44 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 12-I^o. 3 



the measurements they vary much in size. To 

 give an accurate description of the coloration 

 would be a difficult task. The ground color is 

 of a dull white, wreathed and sprinkled, more 

 abundantly around the greater end, with spots 

 of light purple running into dark brown, seem- 

 ingly beneath the surface of the shell. Over 

 these markings, and scattered over the entire 

 shell, are points, blotches and streaks of a rich 

 brown shade. The general appearance is plain, 

 notably free from any of the bold markings 

 common in this species. They measure, .80 x 

 .63; .78X.59; .78x.60; .75x..59; .76x.58; and 

 .75X.59. 



A description of the nest can be given with 

 more accuracy than of the eggs. The entire 

 body or bulk of it was composed of dead leaves 

 of the white oak put together in a loose mass, 

 that stood above the ground six inches or more. 

 The lining of the nest was made of the fine ten- 

 drils and stems of some creeping plant, with 

 which I am not familiar, together with a small 

 quantity of horse hair imbeded in the bottom ; 

 but altogether so thin and flimsy that the leaves 

 showed through. The nest is quite a large one, 

 measuring two inches in depth (inside) by three 

 inches across the top. 



Some Birds of Heron Lake, Minn. 



BY J. W. PRESTON, BAXTER, lOwA. 



Of all the localities which it has been my priv- 

 ilege to visit, Heron Lake stands at the head of 

 the list. To any one interested in the study of 

 bird life who may have it in his power to spend 

 a season there, I can assure an abundance of 

 valuable material. From earliest migrant to 

 late summer resident the region abounds in spe- 

 cies. 



The locality is a well-known rendezvous for 

 sportsmen, for spring and fall shooting. 

 Among other game-birds are found vast num- 

 bers of Canvas-back and Red-head Ducks. 

 Both these species remain to breed, though 

 not so plentifully as formerly. Here also may 

 be found White Pelican, Double-crested Cor- 

 morants, an occasional pair of Ring-billed 

 Gulls, besides very many species of ducks, 

 mostly remaining to breed, and so abundant 

 are many species that hundreds of nests may 

 easily be found. A few pair of Pin-tail Ducks 

 remain during the summer and the nests may 

 be expected in grassy places back from the 

 lakes. 



One pair at least, of Merganser {Mergus mer- 

 ganser) had hidden their treasures near the lake 



shore the season I spent there. But of the very 

 many desirable species noted, Franklin's Gull 

 (Larus franklini) was most abundant, literally 

 swarming by thousands, about the lower end of 

 the lower lake, over the great marsh, where a 

 few dozen pair reuiain to nest, about one hun- 

 dred and flfty rods up stream from whei'e the 

 maish di-ains off into the river, and in sight of 

 the town of Heron Lake. 



I hope in a future number to give a list of the 

 birds noted there by me in the few weeks I 

 spent, as it is one of interest. Perhaps few 

 local ornithologists are aware of the great 

 abundance of species represented, and that so 

 many are to be classed as summer residents. 

 To any one who can arrange to spend a few 

 weeks there from the middle of Maj% about the 

 marshes, ponds and lakes, a rich harvest of 

 oological specimens, as well as valuable infor- 

 mation will doubtless result, as the vicinity 

 swarms at that time with birds great and small, 

 each intent on life's duties. 



Tnused to the notes of water birds, it was a 

 great treat to me to listen to mingled voices 

 which floated up from grassy marshes and cane- 

 grown shores, on a fdet evening. It would re- 

 quire experience and a trained ear to distinguish 

 each species. Gutteral squawk of Night Heron, 

 constant ciies and chatter of Rails and Coots, 

 continued din of the myriad Gulls settling to 

 rest, while deep and long echoed the musical 

 pumping of the American Bittern. Memory 

 dwells long upon the charms of that favored 

 spot. 



The Number of Eggs Laid by the 

 Robin. 



BY SHELLY W. DENTON, WELLESLEY, MASS. 



As to the number of eggs a Robin {3Iernla 

 mujratoria) lays, I would state that a young 

 man who has collected many eggs brought a 

 Robin's nest one day containing seven eggs. 

 I was rather doubtful in my own mind as to his 

 honesty in this case, although I had never had 

 reason to previously doubt his veracity. About 

 two weeks later, in a swamp of low bushes and 

 trees close to Charles River, I found a Robin's 

 nest placed in a pine tree near the end of a low 

 branch, containing six eggs, while immediately 

 under the nest was the seventh ^g,g^ whole and 

 unbroken lying on the leaves with which the 

 ground was carpeted. On this seventh egg 

 were three small snails, or "slugs" as we com- 

 monly call them, that is, the kind without a 

 house on its back. On removing these slugs 



