.A'^' ^ : ^^K 1' FORTHE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The Oologist. rOR THE STUDENT or BIRDS: TMEIR NESTS AND EGGS, VOLUA\E XII. ALBION, N. V. FRANK H. LATTIN, PUBLISHER, 1895. iJf^-^ A. M. EDDY, PRINTER AND HINDER, ALBION, N. Y. 1895. INDEX TO VOL. XII. Academy of Sciences, The Michigan 19, ',-^ Albery, C G I'.t Association. Tlie Noi-thwestern Ornithol- igical 3s Association, The Western New York Nat- uralists 145, l.")t) Audubon, John James (Half-tone) ..60 Audubon. The Portrait of. etc (31 Audubon's Biography. Notes From 11 Auk and Egg. The Great lac. Auk, Skin and Eggs of Great 165 Avocet, American 108 Baldpate 3, 151 Barlow. Chester (Half-tone) 3(i Bates, Prof. G. L lii Birds, Accidental Death of iht Birds, A Little Chat on Pet 18:! Birds and Storms 45 Birds. Destruction of :u Birds in the Extreme Part of Western New York. Breeding Time of Our 13 Birds of America. Audubon's K'm Birds, of Heron Lake, Water 14 Birds of the Orange Mountains in Essex Co., N. J.. Winter T'.t Birds of Pennsylvania 54 Birds. Some Notes on Two California ISti Birds Who Sing on the Wing 55, IW Bittern. American 3. '.34, 44, 55, 15-.i Bittern, Least 14,45,47 Bittern for 1895, Notes on the Least ...129 Blackbird, Brewers .48, 128 Blackbird, Red-winged 16, 22, 45, 161 Blackbird, Yellow-headed . 22, 48, 129 Bluebird 16. 54. 55, 79 Bluebird. Western 48, U7 Bluebird. Albino Eggs of the i:il Bobolink 32. 4.5, .55 Bobolinks. Dragging for 123 Bob-white 55, SO, 188 Bob-white, Experience with the Young of 6 Bob-white, Notes on the .52 lionasa umb^llnx. A Family of 111 Breeders of Western New York. Spring 16 Breeding Dates for Southern Michigan .54 Bubo Virginian iig 112 Bufflehead IfiK Bunting, Indigo 17 Cabinet, My Oological Canvas-back Captivity. Rails in Catbird Chat, Yellow-breasted Chickadee. Black capped Chickadee, California 142 m:'.. 151. 161 24 17. 54 17. 155 79 1 28 Chickadee. Chestnut-backed 49 Chickadee, Oregon 48 Chuck-wills-widow 156 Condor, California 27 Coot, American 03 151 Cormorant, Double-crested. . 3, 156, 168 Cowbird 33^60 Crane, Sandhill 55 Cross-bill, American gO Crosfci-bill, White-winged 48 Crow, A Talkative 51 Crow, American .28, 44, 46, 54, 80, 184, 188 Crow. Northwest 48 Datas, Standard 70 Destruction of Birds 31 Dipper, American 4^ Dodge, Harold H. (Half-tone) 75 Dowitcher 15 Dove, Mourning 36, 44. 55, 126, 188 Duck, American Scaup _i5i, lei Duck, Ruddy... 15 Duck, Wood 15 Eider, American 57 Eagle, Bald 48, 1.56 Eagle, Golden 27,128 Facts, Three 126 Field Days in the Foothills _ 170 Finch. California Purple 48 Finch, Purple 17, 45, 80 Fisher, Wm. H. (Half-tone) 66 Fitch, RoyG. (Half-tone) 157 Fitch. Roy G. 1(5.7 Flicker 10, 17, 4.5, 69, 80, 119, 188 Flicker, An Eccentric 76 Flicker, Red-shafted 48, 127 Flycatcher, Crested . 21, 36, 44 Flycatcher. Olive-sided 6,5 Flycatcher, Traill's 1515 Flycatcher, A Few Notes on the Nesting of the Crested 137 Flycatcher, Notes on the Nesting of the Ash-throated 141 Gadwall 3, 22 Gallinule, Florida 15,45, l.5:{ Geothlypis macgilllivrayi. Nest and Eggs of... 37 Gibbs, M. D., Morris (Half-tone) 13 Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 139, 151 Godwit, Hud.sonlan 169 Godwlt, Marbled . ...169 Goldfinch, American 80 Good Authority 76 Goose, Canada 83, 161 Goshawk. Western 151 firackle. Bronzed 16,44 THE OOLOGIST. Crete. Eared 3,22,2-1,163 Grebe. Holbocirs 3,23 Grebe. Horned.. .3,22,24,162 Grebe, Pied-billed 22 Grebe, Western ^5 Grosbeak. Rose-breasted 17, 34, 45. 65 Grouse. Experience .With the Young of the Ruffed *> Grouse, Notes on the Ruffed 172 Grouse. Oregon Ruffed 48 Grouse. Prairie Sharp-tailed —23, 168 Grouse. Ruffed 17, 39, 44. 80. 114 Grouse. Sooty 48 Guilford, H. M. (Half-tone) 33 Gull. American Herring 3 Gull. Franklin's 14 Gull. Kittawake ^"^ Hanging and the Lesson in It. A 143, 147 Hawks and Their Nests 175 Hawk. American Rough-legged 9 Hawk. American Sparrow 9. 34, 44, 49, 80, 177. 187 Hawk. Cooper's 22,29,44.55,80 Hawk, Desert Sparrow 101, 127 Hawk. Marsh 45, 55, 80. 125. 163 Hawk Notes from California.. 101 Hawk, Pigeon 136 Hawk, Red-shouldered 16, 44, 54. 5.5, 80 Hawk. Red-tailed 9, 34, 80, 176, 185 Hawk, Sharp-shinned 80,101,17.5 Hawk. .Swainson's 8, 150, 169, 170 Hawk, Western Red-tailed 48, 101, 126, 127 Hen. Prairie 23,47,150 Heron, Green 17,30,45 Heron, Nesting of the Great Blue 179 Hummmgbird. Ruby-throated 30. 45, 165 Ibis, White-faced Glossy 126 Jay, A Few Notes on the Arizona 136 Jay. Blue 32,44,80 .lay, Blue-fronted 48 Jay and Three-toed Woodpecker, My In- troduction to the Canada 39 Jay. Oregon 49 Jay, Pinon 178 Jay. Steller's 48 Junco hyemaliB danbyi 178 J unco, Oregon _ 49 Junco, Slate-colored -79, 183 Kent Ornithological Club 58 Killdeer 44,49,55, 151 FUngbird 11. 45, ISl Kingbird, Arkansas 11 Kingfisher. Belted 45.48,80,89 Kinglet, Golden-crowned 48, 79 Kite, In the Haunts of the White-tailed 97 Kite, White-tailed 27 Knots Shot at Stoney Point. N. Y., Two .135 Lark, Horned 69 Lark in North Eastern Ohio, Breeding of the Prairie Horned 108 Lark. Mexican Homed 186 Lark. Prairie Homed 16, 34. 47 Lawrence. Geo. N. (Half-tone) 84 Lawrence. Geo. N §5 Letter of Interest from Dr. Coues 168, 170. 182 Longspur, Chestnut-collared 168, 170 Longspur, McCown's itjS, 170, 182 Loon r .188 Magpie, American 43, 184 Mallard 3. 23, 48, 124, 1.51, 161 Manitoba, A Few Notes from Shoal Lake 22 Martin. Purple 10, 36. 45 Massachusetts, Notes on the Blue-headed Vireo in :>i Meadowlark 16, S2, 36, 4.5, 188 Meadowlark, Western _22, 48. 98 Merganser. American I88 Merganser. Hooded .168 Merganser. Red-breasted 15 Merlin, Richardson's 10 Merlin, Nesting of Richardson's 135 Michigan Observers. To All. 72. 93 Mockingbird. The 163 Moran, Nathan M. (Half-tone) 83 Museiim, Guilford College. N. C 38 Museum, Theological Seminary, Andover, Mountain Partridge in Captivity The.. 9o Mass ! 19 My First Find of 1895 69 Natural Science News .^g Nest Site of the Phoebe. An Unusual 41 Nests, A Hint in Preserving 182 Nests of the While Pelican and Double- crested Cormorant. Frontispiece 2 Nests, Owls and Their So Nests, On Collecting and Preparing ill Nests of Water Birds 123 Nests. Woodpeckers and Their 115 Ne-sting Sites. Odd and Unusual 35 yidiolofjist 27, 95 Nighthawk .- 36, 45, 46, 55 Northwestern Ornithological Association,. ..;58 Norway's Bird Islands 65 Notes for 1894. Northwest . '_ k Notes from Pimkiu Patch 151 Notes on the Blackburian Warbler 64 Notes on the Passenger Pigeon in Mich 73 Nuthatch.Notes on the Nidiflcation of the White-breasted 92 Nuthatch, Pygmy 49,127 Nuthatch, White-breasted 41,69,79 Odd and Unusual Nesting Sites Oregon, Winter Birds of Linn Co. Orleans Co. . N. V. , The Yellow Rail in Ornithologists. Important to Illinois.. Ornithological Club. Kent Ornithological Potpourri Osprey. American , .48,80, Outing in Assiniboia, An 150, 161, Ovenbird 56, Owl, Barn 8( Owl, Barred 34,44,55,80,89, Owl, Calif. Screech 48, Owl. Gt. Horned 43. 69. 87, .^5 47 73 96 .18 ..57 188 168 156. S, 99 156 128 112 THE OOLOGIST. Owl. Long-eared 80, 110. 114. 168 Owl. Pygmy 127 Owl, Saw-whet 80,89 Owl. Screech 28. 34, 44, 55, iO. 87, 185 Owl. Snowy '48 Owl, Western Horned 48. 105 Owls and their Nests • 85 Parkhurst, Fred W. (half-tone) 2S Partridge in Captivity, The Mountain 90 Peabody, Rev. P. B. (half-tone) 23 Pelican. Brown :{4 Pelican. American White... :{, 15(5 Pewee. 33, 41 Pewee, Wood 55, 1.55 Phalarope, Wilson's .i. 14, 24 Pheasant, Ring 4S. i»^ Phoebe 16,54 Phoebe, An Unusual Ne.sting Site of (half- tone) 40 Pigeon. Passenger .31.48 Pigeon in Michigan, Notes on the Passen- ger 73 Pintail 3,22 Plover, Back-bellied 15 Prize contests, December ('94) 20 Januarj' 40 February 58 March 9B April 96 May 122 June-July 145 Punkin Pati-h, Notes from 151 Quail, Mountain 48 Rail. Carolina 15. -14. 45 Rail in Orleans Co,, N. Y.. The Yellow 73 Rails in Captivity 21 Rail. King 45, 151 Rail, The California Clapper 171 Rail. Virginia ;.. 15, -21, 45 Raven, American 4S Raven in California, The. Mexican no Red-head 2;^, 126, 161 Redpoll 80 Red.start, American 17,33.45,65 •Roderick Dhn." 77 Robin. American 16, 34. 79 Robin. Albino _ 38 Robin. Western 48 Rough-leg. Ferruginous 8, i.50. 16.', 168 Sandpiper. Bartramian 22 55. 169 Sandpiper. Least 169 .Sandpipi'i-. Red-b.icked.... 14 Sandpip r. Spotted 3, 11, 16, 4.5, hf>. 81, 151 Sandi-i.it-r. Stilt 14 Sandpiper. The Spotted 157 Sapsucker. Yellow-bellied 80. 117 Sapsucker. Williamsons 49 Sayles Jr.. H 18 Semple, A. Mowbray 132 Semple, A. Mowbray (half-tone) 155 •Shitepoke" ^.30 Shoal Lake, A Rough Time Collecting at 3 Shoveller 3,22,151 Shrike. Northern 48,79 Shrike, White-rumped 16, 4t, .^6. I6r.> Silloway. P. M. (half-tone) (j Smith, G. Vrooman (half-tone) ^5 Snipe, Wilson's lo, 44, 48. 55 Suowflake jjq Sora 22 24 Sotirs. E. G 19 Sparrow, Baird's jgg Sparrow, Chipping 17, gg^ 65 Sparrow. Clay-colored ,.]i, j.^o, 168 Sparrow. English., .S6, 5.5, 147, 187 Sparrow. Field gg. igi Sparrow. Fox 79 jgs Sparrow, Grasshopper 127 Sparrow, Lecontes •_>•_> Sparrow, Song is. 31, 79 Sparrow, Swamp 17. ig4_ ]gg Sparrow. Vesper ig. 45 Spari'ow, White-crowned 48, so Sparrow, White-throated gO Sparrow, Western Chipping igg Sparrow, Western Savannah 22 Sparrow, Western Vesper 10 Standard Datas __7o Storms, Birds ancj 45 Swallow, Bank 10.4:^ Swallow, Barn 10. ]7. 45 Swallow, Cliff 10. S3, 36, 147 .Swallow, Tree 3(5, 80, 169 Swift, Chimney ..10. ?.2. 4.5, 188 Tanager, Scarlet 45 Tauager. Summer 155 Taylor. Harry R. (half-tone) 26 Teal, Blue-winged 82.48, 161 Teal. Green-winged 22, 4S, Tern. Black 14, 32, 151 Tern Forsters 8. 15, 23. 124 Thrasher, Brown .35,44 Thrush, Varied 48 Thrush. Wilson's 17, 45 Thrush, Wood 17,4.5.1.55 Titmouse. Plain 137 Titmouse, Tufted 79 Towhee, 17,30 Towhee, Oregon 4H Trip near Monterey, Calif.. A Collecting ..127 Turkey, Wild i.5() United Ornithologists of Maine . . 54 Van Rensselaer, Jr.. Stephen (half-tone) h,) Venomous Bird Known The Only 142 Vireo, Blue-headed 65 Vireo in Massachusetts, Notes on the Blue-headed 21 Vireo, 'Red-eyed 21,4.5, 49, 119 Vireo. Solitary 21 Vireo. Warbling 21, .50, .5.5, 1.56 Vireo. White-eyed 21, 4.5, 51,119 Vireo, Yellow-throated 5\. Ifcrt Vireos found Nesting near Berwyn. Chest- THE OOLOGtS'J' Warbler. Black and White Warbler. Black-throated Green Warbler. Cerulean Warbler. Chestnut -sided Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler. Hooded 45.119. Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Macgillivray's Warbler. Myrtle 6i. Warbler. Palm Warbler, Parula Warbler, Prairie in Wayne Co. Mich Warbler. Prothonotary 32,119, Warbler, Sycamore Warbler. Yellow 17, 4.5, .M. 139, 1.^0, Warbler. Notes on theiBlackburnian Warbler in Dry Weather. The Prothono- tary. Warblers in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Connecticut Watkins. B. S.. L. Whitney (half-tone) Waxwing, Cedar 45. Western New York. Breeding T^ime of Our Birds in the Extreme Part of Whip-poor-will .Vi. Wild Fowl, Wholesale Slaughter of 74 Winter Birds of Linn Co . Oregon 47 Wise and Otherwise 27 Woodcock, American 17, 34,44, br>. 80, ]»» Woodpecker. California 127 Woodpecker, Downy 4.\ (59. 80. 117 Woodpecker, Gairdner's 49 Woodpecker, Hairy . 44. 69, 80. llfi Woodpecker. Hai-ris's 49. 1-J7 Woodpecker, My Introduction to the Can- ada Jay and Three-toed 39 Woodpecker, Nuttill's .. 128 Woodpecker, Pileated .. 48,118 Woodpecker. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Red-headed Woodpecker. White-headed Woodpeckers and Their Nests Wren, Bewick's Wren, Carolina Wren. House Wren, Long-billed Marsh. Wren, Parkman's Wren, Short billed Marsh Wren, Western Winter Wren, Winter 44, 119 ,45,80, 118 49 115 l.i6 155 3.1. .•).-) . .... 45 127 125 48 70, 1.5(; Wren, Nest of Parkman"s in Tin Can (half-tone) 12 Yellow-throat, Maryland 45 Yellow-les;s l.i, 169 THE OOLOGJST $2.25 FOR $1. During- the months of February and Mareh I will mail every person sending me Jl.Ott for a year's sul)scription to the Oolocjist their sekH't ion from goods meutioued in this list to the amoimt of Every siibseriber also will receive a coupon good for a ."lOc Want, For Sale or Exchange Send in your subscriptions at once— earliest ones are sure to get exactly what they want. Make a combination with a friend — you take the premiums, he the piibiications, or rice rersa. Make remittances in most convenient manner. Address plainly and in full. $1.00 Notice FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y. BIRD SKINS. Any sjjecies, your aeUr/ion i.-a,ta.U)guiiA at ^1.00 or under by •'Worthen'" or by '•Lattin " in the old pink catalogue at prices (luoted in either of the lists mentioned. It's always advisable to name at least ^J.uit worth of extras."' EGGS. Your selection of any spocie-s. either in sets, singles or ad class, listing at Sl.OO or under at Lattin's "Standard Catalogue"" prices. When selecting this premium you nuist always name extras to be used as substitutes to the full amount of yottr order. SCIENTIFIC SHELLS. Your selection from species listing at 81.00 or under as offered in Lattin's Shell List In his •lune ('y.i) Bulletin. When selecting this pre- mium •extras' must always be named to fully e,'Ja, Creamy Sea Viinjihipidogovgia eleyaii.s.'iit. 50. Purple" Sea VeiiVa-ev^l'lerogorgia iseCosaib, 50. 1 Sea Pen, Fennatula aculeiita 35, Giant Sea Pen, Pennatuleaborealls 1 ECHINODERMS. Sand Dollar. Echinarac/iuii/x pannu 10 Philippian Urchin. Logan am bonaru 35 White Spinned Urchin, llipponoe esculenlu.. 35 •Aristotle s Lantern" the sea urchins den- tal aoparatus 15 (iiant Purple Urchin, Strongylocentrotua JranrinruHUS 50 Deep Sea .Spatanga, -S'f/ttsax/«r 25 Deep Sea Hedgehog. I'/mrmosoma placen- ta, very rare 2.5, .50. 1.00, 2 00 King of the Echlnoderms, Jfe( alia pec/ oralis:! 00 Medusa"s Head, Astrophyton Agassizii 25. .50, 1.00, 2.U0, :i 00 Deep Sea Starlish, Archwler Agassizii 50 Atlantic .Startish, Asterin" rulgaris 2.5, 35, .50 Black Starlish. h'rhinaxli-r stn'las 35 California Startisli, AsUriat ochracea 25, 50 Compass Starlish. IhliUKh r Kubingii 50 Armor .Starlish. A'idorellti arinata .50 FOSSILS. Sh.trk Teeth * .""i lYilobite. Calymene seraria 25,50,75,1 00 Pentremites 10 Scaphites nodosus 10, 25, .50, 1 00 Mazan Creek Fossil Ferns in kidney-shap- ed nodules 50 Polyp Coral 10. 25 MINERALS. Chiastolite Crystals 9 15 Satin Spar 10, 25. 50 Quartz Cryst-als, Ark 10, 25, .50, 1 00 Coquina ' 10,25 Native Lodestone 10, 25, .50 •'Electric" Stone 10, 25, .50 Geodes, Quartz, both halves 50. 1 00 Opalized Wood 10,25, .50 Meteorites, perfect specimens 25 Ferruginous Quartz, doubly term, crystals 10 Opal, green var. from Wash 10, 25, 50 Opal, Mexican, ctit and polished .50, 1 00 Tourmaline, brilliant black crystals 10, 25. 35 Gem Stones, small cut and polished semi- precious stones of almost every con- ceivable form, shape, size, color and style, ranging in size from !4 to ■'.i inch in diameter." Carnelian, Heliotrope or Bloodstone, Chalcedony, Cloiided Agate. Banded Agate, Fortification Agate, Rib- bon Agate, Brown Agate, Rod Agate. Black Agate. Moss Agate, Agatized Wood. Mocha Stone, Dendritic Agate, Brecciated Agate, Onyx (in great var- iety), Nicolo, Sard, Sardonyx, Agate- Jasper, Lapis Lazuli. Crocidolite (Tiger eye). Fossil Corals, Wood Agate. Labra- dorite. Rock Crystal. Amethyst. Aven- turine. Cameoes, Intaglioes, etc. etc. Fully one-half of them are suitable for .iewel purposes, and if you wanted one mounted to replace a setting in a pin. cuff button, watch charm, ring top, or in other jewelry, your jeweler would charge you all the -sVay from 25 cents to !fl for oiie of these identical stones (jew- elers are buying these stones for this very purpose). When ordering state variety desired 10, 15, 20, 25 1 doz. assorted, my selection, small 60 1 doz. assorted, my selection, choice 1 oo INDIAN ARROW and SPEAR HEADS. From Oregon, Bird and Jewel Points ..S5 to $ 7."i Miss., Red Jasper 10 ■■ 35 •■ Ohio 5" 50 • Illinois 5 " 1 00 Indiana -5 " 1 00 '• North Carolina 5 " 1 00 •• Kentucky -5 •• I 00 MISCELLANEOUS CURIOS. Alligator Teeth 5, 10, 15, Revolutionary Gim Flint , Tusk or Wampum Shell Monev Cowrv Shell Dove Shell from British Guinea, exhibit at World's Fair, 5 for Chinese Horn Nut Beetel Nut Lucky Tooth of Cod Mammoth Porcupine Quill Scorpion in Box Big Tree (Calif.) bark attached to wood Package containing IXlver Bean, 12 assort- ed Sea Beans and 1^ Cassia Beans THE OOLOGIST. Set of Worlds Fair Tickfts 1 W Chinese Coin, cash •'' Broken Bank Bill "i 6var -iti Chameleon in alcohol !i" Etig of Hammerhead or Leopard Shark 15 • Skate or Sand Shark ^ • CuM'of Periwinkle - li> Acorn Barnacle 1" double 20 Sea Horse 35 Hermit Crah in Shell 35 Sawfish Saw, H in 35 Curio (Vase) Sponge :i5 YouuK Naturalisfs Marvelous Collection, "a") edition, contains nearly 50 specimens 75 Mexican Watclniiau's Whistle, clay, unique 15 Resurrection I'lants 15. '^5 FOREIGN STAMPS, ETC. Packet. 100 var lot) choice mixed, retail l-5c 100(> mixed Sheet of 25 selected Ic stamps 'i.1 Set of 6 var., unused, l to 50c, Venezuela. 1880 •Set. 4 var.. used. Chili Telegi'aph Set, 7 var., unused, JCcuador .Set, 4 var,, used, Ecuador, 93 .Set, 2(1 var., unused. French Colonies Set, tj var., used. CUiatcinala. IHHB ic unused Guatemala prov., 188(5, surch...... 4r imused, Guatemala, 1878 '4r unused, Guatemala, 1879 UK- Vermillion, unused, New Brunswick. I860 .5c on 3c unused, British Honduras, prov., 1891 Icused. British Guiana, 1880.. Portraits of Rulers Coats of Arms of the World Merchant Fla^s of the World (Uimiiied Iliu^'i's. per KWO Blauli Approval .Slieets.per 23 l-'opular Album, linen boards, 1200 spaces, 60 111. pages Philatelists Album, boards cloth, gilt SUPPLIES. Taxiuehmist. An assortment of Glass Eyes of sizes and colors most commonly used. This pre- mium at regular rates will catalogue at <-.\:icily fl. (Ml and the selection must be left entirely with me HI Tanning Licjuor, 1 qt. bottle of the best, by express at purchaser's expense 1 Tags with strings, long kind, best, per liw Hack or Bone Saw with blade H.md Vise Tweezers, best ................ Catapult or Pocket gun, without rubber " OOLOGISXS. l.vi(K(Kpg Drill Blowjilpi' white metal Embryo Hook, polished steel"!!"!!. .!."."!! Tweezers best Datas, KM) assorted Trays, while, 4 sizes assorted! per Yoo! (2.5 of each size) by express at purchaser's expen.sc y5 Peabody's l-'leld Note Book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 25 Entomologists. Net. folding with joint handle $i 75 Tweezers, best .i=, Disinfecting Cones, per doz •H) Magnifier. 3 legged 75 nickel pocket folding 35 Geologists. Labels, per 100 25 Magnitiers and Tweezers, see above. Specimen Vials, for small specimens of all kinds, assorted sizes with corks, by express at purchaser's expense per doz, 30 BOOKS &c. Apgars "Key to Birds of N. E. U. S." $ .50 Cook's •'Birds of Michigan" _ Jl Chapman's -Birds of Eastern North Amer- ica." 3 20 Earl's "Pets of the Household'' .50 Ingei-soll's "Bird-Nesting" 1 25 Langille's "Our Birds in Their Haunts" 2 25 Mcllwralth's "Birds of Ontario"' 2 00 Steam s -Bird Life in Labrador"' 75 Bird Preserving and Bird Stuffing _ 35 Maynard's "Manual of Taxidermy" 1 25 Lattin's "Standard Catalog, of Eggs" (1893) 25 Steam's "Notes on the Natural History of Labrador " 1 00 Eberhart's "Elements of Entomology,'' 4o plates— 300 figures 50 Eberhart's "Outlines of Economic Ento- mology'' 50 Eberhart's "Key to the Families of Insects'' 25 The Pistol— A practical handbook on its Use and Care 50 Amateur Trapper and Trap-maker's Guide 75 The Young OoLOGiST, Vol. I and II nicely bound 85 The Oologist, Vol. Ill and IV nicely bound 75 The Oologist. Vol. IX. 1892, 298 pages bound 1 00 An Exchange Notice (or a card good for one) in Natural Science News 25 A year's subscription, with two exchange coupons, to Natural Science News.I 00 Advertising space in Natural Science News to the amount of ifl.uo. Should you desire to select this premium and not care to use the space at once a cred- it card will be issued for the amount which you can use when needed 1 00 Penikese, the issues of Natural Science News, containing this valuable serial complete, on Agassiz's famous summer school at Peniuese Island, written by an eminent Professor who spent both seasons at the Island 75 The Oolocust, a package of forty (40) back number, all different, my selection 1 00 Shooting on the Wing, illustrated, cloth 75 NOVELTIES. Double Pendant Satin Spar Pin . . $25 Quartz Crystal Stick Pins 50 Brazilian Beetle Stick Pins 50 Agate HroDch 75 Crociddlile Brooch .........V.. ....... .!l 00 Agate Shoe Huttoner 75 Agate c;i()ve Buttoner 50 Agate, Moss Agate, Tiger Eye, etc., "Watch Charms 3,5 Coral Necklace !!.....!" 25 Agate Stamp Box 75 Pearl Penholders .56"l 00 Pearl Letter Openers 50 Pearl Shell Egg Spoon 3^ Pocket Magniher 35 Shell Napkin Ring 35 •' Purse !!"" 25 fine !!!!!!!! 7,5 " Ship, thimble holder witii aiuiiiinum thimble sn Shell Match Safe !!!!!! " 50 '• Brooch .................!~ 25 ^j^j;tOA]I If Dig >ICENTRAL PARK, J^A NEW YORK. ?i5^ s'^^ m '*^ TOL. Xir. NO. 1. ALBION, N. Y., JAN., 1895. Whole No. Ill Wants, Exchanges, and For Sales. Brtef special anaomicements, -Wants,' "Excliang-es" "For Sales," Inserted In this department for 5()c per 35 words. Notices over 3.^> words, charged at the rate of one cent per each additional word. No notice Inserted lor less than .50c. Terms, cash with order. "DEAI.EK.S" can use these columns at Regular Advertising rates only Strictly First-class specimens will be accepted m payment at one-half list rates. Exchange Cards and coupons (subscription) will be accepted for "Wants" and "Exchanges" only and according to conditions stated thereon. HORN HAT RACK, nicely made. 4 pair of horns; a pair mounted with hoofs on Dlush, covered back, with mirror in center, 2 feet square with gilt frame outside. Will exchange for $30.00 wf)rth of A. 1 eggs of Hawks. Owls, Grouse or qiiall. You to pay express charges. CHAS. K. REED. Worcester. Mass. WANTED.— Cocoons of lo and Luna, also correspondence with beginning Lepidopterists desired. Local Lepid. to exchange. HENRY ENGEL, No. 1.T.3 2(5th Street, S. S. Pittsburg. Pa. HOLD ON a minute! Have you 4x5, instan- taneous Camera, reliable make, to exchange for Rifle, Sets, Press, Stamps or cash': If so please write to GKOR(iE GRAHAM, P. O. Drawer C., Gainesville, Fla. LOOK : -Best Credenda Safety Bicycle, cost $11.5, with lantern, stand, hell and foot-pump, sold for |4.% Used eiiilit inonttis; good as new. Address, Kf:LLOG 151KD.SEYE, 151 Jorlemon St., Brooklyn, N. Y. WANTED.— A C'oue's Key or Rldgewav's Manual. Will pay cash. Write stating condi- tion and lowest cash price. E. HARDING, Care of Foster & Glassell. Shreveport, La. WANTED.— First-class sets with data not in my collection, and Columbian stamps for stamps from my approval sheets. Send list. GEO. W. DEAN, Wick. Ohio. SEND. 10. !.'», or "J.t cents for specimen of double refraction Iceland Spar. J. L. DAVI- SON, .% WatermanSt.. Lockport. N. Y. WANTED.— Agricultural Dep't Bulletin on "Hawks and Owls of North America." Write statinc condition and cash price. FRANK H. SHOEMAKER. Hampton, Iowa. WANTED.- Ornithological hnol^s. especially Coue"s Key. back vol's Auk. Will pay ca.sh or exchange a collector's shot gun, L^nited States stamps and Album, Climbers and Xylophone, mounted birds, skins or following sets: A. O- U.. lM2-27-.S.'5-42-4:!-59 7.V7rt-79-W- 1 17- 120C-12K- IttO' l«2-2aS-2-'>,'M.'j.5Sa-364-378 28()-3,S6- .338- .32«- .S4.1-;i'«-407-10W-4It) 417-4 l.5-47'.l-.538-.'>16 r)4!)-.5.50-.5.59- .T61-.5»V2-f)it1-61(M53()-6;i7-648.667-67.5-676-683a-T01-717a- 7l8-71St-7.36-7:!8-751-7.5.3. For any of the above lean offer some fine sf>ts. Among them are some Warblers with nests, also a few bird skins, pit games, wild birds, 2'> cai. rifie. artiflciiil leaves and glass eyes. A. E. KIBBE, Box 16.5, Mav- vllle, N. Y. LOOK.— 30 varieties foreign stamps for every perfect arrowhead or named mineral sent me. Double value in stamps for sets of eggs with data. W. G. STUTZMAN, Kent, O. A GENEROUS OFFER.- Po.stal cards are cheap. Get one and mail it to us with your name and address on it and we will send you free a sample of the December Xidiologist, an excellent number of an excellent magazine of Ornithology and Oology, handsomely illustrat- ed. Our annual subscription is now $1.50, or 80c for half year; single copies, 1.5c. Take ad- vantage of this last "sample" offer and then subscribe. Six Illus/rafions:, elegant quality of coated paper— number pages soon to be en- larged. Our success is unprecedented. Get a sample and see for yourself. THK NIDIOLO- GIST. H. R. Taylor. Publisher, Alameda, Cal. SCALED QUAIL.— A pair nicely mounted under b)x2'3 convex glass with painted back- ground—gilt frame, "slightly shop worn" Will exchange tor $35.(0 worth A. 1 eggs in sets of any kind ; also a pair of Bob-whites mounted the same lor same price. CHAS. K. REED. Wor- cester, Mass. EXCHANGE NOTICE. -La FAYETTE G. Durr, 316 Gowdy St,, Nashville. Tenn., offers 100 different stamps for 8c, provided you send for selection with reference of good saleable stamps at 33^, per cent discount from sheets. The showiest selections sent out and the cheap- est dealer In the U. S. TO EXCHANGE— Papers on Oology, first- class singles and sets with data, 'for climbing irons, shot gim or first-class sets with data. FRANK H. BOTSFORD, Lyndonville, Orleans Co., N. Y. A FINE cabinet specimen of Petrified Moss, or two perfect Indian Arrow heads for a fine U. S. copper cent of the date 1821. ARTHUR B. ROBERTS, Weymouth, Medina Co., Ohio. A FIRST-RATE good Coon dog to exchange for eggs in sets with full data, or first-class- birds skins, or sell for cash. Write for jiarticu- lars to JOHN G. RIEXINGER. Holley, Orleans Co., N. Y. BUTT KRFLIES. I have some first-class but- terflies of Tennessee, in papers, to exchange for eggs, or other Natural History specimens. Send for list. WILLIAM OSBURN, 107 Uni- versity St.. Nashville, Tenn. SEND $1.00 for .S pound basket of Dolomite. Calcite, Selenite. Iceland Spar and Quartz. J. L- Davison, .55 Waterman St., Lockport, N. Y. $1 BOTTLE "Tannine." (Webster's) for Vol. 11 or 13 OriiithiilogisI and Oologist, or Cook's "Birds of'Michigan." 3 bottles for set '.i Sharp- shinned Hawk, with original data BENJA- MIN HO AG. Stephentown. New York. HAVE ;30 good sets, wish to sell at '3 rates^ 10 per cent discount. Among them Red Phala- rope. Red-cockaded Woodpecker, etc. Write for list. R. N. WILLIAMS, Tallahassee, Fla. COAST and winter birds for sale in the flesh, also mounted birds, deer heads and Fox skin mats. VLVAH G. DORR. Taxidermist and Fur Dealer, Buckspoit. Me. J.2w TO EXCHANGE.— A copy of Davie's Methods, in the Art of Taxidermy, new, value $10.00. for $3.00 cash and best otTer" in eggs in sets, miner- als, or fossils. Or will exchange it with a good offer in eggs in sets, minerals, or curios, for a typewriter in eood condition. HERBERT STERZING. 94 Jancinto St.. Austin. Texas. THE OOLOGIST. ALIVE A ten inch live alligator sent pre- paid to any address in U. S. for $1.00. K. B. MATHES, St. Augustine, Fla. TO EXCUANGE.— Skins, mounted birds, T perches also orders for above for coming seas- on. Want skins, eggs, lepidoptera, beetles, showy shells foreign to Mich. Send lists with prices. A. W. HANAFORD, 139 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Mich. FOR EXCHANGE.— Bicycle, a 54 inch Col- umbia Light Roadster, ordinary, scarcely used, for best offer in opera glasses, rifle, shot gun, .shell box or gun implements. H. S. DAY, Fremont, Ohio. FIRST CLASS Eggs in original sets with data to exchange for same of A. O. U. No's to No. 400. G. GORDON SCHANCK, Libertyville, Ills. FOR SALE.— A few Hue Indian Stone Toma- hawk Pipes. Dance Knives and Pipes. Send stamp for desci'iption and prices. Also large fossils from S. D. GEO. W. DIXON, Lock Box 381, Watertown, S. D. TO EXCHANGE.— Fine Obsidian and Gem arrow points and common arrow and spear heads for fine cabinet specimens of minerals and curios, and rai"e birds eggs in sets. Send lists. GEO. W, DIXON, L. Box 381, Water- town. S. D. SILVER and GOLD.— Something everybody wants, something all can get by securing a copy of Vick's Floral Guide for 18y.5, a work of art, printed in 17 different tinted inks, with beautiful cotored plates. Full list with dis- cription and prices, of everything one could wish for vegetable, fruit or flower garden. Many pages of new novelties, encased in a chaste cover of silver and gold. Unusual and astonishing offers, .such as Sweet Peas for 40 cents a pound. $300 for a name for a New Doub- le Sweet Pea. etc. If at all intei-ested in seeds or plants send 10 cents .at once for a copy of Vick's Floral Guide, wnich amount mav be de- ducted from first order, to JAMES VICK'S SONS. Rochester. N. Y.. and learn the many bargains this firm is offering. MICHIGAN.— I desire correspondence with every collector of Lepidoptera and with every person, especially ornithologists, interested iii faunal distribution in tho state of Michigan. ROBT. H. WOLCOTT, M. D.. 133 Clinton St.. Grand Rapids. Mich. Temporary address till June. University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Neb. WANTED.— To corresDond with those who have a few dollars to invest the coming season in Mounted Birds, skins or eggs in sets. We are booking orders from some of the best well- known collectors In America. We will spend the months or April. M;iy and June among the biris of N. Dakota and Manitoba. If you wish sets of Ducks eggs in iheir nei?ts of down let us hear from you. Correspondence with taxider- mists desired in regard to supplying fresh pli- able skins of Franklin's CJuU. Terns. Geese. Duck. White Pelican, etc. BRYANT & MUM- MERY, Davison, Mich. FOR SALE. -The following flr.st-clasH. small- holed singles with comi)li!te data;Sooty fJrouse, 30c; Oregon Ruffed Grouse, 2l)c: Tri -colored Blackbird. 5c: Gambels" Sparrow, 5c: Oregon Towhee, lOc: Violet-green Swallow, l.'ic; Mac- Gillivray's Warbler. :*)f: American Dipper, 50c; Parkman's Wren, :>c: Western Robin, rxr. West- em Bluebird. .=>c; Mougolian Pheasant. \hc. No order accepted for less than liOc. ARTHUR L. POPE. Sheridan, Oregon. FOR SALE.— A lot of L. C, Smith Hammer Guns, manufrctured by the Hunter Arms Co.. Fulton, N. Y.: for Swift each, list price ot which is $rtn. Fine London Twist barrels. Walnut stocks, full pistol grip. 10 or 12 gauge. 30 or 3-3 inch barrel, TJi to 11 pounds. All new and in good condition. Address ELIAS BEE, Sterl- ing, Kans. D3t OOLOGISTS WANTED.— I want, at once. copies of the Oologist as follows: July-Aug- ust, 1886: January-February, 1887 or Dec, 18S6, with the former attached: June, 1888, I also de- sire copies of my old 188.T "Oologist Hand- book." For each and every copy of the above publications mailed me not 1 ater than February \f>, 1895, 1 will give 15c worth of anything I ad- vertise or offer for sale, or will send ci-edit check good for the amount I will also allow 10c each for f^e following numbers, viz:— June- Sept., 1887: April, 1889. All must be complete, c^<»a«, and in good condition. Address at once. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N, Y. WAR ! STAMPS I WAR I Fine sets of 6 var- ieties of unused Venezuela stamps only la cts; s sets. 25cts. 10 mixed used foreign stamps. 10 cts; 100 varieties of stamps, catalogue value over $3, only $1 , 3 var . Confederate bills, lOcts; entire 4c war envelopes on blue used, Sets each; entire sheet of '4 M. unused Port Rico stamps, 25 cts. Try me once, address, J. E. HAND- SHAW, Smithtown Branch, N. Y. N4t I AM building up a general scientific collec- tion, embracing all departments of the Natural Sciences and if you have anything truly desir able to offer in exchange for anything I may have in stock or if you have any standard books or publications" that you wish to dispose of I shall be pleased to correspond with you. When writing give full descriptions stating your lowest exchange price and give me an idea of about what you would like in return. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. FOR ONLY .50 cents. $500 Confeierate Mon- ey (assorted*. $100 Confederate Bond and (5 rare Arrow Points. Catalogue 3 cents . J, F. BOW- EN, luka. Miss. Ornithology and Oology.— I want to ob- tain a quantity of back numbers of various publications relating to Bikds and will allow prices as follows for the game. Will accept any number of copies not to exreed H) of the same issue. All must be complete and clean. "Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club" and '-The Auk" .30 cts. per copy. "The Ooi.o- GIST" (published at Utica, N. Y. and Rockville, Conn., 187.5-81): the "Ornithologist and Oolog- ist;" and "The Nidiologist;" "Random Notes on Natural History" Prov.. R. I. 5c per copy. "Wisconsin Naturalist:" "The Taxidermist;" I will allow 3 I'Ls. i)er copy. I will allow the above amounts in payment for. specimens, instrum- ents, supplies or publications or if you prefer will send crtuit check for the amount. All publications must be sent prepaid (you can mail them as •second class mail matter ' («■, 4c per lb.). "Returns" will be sent prepaid unless otherwise si)ecili('d In catalogue. I can also use the following second-hand books on same conditions at prices ciuoted prepaid. Must be in A No. 1 coiiilillon. (Roues' "Key to N. A. Birds" $4.50; Kidgewav's "Manual of N. A. Birds" $.3.75; Davie's "Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds, 3d or 4th : editions, cloth, 85 cts. paper 55 cts; ot\wvxliiiid(trd publication will be accep- ted at one-half iiulilishers prices. This notice will remain in force until Feb. 15. 18a->. After that date write what you have to oiler before sending. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. THE 05L0GIST. NOTICE I have a few sets of American White Pelicau and Double-crested Cormorant for sale, collected at Shoal Lake (see illustration in this Oologist). Whit(> Pelican sets of 1 and 3 80 Double-crested Cormorant 3 and 4 — 18 W. RAINE. Bleecker St. Canada. Toronto, Tl X D T? ^^^ ^'^^^ ^^ stock or can K A K Pifni-nish on short notice books, '*'*'*^*'^-*-* magazine articles and infor- mation on anyAT TV subject desired. 'Out-of-print' IMjIJ books a specialty. Literary Light"""'' *1 a year; sample copy idcts.^Raymer's Old Book Store, 243 ' 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. ear; sampie BOOKS ^^..^^B^ TheNATURALIST (Formerly of Austip, Texas.) An illustrated monthly devoted to the study of nature. This magazine is rap- idly growing in circulation throughout the United States, its average monthly issue now being oye?-.'^,06'0. What makes this monthly so popular? It is because it contains the most interesting and in- ,<; cents and a 25 cent check is put in each box, which may be returned to us with an order for -$1 or over, and you get 25 cents worth free, so this box i-eally costs you nothing. VEGETABLES, Grand box, containinjir one package each. Best Bean,s Best Carrot Best Lettuce Best Radish Best Pans Early Cabbage Best Melons Best .Squash Best Corn Late Cabbage Best Onions Best Tomato Best Beet Best Cucumber Best Pumpkins Best Turnip The above box, !(> packages of vegetable seeds, mailed for only 25 cents and cent check put in each box. ^"10 trial packages choice flower seeds, our selection, 10 cents, ^r6 trial packages choice vegetable seeds, our selection, 10 cents. All of the above for 00 cents Vjy mail postpaid. Catalogue of seeds free. Address, J. J. Bell, Binghamton, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. nniUTIklOOf all kinds for Naturalists a rnlN I lilU speciality. Note and letter heads envelopes, circulars, Illustrated cata- logues for natural history dealers. Have hun- dreds of engravings of natural history speci- mens. Write for estimates. 100 envelopes piint- ed, 4.^c. noteheads same price, postpaid. C. F, CARR Job Printer, New London, Wis. tf •lTT/N«/1/^«*nl TrvwhatlO Cents sent W OHflfiriUl H- Harte, Jeweler, VV UUUUilUl ggchester, N. Y., will bring. What Moves It One of Nature's Wonders. THE JOMPING SEED OB LlVINfi BEAM! Always Moving, Always Jumping, Always Dancing. The wonder of the Scientific Wot Id. Interest- ing to old and young. The ONLY ANIMATED VEGETABLE Known! A full description and explanation of this phenomenon accompanies each box. Price 25c. each, 3 for 50c. Postpaid. E. VAN WINKLE, Vans Harbor, Mich. SRND FOR IT! rl8tsorsent by mail. ,^^ I Priee 60 cents a box. Address jRll'ANS CIIEMIOAT, 4'«l., 10 RproPC 8t.. N "ri The Governineiit has caused notices to be posted, requesting all persons sending letters or packages through the mail to put their name and address thereon. The best way to do this is to stamp it on with one of Ford's Rubber Stamps. He sells them cheap. Write for prices. Address *^^^ R. W. FORD, BRISTOL, CONN. THE NAUTILUS. A monthly devoted to the intesest=i of Con- chologists. "Edited and published by H. A. Pils- bry, Academy of Natural Sciences and C. W. Johnson, Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia Pa Send for sample copy. y lijShotGuns OQCD o Revolvers, Rifles, for Price List. QmiWork«,ritt»l»nrgh,H:" QPFNIFQ NETS, TENTS, and OC11N£->0} SPORTIN© GOODS. Every description of Guns, R jvolvers. Ammu- nition and Sporting Goods at very lowest pric- es. We have something of interest to you. STONE INDIAN RELICS! On approval by mail. Give reference. A few cents expense to see a variety from many States I pay postage one way on arrow and spear points. Largest Stock, Largest Variety, AND Finest in the West. Buckskin Relics, Weapons, Minerals, Fossils, Shells, Agates, Curios. Catalogue with prices for stamp. BLACK HILLS NATURAL HISTORY ES- TABLISHMENT, Deadwood, S. D. FRANK B. ARMSTRONG, TAXIDERMIST, AND COLLECTOR AND DEALER IN Bird and Mammal Skins, Birds Eggs in fine sets, Reptiles, Mounted Birds and Animals. Brownsville, Texas, U, S. A. TAXIDERMISTS' GUNS. '■c°u°„^",' Pistols, Gun Cases. Shooting Shot Shells: also g^.1es% SPECIMEN HUNTERS. All kinds, all prices iroiii $ .n to *'2 .uo. List free. Wrife for 'J'a.i;id(r/id.''e Us/. JAMES H. JOHNSTON, PIXTSBUR©. PA. Y.! H. H. &C.S. BRIMLEY, COLLECTORS, RALEIGH, N.C. First-class Bird and Mammal Skins and Eggs, Reptiles and Batrachians both alive and in al- cohol. Full data. Send stamp for price lists. THE OOLOGIST. yii .S". li. CASS I NO, THE XA rURALlSTS' DIRECTOR]', ii FOR TLA XD S TREE T. Boston, Mass., Jan. io, 1895. Dear Sir: — We are now preparing the new edition of The Nat- urahsts' Directory, an J have decided to add to its value and useful- ness, by arranging it in three ways. ist, all names will be arranged alphabetically as in previous editions; 2d, names will be arranged alphabetically under the names of towns and cities in each State; 3d, an arrangement of all names under Departments of Science. As the work may not be issued again in this form for a long time, if ever, all who desire to subscribe should do so at once, as the edition will be printed from type and will be limited. No discount will be allowed booksellers as we prefer to deal directly with our subscribers, and you should therefore return accom- panying blank at once. As most Naturalists are interested, in a general way, in many branches, it is desirable that each person select and indicate on the blank sent herewith ONLY THOSE IN WHICH HE IS ESPEC- IALLY INTERESTED, in order to economize in the matter of space as much as possible. In filling out the blank on reverse, please condense the address as much as is consistent with accuracy. As professional Naturalist's will be indicated in the Directory, it will not be necessary to give long titles. The work will be issued about March i, 1895. Yours respectfully, S. E. CASSINO, Publisher THE OOLOGIST. (FOR. NEIW NAMEIS ONLV) To be returned at once to S. E.CASSINO, Boston, Mass., U. S. A. The Naturalists' Directory, 1895. Date, 1895. Surname, Given Name, Please write VERY DISTINCTLY, and if convenieiit send name PRINTED. Post Office Address, Please state if an Amateiir or Professional Naturalist, Do you wish Save you a collection"? to make exchanges'? Branches in which you are especially interested. [See lists of deparlm.ents below.) Botany I'hgenogamous Plants Cryptogamous Plants Kerns Mosses Fungi Llctiens Algie Desmlds I )Uitoin3 Horticulture I'aUoontology Vertebrates Invertebrates Vegetable (Jeology Stratlgraplileal Physljal Mineralogy Crystallography Lltliology Cbemlstry Organic Inorganic Metallurgy Physics Electricity Microscopy I'hotograpy Meteorology Astronomy Bibliography /.OOl'l ;> General Biology (Geographical Distribution Morphology Embryology Anatraony Veretebrates Invertebrates Anthropology Archaeology Ethnology Ethnography Philology Vertebrates Mammals Ornithology Oology Herpetology Ichthoiogy Taxlclermy Osteology Myology Histology Articulates Entomology Hymenoptera Lepldoptera Diptera coleoptera Hemlptera Orthoptera Neuroptera Arachuida Myrlopoda Crustacea Worms MoUusks Piadlates Sponges Protozoa SUBSCRIPTION BLANK. 1895 To S. E. CASSINO, BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A. Please enter nio as a subscriber to the new editou of the naturalists' directory for 18!)5, to be arranged alphabetically, by departments, and geographically, and send nic when i.ssued, one copy, for which I agree to pay $3.50, ijoiind in cloth, (if in paper, $2.00.) Signature Address Please designate binding desired. If not indicated, book will be sent in cloth. Please detach this page and return at once to S. E. CASSINO, Boston, Mlass. The OoLOGiST. VOL. XII. NO. 1. ALBION, N. Y., JAN., 1895. Whole No. Ill A Rough Tim3 Collecting at Shoal Lake, Manitoba. Shoul Lake (.-ontains .several islands on one of which a colony of White Pelican.^^ formerly nested in gieat num- bers. Mr. R. Hunter on the 1st of June 1878 counted six hnn fired eggs on a small island of about half an ^cre in ex- tent,* but since that time their numbers has considei'abl3' diminished. The second -week in June last .sum- mer Mr. Edward Arnold, mvself and two as.