176 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 13-No. 11 



biu-rel [Tluit wben picked scarcely exceed in size 

 "The Humming bird on a nutshell" on the bill ol 

 fare, at a well-known resort just out of Boston wbere 

 sportsmen oft do stroll \ to appease the cultured ap- 

 petite. It is no wonder that some of our naturalists 

 are anxious to secure a few specimens for study be- 

 fore they are iioii est. Tlie Wood Duck are becoming 

 rare, while tlie Passenger Pigeon is almost unknown. 

 Woodcoclc do not fly from every liillsidc and every 

 covey of quail is marked. It might be well to allow- 

 no one for the next ten years to shoot a game bird 

 except by Iniving a special permit and then only a 

 limited number, but of course tli is cannot be, it would 

 pinch tlie wrong toe. 



Place bim in bis little coffin, 

 VVitli screws the cover tiglitly bind ; 

 Tliere will be no more collecting. 

 No more birds nests will he find. 



Wliy this ending, do yon ask us? 

 Wliy this closing of liis fun? 

 We will tell you gentle reader. 

 His papa bouglit a cheap priced gun. 



In drilling eggs, remember that the smallest 

 IJOssibU* hole is desirable. It is also very important 

 that tliey should be ptn-fectly blown, for if any of the 

 contents remains it is liable to disfigure the egg ami 

 render it subject to the attacks of insects. Eggs 

 have been ruined by keeping them in ci^ar boxes 

 during warm weather, The evaporation of the gum 

 by the heat, forms a sticky deposit on the egg that is 

 very liard to remove. 



Wlien Capen'sOuhtgy is exhausted itwillbe too late 

 to wake up to its merits 



Tlie American Naturalist was established in 1867. 

 Ill the introduction in its first number we find — "In 

 laying before our readers this first nnmber of a 

 popularscientific monthly, we commence a publica- 

 tion in which we shall endeavor to meet the wants of 

 all lovers of nature." In becoming of age last March 

 tliose who have watched its career can truly say; 

 It strikes into manhood, having strictly follovveil the 

 inspiration of its tirst utterance. 



Witli the March nnmber of the O & O. of the 

 current year we issued a cut of the nest of tlie Parula 

 Warbler, described by Mr. Win. Brewster. If any of 

 our subscribers failed to receive it, we will furnish it 

 upon being notified. 



Two White Pelicans suddenly discontinue! their 

 migratir-n flight down tlie Mississippi in Oct. and are 

 now at our office. It would seem that the day must 

 come when birds of that size, presenting such a 

 tempting shot, taking their flight over a thickly 

 settled country, must be exterminated. Some three 

 years since, a party informed us that he had taken a 

 contract to furnish a thousand at one dollar each. We 

 are glad to say he was not a taxidermist nor a natural- 

 ist; they were "wiintml for pliiviaye 



Fine specimens of the Bald Eagle, old birds with 

 pure white heads are by no means easily obtained. 

 In our section of the country nine out cif ten that we 

 receive do not show maturity. 



Orrin T. Gray, Esq., one of Hyde Park's [Mass.] 

 leading citizens, says, I believe that taxidermists ami 

 naturalists should be granted the privilege to collect 

 birds at all seasons, under proper regulations. 



Frank L. Pushaw, Esq., of Canton is also in full 

 accord with the same sentiments. 



Both of these gentlemen will find that the naturalists 

 in their district will endorse them, wben the occasion 

 presents. We welcome all expressicuis ^tf interest in 

 their behalf. The Massachusetts Naturalists have no 

 firmer friend than W. W. Castle, Esq., Wellesley. He 

 places himself on record in their behalf, every time. 



Mr. Harry Austin's record of Woodcock shooting 

 on Grant Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia; 



August I, 1884, k; Woodcock. 



1, 188.5, 14 " 1 Snipe. 



1, lS8li, 31 " 3 " 



1, 1887, 10 



August .SO, 1S86 Col. Clark and Mr. Austin, at the 

 same place, shot 33 Cock and 11 Partridge. 



Tbe transactions of New York Academy of Science, 

 Nos. 3, 4, 5 and G, in one Vol. (vii,) are an exceedingly 

 interesting series, and whicli we are most pleased to 

 receive. Containing Prof. Trowbridge's observations 

 upon tbe " Mechanism of Flight in Soaring Birds" 

 and the discussions relative thereto. Notes of 

 Prof. Holder upon same subject and by Prof. Allen 

 on the "Structure of Birds in relation to Flight." 

 f ogether with papers upon other subjects of great 

 interest. Tbe publication should be in the hands of 

 all progressive iiaturali&ts. Published by the Aca- 

 demy. Herman L,eRoy Faircliild, Secretary, New 

 York. 



We take pleasure in acknowledging tbe receipt of 

 a reprint from Mr. WalterE. Bryant, announcing the 

 discovery, by him, of anew subspecies of the Song 

 Sparrow, from Coinondu, Southern Calitornla. 



This subspecies, Mr. Bryant has called 



MELOSl'IS.l FASCIATA KIVULAKIS, 



Bryant's Song Sparrow was described from thirteen 

 specimens, taken between March 11, and April 115, 

 1888. 



Mr. Bryant claims for this bird a place between 

 M.f montuna, and M.f.fallax. 



This species is of more interest, since the Song 

 Sparrow has not heretofore been included in the lists 

 of Lower Californian birds. 



The Ornithologist and Oologist. 



We bave received tbe above monthly and are 

 pleased to cull tlie attention of those of our sub- 

 scribers who are interested in bird life, to it. We 

 find it exceedingly bright, with a large list of con- 

 tributors and correspondents from various sections 

 of the country, and readable with satisfaction by 

 those who find scientific publications generally dull 

 and heavy. Its articles are from field naturalists 

 who ignore the prosaic and ijedautic style, and, in 

 plain yet interesting manner, write intelligible 

 accounts of their researches or discoveries. We 

 think any who are interested in the life and habits 

 of our American birds will be pleased with it. We 

 shall always welcome it in our exchange list. — The 

 Cmirant [ tVellesle!/]. 



Lovers of birds will find the September number of 

 the Ornitholoyist, published by our townsman, Mr. 

 Frank B. Webster, both instructive and interesting. 

 The continued article on the " Shore Birds of Cape 

 Cod," is especially valuable to sportsmen. — Xorfolk 

 Count// (tar:ette l/li/ite /V/r/.-. ] 



