THE OREGON 
NATURALIST, 95 
the smaller end, and have larger reddish brown 
spots on larger end, forming an indistinct wreath 
OUHONESLSIZES) |. AGS fore XS, ie ZL X55 
and .68 x .56. 
Set 2 contains four eggs. 
is more bluish than in set I. 
set are marked about the same as those of set I 
The ground color 
The eggs in this 
only the markings are finer and fewer in- num- 
ber. Sizes .80x .60, .80x.60, .80x.59 and 
-79 X59. 
The nes: out of which this set wis taken 
is 
quite a compact structure measuring 3.50 inches 
in diameter by 2 25 inches in height outside, 
and 2.00 inches by 1.65 inches inside. The 
nest was made entirely out of fine grass stems, 
lined with hair, — white and red, — but most- 
ly white. The nest was placed amongst some 
bushes, in a hollow of the ground on the side of 
a bank. 
Set 3 contains five eggs. The ground color 
about thesameas set 1. Like the other two 
sets it contains one egg which is finely and 
sparsely sprink’ed over i's entre su face. The 
others are marked very sparingly and thinly 
on smailer end, but thickly on large end with 
red, a wreath being formed on two of them and 
a few short zigzag lines of black can be seen on 
the larger end of each egg. Sizes .71x .58, 
BaKel sey Le Xe: FO, Oh 7a andy. 02X50} 
The nest belonging to this set is very similar 
tothe nest described above. It is made of fine 
soft grass stems, lined with white hair mixed 
with a little red. It would be worth investiga- 
ting to find out if this species has a preference 
for white hair for nest lining. 
WRITTEN FOR THE OREGON NATURALIST: 
FLOATING SEA MOSSES OR FERNS. 
The first thing in floating Sea-Moss or fertis 
is to get one’s materialsready, press, blotters, 
news-papers and cards or bristol-bo:rd for the 
moss. The press can be made with very little 
trouble by taking two smooth boards —12 inches 
by 7 inches is a good s‘ze— with two pieces one 
by one and a half inches nailed across each end 
and projecting about an inch and a half over 
the sides of each board, for strong elastic bands 
to be used on, to keep the ferns in place in the 
press, Next have plenty of coarse paper such 
as is used by carpet dealers, of a thin quality, 
cut in lengths to fit the press, with about an 
equal quantity of news-paper cut in same man 
ner. On> blotter to erch layer of ferns make 
better work, although one can press very suc- 
cessfully with a little care without the blotters. 
Cards about 6 inches by 4 inches for small ferns 
while for the large specimens I find heavy 
Writing paper Lo g.ve the best satisfaction. 
Of the dry moss take a small quantity; say 
half the size of a hen’s egg, rinse well but care- 
fully im clear water to remave the sand and for- 
eign particles that are found in all dry moss; 
then fill a large vessel —a white or light colored 
one brings out the fine tracery of the moss 
best— about two thirds full of water and replace 
the m ss ini. 
one of the mosses, slide one of the cards under 
Take a long hat pin, separate 
it and bring the card with moss near the sur- 
face of the water; then use the pin to draw the 
different parts of the moss out in a natural and 
graceful position, taking care as each part is 
well spread out to lift the card a little out of the 
water until the fern is completed. Use the pin 
not only as a pointer to separate each delicate 
branch but as a roller to bring out in a_ perfect 
manner those parts that are somewhat matted 
together. Lay the cards with mosses ona wind- 
ow sill or table near open window to dry off a 
little before putting in the press. On one 
board of the press lay several pieces of news- 
paper, then one of the blotters, next the card 
with fern on it. Cover this fern with another 
blotter and this again with pieces of paper and 
so on until the press is full. In the size press 
like given I have pressed six dozen cards well, 
but 48 cards will do better. One can have 
three cards in each layer, For the large sized 
specimens have handy several pieces of card 
board to place between the layers, before the 
paper with moss floated on it is !aid in the press 
with the smaller ferns. Let them remain 
the press from 24 to 36 hours, then remove the 
papers and blotters carefully and the ferns that 
can easily be lifted, remove on to fresh pape, 
in 
