0 :^> 71 FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Sound (\ \ *— — .... ...1. I will not be^ from man wliat the God of nature has scattered around me in such ubundauce."— Alkx. Wilson. 3- A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Study of Birds, their Nests and Eggs. (S ro Indited 1>> VOLUME V. 4-^ KOCKVILLK. ( OXX.: I'lHi.isiiKii I'.v .!<)>. .\i. W ADi: 5^ : — • i /A ^ 5^i/f^ '^rVt^^ c? CONTENTS OF VOLUME V. •>rBJECT. PAGE. Allen, The Virginia Ornithologist, S2 A Colony of Swallows. — CoUj] rcjioriaA^Q A Collecting Trip, - . . 70 A Stray Partridge, - . . 70 A New Heron, - - - - 79 A Nest of Parns atrieapillus — Black- cap Titmouse, - - - 17 Alexander Wilson's School-house,- 43 A Nesting Place of the White-faced Glossy Ibis ( Plegaclis yudfaitna) 1 1 Approach to the Nest of the Meadow^ Lark, 26 Barred Owl. — Syrniuni nebulostmt. 49 Breeding of Podilynibus podiceps at St. Clair Fiats, Mich. Baby Bobolink's Cradle, - - 25 Bombay Birds, - - - - (J2 Birds in Texas, - - - - 64 Bird Notes, - - - - 7S 79 Common 'RwW.— I^orzana c irolin i. 51 California Quails in Missouri, - o4 Early Nesting, - - - - 47 Eggs and Nest of Carpodoo/s pur- pnireus, - - - - - 2o Feed the Birds, - - - - .S7 Florida Birds, - - - - . 40 Female Birds, - - - - 64 Great Crested Flycatclier, - - 4.S Great Auk, - - - - - 48 vo vvgini- Gi-eat Horned 0\\\.-- Bub anus, . - . . . 40 Humming Birds of Sa.ratoga, N.Y., 48 Huron Scoter. — Oidemi'o bim(i<-uJfita.. 55 How to Study Ornithology, - - 71 Kingbirds Catch Fish, - - - 59 Mottled Owl,— -SVoyw cmo. - - 85 Meadow Lark.- -l"r. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager. — Fyranyd rubra. The House Sparrow, The Cuckoo, - - - - The Sandpiper, The Season of 1880, The Kingfisher, The Birds on a Farm, - The Migration of Birds, The Ruffled Grouse : A Semi-soliloquy, 1 The Great Northern Shrike, (236)- 48 The Great (yvwy OwX.-Syiniiinn cAnereura.hA The Si)otted Sandpiper, - - 59 The Cat Bird, . ... 85 The Red-bellied Nuthatch. — SiWi cana- drnsis. _ . . . _ yt; That Woodcock, - - - - 87 The Yellow-breasted Chat, its Nest and Eggs. [Illus.] - 33-34 The Mexican Turkey. — M<'U'.agHi< vipx- icruM — UouJd. - - - - 34 The Sky Lark, - - - - 41 Oological Jottings from our Note- book, - .... J Oological Notes, . - - 35-65-66 " " for July, - - 3 " " " September, - 18 " " " October, - Oological LrEMs, 26, 27, 51, 75 aONTENTi^. Editorials. A Nesting: Place of the Great Blue Heron, 44 An Expensive Hobby, - - - 84 Announcement, - - - - 36 Bird Delineation, - - - 28-29 Birds and Insects, - - - 20-21 Corrections Called P^'or, - - - 84 Cowbird. — MoJothrus ater. - - 76 Death of Greene Smith, - - 44 Elaborate Nidification, - - 36-37 Eggs Badly Inculcated, - - - 60 Exchange Price List, - - - 84 Fulica Americana, - - - 22 Food and Structure of Rooks, - 61 Hints on Studying Birds, - - 4 How th(! Chimney Sivallows did Con- gregate, ----- 6 Increase of Some Species in Certain Localities, . . - - 5 Killing Rapatia, - - - - 76 Mountain Ash, - - - - 60 Notes on Sitta canadensis, - : '•"' Notes on the Habits of the Large-bill- ed Water Thrush, - . ' . 53 On the Habits of the Magnolia Warb- ler, - - - : - - 22 Oological Ambition, - - - 52 Ornithological Facts, Fallacies, and Fancies, - - - - - 68 Ornithological Phenomena, - - 12 Professional Oologists, (J. M. W.) 62-63 Rhynchops nigra in the Bay of Fundy, 13 Studies on Certain Fringillidae. — The Savannah Sparrow, Editorial Notes, 23, 29, 30, 31, 69, 77 General Items. 8, 15, 24, 32, 37, 45, 46, 56, 64, 72, sO, 87, 88. Recent Publications. Birds of the Colorado Valley, - 40 Diary of a Bird, - - - - 40 Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of the Birds of Ohio, - - - 56 Nest and Eggs of American Birds- 32 Nests and Eggs of Birds of the Mid- dle Statues, - - - - 40 Nuttall Bulletin, . - - - 56 On the Present Status of Passer domesticus in America, - - 32 Science Observer, - - - 75 Science Advocate, - - - lO The Journal of Science, - - 16 The Literature of Dr. Elliott Cones, 32 The Ornithologisches Centralblatt, 40 The Deutsche Aclimatisation, - 40 The Naturalist, - - - - 40 Illustrations. Nest and Eggs of Chimney Swift. " " " Yellow-breasted C'hat The Ruffed Grouse: A SEMI-SOLILOQUY. A WHIR of wings, And quickly springs From under cover dark and deep — From out a hillside rough and steep, With startled air Like frightened hare — A Grouse — how quick he's gone ! I stop — stand still, And then a thrill Of pleasure passes through my frame - A thrill at sight of stately game : The bird of fame, With noble name ! — A wild, shy thing, I ween. He 's gone. He went As if were lent To him the storied wings of wind ; He left me in the woods behind Alone — with naught Save what was wrought By fantastic fancy. I walk me on, And birds, anon. Flit up before me in my path, — Flit up before me from their bath In some clear brook, Whose shady nook Is down amid the ferns. ' T is quiet now ; No leaflets bow To breezes cool ; all Nature 's dumb. Except the ceaseless buzz and hum Of insect hosts. Whose flitting ghosts — Unseen — are kings in air. But hark ! I hear A sound, and near : A rising, slow and measured sound — A heating in the still profound. It rises fast. And now, at last ' T is one continued roll. Slogilti JULY, 1879. No. I. Now faint it grows, Then in repose It sinks, till all is still again. Methinks it came from yonder glen, And was the hum — The restless drum — Of some majestic Grouse. A clump of dark Deep ferns I mark ; Certainly I heard a rustle — A moving, scratching, a bustle ; Mayhap a bird That sudd'nly stirred And rustled in the leaves. Behind a bush My way I push. With eye on ev'ry move intent ; With senses keen and eager bent To catch, perchance, A passing glance At what was 'mong the ferns. With stealthy ti-ead And lifted head Comes forth a Grouse, and in her wake, Nine little ones themselves betake : God's proteges, Whom he arrays In garbs of daintiest brown. Oological Jottings from our Note-book. — A Robin's Nest Record. April 24. — Robins commenced building a nest in a spruce tree ; no work done on the 25. 2G. — Bisds were not to be seen until af- ternoon, when the female put in part of the lining. 27. — The lining still being put in, tramp- led down and arranged by the female. She took such a heavy load of grasses on the 2t> that she reached her nest only after several THE OOLOGIST fruitless attempts. The female alone builds the nest, weaving her body about and mov- ing her feet to give it a firmness. 28. — No Robins seen till late in the (lay. This afternoon a female Cow Bird ospied the nest and quickly hopped upon it, although it was not entirely finished ; but whether or no she deposited an egg was not ascertained, for the Robin returned and completed the nest before there was time to examine it. If there were any eggs in it, they must have been covered up. 30. — No eggs yet. Birds are away. May 1. — One egg : 2, two eggs ; 3, three eggs, each deposition being made in a four hours' occupation of the nest. 4. — No eggs to-day. Between this date and the 10 one egg mysteriously disappear- ed. The female began to sit upon the two i-emaining eggs on the 4, and two young birds were hatched on the 16 and 17 re- spectively. 28. — The young, to-day, after remain- ing in the nest about 12 days, flew out of the tree. — A Pewek's Nest found on May 30 was placed in a shelf formed by an overhanging ledge of rocks, six feet from the ground and within twelve feet of the highest of the Trenton Falls. It was almost directly over the rushing water, which whirled and ed- died with an unceasing roar, and was then precipitated sixty feet into the abyss below ; a remarkable instance of choice of situation. — The nest of a Black-billed Cuckoo built in a bush three feet from the ground, was, contrary to the rule, quite a handsome one. The appearance was due to the free use of soft materials, sticks being fewer than usu- al. The lining and a good portion of the nest proper were built of the soft portions of moss and plants. It was, however, an illy constructed affair, for it fell apart when removed ; it seemed to be laid upon two or three horizontal twigs of the bush, and a puff of wind might have demolished it. — -June 24, Red-winged Blackbird's nest with 4 eggs ; July 5 nest contained young, who made their exit on the IG. — It is singular that there should be so no- ticeable a disparity in the demeanor of birds when they fear for their eggs or young. The same species sometimes acts openly demonstrative and at another displays no emotion whatever. On June 28 we almost distracted a Hermit Thrush by imitating the cry of a young bird, but no young could be found. On July 21, finding a Hermit Thrush's nest, we uttei'ed the same cry to call the parents, but, though they came, they showed little or no solicitude, keeping at a safe distance and remaining very passive. Nest of the Chuck-will's- Widow. — Mr. C. J. Maynard, says in the Birds of Florida, of the finding of a nest of this bird : " I have Iiad quite a number of the eggs of the Chuck- will's- Widow in my possession, yet I have found but one nest. 1 was walk- ing through a hummock when one of those black, half- wild hogs so common in Flori- da, jumped up from a thicket in which he had been resting and made off" among the palmettoes. I looked after him mechanic- ally when I observed a Chuck-will's-Wid- ow start from the ground directly in front of him. As this was the first of May and as I had shot a female only a day or two before which was about to lay, I at once conjectured that the bird had a nest there. Keeping my eyes carefully on the spot, I hastened forward and, guided by the tracks of the hog, soon found the eggs. There were two of them and they were lying upon the fragments of palmetto leaves without any other attempt at a nest than a slight hollow scratched in the debris. The bird must have remained on them until the nose of the intruding animal was actually over her, for she appeared to start from beneath his feet and she must have moved quickly as he was trotting quite briskly. Unfor- tunately, one of the animal's hoofs grazed an egg, breaking a hole in the side, disclos- ing the fact that they contained embryos quite far advanced, which may partly ac- count for the parent sitting so closely. THE OOLOGIST Oijlogical Notes for July. Blue-winged Teal Coot, Meadow Lark, June 8 19 28 29 o eggs. 9 6 4 Allan Herbert, East Saginmv, Mich. Your note in Vol. IV. No. 11 — on Kingfisher and Bank Swallow nesting to- gether reminds me that I saw a Kingfisher making a nest, and returning I got a full set of" Bank Swallow's egtrs from the hole, but I supposed the Kingfishers had aban- doned the nest because some men went to making brick on top of the bank. G. H. Ragsdale, Gainesville^ Tex. I FOUND a nest of the Yellow-shafted Flicker with 8 eggs. I brought them home, returning to the nest twice a week and bring- ing away one egg for each day that I was away until I collected 25 eggs. I left a little corn each time in the nest, and never saw but one Flicker. A. F. Wooster, Norfolk, Conn. The following is a partial list of the sets seen and taken in central New York. The season has been a very good one. Robin, Crow, Crow Blackbird, * Broad-winged Hawk, fSong Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Rail, Bank Swallow, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Fycatcher, * Maryland Yellow-th. Golden-crown'd Th'sh, Indigo Bird, t Red-eyed Vireo, Traill's Flycatcher, * Black-billed Cuckoo, * Chimney Swallow, * A few days sat upon, t And one Cow Bird's. April 30 4 eggs. May 1 4 G several 12 2 12 4 20 6 20 4 24 1 24 5 24 4 24 3 June 11 4 13 4 13 3 13 3 21 3 21 2 July 18 4 On two occasions this season we have found Cow Birds' eggs in nests which had contained the young of the owners. This shows that for some reason even Cow Birds' eggs do not always hatch when sat upon by the foster parent. Not knowing whether it is common for the Wood Thrush to take possession of the nests of other birds or not, I send you a little item that came to my notice during the month of May. In passing through the timber with a friend, Geo. De Wolf, our attention was attracted to a dense growth of bushes by the peculiar actions of a pair of Red Birds {Gardinalis virginianus) . Upon going to the place we discovered a newly built nest placed about four or five feet from the ground, which we readily iden- tified as the nest of the Red Bird. On a second visit, several days afterward, we were surprised to find the nest occupied by a Wood Thrush ( T'urdus mustelinus) and containing four eggs of that species. We removed the eggs and left the nest unharm- ed. Happening to pass the same way a few days after we concluded to stop and take a better description of the nest, and found that it was again occupied, this time by the Red Bird, which had deposited three eggs. John Holzapfel, Colony, Kas. Loon Shooting. — Those who have had j experience in hunting Divers of any species know that the reports of their almost incred- ible feats of dodging gun-shots are mainly true, though some exaggeration is often in- dulged in by fishermen and guides. The best shots are sometimes foiled, but practice in this particular science soon enables one to handle a Loon almost as well as a Duck. We have several times hunted Loons in boats, and on one occasion worked the bet- ter part of an afternoon without obtaining our game. There were two boats, eacli containing three persons, while three guns were brought to bear in the affray, but af- ter nearly "drowning" the poor Diver it commenced to rain, and the chase was re- linquished. THE OOLOGIST Tfie ©bto^ist FIFTH PUBLICATION YEAR. JULY, 1879. Persons to whom this number of The OoLOGiST has been sent for examination or as a specimen are invited to send for the in- dex to Volume IV., which will better an- swer the inquiry of the collector as to the character of this journal than a single num- ber can. In order to make our proposed series of illustrations of the nests and eggs of North American birds a success, and also that we may be enabled to spare no pains in making them accurate and excellent, it is necessary to have an increase in our subscription list to sustain the expense. If each one of our readers would obtain one new subscriber, we should be warranted in making this se- ries of illustrations the most excellent of the kind ever published. HINTS ON STUDYING BIRDS. npHERE are many methods of studying ornithology to advantage — many, be- cause some uudertake one particular, some another, as their specialty. For many or- nithologists the science of birds has no charm, while each little habit is noted with an eagerness by which a science can only be furthered, and by means of which those who are unable to ramble in the woods and fields are taught much more than they could learn by reading a purely scientific treatise on birds — scientific in the sense of being op- posed to a treatise upon their habits. Some enjoy studying the anatomy and osteology of birds, others only their eggs and nests, while there are not a few who shoot and preserve specimens without even taking their meas- urements, not to mention the utter neglect of even a passing notice in regard to their habits and formation. An interesting portion of the study of birds is the examination and comparison of their structure according to the various ma- jor and minor divisions, or of one species with another very much like it. A disin- terested person might not see any differeuce in the physical peculiarities of two very sim- ilar species, but sometimes they are exceed- ingly prominent, and instead of being of no consequence, as might be supposed, most of these peculiarities, which the collector no doubt has often been unable to account for, subserve some good purpose. A com- bination, therefore, of field and "closet" work is very profitable, for one is a help to the other. A book partly full of notes writ- ten in the woods and meadows is admirably set off and made more complete, as it were, by notes upon the physical characteristics of the various species whose structure had suggested an examination. Take for exam- ple a Black-billed Cuckoo : — there are many points of interest about its person which are not only singular, but seem to be in perfect keeping with its strange habits, inasmuch as oddity is a noticeable feature. Look at the feet — they will reveal one peculiarity ; examine the bill and uostuils, and more of information will be obtained ; the wings and tail are much dissimilar, but see if they do not have something in common, — then, dropping the former, notice howTrogon-like the tail ; then the bare, red eyelids and feathered or pantaletted legs are singular. Again, there is something about the plumage which makes close examination profitable indeed. Compare the metallic plumage of a Humming Bird with the soft, fluffy cov- ering of an Owl through a magnifier or mi- ci'oscope ; see how strong the quills of one TEE OOLOGIST bird are, and how weak and slender those of another — the one adapted for hard, heavy work, the other seemingly for beauty alone. Compare the vitality of a chick hatched from an egg very large for the size of the bird, with a reverse case, and notice what vivacity your note-book records of the little Sandpiper just out of the shell, and how sluggish the Hawklets seemed to be for days after they were hatched. The smallest particulars frequently clear up doubtful and unseen, though remarkable, characteristics in birds ; while a little study rightly applied sometimes breaks down the- ories propounded by the best of observers. Increase of Some Species in Cer- tain Localities. BY FRED. J. DAVIS. ^EEING in a recent number of The Ool- OGIST some remarks on the scarcity of, the Scarlet Tanager {^Pyranga ruhra) in j this vicinity as compared with some years j ago, I was reminded of a comparison con- j cerning certain other varieties which is the ^ exact opposite of the above. One of the most prominent instances of the increase of a variety in this vicinity is that of the Crow Blackbird {Quiscalus versicolor^. Some years ago these birds were considered a de- ! cided rarity in and around the city of Utica, and in order to procure a specimen of this beautiful and desirable bird or to take its ; nest and eggs, it was necessary to proceed ■ some miles down what was known as the river road, to whei'e grew a row of large poplars, and when there to elude the vigi- { lance of the watchful owner of the proper- ty, since he objected to the destruction of what he chose to call the useful and beau- tiful birds. Within a few years all this has changed, and everywhere on the suburbs of the town and in the country the caw and croak of the Crow Blackbird is heard, and the vigilant farmer who formerly objected to its destruction now prays that his corn and grain may be delivered from its devas- tating presence. Another instance not as noticeable to the general observer, but still evident to the collector, is that of the Great-crested Fly- catcher (^llyiarchus crinitus) . Some few years ago this bird was considered a desid- eratum with the collector, and its whistle or call was seldom heard, while the eggs were an almost unknown rarity in the col- lections of central New York ; but within the last few summers this bird might have been found in almost every wood of any size, and is now common in many of our older orchards. I have frequently seen as many as three or four pairs nesting in one wood of no considerable size. That beau- tiful wader, the Green Heron (^Butorides virescens) , furnishes still another instance of this remarkable increase ; it is now com- mon in the swamps and lowlands of Oneida County, where formerly a specimen of the bird was a curiosity, and to procure a set of eggs was indeed an honor to the tinder. For sixteen years prior to the winter of 1873-4 the Pine Grosbeak (^Pinicola enu- cleator) had not been seen in this vicinity. In that winter it made its appearance in large numbers and was noticed every sea- son until last winter, '78-9, when it was not to be found. Its appearance here for five consecutive winters could not have been owing to severe cold and snow, as the last two winters during which they were here were extremely mild, whilst last winter, when they were not to be seen, was quite severe. The first two winters these birds were quite wary, even on the coldest and most unpleasant days, but later they became quite tame and many were caught with a horse-hair noose fastened to a long pole. Some were kept in cages for a time, but ei- ther died or were liberated before warm weather set in. I have some other notes upon the subject under consideration which I would mention did space permit. I am aware that with the possible exception of the last, none of the above instances are remarkable, except as furnishing an illustration of how fast many of our birds will multiply, even un- der somewhat unfavorable circumstances ; THE OOLOGIST for the vigor with which the Crow Black- bird and Green Heron are destroyed is cer- tainly detrimental to their increase. I'rochihis colubris is not to be considered entirely a flower-garden bird, for it may be seen almost as often in the woods as out of them. The flower-decked glades and even the deep gullies are a favorite resort for these little emeraldine creatures. They build their nests in these retreats, frequent- ly ia the very places where the collector would not think of lookiug for them. The young birds are much like the females in color, and are shyer than, though as inquis- itive as those we see about our flower vases and window-gardens. The Nashville Warbler (Helminthophaga mficapilla) has always seemed to us a silent, melancholy bird. We have ever met with it sitting alone in some low tree or bush, not shy and seemingly not very active. Out of a number of specimens seen and taken, but few manifested any of the surprise or timidity our approach usually called forth from other species. If any line of similar- ity can be drawn between their color and habits, it might be said that both agree in- sofar as sober qualities are concerned. Perhaps no species of well known bird has so pitiful and plaintive a cry as the Kill- deer, but there are few that can better elude the patient search of the collector than one of these birds when wounded. With that agonizing note in its mouth, it plunges into the underbrush with a broken wing, and then, ceasing the cry, worms its way in a- mong the dead leaves and under roots of trees where one seldom has the fortune to find it. They will plunge into the mid- dle of a wood, down into the tangled, thick undergrowths to escape the shooter. The number of birds of many species lost in this way during a season is very gi-eat. How the Chimney Swallows did Congregate.* T)EFORE the days of brick chimneys, and to some extent since, these birds used to congregate in multitudes about certain large hollow trees, where they bred regu- larly, and, according to some, spent the winter also. Williams, in his "^ Natural and Civil History of Vermont," published ia 1794, relates the following concerning three "• Swallow trees" which came under his observation. " The species called the house or Chimney Swallow, has been found during the winter, in hollow trees. At Middlebury in this State, there was a large hollow elm, called by the people in the vi- cinity the Swallow tree. From a man who, for several years, lived within twenty rods of it, I procured this information : He al- ways thought the Swallows tarried in the tree through the winter, and avoided cutting it down, on that account. About the first of May, the Swallows came out of it, in large numbers, about the middle of the day ; and soon returned. As the weather grew warmer, they came out in the morning with a loud noise, or roar, and were soon dis- persed ; about half an hour before sun down, they returned in millions, circulating two or three times round the tree, and then de- scending like a stream, into a hole about sixty feet from the ground. It was custom- ary for persons living in the vicinity, to vis- it this tree, to observe the motions of these birds. And when any persons disturbed their operations by striking violently against the tree with their axes, the Swallows would rush out in millions, and with a great noise. In November, 1791, the top of this tree was blown down, twenty feet below where the Swallows entered. There has been no appearance of the Swallows since. Upon cutting down the remainder, an immense quantity of excrements, quills, and feath- ers, were found ; but no appearance or rel- icks of any nests. Another of these Swal- low trees was at Bridport. The man who *Merriara's Review of the Birds of Conn., p. 59- THE OOLOGIST lived the nearest to it, gave this account : The Swallows were first observed to come out of the tree, in the spring ; about the time that the leaves first began to appear on the trees. From that season, they came out in the morning, about half an hour af- ter sunrise. They rushed out like a stream, as big as the hole in the tree would admit, and ascended in a perpendicular line, until they were about the height of the adjacent trees ; then assumed a circular motion, per- forming their revolutions two or three times, but always in a larger circle, and then dis- persed in every direction. A little before sundown, they returned in immense num- bers, forming several circular motions, and then descended like a stream into the hole, from whence they came out in the nu:)ruing. About the middle of September, they were seen entering the tree, for the last time." " Neither of these accounts are attended with the highest degree of evidence, which the subject may admit of: but I am led to believe from them, that the House Swal- low, in this part of America, generally re- sides during the winter, in the hollow of trees." The tree above described, from Middle- bury, Vermont, finally blew down, and, more than half a century (in 1852) after Williams wrote the account above given of it, its remains were visited by his successor in the historical line, Zadock Thompson, and were found scarcely less interesting than the tree itself when inhabited by thousands of Swifts. Thompson gave this account of its condition and contents iu 1852 : " The tree had rotted away, leaving little besides the cylindrical mass, Avhich had filled its hollow. The length of this mass was about seven feet, and its diameter fifteen inches. Of the materials which composed it, about one-halfcousisted of the feathers of the Chim- ney Swallow, being, for the most part, wing and tail feathers. The other half is made up of exuvia of insects, mostly fragments and eggs of the large wood-ant, and a brown substance probably derived i'rom the decay- ed wood of the interior of the tree. This discovery at Middlebury, though interest- ing, would not have been regarded as very remarkable, if the materials which filled the hollow of the tree, had been promiscu- ously and disorderly mingled together. Such a jumbled mass would be what we should expect to find in a hollow tree which had been, for centuries, perhaps, the roosting place of myriads of Swallows. But this is not the case. In their general arrangement, the larger feathers have nearly all their quills pointing outward, while their plumes, or ends on which their webs are arranged, point inward. . . But this is not the most remarkable circumstance connected with the subject. In various parts of the mass, are found, in some cases, all the primary feath- ers of the wing ; in others, all the feathers of the tail, lying together in contact, and in precisely the same order and position, in which they are found in the living Swallow. In a lump of the materials, measuring not more than seven inches by five, and less than three inches thick, five wings and two tails were plainly seen, with their feathers arranged as above mentioned, and in one of the wings, all the secondary quills were also arranged in their true position with regard to the primaries. Now, we cannot conceive it possible that these feathers could be shed by living birds, and be thus depos- ited. We may suppose that the birds died there, and that their flesh had been removed by decay, or by insects, without deranging the feathers. But iu that case what has become of the skeletons ? I do not learn that a bone, beak, or a claw has been found in any part of the whole mass. What then has become of these? They could hardly have been removed by violent means, with- out disturbing the feathers. But, if done quietly, what did it? What insect would devour the bones, and beak, and claws, and not meddle with the quills ? Or would the formic, or any other acid, which might be generated within the mass, dissolve the former without nfFectiuo; the latter?" Full plumaged specimens may be ob- tained after the first of September. THE OOLOGIST General Items. — A NOTE from a pro-Sparrow natural- ist, detailing every possible species of abuse that he has seen heaped upon the poor little foreigner, has beeu received. Blue Birds, Swallows, Wrens and Chipping Sparrows are the aggressors : and these birds have treated the House Sparrows so mercilessly that the latter have beeu compelled to re- linquish their oion boxes to the victors. This is nothing new ; it is a tale many times told, and one which is never painful to us to hear. Would that every native bird in the laud were " aggressive " to such an ex- tent as far as this Sparrow is concerned ! Why, bless these naturalists who write such long articles on the cruel treatment the Sparrow is receiving, did they ever stop just a moment to reflect that every word they write in that strain is just what every anti-Sparrow observer is ready to credit and admit? Just let every Blue Bird and Swallow iu the country defend his national and civil rights ; let him set up defiance to strangers who never purchased a right to comfortable houses by any reputable serv- ices, and occupy himself the snug quarters intended for him and his companions. — Crow Blackbirds have flocked ; Rob- ins are gathering iu little groups of two to half a dozen and their songs are weak and disinteresting ; Spnrrows have commenced to congregate ; Cedar Birds fly about among the wild clierry trees in flocks, and Blue Jays are roaming the country in bands of half a dozen. — Though known to be a carrion eater, it is quite evident the White-headed Eagle prefers fresh to tainted flesh. Conversation with fishermen educed that the Eagles sel- dom took fish that had lain about very long, and then only when no others were to be procured. We frequently tested the asser- tion by experiment and always found it to be true — the fish just thrown away were borne oflf in preference to those whose flesh was softer and decomposed. No doubt this Eagle is in many cases obliged to live upon carrion, but if sufficient fresh prey is to be obtained, we do not think they will partake of the former in preference. In districts of the country where the birds are obliged to subsist upon other prey than fish, offal and putrefied flesh are largely devoured, for live quarry is not easily procured. It is rarely, indeed, that White-headed Eagles attack lambs ; they usually obtain a suffi- ciency of food from other sources ; and when hard pi-essed iu winter, lambs are seldom obtainable, for they are generally wintered in secure, warm buildings. There are very few White-headed Eagles who live entirely upon terrestrial prey ; the greater number ai'e to be found about bodies of water where fish are obtainable almost throughout the year. Habits of Young Brown Creepkrs. — In July they have become nearly full feath- ered, except that the tail is not more than one-half to two-thirds as long as in the a- dults, and comparatively weak. The little Creepers go in troops of sometimes eighteen or twenty accompanied by old birds. Their single note, repeated quickly, of se, se, sounds almost exactly like the note of the Cedar Bird, but is not so lond. One may approach to within a few feet of them with- out disturbing their innocent composure ; they do not dodge around the tree as Wood- peckers and Nuthatches are wont to, but withont even stopping to scan the stranger, it pursues its useful occupation. Being by nature rather social birds, the little Creep- ers playfully chase one another about among the trees, now making the place quite live- ly with tlieir quickly uttered and multiplied se se 's, anon dispersing among the trees af- ter insects. They climb up as high as they care to go on one tree, then fly down toward the base of another, which they examine in the same manner as the last, always climb- ing np the tree. Sometimes they will alight upon a trunk, and with but a moment's ex- amination will proceed to another, which they may climb to the top. They usually confine their search to the body of the tree. oidqi^f) Vol. V. AUGUST, 1879. No. 2. Nest of the Chimney Swift (Chae- tura pelasgia). .stock buildings. It would seem that these places came to be occupied by natural se- lection, for the unused and dihipidated chim- fT has