THE OOLOGIST. 



63 



with such force as to open the back of 

 my left hand, and leaving a scar when 

 it healed, about two inches long, which 

 I have to this day. 



I took out my handkerchief, and after 

 throwing it over the hawk's head so 

 that he could not see, I put one hand 

 around his legs and the other around 

 his throat, and in about half of an hour 

 he had a new home in the shape of an 

 unused pigeon loft. 



The Cooper's Hawk feeds upon mice, 

 rats, etc., with now and then a bird for 

 a change. I have seen Cooper Hawks 

 attempt to catch quail and rabbits, but 

 they invariably lose them by their in- 

 tended prey taking refuge under brush- 

 wood. I have no doubt, however, that 

 quail are caught sometimes when the 

 hawk is hard pressed by hunger. 



The Cooper's Hawk generally lays four 

 or five pale blue, unblutched eggs; but I 

 have a set of six in my collection which 

 are all blotched more or less with brick- 

 red colorings, two of the set being very 

 handsome eggs, the colorings being so 

 dark and clear. The hawk is very shy 

 and is never seen close to his nest until 

 after the eggs are hatched. 



If a person- attempts to rob a nest of 

 its young, then the hawk will circle just 

 above his head and utter whistles or 

 screams in high notes, and try to draw 

 away the thief's attention from the ob- 

 ject in quest. 



Edward Fuller, 

 Norwich, Conn. 



Some Early Winter Birds of Linn Co., Oregon. 



List of birds observed at Sweet Home, 

 Ore. during Oct., Nov. and Dec, 1890 

 and Jan, 1891. A. O. U. Nos. 



40a Pacific Kittiwake Gull, Rissa tri- 

 dactyla pollicaris . One specimen secured 

 on Dec. 16, '90. Very uncommon in 

 this locality. This bird was found dead 

 near .the Santiam River. 



132 Mallard, Anas boschas. Occa- 

 sionally seen in flocks of six or seven. 



174 Black Brant, Branta nigricans. 



One specimen shot on Dec. 4, '90, but 

 many seen flying over during migrat- 

 ing season, usually in Oct. and Nov. 



194 Great Blue Heron, Arclca hew- 

 dias. Quite common and seen along 

 the rivers and large creeks. It breeds 

 in this vicinity, a pair being located 

 about every half mile along the wooded 

 districts, building their nest in the high 

 firs. 



230 Wilson's Snipe, Oallinago delicala. 

 Seen in Jan. in flocks of five to twenty, 

 in low marshy ground. Occasionally a 

 single bird is only found. They are not 

 generally found in the same feeding 

 grounds on two consecutive days, but 

 on the third will probably be seen there 

 again. It is a bird swift of flight and 

 hard to shoot. 



297a Sooty Grouse, Bendragapus ob- 

 sciti'us fuliginosus . Seen last in Oct.. 

 when they ascend far back and high up 

 in the mountains, returning in April or 

 May, when we are first aware of their 

 presence by the hooting of the males, 

 high up in the fir trees. 



300c Oregon Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa 

 timbellus sabini. Very common and a 

 favorite game bird. 



325 Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura. 

 Two birds seen Dec. 20, '90, not com- 

 mon during winter. 



360 Am. Sparrow Hawk, Falco Spar- 

 verms. Seen occasionally sitting on 

 some fence in watch for field mice etc. 



375a Western Horned Owl, Bubo vir- 

 ginianus subarcticus. Very abundant 

 and seen the entire winter except at 

 present date, when they have r-eceded 

 to some dense firs to breed. 



390 Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon. 

 Quite common a^ng rivers and small 

 sti'eams. 



292 Mountain Quail, Oreorty pictus. 

 Very common and may be seen in flocks 

 of five to twenty in their favorite feed- 

 ing grounds which is generally near 

 some small stream, preferable covered 

 with dense underbrush, but sometimes 

 seen in the open fields and if in severe 



