ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 5 



Blue-headed Vireo, (Lanivireo solitarius,). Shot a 

 specimen of this bird on April 2d, in .«ome mixed woods; 

 this year it is the second Vireo to arrive, the White eyed 

 being the earliest, as it came on April Ist. 



Yellow-throated Warbler, (Demlrrrca ilmniiiira,). 

 Procured two specimens of this bird on April let, and one 

 on April 'id. They were qnite silent, uttering no song only 

 some faint call notes, unlike ihe Black-throated Green 

 Warl)ler, {Dfiidrai-a cirens,) which I procured on April 1st. 

 1 he latter was in full song, and thus attracted my attention, 

 which proved fatal to it. Besides the above, Black and 

 White Creepers, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Maryland Yel- 

 low-throat all arrived on April 1st, which bears out Prof. 

 I'ooke's observation that the night before the maximum of 

 a warm wave brings most of the migrants." 1 he night of 

 April 1st was the night of maximum heat, but the birds 

 must have come hr/ure then, as they were here on April 1st. 

 — //. 11. aiul V. ft-, lirimlfy. 



The Turkey Buzzard, [Catliartfn itjna). This is a 

 very common bird in southwestern Louisiana. It is a per- 

 manent resident, but its nest is but sparingly found. Last 

 year while surveying a line through the woods, near Ver- 

 million River, we found a nest, if that may be called a nest, 

 "which nest was none." A large Red Oak had fallen, and 

 become hollow, and one side gone— rotted away on the un- 

 der side. The neat was on the ground under the shelter of 

 this old tree, which made a dry place. 'I here were four 

 young in the nest, about the size of a Bob \\hite, ora 

 little less. '1 hey were white as cotton, and showed little or 

 no fear. There was a luitd odor pervading the place, and 

 the ground was bare of all vegetation for some distance 

 around, which seemed to have been killed by the strong 

 excrement and cflal of the birds. I did not observe any 

 old birds about in the trees. 1 he nest was in a very lonely 

 place, and one seldom visited by man. '1 here is something 

 strange in the power the Turkey Buzzard ):osee6ses (in 

 common with some other birds,) of soaring. 1 have 

 watched them often soaring for an hour, perhaj.s, without 

 the movement of a wing, and without any apparent descent 

 toward the earth. '1 hey can even rise a little distance with- 

 out moving the wings, but when they wish to rise much 

 they Hop the wing. I have observed them when soaring 

 very low, and ■quite near me. Their wings, tail and body 

 are set at an angle like a kite; and they go right against 

 the wind for a short distance. No explanation, I believe 

 of this phenomenon has ever been ottered, although the 

 tacts are admitted, 1 think. W hat mysterious power en- 

 ables them to apparently set the law of gravity at deliance? 

 Is there some nakiiuwn forcz in motion which they bring 

 into action? V\ ho can answer ? The Turkey Buzzard, for 

 the spread of its wing, is an exceedingly light bird, (.'an it 

 be possible that the temperature of its body is such as to 

 generate a suSicienl amount of heat under its broad sjiread- 

 ing pinions to sustain it in the air, on the principle of the 

 hot air balloon V (.an it create an ascending column of hot 

 air under itself, sutticient to support its light body ? \\ ho 

 will solve this problem?— 11'. If. Kdwaids, Abbeiille, La. 



Notes PROM Shelter Island, N. Y. The past Winter 

 has been unusually severe, and the Spring thus far, cold 

 and backward. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the 

 weather, the Meadow Larks have remained all Winter, and 

 the cheerful twittering of the Goldfinches has been heard in 

 the severest weather. The Ducks were nearly all driven to 

 other localities by the bays being frozen completely over, 

 a few Long-tails and Golden-eyes remaining in the tide- 

 holes, the former shy, but the latter affording fair shooting 

 over tlie decoys. Crows have been abundant, and I have 

 noticed that when they were seen, passing southward in 

 flocks, we almost invariably had a storm from the direction 



they were leaving. Can their movements he utilized as a 

 warning of approaching storms? A few Buffleheads have 

 been reported by gunners, and a fine male Mallard was 

 brought me to be mounted, which was shot near Long 

 Beach. The first migrant seen was a Red-winged Black- 

 bird on March iith. Crow Bl.ickbirds came the Tth, and 

 Robins the 11th. 1 shot a Fish Crow on the 17th, which 

 was a female, and very tame. It flew by me so close I easily 

 brought her down with a charge of No. 9 shot. Following 

 are the dimensions: Length, 16.84; extent, 33; wing, U.ii)': 

 tail, 6 JO; bill, (culmen) 1.80; Tarsus, 1.82; longest toe and 

 claw, 2.0,'! inches. Kingfishers arrived the 27th, Field Spar 

 rows and Cow Buntings the 28th. The Wild Geese took 

 advantage of a fair wind and passed over in hundreds on 

 the 31st. Saw the first Fox Sparrow April 3d, and heard 

 the Woodcocks for the first time, although I had kept a 

 sharp lookout for them for weeks. White-bellied Swallows 

 came the 6th, and the Meadow Larks, Robins, Blackbirds, 

 Savannah .Sparrows and Field Sparrows became more 

 abundant. The Fish Hawks were about a week behind 

 time, on the 27th of March. In regard to the remarks 

 "Experience with Screech Owls," I wish to say that I luit 

 three of them in a cage over night, and the next mornin" I 

 found the weakest of the three killed and more than half 

 eaten by his companions.— ir. H'. Woithintjton. 



Red Crossbill in Illinois. On April 4th, '85 I re- 

 ceived a Red Crossbill (female) which was seen to drop 

 dead from a tree. On the Sih, I received another female, 

 and on the 10th a male in fair plummage. which were shot 

 from a lieap of squashes, on the seeds of which they were 

 feeding. I have since heard of two more that were found 

 dead.—,/. E. IHrkinmii. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To Remove Skunk Scent. Absorbent.— In the last 

 number of "O. and O." is an inquiry for something to re- 

 move Skunk scent. I have found wrapping an Owl-or 

 other object-in green Hemlock boughs to be very effective. 

 I have only used this remedy in the Winter, upon freshly 

 killed birds, but have no doubt skins could be treated in the 

 same manner witli benefit. Changing the boughs occasion- 

 ally is an advantage. 



'Ihe past Winter a very fine specimen of the Great Horned 

 Owl was brought to mt, which was strongly scented with 

 black-and-white. After keeping it in Hemlock for ten days, 

 I mounted it, and in due time returned it to its owner, who 

 placed it in a close, unoccupied room. He recently informed 

 me that sometimes upon first entering the room he could 

 detect a little scent, "but usually nothing. 



For an absorbent, try fine dry sawdiist-the finer the 

 better— agitating the feathers the same as with other ab- 

 sorbents. It is the best thing I have ever used f..r that piir- 

 pose.- C. O. Trari/, ra.ftavilk, 17. 



Illinois Bird Laws.— Some time ago I remember read- 

 ing an inquiry in the "O. and O." concerning the killing of 

 birds. In reply, I will say that the laws of this State are 

 very strict in regard both to the killing of birds and the de- 

 struction of their nests and eggs. A few years ago the 

 Legislature took action on tlie laws, exempting Taxider- 

 mists and persons making collections for scientific pur- 

 poses. This is a very wise provision, and one that should 

 exist in every State in the V mnn.— Horace A. Kline, I'olu, 

 Illinois. 



Received.— Z/. a. .Smilli, .h: I'reiitiss Balilin'n. 



to several correspondents. 

 "Write on one side of the paper only. Never roll your 

 manuscript, always fold it." 



