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H PREFACE. »

The object of this magazine is to collect and dissem¬
inate a knowledge of Bird Life, and cultivate a desire
for observation in Ornithology and Oology in the rising
generation. It will advocate and sustain the taking of
specimens when necessary for identification, also for
collections when from regions of plenty, but it will sug¬
gest other methods equally practicable to those who
object to destroying life, and cultivate a love of bird
life about our homes, and a desire to increase rare
birds by introduction rather than kill off those that
venture among us. It will avoid the technical as much
as possible, and make itself fully understood by the gen¬
eral reader.

JOS. M. WADE.

Norwich, Conn., Feh. 15, 1882.

ESTABLISHED 1878.

THE

ORNITHOLOGIST

OOLOGIST.

YOL. YI. 1881.

BIRDS: THEIR NESTS RND EGGS.

rxjiJi.,isirKD UY

JOSEPH M. WADE,

Nojnncir, cow.

'V

j\N c .15 LUTHER

-

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY

OF THE

IMMORTAL WILSON,

THE ILLUSTRIOUS fiUDUBON,

AND THE

DEVOTED NUTTALL.

0isi>^zmi03Li0C3-isrr -a-IsTid ooxjOO-ist.

CONTENTS OF VI.-1881.

A

Albinos . . . . 7, 38, 43, 61, 76

Arrivals . 11, 69

Auk, Great . 39

Additions to the R. I. Fauna . . 44

A Needed Work . 45

Advertising . 52

Almost a Suffocation . 77

It

Bernida hrenta . 4

Bittern, Least . . 6, 8

Birds, A New Way to Skin . 8

Buntings, Snow . 8

Blue-birds . 15

Birds, Importing Game . 23

Birds of the Hudson Highlands . — 44

Birds, Remarkable Flight of . 53

Black -hi rd , Yell o w-1 leaded . 67

Boxes, Simple Sample . 76

Bittern, American . 77

Birds, Native in Confinement . 78

Bird Surgery . 84

Bird, Indigo . 13, 22

Bird, Summer Red . 21

Brants . 55

Birds, Rare . 64, 76

C

Correction . 4, 53, 55, 61

Cuckoos, Black-billed . 5

Chaparral Cock . 7, 66, 85, 86

Cow-birds . 8, 79

Collecting on the Pacific Coast . 18, 19

Contributors. Gur . 20, 93

Cross-bill, White-winged . 23

Creeper, Black and White . 25

Correspondence . 36

Collectors . 21. 48

Check-list, New . 61

Chewink . 61

Cuckoos, Those . 84

Collector Going South . 85

Cuckoos, Our Two . 88

Check list, The Cones . 84, 92, 93

Catching a Tartar . 22, 14

Carolinensis pants . 40

I>

Doves, Common . 7, 46

Duck, Little Black head . 14

Duck, Cross-bred . 30

Duck, Pin tail . 63

K

Eggs, Preparing . 12

Eggs. Crow’s . 14

Eiigs, Double Yelked . 15, 30

Eggs, Coloring Matter of . 15

Egg, An Egg Within an . 16, 39, 40, 53, 61

Eggs, Rare . 20

Eggs, White Blue-birds . 28

Eggs, Large Clutches of . 40, 43, 53, 61

Eggs, Sparrow Hawk’s . 43

Eagle, Bald . 60, 79

Encounter, An . 61

Eagle, Golden . 76, 94

Eggs, Spotted Pheehe’s . 77

Eggs, Spotted Robin’s . 79

F

Females Preponderating . 23

Flycatcher, Small Green-crested . 39

Fight, A Savage . 52

Flicker, Yellow or Red-shafted, which ?... . 82

Flycatcher, Fork-tailed — should be Scissor-

tailed . 83, 92, 93

Flycatcher, Fork-tailed (Illustration) . 83

Flycatcher, Canada . 91

Flycatchers . 50

a

Gannet, Another . 96

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted . 5, 7, 68, 84

Grosbeak, Pine . 8, 51

Gallinule, Florida . 22, 40

Grosbeak, Black-headed . 45

Gull, Herring . 51

Goshawk, Mexican . 87, 88

II

Hawk, Sparrow . 6, 21, 22

Hawk, Sharp-shinned . 6, 89, 90, 91

Herons in Winter. Night . 6, 7

Hawk, Red tailed . 7, 39

Hawk, ilarsh . 14

Humming Bird, Ruby-throated . 29

Hawk, C’ooper’s . 37, 73

Herons, Little Blue . 51

Hawk, Duck . 60

Hawk and Plover, Sparrow . 64

Hawk, Red shouldered . 39

Hawk. Fish . 40

I

Indigo Bird . .

In Pro.spcctive .

Incpiiry . .

J

.lournal, A New .

Jay, Canada .

Jay, A Tame Wild Blue .
John K rider’s Work .

13, 22

76

15

22, 30
. 36

.... 60

K

Kinglet, Golden-crowned . 58

King-bird and King-fisher . 64

F

Lark, 'Meadow . 8

Lark, Horned . 10, 11

Lark, Sky . .

..12,

13

Loon .

51

Lewis, Suicide of Gov .

.70

M

Magazine, Our . .

.28

MacGillivray, William .

.43

Magpie, Black-headed . .

46

IV

Nest Pensile, Robin’s .

.24

Nest With Water .

.24

Nomenclature of N. A Birds .

.28

Notes from Norwich, Conn .

.30,

31,

32

Notes from Saratoga, N. Y .

.39,

40,

91

Notes from Shelter Island . ,

40,

83

Notes from Virginia .

.21,

40

Notes from Moosehead Lake, Me ...

.50

Notes from Bangor, Me .

51

Nesting, Late .

Notes from Maine .

71

Notes from Maryland .

.66,

79

Notes from Denver, Colorado .

.67

Notes from Syracuse, N. Y .

.67

Nest, Brown Thrasher’s .

Nuthatch, White-bellied .

.79

Nesting, Early .

...7

Notes, General .

.39

O

Oologist, The . . .

..1,

2, a

!. 4

Owl, Great Gray (Contradiction)....

,. 4

Oriole, Baltimore .

..5,

13,

22

Owl, Great Horned .

..7,

16.

26,

39

Owl, Long-eared .

...7,

81

Owl, Hawk . .

.13

Owl, Richardson’s .

.14,

15

Owl, Northwestern Screech .

.21,

45

Owl, Pigmy (Illustrated) . 33,

34,

35,

47,

48

Owl in Confinement, Screech .

.35

Owl, Barred .

.37

Owl, Barn .

39

Owl, Burrowing .

■ 41,

42,

43,

61

Owl, Snowy .

.66,

75

O.sprey Inland .

.69

Owl, Probably a New .

.76

Owl, Monkey-headed . .

86

Oological, Incubation Experiments.

88

Owl, Whitney .

94,

95,

96

Ornithologist and Oologist . .

...4

1»

Publications, Recent..

• 8, 16,

20, 24, 32, 80, 84, 96

Plover, Kildeer .

Pewee, Say’s .

Plover and Sparrow H

awk...

Quail, California .

Q

. 74

R

Red-bird, Summer .

Robin and Cat .

. 27

Removal .

Robins, Growth of .

Robin, Talking .

Redstart, American . 43

Rare Works . 45

Rare Finds . 44

Rad, Virginia . 59

Rare Birds . 64, 76

Ravens . 66

Robins and Black Snakes . 80

Road Runner . 7, 69, 85, 86

Swift .

Science Advocate .

Shrike, Loggerhead .

Swallows, Bank .

Sparrow, Song .

Sparrow, Henslow’s .

Sandpiper, Solitary .

Season of ’81 .

Sandpiper and Mussel, Spotted

Sheldrake .

Season, Close of the .

Snow-bird .

Shooting Birds with Water ....

Sparrow, Chipping .

Swallows, Rough winged .

Sparrow in Maine, House .

Sparrow Hawk and Plover .

Sparrow, Field .

T

Thrush, Sickle-billed .

Tanager, Scarlet .

Titmouse, Least .

Titmouse, Tufted .

Titmouse, Yellow-headed .

Tern in R. I., Caspian .

Thrush, Small-billed Water .

. 50

. 5

. 8

. l4

.15, 79
17, 18
33, 24
37, 38

. 45

. 51

. 54

. 59

. 63

. 67

. 78

. 86

. 64

. 91

13, 22

. 19

23, 66

. 27

. 52

. 66

V

Virginianus Bubo . 26, 27

Volume, Our Present . 93

Verdin, or Yellow-headed Titmouse . 27

W

Woodcock, That . . 3, 10, 21

Warblers, Hooded . — 9, 73

Wren, Cactus . 11

Wren, Short-billed Marsh . 15

Wren, Winter . 24

Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied . 35, 39, 50

Whip-poor-will . .45

Warblers, Prairie . 46

Warblers, Kentucky . 49, 64

Warblers, Black-throated Blue . 49

Warblers, Prothonotary . 53, 65

Warblers, Blue-winged Yellow — . 57

Warblers, Blue Yellow-backed . 62

Warblers, Black-capped Yellow . 62

Woodpeckers, Red headed . 72, 78, 79

Warblers, Worm-eating . 78

Woodpecker, Black-backed, Three-toed . 88

William MacGillivray . 43

W oodpeckers . 51

TO COZTTXSIBXJTOZ^S

VOLUME

Atkins, Dr. H. A .

A

...5, 13, 22, 29, 45, 88

Allen, Gbas. A .

. 19, 40

Allen. W. T .

. 22

Allen, Frank H .

. 53

Barnum, M. K .

It

. 3, 39, 66, 67

Bumpus, H. G .

. 15

Bendire, Gapt. Gbas.

E., U.

S. A ..21, 23, 40,

41. 42, 43, 48,

61, 81,

82, 87, 88, 94, 95, 96

Blanchard, Wm .

. 39

Berrj', H. A .

. 86

Brewster, Win .

. 94

Bray, Frank E .

. 48

Gollins, Wm. H .

G

Glark, .1. N . .

. 10, 51, 72, 80

Gbamberlain, 31 .

. 24, 53

C’rowell, 3Irs. 0, M..

. 74, 75

Goe, W. W .

. 16

Davie, Oliver . .

I>

. 39, 75

Dakin, J. A .

. 59

Everman, B. W .

K

. 7, 19, 40, 61, 85

Eddv, Newell A .

Emer.son, W. 0 .

. 43, 61, 62, 63

Eaton, D. 11 .

. . . 63

Firor, Y. .M .

F

. 40, 63, 67

Griffin g, Closes B ....

4if

. 7, 59, 82

Grav, ilallie .

Gunn, Gbas. W .

. 69

Goodale, Gbas. I .

. 76

Gates. Harrv T .

. 80

Hales, Henry .

II

. 6

Hyams. C. W .

. . 8

Ilolterbuff, Jr., G. ...

. 11. 27

Howey. J, M .

. 13

Hawes, G. Alger .

. 27

Holbrook, Judge S. T .

Hart, Dr. S. W .

. 38. 56

Hard}', 3Ianlv .

Hatch, Delos .

. 76

Ide, Will. R .

I

VI -1881.

j

Jencks, F. T.6, 14, 48, 49, 53, 57, 64, 65, 66, 72, 78

Jones, Rev. C. . 18, 49, 50

J. M. W . 37, 38, 54, 55, 73, 74. 89, 90, 91

L.

Lattin, F. II . 11

Merrill, Harry . 3, 58, 71, 86

McElroy, K. P . 15

McCallum, Dr. G. A . 16, 30

Mundt, A. II . 29

INIinot, Henry D . .

Meriam, M. I)., C. Hart . 96

X

Xehrliug, H . 83, 93

Xichol-s, Ja.son E . 88

I»

Page, Chas. N . .' . 7

Peckham, B. .1 . 8

R

Rathburn, S. F . 14, 25, 26

Reed, J. T. T., (Rybope, England) . 29

Rieb, Guy C . * . 40, 77, 91

Ridgway, Robert . 93

Reisinger, Roe . 94

S

Sage, Jno. H . 5, 6, 14, 38, 48, 50, 51

Small, Edgar A . . . 35, 64, 66, 79

Stone, I). D . 45, 46, 67

Spaetb, Gus. C . 61

Slosson, Annie Trumbidl . 78

Sennett, Geo. B . 86, 93

T

Tappan, Geo. L . 67

Thompson, Gbas. A . 8

W

■Willard, S. L . 1. 2, 3. 32

Wortbington, W. W . 5, 11, 40, 43, 46, 62

Warren, Herbert IM . 5

■W right, Frank S . 22, 30, 85

Wood, Dr. 'Win . 33, 34, 35, 47, 48, 78, 79, 88

Willey, Tbeo. P . 39

Wharton, Wm. R . 39, 78

Wilson, Dr. T. J . 50

Willis. C'bas. A . 64

Wallaee, John . 76, 82

“ We desire not the prostration of scienee, but we would strip from it the robe of omnipotence
improperly assumed, and

That cold. rej)ulsive skeleton anew would dress.

Then warm it into life and loveliness.” — Prof. Hosford.

ORNITHOLOGIST

AND

1

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per
aHiunn.

Established March 187;),

.Joseph M. Wade, editor and pul)lisher.

10 cents
single copy.

VOL. VI.

ROCKVILLE, CONN., MARCH i88i.

NO. I

THE OOLOGIST.

ITS HISTOKY FROM THE COMMENCEMENT.

[BY TriE ASSOCIATE EDITOH.]

During the winter of 1874^5, while con¬
ducting an ornithological department in a
western amateur paper called The Reper¬
tory^ the writer with a very indefinite idea
of his undertaking, but with a certain con¬
viction that the periodical literature of
America poorly represented the science of
oology; while the broader subject of ornith¬
ology did not count a solitary popular ser¬
ial devoted entirely to the v ants of those
interested in birds and their eggs, conclud¬
ed to commence the publication of an ama¬
teur paper eminently for the Oologist.

With no outside help, no money, and a
limited experience, after having secured
the promise of an imemployed printer to un¬
dertake the publication of a small monthly,
called The Oologist, to be “issued,” as the
first number states, “in the interests of col¬
lectors and naturalists,” he set himself to
the task of supplying the material for the
first number (the writer was then 16 years
of age). This was published in March,
1875, an eight page, small, octavo sheet,
and consisted of short items and articles
of a varying character ; the bulk, however,
being on oology. The plan of the paper,
when started, was of a manifold nature ;
so much so that its existence was nearly
crushed out on the publication of the first
number, by the severe and unrelenting
criticism uniformly thrust at it bj those
few to whom the salutatory seemed a cri¬
terion of its immediate future. [The pre¬
sent copy of our little journal is a fair
specimen of what we intend to produce for
the next twelve months or more.] This
criticism the editor frankly and advisedly

pronounces well merited, and was certainly
a great influence in re-forming its scope
and literary aspect. As a sort of initiatory
there was in the first issue a department
shortly entitled “Story,” under which a
senseless item, which was frequently band¬
ied about by the newspapers, was publish¬
ed ; certainly, the writer admits, very inap¬
propriate. The next department was “Ool¬
ogy.” Under this caption appeared several
articles entitled respectively, “Birds’ Nests
and Eggs,” “Nest and Eggs of the Broad¬
winged Hawk,” “Eggs and Nest of Black-
throated Green Warbler;” “Oology,” and
“Our Excursion,” supplemented by several
small items. The editorial portion of the
paper occupied, as in the last number, the
top of the fourth page ; after which, under
the departmental title, “American Birds,”
were printed “American Game Birds,” “The
Confined Purple Finch,” and a purported
humorous piece, entitled “Abowt Robbinz.”
The remaining portion of the paper was
devoted to notes and items under the de¬
partments of “Foreign Birds,” “Sugar,” a
supposed humorous subdivision (conduct¬
ed after the style of many of the amateur
papers, by an appropriate editor, who pseu-
donymed himself “Sweet-meat,” and illus¬
trated by one of the editor’s OAvn wood-
cuts, well suited to the department but not
above criticism,) “Ornithological Items,”
“Exchanges,” “Correspondence,” “Miscell¬
aneous,” and “Advertisements.”

No prospectus of the paper having been
distributed, and no announcement of its
proposed publication having been made,
.uxcept to a few, personally, the first num¬
ber was a complete failure. The publisher
and pro])rietor was at a loss to pay the

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 1.

o

printer for it, but arranged to have the 8ec-
ond number issued, and made a favorable
hnaneial adjustment in the meantime.
Xumber two was printed in Ajiril, and
showed the good effect of some of the crit¬
icisms on the first number, for all that did
not come within the meaning of its jjrint-
ed heading was omitted. A series of pa¬
pers was commenced in this issue, entitled
•‘Birds’ Nests and Eggs,” which ran through
three volumes almost uninterruptedly, de¬
scribing tlie nests, eggs, and breeding lo¬
calities of many ditt’erent species of birds.
Number two contained four wood-cuts; two
of eggs, an illustration of the articles just
mentioned, a humorous one, and a repre¬
sentation of the Green Heron.

The first two issues were printed in
coarse tj^e upon thin paper, with scarcely
any margin, the heading being all “set up”
in type. Neither came up to the expecta¬
tions of their recipients, and as the means
lor the continuation of the jiaper were
more than exhausted, the editor withdrew
the periodical from the iirinter’s hands, and
concluded that he could neither find the
means nor encouragement to continue it.
The writer possesses a deal of enthusiasm
on oology, and was exceedingly mortified
that his journal should be an utter faihire;
for even from association with the two
numbers already published, he felt that
nothing else could ever supply its place ;
it was a hobby of extraordinary tenacious¬
ness. Soon after, however, several enquii-
ies came for specimen copies, some from
surprisingly remote localities, and one or
two notices ap])eared in the papers. These
awakened a fresh determination to continue
The Oologist, if it was reasonably possi¬
ble. The writer, therefore, with his limi¬
ted allowance of pocket-money, purchased
a piece of engraver’s boxwood, and with
what little experience he had ac<p;ired dur¬
ing leisure moments carved out a heading
for number three of the paper. [When
this somewhat singular heading was after¬
ward discanhnl, it was with more reluct¬
ance than one coiild readily account for ;

but it was associated with an experience of
wliich it stood an appropriate and sympath¬
izing symbol.] By dint of some exertion,
he added a small font of type to a dimin¬
utive printing office he had, sufficient to
compose one page of the paper, and hav¬
ing done that, writing And setting type as
he went, he made ready the form, and ne¬
gotiated with a boy friend to print it on
his press, half-a-mile away. This was done
one page at a time, until, at the expiration
of about one month, the May number ap¬
peared, embellished with four original
woodcuts and several engraved minor head¬
ings. Improvement over the April issue
was very manifest ; but with hard work at
school, many pains which would otherwise
have been taken were neglected. Five
numbers were printed in this way during
spare hours and on Saturdays, until, by his
friend’s ilispc'sal of the press, it became
necessaiy to do the printing elsewhere.

The magazine did not make its way read¬
ily into recognition. It was a losing and
consequently discouraging straggle for
favor with amateur collectors. It did not
begin to defray the expense of its publica¬
tion, which was very small. But at this
stage of its existence, and with a list of a
few j'aid subscribers, it seemed injudicious
au<l unreasonable to relinquish it. Besides,
it had already become of such importance,
apparently, as to be frequently cpioted by
other papers ; and this actuated a sense of
pride that influenced the writer to continue
it. To the end of printing the pages, he
planned and had a neighboring blacksmith
make him a printing press whose capacity
(which determined its expense) should be
jvist that of one page of type, and on it
the next four numbers were 2)rinted ; when,
deeming it necessary to lessen the labor
imposed by the rude j)rinting machine, he
disposed of it and purchased an “amateur”
press of larger dimensions. Volume II
and a greater portion of Volume III were
printed on this press. .At this time, how¬
ever. the writer found himself somewhat
sought for small “jobs” of ])rinting. and

AJarch, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

3

with the proceeds of this work he obtained
a still larger and better printing press.
This has been iised in the printing of “The
OoLOGisT nja to the paiblication of the first
four numbers of Volume V ; the last eight
numbers of this volume have issued at the
office of a regular printer ; Mr. Jos. M.
Wade, the present editor and publisher,
having undertaken its continuation on a
basis wliich all lovers of the study will ap¬
preciate and acknowledge.

The Oologist
had much to con-
tend with in
gaining its pres¬
ent foothold, on
not only Ameri¬
can, but foreign
ornithologists,
and especially
oologists. Its
list of subscri¬
bers is necessari¬
ly select. We
have been fre¬
quently remind¬
ed of the rapid
improvement
that has gone on in the journal dur¬
ing its career of six years ; five volumes
oidy being published, one year being lost
in unavoidable suspensions from lack of
means and patronage ; and withall we take
pardonable pride in its growth, as evidenc¬
ed by a comparison of number 1 of Vol¬
ume VI with the corresponding number of
Volume I ; and in expressing our desire
that it be made the best journal of its kind
in the world, we must call to our aid the
experience of all working stiadents in our
field, and ask our superiors to aid us all
they can ; for the editors of the journal, as
one of our follow naturalists has said, must
not be expected to know all about or¬
nithology themselves, but must be able to
shape the collected information of others
and distribute it for the benefit of the sci¬
ence. Descriptions of actual experience and
oliserv.ition will be fully appreciated.

“That Woodcock.’’

At last, through the kindness of Mr.
Frank S. Wright, of Auburn, N. Y., we
are enabled to give the true history of the
wounded Woodcock with the stick through
its breast. Mr. Merrill, of Bangor, Maine,
the Taxidermist, who mounted the bird,
writes to his friend as follows : — “On Octo¬
ber 9th, 1880, I received a Woodcock in
the flesh from a friend who shot the same
near this city. The breast of the bird was

pierced by a stick
about five inches
long, not from
^‘■side to side” as
stated by some
of the local pa¬
pers, but from
the front through
the breast, out at
the side, and un-^
der the wing, (as
our illustration,
drawn by Mr.
Merrill, shows.)
The flesh of the
bird was but lit¬
tle cut and had
entirely healed, as also had the skin, so
that the stick was fastened into the wound.
The growth of the bird had apparently been
stunted by the jjresence of the stick which
was a perfectly straight piece of the stalk
of Golden Rod or some growth of a like
nature. This shows that the bird must
have been pierced by alighting on the
ground rather than by flying swiftly
through the trees and being transfixed by
a twig as the comments of some of oi;r
local papers seem to imply. — Merrile.

Scarlet Tanager’s NssT.-June 5th 1880 I
found a nest of the Scarlet Tanager con¬
taining three eggs that were exactly like
those of the cow-bird. I should like to know
if tanager’s eggs ever vary enough to resem¬
ble those of the cow-bird, or is there anoth¬
er instance of a bird’s sitting on cow-bird’s
eggs when there were none of her own in
the nest. M. K. Barnum.

4

ORNITlIOLOlilST

[Veil. (i-X... 1.

ORNITHOLOGIST aM OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAOAZINK DKVOTKD TO TIIK STI OV
OF HIUHS. TIIKIi; NKSTS AM) KOCJS.

JOS. M. WADE. - - - - EJiUn-

S. L. n’lLLAIll), - - - Axx’t Editor

With the co-operation of able Ornitholosrh’al
Writers ami Collectors.

ijil.OO per aitiiiiiii. lO eeiils single copy.

Alldress

JOS. WADE.

Rockville, Conn.

The Oologist has done its good Yvork.
has closed its monthly visits to onr rejid-
ers, many of Yvhom Imve learned to look
anxiously for its appearance. Onr jissoci-
ate, Mr. Willard, who established the mag¬
azine, has given in another 2ihi’t of this is¬
sue a very concise history of it from the
commencement to the end of volume five.
This should bs read l)y all our readers, but
more esjiecially the boys, for it will shoYv
them what can be done by ^lorseverance.
We are well awjire that the Oologist is a
small magazine, but it contains much that
will be sought for years hence. It will be
one of the scarce Yvorks among book col¬
lectors. It has closed its career and Yve do
not knoYV of a single volume for sale. We
stand ready to juirchase every Ymlume of¬
fered in fair condition, even to the last one.
and pay original cost. For the first three
volumes Yve Yvill jiay .double the original
cost. Is there another magazine in the U.
S. that Yvill do this ?

The Ornithologist and Oologist is noYV
before our readers. The editor Yvhile imb-
lishing the last eight numbers of the Oolo-
GisT, has made many congenial acipiaint-
ances and correspondents, and they will no
doubt desire to hear something of the jiro-
jiosed future of the little magazine. ^lany
of our readers no doubt look iipon it as
they d) other migazines pulilished for
money, iu this case they are mistaken.
Money does not enter into the considera¬
tion. It is juiblished out of pure love of
the science of Ornithology and the ph-as-
ure of corresponding Yvith naturalists. We

have our hands full of business during the
daytime, our magazine receiving our atten¬
tion in the evening, often into the “wee
sma hour8”-of the night. We desire jiat
ronage enough at least to jiay all exiienses,
and as much more as jiossible. Whatever
is received Yvill be ex]'ended on the maga¬
zine. Those disjiosed to help in securing
subscribers can say that if any one at the
end of the j-ear is not satisfied they can re¬
turn the numbers in good condition and

have their money returned.^

- -

Correction.

In the January number of the Oologist
you call for a correction in reference to my
finding the nest of the Bernida brenta on
Saint Clair Flats, Michigan. I have no
correction to make. I found the nest and
eggs and saYv the birds as there descriiied.
I have had fifteen years exjierience in col¬
lecting and mounting birds and am not
easily deceived. I do not knoYv of any
bird that could lie mistaken for the i3rant.
If ]\Ir. KidgYvay Yvould like to examine the
eggs found liy me, I Yvill send him one for
that jiui’iiose. This is the only evidence I
can offer until next season, Yvhen I am in
holies of rejieating this year’s exiicrience.
I am confident there are some birds breed¬
ing at the Flats that have not jireviously
been found in the United States, from oli-
servation of my oyvii and statements made
to me by men Yvho have accomjianied me
on my trijis. Several have mentioned see¬
ing a jiair of strange birds that had the aji-
jiearance of Yvild geese but Yvere not much
larger than Mallards.

W. H. Collins. Detroit. Mich.

[Since the above Yvas in ty])e Mr. Col¬
lins Yvrites us that he has sent an egg to
Mr. Robert Kidgway for identification, Yvho
decides that it is either the Hrant. ora small
Yiiriety of Hutchins goose. If the latter,
it is neYv to science. In either case it Yvas
certainly a “good find. ” — Ed.]

(liiEAT Cray Owl. — In rejily to Mr.
Ridgway’s doubts about the (Ireat (Jray
OyvI being found in Virginia Mr. Wm. T.

March, 1881.]

AND ()OL()(MST.

5

Allen rejilies that he wonkl as soon expect '
to find the nest of the Great Ank in Vir- '
ginia as .that of the Gray Owl, and is well
aware of tlie latter being a resident of the
Arctic regions only. Mr. Allen makes fnr.
ther remarks regarding the nnmber of eggs
laid by the owl family which will a2:)i)ear at
a future time. He concludes as follows :
“I hope Mr. Kidgway will give me credit
for being better posted on the owl ques¬
tion than to be guilty of such an absurdity
as making the Great Gray Owl a native of
Virginia.”

get a set of four, but on the 27th only one
egg remained in the nest. This I left, as
the bird was on the nest as I aj^proached.
On the 28th the nest was empty, and the
bird no where in sight. On the 29th I was
passing the place, and noticed the bird on
the nest. I went up to it, and was very
much surprised to find 3 eggs just as if
nothing had happened. Have you ever
heard.of anything like the above ? — W. W.
W., Shelter Island, N. V^.

Bird Notes.

A New Journal.

The C.\nadian Sportsman and Naturalist,
a monthly journal devoted to the interests
of the sportsmen and naturalists of Cana¬
da. It is gotten iqi in good style and on
good jiaper, 8vo., 8 pages and covers, simi¬
lar to the OoLOGisT. It is published at
Montreal, Canada, Wm. Cowper, editor,
W. W. Dunlap, assistant editor, Ernest D.
Wintle, treasurer. The annual subscrip¬
tion is one dollar in advance, siiecimen cop¬
ies ten cents. Communications should be
addressed to 806 Craig St., Montreal, Can¬
ada. It is well worth the attention of all
sportsmen and those interested in general
Natural History.

Science Advocate, is a sixteen page jour
nal, 8vo., devoted to general science and is
edited by Henry A. Green, who is devoted to
the work. It is published quarterly at
only twtnty-five cents per annum. It is
ably edited and at the low price it is offer¬
ed it should receive a large share of jiatron-
age. Address, H. A. Green, Atco, N. J.
- -

Elack-billed Cuckoo.

On May 2olh, 1879, I was shown a nest
of the Black-billed Cuckoo ( Coccygus ery-
throphtlialmua), on which the female was
sitting, and I identified her by approach¬
ing near enough to see the red eye-ring,l)e-
fore she flew off’. The nest contained two
(2) eggs, which I left in hopes of getting a
full set. On the 2(;th another egg had
been laid, but I sfill left them wishing to

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a j^lenti-
ful summer resident in this locality (New¬
ton, Mass.,) especially so in the vicinity of
the Charles River, where they seem to pre¬
fer to build in the medium-sized growth of
the white birch, the nest being usually
placed near the top of the tree and about
20 ft. from the ground. Their eggs are
almost invariably four ; I have never seen
five. I know of no bird which is more
regular in its number then the Rosebreast.
— Herbert M. Warren.

Five eggs nn- the Rose-breasted Gros¬
beak seems unusual. Four is the number
here ; years ago before boys were so nu¬
merous, numbers of them bred on the Is¬
land in the river here, and by consulting
my notes, I find that on June 21 st, 1862, I
found a nest there containing four young,
but the boys have made such havoc that
but few birds conqiaratively breed on the
Island now. — Jno. H. Sage.

Dates of the arrival of the Baltimore
Oriole (Icterus baUimore) iov years in
the township of Locke, Ingr.diam county,
state of Michigan. This species is a com¬
mon summer resident with us, and was first
noticed by me in the summer of 1842.

May 2 185^^ IVIay 8 186.7 May 8 1873
MaV 11 18.77 May 8 1866 May 9 1874

MaV .7 18.78 May .7 1867 May 10 187.7

April 28 18.79 May .7 1868 May 9 1876

April 30 1860 May 4 1868 May 5 1877

May 1 1861 IMay .7 1870 May 1 1878

M.y 101862 May 1 1871 May .7 1879

May 10 18()3 IVIay 7 1872 May 3 1880

May 8 18()4 H. A. Atkins, M. D.

1)

OUNJTllOLOdlST

[Vul. G-No. 1.

Sparrow Hawk.

Breedino at Portland, Conn. — In ]\Iay
1879 I secured a set of eggs of Fulco spnr-
verius found in such a manner as to prove
that this Hawk does not always, if ever,
construct a nest of its own.

A farmer had arranged seven nests for
Pigeons inside his l)arn, with holes through
the side of the l)uilding communicating
with them, and the nest at the corner was
appropriated by the Hawks, and contained
no other material than that tised by the
Pigeons in constructing it. May 4th two
eggs were found, and May 7th four eggs,
at which time they were all removed. Two
or three days later another egg was laid
and then the birds deserted the nest. In
order to show tint peace prevailed, it may
1)6 stated that the Pigeons occupied three
of the other nests at the same time the
Hawks were endeavoring to raise their
brood. The farmers boy informed me that
the Hawks had been about the barn all the
previous winter, and altliough continually
disturbed while laying, I found them cpiite
tame ; the female not moving until after
the board (which covered all the nests) had
been removed, and then only Hying t) an
apple ti-ee near the barn, where she was
soon joined by her mate, and the two sat
contentelly arranging their plum ige in the
sunlight as unconcerned as a pair of the
pigeons with which they were breeding
would have done under similar circum¬
stances.

Sharp SHINNED Hawk. — I have a specimen
of the male Sh irp-shinned Hawk {Accipi-
ter fuscus) tiken in this vicinity Feb. 4th,
1881. It was in good Hesh and contained
the remains of l*arus utricipil/us and
Chrysomitris trinti.s. .\nother specimen
was seen at the same time Imt unfortunately
was not captured.

Merriam in his “Review of (kinn. Birds’
in writing of the Sharji-shinned Hawk says,
“ I have no an hen tic record of its occur
rence here in wint(‘r. ” The taking of this
specimen in winter in this locality is inter
eating. — Jno. H. Saoe.

Night Herons in Winter.

In the Oologist for September your cor¬
respondent. IM. B. G. states, that in Feb¬
ruary, 1879 he shot two adult males, one
adult female, and one young Night Heron,
during cold weather ; ground covered with
snow and creeks frozen. It has been gen¬
erally supposed this bird was only a sum¬
mer visitor. I can add my testimony
showing they are not so tender to cold as
some suin^ose. The following winter, ’79
and ’80, I had a tame Night Heron which
I reared the previous summer, but with
full liberty to go where he pleased. I
reared two, but one “took the wings of the
night " and did not return ; before winter
the other took long flights at twilight but
always retunied ; was never absent in the
morning when he exjiected his rations. He
sat in evergreen trees ojiiiosite the house,
or sunned himself on the fence : was very
affectionate to the family, not stirring
when we apjiroached him very closely, and
would run or fly after those who fed him.
taking meat from the hand. He would go
in the detached kitciien, but not in the
house further than the door, not the least
afraid of cat or dog ; and should they ven¬
ture within the reach of his long sharp-
pointed bill would have reason to remem¬
ber it. I supjiosed he would die when
winter set in, which w'as a cold one, yet he
seemed not to mind it, he even seemed in
better condition than poultry ; was hearty
and sleek. He roosted on the evergreen
trees at night, taking shelter on the stooj)
in hard weather ; he would eat nothing but
meat or flsli. I will not enlarge on the
considerable amusement he gave us, but
simply verify the statements of your cor-
rt'spondent. that cold did not seem so un¬
congenial. — Henry Haljx Bidgewood.N.J.

IjE.\st Bittern. — Mr. Fred. T. Jencks of
Providence, B. 1., rejunts inirchasing a
bi*auliful spe<‘imen of the above bird which
had been killed by a boy with a bean snap¬
per on Feb. 28. 1881. Where hud this del¬
icate biid siient the winter t

March, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

California Bird Notes.

Chapakkal Cock. {Geococcyx californianus.)

The notes of G. H. Ragsdale in the J an-
uary number of the Oologist, regarding
the Chaparral Cock ( Geococcyx californi-
anus) or Roadrunner, as it is called here,
call up some of my experiences with that
very odd and interesting species. Its
fleetness is indeed very remarkable, but
can be continued but a short time without
rest. When pursued, its habit seems to be
to run with great speed for several rods,
then suddenly stop for a moment ; then on
it goes again, stops again, and so on. Its
habit of throwing up its long tail seems to
greatly assist it in stopping so suddenly.
Its inability to continue its rapid running
without rest is proven by the fact that
boys frequently run them down by setting
dogs upon them. While running it can
usually increase the distance between it
and its pursuer, but while resting the dog
more than makes good the gain and soon
overtakes it. The Roadrunner builds a
bulky nest usually in a bunch of cactus, a
foot or so from the ground. One found
May 16, contained two eggs, the embryo
being well developed. Another nest,
found two weeks later, contained two
young nearly full fledged, and two eggs
still fresh. From these facts it would
seem that two is the usual clutch of eggs,
and that a second set are laid before the
young of the first set leave the nest.

Red Tailed Hawk. — Jan. 13 I saw a
pair of these birds rejiairing an old nest,
climbing to which I found it newly lined
with cottonwood bark and green sage
twigs. Last year I obtained my first eggs
of this species March 25.

Albinos. — Dec. 7, 1 shot a most beautiful
Albino California Quail {Lophortyx call-
fornicus,) and Jan. 12 an Albino Red-
shafted Woodpecker {Colaptes mexicona.)
They both now enrich my collection. Is
it not an unusual occurrence to find Albin¬
os among the Picidse ?

Early Nesting. — Last Saturday, Feb.
12, I found a Horned Owl’s nest in the top

of a live oak tree, containing tw'O eggs.
A shot at the Lewis Woodjiecker {Asyn-
desmus torquatus) caused the owl to fly
from the tree, thus betraying her nest.
Both eggs were slightly incubated. On
Monday I found a nest of the Sickle-billed
Thrush {Ilarporhynchns redivivus) con¬
taining two eggs, and a nest of the Long¬
eared Owl ( Otus vulgaris var. wilsonianus)
with one egg. I visited each nest this
evening, Feb. 15, and found three eggs in
the first and only one in the second.
Tins I think is remarkably early for the
Thrush. My liuteo borealis of which I
wrote you before, has not yet begun to lay.
This is at least a month earlier than any
birds nested here last year. — B. W. Evee-
mann, Santa Paula.

Bird Notes.

C. N. P., Muscatine, Iowa, writes that he
has probably taken fifty sets of Rose¬
breasted Grosbeaks’ eggs, and thinks that
at least one-fourth had four eggs. He
states that the nest is built so shallow the
eggs sometimes blow out, hence the small
number occasionally found. Jan. 1st, he
saw a Robin when the ground was covered
with snow, and the thermometer down
to zero. Jan. 5, saw another ; thermome¬
ter below zero. Jan. 26, saw two common
Doves ; ground entirely covered with snow,
and 6° below zero. In mild winter they
are sometimes seen in January and Febim-
ary, but this has been an unusualiy severe
winter.

- M. B. G., Shelter Island, reports that
Night Herons do not seem to mind the
excessively cold weather, as several were
seen on Jan. 28, coming to feed in a springy
place along a creek. Snow Buntings and
Yellow-rumped warblers were quite plenty.
Song Sparrows were seen almost daily ;
saw a Robin and a King Fisher on Jan. 20.

We should consider it a special favor if
our re iders who are pleased with our mag¬
azine, would show it to their friends and in¬
duce them to subscribe for it.

8

ORNITIIOLOr.IST

[Vol. 6-No. 1.

G. A. T., Williston. Msikk., writes that he
has seen two flocks of Pine Grosbeaks dur¬
ing the last week in January, and that his
friend Kimball saw a Meadow Lark several
times in Ellington, Conn., during the last
of January. A gentleman driving from
Somers Conn., noticed the Lark on the
road side. It flew on the fence before him,
and continued to fly in advance of the team
for three or four miles until it reatdied El¬
lington.

W. H. C., Detroit, Mich., states that he
has two female Cow Birds killed near that
place, Jan. 24, the thermometer stiinding
at 12° above zero.

C. W. H., Statesville, N. C., writes that
he has discovered a new way to skin birds :
he first makes a small cut on the head, be¬
tween the skin and the flesh, then inserts a
blow pipe, tie tightly to prevent escape of
air, then blow until all the skin is separated
from the flesh, close up the air hole and let
the l)ird remain until cold, then proceed to
remove tlfe skin. He experimented on a
Pigeon with perfect success ; he hopes
others will trj' the experiment and re])ort.

B. J. P., Willimantic, Conn., in referring
to Mr. Jencks’ notes on the breeding of the
Least Bitteni in 11. I., states that he has
taken one and sometimes two of their nests
in each season, until last year when he was
compelled by sickness to sbiy at home.

^londay, Feb. 7, being a warm day I
took my gun and went after Snow Bunt¬
ings ( Plectrophunes niv(tlitt). I soon found
a flock and fired both barrels into it and
got 11. While waiting for the flock to re¬
turn (as they will and hover over the wound¬
ed ones.) they retunied before I had my
cartridges changed. While I was waiting I
saw one of the wounded birds fluttering
along the snow some 7o yards from me. a
Shrike swooped down upon the wounded
bird and seized it by the throat. I was
astonished at the impudence of the Shrike
and fired a charge of <lust shot at it, but it
took no notice further than to let go and
fly up and look around. It went back to
the Snow Bunting and again took it by the

throat. I fired No. 11 shot at it and spoil¬
ed his dinner. Upon examination it prov¬
ed to be( Collyrio ludovicianus)Ijog{yerhe&d
Shrike. This is the first instance of find¬
ing that species hei-e in the dead of win¬
ter.

P. S. — I noticed in the Febm iry number
of the Oologist that Dr. Atkins states that he
had shot a specimen of Song Sparrow {^fel-
ospiza me'.odia') Jan. 1st. I think the Bird
will prove to be Lincoln’s Finch (J/. lin-
colnii) as the Birds are verj' much alike.
— W. H. Collins, Detroit, Mich.

Recent Publications.

Beautiful and Curious Birds of the
World, by Chas. P. Cory, F.L.S., F.Z.S.,
etc. — Parts I. and II. of this magnificient
w’ork have been issued, and we feel it our
duty to dwell somewhat upon it, as it fills
an important though by no means espec¬
ially valuable position among serial ornith¬
ological publications.

The first part contains two plates and
corresponding text. One of these repre¬
sents the Dodo, a famous bird of .4ustralia,
now extinct ; natunil size. The coloring is
excellent, although the chanuder of the
subject is such as to retpiire little real ar¬
tistic nicety. .411 the picture claims is
accuracy. The artist has made a back¬
ground to relieve a figure which would
otherwise be monotonous. The other
plate is that of a Bird of Paradise, one of
the sombrerer species, creeper-like in aj)-
jicanmce. The foliage is excellently calcu¬
lated to exhibit the native haunts of the
species.

Part two contains three plates, illustrat¬
ing respectively, the King Bird of Paradise,
the .4ptenr-x, and Great .4uk, all good sub¬
jects. and selected in iwcordance with the ti¬
tle of the woi k. The figures are first printed
in pale coloni, and afterward carefully color¬
ed by hand by compeU-nt artists. The work
is to consist of ten jiarts. published at inter
vals of three months, at ten dollars jier
part. Tlie author may be luldressed at
numlu-r H. Arlington Street, B )ston, .Mass.

ijimx.

Hooded Warblers . 9

Horned Lark . 10

Cactus Wren . 11

Editorial, Preparing Eggs . VI

“ European Sky Larks . 1‘2

Scarlet Tanager . 13

Baltimore Oriole, . 13

Bird Notes . 13

Oological Notes . 15

Recent Publications . 16

Froiich Urothern’ I’rliit, Kockvijle.

ORNITHOLOGIST

AND

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per
annum.

Established March IST.'i,

.Joseph M. Wade, editor and publisher.

10 cents
single copy.

VOL. VI.

ROCKVILLE, CONN., APRIL i88i.

NO. 2

Hooded Warblers.

NESTING IN SOUTHERN CONN.

It was back a mile from the public roads
in the deep old woods, chestnuts, beeches
and birches of seventy-five years standing
with a short undergrowth of kalmia aver¬
aging some two and a half feet in hight.
This shrub is abundant here and is fre¬
quently foimd in patches of considerable
extent. I was passing quietly along in
such a place when something flitted across
my path almost from under my feet. It
passed so swiftly from sight I could not
distinguish it, disappearing instantly in
the adjacent shrubbery, but I knew what
it was for I had been through the same ex¬
perience before. Scrutinizing every shrub
ever so carefully, I failed to fix my eyes on
the nest that I knew was there, for I could
soon hear the sharp, clear note of the fe¬
male Hooded Warbler a few paces away in
the thickets, and catch an occasional
glimpse of her as she flitted from shrub
to shrub, and from one thicket to another,
and I could see the white patches of the
tail open and shut with every movement.

Taught by past experience I presently
abandoned searcliing and retired a short
distance, carefully marking the spot, to
watch the bird and wait developments.
As I moved away from the spot I could
perceive that the bird approached it again
by the continually repeated “telip ” nearer
and nearer at each repetition, till in five
minutes it was silent or with only an occa¬
sional note, and I knew she was on the
nest. I listened keenly for every note as
I again approached the spot, for this bird
will occasionally repeat her note when on
the nest, as I have often proved, and when

she went fluttering off, I saw the little
shrub tremble and knew that there was
the nest closely hidden among the dark
green kalmia leives, but very easy to see
now that I knew just where to look.
Pieces of yellow birch bark, beech and
chestnut leaves carefully matted and
boimd together and to the triangular
crotch, formed the base of the structure,
rounded and neatly finished at the top
with the inner bark of chestnut and ce¬
dar, with fine grass and scales from beech
buds and a little fern down mixed in, and
all secured compactly together with spider
webs. I speak advisedly having seen the
bird diligently gather the webs. Inside
the nest was neatly and smoothly lined
with mixed horse hair and very fine grass.
Largest outer diameter three inches and a
half, inner diameter two inches, and depth
two inches, and built in a little kalmia
bush about fifteen inches from the ground.
This description will answer for most of
the many nests I have found of the spe¬
cies, with varying quantities of birch bark
and fern down, invariably in a kalmia
bush. This was the twenty-sixth of May,
1879, and within this nest was four beauti¬
ful little eggs, pearly and rosy, but dif¬
ferently marked from any I had before
seen of the species, just about regulation
pattern for size, averaging 23-32 inch in
length, and 18-32 inch in greater breadth,
being marked with very minute dots, a few
scattered over the surface but mostly in a
ring around the larger end. Eleven days
after this event I found another nest and
set of three eggs in the same spot, scarcely a
foot from where I found the other; these
eggs were quite unlike the former set in

10

ORNITnOLO(JIST

[Vol. 6-No. 2.

markinf^s though of similar size, the spots
being larger and more distinet. of a dark
reddish brown color and chiefly collected
about the large end though not in a ring.
I did not look again in 1875), but the 2oth
of May, 1880, I repeated the same experi¬
ence in the same place, securing another
set of foiu- fresh rosy eggs, prettily and
neatly marked in the usual manner ; and
again on the 3d of June, only nine days
later, I found another nest and four more
eggs in the same spot. All these four sets
were takim from within a radius of four
feet, and I fancy were all of the same i>air
of birds, thoiigh very difierently marked,
for I have observed that Hooded Warblers
are very unsocial, having never seen two
pairs of them occupying the same locality
or nearer than thirty rods of each other.
If it was the same pair it would imply
that the robbing of nest and eggs was no
great loss to them if they can be so
promptly and completely replaced. A
few notes from my observations of the bird
as found here and I will close. The male
bird is seldom seen near the nest excei)t
when it is building, or aftw the young are
hatched, but he can usually be heard some
twenty-five rods away, constantly repeat-
ins: liis clear musical che-we-e-o. I have
seen him in the mating season, hovering
after the manner of the Chats, and warb¬
ling so sweetly and continuously that the
song seemed more like a chorus than a
solo ; but this performance is rarely seen.
The female is usually only a little plain
“Yellow Bird,” with the bright yellow face
contrasting sharply with the greenish yel¬
low of the back, but I have occasionally
seen females with the black hood distinctly
developed. I especially remembered one
that I captured, with its nest and
eggs, and which I really supposed to be a
male till I had dissected it, the hood being
as perfect as in the average male.

The bird may usually be heard by the
first week of May ('id my earliest record.)
in their usual haunts from some dense
thicket, and the female arrives I think a few

days later though she is so tjuiet and in-
consjiicuous that she might be there and yet
unobserved. Some of the birds tarry till
September. Despite the assertions of sev¬
eral writers of note to the contrary. I
pronounce the species a very common one
here, in evidence of which I found in the
season of 1880, eleven nests, with four
eggs each in every instance but one, which
had a Cow Birds and three Hooded \Varb-
lers. I believe that when the bird and its
habits become better known its breeding
range will be found to be more extensive in
Connecticut, than the little town of Say-
brook, if not it would seem a very remark¬
able circumstiince. J. N. Cl.\bk.

Horned Lark.

NESTING H.eBITS IN OaLE.\NS CO., N. Y.

The Eremophila alpesti in is (piite com¬
mon in this part of the state and is gener¬
ally seen on some sandy knoll or by the
roadside dusting thefLselves. During
the past few years I have spent considera¬
ble time in trying to find their nests, but
with little success until the past season,
when cpiite unexpectedly on April 17, 1880,
when crossing an old pasture lot I acci¬
dentally found a nest, and while approach
ing it the old bird (piietly left it appearing
(juite unconcerned whether 1 took the four
nearly Hedged young that it contained, or
not. The nest was placed in a cup-shaped
cavity lined with June grass. As the day
was cohl and windy the young did not at¬
tempt to leave the nest, but huddled to¬
gether and tried to hide themselves under
one another and when I touched them they
only sijuatted the closer. The Homed
Lark must be a very hardy bird for this
nest had weathered very cold stonas in
safety. About this time I found a crows
nest with two eggs which were frozen.
.\pril 15)th, visited the Horned Larks mst,
when the young ones immediately scramb¬
led out of it afid made ofl' in a way that
was comical to behold, they were not ohl
enough to fly but by using legs and wings
they tumbled off in a lively manner.

April, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

11

May 28th, while hoeing a new straw¬
berry patch I found another nest of this
species and came very near crushing both
nest and eggs as there was nothing near
to protect it, but simply hollowed out of
the dry sand and lined with grass like the
jjrevious nest. The grass was very dry
and very loosely put together. In this
case incubation had commenced and the
bird was unusually tame, she did not leave
the nest until I got within eight or ten feet
of it and then she would move off in a slow
and quite unconcerned manner. She
did not seem in the least afraid and
would pick up bugs and worms quite un¬
concerned. When I had passed the nest
about the same distance she would as
quietly return to it and snuggle around
like a setting hen before settling down and
would sit as quiet as though no one was
near. This nest contained 4 eggs the
ground cylor of which was gray, minutely
and thickly spedkled with light brown
very uniformly. Some of the specks are
nearly as large as a pin’s head. The meas¬
urements varied and were as follows, .80x. 61
.80x.62, .82x.63, and.84x.63. About the 15th
of June, this same pair made another nest
in a patch of Tobacco near by. I did not
molest this nest and by the middle of July
the five young which they had raised were
able to fly and left the nest, and were fully
as large as the old birds. It is my opin¬
ion that all three nests were made by one
pair of birds, and if I had left the eggs in
nest No. 2 they would no doubt have raised
three broods in the season.

F. H. Lattin, Gaines, N. Y.
- -

C, actus Wren.

( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus.)

Journeying across the bleak and arid
Colorado desert, this little wren with the
awe-inspiring name was one of the most
numerous of the feathered race that I saw,
and its nest was to be seen wherever
cactus or ‘mesquite grew. Its peculiar
note continued long and monotonously,
relieved the oppressive silence and sug¬

gested life and cheerfulness. The nests,
very large for the size of the bird, were
laid on the flat branches of the cactus, or
occasionally placed in a mesquite or palo
verds tree, and were very conspicuous.
They were built of fine grasses, well inter¬
woven, and were shaped something like a
retort, with a long funnel shaped entrance.
The body of the nest was often as large as
a man’s head, completely roofed over and
with the entrance, also roofed, on one side
at the top of the nest. This entrance way
was often 6 to 9 inches in length, and of
only sufficient diameter to admit the pas¬
sage of the bird. The interior of the nest
was always thickly lined with feathers,
which were gathered with infinite labor
from many and various birds, and to exam¬
ine one of the nests was a good way to
find out what birds were in the vicinity.
The nests were seldom higher than three
or four feet from the groiind, exceptional
ones in mesquite trees being at a height of
from ten to fifteen feet. The full comple¬
ment of eggs, in no case noticed by myself,
exceeded five. -They are rather elongated
and slightly pointed and average specimens
measure about 1 inch in length by .65 inch¬
es in diameter. The color, when freshly
blown, is very rich being of a delicate sal¬
mon, marked laniversally and evenly with
darker salmon ; also forming a slight ring
around the larger end. The birds are in
little flocks during the winter months, and
mate and nest very early. How many
broods are raised I am unable to say, but
dates of finding nests with eggs in the
middle of February and as late as August,
are before me and well authenticated. In
this case they must be remarkably prolific.
I will endeavor to ascertain more concern¬
ing number of broods raised.

G. Holterhoff, Jr., Los Angelos, Cal.
- -

W. W. Worthington, Shelter Island, N.
Y. re2)orts the following arrivals ; Fish
Hawks and Great Blue Herons March 25,
Shore Larks and Wild Geese Apr. 1, Grass
Finches Apr. 2, White-bellied Swallow A})!- 8.

12

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. (i-No. 2

ORNITHOLOGIST OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAOAZINK DKVOTKD TO TIIK STUDY
OF niKDS. TllKlU NKSTS AND K(i<;S.

JOS. M. WADE. - - - . EiUtiir

S. L. WILLABB. - - - .IssV Editor

With thc> co-operation of al)le Ornitliolofrical
Writers anil Coliectors.

$1.0D per niiniiiik. ID cents single copy.

Aililress

JOS. ^f. WADE,

Kockville, Conn.

Preparing Eggs — Some time af^o some
one inquired for somethinf^ to prevent in¬
sects infesting and destroying eggs. Jiidg
ing from our own collection at the time we
could not understand how the smallest in¬
sect could live in a collection of eggs any
more than they could in a case of new vials,
but since then we have done some exchang¬
ing with various collectors and have been
surprised to see the specimens some other¬
wise good oologists will send out. Fresh
eggs with holes an eighth of an inch in
diameter and some even larger. Some have
large holes but well cleaned — others have
even part of the yolk adliering to the out¬
side of the shell ; these are the kind in
which the insects hold high carnival, and
even if they were prevented from gaining
an entrance, the eggs turn black and com¬
mence to decay from the time they are
placed in the (Cabinet. Another class of
collectors will jilace on the egg with 2)en
and ink the full record of the find ; these
eggs for neat collectors are almost ruined,
others will place all of a kind in the same
box, having no regard for sets ; in this
way many valuable sets are lost to sci¬
ence. Single egg collections are worthless
except as artitdes of curiosity.

When the find is made, if the collector
has time at his disposal, he should fully ob¬
serve the habits of the birds, enough cer¬
tainly to identify the species. If this can
not be done, a little bird lime jiroperly
used will very soon jilace (he birds in his
2)ower for examination : only ns a last re¬
source would we advise the shooting of the
birds. Before the nest is taken, the inter

nal measurements should be made, its ma¬
terial noted as well as the location. We
never clean eggs in the held, always reserv¬
ing them lor evening work, when they are
carefully drilled with the smallest drill
{lossible ; then with the Ellsworth blower,
described by Dr. William Wood, we jiro-
ceed to remove the contents, when each
siiecimen is jilaced in a jian of warm water
until the set is comjilete, when they are
thoroughly washed inside and out. even
the moisture being blown out. A record
is then made on a small slij) of paper and
{ilaced in the Cabinet with the eggs. No
mark being made on the shell, the drill
hole is also so small, that it is hardly no¬
ticeable. The Smithsonian and collector's
numbers may be juit on the shell with a
clear soft pencil that can be easily washed
off should the eggs change hands, or anew

edition of the check list aiipear.

- -

European Sky Lark.s.— ‘We have receiv¬
ed an invitation from H. Hales of Ridge¬
wood. N. J. to \Tsit that place and see a
large lot of Sky Larks jirevious to their
being liberated the coming Siiring. It
ajqiears that “with the assistance of Purser
Kinzey of the steamship City of Rich¬
mond. Mr. Isaiu" W. England secured 200
of these birds in England. Twenty-five
died on the passage. The others arrived
in New York on the Kith of last Decem¬
ber. About fifty of the birds escaped
from the cage while they were on their
way to Mr. England's farm at Ridgewood,
N. J. By the 17th of December their
number had been reduced to lOd. On
that day Mr. Hales took charge of
them. All were very weak. Over twenty
died. The others recovered their strength.
They are kept in an aiiartment twelve feet
square, well lighted, warmed, and venti’.-
.itcd. The door is well sanded, and they
can have a dust bath whenever they want
it. The floor is partly sodded, and the\
have a new grass ]ilot weekly.

This snbjwt opens a wide field for the
lover of rural ])nrsuits. To what more

April, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

13

charming nse could the well-to-do owners
of country places put a little money than
importing and acclimating the song birds
of the Old World. They would be confer¬
ring a lasting blessing upon the people by
introducing the skylark, the woodlark, the
titlark, the blackbird, the thrush, the lin¬
net, the green, gold, bull, and chaffinches,
the nightingale, and other European warb¬
lers so famed in song and story, and so
dear to every lover of rural life.”

We make the above extracts from a long
article by Mr. Hales, in the JV. Y. Sun of
March 28th, and we regret not having
space for the entire article, and fear we
will not be able to see the birds while in
conhnment. The mere mention of the
above list of birds bring us back to “Boy¬
hood’s happy days,” when every bird men¬
tioned was as familiar as the common
“Robin” of the U. S. we hope Mr.
England will be successful in his effort,
being liberated South of the “North Riv¬
er,” they will no doubt work down to
West Jersey, and possibly Deleware, as
V inter approaches. Should they ever be¬
come plenty in this Country they are an
excellent bird for the young sportsman to
practise on.

Scarlet Tanager.

Dates of the arrival of the Scarjet Tana¬
ger, Pyranga rubra, for 25 years, in
Locke,Ingham County, Michigan. This spe¬
cies is a common summer resident, and
was first observed by me in the summer of
1842. It was found breeding for the first
time May 27th, 1878. The nest was built
on a horizontal limb of a beech tree, 25
feet from the ground. I have only found
two nests since that date.

May 4, 1856. May 14, 1864. May 6. 1873.
May 18, 1857. June 5, 1865. May 8, 1874.
May 8, 1858. May 10, 1866. May 10, 1875.
May 6, 1859. May 17, 1867. May 12, 1876.
May 4, 1860. May 15, 1868. May 12, 1877,
May 4, 1861. May 14, 1869. May 1, 1878.
May 12, 1862. May .5, 1870. May 10, 187‘).
May 4, 1863. May 6, 1871. May 3, 1880.

May 2, 1872.

Baltimore Oriole.

Dates of the arrival of the Baltimore
Oriole, {Icterus bsdtimore,) for 25 years in
the township of Locke, Ingham County,
State of Michigan. This species is a com¬
mon summer resident, and wms first no¬
ticed by me in the summer of 1842.

May 2, 1856 May 8, 1865. May 8, 1873.
May 11, 1857. May 8, 1866. May 9, 1874.
May 5, 1858. M.ay 5, 1867. May 10, 1875.
Apr. 28, 1859. May 5, 1868. May 9, 1876.
Apr. 30, 1860. May 4, 1869. May 5, 1877.
May 1, 1861. May 5, 1870. May 1, 1878.
May 10, 1862. May 1, 1871. May 5, 1879.
May 10, 1863. May 7, 1872. May 3, 1880.
May 8, 1864. Dr. II. A. Atkins.

Bird Notes.

A Hawk Owl, {Suruia ulula hadsonica.)
was killed at Gorham, N. Y. in Nov. 1875.
The young man who shot it informs me
that he was on horseback when the bird
was first seen and rode very near without
flushing him. Leaving his horse, he re¬
turned with his gun and secured the bird.
The weather was very mild. I do not think
that the Hawk Owl has before been record¬
ed as a bird of central New York.

Killdeek {Negia litis voci ferns) is not a
very common summer resident though
very well known, arriving from March 1st
to the 15th and departing the last of Octo¬
ber. The following notes of its breeding
may be of interest: 1869 May 4, 1875 June

I, 1878 Juoe 12, 1879 April 23, 1880 June

II, 1880 June 18. The eggs were four in
every instance, and in one case were laid
in the mellow ground of a corn-field wfith-
out any indication of its usually pebbly nest.

Indigo Bird {Cyanospisa Cyrmea.). — I
have taken the nest of this bird on the fol¬
lowing dates: 1875 June lO; 1875 July
19, 1878 July 2, July 4 and Aug. 13, 1880
1880 May 30. The farmers formerly ^las-
tured the woods with sheep and there was
then no underbrush, but this custom is
now discontinued and the woods are filled
with a dense growth of bushes, and this
bird is now abundant where, previous to
1874, they were rare or entirely unknown.

J. M. Howey, Canadaigua, N. Y.

14

Marsh HAWTt. ( Circus hudsonius) A
Large Set of Eggs. — I quote from a letter
from an ornithological friend in Dnnn\ille,
Out., he having kindly given me j^ermission
to do so.

“I was told of the nest by a farm labor¬
er, who in going across the fields daily to
his work, discovered it in a swale ont in a
meadow, but near a wood. When first
found it contained only three eggs, but at
the end of another week it had six. Some
days after this, I cannot say now just how
long, wdien I visited it there were four
young birds and three eggs, one of the lat¬
ter chipped, one half incubated and the
third but slightly so. Of the birds, one
was a good sized fellow able to stand up
while the others were not so strong. The
nest was in an open space in the high
weeds or rushes near a bush, and was com¬
posed of small sticks and grasses quite
flattened and tramped down. The man
told me that he had never seen but the one
l)air of birds about the nest, and he saw
them every day he went to his work. I
took them on the 14th of June 1880. This
is about all I can tell you concerning them.”

Some time ago I noticed in the Oologist
one of its correspondents writing of find
ing a set of eggs, one of which was very
small. I do not think this occurrence is
at all unusual. At present I have a set of
three eggs of the common Crow, two of
wdiich are larger than the avenige, while
the third is very small. One can get a
good idea of their size from these meas¬
urements: l.f(8 X 1.19 inches. 1.99 x 1.18
inches, .91 x .72 inches. I have also no¬
ticed this peculiarity in the Downy Wood¬
peckers. Robins and Black Duck’s eggs,
and I have no doubt that it occurs with
the eggs of almost every species.

S. F. Kathbun. Aubuni. N. Y.

Catching a Tartar. — gentleman resid¬
ing in (ireenville. R. I., about eight miles
northwest of Providence, on S.iturday last
brought in a male of the Little Black-head
Duck (Fulix ajiuis) which he had caught

[Vol. 6-No. 2.

in his meadow. He stated that he saw it
first flying as though very tired and alight¬
ing in the meadow. He gave chase. It
flew’ short distances at a time and he final¬
ly captured it. The bird had captured a
mussel and was at the same time a captive,
for the mussel was a trifle too large for the
duck to swallow, and moreover the duck
was trying to get it down the hinged emi
first. It had shut itself on the bird’s
tongue, near the throat, in such a way
that the latter could not crush it. On dis¬
section no food w’as found in the duck’s
stomach, and it had apiiarently been wan¬
dering about for some time. I had not
heard of their visiting any fresh ponds,
being confined to the sea-board. It prob¬
ably , while in such a predicament flew
hither and thither w’ithout regard to direc¬
tion. The party had it mounted with mus¬
sel in its mouth as found. F. T. Jexcks.

[After receiving the above we called at
the store of South wick & Jencks and saw
the duck in question. The mussel was
firmly fixed in the throat, forcing the bill
open about one and one quarter inches. Ed.]

Bank Swallows Utilized. — Mr. John H.
Sage of Portland, Conn.; states that there
are large quantities of the above birds
breeding in the banks of the extensive
Brown stone quarries at that place. The
birds are protected by the men. they be¬
lieving that they destroy large num¬
bers of insects that would annoy them
while at work were the Swallows not there.

Richardson’s Owl. — About the middle of
December 1880, an owl was brought to a
taxidermist in this city, by a young lady,
to be stuffed, but the taxidenuist seeing
that it was not a common species, jier-
suaded her to take a Cedar bird instead.
The owl. on examination proved to be
Xyctale tenyi/Kihni, var Jiichardsoni,
{Jionap) and is the first. I believe that has
been ^tnken in the state, though Dr. Elliott
Couet^gives an instance of one being shot
in Connecticut. The bird is now at the
Brown University.

ORNTTIIOLOdLST

April, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

15

I have noticed that while the owls have
been quite abundant during the past win¬
ter, the Snow buntings, Plectrophanes ni¬
valis, have been uncommon. It may be
that they have gone farther south, where
the deejj snow has not covered the seeds
from which they obtain their food . while
the Owls having a different diet, find our
climate better adapted to their wants. It
would be interesting if some of the south¬
ern readers of the Oologist would inform
us if they have seen them very abundant
in their locality.

H. C. Bumpus, Providence, R. I.

- -

Oological Notes.

Double-Yolked Eggs. — In the specimen
paper you sent me I found a notice of a
double yolked Blue-bird’s egg. I once
found a double yolked King-bird’s egg. In
this specimen the usual markings were to¬
tally absent, being replaced by a few large
blotches of a little darker tint than the
shell. Unfortunately I broke it while de¬
scending the tree. There were two other
eggs m the nest marked in the usual man¬
ner. The nest of another one was lined
entirely with bunches of human hair. It
was near a barber shop.

Short-billed Marsh Wren. — The only
nest of this kind I ever found had two dis¬
tinct compartments, one containing an egg
and the other nothing. Do they always
build two compartments?

Blue Birds; Their Building Habits. ^ — -In
July 1880 I found a nest of the Blue-bird,
placed upon some splinters, and without
any protection except that about two feet
above them was a trunk of a tree from
which the splinters proceeded. This is
the only time I have ever found a Blue¬
bird’s nest out of a hole. In our vicinity
they seem to have a taste for building in
letter boxes upon fences. Last year I
found four cases of the kind.

Inquiry. — Last summer I saw in the top
of a hickory tree a nest looking like a
House sparrow’s. It contained one egg
of the shape and size of a Swallow’s which

was pure white except at the large end
where it looked as if it had been smoked.
Indeed on first seeing it I thought it had,
but upon blowing the yolk was clear and
limpid, and besides the color would not
wash or scrape off, so it must have been
natural. The old bird was not near enough
to distinguish her colors. What sort of
an egg is it? K. P. McElroy, Toledo, O.

Song Sparrow.. — On the 24th day of May,
1879 I took at Fair Haven, Conn., a female
Song sparrow, Melospisa melodia, together
with her nest and five eggs. She had
chosen for the situation of her nest the bed
of a railroad, where trains were continual¬
ly passing, and had placed it not more
than ten feet from the track. But the pe¬
culiarity to which I wish especially to call
attention is that while four of the eggs
were in size and color precisely alike, be¬
ing a bluish white with spots of reddish
brown so confluent as to appear almost
uniformly of that color, the fifth is notably
greater in size and very different in color¬
ation, having a more decided ground work
with its spots much, larger and thinly scat¬
tered. Again while the four eggs were
nearly fresh, this oddity contained a fully
formed embryo which was with difficulty
removed. N. A. Eddy, Bangor, Me.

The Coloring Matter of Bird’s Eggs —
The brilliant and remarkably permanent
color of the eggs of many birds has led
Liebermann to investigate its cause. He
finds that however widely different these
colors are from each other, they are due
essentially to but two coloring matters,
one a blue or green substance, probably a
biliary coloring matter, the other character¬
ized by a remarkable absorptive spectrum.
These coloring matters are contained in
the first layer of the shell, often in several
thicknesses. When the shell is treated with
hydrochloric acid, the coloring separates in
flakes, and by treatment with alcohol a
strong solution may be obtained. With
the eggs of Gulls and Plovers an unsuc¬
cessful attempt was made to obtain the
coloring matter pure. Scientific American.

16

ORNITIlOLOttlST

[Vol. 6-No. 2

Great Horned Owl’s Egos. — Mr. W. W.
Coe of Portland, Conn., has again taken a
pair of eggs from his ‘'Old Owls.” They
were hiken this year on March 8th. This
is the seventh or eighth successive year
that this pair of birds have yielded tribute
to Mr. Coe. Dr. "Win. Wood states that
he once took live eggs at one time and
from the same nest. It would be interest¬
ing to know if these eggs w’ere all laid by
one female.

An Egg Within an Egg. — I would like to
know whether any of your readers have
met with a case in the formation of eggs
similar to the following, for as far as my
experience goes, it is decidedly unicpie. A
friend of mine while breakfasting on some
duck’s eggs, opened an unusually large one
and found within it a second egg with a
perfect shell, similar in color and thickness
to the outer one. He brought it to me
and it is now in my collection. It is almost
globular and about an inch in diameter ;
it contained a yolk with surrounding albu¬
men, but I could not say as to the germ
for it was boiled hard. .

G. A. McCallum, Ontario.

Recent Publications.

‘•Illustrations of Nests and Eggs.” The
Oologists of North America have now be¬
fore them three works on the Nests and
Eggs of the birds of North Americ.T, all
claiming their patronage. As there are
few of our readers that will be enabled to
examine all three, it might be well lor us
to give a little of our experience, as well as
our opinion, of the three works in cpies-
tion. We have no interest in any of them,
have purchased two of them, and seen a
sample copy of the third. We have before
us seven numbers of the “Illustrations of
the Nests and Eggs of the Birds of Ohio,’’
and have examined them thoroughly, have
read them carefully. There is room for
slight criticism, but the artist is well aware
of defects that the ordinary reader could
not detect and which will be remedied in
future luuubers. It is published at Hve

dollars per part. This will seem high to
many but it is w’ell worth much more. The
book as a whole is simply superb. The
plates are so real, and artistically drawn,
and the text is a simple statement of
facts in plain English that must win all
readers, to all who can aft’ord it we say
buy this work. It will always be worth
the subscription price. Dr. Coues endor¬
ses it unreservedly, and to the extent of
its cost it is one of the finest works ever
published and devoted to Natural Science.

Since the above was w ritten we have re¬
ceived number eight of the above work,
which contains the Cardinal Redbirds nest
and eggs. Warbling and Red eyed Vireo’s
nests and eggs, also the nest and eggs
of the Carolina Dove, all of which are
finely executed. The text as usual is so
plain that a child can understand it. It
is a misfortmie to the Science that the
above work is not better known so that a
larger colored etlition would be circulated.

“The Illinois State Laboratoi'y of Natu¬
ral history ; Bulletin, No. 3,” containing
studies of the Food of Birds, Insects and
Fishes, made at the Illinois State Labora¬
tory of Natural History at Normal, Illinois,
by S. A. Forbes. Sixty-nine pages of the
above work are devoted to an exceedingly
valuable article on “‘The Food of Birds,”
which should be read by every ornitholo¬
gist who can fairly claim to be a natural¬
ist. They will there find much food for
thought.

We are indebted to a modest friend
“away down East” for a vahudile pamph¬
let entitled. “Report of the Commissioners
of Fisheries and Game of the State of
Maine for 1880.” This report conbiins
considerable information about the recently
imported “Messina Quail,” which seems to
have bred quite freely during the year
1880. It states that “the eggs of the quail
are of a greenish color profusely blob'hed
with brown, ” but are said to fade quickly
when exposed to the light. For want of
room we sluill forego making the extrai'ts
we desire until some future time.

IIlliEX.

Ilenslow’s Sparrow . 17

Collecting on the Pacific Coast . hs

Least Titmouse .

Editorial, Recent Publications . ‘iU

“ Rare Eggs . "itl

“ Our C'ontributors . ’iO

“ Collectors . *21

Northwestern Screech Owl . 21

liird Notes fr<»m Virginia . 21

Notes from Michigan . 22

Catching a Tartar . 22

Oological Notes fiH)m St. .John . -2

Recent Publications . . . 1 4

Frcncli l»n)thtTs’ l*rinl, Uockvillp.

ORNITHOLOGIST

AND

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per
aiiDiim.

Eatablished March 187.’),

Joseph M. Wade, editor ami publisher.

10 cents
single copy.

VOL. VI.

ROCKVILLE, CONN., MAY, i88i.

NO. 3

Henslow’s Sparrow.

NESTING IN NORTHERN CONN.

Henslow’s Sparrow, Coturniculus hens-
lowi, has apparently been on the increase
in this town (Eastford) during the last
live or six years. I think it was in 1876
that I first detected it by its note, in a
swampy meadow. Whenever I passed the
place during the season the same monoto¬
nous soimd could be heard, and the bird
has made his home there every year since.
Two years later I heard one in another
small meadow, not far from the first. On
the 6th of August 1879, I had the pleasure
of examining two nests of this species in a
single field, which a farmer had uncovered
the day before, while mowing. The land
was very high, but wet or springy, though
having nothing like the appearance of the
swampy places where these birds usually
make their home. Each nest contained
three eggs. One set of eggs which I took
was so far advanced in incubation that I
found it impossible to blow them. I left
one nest intending to return the next
morning with a gim for the purpose of se¬
curing the female, but during the night
some animal destroyed both nest and eggs.
The nests were very slight structures, com¬
posed of dry grass and lined, if lined at all,
with the same material, no finer than the
bulk of the nest. One of them was on the
side of a “cradle knoll” the ground all
around it being quite wet. The nest was
on level ground in a dry spot and the rim
was sunk to a level with the surface. The
bird was on the nest and at my approach
she slipped off and ran away through the
short grass very much like a mouse. The
eggs of this species cannot be positively

distinguished from those of the Yellow¬
winged Sparrow, Coturnicuhis passerinus.
In one nest the eggs were considerably
elongated and quite pointed at the smaller
end. In the other they were more nearly
round and not sufficiently pointed to ren¬
der the two ends distinguishable. These
were undoubtedly the second layings of
the season, which accounts for there being
so few eggs. I captured one of the birds,
which proved to be a male, and his plu¬
mage, owing to the moult, was in a most
chlapidated condition ; minus about half
the tail and other feathers in proportion.

In the afternoon of July 17th, 1880, in
driving from Putnam to Eastford I heard
five of these birds in as many different
places ; two in Woodstock and three in
Eastford. A few days afterward I inquir¬
ed of a farmer v ho had recently mowed a
meadow in which I heard one of them, if
he had found any birds nests there, and he
replied that he did mow over a “little
ground bird’s” nest having three eggs,
which he described as white with brown
spots, but unfortunately the horse rake
had obliterated all traces of it.

One morning in May, 1879, I foimd one
of these birds and imdertook to capture
him, which proved to be no easy matter.
When he first rose from the ground I was
not ready for him and with a short flight
he dropped into cover. I hastened to the
spot where he disappeared, but when I got
where he was he wasn’t there. After floun¬
dering around for some time in the water
and over the “tussocks” I started him once
more, but in a direction where I was not
looking, and with a short flight he plunged
I into the grass again. He had a wonder-

18

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 3

ftil faculty for worming bis w’ay through
the grass, and at a sharj) angle from his
line of flight, biit wdiether to the right or
left I could not know until he arose again.
It w’as only after several attempts that I
succeeded in capturing him.

The musical performance of this bird
has very little to commend it ; though con¬
sidering the poor success he meets with,
his performance is certainly praiseworthy.
When the muse inspires his breast he
mounts to the top of a weed or some other
object that raises him just above the grass.
There he sits demurely until the spirit
moves, when he suddenly throws up his
head and with an appearance of much ef¬
fort, jerks out his monosyllabic “tsiji,” ap¬
parently with great satisfaction. Then,
having relieved himself he drops his head
and waits patiently for his little cup to
fill again. Somehow I cannot watch him
while thus engaged, without a feeling of
pity for a creature so constituted that he
can be satisfied with such a perfonnance,
and content with his surroundings.

C. M. Jones, Eastford, Conn.

Collecting on the Pacific Coast.

June ‘26,1880,on my return from a collect¬
ing trip in the Interior, I started for “Pimta
de los Reyos,” Point Reyos; a barren, dis¬
mal, rocky place, such as is seldom \dsited
by a collector. Excepting in a few' places
the cliffs are inaccessible, and here amid
the din and roar of old Ocean, thousands
of Brants, Cormorants Graculns pencilla-
tus, and Violet Green Cormorants, Gracu-
lus violuceus, build their nests and rear
their young. There was also a few Tufted
Puffins, Mormon cirrhata. Western Gmlle-
mots, Uria columba, with a few pairs of
Western Gulls, Lams occidentulus, and
two pairs of Wandering Tattlers, Ileterosct-
lus brevipes. The latter had no doubt
nests, as they would not leave two im¬
mense caverns which were formed in the
face of the cliff by the action of the water.
While perched on a rocky point between
th(! two caverns shooting the M. cirrhata

as they circled about my head, the M. bre¬
vipes would come flying out with their
shrill piping ciy only to return again, and
at the next report the same scene w'ould
be enacted. At the report of the gun the
air would be filled wuth birds circling
about, each giving out their peculiar cry.
But only those nearest could be heard,
such was the terrific din and crash made
by the Pacific ocean against the face of
the cliff and in the caverns, large and
small, w'orn in the solid rock by countless
ages of the washing of the cruel and re¬
lentless waves that know no rest, day or
night. I could sit on a few favorable
points and look into hundreds of nests,
filled with their treasures, “so near and
yet so far,” but the steep and perjiendicu-
lar cliffs afforded no foothold whatever.
One place in particular, a narrow shelf of
rock about twenty feet above the water
and on which were eight nests of U. colum-
ba with the birds on the nests, not one of
which could be obtained except by being
lowered from the cliff above for a distance
of 200 feet by a rope. The L. occxdentalus
had already hatched and the downy, half-
fledged young were easily caught, when
the old ones came darting and circling
around me with a continuous screaming
cry that soimded above the roar of the
surf and set hundreds of other birds in
motion so tliat to watch them whirling
aboiit one’s head produced a dizziness. I
was soon glad to release the little things,
as they kept biting so viciously. So I
gave each a toss in the air and they went
whirliTig down over the cliffs until they
struck the water when most of them j)ad-
dled off to sea, while the old ones dispers¬
ed in search of food. The cliffs range in
Ixight from one hundred and fifty to seven
hundred feet, and are iniu’cessible except
in a few places where I made out to get a
few sets of G. pencillatus. I remained
here three chiys and secured more skins
than eggs. Only a small percentage of
the birds shot could be secured as they
drifted into caverns and among the rocks

AND OOLOGIST

19

May, 1881.]

out of the reach of man. Some distance
from the shore there are a number of islets
from a few yards to several hundred in ex¬
tent. These islets were literally alive with
G. pencillatus, the rocks being black with
them and at a distance of nearly a mile the
stench from the accumulation of filth was
almost unbearable. These islets are also
inaccessible, as their sides are smooth and
almost perpendicular, even with a boat
nothing could be done, not even a foot¬
hold gained to reach the coveted eggs so
temptingly displayed to view. In places I
could lean over the rocks and look into fif¬
teen or twenty nests at a time, not over
ten or fifteen feet distant, some with eggs,
some with young, and some with the old
birds incubating. Birds were continually
going out to sea, and returning probably
in search of food, several of the M. cirr-
hata had fish in their beaks eight or ten
inches long wliich resembled the smelt. I
was not able to reach the nests of these
birds as they were among the rocks on the
land. The holes were so deep and crooked
I could not reach them with my hand.

The pretty red legged U. colnmba were
continually in motion. Some came in
from the sea with weeds and kelp
with which to build their nests, and out
they would go in a few minutes with a
weak whistling cry. Occasionally a flock
of Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus fusms,
would come sailing by, but where they
bred I could not tell as I never saw their
nests or eggs on the coast. Next season I
intend to make another trip to this region
but can assure the readers of the Oologist
it is anything but a pleasure, as it is a
loiiusome, foggy, out of the way place, and
a Collector’s life is continually in jeopardy
while he is on the cliffs, a single misstep
will fetch him into an abyss from which
there is no escape. This is only one
of the many dangers a collector is exposed
to if he is located on the borders of civ¬
ilization and soon becomes used to scenes
which at first he would view with a feeling
of horror. C. A. Allen, Nicasio, Cal.

Least Titmouse.

ITS NESTING HABITS IN CALIFORNIA.

On the 15th of April, 1880, I found a
nest of the Least Titmouse {Psaltriparus
minimus) that is of remarkable length.
The following are its measurements :
length, 21 inches ; diameter near upper
end, 1^ inches ; diameter a foot from top
its greatest size, 3 inches ; diameter near
lower end, 2^ inches ; distance of entrance
from top, 5^ inches ; depth of cavity, 7
inches ; diameter of entrance, | inch.

No other nest found exceeded 9 inches
in length, and in every one the entrance
was in the top or nearly so. This nest is
composed of fine vegetable cotton, great
quantities of the pappus of compound
flowers, minute bits of lichens, among
which are woven long strips of grass-blades,
fine fibrous roots, and the tough inner
bark of weeds. Both the upper and lower
portions of the nest are not so solidly
made as is the middle portion. The nest
was hung upon a small limb of a live-oak,
about eight feet from the ground, and im¬
mediately over an irrigating ditch. There
were seven eggs in the nest, incubation
well begun.

The Least Titmouse is an abundant win¬
ter resident of this county (Ventura) and
may be seen in flocks of five to thirty flying
from sage-bush to sage-bush and feeding
among their branches. In summer I do
not think they are so abundant, yet many
remain to breed, choosing as their favorite
places in which to hang their long, beauti¬
ful pensile nests a bunch of mistletoe or
the thick foliage of a live-oak. Nests
have been found in sage and greasewood
bushes, and one in a bunch of cactus. My
observations of a number of nests and their
sets of eggs enables me to verify Dr. Coues’
remark, viz ; “That the nest is usually as
many inches long as there are eggs in the
full set.” My twenty-one inch nest being
the only exception among a dozen observed.
All others I have are from six to nine inches
long, and contained from six to nine eggs.

B. W. Evermann, Santa Paula, Gala.

20

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 3

ORNITHOLOGIST and OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAOAZINK DEVOTED TO THE STUDY
OF BIUDS, THEIR NESTS AND EOOS.

JOS. M. WADE. - - - . Editor

S. L. WILLARD, - - - Ass’t EdUor

With the co-operation of able Ornitliologieal
Writers ami Collectors.

Subscription. — Si.oo per annum. Foreign
subscription 25 including postage. Specimen
copies 10 cents each

JOS. M. WADE.

Rockville, Conn.

Entered at the Rockville P. O. as second-class matter.

EDITORIAL.

Recent Publications. — The stud} of or¬
nithology has lately developed to such an
extent that we come naturally to look upon
its literature with a more critical eye than
a few years ago, when each new publication,
of whatever pretension, was hailed — and
justly — with much interest and cordiality.
Books were not written for the sake of the
author’s fancied appreciation of seeing him¬
self in print. We encountered little that
did not bear the evidence of true value ;
because it was a lawful piivilege, respected
by the younger students of the science, of
the ablest men to form the results of the
current investigation for public use. In
these days of rapid growth and increased
interest in the study of birds, and the grad¬
ual lifting of popular misconceptions and
old and often taught errors, we look for a
higher scale in the literature from wliich
we must of necessity derive the bulk of our
information. We are quicker to discover
an imperfection than formerly. The rapid
perfection in book making and art in illus
tration, have excited our discrimination to
such an extent that we are apt to discour¬
age that publication which does not teach
us more than the one which preceded it.
To be sure we make all allowances for the
nature of the work. We can not criticise
books of fiction and books of science in the
same way ; the elements are too unlike.
But the latter must be read ; they must
consist of facts, and. unlike the former.

must be exact : we can not tolerate errors.

There are several reasons for an increased
attention to this department of our jour¬
nal. We believe that we are called upon
to guide, in a measure, our readers’ selec¬
tion of bird publications. We Owe it to
the coming generation of young ornitholo¬
gists to keep before them a resume of the
current ornithological literature, the mass
of which is from the nature of the case, in¬
accessible to all. We shall endeavor to
make this portion of the Ornithologist and
OoLOGisT of especial value by pronouncing
candidly, decisively, and when possible, at
length, upon all ornithological publications
that come to our notice.

Rake Eggs. — We have just received from
Wilhelm Schluter, Halle on the Saale, Ger¬
many, three sets of eggs which are rare in
this Country. They came through in per¬
fect order and are fine specimens. First a set
of six Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca, (406)
These eggs are dated January 7th, 1880,
and are from Tornea in Lapland. Second
a set of four Great Gray Owl, Ulula cin-
erea, (339). This set is dated May ‘20th,
1880, and are from Kittila, in Finland.
Third a set of six American Hawk Owl,
Surnia funerea, (407.) This set is dated
May 2‘2d, 1880, and is from Labrador.
With the above we received an exceedingly
fine skin of the Eagle Owl, Bubo muxi-
mu8. It is a female and a very large fresh
skin. Although it is an expensive business
importing eggs, we must say that Wilhelm
Schluter has our entire confidence.

Our Contributors, who have favored us
so liberally with valuable observations, and
whose articles do not immediately appear,
will please bear with us for awhile, and we
hope will still continue to supply us with
such observations as they may make during
the present collecting season. We would
earnestly request our reiulers while collect¬
ing and when matters new come before them
to observe carefully and immediately note
down the facts for publication.

May, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

21

Collectors. — Mr. Robert Ridgway of
the Smithsonian and Mr. Fred. T. Jencks
of Providence, R. I., left Washington for
Wheatland, Indiana,(the home of the Ridg-
way’s) April 13th, on a collecting trip which
is expected to continue for two months.
Mr. Jencks has already sent us notes of the
trip and promises to continue them for the
benefit of our readers. They will appear
in our next number.

Northwestern Screech Owl.

The habits of Scops aaio Kennicotti,tow.nd
on the northwest coast where it replaces
S. asio maccaXli seem to be essentially
the same as those of its eastern and south¬
ern relatives, the Scops asio and asio mac-
calli. It is scarcely ever seen in the daytime,
and if not secluded in the hollow of a tree,
it is only found in the densest and darkest
of the thickets generally about creek bot¬
toms. It does not appear to come about
houses. This form averages considerably
larger than asio and maccalli, and seems to
be moderately common in this vicinity,
wliile a hundred miles to the eastward about
Fort Lapwai, Idaho, it appears not to be
found. At any rate, I failed to notice it
there during three years collecting. I ob¬
tained four specimens here during the past
winter, two of each sex. The measurement
of a female shot November 7th, 1880, is as
follows, wing 7.50, tail 4.25, tarsus 1.50,
culmen 0.75, iris yellow, bill and claws pale
horn color. The second female was larger
still, the wing being 7.85. The males are
a trifle smaller. A set of eggs taken to-day
April 7 th, four in number, measure as fol¬
lows, 1.47x1.28, 1.43x1.29, 1.45x1.30 and
1.46x1.30. These were found in a hole in
a good sized Cottonwood tree about twen¬
ty-five feet from the ground. The cavity
was about sixteen inches deep. There was
no nest, the eggs lying on decayed bits of
wood and a few dead leaves ; no feathers.
The parent, presumably the female, was on
the nest and would not leave the hole,
where I allowed her to remain while re¬
moving the eggs. The first time I exam¬

ined the cavity it contained a single egg
and a dead mouse. This was March 29th.
The eggs of course are white and globular
like most Owl’s eggs. A pair of

Sparrow Hawks, Tinnunculns sparver-
ious, have taken possession of a hole only
about two feet above the one occupied by
the owls, and seem to live in harmony with
the latter. The call notes of Kennicotti’s
owl appears to me to be the same as that
of the eastern Screech Owl, and I heard it
nightly during the month of March. Since
the first egg has been deposited the birds
have remained silent. — Chas. Bendire, Fort
Walla Walla, Washington Territory.

Bird Notes from Virginia.

“That Woodcock.” The reading of Mr.
Merrill’s article on “that woodcock” re¬
minded me of a similar case which hap¬
pened some years ago. While sitting in
the house my attention was attracted by
loud cries of distress from a Woodpecker.
I seized my gun and stepped into the yard
just in time to witness the last struggle of
the Woodpecker in the talons of a Cooper
Hawk, wliich was soon my prize. When I
picked the Hawk up I was surprised at his
emaciated condition, but I soon discovered
ample cause in a large splinter as thick as
my finger and six inches long, through the
fleshy part of the wing near the shoulder.
The splinter was firmly imbedded and the
wound healed over.

The Summer Red Bird, {Pyranga Aesti-
va) is much more rare here. In all my ex¬
perience I have found but one nest, and
this also was on the depressed bough of a
hickory. A beautiful nest carefully and
artistically woven of fine wiry grass, and
strips of bark, and well lined with softer
material. The eggs (3) much resembled
those of the Pyranga rubra, but of a high¬
er and cleaner tint. It contained one or
two eggs of the Cow Bird. In short in
this section there seems to be few small
birds, whose nests are not occasionally
utilized by the cow-bird for its parasitic
brood.

22

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 3.

The Scarlet Tanager, Pyranga rubra,
arrives here the first week in May, and
rears but one brood, and leaves at the
close of Summer. His nest is consequent¬
ly adapted only for summer weather. It
is composed of small sticks and dried
grass, so thinly woven that the eggs may
be seen through it. In every case I have
found it on the horizontal limb of a hickory.
The eggs, three or four in number, are of a
dull blue, with lines and blotches of brown
and purple, thickly clustered about the
large end.

The Indigo Bird, ( Cyanospisa Cyanea, )
seems to be a special favorite with them,
but in one instance within my notice the
little “bunting” had outwitted his oppress¬
or. The cow-bird had apparently deposi¬
ted an egg in their nest before it was quite
finished, whereupon the owner built a new
bottom so as to leave the obtruded egg
enclosed between the two and proceeded
to lay its own eggs on top.

The Sparrow Hawk of whose nesting in¬
quiry is made. I have met with their
nests quite frequently, in all insta’^ces in a
hollow tree in the deserted hole of the
wood-pecker. The eggs 5 in number of a
beautiful fawn color spotted with brown.
We are much indebted to this, the most
beautiful of all the American Hawks, for
the destruction of field mice, which would
otherwise prove a great nuisance to the
fanners. W. T. Allen, Gaylord, Va.

Notes from Michigan.

Tufted Titmouse, (Pophophanes bicolor.)
A specimen of the above was taken at
Locke, Michigan, April 12th, 1881. I saw
a pair of these birds on April 30th, 1871,
but failed to secure them, being as usual
in such cases, without my gun, but near
enough to distinguish their peculiar mark¬
ings to a certainty.

Canada Jay, {Perisoreus cunadermis.)
A. B. Covert of Ann Arbor, in this state,
found a nest of the Canada Jay containing
five eggs May 27th, 1872. It was fifteen
miles northeast of that city. It is tlie only
ease recorded as far as I know in southern

Michigan. In the Northern Peninsula it is
a common resident. I have seen but one
specimen of this bird in our woods and that
was on May 17th, 1876. It came quite near
me, so there was no difficulty in identifying
it ; unfortimately I did not have my gun.

