THE OOLOGIST. 



Saw several Robins flying about chirp- 

 ing and singing. Also heard the soft, 

 pleasing twitter of a Bluebird, and saw 

 several specimens during the day, the 

 first of the year. About six o'clock in 

 the evening, a flock of twenty Geese 

 went over, flying rather low, north- 

 ward, 



Feb. 26. Very bright, warm, and 

 pleasant. A flock of about fifty Geese 

 flew over in the morning, northward. 

 At noon a Snipe (Killdeer) was heard, 

 flying about overhead. In the after- 

 noon saw the first Meadowlark, sitting 

 on the ground in a pasture. Also saw 

 a Kingfisher along the creek. Flocks 

 of Ducks on the creek. Shot a Green- 

 winged Teal. 



March 2. About one hundred Geese 

 flew over, northward, at sunset, flying 

 within easy gunshot. Robins, Blue- 

 birds and Meadowlarks singing all day. 



March 3. Cold and snowy. A flock 

 of Ducks flew over, going southward, 

 about sunset, flying high. 



March 6. Warm and pleasant. 

 Large flock of Geese went over about 

 noon, southward, flying high. 



March 7. Warm and bright. Began 

 to snow about 4 p. m. At 5 p. m , a 

 very large flock of Geese went over, 

 northward, flying low in two V's, one 

 following the other. ■ 



March 8. Saw the first Butcher-bird 

 (Loggerhead Shrike,) perched on tele- 

 graph wire near a pond. Several flocks 

 of Geese flew over. 



March 10. A flock of about twenty 

 Geese went northward at noon, flying 

 rather high. Blackbirds (Bronzed 

 Grackle) have been here about four 

 days, having arrived March 6. Woods 

 full of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Blue- 

 birds and Robins plentiful. 



Maivh 11. Past two days warm and 

 pleasant. Today a cold rain brought 

 in Ducks by thousands, (not actual 

 count. P. M. S.) They were flying all 

 day, and at almost any time two or 

 three flocks were in sight. Flock after 



flock passed over all day long. Several 

 Jack Snipe (not further identified 

 P. M. S.) were sean flying about. Saw 

 two Squirrels running about in the 

 woods. 



March 14. Saw two Turtle (Mourn- 

 ing) Doves, the first of the season, 



March 15. Red-winged Blackbirds 

 appeared in the swamps. Ctdar birds 

 seen flying about in flocks of eight to 

 twenty. They fly from one small tree 

 to another, alighting very closely to- 

 gether. They are only visitors, I think, 

 driven south by the extremely cold 

 weather. They are the first I ever saw. 



April 1. Snipe (not further known, 

 but probably Killdeer. P. M. S.) and 

 Plover (not further identified) appeared. 



April 2. Found a Crow's nest in a 

 large maple grove north of town, con- 

 taining three egg*, and another con- 

 taining two etrgs. (Notice the full 

 data. P. M. S.) The birds were evi- 

 dently not through laying, (Very evi- 

 dent, indeed!) The egg is about an inch 

 and a quarter long, color varying from 

 light blue to dark green, spotted and 

 blotched with dark brown, thickest at 

 the larger end. The general color, 

 however, is dark green, the lighter 

 ones being the exception. The Crows 

 made no noise whatever while I was 

 examining the nests, but kept out of 

 sight. 



April 3. First House Wren . 



April 5. Found a Crow's nest con- 

 taining four eggs, which I believe is the 

 most they ever lay. (A piece of snap 

 judgment, based on an experience of 

 three nests examined! Novices take 

 warning. P. M. S.) This nest was in a 

 tall cottonwood near a pond. (That 

 data grows fuller!) Also saw the first 

 Brown Thrush (Thrasher.) It was 

 perched on a telegraph wire near the 

 pond. 



April 10. Swallows first appeared. 

 (Species not mentioned.) 



April 15. Pied-billed Grebe on the 

 pond. 



