THE OOLOGIST. 



17 



second, Carpodacus jmrptire^is, Purple 

 Finch, May 20, 1891; and third. Ardca 

 viresccns. Green Heron, May 22, 1890. 



Between May 23 and June 10, 1890, 

 I found seven uesls of the Green Heron. 

 Since then they have been fewer each 

 year until last year when I only saw 

 one nest and would not be surprised if 

 there were none here next summer as 

 some boys robbed the last nest. 



Next comes (Jhelidon erythrognstcr. 

 Barn Swallow, on May 22,1890 and 1898. 

 Most of my sets of this species were 

 taken in the first ten days of June. 



On May 25, 1890, I found a set i of 

 Pipilo erylhropllialnius, Towhee; but 

 this bird is too rare here to be consid- 

 ered in this connection. 



I also tind a record for Tardus fuccs- 

 cens, Wilson's Thursh, on May 25, 1890, 

 and 28, 1892. First set in '93 on June 

 3d. This is the best time for their eggs. 



My next is an even rarer species than 

 the Towhee, Icterid virens, Yellow- 

 breasted Chat. I took my ouiy set of 

 this bird on May 26, 1890. 



Galeoscoptes carolinen&is. Oat bird, 

 comes next on May 27, 1891 and '92. 

 Also my only set of Melospiza (jeorgi- 

 ana, Swamp Sparrow, on . the same ' 

 date. 



Nubia Indovicians, Rose-breasted 

 (Jrosbeak, comes in here on May 28, 

 29 in '91 and '93 respectively. Most of 

 these birds lay their eggs about this 

 time. 



Then come I'urdus niu.-tttlinus , Woo<i 

 Thrush, on the 28th, 29th of May, '91, 

 ■92. 



My first set of Dendroica a;Mva. Yel- 

 low Warbler, was also taken on May 

 2S, 18!) 1. 



Closely following comes Setophaga 

 ndicilla, American Redstart. First 

 records on May 29, 1891 and May 30. 

 1890. Very few sets of this species will 

 be taken here in May as most of their 

 eggs are laid about June 12th. 



Bringing up the rear cohjcs the fol- 

 lowing on the :>lst of Maj, SpizeJhi 



sociulis. Chipping Sparrow; Passerma 

 cyanca, Indigo Bunting; Colaptes au- 

 7'alus, Flicker; and Bonasa nmbellus, 

 RutYed Grouse. 



The last, hovvever,with the Bob-white 

 lays its eggs about the 20th of May. 

 This setwas far advanced in incubation. 



You will notice also that I have left 

 out one of our eai'liest breeders, the 

 American Woodcock. The reason for 

 this is my inexperiejce in this line. 

 All the early broods I have found have 

 been j'oung birds from one to six or 

 seven ilays old. You don't get your 

 eyes on the young Woodcock from this 

 time until they grow large encmgh ta 

 fly. From the date of linding such 

 broods, I think they must lay their eggs 

 about April 5th in this vicinity. I 

 found one set of three eggs the first 

 week in June, but this was either the 

 result of an accident to the first set, or 

 more likel}^ a second brood. 



Notice the comparatively early dates 

 of '91 against those of '92. Did the 

 heavy rains of the spring of 1892 delay 

 the birds? If not what else w^as it? 

 I notice a like condition among the 

 summer breeders. 



Ernest H. Shokt, 

 Chili, N. Y. 



The Washiuton corresi)ondent of the- 

 Chicago Record is responsible for the 

 following: — 



" The department of agriculture is ad- 

 vertising for an ornithologist who is ex- 

 pected to j)assan examination in French, 

 German, caujera lucida, drawing, mi- 

 ei-oscopic work, geography and practical 

 ornithology, and for the use of all these 

 accomplishments for eight hours a day 

 the government of the United States will 

 pay him a salary of $(JGO per annum. 

 At the same time ordinary messengers, 

 colored and white, are paid $720 and, 

 $840 a year, typewriters an<l copjists- 

 $1,000, stenographers $1,200 and so on. 

 This position has been open for some 

 time, and there is no immediate proba- 

 bility of its licfing (liled at. that salary." 



