THE OREGON 



times over, like a fantasia, in the same 

 key and tune. If there be any wind, 

 he raises perpendicularly by bounds 

 and afterwards poises himself with 

 breast opposed to it. If calm, he 

 ascends in spiral circles; in horizontal 

 circles during the principal part of 

 his song, and zigzagly downwards 

 during the performance of the finale. 

 Sometimes, after descending about 

 half way he ceases to sing and drops 

 with the velocity of an arrow to the 

 ground. Those acquainted with the 

 song of the Skylark can tell, without 

 looking at them, whether the birds be 

 ascending or stationary in the air, or 

 on their descent, so different is the 

 style of the song in each case. In the 

 first there is an expression of ardent 

 impatience; in the second, an andante 

 composure, in which rests of a bar at 

 a time frequently occur; and in the 

 last a graduated sinking of the strains 

 after touching the subdominant before 

 the final close. The time and number 

 of the notes correspond with the vi- 

 bration of the wings; and though they 

 sometimes sing while on the ground, 

 upon a fence rail or projecting stone, 

 their whole frarue seems to be agitated 

 by their musical efforts. 



NATURALIST. 



Old Notes. 



31 



A petrified fish found by Dr. New- 

 berry at Delaware, Ohio, weighed 25 

 pounds, and is as perfect in form, po- 

 sition of fins, scales, etc., as though 

 it had died but yesterday instead of 

 2,000 years ago. 



Collectors of Pacific Coast Basketry 

 should improve the present time to 

 secure baskets. Many tribes now 

 exist only as remnants and even now 

 their work is not obtainable. 



The Evening Grosbeak was taken 

 January 13, 1854. by Dr. Cooper at 

 Fort Vancouver, Wash., and they have 

 been taken in latter years quite fre- 

 quently in Western Oregon as early as 

 the middle of December. September 

 27, 1880, in Whitman County, Wash- 

 ington, a large flock of old and young 

 birds were observed feeding on thorn 

 berries. 



Dec. 26, 1880 and Dec. 25, 1881, a 

 pair of White-headed Woodpeckers, 

 male and fenrale, were taken in Whit- 

 man County, Wash. August 15, 

 1882, a nrale was taken in the nrount- 

 ains twenty nriles East. 



On these dates the Long-billed Cur- 

 lew was first observed in Whitmarr 

 County, Wash: March 18, 1879; 

 March 21, 1880; March 22, 1881; 

 March 15, 1882; March 20, 1883. Af- 

 ter 1883 the extensive plowing of the 

 virgin soil apparently caused them to 

 seek a more congenial locality and 

 few were observed, but on Marck. 22, 

 1885, a record of arrival was taken. 

 After this year none were seen in the 

 vicinity of Colfax, Wash., wfiiere the 

 records were taken. The birds all de- 

 part during the first week iri July, af- 

 ter which not even a laggard can be 

 found. 



May 27, i88r, a set of three eggs of 

 Passerella iliaca irnala.schcensis were 

 taken from a nest built in a thorn 

 bush about three feet from the ground, 

 on the bank of the South Palouse 

 River, Washington. This set is in the 

 collection of Mr.' F. E. Newbury, 



Providence, R. I. 



A. B. AvERILL. 

 Portland, Or. 



