quiet and secluded in the habits they often
dwell in places where their presence is little suspected. They are very
rarely seen in flight during the day time, confining their journeys to
walking about among the rushes; where these grow in the water they
progress by stepping from one stalk to the other, which they do with
great agility and rapidity, balancing themselves with far greater ease
and grace than the most skilful gymnast. Their song seems to be
limited to a few cooing notes; clucks of alarm are heard in the day
time and calls of “‘qua’’ frequently issue from the marshes at night.
If, perchance, they are surprised in the daytime, so that flight is
necessary, they go but a few yards before dropping into the protecting
rushes.

Like all the herons, these little fellows depend upon their protective
coloration to escape observation. This ruse is often very successful
because of the peculiar actions of the birds; when standing among the

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 141

rushes, they will extend their long neck and small head in a straight
line pointing towards the zenith in an attempt to imitate their
surroundings, and when standing among the brown colored dead reeds,
the markings of their breast harmonize beautifully. So perfect is their
belief in their invisibility that they will allow themselves to be almost
touched before they will take flight, either by wing or on foot.

Very few birds display the courage in the defence of their homes
that the Least Bitterns do; the female will often stand on guard and
savagely peck at the hand that attempts to molest her nest, and a
thrust from the long, pointed beak of one of these birds is not a matter
to trifle with.

Several years ago I found a pair of these birds at the lower end of
Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester; it was in July and undoubtedly they
were breeding but I made no search for the nest. For years [ have
been through this same place but have not seen them, either before or
since, although probably one or two pairs are there each year.
Equally elusive and inhabiting the same places, are the Sora or
Carolina Rails which I occasionally find in this same spot.

Their food consists chiefly of aquatic insects, small fish, shell fish and
frogs, the latter being their favorite. While these birds have little or
no real economic value, I wish that we in the north might meet with
them oftener and in the numbers that some of our southern friends for
they are very interesting birds to study.

CORY LEAST BITTERN,

A. O. U. No. 191.1. (Ardetta neoxena.)

This peculiarly colored Least Bittern is found in eastern United States
and Ontario. About seventeen specimens are known, most of them
being taken in the Everglades of Florida and in Ontario, Canada.
Individuals have been taken in several other states andsone is recorded
from Massachusetts. These were formerly considered by many, and
probably a few still do, to be simply a color phase of the common
Least Bittern, but nearly everyone now concedes it to be a distinct
species. Very little is known of their habits, for all who have observed
them have been naturalists whose only desire was to add them as
specimens to their collection. They are found in the same places, and,
as far as is known, their habits do not differ at all from those of the
common kind.

Mr. C. W. Crandall has a set of five eggs which are supposed to
belong to this species. They were taken on the Caloosahatchee River
in Florida. They do not differ in size or coloration from many of
those of the common Least Bittern. The nest was made of grass and
rushes placed in the cane, two feet above the water.

142 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

LEAST BITTERN.,
FEMALE, MALE,

CORY LEAST BITTERN.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 143

NEW YEARS WITH THE BIRDS,

3y NORMAN O. FOERSTER.

Stern winter has once more settled into the dreary succession of bliz-
zards, heavy snowfalls, thaws, and cloudless zero weather. To the or-
dinary observer, nature never seemed so barren. Yet the country in
the season of short days is by no means deserted. There are many
birds here yet, more than in the hot days of August when they were
moulting.

Even in the city, bird life other than of the English Sparrow still ex-
ists. We need but listen acutely at a weed-grown lot or house site to
hear the “‘chip, chip’ of the Song Sparrow, generally a contented chat-
ter; but, if we intrude this is augmented to a highly excited protest.
In late winter, sometime in February, although the season may show
no sign of relentance, his broken spring song will come through the
cold mist.

Often in intimate companionship with this Sparrow of the splashed
breast, are the social Juncos, more commonly known as slate-colored
Snowbirds. They came with the waning autumn, from the pine woods
of Canada and the higher parts of the Appalachian chain and will stay
with us until balmy breezes and protracted thaws warn them of the ap-
proach of spring. Their note is an insignificant “‘tsit,’’ constantly
uttered, even when feeding. In April, a plain, yet very happy little
ditty—a mere trill indeed--marks the height of their musical ability.

A third Sparrow that sometimes frequents the opener parts of the city
is the Tree Sparrow, another Canadian visitor, but somewhat more brief
in his stay. Yet the shortness of his presence is more than recompensed
by his geniality as long as he does remain with us. There is something
suggestively scintillant in his clear, silvery notes. Wecan scarcely call
it a song, yet it makes up in sweetness what it lacks in form. The
birds gather in congenial flocks of twenty to a hundred in some imma-
culate field pierced by brown weeds. Their distinct foot-prints fairly
perforate the snow, and here and there are evidences where some bird
has spread his wings over the surface, leaving a perfect imprint.

An unrelenting enemy of these defenseless little Sparrows is that
ogre, the Sparrow Hawk. When seemingly intent on the seed break-
fast shaken from the weeds by the last wind, they are ever alert for the
wavering, hesitating flight of their arch-enemy. But if seeking his
quarry, he does not announce himself boldly. Silently rather, he perch-
es on a terminal tree branch from which he may sally and swoop down.
He varies his diet with mice, but on the whole is hard-pressed to sub-
sist during the winter months. His elation is great, therefore, after a

144 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

YOUNG RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

tasty meal of bird-flesh, and he vents it in a triumphant “‘killy, killy”’
that is a surer indication of a safety to his feathered prey then his ab-
sence would be. With renewed life and vigor he braces himself against
the wind, hovering motionless for a seemingly endless time.

Two Woodpeckers stay with us throughout the year, the Downy and
Hairy. The one is the prototype of the other, for at field range they
are marked indentically, and the only difference is in the size, the Hairy
being about three inches longer than his congener. Their notes are
very similar also, both calling a steely ‘‘peek,’’ the larger bird with the
greater force and emphasis.

From the north in the fall comes another little feathered friend—a
friend from an economic standpoint; but scarcely intimate with the bird
student. For his feeding on the smaller grubs and insects that infest
the bark of trees is of great value, yet he very positively declines to
receive our advances in return for his good services. He will escape
any but the keenly observant eye, being but an ounce or two of brown
feathers, flitting leaf-like from branch to branch or trunk to trunk, paus-
ing it is true, as no leaf will pause, and, contrary to the earthward trend
of the leaf, climbing to the tree trunk in a spiral course. His call is
faint, scarcely audible, a distant lisp. This isthe BrownCreeper. Far
more jolly, naively so, are the gay Chickadee, puffy, big-headed, black-
capped, little fellows, who meander about the winter woods in search

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 145

of insect eggs and their progeny. They are tame, rashly tame, but no
true heart can resist the jocular “‘day, day, day, day—chick, chickadee,
dee, dee, dee’’ with which they greet us. They are curious but all be-
ings have their faults and we often love them the more for possessing
them. And in all nature what sound is purer, sweeter, and so fraught
with religious fervor as the exquisite ‘“‘phe-be”’ call of the Chickadee?

A less lovable relation of the volatile Chickadee is the Tufted Tit-
mouse, clothed in fatigue uniform with a military crest. In habits he
tesembles his cousin, but is less lively, less gymnastic, and with no note
to correspond to the heavenly “‘phe-be’’ call of the Chickadee. His
“‘day-day-day”’ is hoarser, as of a Chickadee who has taken cold.

The coquettish Carolina Wren is the only one of her family that re-
mains here in the winter. The smaller, chunky House Wren is many
leagues away. I have called our permanent Wren “‘coquettish,’’ which
word no one willdeny as applicable who has observed her actions. Per-
haps we came upon her feeding on a hillside, rustling the sere leaves
noisly, oblivious of the whole world. She takes no notice of our near-
er approach but continues to be deeply absorbed in satisfying the crav-
ings of nature. With a sharp little “‘chip’’ she puffs up in alarming dis-
habille, as if to exhibit her primness by contrast. Then, spruced up
once more, she cocks her head about, tosses it from side to side, and
adjusts her tail a dozen times. Then by flying from numberless perch-
es, with countless ‘‘chips,’’ she manages to get up the hillside. At a
safe distance she pauses a moment, then with a parting flirt, slips into
the brush to resume feeding.

Garrulous denizens of field and forest during the winter months are
the much abused Crows. A half-mile away perhaps, their noisy ‘‘caws”’
like the pompous blasts of the trombone, sound loud andclear. By far
the greater part of the Crow community has migrated, but in the dead
of winter we may still see a dozen or more in the coarse of a day’s
walk. Generally in pairs they occupy a certain domain,* assuming su-
preme power, and woe betide the unlucky Hawk or Owl who ventures
into their territory.

The fact that the Cardinal Grosbeak, or Redbird, spends the winter
with us is very little credited by the public. The reason is obvious
enough. He then frequents wooded glens where few persons penetrate
in the season of snow, and moreover is not in song as in spring and
summer. Mr. Abbott, if I mistake not, would have us believe that in
winter they sing most constantly and joyously, but, although that may
be true in astern Pennsylvania it certainly is not here. They often
gather in parties of from ten to twenty, restlessly flying about acertain
valley, with their sharp, metallic “‘pict.’’

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BITTERN.

EGGS OF AMERICAN

AND

NEST

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 147
THE AMERICAN BITTERN,

Just after the sun has dropped behind the horizon and left the world
lighted by the yellow afterglow, the Bittern leaves his little swamp in
the deep woods and flys slowly to the big open swamp where he will
be likely to find a mate.

Fying just high enough to clear the willows at the edge he travels
towards the center of the swamp where the grass tussocks stick up
above the mud and water.

When he reaches a tusssck that suits him he lights and lies close to
it listening, then up comes his long neck and he stands rigid looking
more like a dead: branch than a living creature.

He stands as if frozen, so stillis he. Let us take a good look at
him while we have so good a chance.

He seems to be mostly neck and legs, that runs in his family; his bill
is long and sharp and he can hit a powerful blow with it.

The general color of the feathers is brown, while his long legs and
bill are yellow.

When his look around has satisfied him that there is no immediate
danger he draws his head back between his shoulders and sends his.
hollow “‘boom-ah-boom”’ ascoss the swamp. After calling he sticks
his head up again and seems to be listening intently.

He calls this way three or four times with intervals of listening.

Then he begins a series of antics; he struts around his tussock, gives:
little jumps and side steps and seems to be trying to see how foolish
he can act.

But those antics are not foolish to him, he is making love to some
Miss Bittern who stands like a stick near by, and he does his best be-
cause he never heard of flirting and means business from the start.

Not until our gay, but clumsy, wooer leaves the swamp does the
female relax her rigid position and seems to be more than a dead
branch sticking in the bog.

After two or three evenings of this acting the birds will be seen
together, but now the female stays close to the ground while the male
raises his head when there is any disturbance.

A little later they will build a big, clumsy nest in some thick clump
of cat-tails in the wettest part of the swamp where there is the least
danger from four-footed enemies.

This nest is just a pile of reeds and swamp grasses, with the top
hollowed a little to keep the four brown eggs from rolling out.

Early in July the young break their chocolate colored cells and then
we find the nest full of balls of fuzzy, yellow down. The old birds
guard these youngsters very carefully and have been known to stand
by their nest to fight even man. As soon as the young have the
strength they climb all over the nest and the reeds close to it, they
will even leave the immediate neighborhood of the nest if the reeds
offer a safe roadway. As soon as they get to climbing they grow
very fast and are soon able to shift for themselves. Early in
September they start South, flying at night.

CHARLES WILLIAM GROSS.

148 AMERICAN ORNITEOLOGY.

ore

‘3 oe pie

“etal

Photo by P. B. Peabody.
NEST AND EGGS OF COMMON TERN.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 149

BIRD CHATS WITH OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

Address communications to MEG MERRYTHOUGHT, 156 Waterville St.,

Waterbury, Ct.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKs:

Your vacation good times are almost here, but this is the season when
the birds are busy from morning to night finding food for the hungry
nestlings.

If any of you have ever tried to feed a young captive Robin, you
have a faint idea of the task of mother and father Robins in caring for
several broods during the summer. The mouths always seem to be
stretched for more, move.

I saw a Robin carrying worms to little ones the third week in April,
and wondered how many families he would raise in his dobe house.
He must have begun plastering before—‘“‘chinks in April’s windy dome
let through a day in June,’’ and before May came doubtless he was.
April fooled.’’

A little later in the branches above Robin’s nest, two Brown Thrashers.
sang arollicking duet, for hours, with heads up, tails drooping, not
two feet apart, each trying, so it seemed, to out do the other.

Now, the favored listener will hear but the soft love song by the nest
—the sweetest song of all.

However, there are a few birds who sing merrily on through the
summer’s heat, who among you will tell me their names?

We would again remind you to send the replies also with puzzles you
wish to have printed in our corner.

Cordially, your friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

150 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.
ROLL OF HONOR,

Leroy B. Noble, Little River, Conn.
Carl Ph. Dowell, Port Richmond, N. Y.
J. Howard Binns, Adena, Ohio.
Russell Adams, St. Johnsburg, Vt;
Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.

ANSWERS TO MAY PUZZLES,
Pr

1. Penguin. 2. Eiderduck. 3. Albatross. 4. Pelican. 5. Petrel.
6. Gulls. 7. Flamingoes. 8. Ducks.

OQuERIES.
1. The Petrel.
2. Northern Shrike.
3. Wood-duck.
4. The largest egg in the world is that of the acpyornis, an extinct
bird. The egg measures thirteen and one-half inches in length.
5.

The smallest egg is that of a South American hummingbird and is
only about one half inch long.

EXTRACTS FROM OUR MAIL BAG,

Some friends which I met last winter.

I do wish you could sit here by the window and watch my pets. In
boxes outside of the window sill I have nuts, bread, cracker and potato,
and upon a rose bush close by I have tied -bones and suet. Put your
face down close to the glass and wait—one, two, three—seven
Chickadees in the bunch, five, six tree sparrows. Here they come,
two nuthatches; by and by two downy Woodpeckers. But wait, a row
in camp! Two tree sparrows come, one in each box and look up in
your face: two or three more come and want to eat, and the other two
are standing, mouth wide open and wings outspread, screaming at the
top of their voices. There! Here at last comes Bobby, who’s Bobby?
Well, one of the tree sparrows met with an accident, and in some way
lost all of his tail feathers so we called him Bobby. He was very cold.

One little Blackcap looks in at the window and calls chip! chip!
chick! I go to the window and put my fingers out towards the little
fellow and he jumps to the glass and pecks it as hard as he can to get

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 151

Copyrighted 1904 by J. B. Parker.
‘fAN ENTOMOLOGIST’’
[Female Red-winged Blackbird feeding a Dragon Fly to her young].

152 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

my fingers, and then I put up the window and hold my hand out to
him. One, two, three, four, into my hand they come, then fly off to
hide a walnut or a crumb, and back again after more. I have found
they have the five calls,—‘‘Pewee! pewee!”’ to call together; a fretful
eall when hunting for food, seeing a cat, or mad at each other, and
their happy call, “‘Chickadee-dee!”’ and their soft murmuring song.

They are so tame that if one of them sees a bit he thinks he would
like better than that in my hand, he will get in the box and crawl under
my hand to get it. I had one purple finch come during the first snow
storm.

Mrs. Downy Woodpecker is as nice and dainty as she can be,
standing close by the window while I put my face to the glass and talk
to her, while she looks up and winks and blinks like a dove. She is
within a foot of the glass, I raise the window and she stays still and
watches me, but Mr. Downy raises his red crest in anger when he sees
her there, and if he gets near, she runs backward down the stick on
which suet is tied and gets away from him in a hurry.

One would be surprised at the amount of stuff these little birds eat.
One quart of hazel-nuts, nearly three quarts of walnuts, one quart of
peanuts, crackers, bread and suet, and still they are hungry.

I have three cats, which sleep in the same room with my four
canaries, and know better than to even look at them. Now I have
taught them that window-birds also, birds in the yard, on the ground,
(Blue Jays and even English Sparrows,) are not to be caught either.

M. L. S. HAppAm, Conn.

DIAMOND PUZZLE.

The letters from A to C and from D to B spell the name of a
handsome Woodpecker.

D
1 <A consonant.
L263 Avbird:
12345 An animal of South America.
I 2 3-4 5-6-7. “To be«successink
A. 12 3:45.67 809. © An Aprilepira:
12 S667 < Rosiutter:
OGY -Aaes ee Gis ieee Oh Treas
123 A beverage.
1 A consonant.
B

RUSSELL ADAMS,
St. Johnsburg, Vt.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 153

From 1 to x, A common tiny brown bird.
From 2 to x, A wading bird.
From 3 to x, A long billed water bird of tropical countries.
From 4 to x, A shore-bird.
From 5 to x, A bird which frequents our barns.
From 6 to x, A bird of prey which catches fish.
From 7 to x, A bright colored bird which builds a hanging nest.
From 8 to x, A black bird larger than a crow.
From 9 to x, A bird that has each wing tipped red.
From 10 to x, A bird supposed to cure jaundice.
From 11 to x, A sweet singer having a long straight claw.
From 12 to x, A small European singing bird.
The initials, (beginning with 1,) spell the name of a bird which sings
at night.
J. HowARD BINNS,
Adena, Ohio.

QUERIES.

1. Which of the seven birds named in the letter above, remain with
us all summer?
2. Which ones change their winter coats for summer gowns of a
different color?
3. Which ones have blue in their plumage?
Which ones have red in their plumage?
Which ones have white in their plumage?
Which ones have black in their plumage?
Which are nicknamed ‘‘tree-mice’’?
Which nest in holes in trees?

Sates oer Mt

154

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.
GLEANINGS.

A Japanese Lullaby.
Sleep, little pigeon, and fold your wings,—
Little blue pigeon with velvet eyes;
Sleep to the singing of mother-bird swinging—
Swinging the nest where her little one lies.
Away out yonder I see a star,—
Silvery star with a twinkling song;
To the soft dew falling I hear it calling—
Calling and twinkling the night along.

In through the window a moonbeam comes,—

Little gold moonbeam with misty wings;

All silently creeping, it asks, “Is he sleeping—

Sleeping and dreaming while mother sings?”’
EUGENE FIELD.

Ta Sy x4
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Reduced facsimile of ERNEST << Ns sa) aie
THOMPSON SETON’S drawing of the See i) Pe
Northern Shrike. Presented to every Cae y OWNS
subscriber to Vol. VII, 1905, of BIRD- NG
LORE. The original is nearly life-size: WS

FH 444444444 4444444444444 44444
2

We still have left a few complete sets of BIRD-LORE, and offer
the six volumes, 1899-1904, unbound, for $7.00 postpaid.

BIRD-LORE

Harrisburg, Penn.
FHFFFF FFF + FHF FoF eta os t

BEAUTIFUL ARTISTIC INSTRUCTIVE

The Birds and Nature Library

{WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, Editor, Secretary of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.

This superb set of books should be in every home, in every school and in
every library. Illustrated only by the three-color process of photography. 640
illustrations in colors absolutely true to life. Size of plates, 7x9 inches. 371
plates of Birds; 14 plates of Birds’ Nests and eggs; 3 plates of Birds? Eggs (49
varieties); 68 plates of Mammals; 18 plates of Insects (98 varieties); 9 plates of
Shells (96 varieties); 86 plates of Flowers and Fruits; 17 plates of Gems and Gem
Minerals; 54 plates of miscellaneous subjects.

These volumes are bound in red, half morocco, and consist of 80 numbers
of ‘‘Birds and Nature.’’

‘*Certainly no periodical, and probably no book on birds ever found any-
thing like such favor with the public as BIRDS AND NATURE.’’—Evening Post,
New York.

Are these pictures good? The statements of two eminent men are a sufficient
guarantee:

The pictures are astonishingly good. I like them so well that I shall put
on the walls of my rustic retreat, Slab Sides.—John Burroughs.

You have certainly hit upon a method of reproducing colors with remarkable
fidelity to nature.—Dr. Elliott Cowes.

The text of the books is most interesting and satisfactory. Both prose and
poetry bring Nature home to the heart and mind in a captivating and delightful
manner. Nature stories teach the younger readers, while reliable and readable
articles present the great facts of Nature to minds more mature, awakening and
fostering the love of the animate life of our wonderful world.

_ PRICE, per volume, $3.00. Full set (8 volumes), $19.20. Same in 16 vols. Cloth, $2.00 each.
Set (16 vols.), for $24.00. Awarded Gold Medal, World’s Fair St. Louis, 1904.
Birds and Nature, monthly 20c, per year $1.50.

A. W. MUMFORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, li, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, Il, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——

VOL. V JULY, 1905. NO. 7

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. Anyone may send inas many photos as they wish, and
the awards will be made upon the clearness and beauty of the picture, with due
regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining. As in our last contest the pic-
tures will be grouped in three classes. All désirable photos, which do not win
prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.

CLOSES OCTOBER 1, 1905
CLASSI. Live, wild birds.

1st prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No, 3A....... $20 00

2nd prize, pair Hield. Glasses. 2. =. cosas oe 5 00

3rd prize, Color Key to North Am. Birds...... 2 50
CLASS II. Young birds.

13st price; Al-Vista‘Camerd.....'- th... ce eee $20 00

ond prize, Pair Feta Glasses... 20 sew eh eee 5 00

ard prize, Color Beye 50. owas Ses on tee ee eee 2 50

CLA SS IIT. Birds’ Nests.
1st prize, Pair Field Glasses
2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eggs

00
50

H
Or

‘SAMIMNHS GVAHNUDDOT DNONOA

‘aqoogd “H “HM Aq 0900d

156 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

THE KENTUCKY WARBLER.
By Isaac E. HEss.

Of all the summer-resident Warblers of central Illinois, only one (the
Prothonotary) may be considered more attractive than the beautiful
Kentucky. Both of these yellow charmers are lovers of the deep, damp
woods, and although the former penetrates farther northward, their
tastes are so similar that in localities where one is found, you ay usu.
ally hope to see the other.

During migration it is not unusual to note both of these golden beau-
ties gleaning in the maples and box-elders of the towns and villages,
but only for a few days at most, and if acloser acquaintance is desired,
you must follow them to their haunts in the wild swampy woodland.

About us we have three types of timber-land, but only in the lower
woods in close proximity to a creek have I been able to find the Ken-
tucky Warbler during the nesting season. In upland Lynn Grove—an
ideal bit of bird-land where I have located the nests of sixty-one species
—the persistent nesting song of the Kentucky is never heard. Only
four miles distant from this point, where Salt Creek winds its way
through the willows and oaks and giant sycamores, the May and June
woods ring with his loud cheery song. He is not an early arrival from
the south—in fact he is one of the very last to come and April has
lengthened almost into May when he returns.

Unlike the Robin and Bluebird whose impatience brings them weary
weeks of waiting for the balmy days they love so well, the Kentucky
bides his time and when at last we hear his voice, we know the woods
are perfect and summer is here. Quietly slipping into the woods at
this season we may catch him at his love song when he sits on his sap-
ling perch and pours out his heart’s happiness by the hour.

His song is bright and attractive and as Mr. Ridgway says recalls
the song of the Cardinal. It reminds me however, more of the song of
the Carolina Wren and at first I had considerable difficulty in separa-
ting them. I was especially troubled by the fact that both birds favor
the same local surroundings.

Quite often one may see two males in rapid flight—one chasing the
other out of the territory into which he has intruded. In this trait one
is reminded of the Prothonotary and when the chase so often ends with
painful cries and a loss of feathers, the observer is forced to admit that
he has witnessed a fight and not merely an over-exuberant spirit of
playfulness.

Yet I am loathe to believe the Kentucky Warbler a quarrelsome
bird. He merely exercises his right to enforce the “‘Kentucky law’’ re-
lating to intrusion upon lawful domains. That they have some such

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 157

rule and that it is rigidly enforced might be regarded as evident when
we recall the fact that we never find two pairs nesting as near neigh-
bors.

Finding the nest of the Kentucky is most fascinating to the bird-stu-
dent and camera fiend and if results on a plate are desired, one must be
both, for all the experience of the former and patience of the latter must
be exercised to be successful. A nature lover who first looks into the
superbly made nest of this bird, knows a feeling akin to that of a cor-
respondent who has just made his first “‘ scoop.”

All the allurements and deceptions and strategic accomplishments in-
herited by birds, seem to have been mastered by the Kentucky Warbler
in its skill in hiding its nest and keeping its whereabouts secret.

The Kentuckys are ground Warblers and artfully conceal their nests
in the dense vegetation. The usual site is in the center of a weed
clump or at the foot of a small stump or growth of sprouts. Herea
deep cup-shaped nest, beautifully rounded, is formed of dry grasses
and stems. The outside walls are composed of leaves firmly matted
together. Wet leaves are used and when dry they form a compact
wall. The lining is generally of horse-hair and when in place, the in-
ner nest is round asa ball. Only a fortnight after the arrival of the
Kentucky Warbler, the usual complement of five eggs is ready for incu-
bation. By May 15th the earlier pairs are nesting and from that date
until June 7th, nests with eggs may be found.

The common note is a sharp metallic “‘Chip.’’ It is very penetrating
and can be easily heard a distance of two or three hundred yards in
thick timber. When familiar with the note, it can be distinguished
above all the wood medley and the vicinity of the nesting sites of each
pair of birds thereby located. The master of the household is seldom
to be caught napping and at your approach you will be greeted with his
alarm note. The little mate for whom it is intended instantly leaves
her ground nest and its concealed treasures. Running along the un-
dergrowth, she does not appear until quite a distance has been travers-
ed. When she joins her lord, you may see “whither she goes’’ but
from ‘‘whence she comes’’ you may not know. With a ventriloquent
effect, the alarm notes of the male seem to come from different points
in the mass of vegetation. You are surprised when you finally locate
him—not on the ground where you think—but perched in plain view on
a lower branch of a tree or sapling.

As the female joins him the “chips’’ are doubled in volume—both
birds plainly showing alarm for the safety of the nest. You now feel
quite sure of the nearness of the nest and settle yourself to watch for
developments.

AMER.CAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NEST AND EiGS OF

KENTUCKY

Photo by I. E. Hess.
WARBLER.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 159

At this point your first real trouble begins for it is no easy task I as-
sure you to assume a statue-like pose while mosquitos of various sizes
are doing their best toward emptying your veins of your life-blood.
For a full half-hour perhaps, you may listen to the monotonous “‘chips”’
with scarcely a change in the position of either bird. When finally con-
vinced that you mean to stay it out, a change of tactics is decided upon
by Mr. and Mrs. Kentucky. After a short consultation the female be-
gins to edge toward the ground, each slight descent being followed by
a stop and more chirping, all the while keeping her eye constantly fixed
upon you.

As she disappears in the heavy growth, the chirps grow fainter and
fainter until at last they cease altogether and you are convinced she
has returned to the nest. Before investigating, you waita few minutes
to make sure and meanwhile the male who has suddenly grown indif-
ferent, shakes his feathers and leaves for a distant part of the woods.
It is evident that the “‘statue’”’ has at last been dubbed quite harmless
and with a sigh of relief for aching joints you rise to your feet. With
high hopes of a rewarded patience you advance toward the point of the
last ‘“‘chip.”’

Cautiously advancing, step by step you finally peep around a stump
and see Mrs. Kentucky sitting on a twig near the ground. She is un-
concernedly preening her feathers and at once you feel like one who
had been deceived.

As your thoughts return to Mr. Kentucky, there steals upon you a
suspicion (and it is generally a correct one) that he has executed a
broad circle and a side approach and is now quietly keeping the eggs
warm in the nest that you have not discovered. This is but one of the
tricks practised by these wily birds during the nesting season, and your
admiration for the Kentucky Warbler grows with each experience in
which you are the victim of their clever deceptions. I have so learned
to respect their accomplishments, as to feel that each discovery oftheir
nest with eggs is (rather than through any talent possessed by me for
out-witting them), to be considered in the nature of anaccident. After
the young have appeared, this extreme caution is overruled by mother-
love. The nest may then, with a little be patience located, for the
mother will not remain long from her babies.

By observing a queer action on the part of a male and taking instant
advantage of a suspicion, the nest and eggs of the accompanying photo-
graph were revealed to me. As a like incident may never be repeated
in my experience, I would hesitate in pronouncing it a habit of so
eccentric a bird as the Kentucky Warbler, but it may be one.

I followed a male at his feeding until he became alarmed and flew in

160 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

a bee-line for another part of the grove. Under a sudden impulse, I
started after him on arun. About seventy-five yards on his course, he
suddenly dipped to the ground and rising continued his flight. Fixing
my eyes on the tree in which he disappeared, I kept the straight line
and increased my speed.

The female flew up from directly in my path and I stopped instantly
to find the nest and five eggs at my feet. At the point where the male
dipped to the ground in his flight was the nest of the illustration,

A TRUE STORY OF A BLUEBIRD,

I had read many times of the success of bird-lovers with wild birds
in cages and I had resolved to try what I could do in that line whenever
I found the opportunity. :

One beautiful day in May I discovered a Bluebird’s nest in an old
pump nearby. I watched it with zealous care and when the wee bird-
lings were hatched the first day of June I redoubled my attentions.
The days crept on and the fledglings grew. The twelfth, thirteenth
and fourteenth day passed. The fifteenth day at noon the birds were
snugly sleeping in their cozy nook and I saw no signs of leaving.

Imagine my consternation a little after four o’clock that afternoon to
see the nest empty! Everywhere I might look I could find no trace of
the young birds. I searched as long as | could that night and renewed
my quest early the hext morning. I was sure the birds could not be
very far off for the nearest trees were some rods away. At last in the
wet grass I found one bedraggled bird and still later the half-eaten
body of another. The fate of the third blue baby I never new. The
one I captured I took home with me feeding it often with egg and
potato and giving at each meal a few drops of water. This was Friday.

Saturday I contiuued to feed it every hour and oftener if it called and
in the late afternoon the birdling first helped itself to food. That ended
my service as nurse. Henceforth I studied the diet and disposition of.
my bird and sought to keep it healthy and happy. I read that grated
carrot was nice food and I took pains to bring in a fresh carrot from the
garden every morning. Sand I furnished daily and my Bluebird grew
and throve. It soon began to trill a little song, sweet and low, but very
musical.

Flies and spiders are its special relish. Fearing a time when I could
not get such luxuries for it I one day scraped a little beefsteak and gave
to the bird. This was even better than the insect dainties. Berries,
lettuce, cherries, sweetcorn, oatmeal, crackers and celery vary the bill
of fare, but the yolk of egg and grated carrot are its staple food. I do

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 161

not know the gender of my pet but certain dainty ways make me think
of it and speak of it as Ladybird.

Is the bird happy? Yes, if her daily song and her affection for her
friends tell anything of her frame of mind. She is a source of constant
pleasure and study to us at home and we delight in trying to interpret
her different notes. For instance a long shrill note sounding much like
‘““come here, come here”’ tells us she is lonesome and wants someone
to talk to her, sit near her or take her out for recreation. She has
another call for food while her alarm note of “Quit, Quit, Quit’”’ will
bring the whole household to her relief. This is invariably her call if
the cat approaches her cage but of the dog she has no fear. Often
when out of the cage she will alight on his head or back.

See knows every member of the family and is perfectly fearless with
us. Sometimes 1 will put my hand into the cage and ask her if she
wants to come out. Nearly always she will hop into it and nestle there
till out of the cage. Then she is ready for any division and she seems
to expect to be entertained as a visitor too, manifesting impatience,

‘sometimes scolding if she is not satisfied with the attention given her.

She answers readily to her name going from one friend to another
as she is called. She will perch on the finger of one and preen her
pretty feathers, fly to another and pause long enough to sing her Blue-
bird song, then alighting on my desk she will make a queer medley of
the pens, pencils, etc. She examines every new thing and if it does
not please the little midget’s fancy she will charge at it with rumpled
feathers and snapping bill. She has her playthings too. Toothpicks,
a gaily colored marble and a tiny bell are’her familiar toys.

She is quite vain and will stand many minutes before a glass admir-
ing herself in different poses. She is shy of strangers and will protest
loudly if we attempt to take her from the cage when anyone strange to
her is in the room. ;

Here cage is her home and she objects to a change of quarters. Put
her in another cage and she will lament continuously till put back to her
accustomed place.

BERTIE M. PHILLIPS
Oxford, Maine.

162 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

A LETTER FROM MISSOURI,

In our minds, as well as in literature, birds are invariable associated
with the spring time and the flowers and the warm summer days. Only
the bird lover finds them in the winter. These little sparrows and other
modestly dressed birds are never noticed by any oneelse. But, though
most of our bright plumaged birds disappear at the first signs of
approaching cold, yet we have some whose beauty is unsurpassed.
The Cardinal, for instance, and the Blue Jay and the Bluebird. All
winter we find the Cardinal abundant along the streams, and wherever
there is scrubby growth. He is silent most of tne winter, but by the
middle or latter part of February, the hills and woodlands are ringing
with his whistle.

The Blue Jay is at his best now. There are no nests for him to rob,
so the other birds leave him in peace. And there is no bird note so
pleasing as his ‘jay, jay, jay,’’ echoing and reechoing through the leaf-
less woods, where the handsome fellow, in his search for mast has dis-
covered a Screech Owl, and ever ready for mischief, immediately be-
gins to call to his comrades to acquaint them with his find. And poor
little Owl, it is little of sleep he will get that day, unless he seeks a new
hiding place.

Another winter bird is the Crow. No winter landscape is complete
without one or more of these big black fellows flapping their way across
the gray sky, or perched in somelonely tree. They gather in hundreds
and thousands along the river at this season, in search of food. Onthe
margin of the river andalong the edges of the sandbars where the waters
are likely to cast up anything edible, they may be seen in numbers.
And they may be seen riding the cakes of ice that come down the river
after a thaw. They roost in the trees along the banks, and from before
sunset, far into the night, the din of their cawing can be heard. They
sleep off the night, and with the first signs of dawn, they all awake and
resume their deafening cries, continuing till it is light enough to see,
when they disperse and go a breakfasting.

Yesterday I visited a neighbor, and while there sat by a back window
tnat looks out on the garden. A few feet from the window is a fence
along which grow briars and weeds, and there is a peach tree whose
branches almost brush the window. While I sat there, a Crested
Titmouse alighting on a limb three feet away, peered at me fearlessly.
I think he is the same one that has visited me before when I was there.

A pair of Carolina Wrens came along the fence, examining the posts,
and the bases of the briars and weeds for something good. A few
minutes later, I heard the clear sweet notes of the male, and saw he and

163

‘AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by R. H. Bebee.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.,.

164 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

his mate sitting in the top of an old elm tree, where they got the benefit
of the warm sun.

Juncos and Tree Sparrows came up under the window too. I fre-
quently see little flocks of Goldfinches. One can find them by hnndreds
in the vicinity of hemp fields. He is fond of hemp seeds. He is not
the bright plumaged, sweet voiced little bird we saw in the summer,
however. Once I read a pretty little poem about him. The last verse
of which, if I remember rightly, runs thus:

“His song went back to its sacred source,
When the winter’s chill drew nigh;

And no eye followed it in its course,

But many a sweet wished sigh.

His summer frock, on the golden rod,

He hung in a fleecy roll;

He left his cloak on the mullen stalk,
And his message in my soul.’’

In the thickets along the streams we find Song and Fox Sparrows.
Sometimes they delight us with snatches of their spring songs. They
are very shy, though, and if one wants to hear them he must keep very
still.

One day I went into an old orchard. It had been allowed to grow
up in weeds so thick, that, but for their brittleness, I would never have
made my way through them. Here and there were old brush heaps
and there were some briars. I found the place literally alive with
Juncos and Tree Sparrows. All the latter seemed to be singing, and
though their little song is simple, yet, all together, and in their rich
Canary voices, they produced some of the sweetest bird music I ever
heard. Once In a while I caught the whispered warble of a Junco.

We Missourians have the little Chichadee, too; and the Woodpeckers.
Of the latter, at least four species winter with us—the Downy, Hairy,
Red-bellied and Flicker. And I have heard that the Redheaded stays
with us, but personally, can’t say he does. He must stay hidden deep
down in the heart of the woods. Every day I hear the croak of the
Red-bellied, and occasionally the “‘wicker, wicker, wicker,’’ of the
Flicker. Downys and Hairys are common, and may be seen in the
trees of the yard when the thermometer registers 15 and 18 degrees
below zero which is the coldest weather we have. Once ina while we
see White-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers, but they are not
with us regularly, throughout the winter.

