ISSUED IN BEHALF OF THE SCIENCE WHICH IT ADVOCATES.

Votume I,

JANUARY, 1876.

Noumeer 11.

THE OOLOGIST |

Is offered for 1876 at 40 cents.
Considering its contents and illustrations,
we hope all who are interested in ornithol-
ogy will favor us with their subscriptions.
We intend to improve this magazine as it
adyances, and its columns will be filled only |
with instructive and interesting matter.

Very respf’l’y, S. L. Willard & Co.

~ Birps’ Recs anv Nests.

Species described in this issue :—
126. Arkansas FiycarcHer,
127. Cassrn’s $e
128. Coucn’s 4
131. AsH-THROATED‘*

134. Brack Pewee,

186. Say’s a

137. OLive-sipep ‘*

138. Suort—-Leccrep Pewee,

140. Trativ’s Frycatrcner.
126. Arkansas Flycatcher.

Inhabits western North America.

This bird replaces our King Bird in the
weet. They lay in May in California. The |
nest is built on the low branch of an oak, |
or any situation that excites their fancy.

It is constructed of twigs, lichens, coarse

' grass, wool, etc., and lined with hair. The

eggs, 4 or 5, are of a creamy white ground
color, spotted with brownish and purple of
two shades, and are oblong, though quite
pointed at the smaller end. They measure
1 by .70 of an inch. The birds are quite
easily tamed if taken when young, and
make very interesting pets.
127. Cassin’s Flycatcher.

Inhabits the valley of the Gila river and
soutiern California.

This bird is abundant in Vera Cruz,
where it is called the Portuguez. They
were found breeding at San Diego as euar-
ly as the 28th of March. Nest larger and
more firmly built than those of other mem-
bers of this family, and measure from 5}
inehes in external diameter to 24 in height ;
cavity three inches wide attherim, Eggs

| white, with a slight tinge of cream, cover-

ed with large and scattered blotches of red-
dish-brown. Size .96 by .70 of an inch.
The nests vary much ; each locality literal-

\ly having its kind of nest: that is, they

are built with materials common to the
locality, which locality differs considerably
in productions from other localities. The
size of markings also, widely differ. Our

illustration is considered as the type |

of their eggs; other sizes are men-
tioned. A sect of two eggs taken in June,

74

THE OOLOGIST.

1863, by Mr. Jno. Xantus, measured as |
follows: .93 by .68 and .93 by .65. |
128. Couch’s Flycatcher.
Hab.—Northeastern Mexico and Rio)
Grande ; south to Guatemala. |
There are two varieties of this bird ; all)
specimens found north of Guatemala are
referrible to the variety couchi; all south-
ward are the melancholicus (Silent Fly-
catcher). The eges of neither of the a-
bove have been described, but are doubt- |
less similar.
131. <Ash-throated Flycatcher,
Hab.—Coast of California to Cape St.
Lucas and across by the valley of the Gila
aud Rio Grande to Northeastern Mexico. |
This seems to be the western variety of
the Great-crested Flycatcher of the Eastern
States. Their nesting places are similar
to those of the eastern bird: in the deserted |
holes of woodpeckers, in hollow trees, &e,
They are composed of grasses and feathers, |
The eggs, 4 or Sin number, are similar to
those of the eastern bird, but the ground
color is lighter, and has a tinge of’ pinkish
not found in the eggs of the other. The
markings are more oblong splashes and
blotches of irregular shape, than lines, the |
waying lines seeming tu be more charac-
teristic of the eastern bird. The eves of
131 are more spherical in their general
shape, and the markings less abundant.
The eggs of MM. cooperi (132) have a. still
more roseate tinge in the buff ground color,
are marked with smaller blotches of bright
purple, and much larger ones of light brown.
Eges (131) measure .82 by .71 to .98 by
«153 of 132; .92 by .75.
134. Black Pewee.

Inhabits the coast of California.

This is the western form of 135; the
eggs are similar, and the habits of the bird
are the same as those of the eastern varie-
ty. The nest is of mud and moss, lined
with hair, and placed under bridges, in
barns, on beams, ete. Eggs 4 or 5 and!
pure white, occasionally with a few fine
dots on one end, which is also the case with
those of 185. Eggs measure between .75

by .56, and .78 by .60
136. Say’s Pewee.