Baltimore Oriole, {Icterus galbula.) In
our State this bird frequents the tops of
elm and maple trees, have never known it
to nest in an orchard or near a house.

H. A. Atkins, M. D., Locke, Michigan.

[In this State the Baltimore Oriole nests
on elms, and mostly near dwellings, occa
sionally in orchards, but very rarely in the
fields or woods. We never found but one
in the woods and that was never finished.
Their nests seem to be made entirely of
materials furnished by civilization. Will
our correspondent furnish us a nest the
the coming season that has been built in
the forests of Michigan ? — Ed.]

“Catching a Tartar." Noticing in the
April number of the Ornithologist and
OoLOGisT an article by Fred. T. Jencks, Esq.
of Providence, R. I., entitled “Catching a
Tartar,” I was reminded of a Tartar of tlie
same genus caught by a Florida Gallinule
on Seneca River N. Y., in the year 1875.
My uncle while enjoying a day’s sport de¬
coying ducks, observed, a short distance
from where he was shitioned, a strange act¬
ing bird swimming about in a pool of water
surrounded by flags. Noticing an enor¬
mous bill for the size of the bird and think¬
ing it might be a “rara avis,” he shot it and
presented it to me for preservation. It
proved to be an adult female Florida Gal¬
linule — an abundant species in tliis locality.
Like the duck spoken of by Mr. Jencks, it
had caught a mussel and had been caught
by it, and in a manner quite as aggravating.
The mussel had closed about midway over
the lower mandible, and by its vise-like
grip was surely cutting it off. When I re¬
ceived it, this useful member was nearly
severed. No food was found in the stom¬
ach on dissection, and the bird was very
much emaciated.

Frank S. Wright, .4.ubum, N. Y.

May, 1881.]

Am OOLOGIST

23

Importing Game Birds. — The Daily Ore¬
gonian, contains the following extract from
the Hon. O. N. Denny, U. S. Consul Gen¬
eral at Shanghai, China, to Mr. A. H. Mor¬
gan, of Portland, Oregon : “I mentioned
in my last that it was my intention to try
and stock our state with some of the finest
varieties of game pheasants found in
China, and to this end I have been collect
ing them for some months past. I am
sending by the ship Otago, of Port Town¬
send, care of Captain Eoyal, about sixty
Mongolian pheasants, to he turned loose in
various sections of the state. I also send
eleven Mongolian sand grouse. These
birds have very peculiar shaped feet, re¬
sembling somewhat those of a mole. I
also send seven Chefoo partridges. I am
collecting other varieties which I will send
in due time, some of them are beautiful
birds.”

Females Preponderating. — Capt. Charles
Bendire, stationed at Fort Walla Walla,
Washington Territory, writes that he has
been quite successful in taking skins the
past winter, and notes that among the
Raptores, the females greatly preponder¬
ate. In seven specimens of the Prairie Fal¬
con, Hierofalco mexicanns polyagrua.
There are only two males. In eight speci¬
mens of Black Merlin, ^salon Colunv-
bnrious suckleyi, there was but a single
male. In four specimens of the American
Rough legged Hawk, Archibuteo lagopus
sancti Johannis there were no males. The
owls were more evenly divided as to
sex.

Oological Notes from St. John.

White Winged Crossbill — I am on the
search for the nest and eggs of the white
winged Crossbill, I know they breed here.

I think it was in the third week of Janua¬
ry, 1875, I was out moose hunting and
started a big buck, and in the chase I
found him making a circle, and cut through
a bunch of trees to gain upon him. On
my way through the thick wood, I stopped
to adjust a strap on my snowshoes I found

myself face to face with a white winged
crossbill on her nest, the high bank of
snow under me bringing my head about
level with the nest. As I approached
closer to examine it she flew to a branch
close by, where I was enabled to carefully
examine and identify her. The nest was
placed in the fork of one of the main limbs
of the tree and was composed externally of
the long gray moss which grew in large
patches on most of the trees in this vicini¬
ty, and so much resembled these patches
of moss as to be difficult of detection. In
the inside was a lining of softer moss, and
between the lining and the exterior were
small twigs interlaced. In the nest were
three eggs of a bluish-white ground color
having dashes of red upon the large end.
But like the exquisite in Richelieu who be¬
ing filled with fate had no time to discuss
ambition, so I, filled with the excitement
of the chase and my ears tingling with the
magnetic chorus of the dogs, had no time
for bird’s eggs and hurried on, thereby
losing what now, no moose or dog could
tempt me fron^ securing.

So far as I know there is only one of
our citizens who has any claim to be an
Oologist; Mr. Jas. W. Banks. He has
collected and carefully identified some sev¬
enty varieties of eggs, some of them of
very rare species. As he is a close observ¬
er and enthusiastic, he will no doubt add
largely to his collection during the coming
season.

Solitary Sandpiper. — Mr. Banks foimd
a nest of the Solitary Sandpiper on July
3d, 1880. It was on the shore of a lake on
the suburbs of the city, about 200 yards
from the edge of the lake on a dry spot in
the midst of a rather swampy patch of
meadow. There was no attempt at nest
building, the eggs being laid in a mere
indentation in the ground, apparently
scratched out by the parents and without
lining of any kind. There was 3 eggs in
the nest and in boring one it was found to
contain a well developed embryo. There
were no broken shells near the nest, nor

24

ORNITHOLOGIST

' 'i

[Vol. 6-No. 3.

evidence of more eggs lia\4ng been laid,
the eggs were lying with the small ends
resting in the center, The center of the
nest being deep the eggs had the appear¬
ance of standing npon their small end, the
large ends pointing slightly toward the
margin of the nest. Being tender hearted
(then) he only took one egg and ^dsited the
nest very often afterward. The birds were
extremely shy and with the utmost stealth
4ie ccmld not approach the \icinity of the
nest without the parent taking flight and
settling down some distance away, appear¬
ing nervously anxious, piping continuously
and endeavoring to draw his attention
from the nest. The eggs differ slightly
from those described by Dr. Brewer, being
shorter and the spots partially confluent, a
few of these decided “blotches.”

Winter Wren. — Mr. Banks found on
June 17th, 1879, the nest of a Winter
Wren with the parent on it. It was par¬
tially concealed by a windfall, being placed
just where the moss on the tree and the
grass met. It was composed entirely of
dried pine “needles,” loosely laid together
and resting against the moss and gmss.
There were 4 eggs in the nest, apparently
but newly laid.

Robin’s Nest Pensile. — On May 1.5th,
1880, Mr. Banks cbscovered a Robin’s nest
jiartially pensile. The back of the nest
leaned againsl the limb of a tree, and
pieces of grass were woven into the nest
and over the limb.

Robin’s Nest with water. — Mr. James
^lorrison of this city, found a Robin’s nest
last spring with a quantity of water in it.
It was mid-day and there had been no rain
the night previous, nor for several days
before. When lu-st observed the female
was inside putting in the mud lining. On
visiting the nest next day the dry grass
lining had been put in luid the bottom of
the nest was very wet.

Solitary Sandpiper. — Mr. Harold Oil-
bert, one of our best infonued embryo
oniithologists. while shooting at Hampton
last fall flushed a Solitary Sandpiper, w’uich

flew' a short distance and on to the branch
of a dead tree. Never having seen such
performance before, he called for an encore
and three successive times this bird went
through this same unorthodox maneuver.
May this not have been the Green Sand¬
piper we read about ?

M. Chamberlain, Saint John, N. B.

- -

Recent Publications.

“Illustrations of Nests and Eggs.” The
next w'ork in order is by Ernest lugersoll,
entitled “A History of the Nests and Eggs
of American Birds,” which is sold at the
low price of fifty cents per number. Each
number contains twenty-four pages, and
two plates, and is printed on good paper.

It is in Royal 8vo. form, a very convenient
size for the student. In the circular sent
out tw'o letters are given, one from Dr.
Elliott Coues, and one from J. A. Allen.
Both of these letters should be read with
cure. There are endorsements from the
” Philadelphia Sunday Post," and "New York
Evening Post, also "New York Tribune" What
the Ethtors of these papers know about
nests and eggs we are not even prepared
to hazard a guess. We believe Mr. Inger i
soil published this work before he was 1
fully prepared, fearing some one else wf.uld
occupy the field. Mr. Ingersoll uses a
facile pen and is thoroughly able lo please
as a magazine writer where the ability to
please is of more consequence than scien¬
tific accuracy. The plates in this work are j
entirely worthless for all practical pur- ■
poses. We doubt if Mr. Ingersoll could
identify his own plates, much less the eggs
they pretend to represent. There is con¬
siderable valuable matter in the work [
which will be found between quotation j
marks and some where the quotation mai ks |
seem to have been forgotten. As a work
it had much better never have been juib-
lished and its publisher displayed good
judgment in disposing of it. We hope
the purchaser will not continue it until he
can fully realize the magnitude of his un¬
dertaking.

Contents.

l>l:ick nnd Wliite Crec])or, ‘-if)

^"ello\v-I>ellie<l Woodpecker, -i)

lUibo Virginiamis, -<j

WM-diii, or Vellow-I leaded Titmouse, ‘27
Editorial — Nomenclature of Xortli

American Birds, -S

Editorial — Kemoval,

Editorial — Our Magazine, ’iH

White Bluehird’s Eggs,
lluhy-Throated Ilummiug-hird, 'i!)

Oreat Auk,

Small Oreeu-('rested Elyealelier, 21)

C’ross-hred Duck,

(’anada .lay,

I )oul)le-Yolked Egg, ld()

Notes from Norwich, (’ouu., 150

IJeceut I’uhlieatious, 152

ORNITHOLOGIST

AND

()()L()GI8T.

$1.00 ijor

Ainiuiii.

Estiiblisheil March 187.'),

.JOcScph M. Waile, editor and |jul)li.sher.

10 cents
single copy.

VOL. VI.

ROCKVILLE, CONN., JUNE, i88i.

NO. 4

Black and White Creeper.

ITS NEST AND EGGS.

Having rambled some distance and not
having made any stimulating find, and the
weather being warm, it being the 20th of
June, it was exceedingly easy and desira¬
ble to get down full length on the green
turf near to an old stump, on which had
formerly grown a solitary chestnut tree.
AVe had no sooner got fairly down, with
our face a few feet from the stump, when
a Black and AVhite Creeper came out from
a crevice between two roots, and ran up
the stump and across the field with a zig¬
zag movement over the ground in an ap¬
parently wounded condition, first dropping
one wing, then the other, until it had got
to a safe distance when we lost sight of it,
and returned to the stump, and while ex¬
amining the crevice between the two roots
a little under the stump and not easily seen
was a nest, composed in part of leaves and
inner bark of chestnut and well lined with
hair, being one and one half inches deep, and
the same in diameter, being of the size and
having the appearance of a well built Chip¬
ping Sparrow’s nest, in which were four
eggs slightly incubated. The nest was
built so near the stump that there was lit¬
tle more than the lining on the side, but
on the front the nest was thicker and of
coarser materials, as above described, being
built so as fill the cavity even. To make
doubly sure of the bird’s identity we set
some limed twigs on each side of the nest
and waited jiatiently at a proper distance
for the bird’s return, which was in about fif¬
teen minutes. It first ajipeared on the
dead limb of a tree near by, running uj),
then down in a manner iieculiar to this

creeper and as if in search of insects. It
was never still or perching, but was con¬
tinually moving, flying down to the stumjis
and creeping over them, then returning
to the tree. It finally flew to the stump
under which was its nest, creeping down
it, across and over it in different directions,
then flying away to return again, repeating
this interesting performance several times,
until at last it alighted on the stump,
creeping downwards to the nest, on reach¬
ing which it appeared to discover its disor"
dered condition, and started to fly away
once more, but too late, the limed twigs
caught its wings placing it at our mercy.
When we picked it up, examined it care
fully, fully establishing its identity, we
cleaned off’ the bird-limed twigs, and our
curiosity being fully satisfied we gave the
bird its freedom and removed the nest
and eggs all of which are now in our cab¬
inet.

Yellow-bellied 'Woodpecker.

( Sphyrapicus varius. )

This handsomely marked bird of the
Woodpecker family is a common migratory
species in our vicinity. It arrives from
the South about the 10th to 15th of April,
and soon becomes quite abundant in the
woods, where its loud rap2)ing on dead or
decayed stubs announces its presence. By
the first or second week in May, all but a
few of the birds have passed farther on to
the North where they breed. I have long
suspected that a few pairs might remain
with us and nest, and two seasons ago was
fortunate enough to verify my suspicions.
Previous to this, I had heard of, and seen
stray individuals during June and July,

ORNTTnoLOniST

[Vol. 6-Nf). 4.

L^G

which certainly f^ave grounds on which to
base a supposition of their nesting. June
7th, lH7i), while collecting, I raj)ped on an
Ash tree having a decayed top in which
were some Woodpecker's holes, and was
surprised to see a male Yellow-belly issue
from one of them. On climbing up I coiild
distinctly hear the hissing noise made by
the young birds in their nest. I left it un¬
disturbed being somewhat disapi)ointcd in
failing to procure a set of eggs, biding my
time, however, in hopes that the pair of
birds might use it the ensuing spring. On
IMay 2.')th, 1880. I visited the j)lace again
and on pounding the tree saw a Y'ellow.
bellied Woodpecker tly from the old nest¬
ing place, so climbing uj) and cutting it
out, I found tw'o eggs perfectly fresh.
This was undoubtedly not the nxuuber of
eggs the female would have laid, had she
been midisturbed. June Kith, following,
thought I would examine the tree again, as
I had some time observed that when a
Woodpecker has a set of eggs taken from
its nest that it will simply deepen the hole
and lay again. This proved to be the case
in this instance, for the hole had been
deepened some three inches, and on the
soft chips at the bottom lay four eggs
slightly incubated. They are imniiiculate,
as are all Woodjmekers’ eggs, and average
about .87 inch by .7(1 inch. The original
hole was about 20 feet from the ground,
and probably 8 inches deep. Entrance
was so small that the birds on going in or
coming out would sometimes have to wig¬
gle considerably before passing through.
The tree was in a swamjjy place.

This is the first instance of which I have
heard of the eggs of this bird being found
in Central New York. It undoubtedly
breeds sparing!}', but its nest seems to be
very hard to discover, on account of the
few individuals remaining to breed.

I would l)ei)leased to know of any other
occurrence of their nesting in this section.

S. F. ll.vTHBCUN, Aubuni, N. Y.

— ~ -

.\sk your friends to sul)scribe for this
m ig.i/.ine. and thereby help the cause.

Bubo Virginianus.

ITS NESTING H.^BITS, ETC.

In an earlier copy of the Oologist, (See
Yol. 5, No. 7, iiage 40,) is given an account
of the nesting of a ^lair of Great Horned
Owls. As I have this year, (1881) taken
eggs from the nest of the pair of birds
above referred to, I will continue the ac¬
count. The nest which I found Aj)ril (ith,
1880, then contained two young birds.
Being even then too late for eggs, I this
year ascended to the nest on March llth,
but found it deserted and badly weath¬
er beaten. There was then about one
foot of snow on the ground and snow¬
ing hard. A short distance oft’ in the next
grove the same pair of birds had built a
new nest for themselves in the toj) of a pine
tree, over sixty feet from the ground, and
not a limb on the tree beneatli fifteen feet
from the nest. After a very laborious
climb (I had not my climbing irons with
me) I looked over the edge of the nest and
was very much surjirised to see four eggs
therein. The number laid by this bird is
two and very rarely three. This mystery
however was solved after a little study, as
follows. Two of the eggs were in the
middle of the nest, and sunk about two
thirds their depth into the lining, and were
much discolored from being in contact
with the wet moss and cedar bark. AVhen
blowing them they showed about seven
days incubation, but were badly addled.
As the bird had flown from the nest while
I was under the tree, this might seem
strange. The other two eggs were a trifle
smaller, but (piite free from any stains,
and were cpiite fresh. From the position
of the eggs in the nest, and the condition
of their contents I came to the following
conclusion : That the first two eggs were
laid on one of tlie last days of February,
and after about one week's incubation,
were wet or frozen while the adult birds
were from the nest, and therefore spoiled
and were <leserted, l»ut rather than give up
the nest, the birds had made an attemj)t to
covtr these and had laid another set in

June, 1881.]

AND OOLOCJIST

their place. The first two eggs measure
2.26x1.79 and 2.24x1.89. The two last laid
measure 2.17x1.74 and 2.15x1.70. In an
interesting letter from Mr. Wm. Brewster,
he speaks of a similar circumstance, where
he found two eggs of B. Virginianus, be¬
neath a nest full of eggs of the sheldrake
in a hollow stub, in the State of Maine.
I think that there is no doubt but that the
conclusion arrived at with regard to the
above described eggs is correct, and that it
was not a set of four eggs, but rather, two
Best of two eggs each. C. A. Hawes, Boston.
- -

Verdin or Yellow Headed Titmouse.
{Paroides Jlaviceps {Baird.) — I first met
with this rare and interesting little
mite of bird life on the Colorado de¬
sert, some 100 miles above Fort YTima. I
was made aware of its presence, by finding
several nests which had been latelj" deser¬
ted by the young. Later (about May 1st,)
I found a nest with full fledged young,
which fluttered away on my disturbing
them. From this I infer that the first set
of eggs is laid about the first week in
April. Despite my careful search, I could
then find no nest with eggs, although
abandoned ones were not uncommon. The
birds, too I seldom saw, but such I believe
is their customary habit, to keep in retire¬
ment in the low' undergrowth. Three
weeks later, in the vicinity of Tucson, A.T.,
I had the good fortune to find a new nest,
(suspended in a small willow sapling) which
contained four eggs about half advanced in
incubation. The nest was a wonderful
structure considering the size of the bird,
scarcely larger than some of the larger
humming-birds. It is in shape a perfect
ball, about half the size of a man’s head,
and composed of decomposed leaves, cot¬
ton-like fibre from the cactus and various
soft fibrous vegetable matter, matted to¬
gether like felt cloth. Externally, rough
and thorny twigs give a protection and
form the frame work around which the nest
is built. Internally it is literally one mass
of feathers, lining completely, bottom, top.

and sides. The entrance could be hardly
detected, so small and well concealed was
it by an overhanging twdg and protuber¬
ance of body of the nest. When found, it
would hardly admit of the passage of a
finger. The whole structure built so as to
swing free to the breezes, was hardly cal¬
culated to withstand rough treatment or
handling, and once detached from its sup¬
port w'as apt to fall to jiieces. The eggs,
four in number in the only two nests I
found, were all partly incubated, and were
at least the full complement of those sets.
In the first brood they may lay five. They
are very delicate little eggs, measuring
about .60 by .45 inches, and considerably
tapering and pointed at the smaller end.
The ground color is a pale delicate pea
green, and the egg blotched all over wdth
rather large markings of reddish brown,
forming a ring around the large end.

The situation varied exceedingly. Those
nests found on the desert were all close to
the ground, at the end of mesquite limbs,
cr in a cactus, while those found near
Tucson were some in cactus, some in low
saplings and occasionally in mesquite
trees, from 15 to 30 feet from the ground.
The little birds, seldom seen,manifest their
presence by angry and anxious calls to
each other from surrounding brush or
thickets.

Never having observed the bird around
Los Angelos or in any part of California,
until on the desert near Arizona, I am in¬
clined to think they are confined to the ex¬
treme southern limits, extending into Mex¬
ico.— (1. Holterhoff, Jr., Los Angeles, Cal.

While riding out over Laurel Hill this
morning (May 29) we noticed a cat put its
paw on a young robin, not with the inten¬
tion of injuring it, however, but at the in¬
stant it was done a robin came down with
the speed of lightning and struck the cat on
the head. We have been trying to solve
the problem of which movement was the
quickest, the coming of the robin or the
leaving of the cat.

28

()RNITlIOLO(iIST

[Vol. 6-No. 4

ORNITHOLOGIST ailfl OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MACAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STEDV
OF BIUDS, THEIU NEMTS AND EIHLS.

JOS. M. WADE. - - - - Eilitor

S. L. WILLARD, - - - .!.•<.'<’< Editor

With tlie co-operatioi) of al)lc Ornitliological
Writers ami Coiiectors.

Subscription. — Si.oo per annum Foreign
subscription !?.i 25 including postage Specimen
copies 10 cents eacli.

JOS. M. WADE.

Norwich, Conn.

Fhitcrcd at tlic Norwicli P. O. a.s secoml-eiass matter.

EDITORIAL.

Nomenclature of North American
Birds.

Since the well known ‘‘Catalogue of
North American Birds,” by Brof. B.iird
was issued in 1859, no short ornithologi¬
cal work has appeared of so much impor-
tiince as llidgway’s “Nomenclature of
North American Birds," which has recently
been received.

This new list contains 22G valid species
and recognized races which have either
been first described or added to the North
American fauna since the year 1859, while
no less than 62 names of the old catalogue
have been reduced to the ranks of synony¬
my or removed as extralimital. Over 300
of the remaining 698 names have been
more or less ch.inged, so that only 395 of
the 760 names, as given in the old Cata¬
logue, are retained by Mr. Riilgway. Im¬
portant changes appear in the nomencla¬
ture of many of the groups, but our limit¬
ed space will not admit of any quotations
illustrative of the changes of the generic
and specitic names. The apjiendix con¬
tains a condensed analysis of the changes
which have taken plaee in North American
Ornithology since 1859, and is a valuable
feature of the jiaiier.

Oologists whose eggs are marked ac¬
cording to the “Smithsonian List" will be
interested in the “Concordance" at the end
of the work, as the numliers of the old
Catalogue as well as those of tlie new are

here given in conjunction. Mr. Ridgway
has given a great amount of information
in the 94 jiages of the pamplilet, and the
laborious task undertaken and so thor¬
oughly finished by him, will add new laurels
to his already well known fame as one of
the first of American Ornithologists.

Removal.

Since our last number was sent out we
have changed our place of business from
Rockville, Conn., to Versailles, Conn., but
our journal in the future wdll be issued
from Norwich, Conn., where we shall re¬
side, and which will be our post-office ad¬
dress. This will explain to our corres¬
pondents why some of them have been neg¬
lected during the past two or three weeks.
Our thanks are due to our contributors
for very copious notes of the arrival of our
feathered friends in various parts of the
country which will have to be worked into
shape when we have more time than at
present.

Our Magazine.

We have received m iny congratulations
on the appearance of the first three num¬
bers of (uir magazine, which are the more
gratifying as they come from our scientific
men in dift’ei'ent parts of the United States
and Europe. It is a great satisfaction to
us but we need a subscription list that will
at least pay running expenses. Our time
and labor will be cheerfully given, but if
each one would try and induce a brother
naturalist to subscribe it would be a great
help to the mag.izine and would jilace it on
a permanent footing. We get but little
revenue from our advertising columns,
therefore it is to the interest of our read
ers to lend a helping hand.

White, Bluebird’s Eoos. — A few days
ago. on reaching home, we were very
agreeably surpriscal to find laid on our ta¬
ble (not by the Bluebirds, but by a Nor¬
wich friend), a set of fourjuire white Blue¬
bird's eggs, perfectly frc*sh, and with the
])ink hue so characteristic of the Wood¬
pecker's eggs. The birds were of the us
ual ]>iumage.

June, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

29

Ruby Throated Hummingbird. — ( Trochi-
lus coluhris Linnaeus.) Late in Septem¬
ber, 1879, near noon, a gentleman brtbngo
me a female of this bird, apparently quite
dead and limp, and with the tail feathers
all missing, rendering it imperfect. I re¬
fused to mount it on account of its missing
appendage. The bird was left lying in a
large bay window, full of choice house-
plants, in my place of business, upon a slop¬
ing belt of damp green moss, surrounding
a fountain basin. The weather being quite
cool, necessitated a fire in the room. There
the bird lay and was forgotten for about
an hour and a half. When I picked it upj
quite damp from the sjiray, I was aston¬
ished to see a sort of gas23. I could scarcely
believe my own eyes, since the bird had
been found lying upon his back under a
porch early that morning and was not no¬
ticed until swept off. After a pause this
was repeated again and again. I placed the
bird in the sun, where these gasjis gradu-
ually became quicker and softer, until
within an other hour, these aiiproached
natural breathing, and soon after it could
be seen flying about the room uttering its
low chirp, while sipjiing nectar from the
many flow^ers; now and then it would come
to a button -hole bouquet in the lajiel of my
coat. The next day being warmer, the
bird was given its freedom.

I have had live birds of this species, of
both sexes, brought me on several occa¬
sions, which would fly about the room and
feast on the flowering jilants, as above,
never missing a button-hole bouquet or
flowers held in the hand by any one stand¬
ing near, while quiet.

The above remarkable incident was wit¬
nessed by several prominent business men
and my family. — A. H. Mundt. Fairbury, Ill.

Great Auk.

A few months ago, the interest of orni¬
thologists and oologists in the Great Ank
was again aroused by the discovery, in a
collection of eggs which had been sold for
a small sum by auction at Edinburgh, two
rather damaged sjiecimens of the eggs of

the Great Auk. The lucky purchaser sent
them to Stiven’s Auction Rooms in Lon¬
don, and they were sold, one for one hun¬
dred pounds, and the other for one hun¬
dred and two pounds.

The late Mr. Proctor of Durham, went
to Iceland in 1833 and 1837, in search of
this bird, but was not able to find it,
though he stayed at Gramsey, a small
island forty miles north of the mainland.
There are in this neighborhood two sjieci-
mens of the bird, one in Durham and one
in Newcastle Museum. There are thirty-
four birds and about fifty eggs in various
European collections. Several years ago,
during the cleaning of the museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons, London, a box
was discovered, and on examination it was
found to contain several eggs of the Great
Auk.

In 1878 some caves were discovered near
Whitburn, a village on the coast of Dur
hain, in which were found a large quantity
of human and animal remains, among them
were several bones of the Great Auk. This
is the more interesting as only one authen¬
ticated instance of the bird having occurred
in the neighborhood had before been re¬
corded. — J . T. T. Reed, Ryho^ie, Durham
Co., England.

Small Green— crested Flycatcher. _

Dates of the arrival of the Small Green-
crested Flycatcher {Empidonax acadicns)
for 25 years in Locke, Ingham Co., Michi¬
gan. This species is a common summer
resident, but I have never found it breed¬
ing. The first one ever met with here was
taken May 3d, 1857.

May 3, 1857 Apr. 28, 1866 May 5, 1874

Apr. 29, 1858 Apr. 30, 1867 May 9, 1875

May 2, 1859 Apr. 29, 1868 May 7, 1876

Apr. 21, 1860 May 2, 1869 May 10, 1877

Apr. 23, 1861 Apr. 2.5, 1870 Ajir. 2,5, 1878

Aj)!-. 26, 1862 Apr. 29, 1871 Apr. 30, 1879

Apr. 30, 1863 Apr. 25, 1872 Apr. 26, 1880

May 5, 1864 May 4, 1873 Apr. 24, 1881

Aj)r. 26, 186.5 Dr. H. A. Atkins.

All subscriptions must commence with
current volume.

30

ORNTTIIOLOGIST

[Vol. 6— No. 4.

Cross-Bked Duck. — I received from Se¬
neca Biver, a very striking cross between a
Black Duck and a ^lallard. The bird in
question was a male, about equally marked
between the two. The neck had the green
gloss of the Mallard, there was the Mallard’s
bill, the Mallard’s under tail covert, the
]Mallard’s wings and the chocolate color
on the breast. The feathers about the
head were that of the Black Duck. The
chocolate of the l)i’east was thickly spotted
with round black spots which extended
down the belly and sides to the vent.
There was an entire lack of the wdiite ring
around the neck and the curling feathers
on the rump. The toes partly red, partly
l)lack. Such is the appearance of a rather
odd looking duck that now graces my col¬
lection. Frank S. Wright, Auburn, N. Y.

Canada Jay. — G. A. IMcCallum, of Dunn-
ville Ontario, writes that the Canada Jay
is not a resident of that jilace. Mr. Cliam-
berlain, of St. John, N. B., is by good au¬
thority, infoniied that this Jay breeds with
them in June as well as in January. We
shall be glad to hear from any of our read¬
ers, that live in sections inhabited liy this
bird, and who have studied its habits.

Double-Yolked Egg. — Hallie Gray, Al¬
bion. N. Y., reiiorts that on May 17, 1881,
a llobin’s nest was found containing a
double-yolked egg and three of the ordi¬
nary size. He also reports tinebng a Chip¬
ping Sparrow’s nest on the ground, in the
middle of a clump of catnip, which con¬
tained three eggs.

- -

Notes from Norwich, Conn.

Rol)ins and Blue birds in considerabh
numbers remained here all the winter of
187!) and 1880, which was a very mild sea
son. I observed them nearly eveiw day-
and others who are curious in such mat
ters make a like report. The presence of
these birds in such large numbers during
the entire winter is unusual, Imt I account¬
ed for it from the fact that there waf
hardly a cold day from October to Aju-il.
But how shall we exiilain, what is undoubt¬

edly true, that these birds (especially the
Blue birds,) have dwelt with us through
this 1) resent very severe winter, (1880 and
1881,) in greater numbers than in the pre¬
vious mild one. Mr. Brand of Norwich
told me that some half a dozen Blue birds
came into his yard at night, for some time
this winter and entered some bird boxes,
and apparently remained in them over
night as he saw them come out early in
the moniing. This would look as if they
were staying here and not on their way
from North to South.

I see by my Journal, Januai-y !)th, 1880,
that a hunter brought a male Wood Duck
into market on that day. I purchased it
and it proved to be a very tine specimen.
The man said he shot it a mile or two
dowm the river. Another hunter told me
that he flushed one a number of times in a
secluded bend of the river near Yantic Cem
etery.

Three or four “Flickers” ( ColapUs au-
ratus), haunted the hemlock grove on the
top of a hill East of my house, through
the winter.

Among our more common winter birds I
observed that the Purple Finches and LeE-
ser Red-polls abounded in Norwich last win¬
ter, but this winter, 1880 and 1881, I have
scarcely seen a half dozen of either kind,
at the same time we consider the Purple
Finch a constant resident. Cedar birds in
immense flocks stayed with us through
the winter. This is a resident but not gen¬
erally in so large numbers.

1 have never seen the snow bunting,
( Plectrophanes ?iiviilis,) in Norwich, Mr.
Rawson tells me he saw a flock of them
in the adjoining town of Ih'eston some
years since. I have seen specimens which
were procured in Hebron, Conn.

Fel)ruarv *20th. 1880, the Song Spar¬
rows commenced to sing. They had been
common tlirough the winter, but they ut¬
tered no song until that <lay. In a day or
two after you might have heard the notes of
this tuneful little spaiTow from eveiT bush
and wall.

June, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

31

The Snow 0\^ 1 is a common winter I’es-
iclent with us, there are a number of speci¬
mens in town, and some are seen every
winter.

March 1st, Crow Blackbirds ap2:)eared.
7th, Fox Sjiarrows; 8th, Red- winged Black¬
birds; 11th, During the snow storm yes¬
terday the birds all disappeared; but
where ? 21st, I had a near and full view

of a flock of Fox Sparrows and heard
them sing. Charming songsters. 28th, a
Red-tailed Hawk j^lunged into a brush
heap this morning, (probably in pursuit of
game) and got entangled and stripj'ed the
feathers from its wings about half the
length of the quills. It was drawn out by
a boy, from whom the Hawk escai)ed. I
saw it afterwards flying just over the tops
of the trees. It had a strange appearance
in the air, and flew with apparent difficulty.
How many more feathers could have been
lost and still the Hawk been able to fly ?

April 2d. Large numbers of Giills
{Kittewakes) were in the river, floating
along like ducks. Occasionally one would
rise up and fly a short distance and sink
down again into the water. This gull ajj-
pears here in the fore part of Ai:)ril and
dejiarts early in November. I never saw
them in the water l)efore. 3d, Phoebe
birds ajipeared in numbers this morning.
4th, White- bellied swallows. 9th. Cow
Birds and Wood Pewees came to-day. A
few common snow l)irds still remain. 13th,
Prof. Hutchinson shot two of Wilson’s
Snipe, so says Mr. Rawson, who saw them.
14th, Belted Kingfisher, toward evening.
18th, Field Sparrows. 22d. the Brown
Thresher aiq^eared to-daj. This is much
earlier than usual. 25th, Chewinks, black
and white Creepers and House Wrens
cheered us with their jn-esence to-day, for
the fii’st time this spring.

May 1st. This evening I heard the wel¬
come voice of the Whip-poor-will near the
house of Mr. Jeremiah Davis. His son
told me he had heard it for two or three
evenings previous. 2d. This moniing came
the Cat-bird. White-eyed Vireo and Wood

Thrush. 3d, Summer Yellow Bird and
Baltimore Oriole. Mr. John Burroughs
says that the Baltimore builds on the south
and west sides of the tree. There are two
or three within sight of me now, that are
on the east side. It would seem that some
members of the Thrush family (Robin,
Wood Thrush, Cat-bird and Brown Thresh¬
er) sing later in the evening than any
others of our songsters. They are often
heard until it is quite dark. The Chipping
Sjjarrow will break out at times in the
night for a moment and then sink back to
sleep again, but the song of this bird is
substantially finished before dusk.

July 25th. A boy brought me a yomig
male Green Heron {Ardeavirescens) which
he says he procured in the adjoining town
of Preston, where it was probably hatched.

Sept. 24th. Mr. Y^oung tells me he shot
a Red-bellied Nut-hatch to-day. I have oc¬
casionally shot one of this species, but it
is shy and with us a scarce bird. Some
seasons I do not see a single specimen.
The White-bellied Nut-hatch is very com¬
mon and a constant resident.

Nov. 28th. The White-throated Spar¬
rows and Fox Sparrows linger yet.

Mr. George Case, who is a carebil ob¬
server, told me that he saw on the 7th and
9th of December flocks of 12 or 15 White¬
winged Cross-bills.

Dec. 28th. Goldfinches are plentiful
this winter. Mr. Case, who is a botanist,
says they open the jjods of the Evening
Primrose and extract the seeds; while
the Tree Sparrow' {tSpizella monticola)
shakes the stalk and in that w'ay detaches
the seed from the pod. The Chicadee
finds a grub in a kind of sack on the Gol¬
den rod which food it seems to enjoy huge¬
ly. There are more Shrikes in our town
than usual this w'inter, even early in the
season they were exceedingly abixndant.
Pine Linnets somewdiat scarce. Y’ellow
Crowned Kinglets (another of our winter
residents),usually appear in Octcjber, about
the middle, but this w'inter only in small
numbers, as it appears to me. Song sjxar-

32

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 4.

rows sang nearly np to the 1st of Dee. but
it was not the song of spring-time. It was

weak and hoarse. — S. T. Holbrook.

-

Recent Publications.

Parts VII. and VIII. of Mr. Gentry’s
work* have been published, according to
the author's announcement to issue one
number each month. We are afraid the
projector entertained a ipiestionable policy
when he set about giving his readers an
exhaustive treatise on the eggs and nests
of the birds of the United States in twenty-
five parts, with the limit of each jmrt to be
the treatment and illustration of two spe¬
cies. It seems almost as if it were a will¬
fully planned repetition of the lamented in-
comi)leteness of so many of our good or¬
nithological works. We certainly have
very little satisfaction in binding up the
parts when completed, and 2)utting the vol¬
ume on our shelves with the misleading
title on its back. There is, however, anoth¬
er aspect of the work which we notice is,
under the circumstances, inexcusable. The
author has selected for his work the most
common and well known sjiecies that we
are too familiar with to de.^ire to have pa¬
raded before i;s so 2)ersistently. There
are some exceptions, we should gladly
overlook a few such, and were the work
com2)lete we should expect them to be
treated. But the limits to which the au
thor con hues himself, ought to suggest the
necessity of describing the nests and eggs
of interesting and little known species, the
main reason for the existence of the work.
Doubtless the work was intended to be
j)opular, and 2>t*i'Iia2)s the author meant
that it should be worth the money to those
who would ap2)reciate the bright colored
])ictures. and learn something from the
text, but as a contribution to the orni¬
thological literature of to-day. it will
scarcely be recognized.

The work is well gotten uj). the tyi)og-
grajhiy and pai)er being excellent. The

•llluHtriitlon.H of the Sowts ami of Minis of tiu-

L'liltnl My Tlio.s. (i. (ioiilrv. I’hlla. Mo. To lie

|■ollll>K■ll•(l In •>.•> 'montlily parts, racli to coiilaln two
plaU-s, ami ti-\t, at #l.tHl 'per part.

author often makes use of jiectiliar state
ments in the course of his text, and on the
whole it seems to us is somewhat monoto¬
nous. He tells us that the Scarlet Tanager
is a siiecies but little known but to natiu
rtilists. The fact is, that it is well known
in a certain way, since it figures very jirom-
inently in the ornamentation of the aver¬
age parlor. Particular stress also seems
to be ])laced on the fact that the Barn
Swallow builds its nest under the eaves of
out-buildings. This may be true in cer¬
tain localities, but we have seldom found
the nest on the outside of a building, it
has nearly always been ])laced uj) in the
a^iex of the roof, often half way down to¬
ward the eaves, and occasionally on hori¬
zontal beams. The casual reader wofild
easily mistake the bird for the Cliff Swal¬
low, which never builds inside of an out¬
building, unless in very rare instances. The
representations of the eggs are very good,
and do credit to the work, but there is
much room for imiirovement on the birds
just above mentioned.

In part VIII. we note an imi)rovement
in the jilates. The nest and eggs of the
Valley Quail are better than the average,
and the jilate of Golden-crested Kinglets
and nests is very creditable. The author
recfuds our jirevious knowledge of the lat
ter sj^ecies, and makes some interesting
notes on its breeding habits, but makes
his drawing of the nest from somewhat
uncertain date. After describing the nest
which was -ijlaced about six feet from the
ground, in a mass of thick growth so |)ecu
liar to many of our lir trees," and “chieffy
comi)osed of moss on the outside, with a
few fragments of chijis." and “lined with
hair and feathers, the latter ])rincii)ally,"
he states that although the birds that
built this nest “were not seen by Mr. Mer¬
rill, yet by the pretty sure evidence of ex¬
clusion. tliey cannot belong to any other
species than the one under consideration.”
We are at a loss to determine the meaning
of “evidence of exclusion." in a connection
where we are most interested.

1

IMliEX.

(’alifomia Pigmy Owl, .

The Screech Owl in Confinement . H.')

Editorial, A "i'ame Wild Mine Jay .

“ (’orrespondence . Jd

The Season of ’HI . 87

The (Jrowth of Hohins . 8H

Albino . 8H

(ieneral Notes . 81)

Notes from Saratoga, N. V . 81)

“ “ Shelter Island . 40

“ “ ^'irginia . 40

Large ('hitches of higgs . 40

Tlio.i. S. I’nilt, MaKiO'iix' iohI NfWi>j>ii|>iT I’rliilcr,
UockvilU', Conn.

OKNITHOLOCJ I8T

AND

OOLOGIST.

I $1.00 per
Annum.

VOL. VI.

^(arcli ls7r>,

Joseph M. Waile, editor and [)uI>Ufelier.

NORWICH, CONN., JULY, i88i.

10 cents
single copy.

NO. 5

California Pigmy Owl {(Hdundhnu (jnohui). Life Size.

Tliisis one of the siaalleBt ami probably
the smallest owl except Whitney's Pig¬
my Owl {Micrathene Whitneyi) fonml
in North America. It has been captured

along the whole Pacific slojie, and is quite
closely related to the European G. passer-
inum thougli specifically distinct. It was
first obtained by Dr. Townsend, near Fcrt

34

()RNrni()L()(}iST

[Vol. G-No. f).

Vancouver, on the Cohnnbia River, and
subsequently Dr. Merideth Gairdner pro¬
cured several specimens from the same
locality. Mr. John K. Lord met ^Nuth a
pair on Vancouver's Island that made the
hollow of an oak tree their rendezvous.
Concealing himself in a deserted Indian
lodge, their habits were closely watched
by him. “In the first morning twilight
the owls were up and in motion, hungry
after a whole night's fasting. Their flight
was short, quick and jerking, similar to
that of the sparrow hawk, but wholly un
like the muftled, noiseless flap of the night
owls. Their food was found to be entire¬
ly insectivorous. When in i^ursuit of food
they perch on a small branch near the
ground and sit upright in an indolent,
drowsy manner until their quick eye de¬
tects an insect when they suddenly pounce
upon it, hold it down with their small but
powerful claws, and with their shaiq) l)eak
tear it in pieces, eating only the soft ab¬
dominal parts. As soon as their Inmger
is appeased they retuin to the tree, cud
diijig close together, and doze away the
greater part of the day. In the evening
twilight they again come out of their holes
and take erratic flights around their al)ode,
chasing each other up and down the plain
and performing all kinds of inexplicable
manoeuvres. Occasionally they settle on
the ground, but never long at a time. As
soon as it became dark they retired to
their nests and there apparently passed the
night. Eai ly in May they selected a large
knot-hole in a branch of the tree and laid
two small eggs, white in color, round and
very rough on their surface. Nothing of
any kind svas used as a lining, the eggs be¬
ing deposited on the bare wood.”

Dr. Cooper saw a sj)ecimen in Washing¬
ton Territory, Noveml)er 1, 1854, among
a flock of sj)arrows that did not seem at
all disturbed by his presence. Dr. Suck-
ley obtained two specimens at Puget
Sound — tolerably abundant there, diurnal
in their habits, gliding about in shady
situations in pursuit of prey. Dr. New¬

berry procurt'd specimens on the Cascade
Mountains of Oregon, and says, “It flies
aljout with great freedom and acti’sfily by
day, })ursuing small birds upon which it
subsists, apparently as little in^^ommoded
by the light as they are.”

Captain Bendirc rei)orts it as found in
the neighborhood of Camp Harney, Ore¬
gon. “December 14, 1874. This is the
first of this species that I have ever seen.
It is a female. On examination of the
ovaries with a lens magnifying about six
times, I counted two hundred and thirty
undeveloped eggs, which would justify the
conclusion that these birds live to a good
old age. Hergt. Smith shot it to-day, while
he was out hiuiting on the mountains north
of the camp. He caught it in the act of
trying to get away with a large sized wood-
mouse or gopher. The mouse was on the
end of a 2)ine log, when the little owl sud¬
denly dropped down on it, out of a pine
tree standing close to the log, in which it
had been sitting, about twenty leet from
the ground, and fastened its claws in its
back. The mouse ran nearly the length
of the log, about twenty-five feet, carrying
the owl on its b.ick, the latter appearing
imrfectly unconscious about where the
mouse was going with her, keei)ing her
head turned in the opposite direction. The
time occupied in getting to the other end
of the log was nearly two minutes, when
he shot them both. That it is not strictly
nocturnal is shown by the fai t that it was
shot alxnit noon.”

Dr. Cones in his “Birds of the North¬
west,” says, “I saw the Pigmy Owl several
times at Fort Whipple, and secured two
s2)ecimenB, which were fortiuiately male
and female. I take it that this bird is
common in the wooded regions and moun¬
tainous i)ortions of Arizona. One of my
s])ecimens was moulting : the other, taken
in winter, was in j)erfect plumage. Tliis
warrants the belief that the species is resi¬
dent about Fort Whipple, and that it
breeds there.’’

H. W. Henshaw, in his “Ilei)()rt ui>on

July, 1881.]

AND OOLODIST

tli3 Ornithological Collections made in
Nevada and Arizona,” says, “It is apparent¬
ly quite common in Arizona and New
Mexico. Its notes are quite similar to the
(Western) mottled owl, (Scops maccalH,)
by imitating which, I succeeded in entic¬
ing one, step by step, till he finally sat on
the top of a small oak within thirty feet,
and scanned my person with evident as¬
tonishment, and, I could not hell) f'^iicying,
with an air of abused confidence.

Among the pine woods of the White
Mountains, Arizona, these owls appeared
to be particularly numerous toward the
latter part of October, and I had good rea¬
son for believing that at this season they
are quite gregarious. During a week’s
reconnoissance here, scarcely a camp was
made but that at some period of the day
the notes of this species could be heard,
usually coming from some perch, hidden
away in the tops of the lofty pines. These
notes were most frequent at about nine in
the morning, at which time they appeared
to gather at some rendezvous, and then
doze away the time till about four in the
afternoon, when they* again became noisy,
and prepared to sally cut for a fresh sup¬
ply of provisions. When camped one
morning in a little valley hemmed in on
all sides by steep banks, clothed with pines,
I estimated there must have been at least

Coiicludeil next Month.

The Screech Owl in Confinement.

On May 10, 1880, I procured a Screech
Owl, (Scops asio) which had been taken
from the nest when half grown. It has
been contintrously caged ever since, except
one week in last December, when it escap¬
ed, and was recaptured seven days after.
It is probable that it fasted the entire
week, for the ground was covered with
sn )w, and never having foraged for itself,
its chances for food were small, and it
was iMvenously hungry when found. Sev¬
eral weeks since I bought a mate for it,
and a day or two after they both escaped,
but my pet did not leave, and when I dis¬
covered the cage door open and went to |

35

close it the owl came Hying down on my
shoulder from a tree near by. After its
first moult its plumage became and still
continues a rich rufous ; it had been a mot¬
tled gray and black. In watching this
owl I have noticed that at all times, but
especially during the warm weather of
summer, contrary to the observations of
several naturalists, it both drank and bath¬
ed freely and with unmistakable delight.
I have made some queer experiments with
its food. At one time it killed and swal¬
lowed whole three full-grown mice in
quick succession ; another time it killed
and ate a common water snake over a foot
long. Snakes give it a great deal of
troTible, twisting themselves about its legs
and refusing to be swallowed, by catching
on and wi’apping their tails about the
perch. It relishes the cinnamon bat when
killed ; I have not tried it with a live one.
It has killed rats nearly full-grown. When
a rat or moiise is put into the cage it
pounces upon, it catching it with its claws
through the neck and small of the back,
and then brings down its bill and nips it
along the spine from the head to the
tail, and then, if not too large, swallows it
entire. Ten to twelve sphynx moths fur.
nish but an ordinary meal, although the
scales and dust sometimes nearly choke it.
It always tears off the Avings and crushes
the bodies of all insects before swallowing.
Grasshoppers,May beetles, and “such small
deer,” are also relished. It will catch and
eat anything in the day time quite as freely
as at night. It pounces with unerring
certainty upon anything jmt alive into the
cage, and it quickly determines the ques¬
tion of food, whether good or not. Toads
it eschews, though it will kill and eat frogs.
It shows a natural aversion to and fear of
hawks, buzzards, etc., the passage of which
over its cage is instantly noticed. It
has great fear of cats and dogs, making its
feathers lie as flat as possible, snapping
its bill and making a rattling noise when¬
ever they come near.

Edgar A. Small, Hagarstown, Md.

80

OliNJTlIOLOdlST

[Vol. O-Nc. T).

ORNITHOLOGIST aM OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MACAZINK DKVOTKI) TO THE STLDY
OF BIUDS, THEIH NESTS ANH EGGS.

JOS. M. WADE. - - . . Editor

S. L. n ILLAED. - . . yl.v.s’j Editor

With tlic co-operation of al)ic Oniitliological
Writers ami Collectors.

Subscription. — $i.oo per annum Foreign
siibscri])tion Si 25 including postage. Specimen
copies 10 cents each.

JOS. M. WADE,

Norwich, Conn.

Enterctl at the Norwich P. O. as second-class matter.

EDITORIAL. ■

A Tame, Wild Blue Jay.

{Cyanura cristata.)

A commercial traveler who regularly vis¬
its most of the woolen mills throughoul;
New England, makes the following state¬
ment : While in the office of W. D. DaATs,
at the Uxbridge (Mass.) Woolen Mills, the
conversation turned on birds, when he was
informed that in the evergreen tree at the
office door, was the nest of a Blue Jay,
( Cyanura cristata.) and that the boys in
the office could at any time lift her from
the nest, and she would not even struggle
to gain her liberty. Not belieY-ing the
statement, a bet of the cigars was made,
when they step23ed to the door and the
bird was lifted from the nest and jdaced
in the left hand of our friend who smoothed
down its feathers with his right hand sev¬
eral times. When he stoi)i5ed, the bird
looked at him and hew directly to tlie nest.
AVhen it was again removed from the nest,
and the gentleman smoothed down its
feathers as he assured our friends he was
often in the habit of doing, esjiecially when
visitors came and they wanted to show oft’
their pet. The birds had bred in the mill-
yard for several years,and ]\Ir. Davis would
not allow them to be molested. There is
something remarkable about the nesting
habits of the Blue Jay not well understood
by our oniithologists. Out of the breed¬
ing season they are decidedly the wildest
l)ird in New England, it being difficult to

get within gunshot, but when ready to
nest, it is not an uncommon thing for them
to build close to some habitation. Duriu"
the fore part of 1878 we collected so faith¬
fully that a severe attack of tyiihoid jmtu-
monia was the result. We had poor luck
Muth Blue Jays that season, only tinding
one nest and that in plain sight by the
roadside, but as soon as we were confined
to bed. a neighbor came in and infoiTiied
us of a Blue Jay’s nest in a small evergreen
tree,almost in a jjublic thoroughfare, where
jieople were jiassing and rejiassing contin¬
ually ; being helpless, the bird hatched its
young in jieace. The following season,
visiting North Manchester occasionally, we
saw at one time on the Hudson place, right
in the Door-yard as it were, three Bine
Jays’ nests, one of them being near the
greenhouse door, where one or more men
were at work. We several times stood
within a few feet of it and looked directly
into the nest, when the old bird would re¬
main perfectly indifferent to our j.u-esence.
Once we reached down to find the contents
of the nest, when she cpxietly left it, but not
until we touched th« side of the nest.

Correspondence.

In our private correspondence we re¬
ceive a large nnmlier of extremely valua¬
ble go.ssipy letter.s, full of valuable matter
interesting to our readers and which the
temptation is strong to publish, Imt being
jirivate letters the contents are lost to our
readers. AN e now projtose to commence
a department with the above heading and
shall be glad to receive letters from col- '
lectors, written esjieci.ally for publication,
such letters should contain the experience
and ob.servations of the writers, l.rieHy i
stated, collections made or ipiestion asked, 4
and answer.s to the (juestions of others. If .1
such letters are written on separate slieets j
of jiaper from wliat is intendeil for the *
editor personally, much time will he *
.saxed. Letters from the little known an<l M
thinly .settled portions of our Territories 2
will be extremely desiralde and will lie 1 end #
with interest. a

July, 1881.]

AM) OOLOGLST.

The Season of 8i.

The notes of Judge Holbrook, in the
June number show, what birds can be seen,
and liow many hints on migration obtained,
in simply walking from house to office with¬
out once setting foot off the pavement.
To follow these birds afield, and observe
their breeding habits, also other and allied
species not noted here by the above ob¬
server is the purpose of the ju’esent
wi’iter.

I have kept up my average of over fifty
hawks’ eggs this season without special
search. Of course more or less traveling
and sky-gazing was hivolved, but by “with¬
out search” is meant that no new pairs of
hawks were looked after and no new
woods traversed. But in the old haunts
I harry my Buteos and Accipiters each
year with as much confidence as the Green¬
lander annually robs the Eider Duck of
eggs and down.

Mirch 1 “and April 24,” I took sets of
two eggs each from a Barred Owl’s^hole,
which in four seasons has yielded me twen¬
ty four eggs. These “short sets” were com¬
plete ; to make the matter certain, a hen’s
egg was substituted for each set, but the
clutch was not increased. April 30th “took
two infertile and undersized eggs of this
species from an outside nest, the first
found in such a situation for several years.

I took three Red Shouldered Hawks from
it late last year. May 4th, so the nest was
left in good condition. The outside was
built strongly of slicks by crows, in 1879,
to which the hawks, after throwing out
the usual winter litter made by squirrels,
added a fine and bulky lining. This was
in turn all torn away by the owl, and the
eggs, laid in the deep bowl on bare sticks
were visible from the ground through a
field-glass. A male Barred Owl was shot
here in the mating season, the second
week in March, and this may account for
the condition of the eggs. This owl, after
covering her sterile products for four
weeks, had the audacity to hoot and smq)
lier bill at me betrause I j^revented her

from setting all sumnu r to no j)urpose.

In the Salt Rock IVoods, an old nest in
which were well grown, young Red tailed
Hawks, May 11th, 1880, had two young
Great Horned Owls, April 10th, 1880. The
Red-tails this year, finding in their home
powei’ful tenants, with nine points of law
in their favor, built a new nest half a mile
down the woods, from which I took the
usual clutch of two eggs on the above
date. Took set, of Buteos, April lOth, from
an old nest which six years ago held seven
crow’s eggs. In the interim the nest had
been patched more then once, and even
2)artly feathered, and so had done duty as a
decoy on several occasions. May 8th, took
from adjoining swamps two sets of
Jineatus too far gone in inciibation to be
preserved. I have certainly left this sea¬
son three pairs of this species to breed in
woods reasonably secure from the far¬
mers’ muzzle-loaders. This year’s ex¬
perience adds data to the fact that B.
borealis loves to breed on dry hillsides,
where the woods are rather open, and a
wide range of view can be had of the ap¬
proaches to the west, while B. lineatus
breeds commonly in low-lying, wooded in
tervals and swamps.

A j^air of Cooper’s Hawks, which gave
six eggs in ’79 and four in ’80, again came
to the front with five eggs the second
week in May, ’81. Last season I took an
addled egg from a Marsh Hawk’s nest and
a slightly chipped egg which I placed in
my pocket. The . chipj^ed egg however
soon proved to be a very lively music-box,
oval design, and “wound up” by the key
of naLire. The nest also held four lusty
young a week old. The hawk occupied
two weeks in ovipositing and four w'eeks
in incubation. From this pair of Harriers,
May 25th, this year, I have a set of foiir
fine spherical eggs. A Sharp-shinned
Hawk, which gave me a large set of eggs
last year, with a “runt” egg at the end of
the clutch, this season laid the runt egg
at the beginning of her clutch which was
not unusual in number. The life-history

3S

OKNITIIOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 5

of this small Aecipiter has never been ful¬
ly written, and deserves an entire article
in this journal, which 1 will try to prepare
at an early day, unless some more facile
pen does justice to the subject.

In conclusion I would remark that it
appears astonishing to some peo])le that
so many Hawks’ eggs can l)e taken in the
suV)urbs of a city of twenty thousand in-
hal)itants with an old and well settled
country-side lyi'ug around it. But the
trained oliserver cannot fail to ol)serve
that many of tlie rodents and various sorts
of bii’ds congregate near large towns, and
the oniithologist notes that these and an
occasional waif from our poultry-yards
form the proper food of the young
Baptores. The August number will con¬
tain the conclusion of my notes on birds
found breeding near Norwich this sea¬
son, with a few remarks there on. j. m. w.

Growth of Robins.

We have been watching the growth and
final departure of a pair of young robins
from their nest, not twelve feet from one of
our chamber windows, in the crotch of a
cherry tree, where the same nest has re¬
mained over several seasons, and seems to
be the home of the same pair of robins.
The children have been specially interested
in the operations of caring for the young
birds, and for that reason we devote a part
of every day to watching the nest. A
strange, and to us a most unexplainable
operation, has been exhibited by the male
bird. Standing on the edge of the nest,
and intently observant of his brood, he
suddenly strikes his bill to the cloaca of
one of the young ones, who, apparently ex¬
pecting the stroke, and evidently desiring
it, has raised this part by extending his
legs, and throwing his hinder parts upward
in anticipation of the paternal act which
was to follow. A white lump of excrementi-
tious matter exudes, which the old bird
seizes and apparently swallows. The same
oi)enition, immediately succeeded with refer¬
ence to the other young bird. A few days

previous I went up on a ladder and lookeil
into the nest, and handled the young birds,
i;hen nearly ready to tly. There were no j
indications inside of the nest of any excre- “
mentitious matter, but on the trunk of the i
u’ee a few inches below, were three white i
spots which I conchided were caused by
dro])pings from the young birds. We have
repeatedly witnessed this act, and never i
having heard any statement with regard to
it, very naturally wish to know if this is
done by all birds, or by any other beings, |
biped or (juadruped ; for I am sure that

scores of human bipeds in N — . B -

don’t do even one half what that robin did
for the sake of cleanliness. I could not
ask or desire them to do the whole. I re*
member now an old saying, ‘Tt’s a sorry
bird that fouls its own nest,” but I never
dreamed that any bird could go to such
lengths as we saw, or thought we saw ; and
I still think the material voided was kept
in his bill, till he had time to deposit it
where it suited his convenience. The feed¬
ing of first one young bird and then the
other, was a marked routine, though the
strongest seemed ahvays to have the best
portion, say a vigorous angle worm, while
the weaker and smaller of the two gener¬
ally got only a bug or miller, or a small
white insect of a kind not known to us.

Seven or eight years ago, tiocks (-f the
Phie Grosbeak were seen here. It was a
hard winter, though not so hard as some
we have seen since, though no birds of
that kind have since been seen here. I
killed one. a female, and bought of the man
who stuffed her. a splendid m-ale, which
he had just killed. They are beautiful
birds.— Dk. S. W. H.uit, N - B - . Ct.

Albino. — In the New York Daily TiiiK^s
of April 20, 1881, is the following curiouH
item ;

“A milk-white, red-breasted robin is ex¬
citing consideiuble interest among citizens
of Sewickley, I’enn.. where she has been
discovered building a nest, assisted by a
male robin of normal color, save that he
has a white head. ” John H. S.\ok.

July, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

39

General Notes.

Barx Owl. — The following important
announcement has unfortunately been mis¬
laid during our moving. Oliver Davie,
of Columbus, Ohio, writes under date of
May 2d : — I to-day received from one of
our, not altogether Christian sportsmen, a
beautiful specimen of the Barn Owl,
(iStrix Flumniea), which he killed yester¬
day (Sunday), within six miles of this
place. This is the second specimen only,
that is known to have been taken in Frank¬
lin Co., Ohio.

Gre.\t Horned Owls, and Eggs. — About
the middle of March two of my friends
went in quest of some Great Homed Owls,
and after a great deal of tramping through
the heavy pine woods, with sixteen inches
of snow on the ground, they at last found
and shot one. Proceeding a few rods far¬
ther one of the party imitated the Owl’s
call, which was answered from a very tall
old pine. As the answering bird could
not be seen one of the party, with climbing
irons securely fastened, went up the tree,
when another owl left it, only to fall to the
ground at the report of my friend’s gun.
On reaching the nest, which was discover¬
ed in the tree above it, was found to con¬
tain three large fine fresh eggs.

William Blanchard, Tyngsboro, Mass.

A Talking Robin. — He is now 10 years
old, and when about two years old he as¬
tonished me by calling my name, and he
can now say Theodore as jilainly as any
one, he soon learned to call puss, puss,
puss, Kittie, Kittie, Kittie, quite plainly.
About five years ago a pair of Pea Fowls
were brought on the place where I live.
In a little while he learned to say “Pea¬
cock,” by hearing them talked about.

Theo. P. Willy, Weymouth, Mass.

An Egg within an Egg. — I noticed in
your magazine an account of an egg within
an egg; and the writer wishes to know
whether any of your readers had met
with such a case. I have in my collection
a small chicken’s egg of a light chocolate
color, and about the size and shape of a

Barn Swallow’s. It was found within an
ordinary hen’s egg. I have read of several
other cases. A couple of years ago I
found in an old crow’s nest the eggs of a
dove. This apjiropriation of the nest of
a crow by a dove seems to me quite un¬
usual. Wm. R. Wharton,

Germantown, Penna.

In the April number of the Oologist, I
notice a note about finding an egg within
an egg. The writer of it wishes to know
if there is another instance of such an oc¬
curence. Some time ago a lady friend
gave me an egg that she had found wuthin
a hen’s egg. It was about an inch and a
half long and had a hard shell like the
outside one.

M. K. Barnum, Syracuse, N. Y.

Notes from Saratoga, N. Y.

A Cormorant ( G. Carbo) was shot last
fall at Saratoga Lake*^'

Ca])tured a young, male, \Yhite-Winged
Crossbill on Nov. 12, 1880. There was a
fiock of about tw'elve.

Redpolls, Nov. 27, 1880. Pine Finches,
.Ian. 20, 1881. Shore Larks, March 20.
1881. Two Gt. Northern Shrikes, April 2,
1881.

April 2.3, 1881, saw a Yellow-Bellied
Woodpecker caj)ture a fiy a la Hycatcher-
April 25th, found a young Gt. Horned Owl
under the nest. At this time it was cover¬
ed with down, but is now almost capable
of fiying, as his wings and tail are most
like an old bird. He makes a fine pet; not
being cross at all. Also, saw Red-Bellied
Nuthatches building.

April 30th, collected set of four Red-
Shouldered llawLs. May 2d. set of three
Red-Shouldered Hawks. May 9th, set of
two Red-Tailed Hawks. Ylay 7th, set of
five Crow Blackbirds. May 14th, went to
a heronry on the Hudson river. Should
judge that one thousand Night Herons breed
here. e shot a number of them and got
about 80 eggs, all fresh. It is a little early
for them as only a few had comj)lete sets.
Nests in hard wood trees, about 40 feet

40

OKNJTIIOLOdlST

[Vol. fi— No. f).

higli. Saw in several nests an attempt at
lining, having several shreds of l)ark.

Guy C. Rich.

Notes from Shelter Island.

4'he collecting season is now open. 1
send yon e.xtracts from my note hook np
to date.

.\j)ril 10. Grow’s nest e.xamined to-day
was nearly ready for the eggs. It was
lined with cow’s hair. April 14, Ficdd
Sparrows arrived. April 15, Knsty Grakles
arrived. A])ril ’21, Chipping Sparrows ar¬
rived. April ’2'2, visited a iMottled Owl’s
nest, at Arshamomogne, Long Island.
The male and female owls and 4 eggs
were in the nest. iMale in grey and female
in the red ])lnmage. Eggs fresh. I collec¬
ted two sets of the same variety of eggs
from this nest last year. 'I'he first con¬
tained 5, and the second 8 eggs. April "i;!,
Rohins hnilding. Savannah sparrows ar¬
rived.

As I was fishing to-day, in West \eck
Creek, 1 noticed a Fish Hawk near me,
slowly sailing around, watching for a fish.
I had almost forgotten about the Hawk,
when suddenly 1 heai’d a splashing in the
water, and on looking I saw the Hawk
had grapjiled to a fish hnt was unable to
raise it from the water. 1 ipiickly had
the anchor raised ready to go and ca|)tnrc
the Hawk, when by an e.xtraordinary
effort he succeedeil in raising the fish,
when 1 saw it was a 'I'antog, or RIack fish,
at least a foot in length. After he had
ry^en in the air with his jiri/.e, it seemed to
he all he could manage, but with joyful
sereams he flew with it and perched on
his unfinished nest about a (piarter of a
mile away.

Ajnil 25, a Kildeer Flover passed over,
bouml north. Ajiril ‘iti, Harn Swallows
common and beginning to build. April
2H, Brown 4'hrushcs, ami black and white
C’reepcrs arrived. April 2!(, King birds
and Towhee Buntings arrived. -May 2,
Sjiotted Sandpi|)ers arrived.

Eggs Collecteil : .Vpril lb. Eastern

Blnebiril, 4 eggs, fresh. .Vpril 21, iMottled
Owl, H eggs, fresh. .Vpril 2t), Mottled Owl,
5 eggs, fresh. Aj)ril 28, Common C'row, 4
eggs, fresh.

In re])ly to G. A. Mc(’ilhim, Ont.tr io, I
would say thiit I once h:id a simill hen’s
egg, in filet so sniiill I Wiis going to blow
it its a curiosity, but in blowing it I notic¬
ed something hiirtl inside of it. On break¬
ing it I found iinother perfect egg iihout
the size of a smiill marble, on blowing it
I fouml it contiiined no yolk but simply
the white iilbnmen.

W. 4V. VVoUTIlI.NOTON.

Notes from Virginia.

'rite Florida G.illinula, {(inHi mihi tjoh-
was captured on it run in the edge
of this town, and is i.ow enjoying hisctip-
tivity with as much grace as if he were to
the “iminor horn.” It is m»t usiiiil for
this bird to venture this far north,
although sometimes found ti little ftirther
north idong the sea shore swamps.

\ pair of Carolina Tit.s, {PuruK Cun-
llni'tixls), h.ave gladdened my liomi’ by
caroling for me every morning. 'I'liey
hiive taken possession of an apple tree ;md
I think will build near it. Rerh.ips I may
get the first .set of eggs.

I Inid a Blue-wing 4'e;d,

/>/.scw,v), ;md kept him for :i week luit he
wouhl not e:it, :ind I put him on the run,
but I fetir to hate to ri'vive. Strtinge thev
won’t e;it in confinememt. 1 had .a nice
wire <aige, 3.\5 feet. I gave him rice in wa¬
ter, and many other things which I thought
he woidd eat. I think if I Innl h:id :i m.ate
for him it would htive been better.

V. -M. Fikok.

L.vnoK Ci.uTt iiKs OK Eotis. — ('apt.
Chtts. Bendire, reports two sets of Burrow¬
ing Owls, of ele\en eggs etich. ('has. .V.
.Vilen of Nicas^io, Cal., reports eleven for
the Least 'I'it. B. W Everman of S;mt:t
I’auhi, reports sets of Bttrn Owl of ten eggs
each. .los. Skin+M^r. .Ir., reports .seven egg.s
from the nest of the WtdwUir Bluebird.

Errata.— We regret exceedingly the errors that occasionally creep into our
inagazine. They seem unavoidable on our part as many of them are made after the
oroofhas been corrected and returned to the printer. The irregular appearance of
)ur journal has also been a source of great annoyance to us.

Lar(;e Clutches of E(iGS. — Capt. ('has. Bendire rejjorts two sets of Burrowing
3wls of eleven eggs each. Chas A. Allen, of Nicasio, Cal., reports eleven for the
.east Tit. B. W. Everman, of Santa Paula, rei)orts sets of Barn Owl of ten eggs
■ach. Jos. Skirm, Jr., reports seven eggs from the nest of the Western Bluebird. ""

(’ontoiits of OniiMioloi^ist and Ocdoj^ist for August, 1881.

JJrBBOWIXfi OwB, ....

.

411

William MacGillivray,

.

. 43i

(iE.vKRAL Notes, ....

•

43'.

Editorials, ....

.

. 44i

Whip-poor-will, ....

• . • •

4r)!

Notes from DExvEit, Col.,

.

. 451

Notes fro.m Shelter Islaxd,

.

40 1

Caltforxia Pigmy Owl {concluded ),

. . . .

. 47f

Collectors, .....

.

48 f

SSOXJTIIWICIv &

.TK^OKSS’

1

Natural History Store !

283 WESTMINISTER STREET. - - PROVIDENCE, R. I.

BIIEenD SIECIUbTSI

Our stock is the hugest in tiie oounlry uiui best in quality.

but tine'

€i mjv v.*^*--»**' - - .

Cl'.STOMKit. post-paid, on rt'ceipt of the lollowing i)rice!

Blue Bird,

Bluf-ffray (iiintciiU'lier,
I’rothoiiotiiry Warlder,

Bluo-wiiifted Ycdlow Warl)ler,
(iol.loii-wliiKed
Naslivllle
Tcinifssec
Blue yi’ll<iw-l)a<'k('il
Suiiin'uT yellow Bird
Blaek-tliroated Blue
Yellow riniii)

Black and \ ellow
Cerulean
Cliestnul-sliled
Bay-lireasted
Blackliurida u
Black-throated jfreeii
I’rairle ‘

Colilen-crowued Thrush,
Water Thrusji,

Barjre-hllled Water Thrush,
Kentucky Warbler,

Mournhijr “

Maryland yellow -throat.
Yellow-breasted Chat,
l.ouft-talled Chat,

Ilooded Warbler,

IMleolated “
Yellow-throaU'd Vlreo,
tledar Waxwlntf,

Northern “

Violet (ireen Swallow,

■Scarlet Tanajter,

-Suinincr Bed bird.

House Kluch,

Snow Bunting,

Sharn-talleil Kin' h,

.Scaslile "

White crowned Sparrtiw,
Cainbels, "

Whltc-lhn)aled

Prh-e

.Mounted

of Skin.

and post-palil.

.:w

$.00 to .70

.4.’>

.(k5 to .so

1.2.')

1.10 to LOO

e, — 1..)0

1.S.5

.7.>-L2.')

1.10 to 1.00

.T.v— i.no

1.10 to 1.3.5

.2.')— .;io

.00 to .0.5

.T.")— l.(MI

1.10 to 1.3.5

.20- .:to

..55 to .0.5

.20— .30

..55 to .0.5

.20— .30

..55 to .0.5

.20— .30

..5.5 to .0.5

.30— .4.’)

.05 to .SO

..50— .7.5

.35 to 1.10

.20— .30

..55 to .0.5

.40— ..50

.75 to .35

.40— .00

.75 to .05

.20— .30

..55 to .05

.3.5— .4.5

.70 to .SO

— .2.5

.00

— .:«!

.0.5

— .7.5

1.10

.7.5— .S.5

1.10 to 1.20

.7.5— 1. (HI

1.10 to l.;l5

.20— .30

..55 to .0.5

.4.5— .00

.SO to .05

— .7.5

1.10

.(K)— 1.00

.0.5 to i .;i5

— 1.00

1 .;t.5

.2.5— .30

.00 to .05

.30— .40

.05 to .75

I.IKI— 2.(H)

1 .3.5 to 2.1.5

— I.IKI

1.3.5

..50— .7.5

.35 to 1.10

.7.5—1.00

1.10 to l.:t5

..50— .7.5

.3.5 to 1 . 10

.2.5— ..3.5

.On to .70

— .;i5

.70

— .50

.,35

— .40

.7.5

— .00

.0.5

.•>0— .:io

..55 to .05

Black Snow Itlrd,
Kose-breasted Crosbeak,
Indigo Bird,

Bullock's Urhde.

(treat crested Klycatoher,
Acadian ' “

Anna Huiundng Bird,
Bufous " "

Allen’s

Downy Woodpecker,
S'ellow-bellleit tVoodpecker,

1 small bil

(1.3 is 7.40.

• wol'k. \v<

‘ now oiler'

BIBD OM.

v TO each

Price

Mounted

of .skin, and post-paid.

-$.25

$.00

..50— .00

.3.5 to .0.5;

.4(4- -.50

.75 to .35

..50— .75

.35 Ui 1.10

— .35

.70

— ..V)

.35

—1.00

l.;$5i

—1.00

1.3.5

— 1.00

1J15:

— .25

.00

..55— .50

.70 to .35

The birds will be mounted on plain stands. If a brands
of fancy inountlnjf Is de.-lred aihl i.'i cents. The skins
advertised at these prices are all |irline. the difference ■
l)einK In pluiuUKe and not In make up. They will be
sent, post-|>aliI, on receipt of jirlce.

DIDnC CPPC We have a larjfe stock of both i
DlnUo LUUUt siu^rle and In sets. With the lat¬
ter, we lake )rreat pains and (tuuninteed data will be .sent
with eai'h set.

M I U r n I I C Our stock of nilnenils Is larKC and
ITIUlLIInLo. well sediK-ted.and endiraclnir all the ■
common ami many of the rare siasdes, In typical sp< cl-' i
mens. We have liiudy received handsome I'.Kates. and n '
limited (luantity of the new lythia siMidlmene, ( Illilden-' '
ite) also a larjfe lot of i|uaftz chaicedonv and I'alclte
ifeoiles, line small ones, which we will mail post paid at t
fnnn :tu to T.'ie. each.

SHELLS.

We now have a jrreat i|unntity on i

_ haml. Not only main nuv anilscl-ii

entlilc specimens, but also larjfe ami small, hijfh colored,
|iolisheil, and ornamented.

CIIDDI ICC 'Ve Intcnil to kwp always on hand '

wUrrLiLo. the many liistruinentr. ami jfencral '
supplies re(|uireil by students In all the bninches of '
Natural lllspiry.

Our New Catalogue i'nd"imp:‘t.iis:uein J

a few weeks, sent If desired on na'elpt of name and:,
aildress.

ORNITHOLOGIST

AND

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Established March 187.'),

.Joseph M. W'aile, Editor and l’ul)lisher.

10 Cents
Single Copy.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., AUGUST, i88i.

NO. 6

Burrowing Owl.

Speotyto ciiniatlaria hijpoycea. (Richjio.')

CAP. CHAS. BENDIBE, U. S. A.

This little Owl is an exceedingly abun¬
dant summer resident in the vicinity of
Walla Walla, W. T., and as there seems to
be some conflict of ojsinion regarding its
life-history and general habits, as handed
down *to us by our earlier ornithological
observers, I have taken advantage of the
many excellent opportunities offered me,
to carefully study its habits in this region-

It is well known that this species is both
diiirnal and nocturnal, but it is jDarticularly
active in the early portion of the evening?
and I believe that it then seeks most of its
food. Numbers can be seen hovering in
the air in the manner of Sparrow-hawks, on
the lookout for the smaller rodents, etc.,
during the early twilight, whenever they
are at all common. During the day-time
they are generally found close to their
burrows and when not molested, allow
themselves to be approached very closely.
In this vicinity their arrival from their
winter haunts varies generally from the 1st
to the 10th of March, and by the midcUe
of the month they become very abundant.
The males appear to precede the females
about a week in their arrival, as the first
ten specimens shot by me, invariably
proved to be males.

Daring the pairing season their peculiar
love note, resembling that of the European
Cuckoo ( C. canorus) can be heard in all
directions about 8und( wn, and is kept up
for an hour or more. This note is only
uttered wliile the bird is at rest sitting in
fnuit of its burrow ; while flying about

they use another chattering sort of note,
and when alarmed a short, shrill, tzip.

As this little Owl inhabits a large extent of
country on both sides of the Rocky Moun¬
tains, it is quite possible that its habits may
differ somewhat in widely sei:)arated re¬
gions, and what may hold good here, may
not eastward of the Mountains.

I believe this species is generally con
sidered as a peaceful and harmless bird,
living in perfect harmony with the prairie
dogs and ground squin-els, whose abandon¬
ed burrow's it inhabits. My observations,
very carefully made, and covering several
seasons, lead me to take a different view
as far as its peacefulness is concerned.
Taking the small size of this Owl into con¬
sideration I must certainly call it an ex¬
tremely plucky and aggressive bird, as full
of courage as any of our Falcons, as it has
not the least hesitation to attack rodents
larger and heavier by far then itself.

In this vicinity these Owls seem to live
to a great extent on that j^est of the far¬
mer, Toxtosend’s Ground Squirrel, /Sper-
mophilus riclmrdsoni townsendi {Allen^)
which would be much more destructive if
not kept down by these Owls. In order to
satisfy myself that they were actually able
to kill adult scpiirrels, I trapped several
and placed them alive (they had been
caught in a wire trap and were not at all in¬
jured) in a room with a pair of these Owls.
As soon as noticed by the latter one of
them would fasten its talons into the
squirrel’s back,and with a few well directed
strokes of its beak, break the vertebrm of
the neck, and eat the head off the squirrel,
often before the latter was cpiite dead, yet,
the remainder of the body was usually left

42

ORNlTIlOLOrUST

[Vol. t)-No. G.

and devoured later ; I was surprised to see
how easily they killed these scpiirrels,
which made scarcelj' any resistance. Aside
from these, their diet seems to consist of
different species of mice, pocket gophers
as well as of crickets, grasshoppers and
occasionally even of fish. It is astonish¬
ing how much one of these Owls will eat
in a day, amounting .often to consider¬
ably more than their own weight.

About here they occupy the abandoned
burrows of badgers and ground-scpiirrels.
The latter are enlarged to suit their re-
(piirements. They are easily tamed and
make interesting but rather filthy pets
When enraged at any strange object, these
birds will puff themselves out by raising
tlieir feathers, throw themselves backwards
in the manner of a woundetl Hawk or Fal¬
con, and striking out with their talons if
within reach of the object, usually emitting
at the same time a hissing, rattling noise,
which resembles the warning note of our
rattlesnake so much, that it cannot be told
ajiart, and is apt to deceive the closest ob¬
server. I have had this demonstrated
more than once, by asking an assistant,
who was not aware that these Owls could
make this j)eculiar noise, to reach into a
})artially opened burrow,which I knew con¬
tained one of these birds and eggs, to get
tlie latter for me, and was invariably told
after he had inserted his hand and with¬
drawn it in a hurry, ‘‘Captain, there is a
rattlesnake in that hole,” and nothing
would convince the man that such was not
the (^ase, till I exposed the end of the bur¬
row, and at the same time the Owl, to
his view, but no rattlesnake. This un-
(piestionably accounts for the popular be¬
lief amongst frontiers men generally, as
W'ell as among some naturalists, that
rattlesnakes, prairie dogs and these Owls
live in the same domicile. That they
should be able to kill a full grown j)rairie
dog seems scarcely probable, but they un-
doubtedbly kill and live on the young ones.
I have examined a great many luirrow’s oc¬
cupied l)y these Owls and have never found

any other living animals in any of them
(always excepting vermin, such as fleas
and Hies), certainly no snakes or rodents,
and I believe that they woTild make equally
short work of the former as of the latter.
It is possible that these birds capture a
small bird now and then, but I have not as
yet had any evidence whatever that they
do. In the western agi'icultural districts
this owl deserves the fullest protection,
living as it does on the worst foes the
farmers have to content against, and in
favorable localities it will increase very
rapidly.

According to my observations this little
Owl is the most prolific of the whole family
found in the U. S. The usual number of
eggs laid, being nine, althoiigh ten and
eleven in a set are not unfrequent, and I
have heard from one of my correspondents
that he took a set containing not less than
twelve eggs this spring, near Carson,
Nevada. They are most devoted parents
and allow themselves rather to be captured
than to abandon their treasures. I think
both parents assist in incubation, which
lasts about fourteen days. In this vicinity
they commence laying about April 15th, and
by the e7ul of May the young Owlets may of
ten be seen sitting in front of their bur¬
rows, In the various localities in which I
have examined the burrows of these owls,
I have never found any other material in
the chamber occupied by the nest, than
finely broken up dry horse or cow dung.
This is scattered about from ‘ one to two
inches deep at the end of the chamber,
which is somewhat enlarged, and on this
mass the eggs are deposited, and these, if
a full set, are usually placed in the shaj)e
of a horse shoe. I am informed that in
California these Owls sometimes construct
their nests out of dry gniss, but I have
never met with any so construcfed.

Their eggs, like those of the balance of
the family, are white, rather more j)olnted
and glossy however than Owls’ eggs gen¬
erally are, and in a large series almost any
shape may be fiuind from globular to ])yr-

August, 1881.]

AND OOLOGLST.

43

iforin. These measure 1.35 by 1.09 inches
for the largest, to 1.17 by .97 inches for
the smallest. The average size in a series
of over 250 specimens in my collection is
1.24 by 1.03 inches.

The young, when first hatched, are
covered with light, greyish down, grow
very rapidly, and the amount of food re¬
quired by a family of ten Owlets, in the
shape of mice, gophers, etc., must be very
great, and as this consists, as far as my ob¬
servations go, out of absolutely nothing
else but noxious animals. I repeat
again that this bird deserves the fullest
protection as one of the most beneficial
species in the grain producing districts of
the great West.

William MacGillivray.

On the fly-leaf of a copy of MacGilli-
vray’s British Birds, imported from Edin¬
burgh, we find the following list of his
writings, written by the Scotch owner of
the book ;

“Prof. MacGillivray was born in old
Aberdeen, was a scholar of Mr. Ewan
McLacklan. took the degree of A. M. at
King’s College, went to Edinburgh about
1823, was appointed keeper of the Museum
of the College of Surgeons in 1831, and
while there, wrote and published the first
three volumes of his “British Birds,” \vas
appointed professor of Natural History
and lecturer on Botany in Marischal Col¬
lege Aberdeen in 1801, was made L. L. D
in 1844, by Kings College. He died in
Aberdeen on the 5th of September, 1852.
aged 56 years. His separate publications
amounted to about twenty volumes ; be¬
sides these, he contributed six Papers to
the transactions of the Wernerian Society^
twelve papers to the Edinburgh Philosophi¬
cal Journal, nine papers to the Edinburgh
Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, three pa¬
pers to the Prize Essays and Transactions
of the Highland Society, two papers to the
Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geogra¬
phical Science. He sent many papers to
the Edinburgh Literary Gazette and the

Edinburgh Journal of Natural History.
He left, ready for publication, a history of
the vertebrated animals inhabiting the
counties of Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen,
Banff, Elym and Nairn, with the adjoining
parts of Inverness and Perth, also the Nat¬
ural History of Balmoral, from notes made
during an excursion in the autumn of
1850. This last book exjianded into the
Natural History of Deeside, was purchased
by Prince Albert and j^rinted j^rivately (but
considerable alterations were made by the
editor on Prof. MacGillivray’s manuscript).

General Notes.

American Redstart {iSetojiJiaga ruti-
ciVfo).— W.Otto Emerson, Ilayicards, Cal.,
writes that on June 20th he shot a Red¬
start in some wold blackberries, on the bor¬
der of a creek running through the or¬
chard. There was no difference in plum¬
age between it and those taken in the East.
Mr. Emerson was informed by Dr. Cooper
that it was the first specimen, to his know¬
ledge, taken in California.

Large Sets of Eggs. — W. W. Wor¬
thington reports : Bobolink, six eggs ;
Wilson’s Tern, four ; Osjirey, or Fish
Hawk, four; Crow Blackbird, six; Night
Heron, six; Black-capped Chickadee, eight;
Downy Woodpecker, seven.

Sparrow-hawk’s Eggs. — On the morn¬
ing of April 2, 1881, while out collecting,
I discovered the nest of a Yellow-Billed
Magpie {Pica nuttalU), and on climbing to
it was surprised to find instead of Mag¬
pie’s eggs, two freshly laid Sparrow-hawks’
eggs. There was no doubt about the
identity, as the old birds circled about my
head while I was robbing the nest.

Albino’s. — During a recent trip to Bos¬
ton, we visited the Taxidermist Establish¬
ment of Chas. T. Goodale, 93 Sudbury street,
where we saw a beautiful Albino Duck, but
of what species was not certain. Charley
was inclined to think it a Mallard, while
others were equally sure it was a Black
Duck. It was a male and pure white.
There was also a pure Albino Swallow, be¬
longing to a customer, who is desirous of
selling the sjiecimen.

44

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. G-No. G.

ORNITHOLOGIST ailfl OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY
OF JHKDS, THEll! NESTS AND EIJGS.

JOS. M. WADE, - - . . EilUor

S. L. WILLARD. - - - Ana’ t Editor

With the eo.oi)eration of nlile Oniitliologieal
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription. — O.oo per annum. Foreign
subscription !>i 25 including postage. Specimen
copies I o cents each

JOS. M. WADE.

Norwich, Conn.

Entered at tlie Norwich P. O. as sccoinl.class matter.

EDITORIAL.

Rare Finds.

During the present season (1881) quite
a number of rare sets have been found and
added to various collections throughout
the country. Among them are a set of four
of the Saw-whet Owl (Nyctale acadica)
by Mr. W. Perham, Tjmgsboro, Mass.,
(see Nuttall liidletin, page 143) One set
of live of the same by Capt. Chas. Bendire,
at Camp Harney, Oregon. Also, several
sets of Scoj)s asio which if not Kinnecot-
ti or MaxioellicB. may prove a new variety.
Mr. Fred. T. Jencks was fortunate in se¬
curing several sets of Kentucky, Worm¬
eating Prothonotary, and other rare
Warblers. He also found three nests of
the Black-crested Titm uise, but they were
in trees too large for any ordinary climber.
He not only saw them building their nests,
but watched them almost daily until the
young were able to lly. This was in the
heavy timber of Southeni Indiana. Mr.
Jiunes C. Merrill, M. D., stationed at F^^rt
Custer, Montana, secured some very rare
sets although working to great disadvan¬
tage in various ways, preventing his reach¬
ing the desired breetbng grounds until late
in the season. We connot do better than
make an extract from Mr. Merrill’s letter:
‘T found a superlj set of eight fresh Re<ju-
lu» cahnduki [Ruby-Crowned Kingiet],
one set of tive Dendroeca tiudiiboni [Audu¬
bon’s Warbler], one addled egg in a nest-

full of young of Parus tnontmms [Moun¬
tain Chickadee], egg pure white, vide Ben- I
dii’e, Belding and Brewer ; Sphyrapi- ^
cits michalis, one set of five ; Pimco, prob- 1
ably cauiectuiKs, five eggs ; female sent to J
Mr. Ridgway for identification. Also, four \
sets Pipilo arcticus [Northern Towhee]
and Canace richardsoni [Richardson’s I
Grouse]. Eggs of Sphyrapicus and h
Junco are, I think undescribed, though I |
have not yet had time to look this up. I
Found sever-al pairs of Harlequin Ducks fl
breeding, but could not find their nests,

which were doubtless in hollow trees. All !.(

• ' '

were found almost exactly on the Montana- ji
Wyoming boundary line. All the above |j
were breeding abundantly, and if next year
I can have five or six weeks in the same lo- ^ i
cality I know that I can do splencbdly, as 14
I am now familiar with the ground. I re- ■
gret exceedingly my poverty in duplicates, 1
as I hoped, and expected to be able, to I
make many exchanges.”

Birds of the Hudson Highlands.

The six parts of Dr. Mearns’s “List of ■
the Birds of the Hudson Highlands,” that :
have been published in the “Bulletin of the > J
Essex Institute,” at intervals from 1878 to !
the present time, carry the subject to the j
Quail {Ortyx viryinianus) and will, when i|
completed, be one of the best of the many (
local lists that have appeared from time to (
time in different parts of the country. In- .
teresting field notes are given and much ]
scientific value is foun.l in the compara- *
tive tables of measurements of iimre than 1
nineteen hundred (1900) sjiecimens that 1
the author has collected in the Highlands. '

Addition to the R. I. Fauna. j

Messrs. Soutliwick & Jencks of Previ- ,
dence, R. I., received July 27, to be mount- !
ed, a lino specimen of Caspian Teni (fe¬
male) which measured twenty -one inches
in lengto and fifty inches in alar extent. 1
It wis shot bv .Mr. J. B. Dunn at Wester- 1

ly, R. I.

August, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

45-

Northwestern Screech Owl.

In onr May number appeared a short
article, bj' Capt. Charles Bendire, on iScops
asio Kennicotti. It ajopears that with fur¬
ther exijerience with the birds in question,
the Captain is not at all certain that his
first conclusions wei’e correct. In a letter
dated June 18, 1881, he states: “I am by
no means certain now that the specimens
I took here are the true Kennicotti. I
took another specimen three weeks ago,
while in the Willimette Valley, that I now
think is the true Kennicotti, and I notice
that the specimens taken at Walla Walla
are much lighter colored, and it would not
surprise me if the form found here did
not constitute another good and valid va¬
riety, unless it should prove to be J/aa--
mellm which I have iiever seen.” As the
series of skins have been sent on to Mr.
William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass., the
matter will soon be settled and Mr. B’s
c.-nclusion will no doubt appear in the
October number of the Nuttall Bulletin.

A Needed Work.

In our position as Editor, we often re¬
ceive letters asking for an “Egg Book” for
boys, one that would be a guide and as¬
sist in identification. Wdiile Europe can
boast of diyzens of such works, we have
not one. Minot’s is the best we have, but
it is not just waat i.s w.inted, although it
is good, and we recommend it until the
right work is prepared. We are pleased
to learn that S. E. Cassino, the Bos on
publisher of scientific works, also sees the
necessity of such a work and proposes to
puWish one for tlie season of 1882, to be
sold at from two to three dollars. Such a
work is much needed, and will no doubt
have a largo sale.

Rare Works.

Those of our readers who are in want
of r .re works on Ornithology, should send
f n- tlie “Leisure Hour,” j^ublished by Prof.
A. E. Foote, West Phila., which con-
t:iins lists of books, 2?a2:)ers, etc., on Orni¬
thology raid Natural Science generally,

not found in any other series of catalogues
published in this country. We cannot en¬
dorse the Dr.’s ojiinion of authors and
books always, but he certainly has the
faculty of keeping well stocked with the
rarest works on Natural Science, and at
moderate jirices.

Whip-poor-will.

Dates of arrival of the Whiji-poor-will
{ Antrostonius vociferus), in Locke, Michi¬
gan, for 26 years. This species is a com¬
mon summer resident, and was first ob¬
served by me in the spring of 1842. When
this jiart of the state was an unbroken
wilderness, this bird was much more abiui-
dant than at this date. Its nest and
young are not often seen.

Apr 27, 1856 May 1, 1865 May 9, 1874

Aiir oO, 1857 Apr 22, 1866 May 8, 1875

Apr 14, 1858 May 1, 1867 May 4, 1876

May 2, 1859 May 3, 1868 Apr 23, 1877

Apr 28, 1860 Apr 25, 1869 Apr 14, 1878

Apr 23, 1861 May 1, 1870 Apr 30, 1879

Apr 24, 1862 Apr 30, 1871 Apr 27, 1880

Apr 23, 1863 Apr 24, 1872 Apr 22, 1881

May 5, 1864 May 5, 1873

— Dr. H. a. Atkins.

