04 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
to filling, from the outside at each point of at- 
tachment tothe stand. Insert eyes. [lace 
snake in position, Attach to stand and allow 
plenty of time todry. 
Large snakes are slit lengthwise of the belly, 
skinned, cleaned and poisoned. Make a body 
as near in share to nature as possible by wind- 
ing tow onawire. Let the body wire have 
two or three short 
angles to it for the purpose of fastening to the 
stand. Cover body with potters clay, place in 
skin and neatly sew opening. 
place in } osition, after the specimen is thorough- 
Insert eyes and 
ly dry the seam can be concealed by papier 
mache, directions for making wili be given. 
In my next paper receipts for the compounds 
and fluids used in embalming birds and the 
method will be taken up. 
THE OREGON JUNCO. 
(Junco hyemalis oregonus) 
Being the result of part of the work for March 
of the Northwestern Ornithological Association 
(Prepared by the president) 
Reports on March work have been sent in by 
Ellis F. Hadley, Yamhill Co., Fred H. Andrus, 
Douglass Co., and S. Rey Stryker, Clackamas, 
Co., Oregon, to whom the association is under 
obligations for the matter contained in this 
article. 
The Oregon Junco is an abundant species 
the entire year, throughout Western Oregon. 
Popularly known as “‘snowbirds,” they are the 
principal game bird of the small boy during the 
winter when snow ison the ground, as they 
readily become victims of the ‘‘dead fall” trap. 
Foreign born laborers often secure them in 
large numbers to be made into ‘*pot pies.” 
In winter they are seen only in flocks of 25 
to 50 or more, birds, frequenting barn-yards 
and door-yards, feeding on the seeds of grass 
and weeds, and at such times are quite tame, 
In spring they pair and betake themselves to 
their various nesting places. Mr. Hadley says 
e 
wires fastened at right 
of them ‘‘They begin singing about February 
16th, and pair about March roth.” In Yam. 
hill Co. they are found during the breeding sea- 
son in much larger numbers in the foot hills and 
mountains than in the valleys. 
The nesting season extends over a period of 
three orfour months. Mr. Strysxer reports find- 
ing a nest containing fresh eggs on April 24th., 
while the latest date reported, in which fresh 
eggs have been found is July 12th. Eggs have 
been found in all stages of incubation on all dates 
between these two extremes, so it would be very 
difficult to ascertain the best time for the oolo- 
gist to hunt for fresh eggs. Of eight nests re- 
ported, containing fresh eggs, two. were found 
in the latter part of April, two in first part of 
May, one in latter part of May, one in first part 
of June and two in first part of July. 
“The favorite nesting places’ writes Mr. 
Stryker, ‘fare rail.road cuts or small mounds 
that have weeds overhanging them, the nest 
- being placed in small holes and built flush with 
the surface of the ground.” According to Mr 
Hadley, nests are built in hollows of the ground: 
under small bushes and bunches of grass and 
under wood piles. 
As regards the material of the nest, Mr. And- 
rus writes ‘‘The nest is variously composed of 
dead leaves, grass, weedstalks and rootlets, lin- 
ed with fine grass and hair; usually the lining is 
in two layers. In lining the nest the bird fills 
its mouth full of fine grass before taking it to the 
nest, and at such times isnot at all shy. I 
think the female performs this labor alone.” 
Below is given descriptions of three sets of 
eggs and two nests, which will give a full idea 
of the nesting habits of this species. 
Set I, contains four eggs. They have a white 
ground color, but when compared with pure 
white eggs, such as doves’ or flickers’, it is seen 
they havea decided bluish tinge. One egg is 
thick ly sprinkled over its entire surface, but a 
little more thickly at the larger end with fine 
markings of lilac and light brown. On another 
egg the markings are distributed in the same 
manner, only less thickly and markings are 
larger. The othertwo eggs are marked less on 