long been the custom of the ; neys so plentiful all over the country are Chimney Switts in many parts of the ; in many cases deserted. An exan)iiiation {i;^^ country, to build their nests in barns ' of a dozen chimneys showed about one-half and outbuildings, attaching them to the ver- ; to have been occupied at some period, but tical surface of the boards ; and this habit ' not recently ; while the others seemed nev- • IK > ! ' \\\\\N- /J = ' ' ' ^'' /////AWM ^ 1 I ■ i II'- NEST AND EGGS OF CENTURA PELASGIA has become so general that in certain dis- tricts the number of their n>3sts placed in these situations is fully tenfold as large as the number built in chimneys. This is only true in the country and in retired places ; but the inducements oflered must be often very great, for many nests are found close together in the ends of isolated barns and er to have been used. Comparison of nests from both situations, however, fails to re- veal any difference, either in structui'e or in materials. The nests are made entirely of dead twigs, and the uniformity in the size of the latter is quite worthy of notice, for few or none exceed an eiirhth of an inch in diameter and 10 THE OOLOGIST two in length. It is said the birds break oft' the twigs while on the wing, preferring these to those which may be tbnnd lying on the gronnd. All who have seen the nest have expressed wonder at its skillful constriiftion ; for, though the material is plain, the working of the twigs into a shape- ly basket surely requires the ingenuity which only a bird can bestow. One of the most noticeable features about the nest is its firm adhesion to the support — brick or board. This is eftected by a salivary secretion of the bird, which, when dry, is exceedingly strong and tough, so much so that we have peeled large splinters from the boards to which the nests were attached on removing the latter. The twigs are held together entirely by this glue-like secretion, for with- out it the nest would fall iu pieces. The strength of the substance may be inferred, when it is considered that the weight of nest, young and parent must be sustained by the adhesion of the sticks to their sup- port, a mechanical principle being involved which all know requires many times the strengtii of a simple support, placed direct- ly under the mass. The twigs are not put together so compactly but one may general- ly see through the whole affair, its thickness seldom exceeding 1.25 inches. Examina- tion shows that three difterent woods are used in one nest and four in another, where- as some writers have stated its preference for and sole selection of maple twigs ; the locality probably has much to do with the selection. Most nests incline downward somewhat, the outer edge being from 15*^ to 25° lower than the same part at its sup- port ; occasionally one will be found which stands out at right angles from the vertical surface. Four eggs constitute the set. They av- erage .80 by .50 inch, are rather " square- ly " and oblongly ovoidal, and are white, without markings. Fresh sets may be looked for about the first of June ; the young appear during the middle of the month and are soon able to leave the nest. Some of the farmers whose buildings these birds inhabit state that the nests are used every year for a number of seasons, and that the young return in spring with the old birds. Nest and Eggs of the Tufted Titmouse. [Ingersoll's "Nests and Eggs of Am. Birds," p. 44.] HTHIS lively bird belongs to the eastern ■'- United States, moving north not beyond the Connecticut valley iu the east and Tex- as and Nebraska in the west ; southward it reaches to Florida. It is resident thro'- out its extent, and is more familiar and jfrominent in winter than in summer, al- though always more retiring than the Chick- adee. Perhaps in the same manner as the Blue Bird, the Tufted Tit has come to build its nest in holes in trees, or in old Woodpeck- ers' galleries ; yet often chisels out a hole in hard wood for itself. At the bottom of this cavity, upon a shapeless, though soft and warm bed, the eggs are laid ; in Virginia by the middle of April, and in Ohio and New Jersey a- bout May 1 . Generally choosing some re- mote forest tree for a home, the birds con- ceal its location with great care, but occa- sionally come into the orchard to spend the summer. I have even heard of one case where they attempted to nestle in a garden bird-box, but were driven away by Blue Birds. The six or eight ejrgs are rounded- oval in shape, measure .75 by .56 of an inch, and are white, densely sprinkled with fine rust-colored dots, with a few larger markings of lilac. A single brood is brought out in a sea- sou. In July the young birds are fledged and the whole family hunt together during the fall and winter. Possibly this long and careful tuition on the part of the parents contributes to the hardy character and good sense that seem to me to distinguish this bird. Westei?n and southern collectors have greatly enriched their cabinets this season. THE OOLOGIST 11 A Nesting Place of the White- faced Glossy Ibis (Plegadis guarauna). [Notes on the Oroitliology of Southcru Texas, by James C. Merrill, M.D.,U.S.A.] AN the IGth of May, 1877, Mr. G. B. ^ Seunett and I visited a large patch of tule-reeds growing iu a shallow higoon, a- bout ten miles fi-oni the fort, iu wliich large numbers of this Ibis and several kinds of Herons were breeding. The reeds covered j an area of perhaps seventy-five acres or less, growing in water three or four feet iu depth. Irregular chauuels of open water traversed the reeds here and there, but the bottom was comparatively firm, and there was lit- tle difiiculty iu wadiug iu any direction. Besides the Ibises, the Great and Little White Egrets, Louisiana and Night Herons, and several other birds were breeding here. Often nests of all these species were phiced within a few feet of each other, but there was a tendency towards the difiereut kinds forming little nesting groups of ten or fif- teen pairs. The reeds grew about six feet above the surface of the water, and were either beaten down to form a support for the nests, or dead and partly floating stalks of the previous year were used for that purpose. It was impossible to estimate the niuuber of the Ibises and diiferent Herons nesting here. On approaching the spot, many would be seen about the edges of the lagoon or flying to or from more distant feeding grounds, but upon firing a gun a perfect mass of birds arose, with a noise like thun- der, from the entire bed of reeds, soon to settle down again. Both uests and eggs of the Ibises were quite unlike those of any of the Herons, and could be distinguished at a glance. The nests were made of broken bits of dead tules, supported by and attached to broken and upright stalks of living ones. They were rather well and compactly built, and were usually well cupped, quite unlike the clumsy platlbrms of the Herous. The eggs were nearly always three in number, and at this date were far advanced in incubation ; many nests contained young of all sizes. Fifty eggs now before me average 1.95 by 1.3.5, the extremes being 2.20 by 1.49 and 1.73 by 1.29; they are decidedly pointed at the smaller end, and are of a deep bluish- green color. On May 7 of the following year, I revis- ited this heronry, but there were no uests, and very few Ibises or Herons were to be seen. I am incliued to thiuk that they moved to some other part of the extensive prairie, in several parts of which were beds of reeds similar to the one above described, but I was prevented by sickness from mak- ing any further investigations. Tlie young, when first hatched, are clothed in blackish down ; the bill is whit- ish, with dusky base. When nearly fledg- ed, the wiugs and back have a very marked metallic lustre ; the base of bill, with ter- minal one-fourth inch aud a two-fifths inch median band, black ; the intervening por- tions pinkish-wliite. In temperate North America August is the last mouth during which the bird egg collector can gather specimens, aud these are necessarily second sets and late nests, with the exception of Clirysomitris tristis, whose nest and fresh eggs are to be found sometimes as late as the middle of Septem- ber. The season of reproduction of this bird does not usually commence until the latter part of June, aud the notes of the young seem to be most frequently heard in September. The sets sometimes consist of six eggs, and a number of nests may often be found in close proximity to each other. August is a good month to arrange the summer's sets iu the cabinet. Memoran- dum books are now completed or copied, duplicates laid aside and collecting instru- ments generally put away until another season. 12 THE OOLOGIST Tfie ©yro^ist FIFTH PUBLICATION YEAR. AUGUST, 1879. We have several copies of the last vol- ume of this journal ueatly and strougly bound which we offer at 75 cents eacli. The cost of binding alone would be to sub- scribers nearly the price asked for the bound volume. It was our intention to publish no col- ored plate of eggs this year as a frontispiece to Volume V., and we should have stated that our subscription price is sixty and not seventy-five cents. We have, however, in order to supply a few who have subscribed at the latter price, decided to have a limit- ed number executed on heavy board, and suitable for framing. We do not desire to receive subscriptions at seventy-five cents, for the plates cost more than the difference amounts to. We shall have the plates ready for delivery if possible by the middle of October. A few extra ones will be col- ored, which we will dispose of for twenty- live cents each. >UR publisher's department on the inside of the cover has been somewhat changed. New subscribers will please read before remitting. Induce your friends to club with you and obtain this journal at reduced rates. ORNITHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA. jV/rOST experienced collectors have been called upon at some time during their bird studies, to record singular and oft- times unaccountable freaks in the habits, appearance, or nest and eggs of a certain species. Frequently these freaks are, in a measure, regular, or rather expected and consequential ; at other times the observer is the only one who has witnessed the pe- culiarity. We have all seen abnormally white or albino birds, some with black and others with pink eyes ; many of us have found and noted quaint looking or oddly situated nests and singularly marked eggs ; and not a few have had an opportunity of observing the oft recorded habit of some species not accustomed to doing so, of de- positing their eggs in some other bird's nest, thereby rendering Cuckoos' and Cow Birds' specialties less exclusive than was supposed a few years ago. These must all be classed as phenomena, but the word may be so used as to imply two or three meanings within its own general signification ; in the sense in which it is usually employed by naturalists, it may signify something unus- ual, remarkable or occasional. A white Blackbird is certainly a phenomenoy ; none the less a black Robin, both of which have been seen and taken ; birds with more than the normal number of toes, with queerly mai'ked and colored feathers, or with strange habits are among the phenomena ornithol- ogists are occasionally and willingly com- pelled to witness. As above remarked, a considerable num- ber of instances have come to notice of the occupation of a certain bird's nest by some other species, while the collector on differ- ent occasions has found eggs of both in it. At the outset, there seems to be an unfath- omable mystery connected with these phe- nomenal occurrences — a look to them which defies all study and investigation. But the truth is, in all probability careful and pro- tracted scrutiny of the birds and nest will reveal some "link" not before imao;ined THE OOLOGIST 13 to be present. Sometimes a pair of birds arriving late in the season will make selec- tion of an old nest of some other species for a foundation to their own ; there are cer- tain species, too, that delight to turn out others and usurp their nests for their own purposes. And frequently the demeanor j of tlie birds who have no interest whatever in the nest, is such as to convince even a watchful observer of their ownership ; while ou the other hand, the real proprietors keep their distance : this may be due to the nat- ural dispositions of the two species, for one is always active, prominent, demonstra- tive ; while the other is quiet, shy and re- tired. These two widely differing qualities may be brouglit together in such a way as to completely deceive a collector not used to noticing the trivial actions of his favor- ites. The identity of eggs, therefore, de- pends not merely upon bird knowledge, but largely ou common sense and a faculty of bringing every minute particular to bear upon the point in question. Not only do the eggs and nests of birds and the bodily characteristics of the last occasionally present phenomenal appear- ances, ])ut there is oftentimes a line of con- nection or coincidence of their actions with all the former, which almost leads us to in- fer an entire revolution in the bird's nature. Some years ago, a few Robins were known to winter in the north, and this was thought very unusual ; now, thousands, encouraged by food and warmth, stay all winter, and the change of habit thus inaugurated will probably result sooner or later in its adop- tion by all ; this, in turn, will require a more satisfactory explanation of the migra- tory instinct than is now offered Ity some theorists ; moreover, it will possibly be proven that instinct is not the sole agent of the action. In conclusion, it is hardly necessary to state that ornithological phenomena require deep attention to particulars, to render them acceptable to an intelligent scientific pub- lic ; wliile theorizing on imperfect knowl- edge of the important particulars is alto- gether unprofitable. Rhynchops nigra in the Bay of Fundy. BY GEO. A. BOARDMAN. T SHOULD like to write your interesting journal some account of the flight of a large flock of very interesting southern birds that made us a visit a few weeks since. They were old acquaintances of mine when living in the south, but I never expected to see them about the cold waters of the Bay of Fundy. Like most birds they have several names, and I have heard them called Black Skimmers, Kazor-bill Shearwaters and ('ut-waters. Tlie scientific people call them lihynchops nigra (Liim. ) , and a queer looking bird they are, with a body but little larger than a Pigeon, they have a wing nearly as long as a Goose ; the mandibles are most singular, lower mandible being longest, Si inches, upper about 3 ; color bright red and black, and as thin as a case knife. The shape of the head and skull is very odd, and as I have said the wings are very strong and excessively long, measur- ing about 16 inches from flexure, and spreading about four feet. But few of (he Terns, even its nearest relative, have such extent of wings. When living upon the banks of the St. John River in Florida, some years ago, I often noticed about dusk of the evening large flocks of curious looking birds flying up the river skimming very near the water. The bird and its flight were new to me and I was anxious to be better acquainted and get specimens, which I vei*y soon obtained. I had never seen the bird before, and such a queer beak, such length of wings and hoarse note interested me very much. I often used to go out in a boat to see the flocks, sometimes by hundreds flying up the river, skimming close to the water, the low- er mandible a])pearing in the water, catch- ing the small li-y on the surHice. The shad fishermen say they feed all night and about daylight return to the mouth of the river to roost ou the sand banks through the day. 1 Although a night bird, they can see very 14 THE OOLOGJST well by day, as I could hardly ever get a shot at a flock as they roosted upon the bar. They are as diificult as a White Heron or Pelicau to approach. The Laughing Gulls and Terns they associate with on the bars, but never associate much when flying. I suppose the cause of their northern vis- it was owing to a heavy gale of wind that blew them out of their course, and from the reception they received from all kinds of shot guns, they will not care to return the visit another year. Studies on Certain Fringillidce. — The Savannah Sparrow. AN a breezy day in June, some years ago, we set out on a collecting tramp through the blossoming meadows and surrounding orchards. Our prey was to be mostly birds' eggs, and the trip proved a very remunera- tive oue. We had a special desire to visit all the orchards possible within a given ter- ritory, for our experience of the previous season — when the aspiration for a collec- tion of birds' eggs first took a permanent footing — had taught us that for a begin- ning, apple-trees furnished quite a little harvest of nests, and in variety too. It was our custom to examine each tree close- ly, but the ground seemed to be so unpro- ductive tliat for tlie time being little atten- tion was paid in that direction. In one or- chard, however, where the grass, every- where deep, green and luxuriant, was some- what of an impediment to our progress, we were necessarily obliged to keep our eyes a portion of the time upon the ground. We had searclied a number of trees and were convinced that a bird flew from a nest in the one we were engaged with, when a frightened creature fluttered out of the long grass near us, and with loud lament, hop- ped into the sprouts of a tree close by. Both of us hunted about in the grass some time, quartering the ground quite faithfully with- out success, until at last the nest was found a dozen feet away, close by a path through the orchard. Meanwhile, the bird mani- fested much anxiety, and knowing the nest to belong to it, the poor creature was shot with as little compunction as bird hunters are usually supposed to have. We did not see the other bird. It w^as strawberry sea- son, and, prompted by a strange youthful idea, we replaced the four eggs with the same number of bright strawberries, though what for no subsequent reasoning has been able to satisfactorily explain. It is possi- ble that the berries were intended to serve the same purpose that the painted wooden eggs of some novice collectors are supposed to — stimulate the bird to go on and lay another set, but our bird was killed. When we reached home, we ascertained the bird to be Passerculus savanna. Since then we have found the species to nest rath- er commonly throughout the Middle States. The nest was very similar to those of the majority of ground-building Sparrows, composed of rootlets, grasses and horse- hair. The eggs were heavily spotted with brown, pretty well distributed over the sur- face. Specimens taken since were often encircled with a belt of spots and blotches. Like many other species, this Sparrow has a fickle way of disappearing from a district for one or more seasons, where pre- viously it was amoug the most numerous species. For the past two or three sum- mers the Savannah Sparrow has been seen only occasionally in central New York. It does not seem to be shy, but is certainly not as quickly to be noticed as the Grass Finch or Song Sparrow. Its habits are pretty well known to collectors, though its eggs and nest have always been sought for on account of their desirableness for the cabinet. Upland meadows and pastures are its favorite haunts, and it is somewhat more abundant on the seacoast than in the interior. The study of the notes and modes of flight of different species of birds is interesting and profitable. Time given to the compar- ison of the songs of adult birds with the notes of their young, and a good memory THE OOLOGIST 15 for both will save the collector many avoid- able and valuable steps. At first it seems difficult to reconcile the strange note of a young bird with that of its parent, and they may be so widely different that the study may be a prolonged one. Parent birds themselves also often utter peculiar varia- tions to their own songs, which are indeed confusinji when heard for the first time. General Items. Notes on Sitta canadensis. — The note of the Red-bellied nuthatch is similar to that of its White-bellied congener, but is some- what prolonged and apparently uttered with great difficulty. The bird is rather shy and ceases its note as soon as it discovers itself to be seen, retreating also to the denser or more concealed portions of the tree. Al- ways restless, active and independent, it seldom seems to cease its work on the trunks and branches of the trees, and when it does, only for the purpose of arranging its feathers and sleeping. They are not a solitary bird, for often bands of half a doz- en or more work together in the trees, when their notes, uttered at intervals, sound quite peculiar. Young birds possess all the traits of their parents. They do not attain the full red- dish-brown of the under parts until Septem- ber. In all cases, this species prefers heav- ily timbered localities, being seldom seen in open places. It breeds in suitable places in all the Northern States, quite abundant- ly in the wilder portions, placing tlie nest, according to authors, in a hole iu some dead stump a few feet from the ground. The eggs are white with red dots and spots. It seems to rather replace the White-bel- lied Nuthatch, for where it is found in num- bers, the latter species is not commonly seen and vice versa. It is much smaller in size than S. caroUnensis ; and appears to prefer the vicinity of lowland and water. Induce your collector friends to subscribe for this journal and thus increase its scope and usefulness. — Besides the seeds of the sunflower and digested grain. House Sparrows are fond of berries. A number have been observed in the mountain ash trees in this city eat- ing quite eagerly the red berries which grow in clusters upon the branches. This, of course, does not directly condemn the Spar- rows, but the problem which has thus far been unsolved is : Why can this bird, being insectivorous to the extent claimed for it, utterly ignore the myriads of caterpillars upon our walks and eat fruit and grain in- stead ? As yet it has not been demonstrated that the House Sparrow is as much an en- emy to the caterpillar as to grain and )na- nure deposits. — Reed Birds (Bobolinks), Rail and other marsh birds are reported by sports- men to be abundant. They are killed by hundreds in the marshes along the Atlantic coast, especially on the Delaware River. — During the latter half of August the Night Hawks commence their flights, ap- pearing before a storm or at dusk often in large numbers. In the Southern States, where they go by the name of Bull Bats, their sudden presence in dark weather is quite surprising, for thousands may be seen flying in the air in every direction as far as the eye can reach, not in a flock, but widely scattered and each seemingly inde- pendent of the other. — The tongue of the Humming Bird is a wonderful piece of mechanism aside from the tiny body of the bird. It is long, slen- der and forked, and in appearance might re- semble a white horse-hair. The two prongs are semi-transparent, as is in fact the tongue proper, and under the magnifier sparkle and shine as if of glass. If examined closely, each of these tiny prongs will be seen to be hollow tubes, and the tongue proper will also be observed to be a transparent tube, in which sometimes linger drops of honey after the bird is killed. The tongue is the one-hundredth of an inch iu diameter. 16 THE OOLOGIST — A GOOD time to secure birds is at dusk about water courses, lakes and ponds. A great many species come to drink at this time, and amoug these some whose sliy and retired liabits render them inconspicuous at other times. A hirge number oi'Thrush- es, Sparrows and Warblers are usually to be seen on the streams at dusk bathing and drinking. — An albino Sparrow, Passer flomesticus, was killed in this city a short time since by Mr. Wm. Ralph. Itwas almost pure white, but its eyes were black. — The Ithaca (N. Y.) Journal relates the following of a "kind-hearted" Chipping Sparrow, which we suspect from the con- tents of the item to refer to the harassed parent of some big Cow Bird, reared in the Sparrow's own nest. We agree, however, with the qualification given to the Sparrow by the Journal wlien it justly calls it kind- hearted : " A gentleman liviug on West Buffalo Street no- ticed a Chipping-bircl busily engaged in gathering worms, and was much surprised to find that it car- ried them to a full-grown bird in a tree near by. The bird was about the size of the common Cat Bird, but the gentleman was unable to determine to what class it belonged. The large bird seemed to be in some way ailing, and Mas faithfully fed for over a week, notwithstanding that its appetite was most voracious. Several times both birds were observed together in the garden, but the small bird always seemed to lead tlie way for the larger one to where food might be found." — Mk. J. P. Davis of this city shot a Ruffed Grouse havinjr one extra toe on each foot — ten in all. This recalls a similar circumstance of some years ago, in which case the bird was possessed of six toes on each foot. AVe should be pleased to have our readers report to us any unusual occur- rence observed by them, oologically or oth- erwise. Recent gubUcatiou5. The Journal of Science, Toledo, Ohio : E. H. Fitch, editor. — A scientific periodic- al published monthly. On the first page we notice an article by I). M. Marsliall, Oswego, N. y., entitled: "Notes on the Habits of the Great Northern Shrike," which, if authentic, is worthy the attention of ornithologists. The author has omitted the dates on which the nests were found, which should be considered an important item. We print the article entire : " Having made the habits of the Great Northern Shrike or Butcher Bird {('on in-io hoimlix) quite a study, and having collected a number of specimens and eggs of the same, I will write a few words con- cenaiug them, for the information of those who don't know, and those that t/iiiik they know how far south they are found. The first specimen I ev- er obtained was about three miles west of Oswego, N. Y. I shot both the male and female of the birds and also got the nest, which was in an apple tree about fifteen feet from the ground. The nest was about the size of that of a Robin, and was made from twigs and pieces of an old newspaper. It was very nicely lined with poultry feathers and con- tained five eggs of a light gray color speckled with darker spots of a greenish brown. I found a nest shortly after in the same locality in a thorn tree. There were young birds in the nest, and while I stood watching them, the old bird returned with a field mouse, which she very cleverly suspended by the neck on one of the thorns. I stood fifty feet from the nest ; the bird was first flying toward the nest with the mouse hanging from the bill by - the neck. The bird alighted on a twig and holding the mouse by the neck with the bill, pushed it up- on a thorn and after it was impaled, it struck it two or three blows by the bill on the liead to make its position secure ; the thorn ran through the neck of the mouse. It was only .5 or 6 feet from the nest in the same tree. " Since writinii' the above paragraph I have re- ceived the foll()\\ iiii^ facts from a fi-iend. He once saw a Butcher Bird carrying a live garter snake in its bill, which the bird adroitly affixed upon a thorn. After the snake was impaled Mr. Whitmill the friend mentioned, took the snake still alive from the tlioru, it was about twelve inches long, " I have examined several mice and small birds, which I have found impaled ui)()n thorns in this manner and I think that the Butcher Bird produc- es death by strangulation, as there were no marks of violence upon them. I found a nest of this kind about two weeks ago three miles east of Toledo, 0., in an orchard. The nest was about twenty feet from the ground, and was built upon the top of an old Robin's nest. I have found two of their nests since then. I only write this to show that the Great Northern Shrike is found further south than a great many naturalists supjjose. If any of the readers of the Joiirim! P ^ IS S£ ^ CD ^ ■i; 1— ' bO 1— ' 1— ' 1— ' 1— ' h-i to JMi to t— Ml NS to h- H-* t-* «C Oi CO o o o o rf^ 4^ M^ U- tCi IM NS 00 00 00 Cn OS iNt 03 a, cc *i- OS >-r> rf^ 4^ t^TIQ "^ -^aq oq "^ ^ «a? 1^ Or h l-H r» 1-1 < ■^ c - ^ '- n:^i_ i I O - - 05_ D. D. Stone, Oswego, N. Y. A gentleman who has had leisure to observe the every-day life of the House Sparrow has noticed that they make provis- ion for a future nest by storing materials in trees. The bulky masses of sticks, straws and twine which look so much like great nests, he says they put together for a sort of store-house, to which they go when in want of building materials. He came to this conclusion, because, on several occa- sions the Sparrows who had placed twigs in a certain tree carried them away to a box for their nest. TEE OOLOGIST 19 An egg shell with two or more shades of color upon it will be found quite a curiosity upon close examination. A good micro- scope will reveal its construction, and also show the nature of the markings. Com- parison of the eggs of different species in these and other respects will furnish mate- rial for a good deal of study. It is our in- intention ere long to publish some papers on the structure of birds and their eggs, contributed by well known authors, which we are sure will be appreciated by the more scientific portion of our readers, Theee is still time for extreme southern collectors of birds' eggs to get specimens. Many species nest during the fall and win- ter in the Tr(jpics. A Queer Vireo's Nest. — A nest of some species of Vireo, probably the Red-eyed, was found during the latter part of July by a Utica collector. The one addled egg it contained was the only means of identifying it at all, as the birds had flown, probably some weeks before. The nest measured 4.5 inches long outside, 2.35 inside, and a trifle less than one in depth, inside. Its uuiin materials were birch bark and long hairy lichens or moss, the latter in much the larger quantity. It was not cup-shap- ed, though suspended, but was thick and rather bulky, like a Thrush's nest. In its thinnest place it was all of an inch thick, while in some parts it was nearly three inches through. The lining was as soft as lichens could make it. At least four or five times as much material was used as we ev- er observed in any Vireo's nest, and had there been no egg in it we should have been tempted to call it something else. In an unused saw-mill not far from this city there are six nests of Saijornis fuscus upon the beams and supports. As two pairs of these birds have nested there for several years, these nests probably belong to their young. The Nest of Empidonax minimus, — Concerning the nest of this bird, formerly erroneously believed to belong to the Aca- dian Flycatcher, we quote from Dr. Coues, " The bird generally nests on a sapling or a shrub, within ten or twelve feet from the ground. It is always placed, so far as I discovered, in an upright crotch of several forks, preferably between twigs no thicker than a finger. It is very deeply let down into the crotch, and usually bears deep im- pressions of the boughs. The nest is a neat little structure ; if it were only stuccoed with lichens it would be as elegciut as that of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, which it scarce- ly exceeds in size. The basis of the nest is a substantial intertwining of fine fibrous inner bark, and the decomposing outer sub- stance of various weeds. With this is mat- ted a great quantity of soft plant-down, making a soft yet firm and warm fabric. The interior is finished variously with a special lining of plant down, confined with a slight layer of horse-hair or the finest pos- sible grass-tops. The brim of the nest is firm and even, with a circular arrangement of the fibers ; inside, the lining is simply interlaced. In size, these elegant structures vary a good deal ; the smallest one before me is under two inches and a half across outside, and less than two deep ; an- other, which was let down very deeply in a narrow crotch, is nearly three inches, both in depth and width, and is quite un- symmetrical. The cavity is quite large for the outside dimensions, in some instances the walls being barely coherent along the track of the supporting twigs ; it is not, or but little, contracted at the brim, and is a- bout as deep as wide. ^ ' The eggs are generally four in num- ber, sometimes only three ; I did not find five in any one of the six nests collected. One contained a Cow Bird's egg. The eggs are pure white, unmarked. They vary much in size and shape. Out of twen- ty examples, a large elongate one measiu-es .G8 by .52 ; a small globular one, .59 by .50 ; a normal one, .65 by ,50." 