332 



THE OOLOGIST 



found more than four eggs in a Robin's 

 nest. 



Richard P. Miller. 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



P. S. Since the above was written 

 the writer has examined a set of six 

 Robin's eggs, as well as one of five, in 

 the extensive collection of Thomas S. 

 Gillen of Ambler, Pa. They were col- 

 lected in Montgomery County, Pa. 



R. F. M. 



Nigger Sloughs, 1912. 



In my ornithological research this 

 year, 1 have paid particular attention 

 to the birds that haunt the regions of 

 Nigger Slough. This wonderful "Birds' 

 Retreat" lies just seven miles south 

 of Los Angeles and three miles from 

 San Pedro Harbor, Southern Califor- 

 nia. 



No doubt many of the readers of 

 The Oologist at once recognize this 

 typical bird land, where for two miles 

 the country around is covered with 

 water, surrounded by a dense growth 

 of water plants and tales. 



Here too, occur large colonies of tule 

 Wrens, various species of ducks, coots, 

 and red wings chasing each other 

 round and round as if at play. In the 

 lake, water striders glide on stilt-like 

 legs among the rushes and floating 

 leaves, while dragon flies hawk at 

 midges; and on a dead tree near the 

 water's edge, a Kingflsher has his 

 perch, from which on my approach he 

 swoops down twirling his watchman's 

 raftle and disappearing from sight. 

 Sometimes in the tales nearby I 

 frighten up a bittern, and in the shal- 

 lows near the shore the great blue 

 heron is fishing, standing knee-deep in 

 the water watching patiently for his 

 victims. As Wordsworth says: 

 "The birds around me hopped and played; 

 Their thousrhts I cannot measure; 



Hut the least motions which they made 

 It seems a thrill of pleasure." 



1 am very glad to say that the little 



Tule Wrens (Telmatodytes palustris 

 paludicotae) are arriving at Nigger 

 Sloughs in great numbers every year. 



During the month of May, 1912, I 

 counted flfty-three nests and I am 

 certain they are this year's nests, for 

 1 have been keeping a close watch on 

 the Tule Wren migration in this local- 

 ity for some time previous. Twenty- 

 four nests contained full sets, three 

 had young, and the remaining number 

 were either empty or contained but 

 one or two eggs. 



I have secured some very interest- 

 ing notes during my research this year 

 at Nigger Sloughs on several species 

 of Southern California birds, especial- 

 ly that of the little Tule Wren, and 

 have made some investigations con- 

 cerning its maturation period and 

 manner of general housekeeping. 1 ex- 

 pect to have my data completed be- 

 fore the fall opens and next year 1 

 expect to spend much of my time 

 looking into the American Coot migra- 

 tion throughout Southern California. 

 Alfred Cookman, 

 Univ. of Southern California, 

 Biological Station, Venice, Cal. 



The Purple Martin tProgne subis subis) 

 Nesting in Eaves of a Building. 



Late in .lune, this summer, I noticed 

 Purple Martins entering holes in the 

 large eaves of three story buildings 

 which stood facing the main streets ol 

 Madison, Wisconsin. 



At first I did not suppose they were 

 nesting, but as they were seen to enter 

 the holes so often, (holes formed by 

 pieces of plowed and grooved boards 

 breaking through) I became interest- 

 ed, and after careful watching I could 

 see the parent birds feeding their 

 young, which came to the entrance to 

 receive the food. Later I could see 

 the young ])irds sitting in the entrance. 

 Several other places were seen where 



