Mar. 1889.] 



AKD OOLOGIST. 



43 



I made a nice skeleton of a Stink-bird {Oins- 

 thocomus crlstatus). This strange bird is the 

 subject of some remarkable statements (see 

 Standard Natural History, published by S. E. 

 Cassino & Co., Vol. IV., page 197). I put it 

 behind the house under a box with a heavy 

 log on top, an invitation to the ants to assist 

 me at skeleton making. In the morning I 

 found a Jagviar had been there and the skeleton 

 was gone. An Indian has just offered to me a 

 large Onca skin (Jaguar), if it is a good one I 

 shall buy it to-morrow. 



I have taken one long trip with my neighbor 

 from Tennessee. We started for the Campo 

 bright and early. After entering the forest 

 road we came upon a flock of small Paroquets, 

 feeding in a mango-tree. A charge from my 

 auxiliary barrel killed four at one discharge — 

 very good for the little barrel with only one- 

 fourtli draclim of powder and one-tenth ounce 

 of shot. Befoi'e I had those birds ready for 

 carrying I looked overhead and there was a 

 little Crimson Tanager. We dropped him, and 

 a little further on came across two very hand- 

 some Hawks. My friend shot both, and they 

 dropped about twenty feet from the road. I 

 started to get them, and then had my first ex- 

 l^erience with a Brazilian forest. It took me 

 nearly half an hour to cut my way to them 

 with my large knife, and then I found only 

 one. 



Shortly afterward we came to tlie Campo, a 

 level tract of country covered with rank vege- 

 tation, about up to my shoulders. It is now 

 under water for some distance from the river 

 and is a favorite place for alligators. During 

 the rainy season this whole tract will be com- 

 pletely under water. When we struck the 

 marsh land my companion waded right out 

 into it. I was surprised and considered it a 

 little dangerous, but you can wager I did not 

 say so. I was anxious to keep my shoes dry, 

 so off with them and followed after with the 

 water knee deep and the reeds higher than our 

 heads. A large duck started out and I wanted 

 it for supper. My friend dropped it, and an 

 alligator got away with it before we could put 

 in a protest. I was afterwards informed that 

 this wading trip was made simply to try my 

 nerve, and that a canoe would be taken next 

 time. 



Near the river are spots of raised ground 

 called "liars." They are well- wooded, and 

 full of birds. Tliousands of pigeons flew away 

 at our approach and we secured half a dozen 

 for supper. I found the nests of some Ground 

 Doves; secured a set of two eggs and a set of 



Whip-poor-will. I shot the old bird and she 

 had about three feathers on her, but I kept 

 the skin "just the same." We shot some 

 Jacanas and Fork-tail Flycatchers, but they 

 were in very poor plumage. In all, we obtained 

 58 birds with 57 shots, and again I had a tropi- 

 cal experience, for a full third of them were 

 too ragged for specimens, and being very tired 

 and irritated by the heat, I rested too long, 

 my birds became soft, and only 17 good 

 skins could be saved. I can do better next 

 time. 



I shall be ready to make a shipment just as 

 soon as I receive your reply to this letter. 

 Let me know of any things that you wish par- 

 ticularly. Tlie Brazilian government claims 

 the right to examine all outgoing packages in 

 searcli for smuggled rubber, and in this way 

 scientific collections are liable to damage. We 

 can only take our chances with the others, and 

 as my boxes will contain nothing contraband, 

 trust to good luck. 



W. H. Smith. 



Santarem, Brazil, Jan. 25, 1889. 



Notes from Genesee County, Mich. 



On October 10, 1888, a Black Vulture was 

 shot near this place by Dr. Green, and is now 

 in my possession, which is, as far as I am 

 aware, the first record of its being taken in 

 this vicinity. 



Late Nesting of the Goldfinch. — On Sep- 

 tember 28, 1888, I found a nest of the Gold- 

 fincli, containing two fresh eggs. Nest placed 

 on shock of corn ; did not find it until the eggs 

 were broken. 



OccuKKENCE OF Rake Birds. — On January 

 11, 1888, I shot eight out of a flock of 

 Red Crossbills, which are the only ones I have 

 ever met with; and on January 26th, a friend 

 brought me one male and two female Evening 

 Grosbeaks. 



CuKious Fkeak OF A RoBiN. — In the spring 

 of 1888, while I was building a tool-house, a 

 pair of robins located a site for a nest on one 

 of the girths and had nearly finished it when 

 it was accidentally knocked down, whereupon 

 they immediately began building on the pur- 

 lin plate and continued their work until they 

 had twelve nests under way in all stages of 

 completion, from a mere beginning to the fin- 

 ished nest (three of them being completed), 

 when the female was shot by some boys, which 

 ended their nest building. 



Samuel Spicer. 



Goodrich, Mich. 



