8 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



We think no periodical devotes any reg- 

 ular space to taxidermy, and in many par- 

 ticulars no work on the subject is explicit 

 enough. For the benefit of our readers and 

 the furtherance of the art, we shall be pleased 

 to use our columns in answering queries on 

 this subject. 



Our correspondence is large, and hardly 

 a day passes, without queries of " what will 

 you give for this or that ? " 



Parties writing us to sell goods, are re- 

 spectfully requested to send a list of them 

 with prices, and to enclose a stamp, which 

 will insure the more prompt attention. 



It will also be a great assistance if those 

 desiring to collect for us would carefully 

 state what articles in particular they expect 

 to obtain. We often receive propositions, 

 of which the following is a fair example, 

 and to which a definite reply is quite im- 

 possible : 



" I am going to Florida for some months. 

 Please write me a full list of what you want 

 from there and what you will pay, and if it 

 is any object to me I would like to collect 

 for you." 



Catalogues Issued by Southwick & Jencks' 

 Natural History Store. 



Our Catalogue of March, 1883, is as ap- 

 plicable to our general stock now as when 

 issued. We shall use space in RANDOM 

 NOTES to advertise additions, and also 

 offer special inducements on stock of which 

 we may have an excessive quantity, or on 

 which we get bargains ourselves. But such 

 special prices will be only for limited time, 

 at the expiration of which the regular cat- 

 alogue rates will be asked. 



Send for Catalogues as follows : 



Birds. — Contains Ridgway's Check-list, 

 entitled Nomenclature of North American 

 Birds. It is printed entire, with both sci- 

 entific and common names, and old and new 

 numbers. It gives instructions for skin- 

 ning birds and blowing eggs ; also, price- 

 lists of foreign bird-skins, insects, and all 

 naturalists' supplies. Price, 20 cents. 



With the Nomenclature printed only on 

 one side, for labeling, 25 cents. 



Minerals. — Gives Dana's species num- 

 ber, localities, and valuations — 6 cents. 



Shells. — Contains a very full list of 



prominent species and gives authorities and 

 many synonyms ; also, habitat and valua- 

 tions — 10 cents. 



The three catalogues for 25 cents. 



Every person buying to the amount of 

 $1.00 or more is entitled to one copy free, 

 and may deduct the amount paid for same 

 from the first order amounting to $1.00. 



Short-Eared Owl's Nest. 



While hunting for ducks' nests in a patch 

 of old prairie grass, I chanced to look 

 around, and espied a Short-eared Owl fly- 

 ing in the opposite direction from that we 

 chanced to be moving, and which my com- 

 panion had evidently started. When at a 

 safe distance it turned face toward us, and 

 began ascending, until it looked no larger 

 than a sparrow. Feeling vSure it must have 

 a nest we searched diligently, but without 

 success, and when we left the owl was still 

 watching us from its secure height. About 

 three hours later I returned to make one 

 more effort, and flush the bird if possible. 

 On neariug the spot a flock of Black Terns 

 came within range, and thinking the report 

 of my gun might benefit my cause, I killed 

 one, and the owl arose from close by where 

 the tern fell. The nest was in the hollow 

 left b}^ treading down the grass in every 

 direction, radiating from the centre, and was 

 over two feet across. It was, moreover, on 

 one of the most prominent hillocks. 



The incubation was too far advanced to 

 please an oologist, as the seven eggs were 

 just hatching, with the exception of two that 

 were rotten. 



In the proceedings of the Zoological-Bo- 

 tanical Union of Vienna, for 1882, Mr. A. 

 F. Rogenhofer figures a specimen of moth 

 (ZygcBna minos) with five wings. The ad- 

 ditional wing is between the two normal 

 wings of the left side. It resembles the 

 hind wing in shape, but the distribution of 

 the nerves is peculiar. Such deformities 

 are very rare. — Science Record. 



Cement for Stone or Marble. — The 

 best cement for mending marble or any 

 kind of stone, is made by mixing 20 parts 

 of litharge and 1 part of freshly burned 

 lime in fine dry powder. This is made into 

 a putty by linseed oil. It sets in a few 

 hours, having the appearance of light stone. 