Notes from Denver, Colorado.

Bl.\ck-he.\ded Grosbeak — {Zamelodia
ludoviciana). This bird arrived here
this year May 16th. They are seen but
very little in the openings during the few
days sjient before beginning to nest. They
seem to prefer the dense, leafy thickets
and surrounding shrubbery, the females
esjiecially so. The nests are generally
placed on a horozontal limb of a small tree,
or in forks of small sajilings, and are nev¬
er, to my knowledge, over ten feet from
the ground ; the nest is composed of fine
twigs and stalks of weeds, lined with very
small, hair-like roots. The average meas¬
urement is, inside diameter 3 inches, depth
14, outside 5^ by One set of four,
taken June 4th, average measurement
.92 by .75, slightly incubated, ground color
light green tinged with blue, with small
sjiecks of faded lilac and larger dashes of
umber. Another set of four, taken at the
same time, average measurement .88 by. 74.
When the nests were disturbed, the birds

I

41)

()RNlTn()l.()(UST

[Vol. G-No. G.

kept very close to the nest, and making no
demonstrations except to hop from one
twig to another, uttering a low, plaintive
cry. •

Z. carolinensis,]^.^ — June 11, while cross¬
ing a wheat field about 30 rods across, and
bounded on two sides by timber, in near¬
ly the centre of the field, I Hushed a fe¬
male from its nest, which was flat on the
ground, and composed of a few small
sticks thrown together. The nest con¬
tained one fresh egg.

Black billed Magpie {1*. rustica hud-
sonicas). — April 30th, found a nest contain¬
ing three young birds eight or ten days old,
and five eggs. In four of which the young
birds had cracked the shells. — D. D.
Stone.

Notes from Shelter Island.

"We were disappointed in your not com¬
ing to the Island this spring, as myself
and Grifling have done a good season’s col¬
lecting. We have made trips to Gardiner’s,
Plum, Gull and Faulkner’s Islands. We
went to the latter after Roseate Terns ; got
about forty sets, and came away pretty well
satisfied. We had good luck with the Fish
Hawks on Gardiner’s and Plum Islands.
Were a little too early for the Night
Herons, as few of the sets were completed,
although I got a fine set of six.

PuAiKiE Wakbleks. — I found my first
nest, this year on May ‘27th, containing one
egg. The nest was placed in a low huckle¬
berry bush, fifteen inches from the ground,
in a low growth of woods, on hilly land.
The next day the nest and egg was de¬
stroyed, probably by some animal. On
June .'ith, I found another nest, placed in
a birch sai)ling, nine feet from the ground
an unusual jiosition. The nest was com'
posed of vegetable fibres, one piece of
string and a few fine grasses, lined with
horse hairs, and a few feathers of the
brown thrush, deeply cup-shajied and built
in a little around the toj). I was collect
ing a Field Sparrow’s nest and four eggs,
and chiii)ing to draw the birds around me,

as I often do when in the woods, when I
noticed a Prairie Warbler fly towards me,
and that he (for it was the male) came di¬
rectly from a small bunch of oak and birch
saplings. He lingered around me a few
minutes, and then disappeared. I secured
the Field Sparrow’s eggs, and then on
chiii)ing again, I saw the Prairie Warbler
come out of the same bunch of saplings,
and I at once concluded that his nest
was there, but after a careful search of
the whole clump of low bushes among
the saplings, as these are the places they
generally build in, I was about to give up
in despair, when on looking directly up
over my head, I saw the long sought for
nest, on which the female was sitting, with
her bright round eye upon me. I had to
shake the sapling before she would fly off,
and on climbing up, I was delighted to
see five pearly, speckled eggs, slightly in
cubated. On June 12th, I found another
nest, placed in a maple sapling about six
feet from the ground. This was composed
of about the same materials, and con
tained three fresh eggs, and one of the
Cow Buntings. The Prairie Warblers ar¬
rive here about the first week in May, and
I see by my record that I shot one on the
8th of September, and I think the above
is about the usual dates of their arrival
and departure.

Spotted Sandpiper and DIussel.-J une fith.
As I was going along the shore of West
Neck Creek this diy, I heard a fluttering
noise, and on looking around saw a female,
Spotted Sandpiper, that in running along
the iieach, had stepped on a mussel, which
had closed its shells together on one of
her toes with the grip of a vice. She was
unable to escape, so I went up and gave
the leg a slight juill to liberate her, but
the toe came oft’ above the second joint,
and I (piickly set the captive free, which
as ipiickly disaiipeared around a jioint of
land, escajiing by the loss of a toe, what
would undoubtedly have been deuth, as
the rising ti<lc must have drowned her.

W. W. Worthington.

August, 1881.]

AND 00 LOG I ST.

47

California Pigmy Owl.

{Glauridimn (/noma.)

Concluded from p. 30.

twenty of these diminutive Owls within a
radius of a quarter of a mile ; their calls to
each other were incessant, and from all
(Erections at once. I foimd no^ difficulty
in imitating them, and in a few moments
had one of the little fellows sitting in a
high pine above my head, answ'ering note
for note.”

Dr. Heermann met with it in the moun¬
tainous districts of the mining regions of
California, where it was by no means rare.
In 1852, he. procured three specimens on
the borders of the Calaveras river ; others
were taken on the Cosumnes river, and J.
G. Bell met with it on the American river.

The specimen from which this engrav¬
ing was taken was shot by Mr. Charles A.
Allen, Nicassio, Marin Co.., Californitt, and
purchased by Mr. Jos. M. Wade. I will
quote Mr. Allen’s account of the capture
and history of this bird as given in his let¬
ter of January 10, 1878 ;

“I have but a single skin of the Pigmy
Owl, and that I shot under peculiar circum¬
stances. Was out deer hunting. Decern
her 31, with a friend from Fr’isco ; the
dogs were driving a deer and I was trying
to get a position for a shot, when I saw
the Owl fly and alight on a large pine tree
about one hundred and fifty feet in height.
As I wanted Mr. Pigmy more than the
deer, I sat down and got a dead rest over
my knee and fired away, when the bird
dropped twenty or thirty feet down and
lodged in the thick branches of the tree
where I could not see it, or I should have
shot the limb off with my rifle. But I had
to climb, and such a climb I don’t think
many collectors ever had. The tree was
,about seven feet ii7 diameter at the base ;
|lmt I got up and down all safe, and
I send the same bird to you. I can give
you but little information respecting these
ibirds as I have seen so few ; but so far
is I know, they inhabit the heavy dense
Iforests of pine and red-wood, and all

I find are in the tops of trees from seventy-
five to two hundi’ed feet high. In the
spring, from the middle of February to the
middle of March, on a warm sunny morn¬
ing, just after sunrise up to about nine
o’clock A. M., any one acquainted with these
birds will hear a low, soft, musical toot —
toot — toot, repeated at intervals ; and it is
done, as near as I can discover, during the
mating season by the male, and continues
xqi to the time the female commences to in¬
cubate ; after this time they again become
silent and cannot be found unless acciden¬
tally. Of their nest and eggs I know noth¬
ing, having never found one, although I
have repeatedly searched for them for the
23ast three years. Some writers claim that
they feed on insects, etc., but my experi¬
ence shows they desire more substantial
food, such as small birds, mice and squir¬
rels. In June, 1875, 1 was in a deeji canon,
searching for green black-cap flycatchers
{Myiodioctes pnsillus, var. pileolatiis.) I
had just seen one of these birds dart into a
bush and was w^atching for a chance to
shoot, when something darted down in
front of me like a flash and fastened to a
striped squirrel that had been sitting on a
log about twenty feet from where I stood,
and flew with it to a large dead pine tree ;
and then I saw it was a Pigmy Owl, and on
the branch were three fully fledged young
ones, and they all came to the old bird and
were fed by her. After the squirrel was
devoured, I shot one of the young and the
rest took flight into the thick foliage of
some neighboring red-v oods and I lost
them. On a calm still morning the notes
of these little Owls can be heard about a
mile in the light atmosiihere of the hills
and mountains out here.”

I rom the testimony of these various col¬
lectors, it is quite evident that the Pigmy
Owl is not nocturnal in its habits, but seeks
its food mostly at twilight and early morn,
and like the Siiarrow-hawk, it is insectivor¬
ous where grasshojipers, crickets and bee¬
tles abound ; and where these are wanting
it is ecpially exjiert in cajituring small birds.

48

OUNlTIlOUXnST

[Vol. 6-N(). 6.

mice, squirrels and other small game.
There is but little known respecting the
nesting habits of this bird. The only re¬
liable account I can find is given by ^Ir.
liord, as (|Uoted al)ove. So far as I can learn,
the eggs have been found three times, and
are described as white, spherical and granu¬
lated.

Length, (>.85-7.50 ; alar extent, 14.00-
15.50 ; bill, cere and feet, greenish yellow ;
eyes, yellow ; facial disk, imperfect ; no
ear-tufts ; spot before the eye and extend¬
ing over it, white. Upper parts, browish
with small circular spots of dull white,more
numerous on the head ; a partially con¬
cealed collar of white on the back of the
neck, succeeded by another of black ; throaty
white ; breast, mottled brown ; under parts,
white, with irregular longitudinal strij'es
of dark brown ; wings and tail, dark brown,
with a row of round white spots on each
feather, largest on inner webs ; tarsi, thick¬
ly feathered ; toes, covered with hair ; claws,
sharp and much curved.

The Pigmy (Jwl. — M’e find tbe following
interesting note upon this bird by C. A.
Allen, in the Xuttull Ornithological Bulle¬
tin : —

August 13, 1877, about dusk, I heard
near the house a great fuss among a lot of
Brewer’s Blackbirds, which had nested in a
small clump of red-woods near by. On ai>
proaching the place a bird flew out to which
all the blackbirds gave chase. AVhen all
had settled in a red-wood tree near by, I
saw a Pigmy Owl sitting on a limb — the
cause of all the noise. I had my gun
brought to me and shot the Owl, which
proved to be a female. Again on .July 8.
1878, at nine o'clock, a. m., I heard a dis¬
turbance among the Blackbirds in the same
clump of trees, and, suspecting the cause,
took my gun and went to see what was the
matter. On approaching the place, a lot
of birds of different species flew out, and
among them a Pigmy Owl, which after
much trouble, I shot as it was Hying over
some low buslies : this one was a male.
There were fighting the Owl one [)air of

Arkansas Flj'catchers, one pair of Bullock’s
Orioles, one pair of Bewick’s Wrens, three
Ground Tits ( Chamceafasciata)^ one pair of
Pipilo oregonus, one pair of crisalis,
and about twenty Brewer’s Blackbirds.
The bravest birds of the troop were Be¬
wick’s Wren and Bullock’s Oriole, who kept
darting at the Owl’s head as it sat on the
ground devouring a young Blairkbird. I
have seen a Pigmy Owl dart down and lift a
chipping sciuirrel with ease and canw it off.

Wm. Wood, :\I. D.

Collectors. .

John H. Sage, Portland, Conn., has spent
a brief season at the Lakes, in the state of
Maine, and he is now preparing notes for
a future number of cur jounial.

Capt. Chas. Bendire has collected the
presept season about two hundred and
sixty eggs of the Burrowing Owl, and has
given to them an amount of care and
thought, seldom devoted to one bird. The
result is an exhaustive article on the life
history of this Owl which will be found on
the first page of our present issue.

Wm.Fred T. .Jencksof Providence, R. I.,
has returned from his three mont'lis’ collect¬
ing trip in Indiana, with some rare sets iff
Warblers’ eggs, and over five hundred
Wiublers’ skins. What Mr. J. does is well
done^ and his data can always berdiid tn.

Chas. F. Goodhue of Webster, N. H., has
spent the season with Delos Hatch of Oak
Centre, Wis., and their success was some¬
thing remarkable. It was not a ipiestiou
of how many they could find, but of how
many they could prepare, taking in one
day three hundred and twenty eggs.

Fred. Corey, Santa I’aula, Cal., writes
that he collected ninety eggs of fifteen
varieties in about six hours. What a con-
tnist this is to some of our Eastern colhc-
tors who work hard six hours and return
with one or two sets, or perhaps as is of¬
ten the case none at all ?

Fmnk E. Bray of lioston, is spemhng
the seascu at Turner, Me.

OOlTTEnSTTS.

Kentucky Warbler . 49

Bliick-throaied Blue Warbler . 49

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker . 50

Broad winged Hawk’s Eggs . 50

Notes from Mooseltead Lake, Me . 50

Notes fr-om Bangor, Me . 51

Pine Groesbeaks . . . 51

Little Blue Heron . . 51

Editorial— Advertising . 52

Editorial — Caspian Tern in li iode Island . 52

A Savage Frglrt . 52

Large Sets of Eggs . 53

Prothonitary Warbler . 53

Late Nesting . 53 ;

Corrections . 03 f

Reuiarkalrle Flight of Birds . 53 t

An Egg Within an Egg . 53 t

Close of the Season . • . 54 |

Those "‘Brants” — Corrections . 55

Notes from Maine . 50 I

Growth of Kobins, &c . 56

MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION.

Fi-eaks in Crows’ Eggs . F. S. Wright

Blue Winged Yellow Warbler. .Fred. T. Jencks

Pimuil Duck . D. H. Eaton

Jjong eared Owl . Jos. M. Wade

Albino Blackbird . Dr. F. W. Goding

Shouting with Water . V. M. Firor

Blue Yellow backed Warbler.

W. W. Worthington
An Egg Within an Egg . Frank 11. Allen

Golden Crowned Kinglet . Harry Merrill ii

Burrowing Owl (continued). Capt. Chas. Bendirc ;;

Miscellatteous Articles . .M. 11.

List of N. A. Birds, London, 1792.

Dr. H A. Atkins I

Snowbird Nidificaiion, &c . J. A. Dakin i

\Vliat I saw on “Gull” Island. . .Jno. N. Clark |
Interesting Items from Various Sources.

SOUTHWICK & JENCKS’ NATURAL HISTORY STORE, i

niOVIOKNCE, li. I.

- to OOJLXjEOTOK>S. —

We not only desire to sell specimens, but want to buy or exchange for every- '
THING we lack. We have the Largest Stock of Skins, and want to keep it so, and to ,
this end shall try and make better inducements to collectors than any other dealers. We '
invite tne correspondence of all, especially those collecting tn large quantities, or in
remote places.

We frequently exchange rare birds for common ones, and all who desire to do this
will do well to keep us informed of what they have on iiand.

We want at once the following list of not particularly rare birds and eggs:

NKINN.

Sage Thrasher,

Curve Bdi 'I'lirusher,
California Thrasher,
Townsend’s Siliiaire,
Mouaiaiii Chickadee,
lluusiiniau Chickadee,
Pygmy Nuthatch.

liGUS IN .NKTS. i

Short Bille d .Marsh Wren,
Worm-filling Waibler.

Blue Wing Yellow W'arbler.
Large Billed Waier Thrush, i

Small Billed Water 'i'hrush,
Violet (iieen Swallow,
Henslow’s Bunting,
Whip-|)oor-will,

Woodcock, I

Birlram’s Sandpiper,

Short Billed Marsh Wren,
Virginia’s Warbler,

Black throated (»ray Warbler,
Towsend’s Warbler,

Herinil Warbler,

Connecticut Warbler.

C issin’s Flycatcher,
Broad-tailed Hu nining Biid,
Black-chinned Humming Bird.

We only want good skins and nicely blown and perfectly identified eggs. If sets
they must be accompanied by data.

We are making a specialty of such young birds as are covered with down when
hatched, but want no naked nestlings. Our offer on the inside cover of the August
number we will extend to October ist.

After the catalogue is issued we shall use this space advertising additions as they arc
received.

Catalogue sent to applicants soon as issued.

J

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND-

OdLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March. 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., SEPTEMBER, i88i.

NO. 7.

Kentucky Warbler.

ITS NESTING HABITS

Kentucky Warbler, Opororius formosa.
Season of 1881. Locality, Wheatland,
Knox Co., Ind. The first specimen was
taken April 2 ist, and a week later they were
common in all the bottom woods. This
name applies to the heavy timbered tracts
that are overflowed by the rising of rivers.
The woods in such places are high and
dense, almost to the exclusion of under¬
growth.

In its habits the Kentucky Warbler re¬
sembles the Golden Crowned Thrush,
walking deliberately on the ground and
mounting a log or low limb to sing. The
song is a ringing whistle, a miniature of the
Cardinal Grosbeak’s, which it much resem¬
bles. It is by no means shy; on the con¬
trary it quickly resents an intruder, flying
from branch to branch constantly uttering
its mellow chirp Roth birds take part in
these demonstrations and seem as anxious
before as after they have nests.

May 9th, I flushed a pair and found a
partially made nest, but having to leave for
a month, Mr Ridgway collected and pre¬
pared the set for me, May i8th, then with
four fresh eggs. June 7th, I took the* last
nest of the season with four fresh eggs, also
at Wheatland. The time intervening was
spent at Mt. Carmel, Ill., where seven
others were found in various stages of in¬
cubation.

.'V nesting place is usually selected on a
slightly raised piece of ground for a dry
situation, and a large hollow, 7 to 10 inches
across, is made among the dead leaves.
This is filled in first with leaves very nicely

arranged for the outside; then dry grass
stalks and delicate limbs are put together
more solidly and lined with fine roots and
usually a very few hairs. The outside
leaves are difficult to remove with the in¬
ner nest. Some nests are placed between
the several stems of bushes but are all so
sunken in the leaves as to have the upper
rim even with the surface. The hollow in
the nest is large and deep. Five eggs was
the largest number taken. In shape and
color they resemble finely dotted Chats and
Golden Crowned Thrushes, and are about
the size of those of the Indigo bird. It is
only by accident that the nest is found, as
the sitting bird has to be almost stepped
upon before leaving it. It sometimes
feigns injury, fluttering along the ground;
at others leaves quietly. Once it was al¬
most accidental that I noticed the move¬
ment of the leaves of a small plant caused
by the bird as it left the nest. — F. T. Jencks.

Black Throated Blue Warbler

NESTING IN CONNECTICUT.

I have succeeded this year O881) in
finding another nest of Dendrosca ccerules-
cens, being the third nest of this species that
I have found in this town. (See Bull. Nutt.
Orn. Club, Vol. L, p. ii.) The nest was
in a large tract of woods, as were the others,
on a hillside near low, swampy ground
through which ran a small brook. It was
placed in a laurel bush, ten inches from the
ground, resting on two long, slender and
nearly horizontal branches. The eggs, four
in number, were far advanced in incuba¬
tion, although it was on the seventh of June
that I found them, while the eggs that I

50

ORNITHOLOGIST.

took on the eighth of June, 1874, were
fresh. This nest was about two miles from
the place where I found those in 1874, and
I think it is a question if their breeding
here is to be regarded as merely accidental.
They might nest in some numbers through¬
out New England without being discov¬
ered, provided they always choose such se¬
cluded homes as they do here. The nest
is placed near the ground, is well concealed,
and the bird when disturbed slips away
through the underbrush so cjuickly that
there is very small chance for seeing her.
In neither instance have I seen or heard
anything of the males, though in June, 1873,
I several times heard one singing in the vi¬
cinity of where I found the nests the fol¬
lowing year. — C. M. Jones, Eastford, Conn

1 Vol. 6-No. 7. :■

- .

about two weeks again I could neither see ‘
or hear anything of the Woodpecker 1

May 1 6th, 1878, my brother and I, while I
collecting in a swamp about five miles west I
of this city, observed a female of, this spe- 1
cies carrying food to her young. The nest 1
was in a black ash, about forty feet from ■
the ground- The bird made regular trips
with food every fiv'e minutes. 'I’his was <
the same day and place where I took a set
of four

IlROAD-wiNGEi) Hawk’s Eggs, the on¬
ly set I have been fortunate enough to find.
'I'his species I consider the rarest of all the
family Ealconidae that breed in this sec¬
tion of the country. — T J Wilson, Af. D.

Notes from Moosehead Lake, Me.*

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

NESTING AT AUBURN, N. Y.

By reference to the Atibnrn Daily Ad¬
vertiser for September 6th, 1877, Mr. S. E.
Rathbun will find recorded tlie first authen¬
ticated instance of the nesting of Sphyra-
pici/s 7'arins in this vicinity. 'I'he circum¬
stance of the “find” is as follows: June
30th, 1876, while collecting on Howland’s
Island, in Seneca River, (a locality which,
were it thoioughly explored, would 1 doubt
not prove to be the nesting place of many
stragglers ot what are usually termed mi¬
gratory birds, whose breeding places are
commonly j)ut by naturalists in the misty
regions known by the names .Alaska, Lab¬
rador, Saskatchewan, N'c.,) I heard the ])e
culiar hawk-like cry of a Yellow bellied
Woodpecker, and on looking around in a
short time discovered a male bird on a
beech stub near a freshly excavated hole.
I climbed up to it. While doing so the
bird darted around me, giving vent to its
anger and dislike of my proceedings by
loud cries. When 1 reached the hole I
found it was but about three or four inches
in depth. .And for some reason, probably
on account of my molestation, it was never
completed When 1 visited the place in

The following notes on some of the birds
about Moosehead Lake, Me , were made
during a fishing trij) between the i ith and
2istof June of the present year, and are
necessarily brief, as but little time could be
devoted to ornithology.

Thrushes. — The Olive b.acked was the
most abundant of the Thrushes — its melo¬
dious song being heard everywhere in the
woods bordering the lake.

The W’ater Thrush Siurus navins^ was
([uite common, and we often listened to
its peculiar song as it eminated from the
shy denizen of some swampy thicket.

Ei.vcatchers. — Several specimens of the
Olive- sided Elycatcher {Contopus borealis
were noted and all had the habit of either
perching on the tops of tall dead pine or
spruce trees or choosing such trees as had
a few dead branches at the top, from which
they would dart at frequent intervals after
their insect prey, returning again to the
branch and giving forth the peculiar note
of this interesting species.

SwiETS — But few specimens of the
Chimney Swift were seen and we were told
by our guide, Cajit. Samuel Cole, who is
ipiite familiar with the birds of this region,
that a pair had a nest in the camp cabin at
the mouth of Little .Moose Brook last year.

i

September, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

51

the nest being attached to one of the logs
inside, and the parent birds coming in and
going out while the camp was occupied
and showing no fear at the presence of
man.

Woodpeckers — We found the Hairy,
Downy, Golden-winged and the Yellow-
bellied Woodpeckers — the latter common
and breeding. Its alarm note so closely
resembles that of the Blue Jay that we
started from our bed of pine boughs early
one morning expecting to find the Jay and
were somewhat surprised to see a beautiful
[Specimen of Sphyrapicus varius.

Sheldrake. — The most common of the
^ Anaiidae was the Sheldrake {Mer^us Mer
^^a/iser.) We saw the young in company
with the famale and found one nest on an
island, June T9th, containing ten eggs near¬
ly fresh. This nest was in a hollow under
‘the roots of a standing tree; the roots,
;earth and moss forming a perff ct roof, so
that the nest, after the heavy shower of that
day, seemed well protected and was ciuite
dry. The eggs were covered with leaves,
moss and feathers — mostly feathers. The
'old bird was seen to leave the nest. Our
'guide remarked that the male Sheldrakes
disappear soon after nidification commences
and also said that several times he had wit¬
nessed battles betw'een female Sheldrakes
when each had young— the victor swimming
off with all the little ones.

Gulls. — Several pairs of the Herring
Gull {Larus argentati/s) were seen, and we
found one nest, June 13th, on a rock at one
end of an island. It was composed of dry
grass, twigs and moss, and contained one
young, perhaps thirty-six hours old, one
egg just hatched and one addled egg.
We fed the young nestling on trout, of which
it partook freely Another nest was found
on June i6ih composed of the same mate¬
rials as the first one. It was placed on a
rock on a point of land projecting into the
lake, and contained three eggs — the em¬
bryos being slightly advanced.

Loon. — The Loon {C. iorquaius) was
seen in all parts of the lake, and we found

two fresh eggs on one of the islands. Our
guide informed us that the young appear
early in July, seem stupid, and are easily
caught by hand — J. H Sage^ Portland, Ct.

Notes from Bangor, Me.

I ended my collecting for this season Au¬
gust 1 2th with a nest and four eggs of the
American Goldfinch. During the season
my friend Mr. Harry Merrill and myself
have taken the following eggs in this local¬
ity, which we consider quite good “finds:”
'Two sets of the Loggerhead Shrike, one
set Hermit Thrush, one set Yellow-rumped
Warbler, one set Black-throated Warbler.

The first part of the summer we made
two visits to our coast where we obtained
large numbers of the following eggs : Fish
Hawk, Herring Gull. Wilson’s Tern, Night
II eron. Great Blue Heron, and Leach’s

Petrel. — Neicell A. Eddy Bangor, Me

— ♦♦♦ -

Pine Groesbeaks —Since July 4th I
have seen several flocks of fifteen to twen¬
ty Pinicola enucleator almost daily, consist¬
ing of both old and young birds. I have
not noticed them here before this season.
They are very tame, lighting in the cherry
tree close to the house when f have been
sitting on the porch. For the last three
years there has been a pair of birds nesting
in the town of Albion known as Grey-
backed Robins. I have never had a satis
factory view of them till this summer when
my brother shot one which jiroved to be
the common Robin partly Albino. — H.
Gray. Albion, N. Y.

l.ri TLE Blue Heron.— A flock of a half
dozen small White Herons visited our
shores last Friday, August 1 2th, and with
a little effort one of them was at last se¬
cured and I have it mounted, and after
careful examination with “ Goues’ Key ”
conclude it to be the “ Little Blue Heron”
in immature plumage. The bird is pure
white with the exception of the tips of the
primaries which are light blue. It has
green legs and yellow iris. It is the first
specimen of the kind I have ever known of
at .Saybrook, Conn. — John N Clark.

52

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 7.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AN Dr—

OODOOilST

A MONTHLY MAOAZINE DEVOTED
TO THE STUDY OF BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS.

JOS. M. tt'AiJE, Etlitor,

S. L. WILLARD, Assistant,

W'ith the CO operation of able Ornithological
W riters and Collectors.

SuBSCRii’TioN — $1.00 ptr annum. Foreign eub
Hcription $ 1 . ao — including postage. Speci¬
men C'opien Ten Cents.

.ro.s. .?/.

Norivieli, Cnnii.

Entered at NorwuJi /'. (>. ax Second Claim matter.

Advertising.

It has always been a matter of surprise
to us that people will subscribe lor a paper
devoted to a study that interests them
above all others and neglect to at least scan
over the advertising pages of each issue,
which often not only contains matter ot
etpial interest with the reading pages but
of profit as well. Uuring the past sixty
days we have received several letters from
subscribers asking where the nciu check list
could be had, and at what price, when by
turning to the advertising pages the de¬
sired information would have been found,
thereby saving not only time but the ex¬
pense of writing.

In our August number was an advertise¬
ment by South wick iV Jencks, of Provi¬
dence, K. I., offering bird skins, eggs, &c.,
at reduced prices, and we doubt if any
other firm in this country could make such
an offering at even fancy prices. Phe ad¬
vertisement was limited as to time, and we
are informed that not a single reply was re¬
ceived. This is not as it should be. .Such
chances should n<)t be allowed to pass, and
our readers will do well to read over the
advertising pages of each number.

- — -

Show this magazine to your ornithologi¬
cal friends and induce them to subscribe.

Caspian Tern in Rhode Island.

On referring to the Oologist for Octo- 3
ber, 1879, No. 4, page 32, we find there re- j
corded by Mr. B. J. Peckham the capture ■
of a Caspian Tern at Brightman’s Pond 1
the measurement of which is given as fol- ’
lows: “Length, 21 inches; extent of wings 1
from tip to tip, 50 inches; bill, 2 7-8 inches;
tail, 6 1-4 inches. Description; Head,!
black; a narrow white line under the eye;
neck and underneath, pure white; back and 1
wings, dark lavender; outer primaries, dark
gray in the inner webs; tail, of a shade be¬
tween a gray and while; bill, very strong
and of a bright vermillion at the lip; legs
and feet, black; tail, forked.” So that the
announcement in our last of an '^Addition
to the Rhode Island Fauna " is incorrect.

.4 Savage Fight. — During the past
breeding .season, a pair of White-bellied
Swallows selected for a nesting place a bro¬
ken conductor which projected some four
feet from our factory wall, about fifty feet
high, .‘\lthough this was only about four
inches in diameter, these birds would II)
directly into this pipe without alighting on
the edge. We watched them daily with
much interest and all went well until the
young were a few days old when a pair of‘
House Sjiarrows appeared on the scene to
take possession ot the nesting place when
a fierce battle ensued. The male Sparrow
flew onto the entrance of the nest, when
one of the Swallows, presumably the mile.
Hew at him like a dart, and from this mo¬
ment until the Sparrows left the scene the
struggle was uninterrupted. No matter
where the Sparrow went the Swallow would
follow and strike him, and in this way gave
him no rest until he was perfectly tired out.
In the struggle the Sparrow would often
fall as if dead from pure exhaustion, and
yet he would not abandon the nesting
place, but would, when tired, fly into the
gutter under the eaves, hoping by this ruse
to get rested; but the Swallow’ would give
no rest even there but would grapjile with

AND OOLOGTST.

53

j September, 1881.]

:||im and struggle like two tame Pigeo-'S,
with wings spread, until the Sparrow left
perfectly exhausted, when the Swallow
went for food for its young as though noth-
jing had happened. The Sparrows never
returned to the scene of the struggle.

Large Sets of Eggs. — We have re-
jceived from Mr. Fred. 'F. Jencks, Provi¬
dence, R. I., one set of Blue Jays, six eggs;
one set Crow Blackbird, six eggs; a set of
jcommon Rail, with fourteen eggs.

Paul Hoffman, Rockville,- Conn., reports
a set of Baltimore Oriole, six eggs; a set of
Purple Finch, with four eggs, and three
Cow birds, making seven in all. He also
reports taking a Barn Swallow, with five
eggs, when a pair of Pewees built on the
foundation ot same nest and laid two eggs,
when the Swallows again returned and
built another nest on that of the Pewees.

Prothonitary Warbler. — \Ve have re¬
ceived from Mr. Fred. F. Jencks a nest
and six eggs of this Warbler. The nest is
absolutely perfect as it was built in the
trunk of a decayed tree, showing great
skill and patience in pulling the trunk of
the tree apart until the nest was extracted
entire. The eggs were prepared in Mr.
Jencks’ superior manner., As he will no
doubt describe this Warbler and its nesting
habits in our columns, we will leave the de¬
scription of the nest to him.

Late Nesting. — Jesse E. Smith, of
Rockville, Conn., reports finding a nest
and two fresh eggs of the Humming bird,
.August 4th.

We found at Occum, Conn., August 20th,
a nest and four fresh eggs of the Sang
Spairow.

- ■ »♦»

Corrections. — In your last number, un¬
der editorial — “Rare Finds,’’ — you state
that I found three nests of the Black
Crested Titmouse, which should read
d'ufted Titmouse, {Lop/iophanes Incolor.) —
Fred. T. Jencks, Providence, R. /.

Remarkable Flight of Birds.

A remarkable flock of birds appeared at
Westport, Nova Scotia, on the afternoon of
April i5ih last. It was composed chiefly
of Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo birds, and
Green Herons- Specimens of each are
now in my possession, and I am positive of
their identity. These species have not
been seen there before and were driven in
by a gale.

Benj main H. Ruggles, Esq., of Westport,
wri'es me; “For several days .previous to
their appearance the winds had prevailed
from west southwest to northwest. On the
13th the wind changed to east northeast and
was breezy from that quarter through the
14th, and oi> the night of that day and ear¬
ly on the 15th had increased to a gale from
•the northeast, moderating before noon.
During that afternoon the birds were first
seen They appeared very much exhaust¬
ed, many of the smaller birds being easily
destroyed by boys with stones. Numbers
of them perished in the bushes, their re¬
mains h iving since been found.”

The few specimens I axamined were al-
! most mere skeletons; one Green Heron had
! nothing in its stomach and but little blood
in its body. — M. Chamberlain, St. Johns.
- -

An Egg Within an Egg. — In your
July number, M. K Barnum asks for fur¬
ther information concerning double egg
shells, or rather an egg shell within an egg
shell I have a hen’s egg laid at Poquon-
noc, Conn., which measures, endwise, nine
and three fourths inches in circumference;
its smaller circumference being seven and
' three-fourths inches.

Inside of this shell is another about the

I size of an ave age hen’s egg The person

j who first found the egg opened it at the

I end — thinking to save the shell on account
! . . •

I of ils extreme size — and discovering the

i inner egg punctured it too and carefully

' removed its contents, leaving the smaller

I shell inside the larger as it is to-day. — F.

! H Allen, Norwich, Conn.

54

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 7.

Close of the Season.

The collector of eggs naturally divides
our short season into two parts — June and
July for birds, other than Raptores, and
April and May for hawks and owls These
divisions intergrade and are not arbitrary:
but they are sustained by the old catalogues
which gave first jiosition to the biids of
jirey, and by most of our cabinets to day
in which hawks and owls hold the place of
honor.

My Marsh Hawk of May 24th gave me
a second clutch of four eggs, June 17th, e.x-
act copies of the first set. Near Kinman's
Rirches, Lisbon, in June, I found a Marsh
Hawk’s nest with three young and three
eggs. Now this hawk was two weeks lay¬
ing this extreme clutch, four weeks more
in incubation, and would have occupied the
rest of the season rearing her young. In¬
deed it is probable that no hawk or owl
throughout the New England range of
breeding ever has two clutches if undis¬
turbed.

June 7th, a red scpiirrel ate a fine set of
Yellow-throated Vireos which I had marked
down, but swift retribution overtook him
the following Sunday when an irate farmer
shot him in a door-y.ird with an unhedged
robin in his claws. I have maintained that
nowhere else do the Buteos and Accipiters
breed more freely than in New London
County. Now it could be shown by relia¬
ble data that this is also the banner county
for several of the Warblers. June 3d, I
took eight full sets of eggs of Blue Yellow¬
backs; a week later Brand and Wade found
eleven nests, new and old of this species,
and later still this season, in half a day
Brand found eight nests of Chestnut-sided,
four of Prairie, and some undetermined
warblers, all with young.

Following the tardy vegetation, the sea¬
son was ten days late for most of our small
birds. Extremes of weather do not affect
owls and some other birds which can be
named, but cold, wet Junes kill young
Ruffed Crouse and delay the breeding of

Warblers and their allies. The average
difference between this season and the last,
as shown by my notes, is about ten days for
the following species: Yellow breasted
Chat, Blue Yellow-back, Maryland Yellow-
throat, Prairie and Chestnut-sided War¬
blers.

May 14th, I saw a Redstart select a site
and begin its nest, but nidification was ex¬
tremely slow owing to constant rain, and it
was not until May 31st that the clutch of
four eggs was complete Sunday, May 23d,
a hummer began its nest on an apple tree
under my window where every movement
could be watched. The few hours of sun¬
shine toward night it made good use of, and
worked at intervals the next day though it
rained steadily. “ After the flood came the
deluge,” and Wednesday the hummer ap¬
peared discouraged, and Thursday it was
seen for the last time. Now the rain of
course has an influence on the adaptability
of the building materials, but it seemed
plain that the hummer connected the idea
of locality with this endless downpour, and
thinking the fault was in the situation of
the nest deseited it for another and drier
site.

The collecting season really lasts but
three months, for the two or three sjtecies
breeding in March are rarely found and the
eggs taken' here in July are inconsiderable.
Indeed our brief season punctually closes
on the first of July. Thereatter the heat
and dense vegetation militate against suc¬
cessful collecting, and the presence of
squabs and fledgelings in great numbers
has a depressing effect upon the spirits of
the egg-enthusiast. It is not unpleasant, it
is true, at times to hear the shrilling of
young 1 townies, and it is amusing to pound
oil a tree in which arc young Wacups, for
they make a noise like a swarm of bees
when newly hatched, and later like the
winding of a clock Even when well grown
their clamor is' endurable compared with
the distressing quavering of Oriole fledge¬
lings heard on every hand early in July.

1 have climbed to hundreds of crows’ nests

September, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

55

I in the last five years hoping lo find Albinos,

' but without success. On the 20th day of
' August, however, on Fort Hill, in the town
: of Groton, I saw a cinnamon-colored crow
! in a company of the normal plumage, and
whether on the ground or flying, or perched
on a tree, his strange dress made him con-
;Spicuous among his fellows. — J. M. IV.

Those “Brants.” — Corrections.

I promised to wiite you again in case I
learned anything farther this season in re¬
gard to the Brant eggs found by me last
year at St. Clair Flats. I found the same
eggs this year but failed to see any birds
that could be mistaken for the Brant. On
June 29th, while going through the marsh
of North Ridge of middle channel, I found
a nest of the same eggs as those of last year,
and which I supposed to be the Brant
Bernicla brenta) from the fact of seeing
a pair of birds about the size and color of
the Brant in the vicinity. I have since
Jearned that they were not Brant’s eggs.

June 29th, 1 found four nests contrdning
leight and ten eggs each. The nest was
jbuilt in fine grass growing in water from
jten to eighteen inches in depth. The nest
was composed of fine grass and raised about
jiix inches above the water in a tuft of green
Ijrass, the tops of the grass being woven
ogether over the nest, forming an arch.
The nest contained ten eggs, varying in
shape and size, — the largest being 2 5-8X
I 14-16 inches, the smallest being 2 7-16X
I 13-16 inches— color, a greenish white; the
jihell rough like a goose egg. I marked the
iiest and worked in the vicinity all day, but
lid not get a glimpse of the bird Several
imes I saw Ruddy Ducks {Erismatura
Vubida) near by but paid no attention to
hem, as the eggs were so large and the
lucks so small that I did not think it likely
0 be the Ruddy’s nest. I was puzzled.

1 approached the nest from time to time,
;ach time watching to see the bird leave
ihe nest, but was each time disappointed.
The eggs were warm and the nest appeared

! to havt just been left by the bird. While
j hunting around I fcmnd other nests of the
: same kind and built in the same way. As
[ I could not see the bird I began examining
J the nest Among the down in the lining I
j found three feathers, very small, but show-
1 ing the color of the feathers on the breast
j of the bird. Now I had something to help
! me and I took the eggs and returned to
I Detroit

I examined feathers of Brant, Velvet
> Duck, Surf Duck and all other Ducks I
I thought likely to lay an egg of that size, and
! was disappointed to find a difference in
1 them. At last I went for a female Ruddy,

I and pulled out several feathers. On com¬
paring them under a glass I found them to
be the same, only the fresh feathers being
a little brighter than the ones taken from
the bird mounted four years ago. I made
this discovery July first, in the morning; in
the evening I started again for the flats. I
found a nest of eight and watched it.
While going to the nest through clear water,
(as I was tired of pushing my boat through
the grass) I saw something, drop out of the
nest into the water and sink. I hurried for
ward and saw a female Ruddy Duck swim¬
ming under water for a clump of rushes a
couple of rods away. It was all very plain
now. The bird, instead of flying off the
nest, would simply dive and swim under
water to a safe distance. The fact of the
eggs being so large and with a rough shell,
led me to look for a large bird and some¬
thing of the Goose order.

I am well satisfied that it is nothing
but the Ruddy Duck, and will willingly
take back any of the eggs sold last year by
me supposing they were the Brant. From
not seeing the Brant — or the bird I sup¬
posed was the Brant — this year, I came to
the conclusion that I was either mistaken,
or the birds were there accidentally. I now
am quite certain that I was mistaken in the
eggs, and that they belonged to a different
bird from the ones I saw at the time of
finding the nest last year. 1 secured a few
sets of Red Head Duck, {Ayikega ameri-
cana) and Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri.)
— IV. H. Collins, Detroit.

I

ORNITHOLOGTST

■56

Notes from Maine.

The O and O. has reached me here
where I have been camping out for seven
weeks. I promised to write something
about 'Fraill’s Fly catcher, under the im¬
pression that they were as rare elsewhere as
here, but finding that they are plenty in
some localities I do not care to write what
others have probably observed ard written
of before, but I will write a few lines con¬
cerning the changes which have occurred
in birds within my recollection east of the
Penobscot.

For ten years at least 1 have not seen a
common House Wren, although formerly
very abundant. I can find no one who re¬
members having seen one for years. The
Blue Jay, once abundant, is now compara¬
tively scarce. Also the Oolden winged
Woodpecker, which once were so plenty
that 1 shot twelve in one afternoon. Hawks
of all kinds are extremely rare I do not
see a dozen of all kinds in a season ne.ir
Bangor, although 1 travel a great deal.
Since 1876 I have spent fourteen weeks
camping here, and have traveled hundreds
of miles in this vicinity and have rover
seen but one in that time, though the
mountains and ponds would seem to be
suited for favorite resorts for them With¬
in two years the Red-bellied Nuihatch is
leaving us. I used to see them every day,
summer and winter, but have not seen one
for a year. 'I'he Baltimoie Oriole was un¬
known here a few years ago but is-now cpiite
plenty west of the Penobscot, and crossed
It to remain some ten years ago, ihougii still
rarely ever seen three miles east of it. 1
think I travel east of Bangor at least fifty
to seventy-five days in the spring and sum¬
mer, but while for >om; ten years 1 base
seen them nesting all along the river with¬
in a quaiter of a mile from it, I have yet
to see the first one a mile from the liver.
The Bob-o-link and Chipping Sparrow are
both getting scarce, while the Crow Black¬
bird, almost unknown thirty years ago, is
now very numerous. The IJiuebird has in
creased, also the Least Flycatcher and

[Vol. 6-No. 7. 1

Wood Pewee, though seldom seen far froni'l
houses The Wild Pigeon, once here in 9
thousands, is so rare that it is hard work to '
get specimens for collectors. The House j
Sparrow has visited us in winter for the f
last two years, but have never seen any af- i
ter March. They have come and gone at i
about ihe same dates as the Snow Buntings, a
I saw a new thing cn August 20th. I wing- ,1
broke a Palmated Sandpiper when it instant-
ly took to the water and dove, swimming j|
from fifteen to twenty-five feet at a dive, J
rarely taking time to breathe till it got be- 'I
yond the reacli of stones thrown at it. 1
knew they could swim but never knew they -1
could swim like a Crebe under water.

Please excuse this as I write on my knee r
for lack of a desk. — M. //. Camden, Me.
- ♦♦♦ -

Growth of Robins, &c.

I was very glad to hear from you in re¬
sponse to my recent note in relation to the "
strange method birds adopt to preserve the 'i
purity of their nests. A few days after I
wrote to you, while sitting on my front
■porch, I noticed a Sparrow leave a wood- 1
bine on ihe house of Mr. Harper, who lives
directly opposite my residence on South ^
High Street, having in his bill some white if
object. He flew directly to the center of r]
the highway, and dropped in the mud the |
s ibstance he had held in his bill and im- ^
mediately fl.w away. 1 went directly to
the spot and saw a lump of excrementitious 'i
matter l.ifgcr than a common pea, smooth- 1
ly rounded, white for the most part, though ,
one side or end was green. I knew- it to
be the excrement of a bird, and saw it was <
the same process as observed in the Robin i
rejiea'ed by the Sparrow. It confirmed, to
a great extent, the view 1 had of the man- (
ner by which nests are kept clean from the i
abservjtions that I made with respect to
the Robin’s nest near my house.

P S. My son, twenty-four years old, and i|
witness of the act, believed the old bird |
swallowed it. I saw it seized by the old (
bird but did not suppose or see any act in- R
dtrating ih.it it was swallowed. — Dr. S. I
JIart to Dr. ll’m ll'ood. Bj

OCT<>I3Xi:R,

OOISTTEI^TTS.

Albino’s . 61

Burrowing Owl . 61

Check List — New . 61

Chewink . 61

Corrections . 61

Duck — Pintail . 63

Eggs — Large Sets . 61

Encounter . 61

Egg — An Egg Within an . 61

John Krider's Work . 60

Kingfisher . 64

Kingbird and Kingfisher . 64

Kinglet — Golden-crowned . 58

Pewee — Say’s . 63

Plover . 64

Rare Birds . 64

Rail — Virginia . 59

Snow-bird . 59

Sparrow-hawk and Plover . 64

Shooting Birds with Water. . . 63

Warbler -Blue-winged Yellow . .57

Warbler — Kentucky . 64

\V arbler — Blue Yellow-backed . 62

Warbler — Black-capped Yellow . 62

MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION.

Notes from Syracuse, N. Y .

Notes from Denver, Colorado .

Ro.se-breasted Grosbeaks in Confinement .

Chipping Sparrow Feeding on Cabbage Worms

Small-billed Water Thrush. Nesting, Ac .

Prothonitary Warbler. Nesting, &c .

Hooded Warbler. Nesting, Ac .

Worm-eating Warbler. Nesting, Ac .

Acadian Owl. Collated . . .

Notes from Maryland .

. .M, K. Barnum

_ D. D. Stone

. . Jos. M. Wade

. V. M. Firor

. .M. K. Barnum
Fred. T. Jencks
Fred. T. Jencks
Fred. T. Jencks
..Jos. M. Wade*
.Edgar A. Small I

SOUTHWICK <& JENCKS’ NATURAL HISTORY STORE,]

l>ltOVII)l^:NCK, 121IODE ISLA.>Jr>. j

About the first ot next January we expect to send a man in our employ to the Baha¬
mas on a collecting trip. Parties desiring specialties from that region will, do well to
correspond with us without delay.

Our catalogue will now be issued very soon. We have been waiting for several i
weeks for our collections to arrive and now have them nearly all in. Those desiring i
catalogues as soon as issued should send their names to us iminediately.

Among the eggs lately received we would enumerate the following:

Wilson’s Plover.
Willet.

Clapper Rail.
Florida Gallinule.
Coot.

.Mallard

Blue-winged Teal.
Red-head.

White Pelican.
Black Skimhrer.
Gull-billed Tern.
Forster's Tern.

Black Tern.

Stormy Petrel.
Thick-billed Grebe.
Puffin.

Black Guillemot.
Brunnich’s Guillemot.

.All are first-class sets with data. We can furnish single eggs of most if desired.

ORNITHOLOGIST

- A^s D-

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade. Editor and Publisher.

Established March. 1875

Sinttle Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., OCTOBER, 1881.

NO. 8.

Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.

ITS NESTING HABITS, &C.

The pretty Helminthophaga pinus is to
be found in nearly all kinds of wooded
country in southern Indiana and Illinois.
It seems to prefer open woods with under¬
growth of bushes and briers, and the open
ings in and about the bottom woods. It is
easily found by its notes which can be called
neither song nor warble, but resembles the
inhaling and exhaling ol the breath in a jie-
culiar rasping tone, unlike any other bird of
my acquaintance. It made its appearance
at Wheatland, Indiana^ April 25th, and be¬
came plentiful in a day or two. It is not
suspicious, allowing a near approach, and
seems to make a thorough search of one
branch before going to another.. While
thus engaged it adapts its position to the
place to be examined, often hanging head
downwards. Whether searching for food,
or while sitting still, the male at short in¬
tervals lifts his head and gives his wheezy
notes. It generally inhabits the bushes or
lower limbs, frequently near the ground but
seldom in the tops of tall trees. The fe¬
males arrive soon after the males and they
are soon mated and begin their household
preparations. Though I could not catch
them at their work of building, I was sev
eral times aware of the close proximity of
an unfinished nest by the anxiety betrayed
hy the female, who seemed as interested in
me as I was in her. But owing to the
bushes it was impossible to keep at a dis¬
tance and watch her.

As soon as his mate is sitting, the male
enlarges on his music, giving quite a pretty
warble, but it was seldom indulged in, and

I heard it but a few times. While opposite
Mount Carmel, Illinois, in Indiana, on May
19th, I missed a Hooded Warbler, but soon
heard it sinking a long distance off, and
just contrary to the course I was pursuing.
Usually 1 kept on my way and took the
chances of finding another, but at this par¬
ticular time I meant to have that bird I
killed it, and when within a few feet of
where it lay, a bird started from the ground
My instant thought was of the Hooded
Warbler, but as quickly recognized the
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler which alighted
on a bush near by and began to chirp in the
manner of most of the Warblers. My joy
may be imagined when, on jnishing adde
the leaves of a bush by my side near the
ground, I beheld five little rosy-tinted eggs,
perfectly fresh, in a nest situated between
the three or four stems of the bush. The
nest was sunken to the level of the ground,
and about the size of that of a Maryland
Yellow-throat, only deeper, being three
inches in depth inside It was composed
of a quantity of oak leaves sparingly mixed
with a rather coarse grass, and lined with
fine grass and one or two horse hairs. The
ground color of the eggs are white, rather
sparingly spotted and streaked with light
purplish brown and a few dark jnirple
specks. They are among the lightest col¬
ored Warblers’ eggs.

Not desiring the birds I let tliem live, and
they chirped about me till I left 1 picked
the Hooded Warbler up cirefully, thinking
^s I did so that death t > him was fortune
to me in more than his own value.

The Blue-winged Yellows were anxious
birds about the middle of June, the young
then being just out of their nests. They
moult in July and become (juiet. — Fred. T.
/e ticks, Providence, R. /.

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 8

5J5

Golden-crowned Kinglet,

ITS NKST AND EGGS.

In the Ooi.oGisT for April, 1881, under
tlie head of “ Recent Publications,” you
mention part No. VIII of Gentry's “Ulus
trations of Nests and Kggs of Birds of the
United States,” and refer particularly to the
nest and eggs of the Regulus ju/ra/a which
is figured in that work’.

Mr. Gentry says that the birds “ were not
setn by Mr Merrill, yet by the pretty sure
evidence of exclusion they cannot belong
to any other species than the one under
consideration.” “We are at a loss to de¬
termine,” you say “the meaning of ‘evi¬
dence of exclusion ’ in a connection where
we are most interested.”

.\s the matter may be of some general
interest to your readers, I would state that
the eggs and nest under consideration were
identified as Golden-crowned Kinglets by
the late Dr. I hos. M. Brewer, after careful
examination and comparison with the eggs
of the European species, and with eggs of
Regulus calendula of this country.

His grounds for this belief were fully
given in the Bull, of the Nutt. Orn. Club
tor April, 1870, wherein he says;

“ My reasons for supposing the nest and
eggs to belong to this species are that this
bird is a not uncommon summer resident
in that neighborhood — i e Bangor, Me.; —
that from their size and markings they can
not well belong to any other species; and
because, while the egg so closely resembles
those of R. cristatus — to which bird’y?.
satrapa is also very closely allied — as to be
hardly distinguishable from them, it is also
essentially different from the egg of R. cal¬
endula, which more nearly resembles the
eggs of R. ignicapillus " He then gives a
careful statement of his comparisons and
examinations, which are of particular in¬
terest but cannot berpiotetl here. In a let¬
ter written to me on January i8th, 1879, he
“^ays; “ I think there can he no doubt that
your eggs are those of R. satrapa-,” and in
otiier letters rer eived fr m him he has sp )k¬

en of them as though unquestionably those
of the bird mentioned.

In the Boston Natural History Society’s
proceedings for May, 1870, he speaks of
this nest and eggs without a question of
their correct identification March 12th,.
1879, he wrote me : “ I was in Washington
a few days since. I staid in Prof S. F
Baird’s family. The professor wanted me
to write to you to see if you would be will¬
ing to part with four eggs of your set of
the R. satrapa ” I merely mention this
fact to show that Prof. Baird, as well as Dr.
Brewer, w’as satisfied by the “ evidence of
exclusion ” that the eggs were those of the
R. satrapa, and had perfect confidence in
the correctness of the identification.

There has, perhaps, never been a gentle¬
man in our country whose opinions on
Oological subjects were of more value than
Dr. T. M. Brewer’s, and his decisions —
based upon the evidence of exclusion —
that this nest and eggs '‘cannot well be¬
long to any other species of bird than the
Golden crowmed YJ\x\^>t\.{^Regulus satrapci)'^
will be sure to be appreciated as it de¬
serves. — Harry Merrill, Bangor, Me.

The nest of Golden crowned Kinglets
referred to was found in June, 1876, near
this city — Bangor, Maine. I obtained the
nest and eggs of the person who found them,
but the bird was not secured. The nest
was placed about six feet from the ground
in a mass of the “thick growth ” found in
our fir trees. It contained ten eggs varying
in dimensions from .52X.41 inches to .47X.39'
inches The ground color is white with
shell marks of purplish slate and a few ob¬
scure superficial markings of deep buff,
giving to the ground the effect of creami
color. [This description is that given by
Dr. Brewer, who examined them with a
piwerful magnifier.] The nest was com¬
posed chiefly of moss, forming a mass
about four and one-half inches in diameter.
The ojrening was at the top, about one and
one-half inches across and two inches deep.
It was lined with hair aid feathers.

i

October, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

59

Snow-bird

NESTING IN NEW YORK STATE.

On the 23d ot last April, while out hunt¬
ing, I saw a bird with its mouth filled with
grass alight on an old brush pile at a short
distance from where I stood. I noticed it
was a J unco hy emails. After flitting about
the brush pile for some time, appearing to
be uneasy about my presence, it dodged in¬
to a small hole on a hillside which was
nearly concealed by some large leaves over¬
hanging it.

The bird remained inside four or five
minutes when it came out very shyly, and
flew some eight or ten rods away, where it
was joined by its mate, when they both flew
away. In about twenty minutes they re¬
turned, one having grass as when I first saw
it; the other, which carried nothing,
stopped at some distance from the nest.
After going through about the same ma¬
noeuvres as before, they again flew away.

On examination I found this hole to be
about eight inches deep. At the mouth it
was about three inches in diameter, but it
was considerable larger at the back part.
In this was deposited quite a quantity of
dead grass. I visited the place again on
the 25th, and found the nest completed but
no eggs. From the 25th of April until the
ist of May I found nothing to indicate
that the bird had been near the nest since
its completion, although I visited it daily.

May ist, it contained one egg, and four
on May 4th, but no other signs of the bird,
and the eggs were cold. On May 5 th the
eggs were warm, but no bird to be seen.
On May 6th I found her on the nest, but
she immediately flew away. On my taking
the nest from the hole she with her mate
made their appearance, but kept at some
distance away On shooting the lighter
colored one — which was the one that made
the nest — I found it to be the female. The
nest was composed of dead grass, . which
became of a finer quality from without in¬
ward, and very smoothly lined with hair.
The nest measured internally one and

three-fourths inches in diameter by one and
one half inches in depth.

The fresh eggs are in ground color of a
dirty white irregularly spotted over with two
shades of lavender brown. At the larger
end these spots become so numerous as to
form one complete mass or blotch. In two
examples these spots or blotches formed a
complete ring about half way between the
apex and the greater diameter, while in the
other two the entire end is covered over
with these blotches, with here and there an
irregular streak of dark brown.

The eggs measured respectively, .75X.50,
.76X.56, .78X.57, .80X.28. — J. A. Dakin,

Tu lly, N. V.

Virginia Rail. — Previous to the season'
of 1880 I supposed that the Rallus virgin-
anus bred in fresh marshes only, such be¬
ing the statement made in every biography
I had read. On the north end of Shelter
Island is a small creek and at the head of
which is a small marsh which is everflowed
with salt water during easterly storms.

On June 28th, 1880, a small boy had oc¬
casion to cross this marsh, and on going
through a patch of tall coarse grass (known
here as thatch grass) he flushed a Rail from
her nest, which he left undisturbed while
he went for a companion with a gun, when
they secured the female and her nest con¬
taining eight eggs, which were brought to
me with the bird. I at once identified it as
the Virginia Rail. The nest was merely a
heap of dead marsh grass and a few leaves,
all loosely put together. Incubation was
well advanced in seven of the eggs, while
one was fresh.

Another brood must have been raised in
the same marsh this year, as a young bird
was caught near there- Would like to
know if the nesting of this Rail in salt
water marshes has been observed by others.
— M. B. Griffing, Shelter Isla?ul.

Subscriptions to the Oologist are always
in order, but can only be taken for the
current volume.

60

[Vol. 6-No 8.

ORNITHOLOGIST

O RNITIIOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
TO THE STUDY OF BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS.

JOS. .V. IVAtiE, Eflltor,

S. L. WILLARD, Assistant,

With the CO operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription— $1.00 per annum. Foreign sub
scrtption including postage. Speci¬

men Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. .n. IVAOE,

Norwich, Conn.

Entered at Nonoich V, O. as Second Class matter.

KIJITORIAL.

John Krider’s Work.

As our readers are well aware we have
been offering for sale a work by John Kri-
der entitled, “ Forty Years’ Notes of a Field
Ornithologist, &c.” Many copies of this
work have gone into the hands of some of
our best ornithologists, some of whom re
port that it contains many errors, but of this
more hereafter. Our present object is to
make one or two interesting quotations from
the work.

“Duck Hawk. — It is well-known to all
the duck-shooters along the Hats of the Sus¬
quehanna River, as well also to those who
freciuent the sea-shore, where this bird is
certain to be found during the ducking sea¬
son. I have found it also on several occa
sions on the Delaware River, when I was
rail shooting. 1 shot one specimen below
the navy yard, also another on Jersey shore,
both of which had been feeding on some
farmer’s chickens I have often notiiied
the mancEuvres of this voracious hero of
the falcon tribe when in pursuit of ducks.
On one occasion 1 was seated in a blind
with my decoys in a pond in front of me,
waiting for the approach of ducks, when at
a distance I saw a small lot of ducks mak¬
ing for the pond. As they aiiproached I
discovered that they were pursued by a
Hawk, and as soon as they arrived at the
edge of the pond they immediately dove
under the water. The Hawk, somewhat
disajjpointed, continued on his course tow¬
ard my decoys, making a quick dart and

catching one in his talons, but finding it
much heavier than he supposed soon
dropped it, and w-as in a hurry to get off
when the leaden messengers from my gun
brought him down. This specimen is now
in the Academy of Natural Science, of Phil¬
adelphia. I have freijuently found this bird
along the sea-shore in spring, but never
found it breeding in that neighborhood
which has been so reported. I do not con¬
sider it rare, but difficult to obtain. They
vary much in size — the male is much small¬
er than the female, and the plumage of the
adult bird different from that of the young.

I have met this bird as far east as Maine,
and as far west as Minnesota, along the
Mississippi River, and have not been able
myself to find its nest, but have the eggs in
my collection which were found in the State
of Maine. I also have the birds which
were shot along the Delaw'are River below
Philadelphia.

“ Bald Eagle. — The Bald Flagle is very
plenty along the coast of Virginia, Dela¬
ware and New' Jersey. It feeds on Ducks
and fish. I have seen this bird sit on the
meadows and watch the Fish-hawk catch
a fish, when he would pursue the Hawk and
make him drop his food, and before the
fish could reach the water the Fiagle would
catch it and make for some secluded spot
to feed iqion it. I have also seen them
chase crippled Ducks and make a meal of
them: they freipient mostly the ducking
grounds 1 ha\e seen them very jdenty
in the western states, and on the lakes
where the Ducks breed I have found
them b ceding in New Jersey, near Bees-
ley’s Point, also on the eastern shores of
Maryland, and in Iowa and Minnesota, but
have never found more than two eggs in a
nest. The young in the fall plumage is
without the white head and tail, and some¬
times is very dark, almost black, varying
very much in size. I had one from Bees-
ley’s Point that measured eight feet six
inches from tip to tip; then I have had
them that only measured five feet six inch¬
es. I have seen them in company with the
Turkey Buzzard feeding on the carcasses
of dead horses and other dead animals.
They build their nests on high trees and
cliffs — eggs four in number.”

In this last article Mr. Krider states
that he has “never found more than two
eggs in a nest,” and yet he concludes his ar¬
ticle by saying: “ They build their nests on
high trees and cliffs — eggs four in number."

61

October, 1881.] AND OOLOGIST.

Burrowing Owl — Continued.

Speotyto cunicularia hypogcea [Jiiilgw.)

The New Check List.

is exhausted, and the orders now being re¬
ceived are booked in rotation and will be
promptly mailed as soon as the new edition,
now in the hands of the printers, is received

Large Sets of Eggs. — W. Otto Emer¬
son reports taking sets of California Quails’
eggs this season of seventeen, and last
season of twenty-four.

Chewink.— July 19th, I found a nest of
Pipilo eryihrop/ialmus cont^mng three tresh
eggs, built at least three feet from the
ground in a spice bush. Such is not com¬
mon I believe. — B. IV. Everman, Blooniing-
to7i, Indiaiia.

Corrections. — In the September num¬
ber, page 54, second column, seventeenth
line from the bottom, punctually should
read practically. Page 51, second column.
Pine Grosbeaks should read Pine Goldfinch
[Chrysomitris pinus )

Albino’s. — While in the store of Chas.
P. Goodale, Boston, we learned th.it Mr.
John Morrow, of Newburyport, Mass., shot
a Carolina Rail, the wings of which were
pure white. Mr. C. H. Chandler, Cam¬
bridge, Mass , shot a little Blue Her m,
pure white except the tips of the wings.
This is the young of the little Blue Heron
in its first plumage. As it was shot at Pine
Point, Maine, and had been seen in the
spring and summer, it would be interesting
to know where the bird was bred.

An Egg Within an Egg. — We have
received an egg from Mr. Fred. Cory, ^an-
ta Paula, Cal., which contained another
perfect egg inside about the size of an or¬
dinary hen’s egg. The outer shell was
very large. Both shells were perfect, but
unfortunately the contents had not been re¬
moved, and they were broken badly in the
mails and could not be measured. If they
had been properly prepared they would
have been a valuable addition to our col¬
lection.

I had entirely forgotten to mention the
locations of the burrows, how deep they
were, &c. It was an oversight. The lo¬
cation of course varied according to the
nature of the country. At Fort Lapwai I
generally found them occupying burrows
on the hillsides with a southerly exposure.
The burrows usually ran straight into the
hill for three or four feet, and then curved
to the right or left, more or less, from one to
four feet to the chamber that contained the
eggs. Some burrows were in the shape of
a horseshoe, and the eggs were laid within
a foot and a half of the entrance of the
hole, but I had to dig probably ten feet to
find this out. The chamber in which the
eggs were laid is generally a little higher
than the entrance hole, if in a side hill.
Here at Walla Walla they generally breed
in holes in the level ground. These bur¬
rows descend about two feet and then turn
off in various directions The end of the
hole being also a little higher than the bur¬
row after its direction is changed horizon¬
tally. I presume they sometimes get del¬
uged during heavy rains, but this does not
often hapjicn, as we have but little rain and
j seldom very heavy in April or May in this
j country when they are breeding. They are
j not gregarious but I have found two nests
within one hundred yards of each other. —
Capi. Chas. E. Bendire, U. S. A,

An Encounter.

While my sister was looking out of the
window, she witnessed quite an encounter
between a Blue Jay and a snake. The
snake was about three feet long. The bird
would pick at the snake’s eyes and then
I flutter away to return again and repeat the
process — the snake retreating all the while.
A running fight was kept up until the snake,
finally, was glad to get away. My sister
did not know what variety the snake was.
— Gus. C. Spaeth, Mt. Caniiel, Ills,

62

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 8.

Blue Yellow-backed Warbler

NESTING ON SHELTER ISLAND.

1 think most of the ornithological writers
have been mistaken in naming the breed¬
ing range of the Parula ainericana.

Minot says in “ Land and Game Birds of
N. E,” page 416, “Very rare in summer
so far soulli as Massachusetts. Maynard,
in “ Birds of Eastern North America,”
says: “ A few remain in southern New
England to breed, but the majority spend
the summer in the more northern section.”
The Blue Yellow-backed Warbler breeds as
abundantly in this town, if not more so,
than in any part of Northern New Eng¬
land, as I have collected sixteen sets of
their eggs, and seen fully as many more,
within the past three years, and have at¬
tained a jiretty accurate knowledge of their
habits. They arrive about the first of May
and usually spend two or three weeks in
mating before they begin to build. The I
nest is invariably built in a bunch of long
green moss, and lined more or less with the
same dun colored plant down that the Yel- ;
low Warblers use for the same purpose,
but the Blue Yellow-backs use it more spar
ingly. They sometimes weave one or two ‘
horse hairs and rarely a piece of fine grass ;
into the nest; and these are the only mate¬
rials used on this island.

The first nest that came to my notice was '
neither globular nor pensile, as they usually '
are, but completely open at the top like a
Yellow Warbler’s, and placed in a small ce¬
dar bush not three feet from the ground, on |
high land, being a very unusual position.
The nest is usually placed in a bush or
small tree in swamps or swampy places, and
usually about ten or twelve feet up. I have
seen two nests that were attached to the '
side of the trunks of large trees at the same
height. 'I'he number of eggs laid is four
and sometimes five. I found one nest
that contained eight eggs, six of which are
in my collection now, the other two having .
been broken in removing them from the ,
nest. The nest is of the usual size, and i

\ the eggs were piled upon each other in two
1 layers. They must have been laid by two
; females as part of them were addled. The
nest is generally purse-shaped, with the en¬
trance at the side near the top, and differs
in bulk according to the size of the bunch
; of moss in which it is built, and I believe
that more moss is brought in some instan-
I ces to finish the nest. The Blue Yellow¬
backs breed commonly on Gardiner’s Isl¬
and, as 1 saw two nests there nearly ready
for the eggs on May 17th, 1879, which is
about two weeks earlier than they lay on
Shelter Island. If collectors had known
the right place to look for the nests, they
would have been found long ago in greater
Lumbers and further south than most writ¬
ers on the subject have led us to believe. —

IP. IV. Worthington.

— — —

Black-capped Yellow Warbler.

ITS NESTING HABITS.

The beautiful little ^fyiodioctes pussillus
arrives here about the. twentieth of April
the males coming about one week before
the females. They raise two broods each
season The first nest I found was on .May
1 6th and the young had come to maturity
and flown. This nest was placed in a wild
blackberry vine two and one-half feet from
the ground, and in the very thickest part of
the vine The nest was composed of very j
fine dry grass, bits of moss and dead leaves, i
and lined with fine fibrous roots. The fe- j
male alone builds the nest, but the male can |
be seen following her around and singing J
to cheer her in the work. I can discover
no difference between the song of this War-
blerand that of the Yellow Warbler
draca (estiva.) I found another nest on j
June 15th containing a set of four eggs. In- I
cubation had begun. The eggs, when !
fresh, have a pinkish color like most of the
Warblers. This effect is produced by the
yelk showing through a transparent shell.
When blown the ground color is white with
fine reddish spots around the larger end.
This nest was in blackberry vines eight feet

October, 1881.]

AND 00 LOG 1ST,

63

from the ground, on the bank of a creek.
The female was on the nest and did not
offer to leave until I got close to the nest.
While taking the nest she flew around me
and called her mate with a sharp note —
peep, peep. '• his nest, like the last taken,
was made of fine dry grass and bits of dead
leaves, and lined with fire fibrous roots.
Size of nest: outside, three by four inches;
inside, one and one-half by two inches. I
have taken two other nests, one on June j
2ist, and one on June 25th, iSfo. I am
the only one who has found the nests here
the past two seasons. They are all through
breeding and leave for the south about the
last of .August. — IV. Otto Em. rson, Cal.

Pintail Duck.

ITS .NEST AND EGGS.

The following is a description of a nest
and set of eggs of this duck {Dajila acuta)
collected in Will, Illinois, May loth, 1877.

The female was frightened from the nesj
by my approach, otherwise I should not
have found tlie nest, having passed and re¬
passed it several times on the previous day.
It was built in a hummock of grass in a
low wet pasture near a brook and several
sloughes, was quite near to the road, and
almost in the path used by children in go¬
ing to and from school, and was first found
by one of them who informed me of the
fact

A hollow in the centre of the hummock
was lined with dry grass and weeds, form¬
ing the nest, which was thickly lined with
down. I succeeded in getting the nest out
whole and the dimensions below were
taken soon after reaching home :

Depth, outside, four and one half inches;
depth, inside, three inches. Outside diam¬
eter, nine inches; inside diameter, five inch¬
es. The eggs were eleven in number, and
were nearly hatched, the embryos being with
difficulty extracted through a half inch hole,
three being broken in cleaning. The eggs
vary but little in size, the largest being
25-16 XI 9-16 inches, and the smallest 2 3-16-
XI 9-16 inches, and 2 1-4x1 1-2. The col¬

or is a diity white with a tinge of greenish
olive — at least that is the nearest I can come
to describing it.

I’he down in the nest seems to be placed
on the sides, there being but little on the
bottom. The ducks are (juite plenty in
that vicinity during the spring and fall mi¬
grations —yZ^. H. Eaton., iVolurn, Mass
- -

Shooting Birds with Water. — Query:

I-' it safe to shoot birds with water to get
them witliout injuring them ? Say put a
small load of powder with cut wad and tal¬
low on it to keep the dampness from the
powder. Then with water in a flask ready
to pour in when needed to shoot with. Or
is there any other fluid or liquid better
adapted for the purpose. I use the word
safe with regard to the person shooting. —

V. M. Eiror, Charlestown, Va.

- -

Say's Pewee (Savornis sayl) is not a ~
handsome bird, being in many respects as
homely as any in the mountains. Its drab
color and lo.ase feathers give it a poverty-
stricken appearance, though the\oung ones
are handsome enough. The female lays
four white eggs, and sometimes hatches out
two broods in a season. A jiair of these
birds have had a nest on the porch of the
commanding officer’s qu.irterr at Fort 1). A.
Russel, Wyoming,, since the year 1875.
Every season, early in April, a pair of Say’s
Pewees make their appearance, and flying
about for a few days, commence making
repairs on their nest, which is located on
the top of one of the pillars. Never hav¬
ing been disturbed in any way, they are
quite tame and attend to their business,
paying very little attention to the human
beings that sometimes swarm on the porch.
The young ones, when they are able to fly
a little, are the cutest little bunches of drab
fluff that ever was seen. They have a con¬
fident look about them that is amusing, and
in a few days learn how to catch their own
flies and take care of themselves. In gen¬
eral appearance they are very much like the
Arkansas Flycatcher — Col A. G. Brackett
in American Eield.

64

ORNITHOLOGIST

Kingbiki) and Kingfisher. — While I
was walking along the shore of the Masha-
paug pond, within the limits of Providence,
sometime ago, I saw an interesting attack
upon a Belted Kingfisher {Ceryle alcyon) by
a Kingbird Tyrannis carolinensis)

The Kingfisher had poised himself sever¬
al times to look for fish, and was'just mov
ing to do so again as the Kingbird ap¬
proached and attacked him. The King¬
fisher is not a quarrelsome bird, and always
minds his own business. He was entirely
unprepared, and acted as though he could
not believe that the other had any evil in¬
tentions, for he tiied to poise again. The
second attack seemed to undeceive him,
and show him his enemy was in earnest.
He va ilted and turned, vainly endeavoring
to rid himself of his persecutor. He soon
saw he could not save himself by flight and
tried diving. As soon, however, as he ap¬
peared at the surface he attempted to fly,
but the Kingbird, keeping up an incessant
twittering, forced him to dive again. Two
or three times this was repeated, both birds
making considerable noise, until the King¬
fisher seemed convinced that escape in that
direction was impossible, so he sat like a
duck upon the surface, and as his persecut¬
or would swoop at him he would go utider.
This lasted some little time, until even the
Kingbird seemed wearied and flew away.
Then, after waiting a short lime, the King¬
fisher flew in the opposite direction. — Fred.
T. Jencks, Providence, R. /.

Kentucky Warbler. — My experience
agrees with that of Mr. Jencks, except that
my nests were found just where the differ
ent stalks of a blackberry bush came out
of the ground, and were supported by them,
but not fastened to them. I noticed that
the different eggs of a ^et varied a good
deal in the color of the markings. In a
set of three, the first was marked with a
dark, rich, reddish brown. The third was
of a neutral tint, while the second was in¬
termediate in color. — Edgar A. Small, Ha¬
gerstown, Maryland.

[Vol. 6-No. 8.

Sparrow-Hawk and Plover. — While
fishing with a friend at the foot of lake
Snipsic, near Rockville, Conn., in the au¬
tumn of 1875, my attention was attracted
by a number of Plovers feeding on the
shore. They were taking their breakfast
together, skittering back and forth at the
edge of the water, calling “tweet, tweet.”
I had just called my friend’s attention to
them when a Sparrow-Hawk {Tintiunculus
sparverius) darted from the thick pine
woods that come to within a few rods of
the shore. The bird had evidently seen
the Plovers before leaving the pines, as he
came direct from the woods to where they
were feeding.

The Plovers, seeing their enemy ap¬
proach, flew in different directions, one go¬
ing directly over the water. The Hawk
neither hesitated nor turned to the right or
left, but selecting this one flew after it.
The birds on the shore sounded their notes
of alarm, while the pursued gave no cry,
but seemed to bend all its powers in flight,
keeping straight ahead but dropping grad¬
ually to the w'ater. So swiftly followed the
Hawk, that at one hundred yards he had
s'hortened the two rods to two feet, but at
the very moment he threw forward his tal¬
ons to seize it the Plover turned and
dropped under the water like a pebble that
had been thrown from above. So close was
the Hawk that as he swooped away his
breast almost touched the w'ater. After
what seemed to be a full minute the Plover
came to the surface, sat upon the water a
few minutes, and then flew back to the
place from where it started. It was ijuickly
joined by its companions, and all were soon
as busily and (juietly feeding on the shore
as if nothing had happened. — Charles A.
Willis, Rockville, Conn.

Rare Birds. — Mr. O. E. Lake, of Tops-
field, Mass., shot a Yellow Rail recently.
Mr. C. H. Chandler, of Cambridge, shot a
Curlew Sand piper at Pine Point, Maine,
during the jiast summer. Mr. Goodale
pronounces the above birds very rare in the
localities where taken.

CONTENTS.

Arrivals . G9

Blackbird— Yellow-headed . C7

Editorial — Rose breasted Grosbeak . 68

Editorial— Osprey Eagle — Inland . 69

Gov. Lewis — Suicide of . 70

Notes from Denver, ColoraOo . . 67

Notes from Syracuse, N. Y . 67

Notes from Maryland . 66

Notes from Maine . i . 71

Sparrow — Chipping . 67

Thrush — Small- billed Water . 66

Warbler — Prothonotary . 65

Warbler — Hooded . 72

W ood pecker — Red headed . 72

MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION.

Rrd-hcuded Woodpeckers in Southern CVmnecticut . .J N. Clark

Robins and Black Snake . J. N. (,'lark

Cooper’s Hawk . I. M. W.

Notes from Maryland . E. A. S.iiall

California Quail in the Garden . C. M. Crowell

Notes from iMainc . M H.

ESTA^BHiISHIEID IDEO. 1, 1876.

SOUTHWICK & JENCKS,

PROVIDENCE, R. 1.,

NATURAL HISTORY STORE,

- DKAI.KIIS IN -

Birds, Eggs, Minerals, Shells, Natural Curiosities,
and all Naturalists’ Supplies.

WORK IN ALL DEPARTMENTS DONE TO ORDER

OA.TA.rjOa-xjEs oisr A.P’FX-.iOA.Tioisr.

ORN

ITHOLOGIST

- A K D -

OOLOGIST.

gl 00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established. March, 1875

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., NOVEMBER, i88i.

NO. 9.

Prothonotary Warbler.

Proiouotaria citrea.

On my arrival at Wheatland, Indiana,
April i8th, i88i, the Prothonotary Warbler
was already there, but was noted that day
for the first time by Mr. Ridgway, who had
preceded me a few days. It is found in
swampy woods and about pond holes and
sloughs in the bottoms. In such places they
are abundant if decayed stumps, in which
they breed, are plentiful. They make their
presence known by their tsh, tsh, tsh, tsh,
delivered evenly and rather quickly, much
like the first two or three notes of the Nash¬
ville Warbler’s song. They sing as much
while the female is sitting, and when they
have young, as before. The call note is a
sliaip chip and this is sometimes repeated
quickly a number of times, in this latter re¬
spect they are like the Golden Crowned
Thrush; it also has a pretty warble which
is delivered while flying.

It is rather deliberate in its motions, but
likes to roam from place to place, not stay
ing long anywhere. This is perhaps more
prominently noticeable on account of being
unable to approach it quickly, as one has
usually to wade through water. Some indi
viduals appear quite shy and lead the col¬
lector a long chase

For several days I much doubted whether
they were ever found away from over water.
This may not seem strange when I state that
the fifteenth bird shot was the first obtained
dry. The locality of the nest is betrayed
by the song. If there are no old stumps
standing in water then it will usually be
found close by The “Stump Yellow Bird,’’
which is a very appropriate name, has a

powerful bill, with which it excavates a
socket in a stump so rotten as to be about
as soft as punk. The hole is not particu¬
larly ROUND and usually not over four or
six inches deep It is filled with a green
moss to within about two inches of the en¬
trance. The nests varied in height from
four to twenty feet from the ground, but
usually six or eight. When a nest is found
within reach the eggs can easily be touched
by putting the first and second fingers in
the hole and a slight pull will leave the
whole spread to view so rotten is the stump
selected by them.

On one occasion not being able to reach
the nest, I rocked the stump, and sprang
and grasped tlie top while falling, and it
broke midway thus leaving the portion con¬
taining the nest in my arms. There proved
to be young in this nest, and I leaned the
stump against a fallen loc about fifteen
yards away. Though the height of the
nest was reduced front ten feet to two, yet
on returning several hours later the female
was feeding the young. The eggs are
four to six in number. They have the
gloss of a Woodpecker’s, and are among the
largest of the warblers, except the Chats
and warbling Thrushes. They look like
miniature Meadow Larks, except that they
are marked about twice as heavy as the
darkest of rhat species.

The Prothonotary is second to none in
beauty. I usually found the finest colored
specimens, probably the older birds, around
small secluded pools, only one jiair to a place.
Two specimens obtained having red feath¬
ers; the first had a red stripe across the
forehead. The second, probably the finest
ever taken in this resjrect, had feathers

66

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 9

about the color of those of the Summer Red
Bird, sprinkled sparingly on the cheeks and
throat, and extending as far as the middle of
the breast. These, and two in Mr. Ridg-
way’s ])ossession, are all 1 ever saw or heard
of that were so strongly marked. — Fred. T.
Jencks, Prmndence, R /.

Notes from Maryland.

Rough-winged Sw.ai.i.ows are (piite
common in this county, building their nests
in the masonry of bridges and mills over
water courses. Their nests are especially
common along the .Antietam Creek. They
generally breed in single pairs or at most
not more than three or four pairs at one
bridge or other locality. :

A Snowy Owe was brought to me, Janu- '
ary ist, i88r, alive, but it died from unknown j
causes a few minutes after I got it. It had i
been shot in the wing about three weeks be¬
fore, at a point nine miles west of Hagers¬
town. It was a male and was nearly white.
This is the fourth or fifth specimen killed in '
this county during the past five years. j
The Tufted Titmouse is a common j
resident in this locality, nesting in natu-,
ral cavities in trees, nearly always in an or¬
chard, and generally rather low down. Last
sjiring a pair stayed about a box in the yard
for a week, and seemed almost decided to
build, as I hoped they would, but finally
left for other quarters. The usual set of j
eggs seem to be six. The nests are loosely I
made of hair, wool, feathers, &c. j

Ravens are occasionally shot in the wild¬
er portions of this county and they proba¬
bly breed along the Botomac River in the 1
slate lulls region. • j

PiLEATED WooD-PEUKERS are not un¬
common in the heavy lumber lands.

Blue Birds. — Has any one noticed a
scarcity of Blue Birds the past season ?
'I’hey wintered here in larger numbers than
1 ever knew them to do, but began to dis¬
appear in January and February, and I only
found about four nests this season Could i
the birds have been killed by the severe
cold of last winter? From one of the nests I

I got a set of icdii/e ei^'^s. When fresh they
had the rosy characteiistic of Wood-peck¬
er’s, but on being blown the white assumed
a slight blueish tint.

('hapakral Cock. — In the March O.
and ()., Mr. B. W. Everman writes that he
never found more than two eggs in the nest
of this bird, and that it would seem that two
eggs is the usual clutch. I have a set of
four eggs, nearly fresh, from FLagle Pass,
Texas, and I had sent to me a set of five fresh
eggs from the same ])lace, but three of them
were broken in the mails. — Ed^ar A. Small,
Ha^erstim>n, M d.

- « -

Small-billed Water Thrush.

May 30th, 1881, whiltT collecting in a
swamp on the norih bank of the Seneca Riv¬
er, Onondago County. N. V , I found a nest
of the Small -billed Water 'Thrush {Siurus
ncevius), t>jues, containing one egg and three
young birds. I was about a hundred yards
from the edge of the swamp and looking for
an old hawk’s nest, when the bird flew out
from under the roots of a tree near by. .-Xf-
ter a careful search I found the nest un¬
der a projecting root and so well concealed
by overhanging rootlets that it could not be
seen until the eye was nearly on a level with
it. It nearly filled the cavity and was made
chiefly of moss and leaves lined with fine
rootlets Inside, the dimensions were about
two and a half inches across by two deep-
'The outside meastirement could not well be
taken as it was built of material very similar
to what surrounded it. I took the egg and
shot the female so that there might be no
mistake, but left the nest and young, hoping
that the male would care for them. 'The egg
was addled but contained no embryo, so I
succeeded in blowing it and have it now in
my collection. It measures .75 inch by .56
inch. 'The ground color is white, speckled
sjiaringly at the sinaller end and very thick¬
ly on the larger with shades varying from
lilac to dark brown. Next spring I shall
make a careful search for another nest and if
successful will give you a more complete de¬
scription. — M. K. Barnum, Syracuse, N. Y.

November, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST

67

Notes from Denver, Colorado.

June issue, number four, of your journal
came yesterday. I was somewhat amused
at your criticism on ‘‘Gentry’s Birds, Nests
and Eggs of the United States,” for I had
just received an epistle from the Hon. J. A.
Wagensellar telling me how his finer feelings
were hurt on account of my growling about
the text of his pulilication.. For my part
I do not see anything unjust in your criti¬
cism. I noticed an article by J. F. Rath-
bun, of Auburn, N. Y., concerning the
Yellow-bellied Wood -pecker {S. varius)
In reply to his query I would say that I
took several sets of eggs of that bird while
I was in Oswego, N. Y. In 1877 I took
one set from these birds, and in 1878 it
nested in the same tree, digging a hole
higher up in the same limb It is very
plenty there during migration, but breeds
rather sparingly.

The latter part of last’ June I visited
.Manitou and its immediate locality. While
gazing at the gigantic rocks that tower
toward the skies, in the Garden of the
Gods, 1 noticed hundreds of Violet-green
Swallows ( T. thalassint) and several Rock
Swifts (/’. saxatilis) soaring at a considera¬
ble height above my head. Upon a closer
examination I noticed that nearly every
crevice in the rocks was occupied by their
nests, though none were accessible. 'Judg¬
ing from the litter on the outside of the
rocks near their nests, and the lateness of
the season, I concluded that they all con¬
tained young birds. — D. D. Stone.

Notes from Syracuse, N. Y.

May 25th, 1881, while climbing up a
.sapling to a Wood Thrush’s nest, the fe¬
male darted at me and hit me quite forcibly
on the head. I afterward found that the
eggs were not much incubated.

July 15th, 1881, while out shooting on
Nantucket Island, I found a fre.sh Barn
Swallow’s egg on the bare ground, among
the long grass of a hay field. — M. K. Bar-
num, Syracuse, N. Y.

Chipping Sparrows

FEEDING ON CABBAGE WORMS.

The season for ornithological develop¬
ment is passed. I have noticed fewer
young birds this summer than usual, but
I have made one valuable discovery. It is
that the Chipping Sparrow
is a devourer of the cabbage worm. I no
ticed a pair which were doubtless feeding
on a brood in my garden yesterday, and
previous to that going from cabbage to cab¬
bage in search of the green worm; and I
had the satisfaction of seeing the worm in
the beak of the bird, and then to see it fly
off to where its nest was filled with birds.
This may not be a new discovery but only
new to me. But it is a demonstrated fact
of which I am glad. — V. M. firor.

Yellow-headed Blackbird.

On the twenty- fourth of last August,
while collecting in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin,
I shot a somewhat peculiar specimen of the
Xanthoccphaliis icterocephaliis, of which the
following is a description; Length, 10.7
inches; stretch of wings, 12.50 inches; off
wing, 4.47 inches; Tail, 419 inches; tar¬
sus, 1.59 inches; bill, .8r inch; color of
eyes, dark ; tarsi, black ; bill, black.

From the right side of the head, about
1-4 inch behind the eye, extends one white
feather, said feather being tipped with
black. It extends out from the head .82
of an inch by actual measurement The
yellow is of a bright orange shade, except
on [he top of the head, and on the top and
sides of the neck where it is very thickly
intermixed with black, giving one the idea
that it is a fe nale. But, furthermore, it is
not of the rnstv black, which almost invari¬
ably denotes the female, but it is of a beau¬
tiful clear black. It also h.is the white on
the wings, and very conspicuously too,
which ;• fern de is said never to possess.

1 lie rexud orgaris were bully disintegrat¬
ed by. the shot, so that I wa-; unable to def¬
initely ascertain the sex, but from what
parts I could see, I thr.ught it to be a fe¬
male. — (jco. L. Tappan, C/ticago.

68

ORNITHOLOGIST

()RNIT1I()L()(;IST

— AND —

OOL OGIS r

A MONTHLY MAGAZINK DKVOl'KI)

TO THE STOUY OF UIKDS, THKIll NESTS AND EGOS.

JOS. iH. n’AOF:, Hilitftr,

S. L. WILLARD, Assistant.

With the CO operation of able Oriiitiiological
Writers and Collectors.

Sdhsckiption — $1.00 per annum. Foreir/n eub
scription $1.25 — including jMiatage. Speci¬
men CopicH Ten Venle.

JOS. .n. iV.AItK,

Norivieti, Conn.

Entered at Norwich P. 0. as Second Clam matter.

J^niTOUlAIj.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. i

This bird was brought to us with a mate,
both naked, the last of July, 1878. He was
named Jack, after a pet Blue Jay that was a
comical genius, and Jack certainly has not
been a whit behind his namesake. We often
wish we had kept a careful record of his pro¬
gress and doings, and we now wish we were
able to describe Jack’s life for the benefit
of our readers, but as that is not our forte we
will simply give a synopsis of Jack’s growth
and doings. From an error in feeding, the
younger of the two soon died, when bread
and milk was substituted, on which Jack did
well. A young lady was spending a few
weeks at my house and she devoted almost
her entire time in raising and caring for
Jack. He was well fed and often taken out
on the lawn and allowed to pick and ramble
in the grass. Several times he got into the
fountain to bathe, but was helped out and
saved from drowning. He soon got so that
he would recognize no one but the lady
who cared so well for him; and when on the
floor, and siill naked, he would sing a little
complete song for her at any time when
asked to do so. riiis lady remained with
Jack about five weeks, when she left him
with much regret. She returned again the
following January when the bird immediate¬
ly recognized her. Once her visits were a

[Vol. 6-No. 9.

year apart but even then he did not forget
her; and when the lady visited my house '
the present summer, in the city of Norwich,
Jack bounded across his cage and with de- ■
light welcomed her back again. This is
the more strange as he never made the ac-
(juaintance of but two persons. He cares
nothing for the writer although he has been
with him daily from his birth, and fed him
fruit, cVc. It is often wondered how birds
migrate and return again in the spring, but
when this bird’s memory is taken into con¬
sideration the wonder is not so great.

He got his first feathers during the months
of August and September, 1878. They were
those of the female except the breast, and the
first feathers there were rose colored, inter¬
mixed with brown feathers as in the female.
His first wing and tail feathers were brittle
and all broke out during the winter.

He made a complete shedding during
February and March following 1879, "hen
his tail and wing feathers again all broke out
and he commenced his full song in April,
and stopped as soon as the breeding season
was over and was perfectly silent until the
following spring. He did not moult this
fall, 1879, until September and his feathers
remained unbroken. He had no sooner got
through this moult than his spring moult
commenced, and by February 5th, 1881, he
commenced his song.

When first caged he had an Indigo bird
for a mate, and he has never forgot his song
and often sings it distinct from his own.

He also sings the entire notes of a Canary
which I used to own. The present summer
a pair of Wrens took up their quarters fora
week or two near his cage. He was de¬
lighted with their company and tried to im¬
itate their notes. His first spring notes are
not full, but as the breeding season arrives
his notes are full and remarkably sweet.

He will then sing for hours without an in¬
termission. I'hose who have only heard
this bird in its wild state can form no idea
of the power of its song when well cared for
in confinement. No Mocking bird ever cre¬
ated the amount of interest this bird has

November, 1881.1 AND OOLOGIST. 69

the past two seasons. The most indifferent
people would stop and listen to him.

The school boys would stop and try hard
to imitate him, and some with good success.
One bright little girl said to another, “ I
know what he says ” “Why, what is it ?”
“ Tve lost my pencil at school; I’ve lost
my pencil at school.” “Yes, but there is
something else,” the other one replied.
“Oh, yes, I know: ‘Teacher, I’ve lost my
pencil at school; teacher. I’ve lost my pen¬
cil at school.’” And that perfectly de- ?
scribes his leading note when properly sung.
He shed his feathers during July and Au¬
gust, 1880, when his song ceased until the
spring of 1881. He again moulted in No¬
vember and December, 1880, and com¬
menced to sing on January ist, i88i, gain¬
ing in volume until the arrival of his kin¬
dred in the spring, when his song was in¬
cessant, and had it not been so full of sweet¬
ness would have been unbearable As it
was, hardly a person passed the house that
did not stop, and very many made bold to
introduce themselves to inquire about that
wonderful bird. And yet it was but a
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a native of our
New England woods.

