42 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 1S-N0.3 



during my stay at the island, and it 

 was killed over the decoys in New 

 Marsh. 



258. Willet. — One seen just as we landed 

 at Smith's island. They were breed- 

 ing in large numbers on Mockhorn 

 island, but we had no chance to go 

 there during my trip. They were 

 much more plentiful when I was 

 there last. 



265. Hudsonian Curlew. — A great many 

 single birds and some small flocks 

 seen flying about the marshes, but 

 they were very wild, and would not 

 come near our blind. 



270. Black-bellied Plover. — Quite plentiful 

 on the marshes, and some seen on 

 the sea-shore. We could always 

 count on ha\ing some come to the 

 decoys. 

 Killdeer. — A pair seen in the road (on 

 the Main) as I drove from the sta- 

 tion to the boat landing. 

 Semi-palmated Plover. — Known along 

 with Wilson's Plover as " Ring- 

 necks." They would be seen with 

 almost every flock of small birds that 

 would decoy. 



2S0. Wilson's Plover. — These were breed- 

 ing on the island, but I was unable 

 to find their nests. 



283. Turnstone. — Locally known as " Cal- 

 ico-back," and were very plentiful 

 both in the marshes and on the sea- 

 shore, some of them generally being 

 killed from each bunch of birds that 

 decoyed. 



286. American Oyster-catcher. — Several 

 pairs seen near the upper part of 

 the island, where they were breeding. 

 Locally called " Sea-Crow." 



364. .American Osprey. — None seen at 

 Cobb's island, but fifty seen at 

 Smith's island, where they were 

 breeding. 



490. Fish Crow. — A few seen flying over 

 the marshes hunting for eggs. 



273- 



274. 



501. Meadow Lark. — A single one seen on 

 the dry marsh at Cobb's Island. 



513. Boat-tailed Crackle. — Several seen at 

 Smith's Island, where they were 

 breeding. 



550. Sea-side Finch. — A single pair seen 

 in the dry grass in marsh at Cobb's 

 Island. 



613. Barn Swallow. — .\ few seen, and sev- 

 eral nests found under the wharf 

 and in the oyster houses. 



William H. Fisher. 

 Baltimore, Md. 



Green Eggs of the Red-tailed Hawk. 



The Berkshires and other wooded hills 

 which surround this valley afford ideal nest- 

 ing sites for Bntco horealis. I think I am 

 safe in saying that the Red-tail is our mo.st 

 abundant breeding Hawk ; and although I 

 take a few sets of eggs each season, I had 

 ne\er dreamed I should have the pleasure 

 of collecting a set of the rare tint which 

 furnishes the title for this article. 



Early afield, for a short trip before busi- 

 ness hours, on the morning of April 16, 

 1 89 1, I found what I pronounced a new 

 nest of the Red-tailed Hawk, in a big pine 

 on the very top of Sheldon Hill. The next 

 morning I saw the birds at the nest, and on 

 the 2ist I secured a fine set of two fresh 

 eggs. They are of a beautiful greenish 

 shade in ground color, so deeji and bright 

 that it is at once perceptible even by lamp- 

 light. One of the eggs is unmarked, with 

 the exception of a few faint specks and lines 

 of lilac. The markings on the other egg are 

 of a delicate shade of lilac and fawn color, 

 distributed over the entire egg in large 

 flakes. They are truly a beautiful and 

 unique set. Sizes, 2.39x1.81,2.25x1.83. 

 The nest was by actual measurement 71 

 feet from the ground, placed in a rather 

 unusual position, being saddled on to a 

 large limb, close to the body of the tree, and 

 held in position by several small branches. 

 The owners were the first of this species to 