And the same may be said of Bluebirds'and Robins. Isaw a flock of
Bluebirds last week. Their “‘thoroughwert’’ sounds as mellow as in
the spring time. And the Cedar Waxwing is only occasionally seen.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 165

During the latter part of February they begin to come regularly to our
cedar trees.

Horned Larks are abundant. They fly over the country in flocks,
usually flying high, and uttering a note that sounds like ‘‘p-t-t-t-two,”’
that is as near as I can spell it. They roam about as if they had no
special destination. We may see flock after flock pass over, all going
southeastward. Last winter as I came through a meadow, just at dusk,
a flock in which there must have been several thousand settled down
near me. I presume they spent the night there.

The Bobwhite is often heard, but rarely seen. They are hunted so
much it is a wonder they show themselves at all inthe daytime. They
are not as abundant as in days gone by, but I think there need beno fears
of their extermination, at least not for years to come. Now andthena
flock of Mourning Doves stay with us through the cold weather. They
subsist on grain gleaned from the straw stacks, and from cornpens.
Whenever. the hunter discovers their resort, woe be to them, for he
usually exterminates the flock.

Of our birds of prey, the Marsh Hawk is to me the most interesting.
I never tire of watching him as he quarters the meadow and stubble
fields, ever on the lookout for moles. Frequently we see him strike.
Sometimes, owing to the dense grass and weeds under which the mouse
escapes, he fails to get his prey, but when a mouse does find himself
in the clutches of this Hawk, he may as well say goodbye to this world.
Another of our hawks is the American Roughleg. From my observa-
tion, I gather that they do not seek their prey after the mauner of the
Marsh Hawk, but rather perch on the top of some isolated tree, in or
near a meadow. From this point they keep a sharp eye on all the sur-
rounding country. I have seen him fly nearly two hundred yards and
pounce upon a mouse he had in all probabllity seen before leaving his
perch.

On moonlight nights we hear the “‘hoo-o, hoo, hoo,’ of the great
Horned Owl. If it sounds so great and menacing to us, what shudders
of apprehension it must send through the hearts of the little wild people.
I should think this great bird would be the most feared of all the birds
of prey. One evening just after sunset, I was in the orchard and heard
his cry. It sounded so near I looked in the trees over my head to see
the bird. Finally, I located him in the top of a tall cottonwood, a hun-
dred and fifty yards away, sharply silhouetted against the dying glow
of the western sky. He sat there quite a while uttering over and over
his characteristic cry, which was always answered by another Owl down
in the field. Though his cry was low, it seemed so near, and so full
of volumn, that the earth and every thing seemed to tremble with it.

166 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Everybody knows the Screech Owl. He lives in the trees of the
Orchard, and sometimes is very noisy. Sometimes he roosts in the
cedar trees, and I find on the ground, pellets that are composed for the
most part of mouse fur and bones. But I have found them to consist
of feathers that look suspiciously like the English Sparrow wears.

Every man that is fond of shooting, notes the approach of fall and
winter with evident satisfaction. He pictures to himself long V-shaped
columns of slowly moving noisy-mouthed wild geese, and swift, silent
flocks of wild ducks. Yesterday; I saw ina shute far out in the river
and surrounded by ice a number of Canada Geese. They are, since
the extermination of the wild Turkey, king of our game birds. And
like the Turkey they too might have been exterminated, were it not for
their unceasing vigilance. It is indeed a lucky gunner that brings one
of them to earth. Those who have hunted them tell me that at night,
when a flock has settled down on a sandbar a number of pickets are
stationed out so they can observe the approach of any enemy, in time
to warn the sleeping flock. It is almost impossible to approach them,
even on the darkest night. The method usually employed in hunting
them is as follows: The hunter, on locating a flock, pulls his boat far
around them till he is above them so the current will carry his boat
down on them. He lies down in the boat, trusting to the current to do
its work, and never showing himself above the rim of the boat. If he
is fortunate enough to float down among them, unsuspected, he will
probably get one or two. Two sixteen year old boys of my acquaint-
ance secured a couple in this way recently, but since then I have seen
the strategy fail. Before the boat had floated within three hundred
yards of the birds they showed their suspicion by craning their necks,
and a moment later all took wing and were off.

Wild ducks are another favorite game bird. They may be seen on
the river any day. Mallards, Sprigs (Pintails), Greenwings and Black-
jacks (Scaups) are probably most common during the winter.

Jans 3, OS: EpGAR BOYER

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 167

ben’
14
Ri:
be

ee

NASHVILLE WARBLER,
| Natural Size.]

168 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NASHVILLE WARBLER,
A. O. U. No. 645. {\(Helminthophila rubricapilla.)
RANGE,

The United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains.
Winters in the tropics and breeds throughout its summer home.

DESCRIPTION.

Length about 4.5 in. There is little difference between the sexes of
this species but the female is a trifle duller in color and has less and
sometimes no chestnut on the crown. That on the crown of the male
is usually quite strongly tipped with gray so that the patch is partially
concealed. Young birds are still duller in plumage and the head is a
brownish gray rather than the clear gray of the adults, and the chestnut
patch is entirely lacking.

NEST AND EGGS.

Nashville Warblers build their homes on the ground, usually sinking
the nest in a small hollow flush with the surface of the ground and un-
der an overhanging tussock of grass so that it is very effectively con-
cealed. I have always found these to be one of the most difficult nests
to locate although the birds are quite common here in summer. They
commence building their nests by the latter part of May and fresh eggs
may be found until the end of June. The eggs vary in number from
three to five and are white, usualiy with a creamy tint, wreathed and
specked with light reddish brown; size .65x.45.

HABITS,

The little birds seem to be very irregularly distributed but are com-
mon locally throughout the northern parts of the United States and
southern Canada. In New England they are very common and in favor-
able localities their song is heard persistently throughout the day,
They are usually met with on stony hillsides especially those covered
with numerous patches of small brushes or growth of pines.

The song of these Warblers is very characteristic, being wholly un-
like that of any other Warbler with which I amacquainted. It resembles
‘“twee-twee-twee-twee-tre-e-e-e-e, the first syllable repeated either four
or five times and ending in a short trill. Sometimes I have heard them
leave off the distinguishing trill and the song then might be mistaken
for either that of the Chestnut-sided or Yellow Warbler.

Unlike most of the Warblers, these are quite shy and often manage
to keep just beyond your vision so as to be an aggravating mystery to
to those unacquainted with their song. I have often followed one of

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 169

these birds the entire length of a piece of scrubby woodland, without
once catching sight of him although his voice always seemed to come
from the top of the next tree.

Their nests are one of the most difficult to discover of all our War-
blers; they are very small, deeply imbedded in the short grass or moss of
a hillside and the adult birds exercise great care not to disclose its hid-
ing place. Although they breed quite common in Massachusetts I have
never found but one of their nests, and that was entirely accidental for
I was hurrying down hill, homewards, late one afternoon, when a small
bird left the ground, at my feet, and with a loud flutter sped away through
the trees. Several minutes search disclosed a handsome little cup
woven of grass, bark and rootlets, snugly tucked away in the moss at
the base of arock. While I could not identify the bird by the hasty
glance that I had of her, the five eggs that were in the nest, I concluded
were those of this bird and the next day my suspicions were verified.

170 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

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e

BOD If the thrush attempt defense
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Si

eB Surely I without offense

Proffer help in generous mood.

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From the icy breath of Frost,
BAC I) With a warm glow I may steep
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as If a song be such magician
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Be May I, too, be sweet musician,

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AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. Tet

Photo from life by Ester A. Dixon.
AN ATTRACTIVE SUMMER COTTAGE.
|Occupied by House Wrens.]

172 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

“WHERE DO THE LITTLE BIRDS GO?"

A few days ago a lady was telling me about the large number of birds
that nested about her house, ‘‘But,’’ she added “‘where do they go to
when they leave the nest. There are very few birds around here now
and I should think there would be a great many more since the young
have hatched?’’ While she was talking she was fondling an old tom-
cat, the pet of the household. It may have been imagination, but I
could almost see the cat wink at me as she was talking. I have no
doubt whatever about his knowing where the greater part of the little
birds went to.

A friend of mine who lives in the country, is very fond of birds and
of course enjoys having them around the house. To the great delight
of the whole family, a Robin nest was found under the barn; it was only
about four feet from the ground on the body of an old wagon. It was
an ideal location in some respects, protected from sun, wind and storm,
and very unlikely to be disturbed by any feathered enemies. There
was just one point in which the judgment of this pair of birds erred;
they tock into consideration the hospitality of man but they did not
reckon on the hostility of all felines. The five eggs which were laid
were faithfully tended by Mrs. Robin, and in due course of time five
little Robins graced their home. Two more weeks went peacefully by
and the little ones were nearly large enough to try their wings. All
this time the cat, a large tiger and the pet of the family, was watched
carefully and apparently took no interest in the nest or did not even
know of its existence. When it was expected that the little:birds might
leave the nest, the cat was keepin the house. For two days he was
kept indoors but on the evening of the second day he commenced mew-
ing so piteously that someone opened the door and let him out. Later
investigation showed that inside an hour after puss was let out, he had
torn down the nest and secured all the birds. There seems to, be no
doubt but what he knew where they were all the the time, and that he
was but waiting until they had grown large enough to make a full meal,
and that his anxiety on the night in question was probably occasioned
from fear that they would be large enough to fly before he could get
them.

And so the little birds go! Thiscat was no exception, just a handsome
well bred fellow, an excellent ratter, a household pet; he would not
look at the chickens, never watched the canary and was on friendly
terms with the dogs (if they kept their distance). None of the family
would have believed their pet capable of such work and would have
known nothing about it had they not been especially interested in this

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 173

particular nest. A few days later a young Robin from another nest
made his first flight and landed in the drive-way only to find itself in the
grasp of Tommy, who paused to look up and see if there were not more
coming. During this pause the little bird was rescued but it was too
badly injured to survive.

Now the cat was not to blame; it was its nature, as it is that of every
other cat. A cat is a carnivorous animal endowed with the strength,
skill and agility to secure its own prey, and no matter how much they
may be trained, when the opportunity occurs they will jump az it. I
am not condemning cats; they make very congenial pets, and it is not
because I do not like them that I do not own one. But untilaclawless
and toothless breed of cats are introduced they will not mix with birds,
that is, ard still have the birds alive. Itis little short of luring birds
to their death to put up houses for them and still keep our feline friends.

TAMING OF A YOUNG COW-BIRD,

The more one studies bird life in the field and learns how individual
birds will at times depart from the habits of their families, the more
fascinating the study becomes.

When I heard of the taming of a young Cow-bird I must confess to
some doubts on the subject until I had seen it several times snd knew
its history. About June first while Mr. Saunders was feeding some
small chickens, a chipping sparrow followed by a fluttering, crying Cow-
bird, which had plainly taken the place of the rightful inmates of the
sparrow’s nest, flew into the yard and began to feed with the chickens.

After coming together for a few days at feeding time, the Cow-bird,
evidently deserted by his foster mother, came alone and finally made
his home between the chicken’s yard and the back door steps.

The bird; which Mr. Saunders named “ Dick,’’ would follow him or
Baby Helen about the place. and it was a pretty sight to see Helen tod-
dling aftea the bird, which would keep just out of reach, or if she turn-
ed, to see the bird following close at her heels. When “ Dick” first
came to the yard he would chase flies and mosquitoes, but soon showed
a preference for meal and bread crumbs, which he ate greedily, becom-
ing a decided vegetarian in his tastes.

After the chicken food was mixed, “ Dick’’ in his eagerness would
get into the pan, and I have often seen him feeding from one side of

174 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by Wilbur Smith.

COWBIRD.

the pan while Baby Helen was playing in the meal on the opposite side.

Often when Mr. Saunders would put some meal into a spoon “‘Dick’”’
would step into it and allow himself to be carried about the yard, con-
tentedly feeding the while, or he would walk into Mr. Saunder’s hand
for his food, or take it from his fingers.

After the first few days ““Dick’’ did not utter a note and most of the
time bore little resemblance to a Cow-bird. He would sit upon the
ground, with feathers ruffled and head drawn back upon his shoulders,
and instead of walking, would run with short, quick steps; but when
startled his feathers would lie slick and close, and with head thrust for-
ward, he would walk about,—a credit to his family. ‘* Dick’? showed
no fear, even of strangers, and if he wandered away would come quiet-
ly at Mr. Saunder's call.

He became so tame in time that he made frequent excursions into the
house. going from one room to another.

Everyone became much attached to him and wondered if he would
leave in the Fall and if he would return in the Spring; but all predic-
tions failed as he came to an untimely end on the fifth of July, when a
fox-terrier pounced upon him and before help could come to his rescue
‘“ Dick’s’’ life-story had been told. We mourned his loss and buried
him with far more tenderness than we were wont to accord to his va-
grant relatives.

WILBUR F. SMITH.

175

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by Jas. H. Miller.

FLICKER AT NEST HOLE.

176 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

THE DAUGHTERLESS FLICKERS,

EUGENIA CHAPMAN GILLETTE.

I wonder if all the Flicker babies of last season were boys! Of all
the families that came under my observation, not one could boast a girl
baby. Does that indicate a war in peckerdom?

I was watching three families closely and caught casual glimpses of
a good many others. These three families consisted of four, five and
six children respectively,—with the regulation two parents per nest.
And of these twenty-one birds, the three mothers were the only ones
without the black mustachios. And all the Flicker school children I
met by the way were boys.

The family that was blessed with six sons lived in a tall oak tree by
the lake. Had they but opened their door in the right direction, they
would have commanded a magnificient view of the rarest gem ofa lake.
But that door, round as Giotta’s O, opened diametrically opposite to
the point where it should, the whole bole of the tree intervening, and
affording shelter from the wind and driving rains from the lake, as
effectually as it shut off the view.

These six sons had a dinner horn apiece, and their clamor was appall-
ing when their frequent luncheon hour arrived.

The serving process was agonizing to look upon, as Flicker parents
feed their young by regurgitation. It certainly looked like strangulation
and murderation, and one found it hard to understand how the children
could clamor for their turms, instead of striving to escape the awful or-
deal.

The family of five sons dwelt in an old willow tree on the bank of the
mill race, where the baby faces were reflected in the still waters when
the baby heads were thrust forth to greet the parental return.

The family of the male quartet was reared in Library Park, though I
did not discover them until they had left the nest.

The sons could not well be instantly distinguished from their sire,
though the black French knots on their white vests were not quite so
large and richly black, and their collars were a little lighter, more yel-
lowish red. But after a few moments watching, the children invariably
did something unmistakably childish, that left no question.

One day the faucet, in which the lawn hose was attached at sprinkling
time, was left dripping, and Flicker pater, tired and thirsty from much
foraging for apples and ants, decided upon a drink of city water. He
flew up, clung to the projecting boards of the veranda floor, and opened
his mouth, letting the water drops fall in.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. IER

Flicker fils was on the ground nearby, watching intently, and talking
baby talk to himself about it, and when dad flew to the ground satisfied,
the baby proceeded immediately to try it himself.

Apparently he did it just as daddy did, but only about one out of five
of these unaccomodating drops would fall into the open mouth. ‘The
poor little fellow got it in the eye, and up the nose until his patience
was utterly exhausted and his temper up. With an angry shake of the
head he flounced off across the lawn, at the most convulsingly awkward
lop-sided gallop, demanding consolation from daddy dear.

Daddy rubbed cheeks with him lovingly, and calling mater and the
children, who quickly appeared from various qurrters. he treated the
whole crowd to apple jack, on tap in a particularly fine large russet,
early fallen to the ground. a

They made a charming group indeed, but I could not help wondering
if the Flicker mamma did not in her heart of hearts yearn for just one
little daughter. I’m sure I would.

Photo by Jas. H. Miller.
FLICKER LEAVING NEST,

178 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BIRD CHATS WITH OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

Address communications to MEG MERRYTHOUGHT, 156 Waterville St.,
Waterbury, Ct.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

Will you write me about the nesting birds which you watched during
June and July; the length of time from the building of the nest to the
appearance of the little birds; the material, and situation of the nest;
which young birds emerge from the shell dressed, and which undressed,
and whether the male bird shirks his part of the care? We shall be
glad to hear from you about these or any other facts of interest you
may notice during the nesting period.

A father Robin takes his turn in sitting upon the eggs in a nest not
far trom here, and above the rim of another nest—built of twigs—
gleams a dash of red as a Rose-breasted Grosbeak covers the eggs
while madam takes an outing.

Cordially, your friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I., Frank M. Walling, Spartans-
burg, Penn.. Katherine Stilwell, Phoenix, Arizona.

peat

isin waa

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 179
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES OF JUNE.

Clock Puzzle.

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

1 to x.-Wren 7 to x.-Oriole

2 tenon 8“ -Raven
Soap, SEDs 9“ -Waxwing
4“ -Plover LO; oes > heteria

5 “ -Pigeon Wate ark
6. Osprey 12 =. -Linmett

DIAMOND PUZZLE.

I
P
;
K

o>
A
QUERIES.

Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, Purple Finches, Blue Jays,
English Sparrows.

Purple Finches.

Blue Jays, Nuthatches.

Woodpeckers.

Nuthatches, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, English Spar-
rows, Tree Sparrows.

Nuthatches, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, English Spar-
rows.

Nuthatches.

Nuthatches, Chickadees, Woodpeckers.

A MESSAGE TO THE BOYS.

Just as the sun peeped above the eastern hilltops yesterday morning,

you might have heard a great commotion in the tree-tops in a grove in
a Massachussets town which overlooks the Connecticut river. Here

180 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

were collected a muititude of birds, of all sorts, sizes and colors, all
talking at once. Here were Vireos, Wrens and Flycatchers, Owls,
Finches, Sparrows and Meadow Larks, Chewicks, Catbirds, Grosbeaks
and Warblers in great variety, and a bevy of Swallows and Sandpipers
from the river bank.

Presently a Brown Thrasher from the highest branch called the
assembly to order, a dignified black-billed Cuckoo was appointed as
chairman, and little Jenny Wren as secretary, partly, I mistrust, to keep
her quiet.

The Hon. James Crow, in a long address gave the cause of the gather-
ing, which in brief, was this:—to learn what action the birds would take
in regard to various reports which had been brought as to the treatment
of birds in different parts of the country.

Then, boys, your ears must have burned, as witness after witness
told of the good or ill they had received from your hands.

Bob White mounted an old fence rail, and told how he and his family,
of over twenty, were kept from death through the cold and snows of
the last two winters, by grain and crumbs which thoughtful boys had
placed in sheltered places for them. The Nuthatches, Woodpeckers
and Brown Creepers told of similar care. Wrens, Martins, and Blue-
birds described the many boxes which had been built them for homes.
Robins told of the drinking and bathing dishes which gave comfort to
many birds through the heat of summer, while Chickadee had made
such friends among the boys that he came at. their call, and fed from
their hands and lips. A gentle Wood Thrush said that this very morn-
ing, her nest with its treasures of four downy babies had been visited
by a boy whom she had so learned to trust, that she stood fearlessly
upon the brim of the nest and allowed him to see her nestful of darlings.

Thus far, all had been delightful, and you would have been glad and
proud had you heard them singing your praises.

But, alas, as another Wood Thrush took the stand, a darker side was
presented. It was a sad tale of a beautiful nest which she had fashioned
with great skill, searching far and near for twigs for frame work, and
soft grasses for lining, but ere the four blue eggs were hatched, the
nest was ruthlessly torn down, the eggs confiscated for a “collection,”
and she herself fled for her life.

Madam Redstart darted about, nervously opening and closing her
feather fan,—‘‘Oh! Oh! Hear me! Why did they shoot my mate with
their air rifles, was it because his orange and black coat was so hand-
some? They shot him and he lay torn and bleeding for hours till death
ended his sufferings.’’

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY 181

Other Warblers lisped of the terror in the air, and a dainty Magnolia
Warbler testified of his daily fear, as boys had thrown stones into a
flock of his mates who were gathering insects from some shrubbery.

Some brown birds—Mrs. Blue Bunting, Mrs. Song Sparrow and Mrs.
Grosbeak—told of suffering among their relatives, caused by boys who
“only shot English Sparrows,’’ and in soft twitterings some bank Swal-
told how their roofs had crumbled down beneath rough feet above them.

There were many similar harrowing tales and I think that then and
there the birds would have voted to remove far from the haunts of men,
leaving our homes birdless, had not a bustling Chickadee flown forward;
all paused to hear what counsel this cheery sprite had brought.

Shaking his head, Chickadee said, ‘You are too severe upon the boys,
they are not such brutal and unjust animals as this mass of testimony
would indicate. They are simply thoughtless, if the matter is but put
before them in its true light they will treat us with fairness. Show
them the good times they can have by making friends instead of
frightening us; show them the immense number of insects, worms and
grubs we destroy; show them how we brighten the earth by our songs
and beauty, what marvelous weavers, masons, carpenters and other
artisans there are among us, and you will surely find these boys have
common sense and warm hearts, and would become our protectors in-
stead of persecutors.”’

“Nay! Nay! ‘“‘croaked a cross Blue Jay,’ It is easy enough for Sir
Chickadee to talk for no boy would ever harm a Chickadee. Had he
suffered what we had, he would lose his faith in boys.”’

The Chickadee breathed a soft sigh, and whispered, ‘Not many weeks
ago, my wife was killed by a stone thrown by a heedless boy, yet in
spite of this, I belleve they do not intend to be cruel, and I move, Mr.
Chairman, that a report ot this meeting be sent to Meg Merrythought,
that it may be read by the boys and give them a chance to put them-
selves on a right footing in Bird Land.”’

The birds with one accord agreed that this was but fair play, and with
a great flapping of wings, the motion was unanimously carried, and a
Tanager in livery of scarlet and black, was commissioned to carry an
account of the convention for “‘Bird Chats.”

As the factory whistles blew, I met the courier, and have written
down his message for you as best I could.

If you have any doubt as to the truth of this account, come to Water-
bury within the next two months and I will show you the identical Scarlet
Tanager who will speak for himself, and I pray you, all fairminded youth,
heed his message.

182 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
PI.

Birds which build covered or arched nests on the ground.
1. Moodawe karl.
2. novedrib.
3. passhoergep-waspror.

4. kilbinboo.
Sometimes< 5. Marylard-wethaytollro
6. Aiqui.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

Mary made some 5-6-7-8-4 and 4-2-5 them in the pantry window to
cool. A 7-6-8 peeped out from a hole in the wall, ran across the shelf
and 5.6-4-5-2-3 of the crust. He thought it a great 8-7-2-5-5. He 6-5-2
off a large piece. When he heard Helen opening the door, he quickly
4-5-6-7-8-2-3 back home. When the little girl saw what he had done,
the 8-2.6-7-4 came into her eyes. Just then she saw a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 in
the oak just outside of the window, as he 3-6-7-1-5-2-3 away she ran and
told her mother that a 3-2-6-7 little yellow and black bird had been tast-
ing her 5-6-7-8-4.

GLEANINGS.

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad

When our mother nature laughs around;

When even the deep blue heavens look glad,

And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground.
There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren,
And the gossip of swallows through all the sky,

The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den

And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

ae

BRYANT.

Biro-Lore

EDITED BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Reduced facsimile of ERNEST
THOMPSON SETON’S draw ing of
the Northern Shrike. Presented
to every subscriber to Vol. VII,
1905, of BIRD-LORE. The origi-
nal is nearly life-size.

We still have left a few com-
plete sets of BIRD-LORE, and
offer the six volumes, 1899-1904,
unbound, for $7.00 postpaid.

BIRD-LORE

Harrisburg, Penn.

BEAUTIFUL ARTISTIC INSTRUCTIVE

The Birds and Nature Library

WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, Editor, Secretary of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.

This superb set of books should be in every home, in every school and in
every library. Illustrated only by the three-color process of photography. 640
illustrations in colors absolutely true to life. Size of plates, 7x9 inches. 371
plates of Birds; 14 plates of Birds’ Nests and eggs; 3 plates of Birds’ Eggs (49
varieties); 68 plates of Mammals; 18 plates of Insects (98 varieties); 9 plates of
Shells (96 varieties); 86 plates of Flowers and Fruits; 17 plates of Gems and Gem
Minerals; 54 plates of miscellaneous subjects.

These volumes are bound in red, half morocco, and consist of 80 numbers
of ‘‘Birds and Nature.”’

““Certainly no periodical, and probably no book on birds ever found any-
thing like such favor with the public as BIRDS AND NATuRE.’’—Evening Post,
New York.

Are these pictures good? The statements of two eminent men are a sufficient
guarantee:

The pictures are astonishingly good. I like them so well that I shall put
on the walls of my rustic retreat, Slab Sides.—John Burroughs.

You have certainly hit upon a method of reproducing colors with remarkable
fidelity to nature.—Dr. Elliott Cowes.

The text of the books is most interesting and satisfactory. Both prose and
poetry bring Nature home to the heart and mind in a captivating and delightful
manner. Nature stories teach the younger readers, while reliable and readable
articles present the great facts of Nature to minds more mature, awakening and
fostering the love of the animate life of our wonderful world.

_ PRICE, per volume, $3.00. Full set (8 volumes), $19.20. Same in 16 vols. Cloth, $2.00 each.
Set (16 vols.), for $24.00. Awarded Gold Medal, World’s Fair St. Louis, 1904.
Birds and Nature, monthly 20c, per year $1.50.

A. W. MUMFORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, tencents. Vols. I, Il, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, III, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

—COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED———

@

VOL. V AUGUST, 1905. NO.

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. Anyone may send inas many photos as they wish, and
the awards will be made upon the clearness and beauty of the picture, with due
regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining. As in our last contest the pic-
tures will be grouped in three classes. All desirable photos, which do not win
prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.

CLOSES OCTOBER 1, 1905
CLASS I. Live, wild birds.

1st prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No. 3A....... $20 00

2nd prize; pair Hield Glasses. 0.3. Sec ceo oe 5 00

3rd prize, Color Key to North Am. Birds...... 2 50
CLASS II. Young birds.

LSE DTIZEs AL VCS LOO OVER, Stet otetst ieee ciel seston $20 OO

2nd prize, Parr Bield Glasses... sen) sem eee 5 00

BT G: DHIZE> (COVOTAIKEY join tokens ole anhs torsion 2 50

CLA SS JAE Birds’ Nests.
1st prize, Pair Field Glasses
2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eggs

SB
bm

t~
S

THE PURPLE MARTIN'S RETURN,

O aerial minstrel with harp ever ringing!

Thou voice of the sky! We have watched for thee long;
But now on this morn when all nature is springing,

We catch from the breezes thy jovial song!

Intently our eyes through the azure are straining;
No trace of the singer as yet we descry;

But soon, as the volume of music is gaining,

We notice a speck in the depths of the sky.

There, truly, he comes, ever nearer and clearer—
Down, down, like a metor from heaven, he falls;

And alights on the house, in the garden that’s dearer,
To him, than the south with its palm shaded halis.

For he, who has glanced through the bowers of myrtle,
And soared o’er the forests of olive and palm,

Returns to this land of the pine and the maple,

The summer to spend in his northern home.

And here through the summer, from morn until even,
The mate that he loves he will cheer with his lay.—
O! welcome, thrice welcome, thou minstrel of heaven,
Our land is so lonely when thou art away!

mesa

184 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NOTES ON A FAMILY OF ROBINS,
By CARL L’ KaApp.

They had been looking for a nesting site for some time, but it was
not until the latter part of April that a pair of Robins concluded to locate
almost under the eaves on the east side of our front porch.

However this proved to be a bad location. During the period of in-
cubation the heat of the sun was not very great, and the female did not
suffer much, even though exposed to the full glare of the morning sun
every day. But after the young birds had broken the shell, the weather
became very warm; it was then that the faithful little mother suffered
intensely.

Had not the winter of which the last traces had disappeared only a
few weeks before, been such a severe one, all would have been well.
For a peach tree, which had died on account of the severity of the
weather, would have afforded them abundance of shelter. I think the
birds had counted upon this tree for shelter, or they would hardly have
built in such an out of the way place.

During the entire period of incubation, a little more than two weeks,
I never once saw the male bird upon the nest. Several times I saw his
mate leave the nest for about a half-hour at atime, but he never relieved
her. ,

However, every day, always in the evening, I saw him alight in the
middle of the lawn with something in his bill. At once his mate flew
to him, took whatever it was, swallowed it; and after preening her
feathers a bit, flew back to the nest.

One morning, on the ninth day of May, there were two, and the next
four little naked crootures that opened wide their bills in the expectation
of food upon the slightest noise near the nest.

During the time the young birds stayed in the nest, which was just
two weeks, the parent birds were kept pretty busy feeding them. The
amount of food which a nestful of young Robins consume is incredible.
The food upon which they were chiefly fed was fish-worms.

It was also during these two weeks that the mother bird suffered
severly from the heat. Few people credit the wild things with much
paternal devotion to their young. But if they had seen the way in
which this bird protected her nestlings day after day from the hot rays
of the sun, they would change their ideas, I think.

Day after day I went out at noon and found her half sitting, half
standing over them; her wings spread, and the muscles in her throat
working fast. But for her constant faithfulness, the young birds must
have perished.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by L. B. Gilmore,

YOUNG ROBIN,

186 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Even before the first brood was ready to leave the nest, the parent
birds had commenced the foundations of another nest in a tree not
sixty feet from the first one.

It is a popular idea that birds and mammals perform everything
through a mechanical instinct. That however I do not believe.

When the pair of Robins of which I am speaking, built their first nest
under the eaves of the porch, they used almost a superabundance of
mud and literally plastered the nest in place. But I noticed that in
building the second nest, which was placed in the branches of a tree,
not more than half the mud was used, it not being necessary.

All this goes to show that birds must use some reason in the con-
struction of their homes.

It is said that Robins sometimes raise three broods of young birds a
year. This pair didnot. After the second brood had acquired the
ability to hunt their own living, I was surprisedto see that both broods,
together with the parent birds, stayed around our yard all the rest of
that summer and late into the fall.

It was a bright day in April when the parent birds came, and it was
a bright day late iu September, when together with their two families,
they joined a roving flock of their kind and started on their journey
toward the land where the sun always shines. And Iwas sorry to see
them go.

Photo byfL. S. Horton.
MOTHER ROBIN AND YOUNG.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 187

THE NEST IN THE MEADOW,

By BERTHA CURRIER PORTER.

’

“Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Oh, how pretty you are,” sang little father
Song Sparrow to his mate in the grass. He was swinging on the top-
most twig of the apple tree, and she was very busy down on the ground
below. The apple tree stood near the shore of the lake, in a big
meadow, through which ran a tiny brook. A long plank walk led down
to the lake from the farm house up on the road, and just where the walk
crossed the brook, mother Song Sparrow was building her nest. It
was in the grass, on the sloping bank, and was completely covered by
a little blackberry bush that grew there. It was so well hidden that
even the big girls, who scoured the fields for birds’ nests, had failed to
find it, though they came down the plank walk half a dozen times a day.

“See! see! see! Oh, how stupid they are,”’ father Song Sparrow would
sing scornfully, as they went by again and again and never suspected
what the blackberry bush was hiding. But at last the little mother
made a sad mistake, there were five brown speckled eggs in the nest
now, and she was so anxious about her babies. The big girls were
coming down the plank walk, and as she heard their steps nearer and
nearer she became panic-stricken, flew right off the nest and up into
the apple tree, where she sat and scolded violently; ‘Go away, go
away!” she said, but the big girls did not go away, for now they knew
there must be a nest not far off. So down on their knees they went,
and hunted carefully for a long time till at last one gave a shriek of joy,
“Oh! I see it! Look! Look! Isn’t it lovely??? They held the blackberry
bush back and looked at the dear little straw cradle with the five spotted
brown eggs. At last they went away, and mother Song Sparrow came
back to cuddle her babies and keep them warm.

After this she was very timid. When she heard footsteps coming
down the plank walk she would fly off the nest ina greathurry. Never
straight to the apple tree now. No indeed, once was enough for that!
Right under the plank walk she went, and when she came out it was
many feet farther up on the other side. Then she flew along in the
grass, across the walk and back to the apple tree. One day she was
taken by surprise and forgot herself, so that instead of flying under the
walk she fluttered right on to it and hopped along in front of the big
girls for ever so far.

The awful small boy was the only one who knew of the nest besides
the big girls and the mighty man. He was a good man, because, one
day when the awful boy had discovered the five speckled eggs and was
rejoicing in wicked glee, the mighty man told him ‘‘he’d shake the

188 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

stuffing out of him if he touched that nest,’ Father Song Sparrow
heard this and flew down to tell the little mother. So, after that, when
the mighty man went by, she sat calmly on the eggs and never moved
a feather.

One day mother Song Sparrow left the nest for a few minutes, and
when she came back one of the tiny brown eggs was gone. She hunted
all over the bank and in the brook to see if it could have rolled out, but
she could not find it. She looked up the plank walk, and there was the
awful small boy rnnning away as fast as he could. The mighty man
was up in the field getting sods, and the small boy had at last found his
opportunity to steal one of the eggs. After that mother Song Sparrow
stayed close to the nest, only going down the bank to the brook to
drink. For now there were suspicious movements in the little brown
eggs which made her more careful than ever.

One morning she found three tiny birds, and only oneegg left. Then
they were four, and such wee litttle babies as they were! They had no
feathers, only a bit of brown fuzz here and there. Their eyes were not
open but their mouths were, and they were very great mouths for such
very little birds. Father Song Sparrow did not have so much time to
swing in the apple tree now, he was busy hunting food for the babies,
and mother Song Sparrow was even busier. It took a great deal of
food to fill those four gaping little mouths, and when the babies finally
went to sleep at night it was a tired little mother that brooded over
them and a weary little father that tucked his head under his wing and
slept in the apple tree.

The babies grew fast and soon the feathers began toshow. But you
would never have suspected they were feathers, for each one was done
up in a long round sheath so that the little birds looked as if they were
covered with tiny quills. At last these burst, and there were the four
babies all dressed in brown like father and mother. ‘Their mouths did
not look quite so big now, but it took even more food to fill them.
Mother Song Sparrow was a very proud little mother indeed, and as for
father Song Sparrow, he flew all over the neighborhood telling of the
fine family under the blackberry bush in the meadow. It would have
been better if he had not told so many people, but he never dreamed of
danger, nor did he know that one day as he sat singing to the Indigo
bird, old mother skunk and her three babies were listening, safe hidden
away where no one could find them,

‘“Come! Come! Come! See how pretty they are! There! There!
There! Down by the old plank walk! Safe! Safe! Safe! Under the
blackberry bush!”’ sang little father Song Sparrow, swelling his throat
and swaying back and forth on the tree, while old mother skunk listened

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 189

and listened and thought, “‘We’ll see how pretty they are! Safe, are
they? Wait and see, wait and see!”’

That night, after all the day birds had gone to sleep, and only the
Whippoorwill was singing in the swamp, old mother skunk called her
three children around her and said, ‘“‘Come, we will go and get some
supper now. I know where there are nice little birds that will taste
good to my dears. And it is time you were learning to hunt for your-
selves.’ So down the meadow they went, creeping slowly along
in the grass under the plank walk, mother skunk leading the way, and
the little ones following aimost in her very footprints, quivering with
excitement. When they came near the nest mother skunk turned and
whispered, ‘‘Slowly, now—carefully—don’t wake them!”’

Father Song Sparrow flew straight up in the air when he was roused
by the terrified cries of mother Song Sparrow and the babies. Down
he dashed at old mother skunk and fluttered wildly around her, but she
paid no more attention to him than as if he were a feather floating in
the air. By and by she went away, and the three children with her.
Father Song Sparrow came down from the apple tree and called, at
first softly and cautiously, then louder and louder. But no one answered
him. One little baby lay dead on the bank and there were a few tail
quills floating on the water. The Whippoorwill had stopped singing.
Father Song Sparrow went back to the apple tree and waited till morn-
ing.