This summer Jack moulted in June and
July, and continued to sing until the pres¬
ent time, October 2d, but his full, sweet
notes are only sung during the breeding
season. At other times he occasionally
breaks out in full song,' but more fre¬
quently imitates the Canary or Indigo birds.

He will answer at any hour of the night
if spoken to by the lady who cares for him.
He will play hide and seek with her as well
as a school girl could. When the first fruits
of the season are given him it is laughable
to see his rediculous antics. If we were
capable of describing Jack’s life history, our
readers would hardly credit it. But then we
must remember that no baby was ever bet¬
ter cared for than Jack. He gets a little of
everything, and no human being could bet¬
ter know when griddle cakes are being pre¬
pared than does Jack, and for three years
he has never been forgotten.

Osprey Eagle — Inland.

During the month of September the Os¬
prey seems to entirely desert its breeding
haunts and ascends the various rivers, even
to their head waters, where the streams
are both narrow and shallow, and here also
they seem to pursue a different method of
securing their prey. Mr. Freeman, agent
of the Totoket , Cotton Mills, at Occum,
Conn., while looking out of an upper win¬
dow of the mill, observed an Osprey Eagle
settle down on the shallow water and with
its claws extended, without diving, secure
a fish of good s'ze and fly over the meadow.
The fish struggled so hard that the Osprey
let it drop, and immediately descended and
with extended claws picked it up without
alighting, and again flying to a great height
let it drop, and once more picked it up in
the same way. The second time it was
picked up the fish ceased to struggle, when
the Osprey sailed off to the woods to make
a quiet meal off his victim. Mr Freeman
had a good view of the bird’s movements,
and is of the opinion that the fish was a
pickerel, and was let drop on the meadow
designedly by the Eagle to kill it, as it
could plainly be seen to struggle both in
the talo'is of the bird, and while on the
meadow the first time it was dropped
This is not an isolated case for Mr. Free¬
man had once before seen an Osprey take
a fish in the same way and drop it on the
meadow and descend and pick it up in the
manner described above.

Arrivals. — Chas. W. Gunn, Grand Rap¬
ids, Michigan, reports the arrival at that
place of a flock of Titlarks on October i8th.
A Snowy Owl was brought to Mr. Gunn
on the same date by Mr. O. Dennis. Mr.
Gunn also states that “ the earliest previ¬
ous date of arrival for this Owl, for Kent
County, during a period of eight years, is
November 5th, 1880.” ^

The Ornithologist and Oologist is
waiting to be taken by about twenty five
more subscribers fqr 1881.

70

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 9.

Suicide of Gov. Lewis.

We are indebted to the immortal Wii.son
for the following touching de.scri[)tion of
the death of Lewis, of the ever memorable
expedition of Lewis & Ci.ark across ll)e
American continent to the Pacific, during
which so many new birds were discovered.
It is extracted from a letter written by Al¬
ex. VVilson, and addressed to Miss Sarah
Miller, Philadelphia, Pa., and dated at
Natchez, Miss. Territory, May i8, 1810.

“ Next morning, Sunday, I rode six miles
to see a man of the name of Grinder, where
our poor friend Lewis perished.* In the
same room where he expired I took down,
from Mrs. Giinder, the particulars of that
melancholy event, which affected me ex¬
tremely. This house or cabin is seventy-two
miles from Nashville, and was the last white
man’s cabin as we entered the Indian
country. Governor Lewis, she said, came
hither about sunset alone, and inquired if
he could stay for the night, and, alighting,
brought the saddle into the house. He was
dressed in a loose gown, white, striped with
blue On being asked if he came alone, he
replied that there were two servants behind
who would soon be up. He called for some
spirits, and drank a very little. When the
servants arrived, one of whom was a negro,
he inquired for his powder, saying he was
sure he had some in a canister. The ser¬
vant gave no distinct reply, and Lewis in the
meanwhile walked backwards and forwards
before the door, talking to himself. Some¬
times, she said, he would seem as if he were
walking up to her, and would suddenly
wheel round, and walk back as fast as he
could. Supper being ready he sat down,
but had eaten only a lew mouthfuls when he
started up, speaking to himself in a violent
manner. At thes(^ times, she says, she ob¬
served his face to flush as if it had come on
him in a fit. He lighted his pqre, and draw¬
ing a chair to the door sat down, saying to

Mrs. Grinder, in a kind tone of voice, ‘Mad
am, this is a very pleasant evening.’ He
smoked for some time, but quitted his seat
and traversed the yard as before. He
again sat down to his pipe, seemed again
composed, and casting his eyes wistfully
towards the west, observed what a sweet eve¬
ning it was. Mrs. Grinder was preparing a
bed for him, but he said he would sleep on
the floor, and desired the servant to bring
the bear-skins and buffalo robe, which were
immediately spread out for him; and it be¬
ing now dusk, the woman went off to the
kitchen, and the two men to the barn, which
stands about two hundred yards off. The
kitchen is only a few paces from the room
where Lewis was, and the woman being con¬
siderably alarmed by the behavior of her
guest could not sleep, but listened to him
walking backwards and forwards she thinks
for several hours, and talking aloud, as she
said, like a lawyer. She then heard the
report of a pistol, and something fall heavi¬
ly on the floor, and the words, ‘O Lord !’

“Immediately afterwards she heard anoth¬
er pistol shot, and in a few minutes she
heard him at her door calling out, ‘O mad¬
am ! give me some water, and heal my
wounds.’ The logs being open, and un¬
plastered, she saw him stagger back and fall
against a stump that stands between the
kitchen and room. He crawled for some
distance, and raised himself by the side of a
tree, where he sat about a minute. He
once more got to the room; afterwards he
came to the kitchen door, but did not speak.
She then heard him scraping the bucket with
a gourd for water, but it appeared that this
cooling element was denied the dying man.

“.'\s soon as day broke and not before — the
terror of the woman having permitted him
to remain for two hours in this most deplor¬
able situation — she sent two of her children
to the barn, her husband not being at
home, to bring the servants, and on going

*It 18 hardly necessar}' to state, lliat this was the hravt? and eiilerpri.sing Iravelle', whose.jour'
ney across the Jtockv Mountains, to llie Pacific Ocean, has obtained for fiini well-merited celetiriiy
Tile true cau.se of him committing the rash deed. ><0 feelingly de'ailed above, is not yet known to
tile public; but his friends will not soon forget the tmse impuia'ions and cruel neglect, which the
honourable minif of the gallant soldier knew not how to brook. —Ord.

AND OOLOGIST

71

November, 1881.]

in they found him lying on the bed; he un¬
covered his side, and showed them where
the bullet had entered ; a piece of the fore¬
head was blown off, and had exposed the
brains, without having bled much. He
begged they would take his rifle and blow
out his brains, and he would give them all
the money he had in his trunk. He often
said, ‘I am no coward ; but I am so strong,
so hard to die.’

“ He begged the servant not to be afraid
of him for that he would not hurt hini. He
expired in about two hours, just as the sun
rose above the trees. He lies buried close
by the common path, with a few loose rails
throAvn over his grave. I gave Grinder mon¬
ey to put a post fence round it to shelter it
from the hogs and from the wolves; and he
gave me his written promise he would do it.

“ I left this place in a very melancholy
mood, which was not much allayed by the
prospect of the gloomy and savage wilder¬
ness which I was just entering alone.”

Notes from Maine,

In the Ornithologist for September I
noticed an article by M. H., from Camden,
entitled, “Notes from Maine.” From in¬
dications in the article I am led to believe
that M. H. lives in the very near vicinity
of Bangor, and hence his observations
would be largely made in this portion of
our State. As several statements therein
made do not accord with the obseivations
of myself, or of other field workers in this
vicinity, I would like to present a few notes
on points mentioned.

M. H. says: “For ten years at least I
have not seen a common House Wren, al¬
though formerly very abundant. I can find
no one who remembers havirg seen one for
years.” House Wrens built in aliouse pro¬
vided for their accommodation in my gar
den for a series of years, to, and including
1879, in which year I took the nest and
eggs, and removed the house. Had I not
taken away their abiding place I should ex¬
pect them to still resort to their old home.
This case was not exceptional, as I knew

of other pairs breeding in different parts of
the city at the same time, and my personal
observations are of course limited.

The House Sparrow, European, he says,
“has visited us in winter for the last two
years, but have never seen any after March.
They have come and gone at about the
same dates as the Snow Bunting ” I would
mention that this year they did not disap¬
pear in March. I have seen them contin¬
ually thro'ugh the past summer, and have
seen them feeding their young on the streets
of our city — showing they bred here the
past season. To-day, October i8th, I saw
a flock of a dozen or more.

Hawks, in my opinion, are not so un¬
common as might be inferred from M. H ’s
remarks. Undoubtedly they are more nu¬
merous in other localities, and their nests
are not often met with here — I found but
one the past season, exclusive of Fish
Hawks’, of which I took several. This
mav probably be explained by the fact that
suitable localities for breeding are so nu¬
merous that the chances for finding their
nests are correspondingly small.

Nearly every time I am out gunning, par¬
ticularly in the fall, I see one or more, and
during the past year I have obtained seven
different species in this immediate vicinity,
viz: Sparrow, Pigeon, Marsh, Sharp-shinned,
Red-shouldered, Fish, and Goshawk.

Sandpipers are frequently seen to dive
and swim under water as described by M.
H. I have often seen it and have had oth¬
ers speak of being witnesses of their nat¬
atorial abilities. The past summer I saw
a young Spotted Sandpiper — in the down —
on being chased by a dog take to the water
and keep away from its pursuer by div¬
ing and swimming under water, using its
wings for propellers. This was kept up for
fully fifteen minutes, till the little swimmer
had baffled Ids pursuer.

Blue-birds are quite common with us at
present, having, as M H. says, increased in
numbers of late years. Thoreau, in “Maine
Woods,” mentions it as a remarkable fact
that while the Blue-bird is common in most
jiarts of Maine, it is unknown in the vicini
ty of Bangor. This, however, is no longer
true. — Harry Merrill, Bangor, Maine.

72

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 9.

Hooded Warbler.

Myiodioctes mitratus.

This beautiful warbler is one of the live¬
liest of the family. It does not seem to be
I)articularly shy, but extremely restless.
Instead of making flights from branch to
branch in j)ursuit of its prey, which it catch¬
es on the wing, it goes from tree to tree, and
is rarely still While following it by its
song, it is heard first here, and then there,
and I have followed one hither and thither (
for fifteen or twenty minutes, at least, with- i
out catching a glimpse of it, and then if it j
chanced to stop singing it must be given j
up. They would be very difficult to ob- 1
tain were it not for their warble, which to |
me is among the sweetest of bird-notes. It
usually consists of two or three notes, some¬
times more and is delivered quickly in very |
clear, sweet tones. They seldom go above
the lower limbs, and are often in bushes
and on sticks close to the ground — the mat
ter of a perch being the same to them as
to tlie Flycatchers.

The localities best liked in this section
are the densest bottoms, and Mr. Ridgway !
says they prefer sections where there is !
cane. Certain it is that they are plentiful
opposite Mt. Carmel, in Indiana, where i
cane grows, but they are also common I
where there is none. This bird has to an '
ornithologist more than ordinary charms. !

Its difficulty of capture, song and beauty,
the black and yellow of the head showing
up so beautifully amidst the foliage, gives
it few rivals. j

The males and females arrived about the j
same time during the last week in April, j
and began to build two or three weeks la- ^
ter. The three nests which 1 found were |
all in bushes, about two and a half feet ]
from the ground, composed outwardly of
leaves and bark, inside of which is fine
bark and stems,* and lined with hair.

but one nest had eggs, and this the fe¬
male left so (juietly that 1 did not see her
and had to sit for a short time and await
her return. On her beginning to chirp, the

mate put in an appearance, anxious, also.
The eggs were four in number and a cow
bird’s. They were partly incuba'ted. The
eggs of this species are subject to great va¬
riation, but several sets in my possession
more nearly resemble the Maryland Yellow-
throat, in both size and markings, than
any other.

Red-headed Woodpeckers

IN SOUTHERN CONN.

The most noticeable bird movement re¬
cently here is the recurrence of the Red¬
headed Woodpeckers, which are here in old
oak groves in great numbers, something
which has not before occurred since 1872,
when they abounded in the same places.
They came as before in .September, and are
mostly the young of the year without the
red head. They make the grove resound
with their chatter which resembles the
Tree-toad’s song, and their rapping on the
branches, dashing from one tree to another
and to the ground, and again in the tree-
top chasing each other with varied manoeu¬
vres, making a very pretty sight, with their
bright tricolor, red, bl.ick and white, make
them very conspicuous. Flying out among
the leaves they seize an acorn in their
beaks and taking it to some suitable place
they secure it in a crotch or crack in a
dead branch and hammer it with their
beaks till they break the shell and secure
the contents, which they swallow piecemeal.
I hope they will tarry as they did on the
former occasion, through the winter, and
some tarried and nested here in the spring.
Besides these two occasions I have never
observed them here except single speci¬
mens on their migration, and then very
rarely. I know there are places where the
bird is an abundant summer resident, but
I always understood not in any part of
New Enghind, and it is an interesting
(juestion with me, whence these sudden in¬
fluxes came and what vagaries caused them’
— J. A'. Clark, Saybrook, Conn.

Southwick &: Jencks' new catalogue is out.

SUPPLEMENT TO ORN I THOLOGI ST AN D OOLOGIST.

lOUTHWICK Sk JENCKS ot Providence, R. I., intend to send an agent to the
:iama Islands in about two months, principally for Flamingo eggs in fine setts with
1 data, also N. A Skins and Eggs of some of the following varieties : Honey Creep-
BUck Whiskered Vireo, Black Faced Finch, Mangrove Cuckoo, Ani, White Head-
Pigeon, Key West Dove, Zenaida Dove, Man of War Bird, Tropic Bird, and Tree
ck. Booby Gannet, and Sandwich, Sooty, Bridled and Noddy Fern, Dusky Shear-
ter' Saint Domingo Grebe &c , &c. Orders booked in rotation for any article
;ly to be found on this trip. - -Send for our Catalogue.

CONTENTS.

A New Owl, probably . 76

American Bittern . 77

Almost a Suffocation . 77

Albino . 76

Brown Thrasher’s Nest on the Ground . 77

California Quail . 74

Cooper’s Hawk . 73

Editorial — In Prospective . 76

Golden Eagle . 76

Native Birds in Confinement . 7S

Notes from Maryland . 79

Phoebe’s Eggs Spotted . 79

Publications . 80

Rough winged Swallow . 7''

Red headed Woodpeckers . 78

Red headed Woodpeckers . 79

Robins and Black Snakes . 80

Rare Bird . 76

Snowy Owl . 75

Simple Sample Boxes . 76

Worm eating Warbler . 78

MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION.

American Long eared Owl. .
House Sparrow in Maine. . .

A Collector in Floriua .

Mexican Goshawk .

Notes from St. John, N. B. .

American Barn Owl .

Sharp Shinned Hawk .

Hooded Warbler .

Notes from Saratoga .

Chaparral Cock .

“Road Runner” .

Our two Cuckoos .

Notes from Shelter Island. .
Lost to Science (“ Pincalo”)

Bluebirds in a stove .

Notes from Vermont .

Duck Fishing? .

Hanging Woodpeckers .

.Capt. Charles E. Bendire

. Harry Merrill

. Charles W. Gunn

Capt. Charles E. Bendire

. M. Chamberlain

. B W. Everman

. J. M. W.

. J. N. Clark

. Guy. C. Rich

. George B. Sennelt

. B. W. Everman

. Dr. H. A. Atkin.s

. M. B. Grilflng

. J. N. Clark

. Manly Hardy

. F. F. Fletcher

. Win. P. Tarrant

. W. P. Emerson

EST^BLISHEID IDEO- 1, 1876.

SOUTHWICK & JENCKS.

r»l«OVIlDKrMCE, «. I.

NATURAL HISTORY STORE,

- DEALERS IN -

Birds, Eggs, Minerals, Shells, Natural Curiosities,
and all Naturalists’ Supplies.

WORK IN ALL DEPARTMENTS DONE TO ORDER

OA-'r^rjOa-UTES oisr

2^”Mr. Jencks writes us th it they have had several misunderstandings on account
of not positively stating that the price given was for single eggs.

little thought would prevent any one from making an error of this kind. Ed.]

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AJS J)-

OOLOGIST.

Sl.OO per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March. 1875

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VGL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., DECEMBER, i88i.

NO. lo.

Cooper’s Hawk.

Before transcribing my notes on the
breeding habits of the vivacious little Sharp-
shinned Hawk, we must pay our compli¬
ments to its larger congener. Indeed
through the season it forces itself upon our
notice in so many ways, and with such per¬
sistence, that we are obliged to respect its
prior claims. When -we go into the leafless
woods, during the first week in April, for
our earliest set of Buteos, the Cooper’s
Hawks are already paired and apparently
ready to begin housekeeping. They feign
alarm at our approach to the old haunts, and
following us, scold us well as we go from
nest to nest. But as usual with the sex
when house-hunting, the females are capri¬
cious and not easily suited. The old home,
though in good repair, is perhaps in a
neighborhood where callers are too free,
and ample time must be taken to choose a
new tenement.

Then again, about the twenty-fifth of
.\pril, when we once more climb to our
Buteos, hoping for a second clutch, we are
surprised to find the first egg of a Cooper
which has taken possession of this ready-
furnished abode. The second week in May
they are breeding commonly, and by the
first of June they are so abundant here as
to outnumber all the other Raptores. They
will breed in old nests in the same low sit¬
uations in hemlocks and young pines as the
Sharp-shinned Hawk, but they frequent as
well the tall deciduous woods, and I have
taken eggs from dizzy heights on outlying
prongs, away above the loftiest forks of the
Buteos. Very rarely A. Cooperi selects a
new and unused site, but as a rule old nests

are used, and often on a pile of rubbish in
a crotch they will rear a very large super¬
structure. If the forks of the tree go up a
little way without divergence, the pair will
work for weeks and raise the nest three or
four feet until it is bulkier than the home of
any of our local rapaciae except the Fish-
hawk. I know to-day where there are three
such old Cooper’s nests which are piled so
high with brush that standing on a level
with the bottom of the nests it is difficult
for R climber to reach inside. The males
assist at intervals in bringing sticks, and
unite vvith their mates in scolding any wit¬
ness of their house-raising.

The fecundity of this Hawk, under the
peculiar persuasion of the oologisf, is not so
great as its small congener’s, yet it will lay
three clutches each year in as many nests
if the first and second sets are taken. Five
eggs is the usual clutch, though I have seen
four eggs incubated many times, and have
taken an extreme clutch of six. The first
egg laid is usually pale blue, the rest of the
nest complement is lighter, and the eggs as
a whole fade as incubation progresses.
Two weeks are occupied in laying, and at
the end of one week’s incubation the eggs
can be easily blown. Sets witli markings
are not rare; but the pigment is used spar¬
ingly, so as a rule a fair series of these eggs
jjresent few changes and are unattractive.
I can believe that for one accpiainted with
our New London County woods, and all
the old Crows’ and Hawks’ nests here, it
would not be a hard task to secure a half
busliel of these accipitrine eggs every sea¬
son. ( For the benefit of those incredu¬
lous collectors who do not live where Hawks
breed freely, and who cannot realize esti-

74

ORNITHOLOGIST

mating eggs by dry measure, I will add that
at the right time in iMay, with a good horse
and two expert climbers, I will agree to get
a bushel of Crows’ eggs near here in one
day.)

From the long appearance of the females’
t^il of this species, shown when covering
their eggs, and when sailing over low patch¬
es of vvoods these Hawks are called here
by the farmers. Long-tailed Hawks and Pri¬
vateers. But the most appropriate country
name is Chicken Hawk.

Coopers are the most deadly scourge in
country farmyards. While the Buteos give
warning of their whereabouts by soaring
far overhead for hours and sometimes days
before dropping among the young poultry,
the dreaded Accii)iters, sailing very low,
will suddenly start over a wall and be off
with a chicken without notice. The old
domestic cocks and Ctiinea fowl will ^ee a
Buteo when but a speck in the sky, and on
a too near approach to earth of the com¬
mon enemy sound an alarm which sends all
the timid ones to cover. But even after
repeated raids of the Cooper, his advance
is so unheralded, and his dash so quick, that
he gets off scot free, even though the farm¬
er stands in his doorway with gun in hand.
Many a time has a countryman made his
moan to me about the Privateer carrying off
all his chickens, when I knew where said
“Privateer’s” nest was and was secretly
hoping to get a nicely marked set of eggs
therefrom. But as a reward for keeping
my guilty secret, the only markings my set
displayed would be the blood stains from
the (piarry taken from the neighboring
poultry yard.

The smallest males are not unlike an old
female Sharp-shinned, but the old females
are greatly superior in size and strength to
uny A. /uscus. During the months of Au¬
gust and September, the present season, a
large Cooper’s Hawk haunted a marsh of a
few acres on (iroton Long Point, known as
Pear Point Swamp. Just clearing the tops
of the low trees in his noiseless flight, twice
a day he would come skimming along over

[Vol. 6-No. 10.

tl'iis favorite hunting ground. He was seen
to pick up vermin, finches of several kinds,
and a few small leteridae. One afternoon
he made a bold dash at a muskrat, and
though there was actual contact it was brief,
and both rat and Accipiter appeared more
frightened than hurt. — /. M. iV., Nor¬
wich, Conn.

California Quail

BREEDING IN THE GARDEN.

On the twenty-seventh of May, 1880, 1
placed some brush and rubbish fifteen feet
from the front steps, in a triangle of the
driveway. On the third of June I stooped
down to set fire to the brush and I saw three
Quail’s eggs. I left them, hoping if it was
a Quail that had been there she would come
again. 'I'he following morning I found the
fourth egg. I then piled more brush on so
that no one could discover my treasure and
carry them off.

I called the attention of Dr. Cooper to
the location of the nest, as carriages and
persons were passing nearly every hour of
the day within four feet of the nest, and he
thought it should be made a note of.

Henry Chapnian, ornithologist, and 1.
Mailliard, oologist, of Nicasio, called and
both were confident that when she com¬
menced sitting the interruptions she would
be liable to meet with would frighten hei
from her nest.

June 7th, I put my hand in the nest and
the Quail flew out, but made her morning
call on the eighth, June 14th, I went to the
nest and found her sitting on fourteen eggs.
I had my face within eighteen inches of her
and could see her eyes, but she did not
seem disturbed or annoyed.

In the meantime for the week that had
passed, 1 had been watching the marital
devotions of the male Quail. He would
place himself in a tree in the orchard, three
hundred yards from the house, give his call-
note — krick kri — three or four times for his
mate, and he seemed to know how long it
would take her to get to the roadway,

December, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

75

which runs between the house and orchard,
where he would meet her and eat the wheat
that I daily scattered for them, after which
they wotild slowly pick their way down
through the orchard. The male keeps a
watchful guard over his mate, and on seeing
danger utters a quick pit, pit, pit, both
starting on a run, the male keeping in the
rear to protect and urge on his mate. Af¬
ter gaining a safe distance, the female takes
her dust-bath, when they go to the creek,
walking up and down the water’s edge — re¬
turning in a roundabout way to the nest.
The male seldom went farther than the
road, and we would not see nor hear from
him again until the morning’s call, between
ten and eleven o’clock, when the same
meeting and greetings would be renewed

The hen Quail v-as frightened from her
nest three different times — the last was two
days before she was going to hatch. It was
about eight o’clock in the evening, and I
w’as having a wire screen cage placed over
the brush, wishing to keep her and her
chicks. The brush was disturbed in some
way so that she flew out and away to the
orchard. As I looked out into the dark
ness after -her I exclaimed, “ That is the
last of my Quail hatching.” I decided to
leave the eggs in the nest over night. In
the morning I found her, faithful and de¬
termined, on her nest again, proving that
disturbing a Quail, either before or while
sitting, will not make her forsake her nest.
That night I succeeded in getting the cage
over her. When the morning ten o’clock
call came she left her nest attempting to
get out, but seeing the wheat scattered in
the cage ate of it, and went back to her
nest and eggs as usual.

The second day the male, after calling
and repeating his call many times in vain,
came up to see why his mate did not put
in her appearance. He walked around the
cage uttering his warning call, pit, pit, but
in a lower tone than when frightened. She
tried to get out, but not succeeding he left.
Her uneasiness continuing, I put the eggs
under a bantam hen and hatched ten of the

fourteen eggs. Now comes the part of
bird devotion. I put the hen Quail in a
large box with wiie screen front, and placed
the box where the nest had been the day
before, setting a figure-four trap a few feet
from it, wishing to catch the male. Not
succeeding, I then put in the box another
male Quail which I had, thinking compan¬
ionship would quiet her attempts to get out,
which it failed to do. In the morning about
four o’clock I was awakened by repeated
angry calls of a male Quail. I hurried to
my window — which was not twenty feet
from the cage — ^and saw a male Quail flying
and scratching at the wire screen and try¬
ing to get in. I went out to move the trap
in front of the cage, as I saw that would be
the only way to catch him. As I went to
the cage he flew at me. and madly running
around the box would not go away, keeping
just beyond my grasp. I moved the trap
I and when I reached my room I looked from
I the window and saw the trap down with my
bird safe. I put the hen Quail and her
mate in the cage by themselves and direct¬
ly we could see the satisfaction of both.

Five of the young chicks died, and my
son has them as specimens. Four escaped
from the cage when three days’ old, scud¬
ding out of sight wi‘h the wildness charac¬
teristic of the Quail. The remaining one
we kept until nearly grown, answering the
calls of the wild Quail outside when he es¬
caped. Of one thing my summer’s expe¬
rience convinced me, that our California
Quail excels in devotion and sociability not¬
withstanding its shyness. — C. AI. Crowell,

Haywards, Cal

- -

Snowy Owl. — Oliver Davie, of Colum¬
bus, Ohio, reports, under date of Novem¬
ber 2d, receiving a Snowy Owl, shot near
Licking County reservoir the day previous.
Dr. J. M. Whftrton, State ornithologist,
informs him that this is probably the earliest
record of this bird being taken in the State
of Ohio. It is certainly very early for this
bird to start on its southern migration, es¬
pecially in view of the fact that up to that
date there was no indication of winter.

76

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 10.

OUN ITHOLOGI.ST

— AND—

OOLOGIST

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
TO IIIE STUDY OF BIHDS, TIIEIK NESTS AND EGGS.

JOS. »aue, Eflitur,

S. L. WILLARD, Assistant,

Witli (lie c.. operation of able Ornilhological
\V riters and Collectors.

bUBscKiprioN 5>1.00 pel' annit/n. Voreign, sub-
sci'iption $l.'io—mcluding postage. Speci¬
men Copies Tea Cents.

JOS. .U, tt'AOE,

_ _ Nor%vltli, Coiiii.

Entered at Norioich P. 0. as Second Clam matter.

-EJJITOUIjIL.

In Prospective.

We congratulate our readers on the rich
literary feast in store for them, which,
through the liberality of our contributors,
we shall be enabled to place before them
in future numbers. Among the forthcom¬
ing articles are: The Long-eared O^cl oxt the
Pacific slope, by Capt. Chas. E. Bendire.
The Mexican Goshawk, by the same autlior.
The Sharp Shinned Hawk, by J. M. \V.
A collector in Florida, by Chas. W. Gunn.
Notes from St. John, by M. Chamberlain.
The HoodetC Warbler, by J. N Clark.
The American Barn Otvl, by B. W. Fiver-
man. A remarkable exjierience on the
nesting of our two Cuckoos in the same
nest, by Dr. H. A. Atkins. 7'he nest and
eggs of the Toad Runner, or Chaparel Cock,
by B. W. Everman. An explanation of an
apparent discrepancy in the statement made
in his two books descriptive of two collect¬
ing excursions made by Geo. B. Sennett
through the region bordering on the Rio
Grande during the years 1877 and 1878.
W e are almost glad that such a discrepan- .
cy occurred, for it has enabled us to draw
out Mr. Sennett, who is so thoroughly en¬
grossed in his large business, and as Mayor
ol the city of Meadville, that he has almost
forgot that he is an ornithologist. We
have also several interesting articles from a |

contributor in Texas — new to our columns
— Mr. H. Nehrling, among them the Fork¬
tailed Flycatcher, (illustrated) The Nonpa¬
reil, The Larkfinch, &c., &c. Also a large
number of shorter notes from our various
well-known contributors, for all of which
see index.

Simple Sample Boxes. — We have re¬
ceived for examination a nest of four sam¬
ple boxes made of stiff pasteboard and pa¬
per. Each box will hold a set of eggs, ac¬
cording to size, and are easily and quickly
packed. They vary in size and price from
Si-75 to S3-00 per hundred. Address
Chas.W, Jencks & Brother, Providence, R.I.

A New Owl, probably.— Mr. John Wal¬
lace received among other specimens from
the collection of the late Mrs. Maxwell, of
Denver, Colorado, a small Owl which he
says is smaller than the Pigmy, and has
short ears. In color, it is like the Eong-
eared Owl, but more dense in shade, the
contrast in marking being stronger and
more distinct. The specimen is now in the
hands of Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, who will
find its proper position in the family of Owls.

Golden Eagle. — Henry Wedge, River¬
ton, Conn, has a Golden Eagle in confine¬
ment which was shot near Ragged Moun¬
tain, Barkhanisted. Two shots struck the
bird One in the nostril, the other over
the eye It is a young bird and was caught
Oct. 29th. If any of our readers live
near Riverton, we would like them to ex¬
amine the bird and report more fully. It
will probably prove a young Bald Flagle.

Albino. — Mr. Delos Hatch reports
shooting an Albino Chipping Sparrow
during the past summer. It was not well
feathered and but recently from the nest.

R.are Bird. — C. I. Goodale, Boston,
Mass., reports, under date of October 17th,
receiving in full plumage a Red-throated
Diver, which is very rare in this latitude at
this season, while young birds and birds out
of plumage are common.

December, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

77

Almost a Suffocation.

John Wallace, of New York city, who
resides near Paterson, N. J., has gained an
enviable reputation as a taxidermist, and is
also a man of hobbies, and were he not a
man of strong will, he would find but little
time to devote to them, but “ where there
is a will there is a way,” and he finds time.
Among his hobbies are a rare collection of
“Hummers,” “Birds of Paradise,” and
last but not least, a fine greenhouse with a
valuable collection of Orchids, and here is
where the trouble came from. The boiler
that warms the greenhouse is in the base¬
ment of the house. The night of the first
cf November being warm, the dampers
were closed, and too close, as the sequel
will show. John and his family retired as
usual, and all went well until near four
o’clock A. M , when his oldest daughter
called out to know the time, which was giv¬
en as near four o’clock A. M , when she got
up to dress, and when partially dressed
fell to the floor, cutting herself severely.
The children began to rise one by one, but
no sooner got to their feet than they fell to
the floor helpless. This was a fearful posi¬
tion for John and his wife, who, thinking
the children were poisoned, began adminis¬
tering oil. The son, John’s assistant in the
city, was called to go for medical aid, when
he was found to be so near gone as to be
black in the face. Here was a family of
seven children all sick and the sickness
unknown, and up to this time the gas had
not been noticed ; but the severe headache
and general depression began to tell, when
the discovery was made that it was gas
from the greenhouse stove, when the fam¬
ily was removed to fresh air as rapidly as
possible and with medical aid they were
soon pronounced out of danger. John
and his son suffered severely but started
for the depot to reach the city, but the de¬
pression and a feeling of being weighed
down by a heavy load forced them to
return, but later in the day they both found
their way to the city and are now appar¬
ently no worse for the severe ordeal they

went through. The fortunate waking of
the eldest daughter, no doubt, saved the
entire family from suffocation, and we con¬
gratulate them on their narrow escape.

American Bittern — This bird is quite
rare here, yet one or more nests are found
each season; two nests are all I have known
about. Nest one was made near a lake
and in a" swamp. It was made of damp
reeds matted together, making a flat top on
which were three eggs nearly hatched.
Nest two was found July 12th, 1879. Bird
flushed and shot. After picking up the
bird the nest could hardly be found. This
was in a swamp some distance from lake or
stream, and built up out of the shallow
water with damp reeds, but was dry on the
top. It contained three eggs partially
incubated This ne.st was made entirely
of reeds and a few stems, and stalks of
weeds. These birds do not breed near
each other here, and do not come back to
the same locality to breed, as this swamp
has been looked over thoroughly every sea¬
son since without finding a nest. A bird
shot in April was in fine plumage, and
another shot in June was very far from
handsome. They arrive about April 15th,
and leave about October loth. Has anyone
noticed them standing very straight with
the bill high in the air ? While doing this
they seem absorbed, and I have rowed
within a few feet of one while thus
occupied. — (7. Saratoga, N. Y.

Phcebe’s Eggs Spotted. — On May T5th
I found a set of Phoebe’s eggs, two of
which were slightly spotted with very faint
light brown spots on the larger end. Is
this a common occurrence ? [Occasion¬
ally spotted sets are found.]

Brown Thrasher’s Nest on the
Ground — May aad, found Brown Thrash¬
er’s nest on the ground, in a grove thinly
scattered with oaks, but in which there was
no underbrush. Was not this an unusual
event }— Will. R. Ide, Evanstoti, III.

[We have often found them in similar
positions. Ed.]

78

ORNITHOLOGIST [Yol. 6-No. 10.

Worm-eating Warbler.

The first H£lniinthotherus vermivorus ob¬
served this spring was at Wheatland, In¬
diana, April 24th. It was in company with
a Blue-winged Yellow, both deliberately
searching the bushes near the ground.
Being out for a stroll, without a gun, I
watched them quite a time. This species
is not gaudy, yet, like the Cedar-bird, the
delicacy and the blending of its colors
rank it high as a beautiful warbler. During
the week I secured three, and saw no more
until I visited Mount Carmel, about a
month later. I not unfrequently heard its
song while in heavily-wooded, rolling coun¬
try. This is similar to that of a Chipping
Sparrow, but not so continued. They in¬
variably became quiet before I could see
them, and I was unable to catch them in
the act. On account of their scarcity I al¬
most despaired of finding a nest, but on
asking a friend to show me a nest he had
discovered the day before, said it was at the
top of a ravine; he didn’t know exactly
where. I had walked but a few steps after
reaching the top when from beneath my feet
went the bird. I recognized it immediately
and watched it to the bushes, and then
looked to see what was in store for me.
The nest was nicely placed in a nook of
quite a steep bank, and made of old black¬
ish, partly rotten leaves, apparently as poor
as the bird could find, and very sparingly
lined with grass and a few hairs. Consid¬
ering the material the nest was not bulky,
though large for the bird inside. The two
eggs were slightly incubated and in appear¬
ance about like minimum Golden-crowned
Thrush’s, but marked with a darker shade
of brown, rather more profuse at the larger
end. — Fred. T. Jencks, Fraiddence, R. I.

Rough-winged Swai.i.ow. — In the
spring of 1879 I found a Rough-winged
.Swallow’s nest not far from heie which con¬
tained eleven eggs, all of which had evi¬
dently been lately laid. I have never
known this bird to lay over six eggs except
in this one instance. — IVm. R. IV/iarton.

Native Birds in Confinement.

•

I have during the last few years made *
some experiments with our native birds, and
have caged and kept in captivity the follow-
ing; all have done well and some have be
come very tame and fearless. The snow
bird {J^unco hyemalis) lives and thrives even
through the long hot summer. My snow
bunting {Plectrophanes nivalis) sickened
when the July heat came and soon died,
but he lived happily with me from Novem¬
ber to July.

Catbird, Robin, Bobolink, Common
Redpoll {Aegiothus linaria). Cedar-bird,
Snosv-bird, Snow Bunting, Brown Thrash¬
er, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bird, Purple
Finch, Crow Blackbird, Cow Blackbird.
Bluebird, Balt Oriole, Fox Sparrow, Swamp
Sparrow, (’nipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrow,
Field Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, Goldfinch
and Shore Lark.

The last named bird has been in my
aviary but a few weeks. — Annie Trumbull
Slosson, Hartford, Conn.

Red-headed Woodpeckers.

In the November number of your valua¬
ble journal is a notice from J. N. Clark, of
Saybrook, respecting the Red-headed
Woodpecker {Afelanerfes eryihrocepltalus.)
Forty years ago they were about as common
as the Yellow hammer {Colaptes auratus) in
this part of the State. They entirely dis¬
appeared in 1847, and I did not see another
specimen until i860. I was at that time
visiting a patient in an adjoining town, and
recognized the jieculiar note of this bird. I
remarked that this was the first time in thir¬
teen years that I had heard the Red-he.aded
Woodpecker. My jiatient informed me
that this bird had nested in a decayed tree
in his neighbor’s door-yard for three years.

On my returning I discovered the bird and
the hole in the maple. I called at the house
and requested jiermission to secure the
eggs, but could not get consent. I knew it
was the habit of the bird to continue occu¬
pying the same nest after a part or nil of

December, 1881.]

AND OOLOGIST.

79

the eggs were removed, and I could see no
good reason why those eggs should not be
in my. collection. Visiting my patient
again, I found it convenient to go toward
evening. Taking one of my collectors
with me I intimated to him that we were to
pass by the nest of the Red-headed Wood¬
pecker and I hoped he would see the hole
as we passed, for he might not be able to
see it when we returned, as it would be dark.
.Although all the eggs were taken (six)
the old birds continued to occupy the same
nest. Since then I have occasionally
known a pair breeding about here. Last
year two broods were raised within two
miles of my office, and I have instructed
my collectors not to molest them, hoping
they may yet appear here in numbers. —
Wyn. Wood, East Windsor hill. Conn.

Notes from Maryland.

White-bellied Nuthatch. — For sev¬
eral years I mistrusted that this bird bred
with us, as they are almost as common in
the spring and summer months as in win¬
ter. But this season the matter was placed
tjeyond a doubt by the finding of the nest on
May 17th. It was in a hole in the decayed
>tub of an apple tree in an orchard Tiie
lole was about seven feet from the ground,
ind contained four fresh eggs. The bird
vas on the nest when found. It showed
10 signs of anger, running quietly up and
iown the trunk of a tree near by. Is not
he breeding of this bird as far south as
his unusual ?

Robin’s Egg Spotted. — The past sea-
lOn I saw an egg, which was taken from a
obin’s nest, that had a few light red specks.
They were about the size and color of those
iccasionally found on eggs of Sayornis
’’uscus, and the distribution was about the
ame. It was a little larger than average,
)ut of the usual ground color.

Bald Eagle. — April 20th, 1880, a pair
)f Eagles commenced a nest in a large tree
)n the Potomac River, about nine miles
vest of this town. I had a man watching
he nest, and I hoped to get a set of eggs.

but the female was killed before the nest
was completed.

Cow-BiRD. — Has any one noticed that
upon the advent of a Cow-bird’s egg in a
nest all the other eggs are mysteriously
thrown out t I have seen this several
times this year. One was a Song Spar¬
row’s. On the morning that the second
egg was laid I saw a Cow-bird slip into the
nest. In a few minutes she came hurrying
out, and going to the nest I saw that she
had dropped her egg. The afternoon of
the same day I again went to the nest and
found all three eggs broken on the ground
below. The other was a Chipping Spar¬
row’s, with which all went well until the-
third egg was laid, when a Cow-bird
dropped her egg in the nest, which was in a
grape vine, and about ten feet distant was
an apple tree. The eggs were carried to
this and dropped to the ground. Two of
them fell on some grass and were scarcely
broken These had x shaped holes in
them, which just fitted the partly open bill of
a Chipping Sparrow. Could the Chipping
Sparrows have thrown the eggs out

Song Sparrows. — This season a pair of
Song Sparrows built a nest in a honey¬
suckle, about twelve feet from the ground,
against the side of a house. The eggs of
this nest were destroyed by other birds.
They then went twenty feet higher up and
built again. This nest was blown down.
The next nest was built in a clump of
honeysuckles, about seven feet from 'the
ground. Here they raised their brood of
four young. — Edgar A. Small.

Red-headed Woodpeckers.

While collecting on the meadows north
of Hartford, on the 26th of September last,

I unexpectedly came upon some Red-head¬
ed Woodpeckers {Melanerpes erythroceph-
aliis.) I shot three, two adults and a
young, tlie latter having only traces of the
red on the head and neck 'I'he adults had
not fully recovered from the moult. Dur¬
ing the whole morning [ met these birds as
they moved in short flights leisurely soutli-

so

ORNITHOLOGIST

[V^ol. 6-No. 10.

ward, for 1 did not observe one to fly in
another direction. I consider this bird
rare in the neighborhood of Hartford, for
although I have been a pretty close ob¬
server for five or six years I never saw
more than three or four individuals previous
to these just mentioned. What is the ex¬
perience of others with this Woodpecker ?
Is it not veiy locally distributed throughout
Connecticut ? •

I remember seeing an adult among some
cedars on the summit of Talcott mountain,
nine miles west of here, in October, 1876.
Stragglers were on the meadows November
3d. — Harry T. Ga/es, Hartford, Conn.

[.4 male was shot at New Britain, eighteen
niiles south of Hartford, about the time of
the above flight. The only specimen we
have seen in this State was in Tolland, early
in the fall of 1879. — Ed.]

Robins and Black Snakes.

While I was passing by the head of the !
mill-pond where the water was skirted by j
several rods’ width of alders and briers,
with an occasional maple or white-wood,
one of the latter stood tall and straight near
where I was. There was several inches in

s

depth of water at its base, and its trunk
went up straight and smooth for some
twenty feet without a branch, there one
arm extended out to the right and the trunk
of the tree continued up naked and straight j
some ten or fifteen feet more, then the
branches grew thickly, covered with foliage; |
some, not its own, came from a grape vine I
that twined among the upper branches, and '
the body of the vine looked like a large j
rope hanging from the top of the tree j
down among the alders below and within a ’
foot or two of the trunk. In the top of
this tree were a dozen or more robins, all
scolding in chorus at the top of their voices;
some hovering over the tree, some dashing
down among the foliage and rising again
only to join the chorus with renewed ener¬
gy. I soon discovered that there was a
robin’s nest near the top of the tree and

some dark object — not the mother bird —
had possession. I heard above the din the
scream of distress from a young bird,
and gathering a handful of small stones I
began a bombardment of the tree top. Af¬
ter one or two failures a stone, well directed
and well impelled, struck the spot and im¬
mediately something began to move. A
large black snake uncoiling itself dropped,
striking the branch mentioned some ten
feet or more below, and thence wriggling in
the air down among the alders till I heard
it splash in the water. I was very much
surprised, and it is a wonder still to me
how that snake could climb such a tree or
vine, the only means of access to the nest.
It is also a surprise to me how the snake
discovered the nest, which was at least
thirty-five feet above the water, with an in¬
tervening canopy of alders and thick foli¬
age surrounding the nest. The scene was
one I shall not soon forget, though I have
often observed on other occasions that this
snake is a mortal enemy of young birds
and deserves extermination from their
friends. He seldom escapes a shot when
he crosses my path. — f. N. Clark.

Publications.

RECENT AND OTHERWISE.

J. J. .Audubon. — In the Turf, Field and
Farm for November the i8th, 1881, will be
found an exceedingly interesting article
over the initials of M. r. a. The article is
well written and contains about as many
facts concerning this great man’s simple
life as can w-ell be crowded into two col*
umnsand a half. Cut it out and preserve
it for future reference.

The Germantown Telegraph is a weekly
family paper published at Germantown,
I’a. It contains much original matter for
the family, the sportsman, the farmer, and
gardener. In politics it is independent, and
fearless. Its Philadelphia letter alone is
well worth the price of subscription. If
there is a bettei family paper published we
have not seen it. $2.00 per annum

NOKAVICH, CONN

CONTENTS.

American Longeared Owl . 81

Additions to our Collection . 84

Auburn, N. Y . 85

Birds Nesting . 84

Black-backed Tliree-toed Woodpecker . 88

Chaparral Cock . : . 86

Dr. Coues’ New Check List . 84

Diary of a Bird . 84

Editorial — Bird Surgery . 84

P’ork tailed Flycatcher— Illustrated . 83

House Sparrow' in Maine . 86

Hooded Merganser in Confinement . . . 8('

Mexican Goshawk . . 81

Monkey headed Owl . 8t i

Notes from Shelter Island . 8t'i|

Our Two Cuckoos . 8t|]

Oological Incubation Expeiiments . 8J:j

Koad runner . . . Sf']

Rose breasted Grosbeak . Mi,

Those Cuckoos . '

Yellow or Red-shafted Flicker, which? . 85;

- 1

MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION.

Catching Ducks while Fishing
Large billed Water Thrush. . . .

Measuring Eggs .

Notes from Saratoga .

Red-headed Woodpecker .

Whitney Owl . .

Hatching Hawk’s Eggs .

Rough legged Buzzard .

Red-headed Woodpecker .

Curious Nesting Places .

Sea Dove at Detroit .

Hanging Woodpeckers .

. Wm. P. Tarrant,

. Fred. T. Jenck^f

. H. 1). Minotli

. . Wm. P. Tarranti

. Chas. H. Nefl

Capt. Chas. E. Bendireil

. Dr. Wm. Woodi

. Frank S. Wriehtl

. A. 11. Helmet

. . W. W. Worthington :

. . u . . W. II. CollinsI

. . W. O. Emerson *

IDEO. 1, 187S.

SOUTHWICK & JENCKS,

PliOVIOlGMC^K, 1«. I.

NATURAL MISTORY STORE,

UEALEUS IN -

Birds, Eggs, Minerals, Shells, Natural Curiosities,
and all Naturalists’ Supplies.

WORK IN ALL DEPARTMENTS DONE TO ORDER

O^TA.XjOC3-UES OIsT .A.I^:PrjIO.A.TIOIT.

Our agent starts for the Bahamas Jan. 3d to collect in all branches of natural history,
to be gone four or five months. Those who desire anything from there must apply to us
directly.

Flamingo Eggs. — In sets of three, at $2.50 per egg; single eggs $2.00 each.

ORNITHOLOGIST

-AND-

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., JANUARY, 1882.

NO. II.

American Long-eared Owl.

CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIRE.

Asto Americanus is one of the most com¬
mon species of the Owl family, and is found
nearly everywliere in suitable localities
over the entire Pacific coast, as well as to
the eastward of the Rocky Mountains.
Every creek bottom, extensive or not, as
long as it contains a few patches of dense
willow thickets and undergrowth, will be
found to be inhabited by one or more
pairs of these birds, if close search is made
for them; but as they are almost if not
entirely nocturnal they are seldom seen,
even in localities where they are compara¬
tively common. As far as my own limited
observations go, this species seems to be
more partial to somewhat open country,
than to dense and continuous forests. It is
quite probable, however, that it may be
equally plenty in such localities when care¬
fully looked for, which I have never done.

The first nests of the Long-eared Owl
were found by me at Fort Lapwai, Idaho,
on April i6th, 1871. I found three nests
on that day all situated in dense willow
thickets growing near a small creek, and all
three within a few hundred yards of each
other. The nests occupied by them were
old Crows’ nests. The sides of these had
been built tip a couple of inches higher,
making them quite deep and hiding the
birds from view. They were lined with old
grass, a number of leaves and feathers.
The nests looked rather dilapidated from
below and a feather or two could usually
be seen hanging down on the sides, indica¬
ting plainly that the occupant was not a
Crow, whose nest always looks trim and

neat from below. They were about twelve
feet from the ground in heavy willow tops,
and a shake of the bush on which the nest
was placed would cause the Owl to fly on a
neighboring willow, showing her disapprov¬
al of the proceeding by a frequent snapping
of the bill. One nest contained six eggs,
slightly incubated, another five, the remain¬
ing one three. The two last sets were fresh.
I took thirteen more sets of eggs of this
species during the season of 1871, the last
one on June 6th, probably a second laying,
and found several others with voting ones
in various stages of growth. Most of these
nests were old Crows’ nests that had been
somewhat repaired. Two pairs of birds
took up their quarters in old Magpies’ nests
and two others in hollow cotton-wood trees.
In one of the last cases a Red-shafted
Flicker had excavated a hole directly over
the one occujiied by the Owls, and the two
entrance holes, although on different sides
of the stump, which was only about twelve
feet high, were not over two feet apart.
These birds seemed to live harmoniously
together. They are the only instances
where I have found this species breeding
in hollow trees (a fact not previously no¬
ticed, I believe), although I have taken over
forty nests of these birds since then, and
have observed a still larger number con¬
taining young. Now and then this Owl
built a nest of its own. I found several
such near Camp Harney, Oregon One of
these on April 4th, 1877, and this is at the
same time the earliest record of my finding
their eggs. This nest was placed in a
thick bunch of dry willows, about ten feet
from the ground, and was tolerably well
built, composed externally of small sticks

1

82

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 11.

and sprigs of willows and aspens, some of
the latter had been peeled by beavers,
which were common in the vicinity. The
sticks were still green and pliable. This
drew my attention to the nest, which I at
first riiistook for that of a Raven or Crow.
The inside of this nest was about five
inches deep and lined with dry grass and
feathers. It contained four fresh eggs.
On .\pril 4th, 1877, also near Camp Har-
ney, Oregon, 1 found a nest of this Owl
in a rather unusual position. This was an
old Hawks’ nest which had been repaired. ^
It was placed in a small and very open ^
scraggy juniper bush, not over six feet '
from the ground, the bush standing by it- '
self a prominent mark on the point of a ^
table-land, and there were no other trees I
or bushes within a mile of it. The nest
was in plain view and could be seen several
hundred yards off. It contained six eggs '
on the point of hatching.

1 he usual number of eggs laid by the
Long-eared Owl on the P.icific coast is five,
although six in a set are by no means rare.
When fresh, the eggs are of a bright white
color. They are about ecjually rounded on
both ends and rather globular in shape.
They average about 1.60 inches in length
by 1.32 inches wide, and vary considerable '
in size, but rarely in shape. The large
series in my collection cannot be got at
conveniently to give a number of measure¬
ments. I he Long-eared Owl commences
laying during the first week in April, and I
believe that they rear but a single brood
in a season, f hey will lay a second and
sometimes a third set after losing their first
one, and will occupy the same nest for sev¬
eral seasons, if not too often disturbed, j
The eggs are hatched in about sixteen days
and the young for the first two weeks are '
covered with a thick, grayish down. Their ^
food consists principally of mice and the
smaller rodents, and I doubt if they are !
guilty of catching small birds. In the day¬
time, particularly on a bright, sunny day,' |
the Long-eared Owl will allow itself to be .
closely approached, and when the intruder
is discovered by them, they appear to me I

that they try to make themselves look as
small and long as possible, by pressing all
their feathers, which usually are puffed
out, as close to their body as practicable,
sitting at the same time erect and still.
They may, in such a position, be readily
mistaken for a piece of a broken limb, par¬
ticularly if sitting on a larger one. At |
times they are gregarious. I remember jj
seeing some fifteen or more of these birds i
sitting on a single small mestjuit tree in a ]
dense thicket near my camp on Rillitto li
creek, Arizona, in the winter of 1872 and ;j
[873. Their call-note, as near as I can re- '
member, resembles that of the Screech j
Owl, and I think that they are constant res¬
idents wherever found.

Yellow or Red shafted Flicker, '
which ? — Some six years ago a German i
collector called at the store of John Wal- <
lace, N. Y., and exhibited a Woodpecker
that was evenly divided down the centre of
the back from the bill to the end of the
tail, one-half being yellow-shafted and the
other half red-shafted. The division was
perfect. Mr. Wallace examined the bird
with great care to see that no trick was be¬
ing played, and he vouches for its being
bona fide. The owner put too high a price
on the bird. It was taken to Germany,
but not finding a purchaser there it was
brought back to New York, and finally to
Lake Winnipeg, where the owner belonged.

At the present time Mr. Wallace has a
specimen that is yellow-shafted above and
red-shafted under the wings; but the red
has faded somewhat since the bird was
mounted and exposed to the light.

■■■ - ■ ♦♦♦

Notes from Shelter Island. — Oc¬
tober 25th, saw ten White-bellied Swal¬
lows and a Black-billed C-tekoo. Novem¬
ber 21st, saw a fine adult Bald Eagle fly
over pursued as usual by a mob of Crows.
November 23d, I heard a familiar bird-note,
and on looking up saw, to my surprise, a
White-bellied Swallow. It was flying in
an easterly direction. The Red-headed '
Woodpecker has also been common here
since September. They are rare here in
spring-time. — Moses B. Griffing. I

January, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST

83

Fork-tailed Flycatcher.

A very common bird during five months
of the year, from April to September, is
the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Milvulus Ty-
r annus {Linn), also called by the natives,
‘‘Texan Bird of Paradise.” This beauti¬
ful member of the family Tyrannidae is
very abundant during the breeding season
in all suitable localities, especially in the
prairies covered with mesquit bushes
{Algarobia glandulosa.) They are also
found common in the live oak ‘‘ bosquets"
and on the edges of w'oods bordering the
prairies. The nest is usually built in the
top of a mesquit bush, from six to twelve
feet from the ground; but I discovered it
often on the edges of woods in the top ot a
postoak {Quercus obtusiloba), about thirty
to forty feet from the ground. All nests I
found last season were built exteriorly of a
small creeping downy plant {Gossypianthus
tonientosus), mixed with cotton and a few
cow hairs. They were lined very soft and
smooth with cotton, and some with a few
fine plant fibres besides cotton. The eggs,
four to five in number, liave a white cream -
color ground and covered sparingly with
thick blotches of dark brown. Some sets,
however, are more densely spotted and
blotched with a lighter shade of brown.
These birds are in this locality very unsus¬
picious, breeding sometimes in close prox¬
imity to a dwelling and only a few feet
frbm a very frequented road. In such in¬
stances the nest is built almost always in a
mulberry tree. In the eastern part of Te.x-
as, in the coast region near Houston, it
was very difficult to discover a nest of this
magnificent bird. There they breed al¬
ways in trees densely covered with the
long gray Spanish moss {Tillandsia unieoi-
des), where it is aknost impossible to find
a nest. They arrive from their winter
quarters late in March or in the first days
of April. In the early part of September,
these birds gather sometimes in large flocks,
and by the last of that month all have de¬
parted for the south. — H. Nehrling.

Fork-taileu Flycai'cuer.

84

ORNITHOLOGIST

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AKD—

OOLOGIST

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED
TO THE STUDY OF BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS.

JUS. .11. It A HE, Editor,

S. L. WILLARD, Assistant,

With the CO operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — $1.00 per annum. Foreign sub¬
scription $1.25 — including postage. Speci¬
men Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. .11. tv A It E.

Nor»vi«‘h, Conn.

Entered at N'orioidi, P, 0. ae Second Claes 7natter.

Bird Surgery.

During the present fall Mr. Benjamin
Earle, of Providence, shot two birds, with
broken legs, and both wounds carefully and
thoroughly dressed with feathers. The
first one taken, a “ Green-headed Plover,”
had its leg broken, which it had carefully
bandaged with feathers, as we are assured
by Mr. Earle, the feathers being wrapped
around the leg carefully. The second bird
shot was a Woodcock, which was saved for
the writer, the leg of which has been pre¬
served. It was broken below the knee, and
thoroughly dressed with feathers, and the
wound was healing nicely when the bird
was again shot and the same leg again bad¬
ly broken above the old wound. This is
no accidental dressing, but shows evidence
of skill and understanding.'

- -

Those Cuckoos.

In another part of this magazine will
be found a very interesting article on the
breeding of our two cuckoos in the same
nest. The fortunate observer of this
peculiar freak, Dr. H. A. Atkins, of Locke,
Michigan, is one of * the unpretending
but thorough observers of our present
time. Each trip to this nest cost him three
miles of travel, and when a man past the
middle age of life will take such trouble, it

[Vol. 6-No. 11.

shows that he is thoroughly in earnest and
that his observations can be relied on. He
is possessed of a large fund of knowledge
of this kind, which we hope to draw on i
frcm lime to time. i

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — Our inter- ■
esting pet commenced shedding his head i
feathers Nov. 24th, and at this writing, Dec. r
1 6th, his head is two-thirds black, which
change has been made almost impercepti- i
bly. He has not yet cast any of his larger
feathers. It would be interesting to know
if these birds make a complete moult in their 1
I winter home in the south as this bird has
, done in the cage for the past three winters.

j Publications.

I Dr. Codes’ New Check List. — .^t our
' request we have been furnished with ad¬
vance sheets of Dr. Coues’ New Check List
of which we shall have something to say in
our next issue.

Diary of a Bird. — We have received
from Mr. Minott a copy of his “ Diary of a
Bird” and have read it several times. It is
brief but interesting. The bird is made to
tell the story, which it does in a very pleas¬
ing way. and a very observing bird he must
have been. The book contains matter that
is interesting, and much food for thought.

We always read with interest anything
from Mr. Minott’s pen, for he is an earnest,
honest observer of nature.

I

Birds Nesting. — We have received a
circular announcing the publication of a
work, with the above title, by Ernest In-
gersoll, and [lublished by Geo A. Bates.

We are informed that two numbers are al-
I ready issued but we have not seen them,
j We hope Mr. Ingersoll will make this work
1 as accurate as he can make it interesting.

.Addition to our Collection. — We
have received from Mr. Edgar Small
an oil painting of a Sharp-shinned Hawk,
and from Mr. S. L. Willard a water color
drawing of a Chimney Swift. For want of t
\ room we defer notice to next number.

January, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

85

Road-runner.

Mr. E. A. Small’s mention of the Road-
runner, in the November number of the
O. and O., reminds me that I have, since
writing what I did in the March number,
learned several things about that bird that
I did- not then know. At that time one
season’s observation was the limit to my
experience with it; but during the season
of i88i, though. not particularly fortunate
n finding many nests myself, yet Mr. Fred.
Corey, of Santa Paula, Cal., who was my
almost constant companion on all oological
tramps, was especially fortunate in finding
numerous nests of Geococcyx. As many as
eight nests were examined by us, and we
were both greatly surprised to learn that
the “ sets” were so large. Five to six eggs
seemed to be the usual number, but nests
were found containing seven, eight, and in
one case nine eggs. A majority of these
nests were found before the bird had com¬
pleted oviposition, and in almost every in¬
stance the eggs were not taken until we
were reasonably certain that laying was
completed. By so doing we learned, first,
that the eggs are deposited one on each al¬
ternate day ; second, that the bird begins
incubation soon after the first egg is laid —
in every instance long before oviposition
has ceased. When we came to blow the
eggs we found them in all stages of incu¬
bation, from embryos nearly ready to leave
the shell, down through various stages of
embryotic change, to one or two fresh or
nearly fresh eggs.

The facts stated by me in the March
0. and O. as facts are facts. Whether the
two much incubated eggs, found May i6th,
were all that had been laid in that set, or
whether a portion of the set had been de¬
stroyed, I am unable to say. The other set
mentioned in the same article is as perplex¬
ing. How there happened to be two near¬
ly fully fledged young and two fresh eggs
is hard to understand.

In this connection I might mention a
peculiar belief which obtains to some ex¬
tent among Californians, viz.; that the

Road-runner, soon after the young leave
the shell, lays other eggs for them to feed
upon. This belief proves at least one
thing, that it is a common thing to find
both young and eggs in the same nest.

In Baird, Brewer and Ridgway’s Birds
of North America is the following: “They
(Road-runners) build a clumsy nest of
mesquit twigs placed at some height on a
bough or in a hollow tree, and lay from two
to four pure white eggs.” Also, eggs were
found near San Antonio, Texas, in April,
May, and as late as the 23d of Septeniber.

Several things in this need verifying
slightly. First, the make-up of the nest
depends of course upon locality; second,
the position also depends upon the same.
In the vicinity of Santa Paula, a vast ma¬
jority are built in bunches of cactus, usual¬
ly not over three to five feet from the
ground. We found one nest in an orange
tree, four feet up, and one in an alder
bush, seven feet up. Third, none of the
eggs were pure white, but all a dirty white.

Taking all these facts into consideration,
it would seem that the Road-runner is a
very “ uncertain quantity” as regards her
breeding habits. — B. IV Eyerman.

[Geo. B. Sennett, in his ornithology of
the Rio Grande, gives a very lengthy de¬
scription of the nesting habits of this bird,
which confirms the above statement as to
the number of eggs and their condition
during incubation, &c. In his report of
the expedition of 1877, he states the color
of eggs to be '“pure white." In the report of
1878 he says: “ Their color is opaque white."
We should be pleased to hear from Mr.
Sennett and place on record his decision,
of which statement is correct. — Ed.]

- - - -

Auburn, N. Y. — We are happy to an¬
nounce to our ornithological friends that
H. Gilbert Fowler, of Auburn, N. Y., has
just started on a collecting trip to the lower
Mississippi. His object is to collect gen¬
erally, but particularly that rare and beauti¬
ful species, the Ivory- billed Woodpecker.
As Mr. Fowler makes a very fine skin,
watch carefully for his return.— /'. S. Wright.

86

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 11.

V

Chaparral Cock.

1 am sorry that I appear to use conflict¬
ing terms in descriptions of the eggs of the
Chaparral Cock. I have probably had as
much experience with the eggs of this bird
as any one and ought to know. I have
over a hundred eggs in my collection and
can send you samples for illustration, if de¬
sirable. Instead of clear white, I should
have said dead white, or dull white, or im¬
maculate, to designate that they were un¬
spotted. Without gloss they certainly are
and smooth, although occasionally there
are chalky patches adhering, comparable to
the eggs of the Brown Pelican, only not
nearly so prominent nor so frequent. As
to my second term, opaque white, I mean
wholly in the sense of being not transpar¬
ent. The egg when fresh, addled or blown,
has the same appearance, provided of
course they are equally clean outside. By
taking a tray full of Pelican’s eggs and a
tray full of Road-runner’s in the same
light, the latter are a little more dense or [
gray, but not enough of the gray, or ash, I
or light-blue tinge to be called tinted, and
when not compared with chalk would be
simply white. I have taken eggs of Brown !
Pelican and Chaparral Cock and exam¬
ined by holding alternately to strong day¬
light with the eye looking into the hole on
the side and the small, dull yellow or buff
is shown in both species. The color looks
more vivid or intense in the Pelican’s egg,
which I conjecture to be on account of the
larger egg allowing more light into the inte- j
rior. Allowances must be made for my 1
first paper, for it was my first effort to |
describe eggs, at best quite a difficult thing
to do understandingly and clearly. Who ;
shall say but color blindness causes much ;
disagreement in describing colors of eggs?

I have thought of giving quite a little arti¬
cle on this large Cuckoo and will gladly |
await the forthcoming article in the OoLO- j
GIST. As to sets, I have two sets of [
nine each, three of eight, five or six of
seven each and six each, and from that
down. I have in alcohol the contents ^

of one nest as follows: Five birds
and three eggs, the largest bird about
three times the size of the smallest
just out, and the freshest egg I think
would take at least four days to hatch out.
The parent I shot as she left the nest.
With such irregularity is it any wonder that
there exists such conflicting accounts of nid- '
ification? — Gto. B. Sennett, Meadville, Pa.

P. S. — A word more in explanation of
the eggs of the Chaparral Cock. I fear I
may have been misled again in regard to
the chalky blotches occasionally on them.

I have examined a still greater number
than when I wrote you, and while a few
have such splashes, yet they are so few
that it ought scarcely to be taken into ac¬
count at all. So please don’t lay any stress
upon that marking. I presume no other
collector would notice it. — Geo. B. Sennett.

House Sparrow in Maine. — In a late
number of the ORNiXHOLOGtST I spoke of
the House Sparrow as breeding in this vi-
cinity. By reference to the first part of the
article it will be seen that I referred to the
vicinity of Bangor and only to that locality.

It is very well understood that the first
House Sparrows known to have been
brought to this country were brought to
Portland, Maine, in 1858, by a Mr. Deblois.
They bred there and increased rapidly, and
are now common in that city and vicinity,
where they breed every year, as they do at
other points in our State. They had not,
however, previous to this year been sup¬
posed to breed in this locality, that is
Bangor. I make this statement lest I may
have been understood to refer to the State
in general. — H. Merrill, Bangor, Maine.

Monkey-headeu Owl. — There is a pair
of Owls here which are said to come from
middle Texas and are known by the above
name. The owner says there are only sev¬
en known. The eyes are very small, with
no tufts, and in every respect they look to
me like a Barn Owl; bill white and slender.

Hooded Merganser. — I have also seen
a specimen of the above Duck in confine¬
ment, which is said to be rare. — //. A. Berry.

January, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

87

Mexican Goshawk.

The little Asturina niiida plagiata
Ridg of which I believe I obtained the
first specimen actually taken within the
borders of the United States, May 17th,
1872, but said to have been previously seen
on August 19th, 1871, by Mr. Robert
Ridgway, Richland County, Illinois, (vide
Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, volume III,
page twenty-four, Birds of North America.)
It is not an uncommon summer resident in
the southern portions of Arizona Territory.
Of the life history of this, one of the
handsomest of our Raptores, comparative¬
ly little is still known. During the month
of April, r872, I saw several of these
Hawks among the timber bordering Rillitto
creek, near Tucson, Arizona Territory,
where I subsequently also found it breed¬
ing and obtained several sets of their eggs.
I also noticed this species at different
points along the Santa Cruz as well as on
the San Pedro Rivers. Its range will un¬
doubtedly be found to extend as far north as
the Gila River at least, if not farther, when
properly looked after.

My attention was first drawn to these
Hawks by their peculiar call-notes, which
resemble the piping of the Long-billed
Curlew ( Numenius longirostris) so much
that I at first supposed some of these birds
to be about, but I soon found out that they
emanated from this little Hawk, which was
then a perfect stranger to me. The birds
were very noisy during the mating season
and although I was very anxious to find
out what species I had to deal with I left
them alone till after they had commenced
nesting, as I wanted the eggs more than I
did the birds themselves.

By referring to my notes I find that the
first pair of these birds were seen by me
on April 4th, 1872, circling high in the air
and finally settling down on a dry branch
of a tall cotton-wood tree growing in the
Rillitto creek bottom. On May 17 th I took
the first set of eggs of this species and shot
the male bird at the same time. The nest

\vas placed on a large cotton-wood tree
near the Laguna, nine miles west of Tuc¬
son. It was located in the top-most
branches of the tree, not less than seventy
feet from the ground and contained three
fine fresh eggs. The nest, not a very sub¬
stantial affair, consisted of a shallow plat¬
form, composed principally of small cotton¬
wood twigs, a number of them broken off
green by the birds themselves. I have
seen them do this, selecting a suitable twig,
then flying at it very swiftly, grasping it
with the talons and usually succeeding in
breaking it at the first trial. Many of the
twigs referred to had the leaves attached
to them yet only partly dried. The inner
lining of the nest consisted of dry cotton¬
wood leaves and the tops of willows, the
latter also taken while green. No bark or
any other material than that mentioned
was used in the construction of this nest.

. Another found June 6th, 1872, contained
but two eggs on which the bird had been
setting for about a week. It was also
placed in the upper branches of one of the
largest cotton-wood trees on Rillitto creek
and resembled the first one in structure,
but was lined with a few strips of bark and
dry leaves. The eggs described in volume
III, page 248, Birds of North America, by
Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, were taken out
of this nest.

A third set of their eggs was taken on
June 19th, likewise found in a tall cotton¬
wood. These, two in number, had been
set on a few days.

The fourth and last nest I found on June
20th, containing two eggs partly incubated.
This nest was likewise placed in a large
cotton-wood on one of the outer limbs and
about fifty feet from the ground, extremely
hard to get at and was lined entirely with
partly dry cotton-wood leaves. The native
Mexicans call this bird “ Gavilan Prieta.”
The eggs of this species are pale blueish
white in color and unspotted, but are al¬
ways more or less stained and soiled with
a yellowish matter hard to clean off.
They measure about 2 inches in length

88

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 11.

by i.6o inches in width, and vary but little
in size but considerable in shape, ranging
from a rounded oval to pyriform. I am
inclined to believe that they rear but a sin¬
gle brood during a season.

The Mexican Goshawk is exceedingly
graceful in all its motions, a swift flyer, re¬
sembling the American Goshawk in many
respects, but it seems to prefer the open
country more than the latter. I found it
by no means shy and could have secured
a number of specimens had I been inclined
to do so, but I wanted their eggs more than
the birds themselves. The single male
killed by me for identification on May 17th,
1872, measured as follows: wing, 10.25
inches; tail, 7 inches; length, 16 inches;
extent of wings, 33 inches. Iris, brown;
cere and tarsi, yellow; bill, dark blue horn
color; claws, the same strong and large for
the size of the bird. It is stated that this
bird feeds principally on lizards, but al¬
though the latter are exceedingly plentiful
throughout southern Arizona, 1 am satis- j
fied that small birds form no inconsiderable
portion of its food. It leaves for its winter !
haunts in the commencement ot October. '

I

— Capt. Chas. E. Bendire, U. S. A.

Our Two Cuckoos

BREEDING IN ONE NEST.

May 24th, 1881, I found a pair of Black¬
billed Cuckoos {Coccyzus eryt/irophthalmus)
building a nest in the forks of a small wil- |
low about three feet from the ground. '
The nest was merely a handful of willow
catkins and was without form. May 25th, |
visited the nest at 2 P. M.; the bird was on |
but left as I approached; nest completed
and contained one egg. May 26th, visited
nest at ti A. .M.; found bird on; nest con¬
tained two eggs, one of which was that of
the Yellow billed {Coccyzus A meri-

catius.) May 27th, called at the nest at 2 30
P. M.; bird on — four eggs. May 28th, vis¬
ited nest at 10 A. .M.; bird at home — four
eggs. May 29th, called at nest at i P. M.;
bird absent — four eggs. May 30th, visited

nest at 4 P. M.; bird absent; found six
eggs, two of which were those of the Yel¬
low-billed species. May 31st, called at the
nest at 5 P. M.; found bird on, but it left
in haste as I neared the nest; found
six eggs. Think this was the Yellow-billed
species but am not positive. I could al¬
ways approach the nest when occupied by
the Black-bill without giving -her any seri¬
ous alarm and in one case I laid my hand
on the nest before she left. June ist, visit¬
ed nest at 12 30 ; bird on, but left as I ap-
’ proached. I was not able to get near
enough to identify the species, but think it
was the Yellow-bill — six eggs. On the 2d
of June urgent business called me from
home until June 5th. At 3 P. M. I visited
the nest and found it empty except frag¬
ments of shells. I collected the nest June 1 1.

This nest was composed of the woolly
catkins of the willow, with a few coarse
twigs and leaf stems of the previous year.
The measurements were as follows : diam¬
eter, about 6 inches; from top to base, 6
inches ; depth of cavity, i inch. The
Black-billed Cuckoo was first taken by me
in 1866. For the last ten years it has been
noticed every year excepting 1879. The
Yellow-billed Cuckoo was one of our
earliest birds here. I have known it over
thirty-five years, but it has been for years
past growing scarce. It might be well to
remark that both species are summer resi¬
dents. — Dr. H. A. Atkins, Locke, Michigan.

OoLOGic.'M. Incubation Experiments.
— For several years Dr. William Wood has]
been experimenting by hatching Hawk’s
eggs under domestic fowls to ascertain the
length of time necessary for each variety
to hatch. These experiments the doctor
promises to put in shape for our columns

Bi.ack-backed 'J'hree-toed Wood¬
pecker {Picoides a retie us.) — -Mr. Jason E.
Nichols, of Lansing, Michigan, reports that
while out hunting in the northern part of
that State, in latitude 44, he captured a
male of the above species of Woodpecker.

ii>iii'i>iiiiiiiii[tiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiihiiimiiiiniiii

■I

PiibllMiied by

jrOS. M. WA.I3E

NORWICH, CONN.

Y oiii* Hiil>js!orii>t ioiif-s Yt Oiioo

An')tlier Ganni^t .

Editorial — Our Present Volume

Fork-tailed Flycaiclier -

CONTENTS.

. 91

k

. . . .' . 92

Our Contributors .

. 92

Puiilicat ioh« .

. 9«

St. . . .

. 92'

Sharp S'lin'ied Hawk .

WliittK'V i)w\ .

. 94

CHECKING LIST. — W’e have prepared a Checking List of the
numbers of the New Smithsonian Catalogue, which we send free by
mail, as follows ; 8o for $i.oo, 40 for 50c, 20 for 25c.

.TOfS. I\J. IVor'wicli, Conn.

80UTHWICK & JENCKS' NATURAL HISTORY STORE,

IPI^ONTIIDElSrOE, -R. X. ■

We have received the following^ Skins and Eggs not in our catalogue of October, 18S1.

4 a. Olive backed Thrush. Nest and three eggs 50c each per set.

50 Mexican White-throated Wren. JNest, six eggs 50c each per set; 40c single.

Ola. California Bewicks Wren. Six eggs. 40c each per set : 35c single..

143 Texan Cardinal. $1.50 and $2.00 per skin.

284 Clarke’s Nutcracker. $1.50 and $3 00 per skin.

336 Black Chinned Humming-bird. Nest, 75c. Two eggs. $1.00 each per set; $1.00 single.
358 Taxan Night Hawk. $1.25 and $1.50 per skin.

434 Harris’ Hawk. $3.50 and $4.00 per skin.

455 Black Vulture. Two eggs. $1.50 eacli per set; $125 single.

470 a. Wild Turkey $6.00 per skin.

545 Hudsonian Godwit. $1.50 and $2.00 per skin.

588 Whistling Swan. $7.00 per skin.

589 Trumpeter Swan. Eggs, $3 00 each.

654 Yellow billed Tropic Biid, mountea, $5 00.

As we can spare space we shall advertise the number of eggs we have in each set, as
this will save our patrons the trouble of inquiring.

Pnces will be found in our catalogue

23 California Blue-bird . 5

41 Black-capped Titmouse . 6, 7. 8

67 Long billed .Marsh Wren . 3, 4, 6

75 Prothonotary Warbler . 4, 5

KH Vi'llow liMpkoci WjirhL'r . .4, 5

301 Scissor-lailed Flycatcher . 4

324 .\cadian Flycatcher . 2,3

425 American Osprey . 3

490 Snowy Heron . 3

.522 Wilson’s Plover . 3

67 Black and Yellow Warbler . 4

.5.52 Willet . 4

571 Oliipppr R)»il . . fi, 7^ 8. 9

145 Bed's Vireo . 3

149 Loggerhead Shrike . 3, .5

579 Florida Gallinule . 7, 8, 10

580 .\mericaj Cool . 7, 8, 9

158 Hougli winged Swallow . 5, 7

182 Green- backed Goldfinch . 4

240 b. California Brown Towhee . 3, 4

260 Yellow-headed Blackbird . 4

601 .Mallard . 8. 10

618 Red head . 5, 6, 8. 9. 10

6.56 Black Skimmer . 3, 4

679 Gull-billed Tern . 3, 3

264 Western .Meadow Lark . 4, 5

293 California .Jay . 3, 4, 5

685 Forster’s Tern . 3, 3

723 Leach’s Petrel . 1

ORNITHOLOGIST

-A^ B-

OOLOGIST.

81.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March, 1875

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VI.

NORWICH, CONN., FEBRUARY, 1882.

NO. 12.

Sharp Shinned Hawk.

The true Falcons do rot often grace New
London County with their royal presence.
Not since April, 1878, has a Pigeon Hawk
betn shot here, and a single Sparrow
Hawk’s egg is all I have to show locally
for six. years’ collecting. But the third of
the trio of small New England Hawks is
more abundant, and can be found in early
summer in sufficient numbers to stimulate
search for its lovely eggs. It is not the ob¬
ject of the present sketch to give a mono¬
graph of this little Accipiter, but to present
an array of homely facts concerning its
breeding habits, some ( f which may be
fresh and of interest to our rising oologists.

It seems to have been ordained that eve¬
ry male biped of the genus- homo should at
an early age get up a collection (?) but be¬
fore he makes war upon aught but common
species, and before his movements are gov¬
erned by much intelligence, the same or¬
daining power wisely directs his young am¬
bition into newer charnels and the embryo
cabinet is banished to the garret or de¬
scends to the tender mercies ot the young¬
er brother just coming down with the fever.
The Buteos and Owls get off scot free from
these collectors, who are ignorant of the
early breeding movement, but the luckless
Sharp Shinned begins to lay when other
Hawks are nearly through breeding and
when the woods are swarming with school-
lx)ys. For these reasons this Hawk and its
eggs are better known than any others to
young observers, and the omniferous boxes
of sawdust and undetermined eggs can
boast many a single end-blown specimen
of this species. Six years ago, in June, a

nesting place of this Hawk, on Laurel Hill,
was dis'.-overed by these vandals, and
fifteen eggs thus barbarously blown and
scattered found their way into a round doz¬
en so-called “ collections.”

A fuscus breeds in hemlock clumps and
in pine groves, at limes near houses, and
nests in deciduous trees only when there are
no evergreens near the favorite hunting-
ground or local habitat — then a thick and
leafy white or yellow birch offers a favorite
site. At the base of a limb, resting against
the trunk of the tree the nest is generally
jjlaced. In a hemlock have found it sever¬
al times not fifteen f et from the ground,
and in a young pine have taken one not
eight feet high. The nest is composed
wholly of small sticks, no lining whatever
being added — the slight bowl showing finer
sticks than the outside. A. fuscus builds
more new nests than any other Hawk with
which I am arijuainted, rarely using an old
one. The collector may sometimes grow
weary waiting for the first nest to be fin¬
ished, as it is not unusual for a pair to leis¬
urely occupy more than two weeks in nidi-
fication. But when the nest is torn down
before ovipositing is complete a new one
will be thrown together in thirty-six hours.
The nest can be easily found when building,
or when the eggs are being laid, by any ob¬
server straying near, for the scolding of
both male and temale will surely betray it.
We often find among small birds nests with
two or three cold eggs — incomplete clutch¬
es with no parent near; but after laying the
first egg. Hawks go hunting singly, one of
the pair being always at home on guard.
Buteos will sit upon the side of the nest and
not “ hover” the eggs till the clutch is com-

90

ORNITflOLOGIST

[Vol. G-No. 12.

plete. Marsh Hawks frequently begin to
set with the first egg and the young appear
at intervals. Both our Accipiters sit on the
edge of the nest or remain close at hand
until a good sized clutch is laid. The ear¬
liest egg I ever knew laid was on May 15th,
the very first full clutch on May 23d, but
the time to look for complete sets is about
the first of June. The first clutch is almost
always five in number and will oftener run
over than under. But if the eggs are taken
successively as laid the normal cliuch may
run up over a dozen — perhaps to fifteen or j
eighteen. If, however, the ovaries are thus j
overta.xed in one season my experience is
that the foicing process will not be repeat
ed the following year. Of the fifteen
Laurel Hill eggs referred to above, eleven
were taken in succession from one nest
without a nest egg, when a new nest was
built and four more eggs laid. The fol¬
lowing season, in June, 1 found the nest
with three eggs which were taken I think
by Crows, two pairs of which were breeding
in adjoining trees. Deserting nest num¬
ber one, on account of the black neighbors,
her second nest, also in a hemlock, the fe¬
male betrayed to me before finishing as
usual by scolding. Took two eggs and
substituted two Pigeon’s eggs, when she
laid two more and began sitting on the Pig¬
eon’s eggs. Thus her clutch the next year
after the big set was but seven. Another
female which gave me eighteen eggs in ii>8o
gave but seven in the year 1881.

Through my notes of 1880, let us look a
little in detail at the great clutch of eigh¬
teen and its environment. From the nest
in a pine grove four eggs were taken the
week ending .May 23d. /I'he next morning
boys Crow-hunting tore down the nest.
Before night a new nest resembling a Night
Heron’s was constructed in the same grove
and three eggs taken the second week By
the middle of the third week two more eggs
were taken, and a Pigeon’s egg substituted,
from which were taken successively as laid
nine more eggs. The early morning of ev¬
ery alternate day was the rule for a fresh

egg. The longest break in the series was
from June 2d to June 6th. The seven¬
teenth and last egg in the direct line was
laid on June 21st, and when taken the nest
was deserted, neither bird being seen for
several days. On the 25th, the female ven¬
tured back, and apparently as an after¬
thought or a “ positively the last " trial-egg,
laid just one more. But as this egg also
was taken, the Hawks in strong Billingsgate
said good by for the season. After paying
my morning respects to this nest and its
owmers four or five times a week for more
than a month, it goes without saying to the
lover of nature that I missed the pleasant
routine — missed my tri-weekly egg, and
missed the familiar alarm of the birds who
would begin to scold in their clattering,
niowing-machine like voice when their call¬
er was thirty rods away. The tiny male
was especially bold, frecjuently in his brave
dashes sweeping my face with his wings as
I climbed the well-worn natural ladder.
Disparity in size between paired Accipiters
is sometimes laughahle, and I could cite my
all-summer friends of 1880 as an extreme
case in point. I renewed acquaintance with
this pair for two weeks only in 1881, in the
same haunts, taking seven eggs from a new
nest not seven feet from the ground using
a runt hen’s egg for a persuader,
j “But,” says my scientific friend, “the
eggs of your great clutch are of no great
value; they are not typical, are not normal,
should be undersized and with scant lymph,
and may have been infertile.” We will de¬
lay a moment and see what ground there is
for your grave charges. Your domestic
fowls lay you a dozen eggs or so, then
would cover them and hatch their broods
in due course; but you take their eggs
successively as laid and they lay all sum¬
mer. Well, are not the added eggs typical.’
.•\nd normal? .Are they undersized or out
of proportion to the first part of the set,
and don’t they produce young? Now by
measurement 1 find that my added Accipi¬
ters are no smaller than the first four taken
and are as well colored and shaped. In-

February, 1882.]

91

AND OOLOGIST.

fertile? Was not the male in constant at¬
tendance, as has been said, dashing into my
very eyes while the more discreet female
chattered in unison from the next tree
The added eggs “not typical ?’’ Suppose I
had been content with five eggs, and in ten
days another collector came along and got
a second clutch of five, and in ten more
days still another collector got the third
set of five. Now with no knowledg of pre¬
vious eggs would not collectors numbers '
two and three stoutly maintain that their !
sets were “typical?” And how many
hundreds of sets of eggs in collections
generally to-day could not be challenged
by this standard, and with this view would
cease to be types. Let my scientific friend
choose his set of dull nest-worn eggs, and
leave me my bright specimens taken the
morning they are laid with the splashes of
brilliant color untarnished and unfading.

Two sets of Sharp Shinned Hawk’s eggs
I’ve missed, because when breeding the
quartet of birds fell easy victims to the
guns of farmers’ boys. There’s a good
deal of mock heroics written about the till¬
er of the soil. I know of no more indis¬
criminate and bloodthirsty being than the
average farmer with a gun in his hands.
He shoots Kingbirds because they “live on
his bees, and shoots Brown Thrushes and
twenty Blackbirds at a shot because they
‘ are worse than Crows ” — which last by the
way do him no end of good. He glories
in killing Screech Owls, which never looked
at a chicken and which destroy forty mice
to one taken by the sleek feline thief and
bird-catcher on his hearth; he will upon
occasion wring the necks of young Marsh
Hawks and shoot away at the old harriers
when in the very act of mousing for mead¬
ow moles, and to crown all he relentlessly
murders the little Sharp Shinned which
is nt so big as one of the inmates of his
dove-cote. But to the farmer an Owl is an
Owl and a Hawk is a Hawk. In the rigors
of winter he puts poisoned offal in the fields
killing Crows and Hawks by wholesale. I
have actually seen three dead Fish Hawks
nailed on the side of an intelligent (?) farm¬

er’s barn as a warning to poultry thieves.
So again I say, alas and alas brother collect¬
ors, if he happens upon a nest of the sub¬
ject of this sketch. Both male and female
are instantly riddled with shot big enough
to kill a giizzly bear; with a long pole the
nest and its treasures are thrown to the
ground, and the valorous farmer trudges
home with his muzzle-loader proudly con¬
scious of having protected himself and his
property from “them cussed Hawks.” —
J. M. IF., N'onvic/i, Conn.

- - - -

Notes From Saratoga.

Has a list of the birds imposed upon by
the Cow-bird ever been made ? Here is
my experience: Chipping Sparrow, Cedar-
bird, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellovv Warbler, In¬
digo Bird, Robin, Shore Lark, Oven Birds.
Found three in a Vireo’s nest. Speaking of
large sets, I have found seven eggs in B. Ori¬
oles’ and six in the King-birds’ nests. Bit¬
terns do not nest in communities here.
Nests are raised above ground on rushes.
Does Least Bittern come as far north as 43°?

A nest and four eggs of Canada Fly¬
catcher was taken here in 1878. Bird shot.
Of a set of four Maryland Yellow-throat’s
eggs two are without spots and two normal.
Have found Olive-backed Thrushes breed¬
ing 100 miles north; nestsvery compact and
about five feet from the ground near water.
Of all queer nesting places the following
takes the palm. A ne.st of Song Sparrow
in a horse 3 skull, half buried in the sand.
It was a very convenient house I assure
you. I have had some experience with
Kingfishers’ nests. They generally build
near the top of a gully near here, and by
measuring in and digging from above save
much labor. The bird is often buried.

Is not a Field Sparrow’s nest over six feet
from the ground unusually high. I have seen
One as high ; nest was very thin, eggs being
seen from below. A Forster’s Tern was shot
here on September nth, 1880. A Short¬
tailed Tern on October 8th, 1881. A Red-
backed Sand-piper on October 8th. — Guy
C. Rich.

92

ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. G-No. 12.

ORMTIIOLOGIST

— AM) —

OOLOG

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTEO
TO THE STUDY OK liIKDS, THEIK NESTS AND EGGS.

.HtS. .»#, II ItE, F.ilitoi-,

S. L. WILL.ARO, Assistant.

With the C ' oneration of alilc Oi niiliological
Writers and Colleclors.

SuBscniPTioN — .$1 00 per iinuitni. Forek/n unh-
scriptiou SI.'*') — iitducUny jM-stiifie. Spcci
•men Copies Ten Cenix.

JOS. .11. 11.4 OF,

Nlorwlfli,

Entered nt Xorwieh P. O. ks .Second Cldxe matter.

KJjJTOinA L.

Our Present Volume
will close with iliis niimlier. and every
subscription will then e.Kpire. 'This is a
new dejiarture in mat^azine publi'hinit
which avoids book-keeping. We believe
the rising generation of crnithologists need
just such a magazine — one they can under¬
stand. Our efforts have been ably seconded
by some of our best ornithologist.s, which
gives us encouragement to continue in the
good work. It has been a lal.or o( Iqvl- to
us although ai.compli'hed late into the
night. Our regular duties aie very ex
cessive, averaging not less than eleven ht/urs
per day, including twelve miles of d-iving .
every working day, and one or two entire
nights’ travelling every week. We mention
this to show our readers under what diffi¬
culties our magazine has been issued. We ;
have had three different printers and sadly j
hampered and annoyed by all; morethaii*
doubling the labor, and by lack of I'rompt-
ness no doubt prevented our subscriiition
list from increasing. The jjresent volume
has Iteen far from self-sustaining but the
deficiency we have borne cheerfully; but for
the coming volume we must ask your assist¬
ance in getting additional subscribers We
shall print a larger edition and expect to
jilace them all. .V little exertion by every
subscriber will give us the supiiort necessary

to produce a better volume. During the
jiublication of the last three numbers we
have received more praise and encourage¬
ment than at any time jrreviously. We are
advised by many to double its present size, ji
which is very desirable but not advisable at f
present, as the support will not warrant it.

We have plenty of unpublished matter, and I
a large miiie of unpublished .Mss. and draw- I
ings, lefeiring to Wilson, .\udubon. Nut-
Uill and others, to draw from, and we only
await a supiiort (that will warrant enl.irg. .
ing erougli to pay the cash outlay, and we I
will attend to the test. No cornmercia
pul.'li'her could, or would, produce such a
journal as we can if pro|)--rly sup|)orted.
Renew at once and solicit one or more
to j.iin you.

- — -

“ Fork-tailed Flycatcher.”

Our article last month on this rare I'ly-
catclier had no ^ooner been mailed than
we began to receive letters calling attention
to the fact that a serious mistake h id been
made. I he article came tons as Fork.-
T ui.F.n Fi.ycatcher {Afi/iuhts forfiiatus'.
a mixture of names, and we S) wrote Mr.
Nchrling, but me aiticle was published be-
lurehis reply reached us. We much regret
sin h mistakes, and to show our readers the
imjioit ince of exercising gi eat cate, we pub¬
lish ii\e criticisms as received elsewhere.

.-Vs we are cummencing a new volume let us
all cxercis'' great care and see if we cannot
get through tw elve ' numbers without the
w ord “Correctioi” appearing in volume VII.

