70 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 17-No. 5 



Some Spring Notes from Guildford 

 County, N. C. 



While out coUcctinj;- on March 2i»th a bird 

 llcw past within a few yards of me and lit on 

 a limb close to the ground and partially con- 

 cealed by the overhanging cedar boughs. Un- 

 certain as to its identity I brought my gun to 

 bear upon it, and upon tiring found that I had 

 killed a Brown Thrasher, tlie first one seen 

 this spring. 



About the first of April a warm spell brought 

 the birds from the South in great numbers. 

 Whip-poor-wills were soon heard; Black and 

 White Creepers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and 

 Water Thrushes arrived about the 4th of the 

 month. 



Next day a Woodcock was killed and a few 

 Snipe seen. On the 8th a ? Hooded Mergan- 

 ser was shot from a flock of eight individuals, 

 all of of which were females. Six Mallards 

 were seen on a mill-pond the same day. 



About the 10th the Golden-crowned King- 

 lets, Avhich had been with us all winter, took 

 their leave and their place w'as promptly filled 

 by the lluby-crowncd from the South. Myrtle 

 AVarblers in their black plumage now became 

 common. 



April KJth a Parnla Warbler was seen, and a 

 week later they were plentiful. 



The morning of the 18th brought the first 

 Chimney Swift, which was soon followed by 

 others. 



April 20th, while passing along a stony 

 hill-side near a mill-pond, the uneasy actions 

 of a Killdeer Plover led me to search for the 

 nest which I soon found, containing four fresh 

 eggs. The next day a Hooded Warbler and a 

 Maryland Yellow-throat were taken and a 

 Wood Thrush heard. 



Upon looking forth on the morning of the 

 23d I found the sun shining and the birds 

 singing. Almost the first sound that saluted 

 my ears was the cheery whistle of a Hose 

 Tannger. They had taken us by storm during 

 the night and the trees on every side resounded 

 with songs. A little later in the day fi Catbird 

 and a pair of American Redstarts were 

 noticed. 



The Crows ushered in the egg season on the 



2d of April by a set of five fresh eggs. Two 



wrecks later Gi eat Carolina Wren's eggs were 



found, and on the 2.5th a set of four fresh 



Cooper's Hawks' eggs were taken. 



T. G. Pearson. 

 (Juikllord College, N. C. 



Notes on the American Bittern 

 (Botaurus lentiginosus). 



One day during the last week in August two 

 boys drove up to my window, one of them 

 inquiring with considerable interest if here 

 was where the man lived that stuffed birds. 

 With fully as much interest I assured him 

 that such a man lived here, and at the same 

 time put down my pen and was out to see 

 what the boys' box contained. Just such 

 boxes had often brought me specimens which 

 I prized very highly, as well as many which 

 were not so valuable. 



I found the boys had a perfect living speci- 

 men of the American Bittern. They said they 

 had found it along a creek and had stunned it 

 with a stone, but it completely recovered after 

 they had taken it. This bird is not very com- 

 mon in this (Wabash) county. I decided to 

 keep it alive for a week and watch its habits. 

 It was given free use of an empty room. 



The commonest attitude it assumes is 

 pointing its bill upward about thirty degrees 

 from the perijcndicular, or stealthily creeping 

 along the floor, or like the Heron in repose, 

 its neck drawn up, the bill pointing somewhat 

 above the horizontal. Tlie flashing eye, to- 

 gether with the streaks about it and elevated 

 feathers, give the bird a very fierce aijpearance, 

 and when compelled to do so it can use its 

 sharp, sword-like bill to considerable effect in 

 defending itself. However, its gurgling, blow- 

 ing noise and fierce appearance do its best 

 service, probably, in defence from its enemies. 



It has a curious, steady, weaving to and fro 

 motion when standing, stealthily looking from 

 side to side, never making a quick motion 

 unless compelled to do so, and only reluctantly 

 then. Its movements are rapid enough, how- 

 ever, to be quite effectiial when seizing its 

 prey, — indeed they ai-e very quick. It fre- 

 quently stands for several minutes without 

 moving in the least, except its eyelids. 



The ruffled feathers greatly enlarge the 

 appearance of the bird. It, too, aiJjiears to 

 delight in seeming much larger than it is. 

 Heron-like, it fre(]uently stands on one leg for 

 some time. When standing in this attitude it 

 will not change the position of its feet even 

 though it may wish to look at all points of the 

 compass; its long neck and ready use of it 

 enabling it to look in any direction desired 

 without a change of position. 



When on short rations it refused to eat the 

 large potato moth I gave it, or a beetle, or 



