THE OOLOGIST. 



47 



Common Crew. 



This bird is very commou liure, remain- 

 ing through the coldest winter, when it 

 may be seen perclied on the leafless trees, 

 or flying about in the air searching for its 

 food, which consists mostly of carrion and 

 corn which the farmer has left in the field. 



When the warm days of spring are fast 

 approaching they may be seen flying about 

 the large timbers along the rivers and 

 country in search of nesting places. Early 

 in April they begin building a large, strong 

 nest, which is completed about the third 

 week in that mouth. 



Their nests may be found varying from 

 ten to forty feet in height, according to the 

 nature of the spot selected by the birds. 

 They are usually found in the tops of oak 

 or wild crabapple trees. The nest is about 

 eighteen inches outside dsameter, eighteen 

 inches inside and six inside depth, made of 

 large twigs, pieces of moss and weeds, 

 lined with horse hair or bark from the wild 

 grape vine. When once robbed the birds 

 seek another wood, where they again build 

 and rear their young. Their eggs vary in 

 number from four to six, are of a light sea 

 green, thickly spotted and blotched with 

 dark brown, with purplish reflections, 

 thickest about the larger end, 1.50 by 1.20. 



W. E. DINC4MAN, 



Newton, Iowa. 



Chautauqua. 



The Gazette is thoroughly in love with 

 Chautauqua. Time and again it has ex- 

 pressed admiration for the glorious idea 

 that brought that organization into being, 

 and for the glorious manner in which that 

 idea is being developed. Chautauqua has 

 come to stand for something distinct in our 

 educational system — from old methods a 

 thing apart; something that tends to the 

 upbuilding of the people, and offers to the 

 humblest the privileges and the blessings 

 of human enlightenment. The assembly 

 programme for the present season, which 

 takes in the months of July and August, 

 is perhaps the most elaborate, varied and 

 attractive ever presented. Fortunate in- 

 deed is the teacher who shall be able to 

 spend a portion of his vacation on the 

 shores of the beautiful Chautauqua Lake. 

 — Penman's Gazette. 



How to Make a Cabinet, 



I will send the dimensions of a cabinet 

 for birds eggs or insects which I am mak- 

 ing for myself to keep my collection of 

 eggs. I think it is good and cheap. 



DrMENSioxs OP A Cabinet. — For birds 

 eggs, insects, etc., containing four drawers, 

 size to be about 21 inches wide, 14 inches 

 deep and 13 inches high. 



Top and Bottom. — Cut two pieces 20|- 

 inches long, ISf inches wide, of one-half 

 inch stock, black-walnut. 



Sides. — Cut two pieces 13i inches wide, 

 10| inches long, of 7-16 inch stock, black- 

 walnut, (gTain of wood to run from top to 

 bottom of sides. 



Back. — Cut one piece llf inches long, 

 18 5-16 inches wide of 7-16 inch stock, 

 white wood, (probably this Avill have to be 

 made of two pieces, as you will not be 

 likely to get a piece of above width,) grain 

 of wood to run from top to bottom. 



Drawers. — Fronts. Cut four pieces 

 18i inches long, 2| inches wide, of 7-16 

 stock, black-walnut. 



Ends. — Cut 8 pieces 12^ inches long, 2f 

 inches wide, of | inch stock, white wood. 



Backs. — Cut four pieces 17| inches long, 

 2f inches wide of | inch stock, white wood. 



Bottoms. — Cut four pieces 17| inches 

 long, 11| inches wide of i inch white 

 wood. 



Partitions Between Drawers. — Cut 

 three pieces 18 5-16 inches long, 12| inches 

 wide of 7-16 inch stock, white wood. 



Use 7-16 inch wide, i inch thick mould- 

 ings on front edges of sides and partitions 

 between drawers. 



Finish off the edges of top and bottoms 

 to suit yourself. 



Black-walnut and white wood are as 

 cheap woods as can be used and look well. 



The stock for making one of the cabi- 

 nets will cost about S2. 25. Common white 

 picture knobs will answer as handles on 

 drawers, and cost only a few cents. Divis- 

 ions can be made inside of drawers if nec- 

 essary of i inch thick black-walnut or 

 white wood. Care must be taken not to 

 vaiy at all in measuring, as the least 

 variation may cause the whole to come 

 wrong. Geo. E. Town, Jr., 



Cambridgeport, Mass. 