— —

‘‘The Coues Check list
of Norili .Vmerican Birds second edi¬
tion), with a Dictionary of the Etymology,
Orthography and Orthoepy of the S ientitic
Names revised to date and entirely re-written
by the author (i88z ” It is generally un¬
derstood that we can have Imt one check¬
list and the one emanating from the Smith¬
sonian w ill be the recognized list, 'fhis is
not a m itter of choice, but of necessity. If
the list before us w as merely .i changing of

93

February, 1882.] AND OOLOGIST.

names to suit the learned doctors’ ideas of
what should be, it would hardly be worth
the paper it is printed on. But it is more
than this — as a check-list it is simply perfect.
First, the scientific name is given in “caps
and lower case,” which will prevent the er¬
rors continually made by using capitals
where they should not be. The choice of
type is excellent. Half of each page is devo¬
ted to the check list proper. The lower
half contains the numbers and name in dup¬
licate. 'Phe origin and history of each
name is given in full. The numbers of all
previous recognized lists are given: Baird,
1859; Coues, 1874; Ridgway, i88t; so
that “ the Coues Check-list ” can be used as
readily as the official list. It will have an
extensive circulation, but it will be unfor¬
tunate if a portion of our collectors should
recognize its numbers, as it wall create con¬
fusion in every transfer, unless specimens

are doubly numbered.

- -

Our Contributors

whose articles have not yet appeared will
please bear with us a while as we shall try
to get out two numbers per month until our
surplus matter has been reduced.

Life histories of our birds are thankfully
received; also newsy items on ornithology
which every observer can furnish. Make

free use of postal cards for short items.

• - -

“Fork-tailed Flycatcher.’’

CORRECTIO.N.

To-day, December 20th, I received the
proof-sheet of my paper on the Fork -tailed,
or Scissor-tailed, Flycatcher {Milvulus for-
Jicaius), but as I notice a mistake, I will
write you at once. The engraving figures
the true Fork-tailed Flycatcher ( M. tyran-
nus), of Mexico to South America, and
which is only an accidental straggler to our
territory. The bird I described is here
commonly called the F'ork-tailed Fly¬
catcher, or “Fork tail,” and “Texan Bird of
Paradise;” in books the name Scissor-tail and
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher is to be found.
A very good engraving of our bird, the Scis¬

sor tail as I now will call him, may be
found in “Baird, Brewer and Ridgway ’s
North American Birds,” Vol II., page 311.
The bird figured I have never seen here. —
H. Nehr/ing, Fedor, Texas.

“I have been collecting , either personally
or through others, on the lower Rio Grande
through the region of Texas, between Mexico
and the locality mentioned, ever since the
winter of 1877. and not one of us have ever
caught a glimpse of the bird, although it was
one of the prominent looked-for species
liable to occur on our lists and always
sought after. Now the Scissor-tail {M.for-
ficatus) was common everywhere and is the
“ Bird of Paradise ” of the inhabitants of
the country. In fact not one word of the
whole article but would apply most fitly to
the Scissor-tail. I must say I am extremely
skeptical about the F'ork-tail, so nicely rep¬
resented in the cut in O. and O., being act¬
ually taken within our borders.” — Geo. B.
Sennett, Meadville, Pa.

Permit me to call attention to an error in
the last number of the “ Ornithologist and
Oologist,” viz. : the presentation of a figure
of Milvulus tyrannus (Fork-tailed Fly¬
catcher) with the article on M. forficatus,
wh ch should be called Scissor or Svvallow-
tailed Flycatcher. The two birds are ex¬
ceedingly distinct. The Fork-tailed Fly¬
catcher ; M. tyrannus ) does not, so far as
we know, occur in Texas, or even in
Mexico, (! ) though it has been reported as
occurring accidentally in Mississippi and
New Jersey. The Swallow tailed Fly¬
catcher r M. forficatus), on the other hand,
is very common in Texas. — R. Ridgway,
Washington, D. C.

In the January number of your publica¬
tion I notice an article by H. Nehrling on
the “ Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Milvulus ty¬
rannus (Linn).” Now the Milvulus tyran-
tius so far as known is an extralimital species,
whose claim to a place on our check-lists
rests solely on the occurrence of one or two
stragglers within our limits If then I am
right in the inference that Nehrling is writ-

94

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6--No. 12.

ing of some locality in the region about San
Antonio, Texas, he has either discovered a
new fact or made a very unfortunate blun¬
der. As the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher \Mil-
vulus forficatus) is a common bird through¬
out the greater portion of Texas, it seems
most natural to assume that this is the
species which Nehrling had in mind, al- ;
though the accompanying wood cut unmis- j
takably represents M. tyrannus. In either j
case the matter is sufficiently important to ^
call for a prompt and full explanation. —
William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass.

Golden Eagles.

The capture of two Golden Eagles has
come prominently before our notice. One
that is now in the possession of Mr. Roe
Reisinger, of Meadville, Pa., was taken
about two miles from Miller’s Station, in
Crawford County, December roth, 1881.
This Eagle was seen to leave a dead animal
which lay in a field near a wood. On a Fri¬
day morning a hiding j)lace was built of
some rails and a hunter secreted himself
at 3 A. M. next morning, and waited till ‘
nearly noon, but the bird did not return, i
The following night he did the same and at [
8 A. M. Saturday morning it came and was
shot. The hunter carefully removed the |
entrails and took the bird to Mr. Reisinger. '
M ithout the entrails it weighed exactly I
ten pounds and five ounces, and meas- i
ured from beak to end of tail, 3 feet and '
5 inches; across the wings, 7 feet; colors, ,
as Audubon gives them to the letter, except
that the tail from the base is almost two-
thirds pure white; eyes, dark hazel; sex, |
male. Mr. Reisinger proposes to preserve '
the skeleton after it is prepared in good !
shape. Mr. Reisigner evidently fully un
derstands how to preserve a valuable speci- j
men for future study and ornament.

The specimen mentioned doubtfully in j
our December number proved to be a |
Golden Eagle. .As we have not heard from |
the owner direct we append a descrijition
from the Hartford Times, which Mr. Rei-

!

singer informs us is a correct description of
his bird, except measurement, which is given
above. It appears there was some contro¬
versy about the Connecticut specimen, in the
Hartford Daily Times, between Dr. Wm.
Wood and several others. The following
is the description: “ It is believed that this
bird in possession of Henry Wedge, of this
place, is indeed the Golden Eagle. The
feathers on the top of its head are of a
golden orange color, or inclined to be of a
dark yellow. They are narrow, pointed,
and very distinct in these respects. Below
the head, and passing down the neck, the
feathers are of a reddish brown. Its breast
is a deep, dark brown. The feathers on its
wings, each side of its breast, are of a red¬
dish brown, while the general color of its
body is the same, but not quite so strongly
contrasted. Its legs are feathered to the
toes. Its claws are black and feet yellow.
The end of its beak is black, and the basal
part bluish. .\t the base of the bill the
skin case is naked. Its eyes are of a bright
orange brown, as nearly as they can be de¬
scribed. From four to five inches of the
end of the tail is a blackish brown, and from
six to eight inches from its body it is white,
with dark spots joining the blackish or
purplish feathers, filling out the end of its
tail. The length of the bird is about thirty-
four inches, from its head to the end of its
tail. From tip to tip of its wings it is six
feet and four inches.” — S. A. Munson,
Riverton, Conn.

Whitney Owl.

C.\PT. CH.\S. E. nE.VDIRE, U. S. A.

For the discovery of the Micrathene
wliitneyi {Coues'), the smallest Owl known,
we are indebted to that indefatigable nat¬
uralist, Dr. J. G. Cooper, now living at
Hayward, Alameda County, California, to
whom we are also indebted for a great deal
of original information respecting many
of the rarer Pacific coast birds.

Dr. Cooper secured the type specimen of
this little Owl, an adult male, near Fort
Mohave, California, .April 26th, i86i, and

AND OOLOGIST.

95

February, 1882.]

t remained unique in collections 1 believe
ior more than ten years afterwards.

While I was stationed in the southern
[iortion of Arizona Territory, during the
•ear 1872, I had the pleasure of securing
l everal specimens of this then little known
pecies. I found the first one in a dense
ivillow thicket near Rillitto creek, and close
0 the present site of Camp Lowell, about
even miles from Tucson, the principal
own of the Territory, about the beginning
i)f April, 1872. Under date of April 20th,
■anie year, I find the following entry in one
|)f my note books : “ Shot a very small Owl
his morning, about the size of a Blackbird,
A’hich I take to be Ur. Cooper’s Micrathcne
vhHneyi. I found it in a dense willow
hicket near Rillitto creek, and although I
nade a good deal of noise, it allowed me
0 approach quite close. Length, scarcely
ix inches.”

Under date of April 22d, 1872, I find a
letailed description and measurement of
.nother specimen. I omit part of the de
cription as this is well known now, but
i;ive the measurements and other notes as
aken down at the time.

I ‘ Length of specimen (sex not given) to
nd of tail, 5.75 inches, to end of claws,
•.50 inches. Extent of wings, 14.50 inch-
|s; tail, 2.25; iris, sulphur yellow; length
i>f tarsus, .80 inches; color, light gray,
urning into dirty yellow about the toes;
>ill, greenish yellow; tarsi and toes thin-
y covered with bristly feathers. These
ittle Owls seem to be arboreal in their
'labits as well as nocturnal, always fre-
[uenting dark and shady places in the thick-
st bushes and shrubs. While down in the
lillitto creek bottom this evening, a little
fter sundown, I followed the sound of a
teculiar noise, apparently coming from the
dge of a dense mesquit thicket, and which

had previously heard in several similar
ocalities, without, however, being able to
liscover its author. By carefully examin-
ng every tree in the vicinity, I at last saw
nother of these little Owls on a horizontal
imb of a good sized Mesquit tree, about

sixteen feet from the ground. After watch¬
ing it some minutes, during which time it
uttered its peculiar call notes repeatedly,
without appearing to be at all disturbed by
my intrusion. I shot it. Its notes resem¬
ble as near as I can come to expressing
them on paper the syllables of cha-chu,
cha chu, frequently repeated in different
keys; sometimes quite loud, then again so
low and plaintive that the bird could scarce¬
ly be heard more than twenty steps off.
The one I shot yesterday was sitting quite
erect and perfectly motionless and might
easily have been taken for a part of the
limb on which it was sitting. This one was
in a more natural position and looked
shoiter and thicker. They are not very
rare here.”

Specimens sent to leading ornithologists
subsequently proved the birds to be of this
species. Unfortunately I am unable to
give much information about its nesting
habits, although I found what I supposed
to be one of their nests, in May, 1872, with
fully fledged young ones, in a hole of an old
mesquit stump in the Rillitto creek bot¬
tom. 1 was enlarging another hole in the
same stump, but lower down, to examine it,
when I noticed a couple of young birds of
this species fly out from above me, and on
investigation I found a cavity about twelve
inches deep containing some old leaves,
pieces of bark and a few feathers, but noth¬
ing else. There may have been more
young birds, I only saw the two, however.

The eggs of this Owl as far as I am
aware still remain unknown. The late Col.
Grayson found this species on some of
the islands near the west coast of Mexico.
I think it will only be found as a summer
resident in Arizona, but now that this Ter¬
ritory is so easy of access by rail, it should
not be long before we are fully informed of
its breeding habits as well as those of num¬
berless other equally rare and interesting
species which pass their breeding season
within our southern borders.

Two other species almost equally inter¬
esting were found by me in the same vicin-

I

96

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 6-No. 12.

ity during the season of iS-jz—S/rix oc-
ctdcntalis {Xanius) and Glaucidium phalce-
tioides {Baud) — about which I may have
something to say hereafter.

Another Gannet (^Sula bassa?ia) from
the interior of New York State.

In the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornitholog¬
ical Club for July, 1880, (Vol. V., No. 3,
page 190) Leslie A. Lee records the c.ip-
tureofaGannet, or “ Solan Goose,” {Sula
bassana) on Grasse River, in the Town of
Canton, in St. Lawrence County, New York
December loth, 1879.

Mr. W . L. Rich, of Saratoga Springs, has
recently sent me an excellent description,
accompanied by a life-size sketch of the
head, of another of these curious birds that
were shot “on the wing” at Saratoga Lake,
Saratoga County, New York, on November !
nth, 1880, by a Mr. Schuyler. It is a'
young male m the immature speckled plu
mage, and weighed, when shot, five pounds. (
It measured 38^ inches in length with a ^
spread of 70 inches. This is the identical
specimen recorded as a Cormorant (Gm-
culus carbo)" in a note in your journal for
July, .88,, (Vol. VI, No j, page 39 )-C.
JIari Merriam, M. D., Locust Grove, X. Y.
- ♦♦♦ -

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■»r '

i

I

^ PREFACE. -

The object of‘ this magazine is to collect and dissem¬
inate a knowledge of Bird Life, and cultivate a desire
for observation in Ornithology and Oology in the rising
generation, and place on record their discoveries and ob¬
servations. It will sustain the taking of specimens when
necessary for identification, also for collections when
from regions of plenty, but it will suggest other methods
of identification equally practicable to those who object
to destroying life, and cultivate a love of bird life about
our homes, and a desire to increase rare birds by intro¬
duction rather than kill off those that venture among us.
It will avoid the technical as much as possible, and make
itself fully understood by the general reader.

JOS. M. WADE.

Boston, Mass., Jan. 1, 1883.

.k

\

ESTABLISHED 1878.

THE

ORNITHOLOGIS

OOLOGIST.

VOL. VII. 1882.

BIRDS: THEIR NESTS AND EGGS.

I^T'KIjISTIKr) JJY

JOSEPH M. WADE,

nosToy, M.4.S.S.

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY

OF THE

IMMORTAL WILSON,

The Illustrious Audubon,

AND THE

DEVOTED NUTTAL.

OTtnsriTHOijOOisT ooIjOOIST-

CONTENTS OF VOL. Vn-1882.

Albino’s . 11 -'b 1^1

Artists, Two Young . l^lll

Buzzatd, Rough-legged . m*

Bittern, Least .

Bird, Snow .

Birds, Cedar .

Birds, Blue .

Blackbird, Rusty .

Birds, Rare in Nova Scotia. . . .

no

111

111

112

119

122

Egg, To Measure an .

Eggs, Rare . 1

Eagle, Bald .

Eggs, Hatching Hawk’s . im

Eggs, Golden Eagle . 131

bEggs, Petrified Nest and . 13.'>

Eggs, Fine . I"***

Eagles in Ohio . l*!'^

Egg, Cliff Hawk’s . 1-17

Eggs, Bluebird’s . 147

Egg, Bald Eagle’s . 148

Eagle and Goose . l-'^

Birds Nesting . 1-4, 132

Birds, Humming in Confinement . 126

Birds of New Brunswick . 132 vt . j

Birds of Central N. Y . 132 f^ggs H„„„„ers Nest and . 5o

Buzzard, Turkey .

141

Branting at Monomoy . 1 49

Botany and Ornithology . 1 36

Botany . l^H

Black cap, Wilson’s . 1 62

Bobo -link . 1 73

Bull, Nut, Orn, Club . . 180

—^Blackbirds, Crow . 1 88

Correction, . 181, 1 00, 1 44

Collector in Florida . 103

Crow, Clark’s . 103, 106, 107, 113

Check-list, Coues . 1 6(1, 108

Chamberlain, M., in the Woods . 108

Collectors, Hints to. . . . 1 10, 117

Cardinal, Cape . HO

Collectors’ Movements . 131, 140

Climbers and Climbing, 138, 139, 143,

17.0, 176

Cowbird . 181, 164

Contributions for O. and 0 . 172

'^Crow, Common . 174

w Crows and J ays . 181

Crow, Albino . 181

Cuckoos . 189

Cormorants . 102

Deformed a . 100

Duck, Gadwell, in K. 1 . 123

Egg Eaters . ( 3

Eggs in a Set . 182, 174, 167

Edwin Sheppard . 180

Eagle’s, Golden Nest . 181

Egg Hog, Great American . 183

Eggs, August . 163, 184

Eggs, September . 184

Egret, Great White . 189

h'owler, H. Gilbert. . . 108

Fowler, H. G., Death of . 116

Finch, Purple . HO, 173

Flycatcher, Traill’s . 128

Finds, Early . 148

Flycatcher, Black Crested,. .. 169, 170,

177, 178, 179

rJ^resh Work in an Old Field . 173

Flycatcher, Olive-sided . 1K9, 190

Goshawk . .'.100

Gunn, Chas. W., in Florida . 108

Gallinule, Purple . H8

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted . 131, 1C>4

Grackle, Purple .

Glass, Field . 150, l.')7,

Goose and Eagle .

Gleanings from Bendire’s Letters . 153

Galinule, Florida . 154

Grosbeak, Cardinal . 174

Duck, Summer . 144

Duty on Knowledge . 172

Dove, Common . 188, 181

144

l.')8

l.')2

Dickinson, Death ofWm. B . 126 —Hawk, Duck . 101

Duck, Black. . 144 -Hawk, Sharp-shinned . 108

Herons . H8

-Jiawk Incubation . HI

Hawk’s Eggs, Hatching . H8

Heronry, Great Blue . .

Heron, Common European .

Harmony .

'^Humming Birds .

Hawk, Red-shouldered .

Importing, Cost of .

Jay, Canada .

Jays and Crows . .

Lapwing .

Malheur, Lake Oregon, 129, 130, 131,

137,

Notes by Two Sun Angels .

Notes, Centre Lisle, N. Y .

Notes, Florence Springs, M. T .

Notes from St. John, N. B, 112, 119,

Noman’s Land .

— Nesting Places, Curious. .163, 148, 138

183,

Notes from California .

Notes from Shelter Island . 141,

Nuttall’s Works .

-•Nest, Golden Eagle’s .

— Nesting, Birds .

Nesting, Late .

Notes, Late .

•^est. Raven’s .

Notes from Colorado . 191,

'^Owl, American Barn, 97, 109, 110, 166,

Owl, Spotted .

Owl, Mottled . . .

Owl, Monkey Headed .

Owl, Snowy . 116, 160,

-•Owl, Great Horned, Nest and Eggs,. . .
Owl, American Long-eared. .. 126, 161,

Owl, Great-horned in Texas .

-i-Owl’s Barred Nests .

Owls, in Confinement .

Owl, Great-horned .

Osprey and Its Prey .

Our Present Number .

Ornithology in the Ark .

Our Country .

Ornithology and Botany .

Ousel, Water .

■•Orioles, Orchard .

Orioles, Baltimore .

Phalarope, Red . 100

Publications . 104, 124, l.')2, 136

Paper, Gummed . Ill

Personal . 119

Prairie Hen — Its Nesting Habits . LIO

Piping Plover . 155

Pewees, Wood . 188

Robins . 1 1 1

Rail, Carolina . 119

-Redstart, Curious Nest of . 119

‘Raven’s Nest . 164

Rare Books . 173, 188

Ruff . 175

Rathbun, S. F . 181

Sparrow, Chipping . 100, 181

Sparrow, Song . 101, 108, 188

Southwick and Jencks . 108

Science, Lost to . 120

Sparrow, Rufous Winged . 121

Sparrow, Swamp . 134, 181

Sparrow, Wood . 141

Strange Predicament . 147

Sparrow, Field . 155

Sparrow, Savannah . 156,174

Swallows, Bank . 162

Starling, European . 163

Songsters, California Winter . 165, 166

Standard of Value . 172

Thanks . 100

Thrush, Large-billed Water . 114, 145

Text, A . 156

Thrushes . 163, 170, 171

Thrush, Hermit Late-breeding . 171

Thrush, Wilson’s . 174

Thrushes, Wood of N. B. ...185, 186, 187

Titmouse, Tufted . 189

Volume VH . 100, 116, 188

Vertebrates of the Adirondacks . 182

Warbler, Black-throated Green . 101

Warbler, Hooded . 102

Warbler, Blue Yellow-backed . 124

Warbler, Golden-winged . 141

Woodcock . 144

What Others Think of Us . 179

Warbler, The Caerulean . 107, 1 1 1

Woodpeckers, Red-headed 190, 191,

112, 141

Woodpeckers, Black-backed . 143

147

160

174

174

189

126

181

181

159

138

101

107

107

134

135

184

139

167

148

-148

152

.156

156

164

192

167

.99

111

111

168

1 25

162

142

155

163

174

123

124

139

148

156

181

188

188

IlSriDEX: TO 003SrTEIBXJT0E.S.

VOLUME VII-1882.

Atkins, Dr. H. A . 100, 1 19, ir34, 189

Allen, Chas. A. . 148, 181

Henclire, Clias. E., U. S. A.« • .99, 105,
106,107,11.8, 114, 121, 122, 126,

129, 130, 131, 137, 138, 153, 154

Banks, J. W .

Berry, H. A . Ill, 112, 174

Barnum, Morgan K . 1^*7

Brand, Junius A . 1^8

Coe, W. . . 183, 184

Cooper, M. D., J. G . '62

Clark, J. N., 102, 120, 125, 126, 144,

145, 146, 147, 189

J.‘M. W...110, 111, 117, 118, 143,

158, 159, 163, 173
Jencks. Fred T. 1 1 1, 1 14, 1 1 .5, 1 23, 149, 1.50

Knowlton, J. C . 100

Kingsley, H. B . 1 1 1

King, Wm. H. H . 152

Langille, J. H . 190, 191

Minot, Henry D . 98, 101, 147

Merriam, M. D., C., Hart . 171

Neff, Chas. H . 100

Nichols, J. E . 100

Prior, Chas. Edw . 164, 170, 171, 173

Croft, Jas. . . 167

Chamberlain, M., 110, 1 ! 2, 119 120, 162, i

185, 186, 187 I

Collins, W. . . Ill

Calhoun, J . 1

Case, Capt. Geo. R., 124, 125, 148, 150,

151, 157. 158

Crowell, ^Irs. C. M . 126, 127, 128

Carpenter, F. H . 141 I

Davie, Oliver . l'^8, 142 i

Everman, B W., 97, 98, 109, 110, 147,

152, 166, 167, 169, 170, 177, 178, 179 :
Emerson, \V. Otto . 119, 139, 16.5, 166

Eddy, N. A . 1-13, 167

Fisher, A. K., M. D . 119

Gunn, Chas. W . 10.3, 104

Gates, Harry '1' . HI

Gilpin, J. Bernard . 123

Gilbert, Harrold . 134

Griffing, Moses B . 167

Helme, A. H . 107, 118

Hatch, Delos . 119

Haskell, Rev. J. Bachman . 123

Howland, Snowdon . 131

Reed, A. L . 107, 1 1 1

Rathbun, S. F . 116, 117

Rathbun, Frank R . 132, 133, 136

Reed, J. T. T . 159, ICO, 163, 175

Ritchie Sandford . 184

Southwick and Jencks

Smith, G. S .

Sage, Jno. H . . . .

Small, Edgar A .

Smith, J. G .

Stone, D. D .

Smith, Philo W .

. Ill

. 135

. . 141, 174

142. 143, 174, 188

. 168

175, 181, 191, 192
. . 181, 182

Tarrant, Wm. P . 134, 135

Tracy, C 0 . 173, 174, 189, 190

Wright, Frank S . 98, 116, 117, 154, l.)5

Wade, Jos. M., 100, 108, 116, 124, 126,

131, 132, 13.5, 136, 140, 144, 148,

155, 156, 161, 162, 164, 172, 176,

180, 182, 188

Wood, Dr. William . 118

Worthington, W. W . 138, 141

Willard, S. L . 141, 142

Wintle, Ernest D . : . 163

Wharton, Wm. R . 163

Wilder, C. H . 181

Zerega, Louis A . 183

ORNITHOLOGIST

— A N I) —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

ADDUm.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NORWICH, CONN., MARCH, 1882.

NO. 13.

American Barn Owl.

Aluco flarnnieus americanus (Aud) Hiclgw.

In tbe vicinity of Santa Paula, Califor¬
nia, three hrmdred and twenty-five miles
down the coast from San Francisco, the
Barn Owl is by far the most abundant rep¬
resentative of its family — there being per¬
haps as many individuals of this species
as of all the others there represented, com¬
bined. My experience with it is confined
to observations made during a residence of
two years in Ventm-a county, California,
and occasional visits into the edge of Los
Angelos and other adjoining counties.

This owl is resident in Southern Cali¬
fornia, being somewhat gregarious in Fall
and Winter, during which seasons they
frequent, in day time, the dense foliage of
the Live Oaks which abound in the lesser
canons and fiinge the lower slopes of the
foothills. On one occasion I drove more
than fifty of these owls from a clump of
oaks in Canada de Largo, and I have often
seen from eight to twelve dozing quietly in
one tree. The cross-beams under bridges
form a favorite resort for them. Between
Santa Paula and San Buenaventura, a dis¬
tance of sixteen miles, there are bridges
over as many as six harancas, or “ gullies,”
as they are called here east of the Rockies.
These barancas vary from twenty to sixty
feet wide and from ten to twenty-five feet
deep, with perpendicular walls or banks on
either side. These barancas are a very
common thing in California, and are formed
in the rainy season by the great streams of
water that come rushing down the moun¬
tain sides.

In passing over this road, I have often
taken the trouble to look under these
bridges, and I hardly ever failed to find
from two to six Barn Owls sitting on the
cross- timbers, or on projecting portions of
the walls. Great numbers of them are
found during the day amid the dense foli¬
age of the Pepper-trees, — so extensively
iised in Southern California for wind
breaks ; and the groves of Willows along
the Santa Clara River and near its mouth
form very suitable quarters for them diir-
ing the day. I have foimd perhaps half a
dozen dozing in the hollows of trees, while,
during the dry season, more may be seen
occupying holes in the banks of the ba¬
rancas, or in the almost vertical cliffs that
form the walls of some canons in the
mountains of this part of the State.

This species seemed to be almost exclu¬
sively nocturnal in its habits, dozing the
day away in the resorts above named, at
w'hich time it is not easily disturbed, but
will retain its position, eying you in a
sleepy, indolent way, until you approach
within a few feet of it when it flies awk¬
wardly to another tree near by, or to a dif¬
ferent hole in the baranca. I never noticed
them out searching for food before twilight,
and not often before eight to nine o’clock
at night. Their food consists, principally,
of the gopher {Thotnoniys talpoides hulhi-
vorus) and the Californian “ Ground Squir¬
rel,” {Spermophihts gratmuurus heecheyi),
both of which are so destnictive to grow¬
ing crops and fruit trees on the Pacific
coast. Other small mammals, particular¬
ly rabbits, birds and insects go to make up
its bill of fare. By the farmers of Cali-

98

OKNITIIOLOCUIST [Vol. 7-No. 13.

fornia it is generally regarded, as it is, as a
harmless and veiy useful bird, and is very
seldom molested or killed, — its tameness
and great numbers, no doubt, being the re¬
sults of this wise treatment. This owl is
not large, yet it must be a very strong and
courageous bird, -as evinced liy the fact that
I have often found, in its burrows, portions
of the large Jackass Hare (Lej)us californi-
cus), or “ Narrow Gauged Mule,” — as pop-
iilarly known in California.

At night one often sees this bird fl}ung
noiselessly about over the streets, at a
height varying from ten to fifty feet, and
uttering, at inteiwals, a lo\xd, harsh scream,
which, as far as I could ascertain, is the
only note or noise made by this owl, except
a loud hissing noise which it makes if dis¬
turbed while on its nest.

Mr. Gentry says, in his “ Life-Histories
of Birds” : “ At night, when emerging ■

from its hidden reti'eat. is heard a loud lu¬
gubrious note which apju'oximately resem¬
bles waro hoo." I am sure I never heard
this species utter such a note, and do not
think it belongs to this owl, — in Califor¬
nia, at least.

I am inclined to the belief that the notes
of the various owls have, in some instan¬
ces, been coupled with the wrong species.

The hissing noise which they make when
one attempts to dnve them from their nests,
very much resembles that made by the
BuiTowing Owl, as mentioned by Capt.
Charles E. Bendire in his most excellent
article on that owl in the August O. and O.,
and as I myself have often noticed, this
“hissing, rattling noise" is much stronger
and coarser than that made by the Bur¬
rowing Owl. however.

In the vicinity of Santa Paula the Bani
Owl begins nesting early in February. The
first nest I found last winter was on Feb¬
ruary 27th, when it contained six eggs in
some of which embryotic changes had be¬
gun at least six days before, which would
])ut the beginning of oviposition about the
Ifith of Febriniry. The site selected for the

nest is most usually a hole or crack in the
wall of a baranca or cliff. During the past
season, I examined more than thirty nests,
at least five-sixths of which were thus loca¬
ted. The entrance to these holes, if in ba-
rancas, is usually eight to ten feet from the
surface of the ground ; if in cliff’s, any
suitable place on the face is selected. The
caHty usually extends inward nearly hori¬
zontally for a foot or more, then bends
downward slightly, continuing at that an¬
gle for two to thi'ee feet.

[Completed in next number.]

Rough Legged Buzzard.

As the Winter of 1879 and ’80 seemed to
be a remarkable year for the apjiearance of
the Bohemian Waxwing, so did the Winter
of 1880 and ’81 prove to be remarkable -
for the numbers of the Hough Legged Buz- '
zard in this section. Of eight specimens
that came into mj' possession no two were
alilce in marking. They varied in size from
that of a small Cooper’s Hawk to that of
the largest Red Tail. Of the finest one, a
male, was very small and nearly black. A
second, a female, of tremendous size and
nearly black. A third, a medium sized
male, of a dee]) chocolate browm, inter¬
mixed xrith a rich buff — an exceedingly
han<lsome hawk. Others were taken here
during tliis ])eriod. Querie. — Mdiat will
the season of ’81 and '82 bring forth
— Frdnk S. Wrirjht, Auburn, Y. ^

To Mexsure .vn Ego exactly, sink it in a
level bed of fine sand, moistened, until it
is half buried (or, technically, until its ex¬
tremes. and consequently its longitudinal
axis, are exactly ffush. as may readily be^
determined, with the surface of the bed) ;
then, either measure with compasses the
egg, thus firmly and definitely fixed, or,
removing it, measure with a rule, laid flat,
its im|)ression. This, for a delicate egg,
may first be sha])ed by the finger. Tlio
above method ought to ensure ease and
certaintv. — //. /A Jfinol.

I

March, 18(S2.]

AND OOLOGIST.

The Spotted Owl.

The life history of the Spotted Owl, Strix
Occidentalis [Xanthus) Ridgw., like thatof
Whitney’s Pigmy Owl, is still short and
sweet ; in fact there is nothing about it on
record. I don’t profess to be able to en¬
lighten the readers of the O. and O. much
on this subject, but every little helps.
It was discovered by Mr. Xanthus de
Vesey in the Sierra Nevada mountains,
near Fort Tejon, Cal., and described by
him in the proceedings of the Philadelphia
Academy in 1859, the type specimen re¬
mained unique in collections till I redis¬
covered tliis species in the Southern por¬
tion of Arizona Territory in the Spring of
1872. Making a nice skin in those days
was not one of my accomplishments, in fact
I only commenced taking an interest in
Ornithological matters about that time,
and as I at first mistook this bird for the
common Barred Owl, I paid but little at¬
tention to it. Referring to my notes I
found the measurements of the only speci¬
men preserved by me, meagre enough and
as follows: Length 17.25 inches, wing 12
inches, tail 9 inches, extent of wings 42.25
inches. Iris dark bluish black. Presented
to Mr. Robt. Ridgway, Smithsonian Insti¬
tute. No date, and sex not indicated, proba¬
bly a male. This ends the record.

Under date of April 17th, 1872, I find
the following entry in my record book of
eggs collected:

Aj^ril 17th, ’72. — Nest and single egg of
Barred Owl No. 54^ found near Whqjples
Station, nine miles west of Tucson. Tliis
nest appears to have been built by the birds
themselves. It was composed of small
sticks and twigs and lined with dry grasses,
pieces of bark and a few feathers jilaced
close to the trunk of a large cottonwood
tree, about thirty feet from the ground and
easily seen from below. One of the parents
was sitting on the nest and shot with a rifle
after flying off, but not preserved. As the
locality where this nest was found was some

sixteen miles from my camp on Rilletto
Creek, I took the single egg it contained
along, without waiting for the bird to com-
jilete the set. Had I known at the time
what a prize I had I would ^villingly have
ridden fifty miles to secime the full set.
There is no doubt whatever that the egg
belonged to this species. It measimes
about 2 inches in length by 1.70 in breadth,
is globular in shape and like all Owl’s eggs
white, and the shell somewhat granular.
It is impracticable for me to give the exact
measurements of the egg as it is stored
with a portion of my collection in St. Louis,
Missouri. The specimen sent to Mr. Ridg¬
way was shot some time subseqently to my
finding this nest, as I noticed on a critical
examination of this bird that it differed
from the Barred Owl in its markings. The
species appeared to me common enough,
and now since the advent of railroads into
the territory, it will not be long before the
spotted owl will find its way more fre¬
quently into the hands of eastern ornitholo¬
gists. As nearly as I can remember the
common call note of this owl resembles
almost exactly the hooting of his cousin in
the east and is likewise on the “Who cooks
for you” style. As far as I know the only
other locality where it has been found out¬
side of the places mentioned is at the Big
Trees, Calaveras Comity, Cal., where Mr.
L. Belding of Stockton, Cal., took a pair of
these birds in the Summer of 1880. I have
been constantly on the lookout for this
species in my various wanderings through
the mountain regions of Oregon, Washing¬
ton, and Idaho Territories, but so far have
seen no positive evidence of its occurrence.
I have had more than once an owl without
ear-tufts described to me by both trappers
and Indians, which, on account of the sup¬
posed size given, was more likely to apply
to this species than to the Great Gray Owl,
which I know occurs sometimes here and
which I have met with at Fort Lapwai,
Idaho, in 1870, where it breeds. — Chas. E.
Bevdire^ U. S. A .

100

OKNITIIOU KIIST

[Vol. 7-No. 13.

ORNITHOLOGIST

—\ND—

()()L()GIS T.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED

TO THE STUDY OK BIRDS, THEIR NE.STS AND E008.

JOK. ill. W.4I>K, Kilitor,

With the co-oporatiou of able Ornithological
Writers and Collecters.

Subscription — 81.00 per annum. Foreign sub¬
scription 81 25 — including postage. Speci¬
men Copies Ten Cents.

j«.s. n. w.iiiK.

Norwich, C'oiin.

entered at NORWICH P. O. AS SECOND CLASS MATTER.

E /) I T () R I A L.

Yol. vir. — Our prospects for the present
volume are very flattering. Subscrijitions
are coming in freely, and with nearly every
renewal encotiraging words. AVe are fa¬
vored with contributions from our leading
omitholofrists, beside the large number of
the raiiK and file constantly in the field
furnishing minor oliservations. AVe can
almost promise a monthly article from the
pen of Caj)t. Chas. E. Bendire, which are
of rare value, for he has been fortunately
located in regions seldom visited by collec¬
tors, therefore his experience is original
and probably unequalled in modem times.
A camp being no jilace for a library, con¬
sequently his writings are his own experi¬
ence with the feathered denizens of our
AA’esteru wilds.

Deformed. — AA’e have received from C.
A\'. Htrumburg, Galesburg, Illinois, for in¬
spection, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
the upper beak of which is bent downwards
at a right angle with the top of the skull,
being also at about the same angle with the
lower beak which it penetrates at the soft
jiortion at the commencement of the throat.
It must have been hatched in this condi¬
tion and was ajiiiarently healthy, seed and
other food being in the stomach. How it
manged to ojien its beak and take food is
a mystery. It was taken alive by some boys.

Brief Newsy Notes.

Red Pu.vlarope. — I have in my collec¬
tion a male in good plumage which was
shot at high water on the meadows at this
iflace May 22d, 1881. It was first seen
swimming as gi-acefully as a duck. Is not i
this a rai-e visitor in New England f — Chas. .
II. Portland, Conn.

C. Hart Meriam, M. D., in liis Review of
the Birds of Connecticut, reports only one .
capture (sex not given) at Portland, Conn.,
in September. It is now in the collection
of AV. AV. Coe of that place. i

Chipping Sparrow. — Dr. H. A. Atkins, i
Locke Michigan, rei)orts shooting a sped- i
men Dec. 9, 1881. This is the first record 1
for that State in AA'inter.

Correction. — In No. 11, page 88. first
column, seventh line from the bottom, for
two eggs, read three eggs.

Rare Eggs. — AA’e have received from
Alessrs. Southwick & Jencks, of Provi- >
dence, R. I., a set of “ Bald Eagles ” eggs, ]
(three) with correct data, taken April. 1881. i
This is an unusual number. Aleasurement <
as follows: 2.96x2.27, 2 92x2.28, 2.72 X ^
2.20.

Thanks. — AA’^e have received from our j
young friend AA\ C. Emerson, of Cahfornia, I
a box containing six bird skins and a fine i
siiecimen of the Least Tits nest.

B.ald Eagle.— tJ. C. Knowlton, Boston,
Mass., reports receiving a beautiful speci¬
men of the Bald Eagle, which w.xs shot
near Damariscotta, Maine. Its length was
41 inches, spread of wings, 84 inches,
weight 11? lbs. On a later visit we noticed
another fine specimen, but as Air. K. was
absent no measurement was taken. Mr. |
K. reports two other specimens sent in, I
one from Portsmouth, N. H., shot Jan. 27, 1

1882, three feet long, seven feet six inch '
spread of wing and weighing 13? lbs.
Another full plumaged specimen wjis re- i
ceived from Damariscotta, Maine, shot on i
the 19tli Yveighing 10^ lbs. j

Goshawk. — Mr. Knowlton had also a j
be.autiful specimen of Goshawk which was "j

J

I

March, 1882.]'

AND OOLOGIST.

101

shot near Edgartown, Wisconsin, Dec. 21,
1881. It measured twenty-five inches in
length, forty-four inch spread of wings
and weighed 42^ omices.

Song Sparrow {melospiza melodia) J. E.
Nichols, Lansing, Michigan, reports shoot¬
ing a Song Spxrrow on Dec. 26th, 1881,
and also verifies the statement that one was
taken by Dr. H. A. Atkins one year ago.
He also states that the Black backed three
TOED Woodpecker announced in our Janu¬
ary number is the second specimen known
to have been taken in Michigan.

A Black-throated Green Warbler was
taken at Highland Falls, N. Y., by Mr. A.
Pall, November 23d, 1881. It was in Im¬
mature Plumage.

Thomas G. Gentry, we are informed has
resigned his position as teacher and is to
devote his whole time to ornithology.

Duck Hawk. — lohn Wallace has a fine
specimen of this bird in Immature Plum¬
age, which was shot 2^ miles from Borden-
town, N. J., Jan. 2, 1882. It is exceeding¬
ly dark compared with specimens from the
Pacific Coast.

Notes on Men by Two Sun Angels.

(The following extracts, no matter
whence, may be of interest, perhaj^s, as
showing a curious analogy between a
higher race of beings and oiu’selves, in
methods of Natural History study.)

I.

(from the note-book of SCIENTIA.)

“ Went down to earth. Secured and
preserved fifty specimens chiefly from the
Eiu’opean y'awna. Among them were (1) a
Homo AJricanus Niger (the ‘common
Nigger’ of writers) which I was so lucky as
to secure in France, where it rarely occiu’s ;
(2) a female Homo Italicus, showing an
unusually distinct development of down
upon the upper lip, corresponding to the
moustaches of the male ; and (3) a hand¬
some specimen of Homo Chinensis which
I am satisfied is distinct from H. Japan-
ensis, measuring five feet ten! and the

pigtail no less than forty-three inches ! I
have determined from the complete series
which I have now formed, having actually
measured over one hundred specimens,
that the male Homo Hrittanicm does not
average over five feet seven and three-quar¬
ter inches. I finished to-day mo;inting a
beautiful female of Homo Caucasius, which
I represented feeding on the rib of a sheep
{Ouis Commwiiis). Also collected a fine
nest of the cottage-type, just built on a
mountain-side by IF. Helvetiae 7'yrolius,
and secured the female to identify it.”

II.

(from THE NOTE BOOK OF SENTENTIA.)

“Went down to earth. Saw a Greek, a
beautiful sj^ecies ; heard a young Italian
singing most deliciously ; and for some
time watched a rosy pair of young Irish,
building their little hovel of green turf. I
was much amused by the fat Dutch, tod¬
dling sociably and placidly along their cu¬
rious canals — so altogether different from
their neighbors, the graceful, dapper, and
excitable French. In observing some Ameri¬
cans in England, I was struck by the
greater quickness of their movements, and
their characteristic sharpness of intonation.
I can always identify them by their notes,
though Scientia insists that the two varie¬
ties {Brittanicus and Yankeus) are so much
alOie that I ought to make sime of my
specimens. But to me the interest of man¬
kind is in their ways of life. A young
mother sweetly singing to her child gives
me a jileasure that not a whole museum¬
ful of stuffed and labeled women could af¬
ford. If we can get exact knowledge only
through killing, let us not be too exact !”

(The above if taken as serious, is non¬
sense, but, if taken as nonsense, is serious.
It is not meant to disparage scientific ac¬
curacy, or to ridicule its methods, but sim¬
ply to suggest that science or quasi science,
may, like sentiment, go too far and be too
exacting. The question to ponder over is :
how may we best study life ?) — Henry D.
Minot.

102

()KN1TH()L( )GIST

[Vol. 7-Xo. l:l

Hooded Warbler.

NESTING IN SOUTHERN CONN.

The interest manifested by readers of
my article in O. and O. last Spring about
the liabits, &c., of the Hooded AVarbler,
sliown by the reception of letters relating
to the subject from eveiy tpiarter of the
country, excited me to stUl closer observa¬
tion of this bird’s habits during the past
season. Though I was there almost every
day, the fii'st week of May passed without
my hearing the familiar note of this bird,
an unusual circumstance but readily ex¬
plained by the cold stormy weather then
prevailing ; but on the 9th in their usual
haunts I heard the clear ringing note of a
solitary male from a Kalmia thicket, dis¬
tinctly repeated every three or four min¬
utes, and two days after the same sprightly
song was resoumling from every Kalmia
thicket in tlie deep woods. I sat on a
stump and watched a male as he sang. He
was percihed on the dead branch of a tree
about ten feet from the gi-ound, and seemed
wholly absorbed in his own musical per¬
formance regardless of my presence and of
the other vocalists chanting in the vicinity.
Every two or three minutes he would
throw liack his head and with much appa¬
rent exertion deliver himself of his note,
loud, clear, ringing, completely drowning
the voices of the Oven Birds and the Red¬
starts who were trying to be heard all
around him. I tried to put what he was
saying into syllables, and he seemed to
say Pe-ter Pe-ter Re-gis-ter” evei-y sylla¬
ble distinctly articulated, sometimes he
would vary his chant by abbreriating it to
“ Pe-ter Re-gis-ter ” and then extend it to
“ Pe-ter Pe ter Pe-ter Re-gis-ter” again oc¬
casionally varying it with simply “ Reg-is-
ter," in this case accenting his first syllable.
This expression seemed so clear and dis¬
tinct that whenever I have since heard the
bird it recalls it instantly, ami I have been
able to substitute no other sxdlables satis¬
factorily to represi-nt their song to my
mind.

Incubation was coiTespondingly later
this year, the first set of four fresh eggs I
found June 1st. This nest was xrithin a
few feet of the place where I found a nest
in 1880 and another in 1879. I found an
unfinished nest the same day and watched
the female bird as she flew back and forth
with the nesting mateiials, sometimes ac¬
companied by her mate who constantly
cheered her on \rith his best songs about
Pe-ter Pe-ter Reg-is-ter.” I noticed that
he did all the singing and she all the work ;
the female wherever she went, on the ground
or on the nest, repeated her loud “ tchip” *
almost constantly even with her beak full
of nesting material. This was Monday an<l
on Saturday following when I visited the
nest I found one egg in it and the bird
scolding at a squirrel that was chirruping
near. On the next Tuesday I found no
bird or squrrel there and the nest empty.
On the whole the bird was much less
abundant this year than usual. I only
found six nests and took four sets, one of
these contained the unusual number of five,
and was built in an unusual position, a
wild rose bush. This is the only set ex¬
ceeding four that I ever fomid. Some one
asked about the lining of their nests and I
have been amused upon examination of a
half dozen nests that I have, to find no two
of them lined alike; here is one lined al¬
most wholly xvith coarse hair from the tail
of horse or cattle, another xvith very fine
fibres of grape rine bark, another very fine
grass, another mixed grass and hair, and
one wholly with fine Vflack roots. I think
mixed grass and hair most common but
upon strict examination the variation cpiite
surjirised me. — J. X. dUtrk^ Old
brook. Coiin.

(* In a prerious article on the n(“sting
habits of this bird which ap])eared in our
.\pril number, this word was distorted by
our jirinter into “ telip” much to the an¬
noyance of our contributor who is toti
close an obsen er to make any such blun¬
der. — En.)

AND (JOLOGIST.

103

March, 1882.]

A Collector in Florida.

While on a collecting trip in Eastern
Florida in the winter of 1879-80 to Indian
Eiver, I had a good opportunity of study
ing the nesting habits of the Brown Peli¬
can and several species of Heron, which
nest in this low flat country in thousands,
and thinking a description of some of the
species met with may interest the readers
of the Ornithologist I take the following
notes from my field book.

The Indian River is not a river proper,
but an immense salt water lagoon, bordered
by large mangrove swamps and long strips
of prairie, where the Herons and Ibis as¬
semble in thousands to feed in the numer¬
ous pools and ponds of water ; while be¬
tween the river and ocean, which in many
places are scarcely a stone’s throw apart,
is a long narrow strip of land, covered with
Cabbage Palms and the dwarf Palmetto,
with two inlets from the sea, the mouths of
which ^are choked with numerous sand
bars, where large numbers of Gulls, Terns,
and many species of waders assemble to
feed. Here the ornithologist will find a
rare field for study, where the birds are
seldom distiurbed by the report of a gun.

On the morning of March 26th, (1880,)
we anchored our yacht, the “Maud,” in In¬
dian River Inlet, and our eyes were feasted
with a sight which fully repaid us our long
and tedious journey of fourteen hundred
miles to visit this famous collecting ground.
It was low tide, and the sand bars were
literally alive with birds, while more were
constantly arriving ; the air was fairly black
with Gulls and Terns, all uttering theii' dis¬
cordant cries, passing and repassing on all
sides of us and within a few yards of the
boat. Direct in the inlet a hundred yards
iihead, where the surf beat against the
lieach with a sound similar to distant thun¬
der, stood long lines of Brown Pelicans ;
on a small sand bar to the left were seen
several hundred Least Sandpipers, two
pair of Oyster Birds, several Willets, with

a large sprinkling of Greater and Lesser
Yellow-legs ; on the further point a solitary
Curlew stood sentinel.

As the straggling flocks of gulls alighted
on the bars, their mates spread out their
wings and uttered their loud notes, as if
giving a welcome to the new arrivals, when
all again would settle into comparative
quiet.

With a light skitf paddled by the expe¬
rienced hand of the guide, myself and com¬
panion were enabled to approach within
thirty yards of the Gulls, when we pointed
four shots among the mass of birds fol¬
lowed by others in the air. The result was
twenty-eight dead birds, many new to us.

By noon all were busy skinning and
preparing the sjDecimens secured during
the forenoon, among which were Oyster
Catcher, Willet, Greater and Lesser Yellow-
legs,Least Sand-piper, Piping Plover, Brown
Pelican, Royal, Least, and Havell’s Tern,
Bonaparte’s and Laughing Gull, Black
Shearwater, one Turkey Buzzard, one Swml-
low-tailed Kite, and several Turnstones.

March 28th — Indian River Narrows :
Among the small stagnant ponds back
from the river, we found large numbers of
Great Blue, ^Vhite, Louisiana, Night, Little
Blue, Little Green and Snowy Herons,
Wood and Wliite Ibis, all of wdiich speci¬
mens were secured together with the beau¬
tiful Water Turkey.

Mr. Bartram, one of the earliest wufiters
on Florida birds, states that the Wood Ibis
is solitary in its habits, not associating in
flocks ; while Audubon found it in large
flocks. My experience wuth this species is
essentially the same as that stated by Mr.
J. A. Allen in his admirable list of the
“ Winter Birds of East Florida.” Although
I frequently found it singly or in pairs
upon the prairies, yet more commonly in
flocks of six to tw'enty.

April 1 — Pelican Island: This is a low
flat island situated in the upper end of In¬
dian River narrows, about three hundred
yards long and nearly triangular in shape.

104

OKNITllOU KJIST

[Vol. 7-No. 13.

witli a few trees scattered along its bor¬
ders, long since deiid, covered with the
white excrement of the birds. On this
island large numbers of Bro^\^l Pelicans
were breeding, and tlie offensive odor ari¬
sing from the island invades the air for a
quarter of a mile from its shores, and at
first is quite sickening. Each tree contained
from one to five nests, but the majority
were jilaced on the ground and close to¬
gether, composed first of a layer of coarse
sticks from a fourth to an inch in diame¬
ter, while the ui3i)er part was made of finer
twigs, Imed inside with coarse grasses ; in
one nest was found a piece of wire cable
twenty -six inches long. We counted over
three lumdred nests, all of which contained
from two to five eggs, three being the more
common number, in color a dii’ty white.

Tlie birds were ven’ tame, constantly
alighting in the trees within a few feet of
us, and thousands were shamming in the
water about the island; many were young
birds of the previous nesting with the
white neck and breast. While here we shot
a magnificent sjiecimen of the Man-of-War
Bird, measuring seven feet four inches
from tij) to tip of wings.

On the 4th of April we came to anchor
in Banana Creek, opposite a large herony
situated in a low mangi-ove swamp. Early
the next morning we entered the nesting,
l)ut the noise made in forcing our way
through the dense foliage bordering the
swamp, frightened the birds from the nest
and they circled around in the air above
in hundreds. Every mangrove tree con¬
tained several nests, and it was only by
wading in the water and mud hip deep,
that we were enabled to secure the eggs.
IVr any species were breeding here in perfect
luirmony, each forming a little colony by
itself, except the Great Blue Heron, wliose
nests were scattered jiromiscuously all over
the swamp. The following sjiecies were
found breeding: Louisiana. Little Green,
liitfle Blue, ^\'hite, Great Blue, and Snowy
Herons. One jiair of Least ftitterns were

seen but no nests founcL The Louisiana i
Heron was by far tlie most numerous.

Fifty six species of birds were taken diu-- 1 1
ing our stay of four weeks on tlie upper |
St. Johns’ and Indian rivere and more than I ■
double tliat number observed.

The coming winter we hope to give the
readers of the ^ Ornithologist” some notes
on the birds of Lake Okeechobee and the
Everglades. — Cfuiit. W.Gmih, Grand Rap¬
ids, Michii/aii.

Publications — Recent and Otherwise.

OiTR Winter Birds is tlie title of an in¬
teresting article wliich appeared in the
Worcester Daily Spy of January 28. It is
written to jilease the general reader but the
wTiter does not sacrifice fact for fancy. It
appeal’s over the initials of H. D. Mfinot.!

New England Bird Life. — A rambling
and not ver\' intelligent review of this
work apjieared in the New A’ork 7’itnes of
Januarv 3. Tlie writer gives many sug
gestions, the result of which would be a
jiojiular work on omitholog;s’, which our
modem scientists don't seem to compre¬
hend. A more thorough and careful re¬
view of this work will be found in the Jhilt.
JVidl. Oni. ('ltd).. No. 4, Vol. vi., page 236,
liy William Brewster.

Birds of Prey of Nova Scotia. — Dr. J.
Bernard Gilpin, the well known oniitholo
gist of Halifax, has recently published in
the Proceedings Nova Scotia Institute of
Natural Science, a veiy- interesting and
valualile paper on the “ Birds of Prey of
Nova Scotia,” having personally identified,
with one or two exceptions, ever}- species
mentioned in the list, which we have rea¬
son to believe is comjilete to the present
time. Nine of the family Striyidtr are no¬
ted and fourteen of the Falronidie. These
include, with one or two exceptions, all of
the birds of these orders common to North
Eastern .\merica.

The N. Y. Obst’rrer conies to ns as frasli
as though it had not jiassed through the
feariul ordeal of fin*.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGLST.

$1.00 per

Antium.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisber.

Established, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NORWICH, CONN., APRIL, 1882.

NO. 14.

Clarke’s Crow.

CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIRE, U. S. A.

Although the Clarke’s Crow or Nut¬
cracker {Picicorvus columbianus Ponap)
is a widely distributed bird, being found
in considerable numbers in all suitable lo¬
calities from the eastern slopes of the
Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevadas on
the west and from Sitka Alaska on the
north to the mountainous portions of Ari¬
zona and New Mexico on the south, there
are few birds found in oiar Avifauna about
whose nesting habits we had less positive
information, and whose eggs remained so
long unrepresented in our larg'est collec¬
tions, by even a single specimen, till I was
fortunate enough to obtain the nest and
eggs of this species, in the Spiing of 187G,
near Fort Harney, Oregon.

It is now something like twelve years
since I first became earnestly interested in
Oology, and during these years I have
taken many rare sets of eggs, not a few of
these new to science, and I believe I can
honestly say that I have no specimens in
my collection which have cost me so much
labor and searching to obtain them, than
the eggs of this species have done. How¬
ever, at the same time, I felt more genuine
gratification after finding them, and I was
well repaid for all the labor ex2:)ended
from the knowledge that these eggs had
been especial desiderata and searched for
many years unsuccessfully, till I had finally
succeeded where many noted ornithologists
had failed before me.

I met with these birds for the first time
during the early part of the Winter of ’74-

75, near Fort Harney, Oregon, to which
j30st I had been assigned to duty a short
time previously, and well do I recollect
even now the tramj) I had after the first
specimen I secured. The bird was a com-
jjlete stranger to me — I took it to be some
new and undescribed woodiiecker — and I
was determined to have it. The snow, by
the way, was something like two feet deep,
which made walking anything but 2)leas-
ant. The bird seemed to know exactly
how far my gun would reach, and kept just
far enough out of the way, leading me
from tree to tree for fully two hours, till
by a lucky chance I secured it with a snap
shot while it was in the act of doubling on
me. When I picked it ujj I still thoiight
that I had secured quite a prize and fondly
hoped it would jirove a new species, but
after getting home, although wet and tired,
it took me but a short time to locate the
siiecimen and to find out that it was already
well known, but that its eggs remained
almost unknown, and I determined to dis¬
cover these at least, should the birds be
found in the vicinity during the breeding
season.

F or some reason not easily explained I
had come to an almost i^iositive conclusion
that Clarke’s Crow nested in hollow trees,
and as they act in many resj^ects like cer¬
tain of our wood2:)eckers and frecpiented
the junijier groves fully as much as the
2)ine timber this seemed jdausilde enough.
The finding of several young birds of this
species but a few days out of their nest on
May 5, 1875, sitting on the l)ranches of a
large juniper, in the trunk of which I
found a cavity filled with rubbish, and

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 14

1()(;

wliicli evidently had been used as a nest-
iii" site by either a sparrow hawk or red-
shafted dicker the previous season further
confirmed me in this view, and caused me
to jump at the conclusion that the young
birds I saw on that tree clamoring for food
had been raised in this very nest. Judg¬
ing from their size they had left it about a
week ])reviously, and I concluded that in
order to find eggs I must commence look¬
ing for them at least a month earlier or
about April 1st. and gave up further search
for the season. I waited imjjatiently for
the ojiening of the season of 187G, which
was a very late one. To make sure I
started on a systematic search for the nests
of these birds as early as March 20th. the
snow being at the time from two to four
feet deep in the localities frecpiented by
them. During the next four weeks I made
at least a dozen trips to the haunts of
these birds and I believe I examined every
hollow tree and woodpecker hole known to
me within a radius of eight miles of the
post, the trees examined being mostly ju¬
nipers. As I found nothing in them, other
species of birds not having commenced
nesting yet. and being positive that the
Clarke’s Crow was then breeding some¬
where in the immediate vicinity, from see¬
ing a few about constantly I commenced to
examine the pine trees growing amongst
the junijjers on the outskirts of the for¬
est proper. I saw nothing as I thought
which might be taken for a bird’s nest in
any of the pines {Phtus ponderosa), but
noticed now and then a round bunch or
ball composed seemingly out of the long
hypnum moss taken from the trees them¬
selves in some of them, which I sujjposed
to be K<phrrels’ nests, particularly as the
little Fremont’s chickaree (Sciitntu hud-
soniciis f'renio7iti, .llleii) is (juite commonly
found in this vicinity. As the majority of
these cpiasi scjuirrels’ nests were by no
means easily got at, and having tried to
start their occupants with sticks, sttmes
and now and then even with a load of shot

and failed invariably to bring anything to
light. I ceased to trouble myself any fur¬
ther about them, and more puzzled than
ever was about to give up the search when
on April 22d I saw a Clarke’s Crow flying
quietly and silently out of a large pine tree
about fifty yards in front of me. This
tree had a rather bushy top, was full of
limbs almost from the base and easy to
climb. As I could not see into the top I
climbed the tree, failing to find any sign of
a nest therein, and completely disgusted I
was preparing to descend again when I no¬
ticed one of the supposed squirrel’s nests
near the extremity of one of the larger
limbs aboiit the centre of the tree and
about twenty-five feet from the ground,
and setting therein, in plain view from
above, not a squirrel but a veritable
Clarke’s Crow.

Well, so I had foimd their nest at last,
quite unexpectedly, and not any too soon,
either. As it was, I was almost too late,
for the nest contained a young bird just
hatched and two eggs with the shells al¬
ready chipped and on the point of hatch¬
ing. However, as even damaged sjieci
mens, particularly rare ones like these were,
are better than none. I took them along
but left the young bird in the nest. The
parent bird allowed me to almost lay my
hand on her before she fluttered oft’, and I
had scarcely gotten two feet from the nest
before she was on it again. During the
whole time she remained jierfectly silent.
Not half an hour after finding the first, I
had found a second nest which contained
three young birds perhaps a week old.
These I sacrificed to science, making a skin
of one and preserving the other two in al
cohol. They are now, as well as the nest,
deposited in the National Museum at
Washington, D. C. Between Aj)ril 24th
and noth. ’76, I found at least a dozen more
nests ; these, however, contained all young
in diflTerent sbiges of growth, some of
them nearly large enough to leave the lU'st
Each of these contained but three young.

April, 1882.]

107

AND ODLOGIST.

Although I obtained bxit the two eggs
mentioned during the season of ’76,1 con¬
soled myself with the thought that now I
knew where to look for the nests of
Clarke’s Crow, I would have no difficulty
in finding all the eggs I wanted during
the coming season, and fondly counted on
adding a fine series of at least a dozen sets
to my collection in the near future. In
this I w'as mistaken, however, and I am
still waiting for the chance to do it.

[Concluded Next Mouth ]

Notes from Centre Lisle, N. Y.‘

I presume yott remember my inquiry last
Winter about the Wood Sparrow and your
reply. I don’t know its scientific name and
the only mention of this bird in print that
I have seen is in Studer’s Birds of N.
A., page 84. I have found but one man, a
taxidermist, who pretended to know this
sparrow. He showed me a stuffed speci¬
men but did not know its scientific name.
I have seen the one he pointed out for two
or three weeks in Spring time for several
years. Its song is certainly very sweet.
The 15th of last April I shot a singer of
this Wood Sparrow, and took down the
following description : Length 5^ inches,
extent of wings 9 inches. Color, top of head
and upper breast, chestnut, back and wings
browm, two white bands across latter im-
der parts, light neck, throat, and over eyes
ashy blue, upper beak black, under beak
yellow. Will any of this help you to rec¬
ognize the species "?

Notes from Florence Springs, M. T.

May 20. — Saw the eggs of the Sickle
Billed Curlew at a stage station near Ft.
Benton. May 25. — Found a Western Field
Lark's nest in process of constniction.
June 6. — Found the nest of a Brewer’s
Blackbird with four eggs. June 21. — Brew'-
er’s Blackbird with four eggs and two eggs
of the Cow Bird. June 21. — Found Field
Plover’s nest with young just breaking
through. June 29. — The eggs in the Brew'-

er’s Blackbird’s nest found June 12, just
hatched. July 16. — Found nest of Field
Lark with four eggs, and with the shells
just cracked. I have found three nests of
the Brewer's Blackbird, two that were on
the ground, and the one found June 21st,
was about eight inches above the ground
in a small shrub on the bank of a small
stream. All of these nests were found in a
small valley near the head of the Dearborn
River, Montana Territory. — Jas. M. Cro ft.

Red-headed Woodpeckers.

This bird is a rare visitor in this
vicinity, seldom more than one or two
being seen during the season, and then
only while migrating, usually in the Fall,
but very rarely in the Spring. The first
one observed this season was on the 10th
of September. On the 12th I saw three,
and on the 20th I saw one. Early on the
morning of the 24th of September they
began to pass over in large numbers, and
continued to pass until about ten o’clock,
after which very few were seen, except
straggling groups of three or foam, and oc¬
casionally a single one was seen to pass
over during the day- The flight must have
consisted of several hiuidred, principally
young birds. They came from the east
and were flying west. Many of them in
their'flight would alight for a few' minutes
in the orchards and corn fields to feed on
the half-ripened corn, or search among the
apple trees for the larva or eggs of insects
but would soon continue on their journey,
and their places would be supplied by
others. I noticed one or tw'o to dart out
and seize an insect in the manner of a fly¬
catcher. The following day but two or
three were seen. A few' stragglers, how¬
ever, were occasionally met with up to the
10th of October, and one was seen as late
as the 2.3d of November. I secured seve¬
ral specimens. Upon dissecting them I
found their stomachs filled with remnants
of acorns and insects. — A. H. llelrne,
MlUrfs Place. L. I.

108 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 7-No. 14.

Collector’s Movements.

ORNITHOLOGIST

—A.ND—

00 LOG I ST.

A MONTHLY MA(}AZINE DEVOTED

TO THE STUDY OF HIUDS, THEIR NESTS AND E008.

JOS. lU. WAI>K, Kditor,

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — $1.00 per annum. Foreign sub¬
scription $1 25 — including postage. Speci¬
men Copies Ten Cents.

JO.S. .M. WAI>E.

Norwicli, C'oiin.

ENTERED AT NORWICH P. O. AS SECOND CLASS MATTER.

E I> I TO R I A L.

K. Gilbert Fowler.^ — It is with pain that
we leani of the death of this enthusiastic
naturalist. A notice of his last trip and
sad death will appear in our next number.

Cowes’ Check List. — To the many aiipli-
cants for this list we would state that it is
not yet ready for distribution. As soon as
ready we shall offer it through our adver¬
tising columns. It will be bound in cloth.
It is not yet known whether a cheap edi¬
tion in paper covers will be issued or not.

Sh.\rp Shixned Hawk. — In the paper on
this little Hawk in the February number
by J. M. W., it is stated that the earliest
eggs ever taken by the writer was on Alay
1.5th. and the fir.st full clutch on lilay 2.5d.
On Hay 5th, 1880, I found a nest with two
splendidly marked eggs, and neither of the
old birds were about the nest. On visit¬
ing it again three days later. Hay 8th, the
female was sitting on the eggs, and on
climbing to the nest, which contained four
eggs, the last two of which were not so
cleanly cut in the markings as the first two,
the female left the nest for a neighboring
tree, when I shot her.

The above nest was built in a black
spnice twenty feet from the ground, and
very nicely hollowed out, but without lin¬
ing. When we take into consideration the
ditl’erence in latitude, this must be consid-
i-red early nesting. — J. IF. H.. St. Jnhus.

Chas. W. Gunn, Grand Rapids, ^lich.,
has been sjiendiug some time in Florida,
and wrote us from Titusville, Indian River :
“ Am having good success in collecting
birds, and will have several good articles
for your paper soon.”

H. G. Fowler, Auburn, N. A'., wdien last
heard from was in Florida and was liaAfing
good success.

Houthavick & .Jencks, Providence, R. I.,
started Geo. H. Gray for tlie Bahama Is¬
lands with an excellent outfit for the pur¬
pose of collecting in every department of
Natural History, but IMr. Gray’s health
had been poor for some time, and when he
reached Femandina, Florida, it gave way,
when he reluctantly returned home.

H. Chamberlain, St. .Johns, N. B., has
for some time been sanguine that he could
again find the nest of the White Winged
Cross Bill, and for that pui-pose has re¬
cently made an exjiedition into the wilds
of N. B. He writes us as follows: “I
did not find a Cross-Bill’s nest, though I
learned something of their habits, and
shall try again. Birds of all kinds were
scarce. But I enjoyed my ramble very
much, and had many amusing and inter¬
esting and some exciting adventures. I
was never before so impressed with the
jirofound stillness of our forests in Win¬
ter, and for the first time I was lonely in
the woods. It was not for long, hut it
was seveie. I found myself alone on a
large lake at night, the road to my canij) a
conundrum, the stars shut out by heavy
le,aden clouds, no matches to see my com¬
pass. no sound save the mournful sighing
of the wind through the trees, the ther¬
mometer about ten degrees, and I very
weary and hungry’. There was too much
to be * done’ just then to spend time in
reverie.”

SoNO Sparrow. — Saw a sjiecimen near
Norwich, in fine comlition. February ‘2(>th.
1882.

April, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

109

American Barn Owl,

CONCLUDED.

Slightly widening to the end where it is
quite commodious, being often as much as
two feet in diameter. For some time it
was a perplexing question to me as to hoin
and by what these holes were excavated.
After careful investigation, I am convinced
that the owls themselves make many of
them. A slight crevice or squirrel hole is
selected, and, with their powerful claws,
they hollow it out to proper dimensions.
Both birds are frequently found occupying
the cavity during the day,— the male to one
side of the nest.

But the burrows are not always selected.
Two nests were found in holes in oak trees,
one was found in a barn by Master Bon¬
nie Field of Newhall, and in April, 1880, I
found a pair occupying the deserted nest
of a crow, which was placed about twenty
feet from the ground in a cottonwood. I
visited this nest at two different times be¬
fore taking the eggs (five in number), and
flrove the female from the nest on each oc¬
casion. — ^As an interesting fact in this con¬
nection, I may add that, this season, I took
from this particular nest two sets of Long¬
eared Owl’s eggs and one of the Common
Crow, {Corvus frugivorus.)

The use of a nest of this kind by the
Barn Owl is very rare, I think ; careful
search failed to discover a second instance
of this kind. As stated above this owl be¬
gins nesting early in February, but in that
vicinity a majority have not completed
their sets before the first of March. On
March 5, 1881, Mr. Fred Corey and I met
with remarkable success with this owl’s
eggs. We visited a deep baranca a few
miles east of Santa Paula, where we knew
them to be abundant. We arrived upon
the groimd early in the morning, with
spade and rope ready for a hard day’s
work, — and the number of sets we ob¬
tained was limited only by the time re¬
quired in digging for tliem. Our only way

of getting at the nests was by tying one
end of our long rojae to a stake driven se¬
curely in the groimd at some distance from
the edge of the baranca, tying the other
end around our waist and letting ourself
down to the hole. Then, after more or less
pretty hard digging we were able to reach
the eggs. We dug down to eleven nests
altogether, from six of which we got forty-
foicr eggs, ranging from six to ten eggs to
the nest. One of the other nests contained
nothing ; another, five eggs, one of which
was pipped ; another wath one young and
six eggs ; still another wath four eggs and
five young; and yet another with five eggs
and five young. The young varied greatly
in size, some were scarcely dry, others were
a week or more old. From these and sub¬
sequent observations, I am led to think
that the number of eggs varies from five to
ten, averaging about seven, which is the
largest number I have seen mentioned by
any other writer. Cones says “ from three
to six Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway,
“ from three to four Maynard, “ from
three to four Gentry, “ from three to
four, very rarely more and that vet^an
oologist, Capt. Bendire, in a letter to Mr.
J. M. Wade, which I was kindly permitted
to read, says : “ Seven had been the great¬
est number I had heard this species credited
with.” All of these figures seem far too
low, yet it may be that the number of eggs
depends upon the locality, as does the
place of the nest.

A word upon what different authorities
say regarding its nest, may not be out of
place. As to whether it constructs any nest
seems to depend entirely where it nests ;
if in holes in cliffs, trees, or walls, no lining
is used ; if in barns or houses, it constructs
a rude nest of sticks or other rubbish easily
brought together. Summing up what the
various observers had written on this point,
it equals the above, which is in harmony
with my own observations.

Prof. Gentry, in Life-Histories of Birds
of Eastern Pennsylvania, says : “As soon

no

()RXITIIOLO(JIST

lYol 7-No. 14.

as the egfjs are laid, which, on the average
amount to one a day, the female commences
the trying duties of incubation. . . We
haw never observed the male hi the vicinity
of the nest during the day-time. . The peri¬
od of incubation is about twenty-four days. ’

Mr. Corey and I made daily observations
of several nests of the Bam Owl with the
view of determining these matters, with
the following results : (1), Tlie eggs in
every’ case were laid on alternate days ; (2),
incubation invariably began soon after the
first egg was deposited ; and (3), in nearly
every instance, both male and female were
found occupying the nest-cavity, whether
in the ground or in a hollow tree. Clods
or stones thro\m against the bank near the
nest usually brought out the male first,
who was soon followed by the female, but
often not until more clods had been thrown.

Tlrat incubation begins before the full
nest-complement has been completed is
evident to any one who removes the con
tents from a full set of eggs and notices
the various stages of development reached
by the embi’yos. So tme is this that it is
imffbssible to blow a full set of these eggs
with ecprallv’ small holes. The same fact is
also shown by the great difference in the
sizes of the nestlings. The period of in¬
cubation is twenty-two to twenty-four days.
— /?. W. JUvermann, Bloomington, Ind.

Least Bittern.

In the O. and O. for February’, 1882. Mr.
Guy C. Rich asks the question : “ Does
the Least Bittern come as far north as forty-
three degrees ? ” I can answer this in the
affirmative, for I have before me a male of
that species taken in September, 1880,
near the mouth of Black River, a small
stream which empties into the Bay of
Fundy, about eight miles east of St. Johji,
and a little north of forty-five degrees.
.\nd this is not the only individual that
has ventured thus far north, for between
1877 and 1881 some five were captured
within ten miles of this city. — M. Cham¬
berlain, St. Johns, K. It.

Hints to Collectors.

Nests made wholly of Usnea or North¬
ern Hanging Lichen, if kept in a cellar,
will mould and disintegrate — falling in
pieces at a to\xch in two years’ time.

Remember and never neglect to rinse
ever}’ specimen thoroughly wdth clean
w’ater when blowing eggs. It is part of
the operation. I recently examined a
box of seventeen cpiails’ eggs, blown in
1879 in the field, with no water near.
Eveiy egg held insects, pupae, and excre¬
tions, and much labor and trouble was the
consequence of not using proper precau-i
tions at the right time.

Tlie Brairie M'arbler returns yearly to
its nesting-place in a hazel-bush or in a
hazel and blackberry patch in dry pastures.
Tlie Yellow’ 'Warbler uses no feathers, the
Chestnut-sided 'Warbler not habitually, but
the -‘Praii-ies” always, if any are to be
found. I had one nest beautifully trimmed
w’ith Quail’s feathers, but alas, it is not !
Another lined w’ith feathers of the Indigo
Finch, but alas for this also! — both de¬
voured by insects. Nests with sticks,
leaves, grasses or cotton, can be preserved
easily — and wool with a little care. Mosses
fade and fall apart. But w’atchfulness does
not alw’ays avail to keep feathers from the
ravages of insects. Tlie homes of the
Hirun dines are beautiful, but lousy. If
forgotten for a while, they are liable to be
destroyed. Tlie constant use of camphor
and almost weekly baths of benzine or
carbolic acid seem necessary.

Hawks’ eggs can be blown with care and
jiatience even if well incubated. But small
eggs should be left in the nest if incuha
tion has begun. Two sets of rare spar
rows, taken hurriedly in ’81, proved to lie
well incubated, and though there were nine
eggs in all, I have nothing to show now
but the nests. Blue- Yellow-Backed ^Nar
bier’s eggs are esjiecially hard to blow if
three days incubated. I have blown fifty
fresh eggs of this M’arbler without a mis
hap. but never succeeded in cleaning an

April, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

Ill

incubated set. Hold them up to the light,
brother collectors, and if cloudy pass them
by. The same ground can be covered next
year with every prospect of success.

Not often do we find sets of "VVliippoor-
mll’s eggs, yet the birds are reasonably
common, and in some places abundant.
For instance, while riding in the early
evening of Saturday, June 4, ’81, through
Centre Groton, from Poquonnoc to Led-
yard Centre, a distance of four miles, I
saw and heard eighteen of these GoaF
suckers.

Collectors will do well to take long rides
or drives on country and surbui-ban roads
in Winter, while the trees are bare, and
before snows and the late Winter winds
have beaten down the nests. He will note
the nesting-places of many birds, which
will again be tenanted, and which it will
••pay” to visit next season. In an after¬
noon drive near Norwich lately I marked
down for future reference the homes of
three “ Downies” a fine site in white birch
stubs for chickadees, and in bushy pastures
by the wayside on cross-roads, nests of In-
ihgo Bird, Prairie and Chestnut-sided
Warblers. In three rows of roadside Ma¬
ples and Ashes, where last July I supposed
three or foxir pairs of Goldfinches were
baffling me, can now be counted twenty
perfect nests easily got at. Now one can
work intelligently for them in ’82. On
one low limb of an elm was an Oriole’s nest
in fine condition, an ’80 nest well battered,
and the shreds of the ’79 nest, all within
three feet of each other. M’ill ’82 add
the fourth in the series ? Let not the nov¬
ice in oology suppose that a collector’s
field-work is all done in the breeding sea-
wn. — J. M. IP., Normeh, Conn.

Snow Bird. — The 2,5th of June, 1878, I
found a nest of J unco hyemalis in the side
of a knoll with four eggs, nearly fresh,
the bird flying off as I approached. I oc-
•asionally see the black snow bird all Sum-
naer, but this was their first nest I ever
found. — A. Tj. Reed. Centre fji.de, JV. I'.

Brief Newsy Notes.

Gummed Paper. — Mr C. W. Strumberg,
Galesburg, Ill., has sent us a specimen of
gummed paper which he uses to mark eggs.
It is first punched into a small wafer by a
cartridge shell, then put over the hole. It
can then be numbered or lettered, and if
necessary easily removed by wetting. It
is often very difficult to remove the num¬
bers wdien made on the shell — especially of
those that have a rough surface. Send ten
cents for a large sheet.

Red-headed Woodpeckers have been quite
common the present Fall about Providence,
a number of both adults and young being
taken. Usually we hear of but one or two
specimens being taken in a year. — F. T. J.

Mottled Owl. — We have received a fine
specimen just between the Red and Gray
Plumage. It came from Barrington, R. I.
Have had large quantities in past seasons,
but none not readily attributable to Red
or Gray. — S. tfc J.

Red-headed Woodpecker. — On December
11, I saw an adult specimen, also a Winter
Wren on the 4th, near Hartford. — II. 2\ G.

Sea Dove, {Alle niyricans.) November
30, 1881 — I received a fine specimen of
the Sea Dove killed here on Detroit River,
by one of our market hunters. It was
swimming among his Decoy Ducks. It
proved to be a young female. How it got
so far from salt-water is a question. — TU.
II. Collins. Detroit. Mich.

Cedar Birds and Robins. — A pau of Ce¬
dar Birds nested in a tree in the yard of
Edward Safford of this jilace who took the
eggs. A few weeks later, on looking into
the nest it was found to contain a set of
Robins’ eggs. Was not this unusual? — II.
li. Kinejsley. Rutland. Yermont.

Monkey Headed Owl. — These Owls are
not Barn Owds, as you suppose. Their eyes
are not larger than a hawks ; their faces
have a queer Monkey like appearance. The
bill, feet, size and plumage agree quite well
with the Barn Owl. There is a pair of
them, and they are quite tame and will eat

112

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 14.

fresh meat from the hand. The price for
them is twenty dollars. — II. vl. Jierry,
Macon ^ Ga.

Notes from St. John, N. B.

Mr. James AY. Banks of this city has
veiw kindly placed in my hands his Oolog'i-
cal note-book for 1881, from which to make
extracts for the edification of onr mutnal
friends the readers of the O. and O.

On iMay 10 he took his first nest of the
season, the domicile of that much malifpied
and wily bird the Common Crow, Corvus
fragivorus, and had to climb some forty
feet up a spruce tree for it. The structure
was composed exteriorly of cedar twi"S
and lined with moss. It contained five
fresh eggs.

June 5. — A Kingfisher, Cergle alcynn^
w<is seen going into a hole in a sandJ)ank
and Banks followed him. After a hard dig
of about five feet he came to the nest and
took out six fresh eggs.

On the day following he found the nest
of a Snowbird, unco hyetnalis,) under the
shadow of a large stone in a shady nook.
There were four eggs in it 2>artially incu¬
bated. About fifty yards further on another
,1 unco had built a home but so far had put
only two eggs in it. completing the com¬
plement of four however within the two
following days.

June 10. — Flushed a Hermit Thrush.
Ilylocichla unalaHcuB ‘pallasl. Between
you and I, Mr. Editor, do you think it is a
scpiare deal to give this innocent bii-d such
a name ? Don’t you think if that bird had
to sign his name often, say as i)resident of
a silver 7uining company with well watered
stock, don’t you think he would — (hiHh
Mr. Bidgway and tri-nominals ? O con¬
fess to a strong desire to cling to the
“Turdus"of other days, but I suppose I
must display my acquaintance with tlie
“ new nomenclature" or, like the fellow
who the gr.ive digger in Hamlet condemns
for not having’ been at court. I sliall be
“ surely damned ’’ in the eyes of your sci¬

entific readei-8. Well, this long named
jjarty got up off three eggs laid in a nest
on the ground mider the protecting shade
of a low bending limb of a spnice tree. A
visit to the nest two days after determined
the fact that it had been deserted, and Mr.
Banks says “ I have observed that this spe¬
cies of bird frequently deserts a nest after
it has been discovered."

June 15. — A Red-headed Woodpecker
Mclanerpes erythrocephuluH was discovered
looking out from a hole in a birch stub
about eight feet from the ground. An in¬
vestigation disclosed young birds about
ready to leave home.

June 23. — He found a nest of the Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, {Regulus calendula.,) in a
dense fir thicket placed on the limb of a
tree close to the trunk, and about twelve
feet fi’om the ground. In it were four
young wth wings almost fit for flight.

On the same day he flushed a Redstart
{Setophaga rnticUla.) from a nest fixed in
the crotch of a limb of a yellow biirli tree
about twenty feet from the ground. The
nest and eggs were not mmsual excepting
in size, being much smaller than any he
has met \rith before. They had been hash¬
ing for some time, for in two days after
two birds had come out. the other eggs
bemg sterile.

June 28 — Was rewarded (?) for a long
hard tr.xmp by discovering a nest of the
Olive-b.acked Thrush, Ilylocichla uKtulata
.<nrain,‘to)ti with two newly hatclied birds
and one egg. The nest was upon a spruce
tree about six feet from the ground.

On the same day he disturbed a Black
and White Creeper, (or Creeping Warbler,
as it should be called, the editor of New
England Bird-life says.) Mniotilta raria
of authors. She was feeding four young
birds not more than a day or two out from
the sljell. — M. Chamberlain.

Bi.i'k Biud.s. — In our daily drive of twelve
miles we have seen Blue Birds almost every
day througli the past Winter, always in
tlie morning.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher. Single Copy,

Annum. Established, March, 1875. 10 Cents.

VOL. VII. NORWICH, CONN., MAY, 1882. NO. 15.

Clarke’s Crow.

CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIRE, D. S. A.

CONCLUDED.

In the Spring of ’77 I commenced my
search on March 15th, and although I
looked carefully and repeatedly over the
entne ground gone over the year before,
and over new localities as well, I failed to
see a single bird, where on the previous
season they had been found comjiaratively
jilenty. Puzzled to account for their ab¬
sence I looked around for the possible
cause of it, and knowing that these birds
live almost exclusively on the seeds of the
pine (in fact, all the specimens I have ever-
dissected, shot mostly in the Winter
months, however, had their crops filled
with these seeds and nothing else), I nat¬
urally first examined the trees for their
principal food supply and found that not
a tree in a hundred bore ripe cones, and
although there were many green ones I
found none mature. This fact, then, ac¬
counted fully and plainly for their absence.
During the next Winter, ’77-78, I found a
few of these birds occupying their old
haunts again, but not nearly as many as in
previous seasons, and I commenced mv
search as usual again in the latter part of
Mai’ch. On April 4, 1878, 1 foimd my first
nest. It was jilaced near the extremity of
a small limb, about forty feet from the
gi-ound, very hard to get at, and in trying
to pull the limb down somewhat with a
rope so that it could be reached from a
lower limb it broke and the eggs were
thrown out of the nest. This also con¬
tained three eggs, and incubation, at tliis

early date even, w’as very far advanced.

On April 8th, ’78, I foimd another nest
containing two eggs with good-sized em¬
bryos. This was likewise placed in a pine
tree and near the extremity of one of the
limbs, about sixteen feet from the ground.
The only way this nest could l)e got at was
by leaning a pole against the limbs of the
tree and climbing to the nest by it, in
which, after a good deal of labor and
trouble, I finally succeeded.

The type specimens obtained by me
measured respectively 1.22x0.95 inches
and 1.20x0.90 inches. The ground color
of these eggs is a light grayish green and
they are irregularly spotted and blotched
with a deejier shade of gray, principally
about the larger end. On the smaller egg
the spots are finer and more evenly distnb-
uted. The last two eggs obtained are
somew-hat larger, measuring 1.26x0.95
and 1.30x0.92 inches. Their markings
although somewhat finer are about the same
as in the tyiie specimens. They are elon¬
gated, oval in shape and considerably point¬
ed at the smaller end. The second set of
eggs found by me, which, unfortunately,
were broken, were more of a greenish
ground color and also much heavier spot¬
ted. There is no doubt that there will be
considerable variation found when a num¬
ber of sets of eggs of this bird are jilaced
together for examination . That this species
should only lay but three eggs to the set
seems also rather strange, but as far as my
personal observations go such is the fact.

The nests, although looking quite small
when viewed from below, are rather Imlky
affairs after all when closely examined, their

114

ORNITHOLOGIST

base cousisting of a platform of small
sticks and twigs, mostly of the white sage,
which are laid on a snfHciently strong pine
branch and generally as far out as possilile.
On this the nest proper is placed, wliich is
composed of dry grasses, vegetable fibres,
hyjjnum moss, and the fine inner bark of
the westeni juniper uniperus occidenta-
lis.) These various materials are well in¬
corporated togetlier and fastened to the
branch and pine needles on which it is
placed, and makes a warm and comfortable
structure. The outer diameter of the only
nest measured by me (that is, the compact
portion of it) was eight and one-half inches ;
inner diameter, foiir and one-half inches ;
depth inside, three and one-half inches;
outside, five inches. As a rule the nests
were well concealed from view below, and
almost invariably placed on or near the ex¬
tremity of a live limb at various heights
from the ground.

Isolated clumps of pine trees growing
near the edges of the forests or mountain
valleys, as well as among juniper or moun¬
tain mahogany groves, seemed to be the
favorite localities frecpiented by these birds
during the breeding season ; in fact, I have
scarcely ever noticed them any distance in
the forest unless there were frequent open¬
ings, small valleys, etc., interspei-sed with
timber. These birds appear to raise but
one brood during the season, although they
commence breeding early enough to raise
two or even three nests easily enough,
and in the ^^cinity of Fort Harney they
disappear about the end of May or early
in Tune, gathering about that time in con¬
siderable flocks, and are not seen again till
about October. They probably spend the
Summer months in the higher mountain
regions in tlie vicinity.

At all other times a social, inquisitive
and exceedingly noisy bird, the Clarke’s
Crow during the breeding season is ex¬
actly the reverse. In vain one may watch
and listen to hear their usual and by no
means musical call note, “ chfuir, chaar,”

[Vol. 7-No. 15

which so easily betrays their presence at
other times. I have listened m vain and
)eeu disapjjoiuted. Their whole character
seems to have undergone a sudden radical
transformation. They remain perfectly si¬
lent, seem to hide and would scarcely be
noticed, even where comparative!}’ abun¬
dant. unless closely looked after.

They are certainly most devoted parents,
sometimes even allowing themselves to be
captured rather than leave the nest. Their
habits otherwise are sufficiently well known,
and I have nothing new to add thereto.

Large-billed Water Thrush.

My private collection contains not only
my best work and the finest specimens I
can procure, but also those which have
associations connected with them that I
wish to remember. A pair of this species
{Sinrus rnotacilla) holds all the above hon¬
ors. May 11, '77, while five miles west of
Proridence, in a place known as the Snake
Dens, I saw a pair of Water Thrushes run¬
ning around on the stones in the bed of a
pretty brook that rushes between rocky
banks. On a nearer approach they flew to
the top of the opposite bank, giving at in¬
tervals their sharp chip. I shot one from
the top of a large rock, and going to the
place found no bird, but just back of
where it had been was a crevice loosely
filled with leaves. I pulled out a lot and
finding no bird arose to leave, Imt imme¬
diately decided not to give up so quickly
and returned to work, and took out all the
leaves I could reach, and among the last
the bird, which I dropped into my basket
without putting into a paper contrar}’ to
my usual custom, .\fter trnm]nng about
two hours and having several birds. I sat
down to put them in papers. Had made a
cornuco]iia and tipped the bird s head back
preparatory’ to sliding him in, when for the
first time I noticed what I had. I had
made the actpiaintance of this species at
Mt. Carmel. Ill., when collecting there w’ith
E. W. Nelson in ’75. but had thought un-

May, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

115

til that moment it was the common kind.

Without delay I returned to the place of
capture, but the other was not there. Go¬
ing up stream I looked carefully through a
small piece of swampy woods, and, fortu¬
nately, started and killed the other. They
proved to be a pair.

While in West Greenwich, R. I., May 2d,
I heard a loud ringing song which I could
not recall, and after a stealthy approach
espied the songster about twenty feet from
the ground on the branch of a sapling. At
short intervals he lifted his head, giving
his melodious song with as much vivacity
as his cousin, the Golden Crowned Thrush.
This was obtained and another heard,
which, after about an hour’s chase was also
secured. May, 1880, number three from
this locality was added. All of these
specimens were taken along rushing streams
in which trout are to be found, coursing
through heavily wooded rocky country.

This is the most wary small bird I am
acquainted with, and the past Spring at
IMieatland,'^ Ind., and Mt. Carmel, Ill., en¬
abled me to get well acquainted with it, as
it was plentiful throughout the bottoms.
The song bears a resemblance to that of
the Indigo Bird, and is as often delivered
from high up in a tree as from the grotmd.
The tipping motion is constantly noticea¬
ble as in the common species. The first
nest was foimd May 22d, in a hollow be¬
side an upturned root by a brook. It con¬
tained five young just hatched.

Aboitt June 1st, young were abundant.
Their chip and motion was precisely like
the old ones, and although half-fiedged
and bob-tailed, they were hard to distin¬
guish from adults at a short distance. At
this time, June 1st, when I had given up
all hopes of finding a set of eggs, I was
walking and pausing, looking carefully up
into the foliage, when, happening to stop
about fifteen feet from a large tree, a bird im¬
mediately fluttered from its base, toppling
over first on one side, then on the other,
stopping occasionally to kick spasmodical¬

ly. This performance was kej:)! up in a
circular course for fully fifty yards, excel¬
ling any bird I ever saw in this manceuvre.
At the end of this feint it flew on to a limb
close by, giving its usual chip. From
where I stood I could look into the nest
and see the five eggs. The situation was
in such dense and heavy growth of trees
as to nearly stop undergrowth. The nest
was jilaced in the niche caused by the tree
slightly spreading towards the roots, and
no attempt whatever was made toward
concealment. The nest was a damp mat¬
ted mass of rotten leaves, and lined with
fine roots and partlj' rotted stems of plants,
and had to be dried in the oven before
being fit to pack. The hollow was slight,
and the eggs resemble rather small, very
round and evenly spotted Chat’s eggs —
those with large blotches and not thickly
spotted. — F. T. .Teneks, Prov., R. I.

Albinos. — Mr. J. Calhoun wu-ites from
Illinois that a white Blue Jay came with
others to feed on the soaked bread fed to
his chickens. Noticing its peculiar color
he secured it on Jan. 30th, and is having it
carefully mounted. He writes that he
also saw a Wliite Crow feeding on the car¬
cass of a dead horse, but was not able to
seciue it. At a later date Mr. C. writes :
“ We have been having fine, balmy weather
for ten days. Most of the Spring birds
are here. They came from one to two
weeks earlier than last year. The Mead¬
ow Larks came Feb. 3d, Blue Birds 6th,
Robins 9th. The Brant, Geese, and
Ducks came by the hundreds, the latter
on the 11th and 12th. The sportsmen re¬
port all kinds of Water Fowl very plenty
on the jirairies, in the sloughs and ponds.
I saw a great many Wild Pigeons on the
3d inst. flying in all directions. William
E. Hart and George Hunt killed an Owl
with a steel trap to his leg the 5th inst.
It measured four feet from tqi to tij) of
wings, and was sjiotted.

Speak a good word for the Ornithol¬
ogist to your correspondents.

no

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 15

OHNIT IIOLOGIS T

— AND—

0() LOG I ST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED

TO THE STUDY OF BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EOOS.

.n. U'4I>K, Kditor.

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription— .f 1.00 per annum. Foreign .sub¬
scription $1 25 — including postage. Speci¬
men Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. W.\I>E.

Norwirli, f’onii.

EDTTOJiTA L.

