ianJom Jlote^ on latural |i0lort). 



Vol. 1. 



PROVIDENCE, JANUARY 1, 1884. 



No. L 



^anb0m Ifolas un !f atural '^hkY^, 



A Pamphlet Devoted to the Distribution of Use- 

 ful Knowledge Concerning the Various De- 

 partments OF Zoology, Mineralogy, and 

 Botany. 50 Cents a Year. 

 Address all communications to 



SOUTHWICK & JENCKS, 

 258 Westminster St., Providence, R. T., U.S. A. 



It is proposed in these pages to note the 

 occurrence in Rhode Island of unusual spe- 

 cies, or those otherwise of interest, beside 

 such general news as shall be profitable to 

 the student and collector, to report the pro- 

 gress of various scientific societies in this 

 state, and at each issue to devote a portion 

 to publishing a checking-list of shells. 



We have ahead}' made numerous notes 

 upon the color of the iris, and have received 

 man}' more from correspondents. We shall, 

 however, be grateful for further assistance, 

 which, if not new, will serve to confirm ob- 

 servations already in hand, and which may 

 be looked for in succeeding numl)ers. 



How TO Soften an Owl's Feet. — First 

 with a sponge sop the feathers on the feet 

 and legs until soaked through, and then put 

 to soak in a dish of scalding water for a 

 few moments. 



TAXIDERMY. 



Color of Birds' Eyes. 



Books on ornithology are not explicit 

 enough in this particular. While in a few 

 cases errors are quoted from one book to 

 another without any one taking the pains 

 to correct them. A very prominent case 

 of this sort, is that of the Long-tailed Duck, 

 harelda glacialis, generally given as white, 

 though it is light brown, as we have proved 

 by many specimens. An exceptional case 

 may be white, for many species show dif- 

 ferent colors in different individuals. The 

 adult and young birds are also frequently 

 different. 



Bald Eagle, adult ; usually nearly white 

 or cream. 



Bald tragic, young, dark brown, called 

 "hazel." 



Bald Eagle, adult (one specimen), clear 

 Vermillion. 



Osprey, adult, straw. 



Osprey, j'oung. reddish brown, hazel. 



Golden- winged Woodpecker, dark red, 

 bazel. 



Downy Woodpecker, dark red, hazel. 



American Sheldrake, usually red. Two 

 fresh ones recently received, had hazel. 



American Swan, hazel. 



Mallard, hazel. 



Gannet, adult, cream. 



HORNBLENDE. 



Particularly beautiful specimens of this 

 species, are found at Calumet Hill. Cum- 

 berland, R. I., penetrating sometimes the 

 opaque, but oftener limpid quartz, in long 

 black crystals from the size of hair to those 

 measuring a sixteenth of an inch in diam- 

 eter, interlacing and crossing the matrix ia 

 all directions. The accompanying rock is a 

 syenyte, which has been wrought for mon- 

 umental purposes. The veins of this desir- 

 able material are exposed occasionally, as 

 the work of quarrying proceeds. The work- 

 men soon learn its value and monopolize 

 the best at once. Work in the quarry is for 

 the present abandoned, and this, almost the 

 only avenue for obtaining specimens, is 

 closed, while such material as was on hand 

 has been absorbed by a few persons ; one 

 large lot has been sent to Europe and cut 

 for jewelry. Clear and well-formed crystals 

 of quartz, from three-quarters to two inches 

 long, are occasionally found, and they also 

 are penetrated by the hornblende. 



The occurrence of ascicular crystals of 

 hornblende penetrating quartz is very un- 

 common, this being the only reported lo- 

 cality in America. 



We have never seen finer specimens from 

 any other i)lace, and correspondence with 

 several gentlemen well posted on minerals 

 establishes their occurrence at Minas Ge- 

 raes, Brazil, possibly at St. Gothard, and in 

 China, from whence they come cut usually 

 into curious bottles and ornaments. 