->istauts spent tire days collect- ing at Shoal Lake and although we vis- ited several islands, we did not fall in with the colony of White Pelicans. As Mr. Arnoldls time was limited we re- turned to Reaburn and he went west- ward to (iuappelle to see his brother whom he had not met for twenty years, while I went north to Lake Mauiioba. After spending a week collecting at Long Lftke ami Lake Manitoba, I made up my mind to re! urn to Shoal Lake, as it had proved to be a splendid collect- ing ground, for we had taken a fine ser- ies of eggs of American Bittern, Hol- bo'll's. Horned and P^ared Grebe, Fors- ter's Tern, Double-crested Cormorant and sevei'al species of Duck's eggs. So on June ITth I hired a young farmer and his buckboard and taking my canvas boat, gun, camera and prov- isions for three days, we drove twenty- eight miles norlhw.-ird reaching wood- lands in the evening, and put up at the farm house for the night, and next morning we arose early and proceeded three miles further when the lake ap- jieared glistening in the morning sun. We drove to a point on the east side of the lake near which we had been camped on our previous visit. OfT this peninsula is a rocky island, separated ♦ Thomp.son's Birds of M.initoba. from the point by a shallow channel of water. We waded across to the island and found that the great wind storm of June 12th had caused the water to wash over a portion of the island dei?trojing hundreds of eggs of the Terns which Mr. Arnold and myself had found nest- ing in vast numbers on our visit ten days previous. The colony of Ring- billed Gulls had also forsaken their nests owing to the waves having played sad havoc with their nests and eggs and broken eggs of Terns, Gulls and Ducks were scattered between'the rocks. On the highest part of the island many beautiful young Terns in downy plu- mage were observed and I also flushed a Spotted Sandpiper off its nest contain- ing four extra well marked eggs. After taking a photograph of the is- land we waded back to the point and while my man uuhitche.l his horse so it could browse, I examined the tall grass and shrubs on the peninsulas, thinking it was a likely place to find a Duck's nest, I had not gone far before a Gadwall flushed up right in front of my feet and there w^as its beautiful nes t of down containing ten eggs, these I took and had not proceeded twenty yards or so before another Gadwall arose in front of me, and this nest con- tained six fresh eggs. 1 calleil my man, to come and help to look for Ducks nests and we paced over every part of this small elevated peninsula, flushing. Ducks up every few minutes, and the excitement was intense for in less than an hour we had .several sets each of Gadwall, Baldpate, Mallard, Shoveller and Pintail, and I was also fortunate in flushing a Wilson's Phalarope oil' i ts. nest and four heavily spotted eggs. Having examined the point thorough- ly and photographed a beautiful nest of the (iadwall, containing ten eggs, built THE OOLOGIST. amoug the briars and white conoolou- lus and other vines, we proceeded to search for Grebes nests in the marsh and soon found two nests of Holba?irs Grebe containing tive eggs in each, ^vhich is the regular number. The nests consisted of a mass of decayed damp weeds and aquatic plants, two feet in diameter and the eggs are al- ways covered with weeds in the ab- sence of the female. After dinner we drove thi'ee miles around the lake to another peninsula and were caught in a thunder storm on the way, so we took shelter at a settler's cabin , fi'om wljom we learned that the Pelicans nested on Reed Island which lies three miles out in the lake off the point. As soon as the storm was over we drove to the end- of the peninsula and could see several islands out in the lake and as the water was calm and it was only hve o'clock we decided to row out to the islands. So my man hobbled the horse's four feet with a piece of rope so that he could not run away while I put my canvas boat together and taking my gun and camera we pushed from the shore. As we approached nearer the first island I saw it was white over with Pelicai.s. The birds remained on the island until we approached quite close, they kept perfectly motionless with their heads erect staring at us until the boat touched the island and then they arose in»a mass and the aoise from their wings was like the roar of a torrent. They flew above our heads with their long necks and beaks stretched out in front and then forming into a line they flew away gracefully towards Reed Is- land. In a moment both of us were on the island and there a sight met our gaze that would gladen the heart of any oologist, for the ground was dotted all over with eggs of the Pelican, Cormor- ant and Herring Gull. The Pelicans nests consisted of mounds of sand hol- luwed at the top and the eggs re&tino: on a few bits of weed and small pebbles. The Double-crested Cormorants nests were made of twigs and weeds, and the nests of the American Herring Gull wei'e large structures of weeds and moss. I took a photograph of one corner of this small island where the nests were thickest, and then we proceeded to col- lect a series of eggs of the three species and all the eggs proved to be fresh, for no doubt this was their second laying, as the storm of June 12th must have washed every egg off this low sandy is- land. After taking sufficient eggs we rowed across the channel to Reed Island, which we found to be about three-quarters of a mile in length and swarming with bird life. In the elevated parts of the island amongst the dry grass we found nests and eggs of Gadwall,Bald pate and Mallard, and on another elevated gras- sy ridge we found thousands of Fors- tei''s Terns breeding, we secured a fine series of their eggs and then after tak- ing the eggs we bad collected back to the boat, we decided to walk around the island. We found some portions very marshy and had to wade across several channels. On reaching the south end of theisland and emerging from a thicket of rushes we beheld another immense col- ony of Pelicans on a sand bar, but on arriving there we saw no signs of any more Pelican's nests. The nests of the American Herring Gull were scattered all over the island and we only took about a dozen clutches of extra well marked sets. As it was beginning to get dusk I looked at my watch and ound it was half past nine, this caused us to get a move on for we had three miles to row to shore and a wind had sprung up and a swell had appeared on the lake. It took us nearly half an hour to reach the boat as we were heavily loaded with THE OOLOGIST. eggs and had to wade across several mai'shy channels. It was just ten o'clock as we stepped into the boat and pushed off the island, and it was coming dark. We found the water very choppy and as our canvas boat was heavily laden with eggs which 1 had put in the bow of the boat, instead of raising her bow on the approach of the waves she cut through the waves and the boat immediately began to ship water. My man was at the oars and by the time we had reached tlie channel of water running between the islands we found ourselves in a sad plight. I suggested we had better turn back, but my man replied "if he attempted to turn around we should at once fill with water and sink," so we kept the bow of the boat facing the white caps and by this time the boat was half full of water and it was useless to attempt to bail the water out, however, we ran the gaunt- let and in five minutes we had crossed the worst part of the channel, breathed more freely when we approached the Island whei'e the Pelicans nested. On reaching the Island, I suggested that we remain there all night as it was nearly dark and I doubted if we could find the place on the mainland where we had left the horse and buckboard. Besides we had got over two miles of rough water to cross before we reached the point. However we thought if the water became much rougher it might wash over this low Island so we decided to risk it and pull for the mainland. So we took every thing out of the boat, tip- ped her over and emptied out the wa- ter and then packed all the eggs in the stern of the boat and we arranged that if the boat should fill with water and sink, each should seize an oar and swim to shore, but perhaps this would have been no easy matter with our clothes and boots on. However, we pushed off into the rough water, but were pleased to find the bow of the boat rose as she met the waves, for all the eggs were now in the rear of the boat, so we did not ship so much water as before in crossing from Reed Island to Peliean Island. In half an hour the mainland appeared and after some difficulty we made out the outline of the buckboard against the sky; we were soon on terra firma with our clothes soaking wet. So I instructed my assistant to hitch up his horse while I packed the canoe and eggs, intending to drive back to the set- tler's cabin to dry our clothes and sleep there for the night. As my man had disappeared in the darkness and been gone ten minutes I called out but got no answer. I then attempted to light a fire but the grass was wet, so I climbed on top of the buckboard and struck several matches so my man could see the light and find his way to me for he had got into a patch of tall rushes and could not find his way back in the darkness. I could hear the dry rushes cracking under his feet as he approached nearer, and soon learned that he could not find the hoi'se, so all we could do was to remain there until morning. Unfortunately we could not make a fire as there were no trees around for miles and the grass and rushes were damp. We leaned the boat against the buckboard and spreading our rugs alongside of the boat we laid down to rest, but the mosquitoes soon fyund us out and came about us in myriads and we were glad to hide our heads under the rugs to escape their bites. Just as we were do/ing off to sleep it began to rain in torrents and the thun- der and lightning was terrific. We pulled the boat over us and there we were crouched under the boat, feeling very miserable in our damp clothes with the thunder cracking over our heads, but this was not the only trouble for the water began to rise from the lake and threatened to wash over us, but at last the storm passed over, the •6 THE OOLOGIS'J". rain ceased and we fell asleep through mere exhaustion. At foui- o'clock day broke and I was awakened bj' the great noise made by the birds and muskrats, the latter have a peculiar scream, while several Bit- terns were pumping close to us in the marsh and all the Yellow-headed Black- birds in the neighborhood seemed to come and perch on the rushes around us and begin to whistle. I crawled from under the boat, leaving my young companion fast asleep, for the poor fel- low was tired, having done all the row- ing, and I spent three hours blowing the Pelican and other eggs. At 7 o'clock I aroused my man and he mounted the buckboard and savp^ the horse a mile away, and while hn went after him 1 proceeded to pack my spec- imens, and after refreshing ourselves with Ducks' eggs beaten up in sugar, we drove away from this spot to the farm house three miles away, where our wants were attended to by the kind farmer and his wife. They enquired if we had seen any Moose at the Lake, for on the day pre- vious the farmer's wife with one of her daughters was driving along the trail east of the lake when a bull Moose and female with its young one, got up out of the marsh, splashed through the wa- ter and ran oft' into the woods. I told her I would have paid live dollars to see such a sight. Moose are quite plen- tiful between Lakes Winnipeg and Man- itoba. We did not stay long at the farm but drove twenty-eight miles southward to Long Lake, talking most of the time over our disagreeable experience of the day previous, and now although I am a thousand miles away from Shoal Lake when I open my cabinet and gaze on my series of eggs of White Pelican, Cormo- rants, Gulls and Ducks, my memory takes me back to one of the roughest times I ever experienced in North West Canada. Waltek Raine, Toronto. P. M. SILLOWAY, Virden. Ills. Experience With the Young of Ruffed Grouse and Bob-whito- PART IL It is a lamentable fact that while the clearing of land and the tilling of the soil, for agricultural purposes, does not in itself directlj' interfere with the wel- fare of the universally beloved Bob- white, which courts the neighborhood of farm yards in winter where food is abundant and may readily be obtained, even when the lields are banked with snow; and lives in confidence and hap- piness among the cleared fields iu sum- mer, yet the very means of agricultural success, namely the mowing machine and self-binder, prevent its increase on every hand while the hunter — not the sportsmen — and the fox vie with one another in seeking to destroy each and every individual with which they come in contact. THE OOLOGIST. When haying-time comes, here in "Southern Michigan, this bird is nesting and the clover tields furnisli a favorite spot for the seclusion of the sitters. The farmer is the quail's best friend, yet, love them as he may, when the clover blossoms in late June, he cannot wait longer. As the swards are raked away hundreds of nests with their top-shaped treasures of pure white, are left exposed to view and these are invariablj^ desert- ed bjT the mother. Then again the heavy machinery makes havoc among the skul- king broods. Where quails are plenty scarcely a hay tield of ten acres but con- tains as many nests, and these are inev- itably destroyed. This fact, together with the ruthless slaughter of the pot- hunter and the severe winters, with lack of shelter in the much cleared districts, renders the outlook for ;>. long continu- ation of this bird in any numbers in the Northern States, a great uncertainty. With many nests of eggs exposed €ach year it is a wonder that many more experiments are not carried on with the young in the care of domestic fowls. I have known a young quail, which had in some way been lost from its mother, to follow a hen turkey with her quarter grown brood and actually come at last to roost with them in the barns. The usual " boy with a gun," however finally tiuished it, for its trust in man, with death. It was one of these exposed clutches of eggs, thirteen in number, which was brought from the hay Held in a hat and placed underanother bantam hen of the same variety a.s the one which hatched the eggs of the partridge in Part I. The nest in which these eggs were placed was in the top of a barrel, nearly tilled with straw, over which a cover was placed to prevent the hen from leaving the nest until accustomed to the new position, where she was supposed to have a long term of sitting ere the little ones appeared. Upon the very next morning I went to the barrel and removed the cover to feed the hen. 1 did not find things in the condition iu which I had expected they would be. There, in that nest, I beheld as pretty a sight as has ever been my pleasure to see. Every one of those thirteen eggs had hatched during the night and as many little, downy balls, about the size ot buml)le bees, were sit- ting about in the yellow straw and upon the hen's back and were a picture of contentment and activity. Some crumb.^ of bread were placed before them and all ate readily. They seemed determined to have a taste of the hen's eyes; one after another would jump at them and also at her wattles and ear-lobes. They learned the mean- ing of all the ''sitting hen" lore before they were taken from the nest and were avS domestic as common chicks. A sud- den move however, on my part or a warning note from the hen would cause all to skulk into the straw almost invol- untarily, where all would remain mo- tionless for a great length of time if continued disturbance followed. The mother and her brood were re- moved to a vegetable garden where they were at once set at liberty. One of the little fellows strayed too far a va3' and was picked up by a favorite cat, — a very conscientious cat too, but she was attracted by the peculiar skulking run of the young bird, which looked much like a mouse as it slipped about among the herbage. The cats soon learned to regard them as ordinay chick- ens, and no more were molested for a long time. And so they continued to thrive and grow tame until iinally they would approach and be fed as would a brood of chickens. In fact they were more tame than the hen, the latter becom- i jg more suspicious each day .She seemed to realize that in them she was rearing a brood of very different natures than any previous, and she was perplexed and ill at ease. The quick moves of the little Quails, the elastic springs, the in- 8 THE OOLOGIST. voluntary dodges seemed to worry her into a nervous, unti'usting attitude to- wards all animals. The young, how- ever tame, never suffered themselves to be taken in the hand and any attempt towards the accomplishment of that end reawakened their wild natures in a twinkling. All day long the little fellows worked for insects among the vegetables and each night the hen led them to roost in a small coop that had been placed near the garden for their use. It was sur- prising to note the activity of these young birds in capturing their insect food. I have seen one look up to the top of a beet leaf, at least twelve inches from the ground, and not only spy out some tiny Img or fly as it rested snugly protected from the burning sun, but jump and get it and this before the wings were at all grown out. Again, one would jump several inches from the ground at a passing insect, and. I have seen them jump over each other and turn over in the air themselves in the midst of a frolicsome chase. And now after many weeks they had grown to about one-third adult size and had become well feathered out and proud they wei-e of their little tails, which stuck straight out from the snug little ball of mottled feathers. Now, however, came the climax. Just when I had thought all trouble over, as the little fellows had already- removed with the hen to roost in the chicken house with the other fowls, thej". began to fly; first but a few feet, then a rod, and at last across ihe lawn, if startled suddenly. They would soon come back however as if nothing had occurred. The cats, which had hitherto long re- garded them as regular members of the chicken yard, now began to look with suspicious eyes towards the bii'ds as they alighted from an occasional short flight. Finally one was missed, then two, three, foui", five, six were gone. Several cats were disposed of until final- ly one of the best behared' of the fe- line aggregation was seen to catch one- of the remaining thi'ce. The cats were- not to be blamed; they were but doing what nature had intended them to da or starve, and it v^^as but a short time when all were gone to satisfy their ap- petites for flesh and blood. Had I suspected that the outcome would have been thus, I should have ar- ranged an inclosed yard of wire netting; for their protection. This would have given them less freedom however, and. the knowledge gained of their habits would have been less satisfactory. However keen the disappointment ia losing the birds, I am satisfied with the summer's study of one of our most in- teresting and well known game birds, the quaint, old fashioned, neighborly little Bob-white of prose and melody. My experiments are not yet ended and I hope to eventually succeed in taming- if not in domesticating this cheery little- table bird. L. Whitney Watkins. North West Notes for 1894. In comparing the dates of Hawks nests found this year, with those taken the last two years in Ontario I find that the nesting season is from two to three weeks later than it is in the east. In Ontario all the large Hawks have eggs by the middle of Api-il and I have never found fresh eggs after the third week, while here my first clutch, a Ferruginous Rough-legged Buzzard, was nottakenun- til the 2nd of May, and the first Swain- son's three weeks later. On May 10th I drove a few miles up the river and found them still later there, every nest but one was empty, and that only con- tained one egg. The only trees in the country are the Black Poplar and these are all found growing along the river banks, so that the only available nesting sites are THE OOLOGIST. 6 found in a compai'atively limited area. I used to go out for a walk every day after office houi's, and by simply keeping to the river I could watch close- ly every nest within a distance of live or six miles. Fifty miles north of this place the lack of suitable nesting places forces the Hawks to build on large boulders which project from the sides of gullies and ravines, while one hundred miles north where a kind of low shrub is abundant, I observed several nests si.x or eight feet from the ground. • Another noticeable feature of this district is the great number of Sparrow Hawks that build here, nearly every tree of any size had a pair occupying it, especially further up the river, I was however too early for eggs, as they do not begin nesting until June. I am (juite safe in saying that fifty pairs nest- ed along this river within a distance of a few miles. I took eight clutches quite near the town between June 14th and July 19th, the heights ranged from II to 20 feet, No water birds or waders are found here as there are no pools or still water of any kind, nothing but the swift flow- ing river of ice water. Further north when the snow melts it forms innumer- able pools and lakes, and these sloughs are the summer home of numberless Grebes, Loons, Ducks, Terns, etc. The last week in May I drove over about two hundred miles of this country and was astonished to see so many pools of water, I was told however that a number of the smaller ones dry up in the course of the summer. Several of the larger ones were simply covered with water-fowl while large numl)ers of Terns were Hy- ing about overhead, but as the migra- tions were hardly over I think that the}' would sprea() out more for the breeding season. I had never seen a Tern before and was anxious to know their name when I first saw them, the natives called them swallows, so that I was no wiser until 1 saw two stufi'ed when I fouml out what they were. No Crows are found in this neighborhood so I con- cluded that all the ne.sts here have been built by the Hawks themselves. Four new ones were built this year; I not- iced that it took fully two weeks to com- plete a nest, some of the older nests are of a great size and it would be im- possible to say how long ago they were built. Rough-legged Buzzards were very plen- tiful this spring,these and Swaiuson'sare the only kinds found just here. A Western Red-tail was brought to me which was shot about eight miles south, where I was told they were numerous, they are plentiful also further north, but I have not observed them in this locality. The Rough-legged -Buzzards are very shy and I noticed that after taking their eggs the birds seemed to desert the place altogether. I have not seen one now for four months, the case was exactly the reverse with Swainson's which seemed to come in and till up the space left by the Rough-legs, after having once loacated a claim it seemed impossible to drive them away. I took thi'ee clutches this season in the same place, two from the same nest and the third from a nest built close by. All undoubtedly laid by the same bird. Onl}' one pair of Am. Rough-legged Buzzards built here this year, the nest was built on an island in the river, it was placed on a limb eight feet from the bank and thirty nine feet from the ground; composed of sticks lined with small pieces of bark and tufts of grass, built by the birds themselves from a very small foundation. It was by far the deepest and most compactly built nest 1 have ever examined, being more on the plan of a Crow's nest only three times as large. On April 30, I crossed the river on the ice and climbed to this nest but it was not quite finished so I left it. On May 9th just after the ice went out I waded over, this time I was more suc- cessful as the female, which was veiy 10 THE OOLOG.ST. dark colored in fact I might almost say black, Hew from the' nest on my striking the trunk with my climbers, fifteen minutes later I was up the tree and carefully lowering the four large eggs which it contained. This is a very handsome clutch, one egg especially having a continuous wreath of reddish brown blotches on the larger end which completely obscures the ground color, two of the others are mere lightly mark- ed while the fourth is nearly white, size 2.54 X 1.97, 2.55 x 1,95, 2. GO x 1.96, 2.55 x 1.96. A pair of Richardson's Merlins occu pied this same nest ten days later but I could not get to the place on account of the floods in the mountains making the river too high. I found these Merlins very shy unless their nesting place was intruded upon, they seemed to frequent the lonliest and most seclud- ed spots to be found, such as thickly wooded bends of the river and islands where scarcely anybody ever goes, in fact I believe that I was the only person who passed through their haunts this season. I was fortunate enough to And one nest containing four handsome eggs, and hope to And more next year, (for full description of this clutch see July 0()LOGIST.) Swainson's Buzzard is very numerous here, I collected eight clutches, six of three eggs, and two of two, the majority of these are nearl}^ white or faintly marked with pale reddish brown and shell markings, eight all laid by the same bird, are how ever quite heavily marked for this species, being like the eastern Red-tail. The smallest of these eggs measure 2.15 x 1.67, the largest 2.26 X 1.80 average size 2.19 x 1.78. I also took three sets of Ferruginous Kough-leg. The first containing four eggs was taken May 2; the nest was placed 27 feet up on a branch, it was verv loosely put together and composed of sticks and large pieces of wood, lined with roots, about two feet of twisted fence wire and tufts of grass. These eggs are bluish white with lavender shell markings, spotted with brown and chestnut. The second nest containing three eggs was found on May 5th, this was a large structure forty feet up and had evidently been used for a number of years. The eggs are of a dull white ground color, two are sparingly and the third quite heavily splashed at the smaller end with dark brown and chest- nut. The third set was taken May 12; the nest was a small affair, placed nine- teen feet from the ground, this contain- ed four eggs, they are not as handsome as the last, but still are a very tine set, they are dull white ground color and nest stained, spotted at the larger end with different shades of brown and lilac. All these nests were more loosely put to- gether than that of the Am. Rough-leg, the eggs also are not so heavily spotted and are smaller, the average being 2.42 X 1.93, a single egg taken MaylOth is pale blueish white, unmarked, with a very granulated surface size 2.51 x 1,79. Of the smaller birds, McCown's Long- spur is most abundant, they are found everywhere on the prairie. 1 did not find their nests this year as they had young by the middle of June when T returned from my trip, but I expect to collect a good series next year. West- ern Vesper Sparrows also are very a- bundnnt, the Flicker is the only one of the Woodpecker family that I have no- ticed. Cliff' and Bank Swallows are very numerous, both kinds mingling together m a flock and building in the same bank, the Cliff Swallows as a rule near the top with the Bank Swallows just below. Barn Swallows are scarce, I only found one nest, this was built like a Phu'be's underneath a small bridge. These three are the only kinds of Swallows found here, seventy miles north I found the Tree Swallow and Purple Martin. I have not seen a Chimney Swift this year and I do not THE OOLOGIST 11 think that they are found around here at all. Kingbirds and Arkansas Kingbirds ai'e very common, in three or four in- stances I found the former occupying old nests of the Western Robin, four eggs seemed to be the full clutch the same as in Ontario, but the Ar- kansas Kingbird only lays three. I counted eight nesi;s that had three eggs in and four with three young, one nest however had five young. While walk- ing along the banks of the river I flush- ed a Spotted Sandpiper from its nest containing eight eggs. I was surprised to see so man}' eggs in the nest as they Wore all so much alike as to h^ave no doubt about their being laid by the same bird. On blowing them I noticed that four were fresh Avhile four were incuba- bated about a week, this shows that they were two sepai'ate clutches but it seems peculiar that the bird should lay a sec- ond clutch in the nest after incubation had begun on the first Clay-coloredSpai'- rows are found here but are more abun- dant further north. I collected six clutches in one day, five containing foiir eggs and one of two, not •complete. Two of these nests con- tained eggs of the Cow bird. The nests were built of grass, generally, with a lining of a few hairs,, all I have examin- ed were placed in bushes, not on the ground; along the margins of the nu- merous sloughs, they were all about one foot from the ground except one which was fully thi-ee feet up in a higher bush than the others. The eggs of this species are not unlike those of the Chipping Sparrow but are rounder and raoi'e uniform in size and shape, they also differ in point of coloration, being deep blue with brown spots while those of the Chipping Sparrow are pale blue ■and invariably .spotted with black. Owing to the pressure of other busi- ness I was unaljle topay much attention to the study of birds after the middle of June, but next year Ihdpe to be able to furnish full notes on the nesting hab- its of all the birds found in this district. J. E. Houseman, Caigai'y. NOTES PROM AUDUBON'S BIOGRAPHY. Fred "W. Parkhurst. PART VIII. After an absence of four yeai's Dr. Townsend returned to Philadelphia, and with a second collection, which contained many rare bii'ds, of which he sent specimens to Audubon. Audubon did not receive them until but a few weeks before the work was to be closed, and a few were not received until sev- eral days after. Audubon decided to publish them even if every suoscriber in Europe refused to take them. He would not hear of the work of his life- time being closed when new species were in his hands, and in spite of threats from first one subscriber and then an- other that they would discontinue their subscription (which, indeed, several did, and refused to take the few numbers that would make their copies complete) Audubon's wish to make it as thorough and complete as possible was accom- plished. All Dr. Townsend's S])eciesas well as some received through different channels were published. At London Au.lubou had the gratification of receiv- ing a diploma from the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. And now at last the great work is com- pleted. How often had Audubon longed for this happy moment to arrive! Many had been the time, when, resting in the deepest recesses of the western forest, he had been awakened by dreams of the dismal prospects before him and it had seemed as though it was useless to pur- sue his task longer: that it could never be completed. Now sickness would overtake him in the midst of his labors, and hurry him off to the settlements. THE OOLOGIST Nest of Parkman's Wren in Tin Can. Next, grim penury would stare him in the face, and he would be forced to abandon his pencil and notebook and return once more to the cold, monej'- getting world to provide for the wants of himself and his family. At other times his dreams would be only of l)liss and happiness, and the joy that would be his upon the presentation of his work to the world, and the hearty con- gratulations of his friends and well- wishers both in the 011 World and the New. Audubon's deepest regret in re- gard to his life was that he was unable to give to the world all the knowledge of which he was the owner. Audubon sums up his advice to zeal- ous naturalists in the following words: "Leave nothing to memory, but note down all your observations with ink, not with a lead-pencil; and keep in mind, that the more particulars you write at the time, the more you will afterwards recollect. Work not at night, but anticipate the morning dawn, and never think tor an instant about the difliculties of ransacking the woods, the shores or the barren grounds." Audubon had always been desirous of visiting the Highlands of Scotland, with its lakes and isolated crags so beautifully described by Scott; and in September Audubon and his family, accompanied by Mr. William McGilli- vray, set out early one morning, with a journey thither in view. At the Chain- Pier at Newhaven they embarked in a little steamer bound for Stirling. The water was smooth and the weather fair, while shoals of young herring were to be seen nearly everywhere, over which gulls of various species were hovering. THE OOLOGIST 13 MORRIS GIBBS, M. D,, Kalamazoo, Mich- After passing many beautiful and pic- turesque spots the little steamer enter- ed the narrow passage of the '"Queen's Ferry." and they presontlj' ol>taineii a view of the distant hills. At Stirling they stoppeil long enoughfor lunch, and soon after were packed into a large postchaise, bound for the hills. It was nearly nine o'clock before they reached Callender. There they found a good house and spent the night. The follow- ing day was spent in viewing the scenery in the neighborhood of Callender. Af- ter leaving Callender they visited Loch Lomond Loch Katrine and the famous retreat of Rob Roy, and after a delight- ful trip returned very reluctantly to Edinburgh. Audubon closes his Biography in the following words; "I have pleasure in saying that my enemies have been few and my friends numerous. May the God who granted me life, industry, and perseverance to ac- complish my task, forgive the former and forever bless the latter! Now, Reader, farewell! May you be success- ful in all your undertakings! May you be happy abroad and at home; and may the study of the admirable productions of Nature ever prove as agreeable to you as it has to me." Mr. Audubon returned to America in 183!), after which he resided on the Hud- son River near the city of New York. In 1844 he published a cheaper edition 14 THE OOLOGIST. cf his "Birds of America," and was associated with Dr. Bachmaa in the pre- paration of a work on "The Quadrupeds of North America," with plates, the drawings for which were executed by Audubon's accomplished sons, Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse Audubon. Audubon himself taught his sons to draw, and instilled in them the love of Nature which had always pervaded his own soul. How well he taught them can be seen by referring to the work in question. Mr. Audubon lived in comfort and happiness with his family on the Hud- son, until the time of his death, which took place in January, 1851, on the 27th day of the month. Audubon was seven- ty nine years of age at the time of his death, and his constitution was always i-i perfect condition, which was one great result of his outdoor life. [the end.] Water Birds of Heron Lake. Though writing distinctively on Wat- er Birds, I cannot forbear to speak an enthusiastic word about the Golden Plovers, the "Prairie Pigeons". Arriv- ing e?i masse, the first of May, they flew in crowded flocks, morning and evening, skirmishing in deployed col- umn.s, in search of food, wherever a strip of praiiie had been newly burned. Hearing suddenly the clear and mellow ttdce, (as Mr. Nelson graphically calls it), one might look up and see here and there a small black cloud of them scud- ding before the wind, wheeling sharply with quick precision and dropping sud- denly on the blackened slopes. They spent three weeks with us. I watched eagerly for the coming of the Night Herons. The third of May an awkward squad of eight appeared. Before the middle of the month, they were present at the Lake in hundreds, going out by day to fish or grub, in every slough and prairie hollow, but- gathering back at night with many a. hoarse explosive kotvkl Not until May 19th did we see the full van of the great army of aquatic birds. Rowing from island to island, among the rushes, through the tall cane brakes amid the coarse rank grass, hoping for a sight of the ten majestic White Peli- cans that were seen a week before, we, wife, baby and I, came suddenly upon a long, low mud flat against which the waves were sweepiLg myriads of lus- cious animalcule. And there we saw a sight never to be forgotten. The waves had quickly dashed us half unheeding on the shallows close in to the rooty, mucky beach, and there and on theliats adjoining, what myriads of waders! Not ten feet away, quietly gazed at us a Semi-palmated Plover, so near that we could see the orange of his corrugated eyelids. Near by were a few White Rumps, yonder, deep wading, a solit- ary Wilson's Phalarope, his daintiness appearing in every motion; beyond were gnat-like squadrons of Peeps, Semi-palmates. Minutillas, impulsively coming and going and everywhere were Red-backed Sandpipers, outnum- bei*ing all othei's, five to one. (This numerical predominance has persisted, ever since, in both migrations). Jump- ing excitedly ashore for a close view I flushed a pair of Least Bitterns from the near-by grass. Singling out a bird of unfamiliar garb, after one shot had had brought me enough Pdidnas for to- morrow's (delicious) dinner, I soon had in my hand the first Stilt Sandpiper 1 had ever seen. (Later in the day, a flock of five whizzed by me swiftly, not four yards away). And the Terns and the Gulls; Black Terns were darting, rocket like, into the water, for minnows, every whei'e about us, unconcerned. The Franklin (kills, with their somewhat laboi-ed ilight, winged endlessly by in twos and tens and twenties, in search of insects. THE OOLOGIST. 15 just above ouv heads like the scattered, white-sailed, black-prowed ships of a mighty lleet, which, with marvellous unanimity, then and always, morning, noonday or evening, in calm, or cloud, or furiously driving storm, move ever toward the same unknown harbor, and the Forster Terns: who shall ade- quately describe their half sociable, half ill natured way, their noisy, eager pilfering of tish and craws, from one another, their semipiternal hatred of and fierce diving at, the clumsy, luck- less Herons! Another week passes. April 26th, at the Lake, alone, with mui'derous intent, I scared a Florida Galliiiule from her partial set of eggs, among the rushes: aroused from their nap a trio of Ruddy Ducks, one a bril- liant male: sighted, for the second time a large Gull of unknown name: Hushed to my surprise, a Wood Duck, (but they breed here on the ground); and vented my vexation for a fruitless day in a quick snap-shot at a solitary Godwit winging bj% which proved a fwda and a male, (a barren runt at that!) There was a broad, fire-swept shal- low, far back from the apparent shore, the haunt of countless Waders, the hid- den nook wherein the Gulls, by dozens, came at mid-afternoon to rest and sun themselves. A cemetery it was too; for in the very center lay the body of one of those ten Pelicans, whom, by his lagging I had known to be doomed to death. This spot I sought, June 2. Among the flags near by, I found two nests of the Western Grebe, that after- noon, besides a rudimentary and two- egged one of Podiceps. 