Inhabits Missouri and Central Tigh
Plains, west to the Pacific and Mexico.

These birds seem to prefer the open coun-
try, as they are found on the prairies.
Cliffs bordering on streams is their faverite
nesting place, and the bird closely resem-
bles the common Pewee. A nest found at
Pyramid Lake, in Nevada, was nearly
globular, and composed chiefly of spiders’
webs mixed with fine vegetable fibers,
This composition forms the bulk of the nest,
which makes a soft but tenacious structure ;
the shallow cavity was lined with the gray-
ish-white down of difiereut varieties of wild
ducks. The nest was on a shelf inside a
small cave, on the shore of one of the is-
lands, about 10 or 12 feet from the water.
The eggs were rounded at one end, and
pointed at the other, and of an unspotted
chalky white, measuring .82 by .65 inch.

137. Olive-sided Ilycatcher.

Hab,—Northern portions of North A-
merica and south to Mexico ; Rocky Mts.

This species breeds in New England in
June. Eves, similar to those of the Wood
Pewee, being of a rich cream color with a
roseate tinge, blown, marked at the larger
end with a circle of spots of lilac, purple,
and reddish brown, varying in size trem
mere dots to large blotches. Size .86 by
-62 of an inch. Nest generally placed in
the top of a hemlock or cedar tree, and is
quite difficult to get at, being so shallow
that the eggs are apt to roll out, eyen if
one can succeed in reaching the nest. ‘They
are often at the extreme end of a horizon-
tal branch, fifteen to filty feet. from the
ground, and composed of dead twigs of the
cedar, lined with fine stems, dried grasses,
and fragments of lichen.

138. Short-legged Pewee.

This species has a close relationship to
139, being its western counterpart. The
nests differ slightly in material, having no
lichens like the eastern bird, but are com-
posed of dry chrysalides, mingled with hemp
like fibers of plants, stems, and fine dry

THE OOLOGIST. 75

grasses, the rim being firmly made of wiry | they are nearly worthless, being’ dark-col-
stems. This may not always be the case, | ored, streaked with blood, and intermixed
as lichens may be used when attainable. | with feathers and dirt. After they are pro-
Eggs three in number, and have # ground | cured, they are separated from feathers and
color of a cream white with a roseate tinge | dirt, are carefully dried and packed, and
before being blown, surrounded with a are then fit for the market. The best sort
wreath of purplish and reddish-brown dots | in China are sent to Pekin, for the use of
at the larger end. Size .69 by .53 inch. the Emperor. The labor bestowed
Hab.—High Central Plains ; to the Pa- to fit them for the table is enormous : every
cific ; to Mexico. | stick, every feather, every impurity, what-
140. Traill’s Flycatcher. ever is its kind, is carefully removed, and

This bird is closely related to 142, but is | then, after andergoing many washings and
larger. The eggs are 4 or 5 ([?] three eat et a, ee sort, dee
eggs is probably the correctnumber). white, Kr de i ek 7 sab! T ewise served
with a roseate tinge, and marked about the UP 1 broths and soups. They have the

large end with purplish-brown dots and Teputation of being nutritious and gently
blotches. They are oval in shape: Breed |
in June.
The nests are generally a short distance |
from the ground, in alder bushes, ete., and |
are similar to those of the Indigo Bird in |
construction and material. ‘They are com- |
posed of dried grasses, fine strips of bark, |
and lined with finer stems and grasses. |
They are usually found in thickets, and |
it is difficult to get a glimpse of the bird, |
as they are very shy. Ovum.” |
TO BE CONTINUED.

——$————“4ee

NEST OF THE ESCULENT SWALLOW.