Very early the mighty man came down the plank walk to hoe the
beans. Father Song Sparrow remembered what he had said to the
awful small boy. When the mighty man came near the nest he found
a frantic little bird hopping on the walk, fluttering up the bank, flying
up into the tree, and all the time crying, ““Look! Look! Look! See
how wicked she was] See! See! See! All my babies are gone! Oh!
Oh! Oh! She’s killed them every one! Look! Look! Look! Mother
and babies and all!’’ The mighty man stopped, pushed aside the black-
berry bush and looked into the nest. Then he looked on the bank.
‘Then he said just one word—‘‘Skunks’’—and went tramping up through
the field. Father Song Sparrow followed, flying from tree to tree and
crying, “Oh! Oh! Oh! What are you goingto do?’’ At last the mighty
man stopped and looked around very carefully. The next minute
Father Song Sparrow saw him step quickly to one side and strike some-
thing hard with the hoe, once—twice—three times. Then he picked upa
heavy stone and threw it at something. Father Song Sparrow flew up
very close to see what was going on. There in the grass lay old
mother skunk and three children, all dead.

190 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The mighty man went back to hoe the beans. Father Song Sparrow
flew to his perch in the apple tree. As the sun came up over the
mountain, he swung and sung triumphantly, Dead! Dead! Dead! The
mighty man killed them all!’’ Over and over he sang it. Suddenly
he paused, looked down at the grassy home under the blackberry bush,
and sang once more, very soft and low, Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Oh,

how pretty you were!’’ and flew away.

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NEST OF TAILOR-BIRD.

ASIATIC TAILOR-BIRD,

The little Tailor-bird, supposed to be about the smallest bird in this
part of Southern Asia, is a very common resident of Foochow and vi-
cinity. While other species are migrating with the changing seasons

this littie friend remains throughout the entire year in its chosen home.

DESCRIPTION.
The Tailor-bird is about 3 3-4 to 4 1-4 inches in length. It is a uni-

form light olive-green on entire upper parts. The forehead is a deli-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 191

cate shade of brown. Entire under parts pearl gray. The beak is
straight and pointed, and is used very dexterously for piercing leaves
in nest building. Male and female almost identical, except that the
male bird often has tail quills extended slightly, giving the appearance
of pins.

NEST AND EGGS.

The picture books of our boyhood days but very poorly give an idea
of the nest and nesting habits of this ever busy little friend. The
habits of the bird are very much like those of the Carolina Wren of the
homeland. One naturally feels that he has met some member of the
Wren family upon first forming an acquaintance with the little Tailor-
bird, and as the nesting season approaches he begins to follow the little
fellow among the flower pots of the door yard, hoping to see him dis-
appear inside the door of a Wren’s home. The bird is very seldom
seen at any very great height from the ground, so it is but natural that
we should expect to find the nest among the flowers of the garden as
this is the most favorite resort of the bird.

The nest is a very compact structure, composed of only the very

softest vegetable fiber, webs and plantdown. There is a slight frame-
work of grasses which seems to be used for no other purpose than to
give form and strength to the nest. Thls little nest is firmly riveted to
to a folded leaf, or as the case may be, to one or more leaves which have
been made to constitute the walls of the little residence.
The bird very skillfully draws the leaves together and pierces them
with her beak. Through these holes webs and hempen fiber is thread-
ed in such a way as to form a rivet which cannot be withdrawn through
the same hole. These threads are shortened and interwoven in such a
way as to draw the Jeaf, or leaves, forming the exterior wall of the nest
into acup-shape. Within the confines of these walls the compact struct-
ure is skillfully formed into a little home.

Figure No. 1, shows the nest of the Tailor-bird in a large banana
leaf. This nest was about eighteen feet from the ground andcontained
four eggs. Figure No. 2, shows a nest constructed by the same pair
of birds. This nest was constructed within three days from the time
nest No. 1 was taken. This nest was placed in the leaf of a canna, and
only eleven inches from the ground.

Both of these photos will serve to correct the idea that theTailor-bird
sews its nest up in a leaf In the criss-cross fashion as portrayed in our
picture books.

Figure No. 3 shows a nest placed between two or more leaves, and

192 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Fig, 2. Photo by H. R. Caldwell.

NEST OF TAILOR-BIRD.

gives a tair idea of the method with which the bird rivets its nest to
the leaves. This nest was located almost twenty feet from the ground.
Another nest was being built in a wisteria vine about six feet from the
ground. The faithful little pair labored nearly a week trying to form
this mass of material into a home. The leaves of the wisteria were
not strong enough to sustain the weight of the nest so it was necessary
for the birds to select a more suitable nesting site. This was accom-
plished in the selection of nesting site as shown in figure No 3.

The eggs of the Tailor-bird generally number four, and are of aclear
white, or white slightly tinted with green, ground color, marked and
spotted with red and brown. The average size of the egg is about
that of the Blue-gray Gnat-catcher, though slightly longer and of a more
oval shape.

HABITS.

This little wren-like bird is one of the most common residents of this

NEST OF TAILOR-BIRD.

immediate part of southern Chine. It lives in close proximity to the
ground, and is seldom seen in trees, except while passing from one
feeding ground to another. The flight of the bird is very noticeable.
It passes from tree to tree with the seeming effort of a wounded bird,
or one that has been drenched with the pouring rain. The little pair
seem to be very devoted to each other, and are just as inseparable dur-
ing the winter months as during the baeeding season.

Often while busy in search of food, the little pair become separated
and one of the birds mounts some pinnacle and utter a clear loud note
which brings a low response from the mate from the nearby bush, and
soon the happy pair are at work side by side peering into every crevice
and among the dead leaves for miller or larva which makes up the daily
diet.

The notes of the bird, like its actions, very much resemble those of
the Carolina Wren. You have all heard the Wren from some fence
post call its mate -ugena, eu-ge-na, eu-ge-na, and in like manner do we
often hear the little Tailor-bird call 7u-dok, tu-dok, tu-dok, which happens
to be the name of many little Chinese boys.

194 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

There is a common proverb among the Chinese to the effect, “The
Tailor-bird lays Goose eggs,’’ which metaphor means, ““A small thing
accomplishing much.’’ This would indicate that the Tailor-brd is con-
sidered by the natives to be about the smallest bird in China. So far
as my observation goes I should say that it is.

HarrRY R. CALDWELL, Foochow.

SAMMY?

In 1897 while driving through the town of Andover, Maine on my
way to the Rangely Lakes, my driver told me that a farmer in the town
had captured a young eagle. I made him drive me to the house. Of
course I thought it was a Bald Eagle (Haligetus leucocephalus) but I
was surprised and delighted to finda young Golden (Aguila chrysaetos).

The man found the bird as he was coming from the lakes. He saw
a curious looking object lying on the ground in a field. He took a
rope and caught the bird, bound him and brought him home in his
wagon. He had fed the bird on fish alone for a month—a most unusual
diet for a Golden Eagle.

I bought the bird and gave him all the meat he could eat, then boxed
him up and sent him to my home (Lancaster, Mass.)

Since that time we always considered the bird a male and he has
always been called ‘‘Sammy’’. Imagine my surprise when on April 8,
1905 I found ‘““Sammy’”’ had laid an egg.

On comparing it with several sets I found it was about the average
size.

I have heard of Bald Eagles laying in captivity but not a Golden
Eagle. . JOHN E, THAYER.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 195

THE SLEEPING QUARTERS OF THE PRAIRIE HORNED LARK.

W. W. JR., MIcH.

It has always been a mystery to me as to where the Horned Larks
are able to roost during the cold winter months, with snow onthe ground
and the thermometer frequently below the zero mark. Often have I
watched these birds late in afternoon, intending to trace them to their
roosting place, but all the satisfaction I could get was to see the birds fly
high in the air and soon disappear. However, I accidentally caught a
smallcolony going toroost as follows: Late one afternoon while pass-
ing a large sand bank, I noticed five of these birds coming swiftly to
the earth and in another instant they alighted within a few yards of me,
but did not appear to notice me at all and I could easily observe their
movements. After running up and down for some time, they retired,
each one selecting some crevice that would offer ample protection
against the wind and snow. The next day they returned again and
have often been seen since. Both Prairie and Horned Larks are rare
during January, but the second week in February generally shows an
abundance of them.

I should like to call the attention of Eugenia Chapman Gillette, who
writes in the July AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY under the head of ‘The
Daughterless Flicker,’’ to the fact that immature female Flickers have
dark mustaches ‘which they lose on coming of age. (See Florence
Merriam Bailey’s ‘‘Handbook of Birds of the Western United States’’,
edition of 1902, page 220.) Yours truly,

CHARLES H. ROGERS,
New Jersey.

196 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AMERICAN SONGSTERS,

Mrs, IRVING KNIGHT.

Song birds endear themselves to us more from association and sug-
gestion than from excellence of their musical qualities. The song that
is the simplest will appeal infinitely more to the heart according to the
coloring of its back ground. It should be arare pleasure and one of
the joys of living to cultivate a love and knowledge of the little feath-
ered songsters. It is they who furnish nature’s music and to vibrate
with her harmony one must learn to listen to her music. The plaintive
note of the Blue-bird, the Song Sparrow ditty or the Robin’s bright
carol, sets many an American heart throbbing with the touch of treas-
ured memories. The song birds may educate us in the holiest emotions
of life and in the finer spiritual perceptions if we will but listen.

Let us go into the realm of bird life and learn how each and all sing
their various songs. Itisa fairy-land filled with the sound of grand
bird choruses in warbles, chants, musical calls, trills and squeaks.

Among the American birds the best songsters are probably the Mock-
ing-bird, Wood Thrush, House Wren, Winter Wren, Song Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Maryland Yellow-throat, Vesper Sparrow, Purple Finch, In-
digo bird and Hermit Thrush.

The Mocking-bird’s natural haunt is the southland. It’s song prob-
ably surpasses that of any bird in the world, in point of compass, va-
riety and execution. It is the only night singer in America. Other
songsters, among which are the Cuckoo, and the Kingbird send occasion-
al bursts of song startlingly out into the night air, but it Sonne more
like the fitful outbursts of disturbed sleep.

Birds are very likely to be attracted to pleasant meadow lands,
sprinkled with wild flowers, trees and bushes, with bits of wooded land
near about. I have been in the midst of such a landscape in early spring
and heard grand bird choruses, made up of from fifteen to twenty dif-
ferent kinds of bird voices. The beauty of this melody, with Nature as
Director, sent waves of joyous feeling coursing over me. There wasa
medley of both big and little songs in all keys, coming forth from the
trees, bushes, grass—everywhere.

From some bushes in the background came the shrill, supple, rather
feminine song of the Cat-bird, and from the top of a near by oak tree I
heard the louder, richer and more audacious song of the Brown Thrash-
er. The Cat-bird and the Brown Thrasher are related to the Mocking-
bird. Their songs are a series of vocal feats, corresponding to the cul-
tivated human voice. They even give their songs at times a ventriloquial
touch.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 197

-From the border of the woods on my left came the golden voice of

the Wood Thrush. It was a song serene and liquid, with a transparent

quality. Not in the least confusing were the silverv tinkling notes of
the Bobolink in the tall meadow grass.

In the medley I could distinguish in the direction of a clump of alders
the notes of the Red-shouldered Blackbird. The strong cry ofthe Great-
Fly-catcher lent a harsh note to the refrain but did not mar it.

The brilliant song of the Indigo bird, the strong, bright warble of
the Scarlet Tanager, the innocent, contented warble of the Red-eyed
Vireo. All chimed in harmoniously. The three last named birds are
the only songsters that can be heard with any regularity after the meri-
dian of summer is past.

The Linnet, or Purple Finch posseses great compass and melody of
voice. He pours forth a strain, vicacious, rapid, and circling. He is
the most noted songster in the Finch family.

Of the Wrens, the House Wren is a good singer, and the Winter
Wren’s song is surpassed by but few singers in point of mellowness
and execution. In summer time the Winter Wren haunts the cool
northern woods where his music is lost in primitive solitude. The
Golden-crown Kinglet’s rich prolonged warble is noticed in the ever-
greens of the northern States, for one or two weeks in May, when the
bird pauses to feed on its way to Canada.

There are a number of lesser songsters whose cheerful, honest songs
in the summer trees would be greatly missed. The Vireos are among
these and they contribute an important element to the music of groye
and wood. The Red-eyed Vireo sings his cheerful way through all the
day long, and through all the summer. The Warbling Vireo comes in
with a bit stronger strain, and not quite so sweet, while the Solitary
Vireo, as his name implies, keeps much to himself. His song is heard
only in the deep woods. The White-eyed Vireo is found only in wet,
bushy places and its vehement song is sure to catch the dullest ear.

There are an army of small Wood Warblers, about forty species.
Most of them are merely faint chatterers.

The Water Wagtail, and the Wood Wagtail are the most brilliant
warblers, with the exception of the Kinglets, which are northern birds
in summer, and also the Kentucky Warbler, which is a southern bird.

The Water Wagtail utters brilliant snatches of song from dim aisles
along some wild brook, but it is a very evasive bird and chary of its
music. If its song were prolonged it could be compared to the English
Nightingale.

The Veery and the Hermit Thrush also belong to the wood songsters.

198 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The Chimney Swallow chatters silvery, rattling notes that aim at
making music.

The birds that have only musical call notes are the Blue-bird, Sand-
piper, Swallow, Red-shouldered Starling, Pewee and “‘High-hole.”’

The common Sand-piper is not a loguacious bird and utters only
occasional call-notes. Though it is not a songster, its note is very
pleasing as it flits up and down summer streams or runs along in
pebbly shallows. During its spring migrations its calling and piping
can be heard in the night.

The Wood Pewee’s pathetic, silvery note, the Yellow-throat’s ““wich-
ery, wichery,’’ the Orioles strong whistle, the loud call of the High-
hole, the Gold Finch’s animated strain, the rich melodious song of the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chewink’s brief emphatic song, and the pierc-
ing call of the Meadow-lark, all contribute to the lesser strains.

The pretty Cedar-bird has the least voice of all the American birds,
while the Bobolink excells in simple lingual excellence.

The bird choir is rich in Sparrow voices. The ditty of the Song
Sparrow rises from the garden fence, and from the roadside early in
March. It is prophetic and touching with many variations and trills.
On the other hand the notes of the Savannah Sparrow are shrill and
and harsh. The Vesper Sparrow with its reposeful song tells of quiet
lanes, and the softly ringing notes of the Bush Sparrow delights the
ear. The Canada Sparrows sing only in the spring and fall, and the
Fox Sparrow cai sometimes be heard in April, singing the richest and
and most moving of all sparrow songs.

Now let us consider one of the most beloved of American birds—
Robin Redbreast. This pretty bird sings his greatest carol surrounded
by deep silence. His song is then at its truest harmony with nature.
He should be heard on a clear early spring day, just as the sun is set-
ting. He then carols steadily for ten or fifteen minutes from the top of
some tree. At such a time there is hardly any other sound. Patches
of snow linger here and there. The trees are naked. The earthis cold
and dead. Then this contented hopeful strain is poured forth so freely
and deliberately that it fills the void with the very breath and presence
of spring. Yetitis asimple strain, unaffected by long fancy trills. Itis
honest and direct and slightly plaintive. It goes straight to the heart
and cheers like the sunbeams that glide and glance among the dark
boughs.

There are great bursts of bird song in America during May and at
times till mid-summer. Many bird voices join in the general outburst
but it is fitful and more confined to certain hours of the day. There is

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 199

much bird music lost ‘“‘upon the desert air’’ in the wild forest and wood
solitudes, and much of it is hushed by the heat of the midsummer sun.
The birds are not domestic and do not become intimately associated
with man. Their songs have an illusive, plaintive strain, as if they had
not been touched by civilization, and because they do stand so much
apart, the ear must be attuned to their songs to apprehend and appre-

ciate them in the confused murmur of nature.
Dallas, Texas.

Photo by L. B. Gilmore.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY.

200 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NEST AND EGGS OF CANADA JAY.

CANADA JAY.
A. O. U. No. 484. (Pe-isoreus canadensis)

RANGE,

Northern United States including northern New Englaud, New York,
Michigan and'west to the eastern base of the Rockies, and the whole of
southeastern Canada.

DESCRIPTION.

Length 11.5 in. back, wings and tail smoky gray, throat white, shad-
ing into gray on the under parts; forehead buffy white shading into black
ish on the hindhead, the latter color reaching to the eyes.

The habits, nesting habits, nest and eggs of the following sub-species
and species are indistinguishable or identical with those of the Canada
Jay and they will be considered together.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY,

No. 484a. (P. ¢. capitalis)
RANGE,

The Rocky Mountains from the southern to the northern boundaries
of the United States.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 201

Photo from life by L. B. Gilmore.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY.

[Winner of 2nd Prize in 1904 Photo contest. ]

202 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

DESCRIPTION.

Like the last except that the white covers the whole top of the head,
the dark being confined to the extreme hindhead and being of a more
grayish shade.

ALASKAN JAY,
No. 484b. (P. ce. fumifrons)
RANGE,

This sub-species which is found, as the name implies, in Alaska,
differs from the Canada Jay chiefly in having the forehead ot a more
yellowish buff color.

LABRADOR JAY,

No. 484c. (P. ce. nigricapillus)
RANGE,

This bird is confined to Labrador; it is distinguished from the Canada
Jay by a greater abundance of black on the back of the head, it reach-
ing to the front of the eyes and forming a circle around them. The
black is also more intense than in any other of this species.

OREGON JAY.

No. 485. (Perisoreus obscurus )
RANGE.
Pacific coast of the United States from northern California to south-
ern British Columbia.
This species is quite similar to the Canada but has less white on the
forehead and the entire under parts are nearly pure white.

GRAY JAY,

No. 485a. (P. ¢. griseus)

RANGE.

This variety is found in the interior of Oregon, Washington and Brit-
ish Columbia. It is said to be larger and grayer than the latter.

NEST AND EGGS,

These birds build their nests usually in coniferous trees, and at alti-
tudes varying from six to forty feet from the ground, the Oregon Jays
appearing as a rule to nest higher above the earth than the others.
Their nests are all large and bulky, and while rather clumsily made
form warm shelters for the little ones. The exterior of the nests is

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 203

usually composed of twigs plentifully sprinkled with moss, bark and
catkins; it is usually lined with fine fibres and downy feathers and often
larger feathers are worked in the outside perhaps for ornament. In
March or April they lay three or four grayish eggs spotted with brown
and gray; size 1.15 x .80.

HABITS.

From the name by which this bird is commonly known, such as
“Whisky Jack,’ ‘Moose Bird,’ “‘Camp Robber’’ and scores of others,
the character of these Jays can well be imagined. They have all the
bad traits common to our well known Blue Jay, and, like him, have no
redeeming virtues except their beauty, vivacity, audacity and sense of
humor. i believe no bird has the sense of humor so keenly developed
as the Jay or his relative, the Crow. They like to play tricks on any-
body or anything, and will cackle with glee when anything particularly
pleases them, but when the joke is on them they usually show their
appreciation in squawks of anger. Living as they do, in sparsely settled
regions, the Canada Jays are very tame as compared to ours; con-
sequently their actions are more often noted and commented upon.

They are thieves of the first order, and their knavery is not confined
to the theft of eatables but they will take anything that they can lay their
hands, or rather their bill upon. If there is anything in sight that is
especially valuable to mankind and absoiutely worthlessto them, they
will exercise their wits to acquire it. They are the constant companions
of hunters, trappers and lumbermen in the northern woodland and watch-
ing them at their antics is one of the chief sources of amusement of these
men. They will enter a camp, goright inside the tents and carry off
everything, edible or not, and what is too large they will tear to pieces
and carry off in sections. They will work like beavers carrying articles
away and storing them in crevices under the bark of trees or even un-
der leaves, and, from my observations of Jays, I think they remember
the location of everything they conceal and dig it up at some future
date. They eat carcasses, pelts and skins frequently annoy trappers
by taking the bait from their traps or damaging the skins of animals
that they have caught. Their food consists largely of flesh when it can
be obtained and, like the Blue Jay, they rob the nests of other birds of
their young and eggs. At other seasons of the year they eat berries.
acorns, buds and seeds of all kinds, They are practically resident
wherever they are found and usually commence nesting long before
the snow is off the ground. The nest shown in our illustration was
found in March when the mercury registered thirty-two degrees below
zero. It is a typical nest and is plentifully adorned with grouse feath-
ers.

204 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

7)
Mata oa Geul

ADDRESS

ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO
MrG MERRYTHOUGHT
156 WATERVILLE ST., WATERBURY, OT.

My DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

Can you tell why we find so few sign of bird-life in our August
rambles?

The Goldfinches are still busy with family cares, for they waited for
the thistles to ripen for the silken lining of down for the cup which
holds their babies.

The Red-eyed Vireo still preaches among the treetops, and the In-
digo Bunting—a delight to the eye—merrily warbles from the highest
branch all through the sultry August days. But many of the other
birds seem to shun the haunts of men, hiding quietly in retired places.
Now they are changing their coats for the second time this year, put-
ting on the more sober colors which serve as a protection from danger;
perhaps they are ashamed of their raggeddy gowns, and then, too, the
tattered plumage makes flying long distances difficult.

You are doubtless having good times this long vacation, and will
write to this corner about that part of it which you spend with the birds.

Cordially, Your Friend,
MrcG MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Carl Ph Dowell, Port Richmond, N. Y., Huldah Chase Smith, Pro-
vidance, R. I.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 205

ANSWERS TO JULY PUZZLES.

Pi. Birds which build arched or covered nests on the ground.

1. Meadow Lark.
Ze © venbird.
3. Grasshopper Sparrow (sometimes).
4. Bobolink.
5. Maryland Yellow-throat.
6s -Ouail.
NUMERICAL ENIGM.\.
Redstart.

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THESE TWO WARBLERS?

Upon a fair May day as a quartette of bird lovers rested by a brook
which rippled softiy down the hillside among rocks and trees, a sharp
“tut, tut’? warned them that they were traspassers. The notes of alarm
came from a pair of olive birds no larger than an English Sparrows.
They walked along the opposite side of the brook, then flew from stone
to stone in its mist, and darted about the heads of the intruders, scold-
ing heartily meanwhile, and constantly swinging their tail from side to
to side like a youig lady very conscious of her first trained gown.

The under parts of the bird were of a soft creamy white, streaked on
the sides with black and a long waite line passed over the eye. They
resembled Thrushes, but they were not Tarushes. What were they?

Perhaps there vas 1 nest in ore of the mossy caves inthe over hang-
ing banks, but it was sv cumiinsly hid lea tiat not one of the quartette
could find it.

While they were still watching these birds, another bird flew up from
a bathing place in the brook, and alighting upon a branch by the side
of a great boulder, began preening its feathers. This, at first glance
seemed like a small Red-eyed Vireo, but a more careful survey showed
a black line through the eye, and that the lines which marked the eye-
brow of the Vireo were lacking, Its back was aclear olive green, its
under parts a yellowish white, the top and sides of its head were slate
color. As he flew away a bit of white showed in his tail feathers.

He resembled a Vireo, but he was not a Vireo. What was he?

QUERIES.

1. What four birds are called Thrushes, which are really Warblers?
2. What bird is often wrongly called a Thrush, which belongs to
the same family as the Catbird and Wren?

206 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

3. Which of our most common birds are Thrushes, though they are
called by another name?

4. What birds are wrongly accused of laying its eggs in the nests of
other birds, from the fact that its English cousins of the same name
have this habit?

5. What birds have been imported from England which sing a sweet
song while soaring in the heavens?

6r What birds have been imported from England which are thickly
spotted above and beneath, with yellowish white spots?

7. What birds imported from England have become such a pest that
we should be glad to see them all transported far beyond the northern
sea?

8. What birds will give chase to other birds more than twice their
sizes?

9. What two birds have been associated with the crucifixion by
legends?

10. What birds, residents of northern New England, northern New
York and north to Arctic regions, build their nests early in March, when
the ground is still covered with deep snow?

CHARADE NO. l.

My Ist is found in great quantities in the desert.

My 2nd is higher than the surrounding country.

My 3rd is used in raising heavy weights.

My whole is a bird with a very long neck and long legs.

CHARADE NO. 2.

My Ist is a nickname for a boy.

My 2nd is a vowel.

My 3d is a part of a chain.

My whole is a bird which sings on the wing, and which has been
mentioned by many poets.

CHARADE NO. 3.

My first is the action of a dog in drinking.

My 2nd is what Columbus was glad to see.

My 3d is what the journeys are which are taken by the American
Ornithology each month to reach its subscribers.

My 4th was a part of a knight’s equipment wien he rode away upon
a long journey.

My whole is a bird whose hind toe-nail is longer than the toe.

The Flower-lovers.

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The American Botanist

It is written in untechnical lan-
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work. Send for a sample.

WILLARD N.CLUE & CO.,
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Rochester New York

BEAUTIFUL ARTISTIC INSTRUCTIVE

The Birds and Nature Library

WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, Editor, Secretary of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.

This superb set of books should be in every home, in every school and in
every library. Illustrated only by the three-color process of photography. 640
illustrations in colors absolutely true to life. Size of plates, 7x9 inches. 9871
plates of Birds; 14 plates of Birds’ Nests and eggs; 3 plates of Birds’ Eggs (49
varieties); 68 plates of Mammals; 18 plates of Insects (98 varieties); 9 plates of
Shells (96 varieties); 86 plates of "Flowers and Fruits; 17 plates of Gems and Gem
Minerals; 54 plates of miscellaneous subjects.

These volumes are bound in red, half morocco, and consist of 80 numbers
of ‘Birds and Nature.’

**Certainly no periodical, and probably no book on birds ever found any-
thing like such favor with the public as BIRDS AND NATuRE.’’—Evening Post,
New York.

Are these pictures good? The statements of two eminent men are a sufficient
guarantee:

The pictures are astonishingly good. I like them so well that I shall put
on the walls of my rustic retreat, Slab Sides.—John Burroughs.

You have certainly hit upon a method of reproducing colors with remarkable
fidelity to nature.—Dr. Elliott Coues.

The text of the books is most interesting and satisfactory. Both prose and
poetry bring Nature home to the heart and mind in a captivating and delightful
manner. Nature stories teach the younger readers, while reliable and readable
articles present the great facts of Nature to minds more mature, awakening and
fostering the love of the animate life of our wonderful world.

PRICE, per volume, $3.00. Full set (8 volumes), $19.20. Same in 16 vols. Cloth, $2.00 each.
Set (16 vols.), for $24.00. Awarded Gold Medal, W orld’s Fair St. Louis, 1904.
Birds and Nature, monthly 20c, per year $1.50.

A. W. MUMFORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, II, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, Il, Ill, I1V and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

—___ COPYRIGHT, 1905,BY CHAS. kK. REED

VOL. V SEPTEMBER, 1905. NO. 9

PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION.
THE LAST MONTH.

Our object in conducting these competitions is to increase interest in the
study of living birds and especially their study with the camera. A good photo-
graph of a live wild bird is valuable scientifically, is always a delight to the
beholder, and brings back pleasant recollection, to the one that made it. Bird
Photography is a sport that may be indulged in by everybody, and in any part
of the country, with equal chances of success. Only forethought, patience and
a camera are necessary. Anyone may send inas many photos as they wish, and
the awards will be made upon the clearness and beauty of the picture, with due
regard to the rarity or difficulty in obtaining. As in our last contest the pic-
tures will be grouped in three classes. All desirable photos, which do not win
prizes, we will pay for at the rate of fifty cents each.

CLOSES OCTOBER 1, 1905
CLASS I. Live, wild birds.

1st prize, Folding Pocket Kodak, No. 3A....... $20 00

INOMDTUZE,) DOL Hee lle GLASSES. eee nee ene 5 00

3rd prize, Color Key to North Am. Birds...... 2 50
CLASS II. Young birds.

TSG DT Aa VitSUGr OONLET OM iran tterenen erate $20 00

OHOMPTIZE, ROUTEE ELON G LOSSES seme eee er 5 00

Sra prize, Color A Cy o-\ eee teas So er eee 2 50
CLASS III. Birds’ Nests.

1st prize, Pair Field Glasses $ 5
2nd prize, North American Birds’ Eggs 2 50

MOTHER NATURE'S INVITATION.

By BertHaA A. JOSLIN, MAss.

’Tis the voice of Mother Nature,
What does the old dame say?
She is calling to the children

In her ever winsome way,

‘““O! leave your books and studies
And come with me and play,”’
Says Nature, Mother Nature.

“They have told you of me, children,
In the schoolrooms broad and fair,
From whose widely swinging portals
You are swarming everywhere,

And I hear your merry voices
Fioating to me on the air,”’

Says Nature, Mother Nature.

‘““Come noisy boys and chatt’ring girls,
I’ll give you of my best,

Come bring the little children

And I’ll rock them on my breast;

I’l1 show each day new treasures

Till the sun sets in the west,”’

Says Nature, Mother Nature.

“Tve hung my trees with little homes,
I’ve gemmed my boughs with birds,
If you listen very closely

You may understand their words,

And I’ve filled my lakes with fishes,
And my pastures teem with herds,”’
Says Nature, Mother Nature.

“T have frescoed all my mountains,
Till they flash with rills and flowers,
Where the dryads dance and frolic
With the winged-footed hours,

And the berries hang in clusters,

And the wild grape weaves its bowers,’
Says Nature, Mother Nature.

b

bo
=)
10)

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

“And I’ve painted all my ocean,

*Tis a bright, abounding blue,

And the white sea-gulls float over,
And they only float for you,

O! I’ve done my spring housecleaning,
And the world’s as fresh as new,”’
Says Nature, Mother Nature.

“So I’m waiting for you, children,
On the sea and on the land,

You will find me if you wander,
You will find me close at hand,

O! Fairyland stands ready

And I'l] wave my magic wand,
Only come!’’ Says Mother Nature.

THE JUNGLES, SANTAWAE CREEK.

By J. LAmMptTon Ross.

My favorite hunting grounds are in a deep valley through which a
shallow listless brook slowly meanders, impeded at every step by the
dense underbrush which grows in and along its sides. At this partic-
ular point it might properly be called a swamp, but after emerging
from this tangled mass of cane, ferns, moss and skunk cabbage, it
sallies forth, quite a cupestible stream. This is Santawae Creek, and
here in this lonely spot, concealed from the world without and the
birds within, I take my stand, armed with a double barreled field glass
and a camera.

What is that little brown body, whisking and shuffling about among
the ferns and moss and screened from view by the endless canopies of
skunk cabbage? In an instant I discharge a volley from my glass
right into his strong hold. He doesn’t mind it a bit but kicks up his
legs and flits about like the trained donkey in the circus. But I’ve
caught him for an instant; a quick examination reveals a brown back
and grey breast heavily marked with dark heart shaped spots. Is it
the wood thrush? Now he has risen to the tree above me, and is
singing merrily away, “‘Wee-o-tee-ee, Wee-o-tee-ee.’’ Being a néo-
phyte in the business, there are many interesting things that particu-
larly attract my attention.

The harmless garter snake with its two parallel red lines running
down its back, as it sinuously glides out of my way. The great trees
which, cover the shores of Santawae Creek, and the fallen ones resting
at angles. Here a great King of the forest lies groveling in the mire>

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 209

half buried amid the wildest confusion of brambles and ferns, and
effectually disguised by the moss and creeping vines which encompass
it. The brook now gurgles and babbles into the meadow beyond, glad
to be released from the swamp growths which hindered its progress.
The birds are about all here that are due and I will mention a few as I
pass along.

The omnipicient Catbird slinking and snarling, the Oriole that wel-
come visitant from the tropics is now arrived. Thrushes and Thrashers
are here in abundance. Towhees in their happy security under the
skunk cabbage leaves, with their little grey shirt fronts and rufous
colored waistcots. The Warblers and Woodpeckers and Kingbirds
hovering in the air or darting from a limb after an unsuspecting insect,
returning with his capture to the identical perch. Here immediately
before us we start a bevy of quail, and you are startled as they whirr
off in a bee line to a more secluded cover among the evergreens. A
little beyond the Flicker is flickering about showing his white rump and
golden wings to good advantage in the sunshine.

A lazy Song Sparrow is taking advantage of a snug llttle hole in
the turf on the slanting bank, near the water’s edge, and is rounding it
out for a nest, preparatory to laying the eggs. These are but a few
items of what I call ““observing things’’ and in my case is not to be
dignified by the name of study.

MAINE BIRD NOTES.

MYRTLE F. SMART.

The following “‘Bird Notes’’ were taken in the spring and summer
of 1903. Most of my observations were made on farms in the towns
of LaGrange, Maxfield and Howland, Penobscot county, Maine.

The farms are situated on a hardwood ridge, five miles west of the
mouth of Piscataquis River. My home farm consists of about fifteen
acres of field and orchard and eighty-five of rough pasture and wood-
land.

Not far from the house is a maple orchard of two or three hundred
trees and also some groves of spruce and fir, these latter being a fav-
orite nesting place for crows. A large Martin house of twelve rooms
and a box in which a pair of Tree Swallows nest are near by. Several
Barn Swallows’ nests are in the barn and over fifty in one on an
adjoining farm.

1903 was a bad year for birds in my locality as the red squirrels
were very plentiful and robbed nearly every nest, one squirrel being
shot in the act of throwing young birds from the Martin house.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

210

R. Spaid.

Photo by A.

NEST AND EGGS OF VESPER SPARROW.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 211

The list of bird arrivals in the spring was headed by the Crows who
came March 9th.

March 12th I saw and heard a Bluebird.

March 13th Robin Redbreast appeared, followed on the 14th by a
flock of Crow Blackbirds.

On March 20th, a flock of about one hundred Robins were seen in
the field. I think I saw a Sparrow the same. day.

March 28th I found a small blrd, partly eaten, spitted on a bush,
probably by a Shrike.

April 19th I saw a Tree Swallow. The 20th I think I saw a Barn
Swallow, but did not stop to identify it.

April 27th the first Robin’s nest of the season was found. It was in
a spruce tree and contained one egg. The nest was near a path over
which people were passing daily, and was deserted by the Robins after
three eggs were laid.

May 3rd, I discovered a Robin’s nest in a hole in a birch tree, it con-
tained four eggs. When I called on the 16th the eggs had hatched.
May 21st, when I next visited the nest I found the young birds dead.
There were blood stains on the nest but the young birds seemed to
have no external injury. Probably a squirrel had killed the mother
and they had died of cold as they had no feathers.

May 4th I observed a pair of Flickers or Golden-winged Woodpeck-
ers. The next day (May 5th) I saw their hole in an old apple tree.

Later when I visited the tree I could hear the young birds but the
hole was too deep for me to see them.

May 17th I saw three Eave Swallows and heard a Bob-o’link. On
the 24th I observed a Kingbird.

May 25th another Robin’s nest was found, on the 26th it contained
one egg. Ten days later it had been robbed.

May 30th I spent some time afield. I saw a flock of Cedar Birds
and one of Gold Finches. I found a Robin’s egg lying on the grass in
a pasture, no nest being near. While going through the orchard I saw
a female Ruby-throated Humming Bird. Later I was out in the old
orchard and observed a small hole in a limb of a dead tree. I tried to
climb the tree to see if there was a nest in the hole but the tree was
too much decayed. I rapped on the limb and as nothing came out ‘I,
supposing the hole to be empty, pulled the limb off. On looking into
the hole I was greatly surprised to see two young birds; they had
fallen from the nest and lay just within the opening. As they did not
have their eyes open and were covered only with gray down I could
not tell to what species they belonged. I replaced the limb as well as
I could and sat down near by to await the return of the parent birds.

212 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

They soon came, a pair of Bluebirds, the female carrying a small
worm. The branch containing the nest was not in exactly the right
place; this puzzled them. They flew about and after a great deal of
chirping and singing, the male ventured to take a worm into the hole.
The young birds did not seem to care for it, and he brought it out only
to carry it in the second time, but he could not get them to eat it.
Then I left them fearing that the fall had killed the young birds. But
in the afternoon when I rapped on the limb the mother bird flew out
and the next day the parents were feeding the little ones as if nothing
had happened. May 31st, two Chippies’ nests were discovered. June
3d each contained an egg, but a few days later one had disappeared en-
tirely the other had been robbed.

June 2nd I found a Robin’s nest.

June 8th I found a Kingbird’s nest. A few days later it contained
four eggs and I think that the nest was one of the few that season
which escaped robbing.

June 8th while walking through the woods I heard a bird singing, as
I looked around for it a young Towhee ran out from under my feet. I
tried to catch it but although it could not fly, it escaped among the
thees:

June 25th when I was walking through the same piece of woods a
Partridge or Ruffed Grouse ran across the path, squealing and pretend-
ing that she could not fly. On turning aronnd I saw a flock of young
Partridges fly into a tree.

July 3rd while in a maple orchard a young Woodcock was handed to
me.

