3i8 



General Notes. I July 



beech trees ; . . . . most of the nests contained two young each. We 

 found three nests in different years that contained only one bird eacli, but 

 never found the eggs until this year." 



During the past winter Goshawks have occurred in unusual numbers 

 in southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where they are generally very 

 rare. — Witmer Stone, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Peculiar Nest of the Great Horned Owl. — While returning from a 

 short walk in tlie woods during a recent afternoon (March 14), I found 

 a nest of Bubo virginianus which was quite remarkable. I had left the 

 woodland and was crossing a meadow; in this there stood perhaps a half 

 dozen elms and inaples, none of them over six or eight inches in diameter 

 at the base, the nearest timberland being three hundred yards away, 

 across a creek. In one of the largest maples there was an old nest of the 

 Crow, only twenty-four feet from the ground ; this was occupied by a pair 

 of Owls and one of the parent birds was upon the nest. Repeated heavy 

 blows upon the trunk did not effect her flight ; she remained until I shook 

 a sapling which brushed the nest with its tips. Ascending, I found three 

 eggs ; in and about the nest were sixteen field mice, a hind leg of a rabbit 

 and a wing of a Downy Woodpecker. There was also in a tree at no great 

 distance the half-eaten body of a Pinnated Grouse. Upon preparation 

 of the eggs I found them addled ; incubation, which was equal in all, had 

 advanced for three or five days, when the process had stopped, probably 

 through the eggs becoming chilled. Evidently the bird had continued 

 to set upon the eggs for a week thereafter. — Frank H. Shoemaker, 

 Hampton, lozva. 



Disgorgement among Song birds. — Here in the cultivated parts of 

 Southern California, there have been planted very extensively for shade 

 and ornament, the beautiful ever-green pepper-trees. These trees bear a 

 red berry in pendant clusters which matiu'e on the trees throughout the 

 whole year. Large flocks of western Robins and Cedar-birds are attracted 

 into town during the winter months, and feed largely on these pepper- 

 berries. The trees are constantly full of the birds, the habits of which I 

 have had ample opportunity of observing. 



The pepper-berries are somewhat smaller than sweet-pea seeds, and of a 

 spherical shape. They are composed of three parts ; a thin dry paper-like 

 outer hull ; a solid central part, and on the outside of the latter but not 

 touching the external husk, a sticky viscid coating. The central kernel 

 is very hard, and moreover when chewed has a most penetrating disagree- 

 able taste which does not leave the mouth for a long time. When held in 

 the mouth without being touched by the teeth, however, the viscid coat is 

 dissolved in the saliva, and proves to be very , sweet and agreeable to the 

 taste. This sweet portion is the nutritive part of the fruit which is 

 sought by the birds. 



The birds rapidly swallow these berries in large numbers, including the 

 hulls, which are easily crushed, until the stomach is crammed. They 



