Aug. 



1888.J 



AKD OOLOGIST. 



121 



last year, but found it deserted ; tlie eagles were 

 around but I could not find their nest. The 

 birds acted strangely and I liclicve had no nest 

 williin two miles, but were attached tothcirold 

 hoiMi' and so they catne there to enjoy their 

 nooninj; and have a good time. 



On St. I'atrii'k's day I went to a nest from 

 which I collected a set of eggs hist year and 

 was pleased to find a nice set this year, and 

 very similar to those 1 took last year. This 

 set are quite below the average in size and are 

 nicely marked. 



Keturning to Ties I'inos ! took the train 

 home, looking much like tlic wamlering Jew, 

 outside. 1 was well ])leascd with my success, 

 however. 



The several sets measure : 



First set: 2j; inches x -21, ; 3 x 2^%. 



Second set : 23-? x 2it ; 3 x 2iS. 



Third set : 3/, x 23^ ; 3 x 2/, ; 2iii x 2^^. 



Fourth set : 2;Tf x %^ ; 23? x 2f3. 



Incidjation, 1st set, one egg fresh, the other 

 advanced ; 2nd set, incubation commenced ; 3rd 

 set, incub;ition advanced; 4th set, fresh. 



The dates of eggs taken are as follows: 



1st set March 7. TS88. 2nil set March !), 1888. 

 3rd set March 13, ISSS. 4lh set March 17. 1888. 



Coloration of the eggs : 



1st set, eggs darkly marked willi icildisb 

 brown and lilac all over, one darker than the 

 other. 



2nil set, one egg nearly while, the nilicr light- 

 ly marked on small end witli reddish brown 

 splashes, remainder of eggs sprinkled with dots 

 of brown. 



3rd set, eggs light willi aliundant maikings 

 of pale lilac an<l a few spots of brown. 



4th set, eggs lightly marked with lilac and 

 brown, one egg more so than the other. 



[Mr. Chalker"s success U\ finding tlie eggs of 

 this bird has been truly remarkable. 



In 1S8G he found one set of their eggs and de- 

 scribed theii- taking in Tiiic Ouxmioi.odisT 

 ANi> Ooi.iKiiST for June, 1880, vol XI, p. 85. 



In 1887 he took five sets. (See TlIK OitNi- 

 Til()l.<"iisT AN-|> Oiil.ocisr for .luMi' 1887, vol. 

 XII, p. 80. 



This year he has taken four sets. This makes 

 a total of ten sets. Who has beaten this rec- 

 ord?— J. V. N.] 



If every subscriber would make an ellort to 

 add one new name to our subscription list, it 

 would re.-ult in an inunedinte incicase in the 

 amount of reading inatler. Wliili- the (). iV: (). 

 is a permanent i)ulilicalion. its increase in si/e 

 will depend entiiely on the amount of financial 

 supi)ort it receives. 



The Shore Birds of Cape Cod. 



in .loiiN c. cAiroux. 



Theri^ is no locality on the New England 

 coast so favorabh^ for observing the migration 

 and liabits of our Limkola; as (Jape Cod. 



It extends from the southeastern ])art of 

 Massachusetts in shape like an arm into the 

 broad .\tlantic Ocean. Its bold sand.v beaclies 

 and islands, its large area of salt and fresh 

 marshes, and ndles and miles of sanil and mud 

 fiats laid bare at low tide, att'ord a must desir- 

 able feeding and resting ground for the large 

 number of shore birds that pass this point, as 

 they wing tlieir way north in the spring and 

 soutli in the summei' and autumn. 



In former years shore birils weie so plentifid 

 that enough plover to fill a bushel basket were 

 sometimes shot at a tidi^ by one gunnel'. Al- 

 though the birds are much decreased of late 

 years, enough return each season to oiler con- 

 siderable sport to those who are on the grounds 

 during the flight periods. 



The best marsh shooting is to be obtained on 

 tile north and west sides of the Cape, there be- 

 ing large tracks of marshes nearl.y the whole 

 distance from Barnstable to Welltleet. Some 

 of the best localities are Harnstablc, North 

 Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastliani and Well- 

 fieet. Along the east or ocean side there are 

 high beaches and flats, the birds feeding on the 

 flats at low tide and returning to the beaches to 

 rest at higli tide. Tlie best grounds on this 

 side are Eastham, Orleans, Chatham and Mon- 

 oinoy Island. The shores of the soutli side 

 have but little flats ov beaches, so only a few 

 birds stop. 



The birds given in the following list are 

 those that occur in Barnstable ('ounty, andl 

 have included none that have not been authen- 

 ticated by specimens taken. There are doubt- 

 less several others that visit our shores which 

 ere long will be added to the list. 



The dates of their arrival and dep.irluie h.ive 

 been taken entirely from my own notes, and I 

 have endeavored to give them as exactly as is 

 possible from many seasons observations at 

 dill'erent localities on the Cape. The condition 

 of the wind and weather hastens or dehiys the 

 movements of shore birds. .Some touch quite 

 regularly, but most of them fly far out fioni 

 land, and if the wind is fair and weather clear, 

 we bavi- no (lights of birds. If at the time 

 these large flocks arc passing our co.ast the 

 wind blows fresh from the east or southeast, 

 and still better, if Ihere is a thick fog, many 



