58 



THE OOLOGIST. 



quite common about here and begins 

 nesting about the first of May and on 

 until the middle of July. 



The nest is nearly always placed in a 

 peach or apple tree, although I have 

 found them in Osage orange trees. The 

 usual number of eggs is five sometimes 

 six and often only four. 



The Cowbird often deposits one and 

 sometimes two eggs in the nest of this 

 bird in which case the Gnatcatcher's 

 eggs are invariably broken or cracked. 

 I have often seen these birds build their 

 nest until about half completed and 

 then pull it to pieces and start another 

 in another place. 



If the nest is disturbed they will use 

 the old material in the construction of 

 a new nest often in the same tree. 



I should like to hear more concern- 

 ing this species from some one else in 

 Louisiana. 



E. Harding, 

 Shreveport, La. 



Oolog'ist's Association News. 



During the past month the following 

 oologists were elected to membership 

 in the association: J. Parker Norris 

 and J. Parker Norris, Jr., Philadel- 

 phia, Pa.; A. H. Frost and R. C. Wood- 

 house, New York City. N. Y.; Wm. A. 

 Davidson, Detroit, Mich.; Jno. W, Dan- 

 iels, Jr., Lynchburg Va. 



On account of their departure for 

 Alaska, Vice Prusident E. A. Mc- 

 Ilhenny, and Sec.-Treas., W. E. Snyder, 

 have resigned. O. W. Knight, Bangor. 

 Maine, has been appointed Vice Presi- 

 dent and Dr. Guy C, Rich, Sioux City, 

 Iowa, has been appointed Secretary- 

 Treasurer. 



J. A. Dickinson, Gresham, Neb., has 

 charge of the work for the year and "de- 

 sires to receive copies of all notes and 

 observations upon the order "Rap- 

 tores." Give full datas regarding 

 building, habits, food, nests and eggs of 



all species and varieties found in your 

 locality. Full credit will be given to 

 all sending notes and every observer is 

 earnestly requested to cooperate with 

 the association in this matter. All 

 notes are welcome. 



Any oologist desiring to obtain a 

 copy of Bulletin No. 1 of the association 

 which contains constitution of the as- 

 sociation, membership list, scheme of 

 work for 1897 and blank application for 

 membership, can procure same by 

 sending stamp to Dr. Guy C. Rich 

 (Sec'y-Treas ), Toy Bldg., Sioux City, 

 Iowa. 



IsADOR S. Trostler, Pres , 

 Omaha, Neb. 



A Nest Within a Nest. 



It was my good fortune to run foul of 

 a most peculiar nest of the House Wren 

 last summer. Thinking it might in- 

 tei'est you I send you the facts. 



The nest was made in a Baltimore 

 Oriole's nest. From about two inches 

 from the bottom of the nest the Wrens 

 had filled up the cavity with the mater- 

 ial used by them, leaving a hole through 

 the center to get out of. The two in- 

 ches they did not fill up they lined very 

 heavily with feathers, so thickly that I 

 could feel but one of the five eggs the 

 nest contained. I know the Wren 

 builds most any place, but I think this 

 is by far the most peculiar that I have 



ever heard of. 



J. B. Canfield, 



Bridgeport, Ct. 



A Substitute for Climbers. 



A fairly good substitute for the reg- 

 ular climbers is to get two pieces of 

 strong iron in the shape of isoseles tri- 

 angles. Have three holes made at the 

 base and through these screw them to 

 the heels of an old pair of shoes. These 

 are quite serviceable for a man of light 

 weight. O. C. Pratt. 



