THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



27 



they shall ere long be allowed to partici- 

 pate. Plate 39x26 inches. Reduced from 



$20.00 to $7.00. 



WHITE-HEADED OR BALD EAGLE. 



This noble bird, so well known through- 

 out the civilized world and emblazoned on 

 our national standard, is here represented 

 in the act of landing his prey, a large Yel- 

 low Catfish. The great strength, daring 

 and cool courage of the White-headed Eagle, 

 joined to his unequalled power of flight, 

 render him conspicuous among his breth- 

 ren. The bird is here drawn and colored 

 from life, the general color of plumage 

 being deep chocolate, the head, neck, tail, 

 abdomen and upper and under tail-coverts 

 white. 



Notes From Northern Illinois. 



The Ruby-throat Humming Birds are 

 very numerous around here. I was watch- 

 ing a flowering currant bush for about half 

 an hour, and saw fifteen or twenty birds 

 during that time. Two birds could not 

 be at the bush at one time, as when the sec- 

 ond one came, the one already at the bush 

 would fly out afler it and chase it for some 

 distance. I had a good opportunity for ob- 

 serving one of these birds as it sat on a 

 limb, remaining quiet for some time. As 

 it sat with its side towards me I could see 

 no "ruby" feathers at the throat, but when 

 the head was turned it would flash out with 

 remarkable brightness, like a flash of fire. 

 It seemed quite tame, as it was not over 

 ten feet from me, and knew of my presence. 



Last year a dead bird was found on these 

 premises. It had evidently dropped from 

 a passing flock, as it was an entire stranger 

 here, and accustomed to colder climates. 

 It was about as large as a duck, covered 

 with a ver}- thick, tine, slate-colored down, 

 was iveb-footed, legs black and short, the 

 bill was black and pointed like a chicken's. 

 A similar bird was started by m)' dog, 

 which ran very rapidly for a short distance, 

 when he rose and flew away. 



We also caught a live Crossbill, who had 

 flown into an open building, and was try- 

 ing to escape through the window glass. 



It had no fear of persons, and would allow 

 itself to be handled. We fed it on pine 

 cones, whicn it would "clean out" in a short 

 time, and tear them to shreds. It also ate 

 hard-boiled eggs, which it seemed to enjoy. 

 Its sojourn was short, however, as it died 

 after a few days' captivity. 



The English sparrows are very numer- 

 ous here. For the past few years they have 

 reduced the number of birds verj' much. 



This, however, seems to be a "good year" 

 for birds, as there are a large number here 

 this Spring. 



There is a new bird here, that I saw for 

 the first trme last year. It is about the size 

 of a Cat-bird. The back, tail and wings 

 are black, with white markings on wings 

 and tail when spread. The body is white; 

 on the throat is a small tuft of brilliant red 

 featners, looking very much as if it had 

 had its throat cut. Its bill is yellow, and is 

 short and thick. I also noticed another 

 bird with it — evidently its mate. It was of 

 the saw build, with yellow bill, but the 

 plumage was entirely different, this one 

 being of a dirty black color, somewhat 

 speckled with a dirty yellow. Thej' seemed 

 to be very familiar. Can you tell me what 

 kind of a bird it is? 



Yours respectf ulh", 



"KlXXEY." 



Lena. 111. 



Destruction of Birds for Millinery Pur- 

 poses. 



The destruction of birds for millinery 

 purposes is at present attracting some at- 

 tention. The question is of interest, not 

 only to the naturalist, but also to the farm- 

 er. Among the best friends of the latter 

 are the birds. There is the crow, whieh 

 injures the crops, and the hawk which 

 makes an occasional meal upon his chick- 

 ens, but the number of those which do him 

 good by destroying insect pests is much 

 greater. Wanton destruction of bird-life 

 for the sake of the milliner is inexcusable. 

 The farmer is not the onty one who sor- 

 rowfully watches this destruction of some 

 of our birds. Every lover of Nature, and 



