[Vol. 11-No. 9 

ORNITHOLOGIST . 


nest loomed up on all sides, and when inhabited 
the heads of the sitting birds could always be seen 
at some distance rising above the centre of the 
nest like the knob on a Tam O’Shanter cap. 
Ospreys were soaring in graceful circles overhead 
at various heights scanning with watchful eyes 
the river below, while others were shaping their 
course to and from their hunting grounds; at such 
times flying with a steady flapping of the wings 
and an occasional sail. Frequently we saw the 
birds plunge headlong from a dizzy height on 
their prey, striking the water with a heavy splash 
and throwing the spray in all directions. Only a 
few seconds elapse before the bird rises, clutching 
her quarry in her talons, and either carries it to 
her mate or some favorite perch where it enjoys 
the feast alone. They invariably carry their food 
in their talons, parallel with the body, the right 
foot a trifle in advance of the other. They also 
preserve the same rule in carrying large sticks to 
their nests when building, (so us to cut the wind 
and not be a hindrance to their flight,) and may 
be often seen flying with sticks extending far out 
in the rear. 
A nest placed forty feet up in a tall locust in 
the rear of a farm-house could have been easily 
reached but for the following inscription placed 
on a board fastened to the tree: “Beware; no 
tresspassing on these premises.” We followed a 
cart path for some distance along the edge of a 
swamp, which we soon entered and made our 
way as best we could through the dense growth of 
briars and saplings to the foot of a large leaning 
ash. The parent bird arose from the nest as we 
drew near, uttering its note of alarm, and flew 
around overhead. The nest was placed forty feet 
from the ground and was reached by ascending 
on the upper side of the trunk, which was none too 
steady. It contained two very dark colored eggs, 
the same number and shade of color as laid the 
two previous years in the large chestnut tree in 
the open field just spoken of. This set was packed 
ina “patent box” prepared for the purpose, and 
let down to the ground and repacked in a separate 
box by 3.30 a.m. This was a new nest and built 
and inhabited by the same pair who formerly held 
possession of the chestnut. We retraced our steps 
and crossed ploughed land to a large oak, which 
held a clean, well built nest, saddled to a horizon- 
tal limb ten feet from the trunk. This was reached 
by C. H. A., who brought the set of two small 
eggs down in his felt hat. These differed so 
greatly in coloration that unless we had circum- 
stantial evidence we would hardly have believed 
that they could have been laid by the same bird. 
Several nests could be seen from one position but, 
they were in very difficult situations, and only 
one was reached, which was in a tall leaning elm, 
out some distance in a marsh. Rubber boots were 
put on, and with climbers, rope and boots dang- 
ling over my shoulders I started out. On reach- 
ing the tree, boots were changed, climbers fastened 
on and the ascent made. Though the upright 
crotch in which the nest was placed was reached 
in a few moments, it was nearly an hour before 
the set of two large handsome eggs found their 
way into my box. The egys were the largest we 
had ever collected, and were well along in incu- 
bation. It was a noticeable fact that those eggs 
in sets of two were as a rule larger and farther 
advanced in incubation than those with three. It 
is very rarely that four eggs are found in one nest. 
My friend has only two sets of four eggs to show 
out of two hundred sets examined of a smaller 
number from this colony. <A tall shaky chestnut 
stub towered several feet above the surrounding 
woods and attracted our attention from the very 
fact that it contained a nest, around which we saw 
the birds hovering when we were a quarter of a 
mile away. This was a treacherous old tree, but 
after some expert climbing the nest was reached 
by our friend, but found to hold but one egg, 
which was heavily blotched and splashed with 
dark brown, completely concealing the impure 
white ground color around the crown. As we 
were leaving this nest the Ospreys were seen 
carrying materials to the nest in the elm, repairing 
the damage done there necessary to obtain a foot 
hold. We then directed our steps to a large 
swamp surrounded by hills and hardwood groves 
which were fairly alive with our earlier Warblers. 
As we appeared from under cover of the woods 
an Osprey, sitting on a large nest in a buttonwood 
tree on the opposite edge of the swamp, discovered 
us, and rose flapping its wings and whistling 
loudly, accompanied by its mate, who was equally 
concerned. This nest was about forty-five feet 
from the ground, and placed on top of the partially 
dead trunk. It contained but one large egg on 
May 12, 1884. Hunting over the same ground in 
85, we ascended to the nest and foundit held one 
large egg of abnormal proportions on May 8th. 
We were surprised to find two eggs as the com- 
plement this season. These were of the same 
shade of color as those taken in our previous visits 
and we have found that they do not differ ma- 
terially in the same individuals from year to year. 
Some sympathizing companions joined in with 
this pair and made considerable disturbance, but 
none ventured to attack us. We found that 
several nests that we procured sets from in our 
former trips had been prostrated by the winter 
storms. Crossing a small stream we walked some 