July 8th a Chippies nest was found in the old orchard. A few days
later that and a nest containing young Robins were robbed.

For July 8th I find the following entry in my notebook. “A few
days ago I found a Cedar Bird’s nest in an apple tree, it was empty,
Yesterday it had three eggs. Last night a chippies nest was found.

July 13th and 14th while on Moosehead Lake I saw several Gulls
and a Loon.

Of the many nests which I observed in 1903 I kaow of only three in
which the young birds remained unmolested until old enough to fly
away, excepting Martins, Swallows and Swifts. As there were no
children who rob birds nests near and we kept no cat I think it was the
work of red squirrels. Generally nearly all the birds of that region
raise their young in peace.

At present I am in a city and can make few observations but I intend
soon returning to the country and my study of wild things.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 213

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.

YELLOW-THROAT ENTERING NEST,

214 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT,

A. O. U. No. 681. (Geothlypis trichas.)
RANGE AND DESCRIPTION.

Atlantic coast from southern New Jersey south to Georgia. This
race is said to be slightly smaller than the Northern Yellow-throat.
WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT,
No. 681a. (G. t. occidentalis.)
Found west of the Plains in arid regions from northern United States
southwards. A variety having a more intense yellow coloration and
the border of the black mask whiter and broader.
FLORIDA YELLOW-THROAT,
No. 681b. (G. t- ignota.)
South Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Carolinas to eastern Texas
This race is said to be deeper yellow below and browner above than
the common Yellow-throat.
PACIFIC YELLOW-THROAT.
No. 681e. (G. t. arizela.)
Along the Pacific coast from British Columbia southward. Slightly
smaller and less brightly colored than the Western Yellow-throat.
NORTHERN YELLOW-THROAT,
No. 681d. (G. t. brachidactyla.)
United States from the Plains to the Atlantic and from New Jersey
to Newfoundland: winters in the Bahamas, Mexico and Central Amer-
ica. This is the variety illustrated; it is said to be slightly larger than
the southern kind.

SALT MARSH YELLOW-THROAT.

No. 681le. (G. t. sinuosa.)
Salt Marshes about San Francisco Bay. Smaller and slightly darker
than the Pacific variety.
NEST AND EGGS.

Yellowthroats build their nests on the ground in swampy or moist
woods or underbrush. Usually the nest is placed between the stalks
of a clump of weeds, with the bottom just resting on the ground, but
sometimes it is sunk in the ground and partly roofed over. It is quite
deep and rather large for this small bird. Strips of barks and grasses
are skillfully woven around the outside of the structure and it is lined
with finer shreds of bark and fibres, the inside being deeply cupped.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 215

As the nests are nearly always placed where the underbrush is the

thickest, they are quite difficult to find. In the latter part of May, June

or July, they lay four white or creamy white eggs, specked chiefly

around the large end with reddish brown and umber. Size .68 x .50.
HABITS.

Rarely do we find swamp or low woodland untenanted, in season, by
these charming and active warblers. Although small in size they are
bright little bodies and act as watchmen for their community. They re-
gard man as an enemy untilhe has proved himself otherwise and give the
alarm to all their neighbors when they see anyone approaching. Their
note expressive of anger or fear is a sharp, deep ‘‘chip,’’ while at times
they utter a long roll or chatter which is likened toa watchman’s rattle.
It is a sound that I have never heard any other bird resemble. As you
‘stroll by their stronghold they closely follow you with their cries of
anger and entreaty, often attracting the entire bird population in the
neighborhood to see what the trouble is. They are not always in this
mood, however, for they have a pretty and distinctive song which they
give at frequent intervals; usually from the top of a bush the male
sings his ‘“‘witchity, witchity, witchity’’ ina tone so loud as to cause
astonishment. During the mating season he sometimes has fits of
mental aberration and takes flights straight up in the air, and then,
apparently abandoning himself to the mercy of gravity, falls undignified-
ly earthward singing his witchity song. However much his mind may
appear to be wandering at such times, he always recovers himself be-
fore reaching the ground and retreats into the depths of the thicket in
his usual manner. I have never seen the female Yellowthroat give
either the witchity song or the watchman’s rattle but she can scold as
vigorously or even more so than he can.

For more than a half hour, the little Yellowthroat shown in our
photographic illustrations heaped upon my head all manner of bird
epithets before cooling down sufficiently to allow me to take her portrait:
This nest was discovered by accidentally flushing the bird followed by a
long search among the weeds. It was partially suspended among the
stalks so that the bottom just cleared the ground. It contained fou;
dainty eggs which were nearly ready to hatch when the photo was

made.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

216

Male.

Female,

MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT,

[Natural size.]

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 217

HUMMINGBIRDS,

By J. L. NricHoLs.

One pleasant day about the middle of August while sitting on a
steep side hill watching a family of Indigo Buntings my attention was
attracted some distance away to what seemed to be a large wasp or
beetle. Immediately it lighted on a small tree. I then raised my
glass and saw that it was a hummingbird. While I was watching it
another came to the same tree. ‘They soon left the tree, but returned
in a few minutes; and after resting a short time left as before. I. then
concluded the tree was a favorite one in which they rested, and quietly
made my way down the bank to within twenty-five feet of it and await-
ed their return. Soon one of them returned; but it had been on the
tree but a short time before it became aware of my presence. After
eyeing me carefully for some time, it flew straight toward me. It
seemed as if it intended to strike me fair in the face, for it kept its
course direct until within two or three feet, when suddenly it stopped,
and,remaining suspended in the air by the rapid vibrations of its wings,
viewed me over, evidently wondering who I was and what I wanted.
It then flew over my head determined to examine me from every point
of vantage possible. After satisfying itself that I meant it no harm it
flew down to some wild flowers near my feet where it took a sip from
a number and then lighted on a branch of another tree nearme. Ithen
took my glass and examined it moreclosely without even disturbing it;
for it had completely lost all fear of me. At last I approached their
favorite tree to within ten feet and watched them as they came to rest.
There must have been four or more inall, and they were perhaps young
ones, as I saw no ruby throats.

In the meantime the buntings had left, so I came away very much
pleased with my walk that day.

A UNLUCKY NESTING SITE,
By MiLo Lyncu.

One morning last Spring while crossing a bridge on my way to school
a Quail limped out of the weeds and down the road ahead of me. Af-
ter she had gone several rods, she took wing and flew into a small
grove of scrub oaks. The next morning she did the same thing again
and I began to think that she was lame, but when I told Uncle Jerry
Rogers, an old gentleman, who had spent the best part of his life on
the plains and in the forests of the west, he laughed at me and told me
that was the Quail’s way of getting a dangerous enemy away from her
nest.

218 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The next day being Saturday a friend and I went to the bridge to
hunt for the nest; when we were just about half way across the bridge
the mother Quail hopped out of the weeds and limped down the road
as usual. When she had limped out of sight we looked carefully over
the ground near the bridge but we found no sign of the nest. When
we returned to the top of the bridge once more my friend leaned
against the guard rail while we talked about the habits of Quail.

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.

YELLOW-THROAT ON NEST.

{Note the deeply cupped interior of the nest, the bird being entirely below the rim of the
nest.)

When we were ready to go home my friend gave one of the posts
that held up the guard rail a kick to get some of the mud off his shoes
and like a flash the mother Quail flushed from almost under his feet.
We looked along the top of the foundation for some distance from these
and found a place in the wall where a stone had become loose and fallen
out. Weeds and grass had grownhere. In this vacant spot the Quail had

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 219

built her nest. The nest contained seven eggs when we found it and
before she began to set she laid six more which made thirteen in all.

My friend and I had heard of a Kingbird which built its nest in the
gutter to a house and of an Owl which built its nest in a hollow hitching
post and Uncle Jerry told us of a Mourning Dove which built its nest
on the ledge of an upstairs window behind the blinds, but we had
never heard of a Quail building her nest in such a public locality and
where it was so easy for skunks and other vermin to get at it. As the
time for the eggs to hatch drew near my friend and I grew more and
more tearful that some cat or skunk would discover the nest and make
a meal of either the old bird or the nearly hatched eggs.

We were just beginning to think that they would escape, but some-
times when the sky appears the clearest the storm is nearest. The
very next day when we went to school we looked into, to see how Mrs.
Quail was getting along as usual, to see if all was well with her, but a
skunk had visited the nest during the night. He ate the eggs and
killed the mother Quail. I suppose the eggs made a much daintier
meal than grasshoppers or grubs. This skunk did not eat the old
Quail but killed her for fun.

WHEN ELM BUDS OPEN,

By JAs. S. COMPTON.

The first ripple of the great flood of chirping, flying life rolls over
the Illinois hills just as the red maple begins to hang out its flags of
rejoicicing that Winter’s reign is over. In this first ripple have come
the cedar birds, the blue birds and the robins; then as March moves on
with restless and uneven gait, loth to give up his hold upon the fast
awakening world, other waves roll in each bearing tokens of the ex-
panding forces of nature, each mounting a little higher than its pre-
decessor before laying down its precious burden. The fox sparrow
stops for a day to try the flavor of our seeds and buds, but is borne
irresistibly onward to the shady forests of the dominion. The Chee-
wink, Meadow Lark and Song Sparrow are often left stranded upon
our hospital coasts to sing and chirp and attend to the duties of the
happy nesting time till the ebb of the fall migration shall sweep them
back to the sunny borders of the Gulf.

April passes with its constantly augmenting horde of visitors. May
comes and eln buds begin to swell. The tide of life that has -been
steadily rising since the first of March now reaches its flood. The
maple marked its beginning, the elm shows us its culmination, the
wild rose will soon tell of its ending. This spring migration is not so
mysterious, so capricious as its seems at first glance. The coming of

220 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

the birds that form these successive tides is largely regulated by the
character and quantity of the food supply. The fox sparrow, robin and
meadow lark with their big hard bills can make use of any kind of
food that Mother Nature happens to have in her lands; but the Vireos
and Warblers with their smaller softer bills must wait till the soft
bodied insects and tender buds of the new season are ready before
they venture forth from the perpetual summer of the tropics.

The attractions of the May woods in central Illinois are irresistible.
There are no flaunting or glaring masses of color, littie to compel,
much to suggest. The mounting sun only hints at what he will do
aftera while when “he gets his hand in.’’ Slender twigs and swelling
tree buds filter his rays. Heat ‘and glare are taken out, warmth and
subtle content come through to us prone upon the blue grass sod be-
low. The woodsy odors too are balm. The smell of sprouting grass,
of resinous budcasings and early flowers all tell the same story of the
expanding force of the new season.

NEST AND EGGS OF MD. YELLOW-THROAT.

If men do not appreciate the out door life for the first two weeks in
May, the birds surely do. One need not go far at such a time to hunt
them, give them half a chance and they will show themselves. Pick

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 221

out a few thick topped elms, select a comfortable seat somewhere near,
then if your neck is seasoned to the twisting and turning and tilting it
must undergo—the aches in the muscles which anatomists dignify by
the names Trapezius and Stemo-cleido-mastoideus won’t last long
anyway—you may look for the richest display of the season. A beau-
tiful scene it is, little sprites in black and white, in neutral olives and
greens, in dazzling orange and vermillion hunt for a breakfast or play
a jolly game of hide and seek among the opening buds.

In the course of a morning’s ramble during the first week of May in
an area less than an acre covered with heavy walnut and elm timber I
was rewarded with glimpses of more than forty species of birds, many
of them our rarest and most brilliantly tinted warblers. Indeed it
seems to me that these little forest covered oases, such as this was,
set down amid the vast expanse of prairie present superior attractions
to the wood loving birds. At any rate in a given area they are present
in larger numbers than in any wooded part of the Mississippi valley I
ever visited from the tamarack swamps of Michigan to the pine forests
that fringe the Gulf.

My glass was a good one and the first elm I selected very tall so I
retreated a few steps and sat down upon the narrow sidewalk in order
to drink in the details of the scene with more comfort. Here were the
Magnolia Warblers in striped vest of orange, black and white, jerky
redstarts in jet and salmon, the black-capped Wilson’s Warbler with
coat of green and vest of yellow, the common Chestnut Sided and the
rarer Bay Breasted, the Black Poll with his funeral nightcap quite out of
harmony with his cheerful ways and sprightly actions, the business-
like Black and White Creeping Warbler that never stoops to vanity or
gayety, and the quiet Cape May with his black cap and rufous ear
patch. The last named warbler is quite rare so when he left the tree I
rose and followed him to make a better study. He stopped on a low
bough and gave me an opportunity to stare at him to my heart’s con-
tent. Black crown patch, white on the wings, yellow-rump, and rufous
ear patch make the recognition of this bird quite easy.

Black-throated Green Warblers were especially numerous and lively
that morning. The name is a happy combination of those features of
the bird’s plumage which make identification simple and possible.
Wilson’s, the Cape May and the Tennesee Warblers are not so appro-
priately nor suggestively named. There is no suggestion or hint of
the bird’s appearance in the name to prepare the mind for readier rec-
ognition of the little fellows when the introduction comes.

The prince of the Warbler tribe for rich tropical coloring is the Black-
burnian. After my chase of the Cape May I returned to the big elm

222 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

and was soon delighted by the appearance of a pair of these beautiful
little creatures way up among the topmost branches. In rambles along
the Manmee, the Emory and the Big Black, I had seen many Warblers
but none quite so splendid as this. Tints of head or wings or breast
make little impression upon the retina, the patch of dazzling flame
color on the throat holds the attention till Mr. Blackburnian and wife
have gone.

Beside the Warblers there were other birds of more than ordinary
beauty of song and plumage, the Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos,
the White-throated Sparrow with his plaintive whistle, the Dickcissel
with his monotonous but cheerful song, the Indigo Bunting, and, last,
but not least among the notables, the prairie beauty for excellence, the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak resplendent in white, rose and black. Wood-
peckers, House Wrens, Bluebirds, Blue Jays and Robins mixed with
the horde and formed a background of good respectable mediocrity to
show off the fine points of the beauties. If the use of the superlative
degree is ever justified, early May in Central Illinois and its bird dis-
play will furnish that justification.

Photo from life by H. R. Caldwell.

TUFTED TITMOUSE ON NEST,

[The bird was hiding its head in the feathers composing the side of the nest. |

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 223

TUFTED TITMOUSE,
(Parus bicolor.)

Geog- range:—The Tufted Titmouse is pretty generally distributed
throughout Eastern United States to the Plains, and as far north as
Southern New England and is a resident throughout its entire range.

The Tufted Titmouse is an abundant resident throughout the more
southern part of its range, breeding in abundance in the deep woods,
or more open orchards where a suitable nesting site may be found.
No member of the farvus family is more common, or better known,
than this species. The loud, clear note wher-da, wher-da, wher-da may
commonly be heard in sunny days in winter, as the little feathered
friend busies itself all day long among the branches of trees, or around
the doorstep in search of found. It is especially fond of hickory nuts
that have been cracked, or suet that has been allowed to freeze without
the door. This bird is most congenial, showing no disposition to quar-
rel with its own kind, or to be unkind to its companions of the bleak
wintry day.

In early spring the Tufted Titmouse becomes more spirited, and
seem to be more abundant on account of making its presence known.
Mounting the upper branches of the yet leafless tree, the loud, clear
mating call #s sent forth in March, and by the beginning of April the
happy pair of mouse colored friends have chosen the site for a summer
home. The female is busy during the period of home building, the
male bird seldom, if ever, offering other assistance than his presence
while the work is being done. Material is generally carried from a dis-
tance in great mouthfulls which almost blind the mother bird in her
homeward flight. The male bird is a close companion, making every
trip for nesting material with his little wife, and pouring forth his best
song from the top of a nearby tree or post while the “‘bricks’’ are being
laid. The nest is placed in the natural cavity of trees in deep woods
at any distance from the ground, or in posts or bird boxes in the open,
and is composed almost entirely of moss and hair. I have seen the
female Tufted Titmouse alight upon the back of a crow and take cut a
mouthful of hair whicn she would place upon a nail in a nearby post,
and repeat this operation until she had gathered all she could carry,
and then hurry away to her nest, soon to return for another load.

The historic ground included in the battle field of the Campaign of
Chickamauga and Chattanooga seems to be a favorite range for this
specie. Before the breaking of the buds in spring the cheery notes
are heard from the tops of the cannon-torn tree, or the blasted oak

224 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

marking the site of a battery now silent in the death of a lost cause.
In early April these newly mated pairs may be seen examining every
cavity, knot-hole, or even the cannon mouth of the batteries marking
the position of the blue, or gray, of the struggle of ’61-’65, selecting a
suitable site for a summer home.

Photo by H. R. Caldwell.
NEST AND EGGS OF TUFTED TITMOUSE.

[The entrance was a small knot hole about fifteen inches above the eggs. The tree has
been cut away to show the interior.

The bird is especially bold in defence of its home, refusing often to
leave the nest under any provocation. Upon approach to the nest the
female bird prepares for a stubborn defense of her home. She threat-
ens the intruder with hisses, and flogs, that might easily be mistaken
for those of a goose. If these threats do not avail, the little mother
will bury her head in her mossy nest there to await the destruction that
seems hanging over her home.

The two photos herewith were taken in April, 1905. The nest was
placed ina knot-hole near the butt of a large oak at the foot of Mission-
ary Ridge near the historic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The nest was typical, and was placed at a depth of about fifteen inches
from the small knot-hole which served as a door. I attacked the tree
with hatchet and saw, hoping to be able to remove enough of the body

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 225

of the tree to permit a time exposure of the nest and eggs. The bird
defended her nest boldly, refusing to effect an escape after the whole
side of the tree had been chopped away. After removing the chips
from off the mother bird a number of times, and offering her every
opportunity to escape, I decided to use more care, hoping to be able
to remove enough of the tree to permit an exposure of the bird upon
her nest. This was successfully done, after which I removed the bird
with my hands and photographed the nest containing five partly incu-
bated eggs.

The eggs of this species number from 5 to 8, and are white, or light
creamy ground color, profusely speckled with reddish brown. Average
size about 77. x55, inch.

NESTING OF BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS ON THE
GROUND,

By Denos Hatcu, Wisc.

When I first began collecting, I inquired of hunters and trappers for
the breeding ground of these Herons, but none of them could remember
having seen any large nests in woods or pine groves,with the exception
of afew Hawks. Later a friend told me that he thought he had found
some new nests as they were neither Duck nor Mud-hen (Coots or
Gallinules).

In June, 1880 we took a boat and went about five miles south from
the landing. When nearing the shore of a large tract of wet meadow,
Herons began flying, in large numbers from the ground. Pushing our
boat up among the grass and floating bogs, we found the nests. They
were built of flags and reeds and were on the ground, some being part-
ly in the water.

The nests were usually in burnt holes grown up with cat tails, each
hole containing from one to three nests. These holes varied in size
from one to four or more rods across. I visited the grounds the next
year but they were not nesting there then.

In 1890 my friend found them nesting in a grove of willows. At
that time we found that there were about four hundred occupied nests
at heights varying from five to ten feet from the ground. Often there
were three or four nests in a single small tree. They remained here
until 1893 when a large fire destroyed the grove and they left, and I
did not attempt to locate them again until 1902. In that year I went
down to the marsh where I had first found them. The water was high
so we could push the boat into the marsh and through the canes. We

226 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

found that the Herons were there and the nests extended back in the
marsh for a distance of more than a mile. They were from three feet
to several rods apart. In one place I saw four nests all within a ten
foot circle,but generally we could not see more than two at a time,from
the boat, because the grass and cane were so tall. Most of the nests
were made of coarse swamp grass while some had a foundation of
sticks,but they must have been brought from a distance of about three
miles as there was no brush of any kind within less than that distance.
‘There must have been fully a thousand nests, most of them containing
four or five eggs while a few had young.

In this marsh we also found breeding Ducks, Cocts, Gallinules,
Bitterns, Least Bitterns, Pied-billed Grebes, Phalaropes, Blackbirds and
Marsh Wrens.

Photo by Delos Hatch.

NEST AND EGGS OF NIGHT HERON.

[This shows an unusual nesting site on the ground. Thousands of birds were nesting in
the same marsh. They usually nest in.trees.]

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 227

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT

1566 WATERVILLE ST., WATERBURY, CT.

My DEAR YouNG FOLKS: é

One of our friends has painted for us two beautiful birds in water
color. These are to be given to the two among our boys and girls,
who send me the most interesting letter on birds before October first.
If you wish to enter this contest read the following conditions carefully.

1st. Your letter must contain not more than two hundred and fifty
words.

2nd. It must contain gleanings from your own observation or ex-
periences.

3d. The letters are to be addressed to Meg Merrythought, and not
to the Worcester office.

4th. Unless return postage accompanies the letters, they will not be
returned, but may be published later at our own discretion.

5th. The names of the two who are successful will be given in the
November magazine.

Even though the majority of our boys and girls cannot receive the
pictures, you will enjoy, I am sure, the interchange of bird adventures.
You must have had many good times with the birds during the summer
vacation. Let us swap stories.

Cordially, Your Friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

228 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Russel S. Adams, St. Johnsburg, Vt., Harry E. White, Libson, Ohio,
Charles C. Lewis, Philadelphia, Pa., Carl Dowell, Port Richmond, N.
Yo, Huldah ‘Chace Smith; Providence, R.. I.

ANSWERS TO AUGUST PUZZLES.

What were their names?
’ Louisiana Water Thrush, Tennesee Warbler.

QUERIES.

1. Louisiana Water Thrush, Northern Water Thrush, Grinnell’s
Water Thrush, Golden-crowned Thrush, (Oven-bird).

2. Brown Thrasher.

3. Robin, Bluebird.
4. Cuckoos,
5
6

Skylark.
. starling.
7- English Sparrow.
8. Kingbird.

9. Crossbill or Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
TO Canada ay:

CHARADE NO. 1.
Sandhill Crane.
CHARADE NO. 2.
Bobolink.
CHARADA NO. 3.
Lapland Longspur.
WHAT BIRDS WERE THESE?

In a certain Woodland path, fringed with sweet scented ferns, and
guarded on either side by stately chestnut and oak trees, were discovered
four of the pensile nests of the . They were skillfully woven
cups of fine grasses and fibers, with dainty hangings of white filmy

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 229

webs and bits of paper and were securely fastened to the forked twigs
of some graceful saplings with green awnings of oak leaves to shelter
them from sun and rain.

When we passed, the owners of the nests were absent, though we
heard a resonant calling in the tree tops, ‘‘Here Iam! Hear me, see,
see?’’ Within three of the nests were four white eggs, spotted at the
larger end with brown. The fourth nest contained, in addition to the
four white eggs, a much larger dull white egg thickly covered with
brown spots. Shall I tell you what we did then? We robbed the nest!
We took the larger egg from its soft bed, and ruthlessly crushed it
upon the ground. Can you tell why? It seems strange that such wise
little birds do not in some way remove the egg, or at least, refuse to
own the ustrper which emerges from the shell.

Upon our return at twilight, four little matrons were on guard, with
the tiny eggs warmly cuddled beneath the feathers of their breasts.
We did not venture near enough to cause them any uneasiness, but
could see from the pathway the dainty raised heads, with slender bills
pointing directly upward, and sharp eyes watching against any harm
which might assail their little homes. Who will name these birds, and
who will explain the presence of the larger egg in the nest?

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

My 6-2-3-12-15 is a color.
My 4-13-14-5-16-17 is a bird.
My 1-7-2-9 is part of a bird.
My 8-10-3-11 is a useful mineral.
My whole is the name of a useful bird composed of 17 letters.

RUSSELL S. ADAMS,

St. Johnsburg, Vt.

My 11-14-2-5-14-15 is what you are.

My 5-6-3 is what two boys often make.

My 6-11-14-3-14 is a girl’s name.

My 12-6-13-13 is a boy’s nickname.

My 1-3-3-4-5-7 is a British province.

My 6-8-5-6-7-8 is a race which is disappearing.

My 8-10-6-13 you have upon your right hand—five of them.

My 1-2-8-5-13-14 gives light at night.

My 9-14-14-5 grows in our garden.

My 12-14-7-3 also grows in the garden.

My 12-I1-14-4-5 is good for food.

My 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15 is a bird which wears a necklace
upon its yellow breast.

230

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

GLEANINGS.

Ilk happy bird, wee helpless thing,
That in the weary months o’ spring
Delighted me to hear thee sing.
What’s come o’ thee?
Whare wilt thou cower thy chittering wing
And close thy e’e?

— BURNS.

A FEW OF THE BIRD FAMILY,

The old bob-white, and chipbird,
The flicker and chewink,

And little hopty-skip bird
Along the river brink.

The blackbird and snowbird,
The chicken-hawk and crane,

The glossy old black crow-bird,
And buzzard, down the lane.

The yellowbird and red bird,
The tom-tit and the cat,

The thrush and that redhead bird
The rest’s all pickin’ at!

The jay-bird and the bluebird,
The sapsucker and the wren,
The cockadoodle-doo bird,
And our old settin’ hen!
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.

BirdLore

EDITED BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Reduced facsimile of ERNEST
THOMPSON SETON’S drawing of
the Northern Shrike. Presented $y
to every subscriber to Vol. VII, —<saoaypteaercs:
1905, of BIRD-LORE. The origi-
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We still have left a few com-
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offer the six volumes, 1899-1904,
unbound, for $7.00 postpaid.

BIRD-LORE

Harrisburg, Penn.

$4.40 FOR $2.20

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stituted. /

**Certainly no periodical, and probably no book, on birds ever found anything
like such favor with the public as BIRDS AND NATURE.’’— Evening Post, New York

BIRDS OF SONG AND STORY

A bird book for Audubon societies, 16 color plates. Any other $1.00 book may be substi-
tuted for Grinnell.
GAME OF BIRDS
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inches. Enclosed in case with full directions for playing. A beautiful and fascinating game.
GOLDEN PHEASANT

A beautiful picture for.framing. Printed in natural colors on fine paper, 18x24 inches,
LITERATURE GAME

500 Questions and Answers in English Literature. 100 cards, 24x3 inches. Interesting and
instructive.
GAME OF INDUSTRIES

Educational—400 Questions and Answers on the great industries of our country. 100 cards
2¢x3 inches.

A. W. MUMFORD & CO., Publishers, 378 Wabash Ave., Chicago.

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, Il, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. |, Il, Ill, IV and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

—— COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY ‘GHAS™ KK. REED———

VOL. V OCTOBER, 1905. NO. 10

Game Pictures

FRAMED UNDER OUR’ PATENT

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Wall Shades

Make unique and very desir-
able additions to the walls of
clubs, dens, dining rooms and
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Send stamps for our hand-
some catalogue of over 100 sub-
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[UOT}IZ9AULOD FOG INO UL 9ZIIg pUZ JO LAUT AA |
“aSONOUD GAdANY AO SHH GNV LSAN

“ION “H “£ Aq O0Ud

132 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

THE MONTEZUMA QUETZAL,
By HARRY H. DUNN.

Explorers, cutting away the tangled vines which overrun the ruins of
Mexico’s dead past, are surprised to come upon whole blocks of stone,
many feet in each dimension and containing nothing but carvings of
beautiful long-tailed birds in every conceivable position. Hundreds
upon hundreds of years ago, the race of beings who hewed these
massive slabs and raised these stupendous temples, laid down their
instruments for their last long sleep; but today a shimmering,
azure-tinted bird calls from the Mexican tops “‘Teu, Teu’’ and his
voice rings with the same bell-like sweetness as in the olden days
above Montezuma’s festal halls. Little does he know or care that his
form is perpetuated in imperishable stone from Mexico to Peru and
from the Caribbean to the white surges of the Pacific. Buried under
the accumulated vegetation of the years, his image rests, mute
mockery to the hopes of a race, while above he, himself, the
imperishable, whistles away the happy hours.

Little does he care that his ancestors furnished the royal coats for
the lordly Incas or that today these same coats are scattered in the
museums of the world, things of priceless value. The Mexicans,
believing that the spirit of some long-dead monarch is resident in one
of these, refuse to kill them, and the birds seem almost to know of
their immunity, for, while they avoid white travelers, they show little
or no anxiety concerning the presence of natives.

The bird really belongs to the trogon family and is a relative to the
Kingfisher, Woodpeckers, Rollers, etc., yet is ina way quite different
from any of these. It is more beautiful than any humming bird, and
is, of course, much larger, the male bird being usually about four feet
in length, the female considerably less. The color of the male bird is
a rich golden green above, including a graceful rounded crest, which
may be raised and lowered at pleasure. The long, soft plumes of this
head-dress fall like a shower of golden sunbeams over the’ neck,
shoulders and back of the bird, finally merging into the bronze-blue of
the lower back and tail. The plumes of the latter are usually about
three feet in length, and are black, barred and shaded with white. The
short strong feathers of the tail proper underly these plumes and are
quite plain, seeming to serve no purpose other than that of supporters
for this wonderful train. It was these plumes which were so valued
by the ancient Incas and Montezumas for their royal robes. No one
but immediate members of the King’s family were permitted to wear
even the lesser feathers of the bird, the noble plumes being reserved

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 133

Photo by G. E. Moulthrope.

WHIP-FOOR-WILL ON NEST,

Whip-poor-wills are of a dead leaf color, so that they are difficult to see when
on the ground. If approached they remain perfectly still trusting entirely to pro-
tective coloration to escape observation.

134 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

for the ruler himself. The female is scarcely so beautiful as the male
and lacks the crest and plumes of her lord. Still she is very graceful,
and evidently, in his eyes, the most glorious creature in the world.
Young trogans (or quetzals, as these birds are called by the natives)
of both sexes, resemble the female in dress and markings until after
the first year, when the male puts on the more gorgeous dress of his
male parent. Both the females and young birds are very quiet, but the
males, especially during the mating season, are noisy fellows, sending
their calls through the silent forest with an uncanny clearness of tone
which the superstitious natives ascribe to the supposed supernatural
powers of the birds. The call is, however, rather pleasing to the ears
of an American traveler, and resembles, more than anything else, a
long-drawn flute or piccolo note. There is a bird found in Southern
California and known as the Phainopepla, which has a very similar,
though weaker call.

It is a species of fly catcher and is abundant among our hills and
sand-washes just at this season of the year.

But, to return to our quetzals, of all the multi-colored birds of the
tropic air there is no one which excites such universal admiration as
does this. There is one skin of this bird which has been in the British
museum, exposed to the strongest light, for more than half a century,
yet which retains its pristine beauties of coloration and markings. Far-
ther to the south, there is another trogan, known as the golden-headed,
which was to the Incas of Peru what the quetzal was to the Montezu-
mas of Lake Tenochtitlan and the Royal Isles. It has the same power
of walking either up or down vertical surfaces as have the woodpeckers
of North America. In amanner not unlike that of the owls, which re-
gurgitate the skin and bones of their prey, this trogan throws out the
stones and seeds of the various fruits upon which it feeds.

In making the coats of the royal Astics, the whole skin of the bird
was not taken—it being far too tender for that—but one feather was
plucked at a time, all feathers of one color being laid together until a
sufficient number of feathers had been collected to complete the desir-
ed garment. Then a fine skin of the jaguar, or Mexican lion, was
taken, and having been scraped to the desired thinness, a coat fashion-
ed from it. To this, one at a time, the beautiful feathers of the quet-
zal were fastened, either by means of a glue obtained from certain Mex-
ican trees or by sewing with threads obtained from some one of the
many fibrous plants found in Central Mexico. At the time of the Span-
ish conquest, the reigning Montezuma was particularly rich in these
rare and valuable garments, so that the conquistadores sent several
back to Spain. As it happened, one or two of these were preserved

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 135

and have wandered into the British Museum. I believe there is also a
representative of this unique class of garment in our own National Mu-
seum. If so, it was doubtless unearthed in some very old tomb, be-
neath whose protecting walls it had been preserved from the grasping
hand of the conquerors. No reasonable amount of money could pur-
chase one of these royal jackets today, while probably no offer could
tempt the Mexican government to part with the two perfect specimens
preserved in old Chapultepec.

Of the jackets themselves, little need be said, save that they were not
unlike the box jackets—or automobile coats—affected by the ladies of
today, excepting that they have no sleeves. They were laced with :
thongs of rawhide in front and fitted the wearer but loosely, being in-
tended as a mark of highest royalty, rather than as a garment of com-
fort. They were thrown on over other robes of office, and seldom, if
ever, worn outside the palace gates. Only the very best and most
gaudy feathers were used for the coat of the Montezuma. Inferior and
less desirable garments were made for other members of the royal
household from the remaining feathers of the trogan. So delicate were
the skins of these precious birds that they had to be trapped rather than
shot, lest the resulting fall from the tree tops should ruin the feathers-

Like the Woodpeckers, the quetzals (and, in fact, all the trogans)
nest in hollow trees, laying their four or five pure white eggs in the
bottom of some cavity, natural or otherwise. ‘These nests are very
hard to find; consequently their eggs are as valuable as their skins.

SOME CURIOUS NESTS.

By NELLIE MOORE Mason.

One day in June I was out in the field near a deserted house. It
was an ideal spot for the feathered songsters.

Near an old fence was a row of graceful willows, a little distance
from those a clump of bushes, then a small orchard of apple trees,
and by the roadside a row of stately elms and rock maples, with lilac
and other bushes galore.

Scarcely was I prepared to listen when I heard a sharp note of
alarm and saw a bird about as large as a robin fly to a tree. With
awakened zeal I walked toward the bird who kept repeating his note
of alarm, inquiry or anger, or whatever one might call it; then I saw a
bird with crest up, a sulphur-yellow breast, gray throat, rufous color-
ing on his tail and primaries of wings and I knew at last that I had
seen the Great Crested Flycatcher.

But why is he so anxious? Surely there must be a home near. If I
can only find it what joy will be mine.

136 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Lo, here is a tree, the trunk of which is nearly dead, and about ten
feet from the ground there is a home of a Woodpecker, a Bluebird or a
Flycatcher. It must be the latter for both birds are loud in their dem-
onstrations, flying into the tree and darting around in a most excited
manner. But how am I going to reach the nest? My girlhood days
for climbing trees are over and I shall have to gain my knowledge
second hand.

As the minister is considerably taller than his wife and far more
agile he scales the tree and by making the opening a little larger is
able to insert his hand. He finds the nest and birds but is unable to
see them. There were three at least only a few days old.

My first question, ‘Is there a snake skin in the nest?” has to go un-
answered till a couple of weeks later when I visit the nest again. The
birds have flown and I consider it no robbery to gain possession of the
coveted nest. The stump is broken off and the prize secured. Is my
curiosity to be satisfied? No, the proverbial snake skin is not in it,
but what do I find? Some hair and porcupine quills.

A nest made of grasses and leaves, lined with a barred feather of
some barnyard fowl and the hair and even quills of the porcupine.
Did the birds think this combination would answer in place of a snake
skin? Who can say?

On the same day I also found another nest while not so unique in
its construction was something of a curiosity for its location. In a de-
serted house a wooden pail was hanging on a nail, and through the
broken windows some eave swallows had found entrance to the room
and built their nest attached to the side and also outside of the pail.
Indications seemed to show that the little family had been safely rais-
ed and made their entrance successfully into the outside world.

In regard to unusual nesting sites I would say that there is a robin
that has built her nest on one of the cross braces of the wooden trestle
of the Hudson Valley Railway Co., over the Hudson River at this
place. The nest is directly under the rail, and only about one foot
below the top of it, and cars pass over it every twenty minutes. The
bridge is also used by a number of pedestrians, and, although it is not
planked, but entirely open, the robin remains on the nest while they
are passing on the ties, the tops of which are only eight inches above
her. I have not noted whether she remains on while the cars are
passing over, or not. A robin built in practically the same location
last year, but did not hatch the eggs, as she was disturbed for a num-

ber of days by workmen repairing the bridge.
ELLIOTT SIMPSON.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 137

Photo by G. E. Moulthrope.
EGGS OF WHIP-POOR-WILL.

Their eggs are pearly white, beautifully splashed and blotched with grays and
purplish brown. :

138 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
NORTH AMERICAN GOATSUCKERS,

Together with the Swifts and Hummingbirds, the Goatsuckers are
classed under the Order of Wacrochires, which name certainly is no mis-
nomer, for it means odd ones and surely the differences between the
members of this order are sufficiently great to call it an odd one.