Cassel’s Popular Natural History con- ,
tains the following on the nest of the Eseu-
lent Swallow of the East. ‘+The nests,
formed of a mucilaginous substance, re-
semble ill-concocted fibers of isinglass, and |
are of a white color, inclining to red ; their |

_ thickness little more than that of a silver |
spoon, and the weight from a quarter to
half an ounce. When dry, they are brittle |
and wrinkled, the size being nearly that of |
a goose’s egg. The qualities of the nests |
vary, according to the situation and extent
of the caves in which they are found, and
the time at which they are taken; if pro-
cured before the eggs have been laid, the

nests are of the best kind; if they contain |

eggs only, they are still valuable ; but if the ,
young are in the nest or have just left it, |

‘

a ee

stimulating. , The extrayagant prices given
for these nests by the Chinese, make them
a most expensive aritcle of diet.”

oo

ARRANGEMENT OF EaGs.—A neat and
practical method of arranging eges in the
cabinet, is to place all those belonging to
the same family together, the smaller ones
above the larger ones. Supposing a cab-
inet to consist of eight drawers ; commence
at the upper or shallowest one, and place
all the eggs belonging to the family of
Humming Birds in a single tray, or better,
in a set of paper boxes, in which they make
a very creditable appearance. In the same
drawer—which, if of the ordinary size (a-
bout 24 4 16 inches), will contain about six-
ty varieties of eges, taking as a standard
number tour eggs of a species, if of the
smaller birds—place next, your Warblers’
or Titmice’s eggs, next your Flyeatchers’
Sparrows’, and so on down through your
cabinet, placing the eggs of the Pelicans,
Geese, Swans, Guillemots, Cranes, larger
Herons ete., in the lower drawers. Eggs ar-
ranged in this manner show both scientific
and ornamental taste, and may be found in
large collections quicker than. if placed in the
cabinet with here a small egg and there a
large one.

ee

@=Read our offer on the 79th page and
see if you cannot form a club.

THE OOLOGIST.

! — Devoted to Birds and Birds’ Eqgs

Ss. L. W

ILLARD & Co., - - Eprrors. |

SUBSCRIPTION
40 cents a year, in advance, postage prepaid.

AuTHORS.— Sketches pertaining to our)
branch of natural history may be sent us with |
prices marked thereon. We will give them a |
careful perusal, and if satisfactory, will ac-
cept them. None but original and authenti¢ |
sketches noticed. |

EGG-DEALERS AND COLLECTORS.—Persons |
wishing to dispose of eggs, cabinets, skins, |
ete., will find ‘lH OoLoGtst the best means
of communicating the fact to collectors ot any.
paper published,

Specimen copy for stamp.

Address all communications to

THE OOLOGIST, Utica, N.Y,

JANUARY, 1876.. *|
A Brier Rerrospect.—Again we make
our appearance, this time with the conis |
mencement of the New Year. Our sheet
has improved vastly over the issues of M’ch |
and April of Iast year, and yet is far bee.
hind what we wish it to be. Our efforts.
to render all our sketches and items on this
branch of popular natural history authentic
and interesting, have, we believe, been ac-
cepted by the majority of, our subseribers
with great consideration. “We have, as far.
as possible, thrown aside intricate scienti(t
ic principles as inconsistent with the aims
of the paper, our main object being to fur-
nish plain, common sense, and instructive
matter for the more juvenile and youthful
collectors, than for those older naturalists
whose knowledge is already developed too
far to render a perusal of Tur Oonogisr
unnecessary and unproductive. Yet, a=!

mong our subscribers are many, who, tho’
extensive dealers in specimens of natural
history, and who themselves are masters of
our science, take infinite pleasure in receiv-
ing our sheet. Our sincere thanks are due
our friends for their generous assistance,
and we continue with the expectation of
higher and more efficient aid.

WE appear with a few changes this monthy
for the better, we hope; our reduced sub-
scription price, at least, should be an im-
dicative of improvement and stability.

AMERICAN BIRDS.

EXTRACTS
FROM

“Popular Naturalists.

LI.

