Oct 1889.] 



A^T) OOLOGIST. 



155 



A number of Turkey Buzzards and Black 

 Vultures were on the ground under the trees 

 in search of fish that might be dropped. 



The occupied trees could only be approached 

 by wading through water for about fifty feet, 

 and in some instances two feet deep. By 

 means of irons and a strap I climbed thi-ee 

 trees and secured thirty sets of eggs. Several 

 nests contained but two or three eggs each, 

 none over four eggs, and all were perfectly 

 fresh. A few nests had not been laid 

 in. 



All the nests were built of dead sticks 

 rather compactly arranged, and were from 

 eighteen to twenty-four inches in diameter, 

 and about six inches high, with a slight de- 

 pression for the eggs. Several eggs Avere 

 found outside of the depression, and lying on 

 the upper edge, but were probably blown out. 

 The eggs were unbroken, and the limbs sup- 

 porting the nests were quite slender, and at the 

 time of our visit there was sufficient wind to 

 sway them considerably. 



In several instances three nests were seen 

 upon the same limb, and in one case there were 

 four. Except in a few cases where there were 

 sprays of green cypress no attempt had been 

 made towards lining the nests. The lowest nest 

 was over fifty feet from the ground, the major- 

 ity were over .sixty feet high, and on the large 

 tree referred to several nests must have been 

 one hundred feet high. Tliis tree, by the way, 

 was not molested by our party; the combined 

 girth of the strap and a pair of long arms not 

 being sufficient to compass it by fidly six feet. 



To sum up negatively as compared witli Mr. 

 Davie's description, we found they were not 

 nesting on an island. The nests were 

 not near the ground nor in bushes, nor were 

 they lined with leaves. The eggs were not 

 laid in May and .June, but two hundred miles 

 north of Tampa nearly all were laid in the 

 first week in April. 



The eggs are of the usual Cormorant color 

 with the heavy lime surface covering. They 

 vary considerably in size and shape as the fol- 

 lowing measurements will indicate: 2.72 x 1..50; 

 2.50x1.40; 2..58xl.38; 2.-50x1. .50; 2.2.5x1.60: 

 2.2.5x1. :^8: 2.12x1. .50. 



These were taken regardless of sets, but to 

 show widest range. 



It will be observed that the two specimens 

 showing greatest variance in long axis, while 

 two specimens showing greatest difference in 

 shorter axis correspond in longer axis. 



C. J. Pennoek. 

 Kenneck Square. Pa. 



Nesting of the Saw-whet or Acadian 

 Owl. 



On May 1, 1889, I started out determined to 

 take a look for hawks, and also to keep my eyes 

 open for signs of nests of the Crow, Rufted 

 Grouse. Woodpeckers, or other early breeders. 

 I first struck out for a small sw amp, in which 

 were some large pine and oak trees, and a few 

 hemlocks. I went up to two nests here, and 

 found both filled with leaves, evidently the 

 home of squirrels. 



I then started out for higher land, and, after 

 tramping for about two hours, and going up 

 to a number of nests in pine trees witli the 

 same success as at first, I decided to visit a 

 large wood about two miles distant, where I 

 had heard Redtails had been seen. 



I had to go through a large swamp on my 

 way there, and I picked my waj' along through 

 the bushes and underwood with considerable of 

 what may be callcil a "'discouraged tired" feel- 

 ing, for walking three or four houi"S and 

 climbing a dozen trees, from twenty-five to 

 seventy-five feet, without climbers, and with- 

 out encouragement when reaching the nest, is 

 tiresome, even to an "old boy." 



When I got well out into the swamp I saw a 

 dead maple stub about twenty-five feet high, 

 with a hole about six feet from the top. Think- 

 ing I might start out a Flicker or Flying Squir- 

 rel, I went up and gave it a thump. In a 

 moment I saw the head of an owl looking 

 down with eyes more full of astonishment than 

 my own. 



Throwing up a piece of bark, the bird dropped 

 back out of sight. I then tried the stub, and 

 found it so weak I did not dare to trust my 

 weight upon it. There was a small maple 

 near by, so cutting a stick with a hook, I 

 went up it and pulled the stub over so I 

 could reach it, then as the hole was on the 

 other side 1 had to use my knife, and began to 

 get too close for the owl's comfort, as her bill 

 began to snap very savagely for so small a bird. 

 I soon had the hole large enough to put my 

 hand in, and got hold of the bird (or rather 

 she got hold of me) and pulled her out, getting 

 a good test of her claws and bill meantime. 

 I looked her well over, and found she would 

 measure about seven inches long, with a spread 

 of wings of eighteen inches, and I readily iden- 

 tified her as the Saw-whet or Acadian Owl 

 (Nyctala acadica.) Having no particular use 

 for her I released her, and she flew to a pine 

 tree near by, where she remained until I got 

 through operations. 