Vol. VII. — Judj^ng from the expression
of s.atisfaction sent ns. oin’ readers, botli old
and new, must be well pleased with our mag¬
azine. This is very gratifying to us. but
our list of subscribers is not large enough
to pay cost even as now published. If all
of our readers would devote one tenth
part of the time we do gratuitously, they
would increase our list enough to warrant
improvements and save us from pecuniary
loss — which prevents us from doing as well
as we otherwise might. Let each of our
readers try and send us one or more sub¬
scribers — our magazine will always be
worth its cost.

Snowy Owl. — AVe have recently pur¬
chased a Snowy Owl that was mounted.
We complained of its neck being stretched
out too much, when the following explana¬
tion was sent to us : “ You s]ieak of the

neck of the owl being too long. The fact
is, when this bird is ])erched on a mound
on the ground watching for its jirey. its
neck is strekdied out much longer than
this one, and remains so for an hour or
more at a time. They are not like other
owls in that respect. They also feed more in
the day time than other owls.” The gentle¬
man who sends the above has had a large
experience with this owl for many Winters
and should know their natural position.
Few of our taxidermists have ever studied
this bird in life.

Death of H, G. Fowler.

It is with exceeding sadness that we an¬
nounce the death of our brother natiiralist,

H. Gilbert Fowler.

The greater part of Mr. Fowler’s life
was closely identified with the study of
natiu’e in nearly all her forms, but particu¬
larly in that of Omitiiology. Bom at Au¬
burn, N. Y’., about the year 18.50, at an
early age he evinced a special fondness for
the study of Ornithology, which was pur- j
sued almost entirely in the field with an j
earnest, sincere spirit that bore fruits in |
the reliable accuracy and conscientious |
simjilicity of all his notes and memoranda. I

In 1874 he published in the “Forest and
Stream.” (uew’spaper) a list entitled: “The
Birds of Central New Y"ork.” In the fol¬
lowing year this was rejuiblished in an
Auburn. N. Y’., paper by Frank R. Rath-
bun, with several additions. He was also
one of the authors of the “ Revised List
of Birds of Central New Y'ork.” It was i
the longing desire to study the feathered i
creatures of our Southern States in their
native haunts that allured him into those
malarious districts that jiroved so fatal to '
one of his jieculiar temperament.

Mr. Fowler had been on the Sunflower i
river, Miss., but little more than a week |
when he deemed it advisable to dejiart,
owing to the illness of his companion.
They then took steamer for Cedar Keys,
Fla., via. New Orleans. La. Early contnvct-
ing malarial fevers while in Florid% in ^Ir.
Fowler’s case, it resulted in t^'phoid fever;
and. eventually, caused his death at Savan¬
nah, Ga.. while on his way home.

The circumstances attending his death,
so far from home and among entire stran¬
gers. was peculiarly sad. From an ajijiar- ,
ent desire not to distress his many friends !
and relations; although sick nearly two '
weeks, news of his jierfect good health,
his sickness and of his death followed one
after the other so swiftly as to be almost j
simultaneous. '

I

May, 1882.]

Thus passed from this life on the 11th
day of February, 1882, one more useful
member of our fraternity, whose exceeding
kindness to all, whose scrupulous honesty,
and trusting confidence in the integrity of
his fellow men, closely approximated a fault.

Mr. Fowler was interred at the Fort
Hill cemetery at Auburn, N. Y., on the 19th
day of Feb., 1882.— S. W. tfe iS. F. R.

Hints to Collectors.

Why do you collect eggs ? Do you live
in the heart of one of our great cities,
with few chances afield, and collect through
the mails by purchase and exchange ? Do
you heap eggs together as curiosities or
ornaments to show to friends, or to ecpial
or eclipse the collections of A and B “? If
you are influenced by these motives, or sit¬
uated as above indicated, stop where you
are ! Trouble the birds no longer and
tiu-n your attention to bric-a-brac. You
are on a lower plane than the crows,
grackles and jays who destroy eggs through
inherited instinct and appetite. But if you
take the field yourself, in search of ruddy
health, with a passionate love for your
pursuit, with no love of notoriety, and with
out ever a thought of rivalry, then we may
not condemn you. Furthermore, if you
hope by comparison of sets and by obser¬
vations on obscure breeding habits to add
a few grains of information to our humble
science, go on, yours is no unholy work.

Not dismayed by the portents of De
Voe or Vennor, the collector of eggs relies
on an almanac of his own. In this chron¬
ology the breeding of our local Rapacise
is thus forecast : From Feb. 17 to March
20, Great Horned Owl ; March 17 to April
10, Barred Owl ; March 28 to April 20, Red¬
tailed Hawk; April 3 to May 10. Red¬
shouldered Hawk ; April 1.5, Mottled Owl ;
April 20 to May 15, Broad-winged Hawk ;
May 10 to June 15, Marsh, Sharp-shinned
and Fish Hawks. To show how near we
may come to fixing an exact date for the
breeding of certain species, let me give the

117

record of my sets of Barred Owl for five
successive seasons : 1877, March 29 ;
1878, March 29; 1879, March 29; 1880,
March 27 ; 1881, April 1.

Common enough and of no value to ex¬
change, we leave many sets of Blue Jay’s
eggs in the field. Take them all in, brother
collectors. A series of .lay’s eggs shows
surjii’ising contrasts, and admits of
some pleasing changes, and from twenty
sets it woidd be hard to pick the typical
one. Every year I leave luitouched many
crow’s nests for the ajipreciable service ren¬
dered the farmer by this species. But we
may thank the noisy crowd of jays for
nothing ! Will some closer observer, with
no animus against him, tell me any good
of the Blue Jay, and name any noxious in¬
sect with which he varies his diet of eggs
and nuts? For two seasons he has de¬
stroyed some of my chitches of Blue Y'el-
low-backed Warblers, besides less rare sets.
I here indict him as a scold and nuisance.

The Red Scpiirrel is anotlier inveterate
destroyer of bird’s eggs, against whom we
must make common cause. Before the
new leaves hide their movements, I often
see them going into the bird-boxes, and
Bluebird and Woodpecker holes in the
great elms on Broadway, on the qui vive
for eggs, and it is well thus early to sound
the note of alarm. Here again I have a
jjersonal axe to grind in the loss through
him last season of clutches of Yellow-
throated Vireo and Great-crested Fly¬
catcher. Shoot him on sight, my friends.
The other fur beai’ing animals which are
enemies to breeding birds, such as the
skunk, ’coon, mink, fox. grey-squirrel, etc.,
are diligently hunted for their pelts. But
the mischievous chicaree with his useless
red jacket and morsel of flesh is consid¬
ered beneath the notice of hunters and
trappers. From many visits to nests of
unfledged hawks I find that our Buteos
render us inestimable servi<!e in keeping
down the number of these rodents.

The last week in February, Puiqile

AND UOLOGIST.

118

ORNITTIOLOGIST

[Vol 7-No. 15

Finches were daily singing in o;ir garden
on J3roadway. Later, the mating of these
Finches is a common and interesting phase
of onr Spring bird-life. In a newly
ploughed furrow, ■with the brown earth for
a background, I have seen seven males
dragging their crimson coats in a circle
around one bewildered female. At this
season both sexes have a pretty habit at
sunrise of soaring vertically a few yards
above the tree-tops and hovering in the
rays of the rising sun, in singing ecstasy.

March 1st. I had a Woodcock for din¬
ner, caught by a farmer’s cat. Last year
I had one under the same conditions, but
it was not quite so early an arrival.
Lynch, a farmer on the Poquetannoc road,
told me that his cat also brought a Wood¬
cock into the house alive. Now, here
appears a new element of destructiveness
to game birds not commonly taken into
consideration, and against which it is use¬
less to legislate. — J. M. IV., N^on/'ich, Ct.

Hatching Hawk’s Eggs.

Friend Wade : Agreeable to yot;r re¬
quest. I send you my experience in hatch¬
ing eggs of our Rapacia. The result has
not been very satisfactory thus far, but
enough so to satisfy me that some of our
Oologists who are very positive in their
statements are mistaken (18 to 22 days).
Mr. R. M. Jerome, of Plum Island, who
has watched the nests of the Fish Hawk
for years, says the period of incubation of
this bird is about twenty-eight days. (See
Familiar Science for June, 1880). From
my observations I am satisfied that this is
the time occupied bv all our Hawks. In
mv articles published in Familiar Science.
I stated that I believed twenty-one days
was the period of incubation of all our
diurnal birds of prey. This statement I
made on the assertions of my collectors.

May 2d. 1870, I put two Red-shouldered
Hawk's eggs under a hen May 20th. I
took the eggs and broke theni. exi)ecting

to find dead birds, as it was several days |
past the time of incubation given by any
of our Oologists (27 days), but jhidge of
my surprise on finding two lively Hawks,
evidently just ready to hatch.

In 1880, through the kindness of “ J. M.
W,” I received eggs of the Barred Owl,
Cooper’s and Red-shouldered Hawk. The
Ban-ed Owl’s eggs were so thin-shelled
that they were broken before two weeks
had exjiired. On the 2Gth day the hen
accidentally got shut out from her nest,
and I did not find it out until the eggs
were cold. On breaking them, two well
developed chicks of the Cooper’s Hawk
were found dead. The Red-shouldered
egg was addled. The past season, through
the politeness of IV. AV. Coe, I received
four eggs of the Marsh Hawk and one of
the Red-shouldered. On the 30th day I
examined the eggs and found two chicks
of the Mar.sh Hawk had cracked the shell,
but had been unable to extricate them¬
selves. The other eggs were addled.

From the above I am satisfied that the
period of incubation of our Hawks is from
twenty-eight to thirty days. I have made
arrangements the coming season to test the
matter with an incubator. If those inter¬
ested in this subject will send me fresh
eggs of our Rapacia, I hope to be able to
settle positively this question. — William
Wood. East Windsor Hill, Conn.

Brief Newsy Notes.

Herons. — On the 4th of August. 1879,

I saw an adult Little Blue Heron {Honda
C'ernlea) at Mount Sinai Harbor, L. I., ac¬
companied by a flock of eighteen or twenty
Snowy Heron ( Garzetta candidissinia). One
of the Snowy Herons I secured, which
proved to be a young male. — A. II. Jlehne,
Miller s Jdace, X. Y.

PrRPi.E (r.M.LiNtri.E, {lonomis martinica.)
k specimen was shot near a small pond in
Middle Island in the Summer of 1879 by
Mr. F. Edwards, who still has the bird in
his possession. — .1. 11. Helme. X. I.

May, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

119

Cape Cardinal. — Mr. Emerson, of Hay¬
wards, Cal., writes us as follows: “I have
got a bird new to this place. Our Indian
hoy shot a Cape Cardinal {Cardinalis
igneus) which is foimd on Cape Saint
Lucas and in Southern Arizona. The only
(hfference is the bill is thicker, and the
black in front of the forehead does not
run across like Cardinalis virginianus. It
is a fine specimen in good plumage.”

Kocgh Legged Buzzard. — I had a fine
hunt a few days ago, and shot three Rough
Legs in one afternoon. They are very
wild, and I have to hunt them with a team.
Have seen twenty in one day and six or
seven in sight at one time, and two and
three at once in the same tree. — Delos
Hatch, Oak Centre, Wis.

Rusty Blackbird. — A male Rusty Black¬
bird was shot here Feb. 5, which is the
first capture recorded in Winter for this
State. — H. A. Atkins, M. D., Locke, Mich.

Purple Finch. — How early in the season
does the Purple Finch begin to sing ? This
morning (Feb. 25th) we heard one in our
door yard in nearly full song. Our earliest
date previously is March 15th. — Jno. IT.
Sage, Portland, Conn.

C.iROLiNA Rail. — On Dec. 29th, 1881, a
male Carolina Rail was shot on the mead¬
ows north of Hartford, Conn. The bird is
now in my possession. Rather late; in
fact, latest I have seen recorded ? — //. T. G.

Curious Nest of the^Redstart. — "WTien
passing through clumps of woods or
bushes, collecting nests and eggs, I follow
the practice of removing any old nest in
reach that I may see, so that on some
future triji it may not lead me out of my
course. On June 10th, 1880, 1 had lowered
a branch, attached to which was an old
Red-eyed Vireo’s nest. Upon looking in¬
to it, I was surprised to find four spotted
eggs, entirely different from those of the
Vireo ; so replacing the branch and retreat¬
ing a short distance, I awaited develop¬
ments. Soon a female Redstart {Setopha-
ga ruticilla) alighted near the nest and

after a few moments settled down into it.
The little occupant had relined the old
weatherbeaten nest with fine grasses, thus
covering [th® fkiii places, making the oth¬
erwise untenantable nest a comfortable
home. — A. K. Fisher, 31. />., Sing Sing.

Personal.- — ^Mr. J. A. Allen, Editor of
the Hidl. Futt. Orn. Club, who has been
in poor health for some time, has gone to
Colorado Springs. He left March 6th, and
will arrive there in time to see the Spring
open and his feathered friends return from
their Winter sojournings. It is reported
that Wm. Brewster is to join him.

Notes from St. John, N. B.

July 8. — Mr. Banks discovered the nest
of the Song Sparrow, {3Ielospiza fasciata,')
the fourth he has found this season, all
were built in shrubbery from eighteen to
thirty-six inches from the ground. There
were three young in this last one, j ust pre¬
paring to leave the nest. My own note
book has a record of young birds of this ,
species, taken while flying on June 20th.

July 5 — He saw this day the nest of a
Black-throated Green Warbler, {IJendrmca
virens,) whicli was built on a horizontal
limb of a small spruce. It was very neatly
made though composed entirely of dried
grass, the lining being of the same material
as the exterior, but of flner pieces. It was
about five feet from the ground and con
tained four eggs partially incubated.

On the same day he found two nests of
Black and yellow Warblers, {Dendrmca
3Iaculosa) both built in small firs three and
four feet from the ground and containing
four eggs partially incubated.

July 20. — Found tw’o nests of the Snow¬
bird, or Ivoiy-billed Blue-bird, as the na¬
tives here call them, but known to the
book-men as Junco Jiyemalis. Each nest
contained four freshly laid eggs.

Mr. Banks reports finding a pair of
Yellow-rumiis, {Dendrmca coro7iata,) and a
])air of 3fernla itiigratoria, building on a

120

ORNITHOLOGIST

Bmall spruce tree about fourteen feet liigli.
Tlie Robin's nest was about seven feet from
the ground and the Warblers about twelve
feet. Both nests contained eggs.

IMr. Banks also reports finding a Robin’s
nest built on a rock partially sheltered by
shrubbery.

A few days ago I was shown by Mr. J.
M . Monison the nest, or nests rather of a
pair of Robins, Merula mlyrdtorinx, (new
version,) built on a window cap under the
peak of the roof of a house. l\Ir. Morrison
says that on May 28tli the first brood of
young were hatched and the jjarents at
once l)egan to build a new nest immedi¬
ately above the first. A second comple¬
ment of eggs were deposited and hatched
out, and for the third time the birds pro¬
ceeded to build, selecting for the site of
their new home an adjacent tree. The
nest was completed here, but the old birds
were so bothered by their youngsters that
they finally abandoned this nest in the tree
and returned to their old stand under the
peak and put their fourtli nest on the top
of the two already there, and from this
tliird story they brought out their brood.
— J\IoHtague iJhamherhtin, Saint Johns,

X. n.

Lost to Science.

M hat a vast amount of assistance comes
to the aid of science sometimes from a
humble and unexpected source, and the
collector who is the recipient thereof how
fortunate to become the medium of commu¬
nication for such important revelations.
The scientific world jirob.ably never heard
of “ Chet. Brooks" but everybody in ^lid-
dlesex County has, ajid most jieople that
have been much in the street here have
])robablv met him with barehe,ad and b.are-
feet, a snapping turtle in one hand and a
gun in the other. He has shot a great
many muskrats, and once killed twentv-four
atone shot. “You don’t Ixdieve it" said
he. “Oh. certainly,” said I. “ Well,” he
said, lie “ would swear to the fiu-t and would

[Vol. 7-No. 15.

explain to me how.” They were on a long
log wliich was drifting down the river. He
got them in range and killed them all at a
shot. Going bareheaded in the hot sim
had tanned his comjilexion baiUy and made
the gi-eat mat of hair on his head decided¬
ly kinky, though he boasted a descent from
King Philip. He heard that I was fond of
collecting rare and curious birds and eggs,
and he had found a nest and eggs of one
of the rarest birds in the United States.
It was called a “ Pincalo. ’ He had never
seen but two or three of them in his life,
and he had travelled a great deal. It was
a beautiful bird, the top of its head was
red, its neck and back were beautifully
marked with blue and black, its wings and
tail the same, only tipped with white, and
its breast was white beautifully spotted
with black. He had also found its nest
and the eggs were the handsomest he ever
saw, and the nest, the most singular of all,
consisted of a large heap of seaweed and
debris from the shore, and the eggs were
laid in the heap as it was piled up. trusting
to the fennentation to hatch them. He
had saved a whole set of the eggs at his
house, eight in number, what would I give
him for them ? Five dollars, and very
much w.aut the bird also, and would con
sider myself exceedingly fortunate in
bringing such an important discovery to
the attention of the scientific world. Well,
he would get the bird, which he could easi¬
ly do and bring them all up to-morrow.
And would I be willing to p.ay him now T
M ell. no. hardlv, for fear he mi'j’ht forget
to bring them up to-morrow. ( )h. he would
never forget nor fail, but he was going to
the store and would like a little if it were
only ten cents. He would surely bring
them to-morrow, eggs and birds, and he
would swear to that. And I. Oh, I lost
that chance, and the scientific world may
never have another, to introduce into the
fauna of New England as a Summer resi
dent and breeding that remarkable anil
beautiful bird, the Pincalo. — J. X. tVark.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— A ND —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Single Copy,

Annum.

Established, March, 1875.

10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NORWICH, CONN., MAY 15, 1882.

NO. 16.

The Rufous-winged Sparrow.

CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIRE, U. S. A.

This little sparrow, first described in the
American Naturalist in 1873, Page 322,
by Dr. Cones as Peucoea carpalis, is a
common resident in the vicinity of Tucson,
Arizona Territory, where I found it abun¬
dant both Summer and Winter. Its range
extends, in all probability, throughout the
southern border of New Mexico and Ari¬
zona Territories. I have no positive in¬
formation as yet that it has been taken in
any other locality than the one above men¬
tioned. It is strange that such a common
species should have been overlooked by
the naturalists of the southwestern boun¬
dary survey, but such was the case, and it
was left for me to add this bird to our avi¬
fauna. I took my first specimens on June
10, 1872, and after spending many hours
in vain .in trying to locate them, my orni¬
thological library, consisting at the time of
but a single volume, the Text of the Birds
of North America, by Bau’d, Cassin and
Lawrence, I of course failed to find the
bird in that work, as it was an undescribed
species, nothing was left for me to do but
to try and make a few skins to send East
for identification. I believe this was one
of my first attempts in this line, at least
on so small a bird. I managed to strip
the hide off in some way, perhaps most of
the readers of the O. and O. have tried it
themselves, and know exactly how it works,
and my skins after they were done looked
as if a dog had chewed them for a short
time ; still there was enough of the origi¬
nal bird left to construct a new species out

of it. I omit gmng a detailed description
of the bird as it can be found in Mr. W.
H. Henshaw’s report to Lieut. George N.
Wheeler, Vol. 5 United States Geographi¬
cal Surveys, West of 100th Meridian, 1875,
Page 291.

I found these birds very common on the
ridges bordering Rillitto Creek, a little
back from the creek bottom proper, but
seldom any great distance from the latter
in the dry and arid cactus covered plains.

The Rufous-winged SpaiTow seemed to
be particularly partial to a strip of country
scarcely a mile in length by four hundred
yards wide running parallel to the creek
and near the present site of Camp Lowell.
This piece of ground was then covered
with good sized mescpute trees interspersed
with sage and thorn bushes, small under¬
growth and bunches of tall rye and mes-
quite grasses. In this conq^aratively small
sjjace I found not less than forty-three of
their nests with eggs and a still larger
number of those of the Black-throated
Sj^arrow which were still more common,
besides a number of nests containing young
birds in various stages of growth.

The nest is usually placed in low bushes
I^referably small mesquite bushes, from six
inches to five feet from the ground, most
frequently, however, about eighteen inches
high, and no especial attempt is made at
concealment. It is firmly fixed into a fork
or crotch of the bush in which it is built,
and is a compact structure, composed ex¬
ternally of coarse grasses and lined with
the fine tops of the mesquite grass, and
not unfrequently a few horse hairs when
such are obtainable. These nests are

122

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 16

slightly larger than those of the Black-
throated Sparrow — about two inches wide
by three inches deep in the inside, so deep
in fact that nothing but the tip of the tail
of the bird is Wsible when setting.

The first eggs of this species I found
about June 14, 1872, although I believe
these birds commence to breed about a
month earlier, their nests having been jjre-
viously overlooked by me. The number
of eggs to a set is from four to five ; they
are of a very delicate j^ale green color and
unspotted, often very pointed at the smaller
end, and the average measurement of
twenty-six specimens now before me is
0.76X0..57 inches. The largest egg in
this lot measures 0.79x0.58 and the small¬
est 0.73x0.54 inches.

The nest ajipears to be one of the most
favored by the Dwarf Cowbird as the re¬
cipient of its eggs, about one-half of the
nests found containing one or more of the
parasitic eggs. In a number of instances
where I found such parasitic eggs with
those of the rightful owner of the nest
one or more of the latter’s eggs were found
to have the shell minutely punctured in
one or more places. I presume this injury
would prevent these eggs from hatching,
and I firmly believe it was done by the
Cowbirds for this very purpose, as among
more than fifty of the latter’s eggs taken
by me during the same season I cannot
recall or find a single one that was so
punctured. I believe this to be a fact not
heretofore noticed by oologists ; at any
rate I cannot find any such record in any
of the ornithological works at present ac¬
cessible to me.

Its song is according to my estimation
rather weak and monotonous. During the
breeding season the male makes frequent
attempts at singing either while perched on
the top of a low bush or while hovering a
few feet in the air, generally in close prox¬
imity to the bush' in which'its nest is sit¬
uated. Its usual call note is a lisping
“tzip,” “tzip.” frequently repeated. It

spends a great deal of its time on the j,
ground and seems to feed principally on 1(
various kinds of small seeds. It seems to ji
be sociable and gregarious at all times. I.
In the Winter it is found in small flocks ].
among the Black-throated and Chipping
SpaiTows, the various Finches and the
White-winged Blackbirds. I believe these
birds rear from two to three broods a year,
as I have found fresh eggs as late as Sept.

1, 1872.

Rare Birds in Nova Scotia.

The Arctic current flowing from Hud¬
sons and Baffins Bays, divided by New¬
foundland, part coming do\vn the Straits
of Belle Isle and part by the eastern coast
of Newfoundland, but uniting in one
stream at the south, passes along the
Nova Scotia shore. The circular storms
commencing in the Gulf of Mexico or on
the Florida shores, the circle gradually en¬
larging during their progress past the
southeiTi shores of Nova Scotia on their
way across the Atlantic. It is owing to
these two causes that rare birds are found
in Nova Scotia almost after every storm.
The Arctic species, strictly pelagic, follow
their prey along the current till they get
far south. On meeting the circular storm,
usually passing on their northeast and east
circles, they fly west to avoid it, and come
to this Prorince. Thus, after the storm,
Oct 4, 1879, (called the Saxby storm, after
his prediction), a pair of Pomarine Jaegers
were seen in Digby Basin, one of which
was shot. The broad band of clay-blue
below the black leg and knee, mentioned
by Audubon was very marked. In July,
1881, Wm. S. Gilpin shot a Shearwater, or
Puffinits 7na}or. This pelagic species, com¬
mon on the banks, had evidently been
blown in. To these causes I attribute Mr.
Downs obtaining in the year 1850, three
specimens of the Labrador Duck, the last
ones seen here ; nor have I seen any men¬
tion in any ])eri()dical of them since, though
common in Wilson's time and known by

AND OOLOGIST.

123

May 15, 1882.]

the gunners of Ehode Island in 1830. De¬
cember 11, 1871, 1 saw in a Halifax market
three fine males in perfect plumage of the
King Eider, and never since ; and here
may be mentioned, though certainly not
owing to Arctic currents, that about twelve
or fifteen years ago a specimen of the Great
extinct Auk was discovered by the late
Lord Bishop of Newfoundland and pre¬
sented to a gentleman in Halifax. It had
been dead a long time and was only feathers,
skin and bones, and was found buried under
guano at the Funk Islands by the Bishop
himself. I think this to be the last speci¬
men noted. Of the more Southern spe¬
cies, which, caught in the circles of the
Southern cyclones, are whirled down ujmn
us, may be added a Purple Galinule, shot
at Hahfax, F ebruary, 187 0, a few days after
the cyclone in which the City of Boston
perished, and Her Majesty’s transport,
Oronte, survived, on the banks of New¬
foundland. The Florida Galinule was also
taken near Halifax, May 23, 1880, after no
recorded storm. After a heavy storm, Nov.
15, 1876, was taken near Halifax, and
mounted by Mr. Downs, a Frigate Pelican
or Man-of-War Bird, and again after a fu¬
rious gale, September, 1870, which de¬
stroyed numbers of shipping and boats,
was shot far in the interior of the Prov¬
ince, a Trojiic Bird, this rosy favorite of a
tropical sun, with its scarlet beak and long
red tail, must have found but a poor rest
among the spruce firs of Nova Scotia,
To these may be added a female Cardinal
Grosbeak, shot February, 1871, at Hali¬
fax — thermometer 14 degrees below zero —
very fat and lively, a Blue Grosbeak mounted
by Mr. Downs, and a small flock of Red¬
wing Blackbirds, young males and females,
on Devil’s Island, near Halifax, in Novem¬
ber, after the storm of Oct. 12, 1871. This
ends my list of personally observed birds,
but as there has been some communica^
tions lately upon the matter, I may add
that the Wliite-winged Crossbill (61 leii-
''(ipte.ra) is known to hatch in February,

the female setting upon her eggs, with the
the snow all around her, were seen in the
pine woods of the Dutch village near
Halifax in February. Chief Justice Sir
William Ritchie assured me that he had
seen them in his own woods, near St. John,
breeding in February, our coldest month.
— J. Bernard Gilpin, Ilalifax, N'. S.

The Osprey and its Prey.

We were sitting ujion the piazza facing
south, about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
The river runs past the house at about
eighty yards distance. Suddenly I heard
a wild scream of exultation. I thought it
was an eagle, but, looking uji, there over
the river was a fiock of crows who were
attending a convention in a neighboring
grove. Passing through this noisy flock I
saw, rising heavily, a large bird weighed
down by something which he bore in his
talons. After rising above the crows, he
passed directly over our heads, bearing
away across the rice fields towards the dis¬
tant wood. Then I recognized, with a
shout of satisfaction, a magnificent Osprey,
bearing in his gras]) a giant cat fish, the
fisli appearing even longer than the bird,
and it was a hard tiig for even her power¬
ful wings. I could iflainly see the feelers
projecting from the cat’s jaws, and recog¬
nized the shape of his head — while the
plumage of the beautiful bird was glisten¬
ing plainly in the sunlight. It was a
grand sight ! I think the Osprey was a
female — it being too large, it seemed, for a
male, for, as you well know, “the mare is
the best horse,” “ the wife wears the
breeches,” in this case — the female being
the more powerful and beautiful bird in
the raptores generally. — Rev. J. Bachman
Haskell, White Hall, S. C.

Gadwell Duck in R. I. — A collector
brought to us a fine Female Gadwell Duck
which he shot at New2)ort, Sunday, Feb. 26.
It is the first capture in this State as far as
I am aware. — Fred. T. Jencks, Bnw., R. I.

124

ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol 7-No. 16

() R N I T H O L () G I S T

—AND—

OOLOOIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGOS.

,rOS. Jtl. WAT>E, EDITOR,

stand and appreciate. It is not by anj--
means above criticism, but Mr. Ingorsoll
has done so well that we have not the incli¬
nation to criticise, even if we had the room.
Every collector should get a copy for it is
well worth the low price asked for it.

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — per annum. Foreign guhscrip-
tion t\.25— including pogtage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WAI>E, Norwich, Conn.

E 7)1 TORI A Z.

Our Present Number is dated ^lay 1 5th
and is an extra. During the year another
will be sent out. The volume will then
close with the year and prevent confusion.
For want of room much newsy and valuable
matter is left over eacli month. An enlarge¬
ment or a semi-monthly issue is very desir¬
able. Our thanks are tendered to those
who have sent us additional subscribers.

Publications.

“Forest and Stream," Bird Notes. An
index and summary of all the ornithologi¬
cal matter contained in “ Forest and
Stream,” Vols. I to XII. Compiled by H.
B. Baily. Forest and Stream Publishing
Co., N. Y., 1881. Price not given. The
above is a very valuable work for students
in ornithology who have access to a full
file of Forest and Stream. The “summa
rv” is valuable of itself, but the title “Bird
Notes" is misleading. The name of the
author is a sufficient guarantee that the
work is well done.

“Birds Nesting. A hand book of in-
straction in gathering and preserving the
Nests and Eggs of Birds for the purpose
of study, by Ernest Ingorsoll, Salem. Geo.
A. Bates, 1882.” Price conditional — from
90 cents to SI. 25. We have read this work
with much interest and some profit. Mr.
Ingorsoll has written the book in a jilain,
straightforward manner that all can under¬

Blue Yellow-backed Warbler.

ITS SUMMER HOME.

The long, pendulous tree moss, so-
called, in which the Blue Yellow-backed
Warbler builds its nest and breeds, is a
lichen of the genus Usnea ( U. barbata,var.
hirta) and ( U. trichodea). The filamen¬
tous thallus of the latter is coarser and
longer than the former, specimens often
measuring more than two feet in length.
Both species are often found in the same
nest, f/. barbata. or the finer parts of U.
trichodea, being used for the nest proper.

Of the nine species recognized by
Nylander three are European and six are
possessed by us. U. barbata, var. Flori¬
da is very common in our woods, but is
hardly pendulous enough for the purposes
of the Warbler in question. It may be
readily distinguished by its numerous
peltate apothecia, with radiate margins
and whitish faces. The longer species
mentioned above {var. hirta), is found on
juniper or sarins in exposed localities on
our highest hills ; old scraggy trees, partly
dead, furnish the greatest supply. I have
found none on young trees. Tlie filaments
of this lichen are very fine and hair-like.
The finest specimens of U. trichodea are
found in our densest swamps on the
white cedar ( Cupressus thyoides) and on
other swamp trees.

In appearance these lichens are related
to our northern cedar swamps very much
as the Spanish or black moss ( I'itlandsia
usenuides) is to the southern ; though thej
latter is not a lichen, belonging as it does:]
to the juneapple family, it is neverthelessj
an epiphyte. Lichens are all hardy air]
plants and simply require a foothold, whenj
they are able to thrive under the most]

ammtsa

AND OOLOGIST.

125

May 15, 1882.]

adverse conditions of temperature. In
one of these swamps I was shown my
first Blue Yellow-back’s nest, by an en¬
thusiastic worker hereabouts, who had the
kindness to guide me through the Swamp-
tangled labyrinths for the space of an
hour or more to my great profit and
delight. The beautiful Calla palustres
and the pitcher plant {S. purpurea) were
in blossom under the shade of the trees,
and the spagnum imder foot, several feet
in thickness, was as soft as a bed of down.
Botanically considered, the spot was a per¬
fect treasure house. I visited the place
again during the Winter of 1880, when
the ice assisted me greatly in getting about.
— G. R. C., Norwich^ Conn.

Great Horned Owls’ Nests and Eggs.

W. W. Coe, of Portland, Conn., secured
still another set in his long series of Great
Horned Owls, Feb. 27th, his earliest record
being Feb. 22d.

March 12th, I startled a Rubo from an
old nest under which I had been twice in
February and seen no sign. Fragments
of shells and a wad of wet feathers were
on the ground, and the nest held one Owl
but a few hours from the shell. There
was no quarry or food in the nest and the
parent, which flew swiftly out of range,
was a bird of the small dark male type.
Now, if the period of incubation of /?. vir-
ginianus is as given by writers (“all guess
work” says Dr. Wood), or if it approaches
in duration the long incubation of the
Buteos., of which I have some data, then
the egg which produced this chick must
have been laid at an earlier date than any
present record of the breeding of this
species in Conn. — J. M. W., Norwich, Ct.

I have been serenaded all winter by the
harmonious sub-bass of a pair of Great
Horned Owls from Cedar Swamp, some
three-fourths of a mile away, and as I list¬
ened I whispered to myself, “ just you
wait till next February and then see.”
They waited till about the middle of Feb¬

ruary, when the serenading suddenly
ceased, and I listened for it in vain night
after night. And right here let me ask the
question of those acquainted with this
bird’s habits, if they do not cease “ hoot¬
ing” for a time after they commence to
breed"? I have observed this same omi¬
nous silence throxigh the latter part of
February before. After listening in vain
night after night till into March, I gave
them up, remarking to a friend that my
great expectations had turned to disap¬
pointment, when the siiggestive question
above was put to me, and sure enough one
evening my ear was saluted again by the
old serenade all the evening long, and the
next morning it was continued until 8
o’clock. When night came again, the ser¬
enade again commenced, and I started off
in the twilight to trace them out. Reach¬
ing the limit of my intended trip, I heard
the Owl, apparently about a mile further
on. I listened as it repeated its note and
at each repetition it seemed nearer, till
presently it resounded from a grove quite
near me and I heard a strange noise, a
rajiidly repeated ha-ha-ha-hey-e-e coming
back, and my inference was that the male
was treating his mate to a supper. It was
only a little grove, but I well knew' of an
old Cooper’s Haw'k’s nest built two years
ago in it, and there, when I paid a visit by
daylight, were the erect horns and a par¬
tial glimpse of the great eyes staring dow'n
at me. A smart rap on the tree started
her off and I arranged for a climb. It
was not a difficult tree — a maple forty-
seven feet from the ground to the nest —
and I soon had the much prized set in my
hands — two j^ure w'hite eggs very nearly
round. Incubation had proceeded prob¬
ably about a w'eek or ten days. I do n ot
think the Owds had added any building
materials to the nest, but the setting bird
must have nearly denuded her breast of
feathers for lining, as the inside was well
matted with them. This w'as on March
13th, and incubation w'as unusually late

12G

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. IG

with them. Last season I found a set on
the 15th, witli young just ready to leave
the shell, and once before on the 18th the
same ; all these were in old Cooper’s
Hawks’ nests. I never found them in a
hollow tree, but I once found a set in a
broad crotch of a large chestnut, where
four branches converged from the same
point ; but there was no nest, not even a
leaf. — .T. K. Clark, Old Sayhrook, Conn.

(Junius A. Brand, of this city, came to
our office March 19th, and reported find¬
ing a Great Homed Owl’s nest a few miles
out, which contained two young, from one
week to ten days old. The nest was in an
immense pine, some fifty feet up. IMr. B.
has harried this pair for three years in
succession, but always too late, each season
finding yoiing in the nest. — Ed.)

Cost of Importing. — As many of our
readers have made enquiries in regard to
cost of importing natural history speci¬
mens, we give the following statement of
actual cost : It appears that there is no
duty on such specimens. This package
contained the skin of one Eagle Owl
( Tiuho maximas) and three sets of eggs,
and came from William Schliiter, Halle on
Saale, Germany. Freight and charges to
New York, 82.47 ; custom house fees,
81.00; cartage, .75 ; insurance, .15 ; Stor¬
age, .45 ; custom house brokerage. 83.00 ;
total .87.82, or 82.47 for can-ying the
package from Germany to New York, and
85.35 for getting the package from the
ship to the e.\])ress office in New York.
So much for the beautiful workings of
our custom house system.

American Lono-e.\red Owl. — Averajre
measurement of thirty-seven specimens of
tlie eggs of AkIo americanus {Sharpe), all
I can get at jiresent average 1..59xl.30
inches. The tlu'ee largest eggs measure
respectively 1.08x1 31, 1.00x1 38, 1.03x
1.34, the two smallest 1.52x1.32 and 1.57
X 1.25 inches — see jiage 81, . Yol. VI. —
Chan. K. liendlre, U. S. ,1.

Death of William B. Dickinson.

This young and enthusiastic naturalist
contracted a fever while collecting speci¬
mens in the Mulds of Florida which termi¬
nated fatally at Palatka, Dec. 19, 1881.
Y’^oung Mr. Dickinson gave early indication
of a taste for natimal science, and found
in his father not only an able instructor,
but that encouragement which an enthusi¬
ast in liis profession can give, so tliat at
the early age of twenty-three years, the
time of his death, he ranked among the
first artists in his line of profession. Be¬
ing of a genial disposition and a good
marksman, he had naturally won many
friends who muII hear of his death with re¬
gret. His relatives and friends, who were
anxiously awaiting the Spring to welcome
him home, feel their loss keenly, as he was
highly esteemed in his native place and
had won the respect of all who knew him.

Humming Birds in Confinement.

One of the most wonderful of nature’s
beautiful works is the “hummer,” its breast
covered with irredisent plumage, its wings
of gauze, hovering hither and thither over
the bright blossoms, in search of sweets
hidden in the depths of each corolla.
When the cup is drained, with a qfiick dart
he is away to other fields.

I had often wished to companionize
them, and was so favored this past Spring
April 14th. Mliile my son and myself
were out collecting, he found a nest of the
Allen hummer, {Selasphoras alleni.) the
young just about to tly. I carried them
home and fed them with sugar. After
three or four days taught them to thrust
their long wiry bills into a small glass
vase filled with white sugar syrup, which
they ate with a rajiid thrusting of tlieir
long thread-like white tongues, similar to
the lappings of a cat drinking milk. They
very soon l<‘arned to go to their cage and
feed themselves They were allowed to Hy

May 15, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

127

about the rooms through the day, as screens
at the doors and windows kept them from
escaping, although they did not attempt to
get out or fly against the windows as wild
birds usually do.

I soon taught them to come at my call and
feed from my lips, or rest on my breast
while at my painting, and that recalls an
amusing incident that happened to one of
my pets. Being “ ferociously” hungry he
made a dash at a mass of chrome-yellow on
my pallette which stuck to his bill, and as
I was hurrying to finish my day’s work I
did not notice the mishap until his plain¬
tive peep, and fluttering before my face,
called my attention. Upon relieving the
poor little “ Omoline Ortesi” of his super-
abimdance of chrome-yellow, he uttered
his thanks and made a hurried dart after
a fly. I have often seen both making quick,
short turns and not stopping until one or
the other had made a captive of a house
fly. They would perch themselves upon
the roimds of my chair, chirping with a
squeaky, unmusical note, as if to let me
know of their presence.

When their food was gone they would
poise themselves in the air close to my
mouth, thrust their bills between my lips,
then fly to their cup, then back to my
mouth, and repeat it until I answered their
demands. J. G. Cooper remarked, while
watching their flight through the rooms,
that he had never known of the hummers
having been taught to gather honey from
flowers only by the parent bird, and I de¬
cided to make the experiment, gathering
some scarlet geraniums and verbenas, pla¬
cing them in a vase on the table, holding
up my brush, I called my pets to me. I
placed them in front of the flowers. They
•lid not take any notice of them. I then
put a drop of syrup in the centre of each
blossom, putting the bills on the drops of
sugar, which they sipped from every flower,
hovering in the air as we see them out of
doors ; they did not need a second lesson
nor did they ever forget their instruction.

Wlien fresh flowers were brought in,
there was a gleaning without delay. I no¬
ticed the scarlet blossoms received atten¬
tion first, and they would perch upon my
arm and hover about me with evidently
pure delight, when I wore a scarlet jacket,
showing a preference for bright colors.

I had my pets two weeks when I noticed
one of them on a mg where the sun shone,
fluttering its wings as if wishing for a bath.
I gave it a dish of water. Its foot was so
small and the dish so slippery, that it could
not stand. On placing a bit of moss in
the dish and putting the wee one on it, it
began to flutter its wings, sending the wa¬
ter in tiny showers, calling its mate to join
in the glee. After washing they perched
themselves on the centre cross-bar of the
window, in the sunshine, dressing their
feathers, stretching themselves over on
their sides, acting as though quite well
taught, all from bird intuition as they had
not known a mother since leaving the nest.
I found them very ajit in learning and fond
of caresses, allowing me to stroke them,
turning their heads to one side as if listen¬
ing to my words.

My pets were three months and a half
old when a friend came to visit me. As we
sat chatting, the smaller and brighter of
the two alighted on her hand, sitting for
some five minutes, appearing as content as
bird could be. I called it, and as it flew to
my lips for sugar, finding none, hastened
to its cage. As it was alighting, its com¬
panion who was at the cuj), gave it a
sharp peck on the head, which stunned
the poor thing, felling it to the floor. I
picked it up and jflaced it on its perch
by the food. It would not eat and seemed
dazed like, dying on the following day.

The remaining one went uneasily from
room to room, calling most jutifully for its
mate, and after the second day it refused
to eat and died. Indeed I cannot tell
you how we missed our pets, for every day
we had learned something new and strange
in the habits and peculiarities of the hum-

128

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. IG

mei*s. Their happy, chirjiy notes, tpiick
flights, sporting wath each other, their
moniing bath and winsome ways, were as
a golden ray of sunshine that brightened
the ever}' day cares of life ; and here let
me add the more one will encourage them¬
selves in gleaning a little here and gather-
iim there, in a few months they would be
aromished at the amount of information
gained from Nature’s never ceasing won¬
ders which lie all around us or near our
reach if we will but seek and gather. — Mrs.
C. M. Croioell, JIat/ioards, Cal.

Traill’s Flycatcher.

ITS NESTING H.\BITS IN OHIO.

Traill’s Flycatcher, {Empulonax pmillus
trailli), arrives in Ohio the last of April or
the first of May, passing northward along
the margin of the streams. So far as I
have obsen'ed, it seems to be more shy and
restless than others of the genus. Its
jiresence is made kno^\’n by its short and
pevish notes, uttered at interv'als as it flits
from bush to bush or across a stream.

About the latter part of ]May they re¬
tire to their favorite breeding resorts,
which are always in low grounds, and are
especially fond of thick willows and alders
along the banks of miming streams. These
localities seem to be characteristic of this
species ; at least I have never found them
elsewhere during the breeding season. In
the vicinity of Columbus they are. appar¬
ently, a common Summer resident, breed¬
ing almndantly. The bird was not known
to Vireed in Ohio until its nest was discov¬
ered by Dr. •!. Wheaton, in June, 1874,
in this vicinity. In 1879 I obtained four
nests with eggs; in 1880, six nests with
eggs; in 1881, between May 28 and June
17, I obtained eighteen nests containmg
eggs. The locality was in a thick growth
of alders bordering a canal, three miles
north of the city. None of these nests
were jilaced higher than eight feet from
the ground, and in most cases from two to
four. In nearly all instances they were

built in an uiiright fork, the small twigs
that surrounded them were made available
to secure them finnly in their place by
being encircled with stringy fibres.

Ten nests before me have a strong re¬
semblance to the usual structure of the
Yellow Warbler, {Dendroeca vestiva,) but
probably lack in comjiactness and neatness.
The external or greater portion of the nest !
is composed of hempen fibres, internally 1
lined in true Flycatcher style with fine
grasses. In some, however, there is a
slight lining of horse hair, and of the \
dowTi from the milk-weed or thistles. A i
typical nest measures as follows : Height, I
two and a half inches ; diameter, three in- i
ches. The carity is an inch and a half in
diameter, and two inches in depth. In
nearly all cases these nests contained but I
three eggs ; rarely four, and a great many ■{
in varying stages of incubation. A. nest j
was often found with one fresh egg and
two others partly incubated, showing that |
the eggs were, in some cases, laid on alter- i
nate days, and sometimes as late as a week .
after the first was deposited, as is often
the case with our Cuckoos. The ground
color of these eggs is extremely variable, i
Ill some it is of a cream color, in others .
ajiproachiiig buff. In four sets before me (
there is a striking variation in the distribu- |
tion of the markings. They are usually I
marked chiefly at the larger end with large
blotches of red and reddish-brown. This,
however, is only characteristic in one of
these sets, while in the others the markings
are siiiijily veiy small dots, sparingly
sprinkled over the surface, and in some
these dottings are scarcely visible, giving
them tlie appearance of an almost unspot¬
ted surface. Six eggs measure respective¬
ly 72xJo, 7()X>'5J, lOxfi’i. ()4x53, G9xo2.

lOxfiJ. There is scarcely any perceptible
difference between the eggs of Trailli iunl
those of Acadicas. The western eggs of
Trailli jirobably have a darker ground,
and the spots are more vivid, but I <lo not I
believe any one can tell them ajiart with J
certaintv. — Oliver Davie, Columbus. Ohio. ^

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher. Single Copy,

Annum. Established, March, 1875. 10 Cents.

VOL. VII, NORWICH, CONN., JUNE, 1882. NO, 17.

Malheur Lake, Oregon,

BY CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIEE, U. S. A.

April 14, 1875, the writer with a party of
friends started from Camp Harney to Mal¬
heur Lake (both of which places are loca¬
ted in Grant County, in the southeastern
portion of Oregon), the lake about twenty-
five miles south of the post. The ostensi¬
ble objects of the trip were, (1st,) to hunt
water fowl, thousands of which were to be
found at that season of the year on the
shores of the lake, which was a favorite
resting place for them, a sort of half way
house on their migrations to and from their
breeding places in the northern regions ;
and also to try the sailing qualities of a
good-sized boat, which a joint stock com¬
pany of us had constructed during the pre¬
vious Winter, and which was to be launched
on the lake for the first time. The ice hav¬
ing only broken uji a few days preGously,
and occasional patches of snow were still
to be seen in places on the plain interven¬
ing between the lake and the jmst, so that
the idea of possibly finding eggs so early
in the season never once entered my head,
and I made no preparations whatever for
their care. However, early as it was I
■ DiiUu cnat several specie..., liatl commencect
nesting already, among these the American
lute Pelican, {l^elecartus erythrorhyn-
ohuH, Gmel.), whose eggs were still rare in
most collections, and well prepared sped
mens especial desiderata.

We made oim first camp on Sylvie's River,
a large tributary of the lake, some sixteen
miles from the post, and from which point
it looked simple enough to get into the

lake — till we tried it. A thick belt of heavy
tules about a mile wide intervened between
the point where the stream ceased to be
navigable and the open waters of the lake,
which we found to be nowhere more than
a few feet deep. It took us till noon of
the 16th to find a channel which finally al¬
lowed us to float our boat on the lake
proper. We were well repaid, however,
for all our labor Swan, Geese and Ducks
were to be seen in all directions, and sev¬
eral low, narrow islands near the eastern
end of the lake seemed to be literally cov¬
ered with water fowl of various kinds. On
landing on the nearest island I found it
was occirpied by quite a colony of the
American White Pelican, the Great Blue
Heron and the Double-crested Cormorant,
besides various sjjecies of Ducks and a few
Canada Geese. There are five of these
islands, separated from each other by nar¬
row channels. The two largest are each
about six hundred yards long and not over
a hundred yards wide at any place, gener¬
ally less ; the central portion, forming a sort
of a ridge, is covered with a heavy growth
of a species of grease woo<l, extending in
a strip from ten to fifteen feet wide the
whole of their length. Close to the east-
e^u edge ot this strqj ot grease wood, on a
dry sandy slo^je which was well sheltered
from the wind, I found my first Pelican’s
eggs, and not more than ten feet from them
was quite a patch of snow. The nests, if
they can be called such, consisted simply
of rubbish scraped up by the birds in the
immediate vicinity, to keep the eggs from
rolling about, the eggs theTiiselves laying-
on the bai’e sand. About one-fouj-th of

130

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 17

the nests contained two eggs, the remain¬
der but a single one, the birds having evi-
dentlj' just begun to lay. Almost all the
grease wood bushes on the island con¬
tained a nest of the Great Blue Heron,
but very few of these had commenced to
lay yet. I was determined to pay these
islands several visits in the near future,
looking at them as perfect oological bonan¬
zas from a collector’s standpoint. I brought
away but comparatively few eggs, but some
of the members of the party having more
faith in their gastronomic qualities than
myself, loaded themselves down with as
many as they could conveniently carry,
hoping therel)y to add an extra course con¬
sisting of a fine “omelet an naturel” to
our prospective supper of broiled Teal
Duck and Swan chowder. The said ome¬
let was duly and artistically prepared, but.
alas ! it was not a success. As I did not
taste the dish I cannot describe its partic¬
ular fiavor, but I well remember the re¬
mark made to me by our chef de cuisine :
“ Cajjtain, I don’t hanker after any more
Pelican egg om’let ; you can take all the
rest of the eggs, they taste too fishy ; if I
have to eat fish I prefer to take them
straight.”

April 22d, I made another trij) to Mal¬
heur Lake, and remained there till the
28th, exploring in the meantime all the
islands and the southern shores of the lake
thoroughly. On this and subsequent visits
I could, with little trouble, have loaded a
wagon with eggs, I found them so plenty,
that literally every foot of ground down
to the water’s edge was covere.l with nests.
Each of these contained generally two
eggs, although three and four to a nest were
by no means rare, and occasionally I found
as many as five, all evidently laid by
the same bird. Two eggs seems to be the
usual number laid, however. These are
dull, chalky white in color, rough to the
totich. caused by a calcareous deposit on
them, aTxd always more or less blood
stained. In some sjjecim^ns the white

ground color was nearly hidden so they
looked almost a chocolate brown. The
shell of these eggs, thick as it is, and par¬
ticularly if the eggs have been washed, is
very brittle, soft and easily broken. Their
average size is about 3.4,5 X 2.30 in¬
ches. Measurements of a few selected
specunens are as follows: 4.08 X 2.15,
4.04x2.20, 4.01x2.19, 3.99x2.20, 3.72 x
2.40, 3.86x2.5.5, 3.87x2..32, ,3.62x2.40,
3.60x2.40, 3..57X 2.3.5, 3.20x2.51, 3.17 X
2.23, 3.20x2.21; two runt eggs, 2.69 X
1.88 and 2.46 X 1.73 As will be seen there
is considerable variation, but it must also
be remembered that these eggs were selected
out of several thousand. The various dis¬
crepancies in the plumage of these birds
at different periods of the year is now well
understood. On being disturbed at their
bi-eeding places they would quietly fly out
a short distance into the lake and remain
there until the intruders had left or hidden
themselves. A protracted stay on the
islands was anything but jileasant, the
whole place being alive with fleas, and the
stench from decaying fish was almost un¬
bearable. The young, none of which
seemed to be more than a week or so old,
were perfectly naked, not a sign of a feather
bein" visible, and thev certainlv could not
be called attractive creatures. Eggs placed
under a domestic hen hatched in twenty-
nine days, and the injured and disgusted
look of that poor bird at the result of her
lengthy and protracted setting haunts me
still. Although awkward on the land, these
birds are by no means ungraceful on the
water as well as on the wing, and they pre¬
sent a })retty sight coming and going in
long single files from their breeding places.
They are a sedate and silent bird, showing
a great deal of tact and good sense com¬
bined with considerable activity on their
fishing excursions. It has been my good
fortune to observe tliem closely while so
engaged. Some twelve miles to the south¬
west of the islands where they bn-ed is
their princijiiil and favorite fishing ground.

AND OOLOGIST

131

June, 1882.]

Here a number of large springs break out
from the shore, this being the only place
on the whole lake, so far as I know, where
the water is sweet and palatable, that in
the lake proper being always more or
less brackish. Dense masses of tides
grow up to the shore on each side of this
spring, leaving a clear sheet of w'ater run¬
ning directly into the lake about a hundred
yards wide and some four feet deep. The
bottom for some two hundred yards out is
gravelly, and forms, I j^resume, the only
suitable spawning ground for certain spe¬
cies of fish found in the waters of this
lake. At the time I visited this lake a spe¬
cies of Catostomus, a red-sided sucker,
from twelve to eighteen inches long, was to
be found here in countless numbers. My
camjiing at the head of this spring kept
the birds away during the day time, but
shortly after sundown they commenced to
come in, first by tens, then by fifties, so
that in less than half an hour a perfect col¬
umn some one hundred and fifty yards long
and from four to six birds deep might be
seen swimming about on the open water a
hundred yards or so below where my boat
was tied up. Gradually they ventured
nearer, and one immense old fellow, evi¬
dently their leader, swam several times
quite close to the boat and then back
again to the main body, which kept moving
uneasily back and forth, apparently not
satisfied with the looks of things near the
shore. Finally several birds, bolder than
the rest, detached themselves from the
main body and moved ujj somewhat closer
but still not quite up to the boat. The
leader, far more courageous than the rest,
swam nearly around it, and after fidly sat-
isfying himself with his inspection seemed
to imply to the rest of the birds by his
looks to “ come along, everything is all
right.”

fCONCLUDEl) NEXT MONTH.]

Collector’s Movements. — We shall be
pleased to place on record the movements
of collectors when made known to us.

Golden Eagle’s Eggs. — While in camjj
at Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, in
1871, one of our party brought in from
the mountain in his saddle bag an egg of
the Golden Eagle. He found the nest on
a ledge of rock on the side of a moun¬
tain. It was composed of a mass of sticks,
in the center of which was a young eaglet
nearly neady to fly, and this egg which he
brought to me showed no signs of being
incubated, and I was only sorry the other
egg had hatched out, for I wanted a full
set. The old bird showed no alarm, but
flew about over head just out of gunshot
however. The egg is globular in shape,
being nearly as large one way as the other.
Ground color of a dirty white, covered
with blotches of what I suiiposed was dirt,
but on my rubbing it with soa2i and water
and a brush, it refused to come off. Ming¬
led with these stains as it were, are shell
sjjots of lilac and juiiqile. So the egg is
much darker than any other eagle's egg I
have seen. Shell smooth, Imt not jiolished.
Size, 2.84x2.34. Collected June, 1871, at
an elevation of over eight thousand feet,
our camp being nearly that height, and the
egg was taken at a much greater height.

Other sets containing two eggs are in
the collection of Geo. H. Heady, Santa
Cruz, Cal., and J. G. Coojier, of Haywards,
Cal. Also, Ca])!. Chas. E. Beudire, Fort
Walla Walla, W. T., and Edwin Dickinson,
Sjn-inglield, Mass.

Mr. Coojier also has an egg of the Cali¬
fornia Vulture in his collection, which is
the only one I know off, though he may
have added others since I heard from him.
— Snomdon Howland, ]Vewpo/-t, R. I.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — As far as my
exjierience goes, this bird lays three eggs-
I have occasionally found them with four,
and last spring found one with live eggs.
Is not this unusual ? — (We never found
but three eggs until last sirring, when we
re(!eived a set of live from Jerome Troni
bley, Petersburg, Mich. This was the first
record of five known to us. — Ed.)

132

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 17

O R N I T II O L O G I S T

—AND—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS.

,TOS. M. WADE, EDITOR,

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — SI. 00 per annum. Foreign subucrip-
tion $\.‘l5—inelvulingpoMage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Norwich, Conn.

EDTTORIA L.

“ Birds of New Brunswick.”

Away clown east in the Province of N. B.,
wit’ll its head centre at Saint John, is prob¬
ably the liveliest natur.xl history societv on
this continent at the jiresent time. There
are earnest workers in every department,
but ornitholog’v is especially favored by an
able set of men who seem devoted to the
science in its familiar form. The leader of
this band, Montague Chamberlain, seems
cut out by nature as a teacher. "While realiz¬
ing the full value of science, he also knows
that bird life, pure and simple, as depicted
by Wilson and Audubon, is what wins over
to science the young and would be or
nithologists. Tlie back pages of this mag¬
azine bear eaadence of the industry and
careful observation made by the members
of this society which has just issued its
first volume of transaction, entitled Ilulle-
th) of the Xaturdl History Society of Xetc
/{notsirick. It is a valuable document of
72 pages devoted to the doings of tlie so¬
ciety and natural history generally, but
wlnt interests us most is the list of 2(59
birds (by M. Cliamberlain) found in that
Province. This is not offered as a perfect
list, but as an “ installment. ” and bears ev¬
idence on its face that the day is not far
distant when the Birds of New lirunswick
will be thoroughly catalogued. Whether
this lhtUvti)i will be offered for sale or not
we do not know — but it should be in the
hands of every jirogressive ornithologist.

Birds of Central New York.

ADDENDUM TO REVISED LIST.

“ The Revised List of the Birds of Cen¬
tral New York,” as it apjieared from the
press in Ajuil. 1879, was a work based on
the field obseiaations of H. G. Fowler,
Frank S. Wright and Samuel F. Rathbun,
of Aubuni, N. Y., and collated for the press
by Frank R. Rathbun. A continuation of
the work, since the publication of the list,
has resulted in addmg fourteen species to
the record from this section, beside many
notes of interest. This makes the number
of perfectly authenticated species 250,
which have come under the actual obser¬
vation of i\Iessi-s. Fowler, Wright and S.
F. Rathbun, three of the authors of the
“ Revised List.”

The nomenclature as contained in the
“Bulletin of the U. S. National IVIuseum,”
is obseiwed in the addendum ; the style
and numbering as in the Revised List.

237. ^locKiNG Bird. — {^limxs polyylot-
tus.) (Linn.) Boie. A specimen of this bird,
an adult male in full breeding jJumage,
was taken during the month of ^lay, 1881,
by John M. IManro at Throopsville. N. Y.,
a few miles from Auburn. This bird, now
in his cabinet, was undoubtedly in its wild
state, as it showed no traces of confine¬
ment.

238. Orange-crowned Warbler. — ( Ilel-
minthophoya cehita.) (Say.) Baird. Rare.
But one individual on record, an adult
female, taken September 15th, 1880, by F.
S. Wright from a migratoiy fiock of small
species, while collecting in a tamarack
swamp in Wolcott, WaAUie Co.. N. Y.

239. Northern Waxwing. — ( . 1 nipefis
yttrnifi/s.)(Jjm.) A rare winter visitant. Not
recorded from this section ])reviouR to the
winter of 1879 80. In December, ’79. Mr.
J. Hunter, of this jilace, obsened a Hock
of sixteen of these iK-autiful birds jn a
mountain ash tn-e. about a lialf mile from
Sterling, Cayuga do., N. Y. Of these lie
shot twelve. Noticing the white marking
on their wings, and supposing this hi bean

June, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

133

albinistic form of the Cedar Waxwing, he
preserved the two best and brought them
to Auburn. These, coming into the pos¬
session of Mr. Wright, were at once iden¬
tified. Two more specimens of this bird
were taken about Christmas time of the
same year at Penn Yan, N. Y., by Reuben
Wood. (Gilbert).

240. Black-throated Bunting. — {Spiza
americava.) (Gm.) Bonap. June 6th, 1879,
an adult male was taken by F. S. Wright
near the village of Cayuga, N. Y. A
second male was taken by Mr. Wright in
the same locality, June 9th, 1879. Both
birds were in full song, and were shot from
alder bushes overhanging a brook.

241. American Hawk Owl. — {Surniafn-
nerea.) (Linn.) Rich, and Sw. Mr. W. M.
Beauchamji, of Baldwinsville, N. Y., writes
us concerning this species as follows : “ The
first Hawk Owl I saw was shot between
Auburn and Skaneateles in the Spring of
1850. It was on a Fast Day appointed by
General Taylor. The bird was brought to
me to identify. The second of which I
have knowledge was shot in Cazenovia, N.
Y., November, 1874 ; two w'ere seen to¬
gether. These are all I have knowledge
of.”

242. Bonaparte’s Sandpiper. — {Actodro-
mas fuscicollis.) (Vieill.) Ridgw. Not a
rare migrant. An adult female taken at
Owasco Lake, N. Y., Sept. 15th, 1879, and
a second female taken in the same locality
October 5th, 1879.

243. Baird’s Sandpiper. — {Actodronias
hairdi.) (Cones.) Regular migrant. Sep¬
tember 17th, ’78, Samuel F. Rathbun.
October 5tb, ’79, Charles F. Wright. Lo¬
cality, Fair Haven, N. Y. Generally found
as individuals in comiiany with other Sand¬
pipers ; never observed in flocks.

244. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. — ( Tryn-
yites rufescens.) (Vieill.) Caban. One
specimen taken from a flock of Sandjiiiiers
on the shore of Lake Ontario, Wa^me Co.,
N. Y., in August, 1880, by Samuel F. Rath-
bun. A year later, during the month of

September, two more were taken by John
M. Manro in the same locality and iden¬
tified by Mr. Rathbun.

245. Red Phalarope. — { /^/udaropus fu-
licarius.) (Linn.) Bp. Rare. September,
1880, Charles F. Wright, of Auburn, N.
Y., captured a fine plumaged male on the
shore of Lake Ontario, Wayne Co., N. Y.,
dm'ing a severe storm. The bird was swim¬
ming in the lake at the time ; now in the
c.xbinet of F. S. Wright, and identified by
Mr. Fred T. Jencks, of Providence, R. I.

246. Clapper Rail.^ — {Rallus lonyiros-
tris crepitans.') (Gmel.) Ridgw. Mr. Fos¬
ter Parker, of Montezuma, Cayuga Co., N.
Y., while drying his fyke-net on the bank
of Seneca River, near that place. May 25th,
1879, took therefrom an adult female of
this bird, that had become entangled in its
meshes. He failed to secure the male bird.

247. Whistling Swan. — {Olor anier-
icanus.) (Sharpless.) Bp. Swans in gen¬
eral are occasionally oliserved here as mi¬
grants, but seldom secured. A female of
the above species was received by F. S.
Wright in April, 1880. This specimen was
shot by Mr. Foster Parker, from a flock of
four, while decoying duck on Seneca River.

248. Widgeon. — (Mareca penelope.)
(Linn.) Selby. This species, commonly
known as the English Widgeon, is exceed¬
ingly r.ire. An adult male, in magnificent
plumage, was cajitured in May, 1880, by
Albert Demont, on Lake Cayuga, New
York, who presented it to F. S.
Wright, under the appellation of a “fine
cross between an American Widgeon and
Redhead.”

249. American Velvet Scoter. — {Mela-
netta velcetlna.) (Cass.) Baird. A common
spring and autumn migrant : a few winter.
Inadvertently omitted from “ The Revised
List.”

250. Laughing Gull. — Ijarus atricilla.)
Linn. One specimen in immature plumage
was taken on Cayuga Lake, N. Y., October,
187i), by Wm. A. Demont, and identified
at Auburn.

134

0HNITHUL0GI8T

[Vol. 7-No. 17

Notes from St. John, N. B.

Dining the "Winter of 1879, ’80, the Ce¬
dar Bird {Ampelis cedrorum) weathered
the rigors of onr climate as late as the
middle of Januaiw. During the same "Win¬
ter I also observed a Golden-winged Wood¬
pecker (Cohiptes aurahis) several mornings
in succession feeding on the berries of the
mountain ash.

Large numbers of Robins, (7'urdtis mi-
f/ratoria), remained here during the whole
Winter. The latter bird I have frequently
observed here during the Winter, but
never before or since have I seen or heard
of the Cedar Bird remaining in the Prov¬
ince later than September, which is their
usual time for migrating south.

I give a few causes that may be attribu¬
ted to these birds remaining with us through
this particular Winter, not that it was
milder than usual, or more broken : rather
the reverse, for several days the mercury
reached the cypher. The abundance of
food the Cedar Birds found in the berries
of the IMountain Ash was a great attraction
for them, for on these they fed sumptous-
ly ; in fact, gorging tliemselves to such an
extent that they would apparently become
stupid, and when in this state allow them¬
selves to be captured by means of a wire
noose attached to a fishing rod. If the
wire happened to touch them before you
succeeded in placing it over their heads, it
would not alarm them in the least. They
would pick at it. turn their heads and ex¬
amine it, as though it were quite a curiosi¬
ty. When one was captured the balance
of the flock would fly aAvay in great alarm.
I kept several of these birds in confine¬
ment that I had captured in this way ;
they, however, jiroved themselves such
very uninteresting jiets that I afterwards
gave them their liberty.

The abundance of food they found in
the berries must have been a great attrac¬
tion to them, for when the supply was ex¬
hausted. and they had entirely stripped

the trees, they disappeared, and did not
again put in an appearance imtil Jime,
which is their usual time of arriving from
the south. None of the sjjecimens that I
captured had the usual waxen appendages
on the secondaries, and were mostly young
birds which had probablj' bred farther
north and were only then moving south as
scarcity of fool and severity' of weather
compelled them ; but why does not this
occur every year ? The berries upon
which they fed have since been as abun¬
dant and no Cedar Birds have appeared at
this late season. Their appearance may
then be attributed to an enatic migration
on the ])art of these birds. I was quite
disappointed on first discovering them to
find they were not the Bohemian Wax¬
wing, {Ampelis //arrula), for which bird I
have kept a sharp lookout, but have not as
yet succeeded in securing a single speci¬
men. The Golden-winged Woodpecker
may have been a wounded bird and unable
to perfonn its usual migration, although
he appeared perfectly strong on the wing,
and particularly wild.

Several instances have been recorded of
Woodcock having been shot in the month
of December, but they have invariably
proved to be wounded birds, which have
been unable to migrate to their southern
feeding grounds, and which by the succour
of an open Spring have been enabled to
eke out an existence till this late season of
the year. — Harold Gilbert.

The Swamp Sparrow

.Arrives here, (Saratoga Springs), about
April 1st and departs, if it does at all,
about the first week of October. I have
seen it here ^larch 22d, 1879, and Feb.
27th, 1880. It is a pleasing songster, but
less voluble than its friend and ally, M
melodia. It is not at all shy, and when on
the nest can be apjiroached (piite close,
when it will fly uj) with a startling whirr
and an angry chirp, and aft<*r flying a
short distance, will alight and run like a

June, 1882.] AND OOLOGIST. 135

Petrified Nest and Eggs.

Sandj^iper among the bogs, and under the
overhanging bog grass, until at a safe dis¬
tance, when, being joined by the mate,
both commence an angry chirruping at the
intruder, which is increased as they per¬
ceive him searching for their nest, which
is usually finished and ready for eggs about
the 5th of May, placed on a bog generally
on one side of it. One nest taken May
19th,, 1877, was under a stump aboiit ten
feet from a brook. The nest has no spec¬
ial lining, except an occasional horse hair
and a little fine wire grass. The outer ma¬
terials are wire grass, mixed with some
coarser grasses. It is rather neater in finish
than M. melodia's nest, which, however, it
resembles more than any other species
with which I am acquainted. Its meas¬
urements are usually about four inches
outside, and two inside ; diameter -with a
depth of about one and three-fourths
inches. One nest found May 24th, 1878,
was five and a half inches in depth. Sets
are usually four or five, the latter being
the largest number I ever found.* They
vary in size and color to a great extent.
May 21st, 1878, found a nest and set of
four in a bog surroiinded by water. The
eggs were of a small ground green, dashed
and spotted with light brown and lilac.
May 24th, 1879, found a set of five, tw'o of
which had rings of lilac and browm spots
around the smaller end. May 15th, 1880,
found a set of five, all the eggs heavily
marked with reddish brown. Nest as
usual, in a bog, but June 15th, 1881, I
found a nest in a bush three feet from the
ground, the eggs with usual markings, but
the queerest jjosition of any nest I ever
found. I could not be mistaken in identi¬
ty, having seen the bird several times at
the nest. The earliest sets I have ever
taken were two of five each. May 5th,
1877, and the latest, June 12th and 1.3th,
1881. — W. P. Tarrant, Saratoga, JV. Y.

*We have a set of six taken by Delos
Hatch, Oak Centre, Wis., May 27, 1881. —
Ed.]

While examining the collection of Dr. S.
Woolverton of this city I was shoAvn a pet¬
rified bird’s nest, containing two eggs,
which was found in a cave near Woodstock,
Ont., several years ago. It seemed to be
formed of sticks, which outside were placed
longitudinally, but in the cavity laid hori¬
zontally. Many w^ere as much as five-eighths
of an inch in diameter, but probably in¬
creased by their coating of lime precipi¬
tate. What had the a^^pearance of moss
was laid around the edges. The eggs, also
petrified, lay near the centre of the nest,
the larger end of one adjacent to the
smaller end of the other. The external
dimensions of the nest are 5x5 inches,
the cavity being 3^ X 3 ; the eggs both in
size and appearance resembling a chaparrel
cock’s. The w'hole w'eighed about two
pounds, all the interstices between the
sticks having been filled with the carbon¬
ate, welding them into a homogeneous
stony mass. As a whole, it greatly resem¬
bled the lava-like formation of stalactites
generally. The species is unknown, but
the doctor thinks it belongs to a Pewee,
the eggs being abnormally enlarged by the
lime formation, as also the straw's, which
have the appearance of sticks. — G. S.
Smith, London, Ont.

“ No Man’s Land. Some thrilling experi¬
ences in the Arctic regions. A lonely place
where the sun never sets. Graphic descrip¬
tion by a United States Marine.” Under
the above title appeared in the Boston
Herald of March 4, an exceedingly inter¬
esting article on bird life and other matters
in the Arctic regions. Among the birds
;aken were “Ptarmigan with their large
)roods. Snow Buntings, several species of
Curlews and Phalarope,” also, “Eider
Ducks in immense numbers. Wild Geese
with their young. Auks, Puffins, Guille¬
mots, “Sea Falcons,” which were caught
with hook and line for the table. The ar-
;icle is novel and fasinating.

()RXITH()L( )GI1ST

[Vol 7-No. 17

i:^()

Recent Publications.

“The Sectret of Wings” was a recof^zed
coiiundrura even in the days of King Solo¬
mon, and the curiosity of most observers
of our feathered fnends must frequently
have been awakened on this same point.
Mr. Starkweather seems to have shed light
on the subject at last, claiming indeed to
have reduced the philosophy of flight to so
exact a system that simple experiments
with a canary or pigeon will sustain his po¬
sition and ocularly demonstrate the truth
of his theoiw. He goes back to the verti¬
cal stroke claimed by Borelli, reviews the
downward and liackward and the upward
and forward strokes so generally believed
in ; the twisting, rotating and bending of
feathers and wings, and other cuirent hy¬
potheses, showing the objections to each.
He studies the contrasts and analogies of
Iirogressiou in fishes, insects and birds, the
flying-fish, bat, etc. ; compares the poising
of the gold-fi.sh and the humming-bird,
notes and explains the “swallow-tail” in
birds that feed on the wing and the same
peculiarity in fishes of analogous habits.
He shows why the wing is concave, the
quill feathers one-sided, and shows the
striking difference of function in those
that are at right angles with and those
parallel to the body. The design of each
is so clearly given that “the way of an
eagle in the air” can hardlj’ be called a
mystery any longer. He evidently views
the subject from a utilitarian standpoint
and assures aeronauts that for them his
work is “replete with seed thoughts.”

“ Buioiit Fe.vthers.” Regarding my
“ Bright Feathers.” would say that the
work will be comjilete in twelve or fifteen
parts. It will be devoted entirely to our
native birds noted for brightness and
beauty of plunrage colorations.

I am aware that there may be no particular
necessity for such a work, but it is aft'ord-
iiig me much iileasure in its execution. It
is all my own work. The ]ilates. initials

and otlier drawings of nests and eggs,
when they apjiear, are photo-engraved re-
jiroductions of pen and ink drawngs of
my own execution. The coloring is also
my own, and fails. I must confess, to arrive
at as high a standard of exactness and ex¬
cellence as I desire. This is owdng to fre¬
quent interruptions and coloring by lamp
light. I give only my evenings and spare
moments to the work, and follow it up from
pure love of the science. I sent you Part
IV, — more on account of the concejition
of “the oologist” than anvthing else,
thinking it might please you to have it. I
had your interesting little publication in
mind when I made it.

The edition of “Bright Feathers” is
small, (only 200 copies, which becomes
large when one has to hand-color all the
plates as he can snatch time), and the ex¬
pense of its publication is just about met
by local subscriptions. In the last two num¬
bers of the work I jiropose to give a dupli¬
cate set of impressions from the plates,
without color, so that each possessor of a
set shall have the figures both colored and
uncolored.

I have in mind, after this is done, to de¬
stroy all the plates. This ^rill. I think,
make the work of some value to bibliophiles
and enable me to secure some retuni for
such sets as I may have left. Vliat do
you think of such a course ? I judge from
the tenor of your publication and the occa¬
sional bookish strain of the advertisements,
that you are curious for rare works, espec¬
ially those relating in any way to oniithol-
ogv. .\llow me to say that Part III was
very hastily executed ; beside an error in
the scientific name, several infelicities of
exjiression occur, which would have been
corrected had I been at home to attend
to it. — R. Rnthhini, Auhuru,

Xetn York.

(The above wan wrillen tn annwcr to eome question pul
by us about the work ** Bright Fenthen*.’* It **iales the r*i»e
so clearly about a work that Is too little kn<»wn. that we
have taken the lilierty to iHiblish it, helping that some of
our Headers will become tM*lu*r acquainted with “ Brijfht
Keathen*.** aw well as the author. — Kn.)

ORNITHOLOGIST

— A X I ) —

()()L()GIST.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII. NORWICH, CONN., JULY, 1882. NO. 18.

Malheur Lake, Oregon.

il.OO per Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Annum. Established, March, 1875.

BY CAPT. CHAS. E. BENDIRE, U. S. A.

During these maneuvers I was laying in
some tall grass, on a little elevation close
to the shore, and watching the birds with a
strong night-glass. After a little further
hesitation, the main body came up, and
for such a number of birds — there must
have been at least five hundred of them,
they kept singularly quiet, an occasional
guttural grunt, resembling the word dooe,
dooe, w'as all I could hear. Their distrust
apparently quieted, they now commenced
to divide themselves into parties of about
thirty birds each, who acted in concert,
forming a semi-circle, gradually closing in
towards the shore, and driving large num¬
bers of fish with them into the shallow
w'ater, and then they commenced their fish¬
ing operations in earnest. Such a splash¬
ing as took place is impossible to describe :
it must be seen to form an idea of it.
Each fish w'as grasped in the middle,
thrown up a foot or so in the aii’. caught
in the descent, and swallowed head fore¬
most. I think that fro!n three to four large
fisli were disposed of in this manner by
each bird, the last one or two being prob¬
ably can'ied off in their cajjacious pouch
or gular sack. The dexterity with which
these birds handled fish fully eighteen
inches long was something wonderful, very
few getting away from them. As soon as
one bird had caught what it required, it
withdrew and another would take its })lace.
There was no quarrelling ; everything
seemed to be done systematically, and I
have seldom seen a more interesting sight

than I did during the two hours on the
night I watched these birds. There ap¬
peared to be a good deal of variation in the
color of their immense bills, some being
almost dark orange red while others w'ere
straw yellow. I also noticed that the cu¬
rious horny excrescence on the ujiper man¬
dible, characteristic of this sj^ecies during
the breeding season in lioth sexes, and
commonly called “ centre-I)oard,” varied
also considerably in length, height and
general shape. To what use this curious
ajjpendage is juit. it being only developed
during the breeding season, and droj^ijed
again after this is over, I am unable to tell,
or even make a guess at, and I shall leave
this for some one else to explain.

On my second visit to these Islands I
found that most of the shallow platforms,
occupied as nests by the Great Blue Heron,
contained their full complement of five
eggs. As none of these nests were more
than four feet from the ground — in fact,
the majority average below that — I had an
excellent oitijortnnity to pick out all the
choice sets of eggs I wanted. There is a
good deal of variation in both size and
color, even in eggs coming out of the same
nest. I think the first egg laid is always,
or nearly always, the deejtest colored one.
and the last the palest. Freshly laid eggs
of this species range from a beautiful light
green or bluish green tint (the shade is
hard to des(;ribe exactly) to a pale greenish
white, the shell in the lattei' variety pre¬
senting a mottled or spotted appearance,
the coloring matter not being uniformly
distributed on the shell. The largest egg
selected out of several hundi-ed. measures

138

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol 7-N(). IS

2.78x1. no inches, while another ont of
the same set measures Imt 2.40X182
inches. One of the finest sets in my col¬
lection measures as follows: 2.73x1-88.
2.70x1.94. 2.71X1 98. 2.60x1 90. 2.44 X
1.84. The average size, as determined by
me from a large numbei% is 2.65x1.80.

Similar to the Pelicans, the young of
this species for the first week or two are
entirely destitute of feathers or down, the
bare skin being pale slaty bine. They sit
close together on their Tiests. forming a
circle with the heads all turned inward to
the centre, and emit a hissing noise, simi¬
lar to young Wood-peckers, when dis¬
turbed. The old birds are vei’y shy ; at
the least unusual noise they may be seen
standing upright on their nests with necks
fully extended, and at the slightest sign
of danger make out of sight at once.
They do not seem to care much for their
young, judging from what T have seen.

On this same \dBit I found the Double-
crested Cormorants occui^ying the westeni
slopes of the Islands in full force, while the
Pelicans occupied the more sheltered posi¬
tion on the east side, and the Great Blue
Heron the central parts. Each species
kept to a certain degree bv itself and did
not encroach on the other’s territorv.
About two-thirds of the Cormorajits’ nests
were ]daced oii the ground and raised a
few inches from it by coarse pieces of drift,
small sticks, etc., the balance on low grease
wood bushes. The nests, considering the
size of the bird, are small, and were lined
more or less with ])ieces of bark or tule
and coarse grasses, and as a rule might be
called well constructed. They were all.
with scarcely an exce])tioji. iilaced very
close to the water’s edge, ‘\\nien the lake
was rough, the water must have splashed
into a good many of them. The eggs, four
or five in number, are of an elongated oval
shaj)f‘. considerably ]>ointed at the smaller
end. pale green in color aTid coveied more
or less with a chalky matter, which can
easily be washed off when freshlv laid.

They average about 2.42x1 48 inches.
The largest set in a number measures 2.86
Xl.6(). 2.70X1.65. 2.66X1.64. 2.70x1.60.

A single egg was found measuring but
1.80 X 1.20 inches. In the early stages the
young of this species iirjj also jierfectly
naked, the skin being a deep glossy black :
they are greasy and loud smelling crea¬
tures. In fact the Islands are reeking with
filth duiing the breeding season, and it
reejuires a strong, healthy stomach not to
be affected by the overpowering smells en¬
countered on landing. I was unable to
leani anything about the tactics employed i
by the Cormorants on their fishing excur- '
sions, but I presume they are about the j
same as used by the Pelicans. The nnm- .
ber of pounds of fish destroyed by these t
birds must be enormous, and there are still
larger colonies to be found on the westeni
end Of the Lake, but with all this I have
never seen more fish at any one time than
near the head of the spring mentioned in
this article, the water being perfectly alive
with them.

Curious Nestino Pl.\ces. — In the Spring
of 1878. I found a Robin’s nest on a rock
and level with the ground. There was '
scarcely any attemjit at a nest. sim])ly a
few weeds around the edge, and the eggs
laid on the bare rock. Still, the bird was
as noisy at my jiresence. as if she were
defending a much more elaborate stnic
ture. On June 18. 1880. I found a Song
.Sparrow’s nest jilaced in an abandoned
Downy AVoodjiecker’s nest, eight feet
from the ground, in a dead witch hazel
stub. The identification was positive, ns I
stood within three feet of the nest ami
watched the female feed the half-grown
young. May 20. 1881, took a set of five
Cat Bird’s «-ggs. Is this not an unusual
number 1 I have examined dozens of
nests of this bird. l)ut never saw five eggs
in a set until this year, when M. B. G and
myself have each t:iken a set of five. — IP.

IP. Sfulter *Veie

VorA-. ;

July, 1882.]

AND OOLOGLST.

Notes from California.

I think the hardy little Anna Humming¬
bird has got the start this year of the
Hawks in nesting. They have taken ad¬
vantage of a warm spell this month to
nest earlier than usual. Dr. J. G. Cooper
notes in his work of the birds of this coast
that about San Francisco they have young
by March 15th. This nest was brought to
me by a little fellow from town. He found
it in a cypress tree in a church yard. He
had been shooting Hummers with a sling
shot, and had frightened this one from her
nest, Feb. 22d. The nest I have before
me, containing two fresh, pearly eggs, is
composed of, outside, bits of bark, moss
and the stamens from the blue gum tree
blossoms, with bits of lichens fastened on
with spiders’ webs; inside of thistledown
with a few bird feathers. It measures
across the top If inches, depth inside f of
an inch ; outside, inches ; across the
bottom. If inches. The nest was placed
on the top of a limb seven feet from the
ground. Last year a friend of mine fpmid
a nest March 24th. The House Finches
have commenced to nest. I was out shoot¬
ing the day after New Year’s and got a
Short-eared Owl — which I took alive and
kept for some time — American Rough-leg¬
ged Hawk, Marsh Hawk, AVestern Red¬
tailed. Shoveller and Spoonbill Ducks, and
three Rocky Mountain Bluebirds. — IF. ().
Emerson, Ilayvxirds, Cal.

Ornithology in the Ark.

The Old Testament gives no details of
life within the ark. To imagine a few of
them will nowadays hardly be thought ir¬
reverent. Every orthodox, at least, must
believe that ornithology dates back to the
earliest history of man ; for Adam named
all the aninials (though probably he didn’t
catalogue them as Novam-yenns Adami,
Eras), etc., with Adam printed as author¬
ity after every name.

Let us imagine, then. Ham and Japhet
sitting together in the ark. AVhat a won

13‘)

derfully interesting gathering of birds this
is ! says Japhet.

Yes, says Ham, that’s why I’m working
on this dart.

Good heavens ! says Japhet. You’re
not going to shoot them

Of course I am, says Ham, contemptu¬
ously. In the first place I shall never
again have such a chance to collect ; and,
secondly, the sjiecimens are in such per¬
fect condition that every one of ’em ought
to be in a cabinet. Then you must con¬
sider that this is a most extraordinary
Fauna ; that many of the sjiecies have
never been obtained in this locality before :
and that our records of them won’t be of
any value unless we can prove our identifi¬
cations. There’s just a pair all round ; and
we must secure them and label them as
fast as possible.

But Ham, you forget, says Japhet, that
I want to study them alive, and to have
them live and midtiply. It ’s ridiculous to
tell me that I can’t positively recognize
the birds aboard this boat, and make
friends of them. ’Twould be a shame to
kill them.

The dispute began to wax hot, when
Noah, overhearing, interrujited and said :
“ My children, leave the birds alone, for
they are sacred to the Lord.” And it
came to pass that it Avas a bird which first
brought them the olive-branch of jjeace,
the message of salvation.

The ark has jjassed away, and most of
the belief in it ; and the sacredness of
Nature has become a mere song. But, just
supposing that the story of the ark were
literally true, and that Ham had made his
scientific collection wdiile on that memora¬
ble voyage, where would living ornithol¬
ogy be to-day ? AVoiAld it be satisfied
with his complete museum, preserved (let
us fancy) at Jerusalem, or im})orted by
Barnum to New York? — OrnithoUyi-cusis).

Capt. Chas. E. Bendire, so long stationed
at Fort Walla Walla, is to make his head-
(juarters atFoj-t Klamah. Lake Co.. Oregon.

140

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. IS

() R N I T II O L 0 G 1 S T

— AND—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTin.T MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EOOS.

,ros. nr. wAi>E, eiutor.

With the co-operation of able Ornithoiogical
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — $1.00 j>er annuvi. Forf iqn siibncn'])-
tion $1.2.5 — includinq poKtarje. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Norwich, Conn.

EDTTORTA L.

Two Young Artists.

Ainoiior onr subseribers and contributors
are two young men, or rather boys, one on
the Eastern slope, and the other on the "Wes¬
tern, both troubled with the same disease
(hip) that has not only rolibed their boy¬
hood of its pleasures, but has prevented
them from acquiring in the usual way the
ordinary education due to boys of their
age. But this has been overcome by nat¬
ural talent and the careful attention of
fond parents. Both are natural ornitholo¬
gists — keen observers, and although con¬
fined often to the house, are not behind
the brightest of their age.

Both of these boys have taken to the
pencil and brusli, and if they cannot climb
big trees they can paint them, and can also
paint birds at this present time that fifty
years ago would have given them a repu¬
tation 5vorld wide. .411 they need now
is patronage to develoji greater talent,
and this should not be wanting, for there
are plenty of our readers who can aftbrd
to give tliese boys special orders for
such birds as tliey might select. This
would not only encourage them, but would
be a great benefit to tlie science in (level
oping talent for future book illustration.
If this strikes the reader as favorably as it
does the writer, they will address for further
information. Edgar .V. Small, Hagerstown.
Maryland, or W. (). Emerson. Haywards.
Cal., both of whom are making valuable
co’lections of skins and eggs.

Five Eggs. — On another page wall be
found a statement by Mr. Worthington
that he and his friend Griffing had taken a
set each of five eggs from the nest of the
Cat Bird, and enquiring if five is not an
unusual number. In 1878. after finding
about fifty of their nests, we at last found
one containing five eggs, which are care¬
fully preserved in our collection. We
have never since found a set of five. For |
years w e have been anxiously looking for a |
Robin’s nest containing five eggs, but with- t
out success until this day, (May 22), when r
we found the long looked for set of five |
eggs. Three were of the usual size, and 1
two somewhat smaller — one of which was |
fresh or not fertile, the others w'ere well ad¬
vanced in incubation. The number of I
eggs laid by the Cat Bird and Robin is .
positv'eh/ four. From old age or accident ?
a less number may be laid, and in extreme
cases five or even more.

Since the above was written Snowdon
Howland reports a set of seven — two
large and five small, the latter fresh, while
the former were slightly incubated. This
is good evidence but we would like to hear
from others who have taken sets of five
or more.

Collector’s Movements. — Mr. John M.
How’ey, Canandaigua. N. Y., is to spend
the collecting season on the Kansas and
Cottonwood Rivers, about the ninety-sev¬
enth parallel.

Mr. 41. Chamberlain of St. John. X B..
and Mr. H. .4. Purdie of Boston. Mass.,
will do the collecting season in the 4Iadn-
waska district, near the Maine. Quebec and
X. B. borders. May their finds be equal
to their zeal in the cause.

4Ir. Fred. T. Jencks of Providence. R.

I., and 4Ir. H. B. Bailey, of Xew York, are
now collecting in Dakota. Mr. Jencks ex
pects to remain thereuntil July. He finds
the season very cold and backward, but is i
having good success, and will have many
rare specimens to offer, for which refer to i
our advertising columns. 1

(

I

July, 1882.]

AND (,)()L()GI8T.

141

Brief Newsy Notes.

Hawk Incubation. — A Red-shonlderecl
Hawk finished her nest and laid the first
egg May 2, 1881. May 5th, there were
three eggs ; May 20th, no change was to
be seen ; visited the nest again May 3()th.
and found two hawks about a day old.
Cooper’s Hawk occupied twenty-seven
days in incubation. My experience woidd
indicate that hawks occupy from twenty-
six to twenty-eight days for incubation.
— 7^. II. Carpenter^ llehohnth, 3fass.

Notes feom Shelter Island. — The Lit¬
tle Blue Herons must have been unusu¬
ally numerous along our coast last
Summer. A gunner brought one to me on
Aug. 16th, and said he saw two. May
they not have been stragglers from the
same flock mentioned by Mr. J. N. Clark,
in the September number of O. and O. ?
My siiecimen corresiionds exactly with his
description .

A very prolific English sparrow inhab¬
ited one of my bird boxes last Spring.
Her first set was six eggs, the last one
laid being rather light colored. I took
these, and she immediately begun and
laid another set of six, the last egg being
verj" pale. I took these, and she laid one
almost pure white egg and gave uj) the
contest.

May 23, 1881, I went to a well-known
breeding place after a few sets of Bank
Swallow’s eggs. As I neared the jilace in
a small sailboat. I thought it very curious
that I saw' no swallows flying about the
bluffs as they usually do ; but on landing
and beginning to dig, I soon saw the
reason. The previous tw’o w'eeks of con¬
tinual rainy weather had totally extermina¬
ted the entire colony. Most of the
burrows contained from three to eight,
and from one burrow I removed ten dead
sw'allows and two eggs, one of which is a
trifle larger than usual, while the other is
smaller than a Ruby-throated Humming
Bird’s. — W. W. JVorfliinf/tov .

Turkey Buzzard. — Oliver G. Browm, of
North Stonington, Conn., shot a Turkey
Buzzard, April 2()th, that measured six
feet from tip to tip of its wings. It was
shot on the ground while feeding on the
dead body of a hen. There were no
other Buzzards aliout. It was mounted
by A. M. Taft, of Westerly, R. I., and is
now in the possession of George D.
Brown, of Stonington. Conn.

Golden-winged Warbler. — We have just
handled a beautiful Golden-winged War¬
bler {JleJmhithophdf/a c/iri/soptera), shot
this morning at Higganum, Conn., by Mr.
Harry W. Flint of Deep 'River. This is
one of the rarer Warblers. We have seen
but five here (Portland), during the last
eight years. May 19, 1875, wdien w'atch-
ing some other Warblers in a small piece
of woods, one of this species, with out¬
spread wings, suddenly dropped beside
our feet. It was very much excited and
must have been chased by a Hawk. — J.
If. Sage, l^ortland, Cana., Mag 17, 1882.

“Wood Sparrow.” — In your Ajiril num-
l)er a correspondent asks for information
concerning a little bird he has termed the
“Wood Sparrow'.” I would suggest, from
the color of the under mandibles, that it is,
doubtless, the “Tree Sparrow',” {Spizella
montana .) This sjiecies is quite abundant
in the Spring and Fall, and a few' individ¬
uals may possibly breed in the Adiron-
dacks of New' York, or the mountainous
parts of the New England States. The
male has a pretty little song', in w'hich it
indulges quite freely during its Spring so¬
journ with us. If w'ell cared for they
tiirive in confinement, and the writer has
known them to become quite tame and
familiar. — S. L. ’Willard, Chicago, III.