1 had passed the dead body of a young Red-breasted Merganser, victim of some wanton gun- ner: had peered into many a nest of Coots, iuuong the flags; and started a few Soras and Virginias from their canopied and egg-ballasted laii's,and was creeping cautiously toward my well-known flat, to see what I could see, when among the pigmy Pdiilnas, I saw four greater birds, with the "gray of the sky and the black of the soil upon their garbs, and with ver}' large heads, whose poise of wary intentions conii'asted sharply with the surrounding Pelidnic unconcern. "Black-bellied Plovers!" I ejaculated as a frantic guess. Away went discretion and a wild charge of shot, together; tangible result, feathers and one little peep! "They'll come back!" 1 muttered; and, drawing my boat among the rushes I seated myself on the bow, lunch be- fore me ami gun behind me. I had caught the Plover's nots; and, before the lunch had vanished, (I, the while, intently watching the mud flat before me), I suddenly heard the note behind me, wheeling'iiuickly I caught up the gun, and the swift flying Plover fell in a maze of rushes, winged of course! and find him I could not! Disgusted I drew out the boat and began to row away. But soon looking back I saw in a bare shallow just athwart the maze where my bird had fallen, my bird himself up to his knees in the water and eyeing me with the most profound astonishment. And so, have you an elegant skin of the Black-bellied Ployer in your cabinet? Well then I pity you! This fall I have added the Dowitcher and Wilson's Snipe to my list of Heron Lake waders. Pelidnas have been sup- erabundant, and the Yellow-legs in both varieties fairly represenf>ed. But no period of abundance for the Yellow- legs has l^een Sf) marked or so puzzling as that which prevailed from June loth until midsummer. After a month's ab- sence, less than that if anything, they re-appeared in flocks of ten to fifty swarming noisily and fearlessly evei'y- where, on the great wastes of mud-flat that were daily gi'owing larger with the prolonged drought. The Lesser out- numl)ered the Greater, at this period, about four or five to one. Many causes prevented my taking and dissecting a sufiicient number of birds to prove any- 16 THE OOLOGIST. thing whatever, conclusively, as to tlie local breeding conditions. Oh, the mj stery, the tantalizing de- light, of these eccentric movements, at the greater centers of bird-life ! Though the Franklin Gulls were pres nt by the hundred all summer long, increasing greatly in number during the autumn not a nest was found. And I am told by one who collects in the Devil's Lake region of N. Dakota, (where by the way many water birds nested this year, tw^o weeks earlier than last) that, although the Franklin's Gull is abundant in that region all the summer long, not a soul has ever found their nesting place, the Indians, however, having a tradition that they breed farther north in Mani- toba. These are the features of bird life and bird history that hold and fascinate us, with each year of more and moi-e de- lighted and absorbing study. Shall we ever tind Eagle wings I wonder, and learn where lurk all the rarer birds that leave us wistfully gazing, in the spring for northern homes? P. B. Peabodv. Spring Breeders of Western New York. In looking over some of my notes, taken since March 1st. 1889, with the intention of noting the comparative dates of the breeding of our earlier birds, I have noticed a decided seasonal variation in the earliest dates for many species. The earliest breeder we have is Bubo virginianus. Gt. Horned Owl; but it is not common enough here to afford any good opportunities for ob- servation, and as I have never found but one nest, I do not think I can draw any imporUmt conclusions from that. Next comes Ortocoris fdpestris prnti- 'o/a.Prairie Horned Lark: My earliest record of this species is March 23, 1889. Next April 10, 1889, which seems to be the right time to look for the eggs of this species in this locality. My next species \^Corvus americanus, American Crow: Earliest date April 22, 1889, next April 27, 1893, while the first dates for '90, '91, '92 are May 7, 2, 20 re- spectively, notice 1892 shows the latest date. Next we have Sialis sialis, Bluebird, with an earliest date of April 27, 1890, and a set or eight eggs April 30, 1893, part of which were frozen. Next we have Melospiza fasciata,Song Sparrow, first record April 28, 1890; dates for '91, '92, '93 are May 6, 28, 17, respectively, 1893 last again. Merula migraloria, American Robin, comes next with a record of April 27, 1890. Next comes Lanius hidoviriamift cx- cubitorides, White-rumped Shrike, May 1st and 3d, 1891. These are the only sets I have taken during the spring months as this species breeds plentiful- ly here the last of June. Buteo Zmertlst of Maj, SpizeJhi sociulis. Chipping Sparrow; Passerma cyanca, Indigo Bunting; Colaptes au- 7'alus, Flicker; and Bonasa nmbellus, RutYed Grouse. The last, hovvever,with the Bob-white lays its eggs about the 20th of May. This setwas far advanced in incubation. You will notice also that I have left out one of our eai'liest breeders, the American Woodcock. The reason for this is my inexperiejce in this line. All the early broods I have found have been j'oung birds from one to six or seven ilays old. You don't get your eyes on the young Woodcock from this time until they grow large encmgh ta fly. From the date of linding such broods, I think they must lay their eggs about April 5th in this vicinity. I found one set of three eggs the first week in June, but this was either the result of an accident to the first set, or more likel}^ a second brood. Notice the comparatively early dates of '91 against those of '92. Did the heavy rains of the spring of 1892 delay the birds? If not what else w^as it? I notice a like condition among the summer breeders. Ernest H. Shokt, Chili, N. Y. The Washiuton corresi)ondent of the- Chicago Record is responsible for the following: — " The department of agriculture is ad- vertising for an ornithologist who is ex- pected to j)assan examination in French, German, caujera lucida, drawing, mi- ei-oscopic work, geography and practical ornithology, and for the use of all these accomplishments for eight hours a day the government of the United States will pay him a salary of $(JGO per annum. At the same time ordinary messengers, colored and white, are paid $720 and, $840 a year, typewriters an-CLASS MATTER. At Gi-antl Rapids, Mich., the Kent Ornithological Club was organized Dec. I2lh with 14 members: Pres , H. Stuart; V. Pies., R. (t. Fitch; Sec. and Tieas . W. E. Mulliken; Cor. Sec . C. C. Cor bin; Lib , R. R. Newton. H. Sayles, Jr., of Abilene. Texas, re- cently sent us sets of Krider"s,Zone-tail- ed and Ferruginous Rough-leg Hawks. In the same lot was a set of Mocking bird's positively identitied as Sage Thrasher's, a set of Orchard Oriole's equally as well identified as Painted Bunting's. The Hawks were.of course, equally as far from the mark, in spite of the fact that one of datasread, "Bird Shot." This valuable lot of eggs was returned with thanks. (?). F)i' ■!i5 (Mir advci tiding rates will be 1 educed from '^Oc t) K'c per line— liberal discounts will be given to ii.strs of a large amount of space. We ai'e iudcbled to the Xatitrdtisl for our half tone of the Nest of Parkman's Wren in Tin Can The Xaturulist is one of oi'r most valued ornithological exchanges. "Natl'kaj. Soiknce News" — You may be one of the favoied ones whom its publisher wishes to count among the "•500," — Better accept the offer it will neither be n peated or extended An unsolicited testimonial from two and one-half miles out in the country: "My Dear Webb:— I have carefully and critically — very — examined the lirst two numljers of ' Vfic Museum.'' I am well pleased with them, and shall advise all the readers of the OoLOGiST to subscribe. Fraternally, Lattin." We have the pleasure of presenting to our readers the faces of two Orni- thologists whose names are familiar to all who have read|the pages of the Oo- logist during the past year. Dr. Gibbs is recognized as one of the most jirolitic ornithological writers of the day. Prof. Silloway is the Principal of the Collegiatic Institute of his city. Ex-banker J. L.Davison of Lockport, Avho by the way is recognized as the leading Ornithologist of Western New York, apparently owes the Editor of the OiiLOGisT a grudge as the following note will explain. 'Come on New Year's day and have a turkey dinner with us. I will meet you at the depot, and in case I do not hear from you, I will be at the depot anyway." Owing to a previous engagement w'e were obliged to deny ourself a possible op- portunity for bagging Nyctequus No. 2. THE OOLOGIST^ 19 More faces of well kuowa ocHogical iind ornithological writers next month. Nathan L. Davis of Brockport, N. Y., (one of Prof. Ward's World's Fair Taxi- dermists) is now the chief taxidermist of AVebb's Natural Science Establishment. With this issue we advance the sub- scription price of the Oologist to 75c per annum, until Feb. 15th, however, subscriptions and rennewals will be ac- cepted at the old rate — 50c. To the Nidiologist we are indebted for the finely executed half-tone of Dr. Gibbs. It might be well to mention in this connection that the enterprising publisher of the Nidiologist is not con- tent with sending out the leading illus- trated ornithological magazine but is making it a work of art as well. High grade heavy weight glazed paper and colored plates ai'e among the latest wrinkles. In a letter of recent date. Dr. Selah Merrill of Andover, Mass., wi'ites: — " I have resided in the East chiefly in Pal- estine and my collection of birds, ani- mals, and curiosities from the Holy Land is the largest ever yet made. In the Theological Seminary in this town there is a fine Oriental Museum which is large- ly my own collecting. My field issome- what out of the way still it is a field of gi'eat interest to ma.iy persons and it may be that some of your readers will be glad to correspond with me I'espect- ing my specimens." Among the 80 charter members of the new Michigan Academy of Science, which held its Hrst meeting in the cap- toi building at Lmsing on Dec. 26 and 27 '9i, we find eight active ornitholo- gists of that state i. e. — Walter B. Bar- rows, Agricultural College; Oscar B. Warren, Palmer; Morris Gibbs, Kala- mazoo; L. Whitney Watkins, Manches- ter; Newell A. Eddy, Bay City; Robt. H. Wolcott, Grand Rapids; Dr. J. B. Steere, Ann Arbor; and Jerome Tromb- ley. Petersburg. The aim of this so- ciety is to carry forward systematic study in all and any branch of science. With above members we have little to fear for the proper recognizance of our favorite branches of Ornithology and Oology. Prof. Geo. L. Bates left on Jan. 1st for a two years collecting tx'ip in West Africa. We take the following extract from a letter dated Dec. 25th. "The region to which I propose going is that about the "Cameroon Mountains," on the "Bight of Biafra." The region it. self is now called "Cameroons." or "Kameruns," and belongs to Germany. In the southern part of the German, territory the American Piesbyterians have misson stations and it is to one of these that I shall probably go. There is a forest belt also along the coast 100 miles wide, and back of that grassy high- lands. The Cameroons Mountains ap- proach the sea to the north, however, and narrow the forest belt to a point. The mountains at one place reach a height of 13,000 feet. This diversity of topographical features ought to make a rich fauna and Hora." The birds and eggs as well as the bulk of the miscell- anous material secured by Prof. Bates is to be placed in the hands of "Lattin" for disposal. Special commissions for anything in the Natural History line native to that coimtry will receive care- ful attention and be procured if among the procui'ables. Necrology- E. (i. Sours, Rochester, N. Y. Charley G. Albery, the only child of Dr. Thos. W. Albery, of Ovid, Ohio. Charley was instantly killed on Dec. 15 by the accidental discharge of his gun while out collecting. 20 THE OOLOGIS']'. DECEMBER CONTEST- Forty-four Judges- 1. A Few Notes oa the Tufted Puff- in, 179. 2- Water Birds of Heron Lake, 145- 3. The Scarlet Tanager, 143. 4. Some Queer Habits of Urinator imber, 74. 5. Some Experience With the Young of the Ruflfed Grouse and Bob-white. 59. The Judges' prizes were awai'ded as follows: 1. No. 4. E. H. Short, Chili, N. Y. who named the winners in the follow- ing order; 2, 1, 3, 4, 5. 2. No. 40. H. S. Day, Fremont, O., 2, 1, 3, 4, 5. 3. No. 7. C. Will Beebe, East Orange, N. J., 2, 1, 3, 5, 4. 4. No. 15. Harold Holland, Gales- burg, Ills., 3, 1, 2, 5, 4. 5. No. 18. Reginald G. Pape, Mc Leansboro, Ills., 3, 1, 2, 5, 4. All prizes were mailed on Jan. loth. You Are a Judge - Your decision must be mailed ns not later than the Jirst day of February. Write on back of a postal card the live articles which you have decided to be the most valuable, instructive and inter- esting in this number of Oologist and mail to us. Number the articles in the order which you think the prizes should be awarded. We give our Judges five prizes hav- ing an aggregate value of over $5, one to each of the five whose decisions are nearest the final award of Mss. prizes. RUDY'S PILE SUPI'OSITORY is guaran- teed to cure Piles and Constipation, or money refunded. 50 cents per box. Send two stamps for circulars and Free Sample to MARTIN RU- DY, Registered Pharmacist, Lancaster, Pa. No Postals Answered. For sale by all first- class druggists ever where, and, in Albion, N. Y. by George W. Barren. ED WARD~W. CURRIER, 1 20 Sutter St., Room 1 7, San Francisco, Cal. Taxidermist and dealer in Hirds Eyes, Taxid- ermist supplies, etc. Skins and eggs of Cali- fornia Hirds, also Cal. curiosities. Correspon- dence solicited. Figures of Importance- Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this Oologist. This number denotes the time when your subscription expires or has expir- ed- ^ .t6 sienifles your subscription expired June, 1890 62 •• ■■■ " •• Dec. " 68 ' '• " " June, 1891 74 '•• " " " Dec. " go ■' •• " " June, 1892 86 " " " " Dec. " 92 " " " •' June, 1893 98 '• •' '• " Dec. " 104 •• " ■• " June 1894 110 " " " will expire Dec. " We are desirous of straightening our subscription books at once and trust our subscri liens will send in their sub- scriptions for '94 including all arrear- ages, at their earliest conveniences, the amounts necessary to accomplish this are as follows: •■56"— 3G.2.5. '-ea"— $3.00. "68"— $1.7.5. "74"— $1,.tO "80"— $1,8.5. "86"— $1.00. "93"-75c. "98"-50c. "104"— 250. Should you desire to discontinue your subscription to the Oologist your indebtedness to us is 5 cents more than the above amount. The figures are according to our books Dec. 15, 1894, and many renewals received since that date have been credited on our books but not on the wrapper. To Whom it may Concern: Notice is hei-eby given that the part- nership formerly existingbetweenFrank H. Lattin and Walter F. Webb under the firm name of F. H. Lattin & Co.. was dissolved on the 31st daj' of July, A. D., 1894, by mutual consent. Frank H. Lattin. Walter F. Webb. Yourletters must never\>Q address- ed to F. H. Lat- tin & Co., but to either Frank H. Lattin or Walter F. Webb, which ever you may wish to receive the same. All matters ])ertaining to the Oologist muat be addressed "Lattin". By heeding this "pointer" j^ou may save yourself and the party you may wish your letter to reach* both delay and possible unpleasantness. WANXEE) I J^S^ Agents to sell our new book. Dictionary of jrnited Slates History, by Prof. J. Franklin Jameson. Needed by every teacher, pupil and family ; indorsed by press and public. Agents selling fifty books per week. Success- ful agents will he made general agents. Bin pay. PURITAN PUBLISHING CO. Boston. Mass. Important: THE 05L0GIST VATTAir^ AT A rri^T) 4 T TCl'PUf Make a start in the right direction bv purchas- lUUiMj i\ Al UrtAIiliolkJ: ing Bartletr s CaWuets. Well worth double the money. Nearly lO.OOOsold iu the past three years. Neat, novel and instructive for study. "Young Idea" Mineral Cabinet. "Eclipse"' Curiosity Cabinet. Contains 15 varieties of rare minerals, as fol- lows : Coquina, Calc Spar, Fluorite, Feldspar, Silver Ore, Serpentine, Calamine, Syenite, Tour- maline, Milky Quartz, Drusy Quartz, Hematite. Marcasite, Galena and Zinc Ore, all labelled and secured in a neat tray, like cut, postpaid for Sfic. Reliable Coin aud Stamp Guide, .tO pages, giving prices paid for all U. S. and Foreign Coins and Stamps, 1.5c. Funny Chinese Chop Sticks, the knife, fork and spoon of the Chinamen Ebony wood, a foot lone. 10c a pair. Chinese Cash Coins, 500 years old, 4 for 10c. Perfect Indian Arrow Heads, with locality. 4 for 2.5c. 6 for 35c, 6.5c per doz. Send 2.) cents for Aluminum Hat Mark with engraved name . All postpaid. No, I no longer issue a catalogue. R. E. BARTLETT, 99 STATE ST., ROCKFORD, ILLS. Contains Chinese Poker Chip, Chinese Napkin, Chinese Lottery Ticket, Star-fish, Giant Tree Bark Cal., Red Sea Bean. Alligator Tooth. 3 Yellow Wax Shells, Marine AlgfB, Gypsum Crvstals, Bloody Tooth Shell, Chinese Cash Coin. Flexible Coral. 3 Boat Shells, Egg of Peri- winkle. Drab Sea Bean, Sunflower Coral, .T Money Cowry Shells and Fossil Crinoid. All labeled name and locality and in partitioned box like cut. Sent postpaid for Siicts. Cheap First-class Sets. I have decided to sell the Rlppon collection off In Installments, so here is a chance to ob- tain first-class sets with original datas at prices that cannot be duplicated. This month I am offering Grebes. Loons, Sea Birds, and Plovers Next month I shall oHer the Rlppon collection of eggs of (irouse and Birds of Prey. This is a good opportunity to till up gaps In your collections. If you don't want sets, order single eggs. Orders less, than $2 not solicited. Western (irebe, 2.5, HolboelLs " 1-.5. Horned • 1-5. Eared ■• 1.5. St. Doniingo, 1-5. . . Pied-billed, 1-5 Loon, 1-2 1-1, $0.20 20 10 07 20 06 75 Black-throated Loon, 1-2 75 1.25 Dovekie, 1-1 75 Skua, 1-2 30 Pomrine Jaeger 1.25 Parasitic J.i-ger, 1-2 25 Long-tailed Ju-ger, 1-2 75 Kittiwake, 2-2 18 .25 Iceland (iull. 1-2 Glancous Gull, I'S. . . Vega " 1-2... Ring billed Gull, 1-3. Mew Franklin's Bonaparte's Little Sal)ine's Fulmar 4-1. . 1-2. .50 .35 1.00 .15 .10 Pacilic " 1-2 Red-throated " 1-2 Tufted Pulliu •' 2-1 Punin, 2-1 10 Large-billed Piitliu, 21 40 '?7^<;^^t^i&^ ^.^SiM.. words. Notices over 35 words, charged at the rate of one cent per each additional word. No notice Inserted for less than 50c. Terms. ca.sh with order. "Dkaleks" can use these columns at Regular Advertising rates only Strictly First-class specimens will be accepted In payment at one-half list rates. Exchange cards and coupons (subscription) will be accepted for "Wants" and ••Exchanges'" only and according to conditions stated thereon. EXCHANGE.— Lattin's strapped Climbers, few first clas.s single eggs and Indian relics. Want Hornaday's Taxidermy, eggs in sets and Davie's Kev. All letters answered. E. S. CRAFTON. Plattsburg. Clinton Co., Mo. SPLENDID Opportunity.— The following finely mounted birds for only $.3.00 or best oifer in coins. Scarlet Tanager. Great Crested Fly- catcher. Redstart. Black and White Creeper. Lincoln's Pinch and two Cedar Waxwings, all males. Address. C. IRWIN SALTER, 1318 S. 8th St., Springfield. 111. FOR SALE or EXCHANGE.— One pair Climbers; violin, with Coe's instruction book, case and bow : Florida sea beaTis and pictures from ChautauQua Co. L. R. RYCKMAN, Broc- ton, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE. -Birds skins for eggs in sets with data or marine shells. Send list and receive mine. MRS. H. K. SEDGWICK. Dex- ter, Mich. H. MYER'.S, 611 Halsey St.. Brooklyn, N. Y. Taxidermist and Dealer in Bird and Animal Skins. Correspondence solicited. WANTED.— Microscope and medical works, to exchange for et'gs fancv pigeons and human hones. V. F MUELLER, •iOl. Baltic St.. Brook- lyn, N. Y. From April to October at Milwau- kee. Wis. FOR EXCHANGE.— Fine perfect fossil fish from Tennessee, for sets with data or will sell •cheap for cash. WALTON MITCHELL, 531 Summit Aye., St., Paul. Minn. A SET of drawing instruments, \i jdeces in leather cas«, never been used, cost %Vi. to ex- change for an uncancelled *a and $.5 Columbian stamps in good (•auditi(;n. original giun on back and evenlv centered. G. C. ROBERTS, 1.517 Christian St., Phila , Pa. FOR SALE or EXCHANGE.— Minerals and Curiosities, old Books, Letters. Receipts, Legal Papers. All genuine. No reprints. Dates 1828-40. Write and make known vour wants If you are collecting. GEO. WALTHER, Rush- xille. N. Y. A FINELY Mounted Deer's Head with three prongs. 8 points for $8.00. A Fox or Raccoon Mat for $7.U0. A mounted Fox for $7.00 cash or will exchange for A I sets with data at half cat- alogue rates. JOHN CLAYTON, Taxidermist, Lincoln, Maine. I HAVE several fine sets of Birds Eggs, some good Skins and specimens of Indian Pot- tery to exchange for Birds Eggs in sets and Mounted Birds. Send lists. W. A. OLD- FIELD, Port Sanilac, Mich. HOW to write on iron, for lOc silver or stamps I will send the receipe. You can write or engrave your name indelibly on your knife blade, gun, watch case, any iron tools or metal. A. B. ROBERTS, Weymouth. Medina Co , O. HUMAN SKULL for best live offer in Nat. History. Will exchange for 4, 10 inch alliga- tors, or cash offer. Also old violin, good, cost $40. R.G. PAINE, 57 Charlotte St., Charle.s- tou, S. C. WANTED.- Fossils, Sea Curios and Birds Eggs, for which I can give line fossils and pet. moss. All answered. J. M. KILVINGTON, Mason Cit5', Iowa. TO EXCHANGE.— "Monanza"printing press, U S. and Foreign stamps, for ta.xidermist tools, 8hot-guu, oi-ritle, write soon. Address J. A. Ford, iiox 123 Kent, Orleans Co., N Y. MAKE a cash offer on a Hrstclass 4x5 cam- era adaptable to instauteous and time expos- ures, carrying case, tripod and .S plate holders. They cost me over $.'J(). All sent express paid to highest bidder. For further description of camera address EARL HARRISON, Barnes- ville, Ohio. If you don't want to get inquiries from all over creation even to the ends of the. earth, dont advertise in the Ooi.ocist. I advertised only a small card in the ([uery page a year ago and answers are still coming in. With the last mall I received a fine catalogue from Eng- gland and a short time ago queries from the Varlox "Satioiiiil Museum. Hungary; also from Madagascar and many more, too "numerous to mention. F. Theo. Miller, Fredericksburg. Va. /Lf fS"^ THE OOLOGIST. INDIANA Collectors Only. I would lil«- to exch:iiij;e notes ;ind specimens with collectors of this state. I think I can niak^ our corres- pondence mutually beneticial. FOSTER MAR- IS, Annapolis, Indiana. WANTED.— TO correspond with collectors or those that have collections of Indian Relics from the following states and territores: Wash , Idaho, Col., New Mexico. Okla.. La., Ver. and Mass. D. A. KINNEY, Box 73, Was- eca, Minn. STAMPS.— 50 all different. 6c; 100 11 different 10c:3var. unused Azores. 8c: 3 var. unused Constantinople. ,nc; 100 asst. N. and S. Ameri- can loc; Try our Hne approval sheets at -10 per cent discount. MEEKER-TOWE STAMP Cp., Bridgeport, Couu. WANTED.— A good set of Moose horns with or without head si- in, will give good exchange in mounted sppcimens or skins. JOHN CLAY- TON, Lincoln. Me. FOR EXCHANGE.— 16 nickels without cents, a beauty Red tailed Hawk eggs, U. S. copper cent I.S::iO. New 38 cal. Revolver. 5 chambers cost $ii. For best offer Indian relics. H. W. MITCHELL, 488 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. I have always received good results from my ads. in Oolouist. Any naturalist who does not patronize it is behind the times. A. D. Brown. Pipestone, Minn. NOTICE.— 40 good foreign stamps for every perfect arrow head, or 50 stamps for every spear head sent me. HERBERT DAY. Mt. Vernon, Iowa. FOR EXCHANGE.-Collectionof -2.^0 stamos and four lOc and three 5c novels for 1.5c and 30c Columbian stamps and 100 different tin-tags. R. W. McMICHAEL. Rockland, Maine. A RARE lot ot Confederate Stamps. aOc green and lUc blue, also all kinds of U. S. Stamps and Columbias to ex. for birds eggs. W. E. McLAIN. New Vineyard, Me. TO EXCHANGE.-First Class sets of Black- chined Hummingbird, with nest and complete data: for othfT 1st class sets. Address EDW. SIMMONS, Box 17.5, Pasadena. California. WANTED.— U. S. fractional currency and Confederate Bills. Will give 1st class sets of egKS with data, A 1 Bird Skins and a few can- celled stamps, some good Columbians. E. H. SHORT, Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y. FOR SALE. -One Confederate stamp, one canceled U. S. envelope of I8&i and one Con- federate bill ; all f(jr ten cents. Also have some fine fossils to sell or exchange. JASPER WOOLDRIDGE, Austin, Texas. FOR EXCHANGE —In sets with data A. O. U. No's •.<.l3a. 311,313 319. 3;^5, ,36a. ,368. 3S^1. .3,S7, 410.419, 4iil. 512. .5930,. .594, 706, 707, 73-J. 7.59a. THOMAS H. JACKSON. 343 E. Biddle St.. West Chester, Pa. TO EXCHANGE.— I offer stamps of domes- tlc and foreign countries in exchange for En- tomological literature or specimens^ Lepidop- tera preferred, C. V. BINGHAM, Stayuer. Ont. Canada. TAXIDERMIsrS.-DO you wantblrdsin the meat. Ducks for your game pieces, etc., etc.? If yon do send stamp for price list to W. R. BROWN. Milton, Rock Co., Wis. TO EXCHANGE. - Fresh Marbled Murielet skin and Birds Eggs for Conft^derate. U. S. and Foreign Stamps. Papers on Stamps and latest catalogues GEORGE L. ALVERSON. Lock Box 23a. Fairh^ven, Whatcom Co., Washington. WANTED.— Skins of 755 to 760. ALso 47,326. 328. 33-'. .362. Offer split bamboo fly rod. reel, collecting tube otittit. tiv book, land'ng net, etc. PHIL. K. GILMAN. 170 9th St.. Oakland, Cal. Eggs all gone, and letters still coming in. I should advise all collectors to use the columns, of the Oor.OGi.ST in exchange. FREDERICK HILL. Lyme. Conn. I get more returns from my ad. in the Oolo- GiST than any other paper. Howard M. Gillett, Lebanon Springs, N. Y. READING matter, including Golden Honrs- Goofl iVf irs worth $3.00 to exchange for birds eygs with datas, western pre. R. HARTFING- ER. 924 Snyder Ave., Phila., Pa. WANTED.— Ancient Indian or Mound-build- ers' stone mortars, pipes, spades, large hoeS; large spear heads. Must be in line cond'lion and cheap Will pay cash or exchange for good stamps. REV. K. C. MITCHELL, .534 Summit Ave., Saint Paul, Minnesota. STAMPS Wanted.— For every 10 U. S. or 15- Foreign stamps catalogued above 1 ct sent me I will send post paid a complete novel in book form. THOS. H. BLODGETT, Galesburg. Ill TO EXCHANGE.— A bout $1000 worth of var- ious kinds of Jewelry mounted and settings. The above was left over from the World's Fair and will be exchanged in lots to suit, for tirst- class Natural Historv specimens, shells pre - ferred. Address, J. M. WIERS, 357 W. Van Bureu St.. Chicago. III. F3t My advertisement in the March Oologisi^ proved very satisfactory, as I received several hundred replies from same, more than from any other two publications put together, Her- bert. Sterzing, Austin, Texas. I have received splendid satisfaction from my notices in the Ooi.OGi.ST. Will probably send you a good many this year. Geo. W. Dixon, Watertown, S. D. WANTKD.— Cht;ap, Central Fire, Skeleton Rifle. Will give in exchange Sets, Skins. Stamps, Climbing Irons. Drills. &c. CLAR- ENCE H. WATROUS. Chester. Conn. YOU want a pair of climbers that will climb any tree, '-I've got um." What will you give for them. R. C. ALEXANDER, Plymouth, Mich. LIVE OWLS WANTED.— A Friend desires a lew live Owls. Barred or Acadian, in pairs preferred. Write what you have, stating con- dition and price. Address, PUBLISHER OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. FOR SALE.- Arsenic and sht-ll sand. 5c lb. Not less than 10 lbs to a party, ALVAH G. DORR. Taxidermist and Fur Dealer, Bucks- port, Me. COLLECTORS.— I have a method by which you can clean your own watches and thos-e of your friends at but a few cents expense For 75 cents cash or $2.00 in exchange I will fend method and you will be relieved of the expense of a watch cleanei hereafter Warranted satis- factory or money refunded. H. L. HEATON, Parkville, Mo. THE OOLOGIST. OKEGON BiRDSEGciS.— I am booking: orders for Oregoii birds eggs aurt nests, to be collected the coming: season. All specimens will be pre- pared la a scientific and fitsteful manner. Price list for a ac stamp. ARTHUR L. POPE, Sheri- dan. Oregon. TO EXCHANGE.— Nanu'd beetles and birds eggsior beetles and buaerriles, named or un- named, mounted or In papers. ANSON H. WEEKS. Newport. Herkimer Co . N. V. EXCHANGE.— One pair of unused Lattin's climbers for best offer In sets with data or books on oology. IR \ CLOKEY, Decatur. HI. Wl LL someone please Inform me of R. G. Gads- den's address? Formerly of 199 WhUaker street, Savannah. G-i. And oblige J. MEUTON SWAIN, East Wilton. Me. HAVING sold my entire collection of Natural History specimens and outfit to Ml Lattlu, 1 shall probably do nothing m the line of Oologlcal exchanging or corresponding tor a year or two, but any parties having Natural History books or publlcauous to dispose of will do well to *rlte me. naming value, condition, etc., and stating wants. B. S. BOW DISH. Phelps, N. Y. OOLOGISTS, If you are building up a scientific collection of birds eggs and nests. lean furnish you something from this locality that will please you. Particulars tor a ic stamp. ARTHUR L. POPE. Sheridan. Oregon. ••My last adv. proved a great success." C. IR- WIN SALTER, Springfield. Ills. NOTICE.— To exchange : Two bummer Tanager for two Bush Tit or two Brown-headed Nuthatch. R. L. P.\YNE, Lexington, N. c. TO EXCHANGE.— A good die for a pair of climbers strapped ones preferred must be in good condition. HERVEY L. SMITH, Smith's Ferry, Mass. TO EXCHAN(iE.— Birds eggs for dibt-class eggs. A 2-2 calU)re single shot Winchester rifle, in good condition, for a No. v! Kodak in good con- dition. .\u $is violin. In good wooden box with lock and clasps, a ii"w and 'Telescope" music rack, for a Winchester repeating shot gun. model 189;^. in good condition, or will sell violin outfit for *l.T cash or will exchange It for eggs. Those meaning business, write. All letters answered. No cards wanted. J. t<. & A. PYFER. Odell, Neb. WANT hunting knife, clip blade, shear, h and belt aho a scalpel. Have sketching canif-ra and fifty numbers collector's magazines. ALBERT B. FAKNHAM, Bennlng. D. C. FOR EXcHAN(iE.— A few sets of common New York eggs which I would exchange for sets of other localities. Datas furnished, send lor list. L. D. LEA< H, AUburn, N. . . PETRIFIED Mo.ss.— Large specimens for lie postpaid, or will exchange lor other curtos. WlLLARD DOBBINS, 150X^2, Bamesville. O. L. SUPERBcablntt photograph of rny adult live Great-horned owl tor each set sparrow 's eggs, any species, sent me. E. B. WEBSTER, Crcaco. Iowa. A GOOD THING for f5 cash or best offer lu coins. Following alcoholic specimens. 2 Ll/ards. 2 Fiddlers. H l hameleans, Devils Hor>»e, (;reeu Snake. Sea Spider, large Skimp, (iarter snake. Bottle of Turtle eggs. Address. C. IRWIN. SAL- TER. 121S South 8th St., Springfield, 111. TILL l\laich i.'ifh. I will sell guns, watches, typewriters, bie.vcies. etc . ail high grade, direct from factory, at wiiolesale prices. \SiIl take part ■payment In second-hand shot guns or watches. Send stamp and state wants. STEPHEN J. ADAMS, Cornish. Maine. ••Please renew my ads." J. L. Davlsan, Lock- port, N. Y. THE NATURALISTS REVIEW is a monthly periodical, reviewing most of the popular Natur- al Science magazines of the United States. Send stamp for sample copv, to SHRIEVES & DUR- LAND, .52 Blue HUl Ave,. Roxbuiy. Mass. WOULD like to have a trood skin of Toco or Red-billed Taucan. GEO. A. SPAEDE, Warren- ton. Warren Co.. Mo. STAMP <'OLLECTORS.— 100 different stamps, ]5c: 11 U. S. Columbians, (ic to .50c) $1.20; 7 Colom- bia. lOc. Send references and receive our une- qualed approval sheets. THE ST • MP ASSOCIA- TION, 2.552 Greenwood Ave.. Station G, Chicago, 111 WANTED.— Packard s Guide to the Study In- sects Will pay cash. Write, stating conditions and lowest casli price, and oblige. ROSCOE C-. STEVENS, 1.50 West 99 Street. New Y'ork, N. Y. WANTED.— Coues' Key. latest edition in good order, have telegraph instrument, eggs in sets and singles. Minerals, buffalo horns and curios. Will give good exchange. H. A. SHAW. 413 8th Ave.. Grand Forks. N. D. TO EXCHANGE.— A 4x^ self-inking printing press, coinplete with six fonts of type, weighs about 65 lbs. Will take in exchange U. S. and foreign stamps conferteiate money or old coins. GUS RAPP. -i&r) 8th Street, Milwaukee. WMs. SEND $1 OO for .S pound basket of Dolomite. Calfite. Selenite. Iceland Sp-ir and Quartz, Ex- press paid. J L. DAVISON, 55 Waterman St., LocUport, N. Y. Pr.,EASE do not tut the ad. in the Feb. No. as the .Ian. ad. brought me all the business I can attend to. Alvah G. Dorr, Taxidermist and Fur Dealer, Biicksport. Me. WANTED.--One hundred trial orders for a fine specimen of an Indian dance knife. Handle and blade one solid piece of stone abnu'.. 10 in. long and I'lin. wide, at $1 10 prepaid. Other dealers cha ge $1.75 to $'>.0() for same troods. Guaranteed made of genuine Cat Unite or sacred Indian Pipi'stone bv the Sisseton Indi- an.s. GEO. W. DIXON. Watertown, S. D. WANTED.— Insect and egg cases. Can offer fossils, shells, minerals and sets. A bargain. .'JO varieties of foreien stami>s for every first- class .set of etres with data, bird skin or 5 in- sects. E. DWIGHT SANDERSON. 503 Hollis- tor Hlk.. Lansing. Mich. SEND. 10, 15, or 25 cents for srieclmen of double refract 'on Iceland Spar. .T.L.DAVI- SON. .55 Waterman St . LocUport, N. Y. WANTED. The following firsf class Ameri- can sets A O. U 1 2-(;3F41( 5-115 lliM.'^fl la-i-IMfi- 172-1W1-204-'jn-'Jl la-217 - 21H-29rt-L«H-2r.Sa 2l!4 278 280- 28fi-,S28.S2«-'<(.'<-38:f-407-4n9-4in-417-»4.V47»r).^8--.4R-.54il n50-.5.59 5«1-.5ft'2-.5itl (ilO «2O-t«7-t54H-t'i07-«75-6Tfi-(Wa 70i-ri7a-718-7l'.) 7:w 73H-751-7.^•^. For any of the above I can otTer some line sets. Among them are some Warblers with nests, also a few bird skins, pit games, motinted birds. 2-J cal. rifie,, artificial leaves and glass eyes. A. K. KIBBE, Box 1*55, Mayville, N. Y. IV THE OOLOGIST. POCKET KEY OF THE BIRDS OF THE NORTH- ERN UNITED STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUN- TAINS, Apgar. With a glossary of Terras 1893, 64 pp. Cloth only M cents prepaid. FRANK H . LATTIN, Alliioh, N. Y. FOR ONLY 50 cents. $rm Confederate Mon- ey (assorted^ llOO Confederate Bond and 6 rare Arrow Points. Catalogue 3 cents. J. F. BOW- EN, luka, Miss. I AM building up a general scientific collec- tion, embracing all departments of the Natural Sciences and if you have anything truly desir able to offer in exchange for anything I may have in stock or if you have any standard books or publications" that you wish to dispose of I shall be pleased to correspond with you. When writing give full descriptions siating your lowest exchange price and give me an idea of about what you would like in return. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. WANTED.— To corresDond with those who have a few dollar'? to invest the coming season in Mounted Birds, skins or eggs in sets. We are booking orders from some of the best well- known collectors in America. We will spend the months oi' April, May and June among the birls of N. Dakota and Manitoba. It you wish sets of Ducks eggs in their ne>ts of down let us hear from you. Correspondence with taxider- mists desired in regard to supplying fresh pli- able skins of Franklin's Gull. Terns. Geese. Duck. White Pelican, etc. BRYANT & MUM- MERY, Davison, Mich: COAST and winter birds for sale in the flesh, also mounted birds, deer heads and Fox skin mats. \LVAH G. DORR. Taxidermist and Fur Dealer, Bucksport. Me. J.Sw TO EXCH4NGE.-New Cedar Cabinet. 100 drawers with ,S.(X)0 trays. $100 worth of flrst- class sets, bird's skins, climbing irons, drills, &c. Wanted, a first class bicycle, skeleton rifie, sets of eggs. Indian relics. CLARENCE H. WATROUS. Chestc r. Conn. Agassiz Association Botanical Courses: Elementry Botany, Ferns and thsir Allies, Composite Flowers, Common Trees. With 2.' to 4'. specimens. Fees, $2.00. Circulars. Address ALEX E. WIGHT. Wellesley Hills. Mass. FOR SALE. Formula for the mak- ing of a liquid that pet- rifies all organic objects immersed in it. Many very curious petrifiactions can be made which will sell readily. Price $i.oo. W. H. TRASTER, M. D., Summitville, Ind. RUDY'S PILE SUPPOSITORY is guaran- teed to cure Piles and Constipation, or money refunded. ."iO cents per t)ox. .Send two stamps for circulars and Free Sample to MARTIN RU- DY. Regi.stered I'harmacist, Lancaster, Pa. No Postals Answered. For sale bv all first- class druggisis everwhere, and in Albion, N. Y. by George W. Barrell. EGGS. From the Ori(n/ and Asxam 'Malakka) In- dia. Australia, Africa, ftc. correctly named at moderate prices, also European and exotic Birds skins. HERMANN ROLLE, Emdener St.. 4. Berlin. N. W.. Germany, Wonderful '''^:^i^r^t^:^ Ecchester, N. Y-, will bring. Ornithology and Oology.— I want to ob- tain a quantity of back numbers of various publications relating to Birds and will allow prices as follows for the same. Will accept any number of copies not to exceed 10 of the same issue. All must be coinplete and clean. "Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club" and • -The Auk" sects, per copy. '-The Oolo- GIST" (published at Utica, N. Y- and Rockville, Conn., 1875-81): the "Ornithologist and Oolog- ist:" and "The Nidiologist;" "Random Notes on Natural History" Prov.. R. I. .5c per copy. '■Wisconsin Naturalist:" "The Taxidermist;" I will allow ;3 cts. per copy. I will allow the above amounts in payment for, specimens, instrum- ents, supplies or publications or if you prefer will send credit check for the amount. All publications must be seat prepaid (you can mail them as "second class mail matter ' @. 4c per lb.). "Returns" will be sent prepaid unless otherwise specified in catiilogue. I can also use the following second-hand books on same conditions at prices quoted prepaid. Must be in A No. 1 condition. Coues' "Key to N. A. Birds" W.tO: Ridgeway's -'Manual of N. A. Birds" S3.75: Davie's "Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds, 3d or 4th : editions, cloth, 85 cts, paper 65 cts; oVuQv standard publication will be accep- ted at one-halt publishers prices. This notice will remain in force until Feb. 15, 1895. After that date write what you have to offer before sending. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. OOLOGISTS WANTED.— I want, at once, copies of the Oologist as follows: July-Aug- ust. 1886; January-February, 1887 or Dec, 18S6, with the former attached: June, 1888, 1 also de- sire copies of my old 1885 "Oologist Hand- book." For eac"h and every copy of the above publications mailed me not later than February 15, 1895, 1 will give 15c worth of anything I ad- vertise or offer for sale, or will send credit check good for the amount I will also allow ^ lUc each for f^e following ntmibers, viz:— June- ^ Sept., 1887: April, 1889. All must be complete, clean, and in good condition. Address at once. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. FOR SALE.— A lot of L. C. Smith Hammer Guns, manufrctured by the Hunter Arms Co., Fulton, N. Y. : for .&6 each, list price ol which is $.55. Fine London Twist barrels. Walnut stocks, full pistol grip, 10 or 12 gauge, oO or Z'i inch barrel, 7!/" to 11 pounds. All new and in good condition. Address ELIAS BEE, Sterl- ing, Kans. D3t SILVER and GOLD.— Something everybody wants, something all can get by securing a copy of Vick's Floral Guide for 1895. a work of art, printed in 17 different tinted inks, with beautiful cotored plates. Full list with dis- cription and prices, of everything one could wish for vegetable, fruit or flower garden. Many pages of new novelties, encased in a chaste cover of silver and gold. Unusual and astonishing offers, such as Sweet Peas for 40 cents a pound, $iO0 for a name for a New Doub- le Sweet Pea, etc. If at all interested in seeds or i)lantssend 10 cents at once for a copy of Vick's Floral Guide, which amount mav be de- ducted from first order, to JAMES VICK'S SONS, Rochester. N. Y., and learn the many bargains this firm is offering. WAR : STAMPS ! WAR : Ftae sets ofi var- ieties of unused Venezuela stamps only M cts; s sets. 2.5cts. 10 mixed used foreign stamps, 10 cts: 100 varieties of stamps, catalogue value over V,. only $1.2 var . Confederate bills. lOcts ; entire 4c war envelopes on blue used. 8cts each; entire sheet of "j M. unused Port Rico stamps, 2i>cts. Try me once, address. J. E. HAND- SHAW. Smith town Branch. N. Y. N4t THE OOLOGIST. Herkimer County Crystals! Finest in the World! Exhibit at World s Fair received Highest Award 41) of these Famous (Jems, postpaid, for only so cents. Every purchaser win be presented with a handsome glass tube containing lO Microscopic Crystals, absolutely perfect, and so very small that it takes u."'" to welgn one runce. This collection will please you. Order to-day. f3t A B. Crim, MlddlevlUe, Herkimer Co.. N. Y. Artistic Mounting! Embalming! Private Instruction in mounting birds costs $io to$)0. Many students can't even affoid to pay $5 to f M for a work on Taxidermy. Give Em- balming a Trial: Complete instructions ana material. 7.'> cents. All questions answered. For information and testimonials, send stamp to MORKIS GIBBS. M. D., Kalamazoo, Mich. f6t Mention the Ooi.ogist. Jrrow heads, "■ Minerals, Fossils Shells, Relics of Western Indians. Alaskans and South Seas. INDIAN PHOTOS, MOUNTED HEADS of Wild Adimals, Aluminum, Agate and Pyrites Goods. Ten years in the trade. Elegant large stock. Wholesale and retail. Catalog and prices for stamp. Black Hills Natural History Establishment of I.. W. STILVVELL, Deadwood, S. D- 1'. s. A rarity:— A specimen of ( innabar con- taining Globules of Native Mercury, at c postpaid. H. H. & C. S. BRIMLEY, COLLECTORS, RALEIGH, N. C. First-class Skins of Birds and Mammals, Bird's Eggs, Reptiles and Batrachia both Alive and in Alcohol. Histological Ma- terial. Full data. Send stamp for lists. J. M. ^VIERS, NATURALISTS' AGENCY, Illustrated Catalogue of Shells, Minerals, Corals, Fossils, Curios, and Scientific Books, by mail lo cents. J. M. WIERS, 357 W. Van Buren St., CHICAGO, ILL. FOR SALE! First-class EGGS and SKINS FROM ALASKA. Ancient Murrtilet. f'as'='ln's Auklet, Aleutian Song Sparrow. Aleutian I.encnstite. Fork-tailed I'etrel. Skins only ot the follouing: Sandwich Sparrow, Aleutian Sandpiper, Saijlne's (iull. Eggs only of Leach's I'etrel. Tutted Putliu, Pigeon (iulllemot. Terms Cash. Best of references. f3t C;. LITTLEJOIIN. Kedwood City. California, When answering advertisements always mention the "OOLOGIST." Bird Skins at a Bargain Am. Herring Gull $1 CO Hermann's Gull 4 50 Least Tern ; . . . . 50 Blue-winged Teal 50 Snow Goose 2 00 Wood Ibis 3 00 Little Blue Heron 75 Green Heron 40 Yellow-crowned Night Heron 1 00 ¥\a. Gallinule 50 Am. Coot 45 Wilson's Snipe 45 Dunlin ... 75 Willet 75 Bantram's Sandpiper 45 Killdeer 35 Little Ring Plover 80 Gamltel's Quail, per pair 1 25 Cal. Quail, per .pair 95 Mex. (Ground Dove 50 Marsh Hawk ("0 Sparrow Hawk 25 Desert Sparrow Hawk 60 Burrowing Owl ... 