THE GREAT BLUE HERON.
Ardea herodias,—Linn.

ll ge IIE Srare of Louisiana am
8 always been my favouril
portion of the Union, al-

other States have divided
my affections ; but as we
are on the banks of the
Ohio, let us pause awhile,
good reader, and watch the Heron. In my
estimation, few of our waders are more 1D~

| teresting than the waders of this family-

Their contours and movements are always
graceful, if not elegant. Look on the aoe
that stands near the margin of the pure
stream :—see his reflection dipping 45 i
Were into the smooth water, the bottom ©
which it might reach had it not to conten®
with the numerous boughs of those mag”
nificent trees. How calm, how silent, how
grand is the scene !
bird himself no one hears, so carefully does

though Kentucky andsome ,

The tread of the tall:

THE OOLOGIST. 77

he place his foot on the moist ground, cau-
tiously suspending it for awhile at each step
of his progress. Now his golden eye glanc-
es over the surrounding objects, in survey-
ing which he takes advantage of the fall
stretch of his graceful neck. Satisfied that
no danger is near, he lays his head on his
shoulders, allows the feathers of his breast
to droop, and patiently awaits the approach
of his finned prey. You might imagine
what you see to

as in all our ‘‘ Territories.” It is well
known from Louisiana to Maine, but sel-
dom occurs farther east than Prince Ed-
ward’s Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrenee,
and not a Heron of any kind did I see or
hear of in Newfoundland or Labrador.
Westward, I believe, it reaches to the very
bases of the Rocky Mountains. It is a
hardy bird, and bears the extremes of tem-
perature surprisingly, being in its tribe what
the Passenger

be the statue of

abird so mo-
tionless ig it.
But now, he

moves ; he has
taken a silent
step, and with
great care he
advances ; slow-
ly does he raise
his head from
his shoulders,
and now, what
a sudden start !
his formidable
bill has trans-
fixed a perch,
which he beats
to death on the
ground. See
with what ditfi-
culty he gulps it
down his capa-
cious throat!
and now his
broad wings 0-
pen, and away

THE GREAT BLUE HERON.

Pigeon is in the

family of Dov’s.
During the

coldest part of
winter the Blue
Heron is ob-
served in the
State of Mass-
achusetts and in
Maine, spend-
ing its time in
search of prey
about the warm
springs and
ponds which
occur there in
certain dis-
tricts. They are
not rare in the
Middle States,
but more plen-
tiful to the west
and south of
Pennsylvania,
which perhaps
arises from the
incessant war
waged against

he slowly flies
to another sta-
‘Hon, to find other food, or perhaps to a-
void his unwelcome observers.

Phe ab Blue Crane” (by which name this
Species ig generally known in the United
States) is met with in every part of the
Union. Although more abundant in the
low lands of our Atlantic coast, if is not
uncommon in the countries west of the Al-
leghany Mountains, I have found it in ev-
ery State in which I have travelled, as well

them,

Extremely suspicious and shy, this bird

is ever on the look-out. Its sight is as a-
cute as that of any Falcon, and it can hear
at a considerable distance, so that it is en-
abled to mark with precision the different
objects it sees, and to judge with accurra-
cy of the sounds which it hears. Unless
under very favourable circumstances, it is
almost hopeless to attempt to approach it.
You may now and then surprise one feed-

THE vain aac

ing under the bank of a deep oak or bays)
ou, or obtain a shot as he passes unawares |
over you on wing; but to walk up towards
one would be a fruitless adventure. I have
seen many so wary, that, on seeing a man
at any distance within half a mile, they
would take to wing; and the report of a
gun forces one off his grounds from a dis-
tance at which you would think he could
not be alarmed. When in close woods,
however, and perched on a tree, they cau
be approached with a good chance of suecess.

The Blue Heron feeds at all hours of the
day, as well as in the dark and dawn, and
even under night, when the weather is clear,
his appetite alone determining his actions
in this respect ; but I am certain that when
disturbed during dark nights it feels bewil-.
dered, and alights as soon as possible.
When passing from. one part of the country
to another at a distance, the case is difler-
ent, and on such-oceasions they fly under
night at a considerable height above the
trees, continuing their movements in a reg-
ular manner,

The commencement of the breeding sen-
son varies, according to the latitude, front
the beginuing of Mareh to the middle of
June. In the Floridas it takes place about
the first of these periods, in the Middle Dis- |
tricts about the middle of May, andin Maine
a month later. It is at the approach of
this period only that these birds associate |
in pairs, they being generally quite solitary
at all other times; nay, excepting during |
the breeding season, each individual seems
to secure for itself’ a certain district as a
feeding ground, giving chase to every in-
truder of its own species. At such times,
they also repose singly, for the most part.
roosting on trees, although sometimes tak-—
ing their station on the ground, in the midst
of a wide marsh, so that they may be se-
eure from the approach of man. This un-
social temper probably arises from the de-
sire of securing a certain abunflance of food, |
of which each individual i in fact requires a
large quantity.