The Goatsuckers (Capsimulgidae) or Night Jars, as they are often
called, constitute a very remarkable family. They first got their name
from traditional superstitions of European peasants. They are often
seen hovering about cattle (hence the mistaken notion of their sucking
goats), feeding upon the flies and other insects that molest them.

Externally they bear some resemblance to the Swallows and Swifts,
as they have slender bodies and long, pointed wings similar to those
birds. The colors and markings of their plumage is strikingly similar
to that of some of the Owls and, on this account, they are sometimes
known as Owl Swallows and Fern Owls. There are about one hundred
species of Goatsuckers distributed throughout the temperate parts of
the globe; in the United States we get six species and as many sub-
species. Some of these are larger than the Crow while others are
nearly as small as a Sparrow. Their bodies, wings and tails are long,
their neck short, and their heads broad and flat; their eyes are very
large and prominent, and the bills very short and broad; the opening
extending back of the eye so that the gape is enormous, making a fly-
trap which, for efficiency cannot be equalled by any made by man.
Their feet are very short and small, very poorly adapted for perching
on limbs so the birds of this family usually sit lengthwise along limbs;
the middle toe-nail is pectinate, that is one edge is serrated like the
teeth of acomb. Their plumage is very soft and owl-like, usually rath-
er dark, and mottled and delicately marked with grays and wood
browns so as to render the birds very inconspicuous when in their nat-
ural environments. The colors of the different species are such as to
harmonize to the best advantage with their surroundings; those that
are found in dry desert regions are mottled with gray and white to
match the stones, while those inhabiting dense woods have a great deal
of reddish brown in their plumage. All of the species that are found
in northern countries migrate southward in the winter, but those inhab-
iting tropical regions do not migrate, but at certain seasons leave their
usual forests and skim over the surrounding country.

All of the Goatsuckers have ten feathers in their tails, but the shapes
of that member vary greatly, some having certain of the feathers great
ly lengthened; others have certain of the wing feathers lengthened.

The development of the tail feathers is the greatest in the Lyre-tail-

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140 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ed Night Jar of South America. While the body of this species is but
seven inches in length, the outer tail feathers on the male bird attain a
length of more than twenty-five inches. The Streamer-bearing Night
Jar of South Africa shows the greatest development in the wing feath-
ers: the bird is but six inches long, but two of the feathers in each wing
of the male often attain the length of twenty inches. Another species
has the shaft of a single feather in each wing lengthened to about sev-
euteen inches and terminating in a broad web or spatula.

CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW.

No. 416. Antrostomus carolinensis.

These birds are found in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and
north to Virginia and Illinois and west to Kansas. They winter in
Southern Florida, Mexico and Central America.

These are the largest of the family that are found in the United
States. They move northward from their winter quarters about the
last of March and by the end of April have all reached the places where
they are to abide for the summer. They are wholly nocturnal in their
habits, and when seen on the wing in daytime, have been disturbed
from their slumbers and taken refuge in flight. At such times they ap-
pear dazed and bewildered by the strong light and their flight is very
weak and erratic.

As soon as dusk approaches they appear like new birds; they are
alert, their eyes are wide open and they are ready to take wing upon
the slightest disturbance. They leave the roosting places on limbs or
the ground beside logs, where they have been concealed all day, and
commence coursing the neighborhood for their supper. Their flight is
graceful and noiseless as they skim close to the ground with their cav-
ernous mouth open to its widest, to catch any insect that may chance
in their path; occasionally they will suddenly deviate from their course
to pursue some large moth, or drop to the ground to pick up a beetle.
After they have satiated their appetites they perch upon posts or dead
limbs and commence to sing. Their song is one of the most mournful,
doleful and peculiar efforts made by any bird. It is a rapid repetition
of their name, as plainly as it can be uttered in a deep-toned sonorous
whistle. During the mating season, the male often utters this note for
several minutes with such rapidity that he has to stop for lack of breath.
For several hours nightly, on pleasant evenings, this serenade is heard
at intervals, and again, just before daybreak, they make their final ef-
forts before retiring to peaceful slumber for the dny.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 141

Often on rainy days. they will be found sleeping in hollow logs and
if surprised in such a location they ruffle their feathers and hiss like a
snake, with the evident intention of frightening an intruder away.

They lay their two eggs among the leaves, under underbrush in
woods, making no nest. ‘These eggs are of a buffy white color, blotch-
ed with soft shades of gray, brown and lilac; they are quite similar to
those of the Whip-poor-will but larger. The female dozes while sitting
upon her eggs inthe day time; if any one approaches her she only sits
the closer, trusting to the color of her plumage to escape notice. If
their eggs are discovered, it is said that they will often convey them to
a new place, carrying them one at.a time in,their capacious mouth.

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

No. 417. Antrostomus vociferus.

These birds are not uncommon in suitable localities throughout the
eastern parts of the United States and southern Canada. They winter
south of the United States except possibly a few that may remain in
southern Florida.

Like the last species, they do not, of their own accord, fly about in
daylight, which time they pass in the seclusion of woods, perched
lengthwise along limbs of trees, or on or under logs or rocks that are
well screened from view by underbrush. At dusk they may be seen
flitting about like shadows, their flight being the embodiment of grace
and accomplished without the slightest sound. As darkness settles
over the earth and objects are but dimly seen, Whip-poor-wills go
sweeping in graceful curves over the meadows and along the edges of
the woods, gorging themselves with the myriads of dusk flying insects
and crawling beetles. Sometimes they will alight on the ground and
awkwardly hop about after the beetles, and again they will hover
around the trunk of a tree feeding upon moths and insects in the crevi-
ces of the bark.

Like the Chuck-will’s-widow, they get their name from their call, and
a weird note it is, especially on a still clear night when they are partic-

142

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo by G. E. Moulthrope.

WHIP-POOR-WILL AND YOUNG,

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 143

ularly noisy. Often when I have been camping, have they kept us
awake for hours with their whzp-foor-wills, coming from first one
side of the tent, then the other and sounding startlingly loud and clear.
We would often sit outside the tent watching for them but, while their
voices would be continually changing their location, we would only oc-
casionally catch a glimpse of one when he flitted by within a few feet of
us or against the sky directly overhead. Quite often they will swoop
down close to you and so quiet is their passage that you will feel rather
than see or hear them, although at times, they will utter a guttural
cluck as they pass. On account of their mournful and uncanny cries,
they are often regarded by the superstitious as birds of ill omen, and
are consequently disliked by many; they are, however, one of our most
useful birds; fortunately their habits of seclusion during the day time,
and their protective coloration makes them so inconspicuous that few of
them are killed.

Like the Chuck-will’s-widows they lay their two eggs upon the leaves
with no attempt at nest building, in fact it is this absence of a nest that
renders both the eggs and the young so difficult to find, for they each
resemble the ground so closely that they can hardly be seen ten feet
away. The mother bird hangs very closely to her chrrges and often
ruffles her feathers up and hisses at anintruder. When they have
young, they usually feign lameness in order to draw attention to them-
selves. The young are covered with a soft white down and a few days
after hatching follow their parents about on the ground; the adults
waddle or hop awkwardly, but the young are quite nimble.

Although Whip-poor-wills are quite common, they are, of course,
much oftener heard than seen and a great many persons, seeing Night-
hawks, call them these birds; we frequently meet with individuals that
refuse to believe there is any difference between the two birds, althoug
the differences are very marked and apparent as may be seen from
the drawings.

NIGHTHAWK,

No. 420. Chordeiles virginianus,.

Nighthawks have the widest range of any of the Goatsuckers, being
represented by its sub-species from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans,
and from the Gulf to Labrador and Alaska. They winter south of the
United States to northern South America.

144 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

These birds are very abundant and are more often seen on the wing
during daylight than any of the other members of this family. These
are the birds that we see skimming about over cities. Their flight is
very easy and graceful, their numerous evolutions in mid air being ex-
celled by no other bird. They swoop over the house tops with the
speed of a hurricane, now sailing on set wings, and again with rapidly
moving pinions following a devious course and the one along which
the insects are the most plenty, for most of their evolutions are inspir-
ed by a large appetite. At times they are very playful and may be
seen chasing one another, or the male may rise in the air, sometimes
until invisible, and then swoop earthward with frightful velocity end-
ing in an abrupt but graceful curve upward, accompanied by a faint hol-
low booming sound.

While hunting they are very sociable birds and large numbers of them
are frequently seen coursing over meadows and hillsides, while hundreds
ata time may be in sight as twilight approaches in some of the larger
cities. Their identity is established beyond the shadow of a doubt by
the frequently uttered nasal peernk, and by the white band across the pri-
maries, which is present on both sexes and is yery prominent whether
the bird is in flight or perching.

They nest upon the ground in much more open and exposed places
than do the Whip-poor-wills, often in the corners of cornfields, in rocky
pastures or upon the gravel roofs of city blocks. The two eggs are
grayish, strongly mottled with darker shades of the same so that they
resemble very closely the surroundings amid which they are placed.
When discovered, the female will not leave her eggs until nearly step-
ped upon, and then will flutter helplessly away with wings trailing and
apparently badly wounded: This ruse often succeeds in drawing an en-
emy away from her treasures.

Nighthawks can, apparently, see very well in the bright daylight for
they show none of the uncertainty of flight that the last species does
when they are startled from their roosting places. In the daytime they
may be found sitting lengthwise on branches, logs or fence rails, or
upon rocks, stonewalls or gravel roofs.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 145

Ze

\iey7.

th.
Ute

WHIP-POOR-WILL (UPPER) 10 INCHES LONG
NIGHTHAWK (LOWER) 10 INCHES LONG.

Note the outer wing feathers of the Whip-poor-will are barred black and brown;
those of the Nighthawk are plain blackish with a large white patch. The tail of
the tormer is round while that of the latter is torked.

146 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Tenkises

eG Ft

TO>FHE- VUE TURE:

By Isaac $8. HEss

Great silent bird—

E’en the wing-beats from thy strong pinions
Art seldom heard.

Gifted with no voice, thou can’st not sing—
And yet thou art the peer of all—on wing.

Thy great broad circles as thou sweep’st the sky
Ravish and delight the eye—

And thou art envied by

A multitude of creatures, who on earth

Must needs to walk and crawl. ~

Thou’rt Nature’s child

And hath chosen for thy, home her forest wild;
Thy dwelling place—so far from city’s mart

Is in the oak-tree’s heart,

Thou dost accept the architect’s unaltered plan;
True wisdom—for of Nature’s hand

Ts all the fashioning.

Without—may storm and tempest roar—

Thou art secure.

We call thee bird—

Yet so curious thou art—it seems

A metamorphic word.

Truly thou art a bird—a beauteous sight

When circling o’er in thy majestic fligt;

But when we see the dine

On loathsome foods

And witness thy voracious appetite,

Thou seem’st to be—not bird, but ravenous animal.

Yet cruel thou art not;

Thy kindly disposition hath revealed

No jot—of enmity or strife.

O meek—O mighty bird—type of humility—
No insect, e’en—nor worm, nor bird, nor bee
Hath lost its life

Through thee.

Content to wait thou art

O patient bird—

Until thou see’st the last life-breath depart;
Then faithfully dost thou perform the part
Assigned to thee.

Philo, Illinois.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 147

=3
*
=
SS
i 2
3

Photo by I. E. Hess.
NESTING-TREE OF VULTURE.

“Thy dwelling place—so far from city’s mart
Is in the oak-trees heart.”

148 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

PUNKATUNK, THE BITTERN,.
By E. C. ALLEN.

In the west of Nova Scotia, the Chebogue River, leaving its birth-
place, a tiny woodland lake, wanders south and after many a twist and
turn through its extensive salt marshes, finally enters the Atlantic.

Half way up the river; a high wooded point breaks from the
highlands on the west, and extends out into the marsh to within a few
rods of the water. On the lower side of this point is a little cove,
overgrown with sedges, and bordered by a fringe of stunted spruce
and bayberry. For five years this cove has been the summer home of
Punkatunk the Bittern. He has always arrived about the first of April
and been joined a few days later by his mate; and when in the Autumn
the Bitterns have left the cove for the far south, there have always
been more than two.

Very near the first of last May, there was one of those calm spring
mornings when the carrying power of every sound seems to be
magnified at least three fold. The sun was just breaking through the
river haze, and brightening the yet dark winter foliage of the spruces
on the point. A flock of crows whose favorite roosting place was in
these spruces and who for the last half hour had been making the air
resound with their regular morning medley, had flown down to the
marsh to feed. From the farms on the western shore, the sweet
trilling of song sparrows floated over the marshes, while from a
clump of alders near, a black-bird gave utterance to his sharp
‘““pber-a-chee.’’ Presently from out the cove came a deep measured
“punk, a- tunk;’’ fiive times repeated, and after a pause of two or three
minutes, again repeated five times.

If one could have seen the performer, he would have seen a large
bird, with bill pointed straight heavenward, mottled brown back and
streaked buff and brown breast blending with the dead sedges as only
the wearing apparel of God’s birds can blend with its surroundings,
and a golden-ringed eye that seemed ever scanning the horizon.

The haze had lifted. Inthe air far down the river a dark speck
became visible, it grew larger; and presently the keen eye in the cove
could detect the same peculiar beating of the wings that his own knew.

With a joyful cry Punkatunk rose from the cove and flapped eagerly
down the river to meet the new comer. ‘They met, circled round and
round each other for a moment, then both returned to the cove and
began as diligently to search for food among the roots of the weeds,
as if they had never been parted.

On the last day of May, a hummock in the middle of the cove

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 149

contained a rough appearing, but comfortable nest, in which were four
unspotted light brown eggs; and that morning the silent vigil of the
patient would-be mother began.

But on that same morning there came over the hill towards the cove,
two of the greatest enemies known to the feathered folk; boys who
with guns tramp the woods and marshes at any and every season,
slaughtering anything wild that comes within distance.

They came swiftly down the hill and through the bushes that edged
the cove. The brown bird upon the nest had watched their approach
over the hill, and had sunk her body deeper into the sedges; but when
they appeared on the very edge of the cove, with a hoarse cry she
arose.

Instantly there was a flash and a report and with one wing hanging
limp and the other only serving to turn her round and round, the poor
creature sank helplessly into the bushes on the farther side of the cove.

Knowing her helplessness, she crept far up into the bushes and lay
still. In the search which followed she was passed and repassed; but
so well did her mottled brown back blend with the dead leaves that the
searchers were compelled to give up the quest.

An hour later, a well hidden observer might have seen a slowly
moving bird, with one helpless wing patel making her way to the
nest on the hummock.

That afternoon, Punkatunk, who had been feeding far down the
river, returned and settled near the nest. Something in the position
of the bird thereon aroused his curiosity. He thrust his long bill
under the head that lay on the edge of the nest and raised it. The
eyes did not open and the head fell heavily back. The birds are not
slow to understand such signs. Silently Punkatank rose from the
swamp and disappeared down the river.

That night, a prowling raccoon attracted by the oder of fresh blood,
approached the hummock and found a tempting morsel, but the
booming of Punkatunk was heard no more in the cove that spring.

Will we hear him next year, or will he remember and leave the cove
deserted until another pair of Bitterns shall select it as their nesting
site?

THE PUMPING OF THE BITTERN,

Yesterday while working in a field near by a small stream, not
marked on any map, and inthe marsh at the mouth of which Bitterns
annually breed, my attention was attracted by the strange notes of a

150 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Bittern (pumping). This was no unusual sound but the direction
from which it came and the nearness of the sound indicated that a
close observance ought to disclose the performer.

In a few seconds the sounds were repeated and suddenly his form
loomed up before me; there he stood in plain sight on the bank of the
road that crossed the above mentioned stream about twenty feet from
the bridge.

Being not far from the house I ran for my field glasses and when I
returned and got them focused on him he was just starting his rude
performance. Standing motionless in the middle of the road, his bill
pointing at about 1459; suddenly his head was thrown forward and
downward, this was repeated three times and then twice during which
a snapping sound followed each move. ‘The click was not unlike the
sound of a pair of shears or huge mandibles, at the sixth move of the
head the breast was inflated and moved convulsively, followed by the
regular booming sound; this was repeated three or four times and then
the performance would be over for a few minutes.

Taking all in all it was a most painful appearing operation, but the
Bittern did not seem to mind it for he kept right at it for over two
hours during which time he did no more moving than to walk back
forth npon the road stopping every few minutes to sing. I watched
this strange performance a few years ago though not under as
favorable circumstances as yesterday. The birds are breeding here
now June 5th and the mate to this one is hatching her eggs in the
marsh one half mile below.

EpwWIN Troup, Jordan, Ont.

SUNSET IN THE AUTUMN WOODS,

C,. E. Gorpon,

Beautiful is every hill and meadow

In the glowing colors of October.

Jays are screaming, nuts are dropping,

Crows are cawing to each other;

Gently blowing zephyrs sway the tree tops;

Shadows, dark and gloomy from the hemlocks,

Cross the lonely, forest pathway,

Twilight deepens, sombre darkness hides the landscape;
Hill and meadow vanish.

Now and then a Screech Owl’s weird and solemn note is heard to
Linger in an echo from the hillside

Yonder, while anon the omnipresent

Crickets add their plaintive voices

To the dying echoes of the twilight hour.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 151

= SF

YOU

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO

MrG MERRYTHOUGHT

156 WATERVILLE ST., WATERBURY, CT,

My Drar Younc FOvkKs:

Not long ago a bird lover was telling of a happy family which took
possession of his veranda last summer to the great delight of the mem-
bers of the household.

A pair of Wrens built in one of the small alcoves formed by the
decorations around the edge of the veranda roof, and raised a brood of
seven brown babies. In course of time, they built a second nest in an
adjoining alcove, and ere long five more gaping mouths were clamoring
to be filled.

Then father and mother disappeared. They had spent weeks hustling
about for food for the children who had outgrown the next room, and
perhaps thought that they had earned a vacation. At all events, they
flew away, and the young birds of the first family, faithfully brought
daily supplies of worms and grubs to the brothers and sisters of brood
number two, until they too were able to pick up a living for themselves.

This rare instance of brotherly love and helpfulness, was watched
with great interest, and beguiled many weary hours for an invalid in-
mate of the home.

Many charming accounts of out door visits with the birds have been
received from our boys and girls, and next month we shall be able to
tell you who received the picture promised.

Cordially, Your Friend,
Mec MERRYTHOUGHT.

152 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.
James Butler, Detroit, Mich.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN SEPTEMBER MAGAZINE.

What birds are these?
1- Red-eyed Vireos.
2. The Cow-bird lays its eggs in the nests of smaller birds.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

No.1. Blackbilled Cuckoo.
No. 2. Canadian Warbler.

MAILBAG EXTRACTS.

The bird who came for the rafia which I placed outside of my win-
dow on the roof, took a piece of white, and ran along till he spied a bit
of colored rafia, then he dropped the white piece and siezed the colored
piece and flew away. Can birds distinguish colors and do they like
bright colors better than others?

TH: Bigiks

When it is very warm the Linnets come around about half past six
or seven in the morning, and sit on a tree just outside of my bedroom
window and wake me by their shrill little song.

There is one of the most peculiar birds I have seen anywhere, here
in our fruit orchard; it is a Butcher bird. Now, a Butcher-bird is not
such a peculiar bird, but this one is also a mocking bird. I have never
seen nor heard of any like it.

It mocks all the birds around here and also birds that never come
here. It does not give the whole song of the bird, but just part of it.

It has a nest with four small birds init. In the morning it will go
for food and then fly to the top of the windmill, and sit there and sing.
There are some other Butcher birds around here, but they do not mock
like this one. I have found lizards, frogs and bugs that it has caught
and hooked on to sharp points of the tree that it nests in. It seems to
be very happy. I have been very close to this bird and I know that it
must be the Butcher bird.

One day when I was out riding I saw avery sad sight. A Meadow-
lark had killed itself. It must have been sitting on a barbed wire fence,

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 153.

and when it had started to fly it had caught its foot in the wire, and
there it hung till death came.
WiLui1AM K. D. REYNOLDS,
Elmira, California.

Pic

Some birds to be seen in California.

1. Acianofrli Lug.
2. Onfaeswlk.
3. Onrehtnr Rhseik.
4. Lubrdieb.
5. Muoestti.
6. Ohtnheat.
i. Etglink,
8. Ithubts.
9. Eichedakc.
10. Okecrrnew.
11. Rahthres.
12. Atgwila.
Wo. K. D. REYNOLDs.
Elmira, Cal.
SOME BIRDS OF THE BIBLE. SUPPLY THE VOWELS.
1. Gl-d- ES. Ons -1
2. A-wk 12. R-v-n
oe) Chron 13. Sp-rr-w
4. K-t- 14. St-rk
5. -ss-fr-g- 15. Sw-ll-w
6. -str-ch 16. Sw-n
7. -wil 17. B-tt-rn
8. P-rtr-dg- 18. C-rm-r-nt
9. P--c-ck 19S) (Cr-n
10. P-l-ce-n 20; }C-ex==

What birds are given in the Revised Version of the Bible in place of
the following?

1. Swan 4. Cormorant
2. EHagle 5.°) Bittern
3. Gier Eagle 6. Ossifrage

154

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

GLEANINGS.

Then the little Hiawatha

Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How they built their nests in summer,
Where they hid themselves in winter,
Talked with them whene’er he met them,
Called them ‘“‘Hiawatha’s Chickens.”’

Forth into the forest straightway,

All alone walked Hiawatha,

Proudly with his bow and arrows:

And the birds sang round him, o’er him,

“Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!”’

‘Sang the Robin, the Opechee,

Sang the Bluebird, the Owaissa

“Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!”’
Longfellow.

Gold Medal Paris Exposition—Gold Medal St. Louis Exposition

fae PERRY. PICTURES

One Cent Each

for 25 or more. Assorted as desired. Size, 53 x8
2000 Subjects.

120 for $1.00

EXTRA SIZE; 10x12. Five for 25 cents; l1ifor
50 cents. 23 for $1.00.

SMALL SIZE: 3x33. For notebook use, com-
positions, etc, One-half cent each for 50 or more.

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF BIRDS por-
trayed in Natural Colors. Size, 7x9. Two cents each
for 13 or more. A cent and three-quarters each in
lots of 100 or more.

Send two-cent stamp for Catalogue or two 2-cent
stamps during October for Illustrated Catalogue
of one thousand tiny pictures.

The Perry Magazine

If you want help in using pictures in school and
home, or if you wish to study Italian Art, a course
laid out by Prof. William Carey Poland of Brown
University, subscribe for this Magazine. Monthly,
except July and August. $1.00 per year.

BABY S1itUART
The One Cent Pictures are 4 to 6 times this siz

THE PERRY PICTURES CO., Box 413, Malden, Mass

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OFFERS: The Young Idea with
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Oe)

Methods in the Art of Taxidermy

By Oliver Davie, Author of ‘‘Nests and
Eggs of North American Birds*”’
© 1 The Young Idea, School Arts, Popular Educator
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tor), Birds and Nature and 10 Plates, $2.50.
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Educator or Primary Education, $1.35.
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and Girls, $1.10
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and Girls, 8oc.
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Primary Education, $2.00.
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2

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$2.80.

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. Form-
erly published at $10. My price $2.50 post-
paid. or Given Free for 6 new subscribers.

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DOODOOLODDOOODODD-DODOOD-<-<GX«X.O)

We give rates on all the leading Magazines.
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know of nothing better than The Young Idea
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PCODOOWO@O@ODO@OOOADBDO> S

American Ornithology.

A Magazine Devoted Wholly to Birds. |

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, II, Ill and
IV, $1.00 each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, Ill, 1V and subscription for
1905, $3.50. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——

VOL. V NOVEMBER. 1905. NO. ll

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new bird book, BIRD
GUIDE, which will be found advertised on another page. Wehave put
our best efforts into this book to make it complete, reliable and com-
prehensive, and the results have exceeded our expectations. It is just
the book that any bird-lover would like to receive for a Christmas gift
and it costs only fifty cents.

Commencing with this issue, we will publish supplements of birds to
be colored. These should be of great interest to both teachers and
school children and we hope they will be the means of making many
new friends for the birds.

RESULTS OF 1905 PHOTO CONTEST,
Class 1. Ist. “‘Blue Jay brooding young,’’ Wilbur Smith, So. Nor-
walk, Conn.
2nd. ‘‘Ruffed Grouse on nest,’ J. H. Miller, Lowville, N.
We
3rd. ‘““Loggerhead Shrike,’’ I. E. Hess, Philo, Ill.

Class 2. Ist. “Young Kingbirds,’’ R. H. Beebe, Arcade, N. Y.
2nd. ‘Young Screech Owls,’”’ F. R. Miller, Toledo, Ohio.
3rd. ““Young Waxwings,’’ N. F. Stone, Shrewsbury, Mass.

Class 3. Ist. ‘Shrike Nest,’’ J. M. Schreck, Buffalo, N. Y.,
2nd. ‘“‘Sandpiper nest and eggs,’’ H. G. Phister, Vernon,

Ney:

By R. H. Beebe.
YOUNG KINGBIRDS

| Winner of first prize in Class 2. |

256 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

NATURAL HISTORY CAMP,

Wigwam Hill, Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass.

Snugly tucked away on the west shore of beautiful Lake Quinsig-
amond, this summer, was a novel camp for teachers and students of
nature, conducted by the Worcester Natural History Society. For
years, the society has owned a beautiful tract of about forty acres of
land for all living wild creatures, and it is on this or adjoining land that
the editor has done most of his study and photography of our common
birds.

The camp is located beside a wide boulevard that encircles the lake,
but is three quarters of a mile distant from the main highway, near enough
to be easily accessible to those interested and sufficiently remote to
prevent its being over run by the large crowds that frequent the two
popular parks that also front on the lake. Those who did not wish to
make the trip a-foot could go in the launch that made hourly runs from
the cars to the camp landing. During the height of the season the
camp presented a very cosy and attractive appearance to visitors; rows
of tents skirted the base of the hill; enthusiastic campers were showing
their friends about the grounds, the greatest interest centering in the
large aquarium which stood near the model bird fountain. Earlyin the
morning most of the campers adjourned to the bathing beach for an
hours sport, and many of them received their first instructions in this
too often neglected art. The remainder of the mornings was devoted
to short expeditions after flowers, insects, aquaria material or for bird
observation. Ata stated hour each afternoon, was an hours talk on
one or'the other of the subjects of interest; the public was invited to
all these talks, and came a-foot, in carriages, automobiles or by boat;
the conditions of the weather and the size of the crowds determined
whether the lecture should be in the indoor pavilion or on the outdoor
lecture platform. As is usual with such gatherings, the evenings were
most often spent around a rousing campfire, where stories were ex-
changed.

While rather in the nature of an experiment, the first season of this
undertaking has been satisfactory in nearly all respects and preparations
are under way to very much increase the scope and magnitude of the
work next year. Certainly all those who participated in it had a valu-
able and an enjoyable vacation and its influences will be far reaching.
It is with the hope that other similar camps may be established in other
parts of the country, that these facts are given. It certainly would be
a blessing for humanity if we could all spend a month each year in such

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 257

delightful environments as weré enjoyed at this camp. The following
letters from the president of the society, some of the campers and
lecturers will show what was done and how it was enjoyed:

By W. H. RAYMENTON, M. D.
President of Worcester Natural History Society.

Twenty years ago, in 1885, the Worcester Natural History Society
organized the Natural History Camp for boys, which proved to be the
pioneer of many similar camps since established throughout the country.
In 1887 it organized a camp for families and in 1890 a camp for girls.

In the line of evolution in 1905 it established a Summer Camp for
teachers and nature students at Natural History Park, Lake Quinsi-
gamond, and we will state briefly something of the work carried on.

The success of all these camps and especially the one this summer
has been very largely due to the material assistance and wise counsel
of Thomas H. Dodge, Esq., of Worcester.

The chief aim of the Society in this Summer Camp is to assist teach;
ers to a better preparation for the handling of Nature Study subjects-
and for this purpose, there are organized classes inelementary biology,
botany, entomology, ornithology and mineralogy, with both field and
laboratory work. As an example of the method of study, the work in
biology, in part, centers around the construction and maintainance of
aquaria and vivaria. A series of lectures are given, and informal talks
to individuals daily upon topics of a more or less systematic character
for the general culture of the student.

Special topics, such as the aquarium, its uses, its construction, its
stocking and the maintainance of a biological and physiological balance
within it, are considered, together with the study of the flora and fauna
of a pond from the standpoint of their usefulness in preserving a bal-
ance of life.

The uses of the snail, the fresh water mussel, the tadpole, the newt,
the fish and the water plant in preserving this balance are demonstrated.

In the laboratory the students are enabled, at small cost, to make thier
own aquarium under the guidance of a competent instructor. Thus, at
the end of the season, any teacher so mindedcan go home to his or her
school, not only with a well stocked aquarium, but also with such an
acquaintance with the life within it that she will be enabled to use it as
the basis for the Nature Study work in her schoolroom.

In a similar manner, entomology is taken up. Materialis at hand for
mounting and preserving specimens, showing the life cycles of butter-
flies, moths, beetles, dragon-flies, etc. Daily walks are taken to collect
insects, and provision is made for rearing and carrying them through

258 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

the different stages of their development. Special attention is accorded
to a few important types; with a study of their habits and their places
in nature’s economy, rather than to a cursory acquaintance with a large
number of unrelated forms.

Thus, in every department, the aim of each instructor if to help the
teacher to that intimate relation with Nature which she feels she needs,
in order to teach more acceptably the courses laid out for her in Nature
Study. The work of the regular instructor is supplemented by occasion-
al talks by competent and well known specialists.

There is a dark room, for those interested in photography, this is so
planned that several students may occupy it at once, and be isolated
from one another by means of stalls, each provided with separate light
and sink. Separate rooms are fitted up for biological work, taxidermy
and general natural history work.

An abundance of pure water is to be had in Camp.

The Camp is well lighted at night.

Croquet grounds, Lawn Tennis Court, Dancing Pavilion. Local and
long distance telephone in Camp.

There are also evening gatherings around the camp fire, when each
one is invited to contribute to the general entertainment. Every week
more elaborate evening entertainments are gotten up with music and
literary exercises. Illuminations and fireworks are sometimes included
in the programme. ;

The Dodge Pavilion furnishes a place for social meetings, and is also
used as an evening lecture room or hall, and on Sunday as a place for
devotional exercises.

LOCATION.

The Camp is beautifully situated on the west shore of Lake Quinsi-
gamond, about one mile north of the causeway, on the old camping and
fishing grounds of the Nipmuck Indians. It occupies the forty acre
park owned by the Worcester Natural History Society. The tract in-
cludes hills, forest and open land. The location is all that could be
desired from a sanitary point of view. The Camp ground is well shaded
by large forest trees of various kinds; the tents are pitched on dry,
gravelly soil at the foot of Wigwam Hill. The wooded hill side shades
the Camp from the afternoon sun. The whole region is a “haunt and
nesting place for birds,’’ a tract of wooded hills and upland pastures,
clear streams and lakes, which offers every variety of occupation to
those who love out-door life. In strong contrast to the spot usually
chosen for the Summer School, is the Camp at the Lake, where, in ex-
change for the hotel, the hot lecture room, the noise, dust and crowd

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 259

ioe es
hoe ad

BIRD FOUNTAIN AT NATURAL HISTORY CAMP.

260 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

of a city street, you are offered the ideal summer life of the country;
where the pleasures though varied, are the simple, natural interests of
the fields and woods, and the occupations those which lead to a know-
ledge of the outdoor world. The Camp season extends from July 5th
to August 9th.

ARABELLA H. TUCKER.
Teacher of Botany, Normal School, Worcester, Mass.

To spend a month at Natural History Camp is to have an outing in
a quiet spot of great natural beauty, where the complex harness of civili-
zation may be loosened or cast aside and where life may return for a
little, to simpler, freer conditions. To sleep ina tent, to bathe in the
lake, to eat under the trees,—these experiences bring us nearer to the
life of primitive man from which the city dweller is too widely separated.
And in this favored spot, land and water combine to furnish opportunity
for a great variety of wholesome outdoor recreations. Such a month
could hardly fail to be of benefit, physically and spiritually, to anybody
whose daily occupation keeps him indoors.

But a month at the Camp as conducted last summer by the Natural
History Society means all this and much more. It means a gathering
of people with a common interest in the study of Nature. In addition
to the beauty of its situation the Camp offers such manifold advantages
for this study that even a solitary sojourn there could not fail to be both
profitable and enjoyable. But when, to improve these facilities, there
come together a group of persons all interested in the same subject
there result not only the stimulus of companionship in study but many
opportunities for social enjoyment. Such a company would get much
profit from a single day together out-of-doors, but with a single field
day repeated thirty times, there should be not only thirty times the
amount of enjoyment and profit but the cumulative result of observations
and perhaps experiments, continued from day to day, that cannot be so
easily reckoned.

This is the ideal that the Society has striven to realize. The ideal
and the real are often so widely different in this world that the question
may naturally be asked how near they approached in last summer’s
Camp. As in every new undertaking there was an experimental char-
acter to the management, but the experience of the first season will no
doubt serve as a basis for plans for the next. I do not see, however,
how the broad lines on which this undertaking was formulated can be
changed or improved.

Speaking for myself only, I can say that the month was for me much
more thana pleasant vacation outing. I found it a distinct inspiration

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 261

and help, and I should look forward with much pleasure to the prospect
of repeating it. I believe every individual who enjoyed the privileges
of the Camp is hoping to be again a member of the interested and con-
genial circle that gathered at the foot of Wigwam Hill last summer.

EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH.
Ornithologist, Massachusstts State Board of Agriculture,

The school for teachers and nature students at Wigwam Hill has all
the elements of success.

The situation is perfect.

Under the crag of Wigwam, on the old Indian camping ground, front-
ing a lake seven miles in length, it is retired but accessible. The
environment of wood, lake, brook, meadow, field and hill is all that
could be desired for nature study.

Add to these natural advantages an able manager full of enthusiasm
for the work and alive to the altruistic tendencies of the age, and we
have a combination which insures success. Such a man the Worcester
Natural History Society has in its president.

Regarding my own specialty, ornithology, he has chosen the right
path in advocating the study of the living birds and the means for
attracting and protecting them about the farm and the home, preserving
and increasing the numbers.

There is now a crying need of this kind of work, for already many
birds have decreased much in numbers and some have been exterminated
by man’s persecution.

There is no better place to begin this instruction than among those
whose work and mission is to teach the children. The children of our
race should be taught to feed and protect birds, to put up bird houses
and nesting boxes and to plant food plants and trees to attract the birds
about our homes.

If the American people fail to protect birds from their own children
and the host of bird killing foreigners that are landing on our shores,
they will one day have cause bitterly to regret the neglect of this plain
duty.

The Natural History Camp for teachers and nature students is unique
in this respect among others that it is to be a pioneer in this excellent
work for humanity and the birds.

DELIA M. HALE.
Teacher, Upsala Street School, Worcester, Mass.

“To go, or not to go. That was the question,’’ but should a like
opportunity be offered for next summer there would be not the slightest
hesitation “‘to go,’’ by all means.

262 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

I expected to gain pleasure and profit from the outing and surely the
days spent at Natural History Camp were filled to over flowing with
both.

If I were asked what one thing was most enjoyable I should be at a
loss to reply because the entire regime af Camp life was so satisfying
and delightful.

The talks given on the various nature subjects were not forced upon
us but were so attractively presented we were always glad to be in-
terested listeners.

Whatever the attraction for the hour might be, whether one of the
much coveted walks with Miss Tucker, or exploring the beauties of the
lake, or the camp fire at night, each and all had a peculiar charm which
should be experienced to be appreciated.

As a most enthusiastic ex-camper I have nothing but praise for the
days at Wigwam Hill and all they have brought to me.

C. ALLAN LYFORD, S. B.
Fellow in Biology in Clark University.

The past summer one of the most interesting and valuable phases of
work at Natural History Camp was the preparation of aquaria of
various sizes. These were prepared in part by the students them-
selves. The students were able to carry these away ready for use
in their schools this fall, for about one-tenth their cost if they had
been purchased through the regular dealers. Also systematic work
upon the biology of the aquarium was taken up, and each student be-
came familiar with the theory lying behind the management of a use-
ful acquisition in nature study work. These aquaria have gone into
schools in various parts of Worcester county and will serve as good
advertisements of the work of the Camp, and will doubtless beccme
centers about which many young people will some day have their first
interests in nature study awakened.

Next summer it is proposed in addition to similar work with aquaria
and vivaria, to start a greater interest in nature photography.

