14(; 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 16-No. K) 



Measurements of the forty-two eggs just 

 spoken of give an average of l.'.iii x 1.33; the 

 extremes being 2.04x1.41 and 1.80.x 1.27. 

 The average number in a set, as far as my ex- 

 perience goes, is eight. Seven often, and 

 occasionally nine or ten. 



On April 28, 1801, while collecting witli Mr. 

 Wm. Warner of Salem, we met a boy who, 

 when sutHoiently stimulated by coin of the 

 realm, proceeded to show ns what proved to be 

 a bonanza (for him at least). 



The nest was situated close to the root of a 

 small ash tree and contained sixteen eggs. 

 Upon measuring them and examining them 

 carefully we could easily separate them into two 

 groups by color, markings and size; .seven in 

 one group and nine in the other. The eggs of 

 the smaller group were lighter, the spotting 

 less distinct and the eggs larger, (average size 

 1.96x 1.39), while in the group of nine the 

 spots were larger, well defined, with a tendency 

 to aggregation at the larger end of the egg, 

 and averaging 1.88 x 1.20. 



We saw nolhing of either parent, but I 

 think it extremely probable that two females 

 laid in the same nest. Later on the boy 

 brought in an egg which he said he found in 

 the same nest, corresponding in size and color 

 to the group of seven. 



The sportsmen here believe that the Grouse 

 is in great danger of extermination. The 

 Ring-neck Pheasant (Pliasianun torquatus) is 

 said to kill the young of the Sooty Grouse, 

 and to drive the parents out of the country, 

 but the matter seems to be merely heresay. 

 I can learn of no well authenticated case, and 

 nobody seems to have seen thom killing a 

 young bird. 



I have seen a good many Grouse, old and 



young, this season, all seeming to be able to 



take good care of their skins, and none were 



pursued by the raptorial King-neck. 



Clinton T. Couke, M. I). 

 Siileni, Oregon. 



Wanderings, No. ii. 



ISIKOS TIIIJOUGH A l!IXO<LI..\H. 



strange incidents occur in the life of a 

 naturalist, eh? "Necessity makes strange 

 bedfellows," and the new game laws create 

 strange methods in the necessity of pursuing 

 our favorite study without so violating the spirit 

 of the law. Why not apply for a permit to col- 

 lect ? Well, did you ever see a real "crank" who 

 wanted to be trammelled by the restrictions of 



a permit as demanded under the present 

 regime. So "ye editor" does not dare tell his 

 many friends, whom he tortiu-es with his 

 monthly talks, when he shoots a particularly 

 fine .specimen unless it points to some scientific 

 fact, and then 'tis always shot by some other 

 fellow who has a permit (?). But then there 

 are many ways of getting by a stumj) in the 

 road; we can go around or we ran dig it uj). 

 Now, I supijose you are thinking " What the 

 mischief is this man driving at?" I do not 

 know myself, but I may find out before I 

 get through, and then I have perhaps beguiled 

 a mauvaise quatre heiire for some weai'y soul. 

 But to return to my muttons. There are 

 several kinds of binoculars. I can carry one 

 kind in the pocket of my coat when I walk 

 out and bring down the birds where I can 

 plainly distinguish them, and they have the 

 advantage that the birds act as natmally as 

 if no one was observing. I also carry a pair 

 of binoculars over my shoulder when 1 get 

 among the Grouse or the shore birds, but 

 which I used in the present instance I am not 

 going to tell you, as I told you the Game 

 Commissioners would be investigating me if I 

 said I used the latter, so I will leave you to 

 guess. 



My good friend. Prof. A. W. Morse, had for 

 a long time extended an invitation to me to 

 visit the paternal estate at Sudbury, Mass., 

 and as the flight of Warblers was on. May 17, 

 1S90, at daylight, rubber boots on, lunch in 

 one hand, coat in the other, more ijaraphernalia 

 in the other (no, not another hand but 

 wherever it Would stick), two tramps strolled 

 down the road, over the fence, and into the 

 woodland, where the birds were tuning their 

 pipes, and playing '• hardscrabble " for 

 breakfast. 



The first rays of the morning sun were seiul- 

 ing their fiery aiTows toward the zenith, and 

 the dark shadows of night seemed reluctanlly 

 retreating before their shining shafts which 

 shot farther and farthei' toward the west. 

 The damp mists of the night slowly rose and 

 mingled their vapors with the ujijier air, and our 

 sleepy eyes were just getting wide open when 

 a Red-eyed Vireo opened his valves and dis- 

 charged a volle.v of disjointed notes across the 

 path, which as suddenly ceased when he heard 

 our footsteps, but reassured by our pacific 

 mien he resumed his avocation. Tripping 

 about over the branches, hopping over a knot, 

 pulling out a delicate mor.sel, iuul then lifting 

 his head, he povired out a volume of grateful 

 thanksgiving. His trim, Qu;iker-colored coat. 



