Aug. 1887.] 



a:n^d oologist. 



125 



Harris's Hawk, {Autenor tmicinctns harrisi). 

 Very common and several nests found both 

 seasons. Build in tops of mesquitc trees and 

 live oaks about twenty feet from the ground. 

 March •24th, 1S84, first nest, three eggs, incul)a- 

 tion commenced. 



lied-taiied Hawk, (Butro hnrcalis). Not as 

 common as Harris's Hawk, and though I did 

 not find them, I am satisfied that at least two 

 pairs had nests in tliis vicinit3^ 



Red-shouldered Hawk, {Butco lineatus). Not 

 common. One nest taken from a cotton wood 

 tree on the river bottom March 2Gth, 1883, con- 

 tained three eggs, incubation commenced. In 

 the following season another set of tliree eggs 

 was taken from this same nest. 



Turkey Buzzard, {Cathartes aura) . Breed in 

 holes oi- caves on the river blufis. Two fresh 

 eggs found March 2nd, 1884. 



Black Vulture, (Catharista atrata). Lay eggs 

 on the ground close to old logs. Several eggs 

 brought by Mexicans both seasons, found while 

 hunting cattle in the dry black oak country. 



Mourning Dove, (Zenaidura carulincnsis). 

 Very connnon, and generally make nests on 

 lower horizontal limbs of live oak and mesquite 

 trees. First eggs found May 10th, 1SS4. Fresh. 



Mexican Turkey, (Meleagris gallopavo). Not 

 common, l)ut breed in this vicinity. 



Texan C^uail, {Ortijx virginiana toxunn). 

 Abundant, and many nests found while cutting 

 oat crop; also frequently lay in chicken nests 

 in brush piles near to ranches. Commenced 

 laying about fith of May in 1884. 



Killdeer, {Oxi/erhus vociferns) . Common and 

 perhaps raise two broods. 



American Anhinga, Snake Bird, (Flotits an- 

 hhiga). These birds are found at the Grey 

 Town Tjagoon, before mentioned and undoubt- 

 edly breed there. 



The Number of Eggs Laid by the 

 Great-Horned Owl. 



BY DR. W. S. STRODE, BERNADOTTE, ILL. 



After reading Charles F. Morrison's article in 

 the (). AND O. for April, on the number of eggs 

 laid by the Great-horned Owl, it occurred to me 

 that my experience with this interesting bird 

 during this season of 1887, might be of interest 

 to the readers of this journal, and also throw 

 some light on this subject at least for the "Spun 

 River Region" of Illinois. 



January 2Gth. Took first set of B. virginian- 

 ?(s; number of eggs two, incubation fresh. 



Nest forty feet high on large limb of a white 

 oak tree, close to body, and apparently built by 

 the owls. 



February 27th. Took another set of two 

 from same birds. Nest a half mile front first, 

 and in a red oak, about thirty feet up in forks, 

 and also built by the owls. Each nest being a 

 low fiat structure, composed almost entirely of 

 sticks and a few leaves and feathers on the in- 

 side. 



February 1st. Found a Bubo's nest in a 

 white oak, containing one fresh egg. The lay 

 apparently not completed. Both birds were 

 piesent and gave me a fine serenade as I was 

 making the ascent. 



February ISth. Found a nest in an old red 

 oak snag, about thirty feet high. Could see 

 the bird's ear tufts above the cavity. The 

 climb a hard one, but with the aid of a good 

 pair of climbers I succeeded in getting up, and 

 found three verj' nice eggs, slightly incubated. 



March 8th. Found this same pair nesting in 

 the hollow top of a large white oak, about fifty 

 feet liigli, and about two hundred y;irds from 

 the former nesting place. Going up 1 found 

 one fresh egg. Coming that way again on 

 March 12th and ITith the old bird flew out on 

 rapping. 



March 20th. I again ascended tlie tree and 

 ft»und three more eggs, in which incubation 

 had commenced, these appearently being a 

 completion of the set. I have this prolific pair 

 under observation for the third time, thinking 

 possibly I might even get a third set. 



Marcli 8th. A boy brought me a set of two 

 that he had found in a nest which the birds had 

 probably built. 



March 22ud. I located this pair nesting in 

 the same woods ; the nest about forty feet high, 

 in the forks of a small elm. Going up I found 

 two fresh eggs. The nest was a pretty neat 

 structure, and built by the owls. 



February 21st. Found a nest in an old red 

 oak snag, about twenty-five feet high, contain- 

 ing two eggs slightly incubated. 



March 13th. A boj'^ brought me one fresh 

 egg that he had found in a nest in a tree. Prob- 

 ably an incomplete set. 



This comprises the eggs taken this season, 

 but 1 found other nests. 



March 13th. Found an owl on a nest about 

 seventy-five feet from the ground, and away 

 out on a limb. The tree was a red oak, three 

 and a half or four feet through, and forty feet 

 to a limb. A tremendous climb. But tying up 

 my horse, I strapped on my climbers and went 

 up, up, up, until I neared the nest. The parent 



