JL671 ,063 FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY jound at A.M.M.H THE OOLOGIST FOR THE STUDENT OF BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS VOLUME XXII ALBION, N. Y FRANK H. LATTIN, M. D.. PUBLISHER ERNEST H. SHORT, EDITOR AND MANAGER 1905 *f(f4>. 'T ^'ff Jk^r INDEX. Abnormal Crow's Beak 106 Adventures of a Grosbeak Family. 24 A Day in the Field with Walter E. Bryant 135 After Western Red-tails 53 American Ornithologist's Union, Twenty-third Annual Congress of.181 Australian Birds 119 Battle With the Broad-wings, A.. 89 Bird Flight, Wing Movements in.. 182 "Bird Guide" 173 Bird Migration, On 149 Bird Protection 186-187 Birdsof Monongalia Co., W. Va., Some Notes on 60 Birds Removing Eggs from Nests. 25 Birds, Status of 183 Bittern. Least 90 Blackbird, Red-winged 44 Bobolink 75 Bob-white 170 Bower-bird 120 Brownell, C. L 28 Bryant, W. E 91 Bush-tit, Calif 136 California Nesting of the Dotted Canyon Wren in 122 Catalogue, Taylor's Standard Egg 10,27 Chat with a Naturalist 119 Chickadee, Black-capped 92 Collection of J. W. Jacobs 8 Coloration, Protective 185 Crane, Whooping and Sandhill.. 85 Crow, Am 87, 106 Cuckoo 9 Cuckoo, Calif 169 Cuckoo, English 185 Cuckoos 173 Dipper, Am 156 Dove Chronicle, A Mourning 72 Eagle Experiences in Fla., Bald.. 5 Egg Catalogue 10. 27, 60, 91 Eggs, Freak Hen's 72 Eggs of Bank Swallow, Spotted.. 166 Eggs of the Broad-winged Hawk. 156 Eggs of Carolina Paroquet 173 Eggs of Knot, Discovery of 37 Evolution of Species 181 Feeding Habit of Humming-birds. 140 Fraud, Egg 28, 59, 92, 156 Gannets 121 Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray. .117, 131, 155 Grosbeak, Rose-breasted 24, 39, 41 Grouse, Ru ed 170 Gull, Herring 108 Hawk, Am. Sparrow 60, 105 Hawk, Broad-winged 89, 156 Haw^k, Cooper's 91, 105, 138 Hawk, Desert Sparrow 165 Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-leg. .. .106 'Hawk, Marsh 105 Hawk, Red-bellied 43 Hawk, Red-shouldered 43-124 Hawk, Sharp-shinned 105 Hawk, Swainson's 43, 88 Hawk, Sets of Five Eggs of Red- tailed 140, 168 Hawk, White-tailed 140 Hawk, West. Red-tail 43, 53, 168 Heron, A Chapter from the Life History of the Green 21 Heron, Gt. Blue 85, 90, 101 Hoatzin 186 Honey-eater 121 Hornbill 75 Hummingbird, Anna's 136 Hummingbirds 140 Indiana, Nesting of the Whip-poor- will in Franklin Co 8 In North Carolina and Virginia. . 74, 117, 137 Jaegar, Pomarine 9 Jay, Calif 13G Kite, Everglade 27 Kite, Spotted Egg of Miss 188 Kite. Swallow-tailed. 27 Knot, Discovery of the Eggs of. . 37 Longspur, Lapland 186 THE OOLOGIST. Magpie, Am 69 Martin, Purple 74, 108 Medal, Awarded a .Gold 8 Migration on Bird 148, 183 Mockingbird 29 Mourning Dove, Chronicle, A.... 72 Mount Dry Skins, A Quick Way to. 76 Nest Building, Co-operative 168 Nests, Last Year's Bird's 138 New Jersey, Breeding Warblers of.. 182 New Jersey, Green Heron in 21 New Jersey, Gt. Blue Heron Col- lecting in Salem Co 101 New York Am. Barn Owl in Or- leans Co 106 Nuthatch, Red-breasted 123 Nuthatch, Syrian 75 Oklahoma, White-tailed Hawk in. 140 On the Use in Surgery of the Ten- dons of the Ardeidae and Grui- dae 85 Oologv of a Farm, The 171 Osprey, Am 39, 90, 104 Oven-bird 189 Owl, Barred 40 Owl, Saw-whet 124 Owl, Screech 90, 124' Paroquet, Carolina 173 Partridge, Calif 135 Phoebe, Black 135 Pigeon, Passenger 44, 133, 149 Pelican, Brown 182 Purple Martin 74 Rail, Sora 76 Raven 40 Rifle-bird 121 Robin, Am 41, 58, 108 Robin, Pied 120 Robin, Rose-breasted 121 Robin's Nest 9 Rodwell, G. H., Death of 27 Sanderling 38 Sandpiper, Spotted 44 Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied 87 Shrike, White-rumped 25 Scrub-bird 120 Skins, A Quick Way to Mount Dry. 76 Skunk 133, 188 Sniiie, Euroi)ean 38 Some Hawking Trips.. 53, 88, 138, 165 Songs, About Some 41 Songg of Hermit and Wood Thrush. 183 Sparrow, English 168, 173 Sparrow, Field 92 Sparrow, Song 108 Species and Sub-species of N. Am. Spotted Bank Swallows Eggs.... 166 Swallow, Bank 166 Tern, Noddy 121 Tern, Sooty 121 Texas, Pileated Woodpecker in. . 26 Thrasher, Brown 25 Thrasher, Crissal 76 Thrush, Hermit 183 Thrush, Varied 92 Thrush, Wilson's 90 Thrush, Wood 58, 183 The Other Side 40 Towhee 189 Turkey 40 Verdin 76 Vulture, Turkey 76 Warbler, Bachman's 103 Warbler, Hooded 137 Warbler, Kirtland's 27, 92 Warbler, Mourning 56 Warbler, Tennessee 134 Warbler, Parula 39 Warblers of Demarest, N. J 182 Whip-poor-will in Franklin Co., Ind., Nesting of the 8 Woodcock, Am 170 Woodpecker, Downy 27 Woodpecker, Red-headed 60 Woodpecker, Nest and Eggs of the Pileated 26 Wren, Cactus 76 Wren, House 76 Wren, Nesting of the Dotted Can- yon in Calif 122 Illustrations. Bald Eagle and Nest 4 Nest and Eggs of Green Heron. ... 22 Young Green Heron in Nest 23 Roadrunner 54 Nest and Eggs of Least Flycatcher. 70 Nest and Eggs of Bachman's War- bler 102 Calif. Vulture 118 Nest and Eggs of Tennessee War- bler 134 Nest and Eggs of Ruby-throat Hum- mingbird 150 Nest and Eggs of Clapper Rail.. 152 Nest and Eggs of Oven-bird. .. .182 Nest and Eggs of Wilson's Plover. 184 The Oologist A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Elxchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over Jo words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 1. ALBION, N. Y., JAN., 1905. Whole No. 210 What's Your Number ? Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. 210 vour subscription expires with this issue 212 •' " •• Mar., 1905 219 •' •• •' " Oct., 1905 221 " " •■ " Dec, 1095 257 '• " " " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21, 190.3, at the post ofHce at Albion, N. Y.. under the Act of Congress of March .3, 1879. I HAVE a few very desirable sets for ex- change, such as loons, alabatross. cranes, falcons, kites and other Raptores, ducks with down, etc. Warblers especially wanted. All answered. A. E. PRICE .Grant Park, 111. stf WANTED.— Fine sets of Sharp Shinned Hawks eggs. Will give handsome sets of Aplomado Falcon at reduced rates. T. H. JACKSON, 343 E. Biddle St., West Chester, Pa. FOR SALE.— I have many back numbers of various naturalhistory magazines, includ- ing the Nidologist, Osprey. Museum, O and O, Oologist, Audubon's Magazine and others; Books and pamphlets on Natural History subjects; some good bird and mammal skins; marine invertebrates in formalin; reptile and batrachians in formalin and al- cohol; and various curios. Any of above cheap for cash. No exchange desired. If you have as much as fifty cents to invest send for my lists, but don't write unless you mean business. F. P. DROWNE, M. D.. 20 Bene- fit St., Providence, R. I. N.4.t. CAN PAINT in oils almost any bird, life size or under. Write for particulars. AL- AN WRIGHT, 31 Kingsborough Ave., Gloversville, N. Y. WANTED.— Clean copies of "Bird Nesting in North West Canada." If you have a copy send price to W. RAINE, Kew Beach, To- ronto, Canada. BARGAIN.— Have a few good stamps left. You get fine cash bargain if I supply your wants. Will exchange for set of 325 or 311. K. T. FULLEH, Box l-12Lacona. N. Y. BROWN'S ARTISTIC and Scientific Taxi- dermy and Modelling, new, price $6.50 regu- lar. Will send it prepaid for $14 worth first class sets sent prepaid. Your selections if you do not send the most common species. B E N.I AMIN HOAG, Stephentown. New York I WILL sell my entire collection, bird skins, eggs and life paintings of birds at a bargain. Write for particulars. W.G.SAV- A<;E, Monteer, Mo. RADIUM.- 1 am prepared to furnish Radio-active substances of from one up to t)ne million activity, and also to make de- terminations on Radio-active minerals at reasonable rates.- I have some of the finest specimens of Radio-active ores to be ob- tained, some of which have just been re- turned from the St. Louis Exposition and which I will exchange for fine Indian relics or old U. S. coin«, or other Radio-active ores not in my collection. No collection of min- erals or curios is complete without a series of these extremely interesting substances. Have also for exchange a fine imported Ane- roid barometer, both English and. Metric scales. L. V. CASE,Tarrytown-on-fheHud- son. N. Y. DAVIES NESTS AND EGGS 5 th ed. cli)th, good as new, prepaid, for$4 worth first class sets sent prepaid. BENJAMIN HOAG. Stephentown. New York. WANTED.— Fresh skins or in the meat. Great Horned Owl (or subspecies). Snowy Owl., Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck. Sets of Cuckoos, Am, Herring Gull, Least Tern, Laughing Gull, Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST A. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. WANTED-- Five hundred white weasel skins, also furs of all kinds. Good prices paid. For sale in the flesh, one wild cat, per- fect specimen, also Mergansers and Golden eyes. J. 2. t. ALVAH G. DORR, Bucksport Maine, THE OOLOGISl. STAMP ALBUMS.-Kdition 1896 2 vols. Full leather bound, gilt edges, good as new, a very few stamps in them. Will exchange fore^gs or Bird Books. Make me an offer. A bargain for someone. BENJAMIN HOA(t, Stephentown. N. Y. E(;(iS WAXTKD.— First class sets Golden and Bald Kat.'les. Hawks of all species. Will pay cash for any number of sets, or good ex- changes in books, magazines, tools or other tine sets. I also want other eggs both com- mon and rare, sets with nests especially de- sircl. Send your lis', quote your lowest spot cash price, or state your wants ni ex- change. BENJAMIN HOAG, Stephentown, New York. $3 WILL BUY 165 kinds of foreign and native wood, or will exchange for w 'Ods not in my collection. LOUIS W. HAHN, Lake Avenue, Silver Greek. N. Y. DO YOU ever Trap. If so j ou want "The Amateur Trapper." by Stanley Harding, tells you how to make traps for catching the Muskrat, Beaver, otter, >nnk, Martin, Fish- er, Skunk, (iopher. Squirrel. Raccoon. Opos- sum. Fox. Wolf and Bear, also how to cure and Tan Skins. Gloth. Gontains i;^ pages, with 50 illustrations. Send 50c. to OLIVER M. DAVIE, Golumbus, O,. and get one pre- paid. J. 2. t. EIGHT fresh Ruff Grouse skins for sale or exchange for Mongolian Pheasant skin. R. W, WEHRLE, Indiana, Pa. TO EXGHAN(iE.-From 5 to 12 fingered star fish for a 12 gauge gun, small or large, ALVAH G. DORR. Bucksport, Maine. A COLLEGTIOX of .^4 varieties in good sets, which list t(j 1114 by exchange rates, for sale for f25 prepaid. This is a good selection, includes such as 281, 332, 362, 116, 419. 590, 684 738 with but few common ones. If interested send stamp for a list. FRED M, DILLE. 644 Gilpin St.. Denver, Colo. FOR SALE.-I still have about 1000 fine sets left from my private collection which will sell at reasonable prices. Also Ben- dire's Life histories. Studer's Birds of North America and Bird Magazines. Write for list and prices. L, ERNEST MAKCAEN, 274 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, N, Y. WANTED FOR GASH.-Heavily marked sets of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. JOHN W. DANIEL, JR, 1340 Columbia Road. Wash- ington. D. C. WANTED.— Back numbers of the Oologist until further notice we will allow the prices quoted below for the numbers noted. No others wanted. You may select in payment any specimens catalogued by either of us. This offer does iiot apply to Instruments. Supplies or P)Ooks except by special arrange- ment. For .sOc, worth will allow you a years subscription to Oologist. For 2.5c worth we will send you a coupon good for an exchange. Notice, Copies //((/«//(« r/fa7i and whole. For June 18HM we will allow lf.75. For May 1.SH4: Jan. and June 1885. July- Aug. 188(1; ,Ian,-Feb. and June-Sept. 1887; May. 1888; April 1889; we will allow 50c per copy. For Niarch IHs,'). .lan-Feb. and Mar-Apr. 1886; Aug.-Sept. 1888; we will allow 25c per copy. No others wanted. These can be sent by mail for ic for each 4 oz. postpaid. Addresss ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili. N, Y. Mgr. Oologist, FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.-Nearly 200 varieties of first class singles. Now on hand. Will give bargain. Wanted, First elass sets specially from Texas. Also skins. Will pay cash for special bargains. Will have for exchange.— Next spring, many va- rieties of fine sets from Texas. J. M^. CAR- ROLL, 714 Speight St., Waco, Texas. TO EXCHAN(;E.-$40 worth of finely mounted showy biids, for sets, or fine 4x5 camera, Premo with film attachment pre- ferred. PHILO W. SMITH, Jr.. Mona House, St. Louis, S\o. WANTED.- Vol. II of Bendire's Life His- tories and Part II and III of Ridgeway's Birds of North and Middle America also 4 first Vols, of Nuttall Bulletin. Ple^ise cor- respond. CHAUNCEY W. GRAND ALL. Woodside. Borough of Queens. New York, U. S. A., 10 Third St. Large list second hand medical books suit- able for beginner and student. Will ex- change very reasonably for fine Indian relics. eggs; Mtd. birds, etc. DR. A. E. PAYNE, Riverside, Long I-land, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.— Fine sets of Pa. eggs. 761.704. 581. 725. etc.. for others. Complete data. RICHARD F. MILLER. 3473 Amreb St.. Philadelphia. Pa. FOR SALE.— Fine quartered oak cabinet containing sixteen drawers 20x22 inches, a beauty. Will take part exchange in desir- able bird books or perfect sets of Raptores, LUCIUS H. PAUL. 59 West Miller St., New- ark, New York. My "Cowboy" tan cures skins of all kinds in 1 to 3 davs. A tiial will convince you it is the cheapest and best. O. W. BRONSON. Topeka, Khnsas. P. O. Box 27. FOR SALE.— Three finely mounted Ivory- billed Woodpeckers at $10 each .finely mount- ed California Condor $35. Have 400 mounted birds, write for prices. JAS. B. NEAL. 1400 Washington St., Easton. Pa. A COLLECTION of about 160 varieties. In good sets for about $40. This is of good variety and includes such as Emu. Ostrich and 309. 305. 348. 293a. 281. 3 hummers and many good ones. Will list definitely on receipt of stamp. FRED M. DILLE. &44 Gil- pin St.. Denver. Colo. WILL EXCHANGE. -One set o? 5 Northern Raven eggs for one prime mink skin or 5 white weasel skins or stationary. ALVAH G. DORR. Bucksport. Me. DO YOU keep worm eating birds? I can sell you large, fat. live, yellow mealworms. 1000 at 70c.; 1500. $1; quart(about 4000) $2. Ex- press paid, terms cash. G. BUETTEL. 7 West St.. West Sonierville. Mass. WANTED.-Lifeof John D. Lee. a "Book of Mormon." Osprey. Vol. 1 No. 2-4. Nidiologist Vol. 1 No. 6. Will give good exchange or cash if reasonable, E. R. FORREST, Wash- ington, Pa^ 80i, 333i. 360al-5, 366i. 428n-2. 461n-3, 466ai. 467n-4 474ej 5081, 620*. 628 n-3, n-4. 6&S§. 675i, 676i 686 1-5. 6675. 761ai. 194 2-4 3-5. 530i. 5l9i. 676i. 686 1-5. 667n-4, 761ai. 194 2-4 3-5, 5;30L 658n-3, 675J. 510i. ;i39i for first class sets. Warblers preferred. Can also offer rare unios and scientific shells for sets. Want 680. 218, 196. 172, 5(U. VERDI BURTCH, Branchport, N, Y. THE OOLOGIST. WANTED.— Woodduck, Mallard, Green and blue Wing Teal and other Game bird skins. Game heads in the raw. Address S. E. SILL. 1418 Elm St., Youngstown. O. WANTED.— Cheap for cash, good adult male skins, made within year. Black, Harle- quin, Ruddy and Fulvous Tree Duck. Ad- dress G.F. MONROE, Taxidermist, Superior, Wis. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tu( son, Ariz. t,f. CH.\MBER'S Encyelopedia to exchange for first class sets, back volumes of Oologist or Auk, cash or other offers. C. F.STONE. Branchport. N. Y. EXCHANGE. -4.x5 Cyco camera, stamps, etc., for any naturalist's supplies, also butter- flies for those not in collection. Have some other thing!* to exchan;.'e. All answered. DAVID HARROWER. Swarthmore, Pa. WILL EXCHANGE.— Letters and messages of the Presidents 10 Vols. f(ir Ridpath's His- tory of United States 4 Vols. MARK TAN- DY. Dallas City, 111. W.\NTFD.- Volumes 1, 2, .3, 4, ~\ of The Auk, Will pay c.'ish. W. L BURNETT, 128 N. Sherwood St.. Vori Ci^Uiiis. Colo. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.-loO first class skins, common eastern small birds. VI mounted small birds, ;W0 back numbers Oologist Osprey Museum, American Orni- thology, etc. Cheap lor cash. Or will ex- change forfirst classsetsordesirable stamps. GEO. I). FRENCH, Ivoryion, Conn. I SHALL always be pleased to exchange skins of this kicality ror skins and eggs in sets, not found here. A. W. HANAFORD, 139 W. Fulton St.. Grand Rapids, Mich. RARE set.s collected last season in Arizona Mexican Goshawk. Zone-tailed Hawk, Eif Owl, Audubon Hermit Til' ush. Gray Vireo, Arizona Junco, Ant-eating Woodpecker, Bridled Chickadee, Vermilion Flyc.itcher, Costa Hummingbird, Pygmy Nuthatch. Red- faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Virginia Warbler, Lucy Warbler and a number of other good things all strictly first class, well preserved nests with all small birds also have a single egg of Western Evening Gros- beak with nest and data, many other rare singles, send stamp for list, no exchange de- sired. O. W. HOWARD. Los Angeles, Cal, P. O. Box 1177. I can still furnish many of the sets listed in Sep temher issue. If you saw ' or now see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing iust what lean turnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester, N. Y. CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EGG FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf BIRDS EGGS. Bird Student Specialties. Photographs From Nature:— Neg- atives of 58 species of North American Species of Birds, Nearly 300 views of Birds, Young, Nests, etc., also Cuban and Porto Rican scenes, San Juan Hill, El Caney Block House, etc. Prints, mounted, 25 cts. each, $2.00 per dozen, unmounted, 15 cts. each, $1.25 per dozen. Lantern Slides made from your own subjects or mine, 50 cts each, $4.50 per dozen. Negatives of any subject, 4x5 inches made to order, 50 cts each, $3.00 per dozen. Watercolor drawings of West Indian birds, $3.00 each, Mv "Bird in the Hand" calendars, something unique, burned leather 50 cts., card 25 cts. Prices furnished on all sorts of special photographic work, portrait copying, etc. B. S. BOWDISH, Demarest, New Jersey. BULLETIN OF THE Michiga.n Ornithologica.! Club. An Illuslraied Quarterly devoted to the Ornithology of the Great Lakes Region Alexander W. Blain, Jr.. Editor. ,T. Claire Wood, W. B. Barrows. Associates. Each issue of the Bulletin is filled with notes fresh from the field and museum. A large corps of field ornithologists are among its contrioutors. which makes the Bulletin indispensable to all students interested in the bird-life in the region about the Great Lakes. The prospects for 1904 point toward a greater increase in size and general inter- est. Svibscription. 50 Cervts Per Year, Sample Copy. 15 Cents. Vols. I. II and III are out of print and can not be supplied at any price. A few com- plete sets of Vol. IV (1903) can still be sup- plied at 50 cents per volume. Address all communications to CHARLES E. WISNER. Business Manager, DETEorr. Mich. THL: OOLOGIST. BALD EAGLE AND NEST. SOUTH FLORIDA. ^ ^ ,^ Compliments of J. J. Kyman. The Oologist. Vol. XXII. No. 1. Albion, N. Y., Jan.-, 1S05. , Whole No. .210 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXI- DEEMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT. Editor and Manager. ' Correspondence and items of interest to tlie stndent of Birds, tbeir Nests and Egi?s, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single sul)scription 50c per annum Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date tliereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must he noti- fied by letter wlien a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches ju a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 25 cents. No "special rates," 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom," "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no commis.'iion to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space It will cost you 25 cents: 100 lines. $5.00: 1000 lines, .fSO, "Trade" (otl^er than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused TJ. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT. Editor and Manager. Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. Bald Eagle Experiences in Florida. Contin ueserve the general appearance of its under plumage. THE OOLOGIST. ft The place where the eggs were taken was at the foot of a hill in a dense thicket the eggs were lying in a shal- low depression in some dry leaves with no attempt of nest-building what- ever. Three weeks later I found two young Whip-poor. wills near the same place which were only a few days old. If this was the same pair of birds that nested there before, I am unable to say, perhaps it was. Jos. F. HONECKER, Oak Forest, Ind. Much to My Sorrow! I found a Cuckoo's nest about the time the blueberries were scarce with "6 eggs" % their natural size; two were with holes, three rotton and one is in with my singles. I believe this is very rare. I find something is "raising the dickens" with Cuckoo's eggs in this part of the country. I find quite a few Cuckoos' eggs with holes picked in them. I found a Brown Thrasher's nest on the "ground" under an Oak tree or you might call it a bush, situated like a Chewink's nest, but had plenty of stick. E. S. Coombs. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo often lays six or even seven eggs in rare in- stances. The Black-billed seldom lays over four. I once found a Robin's nest on the ground at the base of a Railroad em- bankment. Flushpd her from the nest and it appeared to have been built there. Editor. A Pomarine Jaeger. In October, 1904, Mr. W. A. Ket- cham of Toledo, O., while out duck shooting near Cedar Point saw a Pom- arine Jaeger out of gun shot. This bird is rare in this section of the country, having been observed only a few times around the Great Lakes or perhaws more definitelj'; Lake Erie. It was chasing a flock of smaller Gulls and finally dissappeared making a dash after some unfortunate Gull. This Gull was seen plainly and could hardly be mistaken. A fellow sports- man saw it also. A. C. Reed, Toledo, O. EDITORIAL. Self Explanatory. Houston, Texas, Dec. 31, 1904. Editor Oologist: My Dear Sir: I take the liberty of writing to you in reference to a Mid-winter tent-outing and horseback journey through South- western Texas and Old Mexico beyond the Rio Grande. The party is to con- sist of fifteen inen, aside from guides, clief, helpers, physician and host. Business men who need rest, diversion and out-of-door life, young men who are not strong and amateur sportsmen are the cliass I desire to have with me, Tlie camp outfit will be of the best, and the cooking equal to that in any private home. The temporary camps and journey of many miles will occupy two months' time, and will extend through a high, dry country, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 feet elevation, where the weather is as mild and delightful as Indian summer in New England. Each guest is to be represented by two horses, the one he rides and the one hitched to a wagon. When tired of the saddle, he can avail himself of a seat. The cost will be $10.00 a day. A physician of large experience in the care and cure of chronic disorders will be one of the party, therefore, any- one needing medical attention on the trip will be able to secure it, and any- one desiring special treatment while on the journey can arrange for it be- forehand. The place of meeting will be San Antonio, Texas or some point west of that citj' to be agreed upon. New Orleans can best be reached on the Southern Pacific Steamers that leave New York City at high noon twice a week. The Sunset Limited over the Southern Pacific takes one through the old sugar plantations of Louisiana, through the oil and rice fields of Texas, through Houston, the 10 THE OOLOGIST. metropolis of the state, and through San Antonio, a delightful city, quaint with Spanish architecture. It takes more hours to reach New Orleans by water than by rail, but it is the ideal way to get south, having our rendezv- ous in view. It costs a little more to reach Texas than Florida, but the damp atmosphere of that low country precludes the possibility of camping out. This plateau I am writing about is the land for tents, horses and a life free from conventionalities. John T. Patrick, Houston, Texas, The advantages of this trip need no special mention. We would like to have some one in this party as our re- presentative. While the regular rate for this trip would be between $700 and 1800- If anyone will go as our re- presentative, furnishing us notes on the trip, we will make arrangements whereby they can take it aH in at about half of these figures. Write at once to publisher of Oologist, Albion, N, Y., if you can see your way to avail yourself of this opportunity. Editor. REVILW. Standard American Egg Catalogue. BY H. R. TAYLOR. After a careful examination of this •second edition of Taylor's Catalogue I am glad to pronounce it far superior to the first edition. Many of the incon- sistencies between eastern and western forms have been obliterated. Some of those that are peculiar to this edition may be oversights. I pre- sume this would account for the dis- parity between the Swallow-tailed and Everglade Kites and also for the price- ing of White-faced Glossy Ibis. Many collectors will join with me in condeming the raise in price on Aplomado Falcon, Bob-white, Vermill- ion Flycatcher, American Magpie, Brewer's Sparrow, Pileolated Warbler, and others in less degree. And why were not Mexican Cormorant, Wood Ibis and Cassin's Vireo, lowered? W^as the .60 after Bonaparte's Gull a mistake or has some one a bbl. full back that the Editor has not heard of? Why raise Mourning Warbler to $5.00 and leave Blackburnian at $2.50? I think that reversing proportions between the California and Valley Partridges was the correct idea and the same applies to Texas Pyrrholoxia and Gray-tailed Cardinal but when this was applied to the Grosbeaks I must differ in opinion. All Collectors will regret that the work could not have been presented on better paper with a clearer print. And the shape seems unhandy too, too wide a little and too long a great deal. Of errors in nomenclature there are many but fortunately few of a nature to hurt the value of the work. The Wild Turkeys seem a little confused. The remarks in the preface are good, even if some seem aimed at a mark, and Mr. Dille's "Contraptions" will be endorsed by all. On all sides I hear the complaint— "Why were the Skins not priced?" Well 1 suppose the job was big enough as it was, as friend Taylor says, " Its no snap.''^ Editor. I Have a Proposition to make to you Nfr. Col!ec'ti)r. I liuve a nire flioice line of Indian Kt'lius and coins. If you aie willins? to !^eIld tirst-class Keterences iin approved lot will read) you safely and on time. A few bargains. 5 Indian Bird Points. 35<'., 5 different colored, arrowheads. :i5c., In- dian Tomahawk, 35c., 10 different Indian Im- plements. Wc. 5 ihoice War points. 35c. All tlie above for $2.00; 10 tine old coins 2.5c . 3 Lib- erty cent"-. 15c.. 3 coins 100 years old. 18c. My price li^t.old liberty cent . and confederate bill for a dime. We have the goods. You do the asking. W. p. Arnold, Peacedale, R. I. FI.NKLY MorXTKI) Deer Head. Fifteen Dollars; also others from Ten to Twenty-tive Dollars, also lot of new Orchestra and Chamber music cheap. A. K. .S.MITH. 1912 l-'ontam Street. Philadelphia. Pa. The Oglogist. A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements " ^yants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- VOL. XXII. No. 2. ALBION, N. Y., FEB., 1905. Whole No. 211 What's Yovir Nvimber ? Examine the nuiuber followinj,' your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. 211 vour subscription expires with this issue 21f) •• ■' ■■ " Oct.. l!l()5 221 " " " " Dec, 1095 257 " " " " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N, Y., under the Act ot Congress of March 3, 1S79. I HAVE a few very desirable sets for ex- change, such as loons, alabatross. cranes, falcons, kites and other Raptores, ducks with down. etc. Warblers especially wanted. All answered. A. E. PRICE .(Trant Park, 111. stf WANTED.— Fine sets of Sharp Shinned Hawks eggs. Will give handsome sets of Aplomado F'alcon at reduced rates. T. H. JACKSON, 343 E. Biddle St., West Chester, Pa. FOR SALE.— I have many back numbers of various naturalhistory magazines, includ- ing the Nidologist. Osprey. Museum. O and O, C>ologist. Audubon's ^Iagazine and others; Books and pamphlets on Natural History subjects; some good bird and mammal skins; marine invertebrates in formalin; reptile and batrachians in formalin and al- cohol; and various curios. Any of above cheap for cash. JVo exchange desired. If you have as much as fifty cents to invest send for my lists, but don't write unless you mean business. F. P. DKOWNE, M. 1).. 20 Bene- fit St.. Providence, R. I. N.4.t. DO YOU ever Trap. If so you want "The Amateur Trapper." by Stanley Harding, tells you how to make traps for catching the Muskrat, Beaver, Otter, Mink, Martin, Fish- er, Skunk, (iopher, SQuirrel. Raccoon, Opos- sum, Fox, Wolf and Bedr, also how to cure and Tan Skins. Cloth. Contains 134 pages, with 50 illustrations. Send 50c to OLIVER M. DAVIE, Columbus, O., and get one pre- paid. J. 2. t. R.\DIUM.— I am prepared to furnish Radio-active substances of from one up to out' million activity, and also to make de- lermiuiitions on Radio-active minerals at reasonable rates. I have some of the finest specimens of Radio active f»res to be ob- tained, some of which have just been re- turned from the St. Louis Exposition and which I will exchange for fine Indian relics or old U. S. coins, or other Radio-active ores not in my collection. No collection of min- erals or curios is complete without a series of these extremely interesting substances. Have also for exchange a fine imported Ane- roid barometer, both English and Metric scales. L. V. CASE, Tarrytown-on-the Hud- son. N. Y. WANTED.— Fresh skins or in the meat. Great Horned Owl (or subspecies), Snowy Owl.. Ptarmigan. Mountain Partridge. Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Sets of Cuckoos, Am. Herring Gull, Least Tern. Laughing Gull. Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester, N. Y. WANTED'- Five hundred white weasel skins, also furs of all kinds. Good prices paid. For sale in the fiesh, one wild cat, per- fect specimen, also Mergansers and (iolden eyes. J. 2. t. %LVALI G. DORR, Bucksport Maine. j FOR SALE. -I still have about 1000 fine sets left from my private collection whit h will sell at ijeasonable prices. Also Ben- dire'sLifehi^ories. Studer's Birds of North America an. .s-.Bird .Magazines. Write for list and prii,^,'. L. ERNE.ST MARCEAU, 274 Manhatt.'^.Ave, Brooklyn, N. Y. FOR SALL— "Nidologist," vols. 1, 2 and 3, bound in half morocco. Good condition. For best ca.'vh offer. CLIFTON E. WEB- STER. Arthit N. Dak. WILL EXC1|1AN(tP:.— During coming seas- on, sets collei^ed in Texas for eggs not in my ciillection. F Ul datas. Also butterflies and moths. GEr_*. GILES. San Antonio. Tex. s. Gii,* _f^Oilj£. NTED. i'orresE ire inte^Uted in WANTED. 4'orrespondence with people who are inte^Uted in the painting of birds. ALAN WRK HT, 31 Kingsborough Ave.. Gloversville, N. Y. 18 THE OOLOGIST. DAVIES' Nests and Eggs, 4th edition. 13 Recreations. North American Fauna, 1-3-4-5. Some other good books to exchange for com- mon sets of eggs. C. B. VANDERCOOK, Odin, 111. FOR SALE.— Fine quartered oak cabinet containing sixteen drawers 20x22 inches, a beauty. Will take part exchange in desir- able bird books or perfect sets of Raptores. L. H. PAUL, 59 West Miller St., Newark, New York. WANTED.— Another copy of Ridgway's Manual, must not be too badly soiled. Will pay cash, or trade Winchef^ter rifle, 44 Cal., Mod. 1873, in good condition. Ri PEARCE SMITHWICK, 133 Mariner St., Norfolk, Virginia. BIG BARGAINS in the following 1st class sets and singles, for some one, 2733, 212 1-7, 359i, 388i §, 447L 466ai 595i. i, i,546 1-5. i, 511 1-5, SOU, 505ai, 596i, 619i, i, 6241. 687i. 2-4, i, 684J, 766i, 755i. Singles, 2-1, 30a, 3-51a. 58. 64, 86, 4-142, 2-212, 263, 2-273, .326, 337b, 2-308a, 357, 494, 3-505, 2-687, 3, 2d class 228. Write for my cash price for entire lot. GEORGE J. TILLS, Albion, N. Y. WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. CECIL FRENCH, Naturalist, Washington, D. C. J12t FOR SALE. -Guitar, Tandem bicycle. In- cubator, Bflat cornet. Eggs, Coins, Show coops, Oologist's Osprey's Popular Science, Nidiologist, Condor. OTHO N. GAY, Men- don,Ill. ABOUT FORTY species of common Birds' eggs, first class full sets full data to exchange for sam.e; also some books and papers for common sets. C. B. VANDERCOOK, Odin, 111. WANTED.— A few first class skins of Contopus borenUs. State lowest cash price. F. S. DAGGETT, 241 Rialto Bldg., Chicago, 111. FOR SALE.- Pacific Railroad Reports. Volumes, 9. Birds, 8, Mammals, 6. 10,12, Birds. Mammals, Fishes, l\eptiles. Shells, etc. Five large quarto volumes bound in cloth. 265 full page plates, including 38 fine colored plates of birds. All in good condition. The five volumes for $7 00. F. F. DROWNE, M. D., 20 Benefit St.. Prov., H. I. FOR SALE.— Microscope, '^our inch tube, total height, including has) seven inches, two objectives, in nice case. Good as new. Cost $5.50. Will sell for $3.00. Stevens' gallery pistol. Diamond mode', six inch bar- rel, hdfii ii/d'ic and vfifp sii;/i/s 22 cal. in ex- cellent condition. Cost $(i 00. cWill send pre- paid for .f:i.llO. F. P. DKoViXE, M. D., 20 Benefit St., I'rov. R. T. i< IIA\'P^ thousands of good stamps cata- logued from Ic to $1.(10 filch to exchange for first class sets and liird books. For every dollar's worth of first class'sets will give $1.50 worth of staniits. Send li.-ts first. GEO. I). FRENCH, Ivoryt.m, Conn" BIRD SKINS at a Bargain.^ 1 am .celling part of my collectit)n. 350 gllins. about 100 species, many very desirablfii All first class skins, (ireat bargains for.'^ash. No Ex- cliange. List for stamp. Itfritc at once. F. P. DROWNK, M. |)..20 I'.^uefit St.. Prov R. I. l<'2t FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.-Mounted Grouse $1.00; Barred Owl, $1.25: Blue Heron, $2.25; Blue Jay, 50c; Black and Grey Squirrel, $1.25; Osprey,$2.00. (iEO. F. HILER. Sebring. FOR SALE.-A large collection of Miner- als and Indian Relics, also Postal Currency, coins, jiostage and Revenue Stamps. Isaac S. KIRK, Nottingham, Pa.. R. 2. FOR EXCHANGE.-Fine sets of Whip- poorwill. King Rail, Florida Gallinule, Bar- red Owl, Great Horned Owl; also a fine large hand made Walnut egs cabinet, for eggs. R. M. BARNES. Lacon, 111, A COLLECTION of postage stamps con- taining 85.3 varieties, fine condition. Cata- logued at over $22. Will exchange for $15 worth of first- class sets. Send lists first. GEO. D. FRENCH, Ivoryton, Conn. FOR EXCHANGE.— Fine sets of Pa. eggs 761, 704, 581, 725. etc.. for others. Complete data. RICHARD F. MILLER, 3473 Amber St., Philadeli>hia, Pa. DO YOU keep worm eating birds? I can sell you large, fat, live, yellow mealworms. 1000 at 70e.: 1500. $1; quart(about 4000) $2. Ex- press paid, terms cash. G. BUETTEL, 7 West St.. West Somerville, Mass. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson, Ariz, t.f. WANTED.— Back numbers of the Oologist until further notice we will allow the prices quoted below for the numbers noted. No others wanted. You may select in payment any specimens catalogued by either of us. This offer does tiot apply to Instruments, Supplies or Books except by special arrange- ment. For 50c, worth will Jillow you a years subscription to Oologist. For 2.'ic worth we will send you a coupon good for an exchange. Notice. Vo\i\es must be clean an(\ whole. For June IH'^M we will allow $.75. For Mav 1SS4: Jan. and June 1885, July- Aug. IHSi;; Jan,-Feb. and June-Sept. 1887; May. 188S; April 1.S89; we will allow 50c per copy. For March 1885, Jan-Feb. and Mar-Apr. 1886; Aug.-Sept. 1888; we will allow 25c per copy. No others wanted. These can be sent by mail for Ic for each 4 oz. postpaid. Addres&s ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. Mgr. Oologist. I Have a Proposition to make to you Mr. Collector. I have a nice choice line of Indian Relics and coins. If you are willing to send first-class References an approved lot will reach you safely and on time. A few bargains. 5 lijdiaii I'.ird I'oints. 35c., 5 different rolored. arrowheads, .35c., In- dian Tomahawk, 35c.. 10 different Indian Im- pleme!its, 8.')c.. 5 choice War points. 35c. All the above for $2.00; 10 fine old coins 2;ic . 3 Lib- erty cents, 1,5c.. 3 coins 100 years old, 18c. My price list.old liberty cent, and confederate bill for a dime. We have the goods. You do the asking. W. p. Arnold, Peacedale, R. I. THE OOLOGIST. 19 • ▼TTVTTTTTTTTTTTTVTTTVTVT* LEARN?^irAXIDERMY BX^MAIL. We can teacli ydu to mount all kinds of birds and animals true to life. Every bird-lover, naturalist, ornithologist, ool- ogist and sportsman should know this art. Indisiiensable to teachers. More fascinatinj.' than the camera, more profit- able than any other recreation. Decorate your home, school or den. Save those fine specimens. If interested ask for our new illustrated catalogue. Sent free to readers of The Oologist. Write today. THE N. W. SCHOOL OF TAXIDEK^iY. Suite O, Com. Nat. Bank, Omaha, Neb. «^WE MOUNT SPECIMENS TOO %« THE A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $ I . per year. Order at once of Business Mgr., JOSEPH GRINNELL Pasadena, California Scientific Shells Corals. and Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FlIANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. Got a Camera or Collect Anything or •^ Have You a Hobby? \ IF NOT, WHY NOT.? Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and be«t collectors' monthly for all kinds of Hobbies: Na- tural History and American Histori- cal Discoveries, Coins, Stamps, Cu- rios, Relics, Photography, Minerals, Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards, Rarities and New Finds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscripticjn and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 3500 pages past two years. This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1895. and has the largest circulation of any Collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other American collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a word. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. Over 5800 members in all parts of the world, or .5Uc. for a year's membership to American Historical and Natural History Society. Write. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz., many colors; try them. • AAA AAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA • ninnO CPPP I can still furnish many K K KN \\\\\\ of the sets listed in Sep nillUO LUUOi tember issue. If you saw or iiotu see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what I can furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester, N. Y. CALIFORNIA CONDOrS EGG FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf 20 THE OOLOGIST. THE WARBLER JOHN LEWIS CHIl.DS, Editor ■VY7ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new "^ series wliich will contain many su- perb Ci)lored Plates of rare etr'-'s such as Kirtland and Olive Warbk-r. Carolin.-i Par- oquet, Clark's Crow. Ipswich and Rutoiis Crowned Sriarrow, Yellow and Black R;iil. Calaveras Warbler, etc. Also si)lendid illustrations of Birds and Nesrs, and lead- ins articles by well known niitliorlties. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 PER YEAR, SIN«I.E COPIES 30o Esss of Kirtlnnd Warbler will be fiiiured ill flr.st issue! Jan orFeb.jof the new series. ADDRESS THE WAKBTLEH FLORAL F-AKK, I BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. ALEXANDER W. BLAIN. JR., Editor. Walter B. Barrows, J. Claire Wood, Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contai,n many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If vou are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBBELL, Business Manager, 112 AlaxandrineAve., DETROIT. MICH. Do You Collect Anything, or Have You a Camera or a Hobby? Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and hest collectors' monthly for all kinds of Hobbies; Natural History and American Historical Discoveries; Coins, Stamps, Curios, Kelics, Photography, Min- erals, Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards, Karities and New Finds for all kinds of Collectors. Scientitic but not Technical. The Philatelic West and Camera News Su- perior. Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free fifteen-word exchange notice in the largest exchange department extant. 3 years for $L00. This Illustrated lOO-paue Monthly was established in LS95, and has the largest circulation of any Collectors' monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other American Col- lector monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Rates small, results large. Ic. a word. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTT( ). "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by sending it to L T. BRODSTONE, Publisher Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send' five cents for membership card to American Camera Souvenir Club Exchange, —over 5,000 members in all parts of the world— or fifty cents for one year's member- ship to American Historical and Natural History and Philatelic Society. Try it. A Trial will Convince You that no Matter What your Hobby is. the WEST, will keep you posted. 50 YEARS' ERIENCE Trade Marks Designs Copyrights &c. Anyone sending a sketch and description may julckly ascertain our opinieii free whether an quickly ascertain our opini invention is prehat)Ir patentable. Communica- tions strict Iv 11 mflilential. Handbook on Patents eent f roe. (il.lost ivjcucy for securing patents. Patents taken tliroutrli Munn & Co. receive special notici', nitliout charge, in the Scientific American. A handsomely ilhjstrated weekly. Larcest cir- culation of aiiv scieutitlo journal. Terms. $3 a year; four mouths, J^l. Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN &Co.3«^«^°^''*^^ New York Branch Ofticc, 025 K St., Waahington, D. C. The OoLOGisT. Vol. XXII. No. 2. Albion, N. Y., Feb., 1905. Whole No. 211 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOOY AND TAXI- DERMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single sul;seription 50c per annum Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must be noti- fied by letter wlien a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches in a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 25 cents. No "special rates." 5 cents per line is "net." "rock bottom," "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no commi.^sion to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00; 1000 lines, .$50. "Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted l)y special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, E.k- press or Postofiice Money Order. Registered .Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. A Chapter from the Life History of the Green Heron. (By B. S. Bowdish.) During my vacation in the second week of June, 1903, at Demarest, N, J., I became satisfied that a pair of Green Herons were breeding in a swamp there, but as a pair of high rubber boots seemed indispensable to an in- vestigation, and I did not have any- thing of the sort with me, my sus- picions remained unconfirmed. During the spring of the present year, I observed a pair of herons about this swamp on several occasions, and it seemed probable that they would again nest there, so when I started on my vacation, May 28th., a pair of high rubber boots formed an important part of my equipment. The swamp where the birds were seen is about half a mile long by an eighth of a mile wide, being a bog- hole three fourths surrounded by a fringe of hard wood timber. Its sdge is protected from the average rambler by a depth of water that, save in a few places, renders high boots unavailing, and extending in a rod or more. Be- yond this the bog is a morass of yield- ing moss, where one sinks into alter- nating depths of six to eighteen inches of water. It is grown with a dense tangle of; bush and vine, in places dwarf tamaracs, and scattered here and there, the knarled and scragly skele- tons of large and mostly dying trees. To this swamp I went, on June 8th, equiped with camera, tripod, ball-and- socket clamp, plate-holders and high boots. After some difficulty I effected an entrance without shipping any water, and steered my course toward that portion of the swamp that I thought most likely to be the nesting site of the herons. Only those who have been similarly situated can ap- preciate the pleasure of making one's way through such a tangle, carrying tripod, camera, and haversack of plate-holders, where every step one 22 THE ooi/k;ist. Photo by B. S. Bowdish. NEST AND EGGS OF GREEN HERON. may plunge unexpectedly into mud and water over boot-tops, aad all un- der the broiling rays of a sun which beats down into the oven-like, breeze- less swamp. Fortunately I did not have very far to go before I came upon the object of my search. The nest was built in the main forks of one of a small clump of maple saplings, about twelve feet up. It was a platform of twigs, somewhat more substantially built, and better hollowed than the average nest of this species, and measured about twelve inches across by three inches in depth. From below through crevices of the platform gleams of pale blue betrayed the presence of eggs. About three feet from the sapling that held the nest grew another. Having photo- graphed the site I was soon squirming up this latter sapling, pushing the camera on the tripod ahead of me, and with the haversack of plate-holders swung over my shoulder. It reads easil}^ enough to say that I suspended myself opposite the nest, with my legs wrapped about the stem of the tree, and the legs of the tripod gripped between my knees, while I un- packed plate-holders, focussed, and made four exposures. However if an appreciation of the difficulties of reach- ing the site required experience, then much more is experience necessary to the understanding of what photogra- phy under this class of difficulties im- plies. The work was accomplished, however, and subsequent development THE OOTX)GIS'r. Photo by B. S. Bowdish. YOUNG GREEN HERON IN NEST. proved the negatives to be fairly satis- factory. At this visit one of the parents re- mained perched for some time in a large dead tree about three rods from the nest, but made no demonstration. The nest at this time contained five eggs, but I made no effort to ascertain whether incubation had commenced or not. I visited the nest again on June 26th, hoping to secure a photograph of young birds. Two eggs had just hatched and a sixth egg had been laid. I made two partially successful photo- graphs of the four eggs and the two helpless, sprawling young. One week later, July 3d, I returned to the place and found six young birds of varying sizes, the largest standing about six inches high on his tiptoes, the small- est still rather wabbly. They all promptly stood up on their tiptoes stretching their necks as high as pos- sible, pushing their heads forward and glaring at me, keeping up a continuous hissing, interspersed with screams which even at this age commenced to have considerably the sound of the adults cry. One of the parents prompt- ly responded to these cries, and com- ing to the large tree where it had on the occasion of my last visit remained a passive spectator, it gave vent to screams differing from the usual cry (which was interspersed occasionally). 24 THE OOLOGIST. and resembling somewhat, the squawk of a hen. Quite a number of sticks which had failed to remain where they were placed in building the nest lay on the ground underneath, and nest, tree and ground were spattered white with excrement. Needless to say, the spot was not fra- grant. The exposures made at this time were unexpectedly successful, but while they were washing a member of the family inadvertantly turned the hot water on them, with results too painful to record. In the hope of replacing the lost negatives made on the 3d, I again visited the nest on July 7th. The last hatched bird had then been dead seve- ral days, and one of the other smaller ones had died a few hours previously, apparently. Their bodies lay in the nest, trampled under the feet of their surviving brethren. These latter had grown surprisingly, the largest pro- bably measuring nine or ten inches in length. Three of the larger birds promptly climbed out of the nest and well toward the tip of one of the limbs, and fearing to disturb them to the ex- tent of causing a tragedy, I confined my photographing to the one remain- ing infant, his dead brothers, and the nest, and afterward two views from the ground of the young on the limb. The latter were not successful, and the former only partially so. I removed the two dead birds from the nest before leaving, and from the fresher one prepared a skin. This measures six inches in length, and pin feathers are starting on the wings. Owing to the difficulty of access to the nest, and to pressure of other mat- ters, I did not again have an oppor- tunity to visit the place, and so do not know what was the last chapter in the life histories of these birds, but I hope that the four young were successfully reared. I had the satisfaction of changing the intentions of a young man whose purpose was to collect one of the adult birds, and I hope that I may find them at the same site another year. "Adventures of a Grosbeak Family." The beautiful rose-breasted Gros- beak is a common summer resident of and a well known and favorite bird in Jasper County. I have found them nesting in fruit trees, in climbing grape-vines, and in osage hedges, but more often in box-elder trees at from six to thirty feet from the ground. Their nests are very frail structures and the complement of eggs three, sometimes four. They are imposed upon by the Cowbird. (Fully agree- ing with the article in the November Oologist written by Mr. B. S. Bowish, I have tried to make the above as con- cise as possible). A pair of Grosbeaks have nested for the last three years in a box-elder tree in our backyard, hardly twenty feet from the door. Last spring they arrived from their winter resort on May 5th and very soon after com- menced nest building. We watched their frail nest grow from day to day until it contained three eggs. After careful brooding by both parents, at the end of two weeks, three tiny chips off the old block were safely ushered into bird-dom. About this time a spy- ing Bluejay thought that something similiar to veal would suit him for breakfast. Happening near, he soon changed his mind, and decided that a brisk walk (or rather a fly) would benefit his appetite and constitution. P'or the male Grosbeak assisted by two screeching robins, which he had called to his aid, soon made him hike out of sight on the overland route. One bright day near the first of June, we observed the three young- sters perched at different heights in he tree, uttering at regular intervals THE OO'LOGIST. 25 their mournful little cry. They even- tually reached the ground, where the children caught and patted them, placing them time and again in the nearby trees and a lilac bush, where they would stoutly cling and climb as high as they could towards the end of of the limb. They would allow us to approach at any time and stroke their heads, at which they would open their mouths at us as if expecting food. The mother would fearlessly come to feed them while I stood only three feet away, but the father would never come out of the trees. At last after several days two of them disappeared, but the third a little male, stayed several days longer. He, a funny little fuzzy miniature of his illustrious father, was still covored with yellow down, as when he left the nest, and would always be seen hop- ping or taking three-yard flights along the ground. One morning while I was eating breakfast, I was startled by the excited calls of birds in our front yard. I rushed out to find the mother Grosbeak flitting excitedly from tree to tree, while at the foot of an oak a Woodpecker was waging war against her offspring. I ran toward them, fir- ing a club at the red-headed rascal as I went, and picking up the poor young adventurer, found he had been severely pecked about the head and mouth by the stout sharp bill of the Woodpecker, who was now exulting over his victory from . the top of a neighboring telephone pole. The sides of the young bird's mouth were badly torn and his throat was so filled with blood that he could not peep. After washing his mouth out with warm water and rubbing his wounds with cosmoline, I placed him in the sun on our wide front porch, from which on the following day he followed his mother off into the wide world somewhere, apparently none the worse for his exciting adventure. J. L. Sloanaker Newton, Iowa. Birds Removing Eggs From Nests. In the December number of the "Oologist" Mr. Chas. P. Alexander in his interesting article on "The White- rumped Shrike in Eastern New York," mentions finding a "nest containingS half incubated eggs, four which he collected, leaving the fifth as a nest egg to make them lay again but was disappointed as the egg disappeared," also finding another containing 6 eggs four of which he took, leaving, in this instance, 2 eggs as nest eggs. These eggs, disappeared a couple of days later. A friend suggested that the bird ate them. This suggestion is preposterous, and the first instance of birds devouring their eggs that the writer ever heard of. The birds simply removed the eggs being chagrined at the spoiliation of their clutches. Mr. A. would have been richer by two nice full sets had he collected them when he first found the nests. Very few species of birds in tne writer's experience will lay more eggs into a nest after the greater part of the clutch has been removed. They invariably desert the nests first, how- ever, removing the remainder of their spoiled clutches. There are some ex- ceptions, however, in which the birds retain their incomplete clutches and brood them and in which they simply abandoned nests and the remaining eggs. Here is an instance of bird removing an egg from the nest, the case being however unlike Mr. A's. On May 28, 189«, at Torresdale, this county, found a Brown Thrasher's nest situated four feet up in a clump of blackberry briers containing four eggs. As they looked incubated and not caring to spoil four emhryo Harpo7'hynchus rufus I remov- ed one of the eggs and drilled a small hole in the side to ascertain incubation and was pleased to find it fresh. Re- placing it in the nest, carefully con- 26 THE OOLOOIST. cealiiig the hole, I left the set while I hunted elsewhere. On returning about half an hour later was surprised to find but three eggs. The birds had discovered the hole in the egg and perceiving that it was worthless (to the birds) theypromptly removed it. How I am not prepared to say. The remain- der of the set was collected. I dare say Mr. A's friend would suggest that the bird ate it. Had I time to consult my note book I could cite many interesting cases re- lating to bird removing eggs from their nests. Any reader of the Oologist knows how the eggs are removed. This is an interesting subject, little known and probably unanswerable. Let's hear froai you readir. Ri. HARD F. Miller, Philadelphia, Pa. Nest and Fees of Pileated Woodpecker. This bird is quite rare in this local- ity. They only can be found in the largest bottoms. On April 12, 1902 I and my brother started for a large bot- tom in the Navasota River in Brazos County in search of different specimens of birds. Going about 5 miles in the bottom we came to a large dead elm stub some 14 feet high, it had several large holes in but they proved to be old homes of these beautiful birds. We kept on going and soon we came to another large dead stub about 15 feet high. In going around it I noticed a large hole some 11 feet up. The ground was covered with chips of rotten wood and bark. We rapped on the trunk of the tree several times but failed to bring anything in sight, so I thought it would be a very good idea to climb it. My brother strapped on his climbing irons, as I am not much of a climber. He was about 2 feet from the groitnd when the beautiful female bird left her home with a loud cackling voice. He was soon to the hole find- ing it large enough to insert his hand and arm, it being about 2 feet deep. The nest contained 3 very beautiful glossy white eggs, one of them was in- cubated but the other two were entirely fresh. I suppose the readers of the Oologist know how happy we felt as this was the first set of these eggs we have ever taken, but in a short time we did not know ourselves where we were at as we got lost about 5 hours and did not get home until night. I fell down some 5 or ten times but as luck happens I did not break any of the eggs. This set is in my cabinet now and never to be taken out. A. D. DOERGE, Navasota, Texas. Do Something. A physician says: "H you cannot find pleasure in the study of the many wonders that surround you, if you care not for geology, natural history, or astronomy, collect walking sticks, buy and cherish old, cracked china, fill up albums and scrapbooks or even gather together autographs and post- age stamps— anything sooner than be idle." The doctor is undoubtedly right, for true recreation requires a thorough change of work and also of thought.— Ex. EDITORIAL. Review. Vol. I, No. 2 of the Universal Ex- change Magazine, Belvidere, HI, is a decided success. Well printed on good paper and the Directory of Collectors periodicals is alone worth a years sub- scription. The current issue of "The Condor" is XXX as usual but of special in- terest is the Editorial Comment on Ernest Thompson Seton's position on page 181. "Bird Lore" for December 1904. Unfortunately we can not spare THE OOLOGIST. 27 room to to reprint it but it hits the nail on the head and we were strongly tempted. "Tiie Warbler," second series, Vol. I No. 1, is before us. Of course it is fine. Coming from "Childs" it was bound to be, but that fine plate of the set of 4 Kirtland's Warbler was an agreeable surprise. Mr. Arnolds position toward any Oologist who may seek to copy his example of the past season is hardly charitable however. We regret to announce the death of Mr. G. H. Rodwell of Holley, N. Y., on December 3d last. Mr, Rodwell was an associate of the Editor's earliest Oological experiences and an active member of the old West New York Naturalists Association now defunct. Under any conditions, wheth- er in connection with his hobby or not, it was always a pleasure to me meet him and his death in early life is a loss that we will all regret. He leaves a small but choice collection. Publications Received. December 1st to February 1st. American Ornithology, Vol. IV, No. 12. Birds and Nature, Vol. XVI, No. 5. Nature Study, Vol. XIII, No. 12. Amatuer Naturalist, Vol. I, No. 6. Philatelic West, Vol. 29, No. 1. Journal of Maine Ornithological So- ciety, Vol. VI, No. 4. American Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 1. Universal Exchange Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2. "Birds andNaturs," Vol. XVII, No. 1. "Nature Study," Vol. XIV, No. 1,2. "Candor," Vol. VII, No. 1. "Warbler" (2nd series) Vol. I, No. 1. American Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 2. Philatelic West, Vol. 29, No. 2. Collector's Note Book, Vol. Ill, No. 2. A Question Answered. L. Lawrence, Ohio. The male Downy Woodpecker has the scarlet patch on nape. This varies much in extent with individuals. The females have none at all. — Ed. Alameda, Cal., Tan. 30, 1905. Editor Oologist: Kindly allo.v me to add a word or two to your review of my Standard Amer'can Egg Catalo^'ue, and to thank you for criticism conceived in so fair a spirit, while citinga few "bulls" which you have overlooked. It certainly is no "snap" to compile acriticism-proof, all wool and a yard wide comparative "exchange basis." To presume to do do so is like taking a shot at the moon. I didn't. Skin prices were omitted as suggestions on that side were almost entirely lacking. On any schedule, Swallow-tailed Kite's eggs should be priced higher than Everglade's, as the former, hav- ing occured in England, is constantly in demand in that country, where Oology is more fostered than in Amer- ica. There are doubtless more sets of Swallow-tailed in collections in Eng- land now than in America. The in- creasing rarity of the egg is apparent. In Bendire's Life Histories it may be learned that the Everglade breeds in colonies in South America, where it is known as the "Sociable Marsh Hawk," Mr. Gibson finding "twenty or thirty nests, placed a few yards apart." There is a possible, even though re- mote, supply down that way of these eggs, but never of Swallow-tailed. White-faced Glossy Ibis, owing to plenty of eggs now available, (in Ala- meda), are high enough. The star is a palpable error. The list, which came to me in electro form, contains some "breaks" in nomenclature, but for the most part, I was obliged, per force, to let it go at that. You did not catch error on Bick- 28 THE OOLOGIST. nell's Thrubh, which might better have been left unpriced; and Brandt's Cor- morant, obviously common, though with no price, should have been about 40 cents. Boneparte's Gull should be $6 at least. Haven't seen the bbl. full. The printers certainly led me a devil's chase, as when they worked in Passen- ger Pigeon at 5 cents and caused me thereby to reprint four pages, but I wish the next man (and no better than the Oologist's editor can be suggested) more luck, and hereby subscribe in advance. H. R. Taylor. Thanking friend Taylor for his prompt reply in the same spirit in which I con- ceived my review I would only add, I agree that Swallow-tail Kite is entitled to more than Everglade but think the difference too much. Also agree that White-faced Glossy crowd the demand just now. It was some such conditian in 1895 and 1896 that induced Lattin to make the drops on Gt. Black-backed Gull, Cabot's Tern, Tex. Cardinal, Pine Warbler and Sennett's Thrasher, yet these all proved to be mistakes. —Editor. Owing to pressure of work in our engraver's office followed by an un- avoidable delay in printer's hands, partly caused by our new standard catalogue, we are very late with Feb- ruary issue. We regret it as much as you. We note in current issue of "Young American" that we are not the only ones wite these troubles. March will be on time. A FRAUD PAR EXCELLENCE. During the past seven months the Editor has been quietly investigating what appears to be the tail of the worst of all egg frauds. Some chapters in his history remind one of the notable records accredited to certain stamp fiends. I have traced his record back for 11 years and as a successful "Big Game" hunter he seems the shining light. In late years he has operated from Floral Park, Nyack and New York City addresses. I am not at liberty to cite all his triumphs. They foot up into the hundreds and are all on the same plan. The two extracts below I publish by permission. Stanford University, Cal., Dec. 26," 1904. Editor • ^ Oologisf" : Dear Sir:— "It seems to me that the next crook to get roasted should be one C. L. Brownell, formerly of Floral Park, N. Y. His present ad- dress I do not know, but if the number of kicks registered to date is any cri- terion, in Brownell we have about the smoothest bilk that has made a repu- (but no character) for himself, for a long time. Eminently respectable in his methods, (he represents himself to be the manager of a well known magazine) he has had no trouble in doing every one with whom he has had dealings. I hesitate to name some of those who have been skinned, as I am afraid that Brownell is a tender spot, but I am willing to confess to having been done to the extent of !