October, 1893.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



139 



None were were found to contain either 

 poultry or game. 



Of the Elf Owl, the smallest known spe- 

 cies, three stomachs were received. All of 

 these contained insects. 



These figures, while they may not be able 

 to do away with ignorant prejudice, show 

 that the Owls, with the possible exception of 

 the Great Horned Owl, instead of being 

 ruthlessly slaughtered, should be protected. 

 C. O. Ormsbee. 



Montpelier, Vt. 



The White-faced Glossy Ibis. 



This beautiful and interesting species is 

 but a rare summer visitant on the southern 

 coast of British Columbia. Mr. Fannin, in 

 his check list of the birds of this Province, 

 records the the taking of but two specimens 

 within its boundaries ; one at Salt Spring Is- 

 land off the coast, and another at the mouth 

 of the Frazer river. Its native haunts and 

 home are chiefly in the southern regions of 

 Texas, and westward into Arizona and also 

 southward through Mexico to tropical .Amer- 

 ica. In some parts of Texas it has been 

 found congregating in great numbers north- 

 wards. On the east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 it has been found in southwestern Kan- 

 sas, but its occurrence there, or in the inter- 

 mediate regions, north of New Mexico, is 

 rare. In southern California it is only occa- 

 sionally seen. At Santa Barbara, Mr. Streater 

 records it as " Migrant, not very common. 

 I have only noticed the bird in spring." Mr. 

 Bryant, in his " Birds of Farallon Islands," 

 says, " One bird was shot in the spring of 

 1884, from a flock of half a dozen." In 

 size and general plumage, this species differs 

 but little from the Glossy Ibis ; the chief dis- 

 tinctive features is its white face. In length 

 this species is about twenty-four inches, and 

 each wing from ten to twelve ; the tail is four 

 inches, and the bill four and a half, the tarsus 

 being three inches, and the middle toe and 

 claw also three inches. The claws are slen- 

 der and nearly straight, the head is bare only 



about the eyes and between the forks of the 

 jaws, the bill is of dark hue. The color of 

 the general plumage is of a rich chestnut hue, 

 changing to glossy dark green, with purple 

 reflections on the back of the head, wings 

 and other parts. The plumage of the young 

 is greyish-brown, with white streaks on the 

 head. This bird nests in communities, not 

 only with its own species, but also in the so- 

 ciety of Egrets, Herons and other waders that 

 nest in similar positions. The places select- 

 ed for nesting purposes are extensive, reedy 

 and tule marshes and on the tops of broken 

 down, and among growing reeds and water- 

 grasses the nest is placed. It is rather well 

 and compactly built, and (juite distinguish- 

 able from the more clumsy platform-like 

 structures of the Herons. It is composed 

 of dry stocks of reeds, tules, and other veg- 

 etable materials that it finds in the vicinity. 

 The standing reeds being interwoven into 

 the nest, helps to keep it out of the water. 

 The set of eggs is generally three in number, 

 and average about 1.50 x 1.30 of an inch. 

 The time for nesting is April and May. 



From MS. " Avi-fauna of British Colum- 

 bia." Williaiii L. Kclls. 



Listowel, Ont. 



Here are some of my best clutches for the 

 year: May 15, Meadow Lark, 6. May 24, 

 Brown Thrasher, 3 ; Olive-backed Thrush, 4, 

 4; Wilson's Thrush, 4 ; Yellow Warbler, 5. 

 May 25, American Woodcock, 4. May 27, 

 Wilson's Thrush, 3. May 31, Wood Thrush, 



4. June 5, Scarlet Tanager, 4. June 8, 

 Wilson's Thrush, 4. June 10, Black Tern, 

 8 ; Horned Grebe, 8 ; Least Bittern, 2 ; 

 Florida Gallinule, 36 eggs ; Marsh Wren, 

 68. June 12, Black Tern, 76 eggs; Coot, 

 35; Gallinule, 53; Pied Bill Grebe, 20; 

 Horned Grebe, 20 ; Marsh Wren, 4. June 

 30, Wood Phoebe, i egg and 2 young. July 



5, Yellow Warbler, 3. July, 31, Goldfinch, 

 4. June 5, Red-shouldered Hawk, 3 young ; 

 Crow, 5 young. 6'. H. B. 



St. Clair, Mich. 



