ORXITHOLOGY 



49 



jays' cage stood another in which were 

 contined a number of St. AndresDerg 

 canaries, and this was doubtless the 

 source of that part of the jay's song. 1 

 did not need to look far for the remain- 

 der of its "copy," for the room was 

 filled with birds, both native and for- 

 eign, and a continuance of songs, calls 

 and squawks of a most varied character 

 was constantly being poured forth. It 

 seemed difficult to reconcile the soft 

 notes and truly sweet strains which this 

 jay was now uttering with the bird 

 which we kno\v only as harsh, boister- 

 ous and anything but gentle and refined, 

 in both song and habits. It appeared to 

 be amusing itself by softly imitating 

 the various songs and calls that took 

 its fancy, rather than to be performing 

 for the benefit of its hearers. During 

 its song it remained huddled together 

 on a branch, while its companions in 

 the cage were hopping about and feed- 

 ing unconcernedly. A deformed bill 

 and the absence of a tail, probably worn 

 and broken by flying about the cage, 

 added to the strange individuality of 

 this bird. 



As this was a totally new and un- 

 heard-of experience from the writer's 

 point of view, it would be interesting 

 to learn whether any other of our read- 

 ers have ever heard a blue jay sing. 



Since writing the above notes I find> 

 in the May-June number of Bird-Lore 

 a similar experience recorded by R. E. 

 Robbins of Brookline, Mass., though 

 the author does not here state the cir- 

 cumstances under which the bird was 

 heard.— H. G. H. 



One almost wonders sometimes, why 

 it is that the sun keeps on year after 

 year and day after day turning the 

 globe around and around, heating it and 

 lighting it and keeping things grow- 

 ing on it, when after all, when all is 

 said and done (crowded with wonder 

 and with things to live wath, as it is), 

 it is a comparatively empty globe. No 

 one seems to be using it very much, or 

 paying very much attention to it, or 

 getting very much out of it. There are 

 never more than a very few men on 

 it at a time, wdio can be said to be 

 really living on it. They are engaged 

 in getting a living and in hoping that 

 they are going to live sometime. — Ger- 

 ald Stanley Lee. 



Studying the Nest. 



in the farm Journal for April the 

 following sixteen suggestions were 

 made for nest study. "Be very careful 

 not to touch the nest or eggs. Use this 

 as a study plan: i, name the bird; 2, 

 when the mating began ; 3, actions dur- 

 ing courtship ; 4, when nest-building 

 started ; 5, whether male or female or 

 both did the building; 6, site of the 

 nest ; 7, materials used ; 8, when the 

 nest was completed ; 9, how the birds 

 acted dur-'ig nest-building; 10, when 

 first egg was laid; 11, number of eggs 

 laid; 12, color of eggs; 13, when last 

 egg was laid ; 14, wdiether male or 

 female or both incubated the eggs; 15, 

 actions during incubation ; 16, w^hen 

 first bird was hatched." 



The above is an excellent outline for 

 observers to follow, and to it might be 

 added the important study of feeding 

 the young from the time of hatching to 

 their leaving the nest. Long individual 

 observations should be made if possible 

 to secure accurate information. A com- 

 plete study of a single nest is much 

 more to be desired than the haphazard 

 observations of numerous species. 



Wild Strawberries. 



Walking around the cellar, my eye 

 caught the glow of red, ripe strawberries 

 in the thin meadow grass. Here was just 

 the dessert I needed after my lunch of 

 sandwiches. There is a well-founded sus- 

 picion that no berry equals the wild 

 strawberry in flavor. Reader, if you have 

 never eaten a shortcake of wild straw- 

 berries deluged with sweet cream which 

 has hung in the well to ripen, then you 

 have my sincerest sympathy, for you have 

 thus far lived in vain. In the city res- 

 taurant where I take my meals, they have 

 little squares of shortcake (so called) 

 upon which, bedded in whipped cream, are 

 a few sour, wilted, cultivated strawber- 

 ries, labeled, "Strawberry Shortcake — 10 

 cents " I never insulted my palate with 

 one of the detestable frauds. It is an in- 

 sult to any farmer's son or daughter to 

 oflfer such a miserable apology to one 

 who has known the real thing. — ^Milo 

 Leon Norton in "Saturday Chronicle." 



A Rose. 



The acme of florescence 



Proud nature's fairest work; 

 Wherein, to show its limits, 



A little thorn doth lurk. 



— Emma Peirce. 



