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E # OOLOGIST* 



VOL. VI. 



AliBION, N. Y., AUG., 1889. 



NO. 8 



Notes on the Eg-gs and Birds of Hills- 

 borough. Co., Florida. 



The folhnviug is ii list of the eggs tak- 

 en by the Avriter during the spring and 

 summer of 1888, and some notes made 

 at timi- of taking tlie eggs. 1 have 

 carefully prejiared ihv notes and trust 

 they will he of interest, and hope to 

 see moi-e such from other states. Write 

 your experieiiees, collectors, and thus 

 heljj to ])oi)ulari/,e oology. 



Mar. 0. Took my first set for the 

 season consisting of a set Loggerheaded 

 Shrike, containing live fresh eggs. The 

 nest was placed in a lemon tree in a 

 ni'gleeted orauge grove. 



April 25. Took my second set 

 of Shrik-e's eggs, in the same gro\ e and 

 am positive, i^i the same l)irds. The 

 location of the nest was unchanged to 

 an orange tree. This set also contained 

 live eggs. 



April 27. Took my first set of Mock- 

 ing Bird's, ecnitaining four fresh eggs. 

 Nest situated in an orange grove in one 

 of the trees. And the same da3' I. found 

 a set of two, same species, the comple- 

 ment not being complete. 



April 28. Visited a large Florida 

 (Cormorant and Brown Pelican rookery. 

 The birds had built nuiny nests, but 

 there were yd no eggs. There was 

 perha])s oUO C'oiniorants and 200 Peli- 

 cans breeding on this ke}' which con- 

 .sisted of about Nacres of heavy man- 

 grove tinilier. The nests were made in 

 the mangrove trees, from 10 to 35 feet 

 from the groinid, and made of coai'se 

 mangrove twigs, lined with gi'ass and 

 green leaves (mangrove)- They were 

 white \vitii exci'emeiit, and liltliy. 



Ai)r. ;;(). Decided to six'inl the day 

 hunting sjieeiniens. 10 A. M. I took 

 my lirst set of Fish Crovv'. The nest 

 was situated in u pine ti'ee, aliout '3't 

 feet from the ground, com])osed of 



coarse twigs. Then walking by a pond 

 and seeing many Boat-tailed (irackles, 

 I commenced hunting for tlu'ir nests 

 and soon took a set of two. The nest 

 was })!aced in a low bush, and was 

 l)ulk3', dee]) and stronglj fasteni'd. 

 Composed of ver^' coarse grass. In a 

 few minutes I found a second set of ii. 

 As tlu; pcnid was nearly drj', I walked 

 (nit to the center. In a small hole Avas 

 man^- small alligators. I found two 

 more sets in the gra.ss, and walked on. 

 My liext find was a set of 'S Mocking- 

 bird 's i)laced in a deserted orange grove. 

 The set was fresh. On my way home 

 I walked through abutton-wood swamp 

 and discovered a set of 4 Green Heron's. 

 The nest was a frail stiiicture of twigs 

 placed in bushes, 4 feet above water. 

 In a neighboring i)ond took a set of 4 

 and one of 3 fresh B. T. Grackles. 

 Reached home tired but hap])y. 



May 1 . Took a set of 4 Least Bittern. 

 Tlu^ I'gg*^ were fresh. The nest was a 

 mere platform placed in a cluster of 

 ferns, on the edge of a muddy pond. 



May 2. Tramped all day, and took 1 

 set of 4 Mocking-bird's. Nest in oiangi' 

 tree. Eggs fresh. 



Maj' G. Took a walk up the l)ay 

 shore and found a set of 3 and one of 2 

 Boat-tailed Grackles id the pond where 

 I found my first set. The set of 2 was 

 found in the same nest in which I found 

 my first set of 3, (April 30.) I thought 

 It rallvr odil. 



May 15. On m^' way home from 

 worii, found a set of 2 Mocking-bird's 

 eggs. The nest, as usual, was in an or- 

 ange tree, anil conii)osed of orange 

 twigs, root fibers and blue lupen leaves, 

 not so compact and strong as that of 

 the Shrike. The set was ivvsh and in- 

 com])lete. In another tree near l)y 1 

 found a set of 5 fresh eggs of the Lg. H. 

 Sln-ike. The nest was w ell built of or- 