50 Rivoli Hummer 2 00 Our February Bulletin of skins will interest all coUeetois. BIRDS EGGS. Royal Tern set of 3 lor .48 Royal Tern White-wing Black Tern. . White-wing Black Tern. . Cal)ot's Tern Sooty Tern Noddy Tern Roseate Tern Arctic Tern Our February Bulletin of eggs will be sent upon request. My large Illustrated Catalog (for 1895) will be ready for mailing Feb. 2cih without fall. If you have purchased ')0 cents worth of goods of us be- fore that date your name will be; on our l)Ooks and the catalog will be mailed you free of charge wltliout further notice. In this way we shall mall 1.2110 to regular customers who have pur- chased goods of us In the past and without doubt we shall have less than 20o left. Those remain- ing will be mailed at 10 cents each. With the catalog I shall mall a list of Kggs. Mounied Birds, I'.ooks, Sliells and tMirios. This list and eil her of our special monthly bulletins of Eggs or Skins will be mailed you free of' charge. JAMES P. BABBITT, Dealer in everything required by tlie Naturalist and Taxidermist., TAUNTON, MASS. 2 ' .34 3 ' .93 2 ' .70 2 ' .40 1 ' .18 1 ' .14 3 ' .21 3 ' .18 THE OOLOGIST. A NEW WORK. THE OOLOGISTS' HAND-BOOK FOR 1895 WILL CONTAIN OVER 150 PAGES OF VALUABLE INFORMATION. It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that the Mss. tor a new Oologists' Hand-book is nearly ready for the printer and, that under ordinary circumstances it will be ready for delivery early in April. The new Hand-Book, for the money, we think will be one of the .most valuable works for one interested in birds, ever published. It will be simply and purely a Collector's Hand-Book in the fullest sense of the word, and will contain over 150 pages, each teeming with valuable in- formation. It will also contain two or three full page plates and many illustrations. The size of the pages will be about 6.x;4 inches making a volume that can be conveniently carried in the pocket. WHAT IT WILL CONTAIN. It will give the common and scientific nadie of every North American bird known at date of going to press. These names will be numbered, arranged and given according to the A. O. U nomenclature they will also be divided and sub- divided into the orders and families which they belong. It will give the numbers of each speci(!s as used in Ridgway's nomenclature of 1881 and those used by Coues' in 1883. It will give the value of the eggs and skins of over (300 species and sub-species of North American birds, as ti.xed by some of the most competent American Oologists and Ornithologists at date of going to press this fact alone mailing it invaluable to collectors, as a basis on which to make exchanges. It will give the breeding range of each species. It will give a considerable information about the nest of each species. It will give the shape, color, markings and size of the eggs of each species and will also state the number usually found in a set. It. ■will also mention some of the more counuon local nnmes by which each species is known in different localities. It will also give a considerable information on the •collecting and preparing for cai)inet and will have something to say about making cabinets, making exchanges, packing, etc , etc. It will also tell how to make a good bird skin, and many other useful hints autl iiems, most of which will be well illustrated. It will be recognized by collectors the World over as the ''STANDARD." The bulk of the material for this work has been in Mss. for nearly five years. It is now being thoroughly and carefully overhauled and will within a few weeks be placed in the hands of my printer and will then be rapidly pushed until ready for delivery. Orders for the book will not be taken imtil the work is ready for the binder, at which time an announcement will be made in the OoLO- ciST, and during the first 30 days an opportunity will be given all collec- tors to obtain a copy from the "'ground Ifoor. " Progress of the work will be given in March OoLooisr. Faithfully, FRANK H. LATTIN. a®* Remember, Lattin's Hand-Book will be the "Standard" and should you desire such a one, do not be induced to accept any other as a substitute. I'HE OOLOGIS r. ^9^ TheNATURALIST (Formerly of A\isUa, Texas ) An illustrated ni'^nllilv dovnted to tlie study of rviture. Tliis magazine, is rap- idly irrovving in ein-iilatioii t roiighoiit the United States, its average monthly issue iiuw \w\\\%o\ier 3,000. VVhat makes this monthly so popular? It is because it contains the most inter csliiKj and in- ^sbe: a half-tone, from photo- graph of a nest of the Parkman's Wren in a lincan; engravings of each the ClitY, Barn and Bank Swallow; an en- ei'aving of Steller's Jay; an engraving of Violets; four examples of eggs, on which contains markings, that represent a duck, a hound, a quail and a gull Next numl)er (January) commences Vol. 2, and during the year 18U5 the paper will introduce articles by some of the liest writers, and will contain orer 100 differ- €7it illiislrdtioiis before it completes Vol. 2. •'Several prizes will be given to con- tributors for IH'J.")." Send at once and commence with the January number. Only 50c per year. Advertising Rates Low. FKKE EXCHANGE COLUMN. For every one mentioning The OoLOfiisr and «nclos|uK a.5iic monev order, we will send Tiik Naturalist one year and >onr selection of any two of the eleven phofograp/m wUlcU will be ad- vert Is-'d In r.lie .laniiiirv"niniib»^r of THENATruvL- iST and o/)f rfo3«ft iiidlatioii gold pens. Address: G. B Cheney, Box 4-07, Oregon City, Oregon, 65 SPECIMENS $ 1 '<0 Minerals, assorted: 20 Stamps, assorted: lo Fossils, assorted: .5 \rrow Points: 3 Mammoth cave Specimens:! Old coin; l ConfediT- ate Filll; 1 (iem Stone; ;i small Ku- bles: 1 piece Petrlded Wood; l Petrified ("oal Xut. l-2t Larger lots can be furnished. Address. R. A. BROWNE, MT. CARMEL, KY. H. R. HORTON, Hunter and Guide for the famous Dead Hlver Keglon. In Northwestern Maine. I make a speclaly of mounting Trout and Togue, and guiding Artists and Sportsmen. lor the finest scenery, or the best of sport In llunllng and FInblng. Poet Oftlce: Eustis, Franklin Co., Maine. Keferences furnished. You Are a Judge Your ilecision must bo mailed us not later than the Jir^l d.iy of March. Write on back of a jjostal card the five articles which you have decided to be the most viilualile, instr/ictire (iiul inter- cstiiiff in this number of OoLOGiST and mail to us. Number the articles in the order which yuu think the prizes should be awarded. We give our Judges live prizes hav- ing an aggregate value of over $,1, one to each of the tive whose decisions are nearest the final award of Mss. prizes. 5 R-I-P-A-N-S > ONE GIVES RELIEF. % D A DI7 ^^ '^ have in stock or can K AfYrifurnish on short notice books, magazine articles and infor- mation on Ji'iiyAT "TV subject desired. 'Out-of-|)riat' liljU books a specialty. Literary I^ight $1 a year; sample copy 10\'ts. Ravmer's Old DAAIT'O Bookstore, 243 4th Ave. nlltll\LS S.. iUinneapolis, Minn. ■^'VV/IXM WANTBD ! ti^^ A^'ents t'> spll our new book, dictionary of Uidled Stutc-K UiMovy. by Prof. J. Fran Ivllu Jameson. Needed by ever.v teacher, pupil and family; indorsed by press and public. Agents sellinfr lift.y boolts per week. Success- ful agents will be made general apents. Big pny. PUKITAN PUBLISHING CO. Boston, Mass. THE LITTLE MIDGET SELF-INKING RUBBER STAMP. Every Naturalist should have one. Sent complete witli .^ our name and address tor only 50 CENTS. E. BREWSTER MYERS, Mfr of Rubber Stamps, 117 Clifton Street, Rochester, N. Y. i For IntllecHtton, nuionniirfiii, ^^^^ ^ g Headache, OoiiNtlpatlon, ]<»(1 ^^^^^^ ;; I Complexion, Offi-niilvc Itrciith, .^-^^^^^^^v I and all disorders of the Stomach, I Liver and Howcls, /ristM orsent by mail. I I»rire 60 centH a box. Address | frtll'ANH C'llE-MICAT, < «.. 10 Bprncc St.. N.Y^ When answering advertisements alwaysmentlon the "OOLOGIST." THE 05L0GIST. ^ o ^Jll ipa^lMil' ^Rifles. 2 CO ^^m^^ ,(amr^-=«^G'-eat Wertern ^^ a ae^^^^ tor Price ZisJ. GunWork«,PlttBburgli,R^ QPFMP<5 NETS. TENTS, and 0£LllNL-<0) SPORTING GOODS. Every description of Guns, Revolvers, Ammu- nition and Sporting; Goods at very lowest pric- es. We have something of interest to you. TAXIDERMISTS' GUNS. "S^"^!^ Pistols, Gun Cases. SUootim: Shot Sh<=lls: also f,?.1e3SSPECIMEK HUNTERS. All kinds, all prices from $ . " to $2 -.UO. List free. Write for Taxidermist's free list. JAMES H. JOHNSTON, PITTSBURG. PA. ThTGovernment has caused notices to be posted, requesting all persons sending letters or packages through the mail to put their name and address thereon. The best way to do this is to stamp it on with one of Ford's Rubber Stamps. He sells them cheap. Write for prices. Address dSt R. W. FORD, BRISTOL, CONN. FRANK B. ARMSTRONG, TAXIDERMIST, and Collector and Dealer in Bird and Mammal Skins, Birds Eggs in fine sets, Mounted Birds and Animals. Alta Mira, Estado de Tamaulipas, Mexico. THE NAUTILUS. A monthly devoted to the intesest'< of Pon- chologists. Edited and published by H. A. Pils- bry. Academy of Natural Sciences and C. W. Johnson. Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia Pa Send for sample copy. EDWARD W. CURRIER, 1 20 Sutter St., Room 1 7, San Francisco, Cal. Taxidermist and dealer in Hirds Eyes, Taxid- ermist siijjplies. etc. SUlns and eggs of Cali- fornia Hirds. also Cal. curiosities. Correspon- dence solicited. PATENTS w e secure uiiiiuu ^nii e uiui iM_>rei^;ii i .»umh s, roKister Trade-Marks, Copyrights and I.nticls, and attend to all patent buHiness for moderate faes. VVereporton patentability frceof I'iiiUL'e. K.r i .formniion and froo hai d-book wriii- i i H. B. WILLSON &. CO., Attom, v:^ i.t I, . Oj>p. U. B- la' Ollke. WASHINGTON, D. C. New 1895 Catalogue now ready? 32 pages of Reduced Prices. EGGS. Puffin, sc Am. Herring Gull. .^c. Brown Pelican. 12c Murre. 8c Ring billed Gull, loc Night Heron. Gc Razorbill Auk, Sc Royal Tern, 10c Am. ( 'cot, ."ic. Above are fair samples of the way we iiave slaughtered eggs. Whi'e we have the stock, we- will allow EO one to shout, "Lowest prices In America." GLASS EYES. Anyone ready to put in a stock had better drop- us a ilne before ordering. Our Catalogue covers Supplies, Books, Tools, Skins, Eggs, Curios. NOTE. Anyone who sends us lOc will have a copy, and their name entered on our list for all future cir- culars. We are now sending out these Cata- logties to those who have paid us lor them dur- ing: the last ten mouths. Parties who have or- dered goods from us are not required to pay. You win save money by dealing with us. Frank Blake Webster Co., Hyde Park, Mass- DDIklTlklP Of all kinds for Naturalists a rnin I iniS speciality. Note and letter heads, envelope^*, circulars, illustrated cata- logues for natural history dealers. Have httn- dreds of engravings of natural history speci- mens. Write for estimates. 100 envelopes print- ed, 4.=ic. noteheads same price, postpaid. C. F, CARR. Job Printer, New London, Wis. tf Figures of Importance. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this Oologist. This number denotes the time when your subscription expires or has expir- ed. 56 signifies your subscription expired June, 1890' 63 " " " " Dec. " 68 ,' " " " June, 1891- 74 " " " " Dec. " 80 " " " " June, 1892 86 " " •■ " Dec. " 93 " • " •• June, 189.3 98 " " " '• Dec. " 104 " " " " June 1894 110 " " " •• Dec. '• We are desii'ous of straightening our subscription books at once and trust our subscribers will send in their sub- scriptions for '95 including all arrear- ages, at their earliest conveniences, the amounts necessary to accomplish this- are as follows: ".t6"-$2.3.=j. "63"-J2,rO. "68"-$l.7.5. "74"-$l,50' "80"— tl.S.'S. "86"— $1.00. "92"-7fJc. "98"-B0c. "104"— 2.5C. Siiould you desire to discontinue your subscription to the Oologist your indebtedness to us is 10 cents more thaa the above amount. The tigures are according to our books Jan. 15, 1895, aud many renewals I'eceived since th9,t date have been credited on our books but not on the wrapper. ' ■' The Oologist. TOL. XII. NO. 2. ALBION, N. Y., FEB., 1895. Whole No. 112 Ifotes on the Blue-headed Vireo in Massa- chusetts- The Blue-headed, or Solitary Vireo •( Vireo solilarius) may safelj' be placed among the first of our woodland song sters, for his note is far richer and ful- ler in tone than any of our other Vireos, ODce heard it can never be mistaken. The larger number go to the northern New England states to breed where, in New Hampshire for example, the nest is by no means a rarity. In Massa- chusetts it is a common migrant and is found most often in pine and oak woods where it spends its time in spasmodic bursts of song, occasionally eating an insect if it happens upon one, but sel- dom making a systematic search for food. It breeds in Massachusetts much more commoulj' than is generally sup- posed, being, unlike the other Vireos, always extremely partial to a secluded pine grove for the purpose of nidifica- lion, and is, I ihink, one of those birds that, like the Crested Flycatcher, is yearly becoming more common in Mass- achusetts, although it is probable that the distribution of both bii'ds is some- what local. It is the earliest of our Vireos to com- mence house-keeping, almost always having its nest nearly finished by the end of the tliird week in May, in fact I took one of their nests on May 19th which contained four fresh eggs. Des- pite its habit of early breeding, I feel convinced that it seldom, or never, has a second set unless the first is taken, when it at once builds another nest, close to the old spot, and rears another brood. How often this would be repeat, ed I do not know, a« I am not an advo- ■ii&te of unlimited collecting. I consider it lo be the tamest of our birds, as it will never leave the nest without being tilted off by ones finger or a stick, and even then it does not ex- hibit the slightest fear, either b3' its ac- tions or in those surest of tale-tellers its eyes. The nest, which is pensile, is placed in the crotch of a pine, oak or walnut limb, usually about eight feet from the ground, but varying from seven feet to twenty. It could scarcely be mistaken for that of one of the other Vireos, be- ing much less neatly constructed than the Red eyed, larger than the White- eyed or the Warbling (besides being in a very different situation), and resem- bling only those of the Yellow-throated which does not, at least in my exper- ience, make a rule of nesting in a pine grove. It is usually built of pine-needles and grass, being roughly lined with pine-needles or fine grass, and is patched on the outside with almost any- thing it can find, but particularly with a kind of dark brown plant down that I find in no other nests. I once found its nest by seeing some six inches of a broad strip of white cotton cloth which, waving from the bottom of it, made a strong contrast to its dark pine-wood background, and also made it very easy to find. This nest was ruthlessly car- ried away, probably by some cruel boy, before the eggs were laid, but, hap- pening to pass the place two weeks later, I saw the bird sitting on a new nest that was placed ou the same branch as the lirst. It is the eIack roots. Among these were a few black -hairs. The outside diameter of the nest was 3.8 in.; the outside depth,. ;3.3in.; the inside diameter, 2 in.: the in- side depth 1.9 in. The nest contained four fresh eggs. In color they are creamy white, with an inclination to pinkish (they were de- cidedly pinkish before 'preparation for the cabinet), everywhere spotted with pale lilac; the spots being largei- and grouped in a ring about the larger end: also cvcu-ywhere spotted with reddish l)rown, lighter or darker: in a few l)laces th(i brown is more thickly ap- plied and the result is a browni.'^h 'black blotch or scr:iwl._ The eggs measure in inches, .T7.\..'.8, .78.\-,.J7, .r4x.58 and .T6x.r,0 The bird was taken and her identity cfiiefully determined. J. O. Snyder. 38 'IHE OOLOGIST. The Oologist, A Monthly Magazine Devoted to OOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Editor and Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. Correspondence and Items of interest to tne student of Birds, tbeir Nests and Eggs, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Single Subscription - - T.jc per annum Sample Copies - - - - - 10 c eacb The above rates Include payment of postage by us. Eacli subscriber Is given two coupons, one good for an Exchange Notice an.i the other tor 2"ic. "When nresented with an order of $1.2 > or over. Subscriptions can begin with any iiuniber. Back numbers of the Oologist can be furnish ed at reasonable rates. Sjiid stamp for dnscrip- tlons and prices. BS^Remember that the publisher must be nu- tlfled by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES- 10 CENTS PER NONPAREIL LINE EACH INSERTION. Twelve lines In every inch. Remittances should be made by Draft, Express or Post Office Monev Order, Keglstered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. s. Postage stamps of any denomination wiil be accepted tor sums un- der one dollar. :Make Money Orders and Drafts payable and address all subscriptions and com- murioatlons to FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y. •,« Articles, Items of Interest and Queries for publication should be forwarded as early In the mouth as possible. HE POST OFFICE AT ALBION, A3 SECOND-CLASS MATTER. Guilford College, N. C has oue of the finest Museums In the State. T. Gilbert Pearson is Curator. A Friend asks— Where can I get a high grade camera with rapid Rectilin- ear Lens for exacting workv Remember that the Oologist is now 75 cts. a year and that subscriptions and renewals will be accepted at the old rate (.50c. ;» until Feb. 15th only. Blenn R. Bales, Wilson, Alabama, re- ports killing an albino Robin on Jan. 2d. Pure white except a few red feath- ers on breast. 'Natural Science News" is the name of our new weekly Joprnal devoted to Natural History in all its various branch- es. You have heard of it. You have doubtlt'ss received a sample copy, and may have already sent in your subscrip- tion for it — if not we trust you will do so by return mail. Should you receive an extra copy, place it where it will do lis the most good. A boomerang in the hands of an American has never yet proven an ef- fectiveinslrument forkilling"b!g game." It might answer on "a review" or dress jiarade but even then it would be advis- able for the "boys" to keep away from behind the source whence it emanates. The publisher of the Ool<)GIST has on two or three occasions during the past ten years been made the object of un- warranted attacks I>y journals having an 'immense circulation" and which assured the public they had "come to stay." Correct. By reference to our copious notes bearing on the subject we find that all have "staid." The Northwestern Ornithological Association ■ The Northwestern Ornithological As- sociation was organized at Portland, Oregon, Dec. 28, 1894. The following officers were elected: Pres., Arthur L. Pope; 1st vice pres., Wm. L. Finley; 2nd vice pres., G. B. Cheney; Sec, D. Franklin Weeks; Treas., A. B. Averill. All persons in the Northwest who are interested in our bird.« are cordially in- vited to correspond with the Secretary, 720 Front St., Portland Oregon. As there has been comparatively little work done in ornithogical science in the Nortliwest it is expected the new asso- ciation will bring to light some inter- esting facts regarding the birds of that section. THE OOLOGIST 39 My Introduction to the Canada Jay and Three- toed Woodpacker- We have all met with disappoint- ments, haven't we? I know I have, but one of the worst is contained in the fol- lowing: Some of my readers will rec- ognize as "just their case exactly."' It was a light day in fall, abiut thirty- six miles back from Georgian Bay. I was slowly wandering along ostensibly for Ruffed Grouse, but keeping my eye open for other of our bird friends. It was along an old lumber road, such is are common in a new district just left by the lumbermen and still showing the fierce ravages of the axe and fire. To the right and left of me was a wall of second growth birch _and poplar well guarded by chevaux de Jnse of dead tree-tops and bre-ist- works of fallen logs. I had tried to force these de- fenses and, wearily came to the conclu- sion that there was no game along the road. As I paused a moment to watch some Slate-colored Juncoes 1 heard, away over somewhere, a maniacal laugh, perfectly fiendish in its tone and enough to make one's blood run cold. What's that? I mentally asked, and the dog looked uj) and then turning to me seemed to say, "Shall we go and see ? " Not much through that jungle. Much puzzled 1 went along my way imtil I reached higher ground and came to a "slashing," where hemlock had been cut for tan-bark and thin, white, bleached trunks lay nbout piled over each other like huge jack-straws. Sitting down and watching some Kinglets playing in a small cedar clump 1 was attracted by an unknown guttural note uttered near me. My heart Hew to my throat ; there, on a log, and quietly tapping as if nothing unusual had happened was the bird I had been looking for for three years — the Ameri- can Three-toed Woodpecker. How often had I heard that familiar rat-a- tat and quietly stealing up in hopes of finding him saw a Hairy or Downy bird, here ho actually was light under my hand, or gun, rather. All this and much more fiashed through luy mind while I was raising my gun. When horror of horrors, he fiew — but towanls me and lit on the other end of the log I was on. I slowly I'ose and, keeping an eye on him backed off to insure there being enough of him left to mount after I shot. Dear reader, you know how it is, every log for miles around came and lay in my way. The dog got under my heels, but I remembered the fifth com- mandment and didn't say a word. Mr. Woodpecker seeing how things stood, fiew on a tree at just a good range, but on the opposite side. Then I changed my tactics and began a retrograde movement to get in the rear of my ene- my; keeping my eye on him every sec- ond except once while getting over a log. But that once was enough, I did not see him go, but he went,— and I — well, I won't say what I said. The dog crawled under some logs and all the rest of the day acted ashamed for me. I will pass over what happened for a while after that in deference to my readers, who, I think will sympathize with me if they are collectors. An hour or so after as I came into some better cleared land I heard that awful laugh again pn^ceeding from an isolated clump of bushes and I crept forward. The fiend fiew — coming right over my head and I fired. He stopped suddenly and dropped in rather a dis- jointed way. When I picked him up I saw who he was. He was slate-buie under and lighter beneath with a sug- gestion of rufous, he \. ore a nice little black cap, and his whole plumage had a peculiar looseness and flufiiuess — in fine he was a Canada Jay. Troceeding I came to a little lake lost in the woods. Peering cautiously for- ward I saw three ducks dal)bling about and every now and then diving, show- 40 THE OOLOGIST. ing as they did so their silvery under parts. Then began a long detour to strike the lake near where they were. At last 1 saw I had come out in the right place for there they were totally unaware of the presence of a gun. I was about to shoot when a whirr qf wings over my head made me look up and I heard the same hoarse call I had heard in the "slashing," and there, with his golden coronet, was mj' woodpecker. No chances this time, so I fired The ducks got up with a splash and frantic beating of wings. The w^oodpecker hung for a second and di'opped. Thus ended one of the most enjoj'a- ble bitter-sweet days I have known for a long time. 1 walked on air all the way home admiring my two pi'izes. After this these birds became quite com- mon but these were the tirst ones I took as I had never stayed so late in this couuti'y on my vacation trip before. Tais accounts for my never having seen birds which, in the late fall and winter, are quite common there. In closing, let me say that I hope that in all their like disappointments, my readers will have a like ending to them that turns them into a rather j)leasant experience; instead of a disagreeable re- membrance of "what might have been.'' P. A. Tavernier, Guelph, Ont. JANUARY CONTEST. Ninety- four Judges- 1. A Rough Time Collecting at Shoal Lake, Manitoba, 4r)3. 2. Northwest Notes for 1894, 314. 3. Water Birds of Heron Lake, 30G. 4. Experience with the Young of KutYed Grouse and Bob-white. 1G4. 5. Spring Breeders of Western New York, 84. The following ten Judges named the winning articles in their exact order and among these ten the Judges prize was equally divided; — Berton A. Garrett, Balston Springs, N. Y. L. G. Woodruff, New York City. W. A. Johnson. Galesburg. Ills. Geo. Miller York, Pa. A. L. Blanchard, No. Y^armouth, Me. Millard Van Wagner, Gretna, N. Y. C. C. Smith, Decorah, Iowa. L. B. Gilmore, Blooming Valley, Pa.. L. R. Kirk, Jr., Wayne. Pa. Hervey M. Hoskins, Newberg, Ore- gon. All prizes were mailed on Feb. 9th. We have been too busy during the past year to take the time to inform the readers of the Oologist what the prizes were which we were awarding each month for Mss. and lo the Judges. For the best Mss. each month as determin- ed by our judges we give a credit card which entitles the holder to his selec- tion of $10 worth of specimens or $7.50 worth of instruments, supplies or pub- lications or $5 CASH. For the 2d prize $5 worth of specimens; $3.75 in instru- ments, supplies or publications; or $2.50» CASH. 3d $3 in specimens, or $2.25 in instruments, supplies or publications,, or $1.50 cash. 4th, $2 in specimens or $1.50 in instruments, supplies or publi- cations or $1 cash. 5th, $1 in speci- mens or 75 cents in instruments, sup- plies or publications or 50 cents cash. During 1895 the Judges prize will be- awarded as follows, viz: Each month it will consist of $6 in specimens or $4.50 in instruments, supplies or publi- cations or $3 cash. This prize will be awarded to the Judge who names the winning articles and in there exact or- der. In case more than one Judge names them correctly this prize will be- equally divided among the number. This month ten, name the winners ex- actly hence, each of these ten are en- titled to 60 cents worth of specimens or 45 cents worth of instruments, supplies or publication or 30 cents cash. On this plan during the past year at three different times this prize would have remained unawarded. Four times it would have been secured by a single- Judge, once it would have been divided; among two. twice among three andi once among eight. . ' THE OOLOGISr. YOUNG NATURALISTS! the money. Nearly 10,000 sold in the past three years. "Young- Idea" Mineral Cabinet. Make a start in the right direction by purchas- ing Bartlett's Cabinets. Well worth double Neat, novel and instructive for study. "Eclipse"' Curiosity Cabinet. Contains 15 varieties of rare minerals, as fol- lows : Coquina, Calc Spar, Fluorite, Feldspar, Silver Ore, Serpentine, Calamine, Syenite, Tour- maline, Milky Quartz. Drusy Quartz. Hematite, Marcasite, Galena and Zinc Ore, all labelled and secured In a neat tray, like cut, postpaid for 2i5c. Reliable Coin and Stamp Guide, 50 page.s, giving prices paid for all U. S. and Foreign Coins and Stamps, 1.5c. Funny Chinese (Jhop Sticks, the knife, fork and spoon of the Chinamen Ebony wood, a foot long. 10c a pair. Chinese Cash Coins, 500 years old, 4 for 10c. Perfect Indian Arrow Heads, with locality, 4 for -ioc, 6 for 35c, 65c per doz. Send ») cents for Aluminum Hat Mark with engraved name . All postpaid. No, I no longer issue a catalogue. R.E. BARTLETT, 99 STATE ST., ROCKFORD, ILLS. Coniams Chinese Poker Chip, Chinese Napkin, Chinese Lottery Ticket, Star-fish, Giant Tree Bark Cal., Ked Sea Bean, Alligator Tooth. 3 Yellow Wax Shells, Marine Algae, Gypsum Crystals, Bloody Tooth Shell, Chinese Cash Coin. Flexible Coral, 3 Boat Shells, Egg of Peri- winkle, Drab Sea Bean, Sunflower Coral, 3 Money Cowry Shells and Fossil Crinoid. All labeled name and locality and in partitioned box like cut. Sent postpaid for Sscts. SEEDS Grand Special Offers. Fresh and Reliable. FREE FLOWERS, Offer No. 1. Grand Box Containing Aster, Gov. McKinley, Over .50 grand colors Sweet Peas, Emily Henderson, Best new white Forget-me-not, new striped, lovely large flower fjinum, perpetual flower'g, blooms all Summer Poppy, Uiverdale mixture, grandest out Wonderful Mexican Primrose, worth 25 cents White Flowers, 100 sorts for white bouquets Yellow Flowers, UK) sorts mixed for bouquets German Mixed Seed, 400 choice sorts Foliage Plants, for decorative foliage Pinks. Bell's show mixed I These are the Petunia. Bell's show mixed Best Mixture Phlox. Bell's show mixed | in the World. Verbena, Bell's show mixed Pansy, our Nellie, gorgeou-ly beautiful Book on Summer Gardening, Free. All the above seat by mail for only 25 cents and a 25 cent check is put in each box, which may be retui-ued to us with an order for $1 or over, and you get 25 cents worth free, so this box really costs you nothing. VEGETABLIiS, Cirand box, containing one package eacli. Best Beans Best Peas Best Coru Best Beet Best Carrot Early Cabbage I..ate Cabbage Best Cucumber Best Lettuce IBest Melons Best Onions Best I'umpkins Best Radish Best Squash Best Tomato Best Turnip The above box. UJ packages of vegetable seeds, mailed for oi)ly 25 cenls and cent check put in each box. 1^°10 trial packages choice flower seeds, our selection, 10 cents. ^^6 trial packages choice vegetable seeds, our selection, 10 cents. All of the above for 00 cents by mail postpaid. Catalogue of seeds free. Address, J. J. Bell, Binghamton, IN. Y. a 25 X THE OOLOGIST. ALBION IS a Village of nearly 5,000 inhabitants, it is the County Seat of Orleans County; It is the centre of one of the most wealthy, populous, and prosperous farming and fruit-growing districts in the World. The Post Office at ALBION receives the mails for a district having a population of perhaps, 8,000 people. According to the report made by the Postmaster of Albion, for the month of January, 1895, that month was a Record Breaker, and showed the greatest amount of business ever transacted in a single month, since letter postage was reduced to 2c and luidoubtedly since the office was established. This report does not show it — but it's a fact, nevertheless, that one- fifth (possibly, if not quite one-fourth) of this entire business can be at- tributed to one, FRANK H; LATTIN, (who resides -'two and one-half miles out in the country" ). This "LATTIN" makes no pretentions at being a "Natural History Dealer, " although he does do a little "jobbing" along that line. From a business or professional standpoint he might be classed as a "Publisher" or "Naturalist," although some of the boys do, familiar- ly, call him a "Yankee," and a "rustler." On January loth, this LATTIN addressed a circular to his friends headed: "TO MY FRIENDS AND PATRONS" Every statement in which was to his best knowledge and belief, the truth, and as he has been well-known to the Collectors of the United States for the last fifteen years, there is no reason for thinking that they accepted it as otherwise. The direct results from that circular and ac- acmpanying letter and printed matter, exceeded his most sanguine ex- pectations, and the letters he has received since has averaged over 100 (one hundred) a day and on one day by actual count they numbered two hundred and thirteen (213). He has also received as high as seventy- eight (78) pieces of other mail matter in a single day. This same "LATTIN " has received more letter mail and more P. O. Money Or- ders during the past month than the combined mails and orders received by the next ten heaviest patrons of the Post Office at Albion. It's not the coat that makes the man. The rarest and most valuable specimens are oft'times obtained from sources having the roughest of ex- teriors. Hence, "LATTIN" is aw^are that collectors care but little whether his place of business is in a hovel or marble palace — as long as he attends strictly to business and cares for his patron's trusts in strict accordance with the golden rule. As a matter of fact, however, > -LATTIN" occupies three buildings, viz: — ist, a store house, (formerly used as a barn) ; 2d, a shop or office, //<'ew- used for any other purpose); 3d, his "Museum" or the building which is devoted exclusively to his private collections and which is fit- ted up with cabinets and cases made expressly for that purpose. These collections are now being arranged and it is hoped that they may be ready for visitors to inspect not later than May ist. THE OOLOUrsT. xi Last but not least the -'sanctum" is located in his residence. A certain dealer states that (Lattin) -'secures the specimens of me to fill orders with" As an actual fact I have secured of this party between the dates of Aug. I, 1894 ^^^'^ Feb. I, 1895, /ess than $160 worth of specimens and supplies, to balance this amount I presented a debit account, and less^ than S50 in cash, and secured for same receiped bills in full to date. During this same period my business has exceeded $5000 and nearly, if not quite, approached $6000, or Si 000 per month, for which, were the above statement in quotations a true one would I have had made an out- lay of only $50? Faithfully, FRANK H. LATTIN. N. B. --Lattin"' was born and reared in the town in which he now resides, and is known or has been -'heard of" by all the leading public and business men — even the P. M. of Albion — and from them it would be a very easy matter for interested parties to learn whether his state- ments are reliable or not. 'The Sunny South" Natural Science Establishment KIRKE B. MATHES, Proprietor, 11 N. ST. GEORGE ST., ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I am prepared to furnish anything in the curio line, either scien- tific specimens for the private collection, or the dozen or barrel lots for the deaJers. Alligators, either live or mounted, furnished -in any quantity, fine Coquina in bulk for mineral dealers at low rates. Beautiful pink conch points with Florida scenery painted on them in oil cheap by the dozen or liundred. When in need of any- thing in Florida goods don't forget to address your letter to head- quarters. NIAQARA K^ALIaS. Hundreds of tlic Headers of the OoLOGisr visit Niagara annually and they always make it a point to visit TUGBY'S NEW MUSEUM. Tliis new museum is lov^atcd on Falls stnset, (;nly a ie v steps from E. R. Depots — Electric car lino ])asses its cutmnce — and ' couples a new three story building, wliicli cost thousands of dollars to build and fill — Among the hundreds of attractions within will be fouud a largo and magnificcut collection of Birds and the TiAUOEsT collection of birds Eooa in a Public Mus, <„ VOL. XII. NO. 3. ALBION, N. Y., MARCH, 1895. Whole No. 113 Wants, Exchanges, and For Sales. Brief special announcements. "Wants,' "Exchanges" "For Sales," Inserted In this department for 500 per a^ words. Notices over 35 words, charged at the rate ot one cent per each additional word. No notice Inserted for less than .50c. Terms, cash with order. "Dealers" can use these columns at Regular AavprUsing rates, only Strictly First-class specimens will be accepted in payment at one-half list rates. Exchange cards and Coupons (subscription) will be accepted for "Wants" and ••Exchanges'" only and according to conditions stated thereon. TO EXCHANGE.— West Indian grasses. Jamaica seeds. Garfish head, war bullets: Wanted flint arrows, spears, and bird skins. GEO. HARRIS. Box 111. Fulton. Ohio. TO EXCHANGE.— 1.5 cloth-bound story books and fife, all In good condition for egfts or climbers. W. B. CUDLIP. i.'iX)6 8th St.. N. W.. Washington. D. C. CAN procure California Murre eggs the com- ing season for sets, and b irds in meat: many common specimens wanted. Everything sent A-No. 1 ; same expected In return. T. E. SLEVIN. 24i:h Sacramento St.. San Franciso. Calif. STAMP COLLECTORS.— Pac'^et C contains 1000 foreign stamps : fine bargain, for 60 cents. Packet D contains lOi) varieties rare foreign stamps for 3.5 cents. Packet E contains 500 rare foreign stamps, worth $ . price .50 cents. D. CHAPMAN, South Bend. Ind. ONE HUNDRED first-class skins for Sharp- shlned Hawks, Am. Ospreys. Owls or Warbler's eggs in sets with data. J. B. CANFIELD, Box •S60, Bridgeport, Conn. WANTED.-Dr. Fisher's Bulletin on Hawks and Owls. Write stating condition and lowe.st cash pries. Address. A. A. BRADLEY, 1.5'J West 9Uth St., New York City. FOR SALE.— American Ornithology, by Alex. Wil.son. Svo. *T: Our Own Birds, by W. L. Ballev. *l.'i5- All fullv illustrated, entirely new. PAUL L. SCHAEFER. Addison. Ills. WANTED. -Agricultural Dep't Bulletin on Hawks and Owls of North America. Will trlve good exchange or cash. Write stating what you want. J S. ALLWOOD, Taxidermist. Hecla Works. N. Y. FOR SALE.— Finpst pansies 36ct9. per doz. Mammoth verbenas .50 cts. per doz. Double hollyhocks $i per doz. Double dwarf zinnia, splendid bedder, ctmtinually In bloom. 60 cts. per doz. Chrysanthemums 60 cts. per doz. white jessamine (climber) 20 cts.. postpaid. FRANK B. EASTMAN, Kaston. Md. I WILL give an original first-class set with data, of the Prairie Horned Lark, for Davie's Nest and JEggs. W. S. COLVIN, Osawatomie, Kansas. WANTED.— To hear from all who would like to exchange eggs with me this coming season. Send for list. Have old money also. ORLANDO SHEPP VRD, Jr., Box 16, Edgefield, S. C. TO EXCHANGE.— Fine sets of eggs with data for hunting knife with sheath. Also good sets for same. PERCY D. GETTY, 301 N. Main St., Bloomington, 111. WANTED.— To exchange flrst-class sets with data of sea and inland birds' eggs the coming season, after April, for large, rare singles and sets. M. T. CLECKLEY, 457 Greene Street, Augusta Ga. TO EXCHANGE. 89, 45. Winchester centre- fire cartridges, for the best offer in eggs with datas. JAS. PAINTIN, Jr., Coralvllle. Iowa. WANTED.— A pair of good climbing irons for stamp album, containing 375 stamps, worth about $4. .50. Write at once. L. JAEGER. 532 East 44th St., Chicago. I HAVE a collection of stamps, 668, value about $15, to exchange for old manuscripts, fossils, minerals. Indian relics, etc., or war rel- ics. All answered. JULIAN O. TIFFANY, Box 444. Mason City. Iowa. FINE sets with complete data to exchange for equally fine sets not in my collection. Send lists and receive mine. F. E. NI-UVBERRY. 4.57 Westminster St.. Providence. R. I. WANTED.— Birds' eggs. Will pay cash or exchange old coins, stamps, etc' P. H. PARKER, Box 61, Washington, Tazewell Co., Illinois. WANTED.— Mounted birds, bird skins, eggs in sets, weapons of warfare, especially a U. S. cavalry sabre and scabbard. Can offer photo- graphs, eggs, minerals, a few curios and classi- fied and unclassified shells and Insects. W. F. MOUNTAIN, 49 Walnut St , East Orange, N. J. A' jJ-« THK OOLOGIST. FOR SALE. Diivie's Nests and Eggs. Jl; Model Vatural History POc: Birds of Bermuda. 10c: Manton's Taxidermy. ::0c: Nidioiogist.Vol. I. II ; Auk. Vol. XI. J.'.T.t; Oologist. Vols. IX, X. XI, f:!.2.T: 1.5 odd uumbers Oologist witti others, -15 cents; 1 copy Auk. Jan. '9?. f>< cents, and one water-color outfit. SO cents. No cards answered. L. W. BROKAW. Carmel, Indiana. TO EXCHANGE.— New copies of O. & O. Semi-annual and Wilson's Quarterly, for scien- . titic books or publicatons. State what you have. LYNDS JONES. Oberlin. Ohio. LOOK : $10 00 worth of cloth-bound books in first-class condition, to exchange for printing press or revolver, and rare coins. PAUL TEVIS. Keota, Iowa. LOOK HERE 1— Wishing to dispose of uiy entire collection of stamps. I will send 75 all different, for 2.=ic silver. This is a rare oppoi'- tunity of which every collector should avail himself. JAMES H. WHITE, Le Roy, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE. -A collection of showy minerals for tirst-class Hawks' eggs in sets. JOHN THOMAS, Lock Box 198, Sharon. Pa. WANTED.— Not less than six large trapdoor spiders, commonly called tarantulas, together with nests. If possible specimens must be mounted first class. W. J. PARKES, Box 1731, Green Bay, Wis. TO EXCHANGE. A ,S2 cal. nickel-plated, rubber handled, S-shot, single action. "Defend- er" revolver, for caliper square, climbers or common egg.s in sets. D. CURRIE, 1505 West Lake St., Minneapolis, Minn. WANTED.— Rnbber stamps, foreign coins and bank bills confederate bills, etc.: broken b 'uk notes, fractional currency, coUonial bills, cigarette pictures, tickets, albums. Will give good exchange or cash. F. L. ENGLEBERT, Nicetown. Philadelphia, Pa. WANTED. All kinds of United States stamps except 1 and 2 cent, especially desire Columbians. Have first-class sets of California eggs to exchange. O. W. HOWARD, Los Angeles. Calif. WANTED.— A Kodak in tir.itclass condition. Will give in exchange, your choice of tirst-class eggs In sets from my private collection. Write full particulars to EDWIN C. DAVIS, Gaines- ville, Texas. COLLECTORS LOOK HEREI-Send me I4c in stamt s and I will send a tine cabinet spcimen of .=iO per cent black copper ore. Will exchange minerals and Indian goods for good watches and books. W. P. STONE. Junction, Lemhi Co., Idaho. ANN ARBOR.— Would like to hear from some one interested in Oology and Ornithology in Ann Arbor. B. H. SWALES, 11 South State St.. Ann Arbor, Mich. . AIDS TO COLLECTORS.— Nothing will aid you more than a tine bird dog to find nests. 1 have fine Pointer and Knelish Setter pu))pies to trade for birds' eggs or skins, or cheap for cash. J. H. BROWN, 1708 Grand Ave., Davenport. Iowa. WANTED a/, once— Books on Ornithology and Entomology. I also want live cocoons and old United States or Columbian stamps. Have nicely prepared sets of California eggs to ex- change lor the abf)ve. O. W. HOWARD, Los Angeles. Calif. TO EXCHANGE.- 1st class eggs with data. sets or singles, ol this locality for Ist-class .'iets with full data. Many common sets wanted. L. J. PICKETT, care of Citizens Bank, Wahoo. Neb. WANTED.— A collecting gun and ontfit. XL. or pistol preferred, in goon condition. Can of- fer some good bird books, or cash if cheat). Give all particulars. JAS. O. DUNN, 360 E. 39th St , Chicago, 111. COLORADO.— P'ird skins carefully prepared. full data. Live Eagle to exchange. Wanted, auxiliary barrel, rf^loader. etc. History of Birds of Kansas. H. S. REED, 1320 Gaylord St.. Denver. Colorado. TO EXCHANGE —The following receipts: How to vvTite on metal. How to clean watches, and How to petrifv org-^nic ob.jects. for Davie's Nests and Eggs. OLLIE McKEE. Vancouver. Wash. WANTED.— Eggs ip sets, curios, minerals, and stamps, for Polyphemus and Cecropia Co- coons. What offers for a first-class No i Ko- dak? R. V. N. DAVIS. .55 Park St., Rutland. Vt. FOR SALE.- A flrstclass fiddle. Write for terms Also an African Ostrich's egg for -11.25. BAILEY BURRITT. Chili St camera. •• Detective ' preferred; pair extra strong marine glasses. 1 have 140 collection of U. S, adhesives, $2f> col- lection of foreign stamps $!.=> collection of eggs, 1^1.5 .Stevens" rifle, new; oO cal. Coifs revolver; .3i S & VV. hamnierless, (perfectly new). E. E. LEE, Covington, Ga. NOTICE.