The mamers of this Heron are exceed-
ingly interesting at the approach of the

|

iPrecdite season, hea the males begin to
look for partners. About sunrise you see
a number arrive and alight either on the
margin of a broad sand-bar or on a savan-
nah. They come from different quarters,
one after another, for several hours; and
when you see forty or fifty before you, it
is difficult for you to imagine that half the
number could have resided in the same dis-
trict. Yet in the Floridas I have seen hun-
dreds thus collected in the course ofa morn-
ing. They are now in their full beauty,
and no young birds seem to be among them.
The males walk about with an air of great
dignity, bidding defiance to their riy als, and
the females croak to invite the males to pay
their addresses to them. The females ut-
ter their coaxing notes all at once, and as
each male evinees au equal desire to please
the object of his affection, he has to en-
counter the enmity of many un adyersary,
who, with little attention to politeness, opens
his powerful bill, throws out his wings, and
rushes with dury-on his foe. Each attack
is carefully muarde d against, blows are ex-
changed for blows; one would’ think that
a single well-aimed thrust might suffice to
inflict death, but the strokes are parried
with as much art as an expert swordsman
would employ ; and, although I have watch-
‘ed these birds for half an hoitr at a time as
they. fought on the ground, I never saw one
killed on such-an occasion ; but I have of-
ten seen one felled and trampled upon, even
alter incubation had commenced. These
combats over, the males and females leave
the place in pairs. They are now mated
for the season, at least I am inclined to think
so, as I neyer saw them assemble twice on
the same ground, and they become com-
paratively peaceable after pairing.

TO BE CONTINUED.

| we
| We are under obligaitons to Harper's
i Weekly for a notice given THe Ooxoeist.

Zoological Arrivals at Fairmount P’k
were unavoidably laid over until next month.

AMERICAN
OOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.

OFFICERS.
President & V. Pres.,....J. S. Howland.
Treasurer, s .. esiviss ces ee etd. Le Ones,
Secretary,..--0++-+00e.-9. L. Willard.

Since last month’s paper was sent out, |

we received several answers from members
whose ‘* yotes”’ did not reach us before, all
of whom approve of the choice made.

We notice that the Amateur Age is again

in the ranks, and promises to be « favorite. |

That paper formerly contained the proceed-
ings of this Society, then known as the
‘* Bird’s-ege Society.”

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED,

er +

December number of the Toledo Seien-
tijic Monthly received, is a model magazine
of interesting, instructive, and scientific

knowledge. Itembracesthe various branch- |

es of modern ‘popular science, but treats

mainly upon the various classes of animat- |

ed nature, which it discusses in a thorough-
ly practical manner. As a leading sketch,

an article on the American Dipper appears, |

which is very well aud practically written,
Subscription three dollars.

A SPLENDID OFFER!

WE wish to augment our circulation be-
tween now and the first of May suflicient-
ly to enable us to enlarge to three columns,
and in order to do this, we require addi-
tional aid on the part of collectors and nat-

untlists. Our offer, which holds good un-
til the first of March, is as follows:
Club Rates.
2 Subscribers, . . $ .70, or 35 cents each.
3 i ba LOO erse ** ef
4 i Footy HEAT TECH gts) ed ti
5 rs oie Lavories ~<* a

THE OOLOGIST.