20 THE OOLOGIST Trie ©ato^isi FIFTH PUBLICATION YEAR. SEPTEMBER, 1879. Every collector should have the series of papers and illustrations appearing at in- tervals in this volume. Representations of the nests of birds are so seldom given that a series like the one projected ought to be valued by all nature lovers. We offer a few subscriptions to the Fan- ciers' Journal^ clubbed with this publica- tion, for $1.60. Young oologists wishing to be kept posted upon current bird egg matters will do well to avail themselves of this opportunity to get two journals much cheaper than they otherwise could. Our table of contents for fall and winter promises to be unusually interesting. Three papers are promised by well known nat- uralists on subjects of special interest, and collectors from all parts will make the de- partments of items and notes full and read- able. Collectors interested in scientific and systematic labeling of their bird-skins are invited to send for a sample of our new la- bel. It is quite small, and in order to make it complete, both sides are lettered for use. Being already furnished with strings, a col- lection furnished with these labels will have a uniform appearance. BIRDS AND INSECTS. "PEW persons are aware of the numbers of insects destroyed by birds, and only those who have thoroughly investigated the subject are competent to make a just dis- crimination between different species, ac- cording to the services they render or harm they do to mankind and his possessions. Even about our homes and gardens, mate- rial for a full understanding of the subject is limited, not only on account of the few- ness of the species, but from the abundance of foods of one kind or another, between which and insects some birds do not so dis- criminate as to enable us to properly esti- mate their good or bad qualities. Certain species, however, are known to play an im- portant part in nature's economy and to adhere rigidly to insect diet. In localities where the requirements of each different species are naturally limited and extraneous food neither desired nor obtainable, possi- bly it would not be so difficult to judge ap- proximately a bird's utility ; but, unfortu- nately, such fields are so seldom visited by competent scientists, that our knowledge of the real value of birds is measurably small. Let us for a moment consider, in the class of birds just mentioned, those inhab- iting wild, densely wooded tracts of country. In the first place, it is evident that the birds we find here are those whose food is to be found upon or among the trees. It will be readily observed, that, since small birds exist here in much the larger numbers, and as vegetable and animal food are mainly required by large birds, the number of in- sects devoured, the natural and only food of the former, must be enormous. Insect eating birds are here found, whose con- struction adapts them for the numerous dif- ferent spheres in which their insect prey is to be found ; and how admirable this justi- fication is, we have only to reflect a mo- ment to confirm. Each tree, shrub and plant seem to be or have been closely scru- tinized by the birds ordained to search them ; and not only that, but several species, each THE OOLOGIST 21 of different characteristics, ply tlieir voca- ' tion upon different parts of the same tree, each using its own peculiar way of captur- ing its food. So thoroughly is this grand principle carried out, that, infinite as the number of trees and shrubs apparently is, few or none whose appearance suggested food have not at one time or another been examined. The Woodpeckers, Nuthatch- es, Creepers and Warblers are in majority, for their services are required more than those of other species, and each one in turn may obtain his prey from the same tree, since the wants and modes of pursuit of one ai-e more or less different from those of the others. Add to these the Flycatchers and Thrushes, and we see that it is possible for all to subsist in the same locality, however numerous they may be. As to the utility of these birds whose of- fice has just been briefly described, it may be proper to say, that, to comprehend the subject satisfactorily cannot but require a life study of the birds and their surround- ings, and no less attention to the entomol- ogy of the locality. While it is reasonable to consider insect life in some of its phases and in some connections, highly deleterious to vegetation, we should not be hasty to conclude that the entire host belongs in the same category. In viewing the contents of a bird's crop or stomach, therefore, if we find all insects and nothing else, we do not in the examination, prove the bird a benefactor by any means. Simply because certain of these little animals are known to be largely parasitic and profitable, and some birds live upon these almost exclu- sively. A requisition for the successful and exhaustive pursuit of the sttidy, then, is entomological knowledge. Some attention to the habits of the birds we have mentioned, will show them to be beneficial in nuiuy respects. We refer es- pecially to the climbing birds, whose voca- tion is to search the bark of trees for in- sects. Repeated investigations have de- monstrated that few or none of the insects and larvae devoured by the climbers con- tribute to the preservation of a tree, but by obtaining their subsistence from its sap and vital parts, are highly destructive to it. The Thrushes, unfortunately, must be class- ed among those birds whose deep wood life is seldom as detailedly given as should be necessary for a thorough understanding of their economy. That they perform an im- portant part in the preservation of vegeta- tion is evident, for they probably effect more actual good in their sphere of search than any of their co-laborers in the same sphere — good, because a large proportion of terrestrial insects undergo changes in life during which vegetation is attacked for food ; and it is these little destroyers which the Thrushes feed largely upon, vmearthing them from their homes among the roots of plants and shrubs. It may eventually be questioned whether or not it were better these grubs and insects preyed upon the great mass of small vegetation, injurious or otherwise, but we are not prepared to ex- tend this discussion into the province of physics or into a series of illustrations of natural economy. Exclusive mention of small birds has thus far been made in this connection be- cause they are the greatest insect eaters, and the general utility of birds forms a part of the subject only insofar as the destruction of insects is concerned. But nearly all species, even Hawks, waterfowl and galli- naceous birds, eat insects, including cater- pillars and worms ; the last mentioned or- der are quite well known to be somewhat insectivorous. Beetles and other large in- sects, many of whicli are exceedingly per- nicious, form no inconsiderable portion of the diet of these species. The services ren- dered by birds are, to use an oft repeated expression, much greater than is generally supposed ; and it should be worth while to everyone, ornithologist or not, to carefully weigh new evidence of a bird's usefulness with its supposed evil qualities, and give it credit for its jrood deeds. Do not fail to obtain our October number ; it promises to be interesting. 22 THE OOLOGIST Fulica americana. BY GREENE SMITH. AN the eighteeuth of October, 1870, the iiflernoou being oppressively warm, Abe Kleiuniau and myself were lazily paddliug ou the Calumet Kiver, Illiuois, and, as no- bler game was not visible within howitzer range, we amused ourselves by occasional- ly shooting a Coot as it crossed our bows. By the way, this generally ignored Coot is by no means to be despised by the epicure. I have often found wild celery in their stom- achs, the flavor of which was very appar- ent in their flesh. We winged one and on Mr. K.'s reach- ing to pick it up, we Avere surprised to see it dive, not only once, but repeatedly, and it swam well under water, often using its uninjured wing to accelerate its speed. The water being very cdear and not a breath of air disturbing its surface, we were enabled to make our observations so .as to leave no doubts. These facts were new and inter- esting to me and may be to others. On the Habits of the Magnolia Warbler. HTHLS jaunty little bird is rather common in eastern United States, frequenting the woods mostly, though to be found in open places. During a collecting trip to the wilder portions of central New York it was one of our most abundant bird acquaint- ances, and its presence in the deep woods quite neutralized whatever lonesomeness our isolated position might possibly create. We used to frequent a path along the edge of a beautiful stream — a sort of "bark road" which the "bark-peelers" traveled in their annual visit to the forest — on one side of which, for a distance of a mile or so, there was a district possessing great charms for the ornithologically inclined por- tion of our natures. Birds of many ditfer- ent kinds and plumages, representing a good- ly proportion of almost all the families of small wood birds, seemed to proclaim them- selves for our especial benefit, and many a specimen which we had never seen before did we get along this path. There were Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Warblers and many others ; and now and then we would find birds just out of the nest crying lustily for their parents, who, bewildered and a- larmed, put in claims for their offspring in such a piteous maimer that we forbore to tantalize them. The rough, rocky, moss- covered knolls and the bunches of twigs sprouting here and there from a loamy spot, furnished excellent nooks for some birds ; the dense luidcrgrowth of fern and broad leaved plants formed the retreat of others ; while a third group hopped or flitted about in the trees overhead, now so busy that one thinks he can almost catch them with his hand, then sporting among themselves with the very glee of wood sylphs. Even the trees themselves seemed to be drinking in the life which the bracing atmosphei'e im- parted. Troublesome as the gnats and flies were, we could not but appreciate our new field of observation ; our aesthetic senses, almost stagnated by a prolonged and unbroken ex- perience among a few of the best known species of birds, were at once revived and reconstructed, as it were, by the panorama which Nature unfolded to us. It seemed almost as if something new were seen at every step ; birds multiplied in numbers and kinds to such an extent that our note-books seemed soon to be exhausted, and all tho'ts of city and civilization left us — ours was a primitive paradise. There was one little bird, a pert, bright- colored species, which we noticed quite fre- quently in the lower branches of the trees. Its cleai- yellow throat and black-striped head at once made its name known. They liked to flit about very close to us, as if we were an inexplicable curiosity, but no no- tion of danger ever entered their little heads — if we moved sharply upon them, they hopped to the next farthest twig and scanned us as nonchalently as before. If we fished, they peered at us from a few feet distant, as if rather liking the situation, and only THE OOLOGIST 23 retreated when a sudden movement sur- prised them. We were inclined to think that they sought our company ; they cer- tainly never repelled us. They were quite numerous along the " bark road," and their friendly manners made them an innocent target for our guns, for we obtained a num- ber of specimens. This bird, the Black- and-Yellow or Magnolia Warbler, had un- dergone the moult, and were some weeks ahead of most other species, whose plumage showed here an old and there a new feather. Their habits were, in the main, like those of other Warblers. They searched the bush- es and small trees quite assiduously, hop- ping about from one twig to another in a sprightly manner. We did not hear them utter any note ; their quiet manners might have proved a successful protection for tiiem had they not allowed their curiosity to over- come their sense of danger. But after all, we could not help noticing thexn — our eyes had become so accustomed to looking for little birds and searching the foliage, that the least indication of one's presence seem- ed to be naturally observed, and the bright colors of this species made it particularly prominent. The young are quite inconspicuous dur- ing September, and the females do not wear the pretty garb of the male. The young, indeed, look very much like Helminthopha- (ja riijicajnlla, and the two may not ordi- narily be told apart until in your hand. During the fall they appear to be exceed- ingly abundant, and are generally associ- ated together in little flocks or travel about with otlier species. We have observed that they like to forage with Kinglets and Black- throated Blue Warblers. They are very sensitive creatures, and concern themselves greatly when the note of a bird in distress is heard, often fluttering around within a few feet in a very fever of excitement. It is interesting to note the difference between certain species in this respect ; some will invariably come when alarmed for a fellow- I'reature, while others cannot be called with- in sight. According to authors, the nest is placed a little above the ground in a spruce or pine, and is made of twigs, dry grass, roots and occasionally horse-hair, which combina- tion, put together rather loosely, offers a strange contrast to some of the Warblers' nests we see. Four eggs constitute the set. They measure .G4 by .50 inch, and are *■' ashy-white, blotched and clouded with brown and lilac,'" mostly about the large end, while a few brown dots are visible elsewhere. The bird nests most abundant- ly in the Northern States, Canada and Lab- rador. Notes on the Blue Jay. rptlE Blue Jay roams the woods in large -"- numbers, especially during the fall. They are very common in the well wooded portions of the country, 'where they breed in the trees. They delight to gather about camps in wild localities, around which they will frequently remain for weeks. At such times their peculiar cry becomes quite an- noying, and it seems to make no difference how many are killed, for if any are spared they will not leave the locality. Although so numerous and seeming to place confidence in man, they have a way of keeping out of gun-shot Avhen the collector is anxious to secure specimens. When a number travel together in the late summer and fall, they appear to have agreed upon a system of telegraphy while feeding, which they bring into service when required. Often they get scattered, and if one should espy a hunter or other suspicious object from his locality, he at once utters a warning note, pitched on a high key, when the others immediately stop work and an- swer, nearly all at once ; this is to signify that they are on the lookout, and if it seems too dangerous, off they go in company, ut- tering a perfect volley of indignant cries, in all the notes of an octave. Then they alight and cease their noise as qui(!kly as they had commenced, as if listening for fresh signs of danger. Their plumage is loose and fluffy in midsummer. 24 THE OOLOGIST General Items. — About two weeks after writing to you I was again near the saw-mill, where, on the apron of the dam is a resort for Sand- pipers. At the time there was a single Spotted Sandpiper looking about for in- sects ; near it was a very large frog, and when I saw it was slowly creeping toward the bird. When the bird seemed to notice it or move forward, it would stop motion- less, but as soon as the bii'd stopped it would again move toward it, acting like a cat crawling upon a bird. I watched them a few minutes till the bird flew away. August 29 saw a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which is very uncommon, having seen only one or two in this locality. D. D. Stone, Oswego, N. Y. — A LETTER from Mr. G. A. Board- man, Milltown, N.B., is quite brimming full of notes on the occurrence of species there which are very rare in that neighbor- hood. Not only have the Black Skimmer, and Black Tern been observed there, but following closely upon one another were the Gull-billed or Marsh Tern, a White Heron and Black Vulture, all stragglers which New England ornithologists may soon find it necessary to include in their local lists. — On May 30, 1879, I secured a fine adult specimen of the Pomariue Jaeger, taken at Figliting Island, in Detroit River, about seven miles below this city. It was chasing Black Terns when shot. The skin is in the possession of Greene Smith, Esq., of Peterborough, N. Y. W. H. Collins, Detroit, Mich. — If one occasionally sees a Night Hawk sitting transversely upon his perch, he should not consider the occurrence as nev- er having before been witnessed, for this species has been noticed sitting in this po- sition. The habit however is probably rather transitory than permanent. — At this time of the year immense flocks of Crows are to be seen in some parts of the country, at sunrise, winging their way rapidly to their feeding grounds, some- times many miles away. Just a little be- fore sunset, the entire throng, often num- bering thousands, retire to their roosting places. If the distance to the feeding ground is very far, they start on their homeward journey early enough to reach their roost- ing place at sundown, and this often neces- sitates departure at noon or a little after. Every day, until it becomes time to mate and nest, these foraging expeditious are made, frequently for fifty or a hundred miles. In clear, warm weather, they pass at a great hight, but on cold, damp, or windy days, they sometimes fly within a few yards of the earth. The mingled caws of the vast multitude sound very peculiar when the passage is being made high in the air. — The fall migrations, now approach- ing, if closely watched, may reveal some coveted material to the collector. Rare or occasional Warblers and Sparrows among small birds may be looked for in flocks of the commoner species, and for this reason close scrutiny of passing flocks is advisa- ble. Among the larger birds, look for Ducks, Geese, Terns and Gulls. — The Chipping Sparrow {Spizella so- cialis) may not be generally known to sing in the night. We have on many occasions heard the clear *■' se-se-se," trilled quite me- lodiously, during the night and early morn- ing. — Sandpipers and other LimicoJce are often found during May and June, many rods and not infrequently a mile or two from water. They seem to delight in search- ing the grass of the meadows and pastures, where they no doubt obtain large numbers of insects, grubs, etc. — A recent issue of the London Field fig- ures a Parrot's upper mandible which had grown long and curved almost upon the throat. It is said this was caused in near- ly the same manner as the extraordinary growths of rodents' incisors sometimes seen, — by non-usage, and hence its constant and rapid growth had not been checked. olqqi OCTOBER, 1879. No. 4. Baby Bobolink's Cradle Woven of grasses dry and brown, With a sprig of clover here and there, A cosy liniug of thistle-down And a feather dropped from a bird in air. This is the cradle, dainty and fine. Love hides away in the meadow sweet, Down, deep down, and never a sign To tempt too near little wayward feet. Down, deep down, in the blossoming grass, That rustles dreamily all day long. And only the yellow butterflies pass And the green-gold bees with theii- hum-drum ' song. Golden buttercups lean above, And daisies white with hearts all gold, Golden lily-bells nod their love, And the golden sunshine all doth fold. What wonder young Bobolink springs to air With flecks of light in his plumage caught ! W' hat wonder his song's a medly I'are Of all things golden and free and fair, And a song with ecstacy fraught ! L. G. Warner, I'ticii, Obncrver. Eggs and Nest of Carpodacus purpureus. ''rnOU(iII tills species may be considered soinevvliat boreal, both in general dis- tribution and in it.s breeding, a j.n-eat many nest regularly in the Northern States. They nidificate rather abundantly in swampy places, where most of the trees are scrubi»y tamaracks, in the top of which they place the nest. The thick, dark clump of twigs and leaves which forms the summit of the tree, and in which the bird manages usual- ly to build its nest, is often almost impene- trable, and it is difficult to tell, from the ground, whether it conceals a uest or not. A good clue to the truth is the presence of one or both of ihe birds on some neighbor- ing tree. The ornamental evergreens about houses and lawns furnish a good nesting place for tliis species, and they invariably place their domicile near or in the top of the tree, where it is quite eftectually screened from observation. The uest is built rather coarsely of grass- es, stems, wiry stalks, black rootlets and horse-hair, the last used principally as a lining. These materials are often worked into and about the twigs which support it, in such a way as to make removal impos- sible ; and it is not often that a nest can be taken away entire. The uest is about the size of that of the Song Sparrow — perhaps not quite as large. Occasionally the nest will exhibit a few small, dry leaves, a little birch-bark and the coarser parts of weeds and plants, but we have never seen feath- ers used. So thick is the mass of twigs investing the nest, that sometimes the birds are obliged to approach it through a small opening no larger than one's hand, all oth- er means of ingress being closed. During the nesting season, the male utters a quick, jerky, trilled note at intervals ; and this is not infrequently a good indication by which the collector may judge of the proximity of the nest. The eggs are four or five ; oftener four. The ground color is light green, over which are scattered munerous dots and spots of black and brown, the bulk on the larger cud or in an irregidar, somewhat indistinct ring about it. In all respects except as to size, the egg resembles that of Spizella so- cialis — the former is about the size of a Song Sparrow's. 26 THE OOLOGIST species, however, about one-fourth smaller than average specimens, one of a set of four, of which the remaining ones were nor- mal. We have never found the female upon the nest, and ratlier suspect she flies oft' at the least indication of danger ; but have frequently noticed the male, stolidly perched on the top of an adjacent tree. We have in course of preparation two excellent engravings, to illustrate our se- ries of papers on the nests of some North American birds, and to appear in our No- vember and January numbers, respective- ly. Also a full-page, original engraving of Archihuteo lagopus var. sandi-johannis, to be accompanied with an article by a well known writer. We hope young oolo- gists will appreciate the value of these con- tributions to bird literature, and will help us to add even more acceptible features from time to time. The oological depart- ment of this journal would be more com- plete and important if our young readers would aid us in the proper direction. We would like especially to hear from our Cal- ifornia and northwestern friends. Approach to the Nest of the Meadow Lark. TX/'HATEVER allowance may be made ^ for the.general appearance of the Mead- ow Lark's nest and its surroundings, ac- cording to geographical position or the for- mer mode of nesting, naturalists do not al- ways liud the nests and their approaches alike ; and there are few who know the facts better than country boys and farm hands, though, unfortu'.iately, habit and human nature are such a power in magni- fying and distorting their verbal accounts, that one can seldom look in that quarter for unpainted information. However, there seems to be a general atlirmation tliat when the grass is long enough, a sort of tunnel of more or less length is constructed — if that term may be used — to the nest. This may be safely accounted one reason why it is so difticult to tind a Meadow Lark's nest. In a low, rather boggy pasture, a nest was found, alter considerable search, in the side of a little knoll, completely covered over and approached through a crooked tunnel under the grass, more than two feet long. The materials of this nest were placed par- tially in the little hollow that appeared to have been scratched in the side of the knoll. Another nest, found in a level meadow, was situated at the end of an approach of over a foot in length through the long grass. This example was also hidden from sight, and evaded close scrutiny until the opening of the tunnel was discovered. In several other ctises there was a well defined ap- proach to the nest, made in most instances by the beating or trampling down of the grass by the bird ; although, in nearly all cases, the grasses came or were brought to- gether over the tunnel so as to form a sort of roof. Whether or not there is a well defined entrance through the grass to the nest, this latter is well concealed by grass tops, ingeniously and sometimes quite strongly mingled and matted together. It has been noticed that when the nest is built on sloping ground, the entrance is from the lower side. The materials of the nest consist almost entirely of dry grasses and straws, matted together and placed very snugly to the ground. Frequently, if not commonly, the materials of the nest are worked about and among the grasses close to it, apparently with much labor. Many collectors report the season's re- sults fairly satisfactory, while others, usu- ally very successful, complain of the pauci- ty of desirable nests. From inquiry, we infer that most of those who have not been successful have not given the usual amount of time to their investigations ; and a sea- son cannot be said to be "poor" unless compared with another on an equal basis. With some collectors all seasons are equal- ly productive. TEE OOLOGIST 27 Variation in Eggs of the King Bird. — A set of eggs of tliis species taken in 1873 were very dark — dai'ker than any since examined, though a hirge number of sets have been seen. The ground color was a dull reddi.sh-bi-own, and the mark- ings, which extended lengthwise with the shell, were very heavy. Were the eggs a trifle darker and duller, they would have been very similar to those of the Great- crested Flycatcher. A number of sets examined immediately subsequent to the finding of the above com- plement were uniformly cream color, spot- ted rather sparsely with roundish dots and markings of chocolate tind lavender. Lat- er, three sets of dark eggs were taken ; while in the meantime, several nests containing the light eggs were foiuid. Whether or not the same pairs laid the dark eggs every time, we do not know, but they were all found in the same locality, though not all the same year. A number of southern sets are all very light and sparely marked. searching the ground I found a nest con- taining/bur young birds, and as I saw no other Towhees around, suppose they were the young of those preparing to build. Is it common for them to raise tivo broods in a season? J.F.Hilliker, Boston, Mans. [Authors do not exactly agree upon the point you question. For example, Coues says tliat " two broods of Towhees are us- ually reared each season, and sometimes three" ; while Gentry writes : *■' This spe- cies is single-brooded." We are inclined to believe, that, circumstances I'avoriug, two broods may be reared. — Ed.] Oblogical Notes for October. Series of Crows' eggs show nearly as much variation as birds eggs usually do, excepting perhaps those instances of abnor- mally maculate or immaculate specimens. In size and shape there is considerable var- iation ; some specimens were very long and slim, and sharply pointed at the lesser end. The ground color is susceptible of differ- ence. A few eggs were very light green, while the majority were dark and clouded, and there were some between these two extremes. As to the markings ; — some were sparsely spotted, especially the lightest ones referred to ; while the darkest ones ap- peared to owe most of their grouud color to the splashes, streaks and iiideiiiiable marks of dark color. On the 17th of June, 1879, while walk- ing through the woods I saw a pair of Tow- hee Buntings preparing to build, and on Croav, Mav 9 4 eggs Grass Finch, 22 4 Brk-&-Wh. Creep., 23 5 YTw-sh'ft. Flicker, 23 8 . Blue Bird, 24 5 Spotted Sandpiper, 31 4 2 sets Blue .Jay, June 13 3 Black-bill. Cuckoo. 18 2 2 A. F. Wooster, Norfolk, Conn. Took a set of GaleoscojAes carolinensis with five eggs, June 10, 1879. Nest plac- ed in a scrub apple-tree. I have examined a thousand nests first and last, but never saw the occurrence before ; eggs invariably four. B. J. Peckham, Westerly; R. I. Gt. Horned Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, White-rumped Shrike, Loggerhead ' ^ Swamp Sparrow, Red-shouldered Hawk,* Rough-winged Swallow, Downy Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Wood Thrush, Black-billed Cuckoo, Wilson's Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-headed Woodp'k'r, Black-billed Cuckoo, "Second set of pair of birds robbed April 16. S. F. Rathbun, Auburn, N. Y. March 2G set 2 April Ifi 4 21 1 May !) 4 9 6 12 4 14 4 20 3 24 3 2G 3 2G 6 30 4 June 5 3 2 3 8 4 10 4&5 July 3 3 28 THE OOLOGIST Tfie ©^to^ist FIFTH PUBLICATION TEAR. OCTOBER, 1879. We have received a commuuicatiou from Messrs. A. Gvvyn Fostef and Ame. AV. Butler, stating their intention to visit Mex- ico the coming winter, for the purpose ot making collections of natural history spec- imens. They will pay particular attention to collections in ornithology, entomology, conchology and archa>ology, and expect to be able to supply private cabinets with some valuable material. Students wishing to communicate with them can dii'ect their letters to the care of the U. S. Legation, City of Mexico. We hope to have our plates out ere long. It has been impossible to issue them this month. BIRD DELINEATION. T^O be able to portray nature with pencil or brush has ever been a qualification much desired by the ornithologist, and there are indeed few who combine inborn talent for art, with innate love of birds. As a rule, the scientist's profession does not con- sider the line of beauty, but the harsh as- perities of fact ; and where the liking for one is predominant, taste for the other is usually more or less wanting. There are some artists, however, whose appreciation of nature is such as to pervade the whole of their pictures : wherein we do not find truth sacrificed for imagination or fancy. Many of the best artists of some schools condemn this style of execution, on the well known principle that aesthetics must ever be the fii'st consideration in a picture, and strict application to truth, according to their theory, does not constitute beauty. The ornithologist differs from this latter school. The plainest and most awkward appearing bird in the world, delineated with strict re- gard to nature, with every detail accurate- ly and carefully worked out, appeals more strongly to the appreciation of the natural- ist than the brightest, gaudiest and most graceful figure the painter can produce. There are reasons for this which many peo- ple do not readily understand. The ornith- ologist does not consider colors nor grace in a bird picture, unless these attach to oth- er more valuable qualities, and then only as secondary. He first views the picture, not merely as a bird, but as the represen- tation of some particular species; and his eye is detained upon it in accordance with the intrinsic value — to use a simple yet applicable expression — of the species de- picted. This accounts for his indifi'ei-ence toward that beautiful figure of the Scarlet Tanager or Bird of Paradise, and his ad- miration of that faithful, though sober pic- ture of the recently discovered AYreu or Vireo. We are now speaking of the value of bird delineations to the naturalist, with- out regard to his artistic abilities. A fault quickly to be observed in a picture by the experienced bird enthusiast is the oft repeat- ed evil of unnatural position. Above all other animate objects, a bird requires to be delineated in any position but the stuffed- body attitude. Bird-books are prone to il- lustrate their (contents with stiff, awkward engravings, and not a few are embellished with pictures of birds pitching forward or backward, while the eyes appear to look in several directions at once. No doubt the disapprobation of bird delineations in gen- eral was first caused by the unsightly and and faii'ly hideous pictures that used to be printed in bird books, for many of our most THE OOLOGIST 29 appreciative ornithologists are not friendly toward bird illustrations of any kind. Audubon was the first man wlio combined the study of birds with the use of the brush, in sucli a manner as to arouse the consid- eration of scientist and artist alike, and no one naturalist has since succeeded in accru- ing so valuable a mass of ornithological material as the author of the "•Birds of America." His great work can never call out the appreciation that it merits, for the public do not know how to estimate the circumstances under which it was begun and completed. Many persons look upon the illustrations with which some of the bird books of to-day are adorned, and say, " How beautiful ! " and the author or en- graver gets credit for that which his own originality was inadequate to design ; for, be it known that Audubon's delightful draw- ings have been copied far and wide, and printed without the slightest mention of the great naturalist, to whom the credit should unhesitatingly be given. This plagiarism of pictures has elicited the just censure of those who are qualified by experience to criticise ornithological publications. The conclusion deduced from all this, is, that ornithologists — at least those of this coun- try— are not original enough to make the pictorial portion of their works a valuable feature ; and these repeated reprints often pardonably suggest a corresponding want of originality througliout the work. The object of bird delineations is, or should be, to more fully explain and illus- trate what description is unable to explicit- ly convey, and it is an error to believe that the colors, alone, are adequate to attain this end. Aside from the artistic qualities sacrificed by allowing this error to remain uncorrected, much ot the characteristic of the species depicted, may be instantly bro't out by giving it the aspect and surround- ings of nature. To make this clear, hit us take up a bird book in which all the birds are shown to be sitting in a stiff", upright position, regardless of natural posture. We find Woodpeckers, Ducks, Owls, Plovers and Swallows all staudin"; on a horizontal I surface, and facing straight to the right or I to the left. We might read that Wood- peckers climb trees, that Ducks swim in the water and that Swallows catch insects in the air, but we are impressed by the pic- tures that they mostly stand still, without shifting position at all. Perhaps we might know better, but those who, in youth, read more or less about birds, and whose ideas quickly conform to pictures, begin to con- I sider the study of birds an awkward and dry amusement. To add to the impressive- ness of the illustrations, many of the spe- cies possessing some noticeable peculiarity, : have it so exaggerated as to convey a false notion not readily eradicated. The remedy is to imitate nature. If a Woodpecker's most conspicuous habit is to climb trees, a drawing of the bird earnest- ly at work upon a decayed trunk will have its due significance. Life and activity in a bird picture go far toward the end which they are intended to accomplish. Expres- sion of the whole body, lights and shadows, the natural surroundings in which a bird lives, insects, plants, trees, water, rocks, lend beauty to a bird delineation, which artist-naturalists ever look for and admire in connection with the accui'ate portrayal of tlie species. The world looks for fresh subjects, and it cannot be expected to ad- mire bird pictures which have been repro- duced from antiquated drawings ; a book of new facts is prf)perly illustrated with drawings from nature, and ornithologists will never cease to appreciate these, if they keep up with the march of an increasing excellence. Snow Birds, Kinglets, Pine Finches, Red-polls and other boreal species appeared in the Middle States quite early this year. Numbei's of the third mentioned species were observed during the middle of the month. What was the cause of so early a migration ? Has it been impossible for these species to procure food in the north ? We are told that their appearance foretells an abundance of winter birds. 