Red-headed Woodpecker. — Mr. A. H.
Helme’s note on this bird calls to mind an
instance of the fly-catching haliit of the
Hairy Woodjiecker. In June, 1881, w'hile
sjiending a few days in tlie w'ilds of the
Adirondacks, I found a nest of this bird
in front of my cam]), in tlie decayed limb

142

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. IS

of a pine, containing several yonng birds.
Every morning one of the parents oceu-
j)ied itself quite faithfully in capturing in¬
sects (in nearly every case large and easily
discernable ones), in the intervals of its
more dignified labor of searching the bark
of the trees. These insects were always
fed to the young. Perha2)s it is not gen¬
erally known that fly-catching is quite a
common part of the Woodjiecker's every
day life : but the instances are so many,
and come from such varied sources (includ¬
ing nearly all the sjiecies that are more or
less well known), that it can no longer be
considered an individual peculiarity. — L.
'Willards Chiccufo, Til.

Eagles in Ohio.

In Central Ohio Eagles ajipear to be
more numerous in mild Winters. This is
])robably due (as is usually the case in other
localities), to the severity of the weather
farther north, where the ponds and rivers
are closed with ice and the woodlands are
covered with snow, placing food beyond
their reach. The following is taken from
my memorandum and given in rotation
just as the dead birds were received from
various counties of the State : 1878 — ’79
— Mild. Dec. 2. Bald Eagle from Dela¬
ware County : Dec. 4. Bald Eagle from
Marion Co. ; Dec. 18. Bald Eagle from
Union Co. ; .Tan. 4. Bald Eagle from Lick¬
ing Co. : .Tan. 12. Bald Eagle from T^nion
Co. ; Feb. 9, Golden Eagle from Franklin
Co. : Feb. 20, Bald Eagle from Union
Co. 1879 — ’80 — Severe in .Tanuary and
February. D(‘c. 10, Bald Eagle from
Franklin County : Dec. 13. Bald Eagle
from Union Co. ; .Tan. 2. Bald Eagle from
Franklin Co. 1880 — '81 — Severe. Oct.
4. Bald Eagle from Hocking C<mnty: Dec.
12, Bald Eagle from Delaware Co. ; .Tan.
23, Bald Eagle from Madis<>n Co. 1881 —
’82— ^rild. D<-c. 12. Bald Eagle from
Fairfield County ; Dec. 13. Gohlen Eagle
from Franklin Co. : Dec. 10. Bald Eagle

from Montgomery Co. ; Dec. 20, Bald
Eagle from IMorrow Co. : Jan. 9, Bald
Eagle from Franklin Co. ; Jan. 12, Bald
Eagle from Union Co. ; Jan. 22, Bald !
Eagle from Morrow Co. ; Jan. 24, Bald
Eagle from Franklin Co. ; Feb. 23. Bald
Eagle from Franklin Co. The last speci¬
men of Golden Eagle {yiquild chrymetus)
was killed a few miles west of Columbus.

It was said to have killed several young I
calves in the neighborhood, which the
bird was seen fe.astiug ujjon. A number !
of the Bald Eagles in the above list were i
young birds, lacking the white head and |
tail, and for the most part were killed with j
rifles, a few with shot guns, and two by !
the use of stiwchnine ujjon a dead carcass, i
— Oliver Davie, Columbus, Ohio.

[Mr. Davie writes that he has omitted three from the i
above list, taken during the Winters of 18T8— ’T9. They
will prol)ably be given in a future list.— Ei>.)

The Great-horned Owl in Texas.

This Owl is very abundant in Maverick
county, and the iiest easily found. They
are built in the o])en forks of the mes-
quite. at a height of from eight to twelve
feet from the ground, and are constructed '
of large dead sticks, with generally no
lining, except the sticks are somewhat
smaller atid finer on the inside, though
sometimes there is cpiite an extensive
lining of fur, feathers and litter, made by
the birds skinning their prey in the nest.
The nests average two feet in diameter by
about eighteen inches high, and are veiy
slightly hollowed. They nearly always
build a new nest, though sometimes re])air
the nest of the jirevious year, and occa¬
sionally they use tlie nest of some other
sjiecies. One set of two was taken March
9th. from the nest of a C iracara Buzzard,
from which a set of three eggs was taken
last year. .\n entire new nest was found :
built directly on top of the old nest.
The uj)])er one contained a set of two. i
fresh, and the lower one an addled egg. !
jirobably of last year, but in a good state j
of ])reservation. Out of about twenty |

July, 1882.]

AND OOLOGI8T.

143

nests examined, four had three eggs each.
This 5'ear tliey began nesting two weeks
earlier than last, the first nest being
found Feb. 11th. with one egg. The local
ity generally chosen is a low mesquite,
on high ground, from which the Owl
when on the nest can see in every direc¬
tion for some distance. They are very
alert while setting, and will fly from the
nest before one gets within fifty yards,
though in some cases they sat closer.
The mate was always to be found close by,
in nearly every case, in the nearest tree.
Most of the sets of fi'esh eggs are found
in the last week of February. Deserted
nests of the Great-horned Owl are often
occupied by Hawks, instead of the Owls
using the old Hawks’ nests, as in the North.
— Edgar A. Small, Ilagerstovm, Md.

P . S.— My collector reports a set of four fresh eggs, found
March 9th. This nest was built of sticks, as usual, and
lined with litter. It was in a mesquite, twelve feet high.
The bird sat very close, did not leave the nest until my
friend was nearly under it.

Black-backed Woodpecker.

I notice in the O. and O. for March,
page 101, a note to the effect that there
are but two instances known of the Black-
backed M oodpecker {P. arcticus) being
taken in Michigan. It may be of interest,
therefore, for me to state that I procured a
male specimen of this species on the south
branch of the Pine River. Mich., in 1879 ;
the exact date of capture I do not remem¬
ber, as the specimen has been disposed of
in my exchanges to Mr. George Woolsey
of New Haven, Conn., but it was some¬
where between the 17th and 22d of No¬
vember. I have every reason to believe
that this bird is not a rare Winter resident
of the “pineries” of that State. With us
this M oodpecker is r.ire. I have, however,
taken several specimens in different jiarts
of the State and knoav of its being taken
in the immediate vicinity of Bangor. On
-June 1(5, 1881, I met with a pair on Alliga¬
tor Stream. Hancock County, which, judg¬
ing from their actions, had a nest near by :

but. as we w^ere lost in the woods at the
time, our camji was the only nesting place
I had ail}' desire of finding. — AT. .1. Eddy.
Baagor, Me.

Climbers and Climbing.

The Staddle. Before the advent of de¬
cent climbing-irons the “ staddle” was in
common use in our woods in ascending
big-bodied trees. This simjfle method was
overlooked in Ingersoll’s recent treatise, so
we make mention of it here. The only
outfit required by the hawk-huiiter or
squirrel-party using this primitive fashion
is a small, short-handled axe. A leather
sheath protects the head of the axe. and it
can be carried handily in a game bag slung
over the shoulders. Near the scene of ac¬
tion a tall, slender, young walnut or chest¬
nut of the jirojier length is selected and
felled : the top and limbs are cut away,
the stubs of many of the limbs leaving
good foot-rests here and there. This nat¬
ural ladder is then carried and raised at a
slight angle, so that the tip rests securely
against the base of the lowest limbs of the
big tree to be climbed. Many of these
staddles I have heljied to cut and raise in
imrsuit of the eggs of birds of prey, and
have found many more snugly hidden away
in underbrush and used by squirrel-hunt¬
ers one or two seasons. Now and then
the trunk of an old hard ti'ee can be over¬
come by “ shinning” up some young and
tall sapling near by and swaying the toj)
stoutly till a big limV) of the tree can be
grasped. Don’t forget however in this case
to tie your arboreal trapeze to the limb so
your retreat will not be cut off. To the
use of the “ staddle” wull ahvays lie the ob¬
jection that no farmer likes to have any
vigorous standing s])rout cut in his wood
lot. But the rope, the staddle and kin¬
dred devices are now superceded here by
climbing-irons, and an article in the next
number of this journal will try to show
the economy in time and labor effected l)y
these handy inqilemeuts. — ./. M. W.

1-14

OKXITH()L( )OLST

[Vol. 7-No. IS

Purple Grackle {Quismlns PurpureitK).
commonly known as ‘‘Crow Blackbird.”
Dnriufif a visit to Phnn Island, the home
of the Osprey, it occurred to us that the
Ci'ow Blackbird was not at all particular
where its nest was placed. On this island
there are immense (juantities of this bird
and their nests were in every conceivable
position. Pnder every Fish Hawk’s nest
that were in trees, thei’e were from one to
five or six nests of the Crow Blackbird.
Wherever the Osprey’s nest had rotted off
the top of the pepperidg'e tree it left a
cavity in the to]5 of the trunk into which
this Blackbird ])laced its nest. They were
also very plenty in the trees alone and
also in the bushes within two feet of the
"round. On the main land we have found
them sincrly on maples by the roadside :
also saddled on the limbs of immense
elms, in the to})most branches: also in
Norway spruces, both small and lar"e.
Wherever circumstances favor it they
breed in colonies. We know of one aged
white pine that contains from fifty to one
hundred nests each year, making it a])pear
like an immense bee-hive, as the birds
were continually flying to and fi-om the
tree. During a recent visit (IMay 17) to
the home of Willis P. Hazard, of West¬
chester. I’a.. where the Crow Blackbirds
were breeding very j)lentifullv in the long,
horizontal branches of the white ]>ines on
the lawn. There was nothing unusual in
this, but we noticed in the woodbine that
twined around the ])iaza ])osts. a large
nest, unusual for such ]iosition. It was
just out of reach, but a step-ladder enabled
us to look into the nest, which was filled
with young Crow Blackbirds. The fa7nily
and visitoi's were coTitinually ])assing tin¬
der this nest.

CoRRECTio.x. — On page 1111. Vol. VH. No.
17. J. G. Coojter sliould read M'illiam .\.
Coo})er. No one regrets such mistakes as
much as we do. but occasionally MSS comes
to us that is very difficult for us or the
jtrinter to deciplier.

Woodcock and Black-duck. — Passing
through an old pasture Thursday, ^lay 4.
I started up a Woodcock from a small
thicket, which was immediately followed
by four more, an old bird and four young,
tlie latter so large as scarcely to be distin¬
guished from the mother bird, excejit that
she fiaiiped her wings as if flying with
difficulty and made a sort of whining cry.
I don’t think I ever saw young of that
species so early before and veiw mature —
eggs must have been laid exceedingly
early, perhaps before April, though I do
not know how long time is required for
their incubation. One of niy neighbors,
sitting by a window, had his attention
called to a brood of young ducks running
across the street. It was an old Black-
duck and her young. He saw them enter
a cow-yard, and in one corner she called
her brood under her wings and covered
them. As he went near she Hew some fif¬
teen rods and watched his movements,
quacking her disjileasure as he proceeded
to capture her young ones. He secured
ten of them, all the brood but two. After
he had examined all he cared to he set
them at liberty, and together they started
on a run through ^fain street, continuing
foi forty I'ods before they turneil aside, a
distance which they accomjilished inside
of five minutes: for the little things could
run like squirrels. This ocuurred on the
.5th of ^fay. and imjfiies that the eggs
must have been laid much earlier than I
supjiosed was customary with the species.
There was no water near and they seemed
traveling from one creek overland to
another, nearly a half mile away. — J. .V.
(Uark. Old Sa tfbronk, (bum.

SirviMER OR M’ood Dui'k. — Mr. Edwin
She])])ard. tlie eminent ornithological ar
tist. is engaged on a plate of the above
duck, oi- a family of them, which is to be
lithogra])he<l and hand colored, and in
tended for framing. In due time it will
bp offered at a moderate jirice through our
advertising columns.

I

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

$l.nn per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NORWICH, CONN., AUGUST, 1882.

NO. 19.

Large-billed Water Thrush.

My first acquaintance with this bird w’as
about ten years ago. I had then collected
most of the common Warblers and becoine
acquainted wdth then- notes so well that
I readily distinguished anything new.
Tramping through the woods about the
middle of April an unfamiliar note reached
me, and my attention was instantly attract¬
ed by its clearness and strength. Careful¬
ly and cautiously I approached the jilace
whence the song issued and traced out the
singer perched on the dead lower branch
of a Beech tree, and shaded by the branch¬
es above, though there w^as no foliage on
the tree. It was a dark spot, for the trees
and shrubbery w'ere thick, which was the
border of a swamp through which a small
stream slowly found its way. I was great¬
ly charmed with the. bird and thought I
had never heard so fine a singer. Shoot
him? Indeed I did not. I went home
and studied him uj^ in “ Samuel’s N. E. _
Birds,” and he led me a little astray, so
that in iny next experience — finding the
nest and eggs — I simply recorded them
187, a bird which I had already taken in
the Fall and never dreamed that this was
another bird. There was a place where I
usually crossed the reservoir brook in go¬
ing through the woods, by leaping from
one jutting rock to another, and thence to
the opposite shore. This was the narrow¬
est place in the swamp, and right where I
crossed a tree had been prostrated by the
wind, leaving a shallow pool of water with
jutting stone, so that it was easy to pass
over. Step])ing across this space from one

stone to another, looking more to my foot¬
steps than anything else, I caught a
glimpse of a bird flitting across my path
like a shadow, and out of sight in an in¬
stant. I did not see what it was, whence
it came, nor whither it went, but when the
next day the same thing occurred in the
same place, I was on the alert and saw
whence it came, and wasn't I delighted to
find snugly concealed in a little nook, the
cosy nest and five speckled beauties ! The
tree, wdiose roots had been removed, had
left a pool about eight by twelve feet, and
of course, the roots and mud that had once
filled this place, now stood perpendicular
like a wall against the side of the pool,
and there snugly hidden among those roots
was the nest, about eighteen inches above
the water. I have since found a number
of their nests, and three-fourths of them
have been in similar situations ; some¬
times a little higher above the water, but
oftener within a foot or less of it. The
nests are sometimes quite bulky, formed
of partially decayed leaves which I have
seen the female draw’ from the mud and work
into the nest all drij^piug and soft with
the adhering mud, and wdiich gives the
nest such a similarity to its surroundings
as to be scarcely noticeable The color of
the bird when snugly setting on the nest
adds to the ilhision, and om^e hearing a
male sing near such an upturned tree. I
penetrated to the place and carefully
scanned the surface over without discover¬
ing anything ; wdiile one week later hearing
a bird there again, I made another investi¬
gation of the i)lace to find in plain view a
nest with five young. These leaves when

ORNITHOLOGIST

14(;

(Irietl form quite a compact etnicture for
the reception of the inner nest formed of
more mixed materials, some grape vine
bark, green moss, small stems, grass, and
in one from a hemlock swaiuji a large pro¬
portion of small, slender hemlock twigs.
Fine grass enters largely into the compo¬
sition of the lining, and in one nest I
found mixed considerable cow’s hair from
the adjacent pasture, also a black moss that
grows from the stones at the bottom of
shaded woodland streams. In some a few
fine roots and the red stems that bear the
seed capsules of common green moss. The
nest is usually set back into some recess
among the roots where a tuft of them
closely overhang it. The bird does not
build any arch to its nest, but always seems
to seek for a natural one. and I have seen
a nest built upon so slight a foundation to
secure the desired covering, that a large
heap of nesting materials that had failed
to find lodgment were jjiled up under the
nest enough to fill a peck measure. I have
found two exceptions to this site, both on
a brook bank ; one in a small clumji of
Clethra around the basis of which had
accumulated a heap of leaves on the verge
of the bank, and the nest was inserted
deep among these leaves about two feet
from the water. This nest was occupied
two seasons, and although I passed within
a few feet of it many times, and searched
dilligently, it remained undiscovered until
occupied by a brood of young. The sec¬
ond season I secured a set of eggs from
this nest. The other exception alluded to
was where a stream had washed away its
bank in the woods, and the turf dropjied
over the washed out place. Under this
turf was securely concealed the nest which
I could not have seeji had not the bird
sprung out as I j^assed very near. This
was the l“2th of May. 1881, and the eggs,
nearly fresh, were five, which appears to
be the usual number, but the same day I
secured another extreme set of six. In¬
cubation was later than usual that season.

[Vol. 7-Nu. 11)

for I have taken complete sets by May 7th,
and have seen young out of the nests by
May 23d in some seasons, but I think the
young birds mature rapidly. It is not
difficult to find the nests after they have
young, for the birds are then very demon¬
strative and feed them almost constantly,
being by no means shy about it. I found
foiu" nests with young in 1879, and watched
for them the succeeding year, and every
I)air occupied the old nest, and gave me
four nice sets ; but 1881 came and they all
failed me but one. They found new nest¬
ing sites and eluded me. Only one bird
has fallen short of the standard number of
five successively. Two successive years I
secured com2)leted sets of only four in the
same nest. This bird was also later with
her nesting, having fresh eggs the 17th
and the 24th of May for the two respec
tive seasons. One of these sets taken in
1880 is before me and is a fair rei)resenta-
tive set of the species, though I observe
that different sets differ very materially in
markings. These four have the following
dimensions : 81 X 05. 75 X 05. 78 X 03. 75 X
03. The ground color is a pure white
with a shining gloss like a Woodpeckers,
and the si)ots of a reddish brown with
obscure lilac ones intermingled, and are
thinly scattered all over the egg, and also
gathered so thickly as to be confiuent in a
ring at the larger end. Most of the spots
are small, mere S2)eck8, but many are nearly
as large as a small i)in head, and in one of
the specimens the majority are of that size.
I am fully persuaded that the bird never
attempts to rear a second brood or even
lav a second set if robbed of the first. I
have looked sharp for a diffierent result
without any encouragement, though I have
observed the birds often remaining in the
vicinity through the Summer, but very
(juiet. Mr. M'm. Brewster in his “Birds
of West Virgdnia.” illustrating the song of
this Water Thrush in syllables, has Ix-en so
successful that I am always reminded of it
whenever I hear the bird sing, and can

August, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

147

think of no other combination so fitly to
represent the notes — “ pseur-pseur-per-se-
ser” — and yet the termination is hardly
represented, which is often a rapidly spok¬
en jingle, in a quickly diminishing tone,
though the first syllables are very slowly
and distinctly rendered. The ordinary
“chip” of the bird bears some resemblance
to that of the Hooded Warbler, being
equally clear and sharp, but rather louder
and deeper in tone. The birds come early,
and from the places they affect would not
be observed, unless they commenced sing¬
ing. My earliest record of hearing their
song is April 19th, 1880, but my friend
Harry Flint shot one of the birds Feb.
15th, 1882, though he heard no song from
it. It is amusing to see the bird deliver¬
ing his song. He throws back his head,
and exerts himself violently to give force
to his notes, taking a few steps along his
perch and balancing himself vigorously
between every deliverance. I have taken
sets of their eggs with spots very dimin u-
tive and thinly scattered, but still enough
gathered together to form a ring. I have
taken sets also where the markings w'ere so
numerous as almost to conceal the ground
color of the eggs, as comjfietely spotted
over as a Skylark’s, though of a different
tint. Another set has very dark mark¬
ings. almost black, less numerous, but
averaging larger and more distinct, espec¬
ially in the ring at the large end, measur¬
ing about the same — 84x63. They are
usually a little pointed at the small end.

Mr. H. B. Bailey has given me the fol¬
lowing description of a nest and set which
I sent him in 1880. He says : “They are
hard eggs to describe, unlike anything else
I have, and description fails to do them
justice. Eggs glossy, white ground, spot¬
ted all over with brownish spots and
blushes and a few hair-like lines, with a
few under shell markings of pur2:)le.
measuring 76x62, 74x60, 74x60, 75x61,
74x60. Nest outwardly of dried leaves,
moss and grass lined with finer grass, and

red moss seed fronds. I found the nest of
Ncevins lined with these same red things
in Maine, and take them to be some part
of moss.” — J. A7 Clark, Old Sayhrook. Ct.

Great Blue Heronry. — I went to a her¬
onry near here and took one hundred and
three eggs (twenty-five sets) of the Great
Blue Heron. They ranged from tw’o to six
in each set. Audubon says the Great
Blxte Heron lays three eggs, and Cones in
Birds of the N. W. says: “Two or three
eggs are laid, jxrobably never more.” I
have taken about two hundred and seventy
eggs of this bird and have always found
from three to six eggs in a full set. In
only two cases have I found six, and I
consider that an unusually large number ;
but five is very common. In my last ex¬
pedition the sets were as follows : nine of
five eggs, nine of four, three of three,
three of two, (all fresh), and one of six,
besides a single egg. — Moryan K. Jiur-
num, Syracuse, N. Y.

A Strange Predicament.— Having seen a
strange bird fly down into some long grass
I walked iqi to “ flush” it. I found an Or¬
chard Oriole, which was so embarrassed
by the tall, thick grass that he could not
get free enough play for his wings to fly
up. Less frightened than might be ex-
jiected, he made his way along to my com-
Iianion’s foot, scrambled uji to his knee,
and then took flight with ease. — H. I).
Minot, Jioston, 3Iass.

Cliff Hawk’s Eggs. — An egg, kindly
brought me from Colorado, is, so far as
circumstantial evidence can satisfactorily
determine, a Cliff Hawk’s ( Falco 3[exica-
n\is'). It measures about 2.20 X 1.60, and
is of light reddish ground, freckled and
spotted w’ith medium Vandyke brown. —
Henry T>. 31inot.

Blue Birds’ Eggs. — B. W. Everman,
Bloomington, Indiana, rejiorts taking a set
of five eggs, Aiiril 2d, from a box made on
2iurpose. This is the earliest report for
small eggs this season.

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. I'J

14S

() R N I T II O L O G I S T

— AND—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY HAOAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGOS.

JOS. .V. WAIiE, EDITOR,

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — $1.00 per annum. Foreign eubecrip-
tion $1.25 — including pontage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Norwich, Conn.

ETyiTORIA L.

Brief Newsy Notes.

B.\ld E.\gle’8 Egg. — Mr. Snowdon How¬
land. Newport, R. I., reports receiving
from his collector in Florida a single egg
of the Bald Eagle. It was taken from one
of those immense Yellow Pines common
in the South. The nest was sixty feet up
iidth few limbs to assist the climber. The
nest was four feet by three feet and con¬
tained but one egg, which the collector
took not caring to repeat the climb.

Ndttall’s Works. — The copy of Nuttall
advertised in our columns with William
Darlington’s autograph has been been sold
to A. F. Park. Troy, N. Y.

John J. Audubon’s copy with marginal
notes and autogi-aph ; also autograph of
his sou John W. Audubon, is in our library',
also the cojiy formerly owned by J. J.
Tliomas. one of the Editors of the Coitn-
try Gentleman.

We would be pleased to place on record
the whereabouts of any of the rare old
works on oniithology, as well as portraits
of the same.

“‘Curious Nesting Pi,.\ces." — My atten¬
tion was recently called to a Blue Jay’s
nest which is built in the lattice work to
the front veranda of ]\Irs. E. M'heeler’s
residence, Poquetannoc, Conn. The nest
is built in the usual manner, within six
feet of the front door, and at the time of
my visit. June lOth. contained two young

birds. The front door was open and small
children were at play in and out of the
house, and on the veranda. A’et during
my stay the old birds came several times
to feed and nestle the young without show¬
ing much fear. This is such an unusual
place for a Blue Jay to build it seems to
be worthy of record. — G. R. C., yorwich.

Golden E.agle’s Nest. — A boy found a
nest of the Golden Eagle about April 1st.
I went to it and could look into the nest
from the bluff. It was in a large tree, but
I could not possibly get to it. and so I shot
the female, and a fine sijecimen it is. I
could not get a shot at the male as he was
too shy. I am told that he has now got
another mate and are at work nesting again.
They have bred for eight years in that
locality. I will interview the parties fur¬
ther. — ('has. .1. .Ulen, Xicasio, (7nl.

E.4RLY Finds — March IDth Junius A.
Brand, of this city, called on us with a set
of two Barred Owls’ eggs, perfectly fresh.
The nest was in a large hollow chestnut,
some thirty feet high. This is a very early
record. The eggs were brought to us fresh
from the nest and unblowui. Mr. Brand
also found on the same date a Great-horned
Owl’s nest in an immense White Pine tree,
about fifty feet up. The nest contained
two young about one week old. Mr. B.
had harried this pair for three years in
succession, but was always too late. Eiwh
season he found them \vith young.

Our Country. — March 29th Harold Gil¬
bert, Saint John, N. B., wrote: “Song
Sparrows arrived on the (itlu and are the
only migrants that I have yet seen. Our
season is very backward, there being on an
average from two to three feet of snow in
our woods.” April 5th — seven days later.
Edgar A. Small, Hagarstown, Md.. wrote:
“ Sju'ing is here at last in good earnest, the
Peach, Apricot, Ac., being in full bloom
and the Elms and Maples are out. Pnqile
Martins, Chijniing Sparrows, etc., are here
in full force.” Birds of rapid flight can
certainly take their choice of temperature.

I

I

I August, 1882.]

Branting at Monomoy.

Monomoy Island lies four miles south of
the southeast corner of Cape Cod. At its
north end is a small island on which the
club have a snug and comfortable house.
The writer was the guest of L. O. Slocum,
Esq., of the Monomoy Brant Club, from
March 25th to April 1st.

The Brant, also called Brant Goose,
{Brenta bernicla,) winters on the coast of
the Southern States. They are said to be
abundant off Currituck Sound, N. C., and
very difficult to get except from batteries.
Early in March the}' begin to appear in the
bay formed by Martha’s Vineyard, Nan¬
tucket, Monomoy and Cape Cod. In this
large enclosure are the feeding grounds to
which they repair each year. When feed¬
ing they tip up after the manner of many
ducks, but I was not able to learn of their,
fhving. They feed upon the tender shoots
of a kind of grass that grows in shallow
water.

Extensive flats are uncovered at low tide
for a distance of one-half to three-fourths
of a mile to the w'estward, and two miles
to the northward of the island. Along
the outer edge of this flat the gimners’
boxes are sunken. They measure 6 X 4 by
3^ feet deep, and will contain three men.
The boxes are occupied from the time the
water begins to cover the flats until it sub¬
sides and leaves bare ground. The rising
tide makes the Brant restless as they are
put out of reach of their feed, and greater
or less numbers visit the feeding grounds
at the north of the island. A strong
wind, particularly a sou’-wester, disturbs
the water and causes them to seek a more
quiet place, and is especially desirable. As
Brant do not fly close to the shore it is
only while the water covers the flats that
they can be intercepted by the boxes. Each
box is provided with about thirty wooden
decoys and two live Brant, so fastened as
not to impede their walking and swim¬
ming. They are held in check Vjy a cord
running to the box. The Brant tenders

149

say the sham decoys are worthless, as old
Brants readily recognize the deceit, and
large flocks are rarely tolled in by them.
On the other hand, when the wild birds
come near, the tame decoys are made to
flutter by pulling the string. On a nearer
approach they readily answer their calls,
thus enticing their own species on to de¬
struction. It was my fortune to get the
best shot offered to our party. George
Bearse, a Brant tender, and myself went
to the North Bar box. The day was cold
and the wind northwest. Suddenly a flock
of about 35 Brant came from behind at a
distance of perhaps 200 yards to oiir left,
and swinging arotind into the wind they
dropped into the water, heading directly
for us. Five were quite a distance in ad¬
vance of the rest. Our two tame decoys
gave their rolling gxitteral hawk in answer
to the on-coming flock. The five ahead
swam among the wooden decoys, discov¬
ered their true nature, and swam back to
the rest. All were now turning to go
away, and George said : “ Ready ! one.
two, fire !”

The smoke settled so we could see noth¬
ing, but both held on to the spot. In an
instant it cleared and the smoke from two
more barrels shut off our view. In another
second we saw what we had done. George
sung out, “ After the wounded ! ” and both
sprang out into the water, only knee deep
at first, but gradually growing deeper.
After a tedious chase, four of the five
wounded were secured and the nine dead,
making thirteen. While on our way to the
box with the dead in hand a single Brant
w'as seen coming. It lit among the wood¬
en decoys and was easily secured. Single
birds are frequently found among the life¬
less decoys, and apparently with no sense
of danger. The Brant are generally very
shy and will not permit boats within sev¬
eral hundred yards.

With every warm southerly wind new
flocks arrive and alight among the others
out in the bay, where long lines of them,
and often acres, may be seen. Occasion-

AND OOLOGIST.

I5U

ORNITHOLOGIJST

[Vol 7-N(). 19

ally a flock rises, and mounting- high into
the air, flies over the island to the east¬
ward. These are going North, and al¬
though the weather be very severe they
will not return until the following Oct. or
Nov. The feeding grounds of the Brant
are few and far between : as near as I can
learn, they make but one or two stops be¬
tween North Carolina and the Cajie. The
next is off Prince Edwards Island. Thence
they continue their flight, and Kane at the
far North saw them going still farthei*.
Their nests are as 3’et undiscovered. The
slightlj' winged birds are caught and kept
for decoys. Tliey soon take to eating
corn; and often live many j’ears in confine¬
ment. '^^^len well taught the\’ seem to
understand for what they are kept, and at
the word nin into the basket in which thej’
are carried. — Fred. 7’. Jencks, Frov., K. I.

Prairie Hen — Its Nesting Habits.

Ill this localit\' the Prairie Hen {Ciqyid-
onia oipido) commences laving the latter
part of April. On Maj* 6th, this \'ear, I
took two full sets of eggs consisting of
thirteen and fifteen respectiveh’. The
number of eggs laid Iw a single bird va¬
ries greatly. Nests containing all the way
from eleven to twentj'-one. I have seen
two nests this year containing twenty-one
eggs each, and one containing eighteen. A
friend of mine rejiorted finding one with
twenty-four. Out of a large number of
nests examined by me fourteen is the av¬
erage number. I have never measured the
eggs, but they are small for the size of the
bird, being about the size of the common
crow. They are of a light brown color and
sometimes the first two or three eggs laid
are marked with small, yery dark brown
spots. One set of thirteen in my collec¬
tion is all beautifullj’ marked in this way.
Another set of eleven is almost pure white.
The nest is alwaj’S placed on the grojind.
A cavit}’ is hollowed out about three in¬
ches in depth and the bottom is covered
with dry grass. Their favorite phue of

nesting is in the prairie grass, which af-
foi-ds an excellent place of concealment. I
have sometimes found their nests on Fall
plowing and in corn fields. The birds are
very tame during the breeding season and
will sit on the nest allowing a person to
a2)proach within a few feet before leaving
the nest, when as many others do, they
will pretend to be crippled for the 2)urpose
of alluring the intnider from their nest.
They will even allow themselves to be caji-
tured on the nest, when they will fight
with fury.

One of the most destnictive agents to
the nests of these valuable birds is the
jirairie fires. Most of the stockmen do not
burn theii- hay ground until the middle of
May, and so thousands of eggs iierish every
3'ear. In passing over one of these burned
fields I counted five nests containing sev-
entv’-eight eggs, on about one acre of
ground. The female in two instances was
sitting a few feet from her nest on the
ground. The jveriod of incubation is
twent\'-one days. Prairie fires also destrov'
large numbers of eggs of the Mountain Plo¬
ver and ^leadow Lark, which also breed
here in large numbers. -Horace .1. Kline,
Ve-da. Johnson Co., Xehruska.

Field Glass.

Having studied birds more or less for
several years with the aid of a field or ma¬
rine glass, I proj)ose in a series of short
articles to give mj' experience in using the
same. Having never been a collector I
shall have nothing to sav on this point.
The most that I can hope to do will be to
suggest a i)leasant and easy way for be¬
ginners to become actpiainted with most
of the birds to be seen during any sc'ason,
and to map out a course of study, which
if somewhat out of the beaten rut. will be
found (piite as ideasant as instructive.

Peojde who have no wish, strictly speak¬
ing. to become ornithologists or oologists,
do desire sometimes to become better ac-
(piainted with our resident birds. To do

AND OOLOGIST.

151

I August, 1882.]

this successfully I know of no better sub¬
stitute for powder and shot than a good
field or opera glass. Besides the resident
bii'ds now and then the patient observer
will be richly rewarded by a passing ac¬
quaintance with many of those migrating
north. A bird thoroughly shot with the
glass is forever alive and fixed in the mind,
and a hundred little ways and habits have
been noted, which would have been entire¬
ly lost if shot in the usual manner.

To know a bird thoroughly it must be
watched very closely, and it is often the
case that many habits and queer ways are
noted before enough of the descriptive
points are obtained to determine the spe¬
cies. As the bil'd flies here and there its
manner of flight is soon known, and wdien
seen on the ground the first thing to be
observed is whether it hops or walks.
Having obtained all the points as to size,
color, jjarticnlar markings, etc., with the
aid of any good text book, the species may
soon be determined. There are some diffi¬
culties in the way, and at first some errors
may be made.

With the novice the female Purple
Fiucli might be taken for a Sparrow and
the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers would
perhaps cause a little trouble, but in a
short time nearly all birds will be recog
ognized at first sight. A bird should be
studied for color against a dark back¬
ground ; if seen in the face of strong sun¬
light everything becomes black. Often
unheard of and impossible birds are de¬
scribed, because this fact is overlooked.
Colors are relative and seen imder certain
conditions they cease to have value. The
Tanager seen against the dark green of
hemlocks or other dense trees is all alive
with brilliant red ; when seen against
a light sky it becomes a black bird. In one
of my Winter walks I was met by a friend
who had just seen a flock of Blue-birds. I
doubted the statement as it was a bitter
cold day, and the ground was covered wutli
snow. I took a course as directed bv him

to find them, and soon overtook the ram¬
blers, but they proved to be, as I had sus¬
pected, slate-colored Snow-birds, {Jiinco
hj/enuilis.) The effect of the snow had
somewhat enhanced their color, and my
informant undoubtedly believed that he
had seen Blue-birds. Measurements ob¬
tained at glass range may be quite easily
determined by comparison with the dimen¬
sions given in the text-books, of some
familiar bird like the Robin or Blue-bird.
For small bii-ds the Chiccadee or some fa¬
miliar Sparrow can be taken. In order to
fully illustrate this subject the reader will
need to go with me occasionally to the
fields. Siippose we have taken a cold
Winter’s day for our walk. The music of
the crisp snow under our feet will enliven
the hour, and the bracing health giving air
will bring the blood tingling to om- cheeks.

If no birds are seen the walk will not
have been wholly in vain. But we shall
find the birds out, and with the first
we meet, perhaps, several somewhat
smaller than sparrows, our lesson begins.
They are naturally a little shy at first, and
as they fly away to the trees we make our
first note that they were eating the whit¬
ish, waxy coating of the bayberry nuts.
Becoming less timid they soon venture out
of their hemlock or juniper coverts and
go about their business. We shall now
notice the prominent, and always constant
bright yellow rump, with more or less of
yellowish on the wings, and that the upper
parts are continuously streaked with dark,
olivaceous brown, and also that the bill is
quite acute. With this we are prej^ared to
say that oiir birds are Pine-linnets ( Ghrys-
omitris innus.') Other birds will be seen
and undoiabtedly something new will be
learned about them, but a full account of
just what fiiay be seen hereabouts on a
Winter’s day will be deferred until another
time. — (t. R. C., JVonrlch, Conn.

You can add to our subscription list if
you will only try, and you will be the
gainer in the end.

152

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 19

Eagle and Goose. — Five or six years
ago an eagle seized a goose and attempted
to carry it off. After flying a short dis¬
tance it was obliged to come down to the
ground, the weight of the goose being too
great for.it. The commotion the fowls
kicked up about the bam yard attracted
the attention of the owner of the goose,
who soon discovered the cause on seeing
in a field but a short distance away the
eagle and goose in a tussle. The eagle
was killed before it could extricate its
claws from the body of the goose. This
hajipened eight miles west of Jacksonville.
— ir. II. II. Kinr/^ Jacksonville, Ills.

Bird Nesting. — I tried an invention to¬
day of Moses B. Griffing, of Shelter Island,
for finding ground builders in fields, and
think it a great success. It consists of
two persons at each end of a long rope —
which they drag between them over the
grass, and by this means the birds are
flushed from nests as the rope reaches
them, and they can be marked down very
closely. It also enables two collectors to
cover a great deal of ground in a short
time, and very few birds are missed. —
Snoirdon Howland, Xewport, 11. I.

Publications-Recent and Otherwise.

Animal Analysis. — We have before us a
book of blank forms wherein the student
of nature can keep in compact, and easily
accessible form, such analysis of Birds.
Fish and Reptiles as he might make. With
this book before him the student will be
sure to make his description full and con¬
cise. We extract the following from Mr.
B. W. Everman’s letter, which will explain
the use of the work now before us:

“ By to-day’s mail I send you a copy of
a little book of mine — Animal Analysis —
which has just l)een published.

“ I have used these blanks in connection
with Dr. 1). S. Jordan's Manual of Verte¬
brates in my teachings for some time, and
during the present college year Dr. Jordan
has imule a thorough test of their useful¬

ness, in his classes in the Indiana Univer¬
sity, and he pronounces thera.;«.s( the thing.

“ To bring the book within bounds as to
size and price, I have condensed a little
more than I liked in one or two instances
(in form for Fishes) but I still find it all
that is really necessary. The form for
Birds I think you will find very suitable.”

We cannot speak too highly of the
works of Mr. Everman, for he is one of
the most careful students of nature that
we know, and knows just what is wanted
to facilitate the labors of the student.
The work can be had of any bookseller.
Price not given.

“New York Observer” is a large eight
jiage family newspaper, one half of which
is devoted to religious matters and the
other to secular mattei-s. In this depart¬
ment will occasionally be found valuable
articles on ornithology, and other mattei-s
pertaining thereto. Our iiresent object is
to call attention to a letter written at Sel~
borne bj' the Rev. Wendell Prime, D. D.,
describing Selborne as he finds it to-day.
Of course all our readei*s must know that
Selborne is the home of Gilbert White
whose memory is ever fresh in the minds
of true lovers of nature. Some time ago
a series of articles on White’s Selborne
appeared in the same pajier by the same
author. The Observer is published at 21
Park Row, N. Y., and is sent one year for
S3. 1.*). Payable in advance.

Worcester Spy. — We are indebted to
“ J. M. W.,” of this town, for a copy of the
daily Spy of June 15. containing one of
Mr. Henry D. Minot’s chatty articles on
“ Our Common Summer Birds.” All fa¬
vors of this kind are fully appreciated by
the Editor.

The O. and O. — Yol. VII is now in its
seventh number and is certainly well wor
thy the patronage of every American
ornithologist. We think it is the duty of
every subscrilier to try and induce others
to subscribe. In this way tlie cause gjiiiis
strengtli and the labor to the many is light.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, Marob, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NORWICH, CONN., SEPTEMBER, 1882.

NO. 20.

Gleanings from Bendire’s Letters.

From letters received from Capt. Chas. E.
Bendire, at Fort Walla Walla, W. T., from
time to time, we make the following ex¬
tracts, knowing from their value that they
will interest our many readers :

Nov. 9, 1881, he took a specimen of the
Snowy Owl {N'yctea scandiaca,) w'hich, as
far as he know's, is the first jjropeiiy au¬
thenticated Pacific coast record. He saw’
a specimen on two or three occasions near
Camp Harney, Oregon, but failed to get
any, and at Walla Walla, in 1880, saw part
of one.

Jan. 9, 1882, he mentions seeing another
specimen, and the party who brought it in
reported seeing several others at the time
he captured this one. The Captain thinks
they may be found as common on the w’est
coast as far south as Walla Walla as they
are in the east — particularly when the dif¬
ference in climate in the same latitude is
taken into consideration — the climate in
Winter where he is stationed being com¬
parable with that of Virginia and North
Carolina.

Nov. 19, 1881, the first Bohemian Wax-
wings {Ampelis garruhisC) w’ere taken, and
during the last week of the same month a
fine Arctic Blue Bird {Sialia arctica) w’as
killed. Up to this date the weather had
not been cold, although a little snow^ had
fallen. Dec. 18, he secured fourteen Wax-
wings, and about the middle of January,
1882. a dozen more. Soon after this they
left the immediate vicinity of the Fort.

Under the date of Dec. 1, 1881, he
says : “ It is i’etnarkal)le how conution the

Great-horned Owds are this season. I
have already skinned ten durmg the past
tw’o months and no two are exactly alike.
With perhaps two exceptions they are, I
think, referable to the Scitiirntus form. I
believe we are to have a severe Winter and
that these birds come down from the
mountains ; for surely they don’t all breed
about here, or else I w’ould have become
acquainted wuth them during the breeding
season. Nearly all w’ere excessively fat
as W’ere the other species belonging to this
family that I have taken to date, viz. ; the
Long-eared and Kennicott’s. Most of the
Short-eared, however, w’ere very poor,
probably migrants from the high north,
like the Snowy Ow’l, which w’as also very
ill-conditioned. We have about six inches
of snow, but the weather is 2>leasaut.”

Uj) to March 9, 1882, he had not taken
any eggs of the Great-horned Owd and
hardly exjiected to, having killed not less
than sixteen. From w’hat he has been
told, he is almost inclined to believe that
some of these birds occasionally breed in
holes in the ground, and if true, it would
account for his not finding any of their
nests about the Fort heretofore.

During December, a sj^ecimen of tScops
asio Kennicotti w’as taken under rather
liecmliar circumstances. He says : “ I w'as
going home from dinner at 5 p. m., as I
live in another house in the garrison about
one hundred and fifty yards from my quar¬
ters — in front of the houses we have a
row of trees growing, some of them quite
large locusts and box elders. On one of
the latter and conq)aratively low I saw’ one
of these Owds, but how’ to get him under

154

ORNITHOLOGIST

the circuinstances was what troubled me ;
sliooting would not do after dark, so I
hnnted for a long- pole and finally found
one with which I could reach the bird,
who seemed stupid and disinclined to move,
having pi-obably just made a heavy meal
on some unfortimate mouse. I got a lick
at it and tumbled it down without injur¬
ing the plumage in the least. It made a
magnificent skin and is altogether the best
specimen of this species that I have had
so far. It was very fat.”

Dec. 14, 1881, he writes that he had al¬
ready taken over thirty Owls during this
"Winter, but just then birds were hard to
get, it being fearfully muddy, as the frost
was all out of the ground. He had heard
of some Albino Sharp-tailed Grouse about,
but as yet had not seen any.

He writes Dec. 18, 1881, that about
Walla Walla he is spoiling the Owl crop,
having already killed and skinned thirteen
/?. virgininnns Saturatiis, besides a num¬
ber of Long, Shorrieared and Kennicotts.
and was likely to get more. The Winter
is very mild and open, farmers are busy
ploughing and the air feels more like April
than December. Birds are scarce just now
and the number of species limited.

Jan. 8, 1882, in speaking of a collection
of one hundred and sevejity skins of dif¬
ferent birds made from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31,
1881, one hundred being males and sev¬
enty females, he says the sexes predomi¬
nate greatly in some species, sometimes
one and then again the other.

Jan. 1.'), 1882, two specimens of the
Cedar Bird {Ampelist cedroruni) were se¬
cured. He has never noticed any so far
north in midwinter, and in fact, tliey are
anything but common in Summer. Among
the less common Winter visitors or resi¬
dents he has taken several Pipilos and
one Long-billed Marsh Wren, westeni form.

March Hi, 1882, he took a nest of the
Long-eared Owl omfiriraiiux,) six

eggs, all pretty large specimens. This is
his earliest record for this s])ecies. al¬

[Vol 7-No. 20

though the eggs had been set on at least
a week.

March 26, 1882, a set of five fresh eggs
of Scops asio Kennicotti was secured.
He made fifteen skins of this Owl from
October to March.

Florida Gallinule.

This handsome bird is abundant all
along the Seneca river marshes in this State.
With us it is known as “ The Water Hen.”
They arrive early in May, and are soon ob¬
served in large numbers strutting, like
roosters, about the “ Wash.” (a local name
here given to an overflowed marsh when
but the tops of the old flagg api)ear above
the surface of the water.) This is the time
of the year for the collector who wish¬
es to procure specimens for the cabinet,
as they are in perfect jilumage and (piite
easily procured. A boat can readily be
propelled through this “ mash,” a too near
approach of which causes some of the
birds to take wing, others to dive. They
remain beneath the surface long enough
for the boat to approach within easy
shoothig range. Then all the collector
has to do is to “ keep his eye peeled" and
drop them one by one as they break
water. They seem to be in full flight the
instant they reappear. Often are they
observed to rush out of the water, as it
were, within a foot of the boat. Although
rarely exhibited in our markets for sale,
the gunners along the river prefer them
to duck for the table. They are an ex¬
ceedingly social species ; more or less
noisy at all times. They make the mai'shcs
lively during the breeding season, at
which time they extend their jollification
far into the night accompanied, at inter,
vals. by the somewhat ludicrous notes of
the Carolina Grebe and the rattle of the
Marsh Wren. They commence to build
about the last week in May, although nests
are found at this date with eggs. The
second week in June is the harvest time
for th«* oologist. From not-es taken June

AND OOLOGIST.

155

Sept., 1882.]

1, 1881, while collecting in this marsh
with Mr. S. F. Rathbun, of this place, I
quote a description of three from six
found to illustrate ditferent modes of
building. No. 1, on the ground, w’ell
raised from mud and water by the broad,
middle portion of the old flag piled cross¬
wise to the height of eighteen inches.
No. 2, three feet above the water, in the
shape of a platform, after the manner of
the Least Bitterns. No. 3, five and one-
half feet from the water by weaving the tojis
of the flags together so compactly as to
prevent swaying in the wind.

So far as my observations of the breed¬
ing habits of the Florida Gallinule ex¬
tend, I am inclined to believe they natu¬
rally prefer the ground on which to build,
as there seems to be the majority of nests ;
and when they select a site towards the
water, they build a nest high, in propor¬
tion as the depth of the water increases.
Now, if this holds good as a rule, what is
the cause of this variation in building ? —
Frank N. Wright, Auburn, JV. Y.

Barred Owl’s Nests. — We have seen four
nests since our residence in Norwich, and
as they all vary we will try and describe
them. No. 1 was in a very large, healthy,
chestnut. The nest was in a rent or slit
in the side of the tree, about thirty feet
from the ground. This hole was about
three feet high by not over six inches wide.
The nest was level with the entrance.
When we visited it in company with Mr.
Brand, the old bird was on the nest, which
contained two fresh eggs. There was
snow at the nest's entrance as well as on
the ground. Mr. Brand has taken eggs
from this nest for seventeen years. No. 2
was entirely different. It was also in a hol¬
low in the top of a chestnut tree, not over
twenty feet high and easy to get at. The
hollow place has evidently been burned at
some time to drive out squirrels. This
nest was in the stub or top of the tree,
which had been blown off and was open
and the nest or cavity was about the size

of half a flour barrel. The female was on
the nest and left at our approach. She
was remarkably large and a beautiful spec¬
imen. The nest at this time contained a
hen’s egg, which had been placed there
when the owl’s egg had been removed.
This nest has been taken for many years
by “ J. M. W. ” No. 3 was in a large
chestnut about fifty feet high and was the
nest of a Red-tail or Red-shouldered
Hawk, and in nowise different from w'hat
a Hawk usually builds. This pair has
been robbed for years by “ J. M. W,” but
not in the same nest or even same piece of
wood. No. 4 was in the crotch of a but¬
ternut tree, about twenty-five feet high.
This cavity was half hole and half shelf,
so that when the bird was on the nest she
could be seen from the ground. This was
not occupied the season we saw it, but “ J.
M. W.” has taken many sets from this pair.

Piping Plover. — If any of our readers
reside in localities where this Plover
breeds plentifully, we should be glad to
hear from them with notes on its breeding
habits.

Field Sparrow. — The first nests of this
bird will be found in old fields or by the
roadsides in tufts of dry grass, some¬
times in low cedars not over one or two
feet from the ground. As vegetation
commences, they build in blackberry
bushes or other deciduous shrubs above
the level of the ground.

Hummer’s Nest and Eggs. — We are in¬
debted to Fred Corey, Santa Paula, Cal.,
for a nest and two eggs of the Anna Hum¬
ming Bird, which are on the drooping
branch of an almond tree. The nest is f
deep by ^ wide, built entirely of a cot¬
tony substance from flowers all of one
color, and it is a perfect gem of a nest,
and the eggs are prepared in a manner
suggestive of steady nerve. It is a
“ thing of beauty,” and it not a joy for¬
ever it certainly will be while it lasts.
Thank you, Mr. Corey.

150

ORNITIIOU HilST

() R N I T II O L () G I S T

— AND—

00 LOG I ST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGOS.

JOS. M. WADE, EDITOR,

With the co-opcration of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

SuB-HCRiPTioN — $1.00 per annum. Foreign mbecrip-
tion $1.25 — including jMMtage,. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Norwich, Conn.

EDITOR I A L.

L.\te Notes. — Prof. Ward, of Rochester,
has purchased the collection of 748 bird
skins owned by J. J. Audubon at the time
of his death. Southwick & Jencks have
made ^reat efiorts to replenish their stock
for the coming- season — both members of
the firm having made long excursions for
the purjiose, — 1,400 eggs were expected in
one day. Dr. AVm. Wood sent to Jno. H.
Sage a Bald Eagle that had been feeding
on putrid fish — an excellent present when
the thermometer was trying to reach 100
and nearly succeeded.

Savannah Sparrow {Ra.<iserciihis sanrl-
icichensis Savannn, B7As\) Rithpe. We
jiresume it is the long name that drives
this modest little Sparrow away from civil¬
ization doiNTi to the sea shore and adjacent
islands where it breeds. We had never
seen to recognize this bird until the pres¬
ent Summer, when, with a friend, we vis¬
ited Plum Island, on the eastern end of
L. I. While tr.unping over the ground a
female Sparrow was flushed from the nest,
which was supposed to be a Song Sparrow,
but the nest was lined entirely with grass.
This raised our suspicion at once. Wlien
the field glass was brought to bear on the
bird, which was not a .Song Sparrow,
but more striped, and the stripes more
jirominent and the actions of the bird was
different. It ke])t on or near the ground
on very low bnslies. Its song was
feeble and not that of the .Song SjiaiTow

[Vol. 7-No. 20

The eggs, too. which were fresh, were dif¬
ferent, being more rounded and the browui
blotches longer. The ground color was
lighter and not so much on the greenish
blue order as the Song Sparrow. After
identifying this bird we saw many pairs of
them breeding on the Island and found
another nest, which was in an almost bare
pasture in a very slim tuft of grass. This
bird remained on the nest, so that we
could get very close to her and study her
markings as much as we cared for. The
first nest was also on the ground in the
long, thin, coarse gr.iss, incident to a
sandy plain.

Brief Newsy Notes.

Botany and Ornithology are kindred
sciences and to give the best results should
be studied together. AVhat a world of
pleasure the tnie lover of nature derives
from these two sciences.

A Text. — “ A bird shot with the glass
is forever alive and fixed in the mind, and
many little ways and habits have been
noted, which would have been entirely lost
if shot in the usual manner.” — G. R. O.

Late Nesting. — We h ive in our posses
sion a .Song Sparrow’s nest and eggs which
we took at Occum, Conn., Aug. 20, 1881.
The eggs were cpiite fresh. We should be
pleased to hear from collectors with the
latest records of the present season.

Botany is the background to ornithol-
ogv. Where is the author that will give
us a series of articles entitled “ The Bot¬
any OF Birds' Nests.” When this is thor¬
oughly done it will probably give us a key
to positive idendity from the nest alc.ne
without destroying the bird. One of the
strangest things in nature is that a nest
of young birds will wing their way to the
South and return to the jilace of tlieir
liirth and build a nest of the same mate¬
rials. the same shape and location their
jiarents did before. In this lies a life
work for some diseijile of Oilbert hite
to work out.

157

Sept., 1882.] AND OOLOGIST.

Field Glass.

During our Winter’s walk, besides the
Pine Linnet, we shall find in this 2)art of
Eastern Connecticut the Slate-colored
Snow Bird, Tree Sparrows, Black-caj)2)ed
Chicadees, occasionally Shrikes, Blue Jays,
Goldfinches, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Gol¬
den-winged. Downy and Hairy Woodpeck¬
ers, Nuthatches, Brown-tree creej^ers. Blue
Birds. Partridges, Quails, Crows and
Hawks. Now and then White-throated
SiDarrows, Cedar Birds, Song Sjiarrows,
Robins and Purple Finches may be seen,
and the Gulls will move up and down the
river as long as it remains open.

The above is a fair list to begin with.
Some of those already known may be
studied for descrijDtive jioints, and to fa¬
miliarize one with the text book or key.
The method of study is soon acquired,
and it is but a stejj from the known to
unknown birds.

There are some constant features about
all birds, and these are to be sought for in
watching the bird on the ground, bush or
tree, and at the same time we can ascer¬
tain what it feeds upon. If the ground
has been long covered with snow, and
somewhat cold, every shrub or tree with
berries, and every i^atch of dry weeds and
grasses has a particular value not quite so
noticeable at other times. Chicadees, and
even Crows, when hard pushed, as well as
Pine Linnets, will feed on bayberry wax.
Quails will now leave their bushy coverts
and seek the green smilax vines that over¬
run our walls and outlying shrubbery, and
feed on their blackish berries, which are
somewhat nauseating to the taste, and
after a meal of this kind, quail flesh, though
not poisonous, is not very palatable food,
and often causes severe cases of sickness.

Of all the Ijerry bearing trees the juni¬
pers are most valuable to many Winter
birds, and a section of country without
these will be a j)oor })lace for out door
study. Purple Finches, Goldfinches, Ce¬

dar Birds and Robins are often found
among them when seen nowhere else. A
flock of Robins may be frequently seen
eating these berries, ai)23aiently so fam¬
ished as to j^ay but little attention to a
2:)erson a dozen feet away. Sometimes
during very cold weather our vine-clad
verandas are visited by Bhxe Birds in
quest of the Virginia-cree2:)er berries, and
in localities where these berries are abun¬
dant, we may look with some success for
Blue Birds. On warm, sunny days, when
the ground is bare, we find them around
old orchards, exj^loring old (piarters, as if
anticipating the coming season ; then they
are on the alert for stray insects and the
young grasshopper. Frequently grass¬
hoppers may be seen in several hours from
the time a jiatch of grass ground is denud
ed of snow.

There is a familiar weed that grows in
every garden and on 2:)lowed ground, or by
the road side, called ambrosia or ragweed,
sometimes j^igweed, which affords an am¬
ple supply of small seeds. The same may
be said of the evening jirimrose, and the
many varieties of Panicum, and other
dried grasses, that grow ujjon com2:)arative-
ly waste jilaces. We shall find Tree Sjiar-
rows. Goldfinches and Slate colored Snow
Birds frequenting these jilants during the
Winter months often when the ground
is covered with a hard crust of snow.
Then one may fully aj)2U’eciate the value
of the uin-ight stalks with their beneficent
harvest of seeds. Goldfinches will jfick the
seeds out of the cajjsule of the evening
ju-imrose, and Tree Sparrows will give the
stalk a gentle shake and 2)ick the seeds U2)
as they fall.

All cone bearing trees fiirnish more or
less food for birds in Winter. Cross-bills
resort to hemlocks and 2iines, and Gold¬
finches and Puiqfie Finches are sometimes
found at work on the cherry or black birch.

There is a s2)ot on the river just below
Thamesville where the gulls re.sort in con¬
siderable numbers, and are often seen

158

ORNITHOLOGIST

sporting in the water, looking in the dis¬
tance very much like ducks. One Winter
when the river was nearly closed. I took
considerable pleasure in watching their
movements. The flats, so-c‘alled. were
covered with thick ice, and near the chan¬
nel the broken ice was heaped up in ridges.

There were some twenty or thirty gulls
resting on the ice, with their heads toward
tlie north ^vind, while some were returning
from the flight up stream, and others were
going out all the tune. One thing in par¬
ticular struck me as quite new — every bird
on its retuiTi would go to the open chan¬
nel and take a bath, by plunging in the
stream with more or less of flutter and
flaiiping of wngs, after which it would
gracefully take its place beside the other
liirds on the ice for a rest.

Besides their usual diet. Crows and Jays,
as well as Chicadees, are not averse now
and then to a stray kernel of com. The
latter will steal corn from a corn-crib, if an
entrance can be effected through a knot
hole, or otherwise, returning to a particu¬
lar spot outside to feed, and will handle
and peck a kernel, holding it between its
feet, with quite the dexterity and skill of a
Blue Jay. The few Crows and Jays that
remain around the farms during the Win¬
ter, resort daily to the cattle yards and
fodder grounds for stray morsels. One
year I always made it a point when
feeding the hens to throw a little com
over the fence to a bare space of ground
bordered by hemlocks and s2)otted alders.
The Jays were always waiting in the copse
for me, and came out as regularly as the
hens for their morning meal.

From time to time, in onr walks through
the fields and by-ways, facts like the fore¬
going will i)resent themselves. Tlie nov¬
ice should always make a note of them.
Some will be found (piite as important as
the shape, color and size of an egg. — <i.
li. f-’., \orwich.

All subscriptions must commence with
the current Vol.. an<l for the full Vol. only.

[Vol. 7-No. 20

Climbers and Climbing.

Climbing Irons. — In “ Ingei-soll’s Bird’s
Nesting” the following passage is quoted
and approved :

“Never attempt to use climbing-irons on
a tree that you cannot reach around ; if
you do, ten to one you will land on the
ground below before any great height is
gained.” If this is taken as adrice and fol¬
lowed. scientific climbing \vill soon be
among the lost arts. But it must have
been written hastily and most certainly
from the standpoint of a novice. Now,
our larger New England Hawks and Owls
mostly breed in trees to large to “ reach
around, ’’ and yet. contra Ingersoll. climb¬
ing-irons afford the quickest, safest, and
easiest way, to reach these nests. I have
several hundred eggs of Raptores from
trees of good circumference secured by
the use of these handy implements, and
though we read as above that falls will
occur “ nine times out of ten.” yet in the
voluminous records of my eggs not a sin¬
gle fall is chronicled. It is fair to say,
however, that many of my sets were
taken by experts, who have had yeai*8 of
experience in scpiirrelling and hawking,
and do admirable work. But with patience
and observation there is no reason why a
good degree of proficiency can not be
gained by any one with the average amount
of application. Like the beginner on
skates your first efforts will be crude
enough. You will sink your spurs too
deep or will strike at random and ineffect¬
ually. When you get up alnnit twenty
feet and your nerve begins to leave you,
you will hug the tree and lose confidence
in the footholds. And here is the fatal
mistake. You must never hug the tree.
It is by no means necessary to be able to
“ reach around” the trunk. No sustaining
power is required of the hands ; the entire
weight <»f the body goes upon ea<‘h iron
in succession, the hands only being used
to steady the body. When this itrinciple

Sept., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

159

is fully comprehended iu practice, im¬
mense chestnuts can be climbed by merely
toucliing the tips of the fingers in the
ridges of bark. The breast and knees
must be kept away from the tree, the
proper position being like a horizontal let¬
ter V. Watch the line-men at work upon
the telephone and Western Union poles
and fair examples may be often seen.

Scientific climbing, then, is the exact
opposite of “shinning,” and if you have
been accustomed to the primitive method,
it must all be unlearned here. Remember,
the moment the centre of the body comes
near the tree the spurs will lose their grip.
The eyes and feet do the work, and not
the arms as indicated in the extract used
for our text. If the arms are “ thrown
around” the tree the climber cannot see
his feet ; but with the body at the proper
angle he will see where to strike each foot
and cannot fail to notice that one spur is
all right before pulling out the other.
After careful practice will come con¬
fidence and rapid work, which it will be a
pleasure to witness, and which will be sat¬
isfying to the pride of the climber. It is
as pleasurable to me in all respects to see
a bit of scientific climbing as to witness a
fine piece of skating or dancing. I have
in mind now three trees, pronounced inac¬
cessible by farmers, which my climber
ascended without hesitation. One, a
chestnut four feet in diameter and forty
feet without a limb, the cradle of Great
horned Owls. Another, a smooth black-
oak. limbless for fifty feet, the home of
Buteos. The third is a shining pine shaft
in the Ledyard Cedar Swamp, barkless
through lightning, on which a Fish Haw'k
had stuck its heap of rubbish. When I
reflect on this expert’s apparently natural
yet scientific work, never making a false
strike, ascending quickly, smoothly, almost
noiselessly, till he seems like some great
arboreal animal, I am tempted to head
this article Climbing as a Fine Art. So it
is with indignation that I read the mis¬

leading paragraphs in Ingersoll’s treatise.
In that essay stress is laid upon the
fatigue of using irons. I have heard no
complaint from climbers, and personal use
in light work for three seasons has
brought me no discomfort. It is certainly
effortless compared with “ shinning.” It is
well known that shinning is the most ex¬
hausting of all work, throwing great
strain upon the arms and subjecting the
lungs to an enormous pressure. Any
iron-worker will make creepers after your
model, and some little experience is need¬
ed before you find a pair of the right
weight and size and with the proper dip
to the spurs. All modern ones are kept
padded at the ankle and points exposed to
chafing. In conclusion we may add that
no one who has used climbing-irons will
be without them in early Spring field
work, and I find that no inducement can
make a professional climber shin up a tree
in the old lung-breaking way. — J. M. IF.,
Norwich^ Conn.

Lapwung ( Vanellns cristatus) Pewit,
Green Plover, Crested Lapwing. — This
beautiful bird is distributed over nearly
the whole of the British Isles and is also
found in many parts of Europe, in North¬
ern Asia and Africa. It is very common
in China. The common name of this bird
is from its cry Pee-wit. It can be heard
during the night as well as the day, for
the bird ahvays seems to be on the alert.
In Summer the Lapwings are met with in
pairs, in Winter in large flocks. In Sum¬
mer if any one approaches its breeding
grounds the Pewit becomes very daring
and will come to within a few yards of the
egg hunter, but in Winter it is very diffi
cult to get within shot of it. The eggs
are laid in a slight hollow on the ground.
They are four in number and are very
beautiful, the ground color being cream
splashed with dark brown and black.
The eggs are considered a great delicacy
and are eagerly sought after, and in
many parts of the country during the

1(>()

ORNITHOLOGIST

Reason persons follow the avocation of
ef'g gatherers. The eggs are very difficult
to find, but the regular gatherers will
walk almost at once to the nest. Eggs of
the Black-headed and other small Gulls
are often sold in large numbers as Plover's
eggs, but are not so delicate or so fine fla¬
vored. The early eggs are obtained from
Holland, and are sold in London at high
prices. The young birds try to elude
capture by lying flat on the groimd, and
are almost as difficult to find as the eggs.
The food of the Lajiwing consists of
worms, insects, larvae, slugs, etc. The
Lapwnng has increased in numbers during
the past few years in consequence of the
destruction of the birtls of 2)rey. — J. T.
T. li., Ii>//n>pe, Durham County, Eny.

Common Europe.\n Heron {Ardea cine-
ren. TAnn.) — Since the days of Falconry
great changes have taken jilace, and the
Heron, once protected by the most severe
laws, is now persecuted by the preserver
of fish. The Heron used to afford great
sport to the falconer in the middle ages,
as it was usually taken l)y a cast of female
Peregrines, but it was no unusual occur¬
rence for the Falcon to be killed by the
formidable beak of the Heron. The Heron
is still met with in many parts of Eng¬
land. but most of its breeding places are
protected by land-owners, who have a
liking for the bird, and but for the partial
jirotection afl’orded to it. the Heron would
long ago have been improved out of the
British Isles. The Heron l)reeds in colo¬
nies. making its nest on the tops of trees,
though sometimes a steep rock may be
chosen as a nesting place. The nest is
large, being about a yaial across, and is
composed of sticks and lined with soft
grass. The eggs are four or five in num¬
ber and are of a uniform ])ale green
color. The food of the Heron consists of
fish, frogs, water beetles, shrimps, small
crabs, and the ova of fish. — J. T. T.
Htu'd. /iyhopr. Knyhmd .

[^^oI. 7-No. 20

The Coues’ Check List.

One of the most important contribu¬
tions to ornithological literature recently
made is the “ Revised Check List of
North American Birds” by Dr. Coues.
Although called a second edition of the
list of 1873, it is practically a new work.
The old list contained only seven hun¬
dred and fifty species and sub species, and
twenty-eight in the appendix, while the
present list, which includes Greenland
birds, enumerates eight hundred and
eighty-eight species, each variety having
its own number. This is a diff'erent i)lan
from that adopted in the 1873 list, as
only full species are there numbered, the
sub-species being given as a, b, and c.

As showing the accuracy of the author’s
original list, it may be stated that only
ten names have had to be removed, while
one hundred and twenty have been added,
thus showing the great j^rogress made in
North American Ornithology during the
past nine years.

The Ornithological Dictionaiw in con¬
nection with the list consists of a treatise
on the etymology, orthography, and or
thoepy of all the scientific and many of
vernacular words employed in the nomen¬
clature of North American birds. This
will be invaluable to students, as many,
however familiar they may be with the
names of their feathered friends on ])ajier,
have little idea of the derivation, signifi¬
cation and application of tlie words.

The book is neatly ])rinted. nicely in
dexed (as are all of the Dr.’s works), and
tastefully bound, and will add another
laurel to the gifted author who has done
so much for American ornithology during
the past twenty years.

Snowy Owls. — Caj)t. William E. Kings
bury of the Eleventh Infantry, stationed
at Camp Bojilar River, Montana Territory,
has two Snowy Owls that are tjimed suffi
ciently to answer to the call of a
wliistle.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— A N I ) —

OOLOGIST.

f 1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Established, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

NOR’WICH, CONN., OCTOBER, 1882.

No. 21.

American Long-eared Owl.

OUR FIRST owl’s NEST.

For several seasons we worked indus¬
triously, sparing neither shoe leather nor
horse flesh, in the hope of finding an owl’s
nest, and that the first one would jirove
that of a GreaLhorned Owl. But each sea¬
son passed away without success, and we
the more determined not to buy, but to
persevere until success crowned our efforts,
when in the early Spring of 1879 we re¬
ceived a box from Portland, Conn., con¬
taining two beautiful eggs of the Great¬
horned Owl, a present from W. W. Coe,
wdio has taken the eggs so many years in
succession from this pair that he now
jokingly alludes to them as the “ Coe
strain.” The eggs in question were so far
advanced in incubation that one of the
young ones poked his bill through the
shell as they lay on the table, and yet
through Mr. Coe’s patience and persever¬
ance a set of eggs were produced fine
enough to place in any cabinet. Although
this set of eggs were thankfully received,
it did not cure the desire to find an owl's
nest, and when the season of 1 880 opened
we still persevered until April 4, when
passing through a hemlock grove in a de¬
serted heronry, in the town of Ellington,
Ct., we discovered droppings and castings.
On looking up the tree a Long-eared Owl
{Asia Americanus) left it for a short flight.
Without stopping to think, we mounted the
tree on a fruitless search. As soon as we
got down the owl returned to the next
tree, when our German companion got ex¬
cited and wanted to borrowa gun ; in fact.

anything to get the owl. We told him to
keep cool and we would go up the tree and
get it for him.

We started stealthily up the hemlock.
The owd kept his eye on oiu’ friend
until we got within two feet of it, when its
head came around, and he looked us in the
face. We moved not a muscle, but looked
him straight in the eye, when hearing our
friend step on a rotten stick, its head
turned once more, and taking advantage of
this we gently moved one branch higher,
and wdth a quick movement of the right
hand we took him from the limb. To say
that both of us were surprised wmuld hard¬
ly express it. The German sent up a shout
of exultation in broken English. We
carefully descended with our captive, and
our German friend prepared to tie up the
owl in his handkerchief. We examined
it carefully, and w'hile handing it to
him we pm-posely let it go. The owl
went off as noislessly as a butterfly and
looked at us from another tree with a per¬
fect indifterence. We left the place jileased
with our experience but our friend had lost
his owl and was not happy.

April 11th. We again went to the her¬
onry and saw both owls several times.
Climbed to several nests but found no eggs.
April 18. Our friend went over alone
and found both owls on one nest. They
left it when he went near the tree. April
2.5. We again went to the heronry with
our friend, who jiointed out the tree in
which he had previously found the nest
containing the owls. As we struck the
tree one of the owls left the nest, and
when we had climbed two-thirds of the

()KNITHOL( )GIST

[Vol 7-No. 21

H)2

way np the other one left, and by their
violent movements we were satisfied it
contained egfi^s, which proved to be
the case, for on reacliinf^ the nest, which
was near the top of a yonn«- hemlock tlnrty
feet from the "round, close to the main
trunk, on the east side, we found five pure
white egg’s, which we placed in a soft felt
hat, and the hat carefully between our
teeth, but we fear we was Just a little
cruel in prolonging the suspense of the
poor birds, for it was interesting to watch
their rapid movements, as ^vith ears de¬
pressed and head feathers raised, and
squealing pitifully like young cats in dis¬
tress, they flew as close to our head as it
was prudent for them to do, snapping
their bills the while. The nest was ev¬
idently built on that of a Night Her¬
on’s, and was quite shallow but firmly
built of grass. There were considerable
feathers, but whether they were placed
there as a lining to the nest, or came from
the quary consumed, we could not tell.
Since the eggs were taken we have not been
able to find the old birds. They evidently
at once left that part of the woods. The
following is the measurements of the five
eggs taken from this nest; l.-'inx 1.32, 1.59
Xl.32, 1.(52x1.37, 1.05x1.3.5, 1.. 58X1.31.
Within a stone’s throw of this nest we
took two others, a Cooper’s Hawk and a
Crow, both with full fresh sets. This her¬
onry was fully occupied in 1878, but sev¬
eral sportsmen ? went and shot the birds
for “ fun ” while breeding, one bringing to
touTi and -jilacing in a row for the curious
to examine sixteen birds at one time. The
action of these so-called siiortsmen we
severely condemned at the time in our lo¬
cal ]m])er. and we do not think the act has
been repeated. The Herons, however, left
for safer quarters, and not many beside the
writer know of their whereabouts.

.Vpril 10, 1881. We visited the same
locality in hopes that the Long-eared
Owls had retunied, but instead we found
a ))air of Hai red Owls.

Savannah Sparrow. — I think that part of
the article on this species, in the Sejitem-
ber number of this magazine, is rather
misleading, at least my observations in
New Brunswick would suggest a different
report, for while it is tnie that these birds
seem to have a strong liking for the sea
shoi’e, the inference that they are not found
elsewhere is not correct. In the vicinity of
the Bay of Fundy they certainly build their
nests nowhere else than in a marsh or field
close by the salt water, and they are found
in field or marsh along the river bank,
where the water is brackish, but they are
also found all along the banks of the St.
•John river, from Fredericton to Fort Kent,
the latter place being some 250 miles or
more away from salt water. They are also
quite common in the fields bordering Grand
Lake and Washademoak Lake into which
no salt water enters. — Jf. Charnherlain.

Wilson’s Black Cap. ( Wihnnia pusilla.)
— In “New England Bird Life” it is writ¬
ten of this species: “ In female and young
birds the black cap is obscure or wanting.”
My friend, Fred. Daniel, shot one at
Madawaska, on .Tune 13th of this year,
with a crown of as deep black as is usually
found on the male, but which, upon exam¬
ination, ju'oved to be a female. One egg
was about ready to be laid, and upon open¬
ing it with my knife there was disclosed
the yolk and white in jierfect condition. —
M. Chdriiherhtitr, St. Jo/nt, X. B.

Bank Swallows Drowned. — Query. —
Haywards, Cal., -June 21, ’82. — Dear Sii' :
In your .July No. you have a note on p. 141
ns to the drowning of swallows in their
burrows in May. How does this b(*nr on
the numerous accounts of their being found
in the mud in winter and reriving? If
they were so found was it from sliding
down of the banks, and temjiorarv' suffoca¬
tion ? How long will they live buried in
loose sand ? I suggest tliese subjeids for
exjierimenters.. — ./, <i. (^oofn’r.

Oct., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

1G3

Thrushes. — I should be very much pleased
to see an article in your journal on some
of the Turdidae, viz : Turdus mustelina
(Wood Thrush,) T. Pallasi (Hermit
Thi’ush,) T. IS^cainsoni (Olive-backed
ThriTsh,) and T. Fuscescens (Wilson’s
Thrush. All of these breed on the island
of Montreal, but their eggs resemble one
another so much that I have not been able
to identify the species. Therefore, I
should be glad to see a description of their
nests and eggs, as found by yoiu’self or
correspondents. — Ernest D. Wintle, Mon¬
treal, Canada.

[Our experience with the Wilson Thrush is limited to one
nest, and that was found by Capt. Thos. J. Rigney, a very
reliable assistant, who reported flushing a Thrush, new to
him, in a swamp near Rockville, Conn., from a tuft or bog.
On examination the nest was found in the centre of the
tuft and set well down into it, and the tuft was almost hid¬
den by a skunk cabbage. The nest was a fine piece of
bird architecture, the foundation being composed of leaves
carefully laid in layers, evidently to keep out the moisture.
Above that the nest was like a well built Wood Thrush’s
nest, only it was rather deeper and not quite so large. It
contained four fresh eggs, which are still in our possession.
They are quite round and not much larger than Blue Birds’
eggs. We should be glad to hear from others in answer to
the above. Probably our St. John contributors can help
us out. — Ed.

Owls in Confinement. — William Brew¬
ster reports in Bulletin a Saw-whet Owl,
laying an egg (soft shell) while in confine¬
ment. Snowdon Howland reports a Screech
Owl laying a perfect egg while kept by him.
Early this Spring “ J. M. W.” brought to
us a fine specimen of the young of the
Great-horned Owl. It is now doing well.

Egg Eaters. — Snowdon Howland calls
our attention to a Vireo seen eating Rob¬
in’s eggs. A writer in the Hartford Times
states that he has seen Kingbirds eating
Robin’s eggs, and classes them as an ene¬
my of that bird in consequence. Some
years ago while riding on the train at full
speed below Moosup, Conn., a Kingbird
flew’ across a field and alighted on the rail¬
road fence with a robin’s egg in its mouth.

August Eggs. — Two sets of Quails, one
set of Orchard Oriole, two sets of Blue
Yellow-backed Warbler and several sets of
American Gold Finch. — J. M. W., Noank,
Conn.

European Starling {Sturnus vidgaris
Linn.) — The Starling is one of the most
common of European birds, being met
with in most parts of the continent, and
also in Algeria and Egypt, where it is a
Winter visitor. It breeds early in the
year and makes its nest in holes in cliffs,
old buildings, trees and dove cotes. The
nest is large and composed of straw and
dry grass lined with feathers or wool.
The eggs number from four to six and
vary in size, though not m color, which is
a light blue. Tw’o broods are reared each
season. The young birds are often taken
and brought iqi by hand, and some of
them learn to talk. Indeed, it is a com¬
mon jiractice with so-called bird fanciers,
to slit the tongues of the young Starlings
for the purpose of causing them to speak
well. In many parts of England and Ger¬
many “ Starling boxes” are erected and are
nearly ahvays taken possession of by Star¬
lings, though sometimes the Sparrow
{Passer domesticus) apjiears to think
that the box has been put up for the pur¬
pose of affording him a home. The food
of the Starling consists of worms, snails,
insects, larvae, etc. In Autumn the Star¬
lings collect in immense flocks, most of
W’hich depart for the South on the ap¬
proach of Winter. It has been observed
that where the Starlings abound the Sky¬
lark (A. arvensis) is scarce, and vice versa,
but the reason has not been settled to the
satisfaction of ornithologists. — J. T. T.
Reed, Ryhope, Durham Co., England.

Curious Nesting Places. — M’m. R.
Wharton of Philadelphia reports finding
a Great-crested Flycatcher’s nest in the
hole of a small hollow tree that was lying
on the ground. It was the more remarka¬
ble as there w’ere jilenty of trees with
holes in them. This nest contained five
eggs, and as usual the snake skin, which is
always a part of this Flycatchei’s nest. It
was on the island of Anglesea, twelve
miles from Cape May on the coast of West
Jersey.

1G4

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 21

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO

THE STUDY OF BIHDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGOS.

JOS. ,W. WAIiE, EIUTOR,

With the co-operation of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — $1.00 per annum. Foreign subecrip-
tion $1.25 — including poetage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Norwich, Conn.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak. — “Jack” is
this month, July, four years old, and is in
fine plumage, except the tail which has
again broken oflf without any perceptible
reason. The rose-colored breast and the
black head and back are very distinct and
dense in shade. He commenced his song
December 23, and has continued with little
intenuission so far, and is as healthy to¬
day as any ^vild bird.

AVe gave part of the life history of this
bird in confinement in No. 9, A^ol. vi, to
which we refer onr new readers. The lady
who brought “Jack” up made her usual
annual visit this month, and as a matter of
curiosity we an-anged to be present at the
meeting. The cage in which “Jack” is
confined is a large one, giving him all the
room required for comfort. As soon as the
lady came in sight, “ Jack ” sjirang across
the cage to meet her, and when she called
him by name he was wld with delight,
filling the cage as it were and singing the
sweetest notes imaginable all the while she
was present. And this has been repeated
ever}- time the lady goes near the cage,
and he recognizes her at sight, no matter
what the dress might be or how it might
be changed. This has been continued now
for three Summers in succession and one
AVinter. No bird receives better care than
this one, and he is continually petted and
yet to no one but the lady that raised him
does he ever make such a display of his
aft’ections.

- — = - : ... . g

RA^^:N’s Nest. — Since the 23d of Feb-
niaiT, 1880, we have kept an English Ra¬
ven which has not been confined but had
its liberty to go where it pleased, but it
has never straj-ed far from its home. For
the past year we have residetl on Laurel
Hill, near the centre of Norwich City. The
east side of this lull is a Avooded, rocky
precipice, about two hundred feet deep
and one or two hundred yards in extent.
Nature could not have made a jilace more
suitable to the habits of this bird, and dur¬
ing the present month of July we have dis¬
covered that it has built a perfect nest in
every respect. It is of the same materials
throughout and a perfect counterjiart of a
Crow’s nest only it is somewhat larger.
This nest is near the uiijAer surface of the
precipice on a large flat ledge of rock and
covered by another similar rock. The nest
cannot be seen either from above or below.
AA’^e ahvays supposed this bird to be jiin-
ioned, but we have seen it make circling
flights of fifty to one hundred yards.
AAliether it is male or female, we know not.
Jako has led quite an interesting and
amusing life while in our possession, which
we would tell had we the room to do so.

CowBniD. — Charles Ed. Prior, Jewett
City, Conn., reports a Sparrow’s nest on the
ground which contained four Sparrow’s
eggs and three of the Cowbird.

Dr. H. A. Atkins. Locke, Ingham Of).,
Alich., writes as follows :

June 1. — Cowbird laid an egg in the
nest of a AA’ood Thrush which then con
tained two eggs. At 3. p. m. the AVooil
Thrush laid another egg, four in all. I
have never found the Cowbird’s egg in a
nest of so large a binl before

June 2. — .\t 10 a. m. found nest of
Golden-crowned Thrush with two eggs
and three of the Cowbird. (five in all.)
Broke the eggs and found them partially
incubated. One of the eggs was nearly
spherical. I think I have once or twice in
my life found three Cowbird’s eggs in the
same nest.

Oct., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST

165

California Winter Songsters.

Anna Humming-bird {Calypte annoe)
is one of the hardiest of all Humming¬
birds. It is to be seen in the gardens all
Winter flashing like a jewel from flower to
flower. If no one has heard or seen them
while singing they know not what 'an odd
singer he is. His song, if it may be called
one, is composed of three wiry like notes
sounding very much as the highest notes
of a violin. On any sunny day one can be
seen on an Acacia tree near the house, and
there he sings and feeds on the tassel-like
flowers ; if another one should come to
feed, after him he goes, for he will not
share that tree with another. In the Spring,
when the males are thinking of choosing a
mate, then is the time to see the peculiar
way they have of trying to dilve one an¬
other away from the female they may be
courting. One will be resting on a limb,
and the other will rise up in the air for a
hundred feet or more, then will come down¬
ward with a whirring, whizzing sound at
his enemy, as if to pin him fast. I have
not made out if they strike in coming
down, or it is only their way of trying to
drive a rival off.

Plain Titmouse) Lophophanes inorn-
atxis.) A very plain little bird, always busy
hunting after insects under the bark and
in knot holes of the live oak. He keeps up
his song at the same time, which is of
short whistling notes. I have often seen
them pecking away at the bark like the
woodpeckers. Have not been able to find
them breeding, nor have I heard of a nest
being found here yet, although they are
here the year round.

House Finch, {Carpodacus frontalis.)
The pesky little cherry eater is the jolliest
rover of the birds. He is found anywhere
and everywhere, on the roadside picking
up seeds or in the orchards picking at a
stray apple until he gets his fill, then up
to the top of a limb singing out a merry
song. It seems as though he was al¬

ways bubbling over with song and could
not sing enough. They make fine cage
birds, and sing well after the first year.
But it is strange that he does not keep his
red jacket on after the first moulting sea¬
son has passed. Instead of the red breast
he takes a yellow one.

Green-backed Goldfinch, {Astragali-
nus psaltria.) This little ball of gold and
green is found in flocks of ten or more all
Winter, feeding in the thistle patches.
They come around the gardens and may
be heard in the gum trees singing their
pretty songs, very much like the canary.
Two years ago this Winter I caught three
after they had gone to roost in the gums
for the night. I put them in with some
canaries ; they were quite wild for a time
then got as tame as the other birds. In
about a month they commenced to sing ;
would always get on the top perch, turn
their heads to the wall, then sing with all
their might. But, poor little fellows, when
Spring came and they began to moult, then
it went hard with them. They seem to
want some kind of food that will help
them in moulting. I found two of them
rolled up in a ball one morning dead. The
other I let out to go at his will.

Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow, {Zon-
otrichia gambeli.) A plain, pert little Spar¬
row that comes around the gardens and
byways, in great numbers, all through the
Winter ; leaves us about the first of April.
Are great seed eaters, always among the
weeds picking and scratching ; are the
first to wake us up in the early morning
with their whistling song. I have heard
them at midnight break out with three or
four notes, as they are roosting in the cy¬
press trees and hedges. Thej' are the
most sociable Sparrows we have and do
not seem to be afraid of anything.

California Song Sparrow, {Melospiza
fasciata samnelis.) This shy wee Spar¬
row is always found along the creeks and
marshy places. They can be seen at all
times busy scratching away in the dead

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol, 7-No. 21

1()6

leaves. Even" once in a while it will come
out and 2)ereh on some limb and chirji its
little song like a young canary. In the
Spring is the time he gets his full singing
powers up ; then three or four can be heard
singing as though they had no time to feed
or see what was going on around. At this
time they feed on the wonus and insects
on the trees. I never see one but that it
calls to mind the experience that a friend
of mine had, a watchman on one of the
railroad bridges of Oakland. He saw the
little sparrow come out from under the
bridge every noon, when he was at his
lunch, to pick i;p the cnimbs. So he got
to look for the little sparrow and would
feed him. Then when Mr. Sparrow got all
he wanted, he would hoj) up on the railing
and sing him a song as if to p.ay him for
his dinner. Tlie gentleman got him so
tame he would come out from under the
bridge whenever he would whistle for him.

California Bewick’s Wrf.n, {Thryomanes
bewicki spihiriat.) "V^diat a bewitching lit¬
tle wren, never still, lively as a cricket and
as full of music as a lark. They come
around the house and gardens in Winter
hunting after insects in the bushes. I have
been called out of the house more than
once by him, thinking to see some new
warbler ; when out only to find it little
“ Bewick” in some tree singing away as
big as a Lark. In the Spring they will be
heard in every brush heap, singing to their
mates, “ It is time for housekeeping.”

Western Meadow Lark, (Sturnella 7ie-
f/lecta.) Now we come to the happy fel¬
low singing all the year round. During
this time of year they are in large flocks
and in early morning can be heard in the
trees singing as though Spring was here :
and with these warm sunny days it is not
far from it. the hills are green and wild
flowers are coming up over them. I have
heard the Lark sing here in the Spring,
while on the wing, very much like the Eu¬
ropean Lark ” that I have read of as the
true Skv Lark. I think the Meadow Lark

of Illinois (that was my home) were great
singers on the wing. It takes Charles N.
Allen to descifibe the song of the Western
Meadow Lark in “ Nuttall’s Ornithological
Club Bulletin” of July, 1881. I think he
has got it as near nature as possible. — IE.
(J. Emerson, Haywards, Cal.

American Barn Owl.

FURTHER NOTES, SEE NOS. 13, 14 - VOL. VII.

At the time of writing the article on the
Bam Owl which appeared in former num¬
bers of the O. and O. I did not have
ready access to my collection of eggs of
that siiecies, hence omitted saying anything
regarding their average measurements,
shajie, color, etc.

I have examined and taken measure¬
ments of forty different specimens. The
largest one in the lot measured 1.7(5 X 1.50.
Two measured 1.80x1. 30, these being the
longest eggs in the lot. The shortest
specimen measured 1.00x1 30. The egg
of greatest shorter diameter is 1.76x1.50
— the first one mentioned; the one of
least shorter diameter being 1.70x1.20;
another very slender one measures 1.72 X
1.22. The average measurement of the
forty specimens is 1.69 X 1.32. The largest
egg of the Bam Owl that I ever saw is
one of a set of eight eggs now in the
collection of Mr. Jos. M. Wade, and meas¬
ured 1.97 X 1.40 ; the other seven are of
the usual size. There is considerable di¬
versity in the shape of the Bam Owls’
eggs, as is partially indicated by the above
figures. Some are cpiite slender, the one
most so being 1.70 X 1. 20. This egg tapers
almost uniformily from the centre toward
each end. The specimen the ratio of
whose diameters a])proache8 most nearly
to unity measures 1.62 X 1.36. There seems
to be a greater difference in the shape of
the two ends of the Bam Owls’ eggs than
there is in those of the Scree<»h, Burrow¬
ing, Long-<‘ared, or Great-homed Owl. In
a few specimens both ends are nearly
rounded, while in a great majority the

Oct., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

187

small end is much more tapering than the
other. Thirteen specimens in my collec¬
tion are decidedly pyriform, while twenty
others may be described as pyriform, but
they are much more bhantly so.

The structure of the shell is very differ¬
ent from the eggs of other species of owls,
and seems to be less compact in tex¬
ture. and the surface is not of that glossy
smoothness which belongs to the Burrow¬
ing and other owls ; it has a more chalky
whiteness, a more dead, non-lustrous white
than they. There is a certain oily appear¬
ance about these that is entirely wanting
in the eggs of the Barn Owl.

Capt. Bendire writes me that he thinks
the eggs of the little Saw-whet Owl
{Nyetale acadica, Gmel. Bp.) most resem¬
ble those of the Barn Owl in this respect.
Having no eggs of that species by me at
present, I am unable to make any compar¬
isons of them. — B. TF. Everman, Bur¬
lington, Indiana.

Notes from Shelter Island.

Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. — June
12, took a set of six eggs, being the second
set of that number taken by me. Once
found a nest containing eight, but was sat¬
isfied it belonged to two females. One
nest found contained two eggs and one of
the Cowbird. It is a mystery how the Cow-
bird gets into the nest of the blue yellow
back.

(Does this not tend to confirm the theory advanced tliat the
Cowbird and Cuckoo of Europe lay their eggs on the ground
and place them in the nest with the beak. — Ed.)

Mottled Owl. — In examining a hollow
tree occupied by one of these birds, (ju’oba-
bly a male,) I found the headless bodies of
a Robin and a Kingbird, which proves
that it is not so harmless quite as repre¬
sented.

(These birds must have been caught in the niglit when
off their guard. — Ed.)

Wood Pewee. — Number of eggs in a
set. June 18. 1879, saw a nest of this bird
before it was taken from the tree. It con¬
tained four eggs which is an extreme set.

(Three is the usual number. — Ed.)

Eggs in a Set.

Catbird ( Qaleoscoptes carolinensis). —
Nest and five eggs. Collector N. A. Eddy,
Lake Whitney, New Haven, Conn., May
22d, 1878 ; incubated.

Robin. {Merula tnigratoria.) — Nest and
five eggs. Collector D. Duncan, Vinal Ha¬
ven, Me., Jime, 3d, 1879 ; fresh. Suggest¬
ed by your editorial in July number.

I should like to inquire if four eggs are
often taken in the Fish Hawk’s nest

In May 9th, 1879, my friend Mr. Daniel
Duncan, of Vinal Haven, Me., collected
for me at that place a nest containing
fresh eggs ; at the same time he collected
and sent me a large number of the eggs of
this species, and as this set was unusually
large, I made inquiries of him regarding
it, whereupon he assured me that they w^ere
taken from one nest.

This season I spent a week in that local¬
ity, collecting — with Mr. D’s assistance — a
large number of sets of the Fish Hawk
were taken, and in order if possible to fur¬
nish me with additional proof as to the set
sent me in ’79, for I think he was of the
opinion that I was still a little doubtful re¬
garding it. Mr. D. took me to the same
nest from which he had collected four
eggs, and much to the suiqirise of us both,
it this season contained the same number.

