362 General Bird Notes. [zoe 



dodging in the air, but the duck, frightened and tired, soon saw that 

 his swift pursuer was getting the best of it, so he closed his wings 

 tight against his body and dropped hke a stone into the water and 

 plunged out of sight. 



Now comes the beginning of the end. While he was under water 

 he either saw the hawk hovering over him or else he became bewil- 

 dered, for he came again out of the water flying. Like lightning 

 the hawk struck; there was a muffled "squawk," and the tragedy 

 was ended. Sam. Huhisaud, Jr. 



PUGNACIOUS FLICKERS. 



The following facts were related to me by my brother. And there 

 is a fine skin of one of the birds in my collection. 



-One day he heard a commotion in the loft of the barn, and, 

 thinking that perhaps the cat had caught a bird, he ascended to 

 discover the cause. In the eaves of the barn was a hole made by 

 woodpeckers. Fighting vigorously through this hole were a couple 

 of flickers {^Colaptes cafer'). The birds made such a din that they 

 dfd not notice his approach and he easily took the inside one in Iiis 

 hand. The bird on the outside, probably thinking that it had 

 vanquished its enemy, promptly entered in pursuit and was in its 

 turn taken in the other hand. 



F^ow blind must have been their rage, and how perfectly oblivious 

 of their own end they must have been, for, although still in the hands 

 of their captor, upon being brought together, they would innnedi- 

 ately resume the combat, figntnig witii bill and claws as though 

 their fate depended upon the result. 



It would have been interesting to have discovered the cause of the 

 dispute. Perhaps the explanation may be found in the fact that 

 both the contestants were females, and it may have been the outcome 

 of a fit of jealousy. Edward C. Merwin. 



THE MOCKING liIRD AT REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA. 



In regard to the occurrence of the mocking bird {Mimus poly g lot- 

 tos) in this vicinity, I would say that the specimen which I now have 

 in my collection was taken here in Redwood City, .September 5, 

 1891. It was hopping about the ground in search of food, and, al- 

 though exceedingly watchful, could not be called shy, as it ap- 



