June, 1883.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



47 



mainder Avere as yet empty. About two 

 weeks later, after climbing up to a number 

 of nests, and passing from the top of one 

 tree to another, where this was practica- 

 ble, thus examining nearly all, I was sur- 

 prised to find each empty, though the old 

 birds fluttered overhead or alighted near 

 by. At the base of many of the trees in 

 which nests were situated lay the eggs 

 with a piece broken out and the meat gone. 

 I suspectad two parties of the robbery — 

 either the Red Squirrel, (/Seiurus hudsoni- 

 MS,) that I saw some distance away, or else 

 a number of Crows that were perched in a 

 neighboring tree cawing lustily. On May 

 20th I examined the nests a third time, 

 finding them again without eggs, while 

 fresh shells were strewn on the ground. 

 The Herons were now shy and restless, 

 whereas the Crows, for whom I entertained 

 a strong aversion, were more audacious 

 and clamorous than ever. A subsequent 

 and final visit revealed conditions un- 

 changed, the Crows as of&cious as ever, so 

 that, it being very late in the season, I was 

 satisfied that no you.ng birds were reared 

 last year. I fear the Herons will remove 

 to some other breeding ground the coming 

 Spring, a proceeding which I should very 

 much regret. — A. G. Van yiken, JVew 

 Brunswick, JV. J. 



Rare Books. Since our last we have 

 added Thomas Pennant's Arctic Zoology, 

 in two volumes. A very rare work. We 

 have also secured in England a copy of 

 Alex. Wilson's Poems, 1790 edition, which 

 is very rare. It is a small 8 vo., and the 

 price is $6. We have sold a duplicate 

 copy of Thomas Nuttall's works, in two 

 volumes, 1832 and 1840 edition, a fine 

 copy, price $30, to Mr. Chamberlain, Saint 

 John, N. B. 



SOUTHWICKS & JeNCKS CATALOGUES. Tllis 



firm have got out a series of catalogues 

 for the collector that have never been 

 equaled. The one devoted to Birds and 

 Eggs is a production of great labor and 

 skill. Everv collector should have it. 



Lesser Red Poll. 



This bird is a common Winter visitor, 

 arriving in November and remaining usu- 

 ally until the middle or last of March. 

 To-day, April 14th, I shot one, the latest 

 I have known them to remain. The last 

 of March, 1878, 1 was fortunate enough to 

 find the nest and eggs of this species. 

 The nest, now before me, is composed of 

 fine dry twigs, dried grasses, fine strips of 

 fibrous bark, bits of twine, hair, fibrous 

 roots, moss, dried leaves, pieces of co- 

 coons, feathers, thistle down, and other 

 material, which is neatly woven together 

 into a compact structure and lined with 

 hair. It was placed very loosely among 

 the top branches of a small spruce, about 

 six feet from the ground, and contained 

 three fresh eggs of a very pale bluish 

 green color, sparingly marked with spots 

 and splashes of different shades of brown 

 at the larger end. Dimensions, .72X-48, 

 .72X.47, ,71X.48.— C. 0. Tracy, Tafts- 

 ville, Vt. 



[We kept one of these birds in a cage for two seasons. 

 It made a good cage bird, but was very restless in the even- 

 ing until midnight during the Spring and Fall migration, 

 and had a peculiar call during the night. It remained per- 

 fectly healthy. When changing its seed, it flew through the 

 hole in the wires and went out the baclc door. Almost im- 

 mediately we went out at the front door, and while watch- 

 ing the fountain play, noticed what appeared to be a bird in 

 the water. On removing it, it proved to be the Lesser Red 

 Poll. The bright sun and the fountain spray lured the little 

 Northern bird to its destruction. — Ed.] 



Stormy Petrel {Thalassidroma pelagi- 

 ca) was shot on the Connecticut River, 

 opposite Springfield, Mass., a few years 

 ago The specimen is about six inches 

 long, its plumage, rusty black, except back 

 of the thighs and above the tail, which is of 

 white. The upper mandible is long and 

 terminates with a short hooked nail. The 

 wings resemble the swallows and are large 

 for the bird. The feet are small, anterior 

 toes webbed, hind toe only a claw. The 

 oily nature of the bird is very noticeable 

 in this specimen. Before it was skinned 

 its presence was very perceptible by the 

 smell, reminding one of an old-fashioned 

 oil lamp. — O. B. Deane. 