30 TEE OOLOGIST Notes on the Habits of the Ruffed Grouse. BY MANLY IIAKDY. fN writing concerning this bird, whose habits are supposed to be well known, I shall confine inyself entirely to those points which are least known, or cencern- ing which authorities are in error. Dr. Coues, Samuels and other naturalists state that the drumming is produced by the bird "beating upon his sides and the log." In this last they are certainly in error, as, first, the wings never show any abrasion, as would be the case if beaten upon a log ; second, they usually drum on old damp logs which cannot be made to give any sound ; and lastly they always sit crosswise with the log, so that even if perfectly hollow no sound could be produced by scraping the wings lengthwise with it. While it is compara- tively easy to see a Grouse while its wings are in motion, yet so few have ever been near enough to observe it minutely, that 1 will briefly describe it. The Grouse usually selects a large mossy log, near some open hedge or clearing or woods road, and part- ly screened by bushes, where he can see and not be seen. When about to drum he erects his neck feathers, spreads his tail, and, with drooping wings, steps with a jerk- ing motion along the log for some distance each way from his drumming place, walk- ing back and forth several times, looking sharply in every direction ; then standing crosswise, he stretciies himself to his fullest hight and delivers the blows with his wings fully upon his sides, his wings being several inches clear from the log. After drumming he settles quietly down into a sitting pos- ture, and remains intently listening for live to ten minutes, when, if no cause for alarm is discovei'ed he repeats the process. Many suppose that the drumming is to attract the attention of the females. While it is hard to prove a negative, the fact that they drum nearly as much in the fall as in the spring, and that when we have warm winters I .have known them to drum every month in the year, would seem to argue against this theory. W^hen one is killed on a log favor- ably situated, it is very common to find another in possession the next morning. I have several times shot one when anoth- er lay in a snare directly below him, and have known five to be snared on one log, in one spring. In the fall they usually drum mostly on afternoons and often drum all night, especially before rain storms. * Much has been written about their dying in the snow by being imprisoned under the crust. Anyone who has ever tried to hold the wings of a Grouse when dying need not be told that there never was a crust made hard enough to hold one ; besides which they can get enough buds to support life any length of time, as they often wander many rods under the snow and remain un- der it several days at a time, when it is perfectly light and there is no crust. They are often killed by foxes, lynx, etc., when under the crust, but though I have been in the woods a large part of the time for thir- ty winters, I have never found a dead one ; and diligent inquiries among hunters who in tlie aggregate have spent many hundred winters in the woods, fail to find a single authentic case of their so dying, though ev- ery year old farmers who seldom go into the woods will tell one that "the hard crust last winter killed all the Partridges." The cause is either an excess of foxes. Owls or a wet breeding season, so that eggs failed to hatch. Many think that the Grouse eats buds* because it is obliged to, from being unable to procure other food. The fact is that every year some birds begin to bud in September, and most bud considerably in October. I have seen them picking pop- lar leaves in August, and have shot them with their crops full of them. Though both beech-nuts and berries are abundant this fall, 1 have already seen Grouse bud- ding, and sliot them with these in their crops, which seems to prove that they eat them from preference long before they are obliged to do so. Samuels states (p. 390) *Iu this term I also mean to include the mast. THE OOLOGIST 31 tluit " during the season of incubation the males congregate and remain apart from the females, till the young are nearly fidl grown ; they then join them, and remain together till the following spring." The writer's experience is that he never had two adult males in sight at the same time from May till September, but has seen the male with the i'emale and young, and has seen him cover the retreat of the female and young at the risk of liis life till they were safe. Also after the young were grown, have as often seen the male and female sep- arate as together, except when budding, when from four to a dozen usually congre- gate to bud, but separate when they fly oif the trees, and come from different ways when they assemble, as though the meet- ing place were agreed upon beforehand. There is one habit of this bird which I have never seen meniioned by writers. P^very fall, usually in October, considerable numbers of Grouse fly into our villages and even large cities, going into barns and ont-houses through open doors, and allow- ing themselves to be taken when they could easily escape. They also often fly through glass doors and windows, killing themselves in doing so. In cases where they are not molested they sometimes remain several days in the gardens and outbuildings, seem- in<; to be as tame as domestic ibwl. As this occurs when the birds are fully grown, and when food is always abundant, it is hard to give any motive for their doing so. They usually come singly, though I have known of one instance where there were two, and they are as apt to come into the middle of large villages as to remote farm houses. Does this bird have the same hab- it in other states? Albino birds appear to be somewhat more plentiful this year than usual, or col- lectors have been unusually vigilant. Rob- ins, Sparrows, Swallows, Redbirds, Hawks and some other species, a few with pink eyes, have been taken quite recently. They make valuable cabinet specimens. The Marsh Harrier (Circus hud- sonius). fT^HE Marsh Hawk is an excellent mous- er, and is probably of more service to the agriculturist and farmer in this respect than any other diurtuil bird of prey. Just before and at sundown, numbers may often be seen skimming over the meadows, close to the ground. New mown fields with here and there a hay-cock are a hunting ground always prefei-red ; for a harvest of mice, driven from their retreats and hardly know- ing whither to go, are anticipated and ea- gerly snatched by the silent birds. They are seen in the uplands and stubble places quite frequently, but here, as in meadows, their prey consists principally of mice. When flying, they proceed quite close to the ground, and seldom mount to any consid- erable elevation. On several occasions it has been observed that Sparrow Hawks harrass these birds, especially when the lat- ter fly more than a few yards high over the ground ; and they are not a match in valor for the little aggressors. When hunting for prey, the Marsh Hawk seems to be quite oblivious of everything but its own affairs, for it will commonly fly almost directly into the gunner's face, dis- covering its position only when it is too late to retreat. Even then, if the shooter is not quick, he cannot help noticing how grace- fully its course is changed ; a swift turn up- ward or to one side, without a flap of the wings and away he goes, only to resume his hunt when a few rods away. This ap- parent carelessness does not appear to be temporary nor individual, for we have al- ways observed it more or less in the spe- cies. If the collector is careful to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, he may obtain excellent specimens much easier thau of most other Hawks, relying upon the habit mentioned above. The Marsh Hawk builds its nest on the ground, or near it. The eggs are clear bluish-white, spotless, about the size of a Broad- winged Hawk's egg, and four in number. 32 THE OOLOGIST General Items. — I LATELY took fVoin the crop of a Pig- eon a large angle worm and a green meas- uring worm, besides the usual seeds and grain. Had always thought them entirely gramnivorous. ... A Blue Heron came into the middle of our village and alit upon the chimney of a dwelling house, allowing a large crowd to gather and look at him as long as they wished. As it was Simday, he w'as not molested. Have never known of but one instance of a Heron being seen within two miles of here, which makes it more remarkable than if abundant in the vicinity. Manly Hardy, Brewer^ Me. — Sterna caspia in Rhode Island. — In the fall of 1878, about the 1st of Septem- ber, while camping at Noye's Beach, R. T., one of the party, Wm. Gudgeon, had been up on the marsh of Brightman's Pond and returned with a bird that was new to us all. I saw at once that it was a species of Tern ; beyond that I could not identify it. I took the bird over to a neighboring shanty and asked Mr. Chaee what he called it. I knew that Mr, Chace had frequented the beach many years and also been south during M^inters following his business of fishing. He made me his reply : " Pve been on this beach twenty years and shot all kinds of fowl, but 1 never saw a bird like that be- fore." The bird was badly shot, two bar- rels being necessary to secure it, or I should have pi'epared the skin for the cabinet. I was satisfied with a description and the measurements, which I entered in a mem- orandum book at the time. They are as follows : Length, 21 inches : extent of wings from tip to tip, 50 inches ; bill, 2% inches ; tail Qyi inches. Head black ; a narrow white line under the eye ; neck and imder- neath pure white ; back and wings dark lavender ; outer primaries dark gray on the inner webs ; tail of a shade between a .gray and white. Bill very strong and of a bright vermilion, paler at the tip. Legs and feet black. Tail forked. I removed the wings, head and tail, and on my return home I identified the species as Sterna cas- pia. I can find no other account of its be- ing taken in Rhode Island. 1 send this for publication in the hope that something fur- ther may be forthcoming concerning its oc- currence and habits. B.J.Peckham. ^tcccnt JHxbli cut ions. Dr. E. Rey, 4 Brandweg, Leipsig, pub- lishes a complete catalogue of birds' eggs, skins, and naturalists supplies. He has a very large collection of eggs from Europe and Africa, which he offers for sale. 0)1 the Present Status of Passer domesticus in America, by Dr. Elliott Coues. — This is a pamphlet containing a collection of titles chi'onologically arranged, of articles that have been written upon the House Spar- row, mainly bearing upon the utility con- troversy. This compilation is to be elab- orated in the coming volume of the Birds of the Colorado Valley. The author's ac- count of the Sparrow in the latter work is expected to be particularly convincing. Nests and Eggs of American Birds, Part III, — The general character of this work is sustained in the last part. There is oc- casionally an incongruity, but of course such an extensive work cannot be perfect. The author quotes the egg of the Mountain Chickadee {Parus montanus) to have a white ground color, while the figure is de- cidedly green, if we take the other figures for a criterion. Which are we to believe connect, the engraving or the description ? The rising generation of oologists will look to the egg for information, since the plates are the standpoint from which they usually judge. The plates may be considered very good. The w(jrk furnishes the young nat- uralist with that which his ornithological library has always had room for. The Liter attire of Dr. Elliott Coues is ! the title of a paper by William Hosea Bal- j lou, in Forest and Stream, recapitulating I the works published by the Doctor from ! time to time. Ornithological subjects pre- 1 vail. oi^i0) Vol. V. NOVEMBER, 1879. No. 5. The Yellow -breasted Chat, its Nest and Eggs. fPHE nest oi Icteria virens is well known to collectors, especially to those living in the more southerly portions of the coun- try. Like that of a Cat Bird, it is one of the first to attract the the eager search of tlie youth, who, fired with an ambition to ])ossess a collection of hirds' eggs, scrutin- izes each bush with an ever expectant eye, to the keenness of which a day's ramble rarely fails to secure an abundant reward. The Yellow-breasted Chat's nest is one of those whicli somehow or other always pos- sess a seemingly inordinate charm for the very youthful specimen hunter. Not that the nest is pretty nor the eggs rare, nor yet even the possession of them, but the finding of the grassy home with its complement of shiny eggs is a triumph which no words seem adequate to nescribe. The effect is tlie same as that produced upon tlie natur- alist, bv the unexpected discovery of the rare and valuable nest of some little known species. During the time when birds' eggs 34 THE OOLOGIST were barbarously piipched ia both ends and strung upon a string to ornament the parlor, or wliat is more likely, to be ad- mired in one moment and cast to the earth in another, -we are informed that the find- | ing ot" a bird's nest was regarded as an i heroic and euviable enterprise, and he wlio ibund the rarest birds' nests was entitled to credit as the most succesful bird's e^^ hunter. It was not necessary that any of tlie collectors should be naturalists ; indeed, but few of them were, and the strings of eggs gathered one week were ^ frequently ibrgotteu the next. Fortunately | the time of stringed eggs has passed away, [ and a generation of close observers and j growing naturalists have gradually replac- ' ed the rambling curiosity huuters of other years. | The Chat's nest is built of straws, gras- ses and roots, twined together usually quite loosely. It is placed ia a low bush, on the outskirts of a wood, or frequently in the garden. It is not large, measuring about 1 1-4 inches iu depth and 5 inches in external diameter. The eggs are usu- ally four, sometimes five. Their ground color is white or whitish, and over this are sprinkled many fiue dots of reddish aiid brownish, accumulated about the larg- er end in most cas.es, in others scattered pretty evenly all over. In shape they are ovoidal are somewhat glossy and rather strong. Three specimens, representing the average size, measure respectively, .GG by .85, .GG by .90 and .G4by .98 inch. The Mexican Turkey. \_3Ieleagris 3Iexlca)ia — Gould.~\ BY V. M. riROR. TI/^HAT I shall write on the probable or- ^ ^ igin of our domestic Turkey is from an acquaintance both with Melcagris Gallo- pavo of Linneus, as found in the moun- tains of Va., and the Wild Turkey of Gould, foimd on the lower peninsula of Florida. 31. 3Iexicana. That they are specifically different I believe, and, that the Gould's Turkey of the South, is more like oiu* domestic turkey is certain. The skin of the head and the carunculation of the Southern bird is red, whilst in the more Northern bird it is blue. The Car- riage, too, diifers as much as between our domestic turkey and the Northern wild one. The blue head carries more upright, than the wild red head of the South, espec- ially observable iu running, the head is car- ried very high by the blue and horizontally with the b(xly by the red head. I\Iy im- pression also is that the whitish tip of tail prevails in the Southern wild turkey, which is not the case with the wild turkey of Virginia and Northward. But in the domestic turkey, however changed by do- mesticity it mostly shows the light colored terminal band on the tail : which goes strongly to define its paternity with the Soutiiern v/ild turkey. The flesh also in the red headed wild turkey is white like our domestic turkey, whilst the flesh of the blue head wild bird is darker. Maj. Le- Conte thiuks the wild turkey of our mountains is not susseptible of domestica.- tion and that it will not breed in confine- meut. In this however, I think he is mistaken, although, I do not think our wild turkey of Virginia as yielding to do- mesticity as the wild bird of the semi-trop- ics. The Mexican wild turkey is a broad- er bird than the mountain wild turkey, and more bronze, I think, iu feathers. The Northern wild turkey is quite dark, nearly black. Taking all that I have observed iu the two wild turkies of the North and South, I have concurred iu belief with several Naturalists, who regard the two as specifically distinct ; and that the South- ern or red head is the common progenitor of the domestic turkey, which by all prob- ability was carried to Europe by the Span- iards from the Southern species about the year 1520, as is thought to be the state of their advent to Europe, and likely from thence back again in a domestic state as we now find them. Charlestown, W. Va. THE 00 LOG 1ST 35 Oological Notes. May 30, ieggp June 8, i eggf- ,1 cggF nearly hatched Red-winged Blackb'd, Ches'nt-sid. Warbler, Field Spr-Ujow, '' 23 (•! egg? fresh. IIow far South of this point has the Chestnut-sided Warbler beeu found rest- ing? James Croft, Waterhury^Conn. [This species breeds regularly iu Massachusetts and New York. Its breed- ing range is Northerly. — ed.] fT^HE notice of a correspopdent in a late number, stating that he had procured 25 eggs from one pair of Yellow Shafted Flickers recalls to my mind an incident that occurred last season, the account of which is elaborated from notes in my field book. While out collecting I was shown a hole from Avliich my informant stated he had procured 7 eggs of colaptus auratus. As the bird flew out on our ap- proach, my curiosity impelled me to as- cend the tree, when I found in the cavity 7 more, of which I appropriated ii\e. On returning a week later I found the hole had beeu deepened, and five eggs lay at the bottom, all of which I left. The next morning all were gone, they having prob- ably been apropriated by some other col- lector. Two days after, a couple of eggs lay in the hole, one of which I took, and continued taking one for five successive mornings, leaving one each time as an incentive to the bird. On visiting the hole after an absence of five days, yet an- other five had been laid. These I left in- tending to get a set of six, but the next day all were gone. With unexampled persever- ance, the poor bird laid another five, in as many days, of which your hard-hearted correspondent was hard-hearted enough to take three ; but next day the laying ceased, and I suffered her to hatch the two eggs left her, which she succesfiiUy acomplished. This presents an aggregate of •3-3 eggs, taken from one hole, and in all probability from one pair of birds. G. S. Smith. \\7"HILE out collecting a few years ago, ' 'in passing tiirough an orchard, 1 no- iced a nest of the King bird, Tijrannns carolinensis, in the top of one of the trees. On getting up to the nest I found it had but two eggs in it. One of the eggs was of the usual size and shape, while the other was only about one quarter the size of the common one, but was perfect in every respect. I of course took it, as it was by no means common here, succeeded in blowing it, and have it still in my pos- session. Is this a very common occur- rence? A friend of mine succeeded in ob- taining a similar egg of the Ked-headed Wood-pecker, but broke it' while trying to blow it. S. R. Ingeksoll. ^INCE printing the article on the Marsh Hawk in our last number, we have seen one or two beautifully marked sets of eggs of this bird, showing that they are fre- quently spotted. It might be well to state also that tiiis species often lays five eggs. A LBINOS— About the middle of July a white bird was seen in this vicinity, in compan}' with a flock of House Spar- rows. Finally it was caught by a friend of mine, but it was quite sick, and after being confined several days it died. It was given to me, and, with much trouble and difficulty, I made a skin of it. It measures six and one-fourth inches in length, and had pink eyes. It is all white with the exception of the wings and tail, which are of a light cream color. I have shown the bird to many Taxider- mists of Cleveland, but none have been able to indentify it as yet. It has the appearance of a Flycatcher but its tail is most too short. I have lately seen an Albino house sparrow, but have not been able to secure it. Its wings and part of the body is pure white. I should like to know if the White-rumpod shrike, is found in my vicinity? I live 7 miles east of Cleveland, and about two miles from Lake I]rie. A. W. AValavorth. 36 THE OOLOGIST Tfte Qorogssi FIFTH PUBLICATION YEAR. NOVEMBER, 1879. ANNOUNCEMENT. THHE friends of The Oologist, so long left in suspense as to the future of this journal, will be glad to know that perma- nent arrangements have been made to con- tinue it. The demands of more important business and the consequent disadvantage of insufficient time to do full justice to the study, compelled the unfortunate, though happily temporary, suspension. The edit- or is pleased to state that The Oologist has been transferred entire to Mr. Jos. M. Wade, of Roekville, Conn., who will spare no pains or expense to make it in every sense of the word a standard journal of Ool- ogy, conducted purely in behalf of the or- nithologists of America, unbiassed and straightforward. In its new hands. The Oologist will pursue more vigorously than ever the exposition of new and important ornithological and especially oological facts. The editorial work will in great part be un- der the supervision of S. L. Willard, whose note-book will at all times be at the service of the journal. Extended experience and ample means will imbue in the journal new energy ; while its progression will be mark- ed with improvements of a most valuable and permanent nature. Oui* young oolog- ical friends are invited to urge their com- panions to unite in making this journal an honor to oological science. ELABORATE NIDIFIGATION. rFHE nests of birds in general may be •^ considered one of the most notable ex- amples of instinctive ability for construct- iveness in animals. And since the process of nidification involves the use and combi- nation of materials which produce struct- ures alike symmetrical and strong, we are justified in calling them, collectively, elab- orate. But, however well this broad ap- plication of the term may express what is trueof nest construction in general, the spe- cific meaning of elaborate in this connection points to some artistic quality in one nest, which we do not see in another, either (first) that of the same species ; or (sec- ond) that of a different species. We read- ily understand why the nests of different species vary in detail, but we are frequent- ly puzzled to account for the dissimilarity between two nests of the same species, one of which we call quite elaborate, the other shabby. We are, nevertheless, aware of these latter differences, and to such an ex- tent that we are not only tempted to, but do. call an ordinarily plain nest elaborately built, when we see some singular material used or combined with the other substances in a difterent manner than usual. It is this kind of elaboration that our title was in- tended to convey, rather than normal per- fection ; and not necessarily that beauty and strength be attained, but that the birds had taken unusual pains to adorn their homes with such odd materials as had tak- en their fancy. If we should choose to dispose of the por- tion of our subject just mentioned, we nat- urally would turn our attention to the nests of the smaller birds, the Sparrows, Warb- lers and Thrushes, for evidence. Collect- ors who have been in the field for any con- siderable period have frequently taken birds' nests which bore traces of the whims of the builders — what we might perhaps call a choice made without reference to the in- stinctive selection of the species. The sur- roundings and character of the nest do not suggest any use for the new materials, and THE 00 LOG 1ST 37 the nest is not visibly improved by their with few exceptions, we may justly call addition. Possibly the bird had uotioii8 ' them all so. But we are not obliged to of the attractiveness which the stray bits look merely at the materials with which a would impart to its nest ; or, probably, it nest is constructed to ascertain its intriii- made the selection without knowing- the ma- sic beauty. We do not confine the term terial. Perchance nothing else was at hand, elaboration to a new selection of material, There may have been other reasons fur the ' or necessarily to an extravagantly rich adoption of the substance. But as we look nuiterial, ibr even the liuest and most upon the nest, normally plain, now studded approjjriate substance may lose its charm with several materials, which make it more when improperly used ; — but, also to the or less attra<-tive, we are inclined to call it matter iu which the substance is utilized, elaborate or elaborated, even though it may , An elaborate nest, then, to apply the term not necessarily equal the normal nest of ! i" its strictest meaning, '^high wrought,' some other species in symmetry or beauty, mtvy be one composed of the plainest ma_ The Sparrows, if we except Passer domes- '. terials, but built with labor, care and . terials for their houses. We notice ev- idences of odd selection of material in these birds' nests oftener, not merely because we are better informed in regard to their nest- ing, but also because the birds have access General Items. — Makly Hardy, Esy., of Brewer, Jle., sends us, in addition to some valua- to a greater variety of materials than bii'ds \ 'jl« ""tes published iu our last number, of Avilder localities. We should call an ' '-lie following. In substantiation of the elaborate nest of Jcferus haUimora one iu ; statement that Grouse visit buildings, he which were incorporated several materials ' writes that one of these birds took refuge not usually employod, while at the same | »" I'is carriage house, and though both time the structure retains its usual symme- ', doors were open, it did not attempt to es- try and contour. Occasionally the Chip- <'""pe, but allowed itself to be caught, ping Sparrow employs a greater variety of 'J^'l'^ nearest small grove is half a mile substances than the grasses, rootlets and ' distant, and we are in the middle of a hairs with Avhich it usually composes its pl'i^^'^ of two or three thousand inhabitants, domicile. Quite frequently we admire the ^vith Bangor, a city of twenty thousand, ingenuity which this or that species has dis- i j"St across the river. Last week at Old played iu twining and attaching a long piece town (twelve miles above,) a Grouse was of string to its nest, since we were not a- ' found sitting over the large doors in the ware that it ever used such material. The ; K- & N- A. R. R., repair shop, after nests of some species, however, seem ever the locomotives had backed in and gone to be the repository of all sorts of substanc- es, and although we are surprised to notice out directly under it. This one also al- lowed itself to be taken iu the hand. I some material we had not before seen, we : intended to have added in my article that are still prepared to meet a new article with , only adult males drum in the fall ; have some degree of expectancy. In this class never known a yearling bird to practice iu of builders the Vireos are especially prom- ] the fall. We might also add that a inent. Nests of this family are, in one ! ^' rouse took refuge in a saw-mill near sense, not only frequently elaborate, but, j this place, and was easily made prey of 38 THE OOLOGIST by a sportsman last winter.. 