.w ^J^4 .wi M » '♦S 1^4 ■>^ sm; -pja^ 7:-* V 0/L^ m^ f^ ^^^^i y s n^j .f^/» L :, p» \ ^ •^ V*^^! ^ 1.1 ^ ?«i^S£ t4^: wM gSI^/^i: P^^£a ih: ^> 1 ic^§^;^\ '\ ; ^2 k a 1 m. °<^i '2^ ( I FORTHE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ^.nfrt(93]S ESTABLISHED 1875. THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. VOL. XVII., 1892. BIRDS: THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. HYDE PARK, MASS. : FJ^ANK liLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY. 1892. INDEX TO ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST FOR 1892. Alachua Count\ , Florida, the Herons of American Ornithologist's Union Ann Arbor lTni^ersit^^ list of North American birds at Auk, Razor-billed Bendire, Charles, Life Histoi North American Birds Heaufort, N.C., Notes from . Bird Enemies Bird Flight . . . Bird Notes at Sea . Birds", Christmas Dinner Birds Singing on their Nests Bittern, American Bittern, American. Notes on Bittern, Least Blackbird, Crow Blackbird, Red-winged Bluebird .... Bobolink .... Bobolink, How to lind Nest of Bob-white, Late Nesting of . Bob-white, Large set of Eggs of Brant, Common Buzzard, Turkey Buzzard, Turke\ , Smelling jiowers of Camping out Canada, Collecting trip to Canarv. Curious Cardinal .... Catbird Catbird, nest of, containing Cuckoo egg^ Chamberlain, Montague, Handbook of Ornithology Chat, Yellow-breasted . Chickadee, Carolina Classification of North ^\nierican Bird Chewink .... Cohasset, Mass., Notes on Ducks Cormorant, Double-crested . Crane, Sandhill, in Michigan Creeper, Brown Crow ..... Crow b'ish .... Crow, Early breeding of Cuckoo, Yellow-billed . Curlew, Long-billed Danbury, Conn., Notes from Dartmouth, N.S., Notes from 94 4.3 141 106 41 "4 14S 62 .^.v S7 7^' S3 88 90 88 .S6 S, 184 122 44- 91 9 1 1 1 136 92 II 89 89 9.^ 1-4 89 89 49 44 90 89 48, 88 88 no .^4 ,v3 17- 14^. T)ay in the \\oods Delaware \'alle_\ Ornithological Club Delta Count_\ , Mich., Notes from Dove, Moiu-ning Dove, Mom-ning. .Mbino Dowitcher Duck, American Eider . Duck, American Golden-eye Duck, American Scaup Duck, American Scoter Duck, Baldpate Duck. Black . Duck, BufHehead . Duck, Canvas-back Duck. Gadwall Duck, Harlequin Duck, Labrador Duck, Lesser Scaup Duck, Mallard Duck, Old Squaw Duck, Pintail Duck, Redhead Duck, Ruddy Duck, Sho\eller Duck, Surf Scoter Duck, White-^vinged Scoter Duck, \V'ood Duty, An Iniquitous Eagle, Bald . Eagle, Bald in Fulton Co.. 111. Eagle, Bald, Eggs of Eagle, Golden Early Arrivals Eggs, A Cabinet of Eggs, Blowing Eggs, How I prepare Eggs, Life Risk for Egret, .Vmerican Finch, Purple Five-mile Beach, Birds of Flicker . Flicker, Large Set of Eggs of Flicker, Notes on . Flint. H. W.. Eggs of Warblers in Col- lection of . Flj'catcher, Great-crested, Nesting of Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied, Nest of Fremde Eier im Nest Frigate Bird ..... Gallinules. Notes on 43 68 4S 186 .^4 80 ,"13 90 44' 90 44 44' 9" 43. 9" 43. 9" 44' 9" 90 43 90 1 10 44 86, 90 44' 4.^' 44, 9" 90 61, 91 43' 9f> 44. 91 46, 91 86, 90 ■73 14 165 64 9 62 ,H .3 1.34 37 85, 88 43- .V3 88 137 9' !.?« 139 161 14 8 134 INDEX. Gallinule. Purple, in Massachusetts Gannet. ..... Geographical \"ariati()n in Kirds . Gnatcatcher, Blue-gra\- Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray. Nesting of (jokitinch, American Ciood Greenwood .... Goose, Canada .... Grackle. Boat-tailed Grackle. Purple .... (irehe. Ilolhneirs .... Grehe. Horned .... Cirehe. Pied-bill .... Grosbeak, Cardinal, near Detroit . Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, in Michigan Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, in Oaklanti Co., Mich Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, in A\'a\ ne Co.. ?slich (niilt'ord Co., X.C., Spring Xotes from CtuU, American Herring (iull. Laughing . . . . . Gull. Ring-billed Hawk. American Sparroxs Hawk, Broad-winged, in Hillsboro C'o.. X.H Hawk, Cooper's . . . . . Hawk. Marsh Hawk. Pigeon . . Hawk, Red-shouldered, Eggs of . Hawk. Red-shouldered, I'nmarked Egg: Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk. Sharp-shinned . . . . Hawk. Sharp-shinned, Nesting of Helton, Black-crowned Night Heron, (ireat Blue . . . 1 leron. Green . . . . . 1 leron. Little Blue . . . . Heron. Louisiana . . . . . Heron, Night . . . . . Hei'on, Snow\ . . . . . Heron, Vellow-ci-ow ned Night Horned Lark . . . . . Hull. Iowa, Notes from Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Ipswich Beach. A Day's Trip to . Junco h\enialis Carolinensis, Breeding- Habits of Junco, Slate-colored . . . . Gould, A. C, \vork on Rifles Jamison, Harry K., death of January O. & O., A Dip into Jay, Albino Blue . . . . . Jay. Blue lunco li\cmaliv thurberi 4."i 96 7.^ SS 151. 1 85 44- yi SS SS 43 4.1 4,1 • 95 1 1 1 .^4 79 56 S:; .3^'- ,x3 SS 1.33 SS 116 89 1,=; .^9 39 H 79 94 Kildeer ...... Kingbird ...... Kingfishei", Belted . . . 54, Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet. Rub\-crowned Kite. Mississippi ..... Knot ....... Ladd, Samuel 13. . Ladd, Samuel B.. his collection of eggs of Warblers ..... Legends and Folk Lore relating to ISirtK in various Countries .... Linnean Society, Abstract of Proceed- ings of ..... . Loon ....... Ma\ville. N.'S'.. liest finds of eggs at . Massachusetts. Winter Bird Notes from Aleadow Lark ..... Megantic Fish and (jame Club Merganser, American .... Merganser. Hooded .... Merganser, Red-breasted Michigan, Notes from .... Mice, have they an car for music.' Migratory Birds. Arrivals of at Johnson Co., Indiana ..... New Hampshire. Bird Notes from Night Hawk Night Hawk, Sun.set with New Jersey, Northern, Bird Notes from Northern New Jersey, Bird Notes of Nova Scotia, Notes from Nuthatch. Red-breasted Nuthatch. White-breasted Oological Notes ..... Oriole, Baltimore .... Ornithology and Meteoi'ologx Osprey, Nest of .... . Our Birds in their Haunts Our Feathered Enemies Oven-Bird, Series of eggs of Owl acquaintances .... Owl, American Long-eared Owl. Barred ...... Owl, Great Horned .... Owl. Great Horned, Eggs of Owl, Great Horned, Late nesting of Owl, Great Horned, My first set of eggs of Owl, Great Horned, Nesting of Owl, Great Horned, Late nesting of Owl, Saw-whit, Eggs of . . . Owl, Little Screech .... Owl, Little Screech. Color phenomena of Owl, Snowy .... 9. Osprey, American .... Oyster \-. Kingfisher .... 88 84. 131 7- 90 85, 90 168 .v3 1 10 iiS 94 43 133 Si 82 88 -3 43 43 90 43 90 17 44 72 88 33 136 97 89 4, 89 6 lOI 32 ^8 6.^ 139 .H- 7> 4 .^4 47 109 74 .^7 .57 80 .S4 105 1 1 . 54 54 109 INDEX. Ouzel, Water ..... loS Parakeet, Carolina .... 48 Pearv Expidition, Birds and EijLi's from 15S Pelican, White . IJ3 Petrel, Wilson'.s ..... 43 Pewee. Late date for . . . . i6 Pe\vee, \\'ood. Nesting of in Xo\a .Scotia 87 Phalarope, Red ..... 109 Pheasant, English, in New Jerse_\' . 48 Philadelphia Zoo, big bii-ds at . . 118 Phctbe 77- SS Phcebe, Nesting in Bank Swallow "s bur- rows . . . . . . 187 Phoebe, in Winter .... 62 Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Piping Plover, Semipalmated .... j;^ Pueblo Count\", Colorado. Spring arri- \als of birds at . . . . . loi Qiiail, American ..... 10 Rail, Clapper ..... >i^ Rail, King ...... 