— All persons desiring A-1 specimens of Oregon birds, in skins or mounted form and effg* in set.-i, correctly identified, in exchange for Ea.stern and Southern specimens, both rare and common, or for.camera, microscope. Held glass, gmis or printing outfit, will do well to correspond with me at once, enclosing list and wants as I i-hall secure only such as are ordered. Specimens must be A-1. If not so they will be held for postage and charges for repacking and shipping. A. G. PRILL, M. D., SodavUle. Linn Co.. Oregon. WANTED.— Camera : Cash, or part cash and part exchange in egtrs. skins, photos.. Ixf) roll holder, tine focusable lens, or e.xchangeable, high grade, up-to-date camera. Fair price, perfect working condition, at once. For«ale: sets, photos, of eggs and nests In situ, of Miss. Kile. Mroadwingaud KricU'r's Hawks. and oih-r rarities. Fresh skins. Waders and Swiunners. Low price, tine prei)aratinn. Stamp for list. P. B. I'EABODY. Wilder. Minn. W.\NTED.— Old guns, pistols and daggers complete, or incomplete tor my private collec- tion. Will pay cash or exchange minerals, sht'lls. birds' skins, eggs, works on Natural History, all branches. Have two old •■graiul- father's" tall clocks. 7'4 ft. tall, perfect order to sell or exchange for above mentioned arms. E. P. CLARK, M. D., Morris ville, Madison Co., N.Y. FOR EXCHANGE.-The following sets with data: A. O. U. Nos. .=ila l-:i, 7.^ M, 8n 1-1. lOtl M, 120c 1-1, 101 1-4, 221 1-4, 278 1-2. 316 12, 320a 1-2. .385 1-3,410 1-4, 420 1-2,428 1 -2n.429 l-2n.452 l-4,4.-iG 1-4 477 1 4, 498 1-4. .=i01b l-.S, .=i08 1-.5 519a 1-3, 526 1-4, .540 1-3, .593c 1-4, .591b 1-3. 59(5 1-.3. 602 1 3. 613 l-5,622a 1-4, 622b 1-4. 6.52 1-3. 674 1-4, 706 1-3, 713 1-5, 725 1-2 758 1-4, 736 1-2. 627 1-3. also a number of rare singles. C. ALLEN ELY. Perrineville. N J, SEND 35 cents with cabinet photo and re- ceive 12 minnett photos, prepaid. For SI I will send .50. Send 2c stamp for sample of work to PAUL MrGINTY. Athens, Ga. NATURAL SCIENCE NEWS.— I want af once, copies of Nos 1 and 2, (Feb. 2d and 9th.) for each copy returned I will send a copy of either the Youn<; Oologist or Oologist. I have some very interesting copies of the former —10 years old— you could uearl.y consider ihem as relics. Send as many as you can spare and I'll see that you do not receive duplicates in re- turn. Should you prefer I will send you a credit card, good for .5c per each cop.v returned. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. A FILLED Case, Elgin movement watch in good condition, cost $35 for camera 4x5, -Premo" preferred— or if yoti have camera for sale cheap write me. CLIFTON W. SEARS. Delaware Ohio. WANTED.— A fine flrst-cluss single with full data, of Canada Goose, Wood J uck. Wild Turkey. Will give in exchange first-class singles with full dad. from this locality. A.L. BLANCHARD, No. Yarmouth. Maine I WILL send you postpaid an all steel em- bryo hook for any of the following: Four Col- umbian postage stamps excepting the Ic and 2c ones; two perfect arrow Heads with locality; set of eggs with data; or 25c worth of any kind of specimens. GUS RAPP, 405 9th St, Mil- waukee, Wis. COLLECTORS having rare birds' eggs, sin- gles or sets, either end blown, or 1st class speci- mens for sale cheap. Kcptiles eggs also w;\nted. Please write to W. R. WHARTON, Germon- town. Phila., Pa. o TO EXCHANGE.— A Quackenbush air ritie. shoits we'l. co.'-r. $s. and first-class sets and bird skins. Want Ridgeway's Manual, climbers, calipers and other instruments. A. P. GODLEY, Le Grand, Iowa, TO EXCHANGE —Two Winchester repeat- ing rifles, one 22 <'alibre long, and case, cost !?I3: one 3« (".illbre and case, cost $'■:>. with globe peep sights, both new; Tarpon rod with two tips. new. cost $.'<: Von Hofe reel. new. cost ?9: also Lieiitenanfs sword and ."Springfield rifle with bav"in't. used at Pittsburg riots. 1877. Want good cnmcra and outfit Taxidermist in- struments and climbers. .J. GORDON CRAW- FORD, Dall)y, Va. THE OOLOGIST. TO EXCHANGE.— Vol. II, Gentry's Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania: The American Annual of Photography. Wanted: egss in sets with Complete data from other localities. For par- ticulars address FRANCIS R. COPE, Jr., E, Washington Lane, Germantown, Pa. hello: Will collect eggs of this locality, (Southern Minnesota), especially Water-fowl and waders, this coming season, cheap: also have ane specimens of petrified moss. JOHN C. KNOX, Jackson. Minn. FOR best cash offer, stamp collection. 640 stamps, catalogued at $f>0 .^0 (Scott's '9.5 edition) C. H. AGAR, 502 Clinton Ave , Brooklyn. N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.--5 i back numbers of The OoLOGiST and Young Oologist I want Wood's Natural History eggs i ^ sets, or pair climbers. WYLIE C. SMITH. Denton, Texas. stamps: stamps:; loO foreign stamps for luc, or for every good arrow head or shell sent me. WM. P. SHAW, Lock Box 30, Ithaca. Mich NOTICE.— For $3 in sets or $1 cash I will send a receipt for taking the wild nature from any birds you have or anv captured. ARTHUR V. CLIFTON, Athens. Ga. TO EXCHANGE. -- A No. 1 Baltimoreau Press, chase 2^x4. for best offer in stamps of any kind. THE DIXIE STAMP & NOVELT ¥ CO.. Nashville, Tenn. WANTED.— Old coins, shells, and stamps in exchange for Canadian and foreign stamps and eggs. CHARLIE B^RTLETT, 535 Dufleriu Ave., London, Ont., Canada. I AM building up a general scientific collec- tion, embracing all departments of the Natural Sciences and if you have anything truly desir able to offer in exchange for anything I may have in stock or if you have any standard books or publications that you wish to dispose ■of I shall be pleased to correspond with you. When writing give full descriptions stating your lowest exchange price and give me an idea of about what you would like in return. FRANK H. LATTIN. .\lbion. N. Y. WANTED.— To correspond with those who have a few dollars to invest the coming season in Mounted Birds, skins or eggs in sets. We are booking orders from some of the best well- known collectors in America We will spend the months oT April, May and June among the bir Is of N. Dakota and Manitoba. If you wish sets of Ducks eggs in their ne-ts of down let us hear from you. Correspondence with taxider- mists desired in regard to supplying fresh pli- able skins of Franklin's Gull. Terns. Geese. Duck. White Pelican, etc. BRYANT & MUM- MERY, Davison, Mich. RUDY'S PILE SUPPOSITORY i3 guaran- teed to cure Piles and Constipation, or money refunded. 50 cents per box. Send two stamps for circulars and Free Sample to MARTIN RU- DY. Registered Pharmacist, Lancaster. Pa. No Postals Answered. For sale by all first- class druggists ever where, and in Albion, N. Y. by George W. Barrell. FOR EXCHANGE.-Single barrel, unused. Shattufk gun. 2h brass shells and loading tools i-onii)lete, for best olTcr of rare eggs iii sets. Rai)toros preferred. /Crucial desiderata A. O. n. Nos. VM and 3:J7. THOMAS H. JACKSON, :Vt3 E, Biddle St.. West Chester, Pa. .5w4 OOLOGISTS WANTED.— I want, at once, copies of the Ooi.ogist as follows: July-Aug- ust. 188(5; January- February. 1887 or Dec, 18S6, with the former attached: June, 18S8. I also de- sire copies of my old 188.=i "Oologist Hand- Book " For each and every copy of the above publications mailed me not later than February 15, 1895, I will give 1.5c worth of anything I ad- vertise or offer for sale, or will send credit check good for the amount I will also allow 10c each for t^e following numbers, viz:— June- Sept., 1SS7; April, 1889. All must be co7)iplete, clean, and in good condition Addi'ess at once. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. SILVER and GOLD.— Something everybody wants, something all can get by securing a copy of Vick's Floral Guide for 1895. a work of art, printed in 17 different tinted inks, with beautifvil cotored plates. Full list with dis- cription and prices, of everything one could wish for vegetable, fruit or flower garden. Many pages of new novelties, encased in a chaste cover of silver and gold. Unusual and astonishing offers, such as Sweet Peas for 40 cents a pound. $:300 for a name for a New Doub- le Sweet Pea, etc. If at all interested in seeds or plants send 10 cents at once for a copy of Vick's Floral Guide, w^iich amount may be de- ducted from first order, to JAMES VICK'S SONS, Rochester. N. Y., and learn the many- bargains this firm is offering. TO EXCHANGE.— About $1000 worth of var- ious kinds of Jewelry mounted and settings. The above was left over from the World's Fair and will be exchanged in lots to suit, for first- class Natural History specimens, shells pre- ferred. Address, J. M. WIERS, 357 W. Van Buren St.. Chicago, 111. F3t POCKET KEY OF THE BIRDS OF THE NORTH- ERN UNITED STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUN- TAINS, Apgar. With a glossary of Terms 1893, 64 pp. Cloth only ,50 cents prepaid. FRANK H. LATTIN, AHioh. N. Y, FOR ONLY 50 cents. $500 Confederate Mon- ey (assorted), $100 Confederate Bond and 6 rare Arrow Points. Catalogue 3 cents. J. F. BOW- EN, luka. Miss. Ornithology and Oology.— I want to ob- tain a quantity of back numbers of various publications relating to Birds and will allow prices as follows for the same. Will accept any number of copies not to exceed 10 of the same issue. All must be comijlete and clean. "Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club" and 'The Auk" .30 cts. per copy. "The Oolo- gist" (published at Utica, N. Y and Rockville, Conn.. 1875-81); the -'Ornithologist and Oolog- ist;" and "The Nidiologist;" "Random Notes on Natural History" Prov.. R. I. 5c per copy. '•Wisconsin Naturalist:" " The Taxidermist;" I will allow 3 cts. per copy. I will allow the above amounts in payment for. specimens, instrum- ents, supplies or publications or if j'ou prefer will send credit check for the amount. All publications must be seit prepaid (you can mail them as "second class mail matter ' @ 4c per lb.). "Returns" will be sent prepaid unless otherwise specified in cati^logue. I can also use the following second-hand books on same conditions at prices quoted prepaid Must be in A No. 1 condition. Coues' "Ivey to N. A. Birds" $4.50; Ridgewav's •'Manual of N. A. Birds" $.3.75; Davie's ••Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds. 3d or 4th: ctlitions, cloth, 85 cts. paper (>5 cts; other .v/((/((i',(/'rf publication will be accep- ted at one-halt pul)lishers prices. This notice will remain in force until Feb. 15, 189.5. After that date write what you have to offer before sending. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. i^ ANNOUNCEMENT. I desire my friends and patrons to bear in mind that in the future I intend to devote my time and energy to the publishing business and the few spare moments that may accumulate will be expended in the study of the Natural Sciences. As you may already understand I have a large general assortment of curios and specimens left on my hands — which I am rapidly closing out at prices in which cost cuts no figure. I want to unload and am going to, too, within the next few months. I will sell in small lots or entire stock "way down" for CASH. If there is any tiling you want write me and if I have it on hand I will quote "right" prices. If I cannot furnish your wants I will refer you to some RKLiABLE dealer who can. Until I can close out my stock I shall for the benefit of my friends carry a full line of all leading Supplies, Instruments and Publications for the Col- lector and Naturalist. And can furnish at the reg- ular rates of any reliable dealer or at prices given in any of my old catalogues — I have no new ones and do not intend to issue one. Let me hear from you early and often. Faithfully, FRANK H. LATTIN. 9^' X/J ^^-3^ THE OOLOGIST. TAXIDERMISTS' GUNS. ".^SUt Pistols. Gmi Cases. .Shooting Shot Shdls; also S,."i;i; SPECIMEN HUNTERS. All icincis. nflpiK'es in)in $ <■ U> -n .uu. List free. Wrife for Ta.ftdtrmifi/'s free lisf. JASV9ES H. JOHNSTON, PITTSBURG. PA. OaDklTlkll* Of all kinds for Naturalists a rnirtlinU speciality. Note and letter heads, envelope^, circulars, illustrated cata- Ir.Kues for natural history dealers. Have hun- dreds of engravings of natural history speci- mens. Write for estimates. 100 envelopes print- ed, 'l-'^^c. noteheads same price, postpaid. C. F, C ARR. Job Printer. New Loudon. Wis. tf FRANK B. ARMSTRONG, TAXIDERMIST, and Collector and Dealer in Bird and Mammal Skins, Birds Eggs in fine sets, Mounted Birds and Animals. Alta Mira, Estado de Tamaulipas, Mexico. EDWARD W. CURRIER, 1 20 Sutter St., Room 1 7, San Francisco, Cal. Taxidermist and dealer in Birds Eyes Taxid- ermist supplies, etc. Skins and eggs of Cali- fornia Birds, also Cal. curiosities. Correspon- dence solicited. j R-I-P-A-N-S \ \ ONE GIVfiS RELIEF. t ^ i THE LITTLE MIDGET SELF-INKING RUBBER STAMP. Every Naturalist should have one. Sent ciminlete with > our name and address ror only 50 CENTS. E. BREWSTER MYERS, Mfr of Rubber Stamps, 117 Clifton Street, Rochester, N. Y. •D Jl DI? ^^^ liave in stock or can ' KilKK furnish on short notice books, niagir/iiio articU'S and infor- mation on an_\ AT T\ snlijcct desired. *Oiit-of-print' Ijjjjl Itooks a specialty. Literary Litrltt $1 a year: s unple copy lOcts. Kiymers Old DAAl/'C Hook Store, '^43 4lh Ave. DiJUj\J S., Minneapolis, Minn, -^wx^v Send 1 Oc in stamps to Box 420, Columbus, O., and learn. Valuable, tru.stworthy information sent. No fake, no advertisiujT dodge. Try it. Herkimer County Crystals! Finest in the World! Exhibit at World s Fair received Hig-Uest Award 40 of tbese Famou=i Gems, po^^tpald. for only 80 cents. Everj pircliiiser win be pi'esented with a handsome arlass rubecontnlnln? 10 Microscopic Crystals, absolutely perfect, and sa very small that ic takes li.O (1 to weigii one riince. This collection will please you. Order to-day. 13t A. B. CTiai, Middleville, Herkimer Co.. N. Y. Artistic Mounting! Embalming! Private instnicflon in mounting bir^s costs $ 0 to $50. Many s'udents can't even affo'd to pay $.5 to $1 ' f'M- a work on Taxidermy. Give Em- balming a Trial! Complete ins'ructiODS and material T> cents. All questions answered. For information and testimonials, send starao to MORKIS GIBBS. M. D., Kalamazoo. Mich. f6t Mention I he Ooi.oci 1ST. llRROW HEADS, ■"• Minerals, Fossils Shells, Relics of Western Indians, Alaskans and South Seas. INDIAN PHOTOS, MOUNTED HEADS of Wild Adimals, Aluminuin, Agate and Pyrites Goods. Ten years iu the trade. Elegant large stock. Wholesale and retail. Catalog and prices for stamp. Black Hills Natural History Establishment of 1.. w. stilwi:li>, Deadwood. S. D. P. S. A rarity:— A specimen of cinnabar con- taining Globules of Native Mercury. 5(ic postpaid. FOR SALE! When answering advertisements always mention the "OOLOGIST." First-class EGGS and SKINS FROM ALASKA. Ani'.lent Vuirelet. cas^i'i's \ukiet. Aleuttan-ong Spirrnv AlH\i'ian Lencosflte, Kork-t'iile t Petrel. Skins only of the loUowtn^: .Sandwich Sparrow, Ah'uttin sandplpor, Sabine's Gull Fsijs only of Leach's I'etrci Tutted Pufflu. "Igeon GuiUt^inot. Terms Cash. (test of references 3tf G. UTTLEJOHN, Redwool City, California. From a Photj by Saucers. An Unusual Nest Site of the Phoebe. The Oologist. VOL. XII. NO. 3. ALBION, N. y., MARCH, 1895. Whole No. 113 An Unusual Nest Site of the Phoebe. The Pha'be or Pewee Sayornis phn'be. Lath, is perhaps more interestingly various in its habits of niditication than most birds. It teaches us how plastic is that degree of mind which we call instinct, in the hands of environing con- ditions; or, in other words, it shows how capable birds are of making them- selves at home in peculiar and even un- usual circumstances. It would be an interesting study in avian psychology to observe the variation and range of one bird in nest building, the Pewee for example. For it is only by noting the attitude of a mind toward its sur- I'oundings that we can come to any conclusion as to what place it occupies in the scale of mind, no matter wliether the mind be that of a man, "beast," or bird. The nest of the Pewee is an interest- ing piece of workmanship; so artless, ■or should I say so artful?— is it as to escape discovery by an inobservant per- son. It ever amounts almost to a sur- prise to tiie initiated in such iratters even. Might it not have been a thing of natural growth there on the rough face of the ledge, its wet moss so fresh and green? It is in perfect unity with the cool, dripping, romantic rocks splashed with mosses and lichens, whei'e the shadowed air of the ravine is scent- ed and always cool, and the voice of the Pewee is like a pensive spirit brooding over the i)lace, the mere mem- ory of some recluse mellowed and soft- ened by time into this gentle llower of song. Lowell's sweet little poem, "Phiebe" comes to you in such a place: " It is a wee sad-colored thing. As shy and secret as a maid ; That, ere in choir the robin's sing. Pipes it.s own name like one afraid. It seems fain prompted to repeat The story of some ancient ill, But Phoebe ! Phoebe ! sadly sweet Is all it says, and then is still." \Vhat naturalist or oologist does not remember the delight wherewith he dis- covered his first Pe wee's nest! Away down the road perhaps, under the bridge near the old mill it was that the barefooted novitiate found the dainty affair plastered on the side of a hewn beam. He can recall the picture yet and the enthusiasm of the moment; al- though he does not go barefooted now, neither does he go into ecstacies over anything so cheap as a Pewee's nest. The more is the pity. Nevertheless some of the old feeling comes back to him with the memory of the pool with its reflection of the nest and bridge and the shadow of the leaving bii'd and the boy standing knee-deep in water con- templating the white gems to be car- ried home and added to the jewels in that casket so precious in the eyes of a wild sweet boy — a box of birds eggs. It is somewhat worth while to have been a naturalist or oologist to have such memories; to have your dreams of the past so tangled up and woven in with the seasons and phases of natui'e. To grow green and young again from spring to spring as old Earth does, and aiid another green growth to your ex- ternal rind. It is worth while to have lived — I should say, in spite of the nest robber, —reformers— if you have been a boy- naturalist. This is something of the i)ioper fruit a life should yield; such clusters as we would not sell, and such perhaps, as nobody would l)uy, yet, something at least and at last in these days of dol- lars whereof money cannot i-eckon the value. If a lover of nature cannot 42 THE OOLOGIST. make new discoveries, and we cannot all do that perhaps, he can at least till the world with the rainbows and silver and golden mists of memory and assoc- iation. Now I know some will say this is mere sentimentality: But he who retains the pictures of youthful days up there in the private art galleries of his memory especiallj' if they l)e framed in sunshine and happiness will think not so. Lest we consume too much space and time let us proceed to examine this un- usual nest site of the Pewee. Four words which I will use a number of times in speaking of the nest must be borne in mind; right, left, ,front and back as vou look at the illustration. This nest was found in May of 1894 in a sugar house, built on a I inch cot- ton rope which was stretched at an angle of 42 ° by exact measurement. The half-tone is from an excellent pho- tograph taken by F. J. Sauters of Sa- lem, O., and represents the nest at the proper angle on the identical rope ex- actly as I found it. Beside its unusual size its elegant shape and proportion at once impress our judgment. Although it was a de- cided departure and a doubtful under- taking, yet the result is certainly not that of a bungler. The following measurements will moi-e clearly and forcibly bring this out. The greatest height is 7.50 inches, to the right in front. On tiie right side where the rope enters, which is two inches back of the height just given, the nets is 7.00 inches high; while to the left where the rope comes out the height is 6.00 inches. The cavity is one inch deep, 2.50 inches wide from front to back and 2.25 inches from right to left, thus conforming with the shape of the top which is 3 75 inches across from right to left and 2.50 inches from front to back. At the widest place near the top, 1.25 in. from the top, it is 4.25 from right to left and 4.25 from front to back.^ At the widest place below it is 4.75 in- ches wide from right to left, and 4.50 inches from front to back. To the back at the top the nest is built 2.50 inches farther beyond the rope than it is. in front; while below, the reverse is true. 2^^ inches more of the bulk being on the front. So perfectly was it thus balanced that I could take the rope between my thumb and forefinger and twirl it smartly without causing the nest to swing through an arc of any dimen- sions. And it quickly regained its equilibrium. When the mother bird alighted upon it, it scarcely moved. To prove how finely it was balanced I must mention that a little quantit3' of mud and moss which was plastered on the front right side of the nest, forming a loose and curious fringe was broken off in moving it to the photographers, and although this mass detached would not make more than a small fraction of an ounce, the nest does not now hang quite "true." Was this nice balancing of ttie nest the work of "accident" or "chance," or is it a displny of "instinct" elevated to the borderland of "Reason?" Tho.se who are anxious to discuss the old question "Instinct versus Reason"" might here find a ver}' fitting "l>one of contention." I acknowledge 1 cannot imagine how' a nest could be thus nicely poised by accident, yet I am not wont to give birds ci'edit for so much judgement. Yet, in examining such unique nests we must not forget several points, namely — that birds always have enough judg- ment to make their nests symmetrical and plumb and level across the top: and that these anomalous nests are built under the reign of the same laws Avhich goverr, ordinary cases aud might be explained if we were a little better versed in the ordinary habits— judg- ment of th(> bii'ds. So we may explain. THE OOLOGIST 43: it thus: In foUowiug usual methods — that is obeying its native judgment the bird attained a result which we might more easily attribute to abstract reas- oning. Yet I am not prepared to offer any explanation of the steps whereby the nest came to its present shape and appearance, as conclusive. That it was the result of much patient and per- sistent labor I knew from the quantity of mud and mo.^s which was wasted and lay on the Hoor below. The dang- ling ends of more than a score of horse hairs liung from the nest, a number be- low hung over a foot and several over two feet beneath. The fringe of mud and moss of which some still adhei'es as will be seen by the illustration was at- tached to the horse hairs and dropped down several inches on the front right side No one was there when the foundation of that nest was laid; pity it it is, 'tis true, for I did not discover it till near completion. I said at that time and will stick to it yet, that I would rather have been there when the foundation of that Pe- wee's nest was laid, than present at the dedication of the corner stone of any building I can think of. How did the bird start about the building of this nest? Where did it begin? How came so unusual an idea into its small head which is supposed to be packed only with "hereditary instincts?" How did it ever succeed in building the nest so S(|uare, with such a mass of material beneath the rope? These are questions I will not try to answer for you. You will have to sit down with the picture before you and try to imagine how it ever was done. How much was the work of chance, how much of reason, how much of instinct. I endeavored to educate my bird, offering her con- ditions a little more diflicult, after tak- ing her first nest awaj'. But she evi- dently had no inclination fov such a course of training and shortly she dis- appeared. I would like to have forced her to build several more nests, trying to bring about a psychical evolution in one bird at least, and as birds return to old locations, I have some hopes of see- ing some trace of the peculiar depart- ure in the nest of 1894, should the bird again appear at the sugar house. Goethe says, "Nature reveals her se- crets in monster.a," And the final con- clusion which I draw from this Pewee's nest is, all animals are endowed with enough innate intelligence to be equal to any circumstance in which they may be placed. This nest now hangs in the writers museum, his most curious and interest- ing specimen of bird architecture. EkNEST W. VlCKEKS, Ellsworth, O. Breed"ng Time of Our Birds in the Extreme Part of "Westarn New York. The very interesting article of Mr. Ernest H. Short, of Chili, N. Y., tempt- ed me to jot down a few of my observa- tions in the same direction, and >hould you lind them worthy of space in the OoLOGiST, then they are welcome to you. The Great Horned Owl seems to be our earliest breeder. I have taken a tine clutch of three eggs, March 9, 1891, incubation at least eight days. The fol- lowing year I had no chance to vi.'^it the same place but on the 9th of March, 1893 I took one egg from the same nest, per- fectly fresh. March 8,1894. The sanie pair of Owls had changed their nesting site into the next wood where I, foun WARD Rein k< k k . ButTalo, N. Y. Birds and Storms. On June lOtli, last, a companion and myself, were bathing in a small lake a few miles distant from Minneapolis. It .46 THE OOLOGIST. was just at sunset and toward the west a heavy bank of clouds lay piled up in masses, from which we could see the lightning play and hear the distant rumble of thunder. They were of that shade of color which betokens the se- verest st-^rms. We were surprised at the sight of a flock of eight, or perhaps ten Crows, which flew hastily by at no great eleva- tion from the lake. They were follow- ed by another flock, and later yet. by another, while last of all came a single bird, lumbering along as fast as a pair of very ragged wings could carry him. This is the season when most Crows ai'e paired and nesting, and as far as my experience goes, are not generally flocked as these were. The best way we could account for it, was the prob- able supposition that they were trying to get out of the path of the s orm. As I have said, the storm was in the west, and betokened more than usual severity. Its apparent direction was toward the northeast, making it likely that we might catch one end of it. The Crows were flying at a right angle to its path and it would have been but a few minutes before they would have been out of its track altogether. Of coui'se, one cannot say that these were not chance flocks of Crows winging over the country, but I never shall be- lieve it was so. It certainly falls without the bounds of instinct, and comes within the do- main of reason, for a bird to judge of the direction in which the clouds are moving, and take action, as did these Crows. This is not the only time I have seen birds endeavoring to avoid a storm. Early in June, two or three years past, I noticed large numbers of Night- hawks tlying swiftly before some green- tinted clouds. The clouds were of lim- ited area, but unlike the Crows, the Nighthawks floundered rapidly before them, as if in fear, and the only way of escaping was by precipitate flight. This was also in the season of the year when these birds were breeding and many nests must have been deserted. Again towai'ds the end ot a very op- pressive day in August, 1886, we notic- ed large numbers of Nighthawks high in the air. They were all flying rapidly toward the east and were not cutting leisurely about as Nighthawks usually do. There was then not a cloud in the heavens, but in a short while afterward our attention was attracted by a low, rumbling sound from the west, like the sound of a distant train of cars. Soon after a storm had passed which left many trees prostrate and otherwise caused much damage. These birds doubtless have cause to fear these storms, though I have never noticed dead or wounded birds lying about after one had passed. On the contrary, when the winds have gone they seem to sing as cheerily as though nothing has happened. It is strange what prevents so light an object from being beaten mercilessly before a heavy gale, unless they take shelter behind tree trunks or in hollows on the ground. One would think that the nest of the Vireo, built as it is, on the end of a small limb, would suffer from being tossed by the wmd. After a hard blow I visited a nest that I knew about. 1 found it intact and the bird sitting upon it. From its position it must have been violently twisted, and lashed back and forth, and unless the bird had remained upon the eggs during all the storm nothing could have kept them from be- ing thrown out. In a volume written by Henry School- craft, the discoverer of the source of the Mississippi, I And the following, which tells another tale of the vicissi- tudes of the Wild Pigeon. Speaking of Lake Michigan he says: "In walking along some parts of the shore I observed a great number of the THE OOLOGIST. 47 skeletons and half consumed bodies of the Pigeon, which in crossing the lake is often overtaken by severe tempests, and compelled to alight upon the water and are thus drowned in entire flocks, which are soon thrown up along the shores. This causes the shores of Lake Michigan to be visited by vast numbers of Buzzards, Eagles, and other birds of prey. The Indians also make use of these Pigeons as food, when first driven ashore, -preserving such in smoke as they have not immediate occasion for. Vast broods of young Gulls are also destroyed during the violent storms which frequently agitate this lake." It is from the heavy rains that the birds suffer most here in Minnesota. We read in the papers when the hunt- ing season comes, that the Prairie Chick- en is not plentiful in such-and-such a district; and that the spring rains are re- sponsible for the failure of large broods. What is true of the Prairie Chicken is true of all the ground birds — and there are many of them. In a down jjour the little rivulets that thread every hillside must tear away some ne&ts, the filled hollows must cover some, and during a protracted rain many eggs must become chilled when the ground is well soaked, or when the bird leaves her nest. 1 have always noticed a great differ- ence between the abundance of Water Rails on a moist and on a dry year. Last autumn and the autumn before last, they were abundant near Minneap- olis, while on years, when there was a rise of a foot or more of water in the lakes and marshes, they were not very numerous. The nests had been flooded as had the eggs of all those Iiirds build- ing flxed nests in close proximity to the water. The birds may Ijuild again but it is not probable that all will do so, as is evidenced by the difference in num- bers on the different seasons. I have known the Least Bittern to immediately build second nests, f visited a c(douy of these birds one summer, after we had experienced heavy showers. The water had raised until it had touched or had slightly flooded the domiciles of some of the members of the colony. These had been abandoned and at the height of a foot and a half or there- abouts and very close to the former nests they had builded again. At the time I was there the water had reced- ed somewhat, leaving the eggs settled in the deserted structures and 1 was able to collect a number of eggs with- out robbing the birds. Sometimes here in Minnesota winter may return on its tracks after a period of warm spring days. On the 20th of April, year before last, a snow storm came and covered the ground to the depth of six or eight inches. It is ex- tremely rare that so great a depth should fall at this time, but often a lighter snow falls during this month. The Prairie Horned Larks were breed- ing at the date mentioned and I visited a nest I had previously come across I found the young birds frozen to death, and the old birds standing mournfully about as though grieving over the loss. April 20th is at the height of the rea- son for the nests of this species, and many and many a bird probably suffer- ed the loss of eggs or young. H. M. GciLFORD, Minneapolis, Minn. Winter Birds of Linn Couaty, Oregon. It perhaps will be of interest to- your readers to know of the host of winter residents which frequent this county. The county is long and narrow, ex- tending from the Williaim-tte River, (which is in the center of this great val- ley.) U) near the summit of the Cas(;ade mount tins. Thus presenting a div«rsilied climate and vegetation, in which n)any forujs of bird life are found. 48 THE OOLOGIST. During the winter season the valley is free from snow, while gradually extend- ing backward the snow line appears, and finally the snow capped peaks of Mt. Jeflferson and 'J'hree Sisters, appear in the distance. Near the summit bird life is not plenty. The Northern Shrike, Oregon C'hickatlee are however often seen. A little further down the White-winged Cross-bill is found in countless numbers, together wilh the Varied Thrush. This Thrush is found in large flocks, numbering thousands and generally ai'efouud feed- ing in the dense tir thickets. In the vicinity of Sweet Home, may be found the beautiful Mountain Quail, Oregon Rutfed Grouse, Sooty Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker, Ameri- can Raven, California Crow, Western Red-tail Hawk, and an occasional Bald Eagle is seen. Only a few days ago, it was my pleasure to see a fine adult Eagle flying towards the mountains. In this vicinity may also be found the Steller's, Blue-throated and Oregon Jay, the latter is however rarely seen. The former are abundant, and we can hear their noisy cries at any time of the day. The Western Horned Owl, is also abundant here, and Cal. Screech Owl, are also seen but the latter is hard to find on account of its small size. The Western Robin is a common species, and is seen in large numbers leaving their roosting places early each morning, returning to the same locality again at dusk, to spend the night. A little below Sweet Home, is found a large swale orslough, known as Noble slough, where during this season, the Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, and Mallard spend the winter. Along the Santiam river, the Ameri- can Dipper, Fish Hawk and an occasion- al Blue Heron are seen. The Oregon Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, and Horned Lark, have been noted in this vicinity during the entire winter, as have also the Western Blue- bird, Wilson's Snipe, Kingfisher, Western Meadow-lark. The latter can be heard most any morning, singing its clear and beautiful song, as it perches itself upon some fence rail, or flying back and forth over the n eadows. The Red-shafted Flicker is found in all localities and the imported Ring Pheasant is scattered over the entii'e county and valley, except in the higher altitudes. Rarely is seen an American Magpie, but several have been secured in the vicinity of Sodaville, while in Novem- ber a fine specimen of the Yellow-head- ed Blackbird was secured near Sweet Home. This is the first specimen to my knowledge, secured in this county at least and I have never seen any in this valley. They are abundant east of the Cascade mountains, but this one was alone and among a flock of Brewer's Blackbirds. Rarely a Snowy Owl, is captured in this vicinitj', and soon gi'aces the cabi- net of some taxidermist. During December and January I have also observed several specimens of the California Purple Finch, which I have not seen before until this season. The Turkey Buzzard can often be seen on a clear day, sailing high over the village in quest of their prey, and the day after our election I counted twelve at one time over this city, and it was a general supposition that they were looking for Democrats. We must not forget to mention the small and lively West. Winter Wren and Golden-crownedKinglet, which are found everywhere, the latter generally in com- pany with Oregon Chickadees. Brant and several species of Geese, spend the winter in the sloughs and marshes of the valley, and many a tine days sport can be had among them. One specimen of the Kittiwake Gull was secured by me along the Santiam river on Dec. IG, '91. THE OOLOGIST. 4y The American Sparrow Hawk is also found in the valley. Harris's Gairdner's and White-headed Woodpeckers, and Williamsons Sap- sucker, are met with in the dense tir groves, and dead and fallen timber. The Oregon Junco is seen at this sea- son in large Hocks, and is one of our most interesting birds. The diminutive Pygm.y Nuthatch is found in the dense llr woods but being so small often escapes notice, and maybe found in company with the Chestnut- backed Chickadee. It will thus be seen that some fifty- one species are round and about us dur- ing the season, when active collecting is not resorted to. Some species no doubt have escaped my notice, and some I have as yet not identified. In looking over this list I count 38 species which are constant residents, and which brted in this county, to which we must also add the Killdeer, as a common bird. As, will be seen, when east of the Cas- cade range to the Atlantic coast is cov- ered with snow, and with but few birds, we on thePacilic Slope are well supj^lied, and if due advantage is taken of ones opportunities, a vast amount of useful infoi-mation can be Ijrought together in this line. A.G.Pkill, M.D. The Vireos Found Nesting near Berwyn. Chester Co., Penn. Red-eyed Vireo, Vireoolivaccus. Pos- sibly some of the readers of the OoLOcHST may think I owe them an apology for bringing this exceedingly common species to their notice, but it has occur ed to me that there are many traits and peculiarities,, especially m reference to the niditication of this bird, that have never received the attention they de- serve; also like almost all of our birds of wide distriljution their habits vary according to location. This Vireo arrives regularl3' about the last of April or first of IMay, seem- ingly tilling the woods on all sides with their music. They are the most tii'eless of birds, moving amid the branches and leaves in the middle of the hottest Sum- mer day. There can be no question but that they are of inestimatable value to forestr3^ Numberless and contin- ually active though they be, they are absolutely unknown to nine-tenths of the people at large. Niditicatiou commences the last week in May or more commonly the first week in June. I have found incubated sets as early as June 7th and as late as August 5th, June 16th being the average date for fresh and complete sets. Young oak, dogwood, beech, maple and chest- nut trees appear prominently amongst the favorites from which to suspend the cradle of the prospective brood. The nest ranging from three to ten,- usually four or five feet above the ground. A cursory examination would lead one to believe that there is little or no variation in the composition, but a more careful comparison of a series of nests proves otherwise. Bark fiber of silver}- grey, light buff, brown, or their inter- mediate tints form the body, with a scanty or pl%ntiful mingling of skeleton leaves, bleached and rotten bits of wood, fragments of paper from hornet's nests, or a chance piece of printed paper glued or bound to the forks with the silk frqm the web of the Geometrical Spider Speira diadcma, (with which our woods abound) or that from the nest of the tent caterpillar, Clisocampa umcricana, or less commonly with a light ochreous colbred silk, popularly supposed to be a plant down, but which I believe has been gathered from a peculiar cocoon, often noticed attached to the underside of forest leaves. The exterior may be without orna- mentation 3ho\}'ing one tint of bark 50 THE OOLOGIS'I' fibre, bestiidded with bits of silken disc- like covering of the eggs or youDg of some insect, have pieces of hornets' nests bound about it, or the gosamer- like fragments of spider or caterpillar silk may be clinging to all parts. It is almost invariably lined witl> shreds of wild grape-vine bark, rarely fine grass stems are used. Those l)uilt late in the season are often very slovenly put to- gether, the birds showing such haste as to dispense with the customary silk as a binder, in many instances also leaving the loose ends of the scanty lining slick- ing out above the rim. The average dimensions ta-e: Diameter— inside — 2.2,=3, outside— 2.85. Depth— inside— 1.50, out- side 2.50. Probably few Eastern birds suffer more from the imposition of the Cow- bird then this Vireo. While they seldom desert the nest on that account, the de- position of the parasitic egg effects the number of eggs in a set to a marked de- gree. The Vireo will seldom deposit another egg after this has occurred, but will immediatly commence to incubate. Twice I have found the female sitting on a single egg of her own and one of the Cowbird. I have never found more than three eggs of the owner with that of the Cowbird, and in the latter <,-ase almost invariably found one of the owners' eggs broken by the clumsy feet of the intruder. Three egg.s constitute a set in most in- stances and two occur about as often as four. 1 have found but three sets of the latter number in ten years collecting: One i)ei'iiliar and to me, vexatious trait of this l)iicl, is that of Ihrowing on*- her eggs and dt^scriiug the nest atter it has been discovere d cimp roatl. "Monnt Joy"it iscalled liiit it must hav(^ been anvlhing el.se thnn a mount of joy lo ihr poorly chid, half famished liainl of patiiot> of the Contiuenlal aini\, a>i the^ pac'd the bleak and fro/en hills or shivered around smoky fires during the dismal winter of 1777-8 ) This was my first year collecting and my first important tind. Can you wonder why it possesses so great a value to me now? White-eyed Vireo. Vireo novebora- censis. Tolerably' common as a migrant and less as a summer resident. I have found it breeding on but one occasion. June 10th '88 I found its nest in a black oak bush, three feet above the ground. The nest is not so neat as the average Red-eye's, but rather baggy, appearing rather bulky for the bird. It was com- posed of tine strips of grape-vine bark, a quantity of pieces of hornets' nests and silk from the caterpillar. It con- tained four eggs of the owner and one of the Cowbird. Measuring .77 x .56, .77 X .56, .77 X .56, .74 x 55. Frank L. Burns. A Talkative Crow- It is related that one of the leading men of the Southern States, — I believe General Wade Hampton — had a very talkative Crow. It is said among the manyother things saidof this remarkable bird, that one day this Crow decided to pay a visit to a large tloek of his black relations, and setMiug down upon a limb, he very politely exclaimed "How do you do?" The effect of such polite- ne.