1 — We have learned tliat the forest on the island of Grand Meuan is bein-^ con-; sumed by fire. Collectors will regret to read this, as the island is one of the best known nesting localities for sea birds in America. — Mr. O. B. Deaxk, of Springfield, Mass., has received two Albino Robins — ' young, taken from the nest. As usual the eyes are pink ; bill and legs yellow. — Nov. 28th, ult., one Snowy Owl re- ceived. Weather moderately cold, with : some snow and rain for the past ten j days. D. D. Stone, Oswecjo N. Y. ■ <«> ' Omelettes au Naturel. TN a foot note to Wilson's article on the -*- Fish-hawk, it is related that a man took a Fish-hawk's egg into a Cape May tavern, ^d had it made into egg-nog. The anecdote goes on to say that both the smell and the taste of the mixture acted as a violent emetic, and the tippler was forev- er cured of a 'penchant' for Fish-hawk's eggs. This squib has again and again made its appearance in newspapers, al- manacs and school-books. Though of no scientific interest, yet the effect of all this is that we are led to believe that the Osprey's egg is most nauseating, which is far from being the fact. If the story is true, and the effect was not of the imagin- ation, then the egg was rotten. Though, indeed, it may be an open question wheth- er the 'Jersey Lignming' dispensed over the seaside bars in the time of Wilson and Bonaparte Avould not upset a man's stom- ach without any such novel combination. Gastronomically speaking, the Fish-hawk's Q^^ is a great improvement on the eggs of the ButeoH. The egg of the Ked-should- ered hawk has a peculiar rancid taste like old olive oil. This is always its charac- teristic. Fresh eggs of Cooper's hawk have a flavor like raw peanuts. This is not true of our other Accipiter, for the eggs of the sharp- shinned Hawk are not unpleasant. The eggs of the Barred Owl and Mottled Owl are both edible when newly laid. The yolk of Herons eggs is good, but the albumen is tough and rather indigestible. Game-birds' eggs are all very nice, those of our Ruffed Grouse being delicious. The yolk of our rapac- ious birds is sti'aw colored and quite small, noticeable small in the case of the Fish- hawk. Crow-Black-birds' eggs have a yolk of a bright red color, quite large considering the size of the bird and egg. The yolk of the egg of the common Tern is also briglit red, which upon boiling chan- ges to a fine salmon color, and cut in hal- ves, these eggs make showy and excellent garnishes to dishes at the tables of seaside epicures. The eggs of all our small birds are sweet and wholesome, and as a rule it is proper to say that all eggs are edible. There are some restrictions on a few of the sea-bdrds' eggs, which are a little fishy, and unpalatable, cooked in certain ways ; but j this is sufficiently set forth in books of I maritime litoral adventure. In conclusion, I to revert to the Fish-hawk's eggs. I j would say that 1 do not reccommend them i as articles of table luxury ; but I will re- ; peat that though the food of the Osprey is ; wholly of fish fishy, yet the eggs when I fresh, are not nauseous either to the taste ! or smell, and certainly lack the strong ran- I cid flavor which we find common to the i eiTirs of the Buteos. Prairie Chicken or Pinated Grouse. l\/fR. Fred T. Jenks of Providence writes us that he has secured a pair of the above birds from Martha's Vineyard, which witii Naushou lying near it seems to be the only- place in the Eastern States where these birds have not been extermi- nated. Cu these two islands they are known as Heath Hens, but are not very plenty. It would be interesting to com- paie these specimens with others from the West, and note the difference that a long THE OOLOGIST 39 separation lias proilueed. Mr. Jenks has mouuted the two ijpcciinens lor his own private cabinet. ■ <»» ' TN order that subscribers niay receive and bind TliE Ooi.ogist in an uninter rupted series, it has been thought advis- able to complete the present volume. Subscribers to volume T), will receive the twelve numbers. Chas. Wilson Pkale, the t'oundei- of Peale's Museum of Natural Science, at Philadelphia, and tne tirst to promote the study of Natural History in America, Avas born at Chestertown, Md., 1741, settled in Philadelphia, 177G, whei-e he died in 1827. ■ «»► ■ Our Summer Birds in V.^inter, or Mexican Ornithology. npHE Valley of Mexico, ornithologically -^ speaking, is sitiiated in tlie Central Province of this peculiar country, for uyion the East or Gulf coast, we find one Iknna iu the interior between the Coast Range on the East, and the Sierra Madres moun- tains on the West, including the (ircat Mexican Table Land, is another, ami upon the Pacific Slope a third is met with. In general, these Divisions may be said to be entirely distinct, thouirli occasionally a species may be fomid in one Province, while its habitat is in another, and but rarely one is met with whose distribution extended throughout all three. These divisions, owing to their situation, correspond in some degree to the simihir divisions of the United States, .and conse- quently when our birds are forced South- Avard by approaching winter, we find them relatively in each of the three divisions, though in much greater numbers iu the Central Province. My work thus far has been confined ex- clusively to the neighborhood of the Capi- tal and my labors have been well repaid. I have taken quite a number of specimens, a great proportion of which are Summer residents of the South Western States. The most numerous of the birds I have met with, is the Crimson-fronted Finch, C. Fronlaiia. Sparrows of several kinds are abundant, though I have not collected many. Keeping company with the latter 1 have seen severel specimens of Audu- bonis Warbler, Aucluhonis. Wherever trees are found, I have found the Blue- Gray Cnatcatcher, Caerulea, Black-head- ed Gnatcatcher, F. Melanura, and sev- eral kinds of vireos quite plenty. I have seen but three specimens of the Vermillion Flycatcher, F. Buhinses var Mezicanus. This beautiful little bird is found near pools and streams of sluggish water, wliere it procures its food from the uumei-ous insects which inhabit such plac- es. I Jiave observed three specimens also of tlie noisy little Kill-deer Plover, A, Vociferus. The Mexican Wren, C. 31ex- ■icanus is here found rojdacing J, Ludovi- rianus of our Eastern States. As far as I have observed, its habits are much the sa)ne. Of its song I caimot say, as I have never heard it ; whether it equals in beauty our own little charmer or not. Brewer's Blackbird, I cyanocephaliis, is here as mimerous and noisy as the Purple Grackle is at home. 1 have met with several spec- imens of the South-western Lark, E alpes- tris var dtrysolaenia, upon the plains ad- jacent to Lake Texcoco. They are always seen in pairs and are rather difficult to ap- proach. There is also a species of Lark upon the shores of the Lake, where they cover the salt plains by thousands, living upon the numerous insects which are here found in great quantities. I have never seen this bird before and do not know its name. Aside from these there are many birds which are quite abundant, but which, up to the present time, I have not taken. Thus far my work has been much restrict- i ed, bui hencei'orth expect to devote my whole attention to studying the birds of this section, so that in my next I may be able to give some more valuable notes than this time. j A. W. Butler. Citi/ of Mexico. 40 THE OOLOGIST Florida Birds. •' The Roseate Spoonbills are just coni- injT iu, and knowing a favorite foedina' grouud on the margin of Salt Lake, I took down my gun and went out to secure a specimen. When within a hundred yards 1 tip-toed, and could see over the tall grass through au open space a number of our wading species, — egrets, herons and spoon- bills. I '■ lowered away,' and on all fours made my way within gunshot. What a scene ! Beautiful ; truly charming. On a turf, side to the wind, which was blowing half a gale, stood sentinel a large snowy egret, his magnificent plumage flowing to ■windward and reflected in the water below, "while on all sides the little egrets, with their little plumes curled up on their backs and the top-knot flowing in the wind, skip- ped here and there after minnows and ci-ay fish, while the Pink birds stood around busily going through with their toilet. Two of tliese, and the prettiest of the lot, were near the *• old sentinel,' and now and then, as they spread a wing, the beauty of the scene was at its best. I could not shoot ; I Avanted these three, but as I was either seen or smelled, away they went. Not satisfied with doing well, we often do worse." — C j)\ in Foreit and Stream. Recent JHxbli cations. The OrnitJiologiscJieH Centralhlatt, edi- ted by Drs. Cabanis and Reichenow, and published at Berlin, is intended as a supple- ment to the Journal fucr Ornitltolocjie^ published by the same authors. It is an eight page quarto journal, semi-monthly, at four marks per half year. Dr. Reichenow is also the editor of Deutsche Aclimatisation., a four page quar- to, devoted to the interest of ornitholo- gists. Both this and the preceeding, have adopted the modern style of type, which will please both German and English read- ers. One of the last of the late lamented Dr. Brewer's works is Ins supplementary list of the birds of New England. This pa- I j)er evinces all the care and research so ' well known in the Doctor, while he de- scribes with pride five species new to his i former catalogue. The present list enum- ! crates thirty-five species, most of them i possessing special interest for the local, as ' well as general ornithologist. It is need- ! less for us to say New England is exceed- ingly well represented by careful observers, • whose aim is to constantly elevate the I standard of their favorite study, and the I result is that the birds of that poi'tion of ; the country are better known than those of i any other limited district. Tlie Naiarahst, a monthly, four page, i duodecimo paper, is published at Hudson, j Mich., by . John II. Boies. T. G. Gentry is the author of a new work on the Nests and Eggs of Birds of ' tJie 3Iiddle States. The prospectus au- 1 uounces tluit the work is to be issued in I "• monthly parts," quarto size, atone dol- lar each. There are to be two colored ] plates in each part. i Among recent publications Ave have re- j ceived the Science Advocate, by Henry A. Green. It is devoted to general natu- ral history. Judging from the character of the sec- ond installment of Dr. Cones' Bibliography, we predict a most exhaustive and valuable work when complete ; one which will ex- cite the admiration of ornithologists at home and abroad. We await the coming second volume of the Birds of the Colorado Valley with interest. Diary of a Bird, by H. D. Minot, is a small pamphlet published by A. Williams & Co., Boston. It is not noteworthy as an ornithological production, but gives some startling information in regard to the destruction of onr game birds. Bird of the wilderness, Blithesome and cumberless, Light be thy matin o'er moorland and lea Emblem of happiness ? Bless'd is thy dwelling place ! O to abide in the desert with thee ! Wild is thy lay and loud, Far in the downy cloud ; Love gave it energy, love gave it birth ; Where on the dewy wing. Where art thou journeying '? Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth. O'er fell and fountain sheen, O'er moor and mountain green. O'er the red streamer that heralds he day, Over the cloudlet dim, Over the rainbow's rim. Musical cherub, hie, hie the away ! Then when the glooming comes. Low in the heather blooms, Sweet will tliy welcome and bed of love be ! Emblem of happines ! Blest is thy dwelling place ! 0 to abide in the desert with the e ! Ettrick Shephekd. 5logi^> AUGUST, 1880. No. 6. T Nests of the Black-throated Bunting. [_E. Americana.'l HE following description of the nests of this species, will, I think, give a good idea of the material used, and style of building. Other nests that I have seen vary but little from those below, and that only iu containing more corn husks, and one having quite a large piece of a news- paper fastened by grass to the outside. The position of the nests was invaribly, or with but one or two exceptions in 30 or 40 nests, removed from the ground at least a few inches and in one case^p've feet. The bird seems to prefer the Osage Orange as a site for its home, but I have found them in small cedars, clumps of grass by the roadside, raspberry bushes close to the railroad track, and in young fir trees. The color of the eggs is a clear blue, rather darker than Blue birds, but these two can not be distinguished with certain- ty. Occasionally a set is found with small lilac or black spots irregularly scattered over the surface. I have seen three sets thus spotted. In two, the spots were black in the third a pale lilac. The eggs are from 3 to 5 in number, generally 4, and the dates given below show how the time of laying varies with different birds : Nest No. 1 — Outside com- posed of coarse grass and small weed stalks, a few blades of grass and fine flower stalks of weeds loosely woven together. Inside of this is a lining of blades of grass and very fine grass stalks with a piece of corn husk, somewhat more compactly woven, on which the eggs are laid. No hair or feathers are used. The nest was placed in an osage hedge, about two feet from the ground, and was almost complete- ly hidden by the long dead grass at the roots of the bushes. It was collected on the 30th of May, 1877, and contained four fresh eggs, which differed from other egga of this species in having spots of faint lilac scattered irregularly over their surface. Outside diameter 5 1-2 inches, inside 2 1-4 inches, height 3 1-4 inches, depth 2 1-2 inches. Nest No. 2 is composed on the outside of the same materials as No. 1, except that more grass is used and the whole is more compact. The lining is of fine grass and a few black horse hairs. 42 THE OOLOGIST It was taken on July 2nd 1877, and con- tained three fresh eggs. Its situation was the usual one, an osage hedge. From the fact of the eggs being fresh so late in the season, I think it is very probable that two broods a year ai'e reared. Outside diam- eter 5 inches, inside diameter 2 1-2 inches, height outside 3 inches, depth 2 inches. Nest No. 3, is more slightly built than any of the nests in my possession. The outside is composed of large pieces of straw and grass stalks, corn husks, grass, bits of corn stalks and a fine vegetable substance resembling white horse hair. It is lined with fine grass and black horse hair ; it was collected June 12, 1877 and contained three eggs far gone in inculatiou. The nest was placed in a thick clump of grass, so close to the road, that chancing to strike it with a short piece of stick I held in my hand, the bird was frighteded up and the nest Avas discovered. The rim of the nest is very loosely built. Outside di- ameter 4 inches, inside diameter 2 inches, height 3 3-4. inches, depth 2 12 inches. Tue fourth nest in the series before me is composed on the outside of hay, grass, grass stalks, leaves, a little of the same white hair like substance mentioned above, and two small pieces of the outside (peel?) of a corn stalk. It is lined with fine grass and a very few horse hairs. The eggs were four in number, quite fresh and of the usual size and color. It was collected on June 21) 1877 and was placed ia an osage hed'i'e. Outside diameter 4 1-2 in- ches, inside diameter 2 1-2 inches, lieight 3 1-2 inches, depth 2 inches. Nest No. 5, is composed on the outside of fine roots, one quite large, stalks, blades of grass, Aveeds with the flowers sticking out in all directions. It is thicker and more compactly woven than any of the others. The lining is similar, except in the absense of hair. It was collected on June 11 1877 and contained four eggs partly incubated, it was placed in a (redar, about 2 feet from the ground. Outside diameter 5 1-2 inches, inside diamter 2 1-4 inches high 2 1-2 inches, d.^pth 2 inches. The sixth and last of the nests in this series is composed on the outside of roots, blades of coarse grass, leaves, grass stalks, the peel of coru stalks, and one of the flowering weeds, about 4 or 5 inches long, mentioned above, running obliquely from the bottom to the top of the nest. The lining is of fine grass. The nest was tak- en June 28 1877, and contained four fresh eggs. It was in an osage hedge jive feet from the ground. Outside diameter 4 1-2 inches. Inside diameter 2 1-4 inches, height 3 1-4 inches, depth 1 1-2 inches. D. II. Eaton. Scarlet Tanager. [^Pyranga Eubra.^ T^OR twenty-five years I longed to pos- sess this beautiful Migratory bird. A- bout two months ago, one evening I met a boy with the bird, of course I bought it of him ; not knowing whether it would suc- ceed or not, as I had never seen or heard of one in Confiument. I put him in a cage and darkened it, leaving it partial- ly so for a few days, and when I removed the cloth altogether he seemed quite gentle taking a fly from between my finger and thumb. I first tried the "universal paste" made of new milk and stale bread, boiled into a paste. This he ate greedily, and continued to do well on it, accepting a few flies, spiders, grasshoppers beetles and meal worms. He is about seven and a quarter inches long, in color a solid scar- let, except the wings and tail which are a beautiful black. The eyes are a sparkling jet black. He makes a lovely pet ; is harmless with canaries and seems fond of their company. I cannot describe his Oological habits, his nest or his eggs, but know that this bird frequents the forest for his breeding home. I think it well to give our experience in adding new attrac- tions to our homes. All wild birds should be kept in the open air as much as possible, always prevent tlieir being frightened, either by cats or human beings. In winter give ventilation freely. Y. M. FiROR. THE OOLOGIST 43 Alexander Wilson's School- House. COME friend knowing our weakness lias ^ kindly sent us a c(ipy of the Gardner's monthly lor August, in which we find a very tine engraving of Wilson's school- house from a drawing in the possession of Dr Pvlliot Coues. Tiie editor justly says, ''■The Jiistory of this great man loill he increasinghj studied as time wears away, and then the little spot where he worked so many hours icill have a continued interest." We are sorry to learn from the same article, that "the lit- tle stone building used in connection with a wheel-wrights shop, in which the celebra- ted Wilson taught school, on the west bank of the Schuylkill, near Gray's ferry bridge, Philadelphia, on a recent ride by, we see, has been torn down.'" Grossart's life of Wilson, 2 volumes, 8j vo. (Paisley 1876) contains an engraving j of AVilson's school-house, about which the editor states : "It is with very special I pleasure I am enabled to give here an en- | graving (after a photograph) of the hum- ble school-house within which Wilson, ' for many years, taught and dwelt, 1 have reason to believe that it has never before been engraved. It is now situated within the shadow of Philadelphia — G." Gros- sart may be right in his statement that the school-house had not previously been en graved. But Wilson certainly never '•'dwelt" in his school-house, at least so far we have found no record of such fact. But we do find that at this time he boarded with a Mrs. Leach adjoining the "Sorrel horse hotel" a painting of which and Mrs. Leach's cottage, by Alexander Wilson is in our possession. In March 1870 a portrait of Wilson ap- peared in Scribner's magazine, also an en- graving of the school-house, which, with the present engraving, if correct, the ground has certainly been graded and many of the trees cut away since the days of Wilson. We have an impression that we have other engravings of W^ilson's school house, but at this time we know not where they are. We have in our possession an unfinished sketch of the school-house, by Alexander 'Wilson nimself. This was drawn about the time he wrote Wm. Duncan, Feb, 26, 1806, in which he states, "X write this letter in the school-house, past ten at night, L's folks all gone to roost, the fly-, ing squin-els rattling in the loft above me, and the cats squaling in the cellar below-" Page 134, Grossart's life, vol. 1.— If this drawing (whi(;his very probable) was made about 1800, it must give us the school- house and grounds in their original state. All those that have been engraved were taken years after Wilson's time, conse- quently they do not give the original lay of the ground, and many of the large trees which overshadowed the building have passed away. In our sketch the basement is distinct- ly shown, and the entrance to the school- house is over a board platform inclosed by a railing, and the giant ti-ees overshadow- ing the building would certainly make it a paradise i'or flying squirrels. Meadow Lark. \_Sturnella Magna Siv.'^ AN June the 3d I found a Meadow Lark's nest containing eight young birds and one fresh egg. The egg was entirely fresh. Four of the birds were almost full fledged. Three were four or five days old and one not more than two days old. In my experience of years I have found noth- ing to compare with this, except the Yel- low-billed Cuckoo, (Coccygus Americanus Bonap.,) which I have found ou more than one occasion, with fresh eggs, and birds of two hatchings. F. IIoopEs Matlack. 44 THE OOLOGIST Tfi© ©ofocjist. AUGUST, 1880. Death of Greene Smith. A telegram from Hod. Gerrit Smith Miller, to the Herald, aunounced the death of Greene Smith, at his home in Peter- boro, Friday Morning, July 23d, aged 39 years. Mr. Smith became deeply interested in ornithology and had a well-deserved repu- tation as a naturalist. He officiated as professor of ornithology in Cornell univer- sity, and delivei'ed several interesting lec- tures in that institution, to which he gave a very fine collection of birds. In perfect- ing his private collection, Mr. Smith spent several seasons in Florida and other south- ern states, and traveled extensively through tlie west. Wherever game was to be found, there Greene Smitn with his dogs and gun were surely to be seen in season, as much at home as if he had never known any other place. At his Peterboro home he liad a model bird-house, in which Avas placed his extensive collection. While life was passing away, he caused this house to be fitted for his reception and daily dicta- ted and directed the arrangement and cat- alogueing of his beautiful pets. Socially Mr. Smith was the prince of good fellows, with the warmest and most generous of impul- ses. He was a favorite with everybody, and no one in need appealed to him in vain. He neglected many opportunities in life which would have given him more sub- stantial pleasure tlian he enjoyed, and hud social faults which none understood better than himself. He IcaVes a wife, an es- timable lady, whom he married in Balti- more. They had no children. Writing of his birds the Syracuse Journal says : "A few months ago, he offered his great collection of birds to the commissioners of Central paik, New York, on the sole con- dition that it should be known * as the 'Greene Smith Collection.' Not knowing its extent and exi;ellence, the commission- ers declined the offer ; but subsequently they caused it to be examined, and finding how valuable it was, addressed Mr. Smith a letter accepting the offer. Mr. Smith replied that he had no desire to force the collection into Central park, and suggested that as his offer had been once declined, he was -not inclined to renew it, and so New York lost what might have been one of the distinguishing sights of the Central park museum." A Nesting Place of the Great Blue Heron. { Heron's nesting place in the Nof-thern States is not compared in extent with the great breeding grounds of these birds in the Gulf States. A real Heronry is worth seeing ; for, altho' we occasionally see large communities of the Waders nest- ing to-gether at the North, we witness al- most an exception. Gregarious as the Heron's are, they seem to have lost some- what of their habit by coming tnto a culti- vated, smooth country, where advantages for herding and nesting in vast communi- ties are limited. The Great Blue Heron's, select swampy ground for their nesting places, and build their nests, especially in the North- ern States, in very high trees, forty or fifty feet from the ground. Oneido lake, in the Central part of NcAV Y'ork, is a fa- vorite nesting place for this species, the deep swamps, and high dark trees offer them facilities for rearing their young in THE OOLOGIST 45 security. They build large nests of sticks, ' interspersed and commingled with grass and roots, but forming withal, exceedingly bulky and ungraceful structures. Like all the Herons' nests, these are flat. The j eggs are three to five, green, and some- what pointed on the smaller end. They I area trifle longer than a hen's egg. The ^ tall scrubby tamaracks, and often spruce ' trees are usually selected for their nests, altho' hard-wood trees are sometimes re- | sorted to. "When the young are old ' enough to fly, they leave the nests, and to- . gether.with the old ones, frequent the | neighboring swamps, creeks and lakes un- | til ready to go South, when they break and perform their migration in scattered ' flocks of four to commonly fiftv. Novelties in sets of birds' eggs, as well as in birds themselves, have shoAvn themselves to be quite numerous this year. Especially may this be said of large sets and oddly marked specimens. Collectors, we think, have more generally come to appreciate the value of abnormities of late tlian a few years ago. General Items. — The pair of young White Robins, mentioned last month, were taken from a nest near Springfield, Mass., and carried to the store of O. B. Deane, Taxidermist, where they have since attracted great at- tention among naturalists from the perfect purity of their plumage ; the entire ab- sence of black or even discolored feathers. The birds continue in good health, grow- ing finely. — A correspondent of Nature gave as an opinion that a diffcrance in the note of the Cuckoo told the sex. A reply says "If all the minor Cuckoos about here are males, and the single major a female, it shows an instance of polyandry (if the term can be applied to birds) such as could scarcely be mentioned in natural history." • — The Cape May Warbler should be added to the list of Central New York birds, upon the strength of a specimen obtained there by Egbert Bagg, of Utica. — A gentleman writing from Unst, Eng- land, tells of starting a Snowy Owl among the stones near the cliff, says it was at least in its third year, as 'shown by the clear white j)lumage — previous to this age they being more or less mottled. The bird, he says, arises with the North wind, shifting from Northern Europe at the period of the 3'ear when ibod is scarce in its hunting fields. It is never found South of Unst, not even on the Isle of Yell, separated only by a narrow stream of three or four miles. Hermaness of Unst is the only hill in Britain where the Snowy Owl nests. — Mr. Ludwig KuirLEiu, Naturalist of the Ilowgate Polar expidition of 1877-78, says of Kavens : "In the capture of a young seal the birds show great intelli- gence. The first manoeuvrs is to sail leis- urely over the seal, gradually lowering with each circle till at last one of them suddenly drops onto the seal's hole, cutting off its retreat from the water. Its mate then attacks the seal, driving it as far from the hole as possible, striking it on top of the head with its powerful beak and breaking the tender skull. A seal I had watched the Ravens kill, that I afterwards exam- ined, had the skull fractui'ed in two places, and no marks were visible elsewhere on it. — MiGKATOUY Quail. — The Sprinfield C7nio?i, under the head of Maine news, is responsible for the statement that several nests containing young Messima Quails have been discovered in the suburbs of Lewiston and Auburn, and as the farmers are careful not to injure them in any way, the prospect is quite good for a large fam- ily of the birds in the State next year. If any of our readers have any actual evi- dence of these birds being seen or nests found, we should be pleased to hear from them. 46 THE OOLOGIST — MiGKATORY Quail. — A correspou- dent I'u Forest and Stream, writing from Kennebuuk, Maine, iifter stilting that tliey had received their Quota of (Juail, and turning them down in suitable places, etc., continues as follows : — 'J'lie Quail nested quite soon after they were released, and have laid iVom eight to ten eggs in nests that have been dij^covered ; in some cases they have already hatched, and out of the nest ; some are still on the nest. There has been but one case of loss that come to my knowledge, that of a bird being run over by a mowing machine while on the nest covering ten eggs. . You can hear them at most any time in the day, but to see them is quite another thing ; yet I have heard of their coming about the buildings of farmers and feeding. Al- though some of the birds nave wandered long distances from where they were re- leased, yet they seem to have generally re- mained near the localities Avhere they were turned loose. — We were interested a short time since in the persistency of a House-Sparrow, in stealing food from a Robin. The latter had captured a goodly worm, and had no sooner flown down to the pavement withi t, preparatory to making a meal of it, when 2 Sparrows, seeing a chance to get a tit-bit gave chase to Mr. Robin, the latter flew away a short distance and began anew to dash the worm against the stones, and again the Sparrows rushed in, nearly get- ting their booty. This went on some lit- tle time, the Robin making no resistence, until, finally, Passer Domesticus quickly snatched the now pretty well prepared worm, and flew ofl" with it, leaving the original captor somewhat astonished and at liberty to seek another worm, if he wanted one. The shrill voices of the Spar- rows from the direction the little robber took, announced a still disputed possession of the worm, — Does the Song-Sparrow eat buds ? A short time ago, during the Spring, we no- ticed two of these birds hai'd at work upon the newly forming leaves of an elm tree. They apparently ate the buds with great relish, and continued to do so for a con- siderable length of time. It was too ear- ly for insects, and even if it were not, the fact of their taking each bud nearest to them, pointed out no selection, as would have been the case were they searching for insects. — Among other birds easily allured by tha call of a little bird in distress, Unin. otilto varia. It will flutter about within almost arms length of the slightest intima- tion of danger to a fellow being, and what a little colony one can bring to him in this way, too, sometimes ! Redstarts are not allured in this way, but they set down, utter any note, but look passively on as if doubtful of the autenticity of the grief. — A Jersey Quail Makufactory. — Henry Benbrook, a dealer in game, resid- ing at Raritan, N. J., has succeeded in raising young Quails, an operation that has been tried repeatedly, but which hith- erto has proved futile. Four years ago he captured two Quails. The female laid twenty-four eggs the first year, but cou'd not be induced to sit. The second year Mr. Benbrook was in Canada and nothing was done with the birds. The third year the female made its nest, laid twelve eggs and after setting ten days, died. The male bird then sat on the eggs and six Quails were hatched. They were all rais- ed and are still living. These young birds began laying on May 21 "last and up to July 31 have laid one hundred and eight eggs, but they show no signs of sitting as yet. Some of the eggs were pjaced under abantam chicken and six of them hatch- ed, and the Quails are alive to-day. This experiment of raising young Quails has been undertaken by game societies all over the world for years, but this is the first time any one has succeeded, so far as the record shows. — -A^. Y. Times. THE OOLOGIST A7 — A Sparroav Hawk came down in one of the most frequented streets in Utica and quickly suatcliiug a young Robin from a fence, where it was loudly calling for its "lost parents," and, amid a great clamor set up by the neighboring birds, laborious- ly bore it off. The numerous spectators watched the proceeding with much inter- est. — Albino King Bird. A Wliite King bird was found in front of Judge Parks residence, Laural IJill, near Nor- wich, Conn. It was placed in a cage, but lived only a few days wlieu it was sent to a Taxidermist who fully identified the bird. The body was pure white. Wings and tail a light cream color. Cat Bird June Cat Bird " King Bird June Orchard Oriole June June June June May May 24, 2 28, 3 1,4 18, 5 6, 5 11, 3 3,4 21, 21, 2 31, 3 16,11 30, 4 First Appearance i88o. Blue Bird Jan.21. Meadow Lark Feb. 28. Robin Feb. 12. Purple Martin March 22. Blue Jay Feb. 12. Pewee March 26. Crow Blackbird March 28. time some fresh . fresh . addled. fresh. fresh . addled, addled, young. fresh, addled. fresh . young, of the of the ♦•♦ Early Nesting i88o. Crow April 20, 5 eggs fresh. Robin Aj)ril 23, 1 " fresh. Robin June n 3 " addled. Turkey Buzzar d Ap' 25, 1 " fresh. Tree Blackbird Apr! 30, 1 " fresh. Mocking Bird May G, 3 " fresh. Mocking Bird '• [), 5 young. Mocking Bird ( I 18, 1 eggs fresh. Mocking Bird i i 2G, 3 - fresh. Brown Thrusli "■ !', 5 young. Brown Thrush ii. y, 5 eggs fresh. Brown Thrush (. i 2(3, 3 " e mbryos. Brown Thrusli June 10, 1 " fresh. Brown Tlirush '' 19, 2 " fresh. Dove May y, 2 young. Dove 1. i 14, 1 eggs i'resh. Dove June 15, 1 " fresh . Dove '^ 19. 2 " fresh . Cat Bird ^lay 13, 1 " fresh. Cat Bird June 7, 2 eggs fresh. Cat Bird I ( 19, 3 " fresh. Bhie Bird Wood Thrush Pewee Red Bird Bank SwalloAv Red Wing B'kb'd Quail June C hippee April The above list shows the first laying in this locality of commoner birds. The Bluebird eggs were a clear white, tinged with blue after being blown. Five days after the eggs were taken the first egg of another set was laid, and this set was of the ordinary blue color. Of the pewee eggs one was marked with minute spots and one with large spots. On the 17th of April a boy brought me two Owls which were nearly full grown. He said the eggs were laid about C hrist- mas. In Ohio I frequently saw Robins' nests on fence corners. I have never yet seen one so placed here. Of all the nests found the present year, the Quail was the only one that had more F. A. Sampson. Mo. A Rockville, Conn., collector found a nest of the Purple Martin, May 21st, 1880, containing four fresh eggs in the end of a fence rail, about four I'eet from the ground. It was composed of dry grass, and placed eighteen inches in the cavity. It is not often that I'rof/ne purpurea occupies such crannies as this, though it does sometimes build its nest in queer places, higher up. Chart.es Wood, of Utica, took a nest of the Sliarp-shinned Hawk, containing seven eggs, in Utica, N. Y. This is a somewhat exceptional number of eggs for this species. 