246 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Three days later I saw the hawks carrying sticks to the mass that I had 

 supposed to be a squirrel's nest. They completed this nest and then 1 did 

 not see them for several days. On the fourth day somewhat disgusted I 

 walked on to the old original claim and when within about ten feet of the 

 tree off went Mrs. Hawk with a scream that made my hair stand on end. 

 I went up that tree fast. In the old nest was as fine a specimen of hawk 

 egg as I ever saw. It was lavender gray with blotches of dark chestnut. 

 Two days later I went again, but the eggs had been taken. On my way 

 -back 1 stopped at the new nest, built this year, and found an egg of the 

 same size and color but covered with fine brown markings. Now the 

 question is, did Madame Hawk build a second nest just to throw the boys 

 off the scent and then use it when she found her ruse had not succeeded.? 

 If so she is a smart old bird. George w. fisk. 



THE ADVENTURE OF A YOUNG SANDPIPER. 



One day late in July, I was walking along a narrow path by the shore 

 of the lake. On one side of me were thick clumps of briars and birches, 

 and on the other, a broad level sandflat reaching to the water. Every 

 few feet along this flat, were clumps of tall and waving reeds. As I was 

 passing one of these, 1 was startled by a whirr of gray wings, and a large 

 female sandpiper flew straight out to a small pebbly beach, where I could 

 just see her teetering body and hear her anxious peeps. I knew she had 

 just left her nest, ran a few feet, and then suddenly flown. Determined 

 to find the nest I moved forward cautiously scanning every inch of sand, 

 and each clump of reeds until 1 found it, which took me no short time. 

 I took one of the four spotted eggs which were in the nest, and quietly 

 left. When I reached home I placed it in my egg case, intending to blow it 

 the next day, but it was forgotten, and it was the third day before 1 thought 

 of it again, I hastened to the box, and upon opening it a faint but clear 

 "peep, peep" greeted me, and over in one corner was a young sand- 

 piper, it having hatched in the warm cotton. I gave my foster child a 

 little warm milk, which he greedily sucked from the palm of my hand. 

 The next morning 1 returned him to his nest, where he was probably 

 greeted in true brotherly fashion, for the others had hatched. The fol- 

 lowing day I went to the nest again to see how they were, but was disa- 

 appointed for the nest was empty. Probably they were out on the little 

 pebbly beach taking their first lessons in teetering. 



A. L. Harriman. 