Mr. D. also informed us that some time
ago a gentleman from Mass., spent two sea¬
sons collecting in that vicinity and al¬
though he took a large number of eggs of
the Fish Hawk, he took no nest contain¬
ing more than three. — iV. A. Eddy, Ban¬
gor, Me.

[Three is the numt)er of eggs laid by the Fish Hawk, two
and four the exception. In a series of forty-five eggs taken
by us this Spring, in every case the full set was three. W^e
never saw but one set of four eggs and that was in the coi-
lection of Messrs. Southwick & .lencks. Knowing that M.
B. Grifting, had as large experience as any one coilecting
these eggs, we dropped a line to him and received the fol¬
lowing re])ly : “In four year’s collecting Mr. M'. W. W. and
myself have taken ten sets of Fish Hawks containing
four eggs each. Capt. B. F. Goss has two of these sets,
W. E. Saunders, one, S. F. Rathbiin, one, one set W. sent
to England, one set I broke. 1 now have three on hand and
W. has two. Three is the rule for a set, however, and four
the exception.”

108

ORNITIIOLOGTST

[Vol. 7-No. 21

Snowy Owl {Xyctea scandiaca.) — Six
teen years ago I saw my first Snowy Owl
alive. It was in a wild snow storm out in
the open prairie. I had no gun with me at
the time, hut I knew the locality well, and
thought I shoiild have no trouble in finding
the bird again. The next moniing I took
my gun and started after the bird. The
snow was deep and the weather was very
cold. I found the owl, but to capture him
Avas another thing. I had never tried to
kill a bird that was so shai-ji and Avaiy. I
spent all day in the pursuit and then did
not get the bird. I saw other Snowy Owds
that Winter but did not get one. The next
Winter found me trying my luck again. I
saw some owls, but Avas not successful.
The more I saAV of them the more I Avanted
to get one.

The third Winter found me after the oaa’Is
again. I Avas bound to get one if I had
to go and live Avith them. I began to
study their habits and soon found that they
Avere fond of being around some ohi de¬
cayed hay or straw stacks. aAvay from any
house. The Prairie mice were there, and
they Avere after them for food. I found
that they went to those old stacks from
one to four o’clock ja. m. I made up my
mind if I could hide myself near one of
those stacks, when the birds came I AA’ould
have my bird. I found a stack Avhere I
thought a bird Avould come, and Avatched it
closely after the snoAv came. I soon had
the pleasure of seeing a bird in that neigh¬
borhood, and one afternoon saAv him on
the stack. I did not trouble him then, but
the next' day I Avas on hand. The day Avas
all that I could Avish for the business I had
on hand. We had a strong AA’ind and light
snoAv the day before the bird came, from
the nortliAvest. I Avent to the stack, dug a
hole on the southwest side and got into it.
The snow storm soon made Tiie Avhite and
covered up the old hay that I had throAvn
out of the hole.

I Availed about Iavo hours before I saAv
my OAvl, but lie came, little susjx-cting

what Avas in store for him. I did not shoot
him Avhen he first came to the stack, as I
wanted to see how he Avould look alive and
close to me. I am a sime shot and I had
no fears of his getting aAvay AA'hen once with¬
in range of my gun. He looked very fine
as he perched on the top of the stack as
straight as an arrow. After I had a good
look at him 1 started him and Avhen he Avas
about forty yards aAvay I brought him
doAvn. I noAV had my prize. It had cost
me a great deal of time, lots of hard Avork
and expense, but I tell you I was Avell sab
isfied. The bird Avas beautiful to look at.
Almost pure Avhite.

I have since learned to shoot Snowy OavIs
with less trouble, and when I can find one,
am almost sure to kill it. I go out into the
prairie, and take Avith me a powerful field
glass, and when I discover my bird, find
out which way it is sitting. If its back is
towards me I creep directly to it. keeping
very low, but if it sits any other Avay I
make a very large cii’cle around it so as not
to attract the bird’s attention, because if it
found out that I AAas after it, it Avould be
sure to leave for another locality.

The Snowy Owl likes to be alone. It is
seldom that more than one is found in the
same localitv. I have seen three in the
same neighborhood, but not often. In re¬
gard to the color of the birds, in AAann
Winters the oavIs are darker in color, and a
little larger in size. But when Ave get a
rough, cold, stormy Winter, AA-ith dt*e])
snows, than Ave see the smaller and nc'arer
pure Avhite birds. ^ly idea has ahvays been
that the very Avhite owls never came east
as far as this unless they Avere comi>elled
to get food. I luiA’e seen the darker owls
here Avhen there Avas not snoAV enough to
cover the ground. — •./. (i. Smith. lotra.

Albino Hoi’se Sp.akroav, Avas captured re¬
cently in the streets of Philadelphia. It
AAiis evidently a young bird ami jmre white.
Avhile its nest mates Avere of the ordinary
color. It Avas captured aliAC by a street
car conductor aft<*r a short chase.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

®1.00 per

Annum.

Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher.

Esfablislied, March, 1875.

Single Copy,
10 Cents.

VOL. VII.

BOSTON, MASS., NOVEMBER, 1882.

No. 22.

Black-Crested Flycatcher.

Among the many interesting birds which
one may study in Southern California,
there is none more strange or more inter¬
esting than the Phainopepla nitens. It
was my good fortune from July, 1879,
to July, 1881, to be situated in Ventura
County, California, wliere this bird is mode
rately common, and where I had most ex¬
cellent opimrtunities of studying it in its
breeding grounds. I saw a young male in
October 1879. I w'as collecting Sparrows
and Towhees along a brush fence in the
Santa Clara Valley near Santa Paula, when
a strange, nervous bird alighted upon the
fence at some distance in front of me. I
saw at once that it was a new species to
me, and my first impulse was “ to shoot it
on the spot,” but noticing it to be feeding
upon passing insects and not likely to fly
far away very soon, I decided to watch its
movements for a time before attempting to
secure it. It wotild sit ujion a twig for
only a few moments, jerking its tail in a
very nervous manner and uttering a sad.
querulous note which suggested the idea
that it must be a bird lost from its fellows,
stopping now and then in its lamentations
to dart oiat excitedly and seize some pass¬
ing insect. After watching it some time I
secured it, and to my delight I found I had
a specimen of the Black-crested Flycatcher
— that strange bird of which Dr. Cones
writes so interestingly in his “Birds of
the Colorado Valley,” and in connection
with w'hich lie speaks so touchingly of one
of the common, yet sorrowful, occurreiuies
of border life. It is not strange that the

pathetic song of this bird of evil omen
touched every heart as they gathered
around the charred remains of a dear com¬
rade, or that they went to bed early ; for
even the call note is full of sadness and
desolation, and the song is wonderfully so.

My interest in the curious bird w^as now
fully aroused and I determined to know
more of it if possible, but frequent search
in the valley failed to discover a second
specimen. But in May, 1880, wdiile taking
a short drive up Santa Paula Canon, I had
the good fortune to come upon a flock of
some twelve or more flying about among
the elder and sumac bushes, feeding upon
certain insects which frequent such places.
But it w^as Sunday and I had no gun.
Must I leave them without getting a single
skin ? No, for just then my friend Idell
Guiberson, an enthusiastic young Nimrod
and lover of nature, came riding down the
canon on his return from a few' days’ camp
ing in the mountains. And he very kindly
consented to shoot a couple of the coveted
birds for me after w'e had observed them
for some time. They w'ere in Rill j^lumage,
and the pure white w'ing spot, which show’s
only when flying, contrasted pleasingly
with the glossy-black body. And on near
ajDju'oach the yellowish-red iris and erected
crest gave a somewhat angry, threatening
appearance to the really timid bird.

Circumstances were such during the next
few weeks as to debar me from revisiting
this canon w’here I knew they could be
found : and it was not until July, when re¬
turning from a camjiing-out trip to the Big
Trees and that w’onderful gorge, — the Yo-
semite Valley, that I again saw’ this species.

170

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol 7-No. 22

AVe were ascendinf^ the Rteep {^rade wliieli
leads from the floor of the Ahdley towards
Inspiration Point, when a single individnal
was seen perched npon a top-most twig of
a tall sngar-jnne. now and then giving ut
terance to its peculiarly sad call-note. A
few days later, while in camp near Fresno
Flats, twentj' miles east of Madera, we
again met these birds. Our camp was
among the foot-hills of the Sierras, where
live and white oaks are about the only
trees. Among these this bird was com¬
mon and was undoubtedly breeding, though
I was not fortunate enough to discover any
nests. AVe left this locality late in July,
drove leisurelj’ down out of the foot-hills,
crossed the bimiing plains of the San Joa¬
quin, and iq) over the Coast Ranges to
Hollister, Gilroy, and San Jose, but though
I was constantly on the watch, I saw no
more of this species during the trip. So
the evidence seems pretty conclusive that
the Black crested Flycatcher is greatly re¬
stricted in its habitat and is found only in
localities the most favorable.

Upon my retura to Santa Paula in Au¬
gust, I found it rather common in the
canon where I first saw them. They were
feeding upon the berries of the choke-
cherry, and remained in the locality until
October, when they disappeared, going
farther south.

Fai'ly in the Sj)7-ing of 1881, they again
returned to the same canon, where they
continued to be seen throughout the Sum¬
mer. Their love for canons, or narrow val¬
leys. is shown by the fact that, although
the mouth of Santa Ihiula Canon is only
half a mile from where I lived, yet I sel¬
dom saw any of the species nearer my
house than the mouth of the canon. — only
one ])air nesting outside the canon, as far
as I could discover. During this season I
made frequent excursions to various small
valleys and canons of A'entui-a Cr)unty. and
found the Bhuk-crested Flycatchers in
oidy two pbu-es besides Santa Paula canon.
One of these was the small but beautiful

Ojai (0-hi) Ahilley, about seven miles from
Santa Paula canon, and connected with it
by Si-Sa (See-Saw) Canon ; the other was
among the moss-covered oaks on the Caci-
tos Pass from San Buenaventura to Santa
Barbara. In each of these jilaces it was
quite common, but I was unable to find a
single nest.

During April and Alay I kept pretty
careful watch on these birds in Santa
Paula Canon, determined to find their
nests if possible ; but up to the first of
Alay they did not seem to have paired off.
but continued to feed in a flock of twelve
to sixteen. So anxious was I that I had
interested several of my most observing
pupils to assist me in watching them. On
Alay 4th. Bennie and Eugene Scott, two
of my most energetic assistants, came run¬
ning to me saying that they had found a
Phiihiopejdds nest with three eggs in it.
I told them they must be mistaken about
the number of eggs, but they knew there
were three, and were i-eady and anxious to

To be Continued.

Thrushes.

I noticed in the (). and O. for October
that E. 1). AA’intle. of Alontreal, Canada,
asks for description of nests and eggs of
some of the TnrdUhp.. I have had very
limited experience in collecting, luit can
report finding three nests of the AA’ilson
Thrush and one of the AA’ood Thnish. with
eggs, during the jtast Summer.

June .5th I found a nest of the AA’ood
Thrush, containing four fresh eggs, and a
nest of the AA’ilson Thrush with three eggs
(one a Cow-l)ird’s.) I took one egg from
the AA’ood Thrush’s nest, and from the nest
of the AA’ilson Thrush I took the Cow-
bird’s egg and one Thrush’s egg. I suc¬
ceeded in blowing the fonner, but broke
the latter ; both were well incubated. I
visited the nest the next day and found
that they were bound to j)reserve the <»rig-
inal number, there being four eggs in it. as
when I found it.

AND OOLOGIST.

171

Nov., 1882.]

June 8th I found a nest of the Wilson
Thrash containing one egg with a very
thin shell. I took it, and left in its place
the egg that still remained in the nest
found June 5th, that nest having been de¬
serted after I took the two eggs. I visited
this new nest nearly every day for four
weeks and saw the female bird on the nest
every time, but found no more eggs. I
saw but one bird in all this time, and at
last I found the nest empty and deserted.
I wondered at the patience of the bird,
and took sevei’al friends to see the curiosity.

June 29th I found a nest of the Wilson
Thrush containing three fresh eggs, and
later foimd two more nests without eggs.
These were all found in one piece of w’oods
and within five minutes’ walk of each other.
Now, as I am a novice in collecting, having
devoted very little time to it since I was a
small boy, I will tell why I am certain that
I have made no mistake in this matter. I
have read very carefully the description of
these birds in Minot’s ‘‘ Land and Game
Birds of New England,” and could easily
identify the birds from the knowledge thus
gained, as they would remain upon the nest
until I was within a few feet of them, giv¬
ing me a fine opportunity to make observa¬
tions.

The nest of the Wood Thrush was in a
tree within twenty feet of a river, and aliout
eight feet from the ground. It would have
been pronounced a Robin’s nest by a care¬
less observer, although the outside was
comjiosed almost wdiolly of dead leaves.
The eggs were smaller than those of the
Robin, (Minot says 1.10 — 1.00x70) and
nearer spherical. The nests of the Wilson
Thrush were in each instance within two
or three inches of the ground, sometimes
attached to a stub or brier, and occasion¬
ally in high grass near a cart-path. They
were constnicted of dead leaves (princi¬
pally beech leaves) and grape-vine bark.
The eggs were “ light-blue, green-tinted,”
and about the size of the Bluebird’s
eggs.

Birds of New York.

In response to your request, I herewith
give you a brief outline of the work I am
doing ujjon our State birds. In advance
of the piiblication of my “ History of the
Birds of New York,"* wdiich has been un¬
avoidably delayed, I propose to issue a
Preli-niinary Catalogtie of the birds of
the State, accompanied by an essay upon
the Distribution of Species within our
borders. This paper will be illustrated
with colored majis showing both the boun¬
daries of the Faunal Areas, and the causes
that operate in detertnining their limita¬
tions — such, for example, as altitude, the
temperature during the breeding season,
etc. The completeness of this poi'tion of
the w'ork depends largely upon the assist¬
ance rendered by resident collectors. A
large number of “ Local Lists,” from nearly
all parts of the State, have already been
received ; but the undersigned is desu’ous
of obtaining still more information of this
character, and takes the present opportu¬
nity to solicit lists of species knoton to
breed from all collectors who have not al¬
ready favored him with sucli contributions.
For all material made use of due credit
will, of course, be given. — C. Hart Merri-
am, M. D., Docust (rrove, N. 1", Oct., ’82.

•An outline of the plan of this work was published in
“Forest and Stream’^ for May 15, 1879 {Vol. 12, No. 15, p.
285.)

Late Breeding of the Hermit Thrush in
Northern New York.- — On the 21th of
August, 1879, Dr. Frederick H. Hoadley
and myself found a nest of the Hermit
Thrush, containing three fresh eggs, at
Locust Grove, in Lewis County, New Y'^ork.
It was on the ground, near an old log, in
an open place in the woods ; and I almost
stepped on it before the parent bird flew'
oft. Tw'o weeks later there were three
young in the nest. They were very small
and helpless, and evidently not more than
a day or two old. — C. Hart Merriam, M.
/)., Locust Orore, If. 1^.

I

112 ORNITHOLOGIIST [Vol. 7-No. 22

OR NIT II O LOG I ST

— AND—

()()L()GI ST.

A MONTHLY MAOA/.INK DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OF UIRDS, THEIH NESTS AND EOOS.

r/o.s. .V. w.tnE, liniroii,

V\'ith the co-o|)eratioii of able Oniitholopcal
Writers and Collectors.

Subscription — fl.OO yjcr annum. Foreign subecrip-
tion $1.2.5 — including pontage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Boston, Mass.

Standard of Value. — A correspondent
writes : “ Have Aiuerittan Ornithologists
and Oolog^ists any standard list of birds
and eggs that they stick to?” We are
soiTv to say they have not. Exchanofing-
11]) to this time is done decidedly at ran¬
dom. A short time ago we tried to find
the value of Mallard Duck’s eggs. One
dealer asked ten cents, the next wanted
forty cents, and this is about the present
state of the skin and egg market. For
some years we have urged the enterpris¬
ing firm of INfessrs. Southwick & .Tencks
to get out a catalogue of permanent prices
that all could accept as a liasis, and their
present catalogue is their first attemjit in
this line. To us it is a handy book of ref¬
erence ; but they are now engaged on a
catalogue in whicli they will attempt to
give a A’alueof all skins and eggs, whether
they have them on hand or not. It will
also contain instruction to collectors, etc.,
and will be indispensable to all.

Duty on Kno5\xedoe. — It is a disgrace
in this enlightened age that our friends
over the border should have to jiay forty-
seven cents duty on a small work like
Cones’ new Check List.

This is contrary to the British princi¬
ples of free trade, and we have no doubt
but that the Dominion Parliament will
remedy this evil, as their attention is be¬
ing called to it by petition. The states¬
man is indeed blind that votes for a tax
on scientific knowledge.

Contributions for the columns of the 0.
and O. are always in order and thankfully
received. But they must be accurate and
careful statements of bona fide observa¬
tions. The day of guess-work is passed.
If you find a rare nest or secure a rare
bird, make positively sure of the identity
before removing it. Identify without de¬
stroying life, if possible, but identify all
rare finds ; then describe them with the
utmost care for the O. and O. Do it care¬
fully, that your readers can also identify
them from your descrijition, and you will
win recognition from American oniitholo-
gists. Study the style of the (). and O.
and write as near that as possible, on a
se2iarate sheet of jiajier, and your commu¬
nication will sooner appear. We are glad
to get any news on iiostal cards or other¬
wise, and if all are not replied to, it is more
for the want of time than aiipreciation.
We have on hand much good matter
mixed in with letters which remained un-
imblished for want of time. Write on a
separate sheet.

AV ANTED TO Know — AVhy the Ground
Building Owls should lay twice as many
eggs as those which build in trees ?

AVhy the Orchard Oriole should use
green material to build its nest ?

Why harmless, industrious birds were
created and cruel, nxiiai-ious ones iinule to
jirey uiion them ?

AVhy some birds will keep on laying
when their eggs are removed daily from
the nest?

AVhy some birds that feed on insects all
Summer, instead of migrating, feed on
berries in the Winter?

Why every one interested in O. and O.
don't send us .SI, for a subscription and in¬
duce their friends to do likewise ?

More about the moulting of birds ?

.lust *• when the swallows homeward fly? ’

If all have noted the change in our lul-
dress from Norwich. Conn., to Box 1829.
Boston, Mass. ?

Nov., 1882.]

AND 00L0G18T.

Fresh Work in an Old Field.

Akin to the joy a collector feels on find¬
ing a bird unknown to science or new to
his section, is the pleasure of finding the
nest and eggs of a Summer resident which
has hitherto escaped his notice. It maj'
have elnded us for years, but, once found,
the chances are that we shall not now have
imich trouble in taking it again and again.
Each year the circle of oim observation
grows narrower, but there wull always re¬
main some local desiderata to stimulate
fiu'ther search.

Six years I collected - before I found a
Blue Yellow-backed Warbler’s nest. Since
then, with their range and peculiarities
known, I can take more of their eggs than
of the common Summer Warbler. I have
not foimd Rails breeding here until this
season when, after special search, I took
three sets of nine eggs each. Now, with
their somewhat restricted habitat at my
command, I can probably take their eggs
every year if there is any use for them.
Wilson’s Thrush is by no means the com¬
mon bird in Summer in Southern Connect¬
icut it is in Massachusetts and northward.
Jnne 9, I found my first nest in the swamp
on Groton Long Point. The pure emer¬
alds of the Thrush were dw’arfed by the
presence of two lai'ge Cow-bird’s eggs.
The nest was peculiar in being well raised
from the ground by dry leaves stuffed into
the uprights of a spoonwood cluiu]) which
snugly supported the structure itself, thus
corresponding in date and position with a
Western type found by Dr. Cones near
Pembina, Dacotah, on the Red River of
the North. Three years ago I left an unde¬
termined set of Ground-building Warbler’s
eggs because I could not shoot either par¬
ent. This year I took a nest and five eggs,
identical with the others, in the same jilace,
and secured the female by stealing njy hat
over the nest. The bird proved to be a
Nashville Wai’bler. The situation, the
sunken nest with moss-covered lip flush
with the surface, the color and markings

178

of the eggs, and all siarroundings, exactly
coincide with the well-known description
of this species by A. Allen, cojiied into
“ Birds of the Northwest.”

Thus the season of ’82 has narrowed my
circle of local inquiry by three species
which I had not positively foiuid breeding
here before. — J. M. W., N'orwich, Conn.

Rare Books. — John H. Sage, Portland,
Conn., has added to his library an original
coj^y of BonajDarte's continuation of Alex¬
ander Wilson’s works, in four volumes,
and now very rare; also a copy of Dr.
De Kaj^’s Birds of New York, in one large
qiaarto volume.

Purple Finch. — A friend of mine living-
in this place has a vine covered jiiazza where
the Chi^iping Sparrows build their nests
every year. Last Summer some birds,
which from my friend’s description I should
unhesitatingly pronounce Purjile Finches,
destroyed several of these Chipping-birds’
nests with their entire contents. I wish
to enquire if any of our scientific observ¬
ers have ever known the highly-musical
Purple Finch to do so disreputable an act ?
Mr. Editor, why is this 1)ird (so generally
known as the “ Red Linnet ”) called by or¬
nithologists and in ornithological works a
“ Purple Finch ?” — (,'has. Edw. Prior.
Jetrett (Jity. (Junn.

The Bobolink, formerly very abundant
in this locality, has hardly made an appear¬
ance the present season. I have seen but
two or three pairs during the entire Sum¬
mer, where previously from seventy-five
to one hundred pairs have nested. Their
non-apiiearance has caused me to keep a
sharp lookout for them, and in many mead¬
ows where they have been very common,
not a single bird could be seen this season.
What can have caused them to desert
their old breeding grounds? — C. O. Tracy.
Taftsville. Vt.

[W’e have had an article in tyt)e for two months on this
8nl>ject, hilt tile figures were given from memory and we
were not sure of them, sotlie matter lays over until we liave
time. The reason is patent, however, to those living on
the New .Jersey marshes and the Delaware river and further
South.— Ei).l

174

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-N(). 22

Wilson’s Thrush ( 'TunTus f>iscesre7is,)
exce})t the Robin, the most abundant thnish
of this locality. Although found plenti¬
fully in nearly all situations, its favorite
haunts are low. swainiiy woods. The past
Summer a jiair of these Thnishes built
their nest and reared their young within
fifty yards of my home. The site which
they selected for their nest was by the
roadside under an elm tree, among the
rank, growing male fenis. They seemed
to be an nnusually social pair, and came
about the house searching for food, show¬
ing no signs of fear. Teams were con¬
stantly passing within eight feet of their
nest. Of twelve sets which I collected
tins Summer, seven contained four, four
three, and one two eggs each. The set
containing but two eggs was taken July
2fith and would undoubtedly have con¬
tained one or two more had I left the nest
undisturbed. Tlie earliest set was taken
May 30th. Six sets measure as follows :
Set of four collected ^lay 30th. 02 X 00,
00 X 05, 88 X 05. 88 X 05 ; set of four col¬
lected June 5th, 88X05. 87x05.80X05,
85x05: set of four collected June 5th,
80 X 08, 88 X 07, 88 X 00. 02 X 05 : set of
three collected June 13th, 85x08. 84x07,
85x08 ; set of three collected June 2()th.
84x70, 87x00, 84x00; set of three col¬
lected June 28th. 80x00. 70x02. 80x00.
The set taken June 28th was, I think, the
third litter laid by that pair of birds,
which will account for the small size of
the eggs. The eg’gs are oval but vary
somewhat in shape : their color is bluish-
green, a little darker than those of the
liluebird, and lighter than those of the
Catbird. The nest is ])hu‘ed on or near
the ground, but usually in a low bush
within a few inches of the ground, and is
composed of leaves, dried grass and weeds,
lined with fine roots, strips of bark, and
often hair. There is but little variation in
the nests which I have examined in this
locality. — C'. fJ. '/'ntrif, V’nftntu'lif', 17.
Subscribe for Volume \TII. Onlv Si

Brief Newsy Notes.

Eggs in a Set. — Harry F. Haines, Eliza¬
beth. N. J., who has taken a good many
Long-billed Marsh Wren’s nests, writes
that six is the largest numVier found in a
nest, but five is found oftener than four or
six. Let us hear from others.

Harmony. — Henr}- A. Berry of Iowa City,
Iowa. i*eports finding the following nests
in one tree. Orchard Oriole, five eggs ;
Kingbird, three eggs, and White-eyed
Vireo. four eggs.

Cardinal Grosbeak. — Henry' A. Berry,
Iowa City, reports a specimen being taken
in a box trap at that place last Febniarv.
It is now in confinement.

Savannah Sparrow. — John H. Sage re¬
ports that he has never taken a set of these
eggs at Portland. Conn., although they
breed there. Chas. H. Neff was more for¬
tunate and found a set this season.

Common Crow. — Ajiril 21, 1882. I took
my largest set of seven eggs. Have taken
several sets of six.

Humming Birds. — C. J. ^la^-nard states
in his Birds of Eastern North America,
page 215, that the male R. T. Humming
Bird is esjiecially watchful of the nest and
is vei-y pugnacious when any jierson ap
proaches it. I have taken several nests of
this species and have watched the birds
building their nest, and in no instance
have I seen the male bird near the nest,
even when it contained young, and the ex¬
perience of othera who have taken them
here agrees with my own.

Great-horned 0m7,s’ Eggs. — The aver¬
age size was about 2.10x1-80. The set
of four was somewhat smaller than any of
the others, the measurements being2.08X
1.(58, 2 08X1.7(5. 2.10x1.78, 2.12x1 80.
The largest set measured 2.25x1. 85, 2.28
Xl.88, 2.30x1 88. The pores of these
eggs are very large. In blowing with one
of Howland’s blowers it was noticed that
the moisture came out of every pore and
stood in drops like sweat. — J*'. .1. N.

175

AND OOLOGIST.

Nov., 1882.]

The {3[ach€t€s pugnax.) — The Ruff

is a native of Europe, Asia and Africa and
is a rare visitor to North America. It fre¬
quents bogs and marshy ground, being
met with far inland. Ruffs and Reeves
(the females) used to be found in large
numbers in the English fens, but since the
drainage and cultivation of the fens and
marshes they have only been rare visitors
to England. In Winter the males and fe¬
males are scarcely to be distinguished from
each other, but in the Spring the males as¬
sume splendid ruffs or collars and become
veiy fine birds indeed. They vary much
in plumage, it being scarcely possible to
find two specimens alike. Their peculiar
and striking aj^pearance has no doubt been
one of the causes of their being shot down.
Ruffs and Reeves used to be in great request
for the table, and were captured in large
numbers by means of nets which were set
among the places frequented by the Ruffs
for the purpose of fighting. The captured
bii'ds were fed upon bread and milk which
they devoured in the most greedy manner,
and when they had laid on enough fat they
were killed and sent to market. During
the breeding season the males fight in the
most furious manner, frequenting certain
places, in which there are small mounds,
for the purpose of settling their quarrels.
In these fights the combatants never do
each other any serious harm, the loss of a
few feathers being the only result of the
most serious duel. Ruffs and Reeves do
not pair. The eggs are usually foiar in
number and are laid upon the ground.
They are of a greenish brown, splashed
and spotted with brown and black. The
females alone jaerform all the functions of
incubation, and have all the trouble of
rearing their young. The males continue
to fight in the most furious manner during
the whole of the breeding season. Tlie
food of Ruffs and Reeves consists of
water-in seeds, worms, larvae and seeds of
aquatic plants. — J. T. T. Ji., Ryhope, J)nr-
hurt) Co.. R»g.

Climbers and Climbing.

Concerning the article on ‘‘ Climbers
and Climbing” in the Sei^tember O. and
O., I disagree wdth J. M. W. on some
points. Walking up a tree steadying
one’s self by the tips of the fingers will
do in many cases, but not in all, as I have
found from experience. I will give one
instance in 2)roof. Standing in a swamj),
close on the lake shore in New York, is a
very large soft majile over seventy feet
high and nearly dead. On the toji of this
tree a j^air of Bald Eagles have nested for
many years and I have climbed to the nest
six or seven times. The bark of this tree
is nearly three inches thick, figuring the
rough outer jjart. The climbers that I
used on this tree, and similar ones, had
spurs two and three-fourths inches in
length — they were not a wdiit too long —
and it was necessary to strike twice and
often three times to knock off the ross and
get a firm hold. As for converting my¬
self into a horizontal letter V, “ merely-
touching the tijis of the fingers in the
ridges of the bark.” it was entirely im¬
practicable. I do not believe in hugging
a tree, but I must confess that I have
done a great deal of it on this 2)articular
tree. There is another very important
thing, not mentioned in the article, that
collectors should look well to. It is that
the S2)urs of their climbei’s are 2iro2)erly
tenqjered and without flaw's. Five or six
years ago I was climbing an ash tree,
steadying myself by the fingers. When I
was uji about twenty feet the S2:)ur broke
that I w'as resting on. I slijijied five or
six feet, trij)ped on a limb, keeled over and
landed on my back in soft, black mud and
w'ater. It wasn’t very jjleasant. I harcUy
think that the climbing of telegrajfli men
is a fair examjfle, for they have only small,
smooth, soft i)ine or cedar to w-ork on.
In conclusion, I’m not a discijile of Inger-
soll, for I have never read his work
referred to. — T). K. Stone, Uaneoek, Col-
orndo.

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 22

I7r,

Climbers and Climbing.

Herman III was bom in Germany, and
during his younger days travelled with a
circus com})any, which developed his mus¬
cle, also gave him unbounded .self confi¬
dence and courage “ to do ” that we have
never seen ecpialled. He is a man true to
himself and friends always, and it was our
good fortune to have Mr. Ill in our em-
j)loy from 1H7G to 1881, and we often
called on him to climb trees that other¬
wise would have remained unclimbed, and
many a pair of hawks would have been
gladdened by a nest of young, where now
the shells are s^iread over the United
States in various cabinets. At the time
we made use of IMr. Ill he was working
eveiy week day in a factory, and also run¬
ning a farm between times, and yet he
found time to climb trees for us. Besides
being veiy strong Mr. Ill was also very in¬
genious, as the following little episode
will show: One evening while riding home
bareback he noticed in front of him on an
overhanging slender limb a nest which lie
saw at once could not be got at in the
usual way. Quick as thought the horse
was under the limb with the rider stand¬
ing on his liack. At this moment the
horse esjiied a tuft of grass and moved to¬
wards it, while the rider whose liands and
eyes were upturned, unlike .\bsalom l\Ir.
Ill measured his full length on the ground.
The horse was soon hurried back to his
position, when Mr. Ill jumped up and
examined the nest which contained — noth¬
ing. A good specimen of rapid bare-
back riding followed until the stable was
reached. We once went with Mr. Ill to
get some Barn Swallows’ eggs when he
climbed up tlie posts and walked over the
beams like a cat. We trembled as we saw
liim stc]) from beam to beam so high up,
and witli his liands full of nests and eggs.
We begged of him to be more careful or
he would cert:iinly fall. .Vll warnings were
met with a smile, and “I guess not, I no

fall, this is noding.” One evening we
took Mr. Ill in the carriage and drove out
a few miles west of Rockville to get some
Crow Blackbirds’ eggs which were mostly
in immense elms so peculiar to Conn.
As on all excursions of this kind we took
the climbing irons and ropes along, and
often a hatchet and other implements
needful. The tii*st nest located was sad¬
dled on an overhanging limb forty to tifty
feet from the trunk of the tree, and at
least eighty feet from the ground. We
should not have asked our climber to ven¬
ture after this nest, but he made prejiara-
tion at once to ascend the tree, when we
brought out the climbing irons and rojies,
which he would not touch, and any
proposition to use artificial means was met
with a smile of derision, he sabring “I
climb any tree you find.” This tree was
so large he could but reach about half
way round it, and for twenty to twenty-
live feet had nothing but the rough bark
to get hold of with his fingers. Daylight
was fast waning and j’et he went up the
tree without a slip. As he worked his way
along the overhanging limb we became
alarmed for his safety and begged him to
return, but we only got joking answers in
reply. When he was jiassing the most
dangerous point as a last warning we said :
Ill, do be careful : his rejily was, “ Yes, my
vife she say so ’fore I leave home.” The
nest was duly reached which we insisted
on his throwing down and not bringing
down as he wanted to do. The eggs were
brought down in safety and in much less
time than it has taken us to tell it. This
was probably the most difficult feat in
climbing we ever witnessed. Mr. Ill has
climbed hundreds of monstci's of the
forest for us and never used a climbing
iron, or ever received a fall. He has the
nerve, strength and will to overcome all
obstacles of this kind. We do not write
this to commend his method, but to show
what strength and nerve can accomplish in
climbing.

OllNITHOLOGIST

— A N I) —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per Joseph M. Wade, Editor and rublisber. Single Copy

Annum. Establixlied, March, 1875. 10 Cents.

VOL. VII. BOSTON, DECEMBER, 1882. No. 23.

Black-crested Flycatcher.

prove it by showing me to the nest and
letting me see for myself. They led me to
a live oak in the pasture near the mouth of
the canon, and approaching very carefully
we saw the female fly from the tree. Re¬
treating a short distance we lay down to
watch under another tree, from which we
could jilainly see the the nest. So cau¬
tious was the bird that we grew very im¬
patient waiting her return to the nest. She
was soon joined by the male, and they
would fly about from tree to tree uttering
their call-note, at the same time nervously
jerking the tail somewhat after the man¬
ner of the Pewee {Sayornis /uscuh). Of¬
ten they w’ould approach quite close to
the tree containing the nest, only to fly
away to a more distant tree or bush ; and
when the female did finally return to the
nest she did so by direct flight from one
of the most distant trees, — not gradually
approaching from tree to tree, as most
birds do. This method of returning to the
nest I have noticed several times afterward,
and consider quite characteristic. Fully
satisfied that the nest was one of Phaino-
pejda niters, I climbed to it, and, as re¬
ported by the boj’S, there lay three beauti¬
ful but very odd looking eggs. The nest
was placed near the end of a hoi'izontal
limb about twelve feet from the "round.

o

It was a flat, shallow structure, nearly four
inches across the top ; the cavity was about
two and one-half inches in diameter and
less than one inch deep. In composition
it was made up of small twigs and pieces
of weeds, with blossoms of the live oak

mixed through it, — most abundantly in the
lining ; there were also two small bits of
sheej^’s wool. The material was so loosely
woven together as to form a leather fragile
nest. The eggs were of an oblong oval
shajie, tailoring only slightly ; ground-color
a clayey -white, Avith many small coffee-
colored spots on and around the smaller
end, extending with uniformity up the
sides to the middle Avhere they became
much more numerous, forming a broad
band around the larger end which was
much more profusely sjjotted than the
smaller. The eggs were jjerfectly fresh
and measured .90x.G4, .92x.62, and .89x.62.

The next nests Avere found May 8, about
a half mile uja the canon, but Avere unfin-
isiied and were not taken until foAir daA"s
later, Avhen two sets, one of three and the
other of two eggs, were obtained. Other
sets Avere gotten May 13, 17, and 19, and
J une 2. Of the seven nests taken by me,
four were saddled on horizontal limbs from
four to tvA'enty-five feet aboAe the ground,
and near the end ; one Avas placed ujAon
three smaller twigs, another ujjon tAvo, and
the seventh Avas placed securely in a forked
branch in the extreme summit of the tree,
fully thirty feet from the ground. All of
these nests Avere in live oaks, but Mr. Fred
Corey Avrites me that he has, this season,
found their nests in i)e2)iAer- trees, blue
gums, and elders.

The various nests examined by me agree
very closely with the one already described.
Some are better built, hoAvever, and some
are even more frail than it, l)ut all are quite
shalloAv, and the cavity in most of them is
more nearly the form of an ellipse than a

178

[Vol. 7-No. 23

OKNIT

circle. The wall of the nest is f?enerallv
thicker at one end of the ellipse than else¬
where.

Six of the seven nests contained three
egga each, the other but two. Dr. Cooper
and Capt. Bendire, the only naturalists who
ajii^ear to have found the nest of this spe¬
cies before me, never found more than two
eggs in a set. Dr. Cooper found a single
nest near Fort Mojave, on April 27. Capt.
Bendire, in the season of 1872, found four¬
teen nests in the vicinity of Tucson, Ari¬
zona, and not one contained more than two
eggs, “ and in three instances the nest con¬
tained but a single egg and the bird hard
setting upon that.” Some of the nests he
found saddled ujmn a limb after the man¬
ner of other flycatchers, some between
dead bark and the trunk of the tree, and
again he found the nest fixed in between a
lot of young sprouts of a mesquite tree.
The nests found by him were ol)tained be¬
tween May 16 and June 24.

Capt. Bendire, in a letter to me regarding
this bird, in speaking of our entirely dif¬
ferent observations regarding the number
of eggs laid by it, gives the following ex¬
planation, and I may add that his views
seem most reasonable and are undoubtedly
correct He says : “ Tlie small number
found by me is unquestionably due to the
fact that iu Southern Arizona they raise
two and jjerhaps three broods, while in
California, where we found them, tliey
raise but one. This I know applies to such
species as the Icteria vireiis loiujicandit
and others also whose range in Summer is
extensive. Here (Fort AValla Walla) this
species (Long-tailed Chat) always lay four
eggs, while iu Arizona three is the nile,
and the latter are considerably smaller.
Wh}’ the latter should hold good, too. I am
not so sure about, but I can readily see
why this specie lays fewer eggs to the set ;
raising two or three broods a season fully
makes up for this.”

Of twenty eggs obtained by me I took
measurements of fifteen, five having been

.OGIST

sent away before I had an opportunity of
measuring them. The fifteen measure as
follows; — set (1), .90x64, .92x.62, and
.89x.62; set (2), .95x.67, .92x.67, and
98x70 ; set (3), .90x.05, .90x.04, and.89x.65,
set (4), .90x.65, .87x.6.5, and .90x.63 ; set
(5), 1.03X.63, .95X.62, and .94x,65. A set
of three which I sent T. G. Gentry and
which he figures in Part XXV of his work
on Nests and Eggs,* gives the following
measurements as determined Iw him :
.94x.69, .94x68, and .93x.68. The average
of the first fifteen is found to be .923x.646 ;
or of the eighteen, .925x.652. Baird,
Brewer, and Ridgway’s North American
birds gives .90x.60, being smaller than any
one obtained by me. It is not stated where
this egg was obtained, yet I presume it is
either a Fort i\Iojave or an Arizona egg. If
so, its small size when compared with more
northern sjiecimens confirms Capt. Ben-
dire’s conjecture that, when the usual set
of eggs is fewer in the Southern than in
tlie Northern 2)ortion of any species’ breed¬
ing range, the eggs are also smaller. May
it not be true that the individuals of any
given species which go farthest North to
breed, average a trifle larger and more ro¬
bust than the weaker brothers and sisters
that stay at home ? It seems evident that
those individuals which put the greatest
number of miles between their Winter
home and their breeding ground, must nec¬
essarily be the stronger ones ; the fatigues
of tr.ivel. the changes of climate, and other
modifying influences demanding and de¬
veloping a hanlier variety. And may not
the larger size of the Northern egg jiermit
a more j)rolonged embryotic development,
resulting iu a chick of greater size and
greater strength, — one better able to coi)e
with its less favorable environment? I sug¬
gest this merely as a possible, and what
appears to me a reasonable, solution of the
question.

R(>garding the singing abilities of the

• IlliistrntionB of Xi-«tn and E(;c» of Kirdu of the- Cnitrd
Stntei*, with Text; Ky Thoa. (J. (ientry. Philadelphia: J.
A. Wai'eiiM'ller, Publihlior.

Dec., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

179

Black-crested Flycatcher, I must say that
my observations go to confirm what Drs.
Cooper and Cones have claimed for it, they
being the only natiiralists who ascribe to it
the power of song.

During my stay at Santa Paula, my em¬
ployment was such as to give me no leisure
time until after four o’clock in the evening,
except on Saturdays, so it was my custojii,
as soon as my regular day’s work was
ended, to saddle my broncho and gallop uj)
the canon, where I would usually remain
until night-fall, observing these and other
birds. Two or three pairs of these Fly¬
catchers were soon detected in their nest¬
building, and I watched them for several
evenings with much interest. Both male
and female worked at the nest, each bring¬
ing and placing its own material. Great
caution was observed to prevent discovery,
the nest most generally being approached
in a circuitous way. One evening, after
the sun had disappeared behind the low
mountains to the w^estward, a pair of these
birds which I was watching ceased their
labors, and the male, perching upon one
of the highest twigs of an oak near that
containing their nest, favored me with a
most interesting song which he continued
long after sunset, and no other birds could
be heard except the pecuhar, prolonged
linging note of the Ground Tit ( Chamaed
fasciata) from the hillside chaparral, or the
petulant, scolding cries of a fiock of Cali¬
fornian Quails as they gathered for the
night’s repose among the thick foliage of a
neighboring live oak. The nature of the
song, the time and place, together with the
memory of certain sentences given by Dr.
Cones when writing of this bird’s song,
made this seem to me full of sadness and
desolation, yet it was surely very sweet and
fascinating. It was a subdued, sad tone,
as if the musician was full of grief which
he did not wish the world to know. I
could think of nothing with which to com¬
pare it, unless it be the lowest, most 2)lain-
tive strains of the California Thrasher

Ilarporhynchus redivivus). There are por
tions of the song which seem a little dis¬
connected and harsh, but taken in its en¬
tirety, it certainly entitles the bird to a
very high rank among the singing birds.

Though I spent several entire Saturdays
among these birds, I seldom, if ever, heard
their song except late in the evening, and
I am of the opinion that it is very rarely
that they sing at any other time. Mr. Fred
Corey, who has si:)ent some time in study¬
ing these birds during the present year,
writes me that he, too, has heard them
singing, and thus adds his testimony in fa¬
vor of the wonderfi;! singing abilities of
Phahiopepla nitens. — Ji. IF. Eoermnn.

What Others Think of Us. — We often
get words of encouragement for our little
magazine, showing that our ideas of sim¬
ple English as apjilied to the life histories
of our birds is fully appreciated. The
two following extracts we take from two
English letters received by the same mail :

Leeds, England, Sept. 22. — “ In refer¬
ence to your paper, I cannot speak too
highly of it, and I shall most certainly re¬
new my subscription when the time comes ;
in fact, I look forward with great eager¬
ness when the times ajiproaches for its
becoming due. ”

Stone, England. — “ I cannot tell you
how much I enjoy your splendid little
magazine. We have nothing like it in
England.”

We have never received but kind words,
and yet our circulation is not what it
sliould l)e, probably because we have not
advertised it, lieing edited merely as a
pastime. If our present suliscribers will
put their shoulder to the wheel and ask
their friends to subscribe, we will try our
best to give them a better volume
next year. Volume VII will close with
the year 1882 by publishing an extra
number.

Volume VI. — After this date the num¬
bers of Volume VI. 1881, will be $2.00.

180

[Vol. 7-No. 23

()KNlTHOLOGll8T

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO
THE STUDY OP BIUDS, TUEIH NESTS AND EOIiS.

JOS. M. WAI>E, EJilTOIl,

With the co-operation of alile Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

SuBscniPTloN — $1.00 per annum. Foreign Hubrcrip-
lion $1.25 — incltiding postage. Specimen
Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Boston, Mass.

Edwin Sheppard, the Artist.

In C. H. M’s. able review of Gentry’s
Nests and Eg<vs in Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club,
tlie above artist comes in for a share
of criticism, and justly, from a stranger's
standjioint. We have privatel}' called the
attention of Mr. Sheppard to the defects of
the plates as they have progressed, and
we believe that they can hardly be
charged to him, certainly not the coloring.
The nests are bad, but why did Gentry
accept them ? Mdiy did he not take the
artist out into the fields and show him the
nests as built? Why did he not bring
him fine siiecimens to draw from ? We
give it np, unless his whole mind was cen¬
tered on that portrait which was to accom¬
pany the last number of his work, free of
extra charge. We made l\Ir. Shejipard’s
accpiaintance through the kindness of ^Ir.
Robert Ridgeway. He drew for us the
four Fish Jltnck and litiUl Etit/Ie scenes
which have apjie.ired on the cover of the
O. and O. ; also the Pigmy Owl, which ac¬
companied Dr. Wood’s article, and the
jiair of Great-honied Owls in sm ill circu¬
lar cut which has appeared in our adver¬
tising column. We also employed him to
copy three of Audubon’s largest paintings,
two in New York and one at Morestown,
N. J. They were of course reduced for
book work. He gave us perfect satisfac¬
tion. He was rccommendeil to us by Mr.

Ridgeway as the best artist he knew to
jiaint birds in motion. We know him to
be one of our best artists and a thorough
gentleman. Unfortunately he has too ht-
tle of what Mr. Gentry has too much.

Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club.

The October number of the Bulletin is
before us, and it contains two papers
which are of great interest to us and
should be to all ornithologists. We allude
to the review of Dr. Coues’ New Check List
from the standpoint of a scientist by W. B.,
and Gentry’s Nests and Eggs of Birds of the
United States by C. H. M. Poor Gentry,
if he can stand the quotations made from
his own book by this writer, he is proof
against anything. We regret that we
have not sjiace to quote these two able re¬
views entire, but will give the closing
piragraph of one of them.

“ Enough has been said to show that
instead of becoming an authority worthy
of place amongst the standard works on
N. A. Ornithology, IMr. Gentry’s book on
nests and eggs must inevitably find its
level alongside such unreliable and worth¬
less productions as Jasper’s Birds of
“ North America” and similar trash. In
other words, instead of a work of scientific
value, we have apoi^ular jncture book, well
adapted for the amusement of children.”

This was crowded out of our November
number.

On Time. 10-12-’8‘2. — Chas. E Bellows.
Ph. G., writes : “ Enclosed find $1.01) for the
next volume of the O. and O. I would
not be without it, and hojie you will have
a large increase of subscribers for your
next volume. Everything is so Oritjinnl
that it is worth twice the price you ask for
it. ” We receive lots of good words of this
kind, and as it is a volunteer magazine, we
ask our readers to spend a little time in
trying to induce one more subscriber.
We regret to have to say that the jiresent
volume has not jiaid its own cash outlay.

Dec., 1882.]

AND 00L0GI8T.

181

Brief Newsy Notes.

Common Dove. — C. A. Thompson, Mel¬
rose, Conn., shot a common dove that was
feeding with the fowls, Feb, 20, 1882.
Abont the same time a specimen was
brought to oiar office dead. An M. D. had
picked it up in a snow drift while driving
his rounds. The cold was severe.

S. F. Kathbone of Auburn, N. Y., has
been making a visit among his Eastern
friends, and we had the pleasure of his
company for a few hours in our home sanc¬
tum.

Chipping Sparrows Nest. — I found a
Chijipie’s nest on the top of a post about
twenty feet from the gromnd. A beam
rested on the edge and a couple of strips
svere nailed on either side and a board pro¬
jected over them, making a sort of box.
The nest was built like any other Chippie’s
and about half finished when found. —
Philo W. Smith, St. Louis, 3Io.

Golden Eagle’s Nest. — I went to a nest of
Aqaila chri/svetns canadensis about April
Ist. I could look into the nest and see
the eggs from the bluff. It was in a large
tree and could not possibly reach it. I
shot the female, and a fine one it is ; could
not get a shot at the male. Was told that
he has another mate and already at work
again, (April 15th.) One of my neighbors
near the nest states that they have built
there for eight years. A boy found the
nest and informed me of it. Will go and
interview them again. — C. A. Allen, Cal.

Water Ousel and Canada Jay. — Oct. 10,
I shot a Water Ousel which was sjiorting
in an open place in the ice on a small lake
near Hancock, Colorado. This is the sec¬
ond one I have ever seen in this country.
It was very late in the season for birds, as
the snow had been on the ground for over
two weeks and was snowing at the time.
The Canada Jays have become so tame
about camj) that they will come and take
bread out of my hand, sometimes alight¬
ing on my arm to do so. — I). I). Stone.

Crows and Jays. — J. M. W., while out in
the woods at Norwich, Ct., saw two crows
eating a nest of Jays’ eggs. Dog eat dog.

Swamp Sparrow. — In the O. and O. for
June, 1882, W. P. Tarrant of Saratoga, N.
Y., says that the latest he has ever taken
the eggs of this bird was on June 15th.
July 17, 1882, in the town of Livonia, N.
A"., I took a set of four. There was also
one egg of the Cow Bird in the nest. The
eggs were badly incubated. One parent
was taken, so the identification is positive.
— C. II. Wilder, Syracuse, N. I".

Albino Crow. — J. M. W. reports seeing
an Albino Crow at Norwich, Ct., with
brown or drab body and both wings white.

Cow Birds. — Edgar A. Small wrote April
5th : The Cow Birds are mating. I was
watching them this morning in the j'ard.
There were two females and one male, and
the females flew after the male and seemed
to make all the advances.

Correction. — In No. 22, Page 171,
“ Thrushes” should have been signed Chas.
Edw. Prior, Jew'ett City, Conn. — Page 174
“ Cornrmm C rotas” Humming Birds”

should have been signed M. B. Griffing,
Shelter Island, N. Y. P. A. S. should be
Edgar A. Small, Hagerstown, Md.

"Wanted to Know why J. M. W. don’t
tell us about that Marsh Hawk’s nest with
seven well marked eggs, and other Hawks?

"Why birds that take thirty days to incu¬
bate only breed once, while those incuba¬
ting in three weeks breed twice, and those
incubating in two weeks or less breed two
to four times ?

Why the Red-headed Woodpecker bred
in Conn, and Long Island the past year ?

AVhat has become of Captain Bendire?
by many of our readers. After reaching
Fort Klamah, Cajitain Bendire wrote : It
is the loveliest place in Summer that I have
seen in twenty-seven years’ tra\ el, and it
certainly must be a grand place for both
the sportsman and the naturalist. From
report. I had made nji my mind that it
must be a beautiful place, but I had no idea

182

OKNITIIOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 23

of its beauties as they really are. And
such a j)lace for pinieoliue birds as well as
others. We will know more about them
before I get away from here. Late as the
season is for eggs I picked up a good many
since I struck the pine timber, which I did
about 150 miles east of here, and among
them some very excellent things, at least
two species new to me. I shall have
more to say in the future, after I get prop¬
erly settled down. I am satisfied that I
can spend at least two years here with
profit to myself and others as well. I will
write up my observations made on the tri])
before a great while.

What has become of J. N. Clark ; and —
— Dr. Wm. Wood? It was hard for the Dr.
to give uj) the familiar numbers of the
1859 catalogue. ’Twas a general upset¬
ting to many.

Key to N. A. Bikds — D. Elliott Cones
is hard at work on his new edition of the
“ Key to North American Birds,” and is in
ho]jes that it wull be ready in time for the
collector in early Sju-ing.

“ The Vertebrates of the Adirondack
Reoion, North Eastern New York, by Clin¬
ton Hart Meriam, IM. D., of Locust Grove.
N. Y. 106 pj). Royal Octavo, paper cover,
wide margin. We have been favored with
a copy of this work from which we have
derived a jileasure that nothing ecjual to a
good book on Natural Science can give.
Mr. Meriam uses the English language
“for all it is w’orth." and what he does not
know about a region he has studied is
hardly worthy of investigation. Like Wil¬
son and Audubon, he writes for the mil¬
lion and not spccialbj for the handful of
scientists. Self is entirely forgotten and
there are scientific tenns enough but not
one to spare. The naturalist will never tire
of reading it.

But let us not forget the printer. L. S.
Foster, 35 Pine St., N. Y., who in this
work has tunied off one -of the best jiaper
bound pamjihlets we have ever seen devo¬
ted to any subject.

Eggs in a Set.

While out collecting this season found
a Pew’ee’s nest in a culvert, three feet by
two. and about eight feet from the en¬
trance. I passed the culvert a number of
times, but the last time I threw a stone
in. and what was my surprise to see a
Pew’ee fly out. On entering I found the
nest, which contained four fresh Pewee's
eggs and two eggs of the Cow Bird. Is
not this a cpieer place for the Cow Bird to
lay ? Also found a Black-throated Bunt¬
ing’s nest with three eggs, fresh, and four
Cow Bird's eggs. Two of the Cow Bird's
eggs were exactly alike in color and mark¬
ings and shape, and but very little difter-
ence iu size. There is not the least doubt
in my mind but what two of the eggs
were laid by the same bird. Found some
twenty nests of the Rose-breasted Gros¬
beak. and in every instance but four, found
the full set to be five. Also Wood
Pewee’s nests, with four and five eggs
in a set. I also got twenty-three eggs
from one pair of Bewick’s Wrens this
season — two sets of seven each, one set of
five, and one set of four. The birds laid
once more, but I was ashamed to rob
them, so I let them raise their brood of
six. Also found a nest of the Nashville
AVarbler, with five fresh eggs. The nest
was on the ground at the foot of a black¬
berry stalk and was very large for the
size of the bird, being very much larger
than the Indigo’s. The bottom was
leaves, the nest was made of dried rotten
grasses, weeds, etc., and was lined with
grass and a few horse hairs. The eggs
are of a jiinkish tinge, with a few puqilish
and reddish spots scattered over the whole
egg. The eggs are tlie smallest I have
ever seen, except those of the Humming
Birdj b(‘ing somewhat smaller than tlie
Gold Finches’. As my eggs are arranged
for the fair, I can’t take measurements.
— Philo Smith, Jr., St. Ijoui^, Mo.

Subscribe now for Vol. VIII. Only Si.

Dec., 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST

183

The Great American Egg-hog.

This apjDellation, decidedly more de¬
served than elegant, is, I am sorry to say,
a name ajjplicable to a great many so-
called oologists. Many collectors, espec¬
ially the more youthful members of the
brotherhood, seem to lose sight of what,
at least, should be their ultimate object —
the advancement of the science w’itli the
least possible injury to the welfare and
happiness of the birds. Of course a
good, complete series of all the rarer eggs
of your region, and, in the rarest species,
perhaps as many as possible would always
be desirable ; but to accumulate great
numbers of the commoner eggs, even if
well kept in sets, is entirely useless and
^out of place. A tyj^ical clutch or two, with
whatever marked variations may come un¬
der your notice, should be sufficient. In
the case of the Song Sparrow {Melospiza
fasciata, which I mention on account of its
abundance and the great variety of its
egg-markings,) a few commonly marked
sets, and some showing the extremes,
would for all ordinary purposes be ade¬
quate, except in case an individual should
be working u}) the oology of the Frhi-
gilliclce, or something of a similar plan.

On entering a new region — ornitholog-
ically new, I mean — it would undoubtedly
be advisable to collect (I was going to say
as many sets as possible) at least enough
to be able to stock your own cabinet, and
to present yoiir oological friends w'ith a
few good examples of all the species you
may fall in with, not to mention a donation
to some public museum. Again, speci¬
mens of the same species from varioiis lo¬
calities are often very desirable, especially
if there be any great difference in latitude
or altitude between the places. But in
the case of some of our Waders, the
Jlerodiones for example, where vast num¬
bers breed in a comparatively restricted
area, it is very different. The eggs as a
rule, present no notable variation in either

size, color, or shajie, and rarely in num¬
ber. To enter one of these “ Heronries”
and to deliberately gather as many eggs
as can conveniently be carried away in a
basket, is conduct w'hich could hardly be
surpassed by the vagabond and ruffian,
and which certainly “ is not becoming of a
gentleman and a naturalist.” Of course I
understand that the plea for such behav¬
ior is always “ exchange,” but nine men
out of ten prefer to collect their own
specimens when possible, and in our com¬
moner Eastern species, I am sorry to say
the “ exchange” is only too often for
“filthy lucre.” — -Louis A. Zerega, 3 Fast
12d Street, Nevi York Citg.

Curious Nesting Places.

A few 5'ears ago a i)air of Pew'ees built
their nest on a brace under tlie guards of
the steam feriy boat running betw'een Port¬
land and Middletown, Conn., the boat mak¬
ing trijDS every ten minutes. They seemed
to claim Middletowm as their home, as they
appeared to collect their building material
on that side of the river. When the boat
was on this side they would wait patiently,
sitting on the piles until she came into the
slip, although I have occasionally seen them
fly out and meet the boat in the middle of
the river. “ John,” the veteran collector,
(he has been on this ferry thirty years,)
took quite an interest in them and did
what I doubt he never did before — let any¬
thing cross on this boat without collecting
the fare. The birds did well and we watched
them until the young left the nest.

I have a bad habit of w'aking up about
four o’clock mornings, and in Summer to
keep out of mischief I “ pot” around the
garden until breakfast time. One morn¬
ing last Spring I noticed a Bluebird flying
tow’ards the house wfith her bill full of dried
grass. I watched her, and you w'ould never
guess wdiere she w'ent with it — right into
the kitchen chimney. The chimney has a
flat stone on tojo, with oimnings beneath.

I sat dowm and watched the pair work most

184

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol 7-No. 23

lively until the cook came doAvn and started
the fire, when, as the smoke poured out,
the birds left. "Well, thinks I, you have
given that up as a bad job ; but next morn¬
ing they were at work as hard ns ever. I
waited for about ten days when the cook
complained that the fire did not seem to
work right. “ It didn’t dr.xw,” she said.
I went on the roof and took off the stone
and looked in. The chimney is not a
straight one, but has what the masons call
a “ draw off” in it. On that ledge, ns you
might say, they had begun their nest and
had finally nearly filled up the whole sjiace
in the chimney. In one corner was the
nest as natural as life. I took a long
wooden rake and carefully brought uj) and
out the whole structure, and, if you will
believe me, there was material enough to
fill a half-bushel measure.

I notice your remarks on “ Coe's Strain ”
in October number. Had the usual luck
this Spring. Although I have had little
time, I have managed to take the Great-
honied and BaiTod Owls, a beiutiful set
of Sparrow Hawks, Bed-headed Wood¬
pecker, fine nest of White-bellied Nut
Hatches, and a few others of less account.

Took a Chipping Sparrow’s nest with
one of her eggs and one Cow Bunting’s in
it. The Sparrow had built over the top
of the nest a perfect net work of horse
hair, same as the lining of the nest, and
so nicely that although one could see the
eggs plainly it could be turned “ bottom
side up” and the eggs not fall out. I never
saw this before in Chipping Sparrows’
nests. “ I put ’em in the bag” with the
rest. Have a fine sjiecimen of a chicken
which I mounted a few days ago — perfect
in every way except tliat he has four legs.
What a sweet thing he would be in an early
garden. I have a Martin box on a jiole
some fifteen feet high. The Martins came
in the Sjiring and stayed a few days and
then for some reason best known to them¬
selves left. A jiair of Robins at once took
possession and built a nest in one of the

compartments, and when finished the old
lady sat (?) set (?) sot (?) with her head out
of the front window, showing that she was
“ at home.”

But the sweetest of all this year is this :
When I built an addition to my horse barn
I was obliged to cut down an old cherry
tree, which I did, leaving a stump some six
feet high, into which I placed a ring to
hitch my horses to. One morning I no¬
ticed a pair of Chickadees at work on the
stump, and I gave them my closest atten¬
tion. My man hitched the horses to this
stump every morning as he cleaned them
off, and although the horses’ heads were
within a foot of their hole they kejit at
work and finally laid their eggs and brought
forth the young in good order. By the
aid of a miiTor I threw the light into the,
hole, so that I could see all that was going
on. They began work April 27th, carried
in nesting material May 10th, began set¬
ting May 17th, hatched ^lay 2r)th, and the
young (lew June 12th. What I notice in
this as singular is the fact that we usually
find these birds breeding in the thickest of
swainjis and almost always in white birch
stumps ; and that they should come into
the open and so close to the house, and
more: they worked most systematic illy,
each working and taking out chips. One
would c'-rry aw ly the chip that he (or she)
had pecked out and fly to a ])cartree ne:r by
and “ wipe” it off her bill, when the other
would at once go in and go to work. They
did it so regularly that, as one went out of
the hole the other met it about half way
between the pear and cherry tree. — IT.

W. ('oe, l*<>r(l(in<J, Ct.

August Eggs. — W. F. Biker, Savanah,
Ga., re])orts finding a fresh egg of the
Mourning Dove, Aug. 31st.

Septemdku Eggs. — Sandford Ritchie,
White’s Corner, Me., reports finding five
fresh eggs of the American Goldfinch,
Sejit. 5th.

BL.\CK-Dii.LEr) Cuckoo’s Nest, with two
3’oung birds, at the same time.

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

f 1.00 per Joseph M. Wade, Editor and Publisher. Single Copy

Annum. Established, March, 1875. 10 Cents.

VOL. VII, BOSTON, DECEMBER 15, 1882. No. 24.

The Wood-thrushes {Jlylocichla) of
New Brunswick.

This Province can lay claim to but three
members of this sub-genus of the T urdi-
d(je, the Tawny, also called “ "Wilson’s
Thrush,” and “ Veery,” the Olive-liacked
and the Hermit, for the Wood Thrush does
not come so far north on the Atlantic sea¬
board, rarely occurring beyond Massachu¬
setts and never reaching the northern limit
of the Alleghanian faunal area, while its
gray-cheeked congener, though probably
passing through the country en-route to
its breeding ground in the far North, has
not as yet been taken within our boundii-
lies. The Hermit and the Olive-backed
are abundant throughout the Province and
the Tawny is much too common to be called
rare. They usually reach the vicinity of
St. John during the first half of May, the
Hermit arriving first, followed within a few
days by the Tawny and in some two weeks
hi' the Olive-backed. They leave here
aI)out the middle of September. These
species have a general appearance when in
the field so similar that none but experts
can distinguish them, though, upon a close
examination, the characteristics of each are
found to be marked with sufficient dis¬
tinctness to leave no doubt of their iden¬
tification. In the field all three have the
same outline from beak to tail, the same
russet coloring above the same dull white
breasts, more or less spotted ; l)ut lay ex¬
amples of each side by side and it will
prove that the Tawny was correctly named,
for his russet plumes have a reddish tint in
marked contrast with the greenish shade

of the Olive-backed, while the Hermit is
distinguished by his tawny tail which
changes to olive above the rump. But the
actions of these birds are more nearly iden¬
tical than either form or color, for whether
seen hopi)ing along the ground or perched
upon a tree, feeding or flying, it is imjios-
sible to detect any difference in them.

Much has been written al)out these same
manners that is not warranted by what is
observed of them during their visit to this
country. While here they a2:)pear neither
timid nor shy, and I doubt if they ever
yield to such plebian weaknesses. These
birds are j:)atricians, the premier genus of
the arian aristocracy on Mr. Ridgway’s
roll, and true to the instincts and tradi¬
tions of “ the first families” are modest and
retiring, and prefer the calm repose of the
forest to the glare and Imstle of the field
and roadside." They are courageous and
composed under excitement, but never
quarrelsome, and are hap25y without being
noisy. In short, tliey disfilay the good
breeding and refined manners of the thor-
oughI)reds that they are. They cannot be
called gregarious but they are not solitary
— Hermit Thrush is a ^iositive misnomer.
They do not commingle as socially as do
the sjjecies of some other families ; indeed,
they never ajijiear as conq^anions, yet it is
not unusual to find a number of the same
species frequenting one grove. I have
seen as many as thirty Hermits within an
area of a hundred yards square. In nidifi-
cation our three sjiecies exhibit a marked
difference ; the nests are differently con¬
structed and jilaced in diffei-ent situations.
Their eggs also differ in shai)e, size and

18G

ORNITHOLOGIST

[^’ol. 7-No. 24

color, and their soiiffR difter — differ in tone.
conipaRs, volume, theme and dimition.

The Tawny and the Hennit always build
on the {ground in this country, and thouf^h
their nests and its location are quite simi¬
lar yet they are not identical ; both nests
are loosely and rouj^hly ])ut together, but
Yeery’s is the most compact and the neat¬
est. They are usually placed in an inden¬
ture, either natural or formed by the birds,
and screened by an overhanging branch, but
while the Veeiy prefers a dry knoll in a
damp spot, within a wood, the Hermit usu¬
ally selects the margin of a grove or a
patch of trees in a dry and partially over¬
grown open ; neither build in a dense
thicket of trees or shrubbery. Under the
nests is placed a cushion or platform com¬
posed of dried grass or moss. The nest
proper is l)uilt of dried grass and small
twigs, unmixed with mud. and is lined with
fine grass : sometimes tine fibrous roots
and vines are added to the lining.

The Olive-backed builds in a tree. and.
like all tree-builders, makes a substantial
structure. It is usually ])laced in the
crotch of a limb some six' or eight feet
from the ground, generally in a moist place,
and occasionally in a really wet swamp.
In a specimen of this nest before me coarse
grass is the predominating material in the
extenial parts, but in the walls twigs of
sj)ruce, bits of lichens and dried leaves are
mixed with the grass and all are woven
into a solid mass, very firm and strong.
The lining is formed by a layer of fine
grass interwoven with pieces of a black,
vine-like root, all neatly laid : over these,
at the bottom, is a layer of skeleton leaves.
The measurements are: Dej)th, inside, I4
inches : width at mouth, inches ; out¬
side the diameter is irregular, varying from
4.^ to ;■) inches. Mr. J. W. Banks tells me
that of some fifty nests of the Olive-backed
'J'hnish that he has examined all were lined
with skeleton leaves ; but ^Ir. Harold Gil¬
bert found one in 187K that was lined with
moose hair. This nest was built in a gar¬

den. in the suburbs of St. John, within
twenty feet of the house and but an arms-
length from one of the main walks. The
moose hair was funiished by a tame animal
kept on the grounds. The three species
usually lay four eggs, but it is Mr. Banks’
02)inion that in extremely wet or cold sea¬
sons three more frequently complete the
clutch. So eminent and excellent an au¬
thority as Dr. Coues gives four and five as
the number of eggs, but w’e have never
seen more than four in any nest obtained
in this countiw.

The Tawny and the Hermit lay immacu¬
late eggs of a greenish-blue color, but the
eggs of the Hermit are much the paler and
are also the longer and more pear-shaped.
The eggs of the Olive-backed are of a
bright greenish-blue ground color, not so
dark as the Yeeiw’s. and irregularly marked
with jnuqjlish-brown sjmts. In some ex¬
amples these spots are so lai'ge and numer¬
ous they almost entirely hide ground
color. The average measurements of the
eggs are: Tawny, .SOX-bT ; Olive-backed.
.!)2x.()b: Hermit. .89x.f>4. Few of our
country-people are acquainted with the aj)-
pearance of these birds but are familiar
with their songs which they attribute to
one species called by them the “ Swamp
Robin for as in their ajipearance so in
their song, there is to some degree a su])er-
ficial resemblance : all have 2)eculiar metal
lie voices and sing somewhat similar melo¬
dies. Their songs resemble each other
much more than they resemble that of any
other species. The Tawny ranks first in
classification but the Hermit takes prece¬
dence as a vocalist. His song is the grand¬
est ; it is the finest musical composition and
disjdavs the most artistic execution, as well
as the greatest conqiass and power of voice.

One is surjirised to find so little al>out
the songs of these Thrushes in the writ¬
ings of tlie older ornithologists. Wilson
says the Tawny has “no song" and calls
the Hermit “ a silent bird.” .Vmlubon never
heard the song of the Hermit, and Nuttall

Dec. 15, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

187

does it but scanty justice. To my ear it is
by far tlie finest song we hear in these
Northern woods, and fully deserves the
seemingly exaggerated title of “glorious,”
given it by some modern writers. The
Winter Wren is his nearest rival and he
startles the listener into admiration by the
perfect torrent of sweet harmonies, of
brilliant passages and marvellously execu¬
ted trills, he hurls u2aon the stillness of the
forest solitude in which he delights to
roam ; but, beautifi;! and joyous as his
song is, in comjaarison with the song of
the Hermit Thrush it sounds mechanical,
and more like an air from a music box.
The music of the Hermit never startles
you ; it is in such perfect harmony with the
surroimdings it is often passed by unno¬
ticed, but it steals upon the sense of an ap-
jweciative listener like the quiet beauty of
the sunset. Very few persons have heard
him at his best. To accomplish this you
must steal uja close to his forest sanctuary
when the day is done, and listen to the
vesper hymn that flows so gently out uj:)on
the hushed air of the gathering twilight.
You must be very close to the singer or
you will lose the sweetest and most tender
and pathetic passages, so low are they ren¬
dered — in the merest whispers. I cannot,
however, agree with Ylr. Burroughs that
he is more of an evening than a morning
songster, for I have often observed that
the birds in any given locality will sing
more frequently and for a longer period in
the morning than in the evening. I prefer
to hear him in the evening, for there is a
difference ; the song in the morning is
more sjirightly— a musician would say
“has greater brilliancy of exjjression” —
and lacks the extreme tenderness of the
evening song, yet both have much the same
notes and the same “hymn-like serenity.”
The birds frecpiently render their matinal
hymns in concert and the dwellers in a
grove will burst out together in one full
chonis, forming a grander Te J)eum, — more
thrilling — than is voiced by surpliced choir

within cathedral walls. On one occasion
an Iiuhan hunter after listening to one of
these choruses for a time said to me,
“ That makes me feel queer.” It was no
slight influence moved this red-skinned
stoic of the forest to such a sjjeech. The
song of the Olive-backed ranks second in
comjiosition but he has the sweetest and
most mellow voice of the three. The
Veery disjilays the least musical ability yet
his simple strain is exceedingly j^leasant to
the ear and his beautiful voice exhibits
most strongly that iieculiar resonant metal¬
lic tone which is characteristic of the genus.

I have not attem2)ted to reju’esent these
songs by words or notes, for all such ex¬
periments as I have seen, ajqiear to me to
be failures. Neither the words of Dr.
Brewer or Mr. Samuels, nor the syllables
used by Ylr. Ridgway or Mr. Gentry con¬
vey to my mind the idea of the songs of
the birds that is inq:)ressed on my memory;
and after a i^atient rehearsal of the notes
of Mr. Horsford's score on jnano, violin
and flute I fail to recognize the melodies
he has attemjited to write. Perhaps Mr.
Horsford will say that, as I do not live in
“ a white jiine coimtry,” I can know nothing
about these Thrushes, and I certainly do
not if his article m Forest and Stream* is
to be taken as evidence of whaTis correct.
Besides then- songs the three sj^ecies have
call notes and two or three minor notes,
used chiefly when a mated jiair are together.
The alarm note of the Olive-backed, which
Mr. Ylinot thinks sounds like “ whit,” and
which he calls “the ordinary note” of the
bird, is seldom used excejit the bird has a
nest near the intruder. I think the soimd
would be better re2)resented by “kwut”
very abru2:)tly and quickly uttered, with a
peculiar enqihatic intonation. But the
songs and notes of all birds must be heard
to be understood and a2i2)reciated. — 31.
Cfmmherlahi, St. Jo/iri, F. B.

*Pr()f. HorHford's writings on onr Thrushes first appeared
in “ Fatniliar Sciencp.'’' published by us. We also engraved
the music. Other of our articles appeared in Forest and
Stream as original.

188

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Vol. 7-No. 24

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AXD—

OOLOGIST.

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE UEVOTED TO

THE STUDY OP BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGOS.

.TOS. .V. WAim, EUITOn,

With tlie co-ojicratioii of able Ornithological
Writers and Collectors.

SfBSCRirTioN— $1.0(1 j>er annum. Foreign subecrip-
tion including pontage,. Specimen

Copies Ten Cents.

JOS. M. WADE, Boston, Mass.

E.4RE Books. — "NVe have just sold to Dr.
G. "W. Russell, 490 Main street. Htirtford,
Conn., and now travelling in Europe a
cojiv of Audubon’s Quadmpeds. Royal
Folio. 1.50 plates, bound in three volumes,
half Red Morocco, a perfect cojiy. Price
$200. The Dr. also owns the Roliert Ha-
vell copy of Audubon’s Birds, double Ele¬
phant Folio. This copy cost .$11.50. and
the table and roller drawers in which to
keep it. .$100 more. Some years ago we
pi’esented the Dr. a letter from Robert
Havell to one of Audubon’s sons stating
that every plate of his copy was carefully
selected as he was coloiing the work,
making it one of the best, if not the best
copy known. The Doctor’s library also con¬
tains Audubon’s seven volume octavo edi¬
tion, also the three volume edition of Quad¬
rupeds. Fattud linrettl'i Atnericantt. and a
large quantity of other rare ornithological
works, making it one of the rarest Orni¬
thological libranes in the State. ^lay the Dr.
live long to enjoy his rare books and through
them render enjoyment to his friends.
.Some time ago we sold a ctrjiy of Futtita
liorenli AiiiericinKi. Vol. 2. Birds, in the
original leather binding, to Rev. C. iNf.
.Tones. Eastford. Conn. This work is now
very scarce.

OacHAUi) ()iuoLE.s. — AV. E. Saunders in
Canadian Sjiortsman states that Orchard
Orioles are very common in Kent Co., and
not rare in London, Ontario, he knows
nothing of them further east.

Close of Volume VII.

M’ith this number Vol. VII closes. We
started it with hopes of a larger circulation
which has not been I’ealized. We receive
apj)lic,ation for large niimbers of sample
copies, but few subs, in proportion. We
presume they weigh it in the scales against
such trash as the N. Y. AVeekly and tind it
light. It is judged by its size and not by
its contents. M e hope our readers will
renew prom])tly, and when possible, solicit
some one to join them. Eveiw subscrijition
excei^t four expires with this number, and
one of those is paid i;p to 1880. It will be
noticed that we have gained two extra
numbers so as to close with the year. Our
readers must understand that where full
addresses are given we virtually give away
our advertising R})ace, except to d(‘alers, so
that from that source there is no income.

Brief Newsy Notes.

Wood 1’ewees seem to breed only in Lo¬
cust trees. Ouch.ard Orioles in Ajiple
trees in Orchards. Goldfinches have a
preference for .Silver Pojilars.

B.altimore Orioles — Usually in Elms,
but one in an Ajiple tree in an orchard and
one in a Hickory tree in the deej) woods.

Crow Blackbirds mostly in orchards or
isolated .\])ple trees and Cedars.

Carolina Doves anywhere from the
ground to the top of a stum]) or fence
post. A good many breed in Cedars, but
mostly in Orchards near houses. Nests
generally not more than twenty-five feet
from the ground.

Song Sparrows seem for preference to
build in Honeysuckle vines against the
sides of houses in towni. — F. A. Sititi//, lln-
(l<irstotrti. MA.

Wanted to Know why the eggs of Sand-
j)ij)ei-s and Plovers are so much larger in
])roi)ortion to the size of the bird than the
eggs of other birds?

M'hy the Bull. Nutt. Oni Club is adver¬
tised as “the only jieriodical publication in

Dec. 15, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

189

America devoted to general ornithology?”

Tufted Titmouse. — Had the good for¬
tune to capture a fine specimen of the
Tufted Titmouse, on the 6th inst. What
I know of this rare bird is as follows :

1871, A])!'!! 30. — Saw two ; was without
my gun, it being on Sunday ; was within
about thirty feet of them. 1881, April 12.
— Shot one ; no others seen. 1882, April
6. — Shot one ; no others seen. — //. A.
^Likins, J/. I)., Locke ^ Mich.

Cuckoos. — One very singular find of
mine this season was a nest containing
a set each of Black-billed and A'ellow-
billed Cuckoos. It was in a young oak
sapling in a crotch about nine feet up.
There were two eggs of each variety, very
distinct in size and color — no one seeing
them would question the distinction. In¬
cubation had commenced but was about
equally advanced, showing they were laid
at about the same time. The old Yellow-
bill had “ nine points of law” in her favor
— “ possession.” It was late in the season
for that species to be breeding, the 24th
of July. YIentioning this circumstance to
J. N. Stannis, he remarked that he was
glad I found it, for he once found one
similarly situated but had never been able
to convince anybody of the fact. It was
not in such situations as I have usuallv
found the Yellow-bills, but the bird was
very tame and demonstrative and I
could not be mistaken in the species.

Great White Eoret {llerodUie, alha
eejretta. — One of iny neighbors "procured
specimen August 11th, nearly two miles
from the seashore. It was following up a
mill stream and he shot it from his door
as it flew past. It was pure white, in
young plumage, a long-legged, long¬
necked, stilty looking bird. The same
jierson shot one of these birds in 1878,
tlie 2d of August. These are the only
birds of the species that I ever saw. — J.
N. Clark, Old Saj/hrook, (Jt.

Red-shouldered Hawk. — I captured a
beautiful siiecimen of a Red-shouldered

Hawk, a male, in mature plumage, a few
days ago. It seemed to have adopted the
range of the creek passing near by for its
Winter hunting ground as early as Octo¬
ber, and he included our immediate vicin¬
ity in his daily excursions. Perhaps I
was unjust by him, but I imputed the
cause of my diminishing poultry to him,
but with no positive proof. However that
might be, I had an earnest desire for his
skin, and kept my gun sjiecially prepared
for him. and have returned from many a
fruitless effort only to wish I could get a
little nearer. There was a solitary tree on
the bank where he rested almost every
day as he took his excursion iqi the creek,
and a thought struck me, if I only had a
rabbit — ^well, I got one, and the day after
Thanksgiving I tied it to a spring and set
a steel trap on a large brancli under it —
but I saw the hawk rest no more on that
tree. He seemed to entertain suspicions
that something was wrong till the 17th of
January, looking that way, I had the satis¬
faction of seeing my coveted bird stand¬
ing there with a foot securely fastened in
the trap. The Winter has been pretty se¬
vere on the birds and they have almost
entirely deserted us. but I had the satis¬
faction of securing one thing new to mj'
collection a few days ago — a Purple iSand-
pqDer captured on the jetty off the mouth
of the river. — -J. N. Clark, Old Sayhrook,
Conn.

Olive-sided Flycatcher.

A bird by no means common in this lo¬
cality, arriving from the lOth to 20th of
Ylay. Having observed a jiair of them fre-
(pienting a large and isolated orchard, I
was confident of finding their nest ; but
careful and repeated search failed to reveal
it. Leaving the orchard June 16th, 1882,
and entering a piece of young growth
among which were a few large hemlock
trees, I suddenly noticed one of them
(probably the male) flying toward me. It
was very much annoyed by my jn-esence

f

100 OKNITIIOLOGIST [Vol. 7-No. 24

and was constantly flying toward me and
snapping its bill. Here was new light.
As the bird would frequently fly to the top
of a particular hemlock tand then dart back
toward me. I began to feel sure of finding
its nest. I retreated a short distance and
watched the moyements of my new ac¬
quaintance. Ayho perched upon the top of
the tree, seemingly to act as gu.ard. A
striped squirrel yentured part way up the
tree, but when sjned by the bird was in¬
stantly driyen down. After carefully
searching the tree for two hours. I noticed
something near the top which I thought
must be the long-sought nest. Upon
striking the tree with my axe I had the
satisfaction of seeing a bird fly away and
immediately retwin. A hard climb of
sixty-fiye feet l)rought me to the nest. It
was saddled upon a horizontal limb, six
feet from the trunk, and was closely con¬
cealed by the small boughs. It was com¬
posed of moss. ( T^S7ie(i hurhata.) and dry
hemlock twigs. These wei’e interwoyen
into a loose, clumsy nest, the only lining
being about a dozen ])ieces of fine, dry
gr.iss. I think this is the poorest piece of
bird architecture that I haye eyer found,
but the three fresh eggs which the nest
contained were indeed beauties, their color
being a delicate creamy-white, marked
with large blotches and spots of brownish-
red. layender and lilac, and fine s])atters of
lilac. On one are a few black dots. Their
dimensions are. fl.aXfil. 0‘2xfi4. fllxOfi.
respectiyely. Both birds resented my
presence with great courage, and while I
was in the tree were constantly darting at
me in a decidedly yicious manner, sna]i])ing
their bills and uttering their loml notes
with such yigor that a general commotion
was raised among all the feathered tribe
who were within hearing.

.V few we<*ks after finding this nest I
found another, within a few rods of the
first. This was also in a large hemlock
tree. As it contained young. I allowed it
to remain. It doubtless belonged to the

same pair of birds that I robbed earlier in
the season. In his Ilirda of JTefr Kiuj-
hv}(I, Samiiels says of this bird : “ It has

been found breeding in Vermont; and Dr.
Thonqison. in his work on the birds of that
State, giyes a description of the nest and
eggs. Three nests haye been found in ^las-
sachusetts within two years, two in West
Roxbury and one in Dorchester. These
were all built in forked twigs of apple trees
in old. neglected orchards, facing to the
southward, and were constructed of the
same material that the Kingbird uses in its
nest. In fact, they were almost exactly
like the Kingbird’s nest, but were a little
smaller.”

Samuels’ description and my own ob-
seryation had led me to belieye that it se¬
lected an apple tree in which to build its
jiest, but my experience of the past Sum¬
mer goes to convince me that it breeds
more commonly than is usually supposed.
— C. <). 'froc;/, '/'(tftsi'illf, TV.

The Caerulean Warbler.

I discharge both loads from my double-
barrel and bring down a pair of Warblers,
male and female, from the top of a tall ma¬
ple. They are fine specimens of the /fen-
(Iroeca ojernlea. Have they just dropjied
down from the skies, and brought the pure
azure with them? Excei)t the dusky ^\nng«
and tail, dark wing-crests and centers of
many of the feathers, ami white under-
]iarts. the e]nthet Crerulean, sky-blue, is
certainly apjilicable to the male, jiarticu-
larly to his head, back, and collar just
above the breast. Excejiting her lighter
markings, less dusky wings and tail, mis¬
sing collar, and greenish tint over the head
and back, tlm female is the same as the
male. This sjiecies has the streaks along
the sides, and the white marks in the outer
tail feathers, in common with the rest of
the I>enf1r<vcn.

The C'mnilean Warbler, ajqiarently l>e-
longing to the Mississi])jn valley, and
scarcely a casual visitor on the Atlantic

Dec. 15, 1882.]

AND OOLOGIST.

D)1

coast, like certain other species of its local¬
ity, finds its way around the Alleghany
Mountains for a short distance, and is very
common throughout the Summer in west¬
ern New York. Indeed it is not uncom¬
mon as a Summer resident in the central
parts of the State. I have had every op¬
portunity of observing its habits ; and, as
no writer has given it a full record, I bear
it a special accoiintability.

It is a bird of the woods, everywhere as¬
sociated with the beautiful tall forests of
the more northern counties of Western
New York, sometimes found in the open
woods of pasture-lands, and cpiite partial
to hardwood trees. In its flitting motions
in search of insect-prey, and in the jerking
curves of its more prolonged flight, as also
in structure, it is a geniime Wood War¬
bler, and keeps, for the most part, to ay hat
Thoreau calls “ the ujDjier story” of its S3-l-
van domain. Its song, which is frequent,
and may be heard for some distance, may
be imitated by the syllables rheet, rheet,
rheet, rheet, ridi, idi, e-e-e-e-e-e-e ; begin¬
ning with several soft, warbling notes, and
ending in a rather prolonged but quite mu¬
sical squeak. The latter and more rapid
part of the strain, which is given in the uja-
ward slide, approaches an insect quality of
tone which is more or less jaeculiar to all
blue Warblers. This song is so common
here as to be a universal characteristic of
our tall forests.

The bird is shy when started from the
nest, and has the sharp chipiiing alarm
note common to the family. The nest is
saddled on a horizontal limb of considera¬
ble size, some distance from the tree, and
some forty or fifty feet from the ground.
Hmall, and very neatly and compactly built,
somewhat after tlie style of the Redstart,
it consists outwardly of fine dried grasses,
bits of w'asp’s nests and gray lichen, and
more especially of old and weathered
woody fibres, making it look quite gray
and waspy ; Avhile the lining is fine dried
grasses, or shreds of tlie wild graim-

vine, thus giving the inside a rich brown
apjiearance in contrast with the gray exte¬
rior.

The eggs, 4 or 5, some .60x47, are
grajdsh or greenish white, ju'etty well spot¬
ted, or specked, or even blotched, esjie-
cially about the large end, with broAvn and
dee2) lilac. They do not jAossess that deli¬
cate ajApearauce common to the oological
gems of most of the Warblers.— ,7. 11.
Langille, Buffalo, JST. Y.

Notes from Colorado.

My time to devote to birds is verv lim¬
ited, but I send you a fe-w notes taken
about camj), at an elevation of about 11,400
feet. Canada Jays are 2)lentiful and make
themselves as much at home as tame Pig¬
eons, coming at meal time for bits of food
that I throw to them, sometimes alighting
Avithin tAvo or three feet of me. At other
times they bu.SA^ themselves hoji^^ing about
the trees, either singly or in small flocks
of four or five, jAecking off insects and
crooning to themselA’es like an old Avoman
at her sjAinning Avdieel. They haAm as great
a variety of notes as the Mocking Bird, of¬
ten uttering shrill screams that AA'ould
easily be mistaken for those of a HaAvk.

Stellar’s JaA', Arctic Blue Bird, and
Black-billed Magpies are abundant up to
an elcA^ation of 9,500 feet. Have ne\'er seen
but one jAair of Louisiana Tanagers higher
than 10.000 feet. They are (juite common
from 9,500 feet doAvn to the Plains.

Audubon’s WarlAlers are quite plenty
500 or 600 feet loAver doAvn, and Hummers
are abundant and are occaasionally seen
about camjA, but as all of my shooting irons
are forty-five calibre I cannot take any
specimens to identify them. Red-shafted
Flicker and Robins ai’c; comiAion.

July 17 1 saAv for the first and only time
one male find tiAXA femide Pine Grosbeaks.
PurjAle I’inches are occasionally seen.

Yellow-croAvned Kinglets and BroAvn
Creepers are quite plentiful, and TitAiiice
— “The Avoods are full of ’em.” White-

102

OKNITHOLOGIJST

[Vol 7-No. 24

crowned S])iirrows are 2)lentifnl in the
dense aWIIow thickets tliat cover the tiat,
marshy benclies of mountains and in willows
along the creek I)ottom at the foot of the
mountain. July ‘24 I found, accidentally,
one of their nests with four young birds
about a week old. The nest was placed
ujjon some hoiizontal willow twigs on a
steep bank of the (rreek. It was about
tliirty inches from the ground, composed
outwardly of coarse, diied grasses and weed
stalks lined with fine soft grass and a
small quantity of cow’s hair. Outside
heighth 3 inches. l)readth inches, in¬
side depth IJ inches, width 3 inches.

Oregon? Snowbirds are abundant
throug-hout the mountains. Of this bird I
have taken five sets of eggs. Four of the
nests were in small cavities, under over¬
hanging clods of earth, in the bank of the
wagon-road. Tlie fifth was on the ground
by the side of a large rock on a hill side.
Tlie nests are large for the size of the bird.
The outer part is of coai’se grass and weed
stalks, and small roots loosely placed to¬
gether, with a thick lining of soft grass.
Outside height 2| inches, breadth G inches,
inside depth 1^ inches, width 3^ inches.
Tlie first tliree sets taken June 20 con¬
tained four fresh eggs.

June 2(i. — The fourth set with three fresh
eggs and the fifth one with four eggs con¬
taining large embryos. The average meas¬
urement of the whole five set is 84xG2.
(iround color very ])ale bluish green, with
S])ots and dashes of dark lilac blended to¬
gether about the larger end. forming cpiite
a distinct circle, with a few lighter mark¬
ings on the rest of the sui'face. A\Jiile I
was taking the eggs tlie jiarent birds were
hopping about a short distance away, ut¬
tering loud “chij)s'’ but offenng no re¬
sistance.

Mountain ISIocking Birds are quite ])len-
tiful in the o])on places, but are seldom
seen in the timber.

June 20. — Took two sets of four eggs.
— one fresh and the other containing large

embryos. The nests are a large bulky af¬
fair, and were placed under a overhanging
rock in a deep railroad cut. Composed out¬
wardly of dead twigs loosely laid together
and lined with fine drv’ grass and weeds.
Dimensions outside : height 4^ inches,
width 0 inches, inside depth 2 inches,
breadth 4 inches.

June 2.0. — Found a nest under a rock in
an old prospect hole far above timber line
containing four fresh eggs. The parent
bird when on the nest wll allow itself to
be nearly touched by the hand when it will
slip off the nest and out of sight. The
eggs average .G8X-3.o. Ground color im¬
pure white, with splashes of umber and a
few small spots of pale lilac blended to¬
gether, covenng the whole of the larger
end, the remaining surface being coveia'd
by small and separate markings of the
same colors in a little lighter shade. — T>. I>.
Stone, Jliineock, Colormlo.

CoRirOKANTS BnEEniN'G IN C.APTIVITY. -

^lany readers of land and M'oter, and
especially those of the ornithological ty])e,
will be interested to hear something about
my Cormorants, which bred for the first
time in cajitirtty in the Zoological Gar¬
dens. Begent’s Park, last Sjiring. whilst
being there on “ dejiosit. ’’ T think it is
pretty well known that out of three eggs
two were hatched and reared. Gf these,
one was presented to the Zoological Gar¬
dens. whilst the other bird I removed and
trained. I’robably the “Water Nymph."
for such is the name I have given this
young one. has derived great instruction
from old “ Kao-wang," its mother, whose
experience over nearly twenty years must
be great, for she has turned out a most
wonderful fisher. She has been fishing in
Yorkshire with the old one. and tlieir score
in three weeks is two hundred and twen¬
ty-six fish. .\11 kinds of fish were taken,
but they consisted chiefiy of trout. — /*’.
//. Soli'!)} in Land and B’otcr, Tjon
don, Kixfiand.