};61.50 exchange value in Raptores and Warblers. Brownell did not go out for small game, and this may to some extent account for his success as a fraud. Once he had obtained eggs, he never concerned himself with acknowledging their receipt. Threats availed nothing and he does not care for opportunity to justify his dealings. Apparently "the nine points'' satisfy him, and as he seems to desire further advertise- ment, I am strong for giving it to him. Thinking that he had run out of post- age stamps, or needed the money, I wrote to his Post Master, who informed me that he knew Brownell personally, and that C. L. Brownell had received my eggs, and would settle up. That was all the satisfaction that I ever got, but compared with others who have run up against Brownell, I think that THE OOLOGIST. 29 I have them skinned to death as far as satisfaction goes. I waited for some time for Brownell to say something, but I didn't seem to have anything coming to me. There- fore I sent all the evidence that I had been able to collect to the Post Office Inspectors. They promise to give Mr. Brownell a good run for his eggs, but I firmiy believe that a little judicious advertising won't do him any harm .(!) For myself. I don't feel sore at Mr. Brownell, as I expect to go East next summer. If he is in the vicinity of Floral Park, I firmly expect to settle with him. The machine says that I can punch — well, I can ring the bell dead easy, with either hand. But I am sorr}' for some of the other people who have been peeled for their only re- dress seems to lie in warning their friends." "Brownell never even gave the vic- tim the satisfaction of knowing that he had received the eggs. I realize that I am perhaps doing Mr. Browneil an injustice, but my vocabulary is limited and you can't call a man anything that is so very much worse than fraud, he might feel hurt. However, I think that C. L. Brownell has it coming to him, with interest; and it is the sincere hope of your correspondent that all those who are not looking for ex- perience, should avoid him like the man who sells lottery tickets, for it is a stand off between them. One will steal from you, and the other will rob you. Take your pick. Yours truly, Charles S. Thompson. To the Editor: One C. L. Brownell of Floral Park, Nyack and other points in New York who once achieved distinction by being a principal in the famous Brownell divorce case the details of which were so delightfully indecent has broken out in a new place in his thirst for further notoriety. He is now a col- lector who intends to "publish a book on eggs." He visited me last winter — was suffering from on acute attack of the "grippe" so he said when he came. We took him in, fed him on quinine tablets, toast, eggs, etc., until he had recovered sufficiently to look oVer my duplicates from which he selected a little over |100 worth. He fails to send the eggs he promised in exchange or to return my sets or even to answer my affectionate letters, the latter fact, being a person who likes a good cor- respondence, I regret almost as much as I do the loss of theeggs, the quinine pills, et cetera. I understand he is swindling every- body who will send him a set of eggs on "approval." As one friend puts it he is as "crooked as a dog's hind leg" and parties who don't care to part with their specimens as easily as the un- dersigned did should heed this friend- Iv warning. A. E. Price. A word to the wise is supposed to be sufficient. Lookout for this gent. "No telling" where, he will show up next. And there are two or three more pro- spective candidates for honorable (?) mention in these columns. We would advise them to patch up the weak spots in their records prompt- ly before the sun of publicity brings them into objectionable prominence. -Ed. We have had a very cold winter for this climate. Mercury registered twelve below one morning and at other times four befow but in spite of this weather we have had a Mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottus) with us. I have seen him several times in the hedge fences near town and j'esterday morn- ing, zero weather, he was in a neigh- boring yard apparently doing well. C. B. Vaxdercook, Olin, III. 30 THi: ooro€!is^\ I $4.70 ^m $2.33 T Another Combination Offer that iVIeans Something. I TO NEW SUBSCRIBERS O N L V ^ BIRDS AND NATURE, one year $1.50 ^ > Last ten back numbers BIRDS AND NATURE 2.00 ^ X 60 Colored Pictures from BIRDS AND NATURE, our selec- X T tion 1.20 4; 't The total amount of value $4.70 X t ALL FOR S2.35 > I have been for years taking books and papers pertaining to out-door life, and X have discontinued them all because they were not true to nature in coloring and drawing. I have hunted and fished all my life. A ye ir ago I saw a copy of Birds .\ND Nature. After examing it and comparing drawings and colorings with gov- erment reports, I can say th:it yours are absolutely perfect. I would not be with- out IJiRDs AND Nature if it cost $10.00 a year.— y. \V. Baker, Dentist, Ogden, Utah, Alia. "27. 1904. Your magazine has certainly bad a phenomenal success and it is entirely worthy of its cordial reception.— J. A. Allen, Editor "The Auk." When one considers the low price at which you sell Birds the number and ex- cellence of the plates ire suri>rismg, and I trust that your efforts to popularize the study of Ornithology may meet with the success it so well deserves.— i^. M. Chap- man. Adllor. " Btrd- Lore." . A. W. MUMFORD, Pub., 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago t t ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦>♦♦» ♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦>♦♦»- COLLECTORS. HAVE YOU SEEN A COPY OF THE Universal Exchange MAGAZINE? If not, send 25 cents for a year's sub- scription and a 25 word excliange notice free of cfiarge. Tliis is the vvorld-'s greatest excliange and collectors' paper. Official organ of the LADIES' EXCHANGE BUREAU and Oliio Exchange Club. Six months trial subscription 10 cents. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS. FOR SALE Birds and Mammals In Skins and Mounted Specimens. Desert forms and border species Birds Eggs and Nests. My private collection of mounted bi'-ds will be sold at a bargain. Also offer a lull line of Indian Baskets of the following tribes: Pima, Maricopa, Papago, Mojave Apache, Navajo Mar- riage baskets and Hoopa (Calif.). Carved gourd drinking cup made by the Indians of Nicaragua, C. A. Navajo blankets and rugs, bows and arrows, Maricopa pottery, Juma bead work. Material for "Indian Corners." GEO. F. BRENINGER PHOENIX, ARIZONA THE OOLOGIST. 31 00L0GI8TS TOOLS AND SUPPLIES. All sent Prepaid. Satisfaction or your money back. Cut the Lining, Egg Drills, 14 sizes, 25, 35 and 50c. each. 4 selected sizes $1.00. Try them. You will be delighted. Nothing like them for fine work. Nickle Blowpipes, 40c., 30c.. 22c., 15c., best are 9 to 12 inches long. Others 6 to 8. Best Nickle Sliding Calipers, 88c. Best Steel Climbers, long sharp spnrs, 4 straps of best leather, $2.50; without strap $1.90. Data Blanks, Tablets 100, 3x5 lOc, Morse Data Books, 100 35c. Embryo Hooks, long handles, 15c , 25c. Embryo Scissors, 25c., fine 44c., curved 88c.. Very fine curved $1.25 Regular Egg Drills, Nickel medium handles. No. 1. 22c., No. 2, 30c., No. 3, 44c., No. 4, 54c., No. 5, 68c.. No. 6, 88c. C.& 8. Egg Drills, High grade tools, 6 in. handles. No. 1, 25c., No. 2, 35c., No. 3, 50c., No. 4. 75c., No. 5, 1.00. No. 6, 1.50. 3 inch handles. No. 0, 20c., No. 1. 20c., No. 2, 25c., No. 3, 35c., No. 4 45c. Pencils, very soft lead. Will mark most glossy egg. A delight for business use too. lOc, 3 for 25c. Egg Cotton, all colors. lOc. sheet. 50c. pack- age. Field Glasses, very fine pair in case, $4.75, sure to please. Davie's Nests and Eggs and 4 cut Lining Drills and 1 Best Blowpipe, all for $2.00. The Warbler and Oologist, both full year $1.10. The Condor and Warbler, new subscribers only, both $1.60. Reed's North American Bird's Eggs and any $1.00 Magazine published $3.00. Chapman's Handbook, cloth, $2.25, leather, $2.60. Chapman's Color Key and year's subscrip- tion to any $1.00 magazine, $3.00. Coue's Key, 2 vols., cloth, $11.50. Send for my lists, eggs, tools, books, maga- zines. Taxidermists' tools, etc.. etc. Benjamin Hoag, Stephentown, N. Y. IS PRINTED at the Book and Magazine THIS PAPER 4. M. EDDY, Albion, N.Y. Publishin House of TAYLOR'S North Americgfl E^^ Catalogue, (2nd Edition.) A Collector's Guide, revised to date. Price 25 cents. Here are a few of many favorable comments on the work. "I find in it much useful information."— Dr. T. S. P.\lmer. Biological Survey. "It is worth a dollar if it is worth a cent." —Colonel .John Thayer, Lancai-ter, Mass. "Will be of much value to any collector."— S.\N Francisco Chkoxicle. "Will come into use as a handy list for checking ui> collections, and is worth the price foi- thnt purpose alone."— Prof. Joseph Grinnell, Pasadena, Cal. "I am much pleased with it."— Herbert Brown, Yuma, Arizona. "It fills a long felt want, and now we eastern collectors will no longer have occasion to growl."— Isaac E. Hess, Philo. 111. "Although now too busy with other things I am glHd to get your Catalogue."— B. W. Evkrmann, Washington. D. C. "Offered in such an attractive shape, it cannot fail to arouse attention. "—O. Widjjan, St. Louis. "It is right up to date."— H. S. Hathaway, Providence. "I must say you have done your work well. If the eastern collectors kick now there will surely be no rest for them in heaven."— C. S. Sharpe, Escondido, Cal. "It nmst be very useful to Oologists. Your task was a very difficult one."— Ly'man Beld- ING, authur "Land Birds of the Pacific Dis- trict." "It is a dandy, the finest medium of ex- change extant. I heartily indorse your Cat- alogue and recommend it as the best ex- changer's guide."— Dr. M. T. Cleckley, Au- gusta, Ga. "Very much pleased with it. Think you have the east and west on a much fairer basis than they have been in ^ny previous cata- logue."-Verdi BuRTCH. Branchport. N. Y. "I see no reason why it should not find fav- or with every ornithologist."— Herbert L. Spinney'. Popham Beach. Me. "The work tyfiographically is a beauty, though unhandy in shape from certain points of view."— Ernest H. Short, Chili. N. Y. "Very much pleased with it."— Egbert Bagg. H. R Taylor. Pub., Alan^eda, Cal. THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornithological Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the hirds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps for sample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. 32 THE OOLOGIST. John Burroughs in his introduction to The Nature Library says: "To add to the resources of one's life —think how mucli that means! To add to things that make us more at home in the world; that help guard us against ennui and stagnation ;that invest thecountry with new interest and enticement; that make every walk in the fields or Vioods an excursion int ) a land of unexhausted treasures; that make the returning seasons fill us with expectation and delight; that make every rod of ground like the page of a book, in which new and strange things may be read; in short those things that help keep us fresh and sane and young, and make us immune to the strife and fever of the world. These are the words of the "Na- ture Poet," and admirably do they express what the ten superb volumes of THE NA- Every day adds largely to the number of homes, schools, and libraries now possessing the work, and each new owner becomes a more enthusiastic learner in Nature's School. You will be interested in our descrip- tive booklet. May w^ send you one of them, with particulars of our present offer. DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. 133-379 i6th Street, New York TURE LIBRARY do for their possessors. Cut this off here and mail to us. Better do it today. ' As necessary as a dictionary, and far mure interesting." PERMIT US TO SEND YOU A complimentary copy of our descriptive boolvlet with sample pages, sample tiiree color photographs, etc., from THE NATURE LIBRARY Write plainly. Your name In full Your mail address, street and number Your city and state [A-syS-SJ The Oologist. A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES, Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 3. ALBION, N. Y., MAR., 1905. Whole No. 212 What's Your Number ? Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. 212 vour subscription expires with this issue 219 •• •' •• " Oct.. 1905 221 " " " " Dec, 1095 257 " " " " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify, Entered as second-class matter December 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion, N. Y.. under the Act ot Congress of March 3, 1879. I HAVE a few very desirable sets for ex- change, such as loons, alabatross. cranes, falcons, kites and other Kaptores, ducks with down, etc. Warblers especially wanted. All answered. A. E. PRICE .Grant Park, 111, stf WANTED.— Fine sets of Sharp Shinned Hawks eggs. Will give handsome sets of Aplomado Falcon at reduced rates. T. H. JACKSON. 343 E. Biddle St., West Chester, Pa, FOR SALE.— I have many back numbers of various natural history magazines, includ- ing the Nidologist, Osprey, Museum, () and O, Oologist, Audubon's Magazine and others; Books and pamphlets on Natural History subjects; some good bird and mammal skins; marine invertebrates in formalin; reptile and batrachians in formalin and al- cohol; and various curios. Any of above cheap for cash. ^Yo exchange (tesirert. If you have as much as fifty cents to invest send for my lists, but don't write unless you mean business. F. P. DROWNE, M. D.. 2(i Bene- fit St., Providence, R. I. N.4.t. DO YOU ever Trap. If so you want "The Amateur Trapper." by Stanley Harding, tells you how to make traps for catching the Muskrat, Beaver, Otter. Mink, Martin, Fish- er, Skunk, (Jopher, Squirrel, Raccoon, Opos- sum, Fox, Wolf and Bear, also how to cure and Tan Skins. Cloth. Contains 134 pages, with 50 illustrations. Send 50c. to OLIVER M. DAVIE, Columbus, O.. and get one pre- paid. J. 2. t. WANTED.— Fresh skins or in the meat. Great Horned Owl for subspecies). Snowy Owl,, Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Sets of Cuckoos, Am, Herring Gull, Least Tern, Laughing Gull, Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. WANTED- Five hundred white weasel skins, also furs of all kinds. Good prices paid. For sale in the flesh, one wildcat, per- fect specimen, also Mergansers and (iolden eyes. J. 2. t. ALVAH G. DORR. Buck sport Maine. WILL EXCHANGE.— During coming seas- on, sets collected in Texas for eggs not in my collection. Full datas. Also butterflies and moths. (iEOF. GILES. San Antonio. Tex. WANTICD.— Correspondence with people who are interested in the painting of birds. ALAN WRKtHT, 31 Kingsborough Ave., ( Jloversville, N. Y. WANTED. -Another copy of Ridgway's Manual, must not be too badly soiled. Will pay cash, or trade Winchester rifle, 44 Cal., Mod. 1873, in good condition. R. PEARCE SMITHWICK, 1.33 Mariner St., .\orfolk. Yirghua. WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. CECIL FRENCH, Naturalist. Washington, D. C. J12t FOR SALE. -Guitar, Tandem bicycle. In- cubator, Bflat cornet. Eggs, Coins, Show coops, Oologist's Osprey's Popular Science, Nidiologist, Condor. OTHO N. (iAY. Men- don. 111. WANTED. -A few first class skins of Contopus borealis. State lowest cash price. F. S. DAGGETT, 241 Rialto BIdg., Chicago, 111. FOR SALE.- Pacific Railroad Reports. Volumes, 9, Birds, 8, Mammals, 6, 10.12, Birds, Mammals, Fishes, Reptiles. Shells, etc. Five large quarto volumes bound in cloth. 265 full page plates, including 38 Rne colored plates of birds. All in good condition. The five volumes for $7.00. F. F. DROWNE, M. D., 20 Benefit St., Prov.. R. I. 34 THE OOLOGIST. $25 VICTOR Talking Machine, good as n?w and 50 records for tirst-classeggs in sets. A bargain, write. BEN.J.\.MIN HOAG, Stei)bentown. New York. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some hooks. Can nse many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rot hester, N. Y. WANTED.— Talking Machine or Foot Power Scroll Saw. for Banjo. Bird's Es-gs. Books. Magazines and Curios— F. L. BUR- RILL. 4 Pearl Ave.. Amesbury. Mass. WANTED FOR CASH. -Volume one (1), two (2). and three r.p of the "Bulletin' of the Michigan Ornithological Club, or any single number of the same. Will purchase several copies of the same aumber or volume. Write stating price and condition.— J. WIL- BUR KAY. 62 Selden Avenue. Detroit, Mich- igan^ FOR SALE.— Microscope, four inch tube total height, including base .seven inches, two objectives, in nice case. Good as new. Cost «5.50. Will sell for $3.00. Stevens" gallery pistol. Diamond model, six inch bar- rel, fjoth (jl"''c '^""' P<''P -fii/hts. 22 cal. in ex- cellent condition. Cost |H 00. Will send pre- paid for $3.00. F. P. DROWNE, M. I>., 20 Benefit St.. Prov. R. I. BIRD SKINS at a Bargain. I am selling part of my collection. 350 skins, about 100 species, many very desirable. All first class skins. Great bargains for cash. No Ex- change. List for stamp. Write at once. F. P, DROWNE, M.I).. 20 Benefit St.. Prov R.I. F2t EXCHANCiE.— One new 21 jewel. Gold filled hunting case watch, for 44 Colt's revol- ver, or A No 1 sets with data valued at $40.00. Watch cost $23.00.-S. G. JEWETT, 689 Temno Ave.. Sellwood. Oregon. Ff)H SALE. -82 good sets which list to $108 for $25.00 prepaid, also 160 other first rate sets on sale as a part or a whole. Send for list. FRED M.DILLE. 644 Gilpin St.. Den- ver. Colo. P. S.— Your magazine "The < »ologist" isthe best bird magazine for the price. Yours truly. A. C. R.. Toledo. Ohio. WANTED. -Western collectors and taxi- dermists to write for my price list of Arti- ficial Eyes. Prompt service. We save you both time and money. Western Head- quarters for Naturalists' Supplies and Speci- mens. A. E. COLBURN CO., Los Angeles, Cal.. 1204 South Main St. P;XCHAN(;E— A l mounted birds for Butterflies and moths in pajiers, nothing but perfect sjjecimens wanted. Write for li-ot. E. R. ADAMS, 24!I4 Washington Street, Rox- berry. Mass. (Ta.xidcnnist.i EGGS WANTED. First-class sets. Brown Creeper, any Horned Larks, .\ni. Dipper, nests if possible. .\lso sets .Mexican Jacana. Surf-bird. Turnstones, .\m. Avocet, Phalar- opes. Topic birds, Skau,.Taegers. Albatrosses. Spot cash. Ouote me what you can supply, (iood exchange in other sets if prefered. .A 1- so want all other specie-* .American eggs in sets, nest witli rare species any quantity. Send your list, (juote your cash price. BPIN- JAMIN HOAG. Stephentown. N. Y. FOUR POUNDS back numbers Recrea- tion, all difterent. postpaid, for $4 worth eggs in sets at list, first class only, sent pre- paid. BENJAMIN HOAG. Stephentown, N. Y. FOR SALE.— A large collection of Miner- als and Indian Relics, also Postal Currency, coins. f>ostage and Revenue Stamps. Isaac S. KIRK. Nottingham. Pa.. R. 2. FOR EXCHANGE.-Fine sets of Whip- poorwill. King Rail. Ilorida (iallinule. Bar- red Owl, Great Horned Owl: also a fine large hand made Walnut egs cabinet, for eggs. R, M. BARNES. Lacon. 111. A COLLECTION of postage stamps con- taining 855 varieties, fine condition. Cata- logued at over $22. Will exchange for $15 worth of first class sets. Send lists first. GEO. D. FRENCH. Ivory ton. Conn. FOR EXCH.ANGE.— Finesetsof Pa. eggs 761. 704. 581. 725. etc.. for others. Complete data. RICHARD F. MILLER. 3473 Amber St., Philadelphia, Pa. DO YOU keep worm eating birds? I can sell you large, fat. live, yellow mealworms. 1000 at 70c.; 1500. $1: quart (about 4000) $2. Ex- press paid, terms cash. G. BUETTEL. 7 West St.. West Somerville, Mass. FOR S.\LE. — A.l. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball. Tucson. Ariz. t.f. W VNTED.— Back numbers of the Oologist until further notice we will allow the prices quoted below for the numbers noted. A'o others wanted. You may select in payment any specimens catalogued by either of us. This offer does not apply to Instruments, Supplies or Books except by special arrange- mant. For 50c, worth will allow you a years subscription to Oologist. For 25c worth we will send you a coupon good for an exchange. Notice. Copies must l>e clean and whole. For June 18S.'< we will allow $.75. For May 1884: Jan. and June 1885, July- Aug. 1886; Jan.- Feb. and June- Sept. 1887; May, 1888; .\pril ]S.s|i: we will allow 50c per copy. For March iss5. Jan-Feb. and Mar-Apr. 1886; Aug. -Sept. 1888; -we will allow 25c per copy. No others wanted. These can be sent by mail for ic for each 4 oz. postpaid. Addres&s ERNEST H. SHORT. Chili. N. Y. Mgr. Oologist. I Have a Proposition to make to you Mr. Collector. I have a nice choice line of Indian Relics and coins. If you are willing to send first-class References an approved lot will reach you safely and on time. A few bargains. 5 Indian Bird Points. 35c.. 5 different colored, arrowheads, 35c.. In- dian Tomahawk. 35c.. 10 different Indian Im- plements. S.'ic. 5 choice War points. 35c. All the above for $2.00; 10 fine old coins 23c . 3 Lib- erty cents. 15c.. 3 coins 100 years old. 18c. My price list.old liberty cent, and confederate bill for a dime. We have the goods. You do the asking. W. p. Arnold, Peacedale, R. I. THE OOLOGIST. 35 fmi Mounting ^.^_, Wild-Cat. i;; • ^ Bf<- LEARN TAXIDERMY BY MAIL. We can teach you to mount all kinds of birds and animals true to life. Every bird-lover, naturalist, ornithologist, ool- ogist and sportsman shs, Cu- rios, Relics, Photography, Minerals, Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards. Rarities and New Finds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 3500 pages past two years. This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1895. and has the largest circulation of any Collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other American collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a word. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. Over oiiOO members in all parts of the world, or 50c. for a year's membership to American Historical and Natural History Society. Wrjte. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz., many colors: try them. • AAA AAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA • BIRDS EGGS. I can still furnish many of the sets listed in Sep- tember issue. If you saw 'or now see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list priiniptly. showing just what I can furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EGG FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E, SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf 36 THE OOLOGIST. THE WARBLER JOHN LE\^IS CHILDS, Editor "V77ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new ^'^ serii-s which will Qoiitain many sn- pin-b Cnlored Plates of rare estrs such as Kirtlaiid and Olive '\Varbl<-r. Carnlin:i Par- fqiiet, Clnrlc's Crow. Ipswicli and Rufous Crowned Sparrow, Yellow and Blaolc Rail. Calaveras Warbler, etc. Also splendid illusrratlons of Birds anil Nests, ami lead- lug articles by well k!io\vii niithorities. Il Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover STJBSCKIPTION PRICE Sl.OO PER YMAR. SINOI.E COPIES 30c Esffs of Kirtlnnd Warliler will be flcfured ill first issu''i.jan orFebJuf the new series. ADDRESS THE AVAKBTLEK FLORAty PARK, N. y. BU LLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. ALEXANDER W. BLAIN. JR., Editor. Walter B. Barrows, J. Claire Wood, Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photoiiraphs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If \ou are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBBELL, Business Manager. 112 AlexandrineAve., DETROIT, MICH. Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG OOLOGIST AND THE OOLOGIST will, during 1904, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will be advanced and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire back numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. Von can never obtain them for les.? money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 2.5 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1. 14. 18. 21. 23-24,31, 34-35. 42, 53,86. so. 111. 180, 132, 137, 139. 140, 1.53, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9. 6H-07. 76. 77, 78. 79. 88. 90. 113. 138. 146. are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14. 15. 16. .54. .55, .56, 7-5, 87, 127, 12s. 129. 144. 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19. 20, 22. 27. 28. .38. .39. 40. 45, .50, 60. 61. 63. 64. 65. 70. 74. 80. 93. 100, 114. 115, 126. 133. 135 are 10 cents each. icT All other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 nill send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published. Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- cludes your subscription through 1904. My prices for bjuk Nos. of the YOl'NG OOLO- OlST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. I. 1884-5, Nos. 1 to 12, ... $ .90 Vol. IT. 1885. Nos. 13 to 14, ... $ .50 Vol. III. 1886, Nos. 15 to 20. . . . .$ .90 Vol. IV. 1SS7. Nos. 21 to 25-26, . . $1.00 Vol. V. 18SS, Nos. 27 to 38. . . . $1..50 Vol. VI. 1889, Nos. 39 to .50. . . . $ .75 Vdl. VTI. ISBO. Nos. .51 to 62. ... $ .75 Vol. V!II. 1S91, Nos. 63 to 74. ... $ .75 Vol. IX. 1892. Nos. 75 to .«6. ... $ .90 Vol. X. 1893. Nos. 87 to 08. . . . $1.00 ^■clI. X!. 1894. Nos. 99 to 110. ... $ .50 Vol. XII. 1S95. Nos. Ill to 122. . . . $1.00 Vol. XIII. 1806. Nos. 123 to 127. ... $ ..50 Vol. XIV. 1S07. Nos. 128 to 139. . . . $1.50 Vol. XV. ISOS. Nos. 140 to 149. . . . ? .60 Vol. XVI. ISOO. Nos. 1.50 to 161. ... $ .75 Vol. XVII. lODO. Nos. 162 to 171. . . . $ .30 Vol. XVIII, 19ul, Nos. 172 to 183. ... $ .50 Vol. XIX. 1002. Nos. 184 to 195. ... $ ..50 Vol. XX. 1903. Nos. 196 to 197. . . . $ . 10 ■■ XXI 1904. No. 198 to 209 50 For $5 I will send pre|iaid a cop.v of every issue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty-nine uOi 25c and 50c copies. For $2 GO I will send prepaid every copy pub- lished. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (1)11 1 i-(i|iits priced above at lOe or over. — BOl.vD VOLr.MES — (an be furnished, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound in one volume $1.00 Vol. IX. The OOLOGIST for "02. 208 pages of valuable and instructive Oological .111(1 Ornithological matter with many full paire illustrations $1.00 Or. if you order the two volumes at one time, we will s( nd them by return mail for only .*1.75. Every stu . — ^ BIRDS AND NATURE, one year $1.50 $ Last ten back numbers BIRDS AND NATURE 2.00 ■♦■ 60 Colored Pictures from BIRDS AND NATURE, our selec- X tion 1.20 X .— -f The total amount of value $4.70 X ALL FOR $2.3S >; I have been for years taking books and papers pertaining to out-door life, and ^ have discontinued them all because they were not true to nature in coloring and T drawing. I have hunted and fished all my life. A year ago I saw a copy of Birds T AND Nature. After examing it and comparing drawings and colorings with gov- T erment reports. I can say that yours are absolutely perfect. I would not be with- T out Birds akd Nature if it cost $10.00 a year.— .^. fV. Baker, Dentist, Ogden, Utah, T Aug. 27. 1904. '^ Your magazine has certainly had a phenomenal success and it is entirely X worthy of its cordial reception.— J. A. Allen. Editor "The Auk.'" 4- When one considers the low price at which you sell Birds the number and ex- "♦■ cellenceof the plates are surprising, and I trust that your efforts to popularize the "♦" study of Ornithology may meet with the success it so well deserves.— i*'. M. Chap- "♦" man. Editor. " Bird- Lore." "♦■ A. W. MUMFORD, Pub., 378 Wabash Avenue, Chicago X ♦ ♦♦♦♦»♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦-♦->- COLLECTORS. HAVE YOU SEEN A COPY OF THE Universal Exchange MAGAZINE? If not, send 25 cents for a year's sub- scription and a 25 word exciiange notice free of charge. This is the world's greatest exchange and collectors' paper. Official organ of the LADIES' EXCHANGE BUREAU and Ohio Exchange Club. Six months trial subscription 10 cents. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE BELVIDERE. ILLINOIS. FOR SALE Birds and Mammals In Skins and Mounted Specimens. Desert forms and border species Birds Eggs and Nests. My private collection of mounted bi^-ds will be sold at a bargain. Also offer a full line of Indian Baskets of the following tribes: Pima, Maricopa, Papago, Moja\-e Apache, Navajo Mar- riage baskets and Hoopa (Calif.). Carved gourd drinking cup made by the Indians of Nicaragua, C. A. Navajo blankets and rugs, bows and arrows, Maricopa pottery, Juma bead work. Material for "Indian Corners'." GEO. F. BRENINGER PHOENIX, ARIZONA THE OOLOGIST. 47 Rhea Eggs. I have for sale a number of Khea e?ss just brought from the Argentine Kepublic. Would be plea«ecl to quote prices to those interested. .SAMUEL ADAM.S, Sta. B.. Topeka. Kansas. THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornithological Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps for sample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE ■rade Marks Designs Copyrights &c. Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica- tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patents Bent free. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken throueh Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific Hmerican. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Largest cir- culation of any scientific journal. Terms, $3 a vear ; four months, $1. Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN &Co,36iBroadway. New York Branch Olti^'O. C"b K b't., ■\V;ishin'.'toi;, D. C. HAVE thousands of good stamps cata- logued from Ic to $1.00 each to exchange for first class sets and bird books. For every dollar's worth of first class sets will give 11.50 worth of stamps. Send lists first. GEO. D. FRENCH. Ivoryton. Conn. FOR SALE OR EXCHAXGE.-Mounted Cirouse $1.00: Barred Owl. $1.25: Blue Heron, $2.25: Blue .Ja.v. 50c; Black and Grey Sfjulrrel. $1.25: Osprcy.$2.(io. GEO. F. HILER. .^ebring. IS PRINTED at the Book and Magazine THIS PAPER A. M.EDDY, Albion, N.Y. Publishing House of Bird Magazines Wanted. I want to purchase odd numbers of Bird M igazines. Will buy many duplicates, so- send on your list with cash price. Will alscv buy completeflles in any ciuantity. W. Lee Chambers, Santa Monica, Cal. At it Again. After some 6 months work building and in more commodious quarters. I wish to call your attention to the faci I am still at the old stand. This month I offer a few choice sets from last season's take: Holboell's Grebe, i, i. 10c. per egg; Horned Grebe, 2-8, 8c; Loon, i, $1.00. Virginian Rail, 1-10, 10c. ; Sora Rail. 1-6, 4c.; Bartraru's Sandpiper, i, 20c.; Spotted S.indpiper. i. 6c: Canada Ruffed Grouse, i. 20c.: Prairie Hen, 1-7, 1-6. 8c.: Sharp- tailed Grouse. 1-7, 1-10, 25c.; Marsh Hawk, 2-5» 15c.: Cooper's Hawk, i, 10c. : Swainson Hawk, i. 'very fine. 25c., i, i. 15c.: Broad-winged Hawk. 3. 50c.: American Rough-leg Hawk, i, very fine, $1.00: Am. Sparrow Hawk. 15, 15c.; Long Eared Owl, 2-5. i. 1-7, 15c.; Short Eared Owl. 2-4, 1-5. 20c.: Burrowing Owl, 15. 7c.; Blue Jay, 1-6, 2c,: Red winged Blackbird, i. Ic; Bronzed Grackle, i 2c.: Western Savanna Sparrow. J, 12c.: Clay colored Sparrow, i, s, 15c.: Arctic Towhee. i. 25c.; Barn Swallow, 1-6, 2k'.: Loggerhead Shi ike, 1-7, 5c.: Western Bluebird, i, 5c. Prices per egg. Prepaid by mail. CHRIS P. FORGE, Carman, Man. List of Mounted Skins. Birds and Snowy Owl with Rabbit, $3.50; Rough- lei'ged Hawk, spread wing with prey, $3.50; Red-tailed Hawk on wing carrying (irouse. $:ir)ii: Hough-legged Ha wk.$2.00: Sharp-shinned Hawk, immatiire. $1.00: C)venbird. 75c.: Long- eared Owl with prey. $1 75: Barred ( 'wl. $1.50; Sn'>wl>ird. 50c.; Snwwhet Owl. $1.50; Blue- win'.'cd Teal. $100; Pileated Woodpecker, $1.50: Blue. Tay. 75c.; Canada ,Tay, $1.00; Artie 3- toed Woodpecker. $2.00: Skins: Sandhill Crane, adult male. $2.50; Pelican. $2.00: Rich- ardSDU Owls. $1.00: Snowy Owl. $2.00. Can al- so sur>ply during winter fresh skins of Snowy Barred. Great Horned. Saw-whet and Rich- ardson Owls. Sharp-tailed. Ruffed and Pin- nated (irouse. Scalps, Heads and Horns, etc. CHRIS P. FORGE, Taxidermist, Carman, Man., Can. Southern Birds Eggs. In choice cabinet sets with standard data for sale. very t'heapor to exchange. Swainson's and Hooded W.irblers. Chnck-will's-widow, American Oyste-catcber. Royal Tern. Wil- son's Plover, ^^'illet. Clapper Rail. Black Skimmer, etc. The largest and most val- uable collection in the south, and a corp of competent collectors. Stamp for list. Sat- isfaction guaranteed. M.t.f. DOCTOR M. T CLECKLEY. 457 Greene Street, Augusta, Oa. 48 THE (JOLOGIST. John Burroughs in his introduction to The Nature Library says: "To add to the resources of one's life — think how much that means! To add to things that make us more at home in the world; that help guard us against ennui and stagnation ;that invest thecountry with new interest and enticement; that make every walk in the fields or woods an excursion into a land of unexhausted treasures; that make the returning seasons fill us with expectation and delight; that make every rod of ground like the page of a book, in wMch new and strange things may be read; in short those things that help keep us fresh and sane and young, and make us immune to the strife and fe\'er of the world. These are the words of the "Na- ture Poet," and admirably do they express what the ten superb volumes of THE NA- TURE Library do for their possessors. Every day adds largely to the number of homes, schools, and libraries now possessing the work, and each new owner becomes ^ more enthu?iastic learner in Nature's School. You will be interested in our descrip- tive booklet. May we send \ou one of them, with particulars of our present offer. DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. n3-579 1 6th Street, New York Cut this off here and mail to us. Better do it today. ' As necessary as a dictionary, and far more interesting." PERMIT US TO SEND YOU A c irplinent.nry crpy of our descriptive booklet with sample p. k^>. ^nmple liiree lolor photographs, etc., from THE NATL'RE LlbRAl-.Y. Write plainly. Yoiir !-.;ime in full Yuiir mail address, street and number Your city and state [A-278-SJ The Oologist A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements "Wants." " F^changes," "For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly tirst-class specimens will be accept^ed in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 4. ALBION, N. Y., APRIL, 1905. Whole No. 213 What's Your Number ? Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. 213 vour subscription expires with this issue 219 " " " " Oct.. 1905 221 " " " " Dec, 1095 257 " " " " Dec. 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-cla*-s matter December 21, 1903. at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act ot Congress of March 3, 1879. I HAVE a few very desirable sets for ex- change, such as loons, alabatross. cranes, falcons, kites and other Kaptores. ducks with down. etc. Warblers especially wanted. All answered. A. E. PKICE .Grant Park. 111. stf WANTED. —Fine sets of Sharp Shinned Hawks eggs. Will give handsome sets of Aplomado Falcon at reduced rates. T. H. JACKSON. 343 E.Biddle St., West Chester, Pa. WYOMING SKINS for fresh skins of Wood Duck, Owls, Warblers, Hummers, Vireos, Flycatchers, Sea Birds, etc.. not in my collection. E. A. LOCK WOOD, Laramie, Wyoming. A COLLECTION of postage stamps con- taining 1,025 varieties, tine condition. Cata- logued at over $22. Will exchange for |15 worth of first-class sets. Send lists first. GEO. D. FRENCH, Ivoryton. Conn. I have thousands of stamps catalogued from 2 to lOc each to exchange for tirst-class sets or Ornithological books and will allow you one and one-half catalogue value for sets in exchange for same. Send lists first. GEO. D. FRENCH. Ivoryton, Conn. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.-Fine sing- les 30a. 80-267-289-305, 325-339-.342, 343, 362, 378, 394c, 674. 687. 751 and others with data, will exchange for good sets or sell very cheap for cash. RAY DENSMORE. Box 191. Perry. Ohio. FOR SALE, at cheapest of cheap prices. A lot of good sets common, choice and rare; send stamp for list. FRED M. DILLE, 644 Gilpin St., Denver. Colo. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.- -Mounted Grouse, $1.00: Barred uwl, $1.25; Blue Heron, $2.25; Blue Jaj , 50c.; Black and Grey Squirrel. $1.25: Osprey. $2.00. GEO. F. HILKR, Seb- ring. Penn. FOR SALE OR EXCHANCiE. -First-class «kins, 3. 4-6. 130, 1.32, 149, 167, 2-390, 47S, 4-515. 5-534. 567. 624 728. 73.5. for good Indian relics or $4.25 cash. GEOR(iE .T. TILLS. Albion. X. V. FOR EXCHANGE. -A. I. Sets including 3:i\ki. 368fl. 428 and others for A. I. Sets not in my collection. A. D. DOERGE. Navasota, Texas. WANTED.— To exchange postage stamps for mounted birds, eggs, butterflies or good works on Taxidermy also Taxider- mist's tools. A. V\ILLI.\MS. 70 Argyle Ave. Ottawa. Canada. EXCHANGE. -One new 21 jewel. Corres- pondence Solicited. F. F. S.MITH, 93 Locust St.. Detroit .Mich. FOR EXCHANGE.-A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc., for American or For- eign stamps new to my collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. Will buy collect- ions for cai«h. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB, 202 Westminister Road, Rochester, N. Y. FOR SALE.— A large series California Murre eggs, fine sets of two and three White Pelican and others. Birds nests. Mounted Birds and Mammals. Skulls of small ani- mals. A fine lot of Guinea Pigs in all colors. Fancy Pigeons, (iame Bantams. A. 2. t. AL.MON KIBI5E, Mayville, N. Y. FOR SALE. -"Oregon .Naturalist" 19 Com- plete Vols. ISMii. also till numbers from Janu- ary "95 to December ,!ts. Complete Vols. 50c. Single numbers 10c. Will consider good ex- change in skins or eggs. S. (i.JEVVETT, ()89, Tenino Ave., Sellwood Station, Portland, Oregon. 15 FINE FLORIDA SHELLS B:B. A splendid assortment sent f. o. b. for $1.00. State whether you wish them sent by freight or express. P'RED M. ALLEN, St. Peters- burg, Fla. SAY! You should now Subscribe to the ilVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE. It is "Universal'" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the m isses. A fev/ of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE, BELVIDERE, ILL. FOR SALE. A private collection of eggs, containing 231 sets. Many desirable ones such as Duck Hawk, Loi n. Rare Petrels, Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemot, Flimingo etc. Send for full list. A. 2. t. MISS ELFREDA N. HATCH, Escondido. California. P. o. box 2.3. To Close Out The balance of my 1904 sets will make the following prii e« per set prepaid by mail on orders over $1.00. Loon 1-2 $2, Holboells Grebe l-.S. 30c;Horned (irebe 2-S, 40c: Can. Ruffed Grouse 1-8, 80c; Prairie Hen 1-7. 50c, 1-12 slightly nest stained, 60c: Sharp tailed Grouse 1-11, |2.20. 1-12 scorch- ed a little, $1.20: Am. Sparrowhawk 1-5. 50c; Coopers 1-4. :i2c: .Am. Rough-legged Hawk 1-3. $2.25; Marsh Hawk 2-5. 50; Broad-winged Hawk 1-3. $1..50: Swainson Hawk 1-4, 80c, 1-3. 60c; Long-eared Owl 1-7, 70c. 1-5, 50c, 2-4. 40c; Short-eared Owl 2-4. 6()c: Burrowing Owl 1-5, 40c; Virginian Kail 1-10. 70; Sora Rail W! 18c; Spotted Sandpiper 1-4, 15c: Blue Jay 1-6, 12; 7>oggerhead Shrike 1-7. 20c; Arctic Towhee 1-4, 80c; Bronzed Grackle 1-4, 8c; Barn Swallow 1-6. 12c. C. P. FORGE, Carman, Manitoba. Bird Magazines Wanted. I want to purchase odd numbers of Bird .Magazines. Will buy many duplicates, so send on your list with cash price. Will also buy completefiles in any (juantity. W. Lee Chambers, Santa Monica, Cal. TEi: OOLOGIST. 51 I WE HAVE A PROPOSITION I I THAT WILL INTEREST YOU We will send you the proposition and THE ARROW MAG- AZINE for three months if you will st-nd us ten cents (coin or stamps) together with the names of two other persons who de- sire to make a little c^sh. Prizes for amateur photographs and puzzlers; clever stories, new jokes and verses by our young poets. Department devoted to every collector and fadi^t. Ajt THE ARROW MAGAZINE t i BingKaLmton, New York. X X ^ t » 4 ♦ » ^4^^^^.^.»^^^ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ »♦♦♦ ♦♦>♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ »♦♦ ♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦»♦ fIfTH EDITION LATIIN'8 STANDARD CATALOGOE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY MAY 10th Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. S!iort, with the assistance of many prominent American Ojlogi^ts. A Complete Up-tn-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. P, inted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope. ) Postpaid 25c each. Four for $1.00. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JUNE 1 0th we will mail you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine medium loose Dates, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec, 1909. Total value $2.90:for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. 52 THE OOLOGIST. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. ALEXANDER W. BLAIN. JR., Editor. Walter B. Barrows, J. Claire Wood, Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photo^.raphs of bi'ds, their nests and eggs. I he BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithol. gy of t' e Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territorv. if vou are intere-ted in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBBELL, Business Manager, I 12 AlexandrineAve.. DETROIT, MICH. THE WARBLER JOHN LEWIS CHII.DS, Editor W7"ITH 19(15 The Warbler hpgiiis a new '"^''i" '■'^ wliioh will eoiitaii) many su- pi-rb Coldved Plates of rare ogu's such as Kirtlaiid and Olive Warbliet. Clark's Crow. Ijiswioh and lintoU'^ Crowned Sparrow, Yellow and Blaek Rail. CnlaviM-as Warhler, etc. Also splendid illustritjons of Birds and Nfsts. and lead- ing artielcs by w(>ll kiioivii ai thoritie.s. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages &. Cover SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Sl.OO PER YMAR. SINOT.E COPIES 300 Eires of Kirtlnnd Warbler will he flcured in first issn.iJan orFob.jof the new seiie.s. ADDBEss the; ^VAI^RT,Ji:T^ kloral park. n. y. Prices for Back Numbers of the YO'jNG OOLO-r-ST AKD THE OOLOGIST will, duriug ]t^04, remain as below: Xixcr which the prices of many numbers will le aiivanecd and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire back numbers to com- P-cte .\ our file NOW is the time to purchase. Von can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 2.5 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are .\s follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Xos. 1. 14; 18. 21. 23-24,31. 34-35. 42, 53,86. S!i, lit. IRO. 132. l.JT, 139, 14(J, 153, 158 are 50 cents iMcli. .\os. 9, 66-07, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90. 113, 138. 146, are 25 cents each. No:!. 11, 13, 14. 15. 16, .54. .55, 56, 75, 87, 127, 125. 120, 144. 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19. 20, 22. 27. 28, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60. 61. 6!. 64. 65, 70, 74. 80. 93, 100, 114, 115, 126. 1.S3, 135 are 10 cents each. ^TT All other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 will sfnd prepaid a copy of every issue ever published. Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- CiUilcs your sui.scription tlirough 1904. My prices for hack Nos. of the YOUNG OOLO- CIST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. 1. 1884-5, Nos. 1 to 12. . . . $ .90 Vol. II, 1885, Nos. 13 to 14, ... $ .50 Vol. in, 1886, Xos. 15 to 20. ... $ .90 Vol. IV. 1887, Nos. 21 to 25-26, . . $1.00 Vol. V. ISSS, Nos. 27 to 38, . . . $1..50 Vol. VI, 1889, Nos. 39 to 50, ... $ .75 Vol. VII. 1890, Nos. 51 to 62, ... $ .75 Vol. Vlll, 1891, Nos. 63 to 74, ... ? .75 Vol. IX. 1892, Xos. 75 to 86, ... $ .90 Vol. X. 1893, Nos. 87 to 98, . . . $1.00 Vol. XI. 1894, Xos. 99 to 110, ... $ ..50 Vol. XII, 1895, Xos. Ill to 122, . . . $1.00 Vol. XIII, 1896, Xos. 123 to 127, ... $ ..50 Vni. XIV. 1897, Xos. 128 to 139, . . . $1..50 Vol. XV. 1898. Nos. 140 to 149, ... $ .60 Vol. XVI. 1899, Nos. 1.50 to 161, ... $ .75 Vol. XVn, 191)0, Xos. 162 to 171, . . . $..50 Vol. XVIII, l9ol, Xos. 172 to 183, ... $ .50 Vol. XIX, 1902, Nos. 184 to 195. ... $ ..50 Vol. XX. 1903. Nos. 196 to 197, ... $ . 10 " XXI 1904. No. 198ta209 - 50 For f5 1 will send prepaid a copy of every sue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty nine uOl 25c and 50c copies. For $2 00 I \\ ill send prepaid every copy pub- lished, Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (60) copies priced above at 10c or over. — BOI .y\^ VOLUMES — Can be furnished, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. 1 and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound in one volume $1.00 Vol. IX. The 0()L()G;.ST for '92. 298 pages of vnluable and instrrctlve Oologleal and Ornithological matter with many full page illustrations $1.00 Or. if you order the two volumes at one time, we will send them by return mail for only $1.75. Kvery student of birds, their nests and eggs, should have these two volumes In their library. The valuable information they contain, is worth many times the price. .\ddress plainly. ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager of Ojlogist, CHILI, N. Y, The OoLOGiST. V:(^^ XXII. No. 4. Albion, N. Y., April, 1905. Whole No. 213 TyHE OOLOGIST. ""'XvA Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXI- DERMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT. Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annnm Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must be noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATE.S: 5 cents per nonpareil line each Insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches in a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 25 cents. No "special rates." 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom," "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no comml.ssion to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00; 1000 lines, .1i50. "Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. SOME HAWKING TRIPS. By HARRY H. DUNN. After Western Red Tails. I have been feeling it coming for some time, this longing to get once more into print through the columns of the Oologist and today I am' ;going to try to tell you just a little of tti^" fun I have had afield in the warm days of many a new year in southern Cali- fornia. How it is with the rest of you fellows who read the Oologist and contribute good stuff to its pages, I don't know, but as for me, I like to take down a file of the "old reliable," draw my chair up to the fire and spend one of these long evenings reading about the things some other fellow has done in an oological way in some other state. Best of all I like to read about their "takes" of hawks and owls and eagles, sets that are precious because it takes dear effort to get them. There are always such sets in every collection, and as I turn my hawk's eggs over, one by one, noting each flash of purple, each grotesque daub of brown, I come upon two huge speci- mens, unmistakably Red tails, yet o'f size more ample than most Western Red Tails, large enough indeed to have come from some of the famous hawk- ers of Iowa and Kansas and Minnesota, where the genuine old down east Red tail holds forth. What a day this set recalls to mind ! Morning in the hills, me astir at five of a cool March day, the 31st, I believe, the chores done, a lunch box, heavy with mother's good cookery on my arm, my little lathers' hatchet at my belt, my pockets full of cotton, and, last but by no means least, two dogs atrail. One of these, a bob tailed, human hearted old fox hound, answered the death song of a rattle snake almost four years ago. The other, little, and nothing, but common "dawg", but a fit companion for the brave old hound, still lives and is the 54 THE OOLOGJST, ROAD-RUNNER. Photo from life by H. C. Burt. Santa Paula. Calif. IKK (JOI/KilSr. 55 torment of careless boys who come to kill the meadowlarks or other sweet singers on his master's place. Such was my outfit, and I struck off into the hills like Ponce de Leon on the quest of his fountain of youth. Close together, like the three comrades that we were, we crossed the first low range of hills and then let ourselves down into a canyon filled with low live oaks, here and there a lofty sycamore rear- ing its white head gaunt against the blue of the California sky. It was almost noon when we came to this place, and so far I had found just seven nests of the big hawks, most of them filled with green leaves, but none containing eggs. Heartily tired I sat down to eat my lunch beneath one of the oaks, while the dogs bathed and played in the creek below, when, glanc- ing up I, saw, fitted close in against the trunk of one of the largest of the sycamores, a rough nest, huge of out- line and surmounted by the head of a hawk ! Lunch was forgotten. I ran down to the base of the great trunk, which could not have been less than three feet in diameter, and rapped excitedly with my hatchet. There was a scream from above, a sound as of flapping wings, and an immense, hawk flew away through the tree tops. The way I went up that tree was a circus and I have no doubt that, if dogs laugh, the sides of both of mine were sore when I came back to earth. The tree was too large to climb without irons and of these I had none, so I had to crawl into the tree on a low hanging branch. Once there it was an easy climb up to the nest. Judging from all appearances, I should have found at least a set of three ; what I got was two monstrous, badly incubated eggs, evidently a full set, beautifully marked, unusual in size, but too few to be typical. In nine cases out of ten, when a Red tail's nest contains only two eggs, the set is incomplete, though sometimes the fe- male lays a second set of only two when, for some reason she has been de- prived of her first S3t. When I had rested from this climb I started down through the oaks and about the first thing I did was to rouse a Long eared owl off six nice fresh eggs in an old crow's nest only a few feet from the ground in an oak sapling. I never saw one of these owls accept a deserted nest in so unstable a position but I expect Madam Owl knew more about this than I did, but I have her set yet. Then I began to investigate the old crow's nests more closely, with the result that, in the next hour, I took two more fine sets of the Long eared and found a family of three young Pacific Horned Owl. These large owls usually lay their eggs in January or February, so that their youngsters had a long way the start of the long ears. I flushed a number of young Barn owls, birds of the year passed, from among these empty crows' nests, and I judge that they were making use of them as roosting places and hunting lodges, for their home nests, I well knew, were several miles away in a honey combed cliff on the edge of a large canon. The Red tails seem to sort of shun the oaks except in very rare cases, so I paid little attention to many of the old crow nests until I came in sight of one visible from all sides. It was in the upright fork of a vertical limb of a giant oak, fully forty feet from the ground and without a limb for the last half of that distance. On the nest in plain sight, sat Mrs. Red tail, calmly watching my movements and not deign- ing to fly until I rapped her tree heav- ily several times. Then she left with a rush and a scream, rising to join her mate, hanging on motionless wings far up in the heavens. 56 THE OOLOGIST. It took me a good half hour to get to that nest, but when I got there all else was forgotten for there lay four beauti- fully marked and perfectly fresh eggs. Red tails by their markings and from her scream I knew them to. be, but had they b@^n Golden Eagles' eggs, I should hardlyt'have been more delighted. Thgrt^'When I had had a rest, I struck off across the hills for home with a light heart, and you who have wandered far afield in this pursuit know full well that it was well after dark ere the lights of home came into view. (To be continued.) Personally I am not competent to state as to completeness of set of 2 of 337b, but am certain that 2 is very of- ten a complete set of the Eastern Bird. Ed. NOTES ON THE WARBLERS OF CAN- ADA. By W. L. KELLS. The Mourning Warbler. (Geothlypis Philadelphia.) The Mourning Warbler though not abundant in any district, is yet pretty widely distributed over the province of Ontario, as well as other divisions of eastern Canada, but it is among the last of the family to announce its vern- al advent amid the wild scenery of its summer haunts. Usually, when the expanding buds of the lower underwood are bursting into leaves, when the yellow bloom of the leather wood scents the spring time air, and the virgin soil of the forest, is variegatad by the early wild flowers of the season, the observer of bird migrations, if in the vicinity of its chosen summer home, will be enabl- ed by the sound of its song, to add to his list this species, as among the more recent arrivals from the sunny south. But, as the month of July advances, its nesting period is over, its notes for the seasons are silent, and the bird itself appears to be among the first of the members of its family to take its de- parture from the uncultivated scenery of its summer home, and begin its aerial voyage towards its tropical win- ter residence in the regions of Central America. Here it enjoys the pleasures of exist- ing amid perpetual summer, during that portion of the year when its Ca- nadian fatherland feels the chilly breath of the ice king, is covered with a mantle of snow, and swept by the wild storms of winter. In March it begins its northward journey, but two months pass away before it reaches the terminus of its winged voyage in the region of its northern range and sum- mer home ; and here begins again one of the chief objects of its migration movements, i. e., the propagation of its species, and when the period during which this can only be done, is over, the impulses to return towards the south seem strong, and to yield to the promptings of nature, in this matter, is not long delayed ; for, by the middle of September, if not earlier, all the species of the genus have disappeared, though some individuals may linger longer amid the scenery of their sum- mer haunts, in the thicket and swamp, than is now known. The haunt and home of the Mourning Warbler, during the period of its resi- dence in Canada, is generally on the margins of lowland woods, or second growth swamps, where there is an in- termingling of young under wood, fall- en brush and Raspberry vines. It may also occasionally be found to frequent wooded ravines, the sides of brush cov- ered hills and the margins of mud bot- tomed creeks, which are found to me- ander their courses through what are called "beaver meadows," where there is deep concealment, and here, amid the thick foliage, one strain of the song notes of the male of this species, may often be heard in the midsummer days. THE OOLOGIST. 57 while the little performer itself is invisible. At times he will rise to a considerable elevation, and after a pleasing performance of quite a differ- ent series of musical notes, in the vent- ing of which he appears to take n)iJP^ pleasure and pride, and during ,w|iich he makes a raijibow like cjj:-c4e;»,,^p makes a rapid descent into ti^e-.thj^et below.^near where, v.it is probable, the female has her nesting place. Another particular haunt of this bird is small clearings in tracts of hardwood forest, and along the sides of roadways through primitive woods, but it is seldom ob- served out in the open fields, except in the backwoods settlement, nor does it often approach the garden, or other environments of human habitations, and, except where the woods are open, it will not be found deep in the forest, but as the original forests of southern On- tario are fast disappearing, time will, no doubt, effect great changes in the summer haunts of this species. In eastern Canada, the Mourning Warbler does not appear to advance further north than the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the valley of the Ottawa River, but in the western portion of its range, which extends to the foot hills of the Rocky Mts., it may extend its summer range to more northern latitudes, and higher altitudes, than in the east. Too little is yet known of the nesting his- tory of this Warbler, to describe wheth- er it deposits more than one set of eggs in the season, certainly its nesting per- iod would not allow of its raising more than one brood during its summer stay in Canada ; but where the first clutch of eggs are taken it will doubtless nest a second time. But considering the many enemies among the smaller mam- mals, birds of prey and reptiles to which its eggs and young are exposed it is doubtful if even one brood is rais- ed by each pair of the species that cross our national boundry with each return of spring ; even in the most pro- tective localities ; though the process of civilization is rather in favor of its increase except from the presence of the domestic cat and yet it is wonder- ful how some nests of our garden fre- quenting birds will escape the attention of^this agile feline foe.^, fhe chief I^rotective means resorted to, ,by this species is by sel,ei<;tii:ig; . a deep shady ^poteith^j, among thick herbage, vines pr ypungi\, underwood on or near the groiuQd, and then when incubation has begun and as soon as the female be- comes aware of danger she does not fly directly from the nest but quietly runs off among the surrounding shade and does not take wing till some distance away, nor does she return to her charge, till she thinks the danger is over. These efforts to protect her progeny are so far as human kind are concerned so successful that very few of the nests are ever discovered, and its eggs are, and ever likely to remain a rarity in oological collections, but the case is very different with the lower orders of Carnivorous mammals and snakes, which are ever on the search to find and devour the eggs and young of every species that comes within their reach. In this, charge the Red Squirrel, the Chipmunk, the Weasel, the Mink, the Fox and the Skunk, are among the chief transgressors that range the- haunts of the Warble s, while nearer human habitations, cats, rats, and even mice do their deadly work, and no enemy of all the Warbler family is more dreaded than the vagabond Cow- bird. During the past twenty years a number of the nests of the Mourning Warblers have come under my observa- tions and the finding of these has been rather accidental than the results of continuous field and forest research, Guelph, Ont., Daily Herald. Probably more authentic sets of this Warbler have been taken in Orleans county, N. Y., than any other locality as restricted. They much prefer the first nesting site mentioned. They do not nest but. once unless disturbed. Ed. 58 THE OOLOGIST. Adventures of a Grosbeak Family. The beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a common summer resident of and a well known and favorite bird in Jasper county, Iowa. I have found them nesting- in box elder trees at from six to thirty feet from the ground. Their nests are very frail structures and the comple- ment of eggs three, sometimes four. They are imposed upon by the cowbird. Fully agreeing with the article in the the Oologist written by Mr. B. S. Bowish, I have tried to make the above as concise as possible. A pair of grosbeaks have nested for the last three years in a box elder tree in our backyard, hardly twenty feet from the door. Last spring they arriv- d from their winter resort on May 5th and very soon after commenced nest building. We watched their frail nest grow from day to day until it contained three eggs.. After careful brooding by both parents, at the end of two weeks, three tiny chips off the old block were safely ushered into bird dom. About this time a spying Blue Jay thought that something similar to veal would suit him for breakfast. Happening near, he soon changed his mind, and decided that a brisk walk or rather a fly would benefit his appetite and con- stitution. For the male grosbeak as- sisted by two screeching robins, which he had called to his aii, soon made him hike out of sight on th i overland route. One bright day near the first of June, we observed the three youngsters perched at different heights in the tree, uttering at regular intervals their mournful little cry. They eventually reached the ground, where the children caught and patted them, placing them time and again in the nearby trees and a lilac bush, where they would stoutly cling and climb as high as they could towards the end of the limb. They would allow us to approach at any time and stroke their heads, at which they would open their mouths at us as if expecting food. The mother would fearlessly come to feed them while I stood only three feet away, but the father would never come out of the trees. At last after several days two of them disappeared, but the third a little male, stayed several days longer. He, a funny little fuzzy miniature of his illustrious father, was still covered with yellow down, as when he left the nest, and would always be seen hopping^ or taking three yard flights along the ground. One morning while I was eat- ing breakfast, I was startled by the ex- cited calls of birds in our front yard. I rushes out to find the mother Grosbeak flittin excitedly from tree to tree, while at the foot of an oak a wood- pecker was waging war against her off- spring. • I ran toward them, firing a club at the red headed rascal as I went, and picking up the poor young advent- urer, found he had been severly pecked about the head and mouth by the stout sharp bill of the woodpecker, who was now exulting over his victory from the top of a neighboring telephone pole. The sides of the young bird's mouth were badly torn and his throat was so filled with blood that he could not peep. After washing his mouth out with warm water and rubbing his wounds with cos- moline, I placed him in the sun on our wide front porch, from which on the following day he followed his mother off into the wide world somewhere, none the worse for his exciting adven- ture. J. L. SLOANAKER. One day last summer I discovered a Wood Thrushes nest containing one egg. On visiting it again I found three eggs. Then there was an interval of about a week before I got time to go to it again. Upon arriving I was very much surprised to see a Robin fly off the nest. I climbed up and found that the nest contained 3 Thrushes' eggs and 3 THE OOLOGIST. 