8 BULLETIN No. 32. 



interest to investigate. But to know a bird well it is necessar}' 

 to know all about it and the study cannot commence too early 

 in its life history. 



The formation of the rubythroat patch commences first 

 in a grayish patch of black or brownish spotted feathers ; these 

 are margined with gra5dsh, which gives the " grayish " aspect 

 or cast to the patch. Then a brilliant patch of ruby will 

 break out on this other patch and finally devour it, as it were, 

 in a brilliant gorget of iridescent fire. The young male 

 does not look unlike the adult female when seen at a short 

 distance. The throat-patch of the male is dead black, when 

 the bird is placed upon its back and a direct downward view 

 taken, while if the bird be laid upon its side, the beauty of the 

 layers of loveliness and sunshine are seen in the bright rufous 

 red or garnet of the throat when the sun strikes it transversely. 



Another interesting item is the great variation to be noted 

 in the size of the bills. In the series I am examining there is 

 a very noticeable variation. But to turn back to the question 

 of molt. There is a field for close study, not only in the 

 matter of toiubris but in all birds, and the tenor of this article 

 is to call attention to rather than point out the importance and 

 the value of such an investigation ; also to seek aid and to 

 request others to help me advance this line of bird study, by 

 contributing notes upon it to our Bulletin. 



John W. Daniels. Jr., Lynchburg , Va., 



ANOTHER NEW BIRD FOR LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



It gives me pleasure to record two occurrences of the Short- 

 billed Marsh Wren in I^orain County, Ohio. The first was 

 seen by Mr. R. L. Baird in a low place just outside of Oberlin 

 south, the other by the writer one mile west of North Amherst, 

 on the north side of the south lake ridge. Both were singing 

 lustily and were closely approached, but were not captured, 

 our familiarity with the species in other places making that 

 unnecessary. Mr. Baird's record is May 12 and mine May 19. 



It is interesting to note, in this connection, that Carolina 

 Wren, which was first seen in the county on September 6, 



