May, 1889.] 



AKD OOLOGIST. 



77 



Curious Nesting Places. 



The following brief notes may be of sufficient 

 interest for publication in your valuable maga- 

 zine, the O. & O. They struck me at the time 

 as being instances of what singular places birds 

 sometimes choose to breed in. 



The first case was that of a Killdeer Plover, 

 which I found breeding on the railway em- 

 bankment at St. Clair, Ont., within two yards 

 of the track, where trains were passing very 

 often. There were four eggs in the nest, in- 

 cubation well advanced. 



At Belle River, Ont., an English Sparrow 

 was attempting to build its nest on top of the 

 wheel on a railway semaphore rod. Every 

 time the semaphore was thrown up the nest 

 was destroyed. The bird had been working 

 for a week when I saw it but am unable to say 

 how much longer it persevered. 



Another case was that of a robin that was 

 sitting on eggs underneath the flooring of an 

 overhead railway bridge, with the trains con- 

 stantly passing. I was unable to see the result 

 in this case. 



Last summer I had a three-mile walk for 

 nothing after a "Red-breasted Mocking-bird." 

 I had been making inquiries about the kinds 

 of birds that were found in Essex Co., Ont., 

 and a young French boy who spoke English 

 very imperfectly informed me that he knew 

 where there was a mocking-bird breeding. 

 He said it was red and black, and was a beau- 

 tiful singer. He had one once in a cage. As 

 you can imagine, I was very anxious to see 

 this wonderful bird and persuaded liim to take 

 me to the nest. Imagine my disappointment 

 on seeing — a robin. Ernest B. Tlimnpson. 

 Hamilton, Ont. 



Capture of an Acadian Owl under 

 Peculiar Circumstances. 



On the evening of January 21st, as I was 

 passing through Main St., I was startled by 

 something passing with the swiftness of a snow- 

 ball, but with the silence of a moth, close to 

 my ear, and I turned in time to see the un- 

 known object strike the glass door of the 

 store I was then passing, and fall to the 

 ground. Perceiving that it was a bird of 

 some kind, I captured it under my hat, and it 

 proved to be a specimen of the Acadian Owl 

 (Nyctale aradica), which I kept captive. The 

 little fellow was very fearless and would strike 

 viciously at my hand whenever I put it into 



his quarters, but, as he refused to eat, he died 

 within two days of the time of his capture. 

 This owl is apparently more destitute of sight 

 during the day than others of his relatives 

 which I have had in confinement and was very 

 wild, spending most of the night in beating 

 himself against the wires of his cage. I think 

 it probable that, while passing over the city, 

 he was attracted and dazzled by the bright 

 lights, which caused his untimely capture. 



Harry G. White. 

 Taunton, Mass. 



Nesting of the Cinnamon Teal. 



The pretty little Cinnamon TenliQuerrjnedula 

 cyanoptera) arrives here early in May, and by 

 the middle of June generally has a full clutch 

 of eggs which are nine or ten, the latter being 

 the greatest number I ever found. It chooses for 

 its nest a dry spot about a hundred yards from 

 the water, and excavates quite a deep hole 

 which it lines with grass and down from its 

 own breast, always choosing a spot that is 

 overhung with long grass, whicli it utilizes to 

 form a canopy for the double purpose of shade 

 as well as a screen to hide her while setting 

 from the hungry hawks. 



It is almost impossible to find the nest until 

 the old bird commences to set, as she covers 

 her eggs with the down whenever she leaves 

 the nest after laying, which is very early in the 

 morning. The female while setting will almost 

 suffer herself to be trodden on before she will 

 leave her eggs. In hunting for tliem I usually 

 trail a long heavy rope, one at either end, that 

 generally starts her ladyship. 



The eggs are of a creamy color, roundish in 



shape, and average about 2 inches by 1.3.5. I 



have never started the male bird from the nest, 



and don't think they ever set. 



William G. Smith. 

 Loveland, Col. 



Brief Notes. 



Yellow Rump Warbler, April 12th, at Halifax ; first 

 arrival. H. Austen. 



I have an old book, printed over one hundred years 

 ago in England, describing a voyage to the North Sea 

 by the Danes. From a description I think they saw the 

 Great Auk. Possibly they may be there now? Dr. T. 

 S. Hitchcock. 



A fine head of a Buffalo was sent to W. G. Smith, in 

 Ajjril, from Wyoming Territory, to be mounted. 



Two Rusty Blackbirds arrived at Central Park, N.Y., 

 Saturday, March 9th. They were earlier than in the 

 two previous years. Jenness Richardson. 