59 Kobins'. A lady told me that about a week before she had seen a dead thrush near the nest, so I judge that the Robins drove away the remaining- bird. This is the first incident of the kind I ever witnessed. Is it a common or rare occurrence in bird life? DAVID HARROWER. Swarthmore, Pa. No ! This is not common by any means. Such notes are always of inter- est and solicited from all. Ed. The Editor of the Oologist : The excellent suggestion of Mr. Price, resulting in the appointment of a committee to whom questionable transactions in the egg line may be submitted, is one which will certainly meet with a cordial endorsement from all who have been through the mill. That the investigations of the gentle- men who have kindly consented to act in the matter will be accepted and duly appreciated goes without saying. My collection is still a modest one but 1 find in my note book that my first oological specimens were taken ^'June 20, 1884"; I have them yet, highly prized and respected, and I would hardly part with that old set of Catbird's f^r dozens of "rare and curi- ous" eggs that have reached me in the past twenty years. They run all the way from a couple of sets of Lapwing's taken in Dakota some fifteen years ago, to a set of. Rock Wren, recently received. The specifications accom- panying the latter set call for six eggs, but the Wren through an oversight, no doubt, only supplied five, the other being added by a friendly Vireo to com- plete the set ; all of which goes to show that the cowbird is not the only biped occasionally droppng an egg among strange bedfellows. But after all, it is not the rank, blundering imposter, making up impossible data or freak substitutions that drives collectors "out of the business" as Mr. Price says ; how much of tener do we receive a set with marks obscured or renewed, details on data erased or altered, or that just has a "queer" look, we can- not return it and risk an unjust accusa- tion, and so it remains, an object of suspicion and distrust among its honor- able neighbors, until, like an evil weed, it is thrown out and destroyed. Fort- unately the egg shark is not easily con- tent ; becoming bolder with apparent success, his greed is seldom satisfied until, over reaching himself, detection and exposure finally follow. In his connection I would like to sug- gest that, as a matter of precaution and self protection, collectors of rare and valuable eggs, particularly of the larg- er kinds, such as cranes, eagles, falcons, etc., might do well to note on the data blank in their own handwriting, some natural distinguishing feature of the eggs themselves, such as their size or peculiarity of shape and marking ; those are set marks that cannot be altered. I recently received a handsome set of Broad-winged Hawk's eggs upon which the set marks, originally in pencil, had become so blurred as to be absolutely illegible ; the collector, however, had carefully noted on his data accurate measurements of each egg, which I readily verified, and I valued these figures a good deal more than the com- mon place "Remarks" that the eggs were taken "From an old crow's nest, " 40 feet from the ground." This col- lector protected himself, for the eggs had passed through many hands and if any substitution had been attempted clearly he was not responsible for it. One more example may not be amiss. Of two sets of Wren-Tit, one was fresh when taken, in the other incubation was advanced ;" in the latter set three eggs have large holes, while the fourth egg was blown through a "pinhole"; no harm in that, to be sure, but if I ever send that set out in exchange to some suspicious stranger he may be 60 THE 00I0GIS7 relieved to see the collector's state- ment that "one egg was addled." T. W. RICHARDS, Surgeon, U. S. Navy. U. S. S. Arkansas, Nov. 28, 1904. Is it a Common Thing? On June 11, 1903, I'"started down the road for a little tramp and just as I was about to turn in the field, I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker on a fence post with a mouse in his claw, I went toward him and he flew to a tree taking the mouse with him in his claws the same as a Hawk does. I went to the tree and scared him and he flew to the woods with the mouse still in his claws. A. E. KIBBE, Mayville, N. Y. The Red-headed Woodpecker is al- most omnivorous in his feeding habits, but this is the first time I have heard of their feeding on mice. Might it be that the bird found a dead mouse? Ed. Sparrow Hawk feeding on Cocoons. During my ornithological rambles in the Delaware River meadows at Brides- burg, this county, during the winter of 1901-1902, I have twice observed the Sparrow Hawk feeding on cecropia moth cocoons, and judging from the large number of torn, empty cases of these and other moths they must feed in the winter to a large extent upon cocoons. Have any ether observers observed them feeding on these cocoons? R. F. MILLER, 3473 Amber St., Philadelphia, Pa. In December Oologist, I noticed de- cription of an egg within an egg, and you say that you had never heard of a case of this sort before. For over 20 years I have had a little chicken's eg.< in my collection found within an ordin- ary chicken's egg by my aunt. The egg is about the size of a Song Spar- row's and of a dark yellowish color the shell unlike the one described was not pliable. I have read of other cases. WM. R. WHARTON. Philadelphia, Pa. EDITORIAL. After many vextious delays our New Standard ['Catalogue is ready for deliv- ery. We are not conceited enough to claim that it is absolutely perfect. Recent developments since it went to press convince us that a few prices may not be just right, but we think it is the best obtainable and we trust the shape and style may suit the many who collaborated in its conception. We re- gret that lack of space and time for- bids a Skin Catalogue at this time. A Correction. Unfortunately, in making up March number our printer cut Mr. Foerster's article on "Some Bird Songs" page 41 into two parts and failed to give the author any credit for Robins vs. Rose- breasted Grosbeak. This on pages 41 and 42 was a part of one article with Redwing Blackbird on page 44. Publications Received. Journal of Maine Ornithological So- ciety, Vol. VII,;No. 1. American Ornithology, Vol. V. No. 3. Nature Study, Vol. XIV, No. 3. Wilson's Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 1. The Condor, Vol. VII, No. 2. American Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 4. Universal Exchange Mag., Vol. 1, No. 4. Amateur Natiralist," Vol. 2, No. 2. Penn. Div. of Zoobgy, Monthly Bull. ^ Vol. II, No. 10. Quarterly Bull., Vol. II, No. 3. Review. Gleaningms No. IV, J. W. Jacobs. "Some Notes on the Birds of Monon- galia, Co., W. Va." An interesting account of two trips through thi5 territory. Of special in- terest wai his find of Cowbird's egg in nest of Parula Warbler which seems to be una uil. Ed. THE OOLOGIST. 61 John Burroughs in his introduction to The Nature Library says: "To add to the resources of one's hfe — tliink how much tliat means! To add to tilings that make us more at home in the world; that help guard us against ennui and stagnation ;that invest thecountry with new interest and enticement; that make every walk in the fields or woods an excursion int ) a land of unexhausted treasures; that make the returning seasons fill us with expectation and delight; that make every rod of ground like the page of a book, in which new and strange things may be read; in short those things that help keep us fresh and sane and young, and make us immune to the strife and fever of the world. These are the words of the "Na- ture Poet," and admirably do they express what the ten superb volumes of THE 'NA- TURE Library do for their possessors. Every day adds largely to the number of homes, schools, and libraries now possessing the work, and each new owner becomes a more enthu^iastlc learner in Nature's School. You will be interested in our descrip- tive booklet. May we send you one of them, with particulars of our present offer. DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. '33*379 i6th Street, New York Cut this off here and mail to us. Better do it today. ' As necessary as a dictloDarjr, and far more interesting." PERMIT US TO SEND YOU A complimentary copy of our descriptive booklet with sample p.TSjes. sample three color photographs, etc., from THE NATURE LIBRARY. Write plainly. Your name in full Your mail address, street and number Your city and state [A-itS-S] 62 THE OOLOGIST. JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE \ Check List of North American Birds I } I Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. 3c each. PRICE 30c per dozen. ADDRESS t OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. t $2.00 per hundred i COLLECTORS. HAVE YOU SEEN A COPY OF THE Universal Exchange MAGAZINE? If not, send 25 cents for a year's sub- scription and a 25 word exchange notice free of cliarge. This is the world's greatest exchange and collectors' paper. Official organ of the LADIES' EXCHANGE BUREAU and Ohio Exchange Club. Six months trial subscription 10 cents. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS. FOR SALE Birds and Mammals In Skins and Mounted Specimens. Desert forms and border species Birds Eggs andNests. A'\y private collection of mounted bi^-ds will be sold at a bargain. Also offer a tull line of Indian Baskets of the following tribe>: Pima, Maricopa, Papago, /V\oja\-e Apache, Navajo Mar- riage baskets and Hoopa ( Calif, j. Carved gourd di inking cup made by the Indians of Nicaragua, C. A. Navajo blankets and rugs, bows and arrows, Maricopa pottery, Juma bead work. Material for "Indian Corners." GEO. F. BRENINGER PHOENIX, ARIZONA THE OOLOGIST. 63 W VNTED.— Back numbers of the Oologist until further notice we will allow the prices quoted helow for the numbers noted, yo others wanted. You may select in payment any specimens catalogued by either of us. This offer does not apply to Instruments. Supplies or Books except by special arrange- ment. For oOc. worth will allow you a years subscription to Oologist. For '25c worth we will send you a coupon good for an exchange. Notice. Copies »ii/s^ f/e c/ea>i and whole. For June ls^>^ we will allow $.75. For May 1ns4: Jan. and June 1885. July- Aug. 1886; Jan.-Feb. and June- Sept. 1887: May, 1888; April 1889; we will allow 50c per copy. For .March 1885. Jan- Feb. and Mar-.\pr. 1886; Aug.-Sept. 1888; we will allow 25c per copy. No others wanted. These can be sent by mail for ic for each 4 oz. postpaid. Addresss ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili. N. Y. Mgr. Oologist. I Have a Proposition to make to you Mr. Collector. I have a nice choice line of Indian Relics and coins. If yciu are willing to send first-class References an approved lot will reach you safely and on time. A few bargains, 5 Indian Bird Points, 35c., 5 different colored, arrowheads, :i5c., In- dian Tomahawk, 35c.. 10 different Indian Im- plements, 85c., 5 choice War points. 35c. All the above for $2.00; 10 fine old coins 23c , 3 Lib- erty cents, 15c., 3 coins 100 years old. 18c. My price li«t.o]d liberty cent, and confederate bill for a dime. We have the goods. You do the asking. THE CONDOp' A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $1. per year. Order at once of Business Mgr.. JOSEPH GRINNELL Pasadena, California W. p. Arnold, Peacedale, R. I. Scientific THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornitholo^cal Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps forsample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. Southern Birds Eggs. In choice cabinet sets with standard data for sale.very cheap or to exchange, Swainson's and Hooded Warblers, Chuck-wilTs-widow, American Oj^stercatcher, Royal Tern. Wil- son's Plover, Willet, Clapper Rail, Black Skimmer, etc. The largest and most val- uable collection in the south, and a corp of competent collectors. Stamp for list. Sat- isfaction guaranteed. M.t.f. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY, 457 Greene Street, Augusta, Ga. Shells and Corals. Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N, Y. 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE Trade Marks Designs Copyrights Slc. Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica- tions strictly confldential. Handbook on Patents Bent free. Oldest asency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive gpecial notice, without charge, in the Scientific Jftnerican. A handsomely illustrated weekly. LHrgest cir- culation of any scientific journal. Terms, 13 a year; four months, $1. Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN iCo.36'«">''«'-y. New York Branch Office. Oi") K St., Washington, D. C. 64 THE OOLOGIST. •TTTVYTTTTTTTTTVTTTTVTTTT* ► Got a Camera or Collect Anything or M I Have You a Hobby? < IF NOT, WHY NOT? BARGAINS ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and bc-t collectors" monthly for all kinds of Hobbies: Na- tural History and American Histori- cal Discoveries, Coins. Stamps. Cu- rios, Relics, Photography. Minerals, Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards, Rarities and New P'inds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 350U pages past two years. This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1895. and has the largest circulation of any Collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WHI-ST than in all other American collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a w(jrd. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska. U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. OveraiOO members in all parts of the world.' or 50c. for a year's member.'ihip to American Historical and Natural History S(jciety. Write. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz., many colors; try them. < < < < •4 M M < < • AAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* BIRDS EGGS. I can still furnish many of the sets listed in Hep tember issue. If yoi( soir 'or /lou' sec on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I •will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what lean furnish — H. SI you. ERNEST JHORT. Rochester, N. Y. CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EOG FOR SALE Jn perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. itf IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for I 905 only. "Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. LatTIN, Albion, N. Y. The OoLOGiST A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- ■Dartinent for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terrhs,, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 5. ALBION, N. Y., MAY, 1905. Whole No. 214 Take Notice. Examine tlie number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Remember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 207 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 " ■■ " Dec. 1905 214 your subscription expires with this issue. 219 •■ ■• ■■ '■ Oct., 1905 221 " " '■ " Dec, 1095 257 '• " " " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-claes matter December 21, 190.3. at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. I HAVE a few very desirable sets for ex- change, such as loons, alabatross. cranes, falcons, kites and other Kaptores, ducks with down, etc. Warblers especially wanted. All answered. A. E. PRICE .Orant Park, 111. stf WANTED.— Fine sets of Sharp Shinned Hawks eggs. Will give handsome sets of Aplomado Falcon at reduced rates. T. H. JACKSON. 343 E. Biddle St., West Chester, Pa. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.-A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc. for American or For- eign stamps new to my collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. Will buy collect- ions for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB, 202 Westminister Road. Rochester, N. Y. FOR SALE.— A large series California Murre eggs, fine sets of two and three White Pelican and others. Birds nests. Mounted Birds and Mammals. Skulls of small ani- mals. A fine lot of Guinea Pigs in all colors. Fancy Pigeons. Game Bantams. A. 2. t. ALMON KIBBE, Mayville, N. Y. P. S.— Your magazine "The Oologist" is the best bird magazine for the price. Yours truly. A. C. R.. Toledo. Ohio. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientitic skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson. Ariz. t.f. WANTED.— Fresh skins of the threat Horned Owl ( or subspecies ). Snowy Owl,, Ptarmigan. Mountain Partridge. Hooded Merganser, Wood, Duck, Sets of Cuckoos. Am, Herring (iull. Least Tern. Laughing Gull. Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. X. Y. WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. C'F^CIL FRENCH. Naturalist, Washington. D. C. J12t FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. -First-class skins, 3, 4-6, 130, 132, 149, lti7, 2-390, 47.S. 4-515, 5-534. 5b7, (J24. 728, 735, for good Indian relics or $4.25 cash. GEORGE J. TILLS, Albion, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.-294« Ml, 1-12: .333 2-3, 2-4. 1-5; 335 1-2; mh 1-3; .339 1-2; 360a 1-5; 364 1-2; \m 1-4, 1-5, 1-6; 375rf 1-3; 413 1-6: 4746- 2-3; 505r( 2-3. 1-4; 508 1-5: 510 1-4, 1-6; 519 1-5; 530n-4; 560 1-5; 581f 4-3, 1-4; 591c 1-3, 4-4; 596 2-3; 710a 1-3: 721a 1-7, 1-8; 743 a n-6; 429 n-2; iSO n-2; 431 n-2. I want many common sets from all parts of the country, but not series, one set from a local- ity is all I can use. H. H. DUNN, 138 N. Bunkerhill Ave.. Los Angeles. California. WANTED.— Old coins and stamps. Have thousands of old Chinese coins and rare eggs for exchange or sale, also American eggs. Gnatcatchers, Vireos. Warblers with nests. ERNEST B. CALDWELL. 1902 Vine St. Highland Park, Tenn. G. B. Heron's Nest for $5.00 by freight at buyers expense or will exchange for sets. WM. R. CRISPIN. Salem. N. J. MAKE SEPERATE CASH OFFERS for Bendire's Life Histories (both volumes) Fisher's Hawk and Owls. Ridgeway's Hum- mingbirds. Macoun's Canadian Birds and comiilete files of Nidologist and Osprey. DR. I. S. TROSTLER, Orleans, Nebraska. 66 THE OOLOGIST. FOR EXCHANGE. -Bird skins from this locality for coniniun skins not found here. All letters answered. W. WILKOWSKI, Jr. 9ai Denner St.. Kalamazoo. Mich. C'A.MEKA AND OUTFIT.-5x7 long focus with Voigtlaender Collinear Lens in B. and L. Diaphragm Shatter (best for bird or gallery work exceedingly rapid). Worth $100: price $60. Also several hundred bird and nest negatives for sale. Would exchange for good motorcycle. DR. I. S. TROSTLER. Orleans. Nebraska. PATHOLOGISTS AND xMICROSCOPISTS Several hundred finely mounted slides, pathological human tissues and injected normal rabbit tissues. Also a i inch and a 'i inch B. and L. objective. Wanted, cash, haemocytometer, mechanical stage or desir- able books. DR. I. S. TROSTLER, Orleans, Nebraska. WANTED. -Sets of Am. Osprey, also Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed, Red- shouldered and .Swainsonis Hawks if well marked. Can offer fine sets of Harris' and White-tailed Hawks, Aplomado Falcon. Merrill's Parau- que. Chuck-will's Widow, Whippoorwill, Arizona Jay, Hooded and Magnolia Warb- lers, La-Water Thrush, Black-throated Spar- row, (iray-tailcd Cardinal, Verdin, Rock, Baird's and Cactus Wrens, Curve-billed and Sennett's Thrashers, Great Black-backed Gull, Corn Crake and others. Address DR. T.W.RICHARDS, U. S. Navy. U. S. Ship Arkansas, care Postmaster, New York City. FOR EXCHANGE,-Some two hundred va- rieties of tine sets, full data. Twenty-thre? varieties of raptores. If interested, send your list and receive mine. J. M. CARROLL, 714 Speight St.. Waco, Texas. TO EXCHANGE.— Fine Warbler skins and sets for same. .J.CLAIRE WOOD, 17917th St., Detroit. Michigan. CORRESPONDENCE with parties collect- ing eggs in their locality and who wish to ex- change eggs f(jr some from mine. First-class standard data. All answered. Address A. PI. BROWNLEE. Box 402. Appleton City. Mo. FOR SALE.- Flint Lock Musket, in fine condition, for highest cash offer. A. B. ROB- ERTS. Medina. Ohio. Route No. 3. FOR SALE. -250 Singles. Nearly 200 vari- eties. Catalogue price over $80. $9 cash, or large discount in exchange for sets or skins. J. M. CARROLL, 714 Speight St., Waco.Texas. FOR SALE. A private collection of eggs, containing 231 sets. Many desirable ones such as Duck Hawk, Loon, Rare Petrels, Cormorants, Pigeon (iuillenKjt. Flamingo etc. Send for full list. A. 2. t. .MISS ELFREDA N. HATCH, Escondido, California, P. O. box 23. WANTED. Taxidermists to give me a trial in the new ami best kind of Artificial Glass Eyes for Animals. Will trade for rare butterflies. EUGENE E. STAINSKY, 1115 Wheeler Place, Col- orado Springs, Colo. My6t THE FOLLOWING EGGS ARE OFFERED FOR CASH,— Preferably in one lot though a few selections will be considered. Cheap for cash. No exchange. A. O. U. numbers. All eggs in complete sets and with full data, and from reliable collectors. The numbers to the right in parenthesis indicates the number of sets when more than one. No. 6, 7, 16, 27, '29, 30a, 51,65, 117, 122, 126 (2), 191, 194 (2), 201. 202, 212, 214, 219, 263. 273. 300. 315 (a sinsle egg and imperfect). ;«3, 336. 337 ( 2) . 339, :i42, 343 (2 holes). 37«, 378a, 325, 326, 387. and a few other Michigan and California eggs, common and rare, in- cluding No. 667 and others. How much for them ? .MORRIS GIBBS, M. D., Kalamazoo. Mich. sent post- paid for 25 cent.s. 13 FINE FLORIDA SHELLS A splendid assortment sent f. o. b. for $1.00. State whether you wish them sent by freight or express. FRED M. ALLEN, St. Peters- burg. Fla. Mounted Birds. American Magpie $1 10 Wood Duck, male, fair 2 50 female, good 2 GO Screech Owl, on stump. Red Phase 1 15 Snowy Owl. fine male 4 98 Oregon Ruffed Grouse 1 40 American Woodcock, very fine 1 88 Belted Kingfisher, fine- 1 00 Blue Jay, fine 1 00 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 85 Red-breasted Sapsucker 75 Scarlet Tanager 1 OO Yellow-headed Blackbird 90 Chuck-wills-widow 1 55 Bobolink 90 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, fine 1 00 wings spread, fine 1 25 Snowflake, good 60 " good, wings spread 75 White-throated Sparrow, fine 50 Tree Sparrow 50 Black-throated Blue Warbler 90 Chestnut-sided Warbler 85 Black-poll Warbler 75 Cedar Waxwing 65 All MALE birds unless otherwise stated are mounted on stumps or perches. Prices are by express F. O. B, Bird Skins. Scientific skins for scientific purposes only. M. male: fm. female. Red-poll, m $ 14 Snowflake. f m 14c: m 12 Wilson's Warbler, fm 34c: m .30 Cearulean Warbler, m 35 Mourning Warblei', m 40 Hooded Warbler, in 28 Connecticut Warbler, f m 34: in 40 (ireater Redpoll, m 24 Holboell's Redpoll, m 1 00 Kuby-throat Hummer, m or fm 50 White-wing Crossbill, fm 22c, m 28 .Myrtle Warbler, spring. Ill 20 .Myrtle Warbler, fall, m 16 ( ireen Heron, m 40 Cape May Warbler, in. 60 .Skins sent by mail postpaid, .\ddress: ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. New York THE OOLOGIST. 67 I THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $1. per year. Order at once of Business Mgr., JOSEPH GRINNELL Pasadena, California lS»=^=*5=^=*«:a:i!=55=i?=^ Scientific Shells and Corals. Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE Trade Marks Designs Copyrights &c. Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica- tions strictly confldential. Handbook on Patents sent free. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken throuerh Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific JItnerican. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Largest cir- culation of any scientific Journal. Terms, $3 a year ; four months, IL Sold by all newsdealers. ftMUNN&Co.^eiBroadway. New York ' Branch Office, 625 F St., Washington, D. 0. I Have a Proposition to make to you Mr. Collector. I have a nice- choice line of Indian Relics and coins. If you are willing to send first-class References an approved lot will reach you safely and on time. A few bargains, 5 Indian Bird Points, 35c., 5 different colored, arrowheads, 35c., In- dian Tomahawk, ;3oc., 10 different Indian Im- plements, 85c., 5 choice War points, 35c. All the above for $2.00; 10 fine old coins 2;3c . 3 Lib- erty cents, 15c.. 3 coins 100 years old, 18c. My price list.old liberty cent, and confederate bill for a dime. We have the goods. You do the asking. W. p. Arnold, Peacedale, R. I. Southern Birds E^s. In choice cabinet sets with standard data for sale.very cheap or to exchange, Swainson's and Hooded Warblers, Chuck-will's-widow, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, Wil- son's Plover, Willet, Clapper Rail, Black Skimmer, etc. The largest and most val- uable collection in the south, and a corp of competent collectors. Stamp for list. Sat- isfaction guaranteed. M.t.f. DOCTOR M. 457 Greene Street, T. CLECKLEY. Augusta, Ga. THE WARBLER JOHN LEWIS CHII.DS, Editor ■VT7ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new "^ series which will contain many sii- T'l'lj Coli'i-ed Plates of rare egss such as Kiitlaiid and Olive Warbler, Carolimi Par- li'Pier, Clark's Crow. Ipswicli and Eufous Clowned Sparrow, Yellow and Black Rail. Calavpras Warbler, etc. Also splendid ilhisrration.s of Birds and Nests, and lead- ing articles by well known autiiorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Si. 00 PER YEAR. SINOLE COPIES 300 Esgs of Kirtland Warbler will be figured in first lssue(Jan orFeb.)of the new series. ADDRESS THE W^ATJBTLEK FLORAZ, PARK, N, 68 THE OOLOGIST. BARGAINS IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepTiid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. 1 at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for 1905 only. BIRDS EGGS. I can still furnish many of tBe sets listed in Sep tember issue. If yoit satv or /iow see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showin? just what lean furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EGG — FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf •▼TTTVVTTTTTTVTTTVTTTVTTVe 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y. Got a Camera or Cjlitct Anytfiing or Have You a Hobby? IF NOT, WHY NOT? Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and best collectors' monthly for all kinds of Hobbies: Na- tural History and American Histori- cal Discoveries. Coins, Stamps. Cu- rios, Relics, Photography, Minerals. Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards. I-varities and New Finds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 3500 pages past two years. This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 18!t5, and has the largest circulation of any Collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other .\merican collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a word. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. Over SiOO members in all parts of the world, or 50c. for a year's member-^hip to .\merican Historical and Natural History Society. Write. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz.. many colors: try them. • AAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* The OoLOGiST. Vol. XXII. No. 5. Albion, N. Y., May, 1905. Whole No. 214 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXT- DEEMY. FRANK H, LATTIN, Putlisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to ttio student of Birds, their Nests and Egi?s, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annum Sample copies . 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonalile rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must be noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- pfr stopped, and all 'arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: ' 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches jn a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 2.j cents. No "special rates," 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom," "inside." "spot cash" rate from which there Is no deviation and no commission to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00: 1000 lines, .$50. "Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will Iv accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft. Ex- press or PostofBce Jloney Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and .Manager. Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. Pica Pica Hudsonica. There is a black and white rascal out here in Idaho that has furnished me more amusement and study than all the birds that have ever come under my observing ken. Of all the wise birds that the great All Father has made, commend me to the Black-billed Magpie. You no doubt recall that old fable of how all the birds came to school in nest building to the Magpie and one by one departed using just so much of the les- son taught as they had learned, until she was at last without pupils, hence the Magpie is the only bird who knows how to build a nest rightly. The story has a moral to it. It is a fact that of all the specimens of bird architecture that I^have ever examined the nest of this bird is far and away the most unique in its adaptability. The nest used to be constructed in hawthorn bushes about t^n or fifteen feet from the ground, then there came a change. When I first began the study of birds the fact that every bush of any size in the Clearwater valley was the site of one or more nests of the Magpie made me look to that bird first of all. I was struck at once with the great wisdom displayed in the nest building. It is a very bulky aff'air for so small a bird. Often it is as large as a bushel basket and is cunningly woven of dried iimbs that have fallen from the thorns and are a veritable chevaux de frise directed against any too inquisitive and dinner hunting rod- ent who sought to molest the peace and quietude of the family. It was my good fortune at one time to see a racoon din- ner hunting in this manner. He ap- proached the nest amid the storms of protest from the parent birds who dash- ed at him with shrill cries of anger. They picked and scratched in the most determined manner. With the sway- ing of the slender limb the poor coon had very little time to defend himself. With grim determination he crept out to the nest and when he found that it was quite another matter to get at the 70 THE OOLOGIST. Photo by B. S. Bodish. NEST AND EGGS OF LEAST FLYCATCHER, IN SITU., LEONA, N. J. THE OOLOOIST. 71 eggs a look of disgust came over his face that is hard to describe in words. With a zeal worthy of a good cause he sat to work demolishing the structure which he evidently assumed would take only a short time. The longer he lab- ored the more tempting those eggs be- came and at the same time more futile his labors were for he was tearing up the compact structure of the nest and making it more and more difficult to get a paw in. In fact he had by this time closed the nest up so securely that the old bird herself would be unable to enter. At last disgusted and full of thorns he clambered down and made off without any omelet of Magpie eggs to satisfy him for all the work he had done. I followed him up to the bush and got my hands nicely torn up trying to open the nest so that I might add to my collection. Many times have I re- turned from the collecting trips my hands one mass of scratches. The game was worth it all however. I have of- ten wondered how the old bird could get her body through the very small open- ing that she leaves in one side of the nest. She does though, for I have noted them simply dive into the nest without a pause and never break an egg. I said, at first, they built their homes in the hawthorn bushes in the river valleys. Now, however, since the advent of set- tlement and acquired enemies have tak- en the place of the natural enemies of the bird, they have begun building in the higher pines upon the hillsides. In fact the last collecting that I did in the Clearwater Valley of some one hundred sets that I collected hardly ten of them were taken from the typical nesting localities. Instead we were compelled to don the "hooks" and skin to the summits of the towering pines for our treasures. I consider this a very remarkable reversion with- in so short a time. I can see no objection to collecting all the eggs of this bird that can be found. To the casual bird student the Mag- pie is a very cute fellow with a fund of humor to his credit and a store of good shrewd common sense under his black bonnet, to the resident of his bailiwick he is a most arrant thief and des- troyer of other nests and is not above purloining a young chicken whenever the opportunity presents. Those are minor sins compared with his habit of picking at live animals. I lived among the Indians for several years, and learned that the Indian is never very careful of his horses, riding them until they have sore backs, then turning them out to get well the best way they may. Many and many times have I seen two or three Magpies seated upon the back of one of these poor beasts industriously making a meal. It seem- ed impossible for the tortured animal to shake them off. They would flap up into the air a foot and realight as soon as possible and resume their tearing at his flesh. The sheep men of the west hate a Magpie above all other pests. They harass the weak sheep in the spring to such an extent that they of- ten kill them. It is a rule on the range to shoot the old birds and destroy their home whenever one is found. This is not a pleasant topic in bird life but I suppose that we are not reading for the breakfast table but for information. The eggs are quite familiar to ool- ogists hence it is not necessary to des- cribe them. They usually lay large clutches, seven being the average though I have taken many sets of twelve and one of fourteen. These last are under the suspicion of being lain by more than one bird however. The parents are very industrious as indeed they must be to keep so many mouths filled. It is really astonishing the amount of food they will collect and carry to the nest in the course of a day. All is fish that comes to their nets. Everything digestible is commandered and carried to the waiting mouths. When the young are nearly grown and have left the nest they form a very 72 THE OOLOGIST. handsome family and the old ones are very proud of their progeny as they sit in the dense branches of the thorn shrubs. Freak Hen's Eggs. By Richard F. Miller. Mr. Hobble's very interesting- letter in the December "Oologist" regarding "One egg within another" was read with considerable interest by the writ- er who has observed some interesting data relating to freak Hen's eggs. As they may be of interest to many read- ers of the Oologist, I have contributed them : In the spring of 1903, Mr. John Luft, of Barnville, Berks county. Pa., found a Hen's egg in his chicken coop reputed to be the largest and first of its kind ever reported in that county. It meas- ured 6 1-2 by 8 1-2 inches in circumfer- ence and weighed 4 ounces. Ordinary sized Hen's eggs weigh only 2 1-2 ounces. Inside its original shell was another perfectly formed egg with a hard shell, measuring 4 1-2 by 5 1-2 inches in circumference. Near Eves- boro, N. J., last May, on the Chene's farm, a large Hen's egg was found. In- side was another perfectly formed. The outer egg contained the yolk only. Was unsuccessful in my attempt to obtain the size of this egg. Mrs. Joseph L. Woodring, of Schoen- erville. Pa., had a Hen (and may still have it,) that laid in the spring several eggs within eggs, the outer ones being extra large, and both eggs having hard shells and perfect yolk. Also failed to obtain any definite information regard- ing these eggs. A Canton, N. J. man, Mr. E. Smith had an enormous Hen's egg. It meas- ured 9x7 inches in circumference and weighed six ounces. This is the largest Hen's egg that I have a record of. In my collection I have four abnorm- al Hen's eggs. One is a runt, spherical in shape and no larger than a Catbird's egg ; second is the size of an Antwerp Pigeon. Both of these eggs are of the ordinary shape. None contained any yolk. The fourth is abnormal in shape as well as size. It is alligator egg shaped, double ended, size 3.25 x 1.75 inches and 8 1-2 by 4 1-2 inches in cir- cumference. It contained a double yolk and weighed about four and a half oun- ces. It was laid, as was the three oth- ers, by the Great American Hen. A farmer of Argus, N. J., had a Hen that laid eggs with three yolks, an un- usual occurence. In my collection of alcoholic specimens I have a four-legged chick. It lived only a short time after birth. My note book used especially for in- formation relating to freak hen's eggs and other interesting notes regarding the hen, I unfortunately lost. It con- tained much of interest and value and several list of freak chicks, with one- leg, four- legs and wings, twoheads, etc. A Mourning Dove Cronicle. By Morris Gibbs, M. D. A pair of Mourning doves has occu- pied our yard or vicinity for a period of eight years successively and the not- es taken have been so entertaining that they are offered for publication. Probably but one pair has occupied the locality during a season and as two birds have never been heard singing at the same time and three old birds have not been seen at the same time, it is quite likely that only the one pair or their descendents have bred in the neighborhood. Our neighborhood is within two blocks of the center of a city of 30,000 inhabitants and previous to this invasion of the locality by these happy mourners it was very rare to hear the notes in this vicinity, though birds are abundant in the surrounding country and frequently nest in the out- skirts of the city. THE OOLOGIST. 73 Though the species frequently re- mains in the county during^ the winter months, still as a rule the birds are found with us for about seven months of the year and generally less than this. It is evident that the birds leave the neighborhood and spend the balance of their time at the north in the country as they are never seen in my neighbor- hood after October 27th, while they are to be found in abundance as late as No- vember 1st in the fields and woods. The following dates of appearance •and disappearance are given as recorded for the neighborhood, though these dates must not be taken as the regular dates of arrival and and departure for the county. 1897, arrived Ap. 6, last seen, Oct. 21. 1898, arrived Ap. 4, last seen Oct. 17. 1899, arriv'd Mar. 30, last seen Oct. 26. 1900, arrived Ap. 2, last seen Sept. 26. 1901, arrived Ap. 3, last seen Oct. 27. 1902, arriv'd Mar. 30. last seen Oct. 25. 1903, arrived A p. 7, last seen Oct. 16. 1904, arrived Ap. 11, last seen, Oct. 2. The birds do not sing upon their ar- rival and are with us all of a week be- fore the first notes are given and some- times quite two weeks before the regu- lar song is uttered, though a few half articulate notes are occasionally heard as if the performer were practicing soto voce. The earliest nest construction was be- gun May 5th, but the birds were not observed in nest building each season. One season, 1901, the pair started two nests, nearly completing one, in ever- greens, and then selected another posi- tion and reared their young, quite re- moved from the first location. Indecis- ion seems common with them and one spring the pair did not begin building until May 28th. In 1904 I had an excellent opportunity to observe the nesting habits as the pair selected a large Burr oak Quercus ma- crocarpa which shaded my favorite seat in our backyard. The nest was placed at the side of a large limb at about thirty feet from the ground and was built between some slight supports offered by small twigs from a large Trumpet creeper which attached to the limb. Both birds shared in incubation as with the common tame pigeon and all of its varieties and as I have observed in the Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius both wild and in confine- ment. Both birds had low, pleasing notes when greeting their mate at the nest and these subdued notes were nearly always uttered when the birds took their tricks at setting, though the full song was never uttered in the tree holding the nest and the birds were very silent and unobtrusive about their homes at all times. When one of the pair was to leave the nest and make way for its mate it did not fly from the edge of the nest as do the robins and other well known species of perchers but generally stood upon a near by limb and watched its mate settle upon the eggs, but not rarely returning to the edge of the nest and billing and cooing over its mate. The period of incubation is 16 or 17 days and on June 3rd, 1904, the young emerged from the shells and received their food in the manner of all members of his family. The young are not fed as often as are the nestlings of the in- sessores and after they were three or four days old the parents fed them not oftener than every hour. Not infre- quently one of the old birds would sit near the nest and wait until the food was pre-digested ; this sometimes tak- ing nearly an hour. I could not discover that the old birds ever fed their mate but know that they alternate in incubation and judere that the trick of a bird in setting is about an hour. At the end of fourteen or fifteen cays the young were sufficiently developed to step from the nest and sit upon a large limb, returning to the structure the first night. The second day of their 74 THE OOLOGIST. outside life they chose a perch not quite ten feet from the nest and there they remained constantly for two days long- er. The two young- sat side by side and as close together as possible. On the fourth day of their removal from the nest the father bird, after repeated and unsuccessful pleading with the young birds to fly, deliberately alighted upon the backs of the young and literally forced them from the perch. They flew well at the first and returned but once to the tree and were soon lost sight of. though the old birds were often seen. The male continued to sing until about the middle of July as in former seasons, though as usual only in the ear- ly morning hours after the spring nest- ing was over, while the song was in- termittent through out the day during courting and nesting. The song, when given in full was always composed of the first or long note followed by the three shorter notes, the third and fourth being about half as far apart as the second and third. And now comes a remarkable instance of second brood raising in a species that is credited with rearing but one brood in a season. The two young disappear- ed and the old ones were seen repeatedly throughout the months of August and September, though not a song was heard. On the morning of September 28, 1904, I was called out of the house by an in- terested neighbor who excitedly told me that there was another brood of young in the oak tree. On going to the back piazza I saw two young sitting in the exact position that was occupied by the spring brood. We watched the old birds feed one of the young the next day and the bird was evidently just out of the nest. This is not only a remarkably late date for this species to nest but it es- tablishes the fact that the Mourning dove does, at least occasionally, rear two broods in a season, and this too without any song whatever being uttered. In North Carolina and Virginia: Progne subis. A common summer resident and breeder in all sections, apparently of regular distribution, as I have noticed no variations in their numbers in any lo- cality. By about the 18th of March they begin to arrive from the south, and continue to grow in numbers until about the 25th ; by which date, in eastern North Carolina, they are in full force. In the more northern and western sec- tions they arrive a few days later than in the east. In eastern Virginia they become common by the 1st of April, while in the north and west they are not fully represented for several days. Sometimes in southeastern North Caro- lina, a few are to be noted by the 12th of March, but usually they continue rare for a week or more thereafter. These early spring arrivals are not of common occurrence, about one spring in every four or five. Of all the birds that in- habit this land of ours, the Martin is one of the most interesting species. Obser- ving their graceful movements and ad- miring their wonderful flight, if we can spare them only a few minutes of our time, is a pleasure alike to all. Behold how gracefully, when at a height of several hundred feet above, they fold their wings and dart downward not to stop until they are perched in the en- trance to their nesting place, or how gracefully they wend their way to regions beyond the vision's range. As they dart hither and thither in pursuit of some unfortunate insect, they are soon lost in space. Throughout eastern North Carolina, nest building usually begins by the 1st of May, sometimes a little earlier. Eggs are rarely to be ob- tained before the middle of the second week in May, and usually not before the 15th. In the west, nest building begins later than in the east ; the dates vary- ing with those of their arrival, three to fourteen days. Almost every farmer THE OOLOGIST. 75 has his colony of Martins, therefore nesting sites are easily found. These kind hearted individuals usually pre- pare boxes for their little feathered friends to use, and under the protection of such powerful guardians they flourish in their haunts. - The boxes are, as a rule, so arranged that they supply nest- ing places for from four to fifteen pairs of birds. Apartments for six nests make a good size, being neither too small nor too large. In some sections they nest in gourds strung on the limbs of poles prepared to receive them ; the limbs having been cut off about two feet from the pole, a gourd is tied to the end of each limb ; a pole usually supports from five to twelve gourds. With a small hole cut in the side to ad- mit the birds, they seem to form excel- lent nesting places. But, even at this a few still adhere to the old custom and build in the hollows of dead trees or in cavities used on previous years by flickers. The nest is not very neat, being loosely thrown together in the bottom of the cavity, and consisting of fine roots, grasses, and leaves plucked from living trees. One box, in which I not- iced them at work building their nests, was fitted with such large entrances to the apartments that the birds saw fit to fill the extra space with wet clay ; which, when it became dry, reduced the size of the entrance to suit the taste of the bird. The eggs range in number from four to six, rarely seven ; five and six are the usual numbers, but some- times only four are deposited. The young leave the nest in the latter part of June or early in July, and then, ac- companied by the parent birds, they are to be seen at all times flying around over the meadows or skimming the fields in search of food. By the middle of August they begin to migrate south- ward, gradually becoming less abundant as the days pass by, and disappearing altogether in the early part of Septem- ber. R. PEARCE SMITHWICK, Norfolk, Virginia. This walling up the opening to nest- ing cavity with clay to regulate size of opening is a habitual trait of the Horn- bill and Syrian Nuthatch, but I never saw a record of this kind for any Noith American Bird. (Ed.) On the 26th of June. 1902, my little son and I were taking a stroll in the eastern suburbs of the city, when my attention was attracted by the vocifer- ous twittering of several birds on a clump of low bushes in a field of timo- thy across the street. At the first glance I took them for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but on closer observation they proved to be Bobolinks. They were evidently nesting, but I did not search for their nests, as the timothy was ready to cut and the place a very public one. A few days later I took my binoculars and identified them be- yond all question. The bushes were only about fifty yards from the street where electric cars, other vehicles, and pedestrians were constantly passing, but they seemed to have no fear, except when I stopped to watch them, when they flew to another part of the field. There were at least two males. So far as I know this is the only record for Miami county. The Bobolink nests in several of the counties of northern Indiana, especially on Lake Michigan, and has been seen in several neighbor- ing counties, but in eleven years' resi- dence this is my first record. Butler's "Birds of Indiana" does not record it from Miami county. W. H. SHEAK, Peru, Ind. My train was delayed a day by a washout in Southern Arizona, coming back from New Orleans, and I took the opportunity to do a little collecting abnut Pantano, a railroad station on S. P. line. A stream ran near, with many mesquite trees and I also got friendly, to my sorrow, with several kinds of cacti. Located several nests 76 THE OOLOGIST. of Cactus Wren just built, six or seven nests of Verdin in same condition (one had three fresh eggs), and took nest and three fresh eggs of CanonTowhee. Found a nest of Crissal Thrasher with two badly incubated eggs. This was on St. Patrick's Day, March the 17th. The Verdin's nests were all in trees on which foliage had not yet sprouted, and were accordingly easy to locate. Had the train been delayed another day, no doubt I would have followed that river and got myself lost some- where down by the Mexican border. Yours Sincerely, H. R. TAYLOR. A Quick Way to Mount Dry Skins. Take your bird and extract the filling very carefully, then instead of soaking inside and out, simply use luke warm water on inside and under the wings fill with cotton and soak it, being care- ful all the time not to get the feathers wet. Put in a tight box and in about 24 hours, (according to size of bird) ? you will have a comparatively fresh skin. Some of my best birds have been mounted this way, with very little, if any trouble. Roll cotton soaked around feet and legs. R. A. LEE, Sanilac Center, Mich. The Editor has followed this course with success for some years but would add that it is wise to grease the toe nails and beak before soaking to pre- vent them from scaling off. Ed. Irregular Distribution of Birds. The House Wren, is said to be a com- mon bird in this state, and I understand it is in many localities ; but in twenty years of observations have met with but five individuals in Bristol county. Examined one nest which contained sev- en eggs. This persistently erratic dis- tribution is difficult to account for. Some say it is due to certain insects, to which this bird is partial, being found only where the Wren summers. This is not plausible, however, because we then have the anomalous distribution of the insects to explain. CHARLES L. PHILLIPS, Taunton, Mass. Turkey Buzzard Near Toledo. On March 28, 1905, Mr. C. . T. Day, Mr. H. E. Emery and myself, all of this city observed a turkey buzzard. It was flying low and could not have been mistaken for any other bird. This bird is very rare in ths section of the county. A Sora Rail. On April 13, 1905, Mr. Paul Kone of this city caught a Sora Rail with his chickens. He shut it up in the shed over night but it was found dead in the morning. This is a peculiar place to find a Rail. A. C. READ. Editor of the Oologist : About three weeks ago 1 put up a bird box for wrens and in a week a pair had commenced to build in it. It is now complete and has a full complement of eggs (7) which are nearly hatched. Al- though several mornings it has been at freezing point the eggs are alright. Is it not rather unusual for wrens to build so early? Also several sets of Lark Sparrow's eggs have been taken here. April 19, 1905. URI WORCESTER. Evidently the Wrens are early in Ok- lahoma. Western New York has enjoy- ed nightly freezes and several snow storms during the last two weeks. Rob- ins, Bluebirds, Horned Larks, Hawks and a few Phoebe's are nesting. Edi- tor. Publications Received. The Warbler, Vol. I, No. 2. Nature Study, Vol. XIV, No. 4. Am. Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 5. THE (X)L0G1ST. 77 BIRD BOOKS, BIRD MAGAZINES, OOLOGIST'S INSTRUMENTS. OOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, Everything Sent Postage or Express Prepaid. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway's North Ameri- can Land JBirds. 3 vols., cloth, new edition, ■ 1800 pages, 64 colored plates, nearly 600 other illustrations I 9.00 Cones' Key, '2 vols., cloth 11.50 Kidgway's Manual, cloth or leather. 5,t)0 Chapman's Handbook, leat'r, $2.60 ; cloth 2.25 Bailey's Handbook, Western Birds .3.35 Reed's Noith American Bird's Eggs, or Chapman's Color Key. and a year's . subscription to any $1.00 magazine published, or any two 50c magazines. . 3.00 Davie's Nests and Eggs, and i Cut-Lining Egg Drills, and one best Blowpipe 2.00 Blowpipes, 15c, 22c, 30.-. Best 9 to 12 inch- es long 10 Out-the-Lining Egg Drills. 25c, 35c, and 50c each. 4 selected sizes ■ 1.00 Pencils, very soft for eggs ■•• 10 Embro Hooks, 15c. Best .25 Embryo Scissors, 25c. Fine, lie. Curv- ed, 88c. Best curved 1.25 Data Blanks. 3x5 in. pads. 100 10 Best .Vickie Sliding Calipers 88 Best Steel Climbers, without straps, $1.90; with straps 2.'50 Field Glasses, very fine pair, in case with straps 4.75 C. ct S. High Grade Egg Drills, the best old style drill made, 3 in. handles, Nos. 0 and 1, 20c; No. 2 2oc; No. 3, 35c; No. 4, 45c. 6 Inch handles. No. 1, 25c; No. 2. 35c; No. 3, 50c; No. 4. 75c; No. 5, $1.00. No. 6 1.50 Black-chinned Hummer. 10 sets, nest on branch. 2 eggs 85 Annas Hummer, 10 sets, nest on branch. 2 eggs 85 Scarlet Ibis. l-l.... 60 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1-2. $1.00: 1-4 3.00 Broad-winged Hawk. 2-2. $1.50; 1-3 2.25 Hooded Warbler. 1-3, 48c; N-4 75 Magnolia Warbler, 1-3, 40c; N 4, 75c; N-5, 1.25 Parula Warbler. 3-4 40 Canadian Warbler. 1-5 5.00 Black-throated Blue Warbler, N-4 4.00 Water Thrush, N-3 1,50 Ovenbird, N-5 55 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1-6 • 3.75 < )live-backed Thrush, N-3 60 Hermit Thrush, 1-3, 30c; N 3 60 Purple Finch, 1-3 40 White-throated Sparrow. 1-3. 70c; 1-4, $1; N-4 •. 1.25 Swamp Sparrow. N-5 60 Alder Flycatcher, N-3 30 Black-billed Cuckoo, N-3 30 Olive-sided Flycatcher. N-2 2.00 Couch's Kingbird. 1-4 2.00 Blue-winged Warbler, 1-4, $1.75. 1-5 2.00 Pine Siskin, 1-3 1.50 Derby Flycatcher. 1-1 1.00 Sooty Grouse. 1-5 1.75 Harlequin Duck, 1-5 2.00 Ferruginous Rough Leg. 1-3 1.95 Desert Sparrow Hawk, 1-4 50 White-necked Raven, 1-4, 80c; 1-5 1.00 Chuck-wills- Widow, 1-2 1.50 Whip-poor-will. 1-2 1.10 Send for my full lists and Bulletins. Let me quote you an any want in books, maga- zines, oologist or taxidermist's tools, or fine sets of eggs. BENJAMIN HOAG, m2t Stephentown, New York. THIS 18 THE m THEY COME. Dear Mr. Short: Your new catalogue is to hand. .Many thanks for same. It certainly is the reri? thing. c. w. c. ViNCENNES. IXD. - Your catalogue is very tastily gotten up. It is.neat form and handy. In so many lists of this kind, when it comes to the scientific names, the printer falls clear down, and with- out a most painstaking proof-reader gets after him. a tyhographically incorrect mess is made of it. In your Catalogue I have not yet noticed any. As to the matter of prices, I am not an authority along this line, and can express no opinion, other than that I believe that the names of the compilers, Latiin and Short is sufficient guarantee of the prices being just about in the right notch. They know. C. F. P. (ientlemen: Your new Price List of North American Birds Eggs was duly received. Many, many thanks for same. It is a Beauty, binding, paper and press work simply fine, size per- fect. After only a hurried glance would say that the prices aiipear to be fair and equit- able. The compilers surely deserve great credit, and should meet with the support which their efforts so richly deserve. Yours truly. PHILO W. SMITH, JK. The new "Standard Egg Catalogue" at hand. Many thanks for same. It came as a surprise. Beyond doubt it is the best out and will become the standard medium of ex- change with all Oologists. J. C. W. Bird Magazines Wanted. I want to purchase odd numbers of Bird Magazines. Will buy many duplicates, so send on your list with cash price. Will also buy corapletefiles in any quantity. W. Lee Chambers, Santa Monica, Cal. TyPEWRITER BARGAINS Udell's $6.45. Amer ican s $5.90. Each with fancy case. Typewriter papers; 500 8xl0i sheets 65c; Circulars free. Agents wanted. THE A. L. HARVICK NOVELTY CO., Vienna, Ills. M3t TUjP pADfP IS PRINTED at the IIIIO rArLlV Book and Magazine Publishi House of r A. M. EDDY, Albion, N.Y. BIRD SKINS at a Bargain. I am selling part of my collection. 1350 skins, about 100 species, many very desirable. All first class skins. Great bargains for cash. No Ex- change. List for stamp. Write at once. F. P. DROWNE, M. D., 20 Benefit St.. Prov R.I. F2t 78 THC OOLOGIST. • TTTTTTTTTTTTT^TTTTVTVTTTVTT ▼TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTVTVTTTVTV* ► < I CombinaLtion Offer. < ► M ► M ► We Offer Oologist one year ^ r and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," m ^ New illustrated Key, $2.50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 ^ ► Oologist one year ^ ^ and Chapman's "Color Key," ^ ► New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, < ^ all prepaid $2.60 ^ ► Oologist one year ^ ^ and "Frederick Young" ^ ► The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 < p, Oologist /owr years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key, "•••$3.25 < ► Oologist /owr years, as above, < p. and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 < ► Oologist /bwr years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ► Address < t ERNEST H. SHORT. 1 ^ Manager Oologist Chili, N.Y. .^ ► • < •AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter b. barrows., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, 112 AlexandrineAve., DETROIT, MICH. Quails Eggs Wanted. strictly fresh, candle tesfcd, quails eggs, any species: for hntchina purposes. None but tested eggs accepted. Send via express C O. I), subject to examination. Mark "Eggs for hatching. Kl'SH." 10 cents per egg. H. L. WOOD. M. L).. Groton, Conn., Publisher Fur, Fin and Feather. PHOTOS! SLIDES! For J u n e only, 1 doz. 4x5 prints selected from nearly 200 subjects, 60c; 15c each. 1 doz. slides, any subject, $2.75, 25c each. B. S. Bowdish, Dem- arest, N. J. THE JOURNAL OF THE Uaine Ornithological Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps for sample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. IHE OOLOGIST. 79 ♦4^>4»»»4»44»^>^>4»4»M» ♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦ »♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦-♦-♦♦ I WE HAVE A PROPOSITION I THAT WILL INTEREST YOU We will send you the proposition and THE ARROW MAG- ^ AZINE for three months if you will send us ten cents (coin or X stamps) together with the names of two other persons who de- "♦- sire to make a little cash. Prizes for amateur photographs and puzzlers; clever stories, new jokes and verses by our young poets. Department devoted to every collector and fadist. Ast THE ARROW MAGAZINE i BinghaLinton. New York. FlfTH EDITION LATTIN'S STANDARD CATALOGUE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for $1.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JULY lOth wewill mail you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Oatas or 250 fine medium loose Oatas, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec, 1909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H, SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. 80 THE OOLOGIST. A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check List of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. 3c each. PRICE 30c per dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ -♦♦♦»♦»♦♦♦♦♦» ♦ 4 COLLECTORS. HAVE YOU SEEN A COPY OF THE lloiversal Exchange MAGAZINE? If not, send 25 cents for a year's sub- scription and a 25 word exchange notice free of charge. This is the world's greatest exchange and collectors' paper. Official organ of the LADIES' EXCHANGE BUREAU and Ohio Exchange Club. Six months trial subscription 10 cents. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS. SAY! You should now Subscribe to the IINIVERSAL EKHANfiE MAfiAZINE. It is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. . 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE. BELVIDERE, ILL. The Oologist A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANC^S. Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- oartment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 6. ALBION, N. Y., JUNE, 1905. Whole No. 215 Take Notice. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Remember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 207 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 " " Dec. 1904 215 vour subscription expires with this issue 219 •' •• •' '• Oct., 1905 221 " " " " Dec, 1095 257 " •• •• " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21, 190.3, at the post office at Albion, N. Y., tinder the Act of Congress of March .3, 1879. FOR EXCHANGE.-A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc., for American or For- eign stamps new to my collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. Will buy collect- ions for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB, 202 Westminister Road, Rochester, N. Y. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.-O and O Vols., VI. VII. VIII. condor. Vols. IV, etc Want bird skins or books. F. B. KECHNIE, Ponkspog, Mass. FOR SALE.— A large series California Murre eggs, fine sets of two and three White Pelican and ■ News, M ^ LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER,! ^ ^ Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. ^ ^ Greatest of its kind in the world. ^ ^ Fifty cents entitles you to a year's ^ L subscription and a free 15 word ex- ^ ^ change notice in the largest exchange ^ ^ department extant, over 3500 pages ^ ^ past two years. 