THE OOLOGIST. 



103 



part of the Gulf of Mexico to any other. 



In the spring they fly in a northwest- 

 erly direction, but I can not account 

 for this by the directions of the storms. 

 March 26, 1891, I saw a large flock, per- 

 haps 75 in number, flying nearly direct- 

 ly west. Can anyone account for this 

 direction? I can but guess. They may 

 go to breed in the northwest, or they 

 may gather in large flocks, on the plains 

 and then pass on north. 



How many interesting and often per- 

 plexing questions are raised by the 

 study of migration! But it is pleasant 

 nevertheless. Last spring on a beauti- 

 ful bright day I studied the Warblers, 

 near a little stream where tinted Hepa- 

 ticas were almost as thick as the peb- 

 bles at the bottom of the water. I was 

 happy in the woods that day. But all 

 days are not pleasant out of doors. 

 When "the days are dark and dreary" 

 I feel as much pleasure, almost in see- 

 iug flocks of the great Canada Geese 

 flying high overhead, as I do when I 

 find some rare beautiful Warbler in the 

 blossoming April woods. 



Earle A. Brooks, 

 French Creek, W. Virginia. 



Association of Americam Ornithologists. 



A number of the ornithologists, of 

 Washington, D. C, and vicinity, met 

 with a view to organization, on April 

 11th last. The meeting was held at F. 

 S. Webster's studio of taxidermy, on 

 Penn. Ave., and a partial organization 

 effected. 



The following officers were elected: 



Pres., Rev. J. H. Langille, Kensing- 

 ton, Md.; Vice Pres., W. H. Aspinwall, 

 1305 Riggs St., Washington, U. C; 

 Treas., to be tilled; Sec, A. B.Farnham, 

 Benuings, D. C; Board of Correspond- 

 ing Secretaries, Chairman, W. A. Mer- 

 ritte, 118 Md. Ave., N. E. Washington, 

 D. C, other See's to be supplied. 



The above name was determined on 



weeks, when an association organ will 

 be determined on, and other matters 

 perfected. The main object of the 

 association is the effective study of bird 

 life by ways and means adapted to 

 those who are not professional natur- 

 alists. 



Corresponding members are desired 

 everywhere, especially those isolated 

 regarding ornithological tastes. Such 

 persons gather much that is new to 

 many students of bird life, and as the 

 associations headquarters are in Wash- 

 ington it hopes to offer advantages to 

 such members-at-large, in the way of 

 identification, comparison and the ac- 

 counts of eminent naturalists. The 

 association having access to the collec- 

 tions and library of the Smithsonian 

 Institution it will be easy for it to fur- 

 nish its members any such information. 

 Persons wishing to ascertain more re- 

 garding the association and member- 

 ship in the same will please write the 

 Cor. Secretary or any of the officers. 

 A. B. Farnham, 



Cor. Sec. 



Notes on "Wright's Flycatcher. 

 {Empidonax obscurus) 



The eggs of this species being consid- 

 erexl quite rare, I thought a few notes 

 on the nesting habits would be accept- 

 able. I have found this Flycatcher in 

 young aspens, willows, etc., and usual- 

 ly near water, during the breeding sea- 

 son, but never have I gained any know- 

 ledge as to the nesting habits, until the 

 season of 1890, when I collected a fine 

 set of three fresh eggs. The nest was a 

 very neat structure, eomposed mostly 

 of soft grass, but with a few fine strips 

 of bark and a small piece of twine, 

 tightly woven together with a lining of 

 horse hairs. It was placed in some 

 buck-brush, only three feet from the 

 ground and but two feet from a creek. 

 The effss were a pale buft'.y- white, but 



