ION 



THE OSPREY. 



Letters. 



DR. CIIJ. IN GLASGOW. 



Glasgow, June 15, 1901. 



As yon may remember, I sailed from New York 

 <>ii the 1st of the month (June) and had a most 

 pleasant voyage across the Atlantic with a fine 

 state room to myself and very pleasant table 

 companions. After a voyage of little more than 

 eight days, we arrived at Greenock about 8 

 o'clock on Sunday evening and took the cars 

 for Glasgow which we reached about 9 o'clock 

 while it was broad daylight. We had scarcely 

 come within sight of Ireland when numerous 

 (lulls approached the vessel and more or less ac- 

 companied tis all the way to our port of landing. 

 Most of them were evidently the black-headed 

 Larus ridibundus, but others apparently were 

 of the larger Larus glaucus. A notable feature 

 in fact, is the abundance of these Gulls, not only 

 along the coast but in the heart of the city. 

 Flocks of them were visible on the Tweed in 

 the thickly settled part of the city, and indi- 

 viduals are to be seen flying over the streets of 

 the city at some distance from the water. They 

 accompany the vessels for the offal and "cold 

 victuals" thrown overboard and which they have 

 learned to look for. It is amusing to see them 

 swoop downward after the rejecta thrown over- 

 board and expected success or fear of competi- 

 tion is expressed by a subdued cry. The dex- 

 terity exhibited in catching at a dainty morsel 

 is surprising. At times, they would descend 

 on the water and ride easily mi the waves and 

 again would resume their flight when excited 

 by some movement of their companions or ex- 

 pectant of a firesh supply of food. Mole or less 

 of the Gulls accompanied us for eight or ten 

 hours and till we reached our dock. They were 

 accompanied by black-head terns. 



There is a considerable museum attached to 

 the University of Glasgow called the "Hunterian 

 Museum," the basis being a collection made 

 by the eminent William Hunter, M. P., brother 

 of the still better known John Hunter whose 

 own collection is the basis of that of the Royal 

 College of Surgeons of Loudon. I mention this 

 because I found that the two individuals were 

 sometimes confounded. William Hunter was 

 the elderaudwas born in 171s. The collection 

 was a general one. including not only natural 

 objects, but books, paintings, coins, etc. This 

 was bequeathed by will in 1783 to the college and 

 its present keeper is professor of "Natural 

 History" in the University. The birds are 

 numerous and preserved in the old fashioned 

 way, mounted on stands, and closely crowded 

 together. The nomenclature, too is not on .in 

 uniform plan. It is evident that there is no 

 up-to-date ornithologist in charge or practically 

 interested in the subject. 



I will leave to-morrow for a trip to Northern 

 Scotland, my immediate destination being < llian 

 at the western end of the Caledonian canal 

 which traverses Scotland from west to east. 

 Yours very truly, 



Theo. Gill. 



WEIGHT ill' THE HARPY EAGLB. 



Washington, D. C, May 3. 1901. 

 Editors oe the Osprey: 



Dear Sirs: 



Some time ago Doctor Gill expressed a desire 

 to know the weight of the Harpy Eagle in 

 the National Zoological Park. It was not con- 

 venient at that time to weigh the bird; but. re- 

 cently, in transferring" it from one cage to 

 another, there was good opportunity to ascer- 

 tain its weight, which proves to be exactly nine- 

 teen (19) pounds. 



The Harpy has been in the collection of the 

 Park about two years, and was presented by the 

 Governor of the State of Amazonas, Brazil, 

 through Commander C. C. Todd, of the U. S. S. 

 Wilmington, during the voyage of that vessel 

 up the Amazon River. The bird has remained 

 in perfect health, and is now in fine condi- 

 tion. 



Very truly yours. 



F R A N K B A K E R , 



Superintendent, 



National Zoological Park. 



AN ONSLAUGHT OK TH KASHEKS ON A SNAKE. 



OsawaTomie, Kans., May 1", 1901. 

 Editors oe the Osprey: 



This afternoon while strolling in Oak Grove 

 Cemetery with my wife, my attention was called 

 to a Brown Thrasher fighting something in the 

 grass along a pathway. Upon going up to the 

 spot I almost stepped upon a. Blue-racer. Walk- 

 ing back 25 feet or more where I could watch 

 the spot, the Brown Thrasher flew down from an 

 oak where it had flown when I approached it. 

 Its antics soon brought a female Thrasher to 

 the scene. With feathers ruffled, wings ex- 

 tended upward like unto the position of a Sand- 

 piper's wings just after it alights, and their 

 tails spread out fantail. they would thus ap- 

 proach the snake and strike at it with their bills. 

 If the snake would dart at them they would only 

 move aside. They uttered no outcry while fight- 

 ing the Racer. I killed the snake and found it 

 to be 2' 2 feet long. In a nearby cedar I found 

 the nest, with four young, of the birds. 



Walter Scott Colvin. 