3 ► This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly < ^ was established in 1895. and has the ^ w. largest circulation of any Collector's ^ ^ monthly in the world, and in size has ^ C nn rival. More ads. in the WEST ^ w. than in all other American collectors' ^ ^ monthlies combined. The best pay- ^ ^ ing medium for advertisers. Ic a .^ ^ word. Rates small, results large. It ^ w will pay you to write us about it. ^ ^ OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots ^ w of it." ^ ^ Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ^ ^ ing it to ^ ^ L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, < ^ Superior. Nebraska. U. S. A ^ ^ Send five cents f(jr membershii) card ^ ^ to .American Camera Club Exchange. ^ w overSWO members in all parts of the ^ C world, or oOt. for a year's membership ^ C to .\mericati Historical and Xatural ^ ^ History Society. Write. ^ ^ Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the ^ ^ doz., many colors; try them. •« • AAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* THE OOLOGIST. 83 I CombirvsLtion Offer. < ► We Offer Oologist one year ^ ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^ ► New illustrated Key, 52.50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 ^ ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and Cliapman's "Color Key," < ^ New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, ^ ► all prepaid $2.60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and "Frederick Young" ^ ^ The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 ^ ► Oologist /oMf years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key, "••$3. 25 ^ ^ Oologist /o«r years, as above, ^ ^ and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 ^ ^ Oologist /bwr years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; ^ ► New Edition, Colored Plates, price $10.00, for $8,60. ^ ► Address < t ERNEST H. SHORT. 5 ► Manager Oologist Chili. N.Y. M • AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA • North American Land Birds. By Baird, Brewer and Kidgway. New edition in 3 volumes. 1800 pages, 1000 cuts. 545 colored figures, cloth, gilt top boxed. Special features of great value. Complete anylitical tables. Write for price if interest- ed. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. 50 YEARS* EXPERIENCE 'radc Marks Designs Copyrights &c. Anyone sendlag a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica- tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patents sent free. Oldest aeency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without cnarge. in the Scientific Jitiicrican. Largest cir- Terms, $3 a A handsomely illustrated weekly, culation of any scientific journal, year: four months, $1. Sold by all MUNN &Co.36iBroadway. New York THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $1. per year. Order at oixie of Business Mgr.. Branch Office, fi25 F St., Washington, D. 0. 84 THE OOLOGIST. ♦ » ♦ » JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check List of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both , common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. T i ♦ $2.00 per hundred i 3c each. PRICE 30c per dozen. ADDRESS OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. SAY! You should now Subscribe to the UNIVERSAL EXCHiGE MAGAZINE. it is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE AVAGAZINE. BELVIDERE, ILL. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. ■WALTER B. BARROWS., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory, if you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, 112 AlexandrineAve., DETROIT. MICH. The OoLOGisT. Vol. XXII. No. 6. Albion, N. Y., June, 1905. Whole No. 215 On the Use in Surgery of Tendons of the Ardeidae and Gruidae. compliments of the author. The subject of sutures and ligatures and their proper sterilization and use has long been an important subject in the realm of modern surgery. Various materials have from time to time been recommended, many to drop by the way side, and we find even in the materials of the present day, namely, catgut, kangaroo tendon, silk, silkworm gut, horse hair and silver wire, great differ- ence of opinion in the minds of surgeons as to their use. The recent introduction by Dr. Kieff- er of an entirely new material will be of much interest to the surgeon, but it likewise will be of no less interest to the American ornithologist. Dr. Kieff- er found after a series of experiments that the tendons of the Ardeidae and Gruidae made an excellent suture and ligature and, moreover, that they seem- ed to possess some advantages over the present materials, principally kangaroo tendon and catgut. The flexor and ex- tensor tendons of the great blue heron (Ardea herodias) were first made use of, and later those of the sand hill crane (Grus canadensis) and whoop- ing crane {G. americana) . The ten- dons were readily made aseptic by the Claudius method of sterilizing catgut. Regarding his experiments Dr. Kieff- er says: "There is still room in the armamentarium of the surgeon for a re- liable, slowly absorbable suture and ligature material. I have been recent- ly investigating a material which I be- lieve to be entirely new. Dr. Geo. P. Johnson, of Cheyenne, called my atten- tion to the long and strong tendons in the legs of the bird commonly known throughout the United States as the blue crane. He had used this material with excellent results as a suture for the aponeurosis in a case of hernia, the suture giving no trouble and appar- ently being absorbed in time. I obtain- ed from him a number of those tendons and immediately began a series of ex- periments to test their value.*** As a result of these studies I have come to the conclusion that we have not only a valuable suture and ligature material, but one easily obtained in all parts of the world. " It is to be wondered that, the tendons of the larger grallatorjal birds were not long ago thought of as suitable material for surgical purposes. . Dr. Johnson is to be commended for his originality." Thus the herons and cranes are given an economic value which unfortunate- ly must further add to their destruc- tion. Think of the thousands of these birds which would have to be killed annually should this material be adoptr ed for ligature and suture purposes by even a small proportion of our Ameri- can surgeons. It is the least of my desire to criticize the author above referred to. His well conducted experiments are commenda- ble, but only to voice a word of warning to what at present might prove the extermination of the larger members of two great families of birds. Unlike the Anseres (ducks, geese, swans) and members of the order Gall- inae, notably the bob-white (Colinus rirginianus), the members of the Ar- deidae and Gruidae are far from pro- lific breeders. Members of the latter 86 THE OOLOGIST. named families rarely lay over five eggs, while certain ducks lay as high as fifteen and the bob-white often more than twenty. Moreover, the latter two species often raise more than one brood in a season, and it is doubtful if the herons and cranes ever do. This will partially account for the survival of the game birds in spite of the inroads caused by gunners. Furthermore, herons build in colonies termed heron- ies, so that once the breeding place is located their capture is made easy. Thus the herons {A. herodias) of any one county of Michigan, for instance, might be exterminated by one hunter in the course of a season, should there be a demand Unlike a great proportion of our American birds, little can be said of the economic value of members of the above mentioned families, either as benefactors to agriculture as insect and weed-seed destroyers, or an articles of food. A plea for the herons and cranes then can be made solely on sentimental grounds. It is their esthetic value, not as songsters, but their beauty, the grace which their presence adds to the landscape of the various portions of our continent. The history of a departing race is always a sad one and, judging from the thousands of dollars which are spent annually on our zoological gard- ens, we are inclined to believe that our people admire rather than desire to exterminate any of our native fauna. Truly the places occupied by our herons and cranes is a typical one, and as orn- ithologists we should aim to preserve rather than destroy. Already some members of the tribe have been driven to the verge ot exter- mination by the plume hunters. A strong public sentiment has been raised of late in favor of these species, not only in this country, but in various countries of Europe. Under the present conditions the organized bird protectors of this country, the Audubon societies, had looked for an increase in these species under our more recent laws re- garding birds, but it is plain to see that should the tendons become popular with our surgeons for ligature and suture purposes the birds might have a still greater enemy. I do not consider the statement sweeping .when I say that the extermination of some species would be only a matter of time. However, as the author concludes : "Think of the comfort to the civil or military surgeon in isolated places of knowing that he can have a suture ma- terial at the end of his shot gun." ALEANDER W. BLAIN, JR. Detroit College of Medicine. Not enough of any Amercian Crane could be procured to even establish a market. If the price made it an object the colony breeding Herons would suffer to some extent unless some semi-domes- tic industry could be established as with the Skunks and Foxes. — Editor Oologist. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. In Review. Zoological Quarterly Bulletin, Penn. Dept. of Agi. Vol. II, No. 4, issued un- der direction of Prof. H. A. Surface. This is a special Bulletin on Wood- peckers and contains much of value. Our attention is specially attracted to the Chapter on the Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker. I agree with the authorities quoted to the extent that this bird is solely ac- countable for the rows of parallel holes found drilled around the trunks and sometimes the limbs of trees. But I do not think that the quotation given from Dr. Trimble "that the birds make them (these holes) to attract the ants by such tempting bait is a palpa- ble exaggeration of the reasoning pow- er of this bird," is sufficiently proven. Fifteen years ago my father had a THE OOLOGIST. 87 fine windbreak of Austrian Pines on the west side of his house. These prov- ed especially attractive to the Yellow- bellied Sapsucker. Every spring and fall from one to several individuals would make an extended stay around this row of pines. It was placed on the line between the dooryard and small fruit garden and a fine young orchard of apple trees then about 15 years old and very thrifty. As opportunity per- mitted I studied the habits of these birds carefully. They seldom bored any holes in the apple trees. The orch- ard stands today in fine condition and the few rings of holes they drilled can be still detected by the scars. But every pine tree was perforated with many rings of the slightly oval holes in nearby parallel rows and of nearly uniform depth. Just deep enough to secure a free flow of sap. ■ If they drank any sap I failed to note it. And would the mixture of turpen- tine , rosin, etc., constituting pine sap be apt to prove a palatable and nourish- ing diet? But for some reason these pines were attractive to the ants, whether they relished the sap or were attracted in some other way I failed to satisfy my- self. There were many of the elevated nest hummocks of the common black ant all along the sod border beyond the tips of the tree limbs and they were always crawling up and down the trunks. Whether these ants fed on the sap that exuded from the birds perfora- tions or not, they were, at least, at- tracted to it and as it dried a little it became sticky enough to annoy them and retard their movements. Now the birds did all their drilling in a few short intervals during the day but returned often to the trees and spent much time running up and down the trunks of the trees. I only examined two stomachs but found the contents to be mostly ants. In Prof. Surface's quotation from Dr. Merriam I read in regard to their food. "Eighty-one stomachs were examined and of the whole 36 per cent, consisted of ants." Now I believed at the time that the birds selected these pines because the ants were there in numbers and were at least retarded by the sticky sap if not attracted to it also. Dr. Trimble admits that "Ants are certainly found sometimes about these holes and apparently attracted by the sap" and I do not believe that his as- sertion that these "holes beingd esigned for this purpose is a palpable exaggera- tion of the reasoning power" is suf- ficienty proven. I have positively proven that the American Crow, when searching for "Cut worms" in a corn field, learns that the grubs congregate in or close to the young hills of corn and digs the dirt away from the hills in search of them. In many cases the growing corn is not uprooted nor even the kernel taken from the roots and I have seen entire hills dug out and the kernels left to dry in the sun for a well fed crow evidently prefers "cut worms" to softened com. Of course I dont' know that the bird had located a grub every time. I sus- pect not as the hills will often be ex- amined continuously. But they have evidently reasoned out from experience that the grubs can be found there as they make no attempt to procure them from beneath the surface until the corn appears. Now ! would the assumption that the Sapsucker (so called, I believe with Dr. Trimble, that "they should be called woodpeckers") drills the holes for the main purpose of attracting and securing insect food, mostly ants, im- pute to the bird any greater reasoning power, or nearly as great, as that I know the Crow must possess. I allow that both birds undoubtedly made the first discovery by accident 88 THE OOIOGIST. and, in the Sapsucker's case, at least, it is now, perhaps, purely instinctive. More light on this subject is needed. Who knows? Ten years ago the entire row of trees was so badly tipped over during a wind storm that it was necessary to take them oat and the Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker is rarely seen and does not make any extended stay there now. ERNEST H. SHORT. SOME HAWKING TRIPS. II. A Day with Swainson's. By HARRY H. DUNN. As has not infrequently proven the case with other oological finds, I came into possession of my first set of Swain- son's Hawk eggs in an entirely acci- dental way. I was driving slowly up the bed of the Santa Anna River in Orange county, California, when I saw the mouth of what was seemingly a short and narrow canyon, breaking out of the hills on the south side. The day was very warm, I was alone and did not feel like tackling the dense growth of willow scrub which covered the banks of the stream, so, unhitching my horse and staking him -in a luxurious bed of wild clover, I struck out up this canyon. One of- my inseparable companions on all these trips is a small hatchet and a pocketful of large nails. I have climb- ed some tough trees thus armed, nailing steps as I went up, and, if I wished to keep the tree for future visits, tearing them off as I came down. I am willing to admit that this method is not so good as the use of a rope, but it is much less work to carry the hammer and nails than to burden one's self with a hund- red feet or so of rope of a suitable size. Then, too, rope, like a ladder, some times arouses suspicion in the farmer's breast. And you can bet that the farm- er is a "bird protectionest" every time when the oologist comes to him with a request. Anent this I can and will tell a good story on a deputy game warden of Southern California in a later one of these papers. Well, to return to my Swainson's — the date was April 16th, late for Rap- tores in this region, but I hoped to find a stray Screech Owl covering four or five fresh eggs provided the canyon were at all wooded. A few hundred yards up the gorge widened out and I could see it stretching on for some two or three miles into the heart of the hills. All the way it seemed heavily wooded with Sycamores and water beeches, with here and there an oak. Here was a field indeed, one into which I had reason to believe no collector had ever stepped. Kingbirds and other Flycatchers were busy among the green branches. Sparrow Hawks wove leisure- ly their way to and from their nests in dead trees further up the canyon and then, suddenly out of the clear sky, fell the scream of a hawk. There was no mistaking the family to which the mak- er of the noise belonged. He was a Hawk, but what species? Not a Red- tail, that was certain ; not a Sparrow Hawk ; maybe Krider's. I had long been watching for this form of the Red- tail, which I am sure breeds in Orange county, but once more I was disappoint- ed. The second scream drew my straining eyes to a very dark bird, not- iceably smaller than a Red-tail, tumb- ling and playing in midair a short dis- tance up the canyon. At first I did not recognize the bird, and it was evident that he had not even sighted me as yet. Keeping under cover of the trees, I made my way toward a tall Sycamore I had marked as quite near his play- ground. Arrived there, looking upward through the dense canopy of leaves, I saw, not the flying bird, but a small and compact nest, built close to the body ofjthe tree and not over thirty-five feet from the ground. Here was luck, and I^saidjto myself "Cooper's Hawk! THE OOLOOIST. 89 here's where you get the first eggs of this bird taken in Orange county." But I didn't. For ten feet in a true circle around the base of that tree lay the thickest cactus patch you ever saw. The worst bit of buckthorn the old down East hills can produce wouldn't be a circum- stance to it. It wasn't very high not more than a foot or so, but thick as "hair on a dog's back". At it I went with a big club, making more racket than two men ought to have made. Above I heard the hawk leaving her nest, and this only added strength to my blows. Like a Hindu fakir I rushed rough shod over the thorns and tackled the tree. When I had gained the first limb a huge branch which grew straight out over the dry creek bed some ten feet up. Here I slipped off my shoes and stockings and then up I went. Not being much of a climber, I sweat- ed and shinned, and I fear, swore a little, ere I gained that nest. But the reward was there, three pale blue white eggs, smaller than those of the Red- tail, yet larger than the Cooper's. The nest was well made, firmly thatched and lined with bark from the dead wil- lovvs of the river bottom. The old b-rds were quite fearless, dashing at my head repeatedly as I lowered the set in a small sack to the ground. Their sooty bodies and general buzzard ap- pearance gave away their identity, and the books at home established it beyond a doubt when I returned. Before this I had been unable to connect with the breeding places of this hawk, though I knew them to be fairly numerous in Southern California, but since I have found several sets, none, so far as I recall, of more than three eggs and the majority of only two. For the most part they build in Sycamores or large oaks along the edges of dry canyons, or on the edges of sloping mesas, where their principal food supply, squirrels and gophers, are abundant. They are of inestimable value to the grain raisers of the western slope, though it may be called, one of the least known to all of the so called "Chicken hawks" of the west, (to be continued.) A Battle with the Broad Wings. R. V. HASKIN. The 15th of May, found me bound for a piece of woodland where my friend Mr. B. had informed me that a pair of hawks were breeding. As I came to the outskirts of the woods, the male hawk came circling overhead and eyeing me as if mistrust- ing the object of my intrusion. I did not leave him long in doubt as to my destination, but commenced to look for the nest, which my friend had told me was near a small pond of water. After exploring the woods for some distance around the pond, I finally located the nest in a large black oak and about thirty feet from the ground. As climb- ing irons were impracticable on so large a tree, I decided to use cleats and pro- ceeded to nail them on. The female hawk was alarmed at the pounding and raising from the nest, flew about fifteen yards, alighting in the dead branches of an old beech, where she watched my operations with evident unconcern. However, after I had come up within five feet of the nest, she suddenly seemed to realize what was going on, and with a hair rais- ing whir of wings came straight at my face. To say that I was asonished would be putting it mildly. I had climbed a tree the year before, and secured one of the young of this same pair of hawks, and they had looked calmly on and never raised their voices in protest. But this year they, or rather she, as the male took no part in the conflict, decidedly meant business, and one dive 90 THE OOLOGIST. succeeded another with startling fre- quency. I did not wish to harm the hawks, but as the fourth dive nearly carried away my hat and inflicted a slight scratch on my ncek, I promptly resolved to bring Madam Hawk to book, and in the next dive she encountered a bullet which just grazed her wing. She took no notice of that however, but the next shot sent some of her brown feathers floating on the morning breeze, and she wisely concluded to give up the unequal battle, and contented herself with circling overhead and screaming lustily. By dint of hard climbing, I reached the nest ; it was composed externally of sticks, and lined with grass, leaves, etc. The five eggs which it contained were a typical set; a sort of bluish grey, thickly speckled with spots and lines of light brown. Although one might reasonably suppose that the hawks would fight more for their young than they would for their eggs ; as be- fore stated, they offered not the slight- est opposition in 1900 but fought fierce- ly for their eggs in 1901. Possibly they had decided to turn over a new leaf with the new century. [Sets of 5 eggs of this bird are rare. Ed.] Some Rare Finds this Season. While walking in the woods where Great Blue Heron's nest, I picked up an egg of the Heron that had fallen from 75 to 85 feet, landing with its point down and sticking in a mulch of leaves and soft dirt and in its downward course it passed through some underbrush, all without breaking. I report also of taking 1-4 Osprey. All eggs are light in color but one egg in particular is white in appearance at a little distance. Another set of 1-3 Os- prey. One egg a runt, about one half actual size. This is the only runt of Osprey I have heard of. A set of supposed Screech Owls that take the exact measurements of Saw- Whets. They measure as follows : 1.19x100, 1.20x100, 1.19x100, 1.20x1.00, 1.23x97. Saw- Whets were never known to build this far south although they have been killed here. If I collected the eggs I would know for a certainity. WM. B. CRISPIN, Salem, N. J. If Mr. Crispin will send one egg of this set to the Editor it may be worth while. The eggs of Saw Whet Owl are distinct. — Ed. Birds Removing Eggs from Nests. It was with great pleasure that I read Mr. Richard F. Miller's interest- ing account about the removal of eggs from a disturbed nest and his criticism of my statements made in a previous number of this paper. Mr. Miller is undoubtedly rig?it in his criticism, the eggs were probably removed by the parent birds but the devouring of eggs by the owners of the nest is not as preposterous as Mr. Miller evidently thinks. Mr. F. M. Chapman, in his book, 'Bird Studies with a Camera' gives a most interesting account of the eating of some Least Bittern's eggs by the old birds when once the nest was disturbed. But enough of this, and to return to the subject of my article, I will state that I also have noted several instances upon this subject. These chiefly come under the heading of Wil- son's Thrush, Turdus fu.scescens. This bird is extremely sensitive and if a single egg or two is taken from the clutch the old birds immediately desert the nest, first destroying the remaining egg and carrying the shell away. I have noted this fact several times. In finishing, I will echo Mr. Miller's con- cluding words, and say, "Let's hear from you, reader. ' ' CHAS. P. ALEXANDER. THE OOLOGIST. 91 Apropos of our New Standard Catalogue. It has made a decided hit and proven a complete success. Of course there are a few mistakes in typographical errors, five have come to our notice. The worst are the omission of part of the scientific name of 648a, which should be americana usnea; the misprint of price on 722a, this should have been $2.50; and the omission of the star (*) after price on Harlequin Duck which is applicable to foreign eggs only. Owing to lack of information on some of the rare West Coast Birds a few serious errors in price have slipped in. After a careful study of the few adverse criticisms at hand and making due allowances for , difference in point of view we think that following should be changed to read, viz: No. 81, $5; No. 93, $3; 544c, $2; 632c, $4; 748a, $5; 754, 3.50; Numbers 520.1, 424 and 544a had better been left unpriced. Time will uncover more like these. It is impossible to avoid them as col- lectors always clamor for a price on many species that it is difficult to get authentic infomation about. Those in a position to know often have motives involved that incline them to silence. In this connection would say, I made an effort to get better information on many of the West Coast eggs than any at hand and met with an almost uni- versal silence. One party in admitting that our catalogue will be accepted as the Standard complains that these er- rors will cause endless "bickering" in making exchanges. Where does the fault lie? ERNEST H. SHORT. Still They Come Like This. The new standard catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs I have just re- ceived and I am delighted with it. — Very truly yours, JOHN E. THAYER. In reply to your letter dated May 8, 1905. Beg to advise your catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs, without a question, is the handiest, most reasonable in prices, the most complete extant.— W. S. C. Kansas. It is the very best and handiest cata- logue I have ever seen, neatly gotten up and printed in fine type — UR. M. T. CLECKLEY. EDITORIAL. Mr. G. L. Fordyce of Youngstown, Ohio, sends us cuts from a series of Photos of Nest, Eggs and young of Cooper's Hawk. Mr. Fordyce watched this nest close- ly and found the period of incubation to be 31 days. Was this a case of delayed incubation or is it more common than has been re- corded? It overruns all records by a full week. Who knows? We have secured for the "Oologist" in the near future description with fine half tone of type sets, of Bachman's Warbler and the best half tone of Cali- fornia Vulture from life that we have seen. All will regret the recent death of Walter E. Bryant at Santa Rosa, Cali- fornia. Mr. Bryant was one of the best known of Western Collectors. He was a Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union, an honorary member of the Cooper Club and for seven years curator of the Academy of Sciences at San Francisco. He had made successful collecting trips to the Pacific Islands, Alaska and Mexico and leaves a large collection of Ornithological and Oological material. 92 THE OOLOGIST. Publications Received. "Condor," Vol. VII, No. 5. Penn- sylvania oological Quarterly Bulletin, Vol. II, No. 4. American Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 6. Editor Oologist : — I had the good fortune to secure a fine female Kirtland Warbler today. The first one I killed was a male. May 4, 1878, which shows that the males pass through Ohio, nearly 2 weeks be- fore the females as the last female kill- ed some 2 years ago was May 15th, this specimen I took today was one exactly the same line as the first one I took m 1878. Unless a collector sees the yel- low throat he will mistake it from some sparrow and had I not seen its warbler beak I should have passed it by. A. HALL. Lakewood, O. Delayed Migration. Dec. 17, 1886, I shot a male Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla, at Dighton, Bristol county, Mass. Examination revealed two quite large wart like growths on one leg. The specimen was not attenuated and it was in good plum- age. I am of the opinion that tTiis affliction detained the bird North, as the species habitually leaves this local- ty for the South about Oct. 1st. CHARLES L. PHILLIPS. Taunton, Mass. A Large Set of the Chickadee. In the Oologist, Lispenard S. Hor- ton, mentions the finding of a set of ten eggs of the Chickadee, Parus atri- capillus, which he considers a very large set. On the 9th of May, 1897, I found a set of thirteen eggs of this interesting little resident, which were in an advanced stage of incubation. GLEN M. HATHORN, Cedar Rapids, la. A nest of the Varied Thrush within the radius of the U. S. is a rarety. In North Idaho he makes glad every brush patch with song but hies him away to foreign lands to mate. Occasionally however, they do nest here. Last spring while fishing I found a nest sad- dled upon a white fir tree about 10 feet up containing 4 beautiful blue eggs flecked with amber brown, especially about larger end. In size and shape closely resembling those of the West- ern Robin. These were promptly add- ed to my collection and right thankful I was to my friends for selecting Idaho for a home. DR. C. S. MOODY. ? Notmg your invitation as to an ex- pression of opinion regarding the advis- ability of establishing a Collector's Pro- tective Committee I wish to vote in favor of such a committee as moved by Mr. Price and supported by yourself. Personally, I have little patience with a deliberate egg fraud and when proved such to the satisfaction of such a com- mittee as proposed there should be no hesitation to public condemnation. The suggested chairman appears to me as one in touch and sympathy with the collector and who would regard it a duty to extend the beneficial influence of his editorial position. Taken as a whole, the knowledge of an existing committee ever ready to act promptly and firmly would have an excellent moral effect, a strong tendency to cheffk dishonesty, and beyond doubt ev- ery honest collector will earnestly sanction the election of such a com- mittee especially if he has had his wild turkey and goose eggs collected in a bam yard and his American Curlew and Creeper eggs in Europe. J. CLAIRE WOOD. THE OOLOGIST. 93 BARGAINS IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for I 905 only. Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG OOLOGIST AND THE OOLOGIST will, during 3904, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will be advanced and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire back numl)ers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. Vou can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nus. 1, 14. 18. 21. 23-24.31, 34-35. 42, 53,86. 80, lU. 130, 1.32, 137, 139, 140, 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9, 66-G7, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138. 14(5, are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15, 16. 54, 55, 56, 75, 87, 127, 128, 129, 144, 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60. 61, 63, 64, 65, 70, 74, 80, 93, 100, 114, 115, 126. i;j3, 135 are 10 cents each. SW Ml other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 will send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published. Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- cludes your subscription through 1904. My prices for back Nos. of the YOUNG OOLO- GIST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. 1. 1884-5 , Nos, 1 to 12, . . . $ .90 Vol. IT. 1885, Nos . 13 to 14, . . . $ .50 Vol. Ill, 1886, Nos . 15 to 20, . . . ? .90 Vol. IV, 1887, Nos. 21 to 25-26, . . $1 .00 Vol. V, 18SS, Nos. 27 to 38, . . . ?1 .50 Vol. VI, 1889, Nos. 39 to 50, . . . ? .75 Vol. VII, 1890, Nos. 51 to 62, . . . $ .75 Vol. VIII, 1891, Nos. 63 to 74, . . . $ .75 Vol. IX, 1892, Nos. 75 to 86, . . . $ .90 Vol. X, 1893, Nos. 87 to 98, . . . u .00 Vol. XI, 1894, Nos. 99 to 110, . . . $ .50 Vol. XII, 1895, Nos. Ill to 122, . . . $1 .00 Vol. XIII, 1896, Nos. 123 to 127, . . . % .50 Vol. XIV, 1897, Nos. 128 to 139, . . : $1 .50 Vol. XV, 1898, Nos. 140 to 149, . . . $ .60 Vol. XVI, 1899, Nos. 150 to 161, . . . $ .75 Vol. XVII, 191 to. I'Nos. 162 to 171, . . . % .50 Vol. XVIII , 1901, Nos. 172 to 183-: . . . $ .50 Vol. XIX, 1902, -Nos. 184 to 195, . . . « .50 Vol. XX, 1903, Nos. 196 to 197, . . . ? .10 XXI 1904. No. 198 to 209 50 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y. For $5 I will send prepaid a copy of every sue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty-nine (29) 25c and 50c copies. For $2 00 I will send prepaid every copy pub- lished. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (60) copies priced above at 10c or over. — BOUND VOLUMES — Can be furnished, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound in one volume, $1.00 Vol. IX. Tlie OOLOGIST for '92, 298 pages of valuable and Instructive Oological and Oraithological matter with many full page illustrations $1.00 Or. if you order the two volumes at one time, we will send them by return mail for only $1.75. Ever.v student of birds, their nests and eggs, should have these two volumes in their liV)rary. The valuable information they contain, is woitli many times the price. Address plainly, ERNEST H. SHORT, Managrer of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y. 94 THE OOLOGIST. BIRD BOOKS, BIRD MAGAZINES, OOLOGIST'S INSTRUMENTS. OOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, Everything Sent Postage or Express Prepaid. Baird. Brewer, and Kidgway's North Ameri- can Land Birds. 3 vols., cloth, new edition. 1800 pages. t;4 colored plates, nearly 600 other illustrations I 9.00 Coues' Key, 2 vols., cloth 11,50 Ridgway's Manual, cloth or leather. — 5.60 Chapman's Handbook, leat'r, 12.60 ; cloth 2.25 Bailey's Handbook, Western Birds 3.,% Reed's North American Bird's Eggs, or Chapman's Color Key. and a year's subscription to any 11.00 magazine published, or any two 50c magazines. . 3.00 Davie's Nests and Eggs, and 4 Cut-Lining Egg Drills, and one best Blowpipe 2.00 Blowpipes. 15c. 22c. 30c. Best 9 to 12 inch- es long -10 Cut-the-Llning P^gg Drills. 25c. 35c, and 50c each. 4 selected sizes 1.00 Pencils, very soft for eggs 10 Embro Hooks, 15c. Best 25 Embryo Scissors. 25c. Fine, 44c. Curv- ed, 88c. Best curved 1.25 Data Blanks, 3x5 in. pads, 100. 10 Best Nickle .Sliding Calipers 88 Best Steel Climbers, without straps. $1.90; with straps 2.50 Field Glasses, very fine pair, in case with straps 4.75 C. & S. High (irade Egg Drills, the best old style drill made, 3 in. handles. Nos.O and 1,20c; No. 2. 25c; No. 3. 35c; No, 4. 45c. 6 inch handles. No. 1, 25c; No. 2, 35c; No. 3. 50c; No. 4. 75c; No. 5, 11.00, No. 6 1.50 Black-chinned Hummer. 10 sets, nest on branch. 2 eggs '. . . . .85 Annas Huniiut^r.lO sets, nest on branch, 2eggs 85 Scarlet Ibis. 1-1 60 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1-2. $1.00; 1-4 • 3.00 Broad-winged Hawk, 2-2, $1.50: 1-3 2.25 Hooded Warbler, 1-3. 48c; N-4 75 Magnolia Warbler. 1-3. 40c: N-4, 75c; N-5, 1,25 Parula Warbler. 3-4 40 Canadian Warbler. 1-5 5.00 Black-throated Blue Warbler. N-4 4.00 Water Thrush, N-3 1.50 Ovenbird, X-5 55 Red-breasted Nuthatch. 1-6 3.75 Olive-backed Thru.sh, N-3 .60 Hermit Thrush, 1-3, .30c; N-3 60 Purple Finch, 1-3 40 White-throated Sparrow, 1-3, 70c: 1-4, $1; N-4 1.25 Swamp Sparrow. N-5 60 Alder Flycatcher, N-3 30 Black-billed ( 'uckoo. N-3 30 Olive-sided Klyiatcher. N-2 2.00 Couch's Kiiit'l)ir(l.l-4 2.00 Blue-winged Warbler, 1-4, $1.75. 1-5 2.00 Pine Siskin, 1-3 1.50 Derby Flycatcher. 1-1 1.00 Sooty Cirouse. 1-5 1.75 Harlequin Duck. 1-5 2.00 Ferruginous i^ough I>eg. 1-3 1.95 Desert Sparrow Hawk. 1-4 50 White-necked Kaven. 1-4. 80c; 1-5 1.00 Chuck-wills- Widow. 1-2 1.50 Whip-poor- will. 1-2 1.10 Send for my full lists and Bulletins. Let me quote you an any want in books, maga- zines, oologist or taxidermist's tools, or bne sets of eggs. BENJAMIN HOAG. ni2t Stephentown. New York. THIS IS THE m THEY CONE. Dear .Mr. Short: Your new catalogue is to hand. .Many thanks for same. It certainly is the rea? thing. C. W. C. ViNCENNES. IND. Your catalogue is very tastily gotten up. It is neat form and handy. In so many lists of this kind, when it conies to the scientific names, the printer falls clear down, and with- out a most painstaking proof-reader gets after him, a tyhographically incorrect mess is made of it. In your Catalogue I have not yet noticed any. As to the matter of prices. I am not an authority along this line, and can express no opinion, other than that I believe that the names of the compilers. Lattin and Short is sufficient guarantee of the prices being just about in the right notch. They know. C. F. P. Gentlemen: Your new Price List of North American Birds Eggs was duly received. Many, many thanks for same. It is a Beauty, binding, paper and press work simply fine., size per- fect. After only a hurried glance would say that the prices appear to be fair and equit- able. The compilers surely deserve great credit, and should meet with the support which their efforts so richly deserve. Yours truly, PHILO W. SMITH, Jr. The new "Standard Egg Catalogue" at hand. Many thanks for same. It came as a surprise. Beyond doubt it is the best out and will become the standard medium of ex- change with all Oologists. J. C. W. Bird Magazines Wanted. I want to purchase odd numbers of Bird Magazines. Will buy many duplicates, so send on your list with cash price. Will also buy completefiles in any quantity. W. Lee Chambeirs, Santa Monica, Cal. TYPEWRITER BARfiAINS Odell's $6.45. .-Vmer leans $5.90. Each with fancy case. Typewriter papers: 500 8x10* sheets 65c: Circulars free. Agents wanted. THE A. L. HARVICK NOVELTY CO.. Vienna, Ills. N[3t PHOTOS! SLIDES! SS selected from nearlj- 200 subjects, 60c; 15c each. 1 doz. slides, any subject, $2.75, 25c each. B. S. Bowdish, Dem- arest, N. J. THIS PAPER ;r Publishing House of PRINTED at the )ok and Magazine ■A. M.EDDY, Albion, N.Y. IHE OOLOGIS'l. 95 Mounted Birds. American Magpie II 10 Wood Duck, male, fair 2 50 female, good 2 00 Screech Owl. on stump. Red Phase 1 15 Snowy Owl. fine male 4 98 Oregon Ruffed (irouse 1 40 American W( )odcock, very fine 1 88 Belted Kingfisher, fine- 1 00 Blue Jay, fine 1 00 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 85 Red-breasted Sapsucker 75 Scarlet Tanager 1 00 Yellow-headed Blackbird 90 Chuck-wills-widow 1 55 Bobolink 90 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, fine 1 00 wings spread, fine 1 25 Snowflake, good 60 '■ good, wings spread 75 White-throated Sparrow, fine 50 Tree Sparrow .50 Black-throated Blue Warbler 90 Chestnut-sided W^arbler 85 Black-poll Warbler 75 Cedar Waxwing 65 All male: birds unless otherwise stated are mounted on stumps or perches. Prices are by express F. O, B, Bird Skins. Scientific skins for scientific purposes only. M, male; fm, female. Red-poll, m I 14 Snowflake, fm 14c; ni 12 Wilson's Warbler, frii 34c; m 30 Cearulean ^^'arbler, ra 35 Mourning Warbler, m 40 Hooded Warbler, m 28 Greater Redpoll, m 34 Holboell's Redpoll, m 1 00 Ruby-throat Hummer, m or fm 50 White-wing Crossbill, fm 22c. m 28 Myrtle Warbler, spring, m 20 Myrtle Warbler, fall, m 16 Green Heron, m 40 Skins sent by mail postpaid. Address; ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester, New York WANTED. Copies of O. & O. Vol. VI. 2 & 12. Observer, Vol. V, 2 & 11. Ornith. and Bot. Vol. II. 3-4-5. Bittern (1891). I. 7-8-9. Bos. Zool. Club, Quarterly, Vol. I. No. 1. Vol. II. 3Iounted Birds and ^lamnials. Skulls of small ani- mals. A fine lot of Guinea Pigs in all colors. Fancy Pigeons. Game Bantams. J. 2. t. AL.MOX KIBBE, Mayville. X. Y. Los Angeles. California. Dear Friend Short:— I am awfully obliged to you for running my adv. the second time, but for goodness sake cut it out this issue. If I had a thousand sets to trade they would have all been gone before now. I gt)t 54 answers to that adv., seven before I had re- ceived the copy of the Oologist containing it. Yours. H. H. DUNN. PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth -110 Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even $5. FRAXK H. LATTIX. Albion, XrY. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondeixe scjlicited. H. H. Kimball. Tucson. Ariz. t.f. WAXTED.— Fresh skins of the (ireat Horned Owl ( or sub':pecies ), Snowy Owl,. Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck. Sets of Cuckoos, Am, Herring (iull. Least Tern. Laughing Gull. Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERXEST H. SHORT, Rochester. X. Y. WAXTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. CECIL FREXCH, Xaturalist, Washington, D. C. J12t Providence, R. I. Dear Sir:— Please withdraw my ad. from your For Sale column. I have disposed of what material I offered anc ._t,lies to the ad. are still coming in. I read over Iflfty replies from half as many states, whirh speaks well for the "Oologi-t" as an advertising n edium. Very truly yours, DR. F. P. DROWXE. WANTED.— Ciood photographs of Osprey nests in exchange for tho-e of nests, snakes, mammals.etc. WM. H. FISHER, 1-318 Bolton St.. Baltimore. Md. "ORXITHOLOGISTS AXD OOLOGISTS." Send stamps for samples of neatest, hand- somest label for Coll. of Eggs or M't'd Birds, printed on fine card board, according to latest A. O. U. Check List. PHILO W. SMITH, JR., Jul. 2t Mona House, St. Louis, Mo. WAXTP^D.- (iood field glass, microscope and bird skins of other localities. I offer in e" change good five shot lis cal., collecting p.stol, 11 in bbl. shoots shot or ball cartridge, with 2-5 new brass shells, also A. I. Bird Skins and mounted birds frfim this locality. ALFRED T. GARRETT. Waterport, X. Y. 98 THE OOLOGJST. F(JK SAT.E.— My entire collection of birds' eggs cheap. Some 300 different species. You may purchase the whole lot or in small lots as you like. Send for list and prices. Ex- press paid on orders over $2.50. BERT NICHOLS. Granville. N. Y. FOR SALE VERY CHEAP.-A large col- lection of rare single eggs, most all with data. All A. No. 1, either single or by the lot. Send 2 cent stamp for list. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY,457 Greene St., Augusta, Ga. FOR EXCHANGE-FIRST-CLASS SETS WITH I) AT A .-5-4 7U4, 5-4 581, * 614, i 7(Jl, i, 75(j, i 687n, h o60n, 5-4 652, i 705. i Eng. Sparrow, i 387, EDW. S. COOMBS, care of .Jones Mfg, Co.,-243 Franklin St., Boston, Mass. TO EXCHANGE.-O and O Vols.. VI, VII, VIII. Condor, Vols. IV, etc. Want bird skins or books. F. B. McKECHNIE. Ponka- pog., Mrss. EXCHAN(iE.— First class, fresh or dry Duck. Sea (!ull and Bird skins, for first class skins of eastern and southern specimens. CHAS. B. STKAUB. Tyler, Minn. WANTED FOR CASH-Bird eggs in sets. Must be first class. Send me list of what you have to offer. OSCAR P. SPIEL:\IANN, 93 to 99 E. North Ave., Chicago, 111. I HAVE two male Texan Jays and one male Cooper's Tanager collected in Brewster county. Texas. State highest cash price per individual skins. A No. 1. NAT. W. HARDY, 1530 Columbus St.. Waco. Texas. FOR EXCHAN(iE.— Common eggs in sets and singles for common eggs of other localities. Send list and receive mine. ,7. D. CURRIE. 143 Oliver Ave, N„ Minneapolis, Minn. FOR SALE.— Sets of 12 (second class) .10; 30A 1-1 .10: 49i .20; oKi .15; 69i .10; 70J .10; 77 1-1 .03, i .10 86 1-1 (cracked) .10; J20a 1-1 .10; I22i ,.30; 123b i .40; 126 1-1 .10; 191 1-1 .10 (collected in Pa); 219 1-1 .25 (collected in Pa.); 2691.25; 289L10 (holes in large ends) ;2.S9b 1-1 .05;339A 1-1 .12; 342 1-1 .15; 387 1-1 .04; 390 2-1 ;06; 412A 4-1 02; h .05; 477i .05; 489 1-1 .08; 488 1-1 03 i .05; 494 nest .10; 495A1-1 .03; 497i .04; 507 1-1 .03; 506 i .10; 508i .12; 510i 04; 1-5 06; 511b t-1 02: 1-6 .1 0; 513i .10; 513a i .10; 552 n-5 .35; 58ici.04; 584il2; .596i. 12; 594 1-1.20; 386 l-Klarge hole I .20; 622a 1-5 .10; (112 1-5 .06; 613i .05; 61(ii .04; 617i .30; 624 1-1 .05; i .10; n-3 .20; 652 n-3 .10; n-4 .15; n-5 .20; 1-1 02 i 05; 683i .06; 703 n-4 .35; 1-1 02; 704 10-3 .05; 10-4 .06; 705 i 05; 72U .10; 725 4-3 .05 4-4 .06; 4-5 .08; 743a 1-5 .20; 755 1-1 .03, i .06; i .08; 761 10-2 .08; 10-3 .05. 2-4 .06; 761A i .08; 758i .05. Prices are per set prepaid. RICHA1\D F. MILLER, 3473 Amber Street, Philadelphia, Pa. New York Natural History Survey. I have a set of 22 vols, of this rare and ela- borate work in original binding and " good as new." It is in the best condition of any "original binding" set I've ever owned and if not sold I shall reserve the set for my pri- vate library, but now offer it at less than the regular price of a fair set in ordinary bind- ing. The 22 vols, are as follows. Geology. 4; Palaeontology, 5; Mineralogy, 1; .Vgriculture, 4; Entomology, 2; /dcilogy, (Mannnals, Birds, Reptiles, Fi.rolucas" 1 00 Ringed Cowry. Singap're 10 Snake-head Cowry. Aus. 10 BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, ETC, White, The Natural History of Sel- bourne, with notes and many ills, 6 in. cols., 800, This is the elegant presenta- tion edition $3 00 Do, do, do, regular edition 1 50 Natural Science News, 25 issues, all dif- ferent 50 MINERALS. Halite Xtals, faceted cu- booctohedron . . . $ Thenardite Xtals " crosses.. Cone-in-Cone, N, Y Dog-tooth Spar, N. Y Pr> oie Crystal. Dak "Electric" Stone, N. Y... Coquina, Fla Green Fluorspar, N. Y... Native Lodestone, Ark.. Mexican Onyx, Mex (JE.M STONES. Cut and Polished Semi-prec- ious Stones. Sard Intaglio $ 15 Opals ;.15, 25 Red Onyx 10 Black Onyx 10 Crocidolite 'Tiger Eye) . .10, 25 Lapis Lazuli 25 Chalcedony 15 Tinted Chalcedony 10 Tree Chalcedony 15 Bed Ribbon Agate 15 Black Ribbon Agate 15 .Moss Agate 15 Wood Agate 15 Fossil Coral 15 Bloodstone 25 MISCELLANEOUS. Horn Nut, China 10 Gun Flint, Revolutionr'y 25 Clay Police Whistle, Mex, 10 Arrowheads, Ark,, Ills.. Ohio, each 10,15,25,35 SEA CURIOS. Compass Starfish, Chili$ 25,.50 Spined Purple Urchin ... 35 EggCasePeriwinkle,2inpc 10 Acorn Barnacle. Pacific.. 15 Sea Horse. Atlantic 40 Pipe Fish (very fine) Pac 1 00 Skate or Sand Shark Egg 10 Lucky Tooth of Cod 05 "Eye Stone." Gulf ofMex. 0(> Alligator Teeth, Fla. . .5, 10, 25 raam'oth 50 Tarpon Scales 05 Mammoth Basket Star- fish, Bahamas 75, 1 50 Precious Coral, twigs.med 10 FOSSILS. Diatomaceous Earth, rich in Polycystina, Barbad- oes, 1 dram $ 25 Polyp Coral, N, Y 25 Shark Tooth. Va 10 Spirifer rnricosa, Ind 10 Oiceni, Ind • 25 A nchocririits bulbosns, Ind 25 Atrypa reticularis. Ind 25 Athyris vitata .■ 05 Scaph ites nodosus. Mon- tana 25,50, 1 00 Natural Science News, Vol, I and II, complete, lacking two issues, 512p 2 00 Natural Science News, 50 issues, all dif- ferent 1 00 The Nidiologist Vol, II complete, 174p, 60 half-tones. Col. PI. of set White-tailed Kite-Eggs 2 50 Penikese, fa reminiscent sketch oi Agas- siz famous summer school). 96p, PI 35 FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion. Orleans Co., N. Y. 100 THK OOLOGJST, THIS IS THE m THEY COME. Dear Mr. Short: Your new catalogue is to hand. Many thanks for same. It certainly is the j-ea/ thins. C. W. C.^ VI^'CENX£s. Ind. Your catalogue is very tastilj- gotten up. It is neat form and handy. In so many lists of this kind, when it conies to the scientific names, the printer falls clear down, and with- out a most painstaking proof-reader gets after him. a tyhograpliically iiicoi-]-ect mess is made of it. In your Catalogue I have not yet noticed any. As to the matter of prices. I am not an authority along this line, and can express no opinion, other than that I helieve that the names of the compilers, Lnttin and Short is sufficient gua I antee of the prices being just about in the right notch. They know. ('. F. P. Gentlemen: Your new Price List of North American Birds Eggs was duly received. Many, many thanks for same. It is a Beauty, binding, paper and press work simply fine, size per- fect. After only a hurried glance would say that the prices appear to be fair and equit- able. The compilers surely deserve great credit, and should meet with the support which their efforts so richly deserve. Yours truly. PHILO W. SMITH, Jr. The new "Standard Egg Catalogue" at hand. Many thanks for same. It came as a surprise. Beyond doubt it is the best out and will become the standard medium of ex- change with all < )olngists. J. C. W. IMlTEOMilPli with fancy case. Typewriter papers; 500 8xI0i sheets 6.5c; Circulars free. Agents waiited. THK A. L. HAHVICK NOVELTY CO., Vienna, Ills. Mlit PHOTOS! SLIDES! ^B selected from nearly 200 subjects, 60c; 15c each. 1 doz. slides, any subject, $2.75, 25c each. B. S. Bowdish, Dem- arest, N. J. South American Butterflies. I can furnish the following rare and mag- nificent, from U. S. of Columbia : .Morpho SULKOWSKY. 4ix4:i ill. .AfORHO MeNEL.\US. (gorgeous peacock blue)51x7in. Either species prepaid, for only $2.00. Ea. h insect is mount- ed on a new patent tablet, which not only protects it from dust, breakage, etc.. but puts them in a shape at once more beautiful and infinitely neater than is possible by the anti- quated metliod of impaling them on pins. FRANK II. L.^TTIX, Albion, N. V. IS PRINTED at the Hook and ISIaa^azine THIS PAPER A. M. EDDY, Albion, N.Y. Southern Birds Fggs. In choice cabinet sets with standard data for sale, very cheapor to exchange.Swainson's and Hooded W.rblers. Chiick-wiirs-widow, American Oystercatcher, Uoyal Tern, Wil- son's Plover. Willet, Clapper Kail. Black Skimmer, etc. The largest and most val- uable collection in the south, and a corp of competent collectors. Stamp for list. Sat- isfaction guaranteed. .Iul.3t DOCTOR M. T. 457 Greene Street, CLECKLEY, Augusta, Oa. THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornithological Society A c^iuarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps forsample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. Publishing House of THE WARBLER JOHN LE^VIS CHII^DS, Editor \Y7ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new ''» .'^I'lics which will contain many su- P>'rb Ciijorcil I'lates of rare ecss such as KirtlaiKl and Olive Warbler, Carolina Par- i>(iiiet, Clark-'s Crow. Ijiswicb and Rufous Crowned Sparrow, Yellow and Black Rail. CalaviM-as Warbler, etc. Also splendid illustratiniis of Birds and Nests, and lead- ing; articlrs liv well known authorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Si. 00 PER YEAR. .SINOLE COPIES 30o Esrers of Kirtland Warliler will be figured in fir.'^t issue! Jan or Feb.)of the new .series. ADDRESS THE ^VA1^B■L,EI^ FLORAL PARK. N. Y. The OoLOGiST. Vol. XXII. No. 7. Albion, N. Y., July, 1905. Whole No. 219 The Oologist. A Montlily rublicatinn Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXI- DEEMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the stndent of Birds, tlieir Nests and Eg??s, solicited trom all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annnir Sample copies oe each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date tliereon.) Subscriptions can begin with acy number. Back numbers of the OOLOrTlST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember tliat tlie publisher must lie noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. .\r>Vi:RTTSlNO R.\TES: .5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches m a col- umn, and two cohimns to the page. Nothing inscited for less than 2." cents. No "special rates." •" cents per line is "net." "rock bo'toni." "insidf." "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no comml.^sion to agents. If yon wish to use o lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents: 100 lines. $5,00: 1000 lines, ifoO. "Trade" (other than caslil adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising win be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Mone.v Or- ders and Drafts payalile and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Cliili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. G. B. Heron Collecting in Salem Co. N. J. In the first week of this month (Ap- ril) I went to the Heron rookery which was about one half mile from where I was visiting. Putting on a pair of gum boots, my assistant and I proceeded, as we entered the wood all around us loom- ed up ti-ees of the virgin forest 90 to 115 feet high consisting of pin oak, white and black oak. The pin oak being about 15 feet taller, and range from 2 to 5 feet in diameter. (One tree here produced 30 two horse wagon loads of wood.) As we penetrated we came to water about one foot deep, here was placed the col- ony in three of the largest remaining pin oaks. The giant of these I pro- ceed to ascend by way of a tall gum 80 feet high where I throw a rope over to a limb of the large tree bringing the limbs close together, I cross over, being over I descended down 40 feet to main crotch which is 50 sheer feet from the ground with not a twig to intervene. From here which is central you go up 50 and back 50 feet until you visit 15 nests, which are placed on the utmost ends of the limbs 90 to 110 feet from the ground, made entirely of sticks and about the size of a bushel basket. Out of these nests in two climbs within six days I collected over 50 eggs in sets. I think this is a record for one tree. On the first climb I only expected one nest to contain eggs. Going up without any bag or pencil I had to take my in- ner shirt and tie the sets separate which amounted to 37 eggs and put it around my neck, of course about seven eggs were broken. This tree I should men- tion is 12 foot in circumference. I did not use any climbing irons, and can say collecting G. B. Herons in this vicinity is harder and more perilous than the majority of Bald Eagles I have visited. The other two trees contained 12 nests between them. I should mention two sets contained 6 eggs each. WM. B. CRISPIN. iiyiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiM^^ NEST AXD EGGS OF BACHMAX'S WARBLER. Taken on Buffalo Island, Mo.. May 14. 1898, by (). Widniann. C'oniplinienfs of .1. P. Norris. Jr. #if PPIFlP'iiPP^:!!'" :IW^ THE OOLOGiST. 103 Bachman's Warbler. Some*time ago I stated, in speaking of t'ne then recent discovery of nest and eggs of Kirtland's Warbler, that "Bachman's Warbler now occupies a unique position and we trust for trustworthy information in regard to its nest and eggs before long." (See Oologist, No. 201, pp. 60.) . No one called my attention to it at the time but the nest and eggs of this bird had already been described. In the "Auk," July, 1897, Mr. Robt. Ridgway described a set taken in Missouri as follows: Type set now in U S. National Museum taken by the veteran collector. Otto Widmann on Kolb Island, Dunklin county, Mo., May 17, 1897. Nest a somewhat compressed compact mass composed externally of dried weed and grass stalks and dead leaves, many of the later partially skeletonized. Lining of black fibres, apparently dead threads of the black Lichen {Ramalina sp.) which hang in beard-like tufts from Button bushes {Ophalanthiis) and other shrubs growing in the wet portions of the south- western bottom lands. Nest 3^-2 by 4 in. outside. Inside cavity i>2 by 2 in. Eggs three. Regularly ovate. Pure white in color. Measurements .63 by .48, .64 by .49, .63 by .40. On May 13, 1898 Mr. Widmann secured another set now in the col- lection of J. P. Norris, Jr., Phila, Penn. Through the kindness of Mr. Norris 1 am able to describe this set as follows: Nest was found on Buffalo Island, Dunklin county. Mo., was placed 2 feet from the ground in a blackberry bush in full bloom. Similar in struc- ture to the type nest and not attached to branches but simply supported between half a dozen of them. Eggs three. Pure china white and glossy. Size practically as in type set. The female was sitting when the nest was found at 10 a. m. on the i 3th, and Mr. Widmann left it until the next day but secured only the three eggs. Evidently three is a full complement. Possibly they never lay more though it would need a more extended acquaintance to make this certain. Through Mr. Norris' kindness vve are able to present on another page a good half-tone of this set in nest. E. H. Short. 104 THE OOLOGIST. The Quail Trap. Housekeeping is over with our seven species of resident hawks, except with a few of the late Accipiters and harriers. The fluffy young redtails I have seen afield appear larger than the old buteos. Dozens of Red-shoulders are out of the nest, and with their parents are just now very silent foragers. The early launcher in Fisheis island sound can see trios of eaglets balancing on the spind- les, dreading the first essay with their long wings, but soon to be pushed oflF the huge nests by the old ospreys, when they must fly, or get a salt bath. A laborer on a farm in Bristol threw t\ro eaglets from their nest to the ground to die. The angry ospreys have since followed, made such threatening- dashes and so pecked at the man that he could not work, and he was discharged. New help was at once hired, and the birds quieted down seemingly satisfied with their revenge. From my own exper- ience I should say that this was not a fish story, for I knew a Noank man who climbed to a fish-hawk's nest and had his straw hat seized by the fierce talons and dropped in the middle of the Sound. The only wonder is that the hat was not added to the olla podrida in the catch all of a nest. The portable saw mills have made so many gaps in the cordon of biff timber that used to surround Norwich, that ob- servers have feared the birds of prey would be driven away from this vicin- ity. Partly to allay these fears and partly to visit my old friends, I have visited nearly all the scattered groves that are left fit for nidification, and I can report more favorably than would seem possible. There are still breed- ing pairs of Red-shoulders in Rock- well's at Spalding's dam. Cobb's city reservoir, Bowen hollow. Whip-poor- will ledge. Hearthstone mountain, McCall'shill, Bashan, Wauwecus Barry- town Leffingwell Paradise woods Mohe- gan, Sunnyside, The Commons, Brick- yard, Hell Gate, Cindy's cedar swamp, McClimon's, Benjamin's, Bundy hill and Zion hill. On the Baltic road Al. Lillibridge reports that the Red-should- ers breed in the time honored sites and Barred owls were raised "in the same old stub." It is worth noting that un- der too frequent observation these buteos will line and feather two or thr^^e old nests before decidinff where to lay. Trios were the rule with these sets this season, there being only two sets of normal nest washed fours. The eyries of the Redtails are in a periphery just outside the circle of its cogeners. I find pairs of the largest buteos still at home at Ayer's moun- tain. Lamb's woods. Blue hill. Gardner lake, Kingsley's woods. Montville, Spicer ledges, Gungawamp, Lantern hill. Broad brook, Rix road woods. Brown's mountain and in three groves in Lisbon, in one in Sprague and in two in Canterbury. May day a North Ston- ington farmer brought me an old Red- tail which he had trapped on a nest holding two young and an addled egg. On cutting the thong from one of the hawk's feet, the claw quickly seized the farmer's hand, and on freeing the other leg the talons at once sank deep- ly into the farmer's wrist. The hawk was at once placed in an empty pheas- ant coop, with the intention of carrying it towards its native woods the next day. But the hawk secured its own freedom by twisting with its powerful grasp the wires which had been proof against many dogs. The old hawk waited a moment in an apple tree, as if to get his bearings, and then, after soaring a little at a mile-a-minute clip sti-aight over Scalpingtown towards the Anguilla district. Marsh hawk also gii'dle the city in about the same numbers as the Red- tails, and their homes are not often broken up by the farmers and choppers. I visited the bogs named below, and THE OOLOGIST. 