4 



- 



THE do 



— 



plaintive whistling notes, which became 

 shriller on approaching nearer their 

 nests. 



When in the act of taking their eggs 

 from the . nest they often sweep sud- 

 denly down as if aiming directly for 

 you, but changing their course when a 

 few yards, above your head, fly off to 

 repeat the same movements. 



I Before us in, every direction, could be 

 seen their roughly constructed domi- 

 ciles, invariably placed, in the pine 

 trees. 



Eager, to, know what luck awaited us, 

 we pressed through the thick under- 

 growth with egg- box. and .climbers 

 strapped on, and hastened to ascend. 

 Nearly all the nests . contained fresh 

 eggs, but sometimes a hard climb was 

 rewarded with disajmoiutment; then 

 again, in another nest would be two or 

 three, rarely four,, beautifully marked 

 eggs, which would more than compen- 

 sate for the loss of the first. , 



Their nests are . huge structures of 

 large sticks, seaweeds, corn stalks, or 

 most any kind of rubbish. The mater- 

 ials are put compactly together, and 

 are sufficiently strong to bear a person's 

 weight. The top surface of the nest, 

 which measures about two and half feet 

 across, is perfectly flat with a small 

 depression in the center large enough 

 to hold the eggs. After the young are 

 hatched, they remain upon this flat 

 surface for several months, until they 

 are large enough to fly. 



As we had done considerable climb- 

 ing, and the day being well advanced, 

 we set down to rest, at the same time 

 not forgetting to respond to the de- 

 mands within, by partaking heartily of 

 a tempting repast which had been pre- 

 pared for the occasion. Such a diver- 

 sion from the past three hours' work 

 was by no means objectionable, as any 

 who have had a like experience can 

 attest. Being now refreshed, we re- 

 sumed our work with renewed energy, 

 until the number of sets' was increased 



OLOGIST. 



"- — ... ! ' — ! — I — — ' — 



to twenty-five. As the sun had now 

 begun to descend toward the western 

 horizon, with reluctant steps, we re- 

 traced our way back to the boat which 

 we had left in the morning, and getting 

 aboard, we bade adieu to our feathered 

 friends, who had treated us so hospita- 

 bly during the day. Notwithstanding, 

 their scolding utterances seemed to in- 

 dicate that we were unwelcomed 

 guests. »f 



Returning,, we secured along the 

 shores, some eggs of the i Kingfisher. 

 Green Heron, land Bank Swallow. 



Reaching home at sunset, tired, but 

 much pleased with the success, of the 

 day,- and being favorably impressed by 

 the pleasant experiences— not soon to 

 be forgotten— w r e were quite prepared 

 to appreciate a quiet repose. 



i M. C. White, 

 '.-Mathews'Gounty, Va. 



The Marsh Wrens in Hudson Go-, 'N. J. 



(Gidothorus pahtstris and 'Cistotiwru.-; 

 xtclloris.) 



The Long-billed Marsh Wren is an 

 abundant summer resident in all the 

 marshes thronghtout this count}' (Hud- 

 son). Arriving during the latter end of 

 May, its gurgling song may be heard 

 throughout the breeding season which 

 lasts about from the first of June to the 

 last of July. The song is a gurgling 

 sound somewhat similar to the House 

 Wren's; thus, reel, leel, led, repeated 

 about nine times in quick succession, 

 winding up with a leelt. 



The earliest find of eggs that came to 

 my notice was an incompleted set of 

 five taken May 30, 1890. 



The latest a set of six taken for me 

 was July 17, 1889. 



They usually build in colonies of 

 small or greater extent. 



The nests being a globular structure 

 with an entrance on one side, composed 

 of sedges on the outside and liner gras- 

 ses within, dined' with any soft mater- 