53 Rail, King, Set of eggs of Rail, King, Nesting of near Philadelphi Rail, \'irginia. Nesting of Raleigh, N.C., Notes from Ramble, A Spring Redpole, Common Robin, .iVmerican . Robin, Albino Robin, Early appearence of Robin, Western Rochester Academ\- of Sciences, Pro- ceedings of ..... 80 Sanderling Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral . . . . 53 Sandpiper, Red-backed ... 53 Sandpiper, Semipalmated ... 53 Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, White-rumped Shearwater, Sooty .... 43 Shrike, Great Northern ... 85 Skua, Great, Egg of ... . 44 Snipe, Wilson'.s ..... 53 Sparrow, Chipping . . . . S2. Sg Sparrow, English, Illinois L Sparrow, Field ..... 89 Sparrow, Field, in Michigan . . 159 Sparrow, Ipswich .... 88 Sparrow, Savanna .... 88 .Sparrow, Seaside .... 89 Sparrow, Sharp-tailed .... 88 Sparrow, Song ..... 84, 89 Sparrow, Swamp ..... 89 Sparrow, Tree ..... 89 o» ■ of New Ilaxen 103 94 104 86 85. 90 79 ^9 39 Sparrow, Western \'esper Sparrow, White-throated Spoon River, 111., .V morning on Spring ]Moi-ning Ramble Swallow, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, ^'iolet Green, llaliit Nesting of Swift, Chimne\ Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Scarlet, Series of E Tanager, Loiisiana, at Conn., ..... Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Tern, Black ..... Tern, Caspian Tern, Common .... Tern, Least ..... Terns, Habits of . Texas Woods, A da\ in Thrasher, Brown .... Thrush, Hermit .... Thrush, Hermit, Nesting of . Thrush, Olive-backed . Thrush, \'aried .... Tolchester l?each. a trip to . Towhee ..... Turnstone ..... University- Marine Biological Associ; Unusual Nesting .... Utah Lake, Trip to . . . Vireo, Blue-headed, Nesting of Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-e^ed .... Vireo, White-eyed Visitors, My Experience with Vulture, Turkey .... Warbler, Black and White . Wai-bler, Black-poll Warbler, Black-throated Blue, Nesting of Warbler. Ceridean Warbler, Kentucky, Series of Eggs of Warbler, Macgilli\ray's Warbler, :Myrtle .... Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm .... Warbler, Parula .... Warbler, Prairie .... Warbler, Yellow Palm, Eggs of . Warblers, Eggs of, in Collection of II W. Flint Warblers, Eggs of, in Collection of Isaac S. Reiff .... Warblers, J. P. N. Collection of 89 89 89 28. 88 89 187 90 4.V 90 140 96 43. 86 43 8 106 89 90 114 40 3S 89 1 94 .=;9 ro4 102 89 Sg 89 116 .H 89 89 1J9 164 89 89 89 89 •89 4S 138 167 166 INDEX. Warblers, Samuel B. Ladd's Collectioi Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied 88 of Eggs of .... ii8 Wren, Carolina .... 89 Water Thrush, Louisiana, Nesting of 99 Wren, House .... 89 Wayne County, Mich., Birds of . 122 Wren, Long-billed Marsh. Albino Kggi- of 121 Waxwing, Cedar .... 89 Wren, Winter . . 8.=; Wenham Lake, Collecting ai ound 70 Wren, Winter, Nest of . 154 Whip-poor-will 31 Yellow-legs ..... .x3 Willet .... 53 Yellow-legs, Greater S^ Wilson, Alexander 79 Yellow-throat, Maryland 89 Winter, Sunnj Day in . 4 Yellow-throat, Maryland, at Raleigh Woods, A Rainy Day in 7 N.C., in winter .... 137 Woodpecker, Downy 4. 88 Yellow-throat. Maryland, Nest of 13-' ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. ORNITHOLOGIST — AND- OOLOGIST. $1.00 per Annum. PUBLISHED BY THE FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY. Established, March, 1875. Single Copy 10 cents. Vol. XVII. HYDE PARK, MASS., JANUARY, 1892. No. I. A Series of Eggs of the Kentucky \Varbler. The eggs of the Keatucky Warbler {Geo- thlypisformosa) exhibit great variation in size, shape, and coloration, and while the series now before me does not exhibit all their types it is sufhciently complete to warrant desription. Set I. June 1, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest on ground, in woods, at foot of small bush, not more than ten feet from a fence. Made of leaves, lined with rootlets. J Hushed. Four eggs, incu- bation commenced. White, speckled with hazel and lavender-gray. Three of the eggs have the markings nearly all at the larger ends in the shape of indistinct wreaths, but the fourth one is much more pointed than the others, and has a wreath around the smaller end: .79x..i9; .7Sx.58; .76x..')9; .7(>x.59. Set II. May 28, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of spicewood bush, on ground, in low woods. Made of leaves, dried grass, etc., lined with fine black rootlets and white horse- hair. Bird seen. Four eggs, fresh. White, speckled and spotted, principally at the larger ends, with fawn color: .71x..")6; .72x.55; .74X.56: .71x..'i.'i. Set III. June 19, 1885. Delaware County, Penn. Collected by J. Hoopes Matlack. Nest of dried grasses and beech leaves, on the ground, in thicket of young underwood. Four eggs, fresh. White, spotted and speckled with chestnut and lavender-gray: .77x..56: .79x.57; .78X.56; .75x.56. Set IV. May 28, 1890. Chester County, Penn. ('oUected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest between leaves of "Skunk Cabbage." on ground, in woods. Made of leaves, dried grass, etc., lined with black rootlets. 9 flushed. Four eggs, fresh, and one Cowbird's egg. Light creamy white, speckled and spotted with chestnut and lavender-gray. The markings are heavier near the larger ends, where they form indistinct wreaths: .74x.60; .72X.60; .72X.60; .71x.60. Set V. June 7, 1889. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris. Jr. Nest between three forks at foot of small bush. Made of leaves and grass, lined with horse-hair and black rootlets. Bird seen. Five eggs, fresh. Light creamy white, speckled and spotted with hazel and lavender-gray. At the larger ends the markings are heavier, and form indistinct wreaths: .78x.C0; .81x.61; .Six. 60; .78X.61; .79x.()0. Set VI. June 9, 1885. Collected by J. Hoopes Matlack. Nest on ground, in thicket of young underwood. Composed of dry grass and beech leaves. Four eggs, fresh. Glossy, light creamy white. Heavily spotted, espec- ially at the larger ends, with chestnut and lavender-gray: .79x.59; .77x.59; .77x.58; .78 X ..">fi. Set VII. June 18, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest on ground, at foot of weed, in woods, near a fence and a dried up stream. Made of leaves, etc., lined with black rootlets and horse-hair. White, spotted and speckled more heavily at the larger ends, with hazel and lavender-gray: .82X.57; .79X.57; .80x.56; .83x.56. Set VIII. June 3, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of spicewood bush, in woods, twenty-five feet from their edge. Made of leaves, dried grass, etc., lined with black rootlets. 9 flushed. Four eggs, incubation commenced. (This set also contained a Cowbird's egg.) White, spotted all over, but more heavily at the larger ends, with chestnut and lavender- gray: .74X.56; .71x.55; .70x.54; .71x.54. Set IX. May 28, 1888. Chester County, Penn. Collected by Samuel B. Ladd. Nest on the ground. Made of leaves, with fine Copyright, 1892. by Frank B. Webster. ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 17-No. 1 roots and a few horse-hairs. ? flushed. Four eggs, incubation commenced. White, speckled with chestnut and lavender-gray. The rnark- ings are heavier at the larger ends: .G5x.54; .66X.55; .67x.55; .65x.55. Set X. June 25, 1890. Chester C:ounty, Penn. Collected by Henry Norris. Nest in small woods, four feet from a public road. It was in a small bush six inches from the ground, and was made of leaves, etc., lined with black rootlets and horse-hair. Bird on nest. Four eggs, fresh. (Remarkably late for this species, and I think it must have been a second laying.) White, delicately speckled with hazel and lilac-gray. The markings are all over the surface, but are thicker near the larger ends: .T8x.57; .81x.5S; .79x.57; .74X.56. Set XI. May 28, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Xorris, Jr. Nest at foot of spicewood bush, on ground, in low woods. Made of leaves, dried grass, etc., lined with black rootlets. Birds seen. Five eggs, fresh. White, and quite glossy. Speckled and spotted, more heavily at the larger ends, with hazel, chestnut and lilac- gray: .74x.58; .75x.58; .72x.r)7; .73x..')8; .70X.57. Set XII. May 28, 1890. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush, near dried up stream in woods, not more than twenty-five yards from public road. Made of leaves, dried grass, etc., lined with black rootlets. Five eggs, small embryos. Glossy white, spotted with hazel and lilac-gray: .74x.55; .75x.55; .78x.5o; .75 X .55; .75 x .56. Set XIII. June 29, 1889. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest on ground, between forks of two small bushes in woods. Made of leaves and di-ied grass, lined with black roots and horse-hair. Bird flushed. Three eggs, incubation commenced, and Cowbird's egg. (Owing to the lateness of the date at which this set was taken, it is more than probable that it is a second laying.) Light creamy white, spotted with hazel and lilac-gray: .84x.58; .85x.58; .80x.55. Set XLV. June 9, 1889. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of and between forks of small bush on hillside, in woods. Made of dead and green leaves, lined with fine black i-ootlets and horse-hair. Bird flushed. Four eggs, fresh. Glossy white, speckled with hazel and lavender-gray. The markings are much heav- ier at the larger ends, and on one of them they form a wreath : .76 x .58 ; .70 x .56 ; .70 x .58 ; .67X.55. Set XV. June 6, 1889. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest between three forks at foot of small bush, in swampy woods. Made of leaves, lined with fine black rootlets. Bird flushed. Five eggs, fresh. Light creamy white, heavily spotted and blotched with chestnut and lilac-gray. On two of the eggs the markings are heavier at the smaller ends, but on the others they are principally at the larger ends: .70x.59; .71X.60; .71X.60; .74x.59; .7lx.58. Set XYI. June 4, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by Henry Norris. Nest at foot of small bush. Made of leaves, lined with rootlets and horse-hairs. 9 on nest. Fiveeggs^ fresh. Glossy white, speckled and blotched with chestnut and lilac-gray. The markings form wreaths around the larger ends, and are largely confined to that portion of the eggs, but there are a few spots on other portions of them: .71x.58; .75x..59; .76x..58; .76x.58; .75X.59. Set XVII. May 27, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush, in woods. Made of leaves, etc., lined with black rootlets and horse-hair. 9 seen. Tliree eggs, fresh. Contained a Cow- bird's egg also. White, heavily speckled, principally at the larger ends, w'ith chestnut and lilac-gray : .76 x .56 ; .73 x .56 ; .71 x ,53. Set XVIII. June 11, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small sapling, in woods on edge of a path. Made of leaves and dried grass, lined with fine rootlets and horse-hair. 9 flushed. Four eggs, fresh. Glossy white, speckled and spotted with hazel, chestnut, and lilac-gray: .67X.54; .72x.56; .69x.54; .66x.53. Set XIX. June 4, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small sapling in woods, near the edge. Made of leaves, etc., lined with flne black root- lets. 9 flushed. Five eggs, fresh. White, delicately marked with wreaths of fine specks of hazel and lilac-gray: .74x.57; .72x.56; .72X.57: .72x.56; .74x.56. Set XX. May 31, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush in swampy woods. Made of leaves, weed stalks, etc., lined with fine black rootlets and horse-hair. Three eggs, fresh. White, speckled with chestnut and lilac-gray. Tlie markings are more evenly spread over the whole surface than is usual for this species: .74x.58; .73x.58; .75x.59. January, 1892.] AND OOLOGIST. Set XXI. June 2, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush in woods. Very bulky, and made of leaves, etc., lined with rootlets and horse-hair. Four eggs, fresh. White, deli- cately wreathed with hazel and lilac-gray specks: .6Sx.50; .()lx.57; .68x.58; .70x.58. Set XXII. June 1, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Xorris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush, four feet from a path in the woods. Made of leaves, etc., lined with fine black rootlets. 9 flushed. Five eggs, fresh. White, sjieckled, more heavily at the larger ends, with chestnut and lilac gray: .72x..^5; .73x.,5G; .78 x. 5"); .72x.55; .7ox..56. Set XXIII. June 2, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Xorris, Jr. Nest at foot of small bush in woods. Made of leaves, weed stalks, etc., lined with horse-hair and fine rootlets. Five eggs, fresh. Glossy white, heavily speckled and spotted with fawn color, hazel, and lilac -gray: .76x.r)5; .71 x. 5.5; .71X.55; .72X.53; .72x.5(5. Set XXIY. June 12, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. NoiTis, Jr. Nest very small. Made of leaves, etc., lined with rootlets and horse-hair. At foot of small bush on bank two feet above a path in woods. 9 flushed. This is the second set laid by the same birds that laid Set XVII, taken May 27, 1891. Five eggs, fresh. White, heavily speckled, princi- pally at the larger ends, with chestnut and lilac-gray: .73x.57; .72x.55; .78 x.5(); .70x.57; .5(ix.54. Set XXV. June 25, 1891. Chester County, Penn. Collected by J. P. Norris, Ji-. Nest at foot of a small bush in swampy woods. Made of leaves, etc., lined with fine black rootlets. 9 flushed. Four eggs, fresh. White, deli cately speckled with chestnut and lilac-gray: .75X.58; .73X.57; .77x..59; .74x.57. J. P. .V. How I Prepare Eggs. In my earlier collecting days I lost many a valuable egg, especially those containing em- bryos, by not knowing how to safely extract the contents, and trusting my experience may benefit others and perhaps interest them, in- somuch that they will give of their own ex- perience, I venture to tell the readers of the O. & O. my methods. My working outfit consists of the best drills that I can procure (and I know of none that can compare with those that friend Webster sells), a solid nickel blow-pipe, also one of glass with a rubber nipple on the mouth end, embryo scissors and hooks, a bottle of strong solution of caustic potash, which I prepare by filling my bottle one-half full of water and tlien dissolving in it all the caustic that it will take, (the caustic can be procured at any drug store), a small box of dust shot, a sheet of blotting paper, a soft cloth and soft lead pencil, a data pad, also a glass of clean water and a dish of any description to hold the con- tents of the eggs. The latter should be par- tially filled with water to prevent accidents, from dropping the egg. Now I am ready for work. If the eggs are fresh there is no difficulty in blowing them. I will take for illustration a nest