THE OOLOGIST. 



75 



composed from contact with the water. 

 The remarkable protective coloration 

 of the eggs, and the inconspicousness 

 of the nest, cause them to be easily 

 overlooked, and if the actions of the 

 birds be taken as a criterion the nests 

 will not be easily found by the inex- 

 perienced collector, for they are very 

 vociferous even at along distance from 

 the nests. These are never placed close 

 together and are often fifty or one hun- 

 dred yards apart. Any intrusion upon 

 their domestic affairs is most fiercely 

 resented by the terns, as the intruder 

 nears the nest, they make repeated and 

 lightning like dashes at his head, 

 often giving that member a smart tap 

 with their sharp bill. 



The eggs are two or three in number, 

 and are generally more pyriform in 

 shape than those of the other gulls and 

 terns, but they much resemble these 

 in colors and markings, which are of 

 endless variety. They average in size 

 about 1.33 X .95 inches. 



Soon after nesting time the birds 

 lose their handsome black and silver 

 suit, which they have worn through 

 courtship and early married life, and 

 as their appearance is no longer a mat- 

 te, of much moment, they don a coat 

 of the most fantastic pattern, in which 

 black and white equally predominate; 

 but in the early autumn they depart 

 for the sunny south land, and here 

 their plumage becomes almost white. 



Rallus Virginianus. 



Virginia Rail in a Bay Window. 



On November 19, 1903, some boys 

 captured a Virginia Rail; the snow 

 was 12 to 14 inches deep and snowing 

 hard at the time. The little fellow 

 had waited a few days too long before 

 taking his southern trip and had to 

 drop by the way. A party ga ve him 

 to me the next day to mount as he 

 supposed he would have to die. I 

 took the Rail home and Mrs. K 

 thought it wicked to kill such a pretty 



bird and I did not like the idea so we 

 concluded to let him stay in the con- 

 servatory. At first he was a little shy 

 and would not eat and at night would 

 fly all around the house until after the 

 lights were out when he would quiet 

 down and rest for the night. He 

 would eat some in the day time and 

 began very soon to get accustomed to 

 his new home. But every evening for 

 ten days he would liy around the 

 house as long as the lights were burn- 

 ing, then after that he became perfect- 

 ly reconciled to his new home and 

 would go to roost as soon as dark on 

 some plant, perfectly contented, and 

 now he is very regular in his habits; 

 has one particular place for roosting 

 high up in the plant room and takes 

 his bread, milk and meat every day. 

 Will come and take food from my 

 hand, works in the roots of plant jars 

 as though he was after worms, goes in 

 an earthen dish and bathes almost 

 every day, and seems to enjoy life in 

 the Bay Window. 



Almon E. Kibbe, 

 Mayville, N. Y. 



Editorial Notes. 



Notice. — We are sending a copy 

 of this issue to a number who were 

 subscribers to the Oologist for some 

 time but who dropped it during the 

 period of irregularity caused by the 

 growing pressure of Dr. Lattin's 

 other duties. 



Many of these undoubtly dropped 

 it solely for that reason. 



Now that we have it in running 

 order, its regularity and standard 

 insured; the Manager submits the 

 following proposition to all such. 



Send him 50c. for One year or 25c. 

 for six months subscription. 



He agrees to quit sending the pub- 

 lication promptly when the time paid 

 for is up unless you are well enough 

 satisfied with it to renew your sub- 



