Feb. 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



31 



In looking over tlie description of the large 

 series of eggs of tlie Red-slioulderetl Ilawlv, in 

 the January number, I came to tlie conclusion 

 that I had a set of eggs of tliat bird wliicli 

 were of different coloration from any tliere 

 mentioned, which I will describe as folh)\vs: 

 April 18, ISS'J. East Windsor, C't. Collected 

 by U. Lord. Ohl nest in crotch of black oak, 

 seventy feet up. Two eggs, incubation com- 

 menced. Very pretty, Xo. 1 being of a rich 

 cream color, spotted all over tlie entire surface 

 with lilac, except a few spots of fawn coloi-. 

 No. 2 is white, with a delicate creamy tint, 

 spotted .all over witli lavender-gray and brown, 

 and h.aviiig also .a number of spots of crushed 

 strawberry color. B. Lord. 



As the passengers were waiting for an early 

 train their attention was attracted to a commo- 

 tion in au electric liglit globe. Two English 

 Sparrows engaged in mortal (i*) combat. 

 For a few minutes so rapid were tlieir move- 

 ments tliat it was difficult to surmise whicli 

 was tlie mister. Over and under tliey twisted 

 ami squirmed; tiiially one weakened, and then 

 w.as displayed tlie most vicii>ns disposition 

 that we have ever observed in bird life. The 

 stronger caught tlie weaker by the neck and 

 shoolv it, beating its head against the glass, 

 never for an instant relaxing its lioUl. Tims 

 it continued till utterly exhausted. The ob- 

 servers were nearly fr.antic with sympathy 

 and powerless to help. It was simply a bull- 

 dog affair. Finally nature was exhausted; the 

 victor dropped the apparently lifeless object 

 of its wrath, and after pluming its somewhat 

 dilapidated covering with difficulty fluttered 

 to the opening, waited a minute and Hew olf. 

 Some tliiee minutes after the other bird 

 showed a sign of recovering, and when the 

 train came into the station it was able to 

 regain its feet. Hyde Park. 



Delos Hatch, Oakticld, Miss., writes: " Have 

 had a tine mild winter so far; has snowed all 

 day; still snowing, (Feb. It!); the most now we 

 have had, two inches. .Ian. 9, saw a Meadow 

 Lark; again the iL'th. Feb. l.i, a large Gnll." 



A. H. Ileline writes us that probably not 

 less thon 200 Snowy Owls have been killed on 

 Long Island during the lecent flight. 



A large flock of robins was seen on .Tan. 1.'^, 

 at Newton, Mass. 



Robins (.V, iiiiijrat'irin) were noted at Hali- 

 fax, N. S., on the following cl.ates: .Ian. ">, l.sill, 

 one bird; .Ian. 10, one bird; .Ian. 27, a flock of 

 ab lilt eight: .Ian. 28, two birds; and .Ian. 2'.t, 

 two birds. Harry Pier.s. 



Great Horned Owls are about as scarce in 

 this section as the Snowy Owls are plenty. 



.lames Vick, of Rochester, N. Y., as usual is 

 sending out his annual Floral Guide. 



Fletcher M. Noe h.as issued an illustrated 

 catalogue of Indian relics, etc. 



We have referred in a previous number to 

 the drawings of .V. H. Verrill. Parties who 

 reipiire assistance in that line should imt 

 overlook his advertisement. 



The November issue of the OiiNrnioi.oGisT 

 AND Ooi.OGisT contains a good portrait of the 

 editor and publisher, Mr. Frank B. Webster, 

 and an engraving of his gaily adorned head- 

 quarters, at Hyde Park, Mass., as seen from 

 the Old Colony Railro.ad. Mr. Webster is a 

 " Pawtucket boy," and as a taxidermist has 

 no superior. His magazine is the best of its 

 class in the world, and those interested in the 

 matters it is devoted to would do well to write 

 Mr. Webster at 40!l Washington street, Boston. 

 The number .alluded to in this article also has 

 ■an interesting history of the rise and jnogrefs 

 of Mr. VV"ebstei"s large business. — [(iazette and 

 Chronicle, Pawtinket, R. I. 



.lolin C. Cahoon intends remaining in New- 

 foundland another year. He is now trapping. 

 Parties who desire mannnals from that local- 

 ity, by communicating w itli us at once, may be 

 able to obtain them. 



Lewy Barrett has recently handed us a 

 .selected lot of bird skins that he collected 

 personally during his trip to Mexico, winter of 

 'H'.K They show great care in worknianshi]), 

 and many of them are new to ns. We liiqie 

 the day is not far distant when onr list will 

 include all from the Isthmus north. 



And now another White Ciow' comes in 

 from the Lexington, Mass., locality. This 

 last one is the best feathered one that we have 

 yet obtained. Our readers will remember that 

 this has been nearly a yearly occurrence. 

 Tlieri^ is no doubt but that one is brcil each 

 year, the parent binl esiaping while the ]irom- 

 inence of the otTspring proving fatal. 



Boston Market. — During the past winter 

 an unusual amount of snow has fallen in this 

 locality. Eastern Massachrsctls; and at this 

 writing, .March 1, we are having a severe bliz- 

 zard. We have not received any Pine Gros- 

 beaks, Snow Buntings, Crossbills or Redpolls, 

 a little unusual. Visits to the Boston game 

 market are not as satisfactory as at former 

 times. A few ye.ars since we received more 

 hawks than we could disjiose of; to-day the 

 locker is empty. Short-eared Owls have been 

 received in the usual numbers, while Barred, 

 Great Horned, Hawk, Richardson's, Screech 

 and Saw-whets are scarce. Eider Ducks, of 

 course, are plenty. A day or two since we 

 examined two barrels full, shot by a Somer- 

 ville party ,at N.antucket. Saw them by the 

 thousands, is what they all s.ay. Wood Ducks 

 are .scarce. The day will soon come when 

 they will be a luxury to the taxidermist. 

 Miirres, Grebe. Guillemots and the Scoters still 

 appear in quantity. Now and then are seen 

 the Hooded Mergan.ser, Snow Goose and Swan. 

 A number of cases of the Lesser Prairie Hen 

 were exposed, but unfortunately but few were 

 in condition to preserve. Wild Pigeon are 

 evidently plenty in the f.ar west, judging from 

 the quantity exposed for sale. In order to 

 pack closely the wings and tails are |ilucked, 

 so there is no chance to secure their jackets. 

 This has been a great quail year, jirices rang- 

 ing from $2 to $:i per dozen. Deer, bear, coon, 

 'possum and jack r.abbits are seen at every 

 stall. A few dilapidated wild turkey still 



