by Mr. William Dutcher, in the Auk,' reporting in part the experience of 

 Cai)tain Lane of Shinnecock Bay, Long Island: "Captain Lane has had remark- 

 able success in breeding Canada Geese in confinement, and has kindly furnished 

 me with the following information regarding their habits during the breeding 

 season: 'They make their nests of dried grass, raising them about twelve 

 inches from the ground. They feather them when they begin to lay, which 

 is about Alay 1, None lay under three years old; the first season four eggs 

 are laid, five the second season, and when older six and seven. A goose never 

 has more than one mate. The gander never sits on the nest, but while the goose 

 is sitting never leaves her. The time of incubation is four weeks. The yoiing 

 when hatched are strong enough to take care of themselves, that is, they eat 

 grass and walk and swim as soon as they get dry. They will eat meals on the 

 second day. They are in the down four weeks, and are fully grown in six 

 weeks. When swimming the gander goes ahead, the young next, and the 

 goose follows, invariably.' " 



The Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher iMuscivora forfkata) 



By W. Leon Dawson 



Synonyms. — Swallow-Tailed Flycatcher; Scissor-Tail. 



Descrij)tion. — Adults: General color hoary-ash, lighter below, white on 

 throat, darkening on nape, mingling with ochraceous or rusty on back; a con- 

 cealed scarlet or orange crown-patch ; wings fuscous to blackish, with hoary and 

 bufify-gray edgings ; first primary deeply emarginate and attenuate ; tail deeply 

 forked, the outer pairs greatly produced, — three or four times the length of 

 shortest feathers — the ordinary feathers black, and the longer ones black-tipped, 

 but white or faint salmon-colored for four-fifths their length ; a scarlet tuft on 

 the side of the breast ; lining of wings, sides of belly, and flanks bright salmon, 

 fading on crissum ; bill and feet black. Immature: Similar; tail undeveloped; 

 no crown-patch; first primary not emarginate. Length to fork of tail 7.50-8.50 

 (190.5-215.9); wing about 5.00 (127.); tail 5.00-10.00 (127.-254.); bill .65 

 (16.5). Females somewhat smaller, and with less developed tails. 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size (comparing body sizes, exclusive of 

 tail); hoary-ash, scarlet and salmon coloration; tail greatly produced, deeply 

 bifurcated. 



Nesting.^ — "Nest, of sticks, etc., lined with feathers and other soft materials 

 built in trees. Eggs, 3-5, .89 x .67 (22.6x17.), pure white or creamy white, 

 boldly but sparingly spotted with rich madder-brown and lilac-gray." 



Range. — Texas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, southern Kansas, southwestern 

 Missouri, south through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica. Accidental in southern 

 Florida (Key West), New Jersey, New England. York Factory (Hudson Bay 

 Territory), etc. 



This exceedingly graceful Flycatcher is known to be a great wanderer, but 



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