^^s was tremendous as these Crows were not at all used to it, and they tied at once leaving the polite Crow all a- lone. Some two years ago I met a Crow that was also a remarkable linguist. He was owned by a family by the name of Best, residing southeast of Imlay Ciiy, Mich., near the home of the friends I visited. It was vastly amusing to hear this Crow talk. One day two wood-choppers called at my friends while Mr Crow was tattling oft" a great siring of words, varying the lingo by prolonged fits of laughter. This rather disconnected talkattracted the attention 52 THE OOLOGIST. of the wood-choppers and I informed them that they wei'e listening to a Crow. They refused to believe it until Mr. Crow varied his speech by going back to his native tongue "Caw, Caw, Caw," many times repeated, and our back- woods callei's admitted that they heard a Crow. This Crow had perfect freedom, going where it pleased. At night it retired to a little house, and when one went near, it would become very angiy, bristle up and scold in a very lively manner, seem- ing to know just what words to use for the occasion. Mr. Best had a large family ot child- ren, mostly boys. Sometimes he would be in the field and he would hear as he supposed, one of the boys call "Pa! Pa! Pa! Papa," until he went to the house. Reaching there he would find that he had been called by the Crow. When shut up in the granery at one time, he called "Let me out! Let me out! Let me out!" It would go up to a person and inquire "What do you want?" Sometimes it would get very impudent and exclaim "You are a fool! You area liar!" Sometimes this Crow would visit my friends. Perched upon a limb of an apple tree it would call out to my j'oung friend Newman Steele, "Newman, how do you do!"Soon it would — perhaps offended be- cause Newman mocked it, exclaim "Newman, you lie! Shut up! You lie! You are a fool ! This Crow, like other pet Crows, would occasionally steal, and had his hiding place, but he was a great favorite for all that. As 1 have said he had his liberty and went where he chose, but usually did not go far from the house, spending much of his time in the or- chard. One day a pair of the sports thatinfestthecountry in passing through the orchard saw the Crow and shot him, much to the regret of his owners. This Crow was indeed a very remark- able bird. Its vocabulary was indeed large, and it seemed to use its words understandingly, at times expressing it- self very aptly. It certainly possessed a a high degree of intelligence. Right here I am reminded of an inci- dent that occured at a fair. A parrot was on exhibition at the fair and a large crowd of children were gathered about its cage. One of the girls took a stick and poked at the bird. For a long time it begged, whined, moaned and teased. Suddenly to the great amusement of all near by, the parrot straightened up its neck turned its head, and looking its tormentor squarely in the face it ex- claimed, "Go off! Go off! Gooff! Go off!" For a moment the girl stared in amazement, and then turned away and left the bird alone, while the crowd cheered and roared with laughter. No one else ventured to torment it after this. Soon its mistress came to it, and by word and action, it testified its affec- tion for her in the strongest possible manner, and showed how glad it was to see her in that great crowd of strangers. Here was another evidence of Intelli- gence in birds. Wilfred A. Brothertox, Rochester, Mich. Notes on the Bob-white. As this beautiful bird is so well known I will not attempt to describe it. It is distributed over a greater por- tion of the United States, and although it is about extinct in some localities; it is still very plentiful here in Nebraska and Kansas. The nest of the Quail is very easy to find, as they build on the ground. It is usually a hollow scratched in the ground well lined and arched over with grass; with an entrance on one side. I remember very distinctly the first Quail's nest I found after I began ta study birds. I was looking for nests too; but did not know that a wad of THE OOLOGIST. 53 prairie grass, which looked like the rest of the grass around was a Quail's nest, until I stepped on it and heard the eggs pop. That was the first and only nest I ever stepped on, to my knowledge. Their nests with fresh eggs may be found from April to July, and one of their favorite places to br.ild is in the I'idge of au old road whei'e the grass has been left standing. Both birds assist in building their nest. The material of which it IS composed is gathered close at hand, and I have seen the female in the nest, seemingly fixing things to suit herself, while the male was on the out- side canying the material within i*each of his mate. When the birds are disturbed during the process of building, they will aban- don the nest. After the female begins to deposit the eggs, she usually lays one egg every day; sometimes a day will be missed; it may be she dropped the egg before get- ting on the nest; as they have a habit, it seems, of dropping or scattering eggs around; it may be on account of having uo nest or by accident. I have known of one instance where three daj's some- times intervened from one deposit to another and then two eggs were depos- ited in one day. Sometimes before all the eggs are de- posited, the entrance to the nest may be- come somewhat closed or damaged, so that it does not leave a clear entrance; in such cases the birds will be verj' apt to leave the nest and make another one. The eggs vary in number. I have found a great many nests, ten eggs were the least, and twenty-seven the most found in one nest, fifteen to twenty are the usual number. The eggs being of such a pure white color, ai'e very easily stained, and it is very seldom a full .set can be found without a number of stain- ed ones. I have found two runt (.iuail's eggs; they were both in the same nest, and one with a projection of about an inch on small end; projection was soft-shell- ed while the rest of shell was hard; egg same size as rest of set. I have always seen the male, on nest during incuba- tion, it may be female was relieved so as to get food about the same time of day, I rather think the female assists in incubating the eggs, for as soon as young are hatched both assist in taking cai'e of the young brood. I remember one nest where the male did all the incubating for I was trying to catch him on the ucftt. He was a close sitter and al- tiioug I had the grass all trampled down around nest and had a box ready to tip over him and repeatedly nearly had him still he would go back and actually hatched the eggs. I never saw the fe- male during the time of incubating. This happened when I was a small boy. The young have a peculiar peep sim- ilar to a young turkey and usually utter two or three peeps in succession. When disturbed while quite young they will give several loud peeps when the old ones will fly about the intruder and run around with their feathei's ruffled up and their wings down making a cackling noise. The flock will stay together if not dis- turbed during the whole winter. When roosting they sit close together in a bunch with their heads outward and when disturbed they start from the bunch in a tlutter in all directions. In the spring they disband and mate; at this time may be heard the cheerful notes of Mr. Bob-white while perched upon a fence post. Amos Pyfer, Odell, Neb. Prairie Warbler in Wayne Co-, Mich. ISIy first introduction to this Warbler look place May 37. 1804. I flushed the bird from the nest which was located in a thicket. After leaving the nest the bird remained concealed for some time. 54 THE OOLOGIST. but after waiting patiently I was able to take the markiufjs for identiti.-^ation . Leaving vay wife in the neighborhood, I went in search of a Yellow Warbler's nest to replace the two eggs which the nest contained. I was successful and soon had the eggs under cover. Re- turning three days later I found the eggs gone, as were the birds. I took the nest, however, which with the two eggs are in my collection. The nest is made ot grasses, lined with finer gras.ses , a ud deeply cupped. Dimensions of nest, inside diametei', 2.10; inside depth, 1.50; outside diame- ter, 3; depth, 1.90. The eggs appeared a dull Nvhite before being blown, marked with spots and blotches of chestnut and umber with lilac cloudings, the marks being in the form of a dehuite wreath at the large end. Dimensions of eggs, .68- .50 and .65.50 Note. Same day, took a set of f mr of the Goldeu-wmged Warbler. W. A. D. "Birds of Pennsvlvania." United Ornithologists of Maine. At the annual election held Dec. 28th the following board of officers was elected: Pres., Stephen J. Adams, Cornish: Vice-Pi'es., Chas. B. Wilson, Waterville; Sec . Wm. L. Powers, (iar- diner; Treas., Ralph H. Rock wood, Orono. This society is in a prosperous con- dition with 15 active members and more applications pending. It is proposed to issne a working list 'of our Maine birds together with as much informa- tion as is possible coucerniua: their I'ange. A prize v ilued at $1.50 is olTer ed to the member obtaining tiie great- est number of new members prior to April 1st. Dues arc 25 cents and all ob- servers of Maine are eligible. I also offer a special prize valued at $1.00 for the best plan for Martin houses, giving all the details as to situation, &c., open to the world. StephknJ. Apa.ms, Pres. Hassisbukg, Jan. 17— The bill pro vidingfor the printing of 24,000 copies of the "Birds of Penn.«ylvauia'' compiled by Dr. C. H Warren, of West Chester, the state ornithologist, passed the house finally today with but five opposing votes. Thei'e was a great demand for the reprinting of this book, the Grang- ers. Farmers' Alliance and other agri- cultural organizations sending petitions by the hundreds, but what interest the farmers can have in the book, outside of the pretty pictures, is beyotid com- pre'iensioo. It is one of the costliest books ever published, but that "cut no ice" with the average legislature or the fact of popul ir demand for it. Dr. War- ren will revise it and bring it up to date, and it is estimated that the 24,000 vol- umes will be distributed at a cost of a- bout $40,000. The beautifully colored pictures are the costly feature of the book. — Scranton Hejniblican. Breeding Dates for Southern Michigan. In reading Mr. Short's article upon "Spring Breeders of Western New York," in the January Oologist, I was struck by the difference between the nesting tmie of some species common to that section of the country and also Southern Michigan. Below are some of the dates at which I have secured sets, which I have no reason to believe were the first of the season: Bluebird, Detroit, Mich., April 8, 1893. Am. Crow " '' " 15 " Catbird •' " May 21, 1892 Red Sh Hawk " " April 22, 1893 Ph(cbe at •■ " are taken by April 20th. In the above five species there is an average difference of 15 days betweeu Southern Michigan and the dates given by Mr. Short for Western New York. E. DwiGiiT Sandekson. THE OOLOGIST. 55 Birds Who Sing on the Wing. By Dh. Morris Gibbs. The species of birds wliicli siug wlien flying are very tew. Of course if we embrace all birds wiiich utter a souud oa the wing, as singing birds, we shall have a large number on our list. And strictly speaking, as songs are the ex- pressions of the feelings, sentiments, if we wish to so call them of the birds, tlien the vocal efforts of all species, es- pecially during spring are songs. Ad- mitting this, then there are ove'^ one hundred species of Michigan birds whicli siug as they Hy to my knowledge. All of the Hawks and other rapacious birds that I am familiar with utter their discordant and defiant screams upon the wing, the lied-shouldered, Marsh and Cooper's Hawks are especially" noisy in season. I have also heard the Screech Owl complaining when on the wing, and the Barred Owl occasionally flies as it gives out its mysterious yet (to ray ears) pleasing notes. All of the Herons so far as I know utter their gut- teral notes when on the wing, although the more diilicult effort of the American Bittern is not uttered flying. The smaller waders give utterance as they fly, and most Ducks have been heard, while the Geese are notorious gobblei's during migrations. Sandhill Cranes issue their notes as they sail, sometimes out of sight. Night hawks make their only eflorts while on the wing, as we would exi)ect in a species which earns its living while Hying. Its near relative the Whip-poor-will some- times flies singing through the woods in spring- The Woodpeckers are a noisy set, and without an exception issue the clatter which answers in the nature of a refrain on the wing. All hunters have heard the scape of the Wilson's Snipe, the single sfMig note (jf the llyin'j Wood- cock and the agreeable efforts of the Killdoer, Spotted Sandpiper and the Up- land Plover and many others of the small waders. In the Rasoi'cs, however, we have a silent list of birds when ou the wing, although the Mourning Dove and Bob- white and some others are at least noisy at times on the perch. According to classilication the true singers are confined within the divis- ion (Jsci>i,cs, while all others are consid- ered non-musical. According to this system constructed from anatomical re- lations, the sweet refrain of the Wood Pewee cannot be called a song, as it be- longs to the screamers. Among the birds which are acknowl- edged singers the following six musi- cal species are presented as birds which 1 have heard sing while flying. The Bobolink is tlie acknowledged leader in llighl song, in fact his rollicking, jing- ling medley is about equal in excel- lence with any bird with which I am acquainted. The common Bluebird is a charming exponent of flight singing. It occasionally flutters upward and pours forth its soft warble in a most enchanting manner just after arriving from the south. The Warbling Vireo, rarely, in a transport of bliss, during the nuxting season, launches into the air while yet singing, and apparently forgetful of custom, strives to make us, mundane- creatures, as happy as its happy self. This agreeable songster is one of ray favorites, and no one who is a lover of bird melody can remain indifferent to its ecstatic warblings. In May and June we sometimes hear the loud gushing song of the Rose- breasted Grosbeak as the gaudy male Hits through the foliage near his pros- pective home. Even wilh this undigni- fied flyer, wiio generallj' progresses by undulating vigorous dashes, we can de- tect a hesitating flutter when the bird sings on the wing. Another bird that sometimes sings on 56 THE OOLOGIST. the wing, is the VVhite-rumped Shrike. It is not generally known that this Shrike, or for that matter, any other, has a song. 1 have heard the song sev- eral times and can testify to a series of very agreeable notes nicely modulated. We cannot call the song really melodi- ous, but it is still possessed of unique- ness, as it is essentially unlike the notes of any other bird of my acquaintance. I once heard this Shrike sing as it Hew in the characteristic manner of flight singers, on fluttering wings. The true love song of the Golden- crowned Thrush or Oven-bird has been but rarely referred to by writers, in fact, the best musical efforts of this species have only been described in compara- tively recent times. The common loud clanking notes, so often heard, have been listened to by all observers, but a .superior strain, apparently only occas- sionally uttered, has been listened to by but few intelligently. I feel safe in say- ing that no bird among us which is so well known, has eluded the observers of bii'd songs as this one has done. I listened to the love song of the Oven- bii-d for the first time in 1880. A burst of melody reached me in a dense piece of low woods, well filled with under- brush, and the delightful notes were surprising and cIoul)]y pleasing tome in this location. At first on hearing the song the idea presented itself that a species new to me was singing, and my extreme care in reaching the glade in hopes of secur- ing a shot, secured me a chance of wit- nessing a most singular performance. Crawling through the brush 1 came to u partial clearing, over which a bird, evidently in the highest transports of joy was fluttering in irregular llight. It is not surprising that I failed to re- cognize the performer in this, to me unusual aspect, for there was not one feature in its notes or movements in which it resemblea its ordinary and imderstood habits. Observing another bird, evidently a Golden-crowned Thrush, and its mate, perched on the ground near, and which appeared to be the center of attraction to the delighted warbler overhead. I quietly awaited the movements of the pair. Never had I heard this song be- fore and never had I witnessed such a scene. This was indeed, making love with a spirit not often witnessed among our warblers. The song was almost continuous, that is, together with the interruptions of the more subdued call or conversation- notes, and the common chattering- notes, so well known, and described by Coues as a liarsh crescendo, and was largely of the most melodious strains. The energetic, unconscious fellow was in the meantime constantly flying above his inamorata, describing nearly every form of llight except .sailing. Fii'st dashing to the edge of the glade, then rising to the tops of the bushes he would flutter almost dii'ectly upward as we have often seen the European Sparrow or House Wren do, and reach- ing a height of twenty feet or more, would half flutter, toward his mate, or dash about the clearing in varying evo- lutions, almost constantly singing. She in the meantime sat silent, and proba- bly interested in the performance. The appearance of a third party on the scene, undoubtedly, also a lover,caused the ecstatic singer to dash into the brush. A number of species of birds em- braced in the systematic division of singers, aside from those spoken of, are known to utter their notes on the wing, and from the Crow to the Martin, which is the nea^'est to a musician among the Swallows, there are many which give their best efforts when flying. But these attempts, although they answer the purposes of their possessors, are not musical, or at least not in the sense of appreciation of man. It will li(^ observed that a tremulous THE or) LOG 1ST. 57 motiou of the wiugs, almost invariably accompanies efforts of song on the wing. We may maintain, then, that the quivering of the wings as an accom- paniment to the song is a strictly sea- sonal feature. All have noticed the loss of the song synchronously with the skyward flutter in the case of the Bob- olink, when he assumes his summer dress and becomes the plebian Ricebird. I have never yet heard a bird sing on the wing in the autumn. Kalamazoo, Mich. Orcithological Potpourri. Hash. A sweet blueeycd warbler, daughter of Major Puffins, sat singing in a viinor key to attract the Rprnce Mr. Boh 0' Lin- coln who was shoveller on a man o'war, but now on a vacation as he was afflict- ed with 2i pectoral trouble which threat- ened to kill deer Bob: However, al- though the trouble was due to too many larks, and eating too many pics, still the laughin J , bronzed fellow w^as ]nst Jay enough to keep whooping her up, and often got red-headed when in Baltimore or Savanna, for it was one of his cardi- nal virtues, the big goose, to fill up on red-eye and then to gamb{e)l and thrash- er 'round. Later this night hawk, would be mourning for his golden eyes and wish that the last {h)oi'-l had been bar- red. Then he would get to raven with notes like a caliojK and continued rail- ing against swijt living and consult a prothonotary to get his long green back. Long before snow flakes fell Bob was at logger-heads with everyone. He left the sea side and visited a hermiL, a soli- tary Jox, and also Dick Sissel, who lived in a swamj) intermediate between or- rliard and meadow, among the myrtles. Bob was a hummrr and soon fell in with a squa (pronounced squaw) and hitched to her although she was nearly related to the gull family and he diil not owe them all a good tern. He was now spurred on by his stjiia. and rapidly felled c, when orescnted wltli an order of $l.-^ > or over. Subscriptions can begin with an.v number. Back numbers of the oulogist can be furniso ed at reasonable rates, is 'ud stamp lor di'scrip- tions and prices. IS^Remember that the publisher must be no- tlfledbj- letter when a suijscriber wishes lils pa- per stopped, and all arreai-.iges must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES- 10 CENTS FEK NONTAKEIL LINE EACH INSERTION. Twelve lines in every inch. Remittances should be made by Draft, Express or Post Office Money (Ji-der, Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. I'ostage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums un- der one dollar. Make Money Orders and Drafts payable and address all subscriptions and com- muT'oations to FKANIi a. LATTIN. Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y. -,• Articles, Items of Interest and Ciueries lor publication should be forwarded as early in the month as possible. ■MTERED »T THE POST OFFICE AT ALSION r., A3 SECONO-CL*SS M^TTEf- You Are a Judge- Your decision must be mailed us not later than the Icnt/i day of Apiil. Write on back of a po.stal card the live articles which yn?/ have deciiled to be the mof. On December Vi. 1894 at Grand Rap- ids, Mich., a society named the Kent Ornithological Club was formed. It haMr.SoN Paducali, Ky. "Four years ago I had a collection of specimens valued atSllO. My exchanges alone, for the last three months have averageu\ Ahuueda, California. ITS RAPID GROWTH aud phenoiuenal surci>ss, everywhere ill America, and even abroad, has necessi- tated the renun al (^f its pul)licati<>u ollice to a lary^er center — three-fourths of its subscribers being now east of the Mississippi river. The ollice has accordingly been Removed to 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City, where the Editor now is, and shall be happy at any lime, to meet any of the "Fiaternity." Strikinsj Illustrations from superior half-tones, printed on tine surface l)aper, are made a leading feature, no expense being spared to obtain results which continue to .-urprise and please. Our nilicl»!s are always i)opular, but strictly a("curat(;. from tln^ liesl oljseinvrs in the lielil, and containing much ?2cm; matter. For instance, a feature of the February nnmlier is a most interesting paper on '•The Habits of the California Condor," or \'ulture. fi-om f)ri(iinal notes by A. W. Anthony, (Jeorge F. Breninger, W. A. Burres and H. K. Taylor, with a d<'.^cription of the Recent Taking of an l-ffg, and accomp.-inied by three interesting inuslrations. We give an r.ir/i(irif/e iioticejree to every subscriber and are olTering free to new subscribfis, for a ^hort, tini<*. a i!EAt;TiKUM.y iLLUSTirATiCD ftJEMiuM, entitled ^'Sotueiiir of Karlij Dtn/^ in (.'(lUt'ornid.'" of which samples of the large elegant pictures are slioun in Nms. f<.r February and March. Also, to all v ho n init without vT..ys ut r,..v. Opp. U. S. I'at. Ollioe. WASHINGTON. O. C. When answering advertisements always mention the "OOLOGIST." CAiV I OBTAIN A PATENT? For a prompt answer and an honest opinion, write to MUNN & CO., who have had nearly fifty years* e.Tpericnce in the patent business. Communica- tions strictly cniifidential. A Handbook of In- formation concerning Patents and bow to ob- tain ihcm sent free. Also a catalogue of mechan- ical and scientific books sent free. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive sr'^iial notice in tlic Scientific American, and thus are broii^iht widely before the public with- out CDst to the inventor. This splendid paper, issued weekl V, elegantly illustrated, has by far the largest circulation of any scientific work in the world. !S;j a vear. Sample copies sent free. Building Edition, monthly, $2.50 a year. Single copies, !i,3 cents. Kvery number contains beau- tiful plates, ill colors, "and photographs of new houses, with plans, enabling builders to show the latest designs and secure contracts. Address MUNN & CO.. New YORK. 361 Broadwav rrNTRAi. r; VOL. XII. NO. 4. ALBION, N.Y., APRIL, 1895. Whole No. 114 ^^ ~^^iL "Wants, Exchanges, and For Sales. , r Brief special annouucements. "Wants.' "Exclianges" '•For Sales," Inserted In this denartment tor f>oc per 3.=s words. Notices over 35 words, charged at the rate o£ one cent ner each arirntionni word. No notice Inserted for less than 50c. Terms, cash with order. aaaiuonai "Dkaleks" can use these columns at Regular ACLven-tisiivj rates, onlt/ Strictly Flrst-claas specimens will be accepted In payment ac one-half list rates E.xchange cards and coupons (subscription) will be accepted for ■•Wants" and "Exclianees'- onlu and according to conditions stated thereon. ^ " CAN .SPARR a few eu^s for hatching from high-scoring White Pljnnouth Rocks; also sev- eral cockerels and pullets. W. J. B. WIL- LIAMS, Holland Patent. N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.— Large collection of birds' eggs and naturalist's collecting boat. Wanted, printing press, tvpe. camera, or offers. R. A. LEV, Cnboui-g, Ont. TO EXCHANGE.— Eggs in .sets with data this coming season with anv collector. Also Ist class skins of ,!'■*« and Mammalia. L. M. «LARK. Sumeld, Conn. APGAR'S Pocket Key. Birds of Michigan, and Vol. viil, ix, x and xl (complete) of the OoLO<;isr, for best otTer of Ornithological or Botanical works. LEON J. COLE, i:!5 Abbot Hall, Agricultural College. Mich. WANTRD.-A i'.,'xfi,'t Willow PtaniHi;an 0: Gray Rutted Grou-e (?/ -tl.EiO and Amer- ican Hawk Owl (n .t>. All are "9.5 collecting with full (lata and are in extra line condition. G.F. DlPl'IK. :ii-J (Jeorge .St.. Toronto, Out. $3 O worth of New Cloth Bound Books to •exchange for a Camera or Lettt^rs -WTitteu by Famous Men. Senators. Presldeuts.Governors Poets, etc. F. O. NELSON, 413 H. Main St. Butte. Mont. TO EXCHAN(;E. -Botanical specimens col- lected this season and scientificately named for line specimens or .sets with data. Send list and receive mine. Orders solicited. IRA CLOKEY. Decatur, 111. OO LOG I STS: COr.LECTORS: Attention ' Patent Huttons. nothing luit thumb needed to fasten them on to stay. Regular price Lie, but I will send a box postpaid lor llcts: 1 doz. in box. U, S. stami)s wanted. ARC^HIE L. C.OWEV. .JR.. De Pere. Wi>. FINE SKINS of Townsends .luuco. White- uaped Nuthatch. Anabels Bluebird and other rare birds to exchange for stamps. Three old Chinese coins for 10 uohunbiau stamps above 2c. Set eggs San Pedro Partridge for best offer m stamps. E. C. THURBEK. Alhambra. Cal. lO EXCHANGE.— Collection of 80 sets and smgles. many rare, for violin and bow, must be in first-class condition. Send for list of eggs. FRED A, GREGORY, iy;il N. Court St. Rockford, 111. WANTED.— To correspond with persons in South and West for the purpose of exchanging eggs or in.(). Al.so lirst 10 vols. Of)t,OGisT, for a first-class collection of postage stamps. W. L. DUNBAR, II White St,, Bridgeport, Ct, FOR SALE. The following sets with data at ':) catah)gue rates: A. O. U. Nos. ;.'7;{ 1-:^, 34.3 1-3. 41(3 1-1, 4.-vi l-.->. I(),i 1-3, 593 1-3, (•>^J4 1-3, 67.i 1-3, (»84 1-3, 731 \-h. also a few rare singles. Address W. L. FOXHALL, Tarboro, N. C. WANTED.- -To correspond !.wlth collectors who can make ui> first-class Warbler skins and put good data on them. Can olTer good skins and some .sets. H. T. VAN OSTRAND, Polytechnic Inst,. Worcester, Mass TO EXCHANtJE. *-25 camera, sfJii mandolin, i?.')0 violin. *♦•> flute. >•(•) Hageolet, >fl piccolo. *l..')0 music stand. *I0 i^>uackenbush rifle, jn-inting in-ess, 6 f(mts of iyi)e, !f7..=)() batnboo flsliiug rod for works on oi-nithologv. llrxf-rlatx binl skins or cash. For i)articula'rs address KOBT. B. McLAIN. Elm Grove. W. Va. /V V^'/- THE OOLOGIST. ANY PERSON having a punching-bag. fencing foils or boxing gloves to exchange, please write. I will sell a set of eighteen vari- eties of tickets from the World's Fair for 25cts. C. A. FOX. 525 61 St.. Station O. Chi- cago. 111. FOR ONLY 50 cents. $500 Confederate Mon- ey (assorted), $100 Confederate Bond and 6 rare Arrow Points. Catalogue 3 cents. J. F. BOW- EN, luka, Miss. YOU SHOULD have one of my tine cabinet photos of Audubon in your album. Send me 25cts. (no stamps) and I will mail you one (un- mounted OCJcts.). Will exchange a few. ISA- DOR T. FROSTLER. 4246 Farnam St . Oma- ha. Neb. WANTED.— A 90c orange U. S. 1890 in ex- change for a 50c Columbian. Have a few 50c orange, present issue, for exchange. ARTHUR LOHMAN. Two Rivers. Wis. FOR SALE —100 varieties tirst-class eggs in sets, cheap for cash. Will exchange for Indian relics or musical instruments, etc. D. BIGGAR. Fultou. Wis. EGGS WANTED.— Have to exchange one 52 cal. rifle, one Scott's Stamp Album, both new. for best offer in A 1 sets. WxM. H. S. QUACKENBUSH. Lansingburgh. N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.— Fine bird skins, new Wil- son's Omlthologv. cost $7..50. singles and sets for sets B. HALL SWALES. 11 South State St., Ann Arbor. Mich. EXCHANGE.— 12 ga. double gun. cost S37.50 last fall, for Octagem Marlin 32-40 or 44-40 cal. Oun is treble bolted and valued at $15.00. HORACE H. FELL. 3658 Dearborn St.. Chi- cago, 111. TO EXCHANGE.— California birds' skins for a double barrel breech loading shot gun. Will have them in short order. E. .J. GAU- TIKR. Santa Rosa. Calif. WE WILL sell Fla. birds' eggs this season at ';) (Lattins) catalogue rates, sets and sin- gles. Write for lists." Address B. M. GRANT ■or R N. WILLIAMS. Tallahassee. Fla. A HOME IN FLORIDA for ten dollars. In order to start a colony and biiild a town quick- ly I will sell one acre lots for the above. For map and particulars address with stamp GEO. PINE. Aripeka. Hernando Co.. Florida. BARGAINS. F^OR SALE OR EXCHANGE: T i-ases stul'fcd birds and animals, U stutTed birds not cased. Hdrnailay's Taxidermy, 1 .^x8 camera box and shutter and 2 developing trays 1 10 inch photo biiriiislier, 1 electric annunciat- or, 2 electric gas Imniers. spark coil, thermo- stat, electric bells, l.'> push Intttons, electric light sockets. l;imi)s and shade ImUlers, 1 relay. 8 gallons of silver, nickel and gold plating solution. 1 foot power polishing lathe. l)utfers. burnishers, etc, 2.t novels, printing press, scroll saw patterns, gasoline soldering torch, pair druggist scales. 4 bicromate liatteries and 100 other things. Should prefer ])h(.)tographic apparatus in eKchange, These tilings must be disposed of right away. E. P. REEp, Dealer in second hand cameras. 108 Coolite Ave.. Syracuse. N. Y. EXCHANGE.— A large number of stamps of various countries, such as France. Germany, Switzerland. Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Den- mark. ect.,in exchange for Confederate or Col- unibiaii stamps. II. D. ACKERLY. S Ave. dela Gare, Lansaune, Switzerland. N. RUDY'S PILE SUPPOSITORY i8 guaran- teed to cure Piles and Constipation, or money refunded. 50 cents per box. Send two stamp.s for circulars and Free Sample to MARTIN RU- DY, Registered Pharmacist, Lancaster, Pa. No Postals Answered. For sale by all first- class druggists everwhere, and in Albion, N. Y. by George W. Barrell. TO EXCHANGE.— About $1000 worth of var- ious kinds of Jewelry mounted and settings. The above was left over from the World's Fair and will be exchanged in lots to suit, for first- class Natural Historv specimens, shells pre- ferred. Address, J. M. WIERS, ^57 W. Van Buren St.. Chicago, 111. F3t FOR EXCHANGE.— Single barrel, unused. Shattuck gun. 25 brass shells and loading tools complete, for best offer of rare eggs in sets. Raptores preferred. Especial desiderata A. O. U. Nos. 131 and 327. THOMAS H. JACKSON. 343 E. Biddle St.. West Chester. Pa. 5w4 . OOLOGISTS: ATTENTION:— Those desir- ing sets from following list send in orders at once to be filled as soon as collected. I3 cat. (Lattin> rates. Sets scientifically prepared. Pied-billed Grebe. Black Skimmer. Anhinga. Wood Ibis. Least Bittern. Ward's Heron. Sno^^T Heron. Louisiana Heron. Little Blue Heroil. Green Heron, Louisiana Clapper Rail, Florida Gallinule, Purple Gallinule, American Coot. Florida Bobwhite. Ground Dove. Turkey ■Vulture. Black Vulture, Anaerican Sparrow Hawk, Florida Screech 0"wl. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Black-billed Ctickoo. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Red-headed Woodpecker. Red- bellied Woodpecker. Golden-fronted Wood- pecker. Chuck-will's Widow (Pirates). Florida Nlghthawk. Chimney Swift. Kingbird. Gray Kingbird. Crested Flycatcher. Florida Blvie Jay. Florida Crow. Meadowlark. Orchard Oriole. Florida Grackle, White-eyed Towhee. Car- dinal. Sttmmer Tanager. Purple Martin. Loggerhead Shrike. Mocker. Brown Thrasher. Florida Wren. Tufted Titmouse. Carolina Chickadee. Bluebird. Send stamp for any information desired. R. N. WILLIAMS or B. M. GRANT. Tallahassee. Fla. NOTICE.— I will give 10 good stamps for per- fect Indian arrowhead or 15 for spearhead. Address HASCALL WARE. Kalamazoo. Mich. MINERALS.— 25 nice specimens by mail. 35c. W. S. BEADLES, 814 W. Marshall St.. Rich- mond, Va. 7w3o NOW READY— My clearingout list of singles. Send stamp for it. For 10 cents each, I am of- fering Black Guillemot, Klttiwake, Mew Gull. Leach's Petrel. Cormorant, Corncrake, Coop- er's Hawk, Kestrel, and other good eggs. For 2.5c each, such eggs as Stormy Petrel, Gadwall White Ibis. Harris's Hawk, Swainson's and Rough-legged Hawk. Turkey Vulture, Chaca- laca Limpkin, etc. Orders less than $1 cannot be bothered with. W. RAINE, Bleecker St.. Toronto, Canada. ARCTIC HORNED OWLS.— A few freshly made skins of this rare bird, worth full $6.00. We can supply a limited number of fresh skins of Old Squaw. In full summer plumage. Cor- respondence solicited. OLIVER SPANNER & CO., 3.58 YoDge St., Toronto Canada. WANTED.— No. 1 and 2. Vol. Cassier's Maga- zine. Have Harper's. Scribner's. Century. Cos- mopolitan and Outing from 1890. Good ex- change, write for what yoti want. J. L. DAV'I- HON. 5.'5 Waterman St.. Lockport. N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. L- Group of Waders, Mounted by Chas. K. Reed, Taxidermist and Dealer in Everything Needed by Naturalists or Taxidermists. It will soon be collecting season. Have you all the tools you need? If you are in want of anything, remember we have the best and your orders will be promptly filled. Send two cent stamp for our Illustrated Catalog, mention Ooloc.ist, and we will enclose some thing worth 60 cents to you if you are a collector. CHAS. K. REED, 267 Main St., Worcester, Mass. TO EXCHANGE.-I have 30 varieties, of Rose.s. also LiUies. Gladiolus. Tulips. &c.. which will exchange for Coins. Stamps, or Indian rel- ics. D. A. KINNEY. Bo.x 73, Waseca, Minn. I HAVE eighty copies Oologist. Standard Catalogues. Oologists Hand Book and second- hand instruments for sale cheap or will ex- change for bicycle lamp, padlock and chain or bell. Send stamp for list. L. J. DRENNAN. New Sharon, Iowa. HOW to engrave on iron and glass indelibly. Both recipes for 1st class eggs to the value of 50c sent me. ARTHUR B. ROBERTS. Wey- mouth, Medina Co., Ohio. EXCHANGE NOTICE. -Have a flute and a lot of fossil shark teeth and corkscrew fossils to exchange for offers. GEORGE W. KIRT- LEY, FYeuericksburg. Va. UNFRAMED paintings (by myself) and Iowa Lichens, to exchange lor Birds' Eggs. Indian Relics, Stamps and Curios. Addre.ss PAUL C. WOODS, Fayette, la. When answerlngr advertisements alwaysmentlon the "OOLOGIST." NOW READY.— Birds Eggs. My annual spring bargain list of fine sets. Send "uo stamp for it. My low prices will astonish you, as I wish to clear out a lot of eggs before I go to the North- West, in June.. This n)ontli I am olTeriug nearly 1.000 eggs of Birds of Prey. Eagles. Fal- cons. Hawks and Owls, in sets aiul singles. W. RAINE, Bleecker St., Toronto, Canada. A collection of 10 eggs sent postjiaid for 60e to ** any part of U. S. For parlii-ulars address ROY HOWARD. La Mesa, Calif. in:it OOLOGISTS WANTED.— I want, at once' copies of the Odi.ocjist as follows: July-Aug- ust. ISHO; January- February. 1SH7 or Dec. I«tt5, with the former a/lached: June. ISss. I also de- sire copies of my old 18M.S "Oor.ouisT Hand- book ■' For each and every copy of the above publications mailed me not later "than February ir>, l.Hiif). I will give l.'Vc worth of anything I ad- vertise or olTer for sale, or will send credit check good ff)r the amount I will al.so allow 10c each for fie following numbers, viz:— June- Sept., 1KH7: April. 1H89. All must be complete, clean, and in gf)od condition. Address at once. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. POCKET KEY OKTHE BIHDS OF THE NORTH- ERN UNITED STATES EAST Q¥ THE ROC^KV .MOtlN- TAiNs, Apgar. With a glossary of Terms IHM, tM pn. Cloth only Hi cents prepaid. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. THE'OOLOGlST. YOUNG NATURALISTS! the money. Nearly 10,003 sold in the past thi ee j'ears "Young Idea" Mineral Cabinet. Make a start in the right direction by purchas- ing Bartlett's Cabinets. Well worth double Neat, novel and instructive for study. "Eclipse"' Curiosity Cabinet. Contains 15 varieties of rai-e minerals, as fol- lows : Coquina, Calc Spar, Fluorite, Feldspar, Silver Ore, Serpentine, Calamine, Syenite, Tour- maline, Milky Quartz, Drusy Quartz, Hematite, Marcasite, Galena and Zinc Ore, all labelled and secured in a neat tray, like cut, postpaid for 85c. Reliable Coin and Stamp Guide, .50 pages, giving prices paid for all U. S. and Foreign Coins and Stamps, 1.5c. Fanny Chinese Chop Sticks, the knife, fork and spoon of the Chinamen Ebony wood, a foot long. 10c a pair. Chinese Cash Coins, .500 years old. 4 for 10c. Perfect Indian Arrow Heads, with locality. 4 for -ibc. f> for 35c, 65c per doz. Send 2) cents for Alumiuum.'Hat Mark with engraved name . All postpaid. No, I no longer issue a catalogue. R. E. BARTLETT, 99 STATE ST.. ROCKFORD, ILLS. Contains Chinese Poker Chip, Chinese Napkin, Chinese Lotterv Ticket, Star-fish, Giant Tree Bark Cal.. Red Sea Bean. Alligator Tooth, 3 Yellow Wax Shells, Marine Alga?, Gypsum Crystals, Bloody Tooth Shell, Chinese' Cash Coin. Flexible Coral. 3 Boat Shells, Egg of Peri- winkle. Drab Sea Bean. Sunflower Coral, 3 Money Cowry Shells and Fossil Crinoid. All labeled name and locality and in partitioned box like cut. Sent i)ostpaid for ascts. TC you want to learn about Ornithology and ^ I Oology on the Pacitlc Coast, in general, or Oregon in particular, subscribe for the Oregon I^atUro^li^t- An illustrated monthly magazine devoted to the interests of Naturalist History. Large Premium Lists and I>^ree Exchange Column, ONLY 50 CENTS A YEAR. Sample copy for stamp. Subscriptions can begin with any number. Articles on Taxider- my commence in March number. Address D. M. AVERILL & CO., P. O. BoX,8.5,3. PORTLAND, ORE. PAD QKIV Extra large, finely mounted run iJAiiCi. Elk Head. Antlers measure .3 feet S inch, elegantly mounted on walnut shield, $100. Elk Head Photo sent tor 10 cents. Short- . eared Owl. mounted. $-i: wings spread, $2.H). Cinnamon Teal, mounted dead game, $.3. Red- head, dead game, $.3. All bargains and first- class work. Very rare. Datatare. Hindoo Idol, six-headed, carved in white marble from Bom- bay. India, $.1. Vlshun Idol, smaller. $3— paint- ed and decorated in gold leaf. E. W. CURRIER, Taxidermist, tf. 120 Sutter St.. San Francisco, Cal. ARROW HEADS, Minerals, Fossils, Sliells, Relics of Western Indians, Alaskans and South Seas. INDIAN PHOTOS. Mounted Heads of Wild Animals. Aluminum. Agate and Pyi'ites Goods. Ten years in the trade. Elegant large stock. Wholesale and retail. Catalogue and prices for stamp. Black Hills Natural History Establishment of I.. \V. STILW ELL, DEADWOOD, S. D. PRINTING! Little better; little cheaper! Enclose a stamp and get our estimate. Address A. M. EDDY, ALBION, N. Y. 9 D A D 17 ^^^ ^sive in stock or can J\/^[|\£|fiii"nish on short notice books, magazine articles and infor- mation on anyAT TV subject desired. 'Out-of-print' III ill books a specialty. Literary Light^"*' $1 a year; sample copy lOcts. Raymer's Old ■nAAirfl Book Store, 243 4th Ave. nlllJKN S., Minneapolis, Minu. -L'VV/ll.LF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. [1850.] The Oologist. VOL. XII. NO. 4. ALBION, N. Y., APRIL, 1895. Whole No. U4- The Last Portrait of Audubon, Together With a Letter to His Son. * By Dk. R. W. Shufeldt and Miss M. R. Audubon. It is the celebrated artist Cruiks'hank to whom the honor is due for having made the first published portrait of America's well-beloved ornithologist — Audubon. The naturalist at that time was about foi'ty years of age, and the picture now destroyed by fire, was a miniature. Inman also succeeded in obtaining a fine portrait of him, which is the one that was reproduced in his Biography. His son John secured still another, one of the most valuable now in existence, it being a full-length with his favorite dog at his feet. These three porti'aits have been published and re- published as engravings at various times and in various places, so that they are now well-known to all the many readers of Audubonian literalure. A thus far unpublished and another greatly cherished portrait of the natur- alist has been described in Scribner's Magazine for July, 1876 (p. 835). This, too, was painted by the fond hand of the same son who painted the full-length picture, to which we have referred above. Finally, by the aid of a mirror. Audubon made a small oil painting of himself, and this jMcture has already been reproduced in the pages of the present magazine, with a description of it. By those who have seen it, and by members of the family, his immediate descendants, this last has been pro- * This valuable article and portrait of Audu- bon appeared in 'J'fte .1'// Vol. XI, No. 4. Octo- ber. 1^94. and it's through the kindness of Dr. Shufeldt and the editors of The Auk. that we are enabled to present tin- same to the readers of the Ooi-ocasT.