of Oriole's eggs. I first examine each egg- to see upon which side the markings are most prominent or most handsomely grouped, and on the opposite side I drill as neat a hole as possible. I do not advocate drilling the small- est hole that it is possible to extract the con- tents through, neither do I admire eggs from which a quarter or a third has been drilled away. I think tliat the hole should be in pro- portion to the size of the egg, but be the hole large or small let it be neat and without chipped edges. A rare egg with a large hole, if it be perfect, makes a desirable cabinet specimen. After blowing my eggs I thoroughly rinse them out with fresh water and wipe them carefully with a damp corner of my cloth, taking care that I do not destroy any of the markings, which is easily done with many eggs. I now set them, holes down, on the blot- iiig paper to dry, after which I put on them the set marks; and here is a point I wish to emphasize: do not sprawl the figures over half the egg as I have known many to do, but make them small, neat and above all legible, and place them close to the blow hole. A.11 that remains to be done now is to make out the data which should be as full as possible, and the eggs are ready for the cabinet. Should the embryo be partially formed but soft, it can be blown out by using care, but often leaves a thick skin attached to the shell that is difficult to remove, and here is where the shot comes in play. Place a few grains in the egg and fill it with water, then gently shake it in different directions for a moment, when using your blow-pipe you will find that everything will come out. The shot can safely be used in Warbler's eggs and I have found it a great help ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 17-No. 1 Should the chick be strong and lusty more difficulty is experienced in its removal. If the egg be large as a Hawk's, for instance, carefully cut the embryo with the scissors and extract with the aid of a hook as much of con- tents as you can with safety, then fill it up with the potash solution, by using the glass blow-pipe, squeeze the nipple, put the end of the pipe in the solution and let go, when you will find your pipe nearly full. It tastes better this way than in your mouth. Set the egg one side for a few hours when the contents will be found partially or wholly dissolved and can be removed with the blow-pipe. In the case of a small egg a few moments is all that is neces- sary to dissolve tlie contents. A friend of mine in Texas said that he re- moved troublesome chicks by placing the egg in an ant hill, though I have never tried it and cannot tell from experience how it would work. In tlieory it is right, providing the ants are hungry, and I do not know that they are ever otherwise. If the above directions are the means of saving one set of rare eggs I shall feel amply repaid. Charles E. Ilor/le. West Millbury, Mass. [So far as regards the use of shot in small eggs, I consider Mr. Hoyle's directions very dangerous, — J. P. N.] A Sunny Day in Winter. It has been snowing for the last few days, and the ground is covered, to the depth of a foot or more, with the beautiful. But at last the Sim has come out to brighten the scene, and a beautiful sight it is. Pines and hem- locks bowed down with their heavy load of snow, that glistens in tlie sunlight like a mass of jewels. All natuie seems to be astir, and as we pass out of the house for a stroll through the woods and fields we are met by a small company of Tree Sparrows, who are out in search of crumbs, while in the appletrees close by may be seen the Black-capped Chick- adee and the White-bellied jSTuthatch in search of insects, and on yonder tree a Downy Wood- pecker is hard at work hammering away after some favorite morsel. We pass througli the orchard, and as we enter the adjoining field we notice quite a commotion among a fiock of Snowbirds and, looking about for the cause, notice a Great Northern Shrike who is out after his dinner, and wlio, failing to secure a Junco, is now in pursuit of a flock of Redpoll Linnets. As we pass into the woods we are accosted by a company of Jays, which in their flight foi- safety startle a Barred Owl from his slumbers, and set the Crows to cawing, and awaken the entire woods by their weird cry of "Thief! thief!" The Red Squirrel and the Chipmunk, thus startled, join their voices in the concert, and as we pass along we, in turn, are startled by the rush and whir of a Rulfed Grouse, as lie leaves for parts unknown. As we watch him disappear over the top of yon hemlock, our attention is called to something moving about among the branches in the top of the tree, and, upon closer observation, prove to be a party of Crossbills and Grosbeak enjoying a feast of cones in the sunshine. Passing from, the woods to the road leading back to the house, we startled a Goshawk from his dinner, and, upon going to the spot from whence he took his departure, we dis- cover bits of hair, etc., which tell us he has been dining upon a good fat rabbit. Passing thence along the road we start a flock of Bunting and Horned Larks, the first that we have seen this winter. And as we again enter the yard we are met by a company of the omnijiresent Passer domesticus, who. having driven the Tree Sparrows away, are fiiiisliii;g up the crumbs. As we enter and settle down in the easy cliaii, to think over all we have seen and heard, we all agree that you would have to go a long way to find a pleasanter place to spend an hour or two than in the woods on a sunny day in winter. 8. l{. Ini/ersoll. A Day's Trip to Ipswich Beach. We had talked of a trip to Ipswich Beach* for Thanksgiving Day, 1891, for the purpose of adding, if possible, some specimens to ouy collection; also to have a try at the Ducks. Our party consisted of two, my cousin Frank and myself. Tuesday evening was a busy one with us. Decoys were brought out and dusted off (for we had not used them before this season), guns oiled up, shells loaded, etc;. My business being in Boston, and we being quite busy, I was obliged to go up in the morning. At 1'2 o'clock I started for the depot, taking the 12.:!0 train for Ipswich, where I had sent my stuff in the morning. As the train pulled up at Beverly, Frank got on loaded down with guns and other equipments. January, 1892.] AND OOLOGIST. We arrived in Ipswich at 1.40, and went at once to Boynton's stable for a team to take us to the beach, which is about a five-mile drive. This is a very pleasant drive. As we got out of the village the fields and large hills continually reminded us of the pleasant times we had had with the Upland Plover. Then, as we got along further, we could see the snow-white sand hills glistening in the sun, and also Hog Island, which looms up above the other hills in gigantic proportions. As we drive along, with the crisp air blowing in our faces and the smell of the salt marshes greet us, it brings back many pleasant remem- brances, and we passed such remarks as " Here's where we shot the Red-wing Hawk," "Remember how we got into the grass birds here," etc. Birds appeared to be very scarce on the way down. There were plenty of Crows and that was all. We arrived at the beach at 3.1.5, and I guess the driver earned his money trying to get the horse