August, 1S93.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



117 



nests in the hedges on two sides of a square 

 six-acre lot grown with weeds, in the edge of 

 the town. These nests were made externally 

 of dried " pepper-grass," a middle layer or 

 wall of coarse weed fibres, with a linning of 

 fine dried grass or horse hair. Nests found 

 in June were from six inches to two feet 

 from the ground, in low bushes. 



The deserting of their nest by some species 

 is a curious phase of bird-life. In August I 

 found many such nests of the Red-winged 

 Blackbird and of the Black-throated Bunt- 

 ing, containing from one to four eggs exter- 

 nally perfect though with addled contents. 

 This has been an eminently dry season, and 

 it is well known that some birds will desert 

 their eggs and even their young under such 

 circumstances. My attention being called 

 to the deserted nests of these two species in 

 this month, a possible explanation has sug- 

 gested itself to my mind. These species are 

 more or less sociable in their nesting habits, 

 and both cease nesting in our locality early 

 and suddenly. After August ist the voice of 

 " Dickcissle," heard incessantly till that time, 

 became suddenly silent, though the species 

 remained to skulk in the hedges and weeds 

 for another month. The Red-winged Black- 

 birds left in flocks about the beginning of 

 August, though they passed and repassed, and 

 are even still here today. With both species 

 nesting came to an abrupt end when many 

 individuals were yet incubating, but the in- 

 stinct of sociability and migration overcame 

 the maternal instinct and consequently nests 

 were deserted in order that the owners might 

 depart in company with their fellows or join 

 them in their manner of life. 



It is a matter of surprise to many students 

 of bird life that the Red-winged Blackbird 

 frequently nests away from the vicinity of 

 water. In this locality orchards are favorite 

 nesting places of this species, without regard 

 to the vicinity of water, though colonies of 

 these birds occupy the swamps also. It 

 nests frequently in hedgerows, such nests 

 being usually solitary, while every orchard 



hereabouts has its family or colony of Red- 

 wings. P. M. Silloivay. 

 Virden, 111. 



The Downy Woodpecker an Enemy 

 of the Codling Moth. 



It is an accepted fact, I believe, among 

 ornithologists and entomologists, that the 

 Downy Woodpecker feeds upon the larva of 

 the Codling Moth. I was not aware, though, 

 until a few days ago that the larva were ex- 

 tracted from the apples. Standing beneath 

 a large pippin tree on the morning of July 

 25, a fine red-headed male Downy dropped 

 down mto it; with a loud "good morning" 

 he soon moved out among the outer 

 branches, commenced picking an apple and 

 quickly pulled out a worm and de\oured it, 

 then passed along inspecting the apples un- 

 til he found one with a little pile of excre- 

 mental pellets on the surface, which told of 

 the presence of the larva inside, which larva 

 was in the stomach of Mr. Downy in less 

 time than it takes to tell it. I watched him 

 repeat the operation again and again. Never 

 once did he open a sound apple. 



It seems a pity that the average farmer is 

 so prejudiced against one of his best friends, 

 but then its " that darned little sapsucker " 

 whose harmless boreings he imagines will 

 injure his apple trees. Beujanii}i Hoag. 



Stephentown, New York. 



Two barrels of Buffalo horns in the rough 

 just received, reminding us of old times. In 

 the rough hardly expresses it ; they no doubt 

 have lain on the plains exposed to the weather 

 for the past twenty years. One would hardly 

 believe that by removing the outside they will 

 show a jet black, and will take a high polish. 



We believe that the best protection against 

 the ravages of Dermestes, in the case of a 

 mounted mammal or head, is to wash the out- 

 side with a very delicate solution of Arsenical 

 soap. We consider that there is* absolutely 

 no danger to the health from a specimen so 

 preserved. 



