42 NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



as it may seem, although possessed of so powerful a weapon of defense, 

 they never use it in their disagreements with the other birds. The limit 

 to which they seem to go in quarreling is to open the beak threaten- 

 ingly and complain loudly. I have never seen them make an effort to 

 bite one of the other birds. The orioles, on the other hand, iise their 

 bills promptly and effectively in an altercation, and the wood thrushes 

 will defend themselves when cornered by striking with their beaks. 



The Grosbeak prefers seed as a regular diet, but he will leave his 

 seed cup any day for a laiece of fresh meat or a meal worm, and in 

 fact eats freely of the soft foods provided for the insect eating birds. 

 They are the heartiest eaters in the bird room, standing for many 

 minutes beside the food dishes, while the other birds are content with 

 one or two mouthfuls at a time. 



They are full of amusing pranks, still retaining many of their comical 

 baby ways. While they could probably have been tamed and made 

 more companionable, their independence and individuality have made 

 them all the more interesting as a study. 



NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER 



M. A. CARRIKER, JR., NEBRASKA CITY 



A mile southeast of Hamburg, Iowa, the Nishnabotna River breaks 

 through the chain of bluffs which slvirt the Missouri River on the east 

 side, and before the advent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 

 way, wound along down the bottom for about thirty miles, finally emp- 

 tying into the Missouri River ten miles due south of Rockport, Missouri. 

 It gave the railroad company so much trouble by washing out their 

 track that they finally cut a new channel direct to the river, so that it 

 now empties into the Missouri River a short distance above Peru, Ne- 

 braska. This left about twenty-five miles of the old bed of the river 

 filled with water and in communication with the Missouri. Its mouth 

 has gradually filled up until now the Missouri has access only during 

 high water. As a result this forms one of the best natural fishing 

 resorts for many miles around, being- richly stocked with croppie, perch, 

 buffalo, Gei-man carp, sunfish and biillhead. The channel has gradually 

 grown wider until many of the willows lining its banks are now decay- 

 ing stubs, standing in the water, and forming nesting sites for numerous 

 chickadees, fiickers, red-headed, hairy, and downy woodpeckers. 



With the many deserted holes for nesting sites and the thick groves 

 of Cottonwood, elm, maple and willow trees lining the banks, for feed- 

 ing' grounds, Ave have a perfect summer haunt for one of the most 

 beautiful and interesting warblers, the Prothonotarj'. It arrives as 

 near as I can tell about the last week in April, but being- in that 

 locality only at infrequent intervals, I have no knowledge as to the 



