Oct. 1888.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



157 



The color of this set is very peculiar, lii-iiif; a 

 very dull, raw .sienna color. 



The second set were fouud on May 13, 1888, 

 about twenty rods south of the former nest, 

 and contained three eggs, six-tenths incubated. 

 The nest was on a narrow shelving rock, simi- 

 lar to the tirst nest. No sticks were found. 



In this case also the female was on the nest. 



No. 1: Evenly blotched all over with reddish 

 brown, overlaid with liner markings of darker, 

 almost chocolate brown. This egg is generally 

 darker than any in the preceding set, still the 

 ground shows through ; size 2.07 x 1.62. 



No. 2: Generally darker than No. 1, ground 

 color not showing through at the larger end 

 and the darker markings more intense; 2.21 x 

 1.65. 



No. ii: Has general appearau(?e of No. 1, but 

 darkest of all ; 2.21x1.64. This egg very close- 

 ly resembles the figure (PI. 16, fig. 2), in 

 Capen's Oology of X. E. 



Nos. 2 and 3 bear each a dark blotch which 

 looks as if the color which was rubbed oft' of 

 Nos. 1 and 2 of Set I, was daubed on these. 



Both of these sets are now in the cabinet of 

 Mr. William Brewster. 



A Day on Dead Creek. 



HY C. H. I'AItKIIILL. 



About half way between Lake Chaniplain and 

 Snake Mountain, that historic land mark of 

 Revolutionary times, lies a marsh forty or fifty 

 rods wide and miles in extent, through which 

 winds a black sluggish stream known as Dead 

 Creek. June 11th, 18S7, accompanied by a 

 friend, we started for a day's collecting among 

 the reeds of this marsh. 



Arriving upon the scene, we found the Long- 

 billed Marsh Wren in large numbers and at once 

 began searching for their eggs. After examin- 

 ing at least one hundred nests we gave it up, 

 not having taken a single set. We came to the 

 conclusion that it was early for them. While 

 pushing our boat among the reeds to examine 

 one of their nests, I discovered a nest of the 

 Virginia Hail. It was composed of grass and 

 reeds raised about six inches from the water, 

 was quite shallow, and contained eight eggs, 

 slightly incubated. The bird remained on the 

 nest when we were within six feet of her, and 

 even then did not fly till I touched her with a 

 pole 



Towards night the Kails set up a cackle from 

 all directions, accompanied here and there by 

 the deep base voices of the American Bittern. 



We learned that it we would get at the inhab- 

 itants of the marsh we must come prepared to 

 w-ade in the mud and water. 



Our next trip was made on .lune 18th, when 

 we went provided with an extra suit of I'lothes. 

 Tpon arriving at the place of action we imme- 

 diately prepai-ed ourselves for our day's tramp 

 in the mud and water, which was up to our 

 boot tops, with an occasional hole which would 

 take us in to our waist. Our first capture was 

 a Carolina Rail, which I shot as it flew out of 

 the reeds. We also found a large number of 

 nests of the Red-winged Blackbird. 



On one side of the marsh was a tangle of 

 willows from six to ten feet high. In the thick 

 tops of these the Wrens had placed their globu- 

 lar nests, and a good many are attached to the 

 tall reeds, some not more than a foot from the 

 water and others at least ten feet high. Their 

 nests are certainly a curiosity in the line of 

 bird architecture, not unlike a cocoanut in 

 shape. They are composed of a mass of grass, 

 reeds and dead vegetation, with an entrance on 

 one side, sometimes near the top and again near 

 the bottom, which is nearly closed up with the 

 down of the willow and the cat-tail, with which 

 the nest is lined. We examined a large number 

 of these nests and succeeded in taking half a 

 dozen sets of their little chocolate-colored eggs. 



As we went ashore for our dinner we took a 

 stroll through a hard wood near by, where we 

 took several small birds, two nests of the Wood 

 Pevvee, and found half a dozen of the Summer 

 Warbler, which we did not disturb. 



On returning to the bog the first bird which 

 we started was an American Bittern, which I 

 shot. As I went to secure my bird my friend 

 exclaimed that he had found the nest. It was 

 as large around as a bushel basket, flat on top, 

 built of coarse grass, reeds, etc., and contained 

 four fresh eggs. Upon digging into the nest, 

 we discovered the fifth egg which had been 

 completely buried from sight. We succeeded 

 during the afternoon in securing three more 

 specimens of the Bittern. 



As the sun went down the Rails set up their 

 usual cackle and we tried to trace some of 

 them out, but after a faithful seaich we gave it 

 up, not having succeeded in starling a single 

 one from the reeds. 



Towards evening, mud-begrimmed and thor- 

 oughly fatigued, we returned to land in quest 

 of a much needed bath and refreshing sleep. 



Information is requested as to the wherea- 

 bouts of .\rthur Le Moyne, and also of Dr. 

 Northrup, former contributors to our columns. 



