128 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 14-J^o. 8 



silver bullion from the mines, as far as Zaca- 

 tecas. For the last two months I have been 

 down on the Pacihc coast and have made col- 

 lections of birds, insects, and reptiles. San 

 Bias is a miserable hole, nothing but gnats, 

 mosquitoes, fleas, sand flies, swamps, fever, 

 and cocoanuts; but I got through this time all 

 O.K. Up in the lints there is no danger from 

 fever, but sleeping on the wet ground is not 

 very pleasant. For the last two weeks we 

 have been passing through the country of 

 Lozada, the famous brigand who with ten 

 thousand men defied the government of Mexico, 

 but who was conquered by General Corona, 

 the governor of Jalisco, a half score of years 

 ago. Everywhere are the stone fortresses left 

 by him, but now the country is only inhabited 

 by "Huichola" Indians who live by the bow 

 and arrow. Streams are flooded into torrents, 

 rendering the deep rough mountain paths 

 impassable, but I shall stai't off again in a few 

 days to try it again. I carry tent and provis- 

 ions always for a month's trip. This time I 

 shall work northward towards Durango and get 

 back to Zacatecas in six weeks or so. Shall 

 soon have sent on 2,000 bird skins beside 

 insects, reptiles, etc. Have heard that I al- 

 ready have several new species and two lots 

 have yet to be reported. Send me April and 

 July O. & O. as I can hear no news in this 

 country. Give my regards to all my friends that 

 fi'equent your store. 1T';». B. liichanUon. 



Zacatecas, Mex. 



Editor O. & O.: 



On the 21st of June just passed, I saw what 

 to me was an interesting as well as a novel 

 sight. Just after leaving the dinner table I 

 noticed an adult Yellow-throated Vireo on a 

 clothes-line under a large maple tree; she was 

 calling and seemed uneasy. Suspecting what 

 the trouble was, I went out and found a young 

 Vireo just old enough to leave the nest. On 

 getting closer he started and flew to the base 

 of the tree trunk, alighting about a foot from 

 the ground. After looking around an instant 

 it commenced a series of hops diagonally back 

 and forth, each hop carrying him from one to 

 six inches higher. In this way he climbed to a 

 height of fifteen feet, following a nearly straight 

 perpendicular line. He then got on to a small 

 limb that lay along side of the tree trunk. 

 During this time the old bird was catching 

 insects and encouraging the young by alight- 

 ing over it and calling. The climber occupied 

 a full five minutes in the ascent, having to rest 

 frequently. E. T. J. 



Bethel, Conn, 



Editor O. & O.: 



In a past number of your valuable journal 

 I note a most interesting article by Mr. Hoxie 

 on the habits of the Florida Burrrowing Owl. 

 Mr. Hoxie here states that there are no ani- 

 mals in Florida which make a suitable burrow 

 wherein the owls can deposit their eggs. If 

 he had had a wider experience in the state, he 

 would have become aware that there are two 

 animals, either of which make burrows in 

 which the birds can nest most admirably. 

 One of these, which is not, in all probability, 

 used by the owls, is the common rabbit (Lepus 

 si/lcdticus), and the other, which is most 

 likely the animal that excavates the domicile 

 appropriated by the bird of wisdom, is the 

 gopher turtle. Thus, as I have remarked in 

 my "Birds of Eastern North America," by a 

 singular paradox, a mammalian go])her builds 

 the homes of the Western Burrowing Owl, 

 while in Florida, a reptilian gopher performs a 

 like service for them, while here in the land of 

 flowei's a mammal bearing the decidedly rep- 

 tilian cognomen of salamander, views the 

 whole proceeding with equanimity. NoAV I 

 have never seen a nest of a Florida Burrowing 

 Owl, but judging from the report of Mr. 

 Cahoon, who has, I have formed the oi)ini<)n 

 that the birds do not excavate for themselves. 

 Everywhere that I have been in the state of 

 Florida where the ground was out of water a 

 greater portion of the year the gopher turtles dig 

 their deep burrows, and these holes are often 

 used as a place of refuge by the diamond rat- 

 tlesnake. C. J. Maynard. 



Editor O. tfc 0.: 



I notice advertisement in July O. & O. of 

 Frank Wesson's collecting gun. I commenced 

 using one of them two years ago and they are 

 perfect. In fact, I have given up carrying ,1 

 large gun as I can secure as many large birds 

 with this. On the Isle Royale trip I used it 

 altogether and found it very deadly among the 

 large Herring Gulls. Frank S. Da(/{/eft. 



Duhitli, Minn. 



Editor O. tfc ().: 



I have read somewhere that patches of white 

 feathers on birds, where white feathers do not 

 naturally belong, is the result of a tape worm. 

 On the loth of May, 1889, I shot a Black Snow- 

 bird {Junco hyemalis). The head and neck is 

 pure white, some white on the rump and a 

 little on the wings. I examined the intestines 

 under a good glass and found a tapeworm two 

 inches long. I mounted the specimen and 

 have it now in my collection. IV. Bishop. 



Kentville, N.S., .Inly 28. 