105 while every nest was not located, the hawks were all at home : Cranberry at Wauwecus, Long Society cranberry bog, railroad bog in Lisbon, and bogs in Sprague, Franklin, Preston and Led- yard. Mr. Brand used to find the mole hawk breeding in the bog now covered by the Sachem park skating pond. There are two bogs on the Davis-Kim- ball trout brook and one in North Ston- ington, always peopled by harriers. It was here that Mr. Trumbull, on sud- denly coming on a nest with a full com- plement, exclaimed : ' 'Gracious ! There are more than a bushel of eggs!" A set of seven eggs from this place now in Washington, are as brightly marked as the average set of Red-shoulders. Two harriers I saw in woods this season, and I saw both in trees for a wonder. But though terrestrial in habits and oftenest seen skimming low over the surface of the ground, yet when stand- ing by a nest of young marsh hawks I have seen the parents soar overhead, higher and higher, in narrowing spirals, till lost in the sky. The total disappearance of the Sharp- shinned hawk around Norwich has been a matter of much comment. Indeed, it is growing rarer everywhere, for I am constantly receiving letters from collec- tors in the west and south desiring Sharpshins' eggs and offering in ex- change choice foreign rarities. The Sharp-shinned hawk used to be common here, and I have found it breeding at Brewsters' Neck, Harvey's Grove, Rockwell's woods, ex-Senator Barnes' woods, East Side, in Bill park, in hem- locks back of Harry Jennings' barn on Laurel Hill avenue, in a grove opposite the Norwich and Worcester depot, and at Pinehurst, in the heart of the city. Indeed, its domestic habits and its its fearlessness has led to its destruc- tion. In town and country it has been hunted by the small boy with a gun, whose ambition has been "to shoot a pigeon hawk." Mr. Thurston Lilli- bridge, fannerlike once threw a set of six eggs on the ground from a nest in an easy hemlock in the Widow Law's brook, above the city reservoir. Only think, ye oologists ! Throwing away a set of these incomparable eggs, the very showiest hawk's eggs, and dis- playing more variation than any eggs known ! The larger Accipiter, Cooper's hawk, though much more destructive to farm- ers than its cogener, the little Sharp- shin, has fared much better locally. Wherever I was looking up the buteos, I found this saucy robber at home, in evergreen, or deciduous trees, in swamps, or on high land, building his own house, or using old crow's or cast off hawk's nests. Coopers are sharp enough to put off laying until they can have leafy screens, while the poor but- eos, whose homes in leafless chestnuts are easily found by farmers, have to suffer for the poultry raids of the Coop- er. April 27th, I saw a Sparrow hawk come out of a wacup's hole on the Brickyard road. There are three in- stances of its breeding in dove cotes in in this city. Somehow, through its in- conspicuous habits and dress, this bird has escaped the too handy shotgun, and is increasing in this locality. By actual trial I find that all kinds of young hawks taken from the nest can be easily- raised in confinement, but for many reasons do not make desirable pets. While at Dr. Fitch's school at Windham I had many tame hawks. By means of long kite strings and other rude ap- liances, I tried in vain to revive the old art of falconry. But I did discover that the easiest obtainable and the best food for the hungry hawks are the descend- ants of the ancient frogs of Windham. C. L. RAWSON. I lately saw a nicely, marked set of Marsh Hawk taken in Orleans county, N. Y. , some 9 years ago. Not many Oologists would throw away a set of 108 THE OOI-OGJS'I Sharp-shinned Hawk still I can't quite agree with Mr. Rawson as to their showing the most variation. For a dis- play of variation from plain white to beauties in umber, chestnut and lilac, from speckled to streaked and blotched, from pointed oval to globular in shape give me a full series of Ferruginous Rough-legs. Editor. The American Barn Owl in Orleans County. After an absence of two vears from the old home scenes among which I was born, passed my boyhood, and con- tinued to reside until the fall of 1901, I stepped down from the train in my «ld home town of Medina on the morn- ing of June 20th, last. Among the former friends and ac- quaintances of mine who were about the station platform coming and going on different errands was Mr. Henry Freeman, who was just taking that train for Rochester, conveying with him to a taxidermist th-^re, a specimen alive of a peculiar bird which up until that time he had been unable to correctly name, nor had he been able to find any one in town who had seen such a bird before. My arrival at that moment seemed timely, for otherwise I might have missed seeing the bird all together, as my stay in Medina will be brief. Mr. Freeman was pleased to have the birds' identity established and to learn that he had secured one of the rarest- birds that ever visits Western New York, for it was nothing less than an Amercian Barn Owl (Strix pratincola) which he had captured alive in his barn on his farm about four miles south- west of Medina. At the time I removed from Medina to Vincennes, Ind., in the autumn of 1901, I had in course of preparation and not far from completion, a proposed work on the birds of Orleans county ; which on account of my removal to the West, was never finished. In consequence of having such a work in preparation. I had made a most thor- ough study up until that time, not only of the ornithology of this county, but of Western New York generally, and knew precisely the status of each spec- ies occurring, and had a record of all rare bird occurrences for Western New York. In the four years that I have lived in the West, I have still kept my self posted on the new things and rare occurrences in bird life of this section. 1 am. therefore able to state regarding this occurrence of the American Barn Owl at Medina, that it is the first and only record for Orleans county. In Ni- agara county, Mr. J. L. Davison of Lockport has a specimen which was tak- en at LaSalle. In Erie county, Dr. W. H. Bergtold's "List of the Birds of Buffalo and Vi- cinity," published in 1889 mentions this species as a rare straggler, oji the authority of Otto Besser. in Yates county, one was taken by Mr. John B. Gilbert near Penn Yan, prior to 1879. If there are other records of the oc- currence of this owl in Western New York, they have escaped my notice and I shall be interested to hear of some through the columns of the "Oologist." CORNELIUS F. POSSON. Medina, N. Y., June 21, 1905. A Freak Crow. In the Oologist for March, 1904, a Michigan correspondent recorded the capture of a freak Crow, whose bill was abnormally developed, viz : to quote his own words "the upper mandible being 1 1-2 inches and the lower mandi- ble 3 inches in length. Compare this abnormal shaped bill with a normal siz- ed one, which is two inches in length, and the differences in the length of the mandibles will be readily seen. I have a somewhat similar freak to record. THE OOLOGIST. 107 On June 9, 1903, at Sandiford. this county, we found a Crow's nest con- taining 4 young nearly three-fourths grown, situated between an upright crotch in a slanting willow on the bank of a creek, 25 feet from the ground. Nothing unusual about the nest or its site, though a late one, but what struck me as remarkable as I glanced into the nest at the four erect lieads and gaping mouths, was the singular shaped bill of one of the birds. Had not the birds opened their mouths for food, when I gazed into the nest, in all probability the freak would not had been noticed. It was as vociferous as its companions in clammering for food when I made a noise "like a crow" to attract their attention, which caused them to raise their heads and open wide their capric- ious maws for food they expected but didn't get. It was normal in all other respects, fat and healthy. Here is the description of its abnormal bill as I wrote it down at the time in my note book, after a careful examination. Its bill was not quite 2 inches in length, straight for half an inch, or one quarter its length ; where the mandibles sharp- ly diverged the upper one to the left and the lower one to the right. Then they recurved inward so that the tips of the mandibles nearly met, being onl> half an inch apart. The shape of this curious formed bill stronglj resembled an oar lock. I meant to secure the freak when it had attained a proper size so as to make an attractive pet, and rear it, and learn whether it would have been possible for it to pick up food or other objects with its curious shaped bill, which I doubt it could have done. But my rascally cousin spoiled all of my con- templated experiments, for he discov- ered the nest several days latter and cruelly killed all of the young by throw- ing them to the ground. Those that survived the shock of the fall met their fate in the creek by drowning. And when I remonstrated with him for his cruelty in recklessly killing them he weakly pleaded that "Crows steal corn, " but the amount of corn the Crows are accused of stealing, I told him, did not amount to one-fifth of that which is consumed by the Pigeons his father permitted him to keep in the barn. As far as my observations go the Pigeon is a greater devourer of grain and other seeds than the Crows and Blackbirds combined. But I am digressing. In his answer to the Michigan freak the editor attributed the abnormal shaped bill to some accident and asks for an explanation which has not as yet been forthcoming. He thought it would interfere with the bird feeding as it undoubtedly would. He does not say whether he thinks the accident oc- curred to the bird in its embryoic stage or after it had emerged into the world. I confess to being an incompetent au- thority upon the subject of incubation but I am inclined to believe that the abnormal growth of both of the birds' bills was caused during their embryoric period of growth for I cannot see how it could have happened latter, my own freak being a young bird supports my theory. I think that the abnormal growth of the two Crows' bills occurr- ed in the eggs and offer this explana- tion. The formation of the embryo oc- cur first in the yolk, and, as it is here that the change first occurs which de- termine the form of the future individ- ual the cause of these abnormalties then, it is my belief, was occasioned by some vital action which occurred in the earliest stage of the formation of the embryos. A friend offered the sugges- tion that they were born in abnormal sized or shaped egg, but I think it un- likely. Have any other readers an explana- tion to offer? RICHARD F. MILLER, Philadelphia, Pa. July 1, 1905. 108 THE OOLOGIST. If the birds in these two instances emerged from the shells as they grew they were, of course the product of dis- arranged cell growth in the earlv em- bryonic stage. This matter is not well understood as yet though many attribute it to mental or physical disturbance nf the parent in mammals. This would hardly ac- count for the condition occurring in eggs. We agree with Mr. Miller that Pig- eons are worse nuisances agriculturally than Crows, but have concluded after years of careful observation that the balance of the Crows account is against him. — Editor. tree that I have met in 25 years in col- lecting in Connecticut. Clifford M. Case. Rough-winged Swallow at Hartford, Conn. It has been my good fortune to care- fully watch a pair of these Swallows for the last three years using a water conductor or pipe hole in an enbank- ment wall on the Park River in the city for a breeding place. This year they have raised their young in this place which seems an unusual one, the hole is 18 inches above high water and 10 feet up from the bed of the river. They arrived May 4, 1904 and May 13, 1905. This Swallow is rare in Hartford county. CLIFFORD M. CASE. Red-tailed Hawk. A High One. While on a collecting trip Good Fri- day, April 28, 1905, after Red-shoul- dered Hawks' eggs, I found an extra tall piece of woods covering some 7 or 8 acres. I found two or three old nests; a little farther on a new one, with a good vigorous clapping of my hands a bird Hew of which proved to be a Red- tail from a nest in a white pine tree. On measuring it proved to be 92 feet from the ground. It contained 2 dirty and badly incubated eggs. I think this is one of the oldest pieces of tim- ber in Hartford Co., and the highest I was interested in Mr. Smithwick's article in the Mav issue. The follow- ing notes mayjbe of interest to some. For several years Purple Martins had reared their broods in a box placed on a pole. During last winter a storm blew the box off the pole. On April 6th of this 3'ear the Martins were seen alighting upon the pole, chattering and flying about it until a new box was erected. Does this not show that birds have a remarkable memory and that the same pair or pairs return to the same nest- ing site? The following may beof interest. A pair of Blue Jays built a nest upon a pole in my barn but the rats destroyed the eggs. C. W. Prier. C. B. v.. Ills.— and others.— No. 51a was omitted from our last Standard Catalogue because the A. O. U. has now concluded that 51 and 51a are not distinct forms and combined them as one Herring Gull.— Editor. To-day I have just got a set of Song Sparrow's eggs and nest with a Robin's egg in it. Something new to me. Yours truly, Ed. Dixon. Unionville, Ont. Publications Received. Bulletin Michigan Orn. Club, Vol. VI, Nos. 1 and ?. Journal of Me. Orn. Soc. Vol. VII, No. 2. Bulletin Penn. Dept. of Agri. Zool- ogy, Vol. III. No. 2. Philatelic West, Vol. XXX, No. 2. Am. Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 7. Condor, Vol. VII, No. 4. THE OOLOGIST. 109 ♦♦^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»»44^ K444»»44-f»4»»» -M-^ Coleoptera of North America A Big Bargain for some Institution or Collector. I t t Private collection of about 3000 different species (perhaps 10,000 specimens) of Coleoptera of North America, including an A I Cabinet with cork-lined draws and glass (hinged) covers, almost air and dust-tight. Cabinet could not be made for less than $65.00. Will sell cabinet and collection for only ^250.00. For further particulars, if you mean business, address FRANK H. LATTIN ALBION '►♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ ^ NEW YORK ■ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•»♦♦♦♦♦♦» THE CONDOR A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements- over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Elvery naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $1 . per year. Order at once of Business Mgr., JOSEPH GRINNELL California ^/ Pasadena, WANTED. Taxidermist.s to give me a trial in the new and best kind of Artificial Glass Eyes for Animals. Will trade for rare butterflies. EUGENE E. STAINSKY, 1115 Wheeler Place, Col- orado Springs, Colo. My6t Scientific Shells and Corals. Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIX. Albion. N. Y. Just In From India. A new invfiice of beautiful Butterflies. Will sell in papers or spead at reasonable prices or exchMngre for eggs or skin. I am in need of. 13 Var. Showy Pnpilio. Address. p:rnest h. short. Rochester. N. Y. Oologjcal Invention Hand Egg Blower for blowing all fresh and incubated eggs. Invaluable with water- blower. A very usefulinstrument. Indorsed by many advanced Oologists and collectors throughout the United States. Price $1.00 postpaid. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY. 457 (Treene St.. .1. 3. t. Augusta. Ga. 110 THE OOIOGIST CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EGG FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00. W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf BIROS EGfiS. ,' ■ can still furnish many the sets listed in Sep- jmber issue. If you satv or HO'v set' on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what lean furnish you. EKXKST H. SHORT. Rochester, N. Y. • TTTVTTTTTVVTTTTTTTVTTTTT* ► < ► Got a Camera or Collect Anything or M ► Have You a Hobby? < t IF NOT, WHY NOT? ^ ^ Send ten cents to the undersigned ^ ^ and you will receive for three months ^ ^ the oldest, largest and best collectors' ^ ^ monthly forall kinds nf Hobbies: Na- ^ ^ tural Plistory and American Histori- ^ ^ cal r)iscoveries, Coins. Stamps, Cu- ^ ^ rios. Relics. Photography, Minerals, ^ ^ Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post ^ ^ Cards. Rarities and New Finds for all ^ ^ Kinds of Collectors. .^ ^ The Philatelic West and Camera ^ ^ News, -^ ^ LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, ^ ^ Superior. Nebraska, U. S. A. ^ L, Greatest of its kind in the world. ^ w Fifty cents entitles you to a year's ^ w subscription and a free 15 word ex- ^ w. change notice in the largest exchange ^ w department extant, over 3500 pages ^ ^ past two years. ^ ► This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly < w was established in LS95. and has the ^ ^ largest circulation of any Collector's ^ w monthly in the world, and in size has ^ C no rival. More ads. in the WEST 2 ^ than in all other American collectors' ^ ^ monthlies cc)mbined. The best pay- ^ ^ ing medium for advertisers. Ic a ^ ^ word. Rates small, results large. It ^ ^ will pay you to write us about it. ^ ^ OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots ^ w. of it." ^ ^ Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ^ ^ ing it to ^ ^ L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, < ^ Superior. Nebraska, U. S. A. ^ ^ Send five cents for membership card 2 ^ to .\merican Camera C'lub Exchange. ^ ^ Over o^ilK) members in all parts of the ^ ^ world, or 5Uc. for a year's membership ^ ^ to American Historical and Natural ^ ^ History Society. Write. ^ ^ Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the ^ ^ doz., many colors; try them. ^ ► . . < BARGAINS IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No, i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for 1905 only. • AAA 4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. m FIFTH EDITION LATTIN^S STANDARD CATALOGUE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for $1.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE, JULY lOth we will mail you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine medium loose Datas, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec, 1909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. ► CombirvaLtion Offer. < ► We Offer Oolojiist one year -4 ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^- New illustral ^ Oologist one year ^ ► New illustrated Key, $2 50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 < ► and Chapman's "Color Key," < >• New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, ^ ► all prepaid $2. 60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and "Frederick Young" < >• The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 ^ ► Oologist /o/^r years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key,"- • •$3.25 ^ ^ Oologist /bwr years, as above, 4 ^ and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 ^ ^ Oologist /bwr years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; 4 ^ New Edition, Colored Plates, price $10.00, for $8.60. ^ ► Address < t ERNEST H. SHORT, 5 ► Manager Oologist Chili. N,Y. < • AAAAAA A AAA AAA AAAAA A A A AAAA AAA AA A AAA AAAAAAA A AAA AAAA AAA • 112 THE CX)LOGIST. ? ; T i JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check List of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. 3c each. PRICE 30c per dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. SAY! You should now Subscribe to the UNIVERSAL mum MAGAZINE. It is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will jj;ive you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE. BHLVIDERE, ILL. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter B. barrows.. Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman, A. Wood. Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. Tlie BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, JJ2 Alexandrine Ave., DETROIT, MICH. The Oologist A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES, Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 26 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terras, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 8. ALBION, N. Y., AUGUST, 1905. Whole No. 217 Take Notice. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Kemember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 206 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 " '■ ^' Dec. 1SH)4 217 vour subscription expires with this issue 219 •• ■• •' '• Oct., 1905 221 " " " " Dec, 1095 257 " " " '■ Dec. 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify, Entered as second-class matter December 21, 1903. at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act or Congress of March 3. 1879. WANTED.— For cash, nesting sites (with sets) of all birds that breed in tree cavities. Woodpeckers, Owls. Chickadees, etc. Quote such as you can furnish. First class. Aug, 2. t. J. L. CHILDS, Floral Park, N. Y. FINE FOSSIL Palm and Fern leaves. Bird Eggs and skins, to exchange for Birds Eggs new to my collection. Can't we trade? D. E. BKOWN, Agent B. B. & B. C. Ry. Co., Glacier, Wash., Whatcom Co. SINGLES FOR SALE.-Nos. 6. 206, 261, 182; 639, 197, 264, 278, 315, 377, 490, 584. 674 and quite a number of others. Correctly identified. Very cheap, cash. Aug. 4.t. R. P. SHARP- LES, West Chester. Pa. FOR EXCHANGE. Winchester Repeat- ing Rifle, 32 calibre, in solid leather case, together with 4U0 cartridges, for best offer of eggs in sets, with data. G. H. MESSENGER, Linden, Iowa. FOR SALK.-Pnce per egg, 83 1-1. $;100, 84 1-1, $3.00; 139 1-10, 40c: 177 1-10, 40c: 190 1-5, 30c; 204 1-2, $2.50; 287 1-3. $1.25; 308 1-8. 20c; 185. 1-3, $1.25; 337d 1-4, $1.00; 348 1-4, fiOc; 352 1-2, $2.50; 355 1-5. $1.75; 364 10-3, 40c; 419 1-2, 75c; 483 1-5. 25c; 490 3-5. 15c; 658 n-4, $1.00; 679 1-3. $1.50; 724 n-6, 30c;2301-4, 75c. E. J. . DARLINGTON. Wil- mington, Del. FOR EXCHANGE.-A fine lot of shells. minerals, curios etc., for American or For- eign stamps new to ray collection, ^^'ish to correspond with beginners. Will buy collect- ions for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB. 202 Westminister Road, Rochester, N. Y. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester, N. Y. PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth $10. Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even $5. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. Y. FOR SALE. -A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson, Ariz. t.f. WANTED. — Fresh skins of the Great Horned Owl ( or subspecies ). Snowy Owl.. Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and other sets of Cuckoos.Ara.Herring Gull, LeastTern, Laughing Gull, Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. CECIL FRENCH. Naturalist, W^ashington, D. C. J12t Providence. R. I. Dear Sir:— Please withdraw my ad. from your For Sale column. I have disposed of what material I offered and replies to the ad. are still coming in. I read over Ififty replies from half as many states, which speaks well for the "Oologist as an advertising medium. 'Very truly yours. DR. F. P. DROWNE. FOR SALE VERY CHEAP. -A large col- lection of rare single eggs, most all with data. All A. No. 1. either single or by the lot. Send 2 cent stamp for list. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY. 457 Greene St.. Augusta, Ga. 114 THE- OOLOGIST. FOR EXCHANGE— -'American Food and Game Fishes" (colored plates), by Jordan and Evermann, for best offer of eggs in sets, with data. G. H. MESSENGER, Linden. Iowa. FOR EXCHANGE.-"The Moth Book." (colored plates) by Holland, for best offer of eggs in sets, with data. (i. H. MESSEN- GER. Linden. Iowa. FOR SALP:— All kinds Cavies. white and black dragoons, white and colored Homers, black-breasted Gaijie Bantams, white Wy- andotts. Will consider a few exchanges for A No. 1 sets. Aug.4.t. ALMON KIBBE. Mayville. N. Y. FOR SALE. -"Birds of the United States and Canada." by Nuttall, in perfect condi- tion, $2.00. Vols. 2 and i Amer. Ornith. $1.25. CHAS. W. METZ. Sheridan, Wyo. FOR EXCHANGE.-Would like to ex- change first class singles for sets with full data containing no less than four eggs. Will except none smaller than catbird. Send for list. WM. J. MURPHY, No. 2024 Girard Ave. Minneapolis, Minn. FOR EXCHANGE.-Eggs. Minerals. Sea Shells. Marine Curios, Indian Relics, etc- All are A No. 1. Cabinet Specimens. Want Books, Magazines and Publications. Write W. J. ENGLAND. Caro. Michigan. Box 122. FOR SALE.— A miscellaneous lot of phamplets on Natural History subjects. Send for list. C.J.HUNT. 1306 N, 53rd St. Philadelphia. Pa. FOR SALE at half price my entire collec- tion of Mounted Birds. A good variety. Write for further particulars. All letters answered. Address. CHARLES E. BAUM. Taxidermist, Clark's Isle, Me. FOR EXCHANGE.— 10,000 varieties of postage and revenue stamps of all countries. Exchange for showy objects of Natural His- tory. Butterflies especially desired. Aug. 12.t. G. W. PEPPER. 219 E. 32 St.. N. Y. city. FOR SALE.-l entire skin of Big horn sheep, male, 1 entire skin of Badger. 3 heads of Bighorn sheep, 3 heads of White Mountain Goat, 1 head Prong horn Antelope, 6 heads of Moose, some Wolf skulls. Elk Moose and Deer feet, one Fine Large Black Bear skin, 1 Live Bear, some old horns. All for sale cheap. C. P. FORGE, Taxidermist. Carman, Manitoba, Can. FIRST CLASS Birds eggs in sets and singles, shells, petrified wood, Indian beads, arrow heads and other specimens and curios to exchange for eggs, mounted birds, skins, minerals, mounted Moths and Butterflies. Arrow heads, etc. Send list and get mine. H. F. DUPREY, 229 4th St.. Santa Rosa Cal. TO EXCHANGE.-Sets of Western Grebe eggs, for birds and mammals skins, birds eggs or shells. Many common species wanted in series. CHARLES L. CASS, 523 Packard St.. Ann Arbor, Mich. ORNITHOLO(iISTS AND OOLOGISTS.- Send stamp for samples of neatest, hand- somest label for Collection of Eggs or M't'd Birds, printed on fine card board, conform- ing to latest A. O. U. Check List. PHILO W. SMITH, JR., Mona House. St. Louis, Mo. DEAR SIR.-Standard Catalogue of N. A. Birds Eggs received some time ago. Many thanks for same" It is by far the best ever published, at least the best I ever saw. and it fills a long felt want. L. ERN- EST MARCEAU. BIRDS' EGGS IN SETS.— Prices per set postpaid. Horned Grebe. 1-4. 20c; 1-5, 25c: Ringed-neck Duck, 1-10, Down, $5.00; Am. Bit- tern.1-3. 60c; 2-4, 80c; Sandhill Crane,l-2.one egg slightly chipped. $4.00; 1-3, Wilson Phalarope. 1 egg chipped, 50c; Canada Ruffed Grouse, 1-12. $1.50; Sharptailed Grouse. 1-10. $2.00; 1-8 nest stained. 80c; Marsh Hawk. 1-6, 60c; 2-5. 50c; Red-tailed Hawk, 1-4. 80c; 3-3. 55c; Swain- son Hawk, 1-5. $1.25; 1-4. 80c; 1-3. 60c; 1-2, 40c; Broadwinged Hawk, 1-4, $3.00; 1-3, $2.25; 2-2. $1.50; Am. Rough Legged Hawk. 1-3. very fine, $3.00; Am. Long Eared Owl, 1-5, 50c; 2-4, 40c; Short Eared Owl, 1-6, $1.20; 1-5, $1.00; 1-4, 80c; Burrowing Owl. 1-5, 30c; Night Hawk, 1-2, 50c; Least Flycatcher. 3-4. nest. 25c; Bobolink, 1-4, 60c; Brewer's Blackbird. 2-5, 10c; 1-4. 8c; W. Savanna Sparrow. 2-4, 50c; Clay colored Sparrow, l-5n, 25c; 4-4n, 20c; Arctic Towhee. 1-4, 75c; Yellow Warbler, 3-4n, 10c; House Wren, 1-7. 15c. Nests postage extra. C. P. FORGE, Carman, Man., Can. 112 Alexandrine Ave., Detroit, Mich. Dear Sir:— It may be of interest to you to know that the "Oologist" is the best adver- tising medium with which we exchange. Replies came in answer to our advertisement from almost every state in the union, as well as Canada. Yours very truly, FREDERICK C. HUBEL. Bus. Mngr. "Bulletin of the Mich. Ornith. Club." WANTED. Copies of O. & O. Vol. VI. 2 i- 12. Observer. Vol. V. 2 (fc 11. Ornith. and Bot. Vol. II. 3-4-5. Bittern (1891). I. 7-s-9. Bos. Zool. Club, Quarterly, Vol. I. No. 1. Vol. II. 3 & 4. Stormy Petral, 1. 1-2 & 5. Canadian Sportsman and Nat.. Vol I. No. 10. Curlew, I. 1-2-6-7. Hawkeye O. and O. II. 2-3-6-9. Hum- mer. I. No. 4. Maine O. and O, I. 7-8-9-12. Vol. II. No. 1. Address, with price. WITMER STONE. Acad, of Sci.. Philadelphia. Penn. «r- NOTICE.- We will give the "Oologist" for Four Years or 75c in rash for every copy of "Oologist" for June \H88. Vol. VI. No. 4, sent us in good condition. Will give 3 years, or 50c for April, 1889. Address, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.-Fine set of 2 eggs of Bald Eagle, collected in Florida, A No. 1, and original data, for the best offer of first class sets with original data. Also have a fine single egg of the Bald Eagle, with A No. 1 data, and first class sets of other species to exchange. Want abnormal sets, and sets not in my collection; also sets to add to series, J.WARREN JACOBS, Waynesburg. Pa. BIRD SKINS. I have left, the following A No. 1 Bird Skins: 6 American Crow. 3 Blue Jay. 1 Least Bittern (poor). 2 Cedar Waxwing. 4 Pine Grosbeak— females, 13 Snowflake, 2 Purple Finch— females, 1 white-breasted Nuthatch, 1 black-throated Green Warbler. I will send the above 3:3 Skins and add 2 of the Gray Squirrel and l very fine mounted Crow. En- tire lot is cheap at $10. I'll box them all and express at purchaser's expense, for only $5.75. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. THE OULOGIST. 115 I Want a set of American Woodcock, 4 eggs, small holes, and as near alike in general appear- ance, size, etc., as it is possible to secure them. I will pay cash or give exchange, al- though my list of the latter is not as large as it might be. I Have a few good sets for sale, also and am now booking orders for next season's collecting. If you want choice sets from Saskatchewan, write W. H. BINGAMAN, Care Oologist, Chili N. Y. Bird Photos and Slides. For the month of August only you can have this work at your own prices. See my adv. in Dec. 1904 Oologist. B. S. BOWDISH, Demarest, N. J. Scientific Bird Skins. Western Horned Owl $1.50 Female Hooded Merganser 50 California Brown Towhee 20 White-eyed Towhee 25 Green-tailed Towhee 25 Oregon Towhee 15 Canon Towhee 25 Spurred Towhee 15 Northern Shrike 25 ■ Evening (irosbeak 50 Blackheaded Grosbeak 20 Mexican Crested Flycatcher 15 Vermillion Flycatcher 25 Says Phcebe 20 Black Phcebe 20 A lot of good things cheap to make room for new stock. ANGELL & CASH, 37 North Main St., Providence, R. I. South American Butterflies. I can furnish the following rare and mag- nificent, from U.S. of Columbia : Morpho SULKOWSKY, 44x4S in. Morho Mpinelaus, (gorgeous peacock blue)5ix7in. Either species prepaid, for only $2.00. P>aih insect is mount- ed on a new patent tablet, which not only protects it from dust, breakage, etc.. but puts them in a shape at once more beautiful and infinitely neater than is possible by the anti- quated method of impaling them on pins. FR.\NK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. V. New York Natural History Survey. I have a set of 22 vols, of this rare and ela- borate work in original binding and " good as new." It is in the best condition of any "original binding" set I've ever owned and if not sold I shall reserve the set for my pri- vate library, but now offer it at less than the regular price of a fair set in ordinary bind- ing. The 22 vols, are as follows. Geology, 4; Palaeontology, .5; Mineralogy, 1: Agriculture, 4; Entomology, 2: Zoology, (Mammals, Birds, Reptiles. Fl>h. Mollusca and Crustacea) 5; Botany. 2. I ought not to think of selling this set for less than $75. The volume on Birds in this volume alone is worth $15.- The set goes. however, at $55 00. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Yi" "EXCHANGE EXTRAORDINARY." The Xidiologist, Vol. Ill, complete. 150p, 37 half-tones, also full page group of 41 members A. O. U 2 50 The Xidiologist, Vol. IV, complete, 112p, 26 half-tones, Col. PI. of Nest and Eggs of Western Kvening Grosbeak 150 Data Blanks, per 100 25 Do, do, 1000 assorted 2 00 Allen's Taxidermists Manual • 50 Hurst'a Hunter's and Trapper's Guide. . 35 ChecivIng List. Our new 16p one. per 12. 50 Standard Catalogue of North American Birds Eggs, Lattin, 70p, '93 ed 10 Prothonolary Warbler, Loucks, 28p 25 Birds of Western New York, Short, 20p- 15 Directions for Collerting Minerals, Tas- sin, I2p 05 Golden Pheasant, beautiful colored pic- ture, true to nature, natural scene, al- most life size, on cardboard, 19x25 in. . . 1 50 FRANK H. LATTIN, ALBION, N. Y. Know the ffild Flowers? Your rambles in field and wood wijl increase in interest in propor- tion as you know plants as well as birds. The American Botanist is issued for the plant lover. It contains no technical articles and is just the magazine you need. Get a copy and see for yourself. ADDRESS WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton New York TYPEWRITER BARGAINS g^'i!?! with fancy case. Typewriter papers; 500 ^xlQA sheets 65c; , Circulars free. Agents wanted. THE A. L. HARVICK NOVELTY CO.. Vienna, Ills. M3t PHOTOS! SLIDES! SfS selected from nearly 200 subjects, 60c; 15c each. 1 doz. slides, any subject, $2.75, 25c each. B. S. Bowdish, Dem- arest, N. J. TJjlP Dippp IS PRINTED at the llllo rAlLIl Book and Magazine Publishing House of A. M.EDDY, Albion, N.Y. 116 THE OOLOGIST. Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG OOLOJIST AND* THE OOLOGIST will, during 1904, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will be advanecd and possibly not obtainable at any price. Sliould you desire back numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. You can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1, 14, 18. 21, 23-24,31, 34-35. 42, 53,86. 8!), Ill, 130. 13L', 137, 139, 14U, 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9, 66-07, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138, 146, are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 54. 55, 56. 75, 87, 127, 128, 129, 144, 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50. 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 70, 74, 80, 93, 100, 114, 115. 126, 133, 135 are 10 cents each. ItW All other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 will send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published, Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- cludes your subscription through J 904. My prices for back Nos. of the YOUNG OOLO- GIST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. I, 1884-5 , Nos 1 to 12, . . . $ .90 Vol. IT, 1885, Nos 13 to 14, . . . $ .r,u Vol. III, 1886, Nos 15 to 20, . . . $ .90 Vol. IV, 1887, Nos 21 to 25-26, . . $1 .00 Vol. V. 18S8, Nos 27 to 38, . . . $1 ..50 Vol. VI, 1889, Nos 39 to 50, . . . $ .75 Vol. VII, 1890, Nos. 51 to 62, . . . $ .75 Vol. VIII, 1891, Nos. 63 to 74, . . . $ .75 Vol. IX, 1892, Nos. 75 to 86, . . . $ .90 Vol. X, 1893, Nos. 87 to 98, . . . $1 .00 Vol. XI, 1894, Nos. 99 to 110, . . . $ .50 Vol. XII, 1895, Nos. Ill to 122, . . . $1 .00 Vol. XIII, 1896, Nos. 123 to 127, . . . $ 50 Vol. XIV, 1897, Nos. 128 to 1.39, . . . $1 50 Vol. XV, 1898, Nos. 140 to 149, . . . ¥ .60 Vol. XVI, 1899, Nos. 150 to 161, . . . $ 75 Vol. XVII, 1900, Nos. 162 to 171, . . . ? 50 Vol. XVIII 1901, Nos 172 to 183, . . . $ 50 Vol. XIX, 1902, Nos. 184 to 195, . . . 1 50 Vol. XX. 1903, Nos. 196 to 197, . . . $ 10 XXI 1904, No. 198 to 209 50 For $5 I will send prepaid a copy of every issue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty-nine (29) 25c and 50c copies. For $2 00 I will send prepaid every copy pub- lished. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (60) copies priced above at 10c or over. — boUxnd volumes — Can be furnislied, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows : Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound In one volume. $1.00 Vol. IX. The OOI,<)(!:ST for '92, 298 pages of valuable and instructive Oologlcal and Omitbologleal matter with many full page illustrations $1.00 Or. if you order the two volumes at one time, wp will send tliein by return mail for only $1.75. Every student of birds, their nests and eggs, should h;ive these two volumes in their lilirary. The valuable information they contain, is worth many times the price. .\ddress plainly, ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y. Southern Birds fggs. In choice cabinet sets with standard data for sale.very cheap or to exchange, Swainson's and Hooded Warblers, Chuck-will's-widow. American Oystercatcher. Royal Tern. Wil- son's Plover, Willet. Clapper Rail. Black Skimmer, etc. The largest and most val- uable collection in the south, and a corp of competent collectors. Stamp for list. Sat- isfaction guaranteed. Jul3t DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY, 457 Greene Street, Augusta, Oa. THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornithological Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps forsample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. THE WARBLER JOHN LBJVTIS CHILDS, EiDixoB \T7"ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new ''» series which will contain many su- perb Coloretl Plates of rare escs such as Kirtland and Olive Warblf-r. Carolin.i Tnv- oQiiet. Clark's Crow. Ipswich and Rufous Crowned Sparrow. Yellow and Black Rail. Calaveras Warbler, etc. Also splendid illustrations of Birds and Nests, and lead- ing articles by well known authorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover STJBSCRIPTION PRICE Sl.OO PER YMAR. SINOLB COPIES 30o Eergs of Kirtland Warbler will be figured in first issue'Jan or Feb.)of the new series. ADDRESS THE WAKBILER FLORAL PARK, N. The Oologist. Vol. XXII. No. 8. Albion, N. Y., August, 1905. Whole No. 217 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXT- DEEMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Pulilislier, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eg??s, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annntr Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at rea.sonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must be noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches in a col- umn, and two cohimns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 2.5 cents. No "special rates," 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom," "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no commi.^sion to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00; 1000 lines, .f50. "Trade" (other than casli) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times casli rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Ilrgistered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make .Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. In North Carolina and Virginia. Polloptila cxridea. A common summer resident of regu- lar distributiun in all suitable Icicali- ties, and a common breeding bird in all sections of the states. Not being of irregular distribution so far as I have been able to ascertain in any particular place, but they put in their appearance on dates varying as much as eight or ten days; on some seasons arriving by the twentieth of March, while on others they do not reach us before the first of April. In the west they are a few days later than in the southwest, and much later than in the east. In northern Virginia they arrive several days later than in the southeast, and much later than in the southeastern sections of North Carolina. In Bertie county, North Carolina, nest building begins by the 25th of April, but sometimes the nest may not be begun before the first of May. In beginning the con- struction of the nest, as if from some definite cause, all the birds seem to be late on the same season. Mr. H. Gould Welbourne (see Oologist, Sept. 1895), gives them as a common sum- mer visitor around Lexington, North Carolina, and describes a nest in the upright fork of a plum bush only five or six feet from the ground. On the 20th of April, in Norfolk county, I ob- served a pair of birds building their nests in the "V" shaped crotch of a small willow at the height of 11 feet from the ground. The nest was visit- ed several times, and on May 5th was found to. contain three fresh eggs. As in the north and west they arrive a few days later than in the south and east, so, also, are they from three to eight days later in building their nests. During the construction of the nest both birds share alike in the laliors, but the male seem to be de- void of that hustling quality that so well marks the efforts of the female; even then he is far from being a lazy 118 THE OOLCXjIIST. Photo from life by H. H. Dunn. THE CALIFORNIA VULTURE. THE OOLOGIST. 119 mate, helping to carry the materials to the nest to be arranged by the fe- male. The nest is placed on the hori- zontal or drooping limb of some tree in a grove or heavily wooded tract, or occasionally on the limb of a tree by the side of a road, and more rarely in the shade trees in the yard. Their favorite trees are oaks and sweet gums, on the limbs of which they place their nests at heights ranging from eleven to sixty-five feet from the ground; but frequently do we find them on the limbs of beeches, elms and other trees common to our forests, and rarely in the trees in the orchard and garden. The nest is often placed in the twigs that shoot upward from the main limb, but in such a manner that it is seated on the main limb, and is so firmly seated in and around the twigs that often it is with difficulty that the nest is removed as it is woven around the twigs. The nest is an exceedingly neat, but rather frail, structure, made of the withered blossoms of plants — those of the beech being used to pro- fusion in some nests, fine grasses? occasionally some wool and skeleton leaves, securely felted with a kind of vegetable down, and is ornamented on the exterior with lichens which serve to deceive the collector. The interior of the nest is very neat and well shap- ed, being about one and a half inches in diameter by slightly less in depth. Usually the walls are inclined to turn over, or slightly roll inward at the edge, thereby giving the nest a very neat appearance. The usual number of eggs are five, but sometimes four and six complete the set. With the exception of the piney tracts, Blue- Grays are equally abundant in all kinds of wood; but on some seasons, however, they are more abundant than on others. The readiness with which it removes the material of which its nest is being constructed to some other site, is one of the most interest- ing of the peculiarities of this bird; always using the same material in the new nest that was used in the deserted dormatory, often not carrying it more than a few rods, but sometimes to the most remote part of the woods. This, I think, is never done unless they are watched by some human foe, and then only to defeat his efforts to dispoil their treasure. One unusually inter- esting instance of this kind came un- der my notice in 1899. I chanced to discover a nearly completed nest on the limb of a sweet gum about 20 feet from the ground, after seating myself on a convenient log I passed several minutes watching the birds; and then departed, having approached to within not nearer than twenty-five feet of the nest. On returning the next day, greatly to my surprise, I found the birds as busily engaged removing the material, as, on the previous day, they had been in bringing it to the first site. After a short search I locat- ed the nest on the limb of another gum about twenty-five rods away. I found, on visiting the locality four days later, that they had removed the material to some distant part of the grove. After all they succeeded in de- feating my attempts at securing their eggs, I found the nest of young sever- al weeks later. From the 10th to the 25th of September they depart south- ward . R. PEARCE SMITHWICK, Norfolk, Virginia. Chat with a Naturalist. From J. Welsh, Victoria, Australia. "Mel- bourne Argus." The time and the surroundings were appropriate for a chat about birds, for we were sitting in one of the soft cushion bushes amongst the sand- dunes and banksias of Phillip Island, waiting for the incoming of the mut- 120 THE OOLOGIST. ton-birds. A little later conversation upon any subject would have been out of the question, for black wings whistled around us in the black night, the air was dense with the' musky odor of seabirds, and all the uncanny noises of earth seemed to be gurgling and shrieking under foot, over one's head and round about us in the strange voices of these strange sea- birds. It was while waiting that I asked my companion, Mr. A. J. Camp- bell, how he first got that taste for na- ture study which he has made the life work of his leisure hours, and which is so splendidly recorded in his two illustrated volumes, "The Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds." What I can remember of that chat long ago can only be a memory interview. "I became interested in the subject," he said, "when I was a boy about eight years old on the Werribee Plains, and the first nests that interested me were those of the black and white fan- tail, the red-browed finches— which built in an old hedge— and quails, which were then very plentiful. My grandfather was a strict old Highland- er, who thought the taking of eggs a sin, so I kept my collection hidden in a stone wall, and by mischance left it there when we came away. My moth- er encouraged me in the study of all forms of nature. The first puzzle I met as a boy was finding the brown egg of the bronze cuckoo amongst the white eggs in the nest of a yellow-tail- ed tit, the second, equally a surprise and a delight, occurred years after- wards, when T climbed a gum sapling on the River Darling, and found the curiously marked egg of the bower bird, which looks as if it were wound round about with brown cobweb. As a schoolboy in Melbourne, I spent all my spare time nest-hunting in what was then a happy hunting ground of birds— the line of shore and bush stretching from Sandridge past the Red Bluff at St. Kilda. The oldest egg in my collection— that of the yel- low-breasted shrike-tit— was taken in those days in Albert park, and the lovely swinging nest, with that pe- culiar bulge at the sides, which pre- vents the eggs being rolled out of it in a high wind, looked as beautiful to me then as now. It was only on get- ting hold of Gould's 'Handbook' that I realized little or nothing had been done on the domestic Pide of bird life, so I took that up, both as a hobby and a scientific work." What do you consider your most in- teresting trip? "That to West Australia in 1899, when Sir James Patterson, then Com- missioner of Customs, gave me fur- lough for the purpose. There were certain unknown eggs and nests which I required to complete the ma- terial for my book, and I gut them all, with the exception of the western scrub bird, which has not yet been discovered. That is strange, because the conspicuous call of the bird is so often heard. Still more curious is the fact that no collector has ever found a female scrub bird. One of the birds I was anxious to get was the pied robin, and calling at a sawmill I found the bird and its nest close be- side it. The discovery was interest- ing, because instead of the apple- green eggs expected they were more like those of a wood swallow, and the generic name of the bird was altered in consequence." What is the finest bird sight you have seen? "The most impressive was the first sight of the sea-bird rookeries on the islands of Bass Straits, which were then unknown. I remember landing one morning on one of the Flinders group after a storm so heavy that we feared we could not attempt it, and we dressed lightly, lest we should capsize and have to swim for it. We walked THE OOLOGIST. 121 up through the tussocks towards the crown of the island, and suddenly the acres of gannets upon their nests, their white plumage gleaming in the morning sun, burst upon us. Rat Island, one of Houtman's Abrolhos group, off the West Australian coast, was another wonderful spectacle, for spread over its 300 acres was not one but three layers of nesting sea birds, averaging about a bird to every square yard. On the top of the seaweed and salt bush were the noddys, beautiful and harmless as doves. On the ground under the bushes was a layer of nesting sooty terns; underneath it the island was honeycombed with the burrows of great myriads of mutton- birds." Have any preferences for a particu- lar order of birds grown out of that wide experience? "Well, I like, perhaps, the honey eaters best. They are so beautiful, so happy, so graceful; their eggs are a charming feature in a cabinet, with that warm tone of pink running through most of them; and their nests —such daintily woven baskets, swing- ing amongst the foliage of blossoming trees. Curiously enough, the last egg of the honey eaters 1 wanted to com- plete my collection was that of the in- teresting helmeted honey- eater, which is peculiar to Victoria. One Saturday a party of us went up the Olinda Creek, amongst the native hazel, where we found the helmeted honey ' eater on a beautifully woven nest of bark. Two o^us climbed for it, but the bough suddenly broke, and nest, and eggs, and. collectors went into the water together. The eggs were saved only through the bird sticking to the nest until it reached the water. In the same way, I wanted the brown eggs of the pilot bird to complete my collection, and I walked up another gully, and sat down within a few feet of the nest. Once on my way from Adelaide I left the train at Nhill, and went out into the mallee to look for the nest of the wattle-cheeked honey eater, and was fortunate enough to find it. The bird had been known for 60 years, but its eggs then were un- discovered. The eggs of some birds that have been known for a hundred years have yet to be found." What do you consider the most rare of the beautiful eggs and nests in your collections? "The most beautilul nest, I think, is that of the rose-breasted robin— so neat in its cup shape, so artistically decorated outside with colored mosses and lichens. The most valuable egg is that of the rifle bird, worth more than its weight in gold. When I first went in search of it I asked a settler if he ever found the nests. 'Oh, yes,' he said, 'that's the bird that builds its nest with snake skins." I was amused at the absurdity of it, but the first nest I found had woven into it the cast skin of a carpet snake. The pale green eggs of the cassowary— the larg- est egg in Australia — are getting very rare. They are only found in a little area of Queensland, and it is being taken up by planters." You have done nothing in the col- lecting of birds? "Very little, except in cases where it was necessary to shoot a bird in order to settle some point in dispute, or where specimens were wanted for the museums. Sometimes I regret lost opportunities, but then it is a satisfaction to look back and feel that one has been able to do this work without destroying much life." To what extent has the study of the domestic side of bird-life been covered? "There are about 770 species of birds in Australia, and the eggs of perhaps a hundred have yet to be discovered and described. But there is no genus which is unknown to science, and reasoning by analogy, we know pretty 122 THE OOIOGIST well what these unseen eggs are like. We have birds whose eggs are un- known and eggs whose birds are unknown. I have in my collection at home the white egg of a rail, which, although it differs in color from other rails' eggs, we still know is the egg of a rail, but we don't know which rail laid it. The rufous-headed bristle- bird is peculiar to Victoria, but the only eggs I ever obtained were got by a friend at Lome. One peculiarity about eggs that I have noticed is that, while the main tone of the American and European birds is blue, that of Australian birds is distinctly red. Less than a third, I should think, of the eggs of Australian birds are white. ' ' What are your methods and equip- ment in searching for eggs? "Very little— a tomahawk and an egg basket. Most birds build low in warm scrub. It's largely a matter of going quietly, constantly keeping your eyes open, and making the most of the daylight. A discriminating ear is also a guide. It finds a signifi- cance in bird notes that the untrained ear does not discover. But most finds come from the eye— the fleeting glimpse of a bird darting silently off through the scrub as she leaves the nest. It is a strange circumstance that as soon as I had got all the ma- terial for my book I lost the tomahawk I had carried for years. I took it as an omen that my work amongst nests and eggs was finished." Most people will hope not. Mr. Campbell, from the very nature of the wholesome outdoor life to which his leisure has been given, -is still a young man, and as he strides along through the bush the man who keeps with him for a day is a good athlete. His work is a fine and fascinating contribution to natural science, much more gener- ously recognized, perhaps, amongst the scientists of England and Germany than in his own country. Perhaps in the material sense he would be better off if he had given his leisure to crick- et or some other game that commands the universal approval of Australians. Only a few know the value of the work he has done, but by those few it is appreciated. Lately I received the third volume on bird life issued by the Geological Survey of Canada; the annual reports of the Agricultural and Forestry departments of New Zealand give much space to the subject. In Australia it has been left to a private individual to do out of his own means and leisure the work which the state has done elsewhere. He has been elected a colonial member of the Brit- ish Ornithologists' Union— an honour limited to only ten persons in the world; while the American Ornitholo- gists' Union has elected him one of its corresponding "Fellows." All honor to him that his work has been so well done. Nesting of the Dotted Canon Wren in Alameda county, California. By Stanley G. Jewett. On May 8, 1905, while collecting bird skins and eggs in the Upper Al- ameda Canon in the Livermore Mts. of Alameda county, California, I had the good luck to find a nest of the Dotted Canon Wren, C. m. pimctulat- us. The nest was discovered by acci- dent, as most good things are, on the 8th of May, when it contained two eggs and the set of five was completed on the 11th and added to,my collection on the 12th. Both male and female birds were observed up and down the canon on several occasions so the identity is complete. The female was sitting above side of nest in cleft of rock when we came to photograph it, in its gloomy retreat amid the rocks beside the roaring waters of the wild gorge. The nest was composed of a mass of THE OOLOGIST. 123 bits of moss in a green state, mingled with bits of dry grass stems and tree leaves, well bound together with spider webs and cocoons. Inner part of nest was fitted with many soft feathers of different birds. Depth of nest one and one-half inches, across the top three by two and one-half inches, height of nest in front where it lay on the rock two and three-quarter inches, being two inches only in the back. The under part of the nest was built up in front with a lot of dry sycamore twigs of one to seven inches in length, this acted as a support to the front of the nest to level it up. The extreme length of nest was nine inches, several twigs were scattered all along the ledge for two or more feet as though the bird was undecided where to start her nest proper. It was placed on a slight shelf in a cleft in sandstone rock, back fifty-one feet in a cave, en- trance of cave only five feet from run- ning stream. The cave was fifty feet high at entrance and twenty feet high at extreme end. The bluff where this nest was located faced the north in a gorge some two hundred feet deep where the roaring creek rushed down the mountains, and far above the scraggly black oaks, reared their long branches over the poison oak thickets below. Description of eggs, A crystaline white, having a slight polish marked with tine cinnamon specks of one shade, centered mostly in a ring around larger end, numbers one, three and four are more marked over the whole egg than numbers two and live. No under shell color is seen as in many of the other wren's eggs. Eggs measured by m. m. Five specimens perfectly fresh. No" 1, 19 x 13 m. m.; No. 2, 19 X 13 m. m.; No. 3, 20 x 14 m. m.; No. 4, 20 x 14 m. m.; No. 5, 18 X 13 m. m. Average of the live eggs, 13 X 19 m. m. The Red-breasted Nuthatch. ( Sitta canadensis . ) In Eastern New York. I have noticed very little in regard to this interesting species in the col- umns of the Oologist and only one men- tion of its breeding in New York (Mr. Clarence N. Davis, in Oologist for June, 1904, mentions the finding of some young nuthatches) has come before my notice. Sets from New York are prob- ably very rare and I consider myself very fortunate in finding two nests of this species during this spring. One nest contained three eggs (showing traces of blood upon being blown, and consequently a full set, though few m number) and I have not examined the other nest as yet but hope to find a fuller set. On April 23rd, while out walking in a small woods near here, I heard a pair of nuthatches calling and upon following them, noticed one fly out of a small hole in a poplar stump, about five feet above the ground. I did not lose any time in investigating that stump and was soon looking into the nesting cavity. The hole was excavated about an inch and I quickly decamped, as I did not want the birds to desert such a promising "bo- nanza." The old birds were quite shy but I easily identified the species by its small size black stripe through the eye, and reddish under parts. On May 7th, I again went down there, and was pleased to find the hole so deen. that I could not see the bottom. On May 13th, I decided to go and investigate my find and did so with the above men- tioned result. The en1:rance to the nest was about an inch and a quarter in di- ameter and the hole was five and a half inches deep. The wall of bark was so Ihin that I could easily break it with my thumb. At the base of the cavity, was a large mass of bark strips, probably from a poplar tree, which made quite 124 THE OOLOGIST. a soft nest for the eggs. For a foot below the entrance, as well as slightly above it, the bark was thickly covered with pine pitch. The reason for this, I have no idea, unless as suggested by Mr. 0. E. Crooker, in Oologist for July 1892, it is for the purpose of keeping ants, woodticks and other insects from the nest, and imprisoning them in the sticky substances, enables the birds to devour them at their leisure. This supposition is undoubtedly correct, as the birds, it appears, could have no other purpose in view. The eggs were of a delicate pinky white hue, retaining the same color upon being blown, and they were spot- tfd all over with reddish brown chiefly about the larger end. Their average size is .61x.48 inches. CHAS. P. ALEXANDER. Bangor, Me., June 2, 1905. Accept my thanks for the copy of Standard Catalogue recently received. It is a most excellent and up to date work and very handy for reference. I have found time to do some work in the field this year, and though I do less collecting than I did years ago I do more studying of the birds and their habits and accomplish much more practical results. The photographing of nests and eggs, fl.owers and other nature studies occupies considerable of my leisure time. In fact I do not think of collecting a set of eggs now days unless I have first secured a num- ber of photographs of the nest and sur- roundings. To-morrow Mr. J. Merton Swain and and myself are thinking of trying to find a nest or so of the Yellow Palm Warbler. Though the birds nest regu- larly in an extensive peat bog near Bangor it is hard to find a nest save by accident. Very truly, O. W. Knight, B. S. Referring to Mr. ',Wm. E. Crispin's article on the Screech Owl eggs which take the measurements of Saw-Whet I wish to calljhis attention to the fact that the Saw-Whet while not being a regular breeder as far south as Salem, N. J., might possibly do so. I am located at Odin, Illinois and I find I am about sixty-five miles further south than he is and I am positive I collected a set of five of the Saw-Whet Owl on March 18, 1890. See page 205 Vol. 10 No. 7, July 1893 Oologist for account of said taking. I had this bird in my hands about a dozen times and a fellow collector and mj'self carefully com- pared her with the description given in Coue's Key and Ridgway's Manual and we are confident we made no mis- take. While his eggs by not being fully identified at taking would remain in doubt, yet there is a degree of pos- sibility of this being Saw-whet Owl's eggs. C. B. Vandercamp. Since June "Oologist" went to press I have seen the set of Owl's eggs in question. They were simply small eggs of Screech Owl. I think the Saw- Whet might breed in that latitude but these would not do for Saw-Whet. Editor. A Snake in a Hawk's Nest. In reading the articles of green leaves in Hawk's nest reminds me of a Red- shouldered Hawk's nest I peeked into a few years ago, it contained one fresh egg and a spotted or milk snake 16 in- ches long, but they nearly all have green twigs from hemlock in this section. A. E. KIBBE, Mayville, N. Y. Publications Received. Nature Study, Vol. XIV, No. 7. Amateur Naturalist, Vol. II, No. and 4. Am. Ornithology, Vol. V., No. 8. THE OOLOGIST. 125 FIFTH EDITION LATTIN'S STANDARD CATALOGUE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-d.tte Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for $1.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JULY I 0th we will mail you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine medium loose Datas, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec, 1909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H, SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chill, N. Y. ► CombinaLtion Offer. I ff We Offer Oologist one year < ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^ ► New illustrated Key, $2.50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and Chapman's "Color Key," ^ 1^ New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, ^ ► all prepaid ^ $2.60 ^ p, Oologist one year ^ ► and "Frederick Young" ^ ^ The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 -^ ► Oologist /owr years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key,"- • -$3.25 4 ^ Oologist /owr years, as above, m ► and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 < ^ Oologist /bwr years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; t ► New Edition, Colored Plates, price $10.00, for $8.60. ^ ► Address j t ERNEST H. SHORT. 3 ► Manager Oologist Chili, N.Y. ^ • ▲▲▲▲ AA AAAA AAA AAAAAAAA AAAA AA AA A AAAA AAAAA AAA AAAAAAA AAA • 126 THE OOLOGIST. BARGAINS • ▼TTTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTV • IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic 8tamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for 1905 only. 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. LatTIN, Albion, N. Y. ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► Got a Camera or Collect Anything or Have You a Hobby? IF NOT, WHY NOT? Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and best collectors' monthly for all kinds of Hobbies: Na- tural History and American Histori- cal Discoveries, Coins, Stamps, Cu- rios, Relics, Photography, Minerals, Sciences, Illustrated Souv^enir Post Cards, Rarities and New Finds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 3500 pages past two years. This 100-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1895, and has the largest circulation of any Collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other American collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a word. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. Over 5300 members in all parts of the world, or 50c. for a year's membership to .\merican Historical and Natural History Society. Write. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz., many colors; try them. < < < < • Akk 4AAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA • CALIFORNIA CONDOR'S EGG FOR SALE In perfect condition with fullest data, recently collected. $150.00, W. E. SAUNDERS, London, Ont. jtf 3IRD8 EGGS. I can still furnish many of the sets listed in Sep- tember issue. If you saw 'or now see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what lean furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. 127 JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check list of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. 3c each. R R I C E 30c per dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, IM. Y. »♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ SAY! You should now Subscribe to the UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE. It is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE A\AGAZINE. BELVIDERE, ILL. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter b. barrows., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will he enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, 112 AUxandrineAve., DETROIT, MICH. 128 THE OOLOGIST. 4 »♦♦♦♦ M ♦♦♦♦♦♦»>♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦.