THE OOLOGIST. 



last one I found and evidently belong- 

 ed to the same pair of birds, being an 

 attempt to rear a second brood. The 

 nest was placed in a luxuriant growth 

 of grass intermingled with a variety 

 of marsh weed, in this respect the 

 location differed from those previously 

 found, I did not then disturb the nest 

 as I desired to obtain a photograph of 

 the nest and eggs in their original sit- 

 uation, but not having my camera with 

 me I could not do it, so had to leave it 

 for the time being but I returned on 

 the 17th for that purpose fully equip- 

 ped with the necessary apparatus. I 

 approached the nest cautiously and 

 came up to about four feet before the 

 bird left, then she hopped out and 

 .swiftly ran away through the grass 

 but in a few moments joined her mate 

 who was chirping vigorously and 

 flying about uneasily. 



Carefully parting the grass so a clear 

 view of the nest could be obtained the 

 camera was then brought into action 

 and two plates were soon exposed, 

 both, however, upon developing proved 

 to be fair negatives, one of which 

 is here reproduced in the accompany- 

 ing half-tone. This nest was con- 

 structed of dry brittle blades and stems 

 of grass with a few bits of green moss 

 distributed around the rim, the lining 

 consisted entirely of a species of fine 

 round grasses. 



The dimensions were inside li inch- 

 es deep by 2i inches in diameter a 

 cavity was excavated in the mossy 

 ground 2i inches deep and 3 inches in 

 diameter. All these nests were very 

 frail structures, for after taking them 

 up they would almost fall to pieces, 

 thus are preserved with great difficulty. 

 The five eggs were far advanced in in- 

 cubation but with the free use of 

 pancreatin and the utmost patience in 

 their manipulation, three were finally 

 successfully prepared for the cabinet, 

 they measure respectively .71 X .55, 

 .72 X .56 and .73 X .54 inches an aver- 



age of .72 X .55 inches. Slightly larg- 

 er than the sizes generally given. The 

 ground color is grayish white, speck- 

 ed and dotted with brownish and lilac, 

 over which are thick and heavily spat- 

 tered large blotches of various shades 

 of dull brown. 



Edw. W. Sprixger, 

 Owatonna, Minn, 



Editorial Greeting. 



To many of the readers of the Oolo- 

 GIST I need no introduction. During 

 the past Fifteen years as a Collector, 

 Writer and Dealer I have become ac- 

 quainted either personally or by cor- 

 respondence with many of you. \ 



In assuming the duties and respon- 

 sibilities incident to the Editorship of 

 the OoLOQiST my first object in view 

 is the success of the publication from 

 the point of view of the subscribers. 



Only in this way can we hope for 

 ultimate success. 



For this reason suggestions from 

 subscribers will always be welcome. 

 Many have already made suggestions. 

 Some of these will be adopted. 



It is the earnest wish of both Pub- 

 lisher and Editor to place the publica- 

 tion in the position it occupied 10 years 

 ago. 



Now as then it can only be done by 

 the co-operation of the subscribers with 



us. 



To give you an up to date Journal 

 we must have financial support. If 

 you have friends interested in the 

 Birds, call their attention to the OOLO- 

 GLST. Tell them of the advantages 

 offered by its Monthly Exchange and 

 Want Columns, by its Question and 

 Answer Column; by its helpful Sug- 

 gestions and records of the experiences 

 of other Collectors. 



Advise them to send to the Manager 

 for free sample copy and circulars. 



This will advance the best interests 

 of the OOLOGIST rapidly from every 

 point of view. 