If there are many discouraging things in the present day attitude
toward nature, there is at least one encouraging thing standing out very
apparent, and that is the growing feeling among people against the use
of the rifle and the shot-gun as weapons of destruction against bird and
beast. To be sure, there are at present, perhaps, as many ‘game-hogs’”’
and as many rational sportsmen as there ever were, but there is, to offset
this, a constantly growing number of men and women who are interest-
ed, not in preserving the skins of birds in show-cases, but who spend
their vacation times and much of their week-day recreation in perpetu-

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 263

ating the habits and appearance of Nature’s population through the aid
of the camera. Fancy the man who will kill 20 or 30 rare birds, that
he may sometime realize large sums from the skins of a rapidly
diminishing variety of fowl; and then contrast him with the person who,
camera and plates in hand, will travel miles of country and climb cliffs
and trees in order to study wild creatures at short range, and who brings
home as proof of his prowess, photographs taken under conditions far
more trying and at times far more exciting than those under which a
buck was ever shot by a rifle, or a bear was ever trapped by a deadfall.

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.
CHICKADEE WITH A CHOICE MORSEL FOR HIS YOUNG.

The one has as selfish trophies mere dried kindling; the other has
quite realizations of wild life, of dynamical interest to all who behold
them. To the man who hunts with a camera there is no temptation to
hoard up anything but pictures of his game, and this, far from doing

264 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

harm to any one or anything, is doing a great deal of good in the world.

Twenty years ago the only way to study natural history seemed to
be getting a permit, and then shooting a pair of every kind of bird,
getting their nests and eggs, and mounting them in cases for future
reference. This kind of work has had its use, and immense use at that,
but it has all got to change now.

That was the way of the world in those days, and it is only a sign of
evolution that we want and find better methods gradually superceding
the old. The modern botanist no longer lays too great stress on com-
pleting his herbarium to cover every inch of groundinakingdom. He
now thinks much more of photography as tributative to his science.
The biologist studies from a much more lifelike viewpoint than former-
ly. Allis a moving cycle of living phenomena. This plant has a liv-
ing relation to the rest of the world because of the manner of obtaining
its food; that animal is of great interest not only because of its interest-
ing manner of ‘‘biting,’’ but because it is a carrier of disease germs.

In keeping with this new view of life, our methods of recording its
phenomena have changed. Our magazines are now appearing every
month with articles upon various phases of nature study, and the only
thing which makes them so generally read is the appearance of fascinat-
ing reproductions of all sorts of living things. Photographers who
have never taken anything but landscapes and portraits now catch the
contagious idea and, next we know, our friends are taking pictures of
birds and their nests, and their young, and of birds at dinner, and in
bathing. Because of the very natural feeling that one likes to know
about what he is doing, our friend “‘reads up”’ about his bird and soon
becomes an authority; an authority, not because he has “‘read up,”’ but
because he has been doing some telling observation. He has found
out more about a robin in one day than he would have learned in all
his life had he not been waiting to get a snap-shot of the bird feeding
its young.

There are many people who now realize the insanity of the “‘old
natural history’’ methods Cif indefinately continued), and they are setting
forth the new ideals in numerous magazine and nature journal articles
richly illustrated with photographs. It has become almost an axiom
that a student of nature, or a scientific biologist must be also a
photographer. It remains for the school teacher to instill into the grow-
ing youth such instincts as will lead to a quiet and refined future life in
contact with the rest of nature. The camera cannot fail inits mission,
and Natural History Camp is going to try and awaken a new interest
among the teachers of the youth in this most useful of accomplishments.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 265

Miss CLARA BARTON.
President of the National First Aid Association of America.

Extract made from address at Natural History Camp, Aug. 13, 1905.

“The study, skill, research, the up-to-date information developed and
imparted here exceeds anything of the kind [have ever known. At the
usual summer gatherings for the discussion and interchange of ideas,
one is accustomed to hear volumes of abstract themes, both possible
and impossible advanced, speculated upon and threshed out until the
brain is so confused and muddled that only forgetfulness of the entire
subject can ever clear up and settle it. But here all is tangible, some-
thing to be seen, felt, handled, lived among, sensible, practical, useful.
and so far from striving to forget, one lies awake at night to fix it in
memory, lest some fact escape. I believe it was only the high regard
I felt for the work that is being accomplished here that gave me courage
to come and say the few words I am requested to say upon the subject
of ‘First Aid to the Injured.”’ |

ANNABEL C. ROE.
Teacher, Worcester, Mass.

When the idea of making the Natural History Camp a part of my
vacation first suggested itself, I was a little skeptical about enjoying a
campout within ten minute’s walk of frivolous Lincoln Park and the
White City and within five cent’s worth of home; but the idea vanished
in the experience, and I think now one could pitch a tent in the back
yard and forget all about civilization.

Somehow I had never realized before how beautiful the lake region
was and how much undiscovered country lay in my native district. The
walk by the lake path with the unexpected finding of the crested shield
fern, the tramp on the Shrewsbury side with the sight of the rare
buckthorn and the old tree in its rock bed, the stroll up Coal Mine Brook
on the lookout for bugs with the Forbes boys will always beamong my
pleasant memories. Then too the lectures often opened the frontier
region of the mind and mapped in one corner clam anatomy, another
summer posies or caterpillar history. The talk on stars in fact made
such an impression that I immediately purchased ‘‘Astronomy with an
“Opera Glass’? and I am now finding the walk home from evening school
the more enjoyable from this new interest.

Added to these of course were the delights of just living in a tent,
the half picnic suppers from tin cups, and the sociability of the place
with its song and dance, shadow pantomine and chatter. We were
fortunate in experiencing both sunny and rainy weather as I think every
one should who wants an all-round good time. It was a picnic from
first to last, of a sort worth living again.

266 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

TURSNTONE.

A. O. U. No. 283 (Arenaria interpres).

This is the Old World Turnstone. It is occasionally found in Green-
land and in Alaska. It is slightly larger than our common bird and the
back is chiefly blackish with mottling of rusty; otherwise it does not

differ from our bird.

RUDDY TURNSTONE,

A. O. U. No. 283.1. (Arenaria morinella).

In full spring plumage, the Ruddy Turnstone is a beautiful bird, much
prettier than the European. They vary in plumage from the nearly
uniform rich reddish brown of old males down to the mixed black and
brownish of the young birds and winter adults.

Turnstones are very widely distributed, being found in all four
quarters of the globe. They breed only in the Arctic regions and
migrate southward in America, to Patagonia.

They do not often go in large flocks, and rarely are more than twenty
seen together, and much more frequently they are found in bands of
three or four, individuals. They seem to like the company of other
Sandpipers as well as those of their own species and single birds are
often found in flocks of other Plover or Sandpipers.

Turnstones are found, apparently with little preference, on sandy,
pebbly or rocky shores. They are extremely active birds and can run
with great speed; I have seen them on the beach, perhaps two hundred
yards in advance, and made a detour behind the sand bluffs and dunes
in order to come abreast of him, only to find that he was just as far
ahead. While they are sociable with other birds, they are timid in the
presence of man and rarely allow anyone to oppenly approach within
gunshot. Their flight is very rapid and is usually performed close to
the land or water, and they often progress by sailing. Like all the
Plover they are easily called to decoys and many of them are killed by
gunners, to whom they are known as “Calico Birds’’ owing to their
variegated plumage.

They are very interesting birds to watch, especially when feeding,

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 267

for, in some ways, they are unique in that particular. Like all shore
birds they are often seen at the water’s edge, chasing down the beach
after each receding wave,rapidly gathering up the marine insects that are
left by it, and quickly retreating as the next breakerrolls in. They have
also learned that a great many insects or small crustacea may be found
under pebbles, stones, driftwood, etc., and they use their peculiar
shaped bills for turning these over so that they can get them. They
insert their bill under the edge of small stones, and using it as a lever
manage to move them from their places. Often they will push against
larger pieces of driftwood with their breast in their endeavor to see
what is beneath. Whether this manner of procuring food is a result of
the shape of the bill or whether the bill has become modified because
of continued use as a lever, is somewhat of a mystery, but it is prob-
ably the latter as it is the accepted line of evolution.

They are very common in the far north and have been found breed-
ing as far as man has been. When their nesting ground is invaded,
they rise*in the air and circle about the intruder with shrill calls of
alarm. In this respect they differ from the shore birds with which we
are most familiar, for the latter usually leave the nest and slip away
with as little disturbance as possible, thereby often avoiding discovery.
Like those of all other plovers, their young are hatched with a cover-
ing of down and are able to leave the nest within a few hours and _ fol-
low their parents. Turnstones make no nest, but lay their three or
four eggs in slight hollows in the sand, often under the shelter of rocks
or concealed by grass. The eggs are buffy, handsome blotched with
brown, black and lavender. The young are hatched about the middle
of July and by the end of August are ready to accompany their parents

on their long journey.

268 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

RUDDY TURNSTONE—Length 9% inches.

Adult in spring and young (flying)

BLACK TURNSTONE (in foreground).

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 269

BLACK TURNSTONE.

A. O. U. No. 284. (Arenaria melanocephala).

This species is found only on our western coast. They are quite
abundant in Alaska but the majority of them must migrate through
Japan as they are not very common on the western coast of the United
States. Their habits are just like those of the common Turnstone
and they are often seen in company with them. They procure their
food in the same manner and are just as excited when their breeding
grounds are trespassed upon. Their eggs are very similar and often
indistinguishable.

BIRD LIFE IN THE PINES,

By C. EDWIN HOPKINS.

During the winter, early spring and late autumn, evergreen trees,
especially pines are great gathering places for birds of almost every
species. On days when there seems to be ‘“‘nothing doing’’ in bird
life, I have always found an interesting group in the pines. There is
at least one reason for this and possibly two. In the first place ever-
greens offer much shelter during the cold weather, and because coni-
ferous trees are warmer, insects which seek shelter beneath the bark,
seem not to bury themselves as deep as they would in other trees and
hence may be more easily reached by the birds. I have frequently
seen Downy Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Cardinals, Blue Jays,
Juncos and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and our other winter visitants
from the far north creeping up the trees, even on the coldest days,
seemingly enjoying a delicious meal of grubs which they found under
the bark.

As spring advances, the pines shelter many migrants during the
chilly days of that season and the life in the pines will become more
interesting. As soon as the sap begins to creep up through the trees,
the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Downy Woodpecker begin to
bore into the bark of the pines so that they may secure the insects
which are beginning to stir. Occasionally one may see the Downy,
cock his head to one side and place his ear to the tree, as a doctor ex-
amining his patient. Then if he hears any sounds of life within he
bores a hole and secures the grub.

270 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker or Sapsucker, as he is called, does
not deserve the latter name. Instead of sucking the sap from the tree,
as to all outward appearances seems to be the fact, he is merely boring
for the grubs,—injurious to the trees—lying dormant within the bark.
I acknowledge that the trees do lose some sap by this process, but the
end justifies the means. Among the trees which will be found honey-
combed by their lorings, the pine is the chief, for as I have said before
this seems to be on account of the comparative warmth and shelter
which they afford the insects.

Toward the end of March the blackbirds and crows take possession
of the pine tops and these peculiar birds will be found to be very in-
teresting. Place an owl, either a living or a stuffed one, in their midst
and a more excited group of birds cannot be found anywhere.

As the days grow warmer the number and variety of the birds in the
pines become less, but just as soon as the first frost visits us in the
autumn the pines will again become a center of bird life. The bird
student should give particular attention to the neighborhood of pines
for the bird life it contains will always be found of great interest.

A SONG FROM THE NEST,
N. A. JACKSON, Keuka Park, N. Y.

To hear a bird sing, always gives me great pleasure; I will walk a
long distance to hear the Veery or any other songster. But, when I
hear a song, I always like to locate the performer. The song of the
Red-eyed Vireo, or Preacher bird has a special attraction for me; it
seems so full of honest endeavor and the little songster is so very much
in earnest about it. I once had a pleasant experience trying to locate
one of these little singers, whose song had drawn me to a small, isolated
hickory tree by theroadside. As I approached the tree, the song ceased
and I supposed that the bird had flown. I at once discovered the nest
and sat down on the grass to watch developments. SoonI was surprised
to hear the song again, but no bird could I see. The song seemed to
come from the nest, but I hardly thought that possible, nevertheless I
riveted my eyes on the nest and soon the. trim, little, slate capped head
appeared above the edge of the nest and there poured forth in full
ecstacy of hapiness, the richest Vireo’s song I ever heard or ever ex-
pect to hear.

I could not believe my eyes and ears, but there it certainly was, a
true, living bird so brimful of pure happiness and good will that she
could not help but give her voice to her feelings, while on the nest.
Several times was the song repeated, then I went on my way, a better
and happier man.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY . 271

OUR PURPLE MARTINS.

ape 15 1D, 186

This colony was started at my home in Marion, O., by myself about
20 years ago,'by simply placing a small box on a high pole, scarcely 10
feet above the grounds; a year later a more substantial house of four
rooms was erected which served for a number of years and about 7 years
ago I made a very large house of 8 rooms and two hallways extending
from one side to the other on both floors, the rooms being separated
from the halls by screen wire, which gives constant ventilation. I re-
gret I have not kept closer record of these birds as regards numbers
and time of arrival and departure but will say that it has varied great-
ly in the history of the colony, this year has broken all records in the
way of numbers and number of young raised to maturity, 36 young

having been raised this season. In a number of former years they

Photo by C. A. Reed.
CHICKADEE ON EDGE OF NEST HOLE.

have all been gone by the Ist of August, but this season at the middle
of August finds them still here in large numbers. The young present a

272 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

grand sight, lined upon a telephone wire, 20 to 25 ina row and some-
times nearly an equal distance apart. In the spring at nesting time
these birds will not tolerate an English Sparrow but at this season af-
ter the young have flown they seem to pay no attention to them. Our
Martin’s ‘‘as we call them” pay no attention to a gun as I have often
shot an intruding sparrow right by the side of a Martin without dis-
turbing the Martin in the least. The principal food of these birds
seems to be dragon flies, with which I have seen them so large that they
could not get into the house with them. As regards number of eggs
in a set will say I have found as high as twelve eggs in one nest. The
present home of our colony was originally placed on a telegraph pole
purchased of the local company, but this was found too high for good
observation as it was about 35 feet from the ground, accordingly the
height was reduced to about 18 feet making observations quite easy.

AN INTERESTING FAMILY,

We were wending our way along a narrow country lane, hedged in on
either side by stone walls and bushes, when the clearly whistled ““phe-be”’
of a Chickadee attracted our attention. A few yards farther on the
song ceased and changed toa series of ‘‘dee-dee-dee’s’’ uttered as rapid-
ly as they could be uttered from the throat of an angry bird. It was
very evident that we were uncomfortable near her home but in which
direction it was we did not know, and had she been wise and remained
silent, we never would have known. She came down very close to us
and we then saw that she had her beak filled with small plant lice.
How she could retain her grip upon them and dee dee so vigorously
was a mystery, but the sound poured forth as rapidly and with as much
force through her closed mandibles as it did later after she had fed her
young.

With Mrs. Chickadee to help us, we soon found the nest in a small
dead tree standing beside the wall. Violent as had been her protesta-
tions when we first found her, she soon became quite reconciled to our
presence and in a short time was one of the tamest birds with which I
have had to deal, coming to feed her children when we were standing
within arm’s reach of the tree. For the next three or four hours we
camped out, with our cameras, beside the tree and readily made a dozen
negatives of her and her mate in a number of interesting attitudes.
Had we visited them several days in succession we could, without doubt,
have readily succeeded in having them feed from the hand.

After they had become accustomed to our presence they fed their

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 273

Photo by C. A. Reed.
MALE CHICKADEE AND HIS FAMILY.

little ones on an average of about once in four minutes, the birds plan-
ning their visits so that one of them was present the greater part of the
time. During the time that we were there, they fed them nothing ex-
cept very small insects or plant lice, and small white worms; the lice
they would bring in large clusters but the worms were brought singly.
As nearly as we could make out most of the worms were brought by
the male bird, so we concluded that he was inclined to be lazy or else
was something of a philosopher.

After we had made several pictures of the birds entering and leaving
the nesting hole, we enlarged the opening so that we could see the little
Chickadees. We found they were not so very little after all, for with
the exception of one, they were fully large enough to leave the nest
and, but for their short tails, might pass for adult birds. One of them
escaped lhrough our fingers and flew away over the tops of the bushes
until lost to view; several of the others made shorter flights and were
brought back again to sit with their brothers and sisters. There were
six in the nest when we opened it, but as one of these escaped we had

274 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

but five to deal with, and a lively time we had with the four that ‘could
fly. At first the old birds would flutter about us and call to their children
to fly to them, and I will give them the credit for obeying beautifully.
When, as frequently happened, all four would fly at once, and in as many
different directions, we had our hands full. Finally the old birds seemed
to comprehend what we wanted and to realize that we would not harm
their birdlings, for they ceased their calling and the little ones perched
as contentedly on the branch as if they had always been accustomed to
do so.

Photo by C. A. Ree .

ABOUT TO FEED HER YOUNG,

The little black-capped lady bird was not as timid as her mate. She
would come with her bill filled to overflowing with insect delicacies
alight on the side of the branch nearest to us and without haste or fear
look critically at her little ones to see which was the hungriest, and then
feed one, two or three, depending upon how far the rations that she
had brought would go; the male Chickadee, on the other hand, would
come with a rush, alight on the farther side of the branch, quickly thrust
his single worm down the throat of the nearest youngster and hurriedly
leave; this was soon after we had placed the young on the branch.
Within half an hour he, to, was quite tame, but he always kept as far
from us and the camera as he could stand and still tend to the wants of
his young.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 275

HNN we

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT

156 WATERVILLE St., WATERBURY, OT.

My DEAR YouNG FOLKs:

I wish it were possible for each one of you to enjoy the charming
water colors prepared by M. G. Hinds, which this mail carries to
two of your number, representing the dainty Blue Bunting, and the
sunny Goldfinch. The succéssful contestants are Naomi E. Voris,
Crawfordville, Ind., and Samuel D. Robbins, Belmont, Mass. One of
the letters is printed in this number, the other will be printed later, as
well as some of the other interesting letters which have been received.

As Jack Frost has came to stay with us, there may be some of our
young folks who need to be reminded to spread the feast of crumbs,
suet, nuts, berries and other good things for flying folk, in open work
bags and shelves out of reach of prowling cats.

The number of those who feed the birds and enjoy them, is growing
every year, and who knows but the time may come when we shall make
loaters of them, as they find their needs so easily supplied. Do you
think there is any danger of that?

Cordially, Your Friend,
Merc MERRYTHOUGHT.

ROLL OF HONOR.
Carl Ph Dowell, Port Richmond, N. Y.
C. P. Alexander, Gloversville, N. Y.
Russell S. Adams, St. Johnsburg, Vt.
Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.
James Howard Binns, Adena, Ohio.

276 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ANSWERS TO OCTOBER PUZZLES.
Pi of California birds.
1 California Gull. 2 Snowflake. 3 Northern Shrike. 4 Bluebird.

5 Titmouse. 6 Nuthatch. 7 Kinglet. 8 Bushtit. 9 Chickadee.
10 Rock Wren. 11 Thrasher. 12 Wagtail.

SOME BIRDS OF THE BIBLE.

1. Glide. ie Ouanl:

Zo, Hawk. 122) SRaven:

3. Heron. 132 Sparrow.

4. Kite. 14. Stork.

5. Ossifrage. 15. - Swallow:

Go Ostrich: 16. Swan.

ds” (Owls i. Bittern:

&. Partridge. 18. Cormorant.

9; Peacock. 9s Crane:
10. Pelican. 20: ‘Cuckoo:

Birds translated differently in Revised Version.

1. Swan—Horned Owl. 4. Cormorant—Pelican.
2.. .Hagle—Gritfton. 5. Bittern—Porcupine.
3. Gier Eagle—Egypt Vulture. 6. Ossifrage— Vulture.

BROWN PELICANS.

Mamma and I had spent last winter in St. Petersburg, Fla., though a
small place it is very interesting on account of the many birds.

About nine a. m. we would walk along the beach and see numbers of
the pretty Snowy and Little Blue Herons walking around inthe shallow
water picking up any little morsel that might suit their taste.

Walking out’on the longest pier, we saw many Brown Pelicans, they
are not molested and hence are very tame.

If you have caught a fish and are taking it off the hook, you must be
careful or they will grab it out of your hands. Sometimes when men
throw their line in, a Pelican grabs their floater, but the men get them
away from the Pelicans. Often they try to get it many times, before
the fisherman can drive them away. They say they are a nuzsance.
They seem to think that everything that is thrown into the bay is fish
for them. Often I saw thirty by one fish house.

One gloomy morning I was attracted to a tree by the twittering of
many birds. It was a flock af Cedar Waxwings feeding on berries. It

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 207

seemed as if the bird kingdom was transformed into Waxwings, there
were so many.
Toward evening the notes of the Killdeer are heard as they fly along
the shore, we also spent many happy hours watching other birds.
Naomi E. Voris,
Crawsfordsville, Ind.

QUERIES.
The Robin.
1. What parts of the bird are black?
2 = iia pelos . Sespottede
3 - ie ek So Slatyebhowile
4, : ae ay pe rufus?
J: s GES « SP A pee ips SALES e
6. What is its length in inches?
7. How does the plumage of the female differ?
8. What is the plumage of the nestling?
9. In what parts of our country is it found?

10. What are its nesting materials?

11 What is the color and number of its eggs?

12 Does it walk or hop?

13. What are some of the wild fruits it eats?

14. What insects does it eat?

(See how many of these queries about this common bird you can
answer before looking into a book.)

LEAF PUZZLE.

xX xX Xoo0o000000038

From 1 to x a bird deriving its name from its song.
From 2 to x a large black bird.
From 3 to x a large sea bird.
From 4 to x a sea fowl.
From 5 tox a very large bird.
The initials 1-2-3-4-5 spell the name sf a wading bird.
JAMES HOWARD BINNS.
Adena, Ohio.

278

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

EVENING.

Dim grows the wood; the amber evening tints
Merge into opal skies and stars just seen:

Down vistas gloomed and winding there are hints
Of elves and gnomes along the mosses green.

MIDNIGHT.

A holy song the thrush has distant sung;

The tree-tops murmur like some dreaming sea:

Hark! far away a silvern bell has rung

Twelve strokes, slow tolled, that faint and fade from me.

MORNING.

A shaft of gold upon my upturned face
As fleeting and as shy as any fawn;
Sweet odors, stirring winds and forms of grace;°
Now tell me, is this heaven or is it dawn?
RICHARD BURTON.

For Christma

6 to 8 times this size

Sola

SISTINE MADONNA

THE PERRY PICTURES

PDP LLP YD PY BABB AAD OO HAD HBBB OE

Methods in the Art of Taxidermy

By Oliver Davie, Author of ‘‘Nests and
Eggs of North American Birds*”’

$0 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 cover. Form-
erly published at $10. My price $2.50 post-
paid, or Given Free for 6 new subscribers.

Chas. K.Reed, Worcester, Mass.

@OA~O> <0 O- OX O~ OOK OO ~ OK OO 0 OOOO 0 0 Ov OO 8

s Gifts, The

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Awarded Four Gold Medals,

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for 25 or more.
120 FOR $1.00

Teach the Christmas Story with these Pictures

Send 50 cents for Art Subjects, 50 Madonnas,
etc.; 50 Life of Christ, etc.; or 50 Children, or 25

cents for any 25.
OR $1.00

For Christmas Set of 120 choice pictures, or four
25 cent sets and 20 pictures. Catalogue of 1000
tiny pictures for 2c stamp in December.

Order today.

A Beautiful Gift Book ‘‘THE STORY OF CHRIST”
Just Published. 100 full page pictures.

The story in Bible language. Intended espec-
ially for children and young people, but suitable
for all. About 230 pages. Prices, $1.50, postpaid.
Size, 7 x 93.

Send 25 cents for Art Booklet. Madonnas, or
Scenes in Life of Christ, or Booklet “Children,”
or Art Booklet, “Cats.”

THE PERRY MAGAZINE

Makes a Choice Christmas Gift. Beautifully il-
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$1.00 per year.

CO., Box 413, Malden, Mass.

THE YOUNG IDEA

Normal Clubbing List for 1905-6

OFFERS: The Young Idea with
other periodicals as follows:

The Young Idea, School Arts, Popular Educator
or Primary Education, $2.00.

The Young Idea, School Arts and Garden Mag-
azine, $2.00.

TheYoungldea(School Arts or Popular Educator),
World's Work or Country Life in America, $3.60.
The Young Idea (School of Arts or Popular
Educator), Bird Magazine, $2.00.

The Young Idea, (School Arts or Popular Educa-
tor), Birds and Nature and 1o Plates, $2.50.

The Young Idea, with Schoo! Arts or Popular
Educator or Primary Education, $1.35.

The Young Idea, Holiday Magazine and Boys
and Girls, $1.10

The Young Idea, with Holiday Magazine or Boys
and Girls, 8oc.

The Young Idea, The Journal of Geography, $1.65.
The Young Idea, American Primary Teacher and
Primary Education, $2.00.

The Young Idea, Popular Educator and Educa-
tion, 53.50.

The Young Idea, Popular Educatcr, Journal of
Education, $3.25.

The Minnie George Plan Books,
Advanced, Set, $2.25.
Maud Kingsley’s Outline Studies in English, Set

$2.80.

Primary or

We give rates on all the leading Magazines.
For Nature Work, Character Study and Travel. we
know of ncthing better than The Young Idea.

JAMES E. HUGHES

Melrose Highlands, Mass

American Ornithology.

A Magazine [:voted Wholly to Birds.

Published monthly by CHAS. K. REED, 75 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass.
EDITED BY CHESTER A. REED, B.S.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in United States, Canada and Mexico, One
Dollar yearly in advance. Single copies, ten cents. Vols. I, Il, Ill and
IV, $1.00each. SPECIAL:—Vols. I, II, III, IV, Vand subscription for
1906, $4.00. We can supply back numbers at ten cents per copy.

FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION, $1.25.

——COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY CHAS. K. REED——_

VOL. V DECEMBER, 1905. NO. 12

This issue completes our fifth volume, and with it we send our thanks
to all our subscribers for the support they have given us in our work.
We trust that it has been merited and that we may receive a continu-
ance of the same. The power and appearance of a magazine depends
almost entirely upon its circulation. We shall do the best that we can,
but the larger circulation we get the better we can make the magazine.
Will not each one of you call the American Bird Magazine to the atten-
tion of your friends, and send us a list of all that you think are, or
might be, interested in birds. We shall be glad to send them a sample
copy. We want you all to feel at liberty to make any suggestions that
you think will help to improve the value or appearance of the magazine,
and invite you to use it as a medium of exchange for your ideas and
experiences. We have some fine illustrations and excellent articles in
store for the coming year. Look for the beautiful Colored Picture of
the rare Carolina Paraquet in the January Number.

The advance sale of BIRD GUIDE and the many compliments upon
the appearance of its sample pages, leads us to believe that its sale
will be very large. It should have, for nothing like it has ever been
on the market. It is of pocket size, has colored pictures of all the
birds, is complete in all respects and the price is only 50 cts. Place
your order at once if you wish it for Christmas, Until the lst of Jan.
we will send BIRD GUIDE with a year’s subscription to American
Ornithology for $1.25; if your subscription does not expire now we will
extend it one year from when it does.

Photo from life by C. A. Smith.

THE OWL,

By Mary LAVERNA HARVEY.

In sunless woods,
Where prowlers prow],
There dwells a solemn visaged fowl
Which men are pleased to call,
The Owl.

And, when you pass his woodland through,
With round dim eyes he stares at you,
Inguiring boldly,

“Who?”

Though oft you tell him what’s your name,
He ask his question just the same—
He frights and chills you through and through,
Inquiring boldly,

“Who?”

280 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Photo from life by:C. A. Reed.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

She sat on the eqgas. with her feathers relaxed and wings drooped, while the head was drawn well
down on the shoulders.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 281

THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
A. O. U. No. 263. (Actitis macularia).

Spotted Sandpipers are found throughout North America, breeding
from our southern border north to Hudson Bay, and spending the winter
along the Gulf, and in the West Indies. Unlike most of the other Sand-
pipers, they are rarely seen in flocks of any considerable size, and rare-
ly associate with other members of the family.

They arrive in northern United States early in May. They will first
be seen along the shores of rivers or ponds, running up and down the
water’s edge or standing on a half submerged stone, and nearly always
with their heads and tails alternately bowing or jerking. Nearly all
shore birds indulge in grotesque motions indicative of fear, curiosity
or sociability, but the Spotted Sandpiper carries his emotions to the
extreme, and is, therefore, known by many local names, most of which
refer to his actions, such as Tip-up and Teeter-tail.

They seem to be very evenly distributed in the interior or along the
coasts. .A single pair, or sometimes two or three pairs, will settle down
for the season in the neighborhood of any small pond, stream or lake.
In whatever light they are considered, they are one of our most wel-
come birds. ‘Their piping notes are very pleasing to the ear, their
manners are very attractive, and their food habits make them of great
value economically. Their food is almost wholly insectivorous and,
especially during the breeding season and while bringing up their young,
they will be found most abundantly in cultivated fields, running along
the ploughed furrows after small grasshoppers and other insects. It
seems a pity that such useful and attractive birds cannot enjoy pro-
tection from the attacks of gunners at all seasons of the year, but after
the middle of July, in most states, all shore birds have to take their
lives in their hand and keep out of the way of all two-legged animals.
Although a great many of these birds are shot off each fall, I do not
think that they are getting any scarcer, which is accounted for by the
skill with which they conceal their nests, and the tact that they display
in leading folks away from its neighborhood. Most of the shore birds
nest in colonies and lay their eggs in rather conspicuous places near or
on the beach but, while some of the Spotted Sandpipers nest near the
water’s edge, the majority of nests will be found in the tall grass of
fields bordering ponds orcultivatedland. Frequently they will be found
several hundred yards from water.

At least three pairs of Sandpipers nest every year ina certain locality
that I often frequent but, until this year, I have never made any effort
to locate them. This placé has always appeared to me to be unusually

282 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

attractive and it is to birds too, for quantities of various kinds nest
there. It is in a small hollow separated from a large lake by a small
pine covered ridge; in this hollow is a small pond hole, surrounded on
two sides by cultivated fields, on the third by a meadow carpeted with
tall grass, and on the fourth by scrub pines which extend down from
the ridge.

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.

Sometimes she would rise and carefully tread her eggs about until all were turned over.

These birds first appear here the first week in May, and for the
succeeding two weeks the air resounds with their fife-like notes as they
chase each other about or call from the lake side. They skim over the
surface of the pond with that peculiar tremulous flutter of the down-
curved wings, peculiar to Sandpipers, and sometimes chase one another
over the fields with a flight very similar to that of the swallows.

Before the end of May they are mated and have selected the spot for
their home. Their nest building is a very simple task, for having found
a small hollow that suites their taste, the female has but to sit in it and
turn about a few times, to make the dried grass conform to the shape

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

NEST AND EGGS OF SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

[Winner of 2nd prize in Class 3. ]

Photo H. G. Phister.

284 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

of her body, and the home is completed. I have found their nests in
small clumps of grass on sandy beaches where they were quite con-
spicuous; under bushes or blackberry vines near the edge of the water;
and on dry hill tops a long distance from water.

'

Photo from life by C’ A. Reed.

She sat there as contentedly as though I was not in existence, and watched the small birds flitting
through the pines or flying overhead.

The first part of last June I spent two mornings looking for the eggs
of one of these Sandpipers but without success. The next morning as
I was crossing the ridge on my way to continue the search, a bird
fluttered from nearly under my feet and ran off down the hill with her
wings trailing as though broken; it was one of the Sandpipers and I
found that I had nearly trod upon her four eggs that were in a hollow
in the short grass. It was in asmall clearing near the edge of the scrub
pines, far from where I had been looking for them. The eggs were
beautifully marked, as is usual with this species, and were arranged in
the usual manner, that is with all the small ends together at the center
of the nest. They had little to conceal them from view except their
coloration, but this was so effectual that, when ten feet away, it was
very difficult to pick the eggs out from their surrounding, and anyone
not knowing the exact location could not have seen them even at a

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 285

closer distance. As I said, this nest was in a clearing where there was
not a particle of shelter, not even a spear of grass to keep the sun’s
rays off at any time during the day. As I spent a great many pleasant
hours watching this bird, I used often to think of her on exceedingly
warm days, sitting there, panting but faithful to her charges. Four
days of the heaviest rainfal that we have ever had also occured at this
time, and I was very doubtful about her being able to stand it, but
when the sun appeared on the morning of the fifth day, she slipped
away from the nest upon my approach, apparently none the worse for
the drenching. Only one who has been caught in the fields or woods
far from shelter in a driving rain can appreciate what the birds have to
undergo at such times. I wonder how much sleep this bird could get
on these two nights with the rain coming in torrents, while she had to
sit in one spot without a bit of shelter.

My first photograph of her sitting on the nest was made by operating
the camera shutter with a thread from a distance of about fifty yards.
I was concealed under a bush but her bright eyes discovered me and
she was very shy about going to the nest. While I was making the
camera ready she was standing on a stone a short distance away, on
the edge of a cornfield, and with many “‘teeterings’’ and calls, which
were answered by her mate from the edge of the pond, watched me at
my work for a few minutes, and then flew down tothe pondtoo. Soon
after I had concealed myself I heard a low musical “‘peet’’ of an entire-
ly different tone from the usual “‘peet-weet’’ that they utter. This was
repeated at intervals of three or four seconds, and soon I saw her run-
ning up the hill towards me. She would run a few feet, then stand and
bow a few times, and by repeating this performance soon reached the
nest

Not the slightest regard was paid to the camera and she would run
in and out between the tripod legs as though they had always been
there. For some reason, however, she seemed to be afraid to settle on
the eggs. This, from her subsequent actions, I attributed to the fact
that she knew where I was. She walked entirely around the nest sev-
eral times, and then carefully stepped up and felt of the eggs with her
bill, acting as though she thought there was some trap to catch her.
Finally she ran right across the nest and then turned around quickly to
see if anything had happened. At each attempt she gained confidence
and finally was sitting on her eggs contentedly as though I had never
disturbed her. I made but one picture of her at this time, but on
succeeding days made about a dozen more, being concealed in a blind
that I constructed within a few feet of the nest. As she could not see
me shecome and went indifferently, acting just as she would, had I not

286 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

been about. As she walked about my hiding place, I could often. have
reached out and touched her; it seemed strange to be so near an un-
restrained, wild bird; I could even see the changing expressions in her
eyes.

Invariably, when returning to the nest, she would feel of all the eggs
with her bill, then carefully step on or between them, spread her feathers
and settle down to her task. When sitting, her wings were droopedso
as to rest on the ground, and her head was usually drawn well down on
the shoulders. She seemed to be interested in all that transpired about
her, watching the small birds as they flitted through the pines, and
twisting her head way around to see every bird that flew overhead.
Twice I had an opportunity to watch her when some one was approach-
ing. She saw a man coming through the trees even before I heard
him; her feathers drew closer to her sides and she became as motion-
less as the stone beside her, in fact she resembled this stone so much
that there was little danger of her being discovered. When the man
had come to within about twenty yards she very carefully slipped from
the eggs and ran, or rather sneaked through the grass, to a distance* of
perhaps thirty feet from the nest, and hid behind a larger stone. The
man passed within a few feet of me but did not notice anything and
was soon lost to view. The Sandpiper came leisurely back, stopping
several times to pick up insects. The next time we were disturbed we
did not escape so easily. A man approached from the rear so that Mrs.
Sandpiper could not see him and stayed on the nest; on he came, lum-
bering over all the bushes in the way, turning out for nothing, and I
was forced to rise up and stop him as he was about to clamber through
my ambush. He started back as though he had seen a ghost, with a
“Wall I swan! I never seed yer!’’ Of course I was obliged to explain
that I was making photographs, but I did not tell him what of, and he
did not see the nest or the bird which, being frightened, was running
away with a ‘“‘broken”’ leg and wing, and piping loudly.

About every fifteen minutes, while I was watching her, she would
half rise and tread with her feet until she had turned every egg over;
she always turned them over, also, after having been away feeding for
a short time.

