THE OOLOOIST. 



147 



maimer as the American Woodcock 

 {Philo/icia minor). Tlieir favorite feed- 

 ing grounds in tliis region, however are 

 on marshy meadow land, where cattle 

 ■are pastured, or in the interior about 

 fresh water springs, environed by oozy 

 swamjis and thickets of willow, huckle- 

 berry or Avild rose bush, where tliey feed 

 •all day and at night migrate farther 

 northward, toward their breeding 

 grounds. 



They remain witli us about six weeks 

 and journey northward slowly, to Brit- 

 ish Columbia to breed, where they pair 

 and, the female lays a reddish-brown or 

 yellowish-ash colored egg, about 1.50x1 

 .06 inches in size. The eggs are some- 

 times spotted, sometimes blotched or 

 streaked wiili darker brown, the nest 

 being a slight depression in a low swam- 

 py meadow. 



During a stroll across the meadows 

 north of this city yesterday, returning 

 from a fruitless trip after Hawks' eggs, 

 I saw several "wisps" of Jacks feeding 

 and piping their shrill tweet tweet socia- 

 bly mingling with the Meadow-larks. 



VVliile passing tlu-ough here, and I 

 •suppose everywhere else, thousands of 

 the little fellows are slaughtered for the 

 table, and are considered, Ijy many, the 

 most delicate of our feathered game and 

 as to their wholesomeness, I can testify, 

 mj-self, for although 1 preach "do not 

 kill our birds," I have dropped a few to 

 my gun when I was out alone and the 

 temptation too great. 



A little later in the season I will try 

 to describe Bartram's Sandpiper [Bart- 

 ramia I origiccmda) and ihe'n- habits, as 

 they breed here and stay here all sum- 

 mer. 



Hoping I have not made tlie above 

 tedious and uninteresting, I am yours 

 in Oology and Oruilliology, 



ISADOK S. TROSTLER, 

 April 18, 1892. Omaha, Neb. 



Notes from Southern Wisconsin- 

 While walking across an open mea- 



dow, on March 28, 1892, I suddenly 

 Hushed a Prairie Horned Lark (O. a. 

 pracUcola), which, after flying a short 

 distance, hopped and fluttered along be» 

 sore me in a very suspicious manner} 

 on examining the place I discovei'cd the 

 nest, a small, I'ound hole sunken in the 

 ground and lined with dry grasses, 

 which contained four eggs. They were 

 so heavily speckled that the ground 

 color could hardly be seen, tlie whole 

 effect, however, being a greenish gray. 

 The nest was situated on a side-hill, fac- 

 ing the south, in a large field. I did 

 not take the eggs, as we now have a 

 law, protecting the nests and eggs of 

 nearlj' all species, and if there is any- 

 thing I l)elieve in, it is the whole set of 

 "game laws." The eggs must have 

 loeen laid some days then, for on return- 

 ing to the place, April 2,' 1 found that it 

 contained four very small, young birds, 

 which seemed to be all head, of which a 

 large per cent was eye. The Larks 

 Avere A^ery alnindant in the meadow and 

 I have no doubt but that th(;re wei'e 

 more nests. 



The spring migration is well at hand, 

 and Rol)ins, Song Sparrows, Bluebirds, 

 Grackles, Redwing Blackbirds, Mar- 

 tins, etc., are common. The following 

 are the dates on Avhich some species 

 were first observed for this spring: 

 Horned Lark, Feburary 13. 

 Canada (xoose, Maich 5. 

 Robin, March 7. 

 Purple Grackle, March 24. 

 Bluebird, Mach 26. 

 Song Sparrow, March 29. 

 Red-wing Blackbird, March 30. 

 Purple Martin, April 1. 

 Flicker, April 2. 

 Fox Sparrow, April 9. 

 Hermit Thrush, April 15. 

 The Fox Sparrow is not common here 

 and occurs only during migralic^ns, in 

 greater numbers in the fall. 



The Ducks did not seem to come 

 around our way in as large numl)ers a.s 

 usual, although many were shot, most- 