— A'rf. nounced an excellent likeness. The original is the property of Mrs. E. C. Walker, Baton Rouge, La., and is the earliest portrait of the naturalist known to us. R ■ It is noAv the aim of the authors of the present contribution to bring be- fore the many readers of The Auk what proves to be a portrait of Audubon heretofore not given to the world. In one way at least, it is of greater value and interest than any of the other por- ti'aits extant. — priceless as they really are. The special superiority claimed for it lies in the fact, that it is a, earner a- portrait, and consequently portrays its every line true to life. It was not so very long ago when one of the writers of this article discovered in the posses- sion of Professor T. W. Smillie, the well-known photographer of the United States National Museum of Washing- ton, a daguerreotype of Audubon, that belonged to Mrs. Grimshaw, a daugh- ter of Mrs. Nicholas Berthoud, and a niece of Mrs. Audubon's, who had plac- ed the treasure on deposit in the above named institution. Mrs. Grimshaw kindly consented to our having a pho- tographic copy made of this daguerreo- type, which was accomplished through the consumate skill of Professor Smillie, and with the courteous permission of Doctor G. Brown Goode, the distin- guished officer in charge of the Nation- al Museum. From this excellent pho- tograph has been made the admirable plate which illustrates the present pa- per. A picture so fine as this one sure- ly requires no comments on the part of its contributors to The Ank.\ it has but to be seen by any of its readers to b»^ admired. From all that we have been able to gather, it would seem that this daguerreotype was taken by Brady of '62 THE OOLOGIST. New York City some time cluriag the summer of 1850. As the Naturalist was born, as near as we have been enabled to ascertain the date, some time in May, 1780, and died on the 27th of January, 1851, this picture must have been ob- tained when hfe was in the seventieth year of his age, and at a period only a few months prior to his death. With the view of obtaining as full a history of it as possible, we recently placed our- selves in communication with the Rev. Dr. A. Gordon Bakewell of New Orleans. La., one of the most charming of the old school devines of the Episcopal church, who is a son of Thomas Bake- well, and was a favorite cousin of the late John Woodhouse Audubon, the father of the co-author of the present article. Dr. Bakewell writes us that Mrs. Gor- don, one of Mrs. J. J. Audubon's sis- ters, just before her death, pi'esented the daguerreotype to Mrs. Grinishaw, and that the former received it direct from the wife of the naturalist. "It was the last picture taken fiom life shortly before Mr. Audubon dii'd. and it certainly is very like him, when I last saw him toward the latter end of his earthly journey." These quoted words of Doctor Bake- well's complete, in so far as facts go, all we have been enabled to gather in regard to the actual histoi'y of this por- trait. In placing it here, we not onlj' give ourselves great pleasure, but we do more, for we add still another to the list of the published porti'aits of that one of this country's celebrated natura- lists whose fame augments pari imssu with the march of time. Standing next in value to published Audubonian portraits ai'e published Audubonian letters, and we feel that it hardly requires any apology from us, when we say that we know of no more lilting way to conclude this article than by adding to it a hitherto un|)ub- lished letter of Audubon's, addressed to his sou John W. Audubon, 4 Wim- pole street, Cavendish Square, London. It will be seen upon perusal that this letter is brimful of interest, both of a personal and an historical nature. It I'eads as follows: — "Edinburgh, July 1st,1838, Sunday. "My Dearest Friends:— Your joint letter of the 27th, Wednesday, did not reach me until yesterday afternoon, probably because the steamer which brought it did not leave London on that evening on account of the corona- tion etc. Here the festivals were poor beyond description, and although scai"cely anything was to be seen, the whole population was on foot the en- tire day, and nearly the whole night, gazing at each other like lost sheep. — No illuminations except at two shops, Mr. Henderson's and another close by him. — The fireworks at the castle con- sisted merely of about one hundred rockets, not a gun was fired from the batteries. MacGillivray & I went to see the fireworks at 10 p. m., and soon I'eturned disgusted. — His museum (Col- lege of Surgeons) and the Edinburgh Museum were thrown open gratis, and were thronged to excess. Upwards of 20,000 in the first, and about 25,000 in the other; all was however quite order- ly. The day was showery, cloudy and dismal at times, but the evening was clear and tine. Mr. Hill's father died on the morning of the 27th and I have not seen Alex. H. since. Many thanks to Maria for her bunch of letters, and the few lines of her own to me, I hope that everything will go on well with you all. "We begin printing tomorrow '2d of July, ISSSf .' remember that Mesdames et Messieurs! and I intend to proceed with all possible despatch and care. AU the birds in rum will be inspected as far as internal or digestive- organs, trachea &c are concerned, and as I am constantly present in the dissecting room, I think I shall know something THE OOLOGIST. G3; about the matter auon. — I am almost in hopes to see Victor tomorrow night but cannot be sure. There are some- where at home the nests of the birds found uu the Columbia by Nuttall and Townsend, I believe that of Bewick's Wren is among them; send them all, very carefully packed. I want the journal of my first trip to the Floridas, which was cut out of my lai'ge leather journal, previous to going to Labrador, also a letter on the habits of the Yellow- billed Cuckoo, by a gentleman at Char- leston. If it cannot be found perhaps Maria will recollect his name, being a friend of John Bach man, if so send me that, in full, if possible. It is the gen- tleman in whose garden I procured the small and large cuckoos in the same nest. — "I have written 44 articles for my ap- pendix and will continue whenever I am not otherwise engaged, so as to save time at last. — I am sorry for the death of poor Wickliffe but glad that his brother was with him at New York pre- viously, and that we at least, have done all we could for him. MacGillivray is quite well, and works very hard, poor fellow— I 9m glad of John's repainting the head by VanDyke, two copies of such heads are valuable to him, besides his improving by so working^When Victor has left for this place, John must pay much attention to the colourers and call also on the book binder. Havell ought to exert himself in having some 4th vols: delivered as soon as possible. "My last letter which was written last Sunday, was put too late in the of- fice, which closed on that day at two o'clock, and did not therefore leave this till four o'clock on Monday afternoon; this one will have a l)etter chance, for I will take it myself to the general of- fice. I have seen no one hardly since my last, I am indeed as busilv engaged as ever, and rarely go to bed before eleven— being with Mr. MacGillivray until generally past ten, describing etc. I rise at four or earlier, he at ten; but I go to bed at eleven, he at two. I discov- ered that he was adverse to the exami- nation of the intestinal canals etc., be- cause many of my birds which are com- mon to both countries will be published before his 2d vol., can now possibly be; but as soon as I told him that 1 had al- ready said in my introduction; that the anatomical structure was declared to be his, he was much pleased and began on the instant. "Today is very dismal, and it will rain probably until night; 1 wish we had here some of the warm weather of which dearest Mamma speaks. I have had but one walk to Arthur's Seat, but now and then I stroll to the meadows which are close to me, and now look well. — From the window of my sitting room I overlook the garden of Mr. Fi'azer our printer, and now and then speak to him there, 1 have not yet how- ever visited him. — I will recollect the Queen's farthing when next I see Pro- fessor Wilson, but doubt much if he will recollect the least idea of it. Has Chorley written or said anything to Victor about the review of the work; I'emember me to Healey. — "I suppose that the crown of England sits very quietly down, and that all was very superflne. I have not so much as seen a paper since I left you. "God bless you all, dearest friends, take good care of Mamma and Maria. "Elver your firmly attached father and friend "J. J. AlDUBON, "No 7 Archilmld Flare, Lauriston." Up to the present time there has Ijeen no personal letter of Audubon's published which so clearly shows, as this one does, the precise relations be- tween Mac(7iUivray and himself. Al- though it testilics to the fact that the former is entirely responsible for the anatomical d(!Scriptions of "The Birds of America," it likewise goes to show that Audubon took a lively and person- '64 THE OOLOGIST. al interest in a great many of those dis- sections, and, in all probability, was ■often at MacGillivray's side while they were being made, — not as a mere look er-on, but to follow him with that keen intelligence during their progress which ■ characterized his every undertaking in 'the science he loved so well, and in ■which he has made a name as enduring as the great truths in the foundation upon which modern ornithology itself -is reared. :Notes OD the Blackburnian Warbler- With the possible exception of the 'English Sparrow {Passer domesdcus), not one of our birds can be called ill looking. The Song Sparrow {Melospi- zafasciata) is of the same general col- oring, but the coarseness and plebeian vigorousness, as one might say, of the European is entirely lacking,'So that M. fasciata is really a very handsome little bird. Among the fishes, the perch is un- questionably handsome, but it has not the gracefulness, and beauty • in form and color, of the trout. In just such a way the Sparrow is not the equal of the Warbler. To the latter family nature has been exceptionally partial in her allotments of apparel, for scarcely one of its members can be classed other- wise than as a gem. But perhaps the most beautiful is the Blackburnian, or Blackburn's Warbler. In color it close- ly resembles the Black and White War- bler (Mniotilta varia) except for the orange on the top, sides and front of the head, and on the throat (where it is richest), and breast. During migration, it arrives in Mass- achusetts early in May and returns in September, when it leaves the taller trees to haunt the birches and cedars in company with the Myrtle Warblers {!). coronata). It is an irregular bird, being very scarce in some seasons and very plentiful in others. From what I can 'learn, its extreme breeding range is from North Carolina northward, and westward to the plains. Audubon mentions seeing it in June,on the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: both Brewer and Minot found its nest in Massachusetts;Merriam mentions it bi'eeding in Connecticut; Cairns calls it a rare summer visitor in North Carolina, from which I conclude that it may breed there; and J. W. Preston took its nest and eggs from the wilds of Minnesota. In New England it is most common in the three north- ern states where it remains to breed, although many go still farther north. In the three •southern New England states it must be considered as an ex- tremely rare summer resident. In New Hampshire and Maine it is by no means a rare breeder, the diffi- culty lying in the location of the nest. What I consider as a fairly typical spec- imen was found by my brother and my- self in southern New Hampshire, on June 8, 1890. We had been trouting, and having battled for several hours with myriads of blackflies and mosqui- toes, and a decided scarcity of trout, were glad to come upon a small, coun- try cemetery, through the center of which ran a line of perhaps a dozen giant hemlocks. Hardlj' were we seat- ed than the notes of a bird, unknown to us at the time, fell upon our ears. Every eastern ornithologist knows the song of the Black and White Warbler, and I can best describe that of the Blackburnian by calling it the exact re- verse of M. varia. A short search dis- closed the singer in the topmost branches of a sugar maple, but apparently not liking our looks, he at once disapi)eared over the tree tops accompanied by his mate. A careful survey of the grove revealed nothing but a bunch on the end of a limb some sixty feet from the ground (this always seems remarkable to me, as shortly after we found a num- ber of other nests). As the sky could THE OOLOGIST. C5 \>e seen through it, and bunches are very common, we decided to call again next day. Sure enough he was there in full song, and our feelings may be better imagined than described when he rose with a hovering Hight, his orange throat seeming to draw a line against the dark hemlocks, and drop- ped direetlj' into the bunch we had seen the day before. Given: A nest sixty feet from the ground and seven feet out on a limb, together with the wind blowing ''half a gale," and the problem is not easily solved. But bv connecting the limb with the one above it, and then cutting it off, my brother drew the nest and its contents into safety, alias the egg box. Meanwhile I had been of inestimable assistance in "coaching" his movements from the ground. To make sure of identity, for "people will talk," we col- » lected the male bird as he was the one that lit in the nest at tirst. The eggs, which were five in number, were about one-third incubated, but in 1891 we found a nest in the same tree that was not completed until June luth. They show very little variation in size, shape or color being greenish-white in ground color, dotted and blotched all over, though most tnickly on the larger end, with dirt'ereut shades of purple and brown The measurements are, .G8x ..•)3, .OTx.rjl, .67x54, .GTx.Oa. .OTx.o^ inches. Tlie nest, which was set into a thick cluster of small twigs, is composed of hemlock twigs, rootlets, a few pine needles and bits of nsnea, all woven rather loosely together, and thinly lin- ed with horse hair. While cutting off the limb, the birds were very tame, of- ten alighting on the shaking branch, 'this is the hardest part for the oologist, but we console ourselves by knowing that in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- dred, the bird will liave another nest and set of eggs in two weeks' time.) This varies excessively with the de- scription given by Audubon, who says his nest was built five feet from the ground and lined with feathers, hair and down. The eggs of Minot and J. W. Preston resembled those of the Chestnut-sided Warbler (D. Pennsylva- nica) having a white ground. Minot's egg measured .G5x.50 in. Nuttall gives them as .TOx.SO in., the ground color white and often tinged with green. Maynavd gives the ground color as pale greenish white, size .44x.63 to .45x.65 inches. The different writers give the number of eggs to a set as "three or four," none mention five. From the above the following con- clusions may be made: Number of eggs in set, from three to five; size of eggs, from .44x63 in. to .50x.70 in. and .r)4x.67 in., color ground of white or greenish white, spotted and blotched with different shades of pur- ple and brown. Nests composed of hemlock twigs, bark, etc., with and without a lining of feathers, but al- Avays of horse hair; height from ground, from five to sixty feet. I will conclude by agreeing with Mr. Burns in the Nov. Oologist where he implies that a church yard is a more than ordinarily good place for birds. In the same cemetry with the Black- burnian, we found nests and eggs cf the Chipping Sparrow, Olive-sided Flj-- catcher, liluehoaded Vireo and Myrtle Warbler, while f am positive that a pair of Redstarts and Black throated Green Warblers were lireeding there, although we failed to locate the nests. J. H. Bowles, Ponk&pog, Mass. Norway's Bird Islands ♦ Tian.slated for tlie (Jologist from IJr. IJrehni's •From the North Pole to the iOquator." West of Norway in the Atlantic, and extending far up into the Arctic ocean there is an archipelago of almost count- less rocky islands, the Lofoden Islands. 66 THE OOLOGIST. WM. H. FISHER, Baltimore, Md. Iq their general aspects these islands strongly resemble the neighboring main- land of Norway, al)ounding in steep clitt's, rocky promontories, and deep bays and inlets. Some of them are merely great jagged rocks rising from out the water, wliile others are larger and are inhabited. The inhabitants of these rugged is- lands beyond the Arctic circle aie not degiaded savages, but civilized men. Their civili/ation may, indeed, lack some of the refinements found in more favored localities, Ijut still it is a Christ- ian civilization, and the hardy islanders enjoy as large a measure of pi'osperity and»content as llie people of other lands. The houi=es an^ built of wood, are covered with sod and prepared to keep out the Arctic cold. They are not sur- rounded by orchards and (ields of grain, there is little room for farming on these stoney islands, and a little garden plot is the most that the richest islander can expect. The houses on the more southern is- lands are mere huts and the inhabit- ants, though free from want are very poor, but as you proceed farther and farther into the bleak polar regions you find houses that are larger and better, and people who are more prosperous This is the direct opposite to the con- ditions we generally find in other parts of the woi'ld, for it usually happens, es- pecially among civilized men, that whenever soil and climate prevent the growing of crops, poverty and want be- gin. The Lofoden islander, however, does not gather his harvest from the land but from the sea, and winter is his harvest time. In the autumn when our days and nights are of equal length, the sun, which has shone on those islands for six months without setting, graduallj'^ sinks from sight, and after a few days twilight the long Arctic night and win- ter begins. The islands that at other times are lonely and forsaken are now visited by numerous fishing and trading vessels and take on the appearance of active industry. The teeming life of the tropic seas is wanting in these waters at other sea- sons, but in the winter all the fish that have been hatched hei'e obey an irre- sistible instinct and I'eturn to their na- tive bays and fjoi'ds to deposit their spawn. Bays, gulfs, sounds and inlets, usual- ly almost uninhabited, now swarm with tinny visitors and nets are filled to the bursting with the catch. Fisher- men gather in their prey by the boat load, every bare ledge and I'ocky pro- montory is covered with fish that have been cut open and spread out to dry in the keen, salty air. Traders are busy bartering their car- goes of merchandise for fish, and there is a rapid exchange of the products of the south for those of the north. THE OOLU(aST> 67 No raj' of suuli^ht ilhimiues these scenes, but the stars shine with a splendor never noticed before, the aurora sheds a ros\- twilight glow over the northern heavens, and the moon seems to turn night into day. When at length the stars fade, and the grey sky and reddening horizon give notice that the night is over and the sun is soon to rise again, the lish that have escaped capture, having de- posited their eggs in their native Avaters tiepart aga'n tc '-.'ir usual haunts. The lishiug season is over, the well laden vessels sail or steam away to their native ports, or to their markets in various parts of the world, and the Norsemen are hit alone upon their is- lands. Are they to remain idle, then, and without means of gaining a livelihood for the rest of the year" By no means, for though the tish are too scarce to pay them for casting their nests there is another harvest coming that is to yield them a good income. Those islands are the breeding places of various kinds of sea birds whose in- stinct prompts them to return to the same place year after year to deposit their eggs and rear their young. A sea Ijird may spend its life in the waters and seldom visit the land, but there are two occasions on which it invariably returns to the place where it was hatched. One of these is the nestirfg season, and the other is at the approach of death. Whenever a bird feels that it is about to die, no matter what part of the world it may have wandered to, it always hastens back over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of miles of ocean to end its life at the place where it was be- gun. When with each returning spring the mating instinct reawakens, the birds return to lay their eggs on the is- land where they themselves were hatched. Swimming or Hying they ap- proach the islands in constantly in- creasing Hocks until it would seem that the feathered crealui'es over the whole ocean were gathering at one spot. The shy and unapproachal^le birds that usually dart out of sight at the first appearance of a ship are now so domin- ated by the one overpowering instinct that they forget their fear of man, and approach their nesting places by thous- ands, or perhaps, by millions, unde- terred by the sight of the human inhab- itants. Each species of hinis lias its favorite nesting place. Some choose the beet- ling crag.s. that overhang the surf, others choose the islands towering like mountains of rock above the waves, and nest only in the clefts and fissures inaccessible to man, but the most val- uable birds, the Eider Ducks, are con- tent with the low islands with gentlj'- sloping sides. In fact it would be im- possible for them to ascend a very steep slope for tht'V are the most aquatic of all the water bii'ds, being scarcely able to tly, while their walk is the most help- less waddle imaginable. Water is their native element and I hey seldom, if ever visit the land, ex- cept at the nesting season. It is in the water that they disr-lay all their skill and adroitness in eluding pursuit or in taking their prey. They can staj' under watc for five minutes, which is a long time even for a Duck. They can dive to a depth of 160 feet and as their food consists mostly of mussels and other animals found on the bottom they rai'ely visit waters deeper than this. Arriving at their island they waddle slowly and lal)oriously over it, search- ing through ever}' drift of sea weed, every hollow and cluster of dry twigs for a suitable nesting place. The pres- ence of the Norseman does not disturb them for they are, for a time, as tame as domestic fowls and will invade his premises and even make their nest in his house. When a Duck has found a suitaljlc 68 THE OOLOGIST. spot she proceeds to dig a hollow with her dippers and beak, and to smooth it out by turning around in it. Then she partly fills the hollow with twigs and moss, anything she can find, and at last it is ready for the lining. Recklessly plucking off her own feathers, which are lighter and softer than those of any other bird, she makes them into a downy pad which completely lines the nest and has a border wide enough to cover the eggs when she is away. All this time the Norseman has been kind and considerate towards his aquat- ic visitoi-s, digging hollows suitable for their nests and supplying them with turf and other building matei'ial, but as soon as the nest is completed, and has the usual six or eight dirty gray or pale green eggs laid in it, the courteous host becomes a robber. Ruthlessly taking away both the eggs and the precious lining of the nest he leaves the poor bird to recover from her disappointment the best she can. After this robbery the Duck returns to her mate upon the sea, to come back again in tive or six days, to waddle about the island seeking another nest as if nothing had happened. Carefully avoiding the location of her former nest she selects a new spot, hollows it out, inlays it with twigs, and it is ready for the lining. Anxiously she searches her body over for more feathers, but in vain, she has used them all in making her lirst nest. In this extremity she goes back to the water, and finding her mate takes him to the nest and strips him of his down to complete the struc- ture. When that is done the drake leaves her and goes out upon the sea to be absent for several months, a deser- tion that is excusable after the treat- ment he has received. Almost hidden by the twigs, moss and down the mother bird sets upon her nest with admirable patience, scarcely taking time to search for food. When she does leave her nest for a brief swim and hunt in the waters near by she carefully covei-s up her eggs, knowing well that her neighbors in the nests near by are watching for a chance to rob her. If on her return after a hasty meal of mussels she finds that some of her eggs are gone she pretends not to notice it, but watches her chance and steals them back again from the Duck near by. During the period of incubation the Norseman does what he can to protect the birds and guards them from the at- tacks of predatory Falcons, Hawks and Sea Eagles, for their prospei'ity is his. After the young birds are hatched many of them would perish on their way to the water were it not for his as- sistance, for he then goes about over the densely crowded bird city, carefully gathering all the down from the nests in one basket and placing the ducklings in another. When his baskets are filled he goes down to the beach, closely fol- lowed by the waddling, anxious moth- ers, and empties the little ones out into the water. Then thei'e is a great scramble among both young and old birds, for the mothers cannot tell their own ducklings from those of their neighbors and each tries to gather as large a following as possible. When at length the families are di- vided up and all are satisfied they seek the quiet waters of some shallow bay, where the mothers are soon busy div- ing and bringing up food for their hun- gry broods. The young birds are far better adapt- ed to life on the shore than the old ones are and they often wander out on the beach and run about like young par- tridges. They can swim as soon as they are hatched, but still need the watchful care of their mother, who allows them to climb upon her back and outstretch- ed wings to rest when they are tired. As there is food in abundance for all of them the ducklings grow rapidly and soon get to be as large as the old ones. THE 05L0GIST 69 In the feathers of the Eider Duck, the famous eider down, are mirrored all the colors of the northern ocean. Red, black, ash graj', ice green, brown, yel- low and white are all blended and vary with the changing light. This down brings a high price and constitutes the chief wealth of the is- landers. A man who owns the ground where a thousand pairs of these birds nest is considered well to do, and as a thousand pairs often build on a single hill, some of the inhabitants of these all but forsaken islands enjoy incomes as large as those of our largest land owners. Many other sea birds visit these is- lands and the rocky cliffs are often hid- den bj' them. When a boat approaches the Gulls rise in dense clouds and wheel, in rapidly lessening circles, about the intruders, screaming and Happing their broad wings defiantly, until a gun shot or some other alarming sound frightens them, then, like a sud- den snowfall, they drop into the water to bob about like balls of down or to sink beneath the waves leaving only their black heads above the water. When the broad red disc of the mid- night sun approaches the watery hori- zon the Gulls all settle down to rest upon the rocky island peaks. A travel- ler who has watched them from the deck of a Norwegian mail steamer says that the huge rocks covered with strange groups of white birds looked from a distance like mighty black- boards which some giant's child had covered with a fantastic scrawl. Angcs Gaines, Vincennes, Indiana. My First Find of 1895- Feoruary l"2th I started out with a friend, Mr. Corwin, of Vicksburg, Mich., to try and locate a nest of the Great Horned Owl, Btibo virginianus. I had all the paraphernalia for climb- ing the huge trees that are found in this vicinity, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and as we knew several swamps where the birds had been seen we had hopes of locating a nest. The snow was about two feet deep on the level and as we had to walk about three miles to the swamp and then through it the task was no easy one. After several hours of hard work we had to turn our heads homewards, minus any eggs. We saw no Owls and I have since learned that a certain party shot the Owls that we had hoped to locate. However we saw three Robins, num- erous Tree Sparrows, Chickadees, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Flick- ers and White- breasted Nuthatches; also shot two Horned Lai'ks from a flock of a dozen or more. Feb. 19th I started out again with S. R. Eaton, of Battle Creek, carrying the gun, and I the climbing tools. This time Calhoun County was the locality. My friend soon got tired out and re- turned to the station. After a three hours' unsuccessful tramp through the deep snow in several swamps, I re- turned to the station to find my friend, on his back, soliloquizing on my fool- ishness in wasting sp much time and energy after a couple of eggs which I did not get! March 2d was a bright, cheerful day, snow all gone, walking good. I could not resist the temptation, so I started for my friend Ccu'win and this time we started south from Vicksburg, Mich., for a tamarack swamp I felt sure success would crown our efforts this trip. After a walk of about six miles we saw two male Great Horned Owls and followed them through the woods. Pretty soon I spied a large nest on top of a dead tamarack in a swamp close to the font of an elevated ridge of land. I felt snr(^ this nest was occu- 70 THE OOLOGIST. pied, as the boys put it, something in my bones informed me there were eggs in the nest. I stationed my friend at the top of the ridge of land, where he could get a good view of the nest and asked him to look out for old Bubo's ears as soon as I struck the tree with my spurs. I had an idea she would not leave the nest and would simply stick up her ears as soon as I struck the tree. I walked down to the tree and struck it a vicious blow with my spur. Old Bubo floated out as noiselessly as a cloud and sailed away about 400 yards to witness the spoliation of her 1895 home. The exultation an enthusiast feels in seeing a bird leave her nest and eggs, especially the first find after a hard cold winter, came oVer me and I was all anxiety to climb the tree, and add the prizes to my cabinet which ah'eady contains over 150 Owls' eggs, 300 Hawks' and 6000 of other species. I soon had the spurs securely strap- ped on, slung a small satchel on my shoulder, containing a ball of twine to lower the eggs, and started for the nest. The climb was a hard one as I had to break a lot of rotten limbs off on my way skyward. The nest was 72 feet up. However I was soon up to the nest which was a large one, four feet in circumference, made of lai'ge and small twigs and sticks lined with leaves, bark and feathers from the breast of the parent bird, quite a cosy nest and well hollowed out. The nest contained two very large eggs, globular shaped, much resem- bling an egg of the Bald Eagle in my cabinet, incubation about one week so the eggs were probably laid the lat- ter part of February, during very cold weather. I hope to take one or two more sets from this same nest to find out how long an interval there is be- tween the laj'ing of .successive sets. The evening was far advanced, so I had to give up looking for another set, which I feel satisfied this swamp con- tains. I arrived at Battle Creek at 7:30 p. m. and the eggs now are numbered and are part of my collection and will no doubt be handled a number of times in years to come and each time bring back recollections of a tamarack swamp and a hard but delightful tramp and climb in early March. E. Arnold, Battle Creek, Mich. Standard Datas, And similar ideal, things, throng the writer's brain, on sleepless nights, and bid him speak. On^; first, of other things, for example the blowing of eggs. How many thin-shelled eggs have crumbled in our hands, and how many frail-shelled eggs have ''blistered" on one side where a mass of unremoved yolk had congealed, or at the blow hole, whither the albumen had gather- ed, in the draining of the egg, had con- tracted and cracked the edges of the shell! There are two remedies to be used in consecution: First thoroughly rinse the egg; second, rinse it thorough- ly the second time. Not only does the shell of an unrinsed egg become brittle, but its uncleanness and its harboring of vermin make it an object of disgust. Why do not more oologists make use of a lamp, in the drying of eggs, after the rinsiugV I used a lamp for several years before learning, to mj^ surprise, that the idea was a new one to some.. In no other possible way can the un- removed clots of yolk, adhering to the inner walls, be detected, in eggs of dark and heavy markings, — and no oth- er way drives out the moisture so rap- idljv But, be wary!— that dainty shell will burst, of an instant in the lamp's heat, if a clot of yolk ran foul of the blow-hole, or if a film of albumen have dried across it. THE OOLOGIST 71 Aud again, a plea for more accurate and rertective observation, with a lield glass if possible. Many observers need to cultivate a deeper appreciation of what a certain argus-eyed veteran iu our favorite science has meant by the comprehensive title, "Life Histories." And, about iield glasses. When will some bright optician manufacture and put on the ornithological market, au instrument especially fitted to our needs, with the price brought within the limits of the slender purses that some of us are carrying about with us these days? As to observation.s and field-notes: I am a little chagrined to hear, to see nothing more as to the wonderfully handy 8J by 3^ inch note -books refer- red to in a not long remote issue of the OoLuGiST. These bank books are in- terleaved with absorbent paper. You jot down your notes iu ink, always in ink, and close the book, unblotted. There's a column for the date, and a space for the particulars and any met- erological or other pertinent notes may be written on the bibulous paper, two sets of notes in the same book, and side by side, .just where one wants them, and all for a sonrj. Why not two or three hundretl of us sit I'ight tlown, just as soon as this copy of the OoLOGisT is read from cover to cover, and overwhelm the editor with an or- tler for half a dozen copies, each of the Model Field Bookv A linal attack on the question of "Standard Datas:" Tlie accompanying form represents, (for my purposes and tastes at least), the summing up of the best ((ualities to be found in twenty or thirty different forms, occurring among hundreds of datas in my collection. The datum "situation" I venture to add, on my own responsibility, though the fairts that it sh()ulr. Miles' Restorative Xervine is A great medicine, I assure you." Augusta, Mc. AYalter K. Bcrbanr. Dr. Miles* Nervine is sold on a positive piiarani.oc that the first bottle will bi-nefit. All (irujrgisis sell itat $1,6 bottles forSo, or it will be sent, prep.'iiii, on receipt of price by the Dr. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, led. Dr. Miles' Nervine Restores Health YOU CAN GET YOUR PRINTING a little CHEAPER ■"almu- BETTER I'.v sending i» A. M. EDDY, ALBION, N.Y. A specialty of natiiiMl hlhtory j)rinliDg. cata logues. books, magazines &c. Zi^'Mi) envelopes. 100 letter heads and li n cards, all tor 100 cents. Send for samples of our printed stationery. 9 contained a comprehensive article on the 'Habits of the California Condor' or Vulture, among other interesting things describing a perilous expedition after the eggs, with half-tone illustrations of old and young Condors ; another striking feature of this arti- cle being the story of a CONDOR HUNT graphically told by the hunter, himself. In the March Number the taking of the California Condor's egg (now owned by H. R. Taylor) is described by the col- lector of it. furnishing valuable infonnation, hitherto unknown, about this extremely rare bird. This narration, from its very uniqueness is far and away the most interesting, to the Ornithological world, of anything which has appeared for a long time. An excellent half- tone illustration accompanies this article. Other Illustrations and articles in this number more than sustain the reputation of the magazine. THE NIDIOLOGIST is literally indinpensible to all up-to-date Ornithologists or Oologlsts. Subscription, with beautiful premium and free Exchange Notice. $l..=iO, or 80 cents for half year; sample copy. 10 cents. Address H.R. TAYLOR, Publisher, 150 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY. SUBCRIBE NOW. We will send to any address The New York Weekly Press A clean, interesting, up-to-date Republican National Newspaper, conducted to instruct. entertain, amuse and edify every member of every American family, and THE OOLOGIST, For One Year, for Only $1 .GO. Address all orders to FRANK H. LATTIN. Publisher ThkOologist. Albion. N. Y. Send your name and address to New York Weekly Press. 38 Park How. New York City, and a sample copy w'ill be mailed you. TAXIDERMISTS' GUNS, "0°. Pocket !uns. Pistols. Gun Ca-es. Slioc.tinu Sh.ii sii^iis; also l^&JZ. SPECIMEN HUNTERS. All kinds, all prices from $ . •• to H .00. I^ist free. Write far I'n.ridermixt'.t frte li.1t . JAMES H. JOHNSTON, PITTSBURO. PA. Wonderlul Try what ID Cents sent H. Harte, Jeweler, Rochester, N. Y-, will bring. When answering advertisements always mention the "OOLOGIST." THE OOLOGIST. Herkimer County Crystals! Camp Agassiz. Finest in the World! Exhibit at World s Fair received Highest Award 40 of these Famous Gems, postpaid, for only so cents. Everj purchaser wH) be presented with a handsome 'glass tube eontalninsr lO Microscopic Crystals, absolutely perfect, and so very small that it takes ii.dio to welgii one runce. This collection will please you. Order to-day. f3t A. H. Crim, Mlddleville, Herkimer Co.. N. Y. Artistic Mounting! Embalming! Private Instruction in mounting birds costs $ o to $.^0. Many students can't even affoi d to pay $5 to $1) tor a work on Taxidermy. Give Em- balming- a Trial! Complete instructions and material. Tj cents. All questions answered. For liitormatlon and testimonials, send stamp to MORRIS GIBBS, M. D., Kalamazio. Mich. f6t Mention the Oologist. MCllTIi'I First-class EGGS and SKINS OHLEl! FROM ALASKA. Ancient Murrelet. Casslns Auklet. Aleutian Song Sparrow. Aleutian Lencostite, Fork -tailed Petrel. Skins only of the following: Sandwich Sparrow, Aleutian Sandpiper, Sabine's Gull. Eggs only of Leach's Petrel. Tutted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot. Terms Cash. Best of references. 3tf C. LITTLEJOHX. Redwood City, California. y |^ShotQuns..^aai^^Revoivers, X CO ^^^^^fend»Mmp^'»=irf'flre at Western' U <«^^^ for Price List. GTmWorks.Pittabnrgli.fS?' ^FINF*^ NETS, TENTS, and ♦^*— * *^ ^-'*^» SPORTING GOODS. Every description of Guus, Revolvers, Ammu- nition and Sporting Goods at very lowest pric- es. We have something of interest to you. DDIKITIDJf* Of all kinds for Naturalists a r nlil I lllU speciality. Note and letter heads, envelopes, circulars, illustrated cata- logues for natural history dealers. Have hun- dreds of engravings of natural history speci- mens. Write for estimates. 100 envelopes print- ed, 4.'>c. noteheads same price, postpaid. C. F, CARR. Job Printer. New London, Wis. tf Broken Bank Bills. I have lately bought a very large lot of these interesting relics. They usually sell for 10 cents or more per bill. I'make a special offer of six different bills, from ifl to $10. all issued before the war. for only 25 cents. 10 different, for only 40 cents. Don't fail to send, you will be pleased. 2 Confederate bills sent for lOe. 50 different foreign stamps. 10c. 500 common U. S. stamps for decorating plates, etc.. only 20c. J. E, HANDSHAW, Sniithtown Branch. N. Y. MARRY THIS GIRL-SOMEBODY ! T.l.i. Kditop.:— I stained a blue silk drei^s \\'.:': leni(ii) juice; wluit will h'kIoii' the lolnr? 1 niaUiiii; liit8 of iiiniicy wiling llie CMiimx I)i^l. | WiiKliei'. IImm- iiiit iii:iili' lesH tliiiii S^tll any (!a worki'd. Kvii> (:imil) wants u l)i»li WaBlier, , •inn | pav S5 iinicUly when tlicy see tlio di(*lie8 watilit aiidib'iecl peifcclly in (inu ininiite. I sell asm: w.iHlier-i a« my hrotlifr, anil lie is an did Bales- man. I will lfL'. Co.. (V.liiinlins, «>liii>. Anx.ne ils. Shark's Teeth and Cork- screw Fossils from Stafford Co.. Va., for $l..=iO per 100. The fos-.