52 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
the nest, led and assisted by the parents, much 
sooner than those of the white ones. 
The family unites with others of their kind 
late inthe summer, yet the gregarious instinct 
is not so strong in the black as in the white 
stork, for the latter, as is well known, assem- 
ble in hundreds, yes thousands, in their favor- 
ite marshy meadows before departing on_ their 
annual migrations. Reliable observers say 
that the black storks travel solitary or in small 
parties. 
ANGUS GAINES. 
Vincennes, Indiana. 
WiNTER STRAGGLERS IN IOWA. 
H. J. GIDDINGs. 
Daring the past winter all of our usual 
winter birds were remurkably scarce, while 
on the other hand a number of Species were 
represented by stragglers thit are rirely ever 
found here at this season. The Red-headed 
Woodpecker a bird which usutily departs the 
first, of Sept. or first of Oct. has been present 
all winter the f.rst time I have ever kifown them 
todoso. Here-to-fore the litest I have noted 
infall was Nov. 22n1. 1891. an earliest in 
spring, Mar. 24th. 1882. The past winter 
single birds were seen every few days, and on 
two occasions two were seen together. Feb.7th. 
saw two, it being one of the coldest days of the 
season, the wind was blowing and 10° below 
zero. Jan.2nd. a boy brought me a Wilson’s 
Snipe, which was one of a pair that he had 
shot the day before. 
occurrence for this date. 
A Yellow-shafted Flicker was seen every few 
days all through the winter until Feb. 1st. but 
not afterwards until the regular spring migra- 
tion, Mar. 29. 
Jan. 24th. I shot two male Robins and_he- 
lieve they had remained all winter, for this was 
during our coldest weather. I have several 
times before met wth stray Robins in winter. 
This I cons der a rare 
OREGON AHEAD.—Mr. Shepard, a stamp 
collector of this city has recently found the first 
four Hawaiians, (which are thought to be genu- 
ine) in an old collection, gathered long ago, 
and which he had net seen for many years. 
Mr. Shepard, naturally feels highly elated 
over the find, for the four stamps catalogue, 
$2700,00. 
ADVANCE circulars are out for the second 
annual Willamette Valley Chatauqua Assembly, 
to be held at Gladstone Park, Oregon «City, 
July 10-19,-1895. 
be had by addressing the Secy., Mrs. C. II. 
Dye, Oregon City, Oregon. 
Further information may 
‘THE annual meeting cf the Oregon Universa- 
list Convention, will be held in the Untversa- 
list Church, East Couch St. at Portland, May, 
3-5, 1895. 
invitation to all Universalists in the State. 
The Church extend a cordial 
APRIL 14th. 1895, Within the City limits, 
on the west side of a voung spruce tree, about 
four feet up, a rufous hummer has built her 
nest and has apparently begyn incubation, 
upon two eggs.—ED. 
From PEAK TO PEAK. — The Mazamas, 
the monntain climbing club of Portland, will 
undertake great things this year. It is pro- 
posed to convey a sunbeam message from 
British Columbia to Mexico along the snow 
caps of Baker. Rainier, St Helens, Adams, 
Hood, Jefferson, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak, 
Thielsen, Scott and Pitt, and in California 
Mounts Shasta, Teliac, Round-Top, Dana, 
Stillman, Whitney, Lowe, Baldy and such 
other peaks as are necessary to complete the 
chain, The undertaking is a great one and 
will at least attract attention, as little probabil- 
ity as there is of its success. 