48 THE OOZOGL^T Great Crested Flycatcher- Th]3 bird arl'ives liero. Shelter Islaiul, from tiie south about the 10th of May, and is soon abundant, and begins to buiUl about the 20th. The nest is usually plac- ed in a hollow tree, and is composed of dry leaves, grass, and sometimes a snake's skin or two, and is lined with feathers. The eggs are usually 5 or 6 in number. This bird is so common here that it seems to be a matter of some difficulty for them all to ■find suitable nesting places, and so they are glad to use a bird-box for a home. In 1879 three instances of its doing so came to my notice, one of which was in a box of my own, placed in the gable of a barn. I have also known of two instances of the same kind the present year (1«80), one of these was built in a small box of my own, which was in a tree a short distance from the house. To the usual material used in building, the bird in this instance carried in a quantity of hair of the common skunk, and laid 7 c^2.i>^ Avhich is the largest num- ber I ever took. 'J'hey were fresh on June 7 when I took them. Biases B. Gri/jiiifj. Humming Birds at Saratoga, N.Y. This beautiful bird arrives in this part of the state from May 10 to the 14, and leaves about the loth of September. It seems mated from its first ajjpearauce. It often perches itself on some dead limb, or flower stalk, and usually busies itself in smooth- ing its fine feathers. It is not very shy ; and is eager for a quarrel with any other male during breeding season. Birds many times larger are often attacked and driven from the vicinity of its nest. About the first week in June it com- mences its tiny home, and is then busy for nearly two weeks in perfecting it. The nest is about as often on a dead branch as a live one, and in pine, oak, maple, and beech trees. The nest is made of downy substances obtained from ferns and milk weeds, and I is entirely covered Avith greenish lichens, ! and from below looks like a knot. It is about an inch and a-half in diameter, and I the same in depth, externally. AVithin being about one inch wide, and three- quarters deep. One collected this year is I all of two inches deep, externally ; but this is an exception. The eggs are two : white atid eleptical. I Fresh eggs may be found from June 16tli I to July 2Gth. Great care must be used : m gettmg eggs, as the least jar is liable to throw them out. The bird constantly ; hovers near as you get the nest, and fre- j quently comes nt>ar, and even lights upon ' the nest as the limb is being sawed off. The birds build usually near the old nest, if undisturbed. I have now two nests on the same limb, not six inches apart. About the first of September the old and young gather in flocks, and soon move south. At this time but few males are seen in or near the flock. G((y C. Rich. . ^ ^ ^ . . The Great Northern Shrike. (236.) Colhjoris Borealis Baircl. Double-Bkoodp:d in the North — This species breeds here. A nest was found on the 20th April, at Lachine. I have now noticed the young in the down on the last of July. It may be presumed, therefore, that it is double-brooded. Wm. Couper, llontreal. . <»► •■ Great Auk. Two genuine eggs of the Great Auk, not previously recorded, were lately found in an old private collection in Edinburgh. They were sold July 2nd at Covent Gar- den, London, one for 100 pounds, the other for 102 guineas. — Journal of Horti- culture. Our readers will confer a special favor by showing their paper to friends interest- ed in Oology, ftud if possible secure ad- ditional subscribers. Slogi^t^ SEPTEMBER, 1880. No. 7. The House Sparrow. How sweet to hear at early morn, An hour or so before the dawn, When Morpheus would your senses wrajj — When you expect your soundest nap — How sweet when at this hour is heard The song of Europe's Sparrow Bird 1 Sweeter by far than scolding shrew The Sparrow's song then seems to ymi. 'Tis mellower than Guuea Fowl, Or Raven's croak, or screech of Owl. The entranced ear it doth beguile Like rusty saw when scraped by file; Sweet is the fish-horn's mellow tone, And sweet the lost soul's dying groan; Sweet is the wild hyena's cry. And sweet crude violinity; But sweetest sound ear ever heard Is your sweet matin. Sparrow Bird ! So when in bed at morn I lay, And twist and turn, and vainly try To get an extra " forty winks," 'Tis'then — oh. Sparrow ! — that methinks, While listening to your chattering song. More tuneful far than Chinese gong, I'd like to stroke your downy coat. And put my hand upon you throat. And wring your neck — though ne'er were heard Again your song, dear Sparrow Bird. Great Horned Owl.— JBi/ho Virgin- tanus, and Barred Owl. — Symmm Kthvlosvm More untidy specimens of birds' arclii- tecture than the itcsts made by these Owls it wovild be hard to find. Nests ? The word is used erronionsly when applied to these platforms, composed of sticks and twigs, and decorated (?) with a pint or more of the bones, skulls, blood, etc., of smaller animals and birds, which give the nest a filthy appearance. For two success ive years I have taken eggs from the nest of a pair of Barred Owls ; three sets last year, (see May number of the Oologist, 1879, Vol. 4. Book 10, page 77,) after my taking which, they raised a brood of three, and this year I have taken two sets and they have hatched a third set. In two instances the nests of tl)ese birds have been supported by Squirrels' nests. The nest proper, in all cases, has been composed of sticks, from nearly an inch in diamater down to twigs of an eighth of an inch. I have seen little or no lining used, save what accumulated, from the adult birds bringing their prey there and skinning it. This causes pellets of fur, feathers, and bones to collect to the depth, in time, of au inch to two inches. The first set of eggs which 1 took of S. JVelndosiim num- bered four. All the sets since then have numbered three eggs. They vary in size from 2.23 to 2.02 inches in length by 1.78 to l.o2 in breadth. In a series of thirteen specimens, now before me, the aA'erage size is 2.05 by 1.68 inches. In the nests of this Owl I have found feathers of Jayis Robins, Blackbirds, Sparrows, two tal, feathers of a Meadow Lark, and a quan- tity of feathers from our "so called" Partridge, .Bon««c of alarm, and fly hurriedly off for a h\\ yards, then resume their vocation. Often, if not too suddenly disturbed, they will stop short and scan the intruder a moment, then re- sume their search, keeping, however, one eye open, ready for the slightest intimation of danger. Though a rather abundant species, in- habiting the shores of our rivers, lakes and ponds, and to be found more or less commonly about waterfalls and ravines, the Large-billed Water Thrush is a bird little noticed by young naturalists, and quite unknown to those who do not hap- pen to pursue their studies in its particular haunts ; for it is a bird belonging exclus- ively to its own restricted habitat, seldom showing itself in open, dry places. It has a habit, common to the genus Slurii-s, of jerking its body in the same manner as the Sandpipers do, which peculiarity has obtained it the fitting name of Water Wag- tail. They are not strictly gregarious birds ; for, though a number will some- 54 THE OOLoaiST times be seea upon the shore in half a day's ramble, each pair pursues its prey alone, and their breeding places are isolat- ed. The Large-billed Water Thrush is at home among the rocks and boulders of a wild gorge, where the rushing torrent al- most defies one, and leaps in mad confus- ion down the slippery and treacherous bights, foaming, and dashing in glee at the thousands of sparkling gems it sends into the air ; over and under the tumult of water it is to be seen, hopping cheerily and sprightfully here and there, in a score of difficult positions, prying into rocky crevices, now rocking iu exultation upon the summit of a projecting rock ; then, with a jnnc of satisfaction, flitting through the spray, around through the tortuous wind- ings of the cascade, dodging here and there and finally alighting upon the edge of a dainty, rock-bound pool, where it disports to its heart's content, knee-deep in the water ; or, with a salutatory jerk of the body, flies off out of sight. Here the Wagtail builds its nest and rears its young, free from the troubles and dangers of ex- posed places, and in the midst of a scene whose natural beauty and freshness gives life and vijror to all around. Night Herons. — During January and February, 1879, myself and a friend shot four specimens ; two adult males, one adult female, and one young bird of the previous year. The weather was cold, the ground covered with snow, and the creeks frozen. In the evening numbers of them could be seen flying over the frozen creek and alight- ing in the springy places, that do not freeze, to catch the small fish on which they were feeding at that time. Numbers were roosting in the swamps during the daytime. Previous to this time I had al- ways supposed that the Night Heron was purely a Summer visitor. Would be pleas- ed to hear from others on this subject. Shelter Island. m. b. g. The Great Gray Owl. — Symhmi Cinereum. Mr. John Noble of this city, while vis- iting his farm in the township of Ponson- by, shot two young specimens of the above species(/S'yr««<»i Cinereum). They left the nest about the last week in July, and are not larger than the adult Barred Owl ; the plumage is downy, retaining the gener- al markings of the tail and wings of the adult. I believe this is the first instance of the discovery of the young of this Owl in Canada. A fact interesting to ornithol- ogists, as heretofore its nesting locality was not positively known. An occasional adult bird is shot in the woodlands near this city in the fall, and it is always con- sidered a rare species. Now that the breeding range is discovered oologists should keep a record of this notice in or- der to procure the eggs, which are valuable and a desiderata in all collections. Montreal. Wm. Couper. California Quails in Missouri. A correspondent in Chicago Field., from Jefferson, Mo., after stating that 6 or 7 pairs of California Quails were turned out in March, 1879, previous to severe freez- ing, further declares that great apprehen- sions were felt for their safety, increased by the fact that it was some months before they were again seen. There was no very satisfactory informa- tion concerning them during the Summer and Fall of 1879, although seen at inter- vals. From October, 1879, to May follow- ing, I could find no one, after frequent en- quiry, who had seen them ; but in June and July, this year, I have had repeated and reliable information from different sources that there are two or more good coveys of young, nearly half-grown, in the fields, not over half a mile from where they were first set free. This would seem to be sufficient indica- tion of success, to induce others to try the experiment. The law protects them ab- THE OOLOGIST 51 reach the nest, and it was truly marvel- ous to behold the determination and cour- age of the two little mites of" birds in their efforts to prevent her. It would be difficult to describe in mere words the won- derfully graceful action of both male birds during their aerial encounters, and indeed the flight of the Cuckoo at times much re- sembled that of a small Falcon. It was about half past ten o'clock when I had first come on the scene of action, and I watched till the forenoon was well-nigh past. I was meditating on the expediency of scaring the Ciickoos away, when the female flew up quietly and came down on the ground very near the nest, but on the farther side of the heather clump in which it was placed. At the same time the male Cuckoo made a hasty swoop towards the nest, was driven off by the Stouechats, and while they were thus engaged the female Cuckoo, with rapid action, darted forward, alighted on the heather, thrust her head and neck through the small opening into the nest, in an instant withdrew and soared aloft, uttering for \\\e first time a cry, not " Cuckoo ! cuckoo ! " but a gurgling, wat- er-bubble kind of note. Her mate immed- iately joiued her, and the two soared away to the wood, he joining in the shout of triumph with fond "Cuckoos!" In a few moments I had run forward to the nest, and, behold ! lying beside the four pretty liltle Stonechats' eggs was a beauti- fully-marked Cuckoo's egg, still wet with the saliva of the mother-bird. The Stone- chats reared their young in peace and safety, but that Cuckoo's egg lies before me as I write, and the sight of it recalls one of the most interesting episodes I ever met in bird-life. Black-Throated Bunting. — The ar- ticle in last number in reference to the nest of this species would indicate that it is seldom found as high as five feet from the ground. The past season I found sev- eral which were ten to twelve feet high in the osage orange, and one was in an elm about 15 feet high. F. a. s. Common Rail. — Porzana Carolina. A NEST WITH EIGHTEEN EGGS. W. W. DuNLAP, Esq., of this city, while egg collecting in company with the undersigned, on one of the islands in the Back river, north of this city, on the 6th of June last, found a nest of the Common Rail, i^Pvrzana Carolina)^ containing eighteen eggs. This is double the ordinary number laid by this little species. The nest presented a curious appearance — the eggs being placed one above another, sim- ilar to the mode an artillery man places cannon balls. None of the eggs were ad- vanced in incubation. I question whether this bird could have produced sufficient heat from her body to hatch out the whole. It appears to me that the parent does not wholly rely on its body heat ; that some portion of the incubation of aquatic birds' eggs is produced by solar heat, causing the surroundings of the nest to retain an equal temperature during daytime. This seems reasonable, as the nests of this spe- cies are generally placed in situations sur- rounded by shallow, still water, with suf- ficient grassy covering to hide it from ene- mies. The bird, therefore, in a case like this, would manage to produce young from eighteen eggs by sitting close on them at night, thus retaining an equal temperature to the end. MontreaL Wm, Couper. Insects Destroying Eggs.^A corres- pondent is anxious to find some method of preventing insects from destroying his eggs. We keep ours in cases in the library, a room in constant use, and have no diffi- culty of this kind to contend with. Per- haps Dr. Wm. Wood will enlighten us. Humming Bird. — Sept. 9th being cold and wet, a Humming Bird was caught and brought to us. We fed it with sugar from the lips until morning, when we gave it its liberty. It proved to be a young female, and when first brought, chirped quite loud. 52 THE OOLOGIST Tfte ©^fogist, SEPTEMBER, 1880. OOLOGICAL AMBITION. TN the lamentable days of struus-up birds' eggs, when the youth of the land were bent on seeing who could make the largest holes in their specimens without breaking them, and stringing them up in their par- lors as evidences and mementoes of their search in the woods and fields, we do not read of much advance made in oological science. The ambition of the gatherers of these rude and barbarous specimens was not to ascertain whether a Humming Bird might ever lay three eggs, or a Chickadee but four. Their energies were exerted in endeavoring to rival their com- petitor collectors in obtaining the largest string and the prettiest specimens ; too frequently without reference to genuine quality. This state of affairs gave birth to a great many would-be oologists, but could-only-be collectors, who knew and cared little about the birds whose eggs they were puncturing. A book now aud then appeared, notably from the foreign press, giving descriptions of the nests and eggs of the best known birds, and latterly treatises on their preparation came out. But still the old method held the suprema- cy. The process of culling the childish notions and usages from the instructive ones was a long and tedious one, requiring an entire oological decade to bring about at all encouragingly. Young collectors were the strongest in point of numbers, and familiarity with each other's methods induced a sort of hereditary habit among them, which at the outlook threatened to become obstinate. This was the habit of letting the birds severely alone, for they, you know, wouldn't make a collection of eggs^i and it was indeed too much trouble to be continually looking around after the birds ; it was absurd to think that you must chase the parents all over creation, and then stand a chance of losing track of them entirely, when you had the pretty little eggs waiting ready to be puuched in both ends and strung upon a straw ! Tliese notions tenaciously defied a reconstruction of the old system of collecting specimens, while the science of gathering sound infor- mation was only known to aud practiced by a few, notably men of science and stu- dents of ornithology. " Oology is still a very young science in America," and its advocates were oblig- ed to battle against heavy odds to place it even where it is at present. Somehow or other it has been more difficult to impress upon the average collector's mind the real advantage of making oology a study, and going into it as one would into biology, geology or botany. This may be, and we think is, to a great extent, owing to its negligence among natural history taught in schools and the colleges. Hence, where ornithology receives its proportion of attention, oology is not thorougldy un- derstood. Its "true inwardness" does not only, not bother the collector, but no- body has been before him to explain its really manifold wonders and teach him that the gathering of specimens alone does not make the oologist, but only the collec- tor. To put the argument plainly before you, the collector takes his box with him aud goes hunting for eggs, his whole ener- gy bent upon securing as many as he can, aud pretty generally he is thus far success- ful. But he has gained only the substance ; that " true inwardness :" the nesting habits of the parents ; their demeaner when the nest was discovered ; whether male or fe- male was sitting ; and many other little but important things, upon which often THE OOLOGIST 55 solutely ill Missouri until 1883, by which time it is hoped they will become sufficient- ly numerous to be protected under the general law, which must be changed for that purpose. Nesting of Nashville Warbler. — (^IleliiuntliopIuKja llvfieap'dla,) BY B. J. PECKIIAM. In the collecting season of '77, I noticed this Warbler several times by its pecul- iar song. Although it was a well-known species to me, and notwithstanding I made diligent search, yet I failed to discover its nesting, until the next year. I expected to discover it nesting in trees or in low bushes, and looked in such places for it. Judge of my surprise and I may add fool- ishness, when the locality was discovered. Previous to this I had found a nest, under a low red cedar, whose branches lie flat on the ground, all complete ; but for some I'eason the owner never occupied it. I saw before me one of these " Savans " — the name given them by farmers — and thought I would look under it. As I lay flat on my face and raised the lower limbs from the ground, a small bird instantly jumped up from a nest, remained motionless a moment, and then ran out quickly, taking to wing as soon as it w^jis clear from the tree. I recognized the bird as it stood that instant by its nest to be the same species I had before noticed. The nest was rather loosely built, as if the secluded situation and the covering that the cedar afforded was sufficient. Fine black roots composed the outside layer ; then came a few beach leaves with a scattering of grass, wliicli seemed to be utilized for the pur- pose of holding the leaves in place. A few brown cedar leaves were found, which looked to me as if they had rattled from above into the nest. Eggs, four ; in the first stages of incubation. Color, a milk white, with reddish-brown markings that resembled freckles, interspersed with lilac specks ; the marks were more numerous in this set at the large end. Measure- ments were .62x.50, .62x.49, .60x.49, .61x.51. Now, knowing where to look for them, I secured two sets in '78. Both of these nests were more elaborate in con- struction and were built by the same pair, I think, as June 12th I removed the first nest from a large hole from which a stone had been taken. July 19th, I found the second nest in the same stone hole, some four feet distant from the first. The fe- male of this last set I shot for perfect identification. The nests last mentioned resembled some of those Selurus auroca- pillus^ being sunk into the side of the bank. They were composed entirely of grass or weeds, with a binding of the upper edge with Avire grass. Eggs, four and two re- spectively, but more thickly spotted than the first mentioned. The absence of the lavender points is a noticable feature. I have retained two sets in my collection for the purpose of showing the absence of the lavender. Average of the six eggs taken in 1880, .59x.50. Huron Scoter. — {okUmio Bimac- ulatci) . I lately had occasion to read " Frank Forrester's American Game," and from it I think learned the name of a nondescript Duck I shot last fall. As near as could be traced it was a Velvet Z>uck ; it differ- ed from the description in several particu- lars, notably in one, viz : that its flesh is oily and strong ; in fact, its flesh was far superior to Mallard, Black or Teal Duck ; I am now quite certain of its being a Winter Duck ( O. Bhnaculata) as de- scribed by 'Forrester.' Has any one ever shot it as far south as this, or in this state? It diffigrs slightly from the description, but more in measurement than color. I may be again wrong, but can any of your read- ers suggest the right name. The bird I have was killed October 11th, 1879, on Saratoga Lake, and was alone. Guy C . Rich. 56 THE OOLOGI^T General Items. — The soug of the Homed Lark(7i'y'C»?- opila ('orm(ta) is a low, rather sweet im- itatiou of the soft chuckle of the White- bellied Swallow, uttered at intervals while the bird is feediuir. It also has a short pit, which is emitted wheu the bird is sud- denly surprised or frightened, or wheu fly- ing. — I NOTICED the arrival of the Night Hawks here on the 15th of June, and migrations took place on the 23d of Aug- ust. Formerly the Night Hawk used to nest here on Mount Royal, but when the mountain was made into a park they for- sook their old nesting ground and now nest on the gravelled roofs of houses in the city. The latter habits of the Night Hawk observed here I derived from my esteem- ed brother oologist, Mr. Wm. Couper, of this city, and from observations uf my own. We had a very heavy wind and rain storm a day after the Night Hawks migrated. Montreal. e. d. w. [While residing in the city of Philadel- phia we were unable to account for the large numbers of Night Hawks that were continually hovering o\er the city, until we learned from others that their young were raised on the gravelled roofs of ware- _ houses. — /vV.] — August 1. Robins are flocking. They are already frequent visitors to the mountain ash trees, whose berries they like. The ripe, juicy plums claim their ."hare of attention ; while Robin's appetite for grapes is as great as ever. He seems to delight in just breaking the skin of the grape, and after once plunging in his bill, to let it dry up and wither. But not only does the mutilated condition of the grapes show his liking for fruit, but the whole- sale destruction of the large dead-ripe egg-plums brands him severely as a pilfer- er. — We have noticed that the House Sparrows destroy apple blossoms. Wheth- er they eat the blossoms or any part of it or not we cannot say ; but from several ex- aminations made, we found that the Spar- rows plucked the vital part of the bud, and thus of course killed the germ. This dis- covery was not unexpected ; but it does not strengthen the supposition that P(.isser domesticas has proven an acceptable ad- dition to our already more effective and less obnoxious force of insect destroyers. Recent ^'ubHcatious. Illustrations of the JVests and Eggs <>f ilte Birds of Ohio. — Since Audubon's pencil and brush fell from the hand which for so many years turned them to works of unsurpassed beauty, nothing in the way of ornithological art appeared in this country to challenge comparison with the work of the great master until, from an unexpected quarter, the Illustrations of the N^ests and Ef/gs of the Birds of Ohio were laid before us by the Misses Jones and Shulze, of Circleville, Ohio. Two num- bers of this splendid work have appeared during the past year, and the prospect of the completion of the undertaking bright- ens as the merits of the " Illustrations " become better known, notwithstanding the untimely death of the leading author on the threshold of her enterprise. This work is in folio, and is published by subscrip- tion, in parts, each to contain several col- ored plates of nests and eggs, of life size, with sheets of descriptive letter press. Combining as it does, the merits of fidelity to nature with artistic excellence, this work commends itself in an especial manner to all those who have a taste for the beauties of bird-life, as well as those who make ornithology a study. — Elliot Coues. Nuttall Btdleti)!. — The readers of The Oologist who have not yet seen the above publication, should not hesitate, as, it is without doubt the leading ornithological publication of the times. It is under the iu^mediate management of Mr. J. A. Allen, Cambridge, Mass. and is published quarterly, at $2.00 per annum. dlogi^ti No. 8. The Sandpiper. The little sandpiper that has a great stride Like a king of the fairies, andtoj'S with the tide, Is a jolly good fellow of iiiliiiite pride. He signals your presence, assuming much fear, And pipes of the danger that's coming too near. Or whistles alarm that others may hear. He eyes you obliquely, a comical way, And flutters a distance as much as to say. Thus far and no farther, and there you may stay. But if you should trespass he'll nod in disdain. And tell his dis])leasure with might and with main. And skim o'er the water to safety again. that when my climber descended into the j hollow after the eggs he was lost to sight, I and only got out with extreme difficulty. I It was ludicrous to hear him seratchiug around inside the stub like an imprisoned I bear. From a hole in an asli tree, which last year I took a set of Mottled Owl's eggs, with both parents, I took another set this Spring. The eggs were covered with bU:)od, cold and broken, and no bird seen. What sort of domestic tragedy occurred When danger has passed him he .settles his plumes, 'here we may only conjecture. Were the old birds surprised and murdered by some enemy, or did they bring some living quarry into their home which overpowered the little household ? On the 28th day of March the first set The mien of importance he qnicklj- assumes. Subaqueous searching he gravely assumes. Ah, little sandpiper of fairly-like stride, With beautiful nature so closely allied, I've noted thee often with love and with pride. Jerome Buknett. The Season of 1880. .J. M. W. of Red-tailed Hawk's eggs was taken from Brown's mountain ; the first set of Red- shouldered Hawks, April 5 ; the first set of Cooper's, April 25 ; and the first egg of Sharp-shinned Hawks taken were laid May Another season's work in an old New i 16. Though I have harried the Red- Eugland Field has determined no new j shouldered Hawks since '75, I have col- species, and presents no very fresh array | lected as many eggs as usual this season, of oological facts. But all annotations of | four young last year, four eggs the year bird life are worth looking over, and the ' before, and four young in '76. From this recurrence of certain phases worth record- ing. Two old female Barred Owls, which had their partners shot last Spring, mated again and bred as usual in the same places this year ; the first clutch taken March 30 it would appear that this female regularly lays clutches of four ; but, per contra, I know other Red. shouldered Hawks, which I have followed as closely, which annually lay but two eggs. In a Marsh Hawk's nest this season the last young bird broke This would indicate that these large owls j the shell one week after the appearance of are comparatively abundant though we do ; the first ; but, on the other hand, a set of not meet them in our every day walks, j Cooper's Hawks all hatched upon the same The facility with which some of our other ! day. That the young of the large Hawks raptores are mated when one of the pair j should appear at intervals need not be sur- is killed, I have before referred to. prising, since the eggs are not laid daily. One of these Barred Owls had its re- | A week is occupied in laying the clutch of treat in a chestnut stub of great size, so Buteos. The Cooper's Hawk occupies 58 THE OOLOGIST ten days in oviposition. Even the small and prolific Sharp-shinned lays its eggs on alternate days. In all, I took eighty-four eggs this Spring, but could have secured many more Cooper's with little effort. The Bluebird which lays the white eggs, again had three clutches this season, and once more I took the first set of six snowy eggs. The Blue Yellow-backs bred more than a week earlier than in '79, and though I found many nests, was unable to secure auy good sets — the eggs of this species be- ing especially frail and hard to prepare after incubation has well begun. Took a nest of Prairie Warbler with four fresh eggs. May 31. The peculiar thing about this set is that the spray of hazel-bush sup- porting the nest also holds last year's nest, the old walls touching the new structure. I had marked down the first nest June 7th, 1879, whea it contained four young. A set of Redstart's, taken June 6, on Groton Long Point, present markings of a uui- form Slate color. A trio of Orchard Oriole's eggs, from a nest in a poison su- mach bush, like those taken last season, are larger than any western specimens Fve seen. As early as May 21, I collected a set of Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, averag- ing larger than usual, and after blowing the fine pink tinge was retained. This last peculiarity I never saw before in six season's observation in the field. In conclusion, I grcnip the following notes from my field-book : A stale liuftled Grouse's egg was found dropped in the woods. In previous seasons have run ac- cross a newly laid egg of the Chimuey Swil't on the ground, and a fresh egg of the Golden-winged Woodpecker on an as- phalt walk in the suburbs of our city. More than once have found dropped eggs of the Quail in the pairing season. Took one 'runt' egg of the Sharp-shinned Hawk this year, which is the only Hawk's egg of the kind I ever collected. I have, how- ever, taken a Barred Owl's egg half the normal size. One Crow's nest examined held the extreme complement of seven eggs. Have Recorded three Woodcock, killed by telegraph wires this season, and two killed by domestic cats. From the the stomack of a frog, killed for the table July 16, took two Red-winged Starlings, nearly fledged. His meal had apparently been too much for him, for when first seen he was gasping for breath, andi»would not bite at a tempting bit of red flannel dang- led before his eyes on a stout limerick hook. Clearly he was in trouble about his digestion, and in his loaded state could hop no further than Mark Tw^ain's cele- brated Jumping frog of Calexeras. Prairie Warbler. — (6*. iJlscolor.) This bird arrives here the first week in May, if the weather is favorable, and is quite common by the middle of that month. While walking in the woods on Prospect Hill on Shelter Island, on May 24th, 1880, as I began to descend, I started a small bird almost from under my feet. She flew quickly out of sight and I began to search for the nest. This I soon found in a small clump of bushes about eight or ten inches from the ground, and it contained 5 fresh eggs. I waited a short time, when the male and female came back crying. Not being satisfied with the identification I left the nest until the next day and then went there with my gun. As I came near I could see the bird sitting on the nest. When I got within a few feet of her she hopped on the side of the nest and stood still, but as she got more frightened "she soon flew into a tree a few yards away and begao to eat the worms with which the trees were swarming, making very little ado. The nest is not quite such a neat affair as I ex- pected ; it is built rather loosely of sea- weed, strips of thin bark, and plant fibre, and is lined with vei*y fine grass stems. It is built in at the top, and the diameter here is 1 3-4 inches ; it is 1 3-4 inches deep inside ; outside it is about 2 1-2 in-. chcs deep, 2 3-4 inches in diameter. Around the inner edge a few soft feathers are worked in. The eggs are pearly white in color, with a wreath of spots and blotch- THE OOLOGIST 59 es of brown and lilac around "the crown. One of the eggs is smaller than the rest, and the wreath is around the smaller end. The eggs are about the size of the Chest- nut-sided Warbler. I shot the bird in or- der to make the identification certain. Another nest that I took a few days later was placed in a woodbine in a bunch of bushes at the edge of a cleared lot about two feet from the ground, and was about a quarter of a mile from the first nest, and was of the same description, except that no seaweed was used. The eggs were four in number, pale creamy white, with a wreath of brown spots and blotches around the crown. \v. b. g. The Spotted Sandpiper. Kingbirds Catch Fish. '• I have often noticed them striking the surface of the water in my fish ponds, but supposed they were either taking a bath or else catching insects that were flyiug near the surface of the water. "VYhen I constructed my bass pond, a few years ago, I stocked it with minnows, to afford ample food for the bass. At times the entire sur- face of the pond seems alive with them. A few days ago I observed at least half a dozen Kingbirds perclied on trees and bush- es near the margin of the pond, and al- most every moment some of tliem would dive into the water precisely like a King- fisher, and I copcluded they were catching bugs or other insects which were floating upon the surface of the water. Watching them closely I soon saw one of tliem leave the water with something perceptibly shin- ing in its bill. It alighted on a tree about fifty yards from where I was sitting, and acted precisely as a Kingfisher does when killing a fish. Taking a telescope, I also took an observation, and discovered that the Kingbird had a minnow not less than three inches long. I continued my obser- vations for about fifteen minutes, and dur- ing that time these birds caught several small minnows and ate them." M. P. PiEKCK in F. & 8. WHILE at Point Judith, R. I., and fol- '^ lowing up a stream that empties into the ocean, I noticed a Spotted Sandpiper running along the edge of the bank. I fired, and it fell wounded into the water, as I approached it dove to the bottom, and I could distinctly see it swimming under the water along the bottom to avoid my catching it, the stream was quite swift, it being ebb-tide. It floated down the stream about 100 yards, but the shore being con- vex it could not pass to the opposite side of the stream. It used its wings as in a flying motion while below the surface of the Avater. My friend, G. O. Slocumb, informs me that he had a similar exper- ience. He shot his bird on the shore of a pond which was about 20 yards across, in his case the bird dove under the water near the whole distance, reappearing on the surface on the other side of the pond. While relating the above to Dr. Marshall of this place, he stated that while on the Newport Marsh recently, lie noticed a Marsh Hawk flying low over the meadow, at the time he liad been watching a Spot- ted Sandpiper upon a mole hill, and as soon as the Sandpiper saw the hawk, al- though at a considerable distance it at once made for the nearest water which it reached not a moment too soon, as. the Hawk swooped down upon it, just as the Sandpiper dove into the water, when the hawk had missed his prey he kept on his course, as soon he had passed, the Sand- piper rose to the surface and sat on the water like a duck, until the hawk was well out of sight, when he regained the land with his accustomed peet-weet, he teetered along as though it was an every day occurrence. Feed. T. Jencks. The Oologist. — To new subscribers who wish to examine The Oologist, the last six numbers of the present volume will be sent, postage paid, for thirty cents. 