Notes from Field and Study 



made it necessary for the student to be- 

 come familiar with the bird he or she had 

 been assigned, and a personal knowledge 

 of the subject was acquired. The Free 

 Library was besieged, and all books on 

 birds were brought out of their seclusion 

 and put once more into circulation Many 

 new works were sought at the book-stores, 

 and bird-literature is still in demand. The 

 second evening was devoted to Crows, 

 Robins, Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, Jays 

 and Blackbirds — all birds that are to be 

 found at that season of the year. Then 

 came the Sparrow family, with the Junco, 

 Finches, Cross-bills, Nuthatches and Wood- 

 peckers, that are abundant in early April. 

 Then the Flycatchers and Thrushes, and 

 finally an evening was devoted to the 

 Warblers, some twenty fine specimens 

 being shown in skins. Within the ne.xt 

 week, members had identified the Mourn- 

 ing, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue. 

 Black and White, and other spring mi- 

 grants and resident birds that were found 

 in the shaded streets and parks. Excur- 

 sions were made into the highlands and 

 country, and incidentally a love of flowers 

 and nature was imbued. 



The beautiful pictures furnished the 

 academy through the regents by the Mu- 

 seum of Natural History were shown on 

 the first of June, and as each bird was pic- 

 tured, its haunts and habits were com" 

 mented upon. On the gth a party of over 

 sixty people took the delightful sail down 

 the Hudson, and journeyed to the Museum 

 of Natural History, where Mr. Chapman 

 directed them to the case of birds which 

 he has arranged purposely for bird-stu- 

 dents. A beautiful case of water-birds. 

 land-birds and two ' seasonal ' cases, all of 

 the birds found within fifty miles of New 

 York City, were of special interest to the 

 class, and much time was spent in this 

 room. Since the close of study it is a sub- 

 ject of remark that more birds have been 

 named and noted in the past few weeks 

 than ever before, and it is no uncommon 

 sight to see gray-haired students in the 

 yards and country roads, opera glass in 

 hand, watching for some feathered mystery 

 to appear. Red-eyed, Warbling and Yel- 



low-throated Vireos are especially attrac- 

 tive, and their strong, clear notes may be 

 heard all day long, and many of their cup- 

 shaped nests have been discovered. Thus 

 a new interest in outdoor life has been 

 unfolded and a new pleasure found. 



Cowbird in a Dove's Nest 



On May 25, 1899, at Rock Hill, Pa , I 

 found fifteen or more Doves' nests in 

 one orchard While looking for a suita- 

 ble place in which to put my camera, I 

 noticed a Cowbird flutter off a large 

 Crackle's nest, and on examination found 

 the nest to contain only a Cowbird's egg. 

 Three days later I discovered that a 

 Dove had deposited two eggs in this 

 nest. Circumstances now prevented me 

 from visiting the nest for three weeks, 

 when I found a Cowbird ready to fly 





YOUNG COV/BIRD AN"D TWO DOVE S EGGS 

 IN OLD crackle's NEST 



Although I watched the nest for some 

 time to see how the Doves would feed 

 the young Cowbird, they did not return, 

 and I regret to say I did not succeed in 

 learning the outcome of this interesting 

 case — Chas. D. Kellogg, riiihidclphia. 



