THE OOLOGIST. 



plaintive wliistliiig notes, vvhicii became 

 .shriller i)n approaching nearer their 

 uests. 



When in the act of taking their eggs 

 from the nest they often sweep sud- 

 <lenly down as if aiming directly for 

 you, but changing their t'ourse when a 

 lew yards above your head, liy (;tl' lo 

 repeat tiie same movements. 



Before us in every direction, could be 

 seen their roughly constructed domi- 

 ciles, invariably' placed in the pine 

 trees. 



Eager to know what luck awaited us, 

 we pressed through the thick under- 

 growth with egg-box and climbers 

 strapped on, and hastened to ascend. 

 >.' early all the nests contained fresh 

 eggs, but sometimes a hard climb was 

 rewarded witii disappointment; then 

 again, in another nest would be two or 

 tliree, rarely foui', beautifully marked 

 <"ggs, which would more than compen- 

 sate for the loss of the first. 



Their nests are huge structures of 

 large sticks, seaweeds, corn stalks, or 

 most any kind of rubbish. The mater- 

 ials are put compactly together, and 

 a re sulliciently strong to bear a person's 

 weight. The top surface of the nest, 

 which measures about two and half feet 

 across, is perfectly Hat with a small 

 depression in the center large enough 

 lo hold the egg.s. After the young are 

 hatched, they remain upon this Hat 

 surface for several months, until thev 

 are large enough to Hy. 



As we had d(jne considerable clim!)- 

 ing, and the day being well advanced, 

 we set down to rest, at the same time 

 not forgetting to respond to the de- 

 mauds within, by partaking heartily of 

 a tempting repast which had been pre- 

 pared for the oc(rasion. Such a diver- 

 sion from the past three hours' work 

 was l>y iu> means objectionable, as any 

 who have hull a like experience can 

 attest. Being now refreshed, we re- 

 sumed our woi-k with renewed energy, 

 until the numlx'i- of .sets was increased 



to twenty-tive. As the sun had now 

 begun to descend toward the western 

 horizon, with reluctant steps, we re- 

 traced our way back to the boat which 

 we had left in the morning, and getting 

 aboard, we bade adieu to our feathered 

 friends, who had treated us so hospita- 

 bly during the daj'. Notwithstanding, 

 their scolding utterai.ces seemed to in- 

 dicate that we were unwelcomed 

 guests. 



Returning, we secured along the 

 shores, some eggs of the Kingtisher, 

 Green Heron, and Bank Swallow. 



Reaching home at sunset, tired, but 

 much pleased with the success of the 

 day, and being favorably impressed by 

 the pleasant expei'iences — not soon to 

 be forgotten — we were quite prepared 

 to appreciate a quiet repose. 



M. C. White, 

 Mathews County, Va. 



The Marsh Wrens in Hudson Co-, N. J. 



(Cii-totliorus j)alustns anil Cistolhorns 

 sidloris.) 



The Long-billed Marsh AVren is an 

 abundant summer resident in all the 

 marshes throughtout this county (Hud- 

 son). Arriviug during the latter end of 

 May, its gurgling song may be heard 

 throughout the breeding season which 

 lasts about from the first of June to the 

 last of July. The song is a gui'gling 

 sound somewhat similar to the House 

 Wren's; thus, red, led, leel, I'epeated 

 about nine times in quick succession, 

 Vi'inding up with a ledt. 



The earliest fi.nd of eggs that came to 

 my notice was an incompleted set of 

 five taken May 30, 181)0. 



The latest a set of six taken for me 

 was July 17, 1889. 



They usually build in colonies of 

 small or greater extent. 



The nests being a globular structure 

 with an entrance on one side, composed 

 of sedges on the outside and finer gras- 

 ses within, lined with any soft mater- 