out of a walk, but he (the horse) was a fine one if anyone wanted to take in the scenery. As soon as we landed at our destination we were out of the team, traps and all, and mak- ing a bee-line for our cottage. After opening it up, so as to air it out, we proceeded to change our clothes, fill our pockets with shells, and go down and get the boat oft' and get over to a fav(nite hunting ground for Longspurs, Snowllakes, Shore Larks, etc. We found the Shore Larks very abundant and secured several fine specimens, which I shall mount. We also noted some few Snowflakes but were unable to secure any specimens. I have never seen so many Crows together as there were about sunset. There was a con- tinual riight of large flocks for about an hour flying from tlie direction of Hog Island and tow.ud the beach. There seemed to be a few- Ducks flying, but the prospect looked slim at this time. We got back to the cottage at about .5.30, and while Frank built the fire I went to get some milk and other things that we wanted at the hotel, where they are always ready to help a fellow out on anything he needs in the way of food. When I got back Frank had a rousing fire going, and the frag- rant smell of potatoes told me that he had not been idle. While he was frying jjotatoes and making coffee I set the the table and put things in order, and at 6 o'clock we sat down to supper, which, to use Frank's words "that if any king kicked at, he did not know when he had a good thing." But laying joking aside, I would not have taken the best turkey dinner that the Adams House of Boston could have got up for that supper of fried potatoes, bread, sausages and hot coffee, with the surroundings. After supper we washed the dishes and sat down by the fire to spend the remainder of the evening in singing, playing the harmonica and talking over the pros- pects of a good morning for ducks. At 9 o'clock we started to go to bed, and after a pillow-fight and a good deal of joking we got to sleep. The first thing I remember after this was Frank punching me and telling me it was quarter of five. We got up at once and in thirty minutes we had a hot fire and a steam- ing breakfast, and by the time we got ready to go out it was 6 o'clock. It was a beautiful morning. The stars were shining brightly and in tlie east behind a bank of clouds could be seen the faint streaks of the sun just coming up. The river was like glass and as we rowed across to our blind we left a wake that we could see way across it. The Crows had com- menced to fly back and all the noise of any kind that we could hear came from them. By the time we got our decoys set and settled in our blind it was quite light. The first birds seen were a pair of Whistlers coming up the river, but they gave us a wide berth. Then they commenced to come along singly and in pairs, but not in our direction, and we commenced to think that this was not one of the days that Ducks decoyed. Frank complained of his feet being cold so I said "go back of the bank and get them warm but be careful not to scare any Ducks if any come along." He had hardly got away before a pair flew by, sheldrakes I think, but did not come in. I was .sitting there thinking about pulling in the decoys and going after Snowflakes when I heard a noise that sounded like Whistlers, and almost be- fore I knew it a flock of no less than thirty went past just out of range. They sailed by a way then turned and came straight for the decoys. Pictures of a dozen Ducks laying dead on the water came to me, but alas! so near and yet so far. They set their wings to come down when Frank's head bobbed up from behind and away they went too far off for a shot but I sent two charges of fours after them which made one change his mind about going away. We soon got settled again and had another long wait. Since I had fired at the large flock, biids seemed to be scarcer than before so I concluded to go over on the marsh and see what I could see. I succeeded ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 17-No. 1 in getting two more specimens of Shore Larks, brie suggestions as to the advantage and use and could have got more but I liad enough. I was just going back wlien I heard Frank fire twice. I ran over and found that a pair of Whistlers had come in to tlie decoys and lie had succeeded in stopping one and wounded the other, but ISTo. 2 got to feeling better and started oft' before we could get to him. I then took my turn at the blind and three birds came sailing along out of the river. As they sailed over the decoys I fired, killing one and I had a bead on another, but the shell missed fire. Xow if there is anything I like (?) it is to have a sliell miss fire. So after easing mj^ mind up a little I started out after the bird that I had shot and found it to be a 9 Shel- drake. We had just got in the stand again when a pair of Whistlers came by going with the wind. Frank fired and thought it was fuuny he did not get them as he aimed as much as six feet ahead. But I don't think that twelve feet would have been any too much at the rate they were going. We were obliged to come home on the 11 o'clock train from Ipswich so at about quarter of ten we jjulled in our decoys and started to row back to the cottage against the tide. When we arrived there we found the team in waiting, and the fellow kindly told us that we would "have to hustle" if we wanted to catch the train. We climbed in and got our traps in and arrived at the depot just in time to get aboard the train. , If we had been a minute later we should have lost it. We arrived home all right and I for my part never had a better time, although I have got more game, and I think Frank was of the same opinion. And after all taking into con- sideration the time we had and the scarcity of game in this section, the pleasant weather and everything, I don't think we ought to kick on the amount of game we got. Any- way we made up our minds that if possible we should make a like trip Christmas, which we will give an account of in the O. & O. if we have any luck, and this piece does not find its way into the editor's waste basket. C. E. Brown. Heverly, Mass. Ornithology and Meteorology. The correlation of ornithology and meteor- ology has been somewhat underestimated, and it is my purpose in this paper to give a few of keeping weather data. If a careful student or field w orker keeps a series of temperature observations from day to day, lie will learn: Firstly, that there are what might be termed temperature periods, or groups of days, during which the mean temperature of each is relatively alike, and much unlike the common temperature of either the following or preceding group. Secondly, he will learn that groups of high and low tem- perature are very apt to alternate, a familiar example being that of cold and warm waves, common over most of the United States. Besides these temperature notes, he may keep a daily or tri-daily record of the direction and force or velocity of the wind. Comparison will show the necessity of the same periodical division which was applied to temperature, viz., the secpience of winds from the several cardinal points, and the alternation of windy and calm periods. The appearance of the sky is, also, of con- siderable importance. Irrespective of bird