The Oologist. 



Vol. XXI. No. 5. 



Albion, N. Y., May, 1904. 



Whole No. 202 



The Oologist. 



A Monthly Publication Devoted to 



oOlugy, ornithology and 

 taxidermy. 



FRANK H. LATTIN, Publisher, 

 ALBION, N. Y. 



ERNEST H. SHORT, Editor and Manager, 



Correspondence and Items of Interest to the 

 ifudent 01 Bh-ds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited 

 from all. 



TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: 



Single subscription soc per annum 



Sample copies ."ic each 



The above rates Include payment of postage. 



Bach subscriber Is given a card good for a 

 Want, Exchange or For Sale Notice. (This card 

 18 redeemable at any time within one year from 

 late thereon.) 



Subscriptions can begin with £iny number. 

 Back numbers of the oolooist can be furnished 

 at reasonable rates. Send stamp for descrlp 

 tlons and prices. 



r*" Remember that the publisher must be notl 

 fled by letter when a subscriber wishes his paper 

 stopped, and all arrearages must be paid. 



ADVERTISING RATES: 



5 cents per nonpareil line each Insertion. 



12 lines In every Inch. Seven Inches In a col- 

 umn, and two columns to the page. 



Nothing Inserted for kss than 25 cents. No 

 "special rates," 5 cents per line Is "net," "rock 

 Dottom," "Inside," "spot cash" rate from which 

 there Is no deviation and no commission to 

 agents. If you wish to use 5 lines or less spacd 

 It will cost you 25 cents; 100 lines, $5.00: lOOO llne-i. 

 160.00. "Trade" (other than cash) advertise- 

 ments will be accepted by special arrangemen' 

 only and at rates from double to Ave times cash 

 rates. Due BlUs and Cards payable In advertis- 

 ing will be honored only at regular rates in force 

 at the date ot issuance of said hill or card. 



Remittances should be mide D.v Dmn. Express 

 or PostoEQce Money Order, Registered Letter or 

 Postal Note. Unustd US Postage Stamps of 

 any denomination will be accepted for sums un- 

 der one daUar. Make Money Orders and Drafts 

 payabH and <ddre s all ^ub-cripiions ana com- 

 muLl atiODS o 



ERNEST H. SHORT. Editor and Manager. 

 Chili, Monroe Co., JM. Y 



Passing of the Passenger Pigeon. 



BY J. W. PRESTON. 



It is a matter for regret when so fine 

 a bird which once was so plentiful as 



to be a feature of the region it frequent- 

 ed becomes so scarce that it is a rarity. 

 I well remember when "Wild Pigeons" 

 were as common as Turtle Doves. Not- 

 oriously gregarious they flew often in 

 vast flocks, which moved over the 

 country, back and forth from feeding 

 ground to roosting place or in the 

 migrations. The movement of these 

 flocks was similar to that of the Ameri- 

 can Golden Plover, yet more swift and 

 with less of that undulating motion. 



I have spent much effort studying 

 the flight of birds, have often 

 timed some of our fleetest species. 

 That denizen of the wooded lakes, the 

 Loon, when coming from a feeding 

 ground will mount up far above the 

 woods, and then from that risky 

 height, with closed wings, dash 

 through space at an incalculable rate 

 of speed, or the Balded Eagle when 

 falling upon its prey attains terrific 

 velocity. But no bird of my acquaint- 

 ance can take its start and accomplish 

 a mile in as little time and with the 

 grace and ease of the Passenger Pigeon. 

 Every movement begin of that con- 

 stant, watchful alertness and unrest 

 natural to the bird. 



One who has seen the movements of 

 these birds in spring and autumn 

 fights will not forget the elegant ease 

 of motion and the grand sweep when 

 they circled round and over a grove, 

 into the depths of which they plunged 

 soon to emerge and whirl again and 

 again before alighting in the top of 

 some large tree. Then while contending 

 for a choice perch, they would contin- 

 ually be changing position and fight- 

 ing each other, making little excur- 

 sions from the main flock only to 



