88 



THS 001<0ai8T. 



their efforts. Pausing to watch the 

 fracas, I was startled to see a little 

 brown bird dart out from under my 

 feet and whirl away. A moment's 

 hunt and the treasure was mine. A 

 beautiful nest it was, composed en- 

 tirely of dead grasses and completely 

 arched over above. The perfectly 

 fresh eggs were four in number. 



Nest number Two differed from the 

 preceding in that it was not found by 

 chance. The only day I could spare 

 with my friends in 1907 was June 

 3, which I judged to be about the right 

 date on account of the backward 

 weather. I had definitely located a 

 pair in a small field and procuring a 

 horse-whip, started in to hunt syste- 

 matically, thrashing the grass ahead 

 of me as I traversed the field again 

 and again. It was a laborious method, 

 but I was out to win. First a Mead- 

 owlark dashed up, revealing a hand- 

 some set of five eggs; then I located 

 a Field Sparrow's nest and at last 

 when I was all but discouraged, my 

 Grasshopper darted off, endeavoring 

 by all ruses known to the bird world, 

 to draw me from its treasure. Though 

 directly above the nest, so cunning- 

 ly was it hidden, that it was some- 

 time ere I uncovered the exquisitely 

 marked set of five fresh eggs. 



My third set came to me on May 

 30, 1908. Ever will that day be fix- 

 ed in my memory for not only did I 

 again meet with success among the 

 Grasshoppers, but also was fortunate 

 in making my first studies of the 

 home life on the Blue Winged Warb- 

 ler. The location was Newton in 

 Bucks County. Early in the morning 

 I tramped off through the dew-be- 

 decked grass in a vain search for 

 Bobolinks. While returning through 

 a green clover field, I nearly tramp- 

 ed on Madame Grasshopper who hur- 

 i-ied off, while I joyfully inspected 



her handsome set of five well incu- 

 bated eggs. 



To the average inspector of my 

 cabinet, those three trays of crystal- 

 line, red-flecked eggs mean nothing; 

 but to me they represent the achieve- 

 ment of a purpose and the results of 

 many glorious days. At some future 

 time I may describe more fully the 

 habits of the Grasshopper Sparrow 

 to defend myself against the charge of 

 being a mere collector. I have learn- 

 ed much concerning this interesting 

 Will-of-the-Wisp, but I can ascribe the 

 knowledge thus gained, to no other 

 cause than the search for the nests. 

 RICHARD C. HARLOW. 



ABNORMAL EGGS. 



Seeing in the last issue of THE 

 OOLOGIST a few sets mentioned 

 with runt or abnormal eggs in them, 

 thought I might add my mite to the 

 list. I have in a set of Cat Bird, a 

 runt hardly larger th^n a pea. This 

 year I've taken runts in the follow- 

 ing: 



Belted Kingfiisher, Carolina Chick- 

 adee, Yellow Shafted Flicker, and 

 Field Sparrow. I also have runts of 

 Bald Eagle and Blue footed Booby; 

 all the above except Eagle my own 

 take, — no fakes. 



H. H. BAILEY. 



QUITE SO! 



]\Iay 23rd, I was taking a trip up 

 Peconic Bay in my power boat and ■ 

 as I was passing a sandy point, I "^ 

 noticed a number of barn swallows 

 skimming over the waves. This is 

 not an uncommon sight in that vicin- 

 ity, but I was surprised to see them _^ 

 alight on the waves and rest after fl 

 the manner of gulls and other sea 

 birds. I have never noticed this oc- 

 currence before nor heard of it, so 

 think it must be unusual; is it not so? 

 K. B. SQUIRES. 