60 TRE OOLOGIST Tko, ©^to^ist OCTOBER, 1880. MO UN TAIN ASH. Ornithologists who are planting trees should not forget the "Mountain Ash," the berries of which remain on the tree through the winter, if not devoured by birds. It is a beautiful tree, and of quick growth^ bearing its berries while quite young. In this town we are spe,cially favored, having a large number of them, so that during the blustering storms of last January we were visited by large flocks of Cedar Kirds. These birds staid witli us in the fall as long as the Wild Cherries held out, when they left us, as we supposed for the south. But as the winter advanced tliey came back in large flocks, and remained until the first of Marcli, when the Mountain Ash berries being all gone, they dispersed in smaller flocks over the country in search of other food. ]\Iany of our more hardy migratory birds would remain with us dur- ing the entire winter, enlivenuig our dreary winter days, if we were more thoughtful in making our plantations. A gentleman here, not an ornithologist,, informed us that a few winters ago "A Robin remained all through tlie winter, and it was interesting to see him fly over from the 'Foundry window' to the tree and re- turn several times daily. It was evident from his manner of flight that one \\\\\)i was injured." This Robin spent a good deal of his time in the upper story of an old foundry, and had it not been for the Mountain Ash berries he certainly would not have lived through the winter, being unable to migrate. Young trees of the Mountain Ash can be had at any of oUr nurseries, and are both hardy and ornamental ; or the berries can be sown any time during the Fall in the hedge- rows, along fences, in pastures, and in open wood land, a very slight covering of soil being sufficiv'nt. -«-«-• Eggs Badly Incubated. During ly78 we took one set of eggs of Red Shouldered Hawks and found on drilling one of them, that the chicks were al)out ready to leave the shell, desiring to save the eggs we gave one a sharp careful blow with a table knife, which had the de- sired effect, the egg opened- in two piec- es, the chick was dropped out, and the shells were put together again, and even the mark of separation cannot be detected, when large eggs are near the end of incu- bation we sliould reccommend this course but the blow must be given by a careful hand. When not far enough advanced to perform the above operation, and too far ad- vanced for blowing out the contents, a good way is to drill a fair sized hole, using strong gummed pnper, through 'which to drill the hole. Eggs thus prepared can be placed in an ant hill and left over night, when the industrious little fellows will of- ten do the work better than the most care- ful OoLOGiST. It is not safe to place small eggs without the "ummed paper in an ant hill, as they will enlarge the hole by biting off tlie shell, when the specimens will be spoiled for any one but the most slovenly collector. ■ Am* ■ — The White bellied Swallow. Dr. Elliott Coues in his birds of Colerado Valley, nuxkes the following statement in reference to this bird ; "Unlike the Barn and Eave Swallows, the Glossy Viridh of Wilson is a confinued hole breeder, rather, jealous of the ancient customs of its family, and slow to yield to the allure- THE 0 OLD GIST 61 ments of civilization, even though the most tempting boxes be presented to its choice. ''When it will, it will, ;ind when it wont, it won't," the Purple IMartins must be depend- ed upon to fill the neat little houses that are built to entice the Swallows. In Eastern Massachusetts, says Dr. Brewer, the change of habit is confirmed. Id parts of Maine and New Brunswick, Mr. Boardman tells me, the experiment is far from successful, as ten to one Swallows still nest in holes in trees and stumps. The hollow tree is the natural, and still the us- ual resort, as we see clearly from the study of these birds in the west. Throughout the State of Connecticut it is not uncommon to find the White bellied Swallows breed- ing in sinirle boxes, placed on buildings, on poles and in trees, our own experience which is quite limited, is as follows : — In an old orchard at the head of Lake Snip- sic we found a colony of White bellies but the owner, a German, refused to let us take any eggs, as he liked to see them about his place, especially on their first re- turn in Spring time, however we prevailed upon him, and one set of five fresh eggs, and a single one from a deserted nest, was the result. A few days after this we. took four single boxes and nailed two of them in a small decayed apple tree, and they were at once taken possession of, by two pairs of the White bellies, as this was an old colony, it is possible that there were more Swallows than decayed trees, hence their readiness to accept these boxes. In close proximity to these trees were a strong colony of Bank Swallows,and with- in five hundred feet a colony of about one hundred nests of Cliff, or Eave Swal- lows, beside a good number of Barn Swal- lows,all of which seemed to breed, and feed in perfect harmony. Food and Structure of Rooks. Through the kindness of Mr. Wright I have received for examination three Rooks, killed in a field of young clover belongin"- to Dr. Broomhall, at Beech Cliff. They weighed respectively 14 1-2 oz., 15 1-2. and 18. I find that the gizards are com- posed of two coats, first, the external mus- cidar coat and secondly, the internal grind- ing coat. This internal coat in some birds, notably the common turkey, is very thick, firm, and corrugated ; in the Rook it is simply a thin bag. The gizards of two of the Rooks were postively empty, the giz- zard of the third Hook was filled with a material wiiich,in spite of sundry washings, dryings, etc.. is simply a puzzle. It looks, undm- the microscope, like amass of very fine vegetable fibre. Mr. Searle thinks it is potato and the fibre of the shoots of tui'- nips, or may be clover. I find that the Rook has a pouch underneath it's chin in which it probably carries its food home to its young — a sort of cheek, pocket, or pouch, as a monkey. I observe that the tongue fits into a sort of scabbard, or case, hollowed out lor its reception in the base of the upper beak. On making a section ofthisbeak, I find that the organ's for smelling are very highly developed. The beak consists of two parts, a horny part externally, and a bony part internally. The internal parts are highly sensitive, tlius ac- I counting for the ready way in Avhich the [ Rook is enabled to pick up worms, or dis- I cover their wiiereabouts when buried in : the earth. At the base of the beak is a : white rough skin. By some it has been j advanced that the rook, in digging, wears I down its feathers, and that the base of its j beak becomes bared of feathers for that j reason. It is I believe, a fact that young I rooks do not have this space bare, but that it is covered with feathers. The Rook, ! when adult, loses the feathers, I do not : think they wear off, hut simply fall off. I ; have made a section of a Rook's skull. I I found he has a very large brain, and the ! convolutions of the gray and white matter : are well marked. I think they earn their living by destroying insect life, especially I worms and grubs. If there were no Rooks the larvae of the Cockchafer (called Joe Bassett's) would have a fine time of it ; ' they are also great eaters of wireworms. o2 THE OOLOGIST which nip off the roots of the grass, cows eat the grass, if the grass is not abundant the cows' milk becomes of an inferior quality, so that in certain districts it may be said that the quality of the milk depends on the presence or abseace of Rooks. — Land and Water. Bombay Birds. A lady writes to hcind and ^Vater of the sharp acts of a pair of Amadina Pim- oJxlata : "Four years ago they flew in at my window, having escaped from some ship. They let me catch them, and put them in a cage, where they have not only lived in luxury and happiness ever since, but hatched several broods of little ones. Three or four days after the little ones are hatched, papa picks up his progeny by the scruff of the neck, and deliberately drowns them in the drink-water hanging high in the cage, and when they did not die fast enouo^h pecked a hole in the back of their little heads to make it sure. I said to my- self, ''Perhaps it was because 1 looked into the nest." When No. 2 brood arrived, papa did the same, although I never went near the cage, except to put the food in, and they are so used to me, they never got off the nest ; so I said, "Papa is jealous ;" and when No. 3 brood came I removed iiim, but their mamma performed the brutal otBce for him ; so then I said, "Infanticide in the family," and I have given it up in despair. The eggs are like little sugar- plums, and the little birds are the size of a humming-bird. I have never been able to keep the produce more than five days, yet on opening the little corpses after the parents have murdered them, they are generally found to be full of fiood, chiefly millet in [lulp. and salad. . .^«» ■■ — Scarlet Tanager. — Pyrauf/a llnhra. My pet whose name heads this brief no- tice, has succeeded in his moult, and is now a greeuisli ash on the scapular regimi with ash on the back and rump. The under parts and sides are a lighter asli. Chin, throat, posterior and breast, cream color. He ceased whistling on the approach of the moult and has been silent since. He still prefers the milk paste with now and then a moth, beetle, grasshopper, and house flies. He is not quarrelsome, and still agrees well with Canaries or other gentle birds. 1 mention these facts as the Tauager is well suited as a cage bird. I will report again if he lives through the winter.. — V. M. Firov. Professional Oologists, J. M. W. In my cabinet is a set of the Sharp-shin- ned Hawk's eggs seamed by the teeth of a gray squirrel, and an incomplete set of the Cooper's Hawk's bearing the " x mark " of the same rodent. Now this leads me to remark that when, in an amateur way, a collector goes out to get a rare egg or so for purposes of comparison, or to aiS in scientific determination, he finds the field fully occupied before him with professional rivals. These are the pot-hunters of oolo- gy. There are, of course, to be met with the well-known scavengers, such as the skunk, mink, weasel, and raccoon — the Crow, Hawk, Owl and Gull; and there are others still not so well known as fora- gers on birds' eggs, who yet carry real de- vastation in their track. But I will at this time only speak of those I have actu- ally run across in the field in a rather thorough scouring of a New England neigh- borhood in the breeding season for five years. Thrice I've seen a black snake taking eggs from nests : two of the nests' were Robins' and one a Brown Thrasher's, and they were in bushes four feet from the ground. Neither snake was coiled, biit his entire length lay along the tops of the bushes ; there was no pretense of charming, though the snakes in each instance were very large. Have known no case of this constrictor being coiled up in a Wood- pecker's hole, according to the rather startling description of one our earlier or- nithologists. The gray squirrel, which THE O OLD GIST 63 scarred the set of Acclpiter Fuscus. was seen within a foot of the nest with the fe- male covering the eggs as the climber as- cended the hemlock. In the instance of the Cooper's Hawk, the marabder was t'aught in the act by the female and hust- led away without ceremony. I had prev- iously startled the hawk from her nest, and was an eye'witness to her savage return. Am of the opinion that the squirrel ate one or two of the eggs here, for I got but three, though waiting a good while for the full complement which with this hawk is oftener five than four. In \YcstChester, in the spring of '75, saw a red squirrel go into a Bluebird's box, twice come out with the lovely emeralds, and as he leisurely strolled in for his third prize he was driven away. In Norwich, in June, '76, I saw one go into an House Sparrow's box and destroy a full clutch of six eggs. Here, luckily, no one felt called upon to interfere, considering it in the light of a just reprisal. The House Spar- row now commonly drives away the White bellied Swallows and Bluebirds from their old tenements, and has been seen last sea- son to make war upon house Pewees and rend their mossy homes in pieces. And any order of nature that tends to keep down the numbers of this immigrant should win our approval. Have also seen the red squirrel throw out the eggs of RobiLS, and on several occasions noticed the tawny Chicaree pursued by a pair of angry Robins, when the inference was he had been indulging his birds' nesting pro- pensities. In early June mornings, before the jan- itors were up, have seen a colony of Crow Blackb^ds go through the Yantic ceme- tery and swiftly and silently visit every Robin's nest in as regular business-like way as a company of sailors egging on the breeding islands pay their compliments to the Gulls and Guillemots on their morning round. Crow Blackbirds are the most in- tolerable of these pests. They eat the young Squabs also, and in summer the in- cessant cries of the Robins harried by Grackles are common in our up-town streets. The Cuckoo is to much malinged iu this connection. He is so much less in numbers than the Grackle and never in counnunities. Do not even believe it does half as much damage as the cow bunting. Others than myself no doubt have often debated whether it was not our duty to throw out on the ground every Cow bird's egg we find ; for as certainly as the egg hatches in the case of the social Sparrow, Yellow and Chestnut-sided Warblers, and such suiiill Iry, so surely will the parasite when half-grown thrust out the rightful occupants to perish. Have even seen the Cuckoo breeding at peace with a colony of Red-winged Starlings, in the same thicket with a paii^ of Catbirds, and on one occa- sion in a swamp- blueberry bush directly under a white birch in which was a Rose- breasted Grosbeak's nest. Perhaps while nesting they enter into an alliance, offen- sive and defensive, with their neighbors, but we have sufficient reason to think that when the young clamor for food the Cuck- oos will be the first to break the armistice. Have seen a Baltimore Oriole tear to shreds the nest of of a Red-eyed Vireo — but this was malicious mischief, for the eggs were not eaten. On a farm in the suburbs one morniijglast summer saw a chained monk- ey get loose, climb the old apple-trees and eat two sets of Bluebirds' eggs in a twink- ling. But he was an exotic, and we may not look for his re-appearance in any ""oc- casional " or "-accideutal " list. Have also known a young dog to devour a set Wood- cocks' eggs ; and tliough cats may not ac- tually eat eggs, like their wild congeners, yet the great numbers of young birds they kill every season is known to all. So, I repeat in conclusion, that when a collector steels his heart enough to take an occasional set of eggs, he has plenty of company in his unholy work, and it would seem to be next to impossible for any bird ever in safety to rear its young. Yet such is the admirable order of nature that we see every year the same number of Thrush- es, the same number of Warblers and the (U TILE OOLOGIST same number of Sparrows and other fam- ilies, and we may well be amazed at the productiveness of nature under such stern discouragement. — Familiar Science. Birds in Texas. Last summer 1 saw some birds' nests that showed some queer tastes in the build- ers thereoi", and an almost "Yankee" tal- ent for making the most of any material furnished. One was in the skull of an ox. I suppose you all know that among other things Texas is famf)us for loug-horued Cattle, and people in distant States often desire specimen horns as curiosities. Even here, we who see so many long iiorus, are sometimes astonished. The particular horns I speak of were very long, attached to the skull and meas- ured more than four feet straight from the tip of one horn to the tip of the other. The head was fastened to a tree near a gate and has been there several years. The Wrens, go in at the back of the head and down about six inches, where they make their nests and i-ear their young secure from harm. For even the most hardened bird's nest robber could not find it in his heart to abuse the bird's confidence in man. Another pair of Wrens built in an old boot that hung in a crib, and reared three broods of young this year. Here, in Tex- as, many birds raise two broods of young during the warm weather. I also saw a Humming bird's nest after it had been abandoned. It was lined inside with the finest down, with here and there a feather woven in. On the outside the birds had glued bits of moss from the trunks of trees, uo one piece larger than a grain of corn, and had invariably put the inside of the moss against the nest, which was fastened to an oak branch. The tree grew beside a public road, yet so skillfully had the birds fastened it, making it resemble a mere knot on the limb that hundreds had passed with- out discovering it. The nest was the size of a small black walnut with the green hull on. About birds using an old nest ; there are two sides to that question. I know when a child I was permitted to take old nests, being taught that the birds never used them a second time. Here, one pair of birds will use the same nest during our long summer, rearing brood after brood, and I also know that birds have built in that old skull"-previously mentioned-— for a number of years. — C'tcfioi. Texas. Female Birds. Ornithology seems deficient in determin- ing many of the female birds unless seen, associated with the male during the breed- ing season. It is well-known, that in many species the males preceed the females both in the vernal and autumnal migrations ; and at such times many birds are seen which puzzle the observer. I have now two sprightly brown birds in with my Ca- naries, and about their size and build, which are females of the Indigo bird, ( Cyanosjriza Cyajiea) , I think, but am not certain, if both are. They have a general resemblance except formation of the head, the one being a little smaller. The one is very fond of bathing and the other does not bathe at all. Have birds of the same species individual peculiarities? is the inquiry. — V. M. Firor. General Items. Robin's Nest : — Feb. 10. — Saw a nest in Westerly, R. I., containing four full- fledged young. After the heavy snow of the 15th I went to the nest, but the young were not there. It had been watched by a number of people with much iuterest. March 1, 1830. — Blue Bird's nest in orchard with three eggs. B. J. Peckham. The Ruby-Throated Humming-Bird. According to ornitholigists, is supposed to build in this latitude about June 1st, but I have a set, nest and two eggs, collected on Shelter Island, May 19, 1880. m. b. g. -^K • • of -^ ^ 7 B ologigt; NOVEMBER, 1880. No. 9. He laughs \>y the suininci- stream, Where the li'llies nod and (treani, As through the sheen of water cdoI and elear He sees the ehub and sunlish cutting sheer. His are resplendent eyes; His mien is kingliwise; And down the May wind rides he lilie a king, With more than royal purple on his wing. His Palace is the brake Where the rushes shine and shake; His music is the murmur of the stream, And that leaf-rustle an here the lillies dream. Such life as his would be A more than Heaven to me: All sun, all bloom, all happy weather, All joys bound in a sheaf together. No w^onder he laughs so loud; No wonder he looks so proud ; There are great kings would give their royalty To have one day of his felicity ! OOLOGICAL NOTES. St. Clair Fiats, Michigan, June 2. — While crossing Big Bay, going from the south channel to Strawberry Island, I saw in the rushes what I supposed A^as a wild goose. When I was within about 200 yards, it, and its mate took wing, and from the size and color I judged them to be Brants {Brenta Bernicla). This was at 5 a. m. I watch- ed their flight and saw them go toward Goose Bay, about four miles from where I started them. I did not see anything more of them until June 15, when exploring Goose Bay I saw a similar pair go into the rushes about a half mile from me. As I •« ent to- wards them they started and circled near enough for me to get a good look at them, when I at once decided them to be the Brants. I marked the place and going to it found the nest and nine eggs. Three of the eggs were broken and outside the nest, but quite fresh. The eggs were jiure white, of ovidal form and pointed at one end. The average measurement, 2 9-16x1 12-16 and 2 7-16x1 13-16. The nest was in a species of wild grtiss, growing on a hard bottom, in water 8 to 10 inches deep, was composed of drift rushes and the wild grass. It was raised about 9 inches above the water, was 15 inches across outside, 10 inches inside, and 5 inches deep. The lining was of down and feathers. June 15. — On Strawberry Island on the north ridge of Snyboro Channel, I ffjund Forster's and W^ilson's Tern. These birds are easily distinguished at gunshot range by their different cry. That of the Forster's Tern is hoarse ftnd croaking ; in fact they are so dif- ferent I couid single Forster's every time by waiting to hear its call. I fan- cied I could see a difference in the length of the tail feathers. I found a nest of the Forster's on a lot of drift- rushes. It was composed of drift- rushes piled neatly and compactly to- gether, was about 3 inches high, 7 inches across the top outside, and half an inch deep. There were three eggs of a greenish color, spotted with am- ber brown and lilac, thickest at the large end of the ^^^. In shape they were a long and pointed oval and measured 1 3-4x1 3-16, 1 11-16x1 3-16, 1 3-4x1 1-8. While I was examining the nest the Tern came within a few feet of my head uttering its hoarse cry. Was an easy shot. I found sev- eral oth.er nests and shot more of the birds.' I have a few setts of the eggs GG THE OOLOGIST. left. Wilson's Tern at this time had hatched, as I found young birds that could fly a short distance. I saw a numbor of pairs of Canvass back {Aythya valhsneria), and found several nests with from 8 to 10 eggs each. Those with the lesser number were usually fresh, the others more or less advanced in incubation. The first nest I found was in a clump of canes and flags. I saw the bird fly out of the canes, fifty feet from me. I sup- posed it was a Redhead (Aythya Americana) until I lieard its cry, which is sometliing like the cry of the Summer duck {Aix spotisa). while the ^ cry of the Redhead is more like that of the Mallard {Anas boschas). The birds look very much alike at that dis- tance, but the neck of the Canvass back is longer than that of the Redhead. The nest was built in the canes, and of flags, cane leaves and grass, was lined with down which nearly covered the eggs. There were 12, of a greenish yellow color, varying in size from 2 1-2 xl 3-4 to 2 5-16x1 3-16. The shell was very brittle, cracking easily in drilling. The nest was a foot high, 11 inches acrQss outside, 8 inside, and 4 inches deep. I found six nests with from 8 to 12 eggs each. June 23. — I found a second nest of the Brant at the mouth of the Big Bassett channel about seven miles from the one discovered June 15. I saw the birds on the wing near the place. It was in a clump of i-ushes and cane on the west ridge of the Big Bassett in Canada water. It contained four eggs similar to those found in Goose Bay. The shell was rough to the touch and looked very much like the eggs of the wild goose {Be'-nida, Canadensis), and a little longer than those of the Mallard {Anas hoschas). W. H. Collins. The Oologist is one of the best pa- pers of its class. Subscribe for it. Ornithological and Oblogical. The great field of American orni- thology Jias been so thoroughly ex- plained by those leaders in the science — Wilson, Audubon and Baird — the last with the army and navy to aid — that little may seem left for those who come after. But as in such a wide field many minutiae must have escaped their attention, I propose to give on some of these my experience of nearly 20 years in forest and field. I begin with THE OWLS. Wilson says, and his statement has been repeated by Audubon and Nuttali, that the Great Horned Owl lays 4 eggs. Nine nests have come under my observation or been reported to me by reliable witnesses, in none of which were there more than 2 eggs. In most cases these nests were in a cavity of a large dead tree broken off some 40 feet from the ground — in others, the nest of a crow or red-tailed iiawk had been occuj^ied. Incubation began in February. The same authors attrib- ute to the GREAT GRAY OWL, and to the White, or Polar Ov\l. only 2 eggs. I think I am justified in con- cluding that two is the normal num- ber for " Strix cinerea." , A pair of these birds that I took when very young readily fed from the hand, as they grew older fiew to meet me when I came with food, and jjromised to make gentle and interesting pets, but circumstances compelling me to leave home for some time, I reluctantly set them free. Quite different was my experience with another, captured after it had left the nest, fully fledged. Placed in a roomy cage, it continued fierce and untractable tu the last. It erected its feathers and snapped sav- agely at the hand that offered food, and even when nerirly starved by an THE OOLOGIST. (5? abstinence of ten days or two weeks, would never touch a mouthful while any one remained in sight. No sever- ity could subjugate, no kindness could conciliate, no Bengal tiger could be more untamable, aud I finally turned it out in disgust. A few 3'ears ago I discovered on the ground, in the middle of a field, a snow-Avhite object surrounded by a clamorous troop of crows, which I at once recognized as the Great Polar, or SNOW OWL. I was soon in pursuit, gun in hand, and was led on from field to field for half a day. It invariably, af tei- a short flight, settled on the ground, and by its quick eye and ear baffled ever}' manoeuvre to apj)roach it. Finally, by a long shot on the wing, I brought it down and secured it, so little injured that by the next day it flew as well as ever. I expected that so large a bird, reared am^ng the savage wilds of the Polar regions, would prove equally fierce with its "Virginia conjener," but to my surprise from the first it suffered me to put my hand to its mouth, sat on my bare wrist, and ate food readily from my hand. In short, with its great size, splendid eyes and amiable manners, I never saw a more interesting bird. From these grand old monstei'S of the night to THE SPARROWS is a great descent — from the sublime to the ridiculous — but we are merely on a ramble to observe whatever chance mny offer. From Wilson down, writ- ers concur in making the field Sparrow {Spizella pusilla Bonap) nest on the ground. I have found many of these nests, but never one on the ground. They were in all cases on low bushes, usually a blackberry or raspberry, from one to two feet above ground, composed of fine dry grass loosely woven and contained from 4 to 5 eggs thickly sprinkled with minute ferugin- ous spots. Among these, in several instances, was one ^^^^ of the cow bird — that parasitic Bohemian among American, as the cuckoo is among Eu- ropean birds. It is with much diffidence that I suggest another subject of inquiry : THE WARBLERS. Are not the " Connecticut " and the " Mourning " Warbler identical ? They closely resemble in general color, in size and shape of bill, legs, wing and tail, and as far as I have observed, in habits. The difference of color about the head and throat is not greater than is frequently seen between the fall and spring plumage of birds, and as I have never seen the " Connecticut " warbler in the spring or the " Mourning " in the fall, I conclude that the latter is but the immotion or fall plumage of the former. Gentle reader ! have you ever heard the song of swainson's thrush? On two or three occasions in the fall, Avhile quietly watching the small fry flut- tering through the tops of the forest trees, amid the stillness of the woods, my ear has suddenly caught a faint sound of music, so soft and exquisite as to seem not of earth. On cautious- ly approaching I found this to proceed from "Swainson's Thrush." Sitting motionless and unseen but for his mel- ody, he poiired forth a succession of low, whispered notes excelling in sweetness anything I had ever heard, and I thought if at this season when other birds are mute he made for his own amusement music so exquisite, what must his song be when animated by love — he pours its full tide into the ear of his mate, who sits patiently nursing their hopes of a young brood ? Virginia. w. t. allen. 68 THE OOLOGIST. Tfie ©ofo^ist. NOVEMBEK. 