Quite often she would answer the male birds as they called to each
other or to their mates, from down at the pond. Itsounded alarmingly
loud and clear to hear her call, at such a short distance. Always when
returning to the nest, she would utter low sweet whistles in varying but
very clear tones. Just once I heard her, while she was on the nest,
give a series of whistles or warbles. She was undoubtedly so happy

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 287

Photo from life by C. A. Reed.
SPOTTZD SANDPIPER.

Reaching down to fondle her eggs with her bill. Her back is blurred by the “teetering” motion in
which they alwags indulge when standing or walking.

288 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

that she was singing to herself, and she never knew that she had an
appreciative audience. ;

Even while she was sitting, she often teetered her head or tail, and,
when standing or just coming to the nest, her movements were so con-
tinuous and violent as to defy the speed of the camera shutter. I made,
on different days, six negatives of her as she was about to step on the
nest and every one shows the jerky movement of either the head or tail,
even though some of them were made in one five hundredeth part of a
second.

Several times the male bird came up to the edge of the pines and
conversed with her in low “‘pipings,’’ but he never came to the nest,
and I do not think that he ever sat upon the eggs; at least, the bird that
I always saw seemed to be the same one.

One morning I found but two small pieces of egg shell beside the
nest; the little ones were following their mother in the cornfield, but I
never saw them before they were able to fly. When hatched they are

+... é.

Young Sandpipers are hatched covered with down and follow their parents about within a few
hours after leaving the egg.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 289

covered with gray and white down, and marked with several narrow
black stripes, one being through the eye; they leave the nest within an
hour or two after coming from the egg, and follow their parents, pick-
ing up the food that they show them.

When their flight feathers have fully grown, their upper parts are
clothed much the same as their parents, but without the black shaft
lines to the feathers, and they are entirely white below. When they
return the next spring they all, males and females, have spotted

breasts.
C. 2A weep:

THE

__| CALIFORNIA

4

ee NN eo

4 a
C54) VULTURE
Lp ipiyprsil

Wf On) Hi Y I; Hh y

of : Wf!

Hippy

BY

HARRY WH ODVAN

NOS ANGELES
CALIF.

Spreading a wing expanse of from nine to eleven feet, with a body
of the weight of a swan upborne between these Roc-like pinions, living
all its life in the most inaccessible portion of the westernmost ranges
of the New World, there is every reason that the eyes of ornithologists
the world over should turn with marked interest to the life and habits
of the California Condor. Fifty years and less ago these giant birds
were comparatively plentiful among the hills and vales of the lower
slopes of the Pacific coast where roamed countless he1ds of cattle, and
where the vaqueros realized the value ot the vultures as scavengers
and so seldom molested then as they did the eagles and other pred-
atory birds, at that time even more plentiful than the condors. But
half a century agone is not today, and the most one can hope to have,
even after a long residence among the higher mountains of the west-
land is an occasional glimpse of one of these birds as he perches on
the stub of a dead pine back among the highest hills or a distant view
of one more bold than the rest as he feeds on some bit of carrion sur-
rounded by a band of turkey vultures that seem dwarfed beside this
monster of the upper air.

290 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Time was when the range of the condor extended from the Colum-
bia River southward, possibly into Lower California; now they are
seldom if ever found north of Mt. Shasta nor south of the Mexican
line. Along the eastern side of the great San Joaquin and Sacramen-
to valleys, in the heart of the cliffs and crags of the high sierras that
line both of these valleys, running back almost to the boundary line of
the state is the center of abundance of these birds. From out these
hills the big birds can come down into the lowlands where there are
yet quite a few cattle and sheep, and, mingling with the lesser birds of
prey, pass practically unnoticed by the average person. On the desert
side of the mountains there is little for them to get in the way of food,
and, though I have seen several of the big birds on the coast side, I
never saw one on either the Mojave or the Colorado deserts in a stay
of several months in each. A hundred miles, more or less, is of little
count to birds of the wing power of these and they frequently cover
great distances in the search for food, yet they are much addicted to
the use of one cliff for a roosting place at night and one cave for a
home wherein to rear their solitary young. They never band together
as do the turkey vultures, notwithstanding reports to the contrary oc-
casionally given out by old hunters and prospectors who would not
know a condor from a golden eagle in a crowd. In fact, so far as I
have been able to learn in several years past, there are not enough
condors in the entire state of California to make a respectable band
should they all get together at once. I do not mean by this that the
condor is on the rapid road to extinction for they have learned the
lesson which the Great Auk was unable to grasp and have moved out
of man’s way before it is forever too late. The gradual disappearance
of the California Vulture from the haunts that once knew it so well has
always been something of a puzzle to me; of all birds it had the least
to fear from man, being gifted with acute senses of smell and sight to
warn it of danger and powerful wings to bear it to safety when that
danger became real. The auk that once filled Funk Island with its
cries could not escape, the Labrador Duck passed into oblivion prob-
ably before men had become abundant enough on this continent to
notice it as different from other ducks, but why did the Condor go?

In Ventura and Los Angeles and Orange and San Diego counties
there are yet a few, very few, condors, and they are but rarely to be
seen. The two homes of the bird that I have had the pleasure of
visiting were in Orange and Los Angeles counties; both were very
much alike in point of general situation and both were found by the
previous knowledge that the birds inhabited a certain canyon which
was followed up until it ended in the cliff wherein was situated the cave

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 291

containing the egg. There are few cliffs in southern California con-
taining caves such as are found in the northern sierras, and I have
heard of an egg of this vulture which was taken from a small hole in
the sloping side of one of the low hills known as the Santa Monica
mountains in Los Angeles county. The party who found this egg
walked to the nest hole without any trouble, the only instance of the kind
of which I ever heard and one probably unparalleled since ornitholo-
gists have been especially interested in the California birds. The nests
which I visited were both in such inaccessible cliffs that at first I des-
paired of ever reaching them and in fact, would not have succeeded at
all but for the help of the men who went with me and some hundred
and fifty feet of good Manila hemp. In general the birds seemed to
care little about ‘the stranger within their gates,’’ and we were in no
danger from them, notwithstanding their great size, at any time. Each
nest contained one egg and the old tale hereinafter quoted is probably
no more reliable than the usual run of bird observations made by the
average sightseer. The egg is of the size of a swan’s egg, pea-green
in color and pitted over the entire surface like the egg of an ostrich.
When compared with a turkey ““buzzard’s’’ egg it appears much larger
though nothing near so large as it has been made out by many news-
paper and other stories. It seems about the size of two of the lesser
vulture’s eggs welded into one and is not nearly so pretty an egg, save
from a commercial standpoint, as that of the latter.

In Cooper’s work on the land birds of California the author quotes
Douglas’s remarks as given by Audubon as follows:

‘Food, carrion, dead fish or other dead animal matter. Inno in-
stance will they attack any living animal unless wounded and unable
to walk. Their senses of smelling and seeing are very acute. In
searching for prey they soar to a very great altitude, and when they
discover a wounded deer or other animal they follow its track, and
when it sinks precipitately descend on their object. Although only one
is seen at first occupying the carcass, few minutes elapse before the
prey is surrounded by great numbers, and it is then devoured to a
skeleton within an hour, even though it be one of the larger animals,
as the elk or horse. Their voracity is almost insatiable and they are
extremely ungenerous, suffering no other animal to approach them
while feeding. Except after eating, or while protecting their nest,
they are so excessively wary that the hunter can scarcely approach
sufficiently near even for buckshot to take effect upon them, the full-
ness of their plumage affording them a double chance of escaping un-
injured. Their flight is slow, steady and particularly graceful; gliding
along with scarcely any apparent motion of the wings, the tips of which
are curved upwards in flying.”

Much of this is of course untrustworthy in the light of later and
more accurate observations but it is valuable in the way of showing
what was known of one of America’s rarest birds in the great natural-
ist’s time. Further on Dr. Cooper (whose work, by the way, is in-
valuable to the California bird student) quotes a Mr. Taylor in Hutch-

292 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ings’s California Magazine of the issue of 1859 as saying that they lay
their single egg in a hollow tree, though he admits that there is a wide
divergence in the reports of those who have paid attention to the nid-
ification of this bird. Some six or seven pages of interesting matter
concerning this great vulture is given by Dr. Cooper in his work as
well as some excellent cuts, but much of the experience in the way of
nest finding and the habits of the birds is widely different from mine
on the same subject.

THE ROBIN AND THE READY-BUILT NEST,

It ever was a speculation with me, what a bird would do when con-
fronted with an unexpected affair, where something akin to reasoning
would be necessary, and a choice would have to be made to solve the
matter, though I am sure they gain skill in nest making, from what I
have noted in the buildings constructed from year to year by the colo-
ny of Orioles, that for a decade have nest in the big elm by the house,
and the nests each year added to my nest collection, for they have
shown all grades from a most crude affair, to a most elaborate one
built entirely out of long horse hairs, in which the highest type of
skill in felting the hair was exhibited. The incident I started to tell of
happened in May of this year. I have a wren box fastened to the
carriage house on the side near the gable peak. I noticed that a robin
had just commenced to carry mud and grass and was starting to build
on its flat top. Knowing where there was a perfect last years robin’s
nest I quickly brought it, puta plaster of mud on the box, and placed
the nest down into it, and was gone ladder and all, before the bird re-
tnrned, with her next load of building material. The outcome was in-
teresting. The bird sailed up and just as she reached the nest, she
stopped in her flight, hovered about the nest, and finally settled on the
edge dropping her material; she inspected the nest, got down into it,
tried the “‘fit’”’ in every way, then flew away, quickly came back with
her mate, and for an hour continued to examine the nest, try it, bring
mud and put on the edge, again try its proportions, chirp and wonder
if she had really built the nest and had forgotten it, and how it came
about any way. The next day I saw nothing of the robins and had
concluded that my help had been discarded, but the third day, the bird
brought fine grass, lined up the nest and in due time put four eggs
into it, and hatched her brood and brought them off without incident or
loss, and vesterday I saw her again fixing up the nest with the evident
intention of bringing off another brood, no doubt thinking it was the
cheapest summer home she ever domiciled in, and is perhaps wonder-
ing if robins have reached a period, when ready made homes are to be
provided for them on their arrival from the Gulf swamps.

JOHN GOULD.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 293

OUR ILLINOIS SCREECH OWLS,

3y Isaac E. HEss, Philo, Til.

As if resenting the prying eyes of the seeker of bird secrets, several
of our most interesting birds are of nocturnal habits. Appearing only
at dusk, they reverse in practice the old adage presented to precocious
children, that they “‘should be seen and not heard.’’ It meets not with
their approval and since the day their kind were liberated from the
ancient ark they have persistently followed their own ideas of proper
manners. It is theirs to be heard and not seen.

Included in the list of the lovers of darkness is the little Screech Owl
(magascops asio). Unless roughly routed from his hiding place he is
never seen in the glare of the noon day sun. In reality a woodland
bird, he is quite as much at home in the old apple orchards and maple
groves on the farm. And, oddly enough for a timber represenative, he
is not averse to living a city life.

In most of our smaller cities and towns the Screech Owlis acommon
and constant resident. Taking possession of deserted Woodpecker ex-
cavations in the maple stubs, they rear their young as contentedly and
securely as do their brethren in the depths of the forest.

Although seldom seen, little megascops is instantly recognized,
especially by the children, and is a marked favorite. It would seem
unnatural not to be interested in a bird possessing so many originalities
in his make-up.

One of his interesting personalities is his all-the-year-round song.
How aften a sweet bird song is not properly appreciated because in the
season of bird melodies, the singer is outclassed by superior perform-
ers. In this the wise little Owl verifies his claim to wisdom. He re-
serves his best efforts for the long wintry nights when our real songsters
are leagues away. Then he plays his part in the “choir invisible’ and
is satisfied in knowing that his weird tremulous whistle will be heard
and appreciated.

The Screech Owl is not gregarious in habit and you will seldom find
more than a single pair in an immediate vicinity. This would seem
sufficient cause for associating with him, a quarrelsome disposition, but
I would much rather attribute this habit of seclusion to an instinct of
self-preservation. Owing to the nature and limitation to his food, he
must of necessity provide his own particular foraging grounds. Nature
does not always yield him an abundant harvest and as the condition of
his larder must depend entirely upon his own resources with an element
of chance to be considered, I am afraid megascops mnst often go hun-
gry. He is very particular as to fresh meat for his diet and English
Sparrows are delicate morsels under his tongue. For this we love him.

294 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Field mice and small birds form the principal part of his food, though
occasionally he is known to enter the chicken-house after darkness has
fallen and tear the throats of nice fat hens. Of course depredations of
this nature are resorted to, only when he is desperately hungry.

He is held in special contempt by his feathered neighbors and when

‘ For he is a pleasing bird with his great intelligent eyes of almost human expression.”

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 295

ruthlessly driven from his hiding place, in the depths of a hollow tree,
his life is made a burden. His appearance in public is a signal for a
disturbance, and bird society is immediately in a high state of excite-
ment. Blue Jays congregate in flocks and Sparrows in armies for the
sole purpose of making life miserable for one poor little Screech Owl.
They dash at him viciously, flinging in his ears their choicest epithets.
You listen to a veritable bedlam of chirps, chatters and angry vitupera-
tions, but you notice the attacking forces are careful not to approach
within striking distance of the sharp claws and snapping beak of little
megascops. While in no particular danger of bodily harm, his feelings
are ruffled and he disgustedly but slowly wings his way back to his hid-
place. There he stops through the day, blinking his big innocent eyes
and rehearsing his real and fancied wrongs.

When dusk has fairly fallen, back he goes to the scene of his morn-
ings discomfiture. Huddled in rows on a limb of a pine tree and
soundly asleep, are his tormentors. Does he remember his late per-
secutions, or is it but a feeling of hunger that prompts his actions? In
noiseless flight he singles his victim. A flutter of tiny wings—a slight
chirp—the sound of a small skull crushing and we may record one of
the daily tragedies of bird life. Megascops is avenged.

The call of the Screech Owl seldom varies and may be successfully
imitated by a good whistler. The only variations I have heard were
from a captured female which I had separated from her mate. When
placed in a cage she uttered such mournful heart-broken cries, accom-
panied by actions human-like in her distress, that I had not the heart
to keep her longer and returned her to the old home in a maple stub.
The call is heard only after nightfall (except on dark winter days) and
is usually answered by another near by. It is this call that has caused
the little Owl to be associated in stories from time immemorial with
hobgoblins, ghosts and grave yards. While there is nothing irritating
in the sound, there is a mournful something about it that is apt to give
one the shivers.

Surely it cannot be his appearance that has given him such unwhole-
some names as he is forced to bear, for he is a pleasing bird with his
great intelligent eyes of almost human expression. And there is
nothing in his neat general outline or soft-tinted plumage suggestive
of a reason for his being called a “‘bird of ill omen.”’

The plumage of the Screech Owl furnishes one of the unsolved
puzzles of Ornithology. It appears in two distinct phases and no color
rule will determine the sex of this bird. In this particular locality I
have found the browns and grays equally divided, the slight preponder-
ance being in favor of the browns. Of twenty-nine mated pairs noted

296 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

in the three last seasons, eighteen pairs were of the opposite colorings.
Of the remaining eleven pairs, seven were of the brown and four of the
gray phase. I took no notes of Owls seen singly or young Owls.

The male and female are very much attached to each other and re-
main mated during the entire year. They feed and sleep in the same

__A slight contraction of the claws is sometimes noticed, which is rather uncomfortable for the
disturber’s fingers.”

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 297

hollow-tree apartment and during the long ardous task of incubation,
the male is a constant aud faithful companion of his little mate. Little
mother megascops is of meek disposition when called upon at her resi-
deuce. She makes no disturbance and offers little resistence when lifted
from the nest. A slight contraction of the claws is sometimes noticed,
which is rather uncomfortable for the disturber’s fingers.

It is very effective in bringing out the hostess, however, for upon a
quick withdrawal of the arm, megascop comes with it.

The nests are placed in natural cavities of trees or in old excavations
hewn out by Woodpeckers. ‘The material used I have never been able
to identify other than trash. A cozy retreat at the time the eggs are
‘dsposited, it is rather an untidy place at the completion of incubation,
and becomes very filthy before the young are able to leave the nest.

The nests are seldom far from the ground, generally ranging from
five to fifteen feet. The entrance of one nest noted was cnly two feet
above the ground, and the heart of the tree being hollow, the eggs
were necessarily resting upon the ground.

An occupied home, especially when the small entrance of a Flicker’s
excavation is chosen, may nearly always be determined by the fuzzy
feathers loosened from the Owl in its passage, sticking to the sides of
the entrance. Occasionolly when both Owls are home, the male may
be reluctantly flushed by tapping on the tree, but a setting female will
seldom leave unless pulled out.

From four to six white eggs—globular and very large in proportion
to the size of the Owl—are deposited and incubation begins from the
day of the first egg.

In nearly all cases one or two eggs prove infertile, probably owing
to the damp surroundings and foul conditions of the nest.

A family of young Owls out for an airing and lined up in a row is a
common and interesting sight. They soon learn their most important
lesson—that of eating Owl fashion—and their first attempts to bolt
their food whole while balancing their unsteady bodies on a small limb,
are comical performances.

Birds, with mice and other small rodents, while not swallowed in
their entirety, disappear with surprising rapidify. All fur, fine feathers,
small bones and other indigestible portions swallowed are expelled
from the mouth in the form of small pellets.

The Screech Owl is instrumental in keeping down the numbers of
prolific small animals generally termed nuisances, and is thereby a val-
uable auxiliary to the farmer. Altogether he is a very useful bird and
should be encouraged and protected.

{Reprinted from the Chicago Record-Herald. ] Philo, Illinois.

298 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

AN AFTERNOON WITH THE BIRDS.
By O. WARREN SMITH.

It was nearly two o’clock when I left the house with bird-glass, note
book and pencil, so I ‘“‘made tracks’’ for the woods stopping only long
enough to admire that well known and much admired inhabitant ot our
meadows, the Bobolink. How sweet his song. He sings as though
he enjoyed singing. As he mounts upward he seems beating time
with his wings. I could have listened and admired all the afternoon
but the distant trees invited me, so I hastened on.

As I entered the wood I could not help being impressed by the
abundant flowers. Columbine, crane’s bill, butter cups, phlox, shep-
herd’s purse, and others, pressed me upon all sides. But I was not
out after flowers and a low “‘Uoli-a-e-o-li-noli-noe-aeolee-lee!’’ from a
nearby thicket of willows caused me to forget the flowers. I knew the
bird by his song even before I saw him. No wonder Nuttall calls the
Wood Thrush the “‘solitary and retiring songster.’’ I must have hunted
all of twenty minutes before I discovered the little brown bird, and
when I did discover him he sat upon a limb right before me. Often
have I looked all over a tree for some feathered songster only to find
him, in the end, within a few feet of me and in plain sight too. But
fortune favored me. I discovered the half completed nest of my
friend in a near by willow. I sat down upon a moss covered log to
watca. The birds seemed to know that I was harmless and went on
with their house building. Birch bark seemed to be the favorite build-
ing material, and it was wonderful to see a bird flying to the nest with
a piece of bark larger than itself. Standing upon the edge of the nest
the bird would tear the bark into long narrow strips, using its feet to
hold the bark while it tore it with its bill.

While I sat watching the Wood Thrush a new note came to me from
a nearby poplar grove. Marking the nest so that I could find it again
I followed the new voice. I cautiously advanced until the music was
above me, then peered into the trembling leaves. A branch, bent aside
by the wind, revealed for an instant a bit of scarlet. “‘A Tanager,” I
exclaimed under my breath. Changing my position so that I could
get a good view of the bird I leveled the glasses and proceeded to ex-
amine it. My ‘‘find’’ proved to be the Summer Tanager, or Red-bird,
The first, by the way, I ever saw. Perched high up on a swaying
branch, the bright scarlet of its feathers showing well against the sil-
very green of the poplar, it was a sight to remember. Its song re-
minded me of the Oriole, but was sweeter and richer. Perhaps the
bird saw me, or perhaps its mate demanded attention, anyway it lew—
a flash of color, and was gone.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 299

The drumming of a Grouse next attracted my attention. From
early boyhood I have longed to see a Grouse drum. I have crawied
through swamps upon my hands and knees. I have concealed myself
near a ‘drumming log.’’ In fact I have done everything but I never
have been able to surprise the Grouse drumming. Upon the day in
question I saw the bird upon the log, but unfortunately he saw me at
the same time and stepped down and walked away. Not in haste, oh,
no, there was no unseemingly haste, but slowly and with dignity.

If any of the readers of American Ornithology, have seen Grouse in
the act of drumming their stories would be interesting. I for one,
would like to know how they succeeded.

The declining sun warned me that it was time to turn my steps
homeward so I left the woods.

Just before I reached the road I noticed a bird upon a limb of a tree,
which I took for a Whip-poor-will, but upon closer examination I
thought it was a Night-hawk. Unable to decide I threw a stick and
drove it from its perch. Flying, two white spots were observable
upon its wings, so I knew it for the latter.

So ended a very pleasant afternoon.

A FAMILY OF CHICKADEES.

By An Ce DiksH

To all who have become interested in the feathered residents about
their homes, nothing seems to afford greater pleasure and more inter-
esting experiences than experiments with them that show the amount
of confidence which they sometimes manifest in man. Considerable
has been written during the past few years concerning the methods of
attracting the more familiar species of birds to our homes and those
who have intelligently undertaken this work have met with very grati-
fying results. Occasionally individuals of certain species such as the
Chipping Sparrow, Bluebird, Robin, Nuthatch and Chickadee, have be-
come so confiding in man as to approach very near or even alight upon
his hand.

In taming the birds about our homes it is necessary that we do only
those things that assure them and make them feel that we are their
friends. Among such acts by which we are able to give this assurance
the proffer of food is the most effective. The saying that the “‘only
way to a bird’s heart is thru his crop,’’ is a fact that has been verified
by every one who has attempted the taming of wild birds. Another
fact which should be borne in mind in taming a bird, is, thatitisa

300 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

timid, defenseless creature whose life for ages has depended chiefly
upon ability to fly. Surrounded by enemies a bird naturally interprets
any quick movements as a hostile act. Any careless or hostile act may
make the bird, which would otherwise seek us, “‘wild’”’ for life. There-
fore, in taming birds two things are absolutely necessary. First, we

4
must offer them tempting food. Second, we must approach them ina
careful and apparently unconcerned manner. Do not hastily pursue
them or make quick movements with the hands or arms. When you
seek to tame a bird first encourage it, if possible, by offering food, to
frequent some place which may be easily approached and then visit the
place alone and as quietly as possible until you are able to offer it food
from your hand. By thus approaching a bird you offer the best in-
ducements for gaining its confidence.

But all birds can not be tamed. Only certain individuals of a few
species have been known to alight upon and take food from the hand.
Such birds can only be found by careful experiment and much patience.

During%the month of October 1903, I noticed that a family of three
Chickadees came several times each day to inspect the fruit trees about

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 301

my home for food. They were usually seen together and I soon learn-
ed that I could approach very near to them. They seemed to be more
confiding in me each day and would come and alight upon the veranda
posts and window frames. I fastened some small sun flowers to the
posts of the veranda until they became accustomed to coming there
frequently for food. They soon showed no fear and would alight very
near me. One morning as I was bringing them their usual supply of
seeds one of them met me and with apparently no fear or hesitation
alighted upon my hand, took a seed and flew away. I remained as
quiet as possible and he came to my hand several times for seeds. It
was interesting to watch him perch upon my finger, snatch a seed from
my hand and fly to a branch near by where he would hold it beneath
his toes and hammer it with his little bill, Blue Jay fashion, until he
could get the meat. I soon made arrangements for photographing
these birds. When the necessary arrangements had been made I re-
moved the sun flower seeds from the places in which they had been
accustomed to find them and seated myself near by holding some of
the seeds in my hand. At first they flew around me apparently some-
what disappointed from finding the seeds removed. Finally one came
quite near to me and soon alighted upon my cap. He soon left my

ay

302 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

cap and flew to my knee where he immediately began searching for
seeds as he climbed toward my hands turning his head and looking at
me with an inquiring expression in his bright little eyes and seeming
to say, Where are those Seeds?

While each of the three Chickadees were quite tame only one of
them could be depended upon to alight upon the hand. The other two
have taken food from my hand occasionally when prevented by incle-
ment weather from obtaining their natural food. The tamest one of
these birds comes quite regularly each day to the window and calis to
me with a series of chick-a-dees, liquid gurgles, and strange chuck-
ling notes until I bring him food, when he will come to my hand as
soon as I open the door. Once after eating from a piece of_ suet
which I held in my hand he flew to a branch near by, when I placed the
meat in my pocket and held out my empty hand to him. He soon
perched upon it and evidently taking my finger for a piece of suet he
hammered it with his sharp little bill until he nearly drew blood. I en-
dured the treatment until I felt that I had been sufficiently punished
for deceiving the little fellow when much to his disappointment I care-
fully withdrew my hand. He seems to recognize me wherever we
meet about my home and usually when not far away he will come to
me when I imitate his phoe-be call to which he often replies.

SOME MID-WINTER GLIMPSES OF NATURE FROM MY KITCHEN
WINDOWS.

For several years I have been interested in watching the birds about
my home, learning the names, songs and habits of some of them.

During the severe winter of 1904, when the food supply of the birds
was cut off by snow and ice, I began putting out scraps of meat, bones
and crumbs from the table. Just back of the house, stood a barrel,
nearly filled with snow and ice, into which I put bones of all kinds.

Watching from my kitchen window I soon saw a blue-jay come and
begin to feast on the good things he had found. After awhile other
jays came, but number one would never allow them in the barrel with
himself. They had to be content to perch on a bush near by and watch
with curious eyes until number one flew away when another would
seize the opportunity to get a taste.

I became quite attached to them, for they are handsome fellows in
spite of their bad habits and harsh voices.

Their voices are not always harsh however, for the peculiar whistle
they sometimes make is quite melodious. I saw one in the act of
whistling one day as he stood perched on the edge of my barrel, and
was surprised to see him make a bow when he whistled, while he held
his head up when he screamed. After this I watched to see if it was

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 303

always the same, and found that he always made amost polite bow
when he whistled.

The jays were not the only visitors to my barrel, for a number of
chickadees found it too. After these dear little fellows came I tied
pieces of suet to some low bushes near by so as to even things up
better. These pieces of meat disappeared so fast, that I mistrusted
robbers were about, and watched from my window for the thief.

It proved to be a red squirrel, who very easily cut the twine with his
sharp teeth and carried the meat away, sometimes to an old woodshed,
and again to a tall pine tree.

One day he attempted to climb a steep bank covered with snow, and
dropped his prize, which rolled to the bottom and was buried in the
snow. Perhaps Mr. Squirrel was as hungry as the birds but I thought
him too piggish and was quite glad to see the meat slip away from him.

After this I used wire in place of the twine so Mr. Squirrel found it
difficult to get large pieces. The chickadees became so tame that they
would stay quite close to my hand while I tied the meat to the tree.
One morning I saw one of these jaunty little birds on my back walk.
He looked up so bright in spite of the cold, and with his head cocked
on one side said in a very emphatic way, chick-a-dee-dee, as if he were
bidding me good morning. I felt happier all day for his morning
greeting.

Very close to one of my kitchen windows is a large white oak; to the
trunk of this tree I nailed pieces of fat meat and every day just at noon
a chickadee came for his dinner.

I threw crumbs on the ground under the tree and looking out one
day I saw a large gray squirrel, sitting as squirrels do, eating johnny-
cake. About two feet away a beautiful downy woodpecker in his black
and white coat and red cap was eating the same kindof food. I crossed
the room and saw from the other window a hairy woodpecker on a tree
near by. The brown creepers frequented the trees in my yard but I
never saw one eat any of the food I put out.

The white-breasted nuthatches are great favorites of mine, and I
never fail to stop my work and watch them when the opportunity
offers.

Having read that these birds always feed with the head down, I was
interested to see what would happen when one started up the oak with
a crumb of bread in his bill.

Sure enough he had to stand on his head before he could take even a
bite, and then he did another queer thing. Instead of eating the bread
all up he hid it in one of the crevices of the rough bark, poking it way
in out of sight with his sharp bill, then he flew away. I watched to
see if he would come back for the crumb. In a little while back he
flew, and going directly to the hiding place, pulled out the crumb, and
flew to another tree. I was unable to see from my windows whether
he hid it again or not. MABEL W. EATON.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

304

“TOTTI

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‘A Aq oj0Gd

[SUOTITJOAUIOD ENBT *Z SSBID ‘ZIG pug yo roUUT AA |
“SIMO HOHAAOS ONNOOA

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 305

yy “i, Ul
mit a

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO

Mea MERRYTHOUGHT

156 WATERVILLE ST., WATERBURY, CT.

My DEAR YounGc FOLKS:

How many of you have been coaxing the Chickadees this winter, and
gotten them to come at your call to feast upon raw peanuts? Hold up
your hands.

I had such a delightful visit with a tiny king with a golden crown the
other morning, he was a beauty, and he knew it and seemed to try to
convince me of it too. As his golden crown shone in the sunlight, I
was reminded of a bird which I saw last summer who also bore upon
his crown a circle of gold. He sat placidly eating the wooly worms
contained in the silken tent which was spread among the branches of
a wild cherry tree, but a few yards from where I sat. The back of the
bird was of irridescent olive greys burnished with brown, his belly was
of the softest white, his bill long, powerful and slightly curved, his
tail was long, and his brown eyes looked as if they had been fastened
in with buttonhole stitch. Can you tell me his name?

As he turned his head I had many good views of a bright yellow spot
upon his crown about a quarter of an inch in diameter. I have never
noticed this feather in any other Cuckoo, nor have I seen it mentioned
by a writer on birds. Was this a king of his tribe, or is this a common
mark of these birds? Have any of our boys or girls seen a golden-
crowned Cuckoo ? If so please report to

Your Friend,
MEG MERRYTHOUGHT.

306 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.
ROLL OF HONOR.

Carl Dowell, Port Richmond, N. J.
Huldah Chace Smith, Providence, R. I.

MAIL BAG EXTRACTS.

SOME YOUNG OWLS.

One day my cousin found a baby Owl on the ground and put it in a
hollow apple tree. When I went to see the little owl, I found a com-
panion had joined it; two white fluffy baby owls lay side by side in
their new nest, fast asleep.

The next day [ attempted to photograph them, but they were too
young to stand without help. At the same time I found a third baby
owl upon the ground a hundred feet from the tree. This owl was
stronger than the others and could stand alone. A few days later the
three owls could stand without help for a few moments, so I succeeded
in getting some good photographs of them.

One night I thought it would be interesting to see the little owls
being fed, so I stood near the tree; but I did not stay there long, for
one of the old owls flew silently from behind me and struck me in the
head.

A few days later a fourth owl was found on a tree and I placed it
with the others. The next night the poor little owls were stolen and
probably all died in captivity.

I found a fifth owl the next night and had the pleasant experience of
feeding it. I pulled some feathers out of a pillow and wrapped them
around small pieces of meat, which the bird took from my fingers.

SAMUEL DOWSE ROBBINS,
Belmont, Mass.

THE CATBIRD.

The Catbird is a bluish gray bird with long tail feathers, and a long
bill.

He is a fine singer when he wishes to be. I have listened to him for
half an hour singing all the other birds songs. The nests are made of
sticks, paper and perforated leaves, lined with fine roots. The eggs
are a greenish blue. The young have very short tails. I have got
within a foot of a young catbird.

MARJORIE INMAN,
Worcester, Mass.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 307

ANSWERS TO NOVEMBER PUZZLES.

. uckoo.

, aven.

. lbatross.
noddy.

. agile.

BAe AO

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES,

Purple Martin.

Demure Cedar Waxwing.
Brilliant Scarlet Tanager.
Preaching Red-eyed Vireo.
Lazy Cowbird.

Social Chipping Sparrow.
Cheery Confiding Chickadee.
Pensive Pewee.

Saucy Blue Jay.

Pestiferous English Sparrow.

ROBIN'S DESCRIPTION,

1. Head, sides of throat and tail.

2. Center of throat.

3. Upper parts.

4 and 5. Underparts except lower abdomen, and under tail coverts
which are white.

6. Ten to eleven inches.

7. Entire plumage of female is lighter.

8. Nestlings streaked above with buff, and heavily spotted above
and below with black.

9. In North America east of Rocky Mts. the Western Robin is found
west of the Mountains.

10. Coarse grass, leaves and roots, plastered with mud.

ll. 3to 5 eggs light greenish blue.

iz) -Lthops.

13. Berries of many sorts.

14. Beetles, flies, grasshoppers, crickets, moths, etc.

308 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY

NUMERICAL ENIGMA,

One day 9-10-1 looked up the 13-6-5-4-2-6 and saw a 1-10-10-5 feeding
on the 6-7-9-8-4-5 grass by the roadside, 6-7-9 minutes later it bounded
away out of sight. 9-10-1 told 6-7-8 what he had 13-4-7-9 but 6-7-8
smiled, and 13-9-7-7-5-2-1 at his story, 7-5-7 night. 6-7-8 also saw the
1-10-10-5 and he did not 5-4-3-12 until he had asked 9-10-1-3 pardon for
doubting his word. He gave him two 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 9-10-11-12-13
which he found hanging on a 6-5-4-2 by his house.

WHAT BIRD IS THIS?

We come to you in a time of cold, floating down in great flocks as if
we came from the snow clouds. Our plumage at this season, is of the
softest browns and whites. Our outer tail feathers are white, our
wings are banded with white. We wear chestnut necklaces across our
white bosoms, and have buffy crowns and sides. We resemble fluffy
chickens as we wa/k about on the ground.

GLEANINGS.

(Mens Jkoarnnyarass.

Like white feathers blown about the rocks,
Like soft snowflakes wavering in the air,

Wheel the Kittiwakes in scattered flocks,
Crying, floating, fluttering everywhere.

Shapes of snow and cloud, they soar and whirl,
Downy breasts that shine like lilies white;
Delicate vaporous tints of gray and pearl,
Laid upon their arching wings so white.
CELIA THAXTER. :

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

INDEX.

American Songsters ------
An Afternoon with the Birds.

Bird Chats, Our Young Pease aginst

eee

309

sees . 24, 46, 72, 95, 15250149: Pe 204, AER My all, 739)

Bird, oon Meantloi rise tele Bice
“Day, One.

Fountain -..... ce

Life in the Pines. --

Notes, Some Strange.

Notes, Maine... eek REE

“ce

ce

ce

Bird, Trap, A Municipal .... sae nee,

ce

SR OUU As cuems eee | ie tc eae
Birds, New Year with the...

|Our summer ....

|? Said. What the... .
Bittern, Cory Least..

PRS ORICHICAN <i 5.66060 Sehe Se
The Pumping of the....

Bitebira, Avlrue Story of a....- © ssecse

ee

ine Coming of thez.. “secs

Chickadee.... ap

Chuck-will’s-widow .

Cowbird, Taming of a young

Crow [Eraits --

Dove, The Mourning

Drummer Boy, A. oa

Feathered Friends, Our.--.-..

Flicker, The Daughterless .....

Goatsuckers, North American ..

Good Meal, A..-.--

Guillemot, Black . eee
rs Mandt ster ede/acml, 1. uM shan slros we
ne Pigeon. aa ee. ble

Hawks, Sparrow (Tom Dick aa tee) oon

ec

Nest, A Visit to a Red-tailed.-...-- :
Heron, Black-crowned Night. —_--«==-

Burkatunt the ..... Aas SUR

Horned Lark, The Sleeping Quarters of the .-.--.

Hummingbird, The.
a Casta’, Swe

310

Hummingbirds
Interesting Family, An .
Killdeer .
Kingbird
Martins, Our Purple
7 Return, The Purple ..
Meadow, In the
Memories ....
Missouri, A Letter oak
Natural History Camp. -
Nest in the Meadow, The
Nesting Site, An Unlucky
Nest, A Song from the
Nests, Some Curious
Nighthawk
Osprey’s Nest, An
Owl, Barn ----
‘Screech
OQuetzel The Montezuma
Robins, Notes on a family of
Sandpiper, Spotted----
Song at Eventide, A
Strange Visitor, A - .
The Jungles. (cree oe
Tufted Titmouse
Turnstone

ce

ee eeee

eee eee

see eee

ee ee

ec eevee

ee ee ee

Ruddy
IBIEVel 5 56 Sc
Vulture, Calif
W arbler, Baybreasted- -
Preyer
Blackpoll
Black-throated Gray
i i Green

oe

Cerulean --.
Chestnut-sided.-.--
Connecticut

; Golden-cheeked .-
Grace

Hermit-...-.
Kentucky
Macgillivray

eocee

Ooo 6

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

ee

oe ee ee

ce ee ee

os ee ee

eis; wuesene

ee ee eee

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Warbler, Magnolia.-.

meurane
- Nashville <...
Sycamore
bs Townsend...... :
4 Yellowthroat, Belding
: Florida:: -.
2 a Maryland ....
ie a Northern
nf i Pacific
s a RioGrande
~ Salt Marsh
¥. es Western :...

