Oct., 1883.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



79 



Notes from San Jose, Cal. 



Noticing an article on the Black Headed 

 Grosbeak in your last number I woiild like 

 to say : My observations go to prove that 

 the male always takes a lively interest in 

 his domestic affairs. I have on several oc- 

 casions been led to the nest by his loud 

 sweet song while sitting on the eggs. I 

 have surprised him on the nest even be- 

 fore the set was completed. Also seen him 

 covering the yoiing, but have never seen a 

 female in the act. The song of the male 

 ceases when the young hatch. 



April 6, 1883.— Found a nest of the 

 Wliitetailed Kite {Elanus glaucus) in the 

 top of a Live Oak, built of dead twigs lined 

 with straw. It had a cavity about three 

 inches deep and contained four eggs of a 

 dirty whitish yellow, thickly spotted with 

 large chocolate and darker (almost black) 

 spots ; thickest, largest and darkest at one 

 end. Measure, 1 24-32x1 11-32 inches. 



April 29. — Saw a flock of eight daux 

 Swifts {Chcetiira vauxi). 



May 8. — Found a nest of Black-capped 

 Yellow Warbler with four fresh eggs. 



May 18. — Found a nest of Macgillivray's 

 Warbler {Geothlyjns rnacgillivrayi) with 

 four half hatched eggs. 



July 13. — In Stanislaus Co. found two 

 eggs of Poor Will {PhaUjenoptilus nuttalli) 

 on a bare hard alkali spot in a grain field. 

 They were glossy white with small gray 

 and bluish purple markings, about the 

 shape and nearly the size of the Mourning 

 Doves' eggs. — A. L. Farkhurst, San Jose. 



Audubon. 



Hendersok, Ky., Aug. 9, 1883. 

 Mr. Jos. M. Wade. — Remembering the 

 interest you manifested in John J. Audii- 

 bon I send you by express prepaid an ash 

 stick taken from his mill which still stands 

 on our river front. The timber was a part 

 of the machinery of the grist mill, a saw- 

 mill being also run by him in connection 

 with the grist mill. The mill was built in 



1816-17, 45x65 feet, four stories and a 

 basement. The basement walls are of 

 stone, foiu- feet thick. The first story walls 

 are also of stone three feet thick. The 

 other three stories are frame. The stud- 

 ding are 3x6 and the rafters 4x8. There 

 are many large timbers all of which are 

 sound, and the hoixse has the appearance 

 of being good for one hundred years yet. 

 There are a number of pieces of the grist 

 machinery lying around in the upper story 

 under the eaves. The building is now 

 used as a tobacco stemmery. I enclose also 

 two nails taken from the weather boarding 

 which bears the impress of age. Also a 

 note which bears his autograph as witness 

 to a singular obligation. Also an account 

 of J. J. Aiidubon & Co. vs. Bank of Hen- 

 derson for lumber furnished, and an ac- 

 count vs. Aadubon, showing that he al- 

 lowed his note to go to protest. In business 

 affairs he was not a success. These papers 

 were kindly furnished me by Col. E. L. 

 S of this place, who has just com- 

 pleted a history of Henderson County. It 

 will contain some interesting incidents 

 with which Mr. Audubon was connected. 

 I am siire you will appreciate the relics 

 sent. The piece of timber will make an 

 elegant walking cane, as it is very solid and 

 heavy and will take a high polish. 



Your courtesy to myself and Mr. R 



last April and subsequent kindness to Mr. 



A ' were kindly appreciated. 



Respectfully, W. S. J. 



Some Like It, and one has faith in its 

 continuance. E. F. Knithan, Burlington, 

 Iowa, sends $2 for O. and O. When told 

 that he owed nothing, he writes : Give me 

 credit for the amount. This pays for 1884 

 and 1885. Mr. K. has been with us from 

 the beginning, and we hope he will not be 

 disappointed. 



Notes from Colorado. We have just 

 received eighteen pages of valuable notes 

 from an old contributor, D. D. Stone. 

 They will appear as soon as possible. 



