THE OOLOGIST 



take the birds in general, tliey are 

 nearly all of them more numerous 

 than in years past. 



I should like to suggest as instan- 

 ces of my argument that the avian 

 forces of this country are rapidly ap- 

 proaching; not only a serious and tell- 

 ing reduction in their numbers, but in 

 some cases facing a total annihala- 

 tion; the cases of the Plover, Sand- 

 pipers, Herons, Quail, Grouse, the 

 beneficial species of Hawks and 

 Owls, Doves, Thrushes, Warblers and 

 several other species of Passerines. 

 While of course some of these may 

 not be directly affected by the oolo- 

 gist, yet certainly many of them are; 

 and the cases of all, I think, answer 

 the contention that birds, in general, 

 are increasing. 



Where it is really publically benefi- 

 cial, I would not ask the oologist to 

 cease his work, but private collections 

 in these days are of so little value 

 that it cetrainly seems a pity to de- 

 prive the world of its avifauna for this 

 cause. 



John Dryden Kuser. 

 Bernardsville, N. J. 



Private collections are the begin- 

 ning of public collections. Few, very 

 few, if any, of our present-day orni- 

 thologists of note but began by mak- 

 ing a collection of eggs. Only a few 

 days ago a number of datas. signed in 

 a cramped boyish hand "Joe Grinnell" 

 passed through our hands. This is 

 the well known professor Joseph Grin- 

 nell of the University of California. 

 This is only one case in point. The 

 reputable private collectors will not 

 be driven out by over-enthusiasts. 

 Such do more injury than good to the 

 cause of reasonable protection. — Edi- 

 tor. 



Rough-winged Swallow Nests. 



In answer to Mr. R. F. Miller's re- 

 quest, page 50, March issue of THE 

 OOLOGIST, I offer my observations in 

 connection with nest building of the 

 Rough-winged and Bank Swallows. 

 During many seasons observation of 

 these birds, especially the Rough-wing- 

 ed, I have never found feathers in the 

 nest of the Rough-winged, always 

 some darker material like dry bits 

 of leaves or pine needles. The nest 

 referred to in Reed's North American 

 Bird Eggs, page 282, is undoubtedly 

 that of the Rough-wing, the lining be- 

 ing typical of that species. 



My experience with the Bank Swal- 

 low has always been that generally 

 feathers were used as a lining, but 

 when not used, fine straws of light hue 

 took the place of the dark lining in 

 the Rough-winged nests. 



A more detailed description of these 

 two species will be found on pages 

 260-262, "Birds of Virginia." That Mr. 

 Miller is a most careful observer is 

 brought out by his noticing the picture 

 referred to, and I only hope such close 

 study won't lead him into the ranks 

 of the hair splitters, for we need them 

 in the ranks of the oologists. 



H. H. Bailey. 



Kindness. 



While sitting by the .window on the 

 20th of February I noticed a large bird 

 fly into a White Cedar tree beside the 

 woodshed door. For several days the 

 heavy snow, wind, and unusually low 

 temperature had made it very diffi- 

 cult for birds of any kind to procure 

 food, and I started at once to find out 

 what feathered stranger had been 

 driven to my door by hunger and cold. 

 One may easily imagine my surprise 

 when approaching to within a few feet 

 I saw a Mourning Dove settling down 

 for the night. The temperature was 

 below zero, yet knowing that any at- 



