50 



THE OSPEEY. 



field, by one of the richest bird song's that ever 

 reached my ear. The notes rose clear, full and 

 surpassing-ly sweet. Turning- back I approached 

 a bunch of large bushes whence the unfamiliar 

 music came in almost unbroken strains, and de- 

 siring to kniiw tlieir author reluct.intlY fired at 

 an indistinct form seen through the foliage. 

 Hastening forward I found the bird lying- be- 

 neath the bush, and my reg-ret at having'- killed 

 such an exquisite songster was partly forgotten 

 in the pleasure of securing one of the rarest 

 and least kcown of Mexican birds, the Ocellated 

 Thrasher (Harpor/iyiichus occ/latiis). 



The digression from my original course 

 caused by the Thrasher's song-, started me in a 

 new direction over the top of a low grass-g-rown 

 ridg-e dotted with scattered trees, among'- which 

 were found a number of Bluebirds (Siaiia iinw- 

 ica?ia), a small flock of Jays, and some .Striped- 

 breasted Woodpeckers {Mciancrpcs Jonnicii'o- 

 rus). Slopping on the summit of the ridge to 

 I'egain my breath, I enjoyed a g-lorious view of 

 the snowy peak of Orizada towering'-high above 

 the forested slopes. On the farther side of the 

 ridg-e, where the descending- slope had a cool 

 north exposure, favorable to the retention of 

 moisture, it was a surprise to find a dense 

 growth of tall, slender firs and pines, beneath 

 which the ground was softly carpeted with 

 mosses or covered bj' thickets of low under- 

 growth. Under the shade of the interlaced tree- 

 tops the light was dim. and with the cool air 

 and moss-tufted tree trunks, g-ave the impres- 

 sion of a forest scene near the northern border 

 of the United States rather than one in the 

 tropics. lu places where the tree growth was 

 more open the entering shafts of sunshine 

 caused the iridescent colors of the White-eared 

 Hummers (Basilinua Icucotis) to flash and glitter 

 as the birds searched eagerly for nectar in the 

 .scarlet flowers of salvias and Bouvardias. 

 Many Stephens" Vireos ( / 'irco h. sfcp/inisi) were 

 uttering their warbling songs on all sides and 

 Pileolated Warblers ( (7 7/iy«;a /. pilcolata), in 

 their usual restless manner, hopped and flut- 

 tered about everywhere. Several Red Warblers 

 (ErgaticHS ruber) were encountered here, and 

 against the dark backg-round of the evei^greens 

 their bright plumag^e caused them to appear 

 like little sprites robed in glowing flame. 

 These birds, on account of their bright colors 

 and warbler-like habits of searching- the outer 

 twigs of trees, are among- the most conspicuous 

 of the smaller species. From the number of 

 Crested Jays seen and heard in the depths of 

 this shady forest it appeared to be their favorite 



haunt. The Mexican Creeper ( Ccrthia f. alticola) 

 and the Western Robin {Mcriila propiiiqua) 

 were seen also, and a pair cf Red-tailed Hawks 

 {Dntco b. calurus) circled slowly overhead. 



It was becoming- late and the reports of my 

 companion's gun. at first distant but now sound- 

 ing' in the direction of camp, caused me to turn 

 back with eag-er interest to see what treasures 

 he niigpht have secured. As I passed an open 

 grlade near a little spring; a small flock of Band- 

 tailed Pigeons {Columba fasciata) flew suddenly 

 out of the neighboring"- tree tops with loud, 

 startling'- wing-clappingr, and hurried away over 

 the mountain side. Several Red-shafted Flick- 

 ers {('(»/(7/'/'<'i cafcr) had entered the fields during 

 my absence and were searching'- for food among 

 the clods of upturned earth with Robins, Blue- 

 birds, Juncos and Chipping Sparrows; and a 

 pair of Ravens (C c. sinuatus] were grubbing 

 away among the tussocks of grass on the open 

 slope. In a fence corner a curious bunch of 

 -wild gooseberry' bushes in full flower were so 

 attractive that a few branches were taken for 

 botanical specimens; and it interested me 

 g-reatly to learn, at a later date, that this plant 

 was discovered by Alexander von Humboldt 

 during his celebrated travels in Mexico at the 

 beginning- of the centurj', and had remained 

 unknown to botanists initil rediscovered during- 

 this morning's tramp. My companion had 

 made a circuit throug'-li the forest on the side 

 toward which my steps were first turned, and 

 among' his captures were the rare Strickland's 

 Woodpecker (/hyobatcs stricklandi), Olive-sided 

 and Coues' Flycatchers (Coiitopiis borcalis and 

 C /(-/-////rt-r). Mexican Wren {Troglodytes brun- 

 lu'ii'ollis), Mexican Chickadee (Pariis stiii/i-ri). 

 Small headed Flycatcher (Sclop/laga miniata) 

 and two species of Iinipidonax. The skinning 

 kit was soon arranged on the shady side of the 

 hut. where we began preparing- our specimens, 

 keeping'- a gun close by in order to take advant- 

 ag^e of any opportunity that might arise to in- 

 crease the collection. In a short time a small 

 flock of Violet-green Swallows ( Tachyiincta 

 thalassina) was seen circling- over th6 clearing, 

 and from trees close by spi-cimens of the Mexi- 

 can Crossbill (Lo.vine. stricklandi) and the Pine 

 Siskin (Spiniis piiiiis inacroptcra) were secured. 

 Among various other birds several Audubon's 

 and Townsend's Warblers (I)cndroifa aiidiiboni 

 and 1). toivnseiidi) were seen in the bushes close 

 by; but they were not molested, and after tarry- 

 ing for a short time, passed on toward their 

 sunnner home far to the north. 



SOME OCEAN WANDERERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC. 

 By Rev. HerbkrT K. Joii, N(.>rth Middleboro. Mass. 



THE fact that it is so rare to find any account 

 of these ocean wanderers may indicate that 

 most bird-lovers are deterred from study ing 

 them in their haunts, either by the terrors of Nep- 

 tune or by lack of opportunity- To many "Shear- 

 water" is a mere book name, or known only 

 through the data slip on some purchased skin, 

 I think there is no class of birds more neglected 

 — none that ofters more prizes to the inve.stig-a- 

 tor who is not afraid of cold or wet and the 

 dangers of the ocean. 



"Not uncommon off the coast in winter" is 

 the customary remark with which, in many 

 books, these interesting species are consigned 

 to oblivion. But even tliis limited information 

 is based more upon g-uess than observation, for 

 some of them are both common and found in 

 summer. 



To study these birds successfully one must 

 find some place of vantage. It is not necessary 

 to toss in a foul-smelling- fishing schooner far 

 off shore on the dangerous, rough and foggy 