lore, the observer will find a correlation of fair and of stormy weather and certain winds. Now the reader may ask, "Of what good is all this to the oruithoUigist ?"' In reply, I vv'ould say, for any one, be he interested in birds or otherwise, it sharpens the observatory powers, and encourages inferential deduction ; two valuable traits in any walk of life. For the bird man it does much more. For instance, we will suppose that he has kept an approximately correct record of the numbers of the various species which he m.iy have observed during his walks afield. By review- ing his data he will find a tendency towards the formation of alternate periods of plentifulness or scarcitj', just as in his meteorological dita, like and unlike conditions were grouped in periods of successive days. It then follows in his mind to compare the two kinds of data in order to detect, if pos- sible, the coincidence of certain kinds of weather, and certain conditions of plentiful- ness among the birds. If his data has been compiled in spring-time, high temperature, southerly winds, and cloudy or stormy weather, will be apt to coincide with periods of more than ordinary abundance of birds, while cold, northerly, and fair weather accom- pany scarcity. As the season passes the marked ness of these coincidences decrease until, at mid- summer, it is hardly apparent. As autumn comes on, the fluctuation in numbers increases January, 1892.] AND OOLOGIST. again when the correlative meteoi'ological con- ditions regain prominence, but comparison will give different results. Although the se- quence of cold and warm, windy and moderate, and fair and stormy weather remains the same, the periods of abundance of birds will now be on the days of cold, north wind and fair weather, or the reverse of spring-time, wlien the warmer days and favorable winds were incentives for the birds to push north- ward on their journey, while in the fall the cold, north winds act in the same way, the direction being reversed. And so the migration passes, and autumn ages into winter, and the birds become scarcer and their fluctuations less prominent, though never ebbing entirely away. In Massachusetts the east and northeast winds of autumn are cold and promote migra- tion, but in winter they are warmer than the west and northwest gales, so that at that season birds are sometimes most noticeable during easterly weather. Harry Gordon White. A Rainy Day in the Woods. Saturday, December 26, 1801, we shoul- dered our guns and pocketed our note-books, and started off for a tramp through the woods to see what we could collect and note in the bird line. By we I mean my cousin Frank and myself. It was cloudy and rather dark and rainy, just the day one would expect to see Owls and such, and therefore we concluded to go first to a strip of woods called Ober's, and then through a large, dark woods and swamp called the Park. Birds (as usual here) were scarce, except, of course, the usual amount of Crows and Chickadees. By the way, if it were not for the latter the woods in winter would seem very lonesome to me. They always seem so .sociable, and welcome you to the woods at all seasons. We had been walking on the road for awhile when I happened to glance into the woods, and my eye caught siglit of a small object on a pine tree, which looked some like a bird but more like a pine knot. I kept my eyes on it, however, and thought I saw it move. We went closer and found, sure enougii, it was a bird, and one we had been looking for, a Saw-whet Owl. He seemed very tame, so I thought we might capture him without shooting. First I tried walking slowly around behind him with a long pole I had cut to hit him with. As fast as I walked he would turn his head until it got around exactly the the opposite way from what it should be. I thought then of the piece I read in the O. & O. about walking around and around an owl until he twisted his neck off. But I found this was not that kind of an Owl, for just then, almost too quick for me to see him, he turned his head way around the other way. Finding I could not get ; its wings are black. An eagle? No; the bird is too small. It is the little Ocean Eagle, first and chief of the winged race, and daring navigator who never furls his sails, the lord of the teni- I)est, the scorner of all peril — the Man-of-War or Frigate-bird. We have reached the cul- minating point of the series commenced by the wingless bird. Here we have a bird which is virtually nothing more than Mings: scarcely any body, — barely as large as that of the domestic cock, — while his prodigious pinions are fifteen feet in span. The storm bursts; he mounts to lofty heights, where lie finds tian- quillity. The poetic metajihoi', untrue when api)lied to any other bird, is no exaggeration when applied to him : literally, he sleeps upon the storm. When he chooses to oar his way seriously, all distance vanishes: he breakfasts at the Senegal; he dines in America. — Michelet. January, 1892.] AND OOLOGIST. ORNITHOLOGISTix^^OOLOGIST A Monthly Magazine of NATURAL HISTORY, ESPECIALLY DEVOTE P TO THE STUDY OF THEIR NESTS AND EGGS, and to the INTERESTS OF NATURALISTS. Under the Editorial Management of FRANK B. WEBSTER, Hyde Park, Mass. J. PARKER NORRIS, Philadelphia, Pa. FRANK A. BATES, Boston, Mass. PUBLISHED AT THE AND NATURALISTS SUPPIV DEPOT FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY INCl)RPORATED, Hyde Pabk, Mass., U. S. A. The O. & O. is mailed each issue to every paid sub- scriber. If you fail to receive it. notify us. Brief Notes. During the present year we shall insert clip- pint;s from the press that we think will he of general interest to our readers. We will always give preference to notes that are sent in. A Golden Eagle taken at Kalamazoo, Mich., New Year's day. R. F. Judson. Rattlesnake Pete and His Pet Coon. — Rittlesnake Pete has had a pet coon for the past three years that was as full of tricks as an egg is of nreat. One of these tricks was to tiifovv hack tlie three holts on liis cage, let the otlier animals out, and go visiting. His favor- ite resort was the Exchange Hotel, where he would hide in the cellar and chase the women when they eu^ered. On one occasion he entered the dining room and frightened the girls so they climhed on the tal>le. He kept guard for nearly a half hour, when the girls cried for help. He performed his last trick at supper time Friday, when he chased one of the girls up the cellar stairs and caught her dress in his teeth. She drew his head tlirough the door, slammed the door shut, and held him there until one of the other girls hrought a cleaver and split his head open. The hody weighed twenty-seven pounds, and the hide will be stuffed. — The Oil City Derrick. We received a number of Snowy Owls from Minnesota early in .January. The finest one of the season was pui-chased by Philip Laurent, one of our subscribers. His Trap Carried Off by a Buzzard. — A boy living at Lewes missed one of his musk- rat traps, the chain of which was broken, indicating that the trap had been carried away by something stronger than a muskrat. Two weeks afterward he found the trap in Russell's woods, and caught in it was a large Turkey Buzzard fastened by the leg. The trap was opened and the vulture rtew away. Alongside of the bird