Yellowthroated ...

Water Ouzel..... :

When Elm Buds Open

Where do the Little Birds oe

Winter Birds seen from a Window
Whip-poor-will.. -. We neh
Woodpecker, Ivory-billed...... —..

Alter Ego Sa cheats

A Merry Brown are Redeete nt
WiveIIGHee cs ss | Tae es ws

Mother Nature’s Invitation see
Mother Robin’s Cares ess oe
Our Birds will yet Return .---....
Sunset in the Autumn Woods

[he Song Spatrow «:---- ae
MiesGteat.Gtay shrike -.:.-. +.
The Owl cue cee Se

15) (UD 1SS EG peer

OPP OUNtAIN......6 «ical

oe im

fo oas a RE aie eM ie ee eS

(a9

oe ee o>

se eee

©) 6) ‘aie te fe) se) elinicelie

eevee ee

oe ee ee

ese ee ee

ee ee ee

se eee

9

~_

ol

Blackbird, Red-winged (young from life)
cs % (Entomologist)
Bluebird and nest from life ....
Bluebird and young from life
Brown Thrasher from life ....
Bunting or Nonpareil Painted
Chickadee from life
ie on nest hole from life
ae yous froma Lite ns... ;

ce

ec

ce ce

Chuck-wills-widow
Cowbird from life
Cuckoo, Yellow-billed nest and eggs....
Dove, Mourning es and eggs

im

@ (6: |e) ple e

ee ce

sa ‘“ young from life
Eagle, Golden young
Flicker at nest hole.
‘leaving nest- ae
Grouse, Ruffed Nest and Bees,

Guillemot, Black, leaving nest, from life

ce

ce

Erie on ee

= ie; ‘e| ef «0

ce

Pigeon egg
INieStste cere aha
Hawk, Desert Sees from life. .
“Red-tailed, Nest-
es ieee : Se
Heron, Black-crowned night nest and eggs
Hummingbird, Costa, Nest and eggs
i. Ruby-throated on nest
oe Nest and eggs
Jay, Canada, Nest and Eggs.....
“Gray, Egg
Rocky Mountain. -
Killdeer-....-.
‘Nest and Eggs
Kingbird, from life .-.- «.
“and young....
Egg...

Nest and eggs.-.--

Chet)

ia

im

Ke (Oe ege | | ae Rae lehieets salen mene)

se eee

due Y se) eens

ce

ce

a OOO

eve) ene

«)(e)\e, ee

Out On

vuelta

whe tenialne

.

.

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Se Me Or. O

.

ee ee

eee

e © 0, 8; aye

©) (¢; ve) Seregiat

aaace et

eee ee

42

AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Kingbirds, Young...-.
Kingfishers, Young...
Nighthawk....

Mispreyrmeturning to~Nest..-2.. .«.s.

ce

IB eiteaa teed

Owl, Barn. trom life... .

ce

ce

ce

Eggs and young....
young.:..--

CGiGcr hoa.) Tpoatca W) Nea co 6c

Owl, Screech :
Robin and nest from life...-.

se

ce

yeune from life-: --.

and Young...-.-

Sandpiper, Spotted :

Shrike, Loggerhead, young .-.....
Sparraw, Vesper, Nest and eggs.-.--.-
Swallows, Young Bank from life....
Swallow, Tree from life-... aie is
Mini INGSE Of: <-- 623 eee eos
Tern, Common, Nest and eggs -.....
Titmouse on Nest from life....
Titmouse Nest andeggs _..-... -.
Turnstone, Ruddy......-

im

Vulture

1D for ToTee genet ane is SA

o-

Warbler, Baybreasted....

ce

Egg...-..

ee

Reno.)

ee ee ee

Belding Yellowthroat frontispiece: - --

ACK DMEATAT Ses me SW =a ch gre aie

“e

Blackpoll....

a Egg...-
Black-throated Gray-.- --
a Greens oo.

ce

Chestnut-sided-. --
- Egg....

oe ee

<4 Sona
279, 304
Sah EO

282-3-4, 287, 288

bie 21
190-192-193

- 94

ab ad Oa

ee P66

--98

ye Q2

--89

314 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

Warbler, Chestnut-sided on nest------
‘, Connecticut frontispiece. - - - ey

ry Golden-cheeked- ==. (=<
a Egg:-.-----
_ (Graceciocrne aeetests

os Egg ioe,
Hiermit-.- -- soho Ss enaive Sait ve
Kentucky Frontispiece.--: --
ny lBieieinio ees Barta d
Nest andieges-< 5-5 “xc .ne-
Macgillivray frontispiece.:-- --

i ~ POO ine «cleus ly | suspelne

Magnolia.....- aahneteisiue's
Nest and eggs:-----

ce ee ee

ce ee

Egg...-

Nest and eggs..---

on Nest.----

Mourning Frontispiece: - --
os Egg...-

Sycamore, egg
Townsend...--
Yellowthroated.--.--
Whip-poor-will on nest.-.- --
Whip-poor-will, Nest and Eggs

os Zs and Young
Egg
Woodpecker, Ivorybill - -

cy Red-headed ---.---

Wree’s House .-.-.--
Vulture Nesting Tree. -

ce ee

se eeee

ee) a ee i

Maryland Yellowthroat, frontispiece.--: --

se ee ee

Zoo

-+-237

242

- +243
23S
-- 163

171

-.» 247

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10c a copy,

1904.

JANUARY.

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—————— —————

A BIRD DICTIONARY

wWiir~AnN

ge. COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
Rj upward ‘of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful’in any
part of the country from the Atlantic tothe Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

SS Eee

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00

|
\ CHAS, K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

O_O ee

Vol. 9, No. 4. APRIL, 1905. 1c a copy, $1 a year.

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COLOR KEY §

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North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with

sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem:of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.
4

A complete illustrated book of. all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized

illustration of the egg of nearly every 3
species, and a large number of full-page ¢

illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
« cloth, $2.50. mae

« Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

Ne eee

4
( CHAS, K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

(GRY

IYYIFYIVPDYPDPYOD POD PYD PTD PYIETD PTI PYD PTD PD PTI ETD TTDT POT PTT OTD TINT LA
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ALAALAALAALAALAMMAARAARAADAALAALAABAARAARA AE 2-4

ecacrineyvvrrreeryerrvervverrrerreerrecrreerrecreerrer ree

= ST. LOUIS, MO.

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a OFPIGCHKS IN

—< New York, Chicago, San Francisco,

iS 93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.
~_

Mbbbbbdddbddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddsdddddddddddddddddddadddd

FOUR GOOD BOOKS.

BIRDS AND NATURE.

One Year. Price $1.50. Nothing could be more appropriate than a year’s
subscription to ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ as a Christmas present or birthday
gift, for it reminds your friends of the giver each month during the year.
Where requested we send a card informing the recipient that through your
kindness he will receive ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ for a full year, and cards are
mailed so as to reach the subscriber at the proper time. Send the name
and $1.50, we do the rest for you.

A. B. C. BOOK OF BIRDS.
26 Color Plates and Bird Covers in Colors. Price $1.00. By Mary Catherine
Judd. A book for children both large and small. Miss Judd, in this,
has prepared a book that will be a delight to every child and will be in-
tensely interesting to every adult lover of birds.

THE JINGLE BOOK OF BIRDS.
16 Colored Plates. Bird Covers in Colors. Price 60 Cents. By Edward B.
Clark. Beautiful pictures, catchy verse. Adopted for township libraries
in Wisconsin. This book is for both children and the elders. The lines
are not jingles merely, but jingles which have a well-rounded purpose and
much of pith and point. The color scheme of the cover is strikingly
beautiful. This book will make an appropriate Christmas gift.

THE FAIRIES THAT RUN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY DO IT.
30 Fnil-Page Illustrations. Price $1.00. By Ernest Vincent Wright. <A
beautiful book of children’s stories in verse. The subjects dealt with are
well known to children and many pleasant thoughts regarding the work-
ings of Nature may be derived from the pages of this volume.

AWARDED GOLD MEDAL, WORLD’S FAIR ST. LOUIS, 1904,

A.W. MUMEORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

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The Graphophones»*

Best Talking Machine on the
Market.

Buy one. It will amuse you,

AAA‘

your family and friends on many
a long dreary winter evening.
All the latest popular song hits

= J as well as Grand and @omie

Opera selections; vocal and instrumental solos in infinite variety.

Graphophones from $5 to $100.
Records from 25 cents to $2 each.

COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY

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Grand Prize, Paris, 1900. Grand Prize, St. Louis, 1904.
Boston, 164 Tremont Street. New York, 353 Broadway.
Chicago, 88 Wabash Avenue. San Francisco, 125 Geary Street.

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©$O©-©O—©O-Y —©-© © © -©_-O_©
% Methods in the Art of Taxidermy 64

The Journal

Of the Maine

Ornithological
aA Society

Volume seven will consist of
issues the first of March, June,
September and December. There
will be articles on Maine birds by
the leading ornithologists of the
state as well as copious bird notes
of current interest.

By Oliver Davie, Author of ‘Nests and
Eggs of North American’ Birds’”’

0 FULL PAGE ENGRAVINGS.

ae 7,

Subscription 5O cents a year. 4 =
W. H. Brownson, Portland, nS ; ©
Editor. ~ . Never before has the Art of Taxidermy had @

Se } ah its practical methods and beauties portrayed
Frank a Noble, Augusta, ~ as we find them interpreted in this work. It

ecncic itor is a work of art from cover to cover. Form-
Associate Editor. © erly published at $10. My price $2.50 post- ©

paid or Given Free for 6 new subscribers.

Address W. H. BROWNSON, ® Chas. K.Reed, Worcester,Mass. ©

97 1-2 Exchange St., Portland, Me. | ¢-®#—®—®—®-©-©-6 -—

|

SUPPPPPVINIFIDITITIVIPEPPY POD INDIDIITIIT PPP PPN PNT INT ITITTT TTT PT PTS PPT ITT ITT
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

CG. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

OFPFPICHKS IN

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

VAbbbbbdsbbdasddsbasbdsdddbddddddddassdssbdddddddsdddddsddddddddcdddssdacs

FOUR GOOD BOOKS.

BIRDS AND NATURE.

One Year. Price $1.50. Nothing could be more appropriate than a year’s
subscription to ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ as a Christmas present or birthday
gift, for it reminds-your friends of the giver each month during the year.
Where requested we send a card informing the recipient that through your
kindness he will receive ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ for a full year, and cards are
mailed so as to reach the subscriber at the proper time. Send the name
and $1.50, we do the rest for you.

A. B. C. BOOK OF BIRDS.
26 Color Plates and Bird Covers in Colors. Price $1.00. By Mary Catherine
Judd. A book for children both large and small. Miss Judd, in this,
has prepared a book that will be a delight to every child and will be in-
tensely interesting to every adult lover of birds.

THE JINGLE BOOK OF BIRDS.
16 Colored Plates. Bird Covers in Colors. Price 60 Cents. By Edward B.
Clark. Beautiful pictures, catchy verse. Adopted for township libraries
in Wisconsin. This book is for both children and the elders. The lines
are not jingles merely, but jingles which have a well-rounded purpose and
much of pith and point. The color scheme of the cover is strikingly
beautiful. This book will make an appropriate Christmas gift.

THE FAIRIES THAT RUN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY DO IT.
30 Fnil-Page Illustrations. Price $1.00. By Ernest Vincent Wright. <A
beautiful book of children’s stories in verse. The subjects dealt with are
well known to children and many pleasant thoughts regarding the work-
ings of Nature may be derived from the pages of this volume.

AWARDED GOLD MEDAL, WORLD’S FAIR ST. LOUIS, 1904,
A.W. MUMEORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

UA TAALAAAAALAALAALAALAARAALAAAALAARAALAALAARAALAARAALAAS
| ANbbbbbbbbbbbbsbbsbbsbsdbdsdssdssddbidddddssddddssiddddire

VV VVVVVVVVVVVVTVVVVVVV VV TV UV VV VVVVVYVVVYVYVVYYYYVVVS

The Graphophones»®

Best Talking Machine on the
Market.

Buy one. It will amuse you,

your family and friends on many

a long dreary winter evening.

All the latest popular song hits

as well as Grand and Comic

Opera selections; vocal and instrumental solos in infinite variety.

Graphophones from $5 to $100.
Records from 25 cents to $2 each.

COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL)

Grand Prize, Paris, 1900. Grand Prize, St. Louis, 1904.
Boston, 164 Tremont Street. New York, 353 Broadway.
Chicago, 88 Wabash Avenue. San Francisco, 125 Geary Street.

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evV

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It Pays.

Picture Study in the Public Schools.

Beginning with the New Year, are you
planning to do this work? “© “© “f Ne

Ghe Perry Pictures

One Cent Each for 25 or more; 120 for $1.00. Size 5 1-2x8.

Send three two-cent stamps for Catalogue of tooo miniature
illustrations two pictures and a picture in three colors.

Great Premium Offer with

Ghe Perry Magazine
Ghis offer expires January 51,

The Perry Magazine one year, monthly except July and August, and one dollar’s
worth of the pictures in Colors, or one dollar’s worth of the New York Edition Perry
Pictures, or 20 Indian Portraits in Colors, or our selected set of 100 Perry Pictures,
Boston Edition. ALL FOR $1.50. To new subscribers only. Remember this offer
expires January 31. Do not miss the article describing the World’s Great Paintings
appearing in every number. 23 of the paintings exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition
are to be published inthis Magazine, beginning with the January number. Send now.

THE PERRY PICTURES COMPANY,

Tremont Temple, Boston, or BOX 413, MALDEN, MASS. Send all mail orders to Malden.

AALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALA ALAA AAA AAAALAA MAL A ALARA AL A
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

OP FICGHKS IN

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

Nhbbbbbbdbdbasbdddcddsddsbdddddddsdddddddadddsddcddddddsddddcdaddddddd dddira

FOUR GOOD BOOKS.

BIRDS AND NATURE.

One Year. Price $1.50. Nothing could be more appropriate than a year’s
subscription to ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ as a Christmas present or birthday
gift, for it reminds your friends of the giver each month during the year.
Where-requested we send a card informing the recipient that through your
kindness he will receive ‘‘Birds and Nature’’ for a full year, and cards are
mailed so as to reach the subscriber at the proper time. Send the name
and $1.50, we do the rest for you.

A. B. C. BOOK OF BIRDS.
26 Color Plates and Bird Covers in Colors. Price $1.00. By Mary Catherine
Judd. A book for children both large and small. Miss Judd, in this,
has prepared a book that will be a delight to every child and will be in-
tensely interesting to every adult lover of birds.

THE JINGLE BOOK OF BIRDS.
16 Colored Plates. Bird Covers in Colors. Price 60 Cents. By Edward B.
Clark. Beautiful pictures, catchy verse. Adopted for township libraries
in Wisconsin. This book is for both children and the elders. The lines
are not jingles merely, but jingles which have a well-rounded purpose and
much of pith and point. The color scheme of the cover is strikingly
beautiful. This book will make an appropriate Christmas gift.

THE FAIRIES THAT RUN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY DO IT.
30 Fnil-Page Iilustrations. Price $1.00. By Ernest Vincent Wright. A
beautiful book of children’s stories in verse. The subjects dealt with are
well known to children and many pleasant thoughts regarding the work-
ings of Nature may be derived from the pages of this volume.

AWARDED GOLD MEDAL, WORLD'S FAIR ST. LOUIS, 1904,
A.W. MUMEORD, Publisher, 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

PAL ATAAAAALAALAALAAMAAAAAUADAARAARAA LA ARAARAALA MRA ARMADA
| PAIbbbdbbsbddbdddddbddbddddddddbddddsbddddsbiddddudsddcas

ae —————7)

)

A BIRD DICTIONARY

Yim

COLOR KEY

TO

/ North American birds

N

ORS

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with

sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic tothe Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
iNustration of the egg of nearly every | og
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

BB Pe ES Oa eae
SSS wee

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«é

« CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

ee

Vol. 5, No. 0. MAY,1905. _ 10c a copy, $1 a year.

=W VS

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of liny

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———7))

\)_A BIRD DICTIONARY )
= COLOR KEY 4

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
upward ‘of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-

aol tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every Pa
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

LS OO OO

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

— SOO OOO Oe

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&

$1 a year.

10¢ a copy,

» 1905

JUNE

No. 6.

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A BIRD DICTIONARY

a COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Sar

A complete bird dictionary, with
rv upward ‘of 800 drawings in colors, so
“arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic tothe Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

€¢ : A complete illustrated book of all
-. . eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
& \ ing range of each species; location and
2... eee construction of the nest; time of nest-

ing; number, description and varia-
Pee tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized

illustration of the egg of nearly every TI

species, and a large number of full-page @

illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,

cloth, $2.50.

OY
PS OO OOO a EON AnY

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

ARAR

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CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

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Vol. 5, No. 7. JULY, 1905 {0c a copy, $1 a year.

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A BIRD DICTIONARY }
COLOR ie

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
upward of 800 drawings in colors, so

"arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-

sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every i
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

— SO Ooo

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

( CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.
ee

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Vol. 5, No. 8. AUGUST, 1905 10c a copy, $1 a year.

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COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
\ upward of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem:of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

GF is A complete illustrated book of all
: eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
. tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every .
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

) ee K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

— SS SOO

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A BIRD DICTIONARY }

RDB SS es ew wee aw RL

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PA AAIAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAARAARAARAARAAAARAARRAMMAALAM
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

AAA ALAALA ALAA

OFFPICHS IN

New York, Cees San Francisco, :
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

reyeveverveyrveveverreveveveereveverecreveverrererevecreiereverrerere vert

corurerrreyvrerryerverreevverryveverrvervververvverveerey

PA AALAALAAAAAAAAAALAARAACAALAM

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for

Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

=

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-—
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

sas"Remember, yOu can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will refund the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
PPE PR TeH AUG UN TOOK Ga. ..2 7.5» west eee Pee eae Saotte © Seis ages me ciate oe ae 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

in combination with an unrestricted

useofthe ground glass,is found inthe

NEW SCREEN
FOCVS KODAK

Equipment of the highest
grade: Long draw, rack and
pinion, rising and _ sliding
front, Kodak Automatic Shut-
: ter, high speed Rapid Rectil-
You can ~~ inear lenses.

focus on

the Screen

when

ne

Cartridges. Instantly convertible to a plate camera.

PRICE $30.00.

Eastman Kodak Co.,

All Dealers. Rochester, N. Y.

PU AALAAAAALAALAABARAAALAARAALAALAARAARAARAAAAALAADAMMAARAALAALAALAMDAARAMRAAE
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

CG. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

dN

ST. LOUIS, MO.
OBRPICHKS IN
New York, Chicago San Francisco,
93 University Place. Sout Street. 819 Market St.

SL ALAAAALAALAAAAALAARAALAADAADAADAARAALAALAARAADAAMAAAAA
cruvererrreeyevererrereyyvereervecvryrecyrerery verry yyy

VAGbbbbbbbbbbbbbddbbdbdddddddcddddaddadddsdddddsdddddddddsddddddddddddaddad

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for
Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

gas-Remember, you can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will refund the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by Cook, Weeds. acinus ears 6 50
Paaetoiase Arnie bObi. DOORS) 2... S: sos srta eatte oefic dale ale ser aaaishays oe a” Pe the ate chan 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

SS ey)

s —~ Advantage,

in combination with an unrestricted

useofthe ground glass,is found inthe

NEW SCREEN
FOCUS KODAK

Equipment of the highest
grade: Long draw, rack and
pinion, rising and __ sliding
front, Kodak Automatic Shut-
ter, high speed Rapid Rectil-

You can inear lenses.

focus on

the Screen

when

using

Kodak ;

Cartridges. Instantly convertible to a plate camera.

PRICE $30.00.

Eastman Kodak Co.,

All Dealers. Rochester, N. Y.

IVVPPYVPPPYOPPYDIYYPYEIPYIDETRDIID PTD PFLIPYIDYIINIDITYTPINAIIRED IPT PRRID ILL
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

AAMAMPAMLAALAALAALAALA AAAS —9

OFPIGHS IN

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

MAdbbbbddbbddddddddddbddbddddddddddddddbdddddddddddddddddddddddddsddsddd dds

MA TAALAAAALAADAARAAMAA RAL
| AMbbbbbdbbdbdsbdddddiddbdddddddsdsbddddsddsddssssisses

AA GOOD FIELD GLASS

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for
Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
® vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
| ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

sas"Remember, yOu can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will refund the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
vere iasaangd Doth Books iw, 5 ata ccy dace aioe ews Rata Sen atc a ehog 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

3 All sie
j KODAK

sg Advantage,

in combination with an unrestricted

useofthe ground glass,is found inthe

NEW SCREEN
FOCUS KODAK

Equipment of the highest
grade: Long draw, rack and
pinion, rising and __ sliding
front, Kodak Automatic Shut-
ter, high speed Rapid Rectil-

You can inear lenses.

focus on

the Screen

when

using

Kodak ,

Cartridges. Instantly convertible to a plate camera.

PRICE $30.00.

Eastman Kodak Co.,

All Dealers. Roochester, N. Y.
AS MSR SL a a wae

A ALAALAALAALAALAMLAALAALLALAALAALARLAALALLAALAALAALHALAMLOARAALAALAALLALALL 2-4
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES.

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, proviaed
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

A24

Mbbbddbdddddddddddsdsadsad

OFFPIGCHKS IN

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

Nbdbbbbbbbbdbddbddbdddddddsbdddddddsdddddbdddsddddddddddsidddsddsddsddcadd

NT ALAALAAALALAALAALAALAALAALAALAALAAAALAARAMLAAAAALAAS

oUbbbdsbsddbdsddddssddisids

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for
Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

s@s-Remember, you can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will refund the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
Pe eACe AIC HOLM EV OOLES'. oc sa cyte er vee ore inti at a ais torn oisnere teatime. «sinc haa 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

: All the |
\ KODAK

2 Advan tage,

in combination with an unrestricted

useofthe ground glass,is found inthe

NEW SCREEN
FOCUS KODAK

Equipment of the highest
grade: Long draw, rack and
pinion, rising and © sliding
front, Kodak Automatic Shut-
see =a ter, high speed Rapid Rectil-
You can ~ inear lenses.

focus on

the Screen

when

using

Kodak

Cartridges. Instantly convertible to a plate camera.

PRICE $30.00.

Eastman Kodak Co.,

All Dealers. Rochester, N. Y.

Vol. 5, No. 9. SEPTEMBER, 1905 {0a copy, $1 a year.

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ter, high speed Rapid Rectil-

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focus on

the Screen

when

using

Kodak :

Cartridges. Instantly convertible to a plate camera.

PRICE $30.00.

Eastman Kodak Co.,

All Dealers. Rochester, N. Y.

6-4-6446

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$1 a year.

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1905

OCTOBER

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A GRAND PREMIUM OFFER

FOR 90 DAYS ONLY

“Tie Pen Is MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD.”

But there is a choice of Pens and in this progressive age one does not
want to be tied down to AN OUTWORN STYLE OF. PEN.

The Egyptian used a split reed; our grandfathers a goosequill; our
fathers a steel or ordinary gold pen. But to-day we want

A FOUNTAIN PEN

that dispenses with the inconvenient inkstand, that does not cor-
rode, and that is always ready for use.

I order to enable our readers to secure this really indis-
pensable convenience, we have made arrangement with
The Selden Pen Mfg. Co of New York, whereby we can
supply a

FIRST CLASS GOLD FOUNTAIN PER

to every subscriber, OLD or NEW, who sends us A YEAR’S
SUBSCRIPTION IN ADVANCE within the next 90 days,
and FIFTY (50) CENTS additio:al. The pen will be for-
warded immediately on. receipt of the money. The pen is
made of the best quality of hard rubber in four parts, and
fitted with a guaranteed irridium-pointed 14-k GOLD PEN.
The ‘‘fountain’’ is throughout of the simplest construction
and cannot get out of order, overflow, or fail to supply ink
to the nib. It is EQUAL TO ANY $2 PEN on the
market today.

“CELTRIC MODEL I!”

bears the manufacturer’s guarantee that the pen is solid
GOLD 14-k fine. If it does not prove satisfactory in every
way we will exchange it for another, or return the fifty
cents additional on return of the pen.

EVERY PEN WARRANTED.

THE CUT SHOWS THE EXACT SIZE.

This is an unusual opportunity to secure, at a very low price, an article of
superior quality that is coming to be essential to the comfort and convenience
of every one who writes.

REMEMBER THAT THE OFFER IS FOR 90 DAYS ONLY

THIS IS THE PEN.

THE AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE,
(AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY)
CHAS. K. REED, Publisher, WORCESTER, MASS.

y)

Vol. 5, No. U1. NOVEMBER, 1905 1Uc a copy, $1 a year.

ao

SSss

SSS“
XS

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WY pide

LHFFFEHHEFH FHF EFI FHF FEF FFF F FFF FFF FFF FFF FFF FPF Ft Ft FFP ttt +t Ht H Ht HFT HPF tte ste et sete atte

Special Combinations

BIRD GUIDE and AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY....... $1.25
“ “ « « ‘and EGG BO OR weas
“ Zz if GG BOOK 2) AP ae Soe ee 2.75
bet 65 ™~ See PDE GAGS oye son. ed ee ee 5.00
re « «“ rT ‘« sand-EGG- BOOK. x95; 7.00
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY and COLOR KEY ....... 3.00

a es COLOR KEY and@EGG BOOK gine
% nt atid FIELD: GLASS. yo22 ieee 5 00

rz ou FIEED:GEASS anciG@OLOR SKE
or EGG BOOK

These will be sent prepaid to any one or diferent addresses.
When intended for a gift, if desired, we will send a suitable card with
your name as donor.

B.S De

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE (American Ornithology) with
any two of the following magazines for $2.00, or with any one
for SI.50:

American Botanist Harper’s Bazaar
American Boy Little Folks (Salem)
Automobile Review Medical Talk
Boston Cooking School Magazine National Magazine
Cosmopolitan Outdoor Life
Delineator — Pearson’s Magazine
Designer Perry Magazine
Everybody’s Magazine Photographic Times
Farm and Fireside Success

Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly Sunset
Keith’s Magazine on Home Woman’s Home Companion
Building

3+ e De

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
4
+
+
+
:

LEFEFHEHEHFESIHEEEEHHEEEHEEFHHE4EEEEHEE EEE HEHE FEF HHH EE HEHEHE PEF EFE HHS HEEDSHL HAE H EEE H SSH:

FH HEFEFESEEEE SHE FHEHEFHFHED EF HEHEHE SEF > FH +44 444444444444

DECEMBER, 1905 0c a copy, $1 a year.

“iy
G

SG GG] ©

“7
Y
Ty

:

EFFFHFF HFEF FHF tt tt FHFHFPF FTF t+ FHF Ht T+T FPF FFF HFT FPF t FF +d ttt tt tt ttt ttt tts teed 4st ts tte

Special Combinations

BIRD GUIDE and-AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY...222 $1.25
“ « “ aie “« ~ and EGG BOOK ra.
o ae it “EGG BOOKS 30. ere eee 2.75
“ J i) PIELDsiGLASS 46. sac eeet eae eee 5.00
“ ee “ ee ‘ic and-sEGG, BO OKa a= 7.00
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY andCOLOR KEY 7. 3.00
: ie COLOR KEY and EGG BOOK iiae
; s and FIELD-GLASS. ....:... See

« ot FIEL DrGLASS and; COLOR KEM
Gime GG=BOO Ree a7 2h. ei ee eee 7-00

These will be sent prepaid to any one or different addresses.
When intended for a gift, if desired, we will send a suitable card with
your name as donor.

BS = S

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE (American Ornithology) with
any two of the following magazines for $2.00, or with any one
for $1.50:

American Botanist Harper’s Bazaar
American Boy Little Folks (Salem)
Automobile Review Medical Talk

Boston Cooking School Magazine National Magazine
Cosmopolitan Outdoor Life
Delineator Pearson’s Magazine
Designer Perry Magazine
Everybody’s Magazine Photographic Times
Farm and Fireside Success

Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly Sunset
Woman’s Home Companion

Be D+ oS

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

FEEFEFHEFEEE FEES FEES FFEE ED ES EEEFEFSEE+EEEE E+E +4 444444

FHFESEHEIHESHEEFHEHEFHEEHHFEF EH EHLE EEE H ESE EEHIHE EF EEEHEE HEHE FE FE EFF FHF FF 4444454444444

4+4++44

The Condor

A Magazine of Western Ornithology
EDITED BY WALTER K, FISHER

For 1995 THE CONDOR has been
fortunate in securing cooperation of
Mr. William Lovell Finley and Mr.
Herman T. Bohlman whose superb
photographs of wild birds have never
been excelled, and rarely equaled.
They will contribute to each issue dur-
ing 1905 and the collection of photo-
graphs will be notable in the history
of ornithology.

The first article, in the January
issue, details the photographing of
in aerie of Western Red-tails, and as
illustrated by superb photographs,
taken in a huge cotton-wood, 120 feet
above the ground.

Volume VII begins with the January
issue and will be better than any pre-
ceding volumes.

Subscription $1.00 a year. Sample
copy, twenty-five cents. Order of

JOSEPH GRINNELL, Pasadena, Cal.

The Journal

Of the Maine

Ornithological
aA Society

Volume seven will consist of
issues the first of March, June,
September and December. There
will be articles on Maine birds by
the leading ornithologists of the
state as well as copious bird notes
of current interest.

Subscription 5O cents a year.

W. H. Brownson, Portland,
Editor.

Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Associate Editor.

Address W. H. BROWNSON,
1-2 Exchange St., Portland, Me.

A

GOOD FIELD GLASS

a f=, jqThe BEST for Bird Study and

Equally Good for

Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

sas-Remember, you can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return

them to us and we will refund the $5.00.

Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
Phe Giass ancdDoth BOOKS cima ess sis seve Saale a otaye/ oebetele Hai ebe tee aera ie acre ote 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

Re Re
FOR. THE HOLIDAYS.

COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
upward of 800 drawings in colors, so

vatranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-

sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-

tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
&

part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,

cloth, $2.50. cay

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

Ne —eNw ee

ee

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

— Ne

) INOS

The Condor

A Magazine of Western Ornithology
EDITED BY WALTER K. FISHER

For 19095 THE CONDOR has been
fortunate in securing cooperation of
Mr. William Lovell Finley and Mr.
Herman T. Bohlman whose superb
photographs of wild birds have never
been excelled, and rarely equaled.
They will contribute to each issue dur-
ing 1905 and the collection of photo-
graphs will be notable in the history
of ornithology.

The first article, in the January
issue, details the photographing of
in aerie of Western Red-tails, and as
illustrated by superb photographs,
taken in a huge cotton-wood, 120 feet
above the ground.

Volume VII begins with the January
issue and will be better than any pre-
ceding volumes.

Subscription $1.00 a year. Sample
copy, twenty-five cents. Order of

JOSEPH GRINNELL, Pasadena, Cal.

The Journal

Of the Maine

Ornithological
A Society

Volume seven will consist of
issues the first of March, June,
September and December. There
will be articles on Maine birds by
the leading ornithologists of the
state as well as copious bird notes
of current interest.

Subscription 50 cents a year.

W. H. Brownson, Portland,
Editor.

Frank T. Noble, Augusta,
Associate Editor.

Address W. H. BROWNSON,
1-2 Exchange St., Portland, Me.

A GOOD FIELD GLASS

= me The BEST for Bird Study and

i)
&

em heel
oa
Dy i

& 3

Mountain, Sea Shore or

Equally Good for
Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

sas"Remember, you can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return

them to us and we will refund the $5.00.

Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50

The Glass‘and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................
Heferiass.and both Books.-......2.:....-

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

A BIRD DICTIONARY

( CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
f upward of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every Gite
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50. - Fs,

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

los

LS RR—wsD

di De

— ee EO eee

A BIRD DICTIONARY
COLOR KEY

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

PARI

A complete bird dictionary, with
upward of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic tothe Pacific. 312 pages,
cloth, $2.50.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS

By CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

— SSS SSSR

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,

cloth, $2.50.
Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass.

, a NaN

BABA SS EEO"
RYDQDPrSws—om—nsD

4A Se FIELD GLASS

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for

»
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7
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s
7s Ss

LF

Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

kes"Remember, yOu can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will renand the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass-and Color Key to.N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
‘he: Glass-and {both .Books: 7.2... s,0Gss seas ote eee ee 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

AALAALAALAALAALAMPAAAAALAALAALAAAAAAAALAALAALAABAALAALAALAAPARAAARA DALLA A 24
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

VP |

ST. LOUIS, MO.
OFFPIGHKS IN
New York, Chicago San Francisco,
93 University Place. 556 ate Street. 819 Market St.

PA AALAALAALAAAAAAAARAARAALAAMAARAARAAEAARAA RAL LOA ARAM

FANidibsdbssdidssbsdsdbisibsdsssdsibsbsasdsibsbsdsdsissdsd

WASbUGbdbdddbhddbbddbddddsbddddddsddddasbdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddsds

\ A BIRD DICTIONARY
COLOR KEY

>)

TO

North American Birds

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A complete bird dictionary, with
‘ upward of 800 drawings in colors, so
arranged that one may learn a bird’s name with the least pos-
sible difficulty. In no other book has the problem of identifica-
tion been so simplified. The book is equally useful in any
part of the country from the Atlantic tothe Pacific. 312 pages,

|

Q YOR AMERICAN BROS Ess
fe % pre irae
i

A complete illustrated book of all
eggs. It gives the habitat and breed-
ing range of each species; location and
construction of the nest; time of nest-
ing; number, description and varia-
tion of eggs laid; with a full-sized
illustration of the egg of nearly every
species, and a large number of full-page
illustrations of nesting sites. 360 pages,
cloth, $2.50. aa

SS LLRX

Both of these books and the American Bird
Magazine one year for $5.00.

aAYonw

A GOOD FIELD GLASS

The BEST for Bird Study and
Equally Good for

I

Mountain, Sea Shore or Opera

iy

ONLY $5.00

These Glasses are well made and espec-
ially adapted for the use of the bird stu-
dent as they give about twice the field
vision of ordinary ones and magnify near-
ly four diameters.

§ #3
Sh Das Le

1 eS
U

They are in good strong leather case,
silk lined.

bas-Remember, yOu can have them free by getting only ten subscriptions
for our magazine at $1.00 each. Or if you prefer we will send you a pair prepaid
on receipt of $5.00. Try them a week and if not perfectly satisfactory return
them to us and we will refund the $5.00. Is not that fair?

The Glass and Color Key to N. A. Birds by F. M. Chapman.............. $ 6 50
The Glass and North American Birds Eggs by C. A. Reed................ 6 50
Whe Glass and, both Books. 22 <i lare tae fo ahh: os bre iit noe 8 00

CHAS. K. REED WORCESTER MASS.

PEUIVEOYTFEYIVTOYYTFTYETTFPYPTOTNPOTPPETTTEN PPD PFOTH FT ATT ETT PPT PTTL
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE

BEST RESULTS IN MAKING BIRD PHOTOS

YOU MUST USE THE

CRAMER CROWN PLATES

Which are especially adapted for this class of work, and are used exclusively
by the publishers of AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

Full descriptive manual sent free to any address upon application, provided
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY is mentioned.

G. CRAMER DRY PLATE CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

OFPIGCHS IN

New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
93 University Place. 39 State Street. 819 Market St.

MAdMddbddddddddbddbddbdsbddbddddcddddddddddddddddddddddddsdddddddddddddd dud

AAAAAAALAAAAARAALAAAARAAMAAA ARM ALAA RAAAAARAARAARA AAA A=9

PZ ULTVIVTCUTereeeeevevereyirrevervryecceertie cee c ert

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