♦ M ♦♦♦♦ 4 ♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ Coleoptera of North America :: A Big Bargain for some Institution or Collector. Private collection of about 3000 different species (perhaps 10,000 specimens) of Coleoptera of North America, including an A I Cabinet with cork-lined draws and glass (hinged) covers, almost air and dust-tight. Cabinet could not be made for less than $65.00. Will sell cabinet and collection for only $250.00. For further particulars, if you mean business, address ALBION FRANK H. LATTIN NEW YORK THE CONDOIt A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and everj' indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has firmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $ I . per year. Order at once of Business Mgr., WANTED. Taxidermists to give me a trial in the new and best kind of Artificial Glass Eyes for Animals. Will trade for rare butterflies. EUGENE E. STAINSKY, 1115 Wheeler Place, Col- orado Springs, Colo. My6t Scientific Shells Corals. and Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. Just In From India. A new invoice of beautiful Butterflies. Will sell in papers or spead at reasonable prices or exchange for eggs or skins I am in need of. 15 Var. .Showy Prjp/7/o. .\ddress. EKNf:ST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. Oologicai Invention! Hand Egg Blower for blowing all fresh and incubated eggs. Invaluable with water- blower. A very useful instrument. Indorsed by many advanced Oologists and collectors throughout the United States. Price $1.00 postpaid. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY. 457 Greene St.. J. 3. t. Augusta, Ga. The Oologist A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 9. ALBION, N. Y., SEPTEMBER, 1905. Whole No. 218 Take Notice. Examine the nuniber following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Kemeinber we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 207 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 ■' ■' '■ I>ec. l!t04 218 vour subscription expires with this issue 219 •• ■' ■■ •■ <)ct., 1905 221 ■• " ■■ ■■ I'ec. 1095 257 '• ■• ■■ ■■ I'ec. 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21, 1903. at the post otlice at Albion. N. Y.. under the Act of Congress of March 3. 1879. WANTED.— For cash, nesting sites (with sets) of all birds that breed in tree cavities. Woodpeckers, Owls. Chickadees, etc. Quote such as you can furnish. First class. Aug, 2. t. J. L. CHILDS, Floral Park, N. Y. SINGLES FOR SALE.-Nos. 6. 206. 261, 182; 639, 197, 264, 278, 315, 377, 490. 584. 674 and quite a number of others. Correctly identified. Very cheap, cash. Aug. 4.t. R. P. SHAKP- LES, West Chester, Pa. FOR SALE VERY CHEAP.-A large col- lection of rare single eggs, most all with data. All A. No. 1, either single or by the lot. Send 2 cent stamp for list. DOCTOR M.T. CLECKLEY.457 CJreene St.. Augusta. Ga. FOR SALE— All kinds Cavies, white and black dragoons, white and colored Homers, black-breasted Game Bantams, white Wy- andotts. Will consider a few exchanges for A No. 1 sets. Aug.l.t. ALMON KIBBE, Mayville, N. \\ FOR EXCHANCiE.— 10,000 varieties of postage and revenue stamps of all countries. Exchange for showy objects of Natural His- tory. Butterflies especially desired. Aug. 12.t. G. W. PEPPER, 219 E. 32 St.. N. Y. city. «#= NOTICE. -We will give the "Oologist" for Four Years or 75c in cash for every copy of "Oologist'' for June 1S88. Vol. VI. No. 4. sent us in good condition. Will give 3 years, or 50c for April, 1.H89. Address. Manager Oologist. Chili. N. V. F«jR EXCHAN(;E.-A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc.. for American or For- eign stamps new to my collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. Will buy collect- inns for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WKBB. 202 Wesi minister Road. Rochester. N. Y. WANTED.- Eggs in sets, large or small Ints. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A lew sets and skins and some hooks. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Itochester. N. Y. ^__ PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth *10. Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even Jo. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. Y. FOR SALE. -A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson, Ariz, t.f. WANTED. — Fresh skins of the Great Horned Owl C or subspecies ), Snowy Owl.. Ptarmigan. Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and other sets of Cuckoos,Am.Herring(iull, LeastTern. Laughing Gull. Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use.^ ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. FOR SALE. About 15 Hudubon Plates from the original coppers— size about 40x25 inches— average price $5 each. F. B. Mc- KECHNIE, Ponkapog. Mass. A FEW rare and desirable sets from Ari- zona and Southern California. All in perfect condition. Ini ending purchasers address O. W. HOWARD. Box 1177, Los Angeles, Cal. $3 will buy 158 kinds of woods, or will ex- change for woods not in my collection. LOUIS W. HAHN. Lake Ave., Silver Creek, N. Y. 130 THE OOLOGIST. FOi; SALK -A tint- lot of singles corrt-ftly iE or EXCHAX(;E-X. C. (juartz crystals. Indian relics, ver.v fine. Want in exchantre biidks by modern writers, espec- ially " Ren ilur" and \Miuld also like to ex- change for graphopbone. MRS. HRLE H ALSETT. R. F. D. 2. Lincolnton. X. C. I'OR SALE— Two dollars takes seventy- five first class singles. Fifty different kinds. Would like to buy for cash first class sets with full data containing no less than four eggs. Anybody having good sets for sale write to WM. J. MFRPHY. 2024 Girard Ave., Xo. Minneapolis. Minn. FOR SALE.-Xew pair of Bausch field glasses cheap, cost f45. Also will buy live Fox Sfjuirrels. Black-squirrels, (iophers and Prairie do-s. S.5.t. C. A. CURRIER, Lexington. .Mass. I WAXT finely marked sets or singles of Osprey, Audubon's Caracara, Egyptian Vul- ture. European Sparrow Hawk. Am willing to give big bonus in 51a, 64, 420, 331. 33:i. 190. and many others. Will negotiate for slight- ly imperfect eggs. Correspondence solicited. DR. HART. Laper. Mich FOR SALE OR EXCHAX(iE.-60 Ostrich eggs. Entire lot prepaid, cash $30; exchange Taylor, 11.50, Latin $1.25. Sell or exchange any number, but at higher rates. Many other eggs in fine sets. Send your lists and get mine. S. 2.t. J. M. CARROLL. 714 Speight St.. Waco, Tex. F(JR SALE.— Colt's powder and ball re- V(jlver. with attack on stage coach engrav- ing, price $1.25; it pound cannon shell, rare relic of the civil war, $1.25; one pair of old spectacles. MO years old or more. 75c; one old candle lantern, $1.00. .IAS. O. .lOHXSOX. Southington, Comi. FINE SETS of Belted Kingfisher, 1-6, 58c: Tree Swallow, 1-2. I2c.. 1-5, 45c; Meadow Lark, 1-4, 18c; Blue Jay, 1-5, 20c; Flicker, 1-9, 20c; Bronzed fJrackle, 1-5. 15c; Downy Wood- pecker, 1-4, 2oc; Kingbird, 1-4, 12c; Least Fly- catcher, 1-4, 24c; Yellow Warbler. 1-4. lOc; P'ield Sparrow, 1-4, 15c; Wood Pewee, 1-3, 20c; Wood Thrush, 1-4, r2c; Bluebird, 1-4, 8c.. 1-5, 12c; Barn Swallow. 1-5, 10c; Red-leg Tur- tle. 1-4, 20c. Prices are per set prepaid all first class with data. JAS. O. JOHNSON, Southington, Conn. FOR EXCHAXOE.-Finesets. Many ser- ies. 1,6.51,64,65,70,77,80, 120. 121. 123b. 126, 187, 191, 194, 201, 202, 219, 221, 226, 25s. 261, 273. 289, 311, 313, 316, 325 1-1 and onesingle, 326 3 singles, 333. 335. 337 1-1. 337a. 324. .360a, 3(iH. 385, 3S7, 396, 410.412. 413, 419. 420a. 453, 443, 45*j. 471, 474a, 487,488.495a. (Rronze Cowbird 50 eggs^, 497. 498. 501b. 505. 50S. 510, 513a. 519. 552, 552a. 562. 573, ,5761-2, .Wl, 593, 593c. 594a, 601, 601. 613. 631. 633, 652, 681a, 683, 683a, 703. 703a. 705, 706, 707. 713. 719. 746. Send your list and get mine. J. M. CARROLL. 714 Speight St.. Waco, Tex. S2 1 FOR EXCH.\.N(;E.— Canoffera good org- an in exchange for tirst class sets. J.VS. O. JOHXSOX, Southington,JConn. NOTICE. -I have a Smith and Wesson re- volver. :'2 caliber hammerless. also Davie's Taxidermy, to offer for Bird Books. R. PEARCE SMITHWICK, 133 Mariner St., Norfolk. Virginia. WANTED TO EXCHANGE.-Sorae fine sets of .Mich, eggs for Books on Oology. Minerals. Indian Relics or K!ggs. What have you? A. W. ( 'o.M FORT. Rosebush. Mich. WANTED.- Nests and full sets eggs small land birds. Send list and spot cash price. H. K. C(JALE. 136 Washington St., Chicago. WANTED. -Skins of male Pintail. Wid- geon. Green-winged Teal and Wood Duck. S. HOWARTH. Florissant, Colorado. RED-Shouldered Hawks eggs in sets with full data. Sets 2. 3 and 4 eggs in sets, for ex- change for other eggs. Warblers preferred. H. C. MILLS. Box 218, Unionville. Ct. TO EXCHANGE.— Eggs in sets and reports of the U, S. National Museum to exchange for sets. E. L. WARNER. Jacksonville, Fla. BE.VCTIFrL White lantail Pigeons for sale at 50c a pair, or will exchange for birds eggs in sets. P. E. MILLER, 1215 5th Ave., Cedar FJapids. Iowa. Dear Sir; It gives me great pleasure to fell you that your paper is a peach for ad- vertising. I received 10 letters to my ad. before I received the paiier. letters ai'e com- ing yet. although the eggs were all gtme two weeks ago. BERT NICHOLS. Granville, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.— For bird skins or books on l)irds the following: .35 bird skins, 28 eggs, (Books). Nests and Eggs by Davie, Woods' Natural History, I'.uttertlies of V . S. by French and Taxidermy l>y Maynard. Send list. o. M. (if; E EX Wool), strawberry Point. Box 64, Iowa. I WILL exchange a first class camera and outfit, cost $20, for $15 worth of ornithologi- cal books, LOGAN EVANS, R. 2. Wilsey, Kan. LEARN Learn Taxidermy. Naturalists. Oologists and Sportsmen sht)uld all know how to correct- ly mount all kinds of birds and animals. WE TEACH TAXIDERMY BY MAIL. Complete course in 15 lessons. This is one of the most de- lightful and fascinating of arts. Easily learned. STANDARD METHODS. En- dorsed by all leading taxidermists. Many of the best known natur.-ilists of the country are numbered among our students. If you want to learn TAXIDERMY, we desire to submit ourproposition in full. Send Tol).\Y for our new illustrated CATALOCi and sam- ple copy of The TAXIDERMY .MAI>. CECIL FRENCH. Naturalist. Washington. 0. C. .J12t Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. El). Oologist: In reading Mr. Smithwick's article in the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher in Aug. Oologist, I was struck with the differ- ence in the breeding habits of this species in his locality and in mine- more particularly because it seems the reverse of what we would naturally suppose. In Bertie Co., which is in eastern N. C, he says nest building begins about April 25th. In Iredue Co., western N. C, which ought to be later, I have found nests under con- struction by March 28th, and in no case have I found nests later than the 4th of June. Nests holding eggs are rarely seen in this county later than May 1st. As to the nest itself, I have never seen one less than ten feet from the ground, and that not often. Twenty feet seems about the average. Usual- ly a horizontal branch is chosen, gen- erally at a considerable distance from the trunk, so pronged that one fork will be over the nest, forming a kind of roof. Oaks, white or post, are the favorites. Out of many nests that I have examined, all were in oaks ex- cept three in pines, one in maple, one in dogwood, and one in peach. Going out in the woods after the breeding season one never finds old nests. On the young leaving the nests, the old birds immediately tear it in pieces. Why this is done, I have not been able to find out. The new Catalogue is all right. Jacob Bostain, Statesville, N. C. 132 THE OOLOGIST. Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG OOLOGIST AND THE OOLOGIST will, diuiug Ui04, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will be advanecd and possiblj- not obtainable at any price. Should yon desire back numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. Vou can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. .32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1, 14, 18, 21. 23-24,31, 34-35. 42. 53, «6. 89, 111, 1.30, 132, 137, 139, 14i), 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9, 66-G7, 70, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138. 146, are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15. 16, 54. .5.5, .56, 75, 87, 127, 128. 129. 144, 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22, 27, 28. 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60, 61. 63, 04, 65, 70, 74, 80, 93, 100, 114, 115. 126, 1.33. 135 are 10 cents each. iiT All other numbers 5c per copy. For .$10 will send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published. 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(60) copies priced aliove at lOe or over. — EOUM) VOLUMES — Can be furnislied, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound in one volume .$1.00 Vol. IX. The OOLOGIST for '92, 298 pages of valuable and instructive Oulogical and Ornithological matter with many full page illustrations $1.00 Or, if you order the two volumes at one time, we will send them by return mail for only $1.75. Every student of birds, their nests and eggs, sliould have these two volumes in their library. The valuable information tliey contain, is wortli many times the price. Address plainly, EENEST H. SHORT, Manager of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y. Vol. I, 1884- Vol. IT, 1885, Vol. III, 1886, Vol. IV, 1S87, Vol. V. 1SS8, Vol. VI, 1889, Vol. VII, 1890, Vol. VIII, 1891, Vol. IX, 1S92, Vol. X. 1893, Vol. XI. 1894, Vol. XII, 1895, Vol. XIII, 1886, Vol. XIV, 1807, Vol. XV. 1898, Vol. XVI, 1899. Vol. XVII. 1900, Vol. XVIII 1901, Vol. xrx. 1902, Vol. XX. 1903, " XXI 1904. THE WARBLER JOHN LE'WIS CHILDS, Editor \Y7ITH 1905 The Warbler begins a new , M'nes which will contain nianv su- perb Colored Plates of rare eersrs such as Kirtland and Olive WarbU-r, Carolina Par- oquet, Clark's Crow. Ipswich and RufDiis Crowned Sparrow, Yellow and Black Rail. Calavi-ras Warbler, etc. Also .'splendid illustrations of Birds and Ne.sts. and lead- ing articles by wpII known authorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 PER YKAR. SINGLE COPIES 30o _ Esrgs of Kirtland Warbler will be flffurcd m first issuiM Jan or Feb.)of the new .series. ADBREss THE ^VAI^BT.EI^ FLORAL PARK. N. Y. South American Butterflies. I can furnish the following rare and mag- nificent, from U. S. of Columbia : Morpho SuLKOWSKY. 4ix4^ in. Morho Menelaus, (gorgeous peacocl^ blue)5ix7in. Either species prepaid, for only $2.00. Ea^h insect is mount- ed on a new patent tablet, which not only protects it from dust, breakage, etc.. but puts them in a shape at once more beautiful and infinitely neater than is possible by the anti- quated method of impaling them on pins. FRANK H. LATTIX. Albion. N. Y. THE JOURNAL OF THE Maine Ornithological Society A quarterly devoted to the study and protection of the birds. Now in its 6th volume. Subscription 50 cents per annum. Send stamps forsample copy. J. MERTON SWAIN, Business Mgr., Fairfield, Maine. The Oologist. Vol. XXII. No. 9. Albion, N. Y., Skptember, 1905. Whole No. 218 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXT- DEEMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eg^s, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription .00c per annuir Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. 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"Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to Ave times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused IT. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make .Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. Editorials. In last issue (Vol. I, No. 3) of the "Warbler" appears among other good things an account of the nesting of the Passenger Pigeon near Minneapolis in 1890 by W. Otto Emerson. This brings authentic collecting of the eggs of this species down to a much later date than I have seen recorded. The set, like all authentic records I have investigated, consisted of one egg. On page 59 Penn. Bulletin Div. of Zoology Vol. Ill, No. 2, I notice as follows: "We should hesitate to recommend the destruction of skunks as these animals are known to be among the most valuable of our insectivorous creatures and are certainly the most valuable fur-bearing mammal in the State." The editor of the Oologlst began on skunks with a steel trap when he was a boy of less than 14 years and he has been studying skunks from various points of view ever since. Inevitably he has arrived at a few conclusions. Unquestionably the skunk is insecti- vorous but they are also practically omnivorous along the line of animal matter. The greatest point I find to their credit is the number of young field mice (meadow voles) that they tlig out of the nests and devour. If it were not for one characteristic this alone would turn the balance in their favor. In the springand summerthe skunk is a light feeder. They wander but short distances from their home bur- row and get along with a minimum of effort and food. While this period lasts they destroy birds' nests, mouse uests, etc., including young chickens if located in the near vicinity of their home but they do not as a rule attract much attention by their depredations until along in September when cool 134 THE OOLOGlS'l' !SKT OF FOUR E(i(iS AND NEST OF TENNESSEE WARBLER IN (."OLLECTION OF J. P. NORRIS,JR. Taken by Allan Brooks at Carpenter Mountain, British Columbia, June 15. 19U1. IHE OOLOGIST 135 nights bring a suggestion of coming winter. Then the skunk remembers about the coat of fat that sustains them through the winter and immediately becomes industrious. Birds' nests and young are practically out of the way now and mice are not so easy to secure though they breed to some ex- tent the year around. Tnrning over stones and clods for beetles and crickets is good as far as it goes bnt they know a trick that yieids much larger results with less labor. After the middle of August the com- mon toad has a habit of inflating him- self with air after a good full meal and retiring to some spot where the digging is good where they burrow down from four to seven inches and lie there. The period and purpose of this I have not yet satisfied myself about. The skunks know all about this and their keen noses will locate the toad without any waste of time. They simply claw the toads out and capture a generous meal with little effort. I have seen the sides of sandy knolls almost dug over b}- them. It continues from early in September to November and it would be useless to attempt to estimate the number of toads destroyed. Now the toad does his best work destroying insects dur- ing the growing summer months and and each one is nearly worth its weight in gold. One skunk will destroy in six weeks a host of toads that have been the farmers and gardeners best allies all summer and I cannot see that they do •enough good at any time to balance this. As to their value as fur even a black skunk at $1.00 is a poor propo- sition to balance 50 or 100 industrious toads and it may take 15.00 worth of effort to catch him at that. No! I can't find where the skunk earns enough credits to balance his debit account and I advise evervone to com- pass their destruction where possible with safety to their person whether with Bi-Sulphide, traps or firearms— Editor. A Day in the Field with Walter E. Bryant. Early in May 1901, I invited my friend and fellow oologist, Walter E. Bryant, to accompany me on thefollow- ingday's trip. The next morning I got my ropes, lines, hatchet, 8 sizes col- lecting boxes, cotton, etc., ready, put my book of field notes in my pocket and started before 6 o'clock, picked up Mr. Bryant at his home and made for the country north of Santa Rosa. About three miles from town in driv- ing over a small bridge we flushed a Black Phcebe. Mr. Bryant took a lo ;k under the bridge and reported "too early, try again in two weeks." We stopped to examine some bridges but saw no signs of nests. While driving along we noted the following birds: Red-wing Black-bird, Brewer'sBlack bird. Western Lark Sparrow, Ark Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, California Partridge, American Spar- row Hawk, Violet-green Swallow, Western Meadow-lark, Golden-crowned Sparrow, California Towhee, California Shrike and Western Bluebird. When four and one-half miles out and the road followed the edge of the hilLs we tied to the road fence, taking ou* apparatus with us we made for the timber, going through a small vine- yard. In going over a pile of brush at the foot of the hill I started a pair of California Partridges. We examined the brush thoroughly but no sign of eggs or nest. We made up our minds that Mr. and Mrs. Tetraonkhi' viere out on a house inspecting tour. As soon as we reached the top of the ridge we saw and heard plenty of bird life. Quite frequently we wer( halted by hearing the buzz of Anna' Hummer. We would set down very quietly and 136 THE OOLOGIST. and watch but with no result. After an hours slow walking without seeing any new nests, we were stopped by another Annas. We sat down on the ground and kept very quiet. After about ten minutes wait Mr. Bryant got up and said, '"We have got it." He explained by saying that he heard the peculiar buzz the female makes when setting on her nest. We soon located Mrs. Anna on her nest four feet from the main limb. Mr. Bryant stripped his coat and claimed the honor of get- ing the nest. On getting opposite the little lady he politely asked her to va- cate, which she declined to do. He took off his hat and made two or three passes at her before she did leave. Then the next move was to cut a twig right length and place a wad of cotton in the nest over the eggs. I then sent up the hatchet, (which by the way was not so sharp as it might have been) and by easy and slow cutting he cut the branch nearly through, then pulled it toward him until he could get hold of same close to nest. I then sent up the smallest of the collecting hoxes (made from Mr. Bryant's idea of a col- lecting box) and he placed the eggs in same, placed the rubber band around the box and threw it down to me. He then cut the branch off about four inches each side of the nest and lowered it down to me, then came down himself. After a short rest we started on.* We heard more Hummers, Warblers, Bush Tits, Jays, Towhees, California Thrash- ers, Spurred Towhees, but no more nests. As it was now about eleven o'clock we began to work back towards the buggy and lunch. When we got back to the buggy we drove about one- half mile further on and down a side road before lunching. After lunch we started out again along the side hill. We walked about one-half mile without seeing a nest, so turned back. On the way back we started a Jay, and about forty feet from where we first saw her we found the nest, about ten feet up in second growth white Oak' I made the climb up to the nest and looked in and saw as fine a set of five eggs as an oologist would want to see. Placing them in my collecting box I passed the box down to Mr. Bryant, then cut away a small branch that was holding the nest. I very carefully took out the nest and came down. We worked our way towards the buggy and left the ne.st of the Jay there then went further on. We noticed a couple of Bush-tits acting in a peculiar way so sat down to watch. We were on the bank of a small cut where there was some water runniug. During the fifteen or twenty minutes we were thera we noted the following birds that had come for water: California Bush-Tit, Arizona Goldfinch, Western Chipping Sparrow, Western Bluebird and Western Lark Sparrow. We got up from where we were sitting and started out to find some of their nests, Mr, Bryant on one side of the cut and I on the other. Mr. Bry- ant called to me and told me to come and find the Bush-Tit's nest. I did so and very readily found the beautiful nest of this peculiar bird. I think that this bird and the Hummingbirds' are entitled to honors for nest building. The nest was about nine inches long and four inches in diameter, growing smaller near the top, where the open- ing or door to nest was. We soon found that the eggs were hatched and that we were too late. We spent another hour looking for more nests but found none, so started for home. On the way home Mr. Bryant sug- gested that we go out about a mile east of town and visit a Bush-Tit's nest that he had found two weeks previous When he found the nest it was not com- pleted. But when we got there we took the nest and on pouring the eggs out found seven diminutive pure white eggs, one of which was cracked. I THE OOLOGIST. 137 took the nest and eggs and have them added to my cabinet. It being nearly sundown we made for home, first driving to Mr. Bryant's home to let him out. He insisted on me stopping while he showed me his den as he called it. Here it is that he has his work shop and storage room for his boxes of mounted birds, mammals, etc. He has a room about 10 x 12 feet stacked full. He showed me one small box of about forty or fifty Hum- mers that he had mounted, all taken on one trip to Guatemala. They were gems of their kind. Mr. Bryant will leave for Alaska on May 1st. H. F. DlPREY. This article written before Mr. Bry- ant's untimely death is particularly interesting now. It is now thought that the city of Santa Rosa will secure his collections which include many type sets of Coast Is. species.— Ed. hn North Carolina and Virginia. Wilsonia mitrata. An abundant summer residant and breeder iii Bertie county. North Caro- lina, arriving in the first ten days in April, and becoming more numerous than in any other section that has been visited by me. The males arrive a few days in advance of their mates, and are in full song by the time they reach us. In Lenoir county they become of more casual occurence, being tolerably numerous on some places and rather rare in others; further to the westward they do not appear at all. Their total absence is noticed in some parts of the East; this absence must be permanent as I failed to note them in Beaufort county, North Carolina, in the month of May, 1900, and among my friends there were none who had seen them there. Whether or not this is the case every season yet remains to be proved. They appear in Norfolk county. Vir- ginia, and, while not so numerous as in Bertie county, North Carolina, are fairly common^ but they are of less even distiibution, very likely being influenced bj^ the density of the popu- lation. A few have been noticed by me within the city limits (Norfolk) during the fall migrations; it is strange, however, to note that all were females. By some writers (the correctness of whose observations I do not doubt) the sont,^ of this bird has been described as consisting of three variations; notwith- standing this fact, two variations are all that I have been able to discover. I have spent two seasons with them, giving more time to their habits in my observations than have I to those of any other species; and fortunately having the opportunity of examining more than one hundred and twenty-five nests, within the short period of two years, with contents in all stages, from fresh eggs to nearly fledged young. The two songs are very distinct and different from each other, but when once heard are easily distinguished from those of any of the the other birds. In its favorite haunts, the deep shady woods and swamps, it revels amid the under-brush and reeds, filling the woods with its melody as it sounds and resounds from throat to throat. Their songs carry away the fortunate orni- thologist who may be in their midst as would the appearing of a vision, as his heart is filled with raptures and his thoughts carried far above until some sudden rustle causes him to awaken, and leaves him wondering at what he has just heard. Perhaps it was the clumsy efforts of a toad as it resumes its weary journey, or the sudden screech of a hawk as it cleaves the air with nimble wings, tireless and strong, that carries it through air with such wonderful rapidity again to be lost in space; or perhaps it was the sudden and shrill notes of a Wood Thrush coming from some near by tree, or the 138 THE OOIOGIST plaintive scolding of a Cat-bird, — that brings nie back to earth. A visit to their haunts is one sure to be a pleas- ure to all who are lovers of the beauti- ful, of which the bird himself is the fairest model. Nest building begins in the latter part of April, and contin- ues until the latter part of June, or early in July. Two, sometimes three. Jbroods are reared in a season, nests be- being as numerous in June as in May. The latest date for fresh eggs that I ifind in my note book is June 11. The nest, a neat cup-shaped structure, is always placed in the upright fork of some small bush or reed ranging in height from six inches to five or six feet from the ground. The nest is made of collection of leaves, fine strips of bark, and fine grasses, neatly lined with fine grasses, or hair from the tails of horses and cattle, or a kind of very fine black moss; the latter is used in the linings of more nests than both the former, and on rare occasions all three appear. The number of eggs are three or four, rarely five. Three typical specimens taken by me in Norfolk county, Virginia, measure as follows: .64X.54, .67X.52, .H6x.52. By from the middle to the latter part of September they begin to migrate southward dis- appearing by the fifth of October. R. Pkarck Smithwiok. Norfolk, Virginia. Last Year's Birds' Nests. Much valuable information can be obtained at this season by the Oologist by studying the location and nesting material of unfamiliar birds' nests, thus enabling one to more easily locate the new species in the breeding season. Last year I located a new heronry in this way. Always make a note of any- thing pecuiiaV about a nest or nesting •site. Sincerely, A. W. Comfort, SOME HAWKING TRIPS. Cooper's Hawk in Southern California. By Harry H. Dunn. Ill In my last paper I promised to tell something of an adventure, or rather an accidental meeting I had with a deputy game warden and its results in an oological way. My frind, Mr. A. H. Bradford, of Placentia, California, and myself were driving up the "River- side road," a splendid bit of highway some thirty miles long leading across the eastern boundry of Orange county one bright March morning some three or four years ago when he suggested that we "investigate" a wide-mouthed canyon that came down to the very road, its level bed separated therefrom by a high wire fence. This was famous hawk ground and we were on the look- out for anything from Red-tails to Cali- fornia Vultures, though with little hope of the latter. Accordingly we drove up the well defined road in the bed of the canyon until we came suddenly upon a large ranch house, looking as out of place as a hummingbird's egg in an ostrich's nest. Beyond the house were large sycamores through which the road wound on and on. We drove along hailed by a half-dozen curs of various lineages, but seeing no one until, Hash- ing into view around a corner of the house appeared a half-breed Mexican, a star on his breast of the sfzeof a full- grown pie and two huge revolvers of undoubted argumentative ability strapped to his middle. He demanded our business in his canyon. We told him we were after natural history speci- mens; he stared at us in blank amaze- ment. Then: "Well, if ye've got any bizniss up ther' be at it, but I don't allow no trespassin' on my land." As time proved he was a minion of the Bixby Ranch company, a mongrel THE OOLOGIST. 139 half-breed whom the misguided sheriff of the county had given a star and who lost no opportunity to kill such game as he wanted, in season or out, irre- spective of State laws or county or- dinances. Of course we turned back, but a day or two later Bradford and his younger brother went up the canyon on foot and collected five or six (I no longer remember the exact number) as fine sets of Hawks, Red-tailed and Swainson's as I ever saw. This was evening matters with a vengeance, and , since then we have been in the habit of collecting with impunity almost in this fellow's door yard. I have all kinds of respect for a game warden who does his duty, but for any law-breaking rascal like this, whose sole claim to standing as an officer rests on his pull with the county's executive I have less than for a professional poacher. But I wander, as usual. After this we turned back down the river bed, and, leaving the horse and rig well hidden in the larger trees beside the road we plunged into the dense growth of willows which every where clothes the sandy bed of this stream. Here and there throughout this bottom land rise tall solitary willows, their heads raised well above the surrounding forest and the haven of their branches the nest- ing sites of countless Orioles, Fly- catchers, Hummingbirds, etc. Now and again some Hawk, usually a red- bellied builds a bulky nest in one of them and time was when the Kites, now so scarce in the southwest, were compar- atively common here. The most we hoped for this time, however was a set of two or three Red-bellied Hawk's eggs. Most all the afternoon we kept at it, finding a number of abandoned nests in various degrees of despair, and taking one badly incubated set of six Long-eared Owls from an old Crow's nest in the top of an unusually tall willow— one which would never have been climbed had we not hoped to find the small Hawks at home here. As it was the Owls made a desirable addition to my cabinet and served as well to revive somewhat flagging hopes. The day wore on, however, and beyond the taking of an occasional set by my com- panion or myself from some one of the many occupied smaller nests that we found there was nothing doing. Among these were two or three fine sets of the Ash-throated Flycatcher, which fell to him. Indeed I have never yet been to take a set of the prettv and attractive eggs. At last all our day slipped away and as nearly as we could judge from our position in the tangle, we headed for the buggy. Inadvertently I leaned rather heavily against a leafy willow, somewhat larger than its surrounding mates and heard the peculiar sound made by a Hawk as she leaves her nest. From the ground no bunch of sticks could be seen, but it was the work of less than a moment to "shin" up that tree. And there sure enough was the nest, small and round, but not so compact as previous homes of the western species of the Red-shouldered with which I had had dealings before, so I was not so much surprised after all when I raised myself up even with the edge of the nest to see four pale blue eggs, unmistakably those of Cooper's Hawk, the first I had ever seen in their nests, and, as you may imagine, an interesting sight to any western collector. Thus by accident I became acquainted with this species as well as with Swainson's of which I wrote in my previous article. 1 know that Cooper's Hawk is quite common back there where most of the boys who will read this live, and you may wonder at my going home well contentecl with so small a "take," but you must re- member that Cooper's is a rara avis out here, and "personally cfllected" sets are not at all common. (To be continued, i 140 TSE OOLOGIST. A Query. Editor Oologist: ■ Did you ever note or hear of any one else seeing Hummingbirds pierce the sides of blossoms whose corollas were deeper than the birds' bills were long? Last May I was living near a house one porch of which was covered with a morning-glory vine laden with huge pink blooms. This vine was a gather- ing place for bees and other insects as well as for several pairs of Phoebes and any number of Hummingbirds. One afternoon, while passing about ten feet from this vine, I was surprised to see a Hummer fly rapidly up to one especially large blossom and drive his bill directly through the side of the corolla, down very near to the envelop- ing leaves of the calyx. At first I thought I had not seen aright but a few moments pause showed me several such operations being performed by many birds. They seemed to plunge their bill« in by the very force of their flight, holding themselves in a position perpendicular to the axis of the flower while collecting the minute insects that had crawled into the flower and been unable to escape. I examined several of the flowers after the birds had left them and found each one to be neatly split for a dis- tance of an inch or more, instead of having the round hole I had expected to And. To me, at least, this was a new experience, thongh there may be others who have noted the same habit among the Hummers. Harry H. Dunn. Los Angeles, CaL, July 25, 1905. No! I have never seen an instance of this happening with our Eastern Ruby-throat. We have few flowers of a shape to require such treatment here. The trumpet blsssoms are deep but with wide throats which they fly entire- Iv into. — Editor'. * White-tailed Hawk. On a camping trip this spring while staying at a gentleman's house through a rain I mentioned the fact that I was interested in the eggs of birds and that my companion was gathering a collection of skins. Upon finding this out the gentleman volun- teered to take us to a Hawk's nest and as he stated it, the largest Hawk's nest he had ever seen. In a very thick part of the forest we saw a Sennett White-tailed Hawk circling around which my friend promptly shot as we had never found this Hawk so far north as Oklahoma. On arriving at the nest it proved to be of the same bird and my friend secured the mate and I, after much ditflculty, brought the eggs down to terra firma. They were three in number, dull white marked faintly with brown and meas- ured 2.25 X 1.80, 2.23 x 1.79 and 2.24 X 1.81. URI B. WORCESTER, Enid, Oklahoma. Five Eggs of Red-tail. An unusual set of fire eggs of Red- tail Hawk, taken in Kankakee countj', 111., Apr. 12, 1904, by A. E. Price. Mr. Price says: "This wood was examined on April 2d, except a small portion and I was wiihin 100 yards of this nest at that time but I first saw it from another grove on the opposite side X mile away on April 12th. Had I found it on the 2d it would probably have con- tained 2 or 3 fresh eggs as the set had been incubated about one week on the 12th. And yet some people don't believe in luck." We took photo of this set through kindness of Mr. Price, but owing to an unfortu ate selection of background the photo wouUl not make half-tone. We specially regret this as one egg was cracked in transit back to Mr. Price's Collection, an accident we greatly regret though he kindly re- frains from a very hard kick. — Editor. THE OOLOGIST. 141 Got a Camera or Collect Anything or Have You a Hobby? < IF NOT, WHY NOT? • ▼TTVTTTTTTVTTTTTTTTVTTTV* ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► BARGAINS Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for ttiree months the oldest, largest and best collectors' monthly for all kinds of Hobbies: Na- tural History and American Histori- cal Discoveries. Coins, Stamps, Cu- rios. Kelics. Photography, Minerals. Sciences. Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards, Rarities and New Finds for all Kinds of Collectors. The Philatelic West and Camera News, LARGEST COLLECTORS' PAPER,' Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word ex- change notice in the largest exchange department extant, over 3500 pages past two years. This lOO-Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1895. and has the largest circulation of any Collector's mf)nthly in the world, and in size has no rival. More ads. in the WEST than in all other Afiierican collectors' monthlies combined. The best pay- ing medium for advertisers. Ic a word. Rates small, results large. It will pay you to write us about it. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest ten cents judiciously by send- ing it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraska, U. S. A. Send five cents for membership card to American Camera Club Exchange. Over 5300 members in all parts of the world, or 50c. for a year's membership to American Historical and Natural History Society. Write. Note— Souvenir Post Cards 10c. the doz., many colors; try them. < < < •4 •4 < •4 < < <4 •4 •4 •4 < •4 < -4 •4 <4 • ▲▲▲ 4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-4 New York Natural History Survey. I have a set of 22 vols, of this rare and ela- borate work in original binding and " good s new." It is in the best condition of any "original binding" set I've ever owned and if not sold I shall reserve the set for my pri- vate library, but now offer it at less than the regular price of a fair set in ordinary bind- ing. The 22 vols, are as follows. Geology, 4; Palaeontology, 5; ^Hneralogy, 1; Agriculture, 4; Entomology, 2; Zoology. ( Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Pish, Mollusca and Crustacea) 5: Botany, 2. I ought not to think of selling this set for less than $75. The volume on Birds in this volume alone is worth $15. The set goes, however, at $.55.00. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. IN BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we liad a lot of Datas printed on what would ha\'e otherwise been waste paper and have decided to gi\'e our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can fui'nish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at l2o per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for 1905 only. 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. 142 THE OOLOOIST. WANTED. Taxidermists to give me a trial in the new and best kind of Artificial Glass Eyes for Animals. Will trade for rare butterflies. EUGENE E. STAINSKY, 1115 Wheeler Place, Col- orado Springs, Colo. My6t Scientific Sliells and Corals. Fossil I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the ab(jve lines. If at all interested it will well reijay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. Just In From India. A new invoice of beautiful Butterflies. Will sell in papers or spead at reasonable prices or exchange for eggs or skins I am in need of. 15 Var. -Showy Papilio. Address. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. IS PRINTED at the Book and Magazine THIS PAPER A. M.EDDY, Albion, N.y. Publishing House of THE CONDOp A Magazine of Western Ornithology. Begins its seventh volume with January, 1905, issue. Each volume has presented improvements over the one preceding, and every indica- tion points toward a contin- uance of this magazines won- derful growth. THE CONDOR has tirmly estab- lished a reputation for scientific authority as well as popular inter- est. Every naturalist should see it. No free sample copies. Sample 20 cents. Subscription $ I . per year. Order at once (if Jjusiness Mgr.. JOSEPH GRINNELL Pasadena, California ►-M-'M-f ♦♦>-♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦> -M-^ ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦ Coleoptera of North America :: A'Big Bargain for some Institution or Collector. Private collection of about 3000 different species (perhaps 10,000 specimens) of Coleoptera of North America, including an A I Cabinet with cork-lined draws and glass (hinged) covers, almost air and dust-tight. Cabinet could not be made for less than $65.00. Will sell cabinet and collection for only $250.00. For further particulars, if you mean business, address ALBION FRANK H. LATTIN NEW YORK THE OOLOGIST. 143 FIFTH EDITION LATTIN'S STANDARD CATALOGUE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time". Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for ?i.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JULY lOth we will mail you a copy with a book of I 00 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine nnedium loose Datas, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec, 1909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H, SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. ► < t Combirv^Ltion Offer. < ► We Offer Oologist one year m ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^ ► New illustrated Key, $2. 50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 ^ ^ Oologist one year ^ ^ and Chapman's "Color Key," ^ ► New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, -4 ► all prepaid $2. 60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ^ and "Frederick Young" ^ ► The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 -4 ^ Oologist /o7/r years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key,"-. -$3.25 m ^ Oologist /oMr years, as above, % ^ and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 <4 ^ Oologist /bwr years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; ^ ^ New Edition, Colored Plates, price $10.00, for $8.60. ^ ► Address " < t ERNEST H. SHORT, 5 ► Manager Oologist Chili, N.Y. < •AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA • 144 THE OOLOGIST. BU LLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter B. barrows., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. SAY! Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, I 12 AlexandrineAve., IDETROIT, MICH. You should now Subscribe to the UNIVERSAL EKHAiE MAGAZINE. it is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE, BELVIDERE, ILL. JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check List of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both , common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. T I 3c each. PRICE 30c pep dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chill, N. Y. The OoLOGiST. A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements "Wants," " Exchanges," "For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. Xo notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terras, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. Xo. 10. ALBTOX, X. Y., OCTOBER, 1905. Whole Xo. 219 Take Notice. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's UoLOGisT. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Kemember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 207 your subscription expired ( k-t. 1H04 209 " " " Dec. l!K)4 219 vour subscription expires with this issue 221 " " " " rtec. 1095 257 " " " " nee. 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21. 190o. at the post office at Albion, X. Y., un^er the Act of Congress of .March 3. L'>79. WANTKD.— For cash, nesting ^ites (with sets) of all birds that breed in tree cavities. Woodpeckers. Owls. Chickadees, etc. Quote such as you can furnish. First class. Aug. 2. t. .J. L. CHILDS. Floral Park. X. Y. SIXGLES FOR SALF.-Xos. i\ 2(lt5. 2tn. 182; 639, 197, 264. 278. 315, 377, 49il, 584. 674 and Quite a number of others. Correctly identified. Very cheap, cash. Aug. 4.t. K. P. SH.\HP- LES, West Chester. Pa. FOR SALE VERY CHEAP.-A large col- lection of rare single eggs, most all with data. All A. Xo. 1. either single or by the lot. Send 2 cent stamp for list. DOCTOR M. T. CLECKLEY. 457 Cireene St.. Augusta. Ga. FOR SALE— All kinds Cavies. white and black dragoons, white and colored Homers, black-breasted Game Bantams, white Wy- andotts. Will consider a few exchanges for A Xo. 1 sets. Aug.4.t. ALMOX KIBRE, Mayville. X. Y. WAXTED.— Fresh skins of the Cireat Horned < »wl C or subspecies >. Snowy C)wl.. Ptarmigan. Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser. Wood Duck, and other sets of Cuckoos. Am. Herring (tuH. LeastTern, Laughing Giull, Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERXEST H. SHORT. Rochester. X. Y. *:#■ XOTICE.-We will give the "Oologisf f' ir Four Years or 75c in cash for every copy 'if ■Oologist" for June 1888, Vol. VI. Xo. 4, sent us in good condition. Will give 3 years. or 50c for April. 1889. Address, Manager (i.ilogist. Chili. X. Y. FOR EXCHAXGE.-A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc.. for American or For- ei-:n stamps new to my collection. Wish to ■ Trespond with beginners. Will buy collect- inns for cash. A. t. t. RUTH WEBB, 202 \\estminister Road. Rochester. X. Y. WAXTED. -Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use raanv common species. ERXEST H. SHORT. Rochester, X. Y. PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth 110. Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even »o. FRAXK H. LATTIX. Albion. X. Y. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1903. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball. Tucson. Ariz. t.f. FOR SALE. About 15 Audubon Plates from the original coppers— size about 40x25 inches- average price $5 each. F. B. Mc- KECHXIE. Ponkapog. Mass. Dear Sir.- Please find inclosed a money ' irder for 25 cents for the new Standard Cata- logue sent a few days ago. lam very much I'leased with it in every way and believe it will not only be "standard" in name but in fact also. Yours truly. C. F. STOXE. My I>ear Mr. Short.— I wish to thank you for the copy of the Standard Catalogue of Xorth American Bird's Eggs which I received si>rae time ago. I am very much pleased with it. Very truly yours. ALEXAXDER W. BLAIX..Jr. TO EXCHAXGE OR SALE. -Duplicates in n:y collection of war relics, flint lock pistols a: id guns, sea shells and corals, old news- Tiioers for Indian relics or cash. .JOHX B. - ■ iXE. Box 194 Hartford, Conn. 146 THE OOLOGIIST FOR SALE or EXCHANGE-X. C. quartz crystals, Indian relics, very fine. Want in exchantre books by modern writers, espec- ially "Ben Hur" and would also like to ex- change for graphophone. M1!S. HRLE HALSETT. R. F. D. 2. Lincolnton. X. C. FOfi SALE.-Xew pair of Bausch field glasses cheap, cost $45. Also will buy live Fox Squirrels, Black-squirrels, Oophers and Prairie dogs. S.S.t. C. A. CURRIER. Lexington, Mass. P^OR SALE OR EXCHAXGE.-60 Ostrich eggs. Entire lot prepaid, cash |30: exchange Taylor, $1.50. Latin $1.25. Sell or exchange any number, but at higher rates. Many other eggs in fine sets. Send your lists and get mine. S. 2.t. J. M. CARROLL. 714 Speight St.. Waco, Tex. FOR EXCHAXGE.-Finesets. Many ser- ies. 1, 6, 51, 64. B5, 70. 77, 80, 120, 121, 123b, 126, 187, 191, 194, 201, 202, 219, 221, 226, 258, 261, 273, 289. 311, 313. 316, 325 1-1 and one single, .326 3 singles. 333, 335, 337 1-1, 337a, 324, 360a. 368. .385, 387, 396, 410,412, 413, 419. 420a, 453, 443, 456, 471, 474a. 487,488,495a. (Bronze Cowbird 50 eggs). 497. 498, 501b, 505, 508. 510. 513a. 519. 552. 552a. 562. 573. 5761-2, 581,593, 593c, 594a, 601, 604. 613, 631. 633. 652, 681a, 683, 683a, 703, 70.3a, 705, 706, 707. 713. 719. 746. Send your list and get mine. J. M. CARROLL. 714 Speight St., Waco, Tex. S2t AX ASSORTMEXT of good sets, with data for sale at prices cheaper than cheap. Send for list. FRED M. 1)ILLE.2927 West 28 Ave., Denver, Colo. IF YOU exchange, write F. T. CORLESS. Portland, Ore., 804 E 14th St„ for sample copy of "The Trader." WAXT TO EHCHAXGE.-Xo. 84 Sooty Albatross for full sets not in my collection. If interested write for terms sending list for exchange. Address H. P. BURT. 355 Union St.. Xew Bedford, Mass. FOR SALE.-( ;.)od field glass. "The Lever- pool," cost $16.50. conditian excellent, enamel slightly worn. Do you want a good glass cheap? Address CHAS. F. BREXXAX. Mount Carmel, 111. FOR SALE OR EXCHAXGE.-X. C. quartz crystals. Indian relics, very fine. Want in exchange books by modern writers, especial- ly "Ben Hur." and would also like to ex- change for graphaphone. MRS. HYRLE HALSELL, R F, D. 2. Lincolnton. X. Y. FOR SALE.- Flint lock musket and pistol, fine condition. What am I offered for either or both. A. B. ROBERTS. Medina, 0„ R, F. D. Xo. 3. FOi; KX(H.VXGE.-4x5Pocogoodasnew for Bird Books. Will take the Auk or Oologist in \'()ls. .1X0. L. COLE. Xevada.Ia. RUBBER STAMPS.-Makethem yourself. They sell quickly at 10 cents a line. Directions for making sent to any address. 25 cents. O. SWAXDEItS, Kenton. Ohio. FOR SALE.-K) ditiercnt large V. S. cents 30c.;.Iacksonccnts,4 different, 25c.: 10 different foreign coins; 20 e.: 10 different same large size. 40c.: 10 different nickle coins. 35c.; 10 different Confederate. Broken Bank, Southern State and other bills, 25c, Sent postpaid. J. A. XORDELL. Carbondale. Colo. ■^WAXTED.-Setsof Rock Wren. Pine and Hooded Warblers with nests. Piping Plover, American Avocet. Woodhouse's .lay. Chuck- wills-widow, Pinon ,Jay, Brown-headed Xut- hatch. Least Tern, etc., from original col- lectors. Can offer sets of (ireat Horned Owl. Whip-poor-will. Screech Owl, Green-winged Teal, Baldpate Shoveller and American Golden-eye Ducks with down. Clay-colored Sparrow, etc, W. H. BIXGAMAX. Algona. Iowa. R. R.Xo. 3. Dear Sir: It gives me great pleasure to tell you that your paper is a peach for ad- vertising. I received 10 letters to my ad. before I received the paper, letters are com- ing yet. although the eggs were all gone two weeks ago. BERT XICHOLS. Granville. X. Y. TO EXCHAXGE for A 1 sets process for tanning small or large pelts, good squirrel cage with wheel, book on breeding the skunk in captivity and removing the scent gland. Many common sets wanted. ALMOX KIBBE, Mayville. X. Y. O. 4 t. A FEW SETS left from August ad still for sale. Horned (irebe 1-4. 20c.. 1-5. 25c.: Ringed Neck Duck 1-10 down. $5,00; American Bittern nuiieu i^Tiuuse i-w. jij.uu; .-^wainsou nawK i-o. 60c.. 1-2. 40c.; Broadwinged Hawk 2-3. $2.25; Long Eared Owl 2-4. 4(ic.: Short Eared Owl 1-5. $1.00; Artie Horned Owl 1-4. $4.00; Least Flycatcher 3-4 n, 20c.; Bobolink n-4. 50c.; Brewers Black. bird 1-5, 10c. , 1-4. 8c.; W. Sa- vannah Sparrow 1-4. 50c.; Clay colored Spar- aow 3-4. 20c.: Yellow Warbler 3-4 n, lOc; House Wren 1-7, 15c, Xests, postage extra. CHRIS P, FORGE, Taxidermist. Carman. Manitoba. EXCHAXGE. -For A. 1 sets new to ray collection or special deriderata: 1 1-5, 7 1-2. 11 1-2, 30 10-1, .30a 10-1, 31a 1-1. 32 5-1, 34 1-1, 371-2. 44 1-3, 1-4, 47 1-3, 51 1-3, 121 1-4 1-5 , 130 '1-10 down, 1411-11 1-9 down, 144 1-11 down, 1541-9 down, 155 1-6 down, 179 1-5, 206 1-2 slightly defective, 210 1-8, 220 1-7. 222 1-4. 223 1-4. 225 1-4. 2261-4. 229 1-4, 267 1-4, 269 1-4, 2711-4. 2891-13, 297a 1-7. 302 1-10, 325 1-2. 326 1-2. 328 1-3. 329 I-l 1-2. 332 1-5. 333 1-5. 336 1-3, 337b 1-2, 339 1-3 1-4, 341 1-3, 342 1-3 1-4, .343 1-2 1-3 1-4, 347 1-3, 347a 1-2, 349 1-2, 354a 1-2, 358, 1-5, 359 1-3 1-4, 359,1 1-4, 362 1-3. 364 1-2 1-3 1-4, 378 1-9. 384 1-7. 385 1-5, 390 1-5, 394a 1-4. 410 1-5. 416 1-2, 417 1-2, 419 1-2. 421 1-2, 428 n,2. 429 n-2, 434 n-2, 449 1-4, 473 1-4, 493 1-5, 481 1-4. 5:3:3 n-4, 554a 1-4, 578 1-3, o93c 1-4. 641 n-4 n-5, 645 1-5, 646a 1-4, 648a 1-4. 654 1-3. 656 1-4. 657 n-4, 65.S n-3, 659 1-4, 661 1-4, 667 1-4, 675 1-4. 976 1-5 1-6. 679 1-4, 680 1-3, 681b 1-4, 684 n-4. 685b n-4. 702 1-3. 707 1-4, 735b 1-6, 736a 1-6. A. E. PRICE, Grant Park, 111. FOR SALE.— 5 .Moose heads unmounted- 1.44 in. spread Ki and 11 points; $1S.00- 1.46 in. spread II and 10 peautiful and JTifinitely neater than is pussible by the anti- (fuated method of impaling them on pins. FR.VNK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. Y. Know the Wild Flowers? Your rambles in field and wood will increase in interest in propor- tion as you know plants* as well as birds. The American Botanist is issued for the plant lover. It contains no technical articles and is just the magazine you need. Get a copy and see for yourself. ADDRESS WILLARD INI. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton New York THE WARBLER JOHN LEWIS CHII.ns, Editor V?7ITH 19(1.-) The Warbler hesinsanew ''» series wliicii will contain many su- P'Tb Ci:))i)i-eistrati..ns of Birds and Nests, and lead- intr articli's \>y wi'll kn..\vn a nt lioritics. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages &. Cover SVnSCRIPTION PRICE Sl.OO PER YKAR. S.-C}T-E COPIE.S 30c Eergrs of Kirtlniul \Yarbler will be figured in first issn.'iJan oiFeb.jof the new series. ADDRESS THE WARBTLER KI-ORATv PARK. N. J The OoLOGiST. Vol, XXII. No. 10. Albion, N. Y., October, 1905. Whole No. 219 The Oologist. A Montlily Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXI- DERMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspoiidenoe and Iteifis of Interest to the student of Biids, their Nests and Eg;;s, solicited from all. ' TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annnir Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each sul)scriber is given a card good for a Want. Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the puljlisher must he noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches iu a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 25 cents. No "special rates." 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom." "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no commission to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space It will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00: 1000 lines, .$.50. "Trade" (other than casli) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. On Bird Migration. As is well known most species of birds migrate at night, at least it is generally believed that this is the case, and it has been conclusively proven that many birds follow this method of movement. However, many species perform their seasonal movements in. broad day light. Wild Pigeons did not migrate at night though they were frequently seen making for a forest late in the day and were again on the move at a very early hour. It cannot be understood by any person who has not studied the subject how vast were the seasonal waves of the Pigeons. I have often stood on a southern slope of a hill and watched the incoming flocks. There would be as many as twenty groups of birds seen at one time. These groups in the form of ranks would be stretchea out in a line from ten to an hundred yards long and embracing from a score to a thousand birds. At the time of great- est flight these ranks were almost con- tinuous and the noise of their rushing wings was -almost like the noise of a tempestuous stream escaping from confinement. At times there would be a lull in the incoming flight and then one would see a faint line in the sky to the south and this very quickly grew to tangible dimensions, succeed- ed by other faint lines which in their turn resolved themselves into flocks; and again the flocks would sweep on to the north. This would continue morning and evening for the space of two or three hours and covering a pe- riod of three to Ave days. Then the birds would practically disappear for a space of three months and only return to us in the autumn; occasionally in augmented flocks but generally in de- tached groups. 150 THE OOLOGIST. NEST AND EGGS OF RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD IN SITU. Photo by B. S. Bowdish THE OOLOGIST. 151 Geese principally move in the day time while the ducks generallj^ migrate in the dark. Gulls and Terns move as a rule during the day, for though they are as well provided with means of transportation they are still among our uost deliberate migrants, and seem indifferent as to time. I have watched a flock of Gulls following our steamer on the great lakes and Atlan- tic and have in one instance proven that a particular bird has followed a boat continuously for three days. This I was enabled to do from the fact that this particular bird in the flock had received an injury to its leg which caused the foot to hang low and there- by we were able to identify the follow- er. At certain seasons, most any time when the birds are not engaged in nesting, the Gulls are much given to following ships and a great many gather their principal living from the scraps thrown out from the ship's gal- ley. Herons generally migrate at night and also often fish during the darkest nights when they have young to pro- vide for. Rails and all Snipes, Plo- vers and other shore birds migrate un- der cover of darkness, but very often Golden Plovers and several species of Sandpipers move in the daytime. Tur- keys and Quails would migrate in day- light if they were given to seasonal ^movements, as they are like the do- mestic birds and given to early retire- ment. Many years of careful observation have convinced me that the Rails move in the darkness, but I cannot say whether they select a starlight or cloudy night. No one has ever told me of meeting with a migrating Rail in the day time and I have never yet seen a Rail of any species, excepting the Coots, flying across the land in the day time. Coots, however, mi- grate in flocks in the daylight, at least at times as I have noted. If observers are questioned they will probably tell you that more species se- lect dark and cloudy nights for their migrating movements. This is also my opinion, though we may all be in the wrong. If we are alert to catch the notes of passing birds we shall hear ten to twenty times as many on a cloudy night as compared to a clear night, which would seem to indicate that the birds generally select this kind of a night for travel. When many birds are found dead in the city, from being killed by violent contact with the electric lights, or when vast destruction from the tower of the coast light house, it is almost invariable that the evidence of havoc follows a cloudy and tempestuous night. Some may say that this does not prove that birds prefer cloudy nights, and simply shows that destruction may folluw on these nights; the dead and maimed birds simply proving that the mi- grants selected the wrong time for their journey, and the many notes heard on a murky night as compared with those of a moonlight night, sim- ply shows that the migrants are con- fused and unable to keep well together. It is at these times that the birds fly against the destructive electric lights and are killed in great numbers, all over the land, and both on the coast as well as interior. Let us call atten- tion of observers to one point in this connection; namely, that it is after a cloudy and often tempestuous night that we meet with the greatest number of fresh arrivals in our morning trips in April and May. Over forty species of dead birds have been brought to us as evidence of the vast destruction of light and wire in this vicinity, and over one hundred species have been listed as having met destruction along our line of light- houses on the Atlantic seaboard. The lights of cities, especially the tower electric lights, are very destructive to 152 TIIK OOI.OGIST. NEST AND KGGS OF CLAPPKR RAIL. From photo by Dr. M. T. Cleokley taken at S uuly Point, s. V THE OOLOGIST. 