20 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 2 



set, Ijut was disappointed. The nest was on tlie 

 ground at tlie foot of a binicli of tall weeds. It 

 was composed outside of leaves and within of 

 rootlets, grass, and horse-liair. The eggs were 

 white and sprinliled about tlie larger end with fine 

 reddish-brown dots. 



On May 31, 188-1, when collecting about twelve 

 miles from Manhattan on Deep Creek a tributary 

 of the Kansas river, I found a nest of tliis War- 

 bler. This nest was also upon the ground, or 

 ratlier upon a large mass of decayed leaves. The 

 nest was protected by a bunch of low shrubbery 

 and the leaning tops of a small sapling. It was 

 composed of a rude foundation ot the leaves, and 

 lined with a thin layer of fine grass {ii</r<>li.i) and 

 horee-hair. It was very carelessly built, hardly 

 deserving the name of nest. It contained three 

 eggs, one of the Warbler and two of the Cow-bird. 

 Another Warbler's egg was on the ground at a lit- 

 tle distance from the nest. This had evidently 

 been removed by the Cow-bird to make room for 

 its own. Incubation had begiui in the other eggs. 

 I have always found the Cow-bird eggs to ac- 

 company those of tliis species. On June 18, I 

 met a family of tliese bii-ds consisting of the 

 liarent birds, two young Warblers and a young 

 Cow-bird. The ])arents were equally solicitous 

 for all the young, and fed tlicm industriously, not- 

 withstanding I was quite near to them. 



Kggs of tlie Kentucky Warbler average about, 

 .73 by .."iG of an inch. Tlie birds leave for the south 

 early in September. 



Florida Bird Life. 



HY E. M. HASIiliOllK. 



In my former communication (O. & O., X, p. 4), 

 I stated that I should try and make the rest of ray 

 articles more interesting, and tliis I hope to do. I 

 find that I am not far enough south for the Ibises, 

 Spoimbills i-tc, itc, but intend going where they 

 are to be found in the Spring. At present I must 

 stay where chance lias placed me. Let me com- 

 mence with : — 



Oct. 20. Virginia (iuail, [<Jrlii.r rirr/iiii,i,i>/s). 

 These birds are very numerous here, and may be 

 found in coveys of from ten to twenty uiiliin a 

 ten minutes walk in any direction. 



Oct. 20. jMockingbirds, {Miiinix piilyriMtn^,) are 

 as numerous here as Robins at the North, and 

 much tamer ; tlieir song seems to be made up of 

 the songs of all the other birds put together. 



Oct. 23. Ked-bellied Woodpecker, (Cintnnix 

 carvUimn,) are very common in the pine lands and 

 swamps. They may be recognized by their liarsh, 

 rasping, guttural "chip." 



Oct. 2.3. Screech Owl, {Scops diii/i). Shot one 

 of these birds to-day in the pine trees. They are 

 quite plentiful, judging from the number I hear at 

 night. 



Oct. 24. Bald Eagle, (IMwrfiis k,iro,rp/„dn^). 

 Saw one of these birds sailing over the lake to-day. 

 This is tlie second I have seen since I came 

 here. They are said to be quite rare. 



Oct. 39. Savannah Bunting, (Pasnercidnii sn- 

 ■eanmi). I saw about a dozen of these birds in a 

 flock to-day, they seemed to haunt the bushes and 

 grass. 



Oct. 30. Little Blue Heron, (Arihn orrtdfn). 

 These birds may be found in consideratile numbers 

 around the small ponds and lakes, but they are 

 very shy and difficult of approacli. The 3oung are 

 pure white in color. 



Nov. 36. Towhee Bunting, (I'ipilo erytltroph- 

 tlidlmiix). Heard a number of these birds in the 

 underbrush to-day, and caught sight of one or 

 two. The plumage seems to be remarkably light. 

 Dec. 8. Florida Darter, [Phtux dnliiiKja,)- arc 

 quite numerous on the river and small streams. 

 When flying for a distance their manner is much 

 the same as that of a Hawk. 



Dec. 30. Cardinal Grosbeak, ( ( 'drdiitnlis rinjin- 

 iiDiiis,) are in abundance in tlie swamps or "hum- 

 mocks." Their only note at this season is a single 

 "chip," repeated at intervals. 



Dec. 25. BaTtei.\Ov,'\,(Si/rniiiiniiiljiil"!<iiiii). I 

 shot one of these birds in a clump of Oaks, on 

 high pine land. Tliey may be heard in abundance 

 in the swamps at dark, and occasionally during 

 the day. 



Oct. 24. Red-cockaded Woodpecker, {Pieiix 

 qiicndiis,) are very numerous in the pine woods, 

 but the females seem much more numerous than 

 the males. They seem to remain in small flocks 

 ot from four to eight. Have heard only one note, 

 a single "yip" repeated at intervals, loudly and 

 sharply. 



Dec. 27. Yellow-winged Spniniw, [Cnln i-iiiru- 

 Inx pdsn-n'iiiix). Have seen two ol' these little 

 birds. Tliey are very shj-, and hide in the tall 

 grass, only stirring when approached witldn a few 

 feet. Thej- do not fly much, but creep along the 

 ground veiy swiftly, and will not fly unless forced, 

 but instead sneak under the grass, logs, brushes, 

 itc. I have seen them run down the gopher holes 

 to hide. Not common. 



Dec. 29. Maryland Yellow-throat, ((hothhipix 

 tricliiiK). Quite numerous, but shy. Found in the 

 scrub palmetto and distinguished only bj' its com- 

 plaining "chip," exactly like that of a AVren. 



Dec. 29. Red-shouldered Hawk, (/?///«/ lii,,,,. 

 tux). Quite common. 



