THE OOLOGIST. 



135 



ed my first set of the Ruby-throated 

 Hummer. 



The little female repeatedly left and 

 returned to the nest as I drew nearer 

 and at one time was within three feet 

 of my hand. The nest was beautifully 

 constructed of pure white wool and ar- 

 tistically covered with small lichens— so 

 perfect an imitation of a small green 

 knot that ordinarily the eye would pass 

 over it unobserved. 



Complete, the nest measures but one 

 and one-half inches in diameter, with 

 three-fourths of an inch diameter and 

 one-half inch deep as inside dimensions. 

 The two fresh eggs were typical speci- 

 mens. 



Near by I found another nest almost 

 completed. My examination must have 

 been resented by the owners, for it was 

 px'omptly deserted and I collected the 

 empty nest a month later It was also 

 saddled to a branch of a sapling but 

 much nearer the ground— only 9 feet. 



An hour later, while passing through 

 a very dark part of the timber, I startled 

 another Hummer. Ordinarily, I would 

 not have noticed the slight humming 

 sound, but I was gradually becomming 

 accustomed to the buzzing that so clear, 

 ly determines the presence of one of 

 these little birds. 



Cautiously advancing and intently 

 listening, I succeeded getting in close 

 proximity, the actions of the Hummer 

 proving that I was in "warm" territory. 



By following the same program as 

 previously, I soon located the nest snug- 

 ly fastened to a branch of a small sap- 

 ling, just out of reach from the ground. 

 This was a larger nest than my former 

 fiinds, being two inches in diameter. It 

 was also constructed of pure white wool 

 and green lichens and contained two 

 fresh eggs. 



Next season I expect to pass many 

 pleasant hours with the Ruby-throats 

 and while I hope to find many more 

 nests, I feel that in justice to these in- 

 teresting little neighbors, my cabinet 



viust not contain more than the two sets 

 I now possess. 



Isaac E. Hess, 

 Philo, 111. 



Association for the Protection of Wild 

 Birds in Scotland. 



To the Editor of The Oologist -. 



We beg to call the attenion of your 

 numerous readers to this association 

 which is now forming in Edinburgh, 

 Scotland. 



The scheme is brought into existence 

 by the pitiless destruction of hundreds 

 of thousands of birds annually massa- 

 cred, generally in the breeding season, 

 to supply the demands of a barbarous 

 fashion in dress and decoration. 



The world at large can ill spare the 

 brightness of the rarer species, while 

 agricultural districts suffer owing to 

 the alarming decrease of the common 

 kinds provided by nature as the great 

 grub destroying agency; an agency for 

 which science can find no sufficient sub- 

 stitute. 



We ask the co-operation of your read- 

 ers and as distance is no object in join- 

 ing such a scheme, we hope to get a 

 generous response. 



With the kind permission of you, Mr. 

 Editor, we shall publish a list of all 

 members when a sufficient number of 

 names have been received. We shall 

 also be glad to acknowledge any dona- 

 tions which may be received to carry 

 on such an Association. The public 

 mind at this time is taken up with the 

 war now raging in South Africa and 

 rightly too, but the humane ought to 

 give a little thought to the war which 

 is being constantly waged against the 

 birds in all countries. Trusting you 

 will find space for this letter, 



Yours faithfully, 

 W. A. NiCKOLSON (Goldfinch), 

 Joseph Allay, 

 39 Tower St., Portobello, W. B. Scot- 

 land. 