153 birds. The effects are readily ob- served and we find the destruction to be vast. There is another danger which is not generallj' considered, but which is, I believe greater than elec- tric wires of the cities. I refer to the wires which are stretched all over our land. The lights though destructive are only occasional, when the whole territory is considered and are only especiallv destructive when large mig- rating waves pass upon murkj- nights, whereas the wires are to be found every- where throughout our broad land and in a perfect net work. Take the Rails for instance and other species which fly low in migrating. The flight of the Rails is weak and slow, yet they must necessarily take quite long flights across dry stretches of country in order to reach the ponds and lakes where they find their select- ed quarters. It is not unusual to find mutilated Rails in sections far remov- ed from localities of their choice. Among the smaller birds that mi- grate to my neighborhood, the Cuc- koos are night journeyers; the Gnat- catchers, Orioles and Sparrows also. The Vireos are sure to be with us in numbers after a suitable night for mi- grating in spring. The dear little warblers drop into our forests and fairly swarm in suitable quarters after a murky night. The Wrens and Thrushes also blow in over night and it is reasonable to say that the little short-winged Winter Wren makes night trips with the rest of the mi- grants. I once surprised a Winter Wren which had probably become tired in making a night flight and had dropped down in a cleared section. It was the first and only time that I have found one of this species away from its woodland haunts. The devices resort- ed to by the midget to elude my vigi- lence were amusing. The bird dodg- ed along the ground, fluttering between tussocks of grass and securing tempo- rary hiding places behind small bush- es and debris. It finally reached a rail fence where it played peek-a-boo in an animated manner for several rail lengths and finally disappeared, prob- ably hiding beneath the bottom rail. Nor would any efforts of ^ine dislodge the "timorous beastie." There is nothing to make me think that the blackbirds migrate at night, though the Bobolink may do so, though in the August journeys the flocks may be seen as they start on their trip to the rice fields. Most of the blackbirds are very deliberate in their movements, but the Rusty passes through our section in a very rapid manner. The Rusty seems to contain both males and females in the spring Hights, while the Redwing and Bronzed Grackle send delegations of men be- fore the women arrive; the latter bird showing males as much as seven or eight days before the females are seen. Flycatchers are deliberate in their movements and are night migrants. This leads me to ask if anyone knows of the destruction of a fiycatcher, whippoorwill, swift or night hawk by Hying against an electric light? If these birds are killed in this manner it is probably a rare occurrance. Swallows perform their seasonal move- ments in the day time, as do also the Rubythroat and Chimney Swift. I have seen a disconnected flock of sev- eral hundred swifts flying to the south; all moving in revolutions which gradually trended toward their winter's home. Of course the Night hawk and W^hippoorwill can and do move at night, as might be expected :n the case of night feeders. However, the former generally makes its aut- umnal trips in the broad daylight, more often in the late afternoon. I have seen disconnected Hocks of sev- eral hundred winging their way to the south in late August and early Sep- tember. 154 THE OOLOGIST. Of the birds that visit us from the north in winter, most, if not all move in the day time and I have yet to learn that any winter visitants have ever been killed by contact with electric lights or wires in my neighborhood. Birds that straggle about as the Pine and Evening tirosbeaks, Waxwings, Crossbills, Siskins and Snowbunt- ings have no need to migrate at night. Why birds move at night is a prob- lem in itself. Many are the answers given, but there are good reasons for disputing most of these attempted ex- planations, for the reasons presented are all liable to contradiction from comparable cases in other birds which differ in a marked degree from nearly allied species; for instance, some maintain that night movement is chosen because of the less likelihood of danger from enemies. If this is -so, then why do not Swal- lows, Hummers and many other day migrators move at night? Others claim that the birds move at night in order to avoid the glare of the sun. This is too nonsensical to require ref- utation, as are also the theories that birds migrate at night that they may have the day to search for their food; or that they employ the hours of dark- ness that they may have the stars to guide them on their trip. The truth is, that there are reasons for the times selected as well as the methods chosen, but we are not as yet able to comprehend the principles which govern the birds in their choice, and speculation is idle. Practically, all that we know is this. That we look about us some fine morning after a shower and find a score or more of arrivals that were not with us the day before. These pleasing migrants of spring come to us invariably from the south and the earlier they reach us in the spring or late winter then the nearer they have wintered to us, while those species which reach us in May are, many of them, known to have spent the colder months in the tropics. For instance, |[the Purple Finch, which reaches us in March does not general- ly migrate to the south over three or four hundred miles, returning to us at the opening of the season; but the Redstart is known to visit Central America in its winter vacation. The finch finds its food of seeds distributed for its refreshment; while the Redstart confined to a diet of living insects, must wander further to secure a living. The hawks are invariably migrators by day and I do not learn of an in- stance where these rapacious birds move at night. The owls of my vicin- ity are mostly permanent residents, with the exception of one species. Then we have several winter visitants from the far north. These are all night migrants as might be expected in the case of birds that are princi- pally night feeders. There is one species of owl, the Short-eared, which is transient with us, spring and fall. This owl has never been seen to fly about voluntarily in the day time. It undoubtedly migrates at night, but it secretes itself in the prairie grass and passes the day in these situations. I have routed a number of these owls from a lot of grass and weeds, and have seen as man}' as six or seven in a group; perhaps a family. They have been seen in flocks of over a score, and it is the only owl which I can learn about that migrates in flocks in this section. Birds of a species have regular routes of travel in their seasonal journeyings and these lines of move- ment are very interesting. Some, as the Golden Plover, have a route north in the spring that does not take in any portion of Michigan that I have visited or can learn about. Therefore we do not see these birds in the spring. However, in the autumn the Golden THE OOLOGIST. 155 Plover appears in large flocks in many quarters where they were not known the previous spring. It is said that these plovers are known in spring in the states of Wisconsin and Minne- sota, and it is probable that our au- tumn visitors are birds that have gone northwest of Lake Michigan. There are many of the smaller birds which have a circuitous route for mi- gration and are found at the north in numbers while in certain sections to the south of the sections inhabited in summer they are not to be found at any time, whether in spring, summer or autumn. For instance, the Mourn- ing Warbler is commonly found in Montcalm county and several sections to the north of Kalamazoo county, and yet I have met with but one bird of this species in Kalamazoo county in a period of thirty years. Then there are birds that have varying routes of migration. This is more general probably than is supposed and there are undoubtedly many species that change their routes from year to year. More will be said upon this subject in the chapter on the effects of civili- zation. One well known instance of variable route in migration is evident in the case of the Wild Pigeon, which was known to vary its route as well as its summer quarters, as often as every three years for many years and finally each season, after the inroads of the netters became unbearable. Finally, after being driven from pillar to post and over the wilder part of the territory of three states, the imposed upon pigeon yielded up the ghost and has become extinct or so near to it that no one can tell where the possible rem- nant has h'dden itself. In passing through the land there are many species of birds which follow practically the same paths and pass the same points in their journeys north and south spring and autumn. One of these points is at Mackinaw, Michigan, where the birds in countless thousands pass to the north in spring and autumnal trips. Another spot for crossing is near to Fort Gratiot, Michigan. At this point which is the short cut into the Canadas from the south, the birds pass over in great numbers. Of course it is difficult to identify the smaller birds on the wing but the larger birds are easily studied. For instance, hundreds of hawks have been observed flying over the river at this point in a single afternoon, and sixty specimens, embracing four kinds have been shot by one man in a few hours. A needless waste surely, though I doubt not that shooter con- sidered himself doing humanity a service. Morris Gibbs, M. D, I have had brought to me specimens of Ruby-throat, Am. Woodcock, Song Sparrow, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Wilson's Snipe, Am. Robin, killed by Rural telephone wires near Rochester, N. Y.— Editor. Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher. Dear Mr. Editor: I must say that I was struck on reading Mr. Bostain's article in Sept. Oologist replying to mine in the August number. He says they begin to build with him as early as the 28th of March, but at Lexington, about 30 miles to the eastward of Statesville, Mr. H. Gould Welbourne says: "The earliest date I have for the beginning of nestbuilding is May 1st. The Blue- Gray Gnatcatcher arrives here in the first part of April being common about the fifteenth." (See Sept. 1895, Oolo- gist). The following are from C. S. Brin^^i ley's datas: "Raleigh, May 4, 1S89^ Nest 8 feet high in the fork of sweet- gum. 4 fresh eggs. Raleigh, May^ 24, 1890. Nest 7 feet high in smalli pine on horizontal limb. 5 fresh eggs." 156 THE OOLOGIST. John S. Cairnes gives the following: *'Weaverville, May 30, 1891. Nest twenty feet from the ground in small willow tree. 4 eggs with incubation begun." The remainder of Mr. Bostain's art- icle bears out what I have already written. R. PeARCE 8>[ITH\VICK. Nests of American Dipper. . Stanley G. Jewett. While on a fishing trip near Mt. Adams, Wash., I found five nests of the American Dipper, cinclus mexi- canus, all of which were placed on the central stringer under bridges direct- ly over the water ranging from eight to fifteen feet high. The bridges were on well traveled roads, where teams passed hourly every day. Have any of the western readers found nests of this bird in similar places? "A Fair Exchange is no Robbery.' An unfair one is. ? ? ? There are some collectors who think it is smart to palm off a fictitious set of eggs to an inexperienced person for something of unequal value. There may be some advantage in these kind of trades at the time but sooner or later they will be found out. About five years ago I traded some old copper pennies for one-three Broad- winged Hawk. One of my friends who collected a set of 343 some time afterwards pronounced my set a fraud. I could not believe that I was cheat- ed until I got a genuine set of Broad- wing myself, then 1 could see that my set was not Broad-wing but a nice set of Red-shouldered Hawk, The set came from Mr. F. A. Sin- clair of Skeanettles, N. Y. and when I was sure it was not Broad-wing I wrote him to that effect. He insisted the set was genuine, de- clared he had handled a great many eggs of all. the Hawks and I was mis- taken. The set was collected by S. Washing- ton West, Apr. 19, 1894 in Saratoga county, N. Y., locality Ballston, eggs fresh, nest made of sticks, lined with moss and feathers. From the collec- tion of A. S. Brower. I have 9 sets of Red-shouldered and two sets of Broad-wing in my collec- tion now and certainly know what I am talking about when I say the set is not Broad-wing. It is very easy for a young collector to be humbugged. When I was a boy I collected singles in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and sent them to Mr. Justice in Philadel- phia for exchange. He always sent me what he choose and at the time I was perfectly satisfied. After I commenced to collect in sets and acquire more knowledge I found out that Mr. Justice had sent me Cara- cara for Goshawk, Red-breasted for Hooded Merganser. Some kind of spotted egg for Anhinga, and many more that were fictitious and mislead- ing to a young collector. Mr. Justice may have been mistaken or the eggs may have been marked wrong by some one else, at any rate he was willing to part with them and send them to me. Experience is the best teacher they say l)ut sometime it is expensive. E. J. Darlington, Publications Received. Journal of Maine, Urn. Soc, Vol. VII, No. 3. Amateur Naturalist, Vol. 2, No. 5. "Condor," Vol. VII, No. 5. American Botanist, Vol. 9, No. 3. American Ornithology, Vol. V, No. 10. Photographic Times, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 9-10. Nature Study, Vol. XIV, No. 10. THE OOLOGIST. 157 Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG OOLOGIST AND THE OOLOGIST will, dnring 3904, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will he adranecd and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire baclJ numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. Von can never ob'tain them for less money and possibly^ not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. . Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1, 14, 18, 21. 23-24,31. 34-35. 42. 53,86. 80. Ill, 130, 1.32, 137, 139, 14u, 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Xos. 9, 66-07. 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138. 146. are 25 cents each. Nos. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16, 54. 5-5, 56, 75, 87, 127, 128. 120. 144. 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22, 27, 28. 38, 39, 40. 45, .50, 60. 61. 63, 64, 65, 70, 74. 80, 93, 100, 114, 115, 126. . 133. 135 are 10 cents each. ^2° All other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 will send prepaid ocopj" of every issue ever published. 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Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty 1,00) copies priced above at 10c or over. — BOUND VOLUMES- — Can be furnished, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. I and 11 YOUNG OOLOGIST bound In one volume, $1.00 Vol. IX. The OOLOGIST for '92, 298 pages of valuable and instructive Oological and Oi-nlthological matter with many full page illustrations $1 . 00 Or. If you order the two volumes at one time, we will send them by return mail for only $1.75. Every student of birds, tlicir nests and eggs, should have these two volumes in their library. The valuable information they contain, is worth mauy times the price. Address plainly. ERNEST H. SHORT. Manager of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y. Vol. I. 18S4-J Vol. IT. 1885, Vol. III. 1886, Vol. IV. 1887, Vol. V. 1888, Vol. VI, 18S9, Vol. VII, 1890, Vol. VIII, 1891, Vol. IX, 1892, Vol. X. 1893, Vol. XI. 1894, Vol. XII. 1895, Vol. XIII, 1896, Vol. XIV. 1897, Vol. XV. 1898, Vol. XVI. 1899, Vol. xvn. 1900, Vol. XVIII . 1901, Vol. XIX. 1902, Vol. XX. 1903, XXI 1904. BARGAINS IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we liad a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 or $1 per 1000. The smallesfsize or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for I 905 only. 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y, or Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y. 158 THE OOLOGIST. THE LATEST AND BEST BIRD GUIDE BY CHESTER A. REED, S. B. Author of North American Birds Eggs, and with Frank M. Chapman of Color Key to'Norlh American Birds. Editor of the American Bird Magazine. This is a popular pocket guide and text book to ALL THE LAND BIRDS EAST OF THE ROCKIES, from the Parrots to the Bluebirds. It is prepared especially for teachers and students, after years of study as to their needs. It has the following points of superiority over any other Bird Book: COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS.— Every bird is shown in natural colors, including females and young when they differ. SCOPE. — ^1/7, the land birds east of the Rockies are included. It gives the range and habit of each bird, their songs as nearly as they can be written, and description of their nests and eggs. SMALL SIZE. — It can easily be carried in the pocket, measuring but 3x5 inches. 200 pages, bound in flexible sock cloth or leather. We have made the price of the book as low as possible considering the good workmanship and material that is used. It is so low that anyone can afford it, but no one can afford to be without it. IT NAMES THE BIRDS FOR. YOU Bound in flexible sock cloth; postpaid 50 CENTS Five cloth bound copies for $2.00 postpaid Bound in flexible leather, 75cts. Five copies for $3.00 postpaid. We want agents in every city, town and school. Good commissions. Send for prospectus of Bird Books and sample copy of the AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE. CHAS. K. re;ed. Worcester, Mass. THE OOLOGIST. 159 BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter b. barrows., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. SAY! Beginning witli 1905 tlie BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixtli volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photographs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, I 12 AlexandrineAve.. IDETROIT, MICH. You should now Subscribe to the UNIVERSAL EKIlAiE MACAZIi. It is "Universal" all that the name implies. We cater to everything that pleases the masses. A few of our specialties: Stamps, Coins, Curios, Printing, News, Adver- tising, Novelties, &c. 25c Pays for One Year's Subscription and we will give you one 25 word ex- change notice FREE. SIX MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION 15 CENTS. SAMPLE COPY FREE. ADVERTISERS, here is the paper you are looking for. Send for our Special Rates. UNIVERSAL EXCHANGE MAGAZINE, BELVIDERE, ILL. ►-♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦» JUST OUT A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check list of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both , common and scientific names. 16 pages on good paper. T 3c each. PRICE 30c per dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS t OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. 160 THE OOLOGIST. fIfTH EDITION LATIIN'8 STANDARD CATALOGUE OE North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent Ainerican Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, ^ but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page ^ only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for ^1.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JULY lOth we will mail you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine medium loose Datas. and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I, 1905 to Dec. 1909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. ► CombinsLtion Offer. < p- We Offer Oologist otie year < ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^ ► New illustrated Key, ?2. 50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and Chapman's "Color Key," ^ ^ New Color Key to North American Birds, S2.50 postpaid, ^ ► all prepaid $2.60 J p. Oologist one year ^ ► and "Frederick Young" ^ ^ The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 m ^ Oologist ;b//r years, Jan. 190510 Dec. 1908, ^ ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Ke>',"-- -$3.25 ^ p. Oologist /o///' years, as above, 4 p and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 ^ ^ Oologist /b«/' years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; ^ ► New Edition, Colored Plates, price $10.00, for $8.60. J ► .Address < t ERNEST H. SHORT. ^ ► Manager Oologist Chili, N.Y. ^ •AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* The Oologist. A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES. Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- nartment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 11. ALBION, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1905. Whole No. 220 Take Notice. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologist. It denotes when your subscription expired or will expire. Remember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paioT 207 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 ■' " " Dec. 1904 220 vour subscription expires with this issue 221 •• " '• " Dec, 1095 257 •' " " " Dec, 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- mined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-class matter December 21, 1903, at the post office at Albion. N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1.S79. SINGLES FOR SALE.-Nos. 6. 206, 2(31, 182; 639, 197, 264, 278, 315. 377, 490, 584. 674 and quite a number of others. Correctly identified. Very cheap, cash. Aug. 4.t. R. P. SHARP- LES, West Chester, Pa. FOR SALE— All kinds Cavies, white and black dragoons, white and colored Homers, black-breasted Oame Bantams, white Wy- andotts. Will consider a few exchanges for A No. 1 sets. Aug.4.t. ALMON KIBBE, Mayville. N. Y. WANTED.— Fresh skins of the Great Horned Owl ( or subspecies ), Snowy Owl,, Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and other sets of Cuckoos. Am, Herring Gul), LeastTern. Laughing Ciull, Any Sandpiper or Plover. What can you offer and what can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. «r- NOTICE. -We will give the "Oologist' for Four Years or 75c in cash for every copy of '"Gologist" for June 1888. Vol. VI. No. 4, sent us in good condition. Will give 3 years, or 50c for April, 1889. Address, Manager Oologist, Chili. N. Y. PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth $10. Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even $5. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE. -A fine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc.. for American or For- eign stamps new to my collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. \\'ill buy collect- ions for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB, 202 Westminister Road. Rochester, N. Y. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester, N. Y. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence solicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson, Ariz, t.f. FOR SALE.— New pair of Bausch field glasses cheap, cost $45. Also will buy live Fox Squirrels, Black-squirrels, (iophers and Prairie dogs. S.5.t. C. A. CURRIER, Lexington. Mass. IF YOU exchange, write F. T. CORLESS. Portland. Ore., 804 E 14th St., for sample copy of -'The Trader." TO EXCHANGE for A 1 sets process for tanning small or large pelts, good squirrel cage with wheel, book on breeding the skunk in captivity and removing the scent gland. Many common sets wanted. ALMON KIBBE, Mayville. N. Y. <>. 4 t. EXCHANCTE.-For A. 1 sets new to my collection or special deriderata: 1 1-5, 7 1-2, 11 1-2, 30 10-1, 30a 10-1. 31a 1-1. 325-1, 34 1-1, 371-2, 44 1-3, 1-4, 47 1-3, 51 1-3, 121 1-4 1-5 , 130 1-10 down. 1411-11 1-9 down, 144 1-11 down. 1541-9 down, 155 1-6 down, 179 1-5, 206 1-2 slightly defective, 210 1-8. 220 1-7, 222 1-4, 223 1-4. 225 1-4, 2261-4, 2291-4, 267 1-4, 269 L 4, 2711-4. 2891-13, 297a 1-7, 302 1-10, 325 1-2, 326 1-2, 328 1-3. 329 1-11-2, 332 1-5, 333 1-5, 336 1-3, 337b 1-2, 339 1-3 1-4, 341 1-3. 342 1-3 1-4, 343 1-2 1-3 1-4, 347 1-3, 347a 1-2. 349 1-2, 354a 1-2, 358. 1-5, 359 1-3 1-4, 359.1 1-4, 362 1-3. 364 1-2 1-3 1-4, .378 1-9, 384 1-7, 385 1-5, 390 1-5, 394a 1-4, 410 1-5, 416 1-2, 417 1-2, 419 1-2, 421 1-2, 428 n.2, 429 n-2, 434 n-2, 449 1-4, 473 1-4, 493 1-5, 481 1-4, 533 n-4, 554a 1-4, 578 1-3, 593c 1-4, 641 n-4 n-5, 645 1-5. 646a 1-4, 648a 1-4. 654 1-3. 656 1-4. 657 n-4, 658 n-3, 659 1-4, 661 1-4, 667 1-4, 675 1-4, 976 1-5 1-6, (i79 1-4, 680 1-3, 681b 1-4, 684 n-4. 685b n-4, 702 1-3, 707 T-4. 735b 1-6. 736a 1-6. A. E. PRICE, Grant Park, 111. 162 THE OOLOGIST. A NICE LOT of gold-filled jewelry consist- ing of fobs, charms, lockets, shirt waist sets, baby pin sets, scarf pins and brooches, also silver plated forks, butter knife and sugar spoon set, childs knife, fork and spoon set, knife and spoon set. gilt easel photo frames, hand mirrors, atomizers and silk handker- chiefs to exchange for eggs in sets. Send me your list of sets and your wants and I will make you offers. VEKDI BURTCH, Branch- port, N. Y. (). 3. t. FOR SALE or will exchange for Indian Relics, two old spinning wheels, old hetchel, Stevens pistol, and al2ga. single barrel shot gun. COLE BROS., Nevada, Iowa, R. F. 1). 1. ALBUM containing 24 bird photos for $1.50, Postage 10 cts. extra. My beautiful bird calendars 25 cts., 35 cts., and 50 cts. Get my prices on bird photos, lantern slides, enlarge- ments and photographic work of all kinds. B. S. BOW DISH, Demarset. N.J. RAW FURS. -Would like to hear from trappers in New Vork, Vermont, Connecticut and Maine who can furnish me with prime skins of mink, muskrat, skunk, fox, raccoon, etc. L. S. HORTOX. Hyde Park. N. Y. Will i'ou please discontinue publishing my advertisement in your niagazine '"The Oologist" as I have disposed of all my sets and singles? The Oologist is the best ad- vertisement medium for the Ornithologist and Oologist. DR. M. T. CLECKLEY. Flock A, 1, Homing Pigeon for squab raising or flying; 1 Kodak,' Electric Tatooing Machine and Stereopticon to exchange for sets, minerals or shells. F. A. W. DEAN. Naturalist and Artist, 2084 Bdway, Cleve- land, Ohio. DEER HEADS unmounted and mounted for sale. Will exchange mounted heads and birds for unmounted specimens or offers W. J. CLAYTON, Lincoln, Maine Nov. 2 t; A FEW dressed Coyote skins for sale at $2.00 each by mail prepaid, one Bndger skin, $2.50 entire specimen. Bear skin, $15.00; Lynx specimens $5"00 early fall, $10.00 for winter coat. CHRIS P, FORGE, Carman, Man. TO EXCHANGE.— Fine sets of 129 and nests, also 742a n-3, 519 10-4, 596 4-4, 591c 4-3, 710 a 1-3, 642 2-3, etc. Many common sets wanted. B. P. CARPENTER, Escondido, Calif. FOR EXCHANGE.-One 3ix4i Eastman Kodak and style E, Developing machine, almost new, cost $25.00. Will exchange for good sets or sell very cheap for cash. RAY DENSMORE, Perry, Ohio. FOR SALE.— These mounted birds. Artie Horned Owl, $5.00; Kough-legged Hawk with prey, $3.50; Red-tailed Hawk with prey, $3.50; flying Rough-legged Hawk, $2.00; Marsh Hawk, Red-breast plumage, $1.50; White Snowy Owl, $5.00; Barred Owls, $2.00; Saw Whet Owl, $1.50; Holboels CJrebe, $1.50; Plicated Woodpecker, $1.50; Artie Three-toed Woodpecker, $2.00; Kingtisher, $1.00; Snow- bird, 75c.; Blue-winged Teal, $1.50; Oven bird, $1.00; Canada Jay, $1.00; (ioldtinch, 75c.; Blue Jay, 75c.; Sharp-shinned Hawk Juv., 1.00; Striped Spermophiles, $1,00; P'resh skins of Sharp-tailed (irouse. Ruffed do. Spruce do. Great Horned Owls, Snowy Owls, Artie Horned Taken, During Sea.son, 1905 and 1906. Small birds in this list by mail prepaid. CHRIS P. FORtJE, Carman, Man. For Sale. Cuban bird skins. Key West and Ruddy Quail Doves, Lizzard Cuckoos, Trogans and many other species. All with correct data. I have a number of Quail Dove Skins, some- what damaged, iust as good for study; skins 50 to 75 cents each. List with prices on ai>pli- cation. R. I). HOYT. Seven Oaks. Fla. Stf WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DK. CECIL FRENCH. Naturalist. Washington. D. C. J12t 112 Alexandrine Ave.. Detroit. Mich. Dear Sir;— It may be of interest to you to know that the "Oologist" is the best adver- tising medium with which we exchange. Iteplies came in answer to our advertisement from almost every state in the union, as well as Canada. Yours very truly. FREDERICK C. HUBEL. IjUS. Mngr. "Bulletin of the Mich. Ornith. CJub." WANTED FOR CASH.-Sets of Rock. Bewick's and Vigor's Wrens from original collector. Green and Pinon Jaj's. C. M. CASE. 100 Ashley St.. Hartford. Conn. 3 A. 1. mounted specimens of (ireat Gray Owl at $7.50 each prepaid. C. P. FORGE. Carman. Manitoba. Can. FOR SALE. -10 different old coins from 10 different countries for 25 cents. 5 old coins dated before 1800. 25 cents. All sent poatpaid. J. A. NORDELL. Corbondale. Colo. COPIES of "Frederick Young." $1.50 or 50 cents paper, to exchange for A 1 sets or skins. Make offer. CHARLES L. PHILLIPS, Taunton, Mass. FOR SALE.— Imperial 4x5 long focus camera . rev. back swing bed, rising and fall- ing front rack and pinion, three focus con- vertable lens in Wollensak regular shutter tinder, fitted with Film Pack Adolphe (day- light loading), plate holder, leather carrying case, etc. Nearly new, $15.00 gets it. C. E. WEBSTER, Arthur. N. Dakota. NOTICE. -I have one set of Marbled God- wit, but want 3 sets more. I will give a good cash price for one or more sets of four eggs each. Must be from the original collector. W H. BINGAMAN, Algona, Iowa. ARN Learn Taxidermy. Naturalists. Oologists and Sportsmen should all know how to correct- ly mount all kinds of birds and animals. WE TEACH TAXIDERMY P.Y MAIL. Complete course in 15 lesst)ns. This is one of the most de- lightlul and fascinating of arts. Easily learned. STANDARD METHODS. En- dorsed by all leading taxidermists. Many of the best known naturalists of the country are numbered among our students. If you want to learn TAXIDERMY, we desire to submitourproposition in full. Send TODAY for our new illustrated CATALO(i and sam- ple copy of The TAXIDER.M Y M AtJAZINE. I50TH FREE. THE N. W. SCHOOL OF TAXIDERMY, 76 Farnam St-, Omaha, Neb. i> THE OOLOGIST. 163 ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ JUST OUT I A NEW UP-TO-DATE Check List of North American Birds Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according t-o A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. i6 pages on good paper. PRICE 1 3c each. 30c per dozen. $2.00 per hundred ADDRESS t OOLOGIST, Albion, N. Y. or ERNEST H. SHORT, Chili, N. Y. ► < I CombinaLtion Offer. < ► We Offer Oologist one year < ^ and Reed's "North American Birds Eggs," ^ ► New illustrated Key, ^^2. 50 postpaid, all prepaid $2.60 < ^ Oologist one year ^ ► and Chapman's "Color Key," ^ ^ New Color Key to North American Birds, $2.50 postpaid, ^ ► all prepaid $2.60 < p. Oologist one year ^ ^ and "Frederick Young" * ^ ^ The Natural History Novel, prepaid $ .90 ^ ► Oologist /owf years, Jan. 1905 to Dec. 1908, **! ► and "North American Birds Eggs" or "Color Key,". ••$3.25 ^ ^ Oologist /owr years, as above, ^ ^ and a copy of our new "Standard Catalogue" of North ^ ► American Birds Eggs $1.00 < X- Oologist /b^^r years and "Frederick Young," $1.40 ^ ^ The Oologist 4 years, and "Land Birds," Baird, Brewer & Ridg.; j ^ New Edition, Colored Plates, price ^10.00, for $8.60. ^ ► Address < t ERNEST H. SHORT. ^ ► Manager Oologist Chili. N,Y. < • AA AA A A AAAA AAAA AAAAA AAA A AA AAA AAA AAA AA A AAAA A AAAA A A AA A A • 164 THE OOLOGlSr. BARGAINS IN DATA BLANKS In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste paper and have decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will send prepaid, your choice, at 12c per 100 op $1 per 1000. The smallest size or No. i at loc per 100 or 75c per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Send Ic stamp for sheet of sample styles Quotations Good for This Lot and for 1905 only. 'Address as you prefer either Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N.Y. or Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Walter B. barrows., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. Beginning with 1905 the BULLETIN en- ters upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will be enriched by original photo;; raphs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are intere.-^ted in birds yo 1 should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, I 12 AlexandrineAve., DETROIT, MICH THE WARBLER •JOHN LEWIS CHII DS, Editor \Y7ITH 1905 The Warbler boKitis a new ''' seiii's which will odiitaiii many .'^n- pi'i-t) Cnldivd Plates i)f rare esr'-'s such as Kirrlaiid and Olive Warhl<-r, Carolina Par- "iinet. Clark's Crow. Ipswich anil Rufous Cfowned Sjiarrow, Yellow and Black Rail. (':ilavei-as Warbler, etc. Also si)leiidid illvisrrntions of Birds and Nests, and lead- ing articles hy well knonti antliorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages &. Cover STTBSCKIPTION PRICE *1.00 PER YMAR. HITJOLE COPIES 30C Eirjrs of Kirtland ^YarMer will be flffiired in first issue( Jan or Feb.)of the new series. ADDRESS THE WATJBTLET? FLORAL PARK, N. Y. The OoLOGiST, Vol. XXII. No. 11. Alb[ox, N. Y., November, 1905. Whole No. 220 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXI- DEEMY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annuir Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each suljscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card Is redeemable at any time within one year from date tliereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must lie noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inclies jn a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 2i> cents. No "special rates." 5 cents per line is "net," "roclj bottom," "inside," "spot casli" rate from which there is no deviation and no commi.^sion to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space it will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, .$5.00; 1000 lines, $50. "Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, E.k- press or Postoffiee Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. SOME HAWKING TRIPS. IV. My Desert Sparrow Hawks. By Harry H. Dunn. One of the finest things about Oology is the memories that go with each and every set; thoughts of the long tramps over field and hill, wading rivers and swamps, climbing gaunt dead trees or slippery live ones, but always coming back, laden or unladen, with a light heart. There is no game like it in the world for happiness, none like for the insight it gives into what goes on day by day in the wild world round about. In one drawer of my cabinet there is a set of five eggs, gray white in ground color where it shows, but for the most part so blotched with rusty red that they seem one solid color. They are not well marked, they are not valuable as exchanges go, but they represent to me the accomplishment of a purpose, the fulfilling of a desire, for I was many years in this Land of the After- noon ere I took my first set of Desert Sparrow Hawks, often though I saw the birds. They came to me one afternoon in May I believe, the first week or there- abouts. I had started back over the hills, searching for nothing in partic- ular, listening to the quail call among the sage brush, watching towering redtails, and marking their nests, now filled with young, for next year's trips. And so I came to the house of a friend who watched over a cattle pasture just at one corner of the great Chino Ranch. Below his house in the can- yon a huge sycamore raised its head from above a small fissure spring. The main part of the tree was green and sound, but one branch, at least a foot thick and a good twenty feet long, had died and now nothing remained of it but the hollow shell. Yearly in it the Flickers nested as well as a pair of P.irkmann's Wrens. Above, the 166 THE OOLOGIST. Kingbirds and Orioles had their homes in the leafy top, but on this day they were all strangely silent. Of course I went down the hill from the shanty to the tree, and there, perched on one branch of the dead limb, sat a Sparrow hawk, smoothing his feathers as if this had been his life long home. About midway out the bare, dead branch was the hole of a pair of Flick- ers, which time and the wind had en- larged to proportions comfortably adapted to the use of the hawks. From this to the bottom of the creek bed was about twenty feet, and the earth itself was covered with fern brakes, dead and alive, to a depth of not less than two feet. From the side- hill whereon the tree grew to that first limb was only ten feet or less, but the hill went down precipitately from this point and the climb was no easy one. Up I managed to go, however, and with my little hatchet 1 chopped a hole in the side of the dead limb. Anyone who has ever tried to chop a woodpecker out of a dead limb knows what I was up against, but I went at it good and strong and soon had a hole through in which I could easily put my hand. Down about six inches was the set. One at a time I lifted them out until I had counted five. Then I started to go down, butthought I might as well take a look at the in- side of the nest, and there, lying on the chips as nice as you please was a sixth egg. It is the only set of six I have ever seen or heard of, though I have been told that they occasionally laj^ six eggs further south, in Mexico and on the Baja California peninsula. These eggs were perfectly fresh, but very poorly marked, possibly, be- cause there was such a big set, the pigment did not quite go around. My friend, Mr. Bradford, of Placentia, Cal., has a set of this bird, taken in Orange county, which is marked fully as heavily as a set of red-footed fal- cons from Russia now in my collec- tion. They are indeed beautiful eggs, rivalling the famed osprey in their markings. As a rule, however, the eggs of the Desert Sparrow Hawk are not heavily marked. Full sets are almost always of five, sets of four being extremely rare. Since that time I have taken many sets, from pigeon boxes, from hay lofts, from outbuild- ings, from holes in dirt cliffs and even from abandoned woodpecker holes in telegraph poles, but never such a set as this. Spotted Bank Swallow's Eggs. On Septemqer 3, 1903 I sent to Mr. J. Warren Jacobs, of Waynesburg, Pa., with several other abnormal sets, a set of four spotted Bank Swallow's (Clivi- cola riparia) eggs, and received from him on the 12th inst. a postal acknow- ledging the receipt of the eggs. He said "that the spots may prove to be dirt from small insects," and in a post- script added "that he expected six sets from E. H. Short, who thought the marks was insects but could not judge." Upon rhe receipt of this meagre in- formation I determined to investigate next year (1904) and learn if possible, whether the marks on "spotted" Bank Swallow's eggs are made by insects and not colored with pigment like the eggs of the Cliff and Barn Swallows. In Philadelphia County the Bank Swallow is a rare summer resident, seldom nesting, on account of the scarcitj^ of suitable banks, consequent- ly my investigations had to be conduct- ed far from hc^me. In New Jersey, along the Pensauken Creek, Pensauken Township, Camden County, there are several large sand hanks where the Bank Swallow breeds annually by the hundreds, with few Rough-winged Swallows and an occasional Kingfisher for companions. It was at one of these colonies that my THE OOLOGIST. 167 .nvestigations was conducted on Me- morial Day, May 30, 1904. Results of investigations briefly stated aie as fol- lows: Several "spotted" sets, consisting of four and five eggs, with incubation fresh to advanced, had been collected, and in each nest — all feather lined — were noticed ants and small worms (larvae), some nests having only the larvae and others ants, but in several ants and larvae were mixed. The larvae is athin, slender "worm," averaging three-eights of an inch in length, and in color a pale brown to almost white. The ants were small and of a reddish color. They were found also in nests containing unspott- ed eggs and in grassy-lined nests. The larvae were found only in feathery-lined nests, being more numerous in thos^e lined with duck and geese feathers, and presumely feed on the matter in the shafts of the feathers. The marks on the eggs are made by these "wig- glers', as following results will show. The egg when first laid is damp and would easily absorb marks of dirt be- ing porous, when any dirty "worms" crawled over them. An experiment to ascertain whether the marks were made by these larvae proved satisfactory. A nest containing 5 immaculate eggs, in- cubating advanced, was placed in a nestful of wriggling "worms" but after 5 minutes of expectant watching we failed to discern any marks on the eggs although many of the wrigglers had crawled over them. They were removed and placed in an ant-infected nest with the same results. My experiment I thought was a failure and I began to feel disappointed when a happy thought struck me. It was to wet or dampen the eggs, which I did, and replacing them iu the larvae-infected nest I soon had the satisfaction of proving that the marks were made by the larvae, for every one that crawled over the eggs left dirt marks upon them. Removing the eggs and wiping off the marks, I rewetted them and placed them in an ant infected nest, but though left in it for about ten minutes, during which time they were fairly over run with ants, no traces of dirt marks were dis- cernible upon them. These experi- ments demonstrate that the dirt marks on "spotted" Bank Swallow's eggs are made by the larvae of a species of in- sect. Being a poor entomologist I can not name the ant nor the larvae, and not having no small vials, which I general- ly carry with me, I could not bring any home for identification. The larvae is presumely that of a dipterous insect, probably that of a small horsefly which infest Bank Swallow's nests. These small flies fairly over run some nests when they contain young and make life miserable for the helpless birds, and often compel the birds to abandon their young, leaving them to die a horrible death, being literally eaten alive. There are other kinds of vermin that infect the burrows and nests, as well as the birds also rendering their lives miserable. The results of my in- vestigation proves only that the marks on the eggs I collected were made by larvae of a species of insect. They are probably caused by other kinds of ver- min which I did not find in the nests that have come under my observations. My observations are far from being complete on account of the distance I live from the colonies and lack of opportunity for investigations. This year I investigated no further in the matter, in fact, did not do any collect- ing whatever in New Jersey. Next year shall positively investigate the cause of the vermin infected nests and the spotted eggs. Richard F. aliLLER, Philadelphia, Pa. This is quite in line with my suspicions on this subject.— Editor. 168 THE OOLOGIST. Western Red-tails. According to Mr. Dunn's excellent article in April Oologist two is an un- finished set of the Western Red-tail. Although not far apart this locality seems somewhat different. I have in my collection five sets of two of this Hawk. All were well along in incu- bation when taken. April the 9th of this season ('05) I and a young friend started for a nest of a Red-tail, which I had observed some months before while out hunting about five miles back into the mount- ains. It was rather late for Hawks but had been unable to go before on account of heavy rains. The day was cloudy and misty, a good sign of more rain, but as I had been delayed so long, was determined to risk it any way. After climbing hills until it began to get old came at last in sight of the cliff. On getting closer discovered the nest was the same as when first found, and as no Hawk was in sight conclud- ed she was on the nest. A shot from my revolver and sure enough off came Mrs. Red-tail with a loud scream that brought the old male off from a neigh- boring peak. The nest looked easy at first, but our minds were soon changed about that. About 30 feet up a ledge projected out and upon this the nest was built. As we only had 50 feet of rope the cliff was too high to reach the nest from above. So all there was left to do was to go up from below. Cutting footholds on a sandstone cliff is no cinch with only a small pocket knife and a drizzling rain com- ing down on a fellow. But after about an hours work, I was able to help my friend over onto the ledge with the assistance of some solid rocks sticking along the side. "Two beauties," were his first words as he crawled over into the nest. The collecting box was next pulled up on a string and the set safely lowered. This nest was a large bulky affair evidently used for a number of years. The two eggs were advanced in incu- bation. One was unmarked while the other was faintly spotted over the en- tire surface with reddish brown. Cliffs are the favorite nesting places for the Western Red-tail here and the same nest is used year after year if unmolested. Homp:r C. Burt. Santa Paula, Cal. Co-operative Nest Building. After taking dinner with a friend in town and while sitting on the porch my attention was called to the actions of four or five Sparrows, who were all very busy and noisy in reconstructing a nest that had been torn down in the morning to allow the painters to finish painting over a window. We watched them for a couple of hours and they seemed to be as much pleased and noisy over it as people over a house raising. Wishing to see the outcome the next day I examined and found one egg in the nest, need- less to say, and was not again disturb- ed. I think this must have been a case of hurry up, or necessity and neighbours called in to assist. Have you ever heard or know of a similar case of co-operation. I never have noticed the habits of Birds much be- fore, but this set me thinking. J. B. LEWIS, Petaluma, Cal. Another large set of Hawks. In corroboration of Mr. W. K. Hat- ler's statement that he was fortunate in taking a set of 5 Red-tailed Hawks eggs, will say that in the early part of May 1807, while trying to locate a much needed nest of the Broad-winged, I ran across a nest of the Red-shoul- dered Hawk that had somehow escap- ed my earlier visits, and which con- THE OOLOGIST. 169 tained three newly hatched young, and two eggs on the point of hatching. I have never found another set of more than four eggs in my sixteen years of experience, during which time I have collected hundreds of sets of this bird. William I, Comstock, Norwalk, Conn. THE CALIFORNIA CUCKOO. By HARRY H. DUNN. One of the most interesting birds of the Southwest and one concerning which there seems to be little known by writers of Oological books is the California Cuckoo. Here it is a habit- ually silent bird, seldom if ever ut- tering the Kuk-kuk-kuk, which it is supposed to give as a signal for ap- proaching rain among the Eastern hills. In the east I am told that the two species of cuckoos inhabit both hilly country and the lowlands, high forest and thick underbrush. In this end of California, however, they are almost exclusively confined to the willow groves of the lowlands along the coast. They do not seem to seek exactly swampy ground, around the muskegs and small pools, but rather the thick undergrowth of water-mootics and short willows, where blackberry and other vines have formed entangle- ments, keeping out even stray cattle, let alone weak-kneed oologists like the writer of this sketch. The first acquaintance I made with the eggs of this bird was by the way of a small, dirty-faced, bare-footed lad, who, wandering through the swamp's edge, came upon a flat nest containing two large blue-green eggs which he did not recognize. These he brought to me, together with the bird, and I was so placed in possession of a species I had been seeking for years and had not been able to see, let alone its nest. The eggs are noticeably lar- ger than those of either of the east- ern varieties, but have the same wave- like markings, common especially to the eggs laid by the Black-billed Cuckoo. As best I could learn from the boy, the nest was placed about fifteen feet from the ground in a dense tangle of vines, growing around a dead willow stump. The bird sat very closely, and at first he thought her to be a Pasadena Thrasher, or, as he called it, "a sickle-billed thrush," the common local name for harporhyn- chus. When he climbed to the nest, however, he noticed the strange eggs and shot the female with a .22 rifle from her perch in a neighboring wil- low. All this information was of course, interesting to me and a week later — the first week in May — found me in the neighborhood wherein he had made his "find," and the net results of six days collecting was three sets of the cuckoo and a set of six eggs of some small rail, which I am practi- cally sure is the Sora. Unfortunately these eggs were badly incubated and could only be saved wih very large holes, yet, in spite of all this they are undoubted rarities in this state. Two of my sets of the cuckoo were of three eggs and one of four; the eggs of the set of four are scarcely larger than those of the Black-billed Cuckoo, smaller even than those of the Yellow-billed. The other two sets are larger than any eggs of the east- ern birds of either species that I have ever seen. All the eggs were practi- cally fresh, thus showing that the set was laid in regular sequence (evident- ly an egg a day), and not at intervals of several days, as are those of the near relatives of this bird, the Road- runners. Possibly some of the sets of three would have become four had I left them, but my newspaper work 170 THE OOIOGIST. in town drew me from the country- side and I liad to take what I could get. The nests were very poorly made ,mere platforms of twigs, scarcely bet- ter than those of Mourning Doves, and I could not see anything to prevent the eggs from rolling out in high wind or rain storms. I suppose, how- ever, that the willow trees, growing very close together, as they do here, do not move much with the wind but turn a sort of impenetrable wall to its force. There was no noticeable lin- ing in any of the nests, the eggs rest- ing on the large sticks of the outer nest, through which their pale blue colors could occasionally be seen. THE QUAIL TRAP.' The Quail Trap, June 1, 190.5.— Bob \Yhite has bobbed up serenely at last in East Woodstock, and in Village Corners. When I was watering my horse below the village on April 24 a female flew across the road. She had six or eight broodmates nearby who have been calling for two weeks. These are not the small introduced species from the south and west, but lusty Connecticut-bred birds, two of which would make a meal for an epi- cure. This strong covey has been brought safely through two winters by the intelligent care of Mr. Bradshaw, the village gardener. May 28th I saw another by the roadside near Dudley, Mass., and the same evening for the first time this season, heard a cock whistle on our home farm. I shall in- quire of our trout fishermen here how many they have heard. And this week on our long drive from town straight to the Massachusetts line, inquiry will be made of all the intelligent farmers, so that with my own observations I can record data on Bob White's stand- ing in Eastrn Connecticut today. June is the quail's noisy breeding month, and now the ice is broken we shall expect to hear more whistling from survivors of the fittest. To see a woodcock simulating death at their feet in the woods on the 12th of May, was the experience of Mr. Justin Holden and his son. In stoog- ing to secure her the flattened snipe limped a few feet away with broken leg and drooping wing. Not led away by these feints, the Holdens picked up for a few minutes the four exquisite bits of down — the cause of the dis- play of maternal solicitude. While they were admiring and fondling the young, the old mother came directly overhead and hovered like a humming- bird before the honey cells of flowers. All novelties in the home bird world have a charm for Mr. Holden and his son. Last season they found a wood- duck's nest in the suburbs of Norwich, and this week they will look after the herons of Hell-gate. The ruffed grouse is the wildest of our game birds. Quail will breed in confienement and are even raised on demand in the west and south. Two or three kinds of its cogeners on the Pacific coast are also domesticated. I have seen large coveys of showy mountain partridge in coojjs at Yuma, Arizona, and near Mt. Hamilton. But all efforts in pheasantries and aviaries to domesticate the grouse have been emphatic failures. Many of us can recall instances of farmer's boys plac- ing sets of "jjartridge eggs under the old Dominicker," and how we frowned on these ill-advised and fruit- less attempts. But the time has come in this quest when we can no longer say: "I told you so." By modern ap- pliances, by ascertaining the proper chickfood and exercising the greatest possible care, gentleness and patience, the untamable grouse has now been raised in confinement. May 29th we visited the only suc- cessful Grouserie in the United States. THE OOLOGIST. 171 It is conducted on natural lines by the president of a university in a sister city. The first sets of eggs were hatch- ed in an incubator one year ago. A cold wet June in the woods will kill two-thirds of the wild broods, but the mortality from this cause was not as great with the protected chicks By turning over logs and stumps in the woods, the proper larvae were pro- cured to nourish the game infants. Later in the feeding process, meal- worms were used to advantage, and when maturing the required amount of grain given. Good covered runs and shady bowers were furnished the growing covies, with sanding and bud- ding places. In short, by constant at- tention to their necessities and wants, as if in a state of nature, the birds throve exceptionally well, gradually losing the inbred fear of man by his familiarizing care After a year's de- votion, the gamekeeper is being re- warded by having the birds come at his call and by some especial pets perching on his hands and flying upon his shoulders. The breeding season was eagerly awaited, so it was no surprise when two of the young hens mated and very soon began to lay. Drumming was so long delayed it was looked for with feverish impatience. But early last week, to the delight of all looking for the wonderful performance, one of the cocks began to drum. For nuptial rea- sons, this year-old cock is kept part of the time in a separate enclosure, where he is often heard drumming for his wives. But when returned to the harem histympani were silent till again separated from them. On the 28th of May, this year, a hen came off with nine young grouse; on the 29th, when I saw the chicks, they were strong and lively, acting much like the tiniest tots in the poultry yard. In another se- cluded corner I saw a hen grouse close covering her clutch of ten eggs. In fifty sets of grouse eggs found in New London county, I never saw one over fourteen. But Mr. Brand found one in Rockwell's woods of sixteen, and L. E. Rawson of North Woodstock found one in his own woods of sixteen. Success in this trial will determine many things. It will show that the hens and cocks are not monagamous, tell the exact time of incubation, and will forever settle the much argued question about the way the so-called drumming is produced For other rea- sons every detail of this new feat of domestication will be watched and chronicled with interest. The present season's game chicks are the second generation in confinement. With add- ed knowledge of their requirements, the birds should prove better than the first year's output. By the fourth generation of home-bred grouse the wild taint should be eliminated and the reclaimed ruffed grouse prove a toothsome addition to our pheasant- rles. Then for your after-play bite your waiter can more easily and with a more modest bill fill your or- der for "'a broiled chicken pat." C. L. RAWSON. Norwich, Conn. The Oology of a Farm. Tv/o miles west of Statesville, in Iredel county. Western North Carolina, is a farm of about 250 acres. It is bordered on one side by Third creek, a quiet, shallow stream, flowing lazily on between miles and mile of bottom land on either bank. From the bot- tom the ground rises abruptly , form- ing mumerous hills an^d knolls, seared and broken by woodland,, brooks and washes. For fifteen years this has been the chief scene of my cares as an egg- crank: and for fifteen years I have found many birds breeding abundantly there. Marsh birds are not numerous. Of these the Green Heron is most com- mon, finding in the wet meadows an abundant pasturage and an ideal breeding place among the neighboring pine-clad hills. The Snowy Heron 172 THE OOLOGIST. sometimes occurs in late summer, but never breeds. Several years ago I found two nests of the Woodcock — called here "Mud Snipe"- — but in both instances the young had left the nest. I have search- ed diligently since, but have been un- rewarded. Bob-white is abundant dur- ing the winter, but not so common in summer, and nests are hard to find. The Mourning Dove is plentiful at all seasons, and nests may be found from March to June. I have not found any later than June, though some author- ities say nests can be found as late as September. In winter they congre- gate in small flocks, commonly feed- ing in deserted stubble fields. Cwing to the absence of any large tracts of woods, Raptores are not abundant. 1 have in my collection a set of Tiirkey Vulture's eggs taken in '91, but know of no nests being found at a later date, though young have been frequently observed prior to that time. Red-shouldered and Cooper's Hawks are the only breeders of that family that 1 know of, the former being more common. I took a set cf three slightly incubated eggs 9th of last May ('05), which I consider imusually late, since the nesting sea- son usually ends in April. The Am. Sparrow Hawk possibly breeds, but I have no authentic record; likewise, several species of owl. The Red-headed Woodpecker, Yel- low billed Cuckoo and Whippoorwill all breed snaringly, the latter the most common. Chimney Swift and Ruby- coated Humming Biid are common. I have faund but one nest of the King Bird on the farm, but its nests are fre- quently f3unn in the adjacent country. Of the Fly-catchers, the Green-crest- ed is an abundant breeder, but the Crested is not common. Phoebe was formerly i)lentiful, but rarer of late years; and the same may be said of the Wood Pewee and Blue Jay. The American Crow is omnipresent, al- ways in fair numbers. The Bobolink, Meadow Lark and Baltimore Oriole are seen in early spring, but I have found no nests, though an Oriole's nest was found on a neighboring farm. Gold Finches are common during the winter months, but few remain to breed. Chipping and Field Sparrow are abundant, the latter breeding from April to September. Grasshopper is not so common. Bachman's has been found breeding on the next farm, but I have failed to locate any here. As to Cardinals, their nests can be found in every thicket in company with the Yellow-breasted Chat, which is almost as plentiful. Blue Grosbeak breeds sparingly. In- digo Bunting commonly. Summer Tanagers can be found any time. Pur- ple Martins formerly bred but not of late years. Rough-winged Swallow rare. Red-eyed, Yellow-throated, Mountain Solitary, and White-c-yetl Vireos all bred, the first and last commonly, the others rarer. Of the Warbler family, the Yellow- breasted Chat and Maryland Yellow- throat are most common. In my esti- mation there are no handsomer eggs of the smaller birds than those of the Yellow-throat. On the 14th of June ('05), I took an exceptionally fine set of four fresh eggs of this species — without doubt the finest I have seen. One nest each of the Black-and-white, Yellow-throated, Pa- rula and Worm-eating Warblers, and occasionally Yellow Warbler, together with a single Oven bird's nest com- plete the Warblers. La. Water Thrush and Am. Red-start have been found breeding just outside the limits. Catbirds and Brown Thrushes are abundant; House and Carolina Wrens fairly common. Brown-headed and White-breasted Nuthatches are rare; and the Tufted Titmouse is hardly com- mon. Carolina Chickadees are found in large numbers all the year round. Wood Thrush in summer only. Phoebes and Blue-birds have alike disappeared and only a few nests are found now; of these the Blue- birds more frequently occur. Thus far, these are all the birds that I have found breeding within these confines, though I am sure it is far from complete, for each season I am adding new species to my list. Statesville, N. C. JACOB BOSTIAN. Publications Received. American Botanist, V IX, No. 9. Am. Orinthology. Vol. 5, No. 11. Photographic Times, XXXVIII, No. 11. The Warbler, New Series, Vol. I, No. 4. Nature Study, XIV, No. 11. THE 00L0G15T. 173 EDITORIAL. Owing to business complications, tlie result of too many "irons in the fire," have been unable to give the Oologist or my mail business the prompt at- tention they deserved during the past seven months. Thanking my friends and patrons for their patience and charity, I will now try to make up for it as fast as possible. We notice the color plate in the last issue of "Warbler" of three eggs of Carolina Paroquet laid by pair of birds kept in captivity by Robt. Ridge- way. The plate is fine and the eggs agree with the conception of these rare Mr. Dunn's article on the Calif. Cuckoo suggests some comparisons. The nesting habit like the eggs is evidently more like the Yellow-billed than the Black-billed until you get to the interval between the eggs where the California bird seems to in- cline to the Black-billed style. I have generally found the sets of Black-bill small in the West. New York usually 2 eggs and incubation I find by careful observation is generally de- layed until the 2 or 3 eggs, rarely 4, are laid. The Yellow-bill begins incubation at once and sometimes lays as many as 6 eggs at long intervals. I have found a young bird and a perfctly fresh egg in the same nest, eggs formed by most oologists from descriptions, though we may seldom look at the real article. Pure glossy white, size varying be- tween 1.30x1.17, a broad egg to 1.42x 1.06 for an elongate specimen. Mr. Childs believes there was a decrease in English Sparrows around Floral Park this past summer. He asks for information on this point from other localities. Certainly they show no material de- crease around Rochester, N. Y. I think the contrary. The egg fraud is still in the land. Look out for him. A whole collection examined lately contained nothing rarer than Cowbird, Cardinal and Mocking-bird. While no copy of Friend Reed's new "Bird Guide" has yet reached our table, we can safely presume that it is convenient, tasty and big value at the price quoted. EDITOR. The Worlds Greatest* Collectors Paper. For AII'KindsSofiColiectors. Got a Camera ? or Have You a Hobby ? Send ten cents to the undersigned and you will receive for three months the oldest, largest and best collectors' monthly for all kinds oF Hobbies: Natural History and American Historical Discoveries, Coins, Stamps, Curios, Relics. Photofrraphy. Miner- als, Sciences, Illustrated Souvenir Post Cards. Rarities, and New Finds for all kinds of Collectors. Over I 600 Pages Last Year. The Philatelic West and Camera News. Superior Nebraska, U. S. A. Greatest of its kind in the world. Fifty cents entitles you to a year's subscription and a free 15 word exchange notice in the largest exchange department extant. I 5000 Ads Past Two Years. This 100 Page Illustrated Monthly was established in 1896. and has the largest circulation of any collector's monthly in the world, and in size has no rival. Moreads. in the West than in all other American Phil- atelic monthlies combined. The best paying medium for advertisers. Rates small, re- sults large. It will pay you to write us about it. Ic. a word. OUR MOTTO: "The best and lots of it." Invest 10 cents judiciously by sending it to L. T. BRODSTONE, Publisher, Superior, Nebraaka, U. S, A. Send five cents for membership caad to American Camera Club hxchange. Over (JOOO members in all parts of the world, or 50 cents for one year's membership to Ameri- can Historical Cureo, Relic and Natural History Society. Try it. "West" Souvenir Post Cards lOc. the dozen, many colors. Try them. BIRD SKINS. I have left, the following A No. 1 Bird Skins: 6 American Crow, 3 Blue Jay, 1 Least Bittern (poor), 2 Cedar Waxwing, 4 Pine Grosbeak— females, 13 Snowflake, 2 Purple Finch— females. 