86 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 8-No. 11 



that nothing else could have done. 

 There was Prof. S. F. Baird, who to our 

 regret and great loss gave up his first love 

 and went a fishing. There was that mod- 

 el scientist Geo. N. Laurence, not " Ameri- 

 can," but of the world. The learned Al- 

 len from Cambridge was there who gives 

 us the technical "straight." The Doctors 

 were there in force. Dr. Shufeldt from 

 La., who commences to study our game 

 birds just where we like to leave them. 

 Dr. J. B. Holden and Dr. A. K. Fisher, 

 Sing Sing, N. Y., who reads the O. and O. 

 and of course keeps posted, and Dr. Ed- 

 gar A. Meams of Highland Falls, N. Y., 

 who wrote a good thing on the Birds of 

 N. Y., and forgot to send a copy to this 

 office. Dr. C Hart Merriam was there a 

 moving spirit. His style and accuracy 

 will tell in the secretary's chair. The 

 hard working Dr. Elliott Cones was there, 

 whose graceful pen and kindness of heart 

 has led him to endorse men who were n. g. 

 in the science. Brewster of Cambridge, 

 Purdie from under the gilded dome, and 

 Chamberlain from over the border was 

 there, and many others not well known to 

 us as they are not advanced enough in or- 

 nithology to read the latest news from the 

 bird world in the O. and O. 



Robert Ridgway, who has so carefully 

 corrected the errors in O. and O., was 

 there. The boys in the west noticing this 

 trait have honored a newly formed club 

 with his name ; and may its constitution be 

 like the science it advocates, broad enough 

 to admit all honest workers on this conti- 

 nent. The ornithologist and oologist of 

 this generation, Capt. Chas. E. Bendire, 

 left Fort Klamah, Oregon, on receipt of 

 notice of the meeting, and reached New 

 York at 7 a. m. on the morning of the day 

 of the meeting. While others are wasting 

 valuable time over the name of a bird, the 

 Captain has been raking in the birds and 

 eggs to an extent little thought of. Al- 

 though stationed in the wilderness he is 

 better posted on eastern collections than 



any other man. The following officers 

 were elected : Pres. J. A. Allen; Vice Pres., 

 Dr. Elliott Coues and Robert Ridgway ; 

 Sec. and Treas., Dr. C. Hart Merriam, 

 Locust Grove, N. Y. 



Nature is truth. Science is a method of 

 describing nature with the pen. Art is 

 nature transferred to canvas by mechanical 

 means. Science and art are necessary to 

 bring nature to our firesides regardless of 

 nature's wars outside, and also to teach the 

 student who is not endowed with the fac- 

 ulties of observation. 



Downy Woodpecker. Late in October, 

 1882, a Downy Woodpecker excavated a 

 hole in an old cherry' tree, near a much 

 used door in my yard, of the size and shape 

 of its usual nest, and occupied it nightly 

 for more than six weeks. In April follow- 

 ing a pair of Bluebirds took possession 

 and reared two broods of five birds each ; 

 but now, October 2d, '83, the Woodpecker 

 has occiipied his old quarters for several 

 nights and frequents the locality during 

 the day. This habit of the Downy in mak- 

 ing a winter home is a new one to me. — 

 John 31. Hoxoey^ Canandaigiia, N. Y. 



Least Bittern. While collecting on a 

 large marshy meadow in this vicinity on 

 June 10th, 1883, I started a Least Bittern 

 from a clump of flags. Thinking there 

 might be a nest there, I commenced 

 searching and soon found it. It was a 

 mere hollow in a bunch of matted flags 

 scantily lined with water grass, and con- 

 tained two fresh laid eggs. In shape and 

 size they resembled eggs of the Yellow- 

 billed Cuckoo. In color they were of pale 

 blue, almost white. Fearing other collec- 

 tors might find them I took them, though 

 probably not a complete set. I also se- 

 cured the bird. I afterwards secured three 

 more finely plumaged males on the same 

 meadows, which are now in my cabinet. — 

 Charles H. Neff., Portland., Conn. 



Nests and Eggs of the Birds of Ohio is 

 delayed for want of fresh nests and eggs 

 to draw. This is a work of sterling merit. 