while it was in the trap were two eels, which are supposed to have been brought to the captive by other Buzzards. — ^The Wil- mington Moining News. A pair of walrus tusks weighing nearly fifteen pounds was brought to us last week. Although not the largest they were of suffi- cient size to attract considerable attention. Annihilated in Mid- air. — Yester^lay afternoon about 3 o'clock, just before the heavy shower, several gentlemen were sitting in front of a store in West Nashville when one of the party observed a large Turkey Buzzard that was sailing majestically across the sky, and remarked that if that Buzzard did not look out he would get wet. Their attention was thus called to the bird, and all were lazily watching its flight, when suddenly, just as it was opposite and above them, they were blinded by a flash of lightning which seemingly exploded on the back of the Buzzard. They were astonished somewhat but recovered them- selves and looked for the Buzzard, but alas, the majestic bird was out of sight. All that was left of him was a few black tail feathers, which fluttered pathetically to the ground. Those who witnessed the phenomenon suc- ceeded in catching several of the scorched feathers, which they exhibit in corroboration of the story. The shooting season in Massachusetts is about over, and there seems to be but one verdict: ''The worst on record." It is impossible to ignore the fact that game is growing scarcer each succeeding year, and there is a very strong sentiment among the gunners that game importation on a heroic scale and iron-bound protective laws are the only things to save the game bird shooting of the commonwealth from becoming a thing of the past. The dealers are taking the matter up, and it is more than probable that they will con- tribute generously to tlie exchequer of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Asso- ciation. Those firms who supply cartridges, guns and other requisites for the sport realize that it will not be to their interest that the Quail and the Ruffed Grouse shall become ex- tinct in this state. Said Mr. C. E, Schworer of this city to a Herald reporter: "The time has come when we must import and tuin out annually thousands of birds. The dealers must come to the assistance of the game protective asso- ciation. I believe that it will pay our firm to do so. Instead of turning out a few hundred Quail at a time, thousands should be let loose. I am a strong believer in big ' plantings.' Instead of importing birds such 10 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 17-No. 1 as the Arizona Quail, which may possibly not succeed in Massachusetts, and which at any rate are costly to maintain, would it not be better to get Quail from Carolina that we know will give satisfaction, and at any rate can be got for far less money? The great need of the M. F. G. P. A. has been money, but I believe that subscripti(ms will in future flow in with much greater freedom, as sjjortsmen are now beginning to realize the grand work it is doing in their behalf. "In my opinion every man who handles gun and dog in Massachusetts should send in a donation of at least $5 a year to the associa- tion. It would prove money well invested. A first-class gun costs from ^1.50 to $2b0, a broken dog is worth a large sum, then ammu- nition is not given away, and when to these items are added the value of time taken from business and actual travelling expenses, it will be readily seen that $5 to guarantee something at which to shoot is but a trifling consideration." — Boston Herald. A party in Montana offers us a tame Rocky Mountain sheep. He writes regarding it that it is kept tied as it can jump a twenty-foot fence easily. To Fricasske Pigeons. — Cut two pigeons into pieces, and wash and clean them well, and put them into a stewpan with a pint of water and the same of claret, season it witli pepi^er and salt, a blade of mace, one onion, a bunch of sweet herbs and an ounc<^ and a half of butter rolled in tiour ; cover the stewpan closely, and let them stew vmtil there is just enough for the sauce; then take out the onion and the herbs and place the pieces of pigeon on a dish and keep them hot; beat the yolks of three eggs and stir them into the gravy until it is thick and smooth; then put in the pigeon and shake all together over the hre; put the pieces of pigeon into a dish and pour the sauce over them; scatter some fried oysters over the top and lay slices of toasted bacon around. Pigeon Compote. — Truss six young pigeons, as for boiling, and fill their craws with force- meat, lard them down the breasts, and fry brown in butter, then put them into a stew- pan with a sufficient quantity of good gravy, and when they have stewed three-quarters of an hour thicken it with a piece of butter rolled in flour: serve with the gravy strained over them, and garnish them with forcemeat balls. May 10, 1891, at Fayette County, Ga., the nest of Cjolumhn carolinensis was taken. It was located in a black gum tree, ten feet up. It contained three eggs, which is unusual. The nest was composed of pine needles and grass. This sijecies is very common through- out the southern states. They begin nesting the latter part of March. Glen. B. Wynn. Before the society of American Ornitholo- gists a paper was read recently on " Why the Mocking Birds left New Jersey." The New York Tribune lays it to the fact that the mosquitoes crowded them off the perch. AN ANTIQUATED ADAGE. "Shoot lolly as it flies," said Pope; liiit in tlu-se latter days ' Tis better far to let it tly, And shoot it when it stays. — Post. Folly is a bit of game which evidently was in existence at the time of Pope, and has survived the attacks of the dude-sportsmen since. There is plenty of this kind of game left for them to shoot at as is well shown by the acts of these gentry at this day. They will not harm anything. A cow moose so gentle that the children can play with it, and that it is allowed to run about with the cattle, has been offered for sale to us. The Mexican hairless dog whose epidermis is to be transferred to a man's arm believes that it is a skin game. — Boston News. The Sportsman and Tourist. Jamaica Plain, Mass., (a forty-page magazine devoted to sports- men and tourists and pleasure seekers). Subscription rate has been reduced to $1.00 l)er annum. We now offer it in connection with the O. & O. for $1.50 for the two magazines. To Separate Fighting Dogs. — Apply to the nostrils a pinch of snuff or pepper, or a handkerchief wet with ammonia. Large flocks of wild ducks have been going- over Niagara Falls for the last week. The birds have been gathering in laige numbers above the falls for two or three weeks past. They float out and down the river until they are caught in the rapids and are whirled along over the brink. Those that are not killed are stunned and seem bewildered. The largest bags of this game weie made the other night, wJien a dozen men picked up some four hun- dred in the river belo \ the falls. Thegame is shipped to Eastern markets. Pakkots Dangerous. — One day, when this parrot's mistress was very busy, and did not care to see callers, she happened to look out of the window, and saw an acquaintance ap- proaching the house. "■There comen Mrs B. Bear, dear P^ she said in a tone of