THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
Surf Duck, Ovemia perspicillata, 1 am told 
that this duck is sometimes found on the lake, 
although I have never seen it myself. 
Ruddy Duck, 2tzsmatura rubida. A very 
common little duck, though not often taken in 
perfect plumage. 
Hooded Merganser, 
Very common, late in spring and fall. 
Mergus cucullatus, 
Large numbers of ducks are shipped from 
this lake to Chicago and Milwaukee, every 
spring and fall. And I am afraid that the fate 
of the ducks will he the same as 
Wild 
were once so abundant in this section, and are 
that of the 
Pigeons and Prairie Chickens, which 
now almost extinct about here. 
MARCH NOTES. 
TAKEN iN YAMHILL CO., OREGON. 
Again, beautiful spring with all its associ- 
ations is here. Wild flowers are blooming, 
birds are singing, trees are budding and we are 
invited to rejoice in nature and prais2 nature’s 
God. 
A Robin with wings partialiy white, which 
has staid in this locality all winter is still here, 
and perchance I may get a set of albino’s eggs. 
Sooty Grouse began hooting, in the fir tim- 
bered localities, on the roth, which is fourteen 
days earlier than my record for last year. 
Partridges, began calling about thesame date. 
The Oregon Ruffed Grouse was drumming 
for the first time on the 18th. 
On the 20th, saw eight Evening Grosheaks, 
feeding on the buds of the Alder. They were 
seen ,or heard nearly every succeeding day of 
the month. Thisis my first record of this 
species in this county. 
Audubons Warbler, was observed the 22nd, 
and was common after that date. 
On the 25th, saw a Rufous Hummer, which 
has made frequent visits to our yard every day 
since. 
The first Turkey Buzzards of the season 
were seen on the 27th. A Mourning Dove 
was heard on the same date. 
Gambels Sparrow, made its appearance here 
the 29th. A bird of this species was observed 
on February, 4th, but they have not yet be- 
On the 29th, I also heard the 
pleasing song of the Ruby Crowned Kinglet, 
which is a rare winter resident with us. 
ARTHUR LAMSON POPE. 
Sheridan, Ore., Apr. Ist, 1895. 
come common, 
RICH PLATINUM MINES. 
Many interesting facts are related in regard 
to the discovery of platinum on the Similka- 
meen. some of which would show that at first 
the miners who were working the placers there 
considered it to be nothing more than white 
iron, and of no vaiue. In fact, it was by them 
looked upon asa nuisince: Interfering, as it 
did, with the operation of washing for gold— 
in the ratio of about 2 to I—2 ounces of plat- 
-inum to I of gold—it will readily be under- 
-stood what a trouble it was to separate the two 
, and especially were the miners aggrieved, who 
after separating the pesky stuff. as they called 
it, the same had to be thrown away, and thrown 
nway it was, until such time as its true value 
became known. One of the peculiarities of 
this metal is, that it is never found in paying 
quantities except in placer ground, no ledges 
containing it ever having been discovered, 
other than the small quantity found and not 
worth extracting in the nickel ores at Sudbury. 
Professor Dawson, in giving his opinion as to 
its origin on the Similkameen, considers the 
Diarite belt which crosses the river just below 
the mouth of Eagle creek, and has been cut 
through by it, to te the matrix of the platinum, 
and the appearance of the metal would tend to 
prove this theory, as it is always of a very 
rough nature, showing that disintegration has 
taken place close at hand. 
Assays, show it to contain 85 per cent 
pure platinum and 5 per cent iridum, 
