THE OOLOQI8T 



45 



variety of birds together with a nest 

 in situ, and a pair of each variety of 

 birds mounted, as well as a pair of 

 skins, and in this undertaking he suc- 

 ceeded most admirably. One example 

 of the thoroughness of his method 

 was the sending of guides and a com- 

 plete equipment into the wilds of Flor- 

 ida after a set of eggs and the nest in 

 which they were laid, of the Ivory- 

 billed Woodpecker. For many years 

 this collection has been noted as con- 

 taining some of the rarest specimens 

 of North American bird eggs known 



In addition to these specimens Mr. 

 Childs gathered together one of the 

 most expensive and complete libraries 

 on the subject of North American Or- 

 nithology in existence. 



Some years ago in 1906 he published 

 a complete catalogue of his mounted 

 birds, skins, nests, and eggs, and at 

 another time of his library, which cer- 

 tainly disclosed a wonderful array of 

 these things. 



Mr. Childs was a large man physical- 

 ly, with mental equipment fully up to 

 his physique. His disposition was 

 cheery and his mannerisms those of a 

 gentleman, born and bred. In busi- 

 ness he was an exceptional success 

 amassing an estate which is counted 

 in seven figures. 



The Editor visited at the home of 

 Mr. Childs in 1913 and inspected his 

 specimens and library, the latter con- 

 taining some of the rarest books on 

 the subject of American birds known. 

 At that time Mr Childs seemed to 

 take more pride in a volume on the 

 subject of "The Birds of Floral Park," 

 which was the name of the suburb in 

 which his home was located, in the 

 midst of his many nursery, flower and 

 seed producing acres, than in any 

 other single item in his possession. 



This volume Mr. Childs was the 

 author of, and it was illustrated from 



nature by W. L. Brownell, and was 

 unique in that but one copy of the 

 same ever had come from the press. 



Of late years Mr. Childs had not 

 taken so much interest in oology, but 

 nearly every season went to California 

 where under the guidance of his friend 

 Chambers, the old love never failed to 

 shine; and that at these times he en- 

 joyed trips into the mountains and 

 fields as of yore, though it was a very 

 great physical effort to Mr. Childs to 

 travel far on foot. He had too many 

 pounds to carry for that. 



During the years 1905-6 he published 

 a monthly magazine of high standard, 

 devoted to his hobby of oology, "The 

 Warbler," files of which are now 

 eagerly sought for by libraries and or- 

 nithological students in all places. 



By the death of Mr. Childs, North 

 American Ornithology loses one of its 

 most interesting figures and bird stu- 

 dents of their most prized ornitholo- 

 gists, and in his death, his personal 

 friends, their associates and family 

 have received an irreparable blow. 



— R. M. B. 



SPARROW HAWK LAYS IN CAP- 

 TIVITY 



On May 30th of last year a young 

 man brought me a Sparrow Hawk 

 (Falco sparverius) and two of its eggs. 

 He told me that he had seen it enter 

 a hole in a pine tree and climbed up 

 and caught it on the nest. 



Well, I got a shoe box and placed 

 Mrs. Hawk in it intending to keep her 

 a few days. You may imagine my sur- 

 prise when I looked in the box next 

 day to see a nice fresh egg. To make 

 a long story short, she laid three, and 

 then 1 set her free. 



E. A. Wheeler, 

 East Randolph, N. Y 



"Your valuable publication helps to 

 keep me interested in my old hobby." 

 A. M. Ingersoll, 



