February, 1892.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



21 



now only a few pair can be seen within a day's 

 walk. Perhaps this is owing to a scarcity of 

 a favorite food, but more likely to the contin- 

 uous persecut on of the farmer, for his cherry 

 stealing propensities are well known here. 

 The movements of this bird are quick and 

 energetic and the powerful strokes of his bill 

 can be heard for a considerable distance. He 

 has been so often pursued and shot at that, like 

 the Crow, he is wild and difficult to approach. 

 A friend told me of one he took from the nest 

 before it could fly and kept for a pet for 

 several weeks, feeding it on grubs and bits of 

 meat. 



May 20. Along the American side of Detroit 

 river a few miles below the city are large 

 marshes of thick reeds, large patches of which .88x.62 ; 

 are dead. Worked my way through these 

 to-day and found four sets of four eggs of the 

 Red-winged Blackbird; also one with five and 

 a nest containing three young. Captured six 

 large land tortoises. 



While chasing a snake, came unexpectedly 

 upon a Least Bittern's nest; two of the four 

 eggs were dotted with brown. Did not see 

 tlie bird at first but upon starting to leave the 

 place she arose from a clump near by and 

 with head thrown back and dangling legs flew 

 far out into the rushes. 



.June 9. Caught a young Chickadee. This 

 bird is common here in spring, fall, and all 

 winter. It is one of the smallest of our winter 

 visitors and, owing to his trusting nature, often 

 meets with a very inhospitable reception from 

 the shot gun of the boy sportsman. A few 

 remain and breed. Woods, fields, orchards, 

 tall weeds and hedges are alike frequented by 

 this species; here they may be seen in small 

 whlsps of seven or eight, always travelling in 

 one direction and feeding as they go. 



J. Claire Wood. 



A Series of 



Eggs of 

 Tanager. 



the Scarlet 



The eggs of the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga 

 erythromelas) are usually three or four in 

 number, altlumgh two are sometimes all that 

 are laid. 



Set I. .June 18, 1888. Nazareth, Penn. 

 Nest in white oak tree, about twenty-five feet 

 up. Composed of sticks and weeds. Two 

 eggs, incubation advanced. Light greenish 

 blue, spotted, much more heavily at the larger 

 ends, with purplish gray and chestnut : 



.97X.67; .95x.G6. This set contains a Cow- 

 bird's egg. 



Set II. June 12, 1886. Montgomery 



County, Penn. Nest in an ironwood tree, over 

 a road, twenty feet from ground. Made of 

 twigs and root fibres. Two eggs, incubation 

 commenced. Light greenish blue, thickly 

 speckled and spotted with purplish brown and 

 chestnut: .88x.05; .88x.64. 



Set III. June 14, 1888. Preston, Conn. 

 Small flimsey nest on tip end of long horizon- 

 tal limb of tall savin tree. Collected by 

 "J. M. W. " (Mr. C. L. Rawson). Four eggs, 

 fresh. Light greenish blue, thickly spotted 

 and speckled, especially at the larger ends, 

 with purplish gray and chestnut : .87 x .62 ; 

 87X.62; .87x.64. 

 Set IV^. June 14, 1887. Black Hawk 

 County, Iowa. Nest on horizontal branch of 

 tree. Three eggs, fresh. Light greenish blue, 

 speckled with purplish gray and chestnut. 

 The markings are heavier at the larger ends : 

 .81X.64 ; .84X.64 ; .86x.64. 



Set V. June 17, 1875. Norwich, Conn. 

 Nest on end of oak limb, on edge of wood. 

 Collected by "J. M. W." (Mr. C. L. Rawson). 

 Three eggs, fresh. Light greenish blue, 

 speckled and spotted with purplish gray and 

 chestnut : .89 x .68 ; .89 x .67 ; .88 x .68. 



Set VI. May 23, 1887. Black Hawk County, 

 Iowa. Nest on a side limb of an oak tree, 

 fifteen feet from the ground. Four eggs, 

 fresh. Light greenish blue, speckled and 

 spotted with purplish gray and chestnut. The 

 markings form indistinct wreaths around the 

 larger ends : .80 x .63; .82 x .63 ; .83 x .63 ; 

 .83 X .63. 



Set VII. June 15, 1883. Nazareth, Penn. 

 Nest on horizontal limb of an oak tree. Three 

 eggs, fresh. Light greenish blue, spotted 

 with parplish gray and chestnut. The mark- 

 ings are heavier at the larger ends : .91x.66 ; 

 .98X.66; .91 x .65. This set contains a Cow 

 bird's egg. 



Set VIII. June 17, 1885. Nazareth, Penn. 

 Nestonan oak tree, saddled on a lower branch. 

 Four eggs, fresh. Light greenish blue, spotted 

 and speckled with purplish gray and chestnut. 

 On two of the eggs the markings form in- 

 distinct wreaths, but on the other two they 

 are scattered over the whole surface : .89 x .64 ; 

 .91X.65 ; .89X.66 ; .83 x .64. 



Set IX. June 7, 1885. Black Hawk County, 

 Iowa. N'est on horizontal branch of oak tree, 

 fifteen feet from the ground. Four eggs, 

 fresh. Light greenish blue, heavily spotted 

 with purplish gray and chestnut. The 