1 white-breasted Nuthatch, 1 black-throated Green Warbler. I will send the above 33 Skins and add 2 of the Gray Squirrel and 1 very fine mounted Crow. En- tire lot is cheap at $10. I'll box them all and express at purchaser's expense, for only $5.75. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y, Dear Sir: It gives me great pleasure to tell you that your paper is a peach for ad- vertising. I received 10 letters to my ad. before I received the paper, letters are com- ing yet, although the eggs were all gone two weeks ago. BERT NICHOLS, Granville. N. Y. 174 THE OOLOGIST. Prices for Back Numbers of the YOUNG 00L03IST AND THE OOLOGIST t\ill, during 190-4, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will l)e advanced and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire back numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. Yon can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. . Prices for 1905 are as folloavs: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1, 14, 18, 21. 23-24,31. 34-35. 42. 53.86. 89, 111, 130, 1.32, 137, 139, 140, 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9, 66-G7, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138, 146, are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 54. 55, 56, 75, 87, 127, 128. 129, 144, 149 are 15 cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22. 27, 28, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 70, 74, 80. 93, 100, 114, 115, 126, 133, 135 are 10 cents each. JiW All other numbers 5c per copy. For $10 will send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published, Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- cludes your subscription through J 904. My prices for back Nos. of the YOUNG OOLO- GIST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. I, 1884-5, Nos. 1 to 12, ... ? .90 Vol. II, 1885, Nos. 13 to 14, ... $ .50 Vol. Ill, 1886, Nos. 15 to 20, ... $ .90 Vol. IV. 1S87, Nos. 21 to 25-26, . . $1.00 Vol. V. I8S8, Nos. 27 to 38, . . . $1.50 Vol. VI, 1889, Nos. 39 to 50, ... $ .75 Vol. VII, 1890, Nos. 51 to 62, ... $ .75 Vol. VIII, 1891, Nos. 63 to 74, ... $ .75 Vol. IX, 1892, Nos. 75 to 86, ... $ .90 Vol. X, 1893, Nos. 87 to 98, . . . $1.00 Vol. XI, 1894, Nos. 99 to 110, ... $ .50 Vol. XII, 1895, Nos. Ill to 122, . . . $1.00 Vol. XIII, 1896, Nos. 123 to 127, ... $ .50 Vol. XIV, 1897, Nos. 128 to 1.39, . . . $1.50 Vol. XV, 1898, Nos. 140 to 149, . . . $ .60 Vol. XVI, 1899, Nos. 150 to 161, ... $ .75 Vol. XVII. 1900, Nos. 162 to 171, . . . $ .50 Vol. XVIIl, 1901, Nos. 172 to 183, ... $ .50 Vol. XIX, 1902, Nos. 184 to 195, . . . $ .50 Vol. XX. 1903. Nos. 196 to 197, ... $ .10 " XXI 1904, No. 198 to 209 50 For $5 I will send prepaid a copy of every issue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty-nine (2.^) 25c and 50c copies. For $2 00 I will send prepaid every copy pub- lished, Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (60J copies priced above at 10c or over. — BOU.>D VOLUMES — Can be furnished, strongly bound in cloth and boards, as follows: Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST bound in one volume $1.00 Vol. IX. The OOLOGIST for '02. 298 pages of valuable and instructive Oological and Ornithological matter with many full page illustrations, $1.00 Or, if you order the two volumes at one time, we will send tliom by return mail for only $1.75. Every snulcnt of birds, tlieir nests and eggs, should liave these two volumes in their library. The valual)le information tliey contain, Is wortli many times the price. Address plainly, ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y. Scientific Shells and Fossil Corals. I have recently issued a list of what I have left in the above lines. If at all interested it will well repay you to drop me a postal for a copy of same. FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion. N. Y. Just In From India. A new invoice of beautiful Butterflies. Will sell in papers or spead at reasonable prices or exchange for eggs or skins I am in need of. 15 Var. Showy Papilio. Address. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. BIRDS EGGS. I can still furnish many of the sets listed in Sep- tember issue. If you saw 'or now see on that list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what I can furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. South American Butterflies. I can furnish the following rare and mag- nificent, from U. S. of Columbia : .Morpho SuLKOwsKY, 4^x4i in. Morho Menelaus. (gorgeous peacock blue)5:^x7in. Either species prepaid, for only $2.00. Eaeh insect is moimt- ed on a new patent tablet, which not only protects it from dust, breakage, etc.. hut puts them in a shape at once more beautiful and infinitely neater than is possible by the anti- quated method of impaling them on pins. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion, N. Y. Know the Wild Flowers? Your rambles in field and wood will increase in interest in propor- tion as you know plants as well as birds. The American Botanist is issued for the plant lover. It contains no technical articles and is just the magazine you need. Get a copy and see for yourself. ADDRESS WILLARD N, CLUTE& CO., Binghamton New York THE OOLOGIST. 175 THE LATEST AND BEST BIRD GUIDE By CHESTER A. REED, S. B. Author of North American Birds Eggs, and with Frank M. Chapman of Color Key to North American Birds. Editor of the American Bird Magazine. This is a popular pocket guide and text book to ALL THE LAND BIRDS EAST OF THE ROCKIES, from the Parrots to the Bluebirds. It is prepared especially for teachers and students, after years of study as to their needs. It has the following points of superiority over any other Bird Book: COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS.— Every bird is shown in natural colors, including females and young when they differ. SCOPE.— J?? the land birds east of the Rockies are included. It gives the range and habit of each bird, their son^s as nearly as they can be written, and description of their ne^^ts and eggs. SMALL SIZE. — It can easily be carried in the pocket, measuring but 3x5 inches. 200 pages, bound in flexible sock cloth or leather. We have made the price of the book as low as possible considering the good workmanship and material that is used. It is so low that anyone can afford it, but no one can afford to be without it. IT NAMES THE BIRDS TOR YOU Bound in flexible sock cloth, postpaid SO CENTS Five cloth bound copies for $2.00 postpaid Bound in flexible leather, 75cts. Five copies for $3.00 postpaid. We want agents in every city, town and school. Good commissions. Send for prospectus of Bird Books and sample copy of the AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE. CHAS. K. REED, Worcester, Mass. 176 'IHP; OOLOGJST. FIFTH EDITION LATTIN'S STANDARD CATALOIiyE OF North American Birds Eggs READY FOR DELIVERY. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct exchange values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Piinted on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy in shape (just goes into full government envelope.) Postpaid 25c each. Six for $1.25. IF RECEIVED BEFORE JULY I 0th we will mall you a copy with a book of 100 of our best 35c Standard Datas or 250 fine medium loose Datas, and one dozen of our latest check lists and send you the OOLOGIST FOUR YEARS from Jan. I , I 905 to Dec. I 909. Total value $2.90; for only $1.45. Address ERNEST H. SHORT, Manager Oologist, Chili, N. Y. I Coleoptera of North America | A Big Bargain for some Institution or Collector. Private collection of about 3000 different species (perhaps 10,000 specimens) of Coleoptera of North America, incluJing an A I Cabinet with cork-lined draws and glass (hinged) covers, almost air and dust-tight. Cabinet could not be made for less than $65.00. Will sell cabinet and collection for only $250.00. For further particulars, if you mean business, address .A. ror luriner pariicuiarb, 11 yuu lueuii uumucss, auuicss .*. I FRANK H. LATTIN | NEW YORK 1 4- t The Oologist. A MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXIDERMY. WANTS, FOR SALES AND EXCHANGES, Brief Special announcements " Wants," " Exchanges," " For Sales," inserted in this de- partment for 25 cents per 25 words. Notices over 25 words charged at the rate of 1-2 cent for each additional word. No notice inserted for less than 25 cents. Terms, cash with order. Strictly first-class specimens will be accepted in payment at 1-3 list rates. Vol. XXII. No. 12. ALBION, N. Y., DECEMBER, 1905. Whole No. 221 Take Notice. Examine the number following your name on the wrapper of this month's Oologi.st. It denotes when j'our subscription expired or will expire. Remember we must be notified if you wish paper discontinued and all arrearages must be paid. 207 your subscription expired Oct. 1904 209 " ■' '■ Dec. 1904 221 vour subscription expires with this issue 232 • " '• " Dec, 1906 257 " " " •• Dec. 1908 Intermediate numbers can easily be deter- nlined. If we have you credited wrong we wish to rectify. Entered as second-cla'^s matter December 21, 1903. at the post office at Albion, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of .March 3. 1879. \VANTP:D. — Fresh skins of the Great Horned Owl ( or subspecies ). Snowy Owl.. Ptarmigan, Mountain Partridge, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and other sets of Cuckoos. Am, Herring Oull, LeastTern, Laughing Gull, Any Sandpii)er or Plover. What can you offer and whsit can you use? ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. «®= NOTICE.-We will give the "Oologist' for Four Years or 75c in cnsh for every copy of "Oologist" for June 1888, Vol. VI. No. 4, sent us in good condition. Will give 3 years. or 50c for April, 1889. Address, Manager Oologist, Chili. N. V. PEACOCK.— A magnificent male specimen in full plumage, well worth $10. Will box and ship at purchaser's expense for an even $5. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.- A tine lot of shells, minerals, curios etc, for American or For- eign stamps new to ray collection. Wish to correspond with beginners. \^'iri bnv collect- ions for cash. A. t. f. RUTH WEBB, 202 Westminister Road. Rochester. N. Y. FOR SALE.— A. 1. scientific skins of Ari- zona birds. Will collect to order during season of 1905. First class eggs in sets, skins or insects. Correspondence scjlicited. H. H. Kimball, Tucson, Ariz, t.f. WANTED.— Eggs in sets, large or small lots. Will give in exchange fine collections of minerals and shells. A few sets and skins and some books. Can use many common species. ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester. N. Y. FOR SALE.— New pair of Bausch field glasses cheap, cost $45. Also will buy live Fox Squirrels, Black-squirrels, Gophers and Prairie dogs. S.5.t. C. A. CURRIER, Lexington, Mass. TO EXCHANGE for A 1 sets process for tanning small or large pelts, good squirrel cage with wheel, book on breeding the skunk in captivity find removing the scent gland. Mnny common sets wanted. ALMON KIP>BE. Mayville, N. Y. O. 4 t. A NICE LOT of gold-filled jewelry consist- ing of fobs, charms, lockets, shirt waist sets, baby pin sets, scarf pins and brooches, also silver plated forks, butter knife and sugar spoon set. childs knife, fork and spoon set. knife and spuon set. gilt easel photo frames, hand mirrors, atomizers and silk handker- chiefs to exchange for eggs in sets. Send me your list of sets and your wants and I will make you offers. VERDI BURTCH, Branch- port. N. Y. (). 3. t. RAW FURS.-^Would like to hear from trappers in New Vork. Vermont, Connecticut and Maine who can furnish me with prime skins of mink, mnskrat, skunk, fox. raccoon, etc. L. S. HORTON. Hyde Park. N. Y. AMll you please discontinue publishing my advertisement in your magazine "The Oologist" as I have disposed of all my sets and singles' The Oologist is the best ad- vertisement medium for the Ornithologist and Oologist. DR. M. T. CLECKLEY. 112 Alexandrine Ave., Detroit, Mich. Dear Sir:— It may be of interest to you to know that the "Oologist" is the best adver- tising medium with which we exchange. Replies came in answer to our advertisement from almost every state in the union, as well as Canada. Yours very truly, FREDERICK C. HUBEL. Bus. Mngr. "Bulletin of the Mich. Ornith. Club." 178 THE OOLOGIST. DEER HEADS unmounted and mounted for sale. Will exchange mounted heads and birds for unmounted specimens or offers. W. J. CLAYTON. Lincoln. Maine. Nov. 2 t. Henry K. Coale will pay cash for full sets eggs with or without nests also wants first class skins of land birds with full data. 136 Washington St.. Chicago. WANTED.— Mounted birds, must be fine. State cash price. Pairs if you have them. All letters answered. R. H. SCHUMACHER, 153 E. 17th St.. Erie, Penn. FOR EXCHAN(;E A. O. U. numbers 1 10-3. 15-4. 53 25-3, 141 1-8, 202 6-4, 10-5, 225 10-4, 342 1-3. .360 1-4, 616 2-6, 1-7, 725a. 2-7, 1-8. A. O. -TREG- ANZA, 62 Hooper Bldg.. Salt Lake City, Utah. FOR SALE OK EXCHANGE.— My entire collection of eggs, skins, mineral, shells, butterflies and fossils, also books and maga- zines. Butterflies in papers for others. Write for complete lists. DON GRAVES, 711 Lion St., Dunkirk. N. Y. WANTED. For cash. "Osprey" Vol. I. No. 2. 4, 6. Vol. III. 2, 8, 11, 12. Vol. IV, 3, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Vol. V, 1 to 10 inclusive, and any of "New Series." Address, W. L. MET- CALF, 1.36 E. 17th St., New York, N. Y. FOR SALE.-"The Condor" Vol. II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. $5.50 prepaid. "Ameri- can Ornithology" I, II, and III, $2.00 pre- paid. Clean, perfect copies. JOHN. G. TYLER, R. F. D. 8. Fresno, Calif. Dear Sir: It gives me great pleasure to tell you that your paper is a peach for ad- vertising. I received 10 letters to my ad. before I received the paper, letters are com- ing yet, although the eggs were all gone two weeks ago. BERT NICHOLS, Granville, N. Y. HAVE 1st class sets, some good ones, to exchange for same. Can use many common species for series and selection. Would especially like to hear fr(jm collectors lin Maine. Also New Hampshire. Vermont and 42 other states. A. E. PRICE. Grant Park. 111. A RARE BAKGAIN.-I have picked Hfty sets out of my collection that I wish to dispose of immediately. Five dollars takes the fifty sets. Address all answers to WM. J. MURPHY. 2024 N. (iirard Ave.. .Minne- apolis, Minn. RARE EG(;S TO EXCHANGE-Forothers of equal value. 370a 1-5, 376 1-6 1-8, .354 1-3 1-4: 141.1 1-8, 131.1 1-7. 183 1-5. 188 1-4. Dec. 4. t. THOMAS H. .JACKSON. 343 E. Biddle St.. West Chester. Pa. WANTED.-To exchange A 1 skins com- mon to this locality, or pay cash for those of others. Must be suitable for mounting. Want especially smaller Owls, all Jays, A 1 pair of Scissor-tailed flycatchers and all game birds. Send lists and wants to \V. C. NEWBEKKY, 415 Chippewa St., Mt. Plea.sant, Mich. WANTED.-Arctic Horned Owl in the meat. Prici' must be low. Cash. F. M. l{I('HAi:l)S. Karniingtoii. Me. I desire to buy old fire-arms and fine Indian relics. No postals answered. I)ec.4.t. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER. West Orange. N. J. FOR SALE.— For best cash offer. Vol. 1 No. 1. 3, 5. 6. 7, 8, 9. 10. Vol. 2.. Vol. 3. Nos. 1 2. 3, 4. 5. 6. 7. Vol. 4. Vol. 5 and Vol. 1. New Series, Nos. 1. 2. 3 of Osprey. Vol. 6 of Con- dor. If you want these, better hurry, as they are going to go. W. H. BINGAMAN, Algona. Iowa. FOR SALE.-A. No. 1. Sets with full datas. Prices per set. IGreat Horned Owl 1-3. $1..30; Screech Owl 1-1, lOc, 1-2 25c.. 1-4, 60c.; Pintail n-9. $1.25: Mallard n-10, $1,25; Shoveller n-11, $2.25: Baldpate 1-9, $1.50; Calif. Gull 1-4, 45c.; Amer. Avocet 3-4. 40c.: Willet, 1-4, 40c : Amer. Oyster Catcher 1-3, 75c.: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1-3, 50c.: White-throated Sparrow 1-3, 60c.: Clay-colored Sparrow 1-3. 30c.; Hen- slow's Sparrow l-.=s. $2.00; Killdeer 1-4 25c.: King Raill-10, 75c.; Amer. Osprey 1-3, $1.10; Amer. Bittern 1-4, 75c.: Blue Jay 2-3, 8c.. 1-4. lOc; Prairie Horned Lark 1-4, 25c.: Crested Flycatcher 1-5. .35c.; Lark Bunting, 1-5, 40c.; Prepaid on all orders of $2.00. Mostly personally collected. Your money back if you want it. W. H. BINGAMAN, Algona, Iowa., R. R, No. 3. For Sale. Cuban bird skins. Key West and Ruddy Quail Doves. Lizzard Cuckoos. Trogans and many other species. All with correct data. I have a number of (^uail Dove Skins, some- what damaged, just as good for study; skins 50 to 75 cents each. List with prices on appli- cation. R. I). HOYT. Seven Oaks. Fla. Stf WANTED.-All kinds of Live Wild Birds and Animals. State prices when writing. Don't ask me what I pay. DR. CECIL FRENCH. Naturalist, Washington, D. C. J12t Learn Taxidermy. Naturalists, Oologists and Sportsmen should all know how to correct- ly mount all kinds of birds and animals. WE TEACH TAXIDERMY 1!Y MAIL. Complete course in 15 lessons. This is one of the most de- lighirul and fascinating of arts. Easily learned. STANDARD METHODS. En- dorsed by all leading taxidermists. Many of the best known naturalists of the country are luimbered among our students. If you want to learn T.VXIDEi;MY, we desire to submit our proposition in full. Send TODAY for our new illustrated C.VTALo< i and sam- ple copy of The TAXIDEKMY MAGAZINE. BOTH FREE. THE N. W. SCHOOL OF TAXIDERMY, 76 Farnam St.. Omaha, Neb. South American Butterflies. I can furnish the following rare and mag- nificent, from U. S. of Columbia ; Morpho St'i.KowsKY. 4*x43 in. .Morho MKXET..\fs, (gorgeous peacock bluei5ix7in. Either species prepaid, for only $2.00. Each insect is moinit- ed on a new patent tablet, which not only protects it from dust, lireakage. etc.. but puts them in a shape at once more beautiful and infinitely neater than is i)i>ssible by the anti- quated method of impaling them on pins. FRANK H. LATTIX. Albion, N. Y. THE OOLOGIST. 179 Books for the Ornithologist We offer a few of the Latest and Best. Can furnish anything obtainable. PREPAID AT PRICES QUOTED. Address as you prefer: ERNEST H. SHORT, Rochester, N. Y. Birds of California, Wheelock. .$ 2 65 Color Key to North American Birds, Chapman 2 50 North American Birds Eggs, Reed 2 50 Bird Chart, Bird-Lore's 25 Citizen Bird, Wright and Coues 1 67 Birdcraft, Wright 2 69 Upland Game Birds, Sandys & VanDyke 2 15 The Water- Fowl Family, Sanford Bishop & VanDyke 2 15 Wild Wings-Job 3 21 Guide to the Birds of New Eng- land and Eastern New York, Hoffman 1 68 Handbook of Birds of Western United States 3 69 The Land Birds and Game Birds of New England, Minot (Brew- ster) 3 50 With the Birds in Maine, Miller 1 20 The First Book of Birds, Miller 1 00 The Second Book of Birds, Miller 1 10 BirdsofVillageand Field, Bailey 2 00 Birds Through an Opera Glass, Merriam 75 Bird Neighbors, Blanchan 2 00 Bird Homes, Dugmore 2 00 Woodpeckers, Eckstrom 1 00 A Popular Handbook of the Birds of United States and Canada (7.50) 3 00 Birds that Hunt and Are Hunted, Blanchan 2 00 A History of North American Land Birds, Baird, Brewster & Ridgway, 3 vols. (22.50) .... 10 00 Birds in Their Relations to Man, Weed & Dearborn 2 50 i Birds about Us, Abbott 1 50 Bird-Land Echoes 1 50 Our Own Birds of the United or FRANK H. LATTIN, Albion, N. Y. States, Bailey 1 25 British Birds' Nests, Kearton. . . 5 90 Our Rarer British Breeding Birds Kearton 2 00 Birds' Nests, Eggs and Egg Col- lecting (British), Kearton 1 75 The Birds of New Hampshire, Allen 1 50 The Birds of North America, Studer, ($45.00) 20 00 Bird Life, Chapman 2 00 Our Birds in Their Haunts, Langille 3 00 How to Know Our Shore Birds, Cory 75 How to Name Birds, Parkhurst. 1 00 Key to Land Birds, Knobel 1 75 Key to North American Birds, Coues ; 10 00 Names and Portraits of Birds, Trumbull 2 50 Birds' Nesting, Ingersoll 1 25 Eggs of North American Birds, Maynard 2 00 Shore Birds of North America, Elliott 2 50 Birds of the Bible, Peters 50 Birds of the United States, Apgar 2 00 Stories about Birds, Pearson. ... 60 Structure and Life of Birds, Headley 2 00 Proceedings of the World's Con- gress on Ornithology, Rood & Coues ^ 5 00 Manual of North American Birds, Ridgway 7 50 History of the Birds of Kansas, Goss' 5 00 Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America, Chapman. ... 3 00 Bird Studies with a Camera, Chapman 1 75 180 THE OOLOGIST. Methods in the Art of Taxidermy, Davie (10) 2 50 Nests and Eggs of North Ameri- can Birds, Davie 2 25 Ornithology of New York, DeKay 15 00 The Birds of Ontario, Mcllwraith 2 00 Key to California Land Birds, Keeler 1 00 Game Birds of North America, Elliott 2 50 Birds on the Highway, Howe. . . 2 00 Oology of New England Birds, Capen 15 00 Game Birds at Home, Van Dyke 1 50 Game Birds of North America, Bates 1 00 Birds of the Rockies, Keyser 3 00 Stories of Our Western Birds, Grinnell 50 Rural Bird Life in New England, Dixon 1 50 Standard Egg Catalogue, Taylor 25 The Standard Catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs— '96 Ed. Lattin 10 The Standard Catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs— Lattin and Short 25 Birds of Western New York, Short 25 Life History and Distribution of the Prothonotary Warbler in Illinois, Loucks 25 Game of Birds 35 Fenikese — Agassiz Famous Sum- mer School 25 Wild Birds in City Parks, Walter 40 Birdsof Song and Story, Grinnell 1 00 The Jingle Book of Birds, Clark 60 A. B. C. Book of Birds, Judd. . . 1 00 Birds of Lakesids and Prairie. . . 1 00 Birds in a Village, Hudsona.25) 1 00 The Natural History of Sel- bourne. White (2.50) 1 40 The Natural History of Sel- bourne, White (1.25 Ed.) 70 Birds of Rhode Island, Harve and Sturtevant 1 10 Field and General Ornithology, Coues 2 50 Out-door Life in England, Fisher 2 00 Summer Studies of Birds and Books, Fowler 1 00 History of Birds, Stanley 1 00 Bird Guide— Land Birds East of the Rockies 50 Lattin's Standard Catalogue of North American Birds Eggs 1905. FIFTH EDITION. Compiled by Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short, with the assistance of many prominent American Oologists. A Complete Up-to-date Check List of North American Birds, including Introduced Species, giving correct values on all species whose eggs are procurable at this time. Arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature, but giving Ridgway's and Coues' numbers also. Printed on one side of page only leaving it in convenient form for making notes in or using for labelling purposes. Bound in light board covers. Neat in style. Handy is shape (just goes in full government envelope.) POSTPAID 25c EACH. FIVE FOR $1.00. JUST OUT. New Up-to-date Checking North American Birds. List of Contains all new additions and changes to A. O. U. list arranged according to A. O. U. Nomenclature and giving both common and scientific names. 16 pages on good paper. Price: 3c each. 30c per doz., $2 per hundred. Bargains in Data Blanks In printing our "Standard Catalogue" we had a lot of Datas printed on what would have otherwise been waste iiaper and have, decided to give our patrons the benefit of our gain. We can furnish five (5) styles and will St'ud prepaid lit 12c per 100 or $1. per 1000. Special rates, any style, on 5,000 or 10,000 lots. Samples for stamp. Address Frank H. Lattin, Albion, N. Y., or Ernest H. Short, Rochester, N. Y. The Oologist. Vol. XXII. No. 12. Albion, N. Y., December, 1905. Whole No. 221 The Oologist. A Monthly Publication Devoted to OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND TAXt-, DEE MY. FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, ALBION, N. Y. EENEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager. Correspondence and items of interest to the student of Birds, their Nests and Eg^s, solicited from all. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single subscription 50c per annuir Sample copies 5c each The above rates include payment of postage. Each subscriber is given a card good for a Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card is redeemable at any time within one year from date thereon.) Subscriptions can begin with any number. Back numbers of the OOLOGIST can be fur- nished at reasonable rates. Send stamp for de- scriptions and prices. Remember that the publisher must be noti- fied by letter when a subscriber wishes his pa- per stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. ADVERTISING RATES: 5 cents per nonpareil line each insertion. 12 lines in every inch. Seven inches in a col- umn, and two columns to the page. Nothing inserted for less than 25 cents. No "special rates." 5 cents per line is "net," "rock bottom," "inside," "spot cash" rate from which there is no deviation and no commission to agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less space It will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00; 1000 lines, .f50. "Trade" (other than cash) adver- tisements will be accepted by special arrange- ment only and at rates from double to five times cash rates. Due Bills and Cards payable in ad- vertising will be honored only at legular rates in force at the date of issuance of said bill or card. Remittances should be made by Draft, Ex- press or Postoffice Money Order. Registered Letter or Postal Note. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denomination will be accepted for sums under one dollar. Make Money Or- ders and Drafts payable and address all sub- scriptions and communications to ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, Chili, Monroe Co.. N. Y. Twenty-Third Annual Congress of the American Ornithologists' Union. The Twenty-third Annual Congress of the American Ornithologists' Union was held at the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, with the exception of the final session, which was at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Meetings open to the public were held forenoon and afternoon, Nov.^ 14, 15, and 16, the pro- grams being made up of the reading, illustration and discussion of papers by members. Liincheon was served at noon on each day of the three days, by the Linnaen Society of New York, and on the evening of the 18th, the members met at the Hotel Endicott, at an informal dinner. Four pages were on the program for the opening session, commencing at 10:00 a. m., Nov. 14th. "Some Un- published Letters of Wilson and Some Unstudied Works of Audubon," by Wit- mer Stone of Philadelphia, Pa., was the first paper. It was received with the interest always shown by bird- students for the works of these pio- neer American Ornithologists. The second paper was "The Evolution of Species Through Climatic Conditions," by Dr. .1. A. Allen, New York City. The paper spoke of the manner in which our present geographic races illus- trate the differentiation of species wh'se distribution covered a wide area incluaing very diverse climatic con- ditions, which in time affected the plumage and appearance of the birds. The third paper was "Summer Birds of the Mt. Marcy Region in the Adi- rondacks," by Elon H. Eaton, Canan- daigua, N. Y. Mr. Eaton enumerated many birds, and recounted interesting facts regarding them in their north- ern forest home. The final paper of the morning was "Pelican Island Re- visited," by Frank M. Chapman, New 182 THE OOLOGIST. NEST AND EGGS OF OVEN-BIRD IN SITU. From photo by L. S. Horton. York City. Mr. Chapman illustrate,! his paper by a beautiful series of views of the home life of these inter- esting birds on their own exclusive island in the Indian River region of Florida. This island is now a govern- ment reservation, set apart especially for these birds, and is the only place on our coasts where they breed. The slides showed old birds and young, of varying sizes, nests, eggs, and method of feeding, in which the young bird puts its head well into the throat of the parent. The first paper on the afternoon pro- gram was "Some Breeding Warblers of Demarest, N. J.," by B. S. Bowdish, Demarest, N. J., illustrated by lantern slides. Ten species were enumerated as known to breed, as follows: Black and \Yhite, Blue-winged, Yellow, Chest- nut-sided, Black-throated Green, Oven- bird, Northern Yellow-throat, Yellow- breasted Chat, Hooded, Redstart, and the Louisiana Water Thrush, and sev- eral others were spoken of as proba- bly breeding, though the nests had not been found by the author. Thirty slides of the birds, nests, eggs, young,, and nesting sites illustrated the paper. The second paper was "Notes on Wing Movements in Bird Flight," illustrated by lantern slides, by William L. Fin- lay, Portland. Oregon. Mr. Finlay has accomplished the most wonderful re- sults in certain branches of bird pho- THE OOLOGISr. 183 tography, notably birds on the wing, probably, of any living photographer and nature student, and the series of slides shown on this occasion were a wonderful revelation of his success along this line. Tne possibilities of bringing out the principles of wing movement in flight were strongly indi- cated, though Mr. Finlay regards his work as only a step in this direction. The third paper of this session was "The Status of Certain Species and Subspecies of North American Birds," by J. Dwight, Jr., of New York City. In this paper. Dr. Dwight, following a line of reasoning which he adopted several years ago, regarding the pro- cedure of the American Ornithologists' Union in the matter of nomeclature, argued against the hair-splitting meth- ods of differentiation that has led to such confusion in the case of certain geograi hical forms. The case was discussed from the op- posite si:Ie by Mr. Oberholser, impar- tially by Dr. Allen, and very strongly in favor of a more simple and less complicated method, by Mr. D. G. El- liott. The last paper of this session was "Wild-fowl Nurseries of North- west Canada," by Herbert K. Job, Kent, Conn. Mr. Job is one of the pio- neer bird photographers, and his work is among the best. His slides illustrated the home life of the water- fowl, which are still to be found in great colonies in this wild northern country. After the dinner of that evening, the members returned to the Museum for an informal reception, at which there was a demonstration of a new projection apparatus. This apparatus, not only projects slides, but a magni- fied and beautifully clear colored re- flection of any small object, introduced into the objective is shown in color on the screen. , The first paper of the morning ses- sion of the second day was "Andrae Hesselius, Pioneer Delaware Ornithol- ogist," by C. J. Pennock, Kennett Square, Pa. This paper dwelt prin- cipally with extracts from the note- books of this Swedish missionary, whose observations were made some two hundred years ago. At that time ornithological observations were few, and those included in these notes were extremely interesting, and couched as they were, in the quaint style of the time, often very amusing. Following this paper came one by Witmer Stone, of Philadelphia, Pa., on "The Proba- bility of Error in Bird Migration Rec- ords." Mr. Stone spoke of the con- ditions that tend to admit error in the records as gathered by single isolated observers, and recorded the methods he has adopted, of grouping observers in parties of three or four, who prac- tically cover the same ground, thus affording the opportunity of checking and averaging the observations of oth- ers. Mr. Stone followed this paper by one on "Some Observations on the Ap- plicability of the Mutation Theory to Birds." The discussion of this paper which followed, by Dr. Allen and oth- ers showed a disinclination to admit the applicability of this theory, to birds. Henry Oldys. of Washington, D. C, followed with a discussion of "The Song of the Hermit Thrush." Mr. Oldys has for some time devoted him- self to the study of bird song, and gave an interesting account of his exper- ience in securing an opportunity to study the Hermit's song, of his im- pressions regarding it, and its compar- ison to th song of the Wood Thrush. Mr. Oldys gave some pleasing imita- tions of a variety of songs of each of these two species, and concluded by i-endering a little song, the words of which he had composed, to the air he had recorded from the most accom- plished of the Hermit songsters to whom he had listened. Mr. Chapman concluded the fore- 184 llIK OOl.OdlS'J' KEST AND EGGS OF WILSON'S PLOVER IN SITU. From Pboto by M. T. Cleckley. "• After careful examination you will note the three eggs in depression just be- low the large valve of Fan Shell. They are even harder to see in reality owing to protective coloratiou. noon session by "Impressions of Eng- lish Bird-Life," illustrated by lantern slides Besides giving a number of views of English birds, the author gave views of the home and to,wn sur- roundings of Gilbert White, as well as other characteristic English coun- try scenes, and contrasted the condi- tions of bird life in England and this country, England being described as possessed of fewer species, but many more individuals. The afternoon meeting opened with Woods, and the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, by Wm. L. Bailey, Ard- more. Pa. The Pocono Mountain region has been but little worked as ornitholo- gical territory, and the author enum- rated many species included as nor- mally more northern breeding birds, some of them not having been pre- viously recorded as breeding in Penn- sylvanita. The paper on "A Lapland THE OOLOGIST. 185 Longspiir Tragedy," by Thomas S. an "Exhibition of Lantern Slides," and "Similarity of the Birds of the Maine Roberts, was postponed until the fol- lowing day. Prof. Wells C. Cook, of the United States Department of Ag- riculture, Washington, D. C, followed with a paper on "Discontinuous Breed- ing Ranges." The author cited in- stances of birds found breeding in the southern extremity of the south- ern hemisphere while between the two extended a vast area over which they were not found during the breeding season. He also mentioned other in- stances of species having restricted breeding ranges, separated by exten- sive logitudinal gaps. The final speak- er of the session was Abbott H. Thay- er, Dublin, N.H.,who demonstrated his claims regarding protective coloration In animals, which, as he explained and abundantly convinced his au- dince, are not theories, but facts. First regarding the views hitherto held of the efficacy of coloration harmoniz- ing with surroundings. Mr. Thayer explained that theis was dependent on the nature and effect of the light that the creature was seen in. His contention was that the prevail- ing light conditions have the tendency to bring the upper parts into strongest relief, blending into least conspicuous- ness on the under parts. To counter- act this tendency, Nature has colored her creatures darkest above, shading to lightest beneath. The speaker gave a demonstration of his contention by exhibiting an imitation of a leopard, ground color shaded as in nature, from darkest above, to lightest beneath, also with spots shown, and with a back- ground painted in the same color as the animal. By alternately lighting from above and below, the creature was made to disappear, when seen in the normal, top light, and to stand out sharply, despite the exact similarity of color to background, when seen in a bottom light. Secondly the speaker contended that the white upper mark- ings 'on many creatures, can not be guiding signals for others of the same species, because from the pursuing creature's range of vision, these mark- ings would usually come against the sky-line, and therefore disappear against the sky. They are, therefore, of importance in reducing the crea- tures' silhouette against the sky, by subtracting the area of the part that thus blends into the sky. Mr. Thayer also gave a number of other demon- strations. The title of his paper was "The Principles of the Disguising Col- oration of Animals." The opening paper of the forenoon session of the final day was "The Col- lection of Birds in the New York- Zoo- logical Park," by C. W. Beebe, New- York City. Mr. Beebe gave many in- teresting experiences in connection with the various experiments that he has such an excellent opportunity of conducting at the Zoological Park, among others mentioning an experi- ment with two young White-throated Sparrows hatched in the park. These birds were fed in the same manner on the same kind of food, but one was kept in a cage out in the light and air, under fairly normal conditions, while the other was kept indoors, in a rather dark place, and subjected to a moisture-laden atmosphere. At the first molt the two birds showed no perceptible change, but soon after the second molt, Mr. Beebe found that the bird kept indoors had become an almost uniform dusky col- or, and with no trace to indicate the identity of the specimen. The skins of the two birds were exhibited. The second paper was "A Contribution to the Natural History of the English Cuckoo, with a Review of the Liter- ature on the Subject," by Dr. Monta- gue R. Leverson, New York City. Dr. Leverson corrected the erroneous 186 THE OOLOGIST. statements that the young of the En- glish Cuckoo ejected the eggs and young of the bird in whose nest 'they were hatched, before the young cuckoo was twenty-four hours old, and that they had, at this period, a depression in the anterior portion of the back to enable them the more easily to effect this ejection. He illustrated his pa- per by drawings and photos, and ap- parently abundantly proved his con- tention. Dr. Dwight gave a paper on "Plumages and Status of the White- winged Gulls of the Genus Larus," illustrating his remarks with a con- siderable series of skins. He con- tended for the elimination of one recognized form, and for the recogni- tion of another new form. A paper by Arthur T. Wayne, Mount Pleasant, S. C, on "A Contribution to the Orni- thology of South Carolina, pertaining chiefly to the Coast Region," in the absence of the author, was read by Mr. Brewster. The list of species covered was quite a lengthy one, and was fully annotated. Mr. T. S. Palmer, in the absence of the author, read a paper by O. Widman, St. Louis, Mo., on "Should Bird Protection Laws be in the Hands of the National Gov- ernment?" The author contended that inasmuch as the birds were the guests of the nation, rather than of any one state, the National Govern- ment should have the supervision of their protection, thereby securing a uniform law, which otherwise could not be secured. Mr. Thomas S. Rob- erts, of Minneapolis. Minn., then read the paper postponed from the day be- fore, "A l^apland Longspur Tragedy," illustrated by lantern slides. On the night of March 13th, 1904, during a heavy migration flight of these birds in southern Minnesota and northern Idaho, a severe snow storm occurred in this region, during which thousands of these birds struck the buildings, telegraph poles, wires, and the ice on lakes, many being instantly killed, and others injured, some of the latter being revived in houses, and afterward liberated Mr. Thomas stated that a conservative computation of the num- ber which was killed was 750,000, but that he fully believed that 1,000,000 would be more nearly a correct es- timate. The afternoon session was held at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Mr. F. A. Lucas in behalf of the Institute welcomed the Union to the Institute. Mr. Lucas was elect- ed chairman of the meeting. Mr. Geo. K. Cherrie, New York City, spoke on "The Hoatzin and other South Amer- ican Birds." The exhibition of speci- mens to illustrate this paper were viewed later. Cherrie spoke of the habits of this interesting bird, which, while young, has claws on the wings, used like the hooks on the wings of bats, to assist in climbing. They are lost before the bird reaches maturity. The species nests where the structure will be over the water when the eggs are laid, and the eggs are not laid until the river rises sufficiently to inundate the lower part of the tree in which the nest is built. The last paper of the congress was "Among the Wa- ter Birds of Southern Oregon," by William L. Finley, of Portland, Ore- gon. This paper was illustrated by a very large series of beautiful slides, showing the bird life in the great rook- eries- of this still wild region. The congress was then adjourned. The members were served with re- freshments by Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, and the exhibitions of specimens in the museum, were afterward viewed. On the morning of the 17th, the members visited the New York Aquar- ium, and then went to the New York Zoological Park, where they were en- tertained by Mr. Beebe, who served re- freshments. B. S. BOWDISH. THE OOLOGIST. 187 The First American Martyr to Bird Protection. The demand for aigrette tips by sup- posedly thoughtful and cultured women has resulted not only in the extermination of nearly all individuals of a certain species of one of our most beautiful and harmless birds, and the starvation of their young in the nests, but it has now culminated in the as- sassination of one of the faithful war- dens of the National Association of Audobon Societies, who was shot to death while in the performance of his duties protecting tlae birds he loved. Concerning this deplorable occurrence Dr. William Dutcher, the president of the National Association of Audobon Societies has made the following state- ment: "The startling announcement was sent to the National Association on July 14, that Guy M. Bradley was shot and instantly killed while making an arrest at a rookery on Oyster Key, Flordia, on July 8. Full particulars of this unfortunate affair have not been received, although it is known that his murderer has been captured and is now confined in the county jail at Key West. L. A. Harris has Ijeen retained to represent the Nation- al Association at the preliminary hearing of the case. The deceased acted as warden in Monroe county, a wild and thinly settled district, for over three years, having commenced his duties in May, 1902. During all this time he faithfully guarded his wards, the plume birds, traveling thou- sands of miles in the launch Audubon, in order to watch over them. He was originally recommended to the Association by Mr. Kirk Monroe, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Florida Audubon Society, who said that he was fearless and brave and had an extensive knowledge of the country and the birds that lived there. A num- ber of well-known ornithologists and members of the Association visited Bradley at different times, and always found him on the alert and faithful in the performance of his duty, and willing to undergo any hardship to protect the birds. He took a personal interest in his work and was gen- uinely proud when he could report an increase in numbers. He told the writer in February last that he felt while he was away from his home, cruising among the Keys, or patroll- ing the swamp, that his life was in his hands, for the plume hunters, whose nefarious traffic he so serious- ly interfered with, had sworn to take his life. Even this knowledge did not deter him, and he proved faith- ful unto death. Personally he was gentle and somewhat retiring, was pure in thought and deed, deeply in- terested in and a supporter of the small Union church near his home. A young wife is left to mourn his sud- den and terrible death, and his two children, too young to realize their loss, will never know a father's care. "A home broken up, children left fatherless, a woman widowed and sor- rowing, a faithful and devoted warden, who was a young and sturdy man, cut off in a moment, for what? That a few more plume birds might be secured to adorn heartless women's bonnets. Heretofore the price has been the life of the birds, now is add- ed human blood. Every great move- ment must have its martyrs, and Guy M. Bradley is the first martyr in the cause of bird protection." Warden Bradley was as much of a martyr to a good cause and a laborer in the interests of his fellowmen and showed as much bravery as has been shown by those who have met death at the mouth of the cannon. However, there is no means of obtaining a na- tional pension for the bereaved widow and little orphans. These should re- ceive the support of all persons inter- ested in the preservation of bird life, and it is only by the voluntary actions of such persons that it will be possi- ble to obtain financial means to rear and educate these children. Therefore,, a movement is on foot to establish a pension for Mrs. Bradley by inviting vohmtary contributions from all per- sons who are willing to express their sjmipathy in a material manner. Large amounts are not asked, and if each interested person would contribute only a dollar, it would amount to enough to insure the proper care of the family and the education of the children. Contributions can be sent to Dr. William Dutcher, 525 Manhat- tan Ave., New York City, or to the office of the Economic Zoologist, Har- risburg, when it will be forwarded to him. During the past years the sight of an aigrette tip has called to our minds 188 THE OOLOGIST. the picture of old birds bleeding and dying with the feathers stripped from their backs during the breeding sea- son and young birds left starving in their nests. This has told a story so plainly that the wearer has invar- iably ben considered, either ignorant, thoughtless or cruel. In the future the aigrette tip on a hat will stand not only for the death of beautiful and innocent birds and the starvation of their young, but will also speak of the assassination of a human being at his post of duty trying to suppress the illegal traffic through which the supposed adornment has been made possible. In regard to imitation tips, it would seem that thoughtful persons would not be willing to imitate any custom or article that tells a story so cruel. We take this from the Bull. Div. of Zool. — Penn. Dept. of Agri., Vol. 3, No. 5: We attempted to secure further information but nothing is yet at hand. Whatever may be the difference of opinion in regard to some of the Bird Protection Laws, there can be no ques- tion in this case. — Ed. EDITORIAL. A Spotted Egg of Miss. Kite, Set 329 K-5-05, collected by Geo. W. Stevens, June 10, 1905, near Alva, Okla., is unique. As often happens with this species, one egg is much larger than the other. Measurements give 1.62 x 1.34 and 1.48 x 1.26 inches. The larger egg in this set exhibits a scattered wreath of light brown specks and short scrawls about one- third down from large end of egg. I have tested these spots carefully and they are unquestionably natural spots deposited by the bird. They show plainly but would have escaped my notice but for their being in a well defined wide wreath entirely around the egg, as these eggs are al- most always stained by the green nest lining. This is the first spotted egg of this Kite I have seen or heard of in nearly twenty years experience. Has anyone else a record? About That Skunk Editorial. It excited considerable comment, both favorable and otherwise. The most pronounced unfavorable com- ment we print herewith. Carthage, Missouri, Sept. 30, 1905. Mr. E. H. Short, Chili, New York, My Dear Sir: — I note with inter- est and regret your editorial in the September "Oologist," in regard to skunks. There is only one way to determine the economical value of any animal, and that is by careful examination of stomachs of the ani- mal in question. Further, it will not suffice to examine animals from a sin- gle locality; we must consider them throughout their entire geographical range. That the skunk occasionally is guil- ty of misdemeanors I could not dis- pute, but that his benefiicial habits far out-balance his detrimental ones must be conceded. If the editor has ever examined skunks from the plains, or from the southern states, he would readily admit the value of the animal as an insect destroyer. It is the skunk's chief delight to hunt grass- hoppers and locusts. Not only does he hunt them for food, but seemingly for the sole delight of killing them. Scarcely a skunk can be found dur- ing the months from May till Novem- ber which has not feasted on locusts. It is their natural food at this time of the year. Then, again in the spring, just af- ter the snow has left, the skunk gets in his work on the Microti, or meadow mice; they form his principle food af- ter he awakens from his wintei''s nap. Skunks are responsible for the destruc- tion of thousands of these animals, whose detrimental habits are well known. Every Microtus he kills fully balances the destruction of a toad, and stomach examination has proven that where Mephitis eats one toad, he eats eight field mice. I believe in "giving honor to whom honor is due." Because I observe in a certain locality the Orchard Oriole to be feeding upon cherries, should I say, "I can't find where the Oriole earns enough credits to balance his debit account and I advise everyone to compass their destruction where possible, etc." We all believe in giv- ing the benefit of the doubt to the ac- cused. It is an injustice to accuse through the witness of only one per- son. , THE OOLOGIST. 189 It is extremely doubtful if we can advise the destruction of any native animal. All animals in the state of nature are sustained by a natural equilibrium; destroy that equilibrium by artificial causes and turmoil is created. There are in existence at any one time just so many foxes, skunks, or weasels; just so manj^ rabbits, grasshoppers, or mice; destroy the enemy and the host increases; de- stroy the host and the enemy mi- grates, or, more generally, takes new habits of living and remains in the original locality. Whereever man has tampered with nature he has caused confusion. The skunk is an animal which would be easily exterminated. True, it has large families, but it is a stupid animal, with many enemies, and easily destroyed. It is one of the easiest ani- mals to trap. Would it not be well to remember that law of evolution, "once a type becomes extinct, it never reappears again?" Very respectfullv, HARTLEY H. T. JACKSON. Now, the Editor never stated, or in- tended to give the impression that there was only one side to this ques- tion and if in some localities the differ- ent natural conditions alter the skunk's habits to such an extent that the balance of account is in his fa- vor, well and good — then leave them alone. But here in the East I am sure of my ground. They do destroy young mice, very young mice, before they can leave the nests, at all times of the year by digging up the nests and devouring them, but the y are most actively en- gaged in this pastime in this locality during the late winter and early spring, when there are few young in the nests. I have noted 30 nests up- rooted in one night in March by one lone skunk, (snow on the ground made absolute verification of this fact' possi- ble), but in no case did he make any attempt to follow up the runway and secure the old mice. The fact that he traveled a mile and went back to the same burrow shows what luck he had in getting young. In the East we have few locusts before late July. August is the grass- hopper month, while in September the skunk unquestionably destroys a host of crickets, though I have failed to note that crickets are very harmful. I found remains (fragments of legs, etc.) of seven toads devoured in one night in October, 1904. In August, this year, a skunk rified 3 nests of Vesper Sparrows in a potato field. The birds had been repeatedly disturbed by the tilling of the field, and after the crop was finally hilled up and left, they had succeeded in laying sets and began incubation. As far as I could judge, this was their last effort of the year. I noted where skunks had torn out several nests of Oven-bird, a few years since and a Connecticut party was complaining of their persecuting the common Towhee in the same way. Dr. Fisher of the Department of Agriculture, wrote me in regard to the matter and I tried to secure one of a family of skunks that I knew to be feeding on toads, that he might have stomach analysis made for direct evidence. Severe freezing weather drove all toads into permanent winter quarters unusually early this year, before I could get time to catch any skunks. I append herewith the report of the Department on one I did secure:. Name, Mephitis putida; locality. Chili, N. Y.; date, Nov. 25, 1905; col- lector, E. H. Short; condition of stom- ach, full; percentage of animal mat- ter, 100 per cent contents, remains of a well-grown domestic fowl, 100 per cent. Examination made by W. L. McAtee; date. Dec. 2, 1905. If some doubt his agricultural value they are excusable. Now, I do not think there are at any one time just so many of any insect or animal. Nor do I think this was ever the case. Natural causes, some of them hard to specify, vary the increase of ani- mal forms. Undoubtedly nature at- tempts an equilibrium, but often too slowly to avoid undesirable disturb- ances of the balance. Man, in his advance, has changed the natural condition of our land to such an extent that animal and insect life is. unavoidably affected and it seems to me this may alone necessi- tate and excuse man's interfering in many cases. I must plead Ignorance as to what the many enemies of skunk are ex- cept man. The Gt. Horned Owl has almost a 190 THE OOLOGIST. monopoly of that here in the East and for other reasons, man finds it advisable to place Bubo under a ban. —Editor. Just In From India. A new invoice of beautiful Butterflie.s. Will sell in papers or spead at reasonable prices or exchange for eggs or skins I am in need of. 15 Var. Showy Papilio. Address. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. BIRDS EGGS, ii or 710W see on that lis I can still furnish many f the sets listed in Sep- tember issue. If you saw „. it list any set you wish to place in your collection write me at once. I will send you a revised copy of the list promptly, showing just what I can furnish you. ERNEST H. SHORT. Rochester. N. Y. Know the Wild Flowers? Your rambles in field and wood will increase in interest in propor- tion as you know plants as well as birds. The American Botanist is issued for the plant lover. It contains no technical articles and is just the magazine you need. Get a copy and see for yourself. ADDRESS WILLARD N. CLUTEii CO., Binghamton New York BIRD SKINS. I have left, the followiiii;; A No. 1 Bird Skins: 6 American Crow. 3 Blue Jay, 1 Least Bittern (poor). 2 Cedar Waxwing, 4 I'ine Grosbeak— females, 13 Snowflake, 2 Purple Finch— females, 1 white-breasted Nuthatch. 1 black-throated Green Warbler. I will send the above 33 Skins and add 2 of the Gray Squirrel and 1 very tine mounted Crow. En- tire lot is cheap at $10. I'll box them all and express at purchaser's expense, for only $5.75. FRANK H. LATTIN. Albion. N. Y, Prices for Back Numbers of the YOXTNG OOLOGIST AND THE OOLOGIST will, during 1904, remain as below: After which the prices of many numbers will he advanced and possibly not obtainable at any price. Should you desire back numbers to com- plete your file NOW is the time to purchase. You can never obtain them for less money and possibly not at any price, as our stock ranges from only 1 to 25 copies of an issue. Prices for 1905 are as follows: No. 32 is 75 cents. Nos. 1, 14, 18, 21. 23-24,31, .34-35, 42, 5:3,86. 89, 111, 1.30, 132, 137, 139, 140, 153, 158 are 50 cents each. Nos. 9, 66-G7, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 113, 138, 146, are 25 cents each. Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15. 16, 54. 5-3, 56, 75, 87, 127, 128. 129. 144, 149 are l.'i cents each. Nos. 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, :3S, 39, 40, 45, 50, 60, 61. 63, 64, 65, 70, 74, 80, 93, 100, 114, 115. 126, 1.33, 135 are 10 cents each. g.^ All other numbers 5c per copy. . For $10 will send prepaid a copy of every issue ever published, Nos. 1 to 209. This offer in- cludes your subscription through J904. My prices for baeli Nos. of the YOUNG OOLO- GIST and OOLOGIST in volumes, are as fol- lows : Vol. I. 1884-5, Nos. 1 to 12, ... ? .90 Vol. IT, 18.85, Nos. 13 to 14, ... $ .50 Vol. Ill, 1886, Nos. 15 to 20, ... $ .90 Vol. IV. 1887, Nos. 21 to 25-26, . . $1.00 Vol. V. 18S8, Nos. 27 to 38, . . . $1.50 Vol. VI, 1889, Nos. .39 to 50, ... $ .75 Vol. VII, 1890, Nos. 51 to 62, ... $ .75 Vol. VIII, 1891, Nos. 63 to 74, . . . $ .75 Vol. IX, 1892, Nos. 75 to S6, ... $ .90 Vol. X, 1893, Nos. 87 to 98, . . . $1.00 Vol. XI, 1894, Nos. 99 to 110, ... $ .50 Vol. XII, 1895, Nos. Ill to 122, . . . $1.00 Vol. XIII, 1896, Nos. 123 to 127, . . . $ .50 Vol. XIV, 1897, Nos. 128 to 1.39, . . . $1.50 Vol. XV, 1898, Nos. 140 to 149, ... $ .60 Vol. XVI. 1899, Nos. 150 to 161. . . . $ .75 Vol. XVII. 1900, Nos. 162 to 171, ... $ ..50 Vol. XVin, 1901, Nos. 172 to 183, ... $ .50 Vol. XIX, 1902, Nos. 184 to 195, , . . $ ..50 Vol. XX. 1903. Nos. 196 to 197, . . . $ .10 " XXI 1904. No. 198 to 209 50 For $5 I will send jirepaid a copy of every issue published. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive, except the twenty-nine {J.0) 25e and .50c copies. For $2 00 I will send prepaid every copy pub- lished. Nos. 1 to 209 inclusive except the sixty (60) copies priced above at 10c or over. — bou.nd volumes — Can be furnished, strongly bound in cloth ami boards, as follows: Vol. I and II YOUNG OOLOGIST boutid in one volume $1.00 Vol. IX. The OOLOGIST for '92, 298 pages of valuable and instructive Oologlcal and Ornitliological matter with many full page illustrations $1.00 Or. if you order the two volumes at one time, we will "send them by return mail for only $1.75. F.very student of birds, their nests and egirs, should have (hose two volumes in their library. The valuable information tliey contain, is worth many times the price. Address plainly, ERNEST H. SHORT. Manager of Oologist, CHILI, N. Y, THE OOLOGIST. 191 THE LATEST AND BEST BIRD GUIDE BY CHESTER A. REED, S. B. Author of North American Birds Eggs, and with Frank M. Chapman of Color Key to^North American Birds. Editor of the American Bird Magazine. This is a popular pocket guide and text book to ALL THE LAND BIRDS EAST OF THE ROCKIES, from the Parrots to the Bluebirds. It is prepared especially for teachers and students, after years of study as to their needs. It has the following points of superiority over any other Bird Book: COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS.— Every bird is shown in natural colors, including females and young when they differ. SCOPE.— v4/? the land birds east of the Rockies are included. It gives the range and habit of each bird, their songs as nearly as they can be written, and description of their nests and eggs. SMALL SIZE. — It can easily be. carried in the pocket, measuring but 3x5 inches. 200 pages, bound in flexible sock cloth or leather. We have made the price of the book as low as possible considering the good workmanship and material that is used. It is so low that anyone can afford it, but no one can afford to be without it. IT NAMES THE BIRDS FOR. YOU Bound in flexible socl< cloth, postpaid SO C E NTS Five cloth bound copies for $2.00 postpaid Bound in flexible leather, 75cts. Five copies for $3.00 postpaid. We want agents in every city, town and school. Good commissions. Send for prospectus of Bird Books and sample copy of the AMERICAN BIRD MAGAZINE. CHAs. K. re:ed. Worcester, Mass. 192 THE OOLOGIST. BULLETIN OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. WALTER B. BARROWS., Editor. Percy R. Taverner, Norman A. Wood. Associates. Beginning witli 1905 the BULLETIN en- ter> upon its sixth volume and will be of more interest than ever to the bird student. The many contributions will he enriched by original photoj:raphs of birds, their nests and eggs. The BULLETIN is de- voted to the ornithology of the Great Lake Region and the present volume will contain many notes on the birds of the St. Clair Flats and other points of inter- est in this territory. If you are interested in birds you should read the BULLETIN. SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS PER YEAR. SAMPLE COPY 15 CENTS. FREDERICK C. HUBEL, Business Manager, I 12 Alexandrine Ave.. DETROIT, MICH THE WARBLER JOHN LEXVIS CHII.DS, Editor ■VT7ITH 1005 The Warbler begins a new ''» serii's which will contain many sii- P'Tb Ciilnroil Plates of rare eerirs such as Kirtlainl and Olive Warblf-r, Carolinn Par- "iiliiot, Clark's Crow. Ipswicli and lUi1(iu>^ Crowned Sparrow. Yellow and Black Rail. Calavi'i'as Warbler, etc. Also splendid illiisrratinns of Birds and Nests, antl lead- ing? articles by w'll known authorities. Published Quarterly, 32 Pages & Cover StJU-SCKIPTION PRICE Sl.OO PER YEAR. fSINCJLE COPIES 30c Eggs of Kirtland Warbler will be fleiired in first issui'i Jan or Fcb.lof the new series. ASDBBSS THE W^AUBTLER EI.ORAU PARK. 3Sr. Prehistoric Relics. This work contains 176 pages, 142 figures, and illustrates 850 different implements, ornaments, etc. It is six by nine inches, with heavy paper covers. It is compiled from standard authorities and waspublihsed for the sole purpose of bringing before col- lectors a reliable work at a low price For $1.00 the publishers will send a copy of this book and include free a copy of "The Field Diary of an Archaeological Collector" if the order is received within a reasonable space of time, .\ddress. The Andover Press. An- dover. Mass. A I RIIM containing 'J4 bird photos for rvUDUIVl 1^5^, Postage 10 cents e.xtra. My beautiful bird calendars 25 cts., 35 cts.. and 50 cents. Get my prices on bird photos, lantern slides, enlargements and photo- graphic work of all kinds. B. S. BOWDISH, I)emarest. N. .1. The Worlds Greatest Collectors Paper. For Ail Kinds of Collectors. Got a Camera ? or Have You a Hobby ? 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