THE OOLOGLST. 



107 



The Bluebird. 



The Kliie1)ii'il is about the second 

 bird to make its ai)peaiance here in tlie 

 spi'ing, out of tlie many which annually- 

 asseml)le here at that season, the Robin 

 being its immediate predecessor. The 

 Bluebirds generality make their tirst 

 appearance about the middle of March. 

 Thej quickly form into pairs and dili- 

 gently go to Avork at their respective 

 nests. The nest is usually phiced in a 

 hollow post or a hole in a tree, being 

 a neat cup-like depression composed 

 entirely of grass. The eggs are usually 

 tive in number of a light l)lue color and 

 entirely devoid of spots. 



Tlie plumage of both male and fe- 

 male is alike and is very prettj*. The 

 back, wings, tail and head are of l:)right 

 blue, the feathers covering tlie breast 

 l)eing of a reddish-ljrown. Albino eggs 

 of this bird are Aery rare here; I have 

 never heard of but one set being taken. 

 The nest was placed in a hole in a tree 

 and contained four milk-Avhite eggs, no 

 two of which Avcrc of the same size. 

 One was nearlj" one inch long and in 

 shape reseml)led a Chimnej' Swift's 

 egg. The others Avere near tht' ordin- 

 ary size of the comon Bluebird's egg. 

 If a Bluebird which la3's all)ino eggs be 

 romi)ared wit'.i one Avhich does not, it 

 Avill Ije founil that tl)e plumage of tiie 

 former is of a much brighter blue than 

 that of tlie latter. I knoAV of no i-eason 

 f(.r this Itut 1 liave ol-served it to be a 

 fact. 



The Bluebirds frequently select a cu- 

 rious ]>lace in Aviiicli to construct their 

 nest. Though lliey use holes in Avood 

 ill ])refereiice lo other places, they 

 often build their nest in a jiiace Avliere 

 no one Avoiild ever think of looking. 

 I will record an instance of this kind 

 Avhich came under my notice several 

 years ago. 



I Avas out collecting one day, and af- 

 ter consid(n-al)le strolling about found 

 myself in a niai-sliy hollow. A creiik 



ran tlirough tlu- little valley, which 

 aljounded Avith tall grass and Aveeds. 

 Numerous avUIoavs also grcAV along the 

 margin of the stream. One of these 

 AvilloAvs forked at about tAvo feet from 

 the grouiul and in the crotch lay an old 

 rusty tin can. How it came there I 

 have not the least idea. I noAV ob- 

 served tAvo Bluel)irds sitting on a fence 

 about two rods from tlie Avillow. It 

 immediately came to my mind that 

 there should be a nest near. I di)n't 

 knoAV Avliat possessed me to do it, but 

 the tirst place I looked Avas in the old 

 tin can, and there sure enough Avas the 

 nest Avith four half-grown young ones 

 jn it. I Avas someAvhat disappointed by 

 not finding the eggs, l)ut anyAvay I 

 learned something aliout tiie nesting of 

 Bluebirds. 



E. C'akl LnsEV, 

 Marion Co.. Ky. 



The Great Crested Flycatcher. 



One of the strangest and most grotes- 

 que of our American birds is the Great 

 Crested Flycatcher, (Myridrrhus rrinitvs 

 Linn. Cab.) 



He is not only grotescpie in his ap- 

 pearance but in all of his habits, and in 

 everything connected Avith him. 



Thej' arrived in m.y vicinity this j'ear 

 May 2d, but as it is their custom to 

 stay in a dense swamj) for three or four 

 Aveeks after their arrival, until tlie 

 AA'eather gets Avarm and settled, thej" 

 have not yet. May KJ 181)0 begun to 

 charm (?) us with their "music," soon 

 hoAvever the woods Avill ring Avith their 

 .song, for tliey will soon leave the dense 

 SAvamps for more open Avoods. 



Mounting the topmost branch (tf a 

 giant oak they jjour fortli their "song," 

 ;ind such a songi l-'or loudness, harsh- 

 ness and Avierd grotesqueiiess Avhere 

 can you find its equal? A stranger can 

 well Avonder how a bird can produce 

 such a noise, and keep it \\\) for hours 

 at a time. In fact no one would think 