These rates apply to clubs of two, three,
four, and five; single subscriptions are the
regular price, 40 cents.
| @=If you desire to behold in Tor Oot-

| OGIST a magazine of unequaled appearance

and contents, please persuade your friends
to join with you in forming a club.

ed

Injurious Birds,

Farmers who possess extensive fruit or-
chards and berry fields, are always troub-
led more or less by certain species of birds,
who deyastate his fields and despoil
his seasou’s productions. As a natural se-
quence, an obstinate hatred exists among
about oue half the grangers of this country,
which cancels all good will toward any spe-
¢ies whatever. The result is, whenever an
opportunity occurs, they destroy any and
every bird that is seen about their possess-
ions. Many of these farmers follow the
advice of cheap ornithological works, which
are far fro: as-igning to the proper species
good quvities i: many cases, where such
is actually the pith of the discourse. In
very many cases, these old authors were
fallacious to an extent sufficient to confirm
the enmity of fruit growers, and they forth-
| with commenced the destruction of innocent
birds.

We think the most advantageous meth-
od is to devote a little spare time, now and
‘then, to observing the actual habits of birds
deemed pernicious, and form separate ideas
|from practical observation ‘+ which are
| which” ; a-e,, which are beneficial and which
|are not,

CORRESPONDENCE
F. L. LEBrowne. —1. We shall have our
priced list of drills, ete. out soon.—2. Yes,—
3. We always endeayor to have our cuts of
eggsas correct as possible, but every dranghts
man and engraver knows that they are the
most diflicult objects to render accurate that
ean be imagined, We've no doubt but that
you have seen specimens that differ in size
}and markings from our drawings, but we try
to represent as nearly as we can the preyail-
‘ing size and markings.—4. What is your ob-
iject in doing so? The best way in our esti-
"mation is to let it remain.

THE OOLOGIST.

Whenever
anyone states
their poultry
is better than
ours, and it
isn’t, we feel
inclined to il-
lustrate a
sample of
their poultry.
The above is |

A
= acorrect sam- |

SE SS
a fF |

subtle atmospheric peculiarity, prevails,
which, in some way, so influences the mus-
cles of the bird, that its wings obey an in-
voluntary will, and carry the bird to the
south. This compulsion of the bird’s mus-
cles, as it were, is called by the author the
** spasm’; and this spasm lasts only just
for a certain length of time—just sufficient
in most cases, to carry the bird to its des-
tiny. Now, this is evidently a very studied
theory, but the question arises, why do not
non-migratory birds obey this ** spasm”?

ADVERTISEMENTS.

5 cents per line, brevier space.
3a. + inch ** at

Discount on continued advertisements.

ple of rooster taken from a photograph !

(JENERAL Topics. |

—

—Tupre seems to be a great influx of
Snowy Owls in this vicinity. Three were |
taken alive north of here, and at least as|
many have been sent here to be mounted. |
—A GEOGRAPHICAL exploring party to|
New Guinea, reported that a large bird,
measuring eighteen feet across the wits,
was shot at as it flew by Mr. Smithurst of’)
the expedition. The bird is described as
having a dark brown body, white breast,
long neck and beak. The party iurther re-!
ports that the noise made by the bird in fly-
ing was as that made by a locomotive ; a!
rumbling, as of a heavy, rushing draught of}
air. Whether this is a species of Albatross
or not, was not ascertained, but the fact
of its having a long neck and being found |
inland, as we infer, renders this improbable. |
—A CORRESPONDENT of the London|

Times entertains and publishes a new the-

ory concerning the causes he attributes to
the migrations of birds. His theory cer-
tainly is novel, and in substance is as fol-
lows: Ata certain period of the year, a
strong southern current of air, containing a

Many Rare Varieties. Also Collections for
beginners. 20 VARIETIES FoR $1.50, Post
FREE. Send stamp for catalogue.

EDWARD §. STEBBINS,
21 Pembroke Street, Boston, Mass.

n

Vrews oF|

OLOGICAL SUPPLIES. All instru-
nents required by collectors, including

Drills, Blowpipes, Forceps,
Egg Boxes,
Note Books, Catalogues, &c.,

may be obtained at this oflice at to-day prices.

A new Blow-pipe, used without the mouth
and a convenience where thoroughness is
essential, price $1.00.

Fred. G. Willard, Printer, Areade, Utica