THE OOLOGIST. 



165 



tantalize with a stick she will vomit and 

 then the danger is over as she cannot 

 Venew the attack or at least they never 

 have for me. 



C. Byron Vandycook, 

 Odin, 111. 



'"Meadow Larks and Turkey Buzzards". (?) 



Oh yes, Texas has some birds besides 

 Meadow Larks and Turkey Buzzards. 

 I have been interested in our feathered 

 friends for some years; have also been 

 a collector in a small way. 'Tis true 

 •one may lide an entire day behind a 

 slow horse and never see a bird in 

 Texas, but that has been my experience 

 only on the Staked Plains, but even 

 there around the little settlements one 

 meets our little friends. I have seen 

 there the Lark Sparrow and his sweet 

 song can be heard almost any moonlit 

 night, and to my mind 'tis as sweet a 

 song as our caged yellow pets ever ut- 

 tered, true it may not be so varied, but 

 the sweetness of tone is superior. This 

 little bird is I fear much underrated by 

 those who see him most. His Texas 

 name is Wheatbird. 



I have found nesting in Dallas and 

 ■adjoining counties, the Yellow-breasted 

 Chat, Lark Sparrow, Dickcissel, Spar- 

 row Hawk, Flicker, Cardinal, Black- 

 capped Titmouse, Blue Gray, Gnat- 

 catcher, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Or- 

 chard Oriole, House Wren, Mourning 

 Dove, Mockingbird, Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker, Chuck- Will's- Widow, Night 

 Hawk, Screech Owl, Yellow Warbler, 

 Crow, Blue Jay, Bob-white, Bronzed' 

 Grackle, Crested Flycatcher, Bell's 

 Vireo, Red-winged Blackbird, Yel- 

 low-billed Cuckoo, Painted Bunting, 

 Indigo Bird, Belted Kingfisher, Pinnat- 

 ed Grouse and several hawks and owls 

 that I've never placed. This is only a 

 partial list, there are many others I 

 tlon't call to mind just now. I have 

 spent many pleasant hours tramping 

 about and trying to get better acquaint- 

 ed with our birds and deducting Mead- 



ow Larks and Turkey Buzzards have 

 found rplenty to study and admire. 

 While we are on Meadow Larks I'll tell 

 you of an egg I have of that bird, 'tis 

 one of a set of four, regulation size and 

 ground color; but, the reddish brown 

 spatches are as large as a finger nail 

 and nearly hide the ground color. Let 

 us hear from our Texas boys. 



Francois, 

 Da llas, Texas. 



Seaside School of Biology. 



Mr. Frank H. Lattin, Dear Sir: 



Our school 

 of Biology will open July 6th, continu- 

 ing to Aug. 29th. The deanship is held 

 by Geo. Macloskie, D. Sc, L. L. D., of 

 Princeton College, who will be assisted 

 in terrestrial work by John E. Petere, 

 A. M., D. Sc, and in the Laboratory 

 work by Arthur M. Miller, A. M., Prof, 

 of Biology, Wilson College. 



Mr. Dumas Watkins, of Princeton 

 Col., will be the collector of marine 

 specimens. 



Students having microscopes are re- 

 quested to bring them. A dozen micro- 

 scopes will be supplied for the use of 

 experienced persons. Instructions will 

 also be given in the use of the micro- 

 scope. 



The building is planned to have sep- 

 arate floor and foundation and the 

 north-west corner specially well lighted 

 for fine work. 



We will have this year accommada- 

 tions for 30 or 40 students. Two boats 

 are in service, a well arranged library, 

 also cases for preserving mounted spec- 

 imens and a herbarium. Running salt 

 and fresh water, and aquaria and other 

 appliances will be found in the labora- 

 tory. 

 Come and see us. 



Wm. M. Alberti, Sec, 

 Avon-by-the-Sea., N. J. 

 Sorry we cannot be there, but trust 

 many of the Oologist's readers will join 

 the class. They will find it of interest, 

 profit and pleasure. — Ed. 