impatience. A moment later, Mrs. B. was ushered in. On the instant Polly exclaimed, with a remaikable imitation of her mistress's tv- ever, it took to building its nest upon the tree tops, where it could bring up its young ones in peace, and since that time the bird has asain become fairly plentiful. — London Daily News. Mr. K. H. White, Jr., of Boston, has brought in foi' our inspection a new book of record for birds' skins and eggs, made for his own use. The first includes all the points of measure- ment: on one column at left of the page (ten items); a column at other side for other items of usual interest, and space for remarks in centre of page, the whole bound in a book The egg record is equally complete. Mr, White is taking great interest in ornithology at present, and bids fair to become one of the shining lights in the science, if he continues as he has begun. A Curious CANAiiv. — A childless couple up town expend most of their sympathies on a canary bird which is a crank on the feather question. The little fellow, who is seven years old, has always had ;ui aversion to his natural dress, and has industriously pulled out every feather he could reach. The result is that he has novv a smooth, shiny skin which looks like polished parchment, two or three lonely tail feathers, and a trifle of plumage on his head and neck. In summer he is all riglit, but the cold of winter bothers him. As soon iXH frost comes he is clad in a warm flannel jacket, which lie admires immensely. At night he lies down on a bed of cotton batting, submits quietly to be covered up. and sleeps there contentedly till morning. If the cold bc'-omes too severe, he calls out until he is taken out of the cage and put in bed with liis mistress, to whom he cuddles up eagerly for warmth. — New York Sun. One of our contemporaries, in the .lanuary issue, presents a beautifully colored plate of what we should call the Audubon's Warbler. Owing to some peculiar phase of plumage it flits under other colors. How Sf.rpents Move. — King Solomon ac- knowledged that there were "three things which are too wonderful for me — yea, four which I know not," and one of tliese was "tlie way of a serpent upon a rock." For hundreds of years after the time of Solomon the snake's mode of progression remained a mystery. Latter day men of science have learned that his snakeship's ribs furnish him with a means of progression. So, instead of having a pair or two pairs of "feet," they really have from one hundred and fifty to two hundred pairs. Aristotle thought that ser- pents had as many ribs as there are days in a month, but had he examined a python he would have readily detected his mistake, that species having four hundred. Snakes move in this way: Each vertebra suj^ports a pair of ribs, which act like a pair of legs, the extrem- ities being connected by a broad plate. The hind part of this plate is free, and when the ribs are moved forward that end is raised, so that it takes hold of the surface underneath, even tliough it be glass, the straightening of the reptile proi)elling it forward. — Dover (N. H.) Star. Ornithologists tell us that when feeding, the stride of the ostrich is from 20 to 22 inches; when walking but not feeding, 26 inches, and when terrified llj^ to 14 feet, or at the rate of about 25 miles an hour. — Clipping. But very few Snowy Owls have been reported in New England this winter. The usual num- ber of Barred Owls are also wanting. The unusual mildness of the season we think unquestionably accounts for it. Wood Worms Can't Stand Benzine. — Wf)od worms can be destroyed in books and woodwork by benzine. Books are locked up in a cupboard with a saucer of benzine. The insects, as well as their larvas and eggs, soon die off. Furniture and carvings are similarly placed in a room with a dish of benzine and kept closed up for several weeks, the time required for the complete destruction of the insects varying according to the thickness of the wood. New wood-work can be protected against their entry by a coating of glue, as, living on veaetable substances, tliey do not toucli animal products. — New York Journal. Dr. Sheldon Jackson is trying to stock Alaska with Siberian Reindeer. It's a pity he couldn't import some of the exiles at tlie same time. — Post. No Celebration. — Uncle Rastus: "I'se afeard I ain't goin' ter hab no turkey fer mail Thanksgivin' dis year." Hooks: " Why not Uncle Rastus? Are the prices too high for you?" Uncle Rastus: "No, sah; but de fences is." — Life. We read recently of a fox being caufjlit and held by a barbed wire fence until some hunters came up and captured the animal. His bushy tail had in some way become entangled in barbs and it was more certain in its giip than a steel trap. Last Friday while Will M. Small was out hunting he noticed something peculiar fluttering from the top rail of a barbed wire fence between the Highlands and North Truro. On going up to investigate he discovered a large owl of the "Long-eared" species, se- 12 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 17-No. 1 curely fastened to one of the sharp wire barbs and dead. The bird had evidently been tliere several days, a..d suffered a slow torture. One of tlie wires had gone entirely through between the bt)nes and cords of the wing near the body and jiinioned him with a grip of death. A very peculiar trap surely. We have received two fine skins of the Newfoundland Caribou, both bucks with hue antlers, and suitable for mounting. Tbe antlers are much heavier than those that we have from other sections in the East. Any person having information in their pos- session relating to the first arrival of tiie fol- lowing sjiecies in Newfnuudlaml, Labrador, Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island, Magdalens, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Urand Manan, Maine, Province of Quebec, or Manitoba, for the sjiring of 188.5, will confer a great favor by communicating the same to Harry Gordon \Vliite, Department of Agricul- ture, Washington: Robin, Bluebird, Baltimore Oriole, Catbird, Summer or Yellow Warbler, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Extinction of the Giraffe. — The giraffe is in danger of extinction. Ten years ago herds of seventy or eighty could be found, where to-day thirteen would be a large herd. An African chieftain, however, Khama, has taken the giraffe under his protection and preserves it, just as the czar of Russia has preserved in a forest of Lithuania the European bison from extinction. — Clipping. It Makes a Diffekence. — Wife: "'My dear, that horrid man next door has killed tlie dog." Husband: "Well, never mind, my dear, I"ll get you another one some time." Wife: " But it wasn't my Fido that he killed: it was your hunting dog.'" Husband (wildly): "Where is mvgun?" — N. Y. Herald. W. E. Clyde Todd, Washington, D. C. (Division Ornitliology Department of Agricul- ture) wrote us a few days since requesting the names of our subscribers wlio resided in Pennsylvania. The list was sent to him and in return he very kindly sent us quite a list of ornithologists in the state who were not in- cluded. Siiould this reach the eye of any ornitliologist it miglit be of assistance to Mr. Todd if tliey would drop him a postal giving their address. Much discussion w