30 KANSAS Academy of science. 



son, April 29, 1891, by J. W. Blair, and sent to Professor Kelly for identification, who 

 now has it in the State Normal museum. This is the first adult bird of the kind 

 taken in the State. The measurements are: Length, 23.75; stretch of wings, 37.00; 

 wing, 10.55; tail, 4.25; tarsus, 4.00; bill, 5.50; middle toe, 3.30. 



The plumage of this beautiful wader is glossed with a metallic luster, which 

 shines with different colors in the varying shades of light, but at a distance appears 

 black, and is generally known as the "black curlew." 



In flight, its legs and neck are stretched out to their full extent. Upon dissec- 

 tion, I found its food to consist principally of snails, with a few fish. 



They are found in the western United States, from Texas to California, north to 

 Oregon, accidental to Kansas, and south through tropical America to Chili. 



The nest is composed of broken cane and rushes, placed upon the tops of the 

 living ones as a foundation. They are generally located in marshes and lagoons, in 

 company with the herons. Eggs, usually three, 1.95 x 1.35; color, deep greenish blue. 



The second appearance of Clarke's nutcracker in this State was a flock of five, 

 seen on the Neosho river, north of Emporia. Mr. R. Evans, a student of our school, 

 shot an adult male from this flock October 9, 1891, which was placed in the museum 

 at the Normal. 



They a^re an accidental visitant in Kansas, the first one being taken August 13, 

 1888, by Mr. Chas. Netz, near the south line of Marshall county. They are found in 

 the high, coniferous forests of western North America, south to Arizona, east to the 

 edge of the plains, but are seldom found below an altitude of 4,000 feet. The gen- 

 eral color is bluish ash, gradually fading to white on the head; wings, greenish black. 

 This bird has the habits common to several other species. 



Like the woodpecker, it clings to the side of the trees while it hunts for the vari- 

 ous forms of life found within; and in flying its motions are similar. It is wild, 

 restless, and noisy like the jay. When on the ground, it walks like a crow. 



Clasping with its sharp claws the cones of pines, with its peculiarly shaped bill 

 it gouges out the seeds, which are its principal food. It often hangs, while thus en- 

 gaged, with head downward, swinging back and forth, reminding one of the tit- 

 mouse in its movenjents. 



The measurements of the one I procured are as follows: Length, 12.50; stretch of 

 wings, 22.00; wing, 7..50; tail, 4.50; tarsus, 1.20; bill, 1.50. The nest is rather bulky, 

 composed of sticks and twigs lined with small vegetable fibers; at first appearance 

 reminding one of a squirrel's nest. Average size of eggs, 1.22x.92. Their color is 

 light grayish green, irregularly spotted with a deeper shade of gray, chiefly around 

 the large end. 



ALL ENEEGY IS KINETIC. 



BY E. B. KNEKB, ATCHISON, KAS. 



One of the most perplexing subjects to the minds of students in physics is the 

 subject of so-called "potential energy" — perplexing because the student is dealing- 

 with a fallacy. The term in itself is a contradiction, meaning, as it is usually ac- 

 cepted, "possible energy." Now, the nature of energy is such that it either is or it 

 is not; there can be no such a condition, m strict science, as a "possibility" for it. 

 In short, there is but one energy, and that is all "kinetic," always. 



The mathematical formula for energy stands E = A M V -, which means that the- 

 energy of any body of matter is equal to one-half the product of its mass units into 