^ils are .something new and unique. GEORGE W. KtRTLEY. Fredericks- biirg. Va. Ao-10n-e3mo. THE ^A>> ^h J^J^ ^,=,0^^- Monthly, VOL. XII. NO. 5. ALBION, N. Y., MAY, 1895. Whole No. 115 Wants, Exchanges, and For Sales. Brief special annonucements, "Wants,' "Excliantfes" "For Sales," Inserted In tills department tor .50C per 3.5 words. Notices over 3.5 words, charged at the rate o£ one cent per each additional word. No notice inserted for less than .50c. Terms, ca.sh with order. "Dealers" can use these columns at Regular Advertising rates, only. Strictly First-class specimens will be accepted In payment at one-half list rates. Exchange cards and Coupons (subscription) will be accepted for "Wants" and "ExcUanges'- only .and according to conditions stated thereon. WANTED.— Da vies Taxidermy. Will give •one (ireat Horned Owl alive and some bonks. Must be in good condition. FRANK N. CAL- HOUN. Forestville. Chautauqua Co., N. Y. FOR SALE.— A collection of 1300 varieties of rare U. S. and foreign stamps for $8.00. Also a collectiou of rare sets and single eggs. W. II. DEADERICK, Clarksville, Tenn. . TO EXCHANGE.— Birds and nests of lUmois for those of other localities. All letters an- swered. J. BODENBURG.523MO. Ave., East St. Louis. Ills. TO EXCHANGE for best offer. Mammalia edition of Woods Natural History, paper backs, SCO pages. iitJi) illustrations. GUY SEEDS, Garden City. Kansas. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.— One Lovell Diamond Roadster: write for description. Also eggs in sets with data collected this year and watch, coin silver case. Waltham works. <•. B. HODGE. Sterling. Kans. WANTED.— First-class copies of Aii/~- No. .3 and 4. Vol.11. Will give cash or concliologlcal and entomological specimens in exchange. FRANK E. BAXTER. 181 Chestnut street Montdair. N. J. FOR SALE.— Strictly llrst-class eggs, sets and singles, at 'd and 'i rates. Send stamp for lists. Also agate charms cheap. GEO. W. DIXON. Watertown. S. D. SAND Dollars, Sea TTrchins and Star fish from coast of Maine to exchange for curios- ities from other states. Address H. L. Sl'lN- NEY, Popham Beach. Maine. SIOUX Indian relics oi all kinds to exchange for flrst-dass Eagle tail feathers. E. C. SWIGERT. Gordon, Nub. FINE mounted specimens or California skins to exchange for egg tools or climbers. I collect everything in the natural history line. Corresponpence solicited. J. F. ILL- INGWORTH. Pomona College. Claremont. Calif. WANTED.— First-class skins of Cinnamer square, climbers or de- slreable literal ui'e relating to birds. O. FORD AXTKLL. Box 50. Howell. Michigan. THREE line fossils sent prepaid for 10 cts. Cap and ball pistols and eggs for coins and stamps. Send list. All answered, no cards. R. L. MORE, Decatur, Tex. >^^2>t 11 THE OOLOGIST. TO EXCHANGE.— A lot Of 1st Class eggs in sets and s^nsles (over 5UU) also a lot of bird luins for old guns and pistols either complete orfncompletl Will exchange any or alU e^gs or skins. All letters answered. 1.. P. Ci^AKiv, M. D., Morrisville, N. Y. A COLORED Plate of Sympathetic Nervous System (i9x38 in.) by Ludovic Hirschfeld.Paris. Worn $3 50. Will exchange lor best ofter. Write first GEO. COUIVrER^Golden_City^Mo. FOR SAT-E.-The 'All Steel Climber" made from the toughest steel, will not break wiU climb any tree. Price ^vithout straps $.80 with good strong straps $1..W. Address R. C ALEX- ANDER. Plymouth, Mich. RUBBER STAMPS of all kinds to exchange for flrst-class birds eggs in full sets with complete data. Enclose stamp when writing. ARTHUR L. POPE. Sheridan. Oregon. look: look: -I will give receipt for making Skeleton Leaves, for every set of ^gs with data valued at ten cents or over. JAY G. SMITH. 5 Pleasant St.. Bradford, Pa. FOSSILS must go. Three fine fossils sent prepaid for lOcts. Cap and ball pistol for coins. Send list. All answered. No cards. R. L. MORE. Decatur. Tex. SCHUYLER TRAPS for collecting small mammals. Price prer)aid, each, 15cts ; two for SDCtS. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. SECOND HAND BOOKS.— I want 2d hand copies of Packard's "Guide to the Study of lii; sects;" Coues' "Key to North American Birds and other Standard works relating to Natural History. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.— About $1000 worth of var- ious kinds of Jewelry mounted and settings. The above was left over from the World s Fair and will be exchanged in lots to suit, for tirst- class Natural History specimens, shells pre- ferred. Address, J. M. WIERS, 3.57 W. \^n Buren St.. CHicago, 111. ^'^"^ RUDY'S PILE SUPPOSITORY is guaran- teed to cure Piles and Constipation, or money refunded . EO cents per box. Send twostamps for circulars and Free Sample to MARTIN RU- DY Registered Pharmacist, Lancaster, Pa. No Postals Answered. For sale by all first- class druggists everwhere, and in Albion, N. Y. by George W. Barrell. FOR EXCHANGE.-Single barrel, unused, Shattuck gun. :J5 brass shells and loading tools complete, for best offer of rare eggs m sets. Raptores preferred. E>-' May number and NovemDei nuniber, with beautiful colorecl Plates /Z;*!- for only 50 cents. Remit soon. H. R. TAYLOR, Publisher, l.'iO Fifth Ave., New York City. FLORIDA EGGS,— This season I will collect sets of all species found in this locality, i now have over .^0 varieties of rare sets for sale at !■! catalogue rates. All eggs are care- fully prepared, have full authentic datas and are first-class in every respect. Send for list. All letters answered. Postage and expressage prepaid. Special discount on large orders. EgKs will be sent on approval to collectors whom I know, i also have over 300 varieties- of singles which I will sell at >4. and in orders of W.oo or over at 1-5 catalogue- prices. LOUIS T. WHITFIELD, Tallahassee. Florida. ATTENTION: Look: Send me 15c and re- ceive bv return mail a first-class set of 4 or 5 eggs w'ith data. Send for egg lists. HARRY (GRIFFITH, Santa Ana. Orange Co.. Calif. O&N I WANT AT ONCE a few eggs of each N. W» Crow, Fla. Grakle. Plumed and Scaled Part- ridge. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse, bharp- shinned Hawk. Sets or «nKles. cash w ex- change. Write quick. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. To Dealers and Collectors: Will furnish small Fossils. Shark's Teeth and Cork- screw Fossils from StaiTf)rd Co.. Va.. for f 1.50 per 100. The fossils are something new and unique. GEORGE W. KIRTLEY, Fredericks- burg, Va. Ao-10n-e3mo. ■\T7A-nrlA-nfnl Try what lO Cents sent W ODflGrlUl H. Harte. Jeweler, " ^"^^i^^i Rochester, N. Y-, will bring. YOU CAN GET YOUR PRINTING a little CHEAPER "1- a little BETTER by sending to A. M. EDDY, ALBION, N.Y. A specialty of natural history priutiug. cata logues. books, magazines otc. J**"100 envelopes. 100 letter heads and lUO cards, all for 100 cents. Send for samples of our printed stationery. 9 BIRDS EGGS CHEAP. FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER CO., HYDEPARK. MASS. BAKER & HANSON, Collectors of Florida Sea ■ Shells and Curios. Bird Skins and Eggs a Specialty. PRICE LIST FURNISHED FOR STAMP. FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. FRANK B. ARMSTRONG, TAXIDERMIST, and Collector and Dealer in Bird and Mammal Skins, Birds Eggs in fine sets, Mounted Birds and Animals. Alta Mira, Estado de Tamaulipas, Mexico. THE LITTLE MIDGET SELF-INKING RUBBER STAMP. Every Naturalist should have one. Sent complete with your name and address for only 50 CENTS. E. BREWSTER MYERS, Mfr of Rubber Stamps, 117 Clifton Street, Rochester, N. Y. RATENIS We secure Lniii^il ^t,ul(■■ aim 1' meinii I'.iKnus, ret'ister Trade-.Mnrks. CopyriKhts and l.uhels, andttltontltoiill patent ImHine.ss fur moderate fees. VVereportmi patentiiljility freeof cimrne. I'"iir i iforniHti'ii) Jiiid fri>- ha; rt-book wrili- Im H. B. WILLSON &. CO., Att.rn.ys at Liw. Opp. U.S. I'at.om.x-. WASHINGTON. D. Co STEAM ENGINE.— I have a patron who wants a good small second-hand engine and boiler of from 3 to 4 horse power. If you have one in good condition that you will swap for eprgs, skins, shells, specimens or ctirios of any kind, write FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. tf LOOK AT Thei^e Prices. All this seasons skins, first class in every respect and guaran- teed equal to any on the market. Whip-poor- will .=iOc, Orchard Oriole 2.'5, Baltimore Oriole WJ, Sharp-tailed Sparrow 2.5, Seaside Sparrow 25. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 30. Scarlet Tanager ;tt. Worm-eating Warbler 40, Blue-winged Warb- ler 40. Tennessee Warbler 60, Blackburnian Warbler SO. Prairie Warbler 2.5. Louisiana Water-thrush 40. Lawrence's Warbler 8.00. Brewster's Warbler S.OO. Hooded Warbler 40. Wilson's Warbler 35, Canadian Warbler 2.5. Also many others at corresponding prices. Above prices are only good on orders of 861 or over. 10 per cent, discount on orders of $5 or over. A. H. VERRILL, New Haven. Conn. NEW GUIDE BOOKS NOW READY. Guide to Wild Growing Trees and Shrubs of New England— 215 Figures 50 Guide to the Ferns and Evergreens of New England— II plates, many Fig- ures 50 Guide to Day Butterflies and Dusk Flyers of New England— 142 Figures 50 W^ill be ready soon: The Beetles of New England. The Moths of New England. The Fresh Water Fishes of New England. The Frogs, Turtles and Snakes of New England. Naturalist Supply Depot; FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER CO,. Hyde Park, Mass. , ^ ^^ A Rare Cliance , to obtain a high-grfid? Op era or FIELD GLASS at a very low price. The entire stock of Queen :' - ' & Co.. Inc., being olTered at great redin'tions. including some special forms for Naturalists. Send for circular No. 4J<1 giving full descrip- tions and prices. J. G. GRAY, Assignee for QUEE^ & CO.. Inc.. loio Chestnut St., PHILADELPHIA. THE OOLOGIST. THE NIDIOLOGIST Comes Monthly. The Best Articles on Bird Life, The Best Illustrations, The Latest News of the Orni- thological World, Appear -in its Pages. SUBSCKIPTION, $1.50 per year, with beautiful premium and Free Excliauge Notice; 80c for six montlis; Sample Copy- 10 cents. No free copies. Advertising Rates furnished. Address H. R. TAYLOR, PUBLISHER, 150 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY. Artistic Mounting! Embalming! Private instruction in mounting birds costs $io to $30. Many students can't even afford to pay $5 to $lii for a work on Taxidermy. Give Em- balming- a Trial! Complete instructions and material. r.> cents. All questions answered. For information and testimonials, send stamp to MORRIS GIBBS. M. D., Kalamazoo. Mich. f6t Mention the oologlst. H. H. & C. S. BRIMLEY, COLLECTORS, RALEIGH, N. C. First-class Skins of Birds and Mammals, Bird's Eggs, Reptiles and Batrachia both Alive and in Alcohol. Histological Ma- terial. Full data. Send stamp for lists. OQO U ,ritt8bareli,?l^ QPINF*^ NETS, TENTS, and OJ— •llNt^Oj SPORTING GOOD! Evei-y description of Guns, Revolvers, Ammu- nition and Sporting Goods at very lowest pric- es. We have something of interest to you. THE NAUTILUS. A monthly devoted to the intesests of Con- chologists. Edited and put)lished by H. A. Pils- bry. Academy ot Natural Sciences and C. W. Johnson, Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia Pa. Send for sample copy. When answering advertisements always mention the "OOLOGIST." WtMANUPACTURCtHtBES-f Why Will You Use Poor Tools when you can get /he best of us at reasonable prices. We carry a full stock of all Instruments used by Naturalists or Collectors, Send 2c Stamp for Catalogue, •Starter" Mineral Collection. 20 Showy Specimens, 35c postpaid. MOSSAgAre CROCIOOUTC LABRAOITE MALACHIfF w& LIMOtJITg HEMATITE OBSIDIAN ROStOUARK MABMiUrC lAiMQmu SATIN SPAR POLOHiTE "Our Pet" Mineral Collection. 52 Specimens, all named, such as usually sell for 5 and lO cents each. Will send prepaid lor only $I.OO. Mineral and Shell Catalogue for 2c stamp. CHAS. K. REED, Naturalist and Taxidermist, DEALER IN Naturalists' Supplies and Books. Manufacturer of Oval Conve.x Glass Wall Shades Patented. A specialty made of fine Work on Fish and Game Heads, or Large Work of all kinds. Fur Rugs and Robes Tanned Lined and Mounted. 262 MAIN STREET, WORCESTER, MASS. THE OOLOGIST. Artistic Mounting! Embalming! CHEAP! DURABLE! SIMPLE! SATISFACTORY! Beluw we give a few testimoniaJs received during the last ten years. Dr. Gibbs, Kalamazoo, Mich. Dear Sir:— The l-*rGee.ss of Embalinlug which I bought of you t\v.> years a^o is a grand suc- cess, and I am more thaii pleased with it. Birds that I mounted by it are perfection. Leon F. Grant. May 17. 18a5. Jersey City. N. J. Normal School. Yp.-iilanti. Mich.. Oct. \a. 1880. Have found your Embalming Process a suc- cess. Am satisfied. F. A. Norton. Crystal Springs. Kansas. June 6. 18->ti. Your Pi"oress works well. I am thoroughly satisfied. Many points in your method are superior to all others. L. B. Hartzell. Albany. N. Y.. Oct. Ki, 1886. Dear Sir: — I have mounted birds for over thirty years, but have never known simplicity and the perfect arringement of the leg.s and wings until I purchased and tried your Method. My boy, whom I have been teaching the old style of stuffing for over two years and without success, succeeded admirably with your pro- cess the lirst attempt. I am delighted with it. B. J. Hinchman. Dear Sir— The Process is a great success and gives me much pleasure. My littl» girl can mount birds in a life-like manner after two weeks practice, much to her delight. She is el»ven years old. My boy ot fourteen succeed- ed at the first attempt, Yoar method ot shap- ing the body and wings is superior to all others. Sept. 13, 188r. Mrs. H. B. Johnson Baltimore, Md., Marc ri 24, 1895. Dr. M. Glbbs. Doar Sir:— I have tried the Embalming Pro- cess bought of you. and Hud it remarkably sat- isfactory. Yours Sincerely, Stephen P. Harwood. Coatsville, Penna.. April 2-i. 1888. Dear Sir:— Yours of the I3tli inst at hand and in reply I would say that the Compound is O. K. and' has done more for me than you claim it will do. 1 do all of ray custom 'axidermy work by your process. The first two objects that I attempted were a Wood Duck and a Raccoon. It is now over three months and they are as natural as life. Yours Truly, Wm. D. Doane. June 13. 1889. Dr. M. Gibbs. Dear Sir:— [ now fully understand your Pro- cessor Embalming. aud'can honestly pronounce it a success in every way. My first trial was satisfactory. The process is easily learned, and specimens can be mounted by yuur way in one-fourth the time retiuired by the old method of stuffing; the sijecimeiis retaining their form much better also. Yours truly. E. E. Shailer, Tylerville, Conn. Knoxville, Tenn.. April 27, lS9.i. Dear Sir:— 1 cheerfully recommend your Process of Embalming: especially for begin- ners, as it simplifies the delicate work with small birds. The attitudes can also be. made much truer to nature than by the other meth- ods commonly u.sed by taxldermisls. Very Truly Yours, S. \. Ogden, Taxidermist. May 19, 18H8. The undersigned as", a taxidermist for more than forty years according tr> the several trad- itional methods for mounting birds and mam- mals, hail his attention, in the autumn of '87. drawn by an advertisement to Gibbs' -Embalm- ing Process." A so.iouru of about four months in Southern Florida has given me the leisure to mount about three dozen birds of dilTerent sizes with most gratifying results, especially the immediate and perfectly natural ad.iust- meut of the wings, legs and 'tail, as no other method of the many I have studied secures. Thus far my experience leads me to an un- qualified recommendation of the -Process." J. W. P. Jenks. Professor of Agricultural Zoology, and Curator of the Museuui of Brown University. Provi- dence, K. I. [rj.\TEK: Professor Jenks mounted over one hundred birds by this Process, and could not say enough in praise of the system. Birds the size of Pelicans and Cormorants were success- fully preserved ] Chicago, Ills.. May Ifi, 1888. Dear Sir:— Have partially prepared birds by your Process and allowed to lie a week before finishing. I can in two minutes prepare a bird so it w^ill last, or I can mount a small bird per- fectly in thirty minutes. George Pratt. August 13, 1891. Dr. Morris Gibbs: — Dear Sir:— I send the following unsolicited testimonial regarding your .iustly celebrated Process of Embalming. I purchased over two years ago and after a thorough trial pronounce it perlection. and far superior to all others. Charles F. Johnscm, Kansas City. Mo. Allegan. Mich . April 27. 18S8. Dear Sir:— The instructions and Embalming Process received. My son is making rapid progress for one so young. Is tilling the house with mounted specimens. D. F. Stuck. M. D. Kinloch. Mo.. April 18, 189.=>. Dear Sir:— The lOmbalmlng Process bought of you gave perfect satisfaction in every case. I much prefer it to the old method. Morris Rice. Shreveport, La., April 24. 189.5. Dear Sir: -I have had better success with your Process than I ever dreamed of. I never laid e.ves on a first class specimen before I ob- tained your Method. Eugene Harding. Thayer, Mo., April 2 J, 189.'). Dear Sir:— I have tested your Process of Em- balming as applied to the smaller birds, and Hud it a d'Jcided improvement over the old method of taxidermy. I have had no trouble from shrinkage and find that I can get a more life-like specimen with far less work than form- erly. I shall recommend your process with confidence and pleasure. Yours Very Truly. C. D. Field. Medina. O.. Aug. 7. 1887. Dear Sir: -Your Process has proven a suc- cess in every way. E. W. Martin. Private instruction in mounting costs from $10 to $50 and a first class work on Taxidermy costs $5 to $10. You can learn a method which costs next tonothing; simple, durable and requires no tools excepting a knife, file and wire, and does not oc-cupy one-fourth of the time used in the old method. Send 75 cents for complete instructions and onepound of compound ready for use; enough for 30 to 40 small birds. MORRIS GIBBS, M. D., Kalamazoo, Mich. Mention the OOLOGiST. THE OOLOGIST. CUT PRICES BIRDS EGGS. Horned Grebe f 09 Western Grebe is St. Domingo Grebe 15 Tutted Puftin 20 Royal Tern 12 Cabot's Tern lo Wblte-wlnged Black Tern. 22 Arctic Tern, set of 3 14 Roseate, set of 3 21 Black Skimmer 07 Leach's Petrel is Brown Pelican 12 Blue-vvlng Teal OS Shoveller 13 Canvasiback 40 Redhead..., 20 WhooplngSwan 75 American Flamingo 23 Wood Ibis 35 Snowy Heron OS Louisiana Heron OT Little Blue Heron 06 Llmpkln, set of 6 1 65 Sora, setof 8 35 Wilson's Phalarope $ 35 Bartram Sandpiper 15 KUldeer lu Mountain Plover '^^ Chestnut-bel. Scaled Quail . 18 Gambel's Quail 12 Sage Grouse 2ii Mexican Dove 18 Inca Dove 20 Red bellied Hawk 25 White-tall Hawk 3i) Bald Eagle 2 2.-. R. Mt. Screech Owl 25 Road Runner lO Arizona Woodpecker ^i) Gold-front Woodpecker m Gila Woodpecker 35 Black-chin Hummer 2 eggs and nest 45 Ariz. cr. Flycatcher 28 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 35 yellow-billed Magpie_ ... 15 Blue-front Jay 40 Short-eared Owl 30 Northwest Crow $ 10 Bronzed cowblrd JO Ariz. Hooded Oriole 25 Rusty Song Sparrow lo Arctic Towhee 18 ( anon Towhee 15 Abert's Towhee 30 Dickcissal 03 Lark Bunting 10 Violet g. Swallow 12 Phalnopepla 20 Northern Shrike 50 Blue-headed "Vlreo 25 Lucy's Warbler 60 Lutescent Warbler 35 Am. Dipper 25 Palmer's Thrasher 20 Bendlre's Thrasher 45 Crissal Thrasher 15 Winter Wren 30 Slen- 0111 Nuthatch 24 Verdln 25 Aud. Hermit Thrush 50 Ohve-back Thrush 14 Sets can be furnished with original datas and Identity guaranteed. Orders for less than $1, must enclose I5c for postage and packing. For $1.50 select eggs to value of $2.00. Davles Nests and Eggs, paper $1 00 Egg Drills— Standard Goods. No. 0 $ 15 No. 4 $ .55 1 25 5 75 2 35 6 1 00 3 50 Whole set ...3 25 Egg Blower, nickled $ 15 Hand Blowpipe 1 60 This Blower Is fully Illustrated in our new cat- alogue. Hornaday's Taxidermy 2 45 Scalpels, ebony handles 45 Curved Needles, each 05 Arsenical Brushes 09 Long Stutters, 12 Inch 1 50 Any of above goods sent postpaid upon receipt of price. STUFFED BIRDS. Blue Jay, Downy vVoodpecker. Chickadee, Black-poll, Myrtle, Chestnut-sided and Black and White Warblers, Red-eyed Vireo, Purple Finch, American Robin, Song, Tree and Fox Sparrows, Rusty Grackle and Snowflake, 70c each or three for $1.45 postpaid. Cardinal, Flicker, scarlet Tanager, Bohemian Waxwlng, Kingfisher, Screech Owl, $1 each, postpaid A POINTER.— A wide-awake up to the times collector, not far from here, purchased $4.00 worth of stuffed birds last spring. At the end of the collecting season he had exchanged them for $2S.00 worth of eggs, with local collectors, etc. I wish it understood that this is a clearance sale and that g'lois will be supplied as long as they last, should anything advertised become exhausted, money will be refunded unless duplicates are named. JAMES P. BABBITT, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Glass Eyes, Supplies and Specimens, 10 and 12 Hodges Ave., Taunton, Mass. SUBCRfBE NOW^ We will send to any address The New York Weekly Press A clean. intere.stiug. up-to-date Republican National Newspaper, conducted to instruct, entertain, amuse and edify every member of every American family, and THE OOLOGIST, For One Year, for Only $1 .OO. Addres i all orders to FRANK H. L.ATTIN, Publisher The Oor.oG 1ST, Albion, N. Y. Send vour name and address to Neiv York Weekly Press. !» Park Bow, New York City, and a sample copy will be mailed you. TAXIDERMISTS' GUNS, "SSl^!:' Pistols, Gun Ca>es. Shooting Shot Shells; also l^ules'f^. SPECIMEN HUNTERS. All kinds, all prirt-s irum * . > ' to *-^ .UU. List free. Wi-itefor Taxidermist's free list . JAMES H. JOHNSTON, PITTSBURG, PA. DDIMTIklP Of all kinds for Naturalists a mill I mil speciality. Note and letter heads, envelopes, circulars, illustrated cata- logues for natural history dealers. Have hun- dreds of engravings of natural history speci- mens. Write for estimates. 100 envelopes print- ed, 4.')C. noteheads same price, postpaid. C. F, CARR. Job Printer, New London, Wis. tf THE OOLOGIST vii R-I-P-A-N-S WHAT THEY ARE. A gentleman of a methodical habit, who had adopted the practice «of retaining a copy of every prescription issued by his family physician, became interested as time went on to note that the same ingredients were pretty certain to be prescribed at some point of the treatment of -every case. For a poor appetite, or a sore throat, for restlessness which 'disturbed the baby's sleep, and for troubles which beset the aged grand- parents, the favorite remedy was always turning up, although slightly modified from time to time and used often in conjunction with others. His family physician had ever been a successful practitioner; and when another was consulted, care had always been taken to obtain the services •of some one eminent for skill and reputation. Still the frequent recur- rence of the favorite formula was a marked circumstance. One day our friend happened to observe that the formula of a certain advertised rem- edy was identical with the latest prescription he had received from his own physician, and in some surprise he stated the case to him. The family doctor, after listening to what he had to say, replied: "The case is about this way: Whenever there is a disturbance of the functions of the body, no matter of what nature, it is pretty certain to be accom- panied by a derangement of the digestive organs. When they are all right the patient gets well. That particular formula that 30U have ob- served me to write more and more frequentl}' is the result of an age of careful experiment, and is pretty generally agreed upon now by all edu- cated physicians who keep up with the times. The discovery of the past few years of a means of reducing every drug to a powder and com- pressing the powders into little lozenges or tablets, or tabules if you prefer, which will not break or spoil, or lose their good qualities from age, if protected from air and light, is the explanation of how it has come about that this prescription is now for sale as an advertised rem- edy. It is as you say, however, and is all right. It is the medicine that nine people out of ten need every time they need any, and I have no doubt that making it so easy to obtain, so carefully prepared, and withal so cheap, will tend to actually prolong the average of human life •during the present generation." Ripans Tabules: Sold by all druggists, or by mail if the price (50 cents abox) is • sent to The Ripans Chemical Company, No. 10 Spruce St., New York. THE OOLOGIST. A Valuable Private Collection of Birds Skins To be sold at a Sacrifice. An exceptional opportunity for any School, Museum, or private party de- siring line collection of skins of North American Birds at less than one-third their actual value. This collection lias been made during the past four years and the specimens in the same are unusually tine, in fact, are the "selects" from thousands. The collection is well worth $250.00, but if taken within the next thirty days, will sell for only $75.00. All carefully packed and will be delivered F. O. B., Philadelphia. Parties meaning business will address WM. T. SMITH, No. 1 145 So. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Honied Grebe pr & in ?l 50 Pied-billed Grebe f 1 2f> Loon m 4 00 Brunnich's Murre f 2 00 Herring Gull m 2 00 Bonaparte's Gull m 1 50 Black Skimmer f 1 50 Anhinga m « ..'i 50 Baird's Cormorant 111 'i 50 American Merganser m 1 75 Red-brearited Merganser pr 3 00 Mallard pr 3 .50 Black Duck pr & m 5 25 Green-winged Teal 'i pr 6 00 Blue ■■ •■ pr&2m 5 OO Pintail pr & f li 00 Wood Duck m 2 .50 Redhead m 2 50 Lesser Scaup Duck pr 4 00 American Goldene ye m 1 75 Barrow's •' m 2 25 Buflie-head pr 3 00 Old-squaw pr 4 00 White-winged Scoter f 2 5(i Surf '■ m 2 25 Ruddy Duckpr 4 00 Lesser Snow Uoose f 4 iX) Hutcbln's '• m 3 50 Black-bellied Tree Duck pr 7 00 Fulvous •• pr & m .-...lO 50 Great Blue Heron pr 8 oo Louisiana •' m 1 25 Green " pr 2 oo Black-crowned Night Heron pr 3 00 King Rail m 1 50 California Clapper Rail ni 2 50 Clapper Rail pr 3 00 Virginia " 3f 150 Sora pr & f I so Florida Galliuule pr 2(0 American Coot pi 2 00 Northern Phalarope pr 3 m Wilson's •■ m 1 00 American A vocet pr 4 00 Black-necked Stilt m 1 00 American Woodcock pr 3 oo Wilson's Snipe in 75 Dowltcher in 1 t)0 Knot pr & 2 m 4 01 Pectoral Sandpiper pr 100 White-rumped Sandpiper f 75 T>east •■ pr 60 Semipalmated " m 40 Sanderllng f 75 Greater Yellow-legs pr & f 3 00 Yellow- legs pr 1 50 Solitarv Sandpiper pr & f 2 25 Willet m 1 50 Bartramian Sandpiper m 1 00 spotted ■• pr&2m 160 Long-billed Curlew m 2 00 Kikleer m 75 Semipalmated Plover 2ni 80 Snowy ■ pr 4 00 Wilson's ■■ m 75 Turnstone pr & m 3 00 Bobwhite 2 pr 4 00 Texan Bobwhite m 75 Califoi-nia Partridge m 1 00 Gambel's •' m 1 00 Ruffed Grouse m 1 25 Oregon Ruffed Grouse m 2 25 Red-billed Pigeon m 2 qO Mourning Dove pi- 1 .^,0 Harris's Hawk 2 m 5 00 Bald Eagle f 8 00 Screech Owl pr 2 50 Downy Woodpecker f,. 25 Flicker pr 70 Ruby-throated Hummer pr &f 300 Horned Lark 40 BlueJayiD 30 American Crow m 75 Cowbird m 25 Red-winged Blackbird m 25 Grass Pinch m 35 Tree Sparrow 2 pr .1 00 Chipping Sparrow 2 pr l 00 Lincoln's Sparrow m 30 Rose-breasted Grosbeak m 45 Cedar Wax wing 2 f 50 Yellow-throated Vlreo 2 m 60 White-eyed •• m 30 Parula Warbler 3 m 50 Prairie •• jjr fiQ Maryland Yellow-throat m 35 Catbird pr 50 Short-billed Marsh Wren f .'.".'.' 75 Chickadee pr & 111 75 Golden-crowned Kinglet f 30 Olive-backed Thrush pr 60 American Robin pr 60 Mongolian Pheasant m $5 00 Australian Catbird m 2 ,50 Satin Bower Bird m 3 50 Ermine 2m !!$600 The Oologist. VOL. XII. NO. 5. ALBION, N.Y., MAY, 18!)5. Whole No. 115 Rhoderick Dbu. It is not of Scott's hero that I am going to tell yon, but a namesake which, whether rightly nan'ecl or not, once fill- ed a prominent niche in my life. I made his acquaintance one damp da3' in April, (the 22nd,) 18SJ). My brother and I had been hunting all the morn- ing, he after birds, I their eggs. It was about eleven a.m , and we had tramped nearly thongh the third piece of tirabei', a low swampy tract bordering both sides of Mill Creek, a small stream flowing through the western half of Monroe Co , N.Y..to a point near my home, where it joins Black Creek in its course to the Genesee river. My brother had secured no game, and I only one incomplete set of the Crow. Needless to say we uere both getting discouraged. The swamp was nearly covered with water fr.«m a few inches to several feet in depth as the spring freshet ha'l not subsidt d. We were keeping close to one <'di;e and made many trips out in the liv'lds to avoid ditches or 7"ii7is as we called them which had swelled to diniensioi's that luadi! fording iujpossiljle in many ca~es. It seemed as if both of us saw the nest at the same instant. Out in the middle of the swamp stooil a large elm, the largest of them all and almost in the very tup was an immense nest. Well, we don't have eagles nests in these parts and it was big to us. I know that some oolo- gists can tell us of nests that would dwarf this one but they can nol liud them in my vicinity. Over the top stuek up two little tuffs of feathers, I had seen specimens of the (it. Horned Owl be- fore and I ix'cognized theovvner oftho.se two ear-tufts and only the oologist who remembers his first nest ot this large Owl can guess how excited I was. Jumping from tussock to log and from stump to stump we made our way toward the tree. When about 200 ft., from the nest Mrs. Owl left, much to our chagrin, as we had hoped to secure her, but 200 ft. away and 75 ft., high is too far for such shot as we had so she got off all right. Now I had not been a subscriber of the Oologist long at that time and was a very "green" oologist, I thought there were eggs in that nest. Of course you experienced collectors who get out your climbing irons in Feb- ruary and take a circuit through the haunts of this bird, gathering in your annual fee as j'ou go, will laugh at this. Enough said; / can afford to no-v. I had a poor pair of home-made climbers and with these I started uj) to the nest, my brothel" standing guard at the foot of the tree with the hope that the Owl would come back and he get a shot at her. How I got up I don't know now. Mr. P. M Silloways experience as published in the February number of the OiiLOGiST describes most of my diffi- culties better than I can, but I had to work my way around three large crotch- es to get to the nest Then I could neither see nor reach over the edge. It seemed an age before I worked my waj' aroung ou the lower side of that limb and, finally, into the nest. Then what a sight met my gaze. No eggs of course, but, in the midst of balls of fur, bones, etc.: the remains of rabbits, squirrels and pole-cats, the scent of which saluted my nose in a very forward and disagreeable way; sat a young Owl, perhaps a week old. possibly two. I i:ould not carry him down with me and I did not like to leave him behind. Happy thought, directly under me the water was several inches deep, so, shout- ing to my brother to ''take it out of the water quick" I dropped tlie young binl 78 THE O0l.()(iIS!-. over the edge. Soon came the answer from below, -'It's all right." Well, I came down out of that tree in less time than I went up. Everything went "lovely" until I reached the last crotch which was so shaped that I could not get below it. At this crisis, while try- ing to get my legs and arms both below that swell, one of those poor irons, I spoke of, gave out entirely and, — well, there was a sensation of motion and darkness followed by a feeling that my feet had been driven through me. and then oblivion. The next winter this tree was up- rooted in a great wind. I found by actual measurement, that it was 70 feet fi'om the stump to the nest, and 35 feet to the crotch from which I fell. Very few nests are placed as high as that in my vicinity. The nest was 3 feet wide and nearly as high, made entirely of dead sticks, some of them large enough to remind one of the description of those used by the Osprey. It was not hollow- ed out much and had no lining what- ever. If it was ever used by any Hawk the Owls had certainly altered it beyond recognition. It is my advice to all who contem- plate any climbing to send to "Lattiu" and get a pair of his climbers which don't 'give out.' I didn't get home un- til four that afternoon and to this day I feel the effects of that fall. But to come back to my subject, I cannot tell exactly how we came to fasten that name on him, but- Rhoder- ick Dhu he was christened and called Khoderick for short. He grew rapidly, eating all the fresh meat that came his way. Even when quite small (a ball of down about 6 inches high with two Hufiy eai-- tufts) he would swallow mice and small birds whole and at two months he would swallow a rat. leaving the tail outside until he could stow it a'^ay. He always swallowed his food head firs-t, if any head was to be found. We had many oi)portunilies to watch him eject the liliJH Ixills of fur and bones. He would select a broad, flat perch, a beam in the barn (we often carriad him therti before he could fly) suited him best, stretch his neck and lean for- ward until tho tip of his beak touched the beam or (ithei perch, and then would follow the most comical con- tortions yon ciiiild imagine and the ball would roll to the floor. Rhoderick would then iiliiik his eyes several times as he settled in !t laughable. It con- sisted of a ijunil)er of long hops, a resting spell and then another series of hops. As lu^ experienced much dif- ficulty in keeping his balance when hop- IMng, he made a most ludicrous figure. He would hop all the way from the barn to the house, a distance of loO feet, get over tlie >\\{ into the kitchen wh're the women were at work, and with th" lielp f)f his wings, at first very laboii'>i:siy but Liter on with the great- est of c-is.'. phice. hin)self in a chair where he won id sit contentedly for two hours. No jok(> intended, for in spite of their solitary reputation this Owl cer- tainly liked (Mimpany. One morninj/ when we went to feed r.hodeiick i.e was not to be found. Finally my father spied him perched ctn the ridge of the house. Then the truth Hashed over us, Rhoderick could lly! My brother « ent up on the roof but Mr. Owl gave a flap of his wings as if to say "No you don't," and flew across the garden, but his flight was weak and he soon came to the ground where he was found and taken back, never to take another long fly, for as we did not wish to clip his wings we shut him up in a room titled for his. accommodatiim THE OOLOGIST. -9 Presto! What a change! From this time our Owl becarae'^more and more like his wild brothei-s and sisters. As long as he had plenty of food he was perfectly silent, except for a snapping of the beak when disturbed. But let him get real hungry and what a racket. J woke up one night with the impres- sion that a cat-tight was in progress directly under my window, but finally recollected that Rhoderick had not been fed and then understood it all. At other times he would hoot in gen- uine Owl style. I wonder if Owls ever hoot except when very hungry. At first my brother could go in the room and sit down when Rhoderick would come to him with a series of short flights and hops and perch on his knee, allowing him to stroke his feathers without protest. He could turn his head sideways so quickly that it seemed to go all the way around on a pivot. He never held his ear-tufts entirely erect unless surprised or at the the prospect of food when very hungry. At other times they were carried semi- erect unless very angry when they laid flat on the head. He took daily barhs in the most approved bird fashion, shaking and preening himself like smaller birds, hut he ha I to have a twelve-quart pan for a bath-tub. Per- haps all Owls bathe in the night; who knows? All live auimals when placed in the room with l)im showed extreme fear and no disposition to fight him, except woodchucks and cats and even the cat was afraid but would show fight if Rhoderick came very near. A rat would make the moat violent efforts to escape but never turned on him as they will on a human Ijeing when hard pressed. It was comical to watch him when a woodciuick was placed in the room. He would sttirt for bis game as usual but never get his talons into Mr. 'Chuck to my knowledge. Certainly he never killed one. He would eat one after we killed it however, and, for a time, really seem to be satisfied. Finally he became unruly and one morning when I entered his room with his l)reakfast he flew at me and drove his talons through my hat and into ray scalp. If anyone wants to know how that feels just try it some time. I know of nothing else just like it, though a cat's scratch will give one some idea of the sensation. As a result of that exploit he is now one of the ornaments in our parlor and a big one too. In size he excels any wild specimen I have ever seen and there is just enough of his bab" down left to give him a fuzzy appearance. His whole life was less than five months. Eknest H. Shokt Chili, N. Y. Winter Birds of the Orange Mountains, in Essex County, N. J-. Observations) were made in the mouths of December, January, Feb- ruary and Marcli. Bluebird, pair noted in December. Robin, three seen in January during severe snow storm. Kinglet, Goldcu-crowned, seen in company with Chickadees during early part of December. Chickadees at all times abundant. Tufted Titmouse, pair seen during rain in January. Wiiite-breasted Nuthatch, at times plentiful, but generally few and far be- tween. Winter Wren, ten seen in December, and only one observed during the three other nu)nths. Northern SJirike, one seen in March. Cedar W;'\wing. one Hock of seven S(,'en in Fdiruary; very i)lcntiful last winter. Fox Sparrow, more or less numerous in Februai-y and March but none no- ticed before. Song Sparrow, .several seen in com- pany with Tree Sparrows in February. Slate-colorcd Junco, common. w THE OOLOGIST. Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr. Tree Sparrow, ver,y plentiful at all times. White-throated Sparrow, only three or four seen duriug entire winter, while last winter were common. White-crowned Sparrow, one shot in January, only one seen. SnowMaice, January Iflth, Hock of about tifty seen, from which I shot sev- eral. According lo the Geoh)gical Sur- vey these are rarely seen, only two specimens mentioned. Redpoll, one seen in December. American Goldlinch, flock of fully 150 seen in Januai-y, and few since. Last two winters could always be ol^taiued. American Crossbill, flock of seven seen in February, tliis is the first time I ever noted them in this locality. Purple Finch, abundant during Feb- luary and March, but only a few seen earlier. Blue Jay, quite common during De- ■cember, but few seen later. Crow, plentiful at all times. Flicker, only one seen after Novem- ber 29th. Red-headed Woodpecker, rarely seen in this locality, but one specimen shot by the writer in ten years, plentiful in Morris County, near the Passaic River. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, few seen after November closes, but in Septem- ber are common. Downy Woodpecker, can always be obtained. Hairy Woodpecker, three only seen and at different times and in diflferent places. Belted Kingfisher, none seen this February, last year several were seen on the 22nd by the writei'. Screech Owl, only ones met with were in a hollow tree within 25 yards of writei"'s house, where they have been for years. No others seen within three years. Saw-whet Owl, none seen but I un- derstand there was one killed in East Orange in March. Barred Owl, but one specimen pro- cured, only one ever seen. Long- eared Owl, met with occasion- ally, two shot this winter. Spai'row Hawk, one shot in March. Red shouldered Hawk, quite plenti- ful. . ■ Red-tail, moderately abundant. Cooper's Hawk, most plentiful of all excepting next. Sharp-shinned Hawk, abundant. Marsh Hawk, seldom seen in the win- ter. Ruffed Grouse, a few met with. Bob-white, none seen or heard for three years by the writer. Woodcock, one seen March 29th. On the Reservoir in Essex county, there are at times many varieties of Ducks, several of Grebes, Ospveys, and occasional Geese, but as shooting is for- bidden I cannot name the species in- dividually. These notes were taken generally THE OOLOGIST 81 Saturdays and Sundays 'from personal observations. Stephen Van Rexsselaku, J 1^., 2!) Broadway, N. Y. The Spotted Sandpiper. This species, one of the most inter- esting birds of the family that we have in the Great Lake Region, is also known as the Tip-up, Teeter and Wag-tail and also bears, in company with several others of the smaller Sandpipers the common names of Peet and Peet-weet. It is well known to all collectors in the localities which it inhabits, and is also recognized by gunners as a fair mark as a wing-shot when larger gume is not to be had. I can attest to the superior flavor of a well cooked Tip-up, taken in the autumn, but will say in favor of the vivacious little bird that it should not be shot, as it is too small to be con- sidered as game, and moreover is un- doubtedly of value to the community in which it dwells. The Teeter is found in suitable sec- tions throughout Michigan where the writer has taken notes, and' evidently breeds wherever it summers. It ar- rives in Southern Michigan in early April, and often in March in early sea- sons, but the main part of the birds reach us about the middle of the mouth of showers. Remaining till October and sometimes till the first week in November, it becomes a familiar bird spring, summer and autumn to all vis- itors to its haunts. Partial to marshy or boggy tracts, it is rarely found in sections far removed from low lands, and though the nest is often found in thy fields, it is never found at any great distance from moist quarters, and when the bird is seen in spring and summer it is certain that water course, lake, pond or boggy ground is near at hand. No better spot is desired by the Tip-up than the edges of a mill pond or the shores of a muddy shelving shored stream. It is not rare to lind a pair nesting in an elevated field, and where tiiere is apparently no feeding ground for them, but in these cases the pair find their food in a swale hard by, or on the shores of a pond per- haps fully a hundre