1880. ORNITHOL O GICAL FA CTS, FALL A CIES AND FANCIES. THERE are two abilities, or rather a faculty and an abilit5% which, though frequently seen combined in the results of ornithologists' studies, are much oftener found in isolation ; and orni- thology, as well as other sciences, has been deprived, in consequence, of facts which many a time would have concil- iated a disputed point, removed a doubt, or opened new information to the public. We refer to the inherent faculty of close observation, and the ability to successfully and graphically transmit the facts to papers for public recognition. A good ornithologist is not always naturally able to convey liis ideas to others in the glowing terms of the rhetorician ; and, aware of t:d8 weakness, if so it be, is unwill- ing that others should receive his in- formation in his own rough and un- wieldy way. Observations are thus withheld from public notice, which would not only be interesting, but most valuable to science ; while slower men accidentally discover the same facts a long time afterward, and pub- lish them with great credit to them selves. Of course the latter are not assuming to deprive the proper dis- coverers of the merit of his priority, because they suppose discovery origi- nal with themselves — careful search of the records fails to reveal a similar occurrence. The observation made by the later party is commented on at length by themselves and contempora- ries, while the original and best in- formed discoverer is not aware that what he had learned years before, and accurately observed in all its details, had just been found out, a simple fact in itself, and published with great flourish of descrij^tion. This is a state of affairs that never can be remedied, except b}' the co-operation of every ornithological student of the land with the press. Conversation of even the better informed and well educated bird authorities, with obscure and un taught, but well observed men, contin- ually veveals ornithological observation never before thought of, and of course of value. The discoverer did not want to publish it because he could not write well enough ; or he never ha. ' much opportunity to read the papers, and was not aware of the importance of ornithological information, or of what he had seen. Dr. Coues had once said that ornithologists should not be expected to know everything about birds. It is impossible for one man, even though ht be an author and have access to all tae published dis- coveries and labors c f others, to know more than his shau, or to possess more than an excetoingly small pro- portion of all bird knowledge. There must be many observers, whose com- bined efforts, however small individu ally, with the assistanc e of the ornitho- logical collaborator, go to form the gist of our bird knowledge. Those who consider themselves well posted may learn a vast deal from bird books, and are often confronted with state- ments that they were almost positive no one else was aware of b^it them- selves. But the science of ornithology should not be deprived of valuable material, because of the observer's in- THE 0 OLD GIST. 69 ability to so express himself, as to con- vey a good impression of his grammar. There are those not quite so well in- formed, bnt better able to frame his intelligence for the public, who would help him out of that dilemma. Let us have the facts and it will not be necessary to invent theories. Let our increasing know^ledge of ornithology be built up Avith the notes aid fresla observations of plain and unassuming students of nature. Imagined actions and habits of birds do not arise out of the matter-of-fact minds of true na'.ur- alists. Most of the fallacies of orni- thology have their origin in the theo- ries of those who are confident that they can account for this or that by an obsolete line of reasoning ; while meager knowledge of the facts re- quired to support the theories leads many astray. *•+ Editorial Notes. Fauna Boreali Ameeicana, advertis- ed in our last number, was sold to the Rev. C. M. Jones, Eastford, Conn., an enthusiastic collector, and who is the fortunate possessor of one of the finest collections of mou.nted birds and eggs owned in this state. John Cassin. — Birds of California, Texas, and Oregon, advertised by us in last Oologist, has been sold to Messrs. Edwin Ellis & Co., of Albany, N. Y. Works of this class are becom- ing exceedingly rare and increase in value with age. • A Colony of Swallows. ( Cotyl reparia.) One morning late in May (1879) found us in a small l:>oat at the mouth of a creeE; which enters the Delaware river about 35 miles above Philadel- phia. We were informed that this was a favorite breeding resort of the Bank Swallows, and so it proved to be. The left bank of the creek was per- pendicular, and composed of a hard sandy soil, while the I'ight was quite low and covered with a dense growth of trees and luiderbrush. After rowing up th( creek about a quarter of a mile we came to the Swal- low's nests, or rather excavations ; these were made in the bank about live feet above high water mark. The holes were about four inches in diame- ter, and from two to four feet deep. The nests, which were composed of small twigs, in some instances lined with feathers, were generally placed at the furtherest extremity of the hole, and were very bulky. The first few nests wliich we dug out were merely completed, and con- tained no eggs, but in the nests about 20 yards above these we found the full complement of eggs, which were quite fresh. Then a little higher u]j stream we found the eggs had been incubated several da^^s, and on going still further we discovered nests which contained young birds. It is strange that the eggs should vary so much, the first we found being cjuite fresh, and be- coming more advanced in incubation the further up the creek we went. I do not know how to account for it, unless it is in this wise : The older birds commencing to build earlier and further from the mouth of the creek, while the younger ones build later and nearer the river. The nests found up the stream were much more elaborate than those below. There must have been thousands of Swallows in this colony, for the exca- vations, which were quite close togeth- er, extended for half a mile, or more, u]} the creek. And upon one of our number chscharging his gxui, the air was instantly alive with Swallows. It is needless to add that we secured all the eggs we wanted, biTt I must say in justice to ourselves that we were very moderate, only taking about twenty or thirty sets. Wm. L. Collins. 70 THE OOLOGIST. A Collecting Trip. May 2nd, 1880, I went on a collect- ing trij) down the banks of the Sonth Platte river in Arapahoe County, Colo- rado. Scattered along the banks are aspens and cottonwoods, the only tim- ber in that locality. The season being quite early I directed my attention to the only birds then breeding : The Yellow Billed Magpie {P. Nuttalli) and the Fish Crow {C Caurinus). I examined several newly made CroAvs' nests, but succeeded in getting only one sijecimen, the rest of the nests being in various stages of preparation. The nests were invariably placed in forks of the cottonwoods, at a hight of from 30 to 60 feet from the ground, and were composed of small branches and twigs, and lined with a few leaves, bits of grass, &c., and were sortiewhat smaller than the nest of the Common Crow ((7. Americana.) I was more fortunate with the Mag- pies and took three sets of four, four sets of five, all fresh, and two sets of six, each slightly incubated. The nest of the Magpie is a curiojis and bulky structure for a bird of that size. It is a mass of dead limbs, some of them half an inch in diameter, down to the smallest twigs ; one that I measured was thirty inches high and twenty inch- es across, the cavity containing the eggs was three inches deep,' six inches across, and eight inches from the bot- tom to the top.. It was lined with strips of inner bark, leaves, and grass. A small hole on one side was the birds' ' only entrance. The greater part of the mass of sticks was arranged over the eggs in such a manner as to shield them from the severest storm. The parent birds were very shy, leaving the nest as soon as it was approached, and not showing themselves again within gun shot. The nests as a general thing were low, and in small trees, one in particular was so low that I could stand on the ground and reach the eggs vrithout difficulty ; as I did not not take the measurement of the eggs' a{ the time, and do not have them with me, I cannot describe them as fully as I would A^dsh to do. While in Sum mit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, and Jefferson Counties, I noticed a great many Water Ouzel {H. Mexicanus), but in all my wanderings through Chaflee, Gunnison, and Lake Counties, I did not see a single specimen, In a space of ten miles in Clear Creek canon. Clear Creek County, I noticed six different nests of the Golden Ragle, but unfor- tunately they were inaccessible to me. Here in Leadville the Artie Blue Bird {8. Artica) stays with us until June 1st., and then disapi^ears until the following spring. Our only Sum- mer residents are the Robin and Ore- gon Snow Bird, both of which breed here. D. D. Stone. [Mr. Stone informs us that he shall go down to New Mexico about De- cember 1st., and if possible will fur- nish us with notes from that region.] A Stray Partridge. A friend relates the following story of a Partridge which she found among the poultry in her yard : — " Hearing a good deal of cackling among the fowls I went to the door to discover the cause and found the fowls clustered to- gether and much excited, my little boy was chasing something backwards and forwards in their midst, while the ob- ject, a strange large bird with droop- ing wings and spread tail, was chasing the fowls in a manner very difficult to describe. The sight was so unusual that I was frightened and caught the child in my arms to remove him from danger. A neighbor was driving by at the time and seeing my position came into the yard, when he remarked that it was a Partridge. I asked him to catch it for me, assuring him it could THE OVLOGIST. 71 not fly, and that Walter had chased it for sometime. With a smile of inei-ed- ulity he started to catch the bird, but it dodged abont through the flock just beyond his grasp, as it had previously done with the boy. As the fowls be- gan to scatter the bird seemed to real- ize its danger and made for a pile of old lumber, in which he thrust his head, when it was easily c lught and its head chojjped ofl", and being in good condi- tion I at once prepared it for the pot. The bird was undoubtedly a male, and acted very much like a male pigeon in j^airing time." How to Study Ornithology. BY V. M. FIROE. In running over the generic and specific characteristics, describing min- utely each bird by scientific ornitholo- gy, the learner becomes bewildered in the technicalities used in the full and complete delineation, much of which is descriptive samejiess. To avoid con ■ fusion, it is advised to fix one peculiar feature, and rely upon it to distinguish each s])ecimen, until the student has familiarized every bird wliich he can examine, avoiding to care to study the birds beyond his reach, although they may belong to our vast (im-fauna. When the student masters what he sees around him, then, but not till then, should he seek to know the distinguish- ing features of other specimens. In short, let the birds around engage his first attention. The study of our small birds is most difficult. I will illustrate my advice to students in se- lecting six sparrows inhabiting the eastern side from the Mississipjji val- ley. First, generic cliaracters refer to the physiological anatomy of tlie bird ; iSpecific description refers to the par- ticidar bird described. We will take of Sivzella (Bonap.), three, and Melo- spiza (Baird), three. Tree sparrows {ISpizell'i tnonticola, Baird). To know this sparrow, we need only examine the bill, which is black above and yellow below. In the Field sparrow ( Spizella pusilla, Bonap.), we find the red bill. No other sparrow in our section has both mandibles red. The Chipping sparrow {Spizella socialise Bonap.), has the entire bill black, so it also may readily be distingiiished by its beak. Now we come to the other three, poss- essing generic differences. I mention a few — they are stouter, with wings shorter and rounder : feet also stouter than the first three mentioned. Of these, I site the lovely Song Sparrow {Melospizd nieiodia., Baird). For var- iety sake,' let us seek to know them by some peculiar coloring of the plum- age. One sweet singer will be found having a rufous crown with supercili- ary and medium stripes of dull gray, and with a whitish stripe, bordered above and below by stripes of darker rufous brown. Lincoln's Finch {Melo- spiza iincohiii^ Baird). may be known by the well defined band of brownish- yellow acrijss the breast, running down the sides. The last of our selections is the Swamp .Sparrow {Melospiza pal- ustris. Baird). Let us note its fore- head as black, and its back as broadly streaked with black. Of course, all tliese sparrows have many other speci- fic marks ; but my object is to recom- mend to the beginner an easy way to recognize a bird. When he becomes more advanced in the delightful study of Nature on the wing, he may famil- iarize himself with all the peculiarities of the specimens within his reach. Number Foue, Volume Five. — Any of our readers having the above ntun- ber, and not intending to bind them, will (ionfer a favor by mailing them to this office. We can still supply a few full sets of volume four. Volumes one, two, three and five we can no longer supply complete. 72 THE OOLOOIST. General Items. —The Canada Jay. The nest and eggs are not so often met with in collections, simply because these birds' nest, as a general rule, in sections of the country in which there are few observers or col- lectors. At any rate this remark holds good for Canada. The Canada Jay is one of the most abundantly met with birds in the pine forests of the upper Ottawa and Gativeau River. My camp in the Gativeau district last summer was ever attended by these birds dur- ing every month of the season, and their eggs could have been collected by the score. They build generally in low bushes, and often close down to the roots of the bush. The material used in constructing the nest is in most cases a coarse, dried marsh grass. They also often occupy the abandoned nests of other birds, and sometimes even nests that have not been abandoned, and which yet contain the eggs of the true owner. These eggs the Canada Jay either rejects or devours. I in- tend t;:» collect the eggs of this bird next season for exchange. — Henry G. Vennor, Montreal, 1879. — To ascertain the number of insects a Martin consumes, Mr. Florent Prevail, French Naturalist, obtained at different times between the middle of April and first of August, 1879, eight- teen birds, and carefully dissected them to find the contents of the crop. The average number for the single bird was 466; the greatest number, 704 (May 1). The sum total for the lot, 8390. He repeats that no single atom of corn, fruit, or seed of any plant was found. — Twenty-eight Prairie Hens( Tetrao cupido), caught in Kansas, were start- ed to New Zealand via San Francisco. Seventeen arrived in good condition, and were liberated upon the estate of J. T. Brown, near Canterbury. — The Ibis has settled in great num- bers on the shores of Lake Balaton, Hungary. A local paper says, '• The bird has a long beak, bright steel col- ored feathers, and resemb'es the snipe in its habits. The nests are of dry twigs, or of peat and reeds, are built in long rows close to one another, and in straight lines. The eggs are nearly as large as duck eggs and of a bright sky blue color. — Orange Crowned Warbler. Two specimens of the ab;>ve were shot in a swamp near Locke Mich., by Dr. H. A. Atkins, only one of which was secured. — Hallock on Coiies. The bibliography of Dr. Elliott Cou.es, j^ublished in a recent issue, calls up a reminiscence to Mr. Charles Hallock, who writes: "It is always with me a pleasant remini- scence that Dr. Coues and myself were co-workers on that Labrador exj^edi- tion of 1861, when his labors were first begun, and that I helped him jerk his puffins out of their holes, and reach with my rifle some specimens beyond the ranjste of his shot-gun. I have al- ways felt cause for gratitude that we Avere not all poisoned by the arsenic he used in preserving his skins — for the skins went to his collection, and the carcasses into the pot invariably." — Chicago Field. — Birds Catching Fish. The eccentric Chai'les Waterton probably had a more thorough experience with the Barn Owl than any other ornithologist ; he writes of this owl as follows : — " This bird has been known to catch fish. Some years ago, on a fine evening in the month of July, long before it was dawn, as I was standing on the middle of the bridge, and timing the Owl by my watch as it brought mice to its nest, all of a sudden it drc-pped per- pendicularly into the water. Thinking that it had fallen down in epilepsy my first thoughts were to go and fetch the boat : but, beft)re I had well got to the end of the bridge, I saw the owl rise out of the water with a fish in its claws, and take it to the nest." OlogiSTi DECEMBER, 1880. No. 10. The Sandpiper. Ai'ross the narrow beach we flit, One little Sand) i or and I And l'a>t I trather 1 it l)y l)it, The scattered drift-wood l)leacheil and dry, The wihl waves reach their hand for it. The wild wind raves, tlie tide runs high As up and down t'lu beach we flit. One liltte Sandpiper and I. Above our heads the sullen clouds. Scud black and swift across the sky. Like silent ghosts in misty shrouds, Stand out the white light-house high. Almost as far as eye can reach, I see the close-reefed vessels fly. As fast we flit along the beach, One little Sandpiper and I. I watch him as he skims along Uttering his sweit and mournful cry, He starts not at my fitful song, Oi' flash of flutt-ring drapery. He has no thougiit >>i any wrong. He scans me \\itli a fearless eye. Staunch triemls arc wc, well tried and strong, The little Sandpiper and 1. Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night, When tile loosed i?torm breaks furiously? My drift wood fire will burn so bright. To that warm shelter cans't thou fly! I do not fear for thee, though wroth The tempest rushes through the sky. For arc we not God's children both. Thou, little Sandpiper, and I? — Celin Thaxter. The Birds on a Farm. For many years I have noticed what a mimber of birds will breed on a farm of twenty-eight acres, during a single season. I thought this year I would make some approximation of the niim- ber, never having seen any attempt at such a calculation. My ground consists of ten acres of fruit orchard, and grain "or roots, and eighteen acres of mead- ow, part of which is in corn, about five acres on the highest parts, a brook run- ning on one side of the meadow, and a strip of woodland bounds the opposite side. As may be expected the Robins are a numerous class, no less than forty- four nests were built by these birds alone. They commenced building in April, some having two or I think even three nests during the season, as some had young ones in the middle part of August. Of the first nest so many dis- asters occur that they lose their eggs during the early part of the season. In their haste to build, they do so before the foliage affords them much protec- tion from enemies, most of their earlier nest are robbed, either by Crow Black birds. Squirrels, Crows, or other pil- ferers, so that very few of the first nests produce full fledged birds. Nests in the middle of May and June were mostly successful, in July and August they suliered from the violence of storms knocking down their nests. As most of the nests produced four birds, I think it safe to set down the numbers at an average of three birds per nest or one hundred and thirty-two birds, which allows a loss of every fourth nest. One of the first nest of eggs found was a Woodcock's. One of the old birds was killed by a bogus sportsman, a trespas- ser, much to my mortification. The nest was of course abandoned and four beau- tiful eggs destroyed. The house spar- row has found too much of an asylum here, coming in for ten nests, of course all prolific, not less than forty birds. The sweet little song sparrow with his early melody gave seven nests. One was robbed, but six came off victorious with not less than thirty head. Of this bird not more, than half of their nests were found, not being exposed as the Robins 74 THE OOLOGIST. they are sometimes difficult to find, and it is likely that there may have been three or four times as many, as all the time I could give to searching for nests was about two to three hours a week. The beautiful Blue bird was not as numerous as usual. Four, nests were found, one of which was destroyed by a storm, leaving about twelve birds. Chipping birds, six nests, at an average of three each, eighteen birds, many more of these nests were not found. Barn Swallows, two nests of eight birds. Chimney swallows, two nests, one destroyed by rain, say Ihree birds. The melodious Wood Thrush had four nests, most appeared to come off safe. As they usually have four eggs it is safe to set them down at least twelve birds. Common house Wren had also four nests, with probably five birds each, making twenty more. Ground or grass Sparrows two nests, jDerhaps eight birds. Rose Breasted Grosbeak three nests, probably nine birds or more. Phoebe bird one,f our young ones. Wood Pewee, one, four birds came ofi". Of several spe- cies of Warblers four nests, perhaps twelve birds. Orchard Orioles two nests, seven birds, Baltimore Orioles one, three birds. King-bird, two nests seven birds. Cat-bird seven nests, not less than twenty-five birds. Shore Snipe one nest, three birds one egg left. One Quails nest destroyed by weasel. Two Fly-catchers, six birds, and two yellow- birds one nest of which the young birds are just ready to fly September 7th, which, when they are out will make eight birds more. Many birds have had nests tiiat baffled my search. Of these were the Brown Thrush, of which I know there were several, I have usually found two. The Chewink, or Ground Robin, was another of which I found none. Several of the Warbler and Fly- catcher families were represented, but nests not found. Bobolinks, Meadow Larks, Cow birds, and Black-birds were numerous. Cuckoos were also here. Doves, Field sparr ws and also a small Owl was frequently heard. One nest of Humming birds were hatched, and the two young birds were seen fre- quently with their parents in the garden. Taking these figures as a basis of birds knoAvn to leave their nests, we have three hundred and sixty-one, (361) young ones, but I am sure this does not nvimber half the birds hatched. Birds nests on the meadows, brook side and woods were not easy to find, and the little time I could give it did not give a fair representation of numbers. I tliink six or seven hundred birds would be nearer the mark. But what becomes of all these birds, they increase at least three fold every year, yet their numbers are reduced to about the same by the following spring. Surely this is a subject worth the naturalists atten- tion. Is it possible that two-thirds of all the little birds are killed by hawks, or the giui, or do they die of disease, inclemenency of the weather, or from what cause '? When it is known that many old birds come back to the same nest for several years, the mortality must be great cr their numbers would soon increase more than they do. Benry Hales, The Migration of Birds. There is perhaps, no question in ornithology more obscure than the Mi- gration of Birds. The long flights they take, and the imerring certainty with which they wing their way between the most distant places, arriving and depart- ing at the same period year after year, are points in the history of birds of pas- sage as mysterious as the}' are interest- ing. We Know that most migrants fly after sundown, though many of them select a moonlight night to cross the Mediterranean. But that their meteor- ological instinct is not unerring is proved by the fact that thousands are every year drowned in their flight over the TTTE 00 LO GIST. Atlantic and other oceans. Northern Africa and Western Asia are selected as winter quarters by most of the Euro- pean Birds of Passage, and they may be often noticed on their way thither to hing over towns at night, pnzzled, in spite of their experience, by the shifting- lights of the streets and honses. The swallow or nightingale may sometimes be delayed by unexpected circumstances. Yet it is rarely that they arrive or de- part many days sooner or later, one year with another. Pr> if. Newton considered that were sea-fowl satellites revolving round the earth their arrival could h irdly be more surely calculated by an astronomer. Foul weather or fair, heat or cold, the puffins repair to some of their stations i^unctualiy on a given daj^ as if their movements were regulated b}^ clock-work. The swiftness of flight which characterizes most birds enables them to cover a vast space in a brief time. The common black swift can fl}^ 276 miles an hour, a speed which if it could be maintained for less than half a day, would carry the bird from its win- ter to its summer quarters. The large purple swift of America is capable of even greater feats on the wing. The chimney-swallow is slower — 90 miles per hour being abouL the limit of i.s powers but the passenger pigeon of the United States can accompjish a journey of 1,003 miles between sunrise and sunset. It is also true, as the ingenious Herr Pal- men has attemj^ted to show, that mi grants during their long flights may be directed by an experience p;irtly inherit ed and partly acquired by the individual bird. They often follow the coast lines of continents, and invariably take, on their passage over the Mediterranean, one of three routes. But this theory will not explain how they pilot them- selves across broad oceans, a:'xl is invali- dated by the fact, familiar to every orni- thologist, that the old and young birds do not journey in company. Invaricibly, the young broods travel together ; then come, after an interval, the parents ; and, finally, the rear is brought up by the weakly. This is the rule in autumn. The return journey is accomplished in the reverse order. The distance trav- eled siaems, moreover, to have no rela- tion to the size of the traveler. The Swedish blue-throat performs its matei'- nal functions among the Laps, and en- joys its winter holiday among the ne- groes of the Soudan, while the tiny rubj'-throated humming-bird proceeds annually from Mexico to Newfoundland and back again, though one would im- agine that so delicate a little fairy would be more at home among the cacti and agaves of the Tierra Caliente than among tlie tirs and fogs of the north. — London Standard. Oological Items. YELLOW BELLIED FLY-CATCHEES EGGS. Editor of the Oologist:— In "J. M. W's" interesting article in the Oologist, for Oct. & Nov. referee; ce is made to a set of Yellow bellied Fly-catcher's eggs. If a genuine nest of this species has been found in Connecticut the fact i of great interest, for we have no previous record of the breeding of the species in that state. But has not the printer made a slip with the name ? Or perhaps J. M. Ws well known accuracy is for once at fault. The matter is of suffi- cient importance to merit prompt sub- stantiation or correction, as the facts may dictate. WiLLL^M Brewster, Cambridge. - ■* — ■ New Publications. Science Observer. — A monthly maga- zine in its third year. Published by the "Boston Scientific Society." It is about the size of the Oologist and very neatly gotton up and mailed to subscri- bers tor only 50 cents per annum. « The Oologist is one of the best pa- pers of its class. Subscribe for it. 76 THE OOLOGTST. te ^ol DECEMBEH. 1880. C 0 WHIR D. ( Molophrus < i ter. ) On the 15tli of May I found a nest of Pciwae, {tSayornis fnscus), containing thrje eggs and thrae eggs of Cowbird. Will yju kindly inform me if the Cjw- bird lays m^ra thui one egg during the s^asjn? and if they deposit the egg with bi'l or sit on the nest. Ernest D. Wintle, Mjntreal. [It is diffi-'U.t t.) answer the question of our corrjsp mdent with any degree of accuracy. The Cowbird being very luysterious in its habits, and at the tim3 of laying are very qui k and dis- plays much cunning, hence it is very diffiouit to watch its m^vemants at that time. It certiinly lays m 3re than one egg in a season, bat how mmy we have notyatdjtermiuad. It is generally sup- posed to lay its egg in the natur.d way, at least if there is any evidence to the contrary we are not aware of its exist- ence. If the three eggs mentioned above w^re laid by one bird there seems to be no reas 3n why they should not baild their own nest and raise their own yjung. The ilea advanced by the Elitor of Whites Selhorne. for the Eu- ropean Cuckoo that their eggs are ma- tured so far apart (two to there weeks), that they cannot incubate their own eggs, probably holds good with our Cow-bird, ki aiiy rate it is an in- teresting subject for investigation. Mr. Fred. T. Jencks writes us, that he is of the opinion that the egg is laid in the nest in the natural way, and not by the mouth, and from tlie number of eggs found and the scarcity of the birds they must lay a number each season. He has found many nests with two and three eggs each, and from the similarity of those in each nest is of the opinion one female laid them all.] Killing Rapatia. As some f)f our readers niay secure live speciniens of Ilapatious birds and desire a method of killing them, we have extracted the following exjDeri- ments from Familiar Science. The first of which we had directly from the exj)erimenters. How (not) to Kill an Owl. — We were informed by a taxidermist who had pur- chased a big-horned owl alive, that, not iking the operation of killing, it was h mded over to another party who took a fork and struck it a heavy blow <.;n the head with the handle, which pro- duced little effect, when the prongs of the fork were forced through the head several times, and he was thrown down for dead ; but on going to the office in the morning his o>vlship was perched on the back of a chair with a mounted wood duck in h?s mouth, and having destroyed mmy mounted specimens in the night in hopes of finding food. Tiie next process was a heavy dose of strych- nine, which apparently had no effect whatever, although he was left over night. Then tirsenic was tried with no better results, when a more positive method had to be tried. On examining the brain where the forlv had penetrated, it was found that the brain was only affected where the tines of the fork had penetrated it, apjDarently being free from all inflammation. How TO Kill an Eagle. — In our June number, page 125, of last year, we gave an item, "How (not) to kill an owl," and, THE OOLOOTST. 11 we confess, with some misgivings, for it did not seem credible that animal life cotiid withstand such treatment. But we have lately been presented by Mrs. G. R. Audubon with a letter which was originally written to Mr. Audubon, in 1832, which tends to confirm the ab(nv statement. Bat we give the letter en- tire, as 'follows : Boston, Nov. 21, 1832. Mu. J. J. Audubon : Dear Sir: Abjut sixteen years since a lar.;-e e.agle {Falco osHfruslies to the open space beyond, whither we exj>ected to find a fairly well-beaten bark-road. The moment we emefged from the bushes, we heard the low, apparently strained note of a Nuthatch. For two or three days we had been searching for the smaller, red-bellied species, certain that it was to be found in these wilds ; but, though we were positive that we had heard its note a few times, the bird had kej>t well out of sight. Our list of species, which we had expected to find probably occurring here, was nearly completed by the corroborative evidence of specimens seen and taken, but Sitta canadensis had, thus far, eluded us. Our desire, therefore, to see this bird in its native haunt, impelled us to search especially for it, and when we had heard and apparently located the note, we quite eagerly set off in the direction from which we supposed it came. The note of this species, as we presently learned, was' very deceptive, and we carefully hurried in several directions, then stopped and listened, the mean- while casting our eyes upon the trees in search of the little tormentor, without at first being able to ascertain where it was. We at length discovered it sitting perfectly still upon the horizontal limb of a dead tamarack, not more than six or eight feet above the ground, and not a dozen paces from our landing place, quite busy in preening its feathers. Be- ing well shielded from view it did not discover us, and we were at liberty to watch it without being observed. Now and then, in the midst of, its occupation, it would distend its throat and utter the note we had often heard before. This differed quite perceptibly from that of its White-bellied relative, being less vol- uminous, not so short, and uttered with a seeming deal of labor. It was com- posed of two or three slightly prolonged n