THE OOLOGIST. 



217 



in the evening. I have observed two 

 of these Robin roosts near Sweet Home, 

 Oregon, for the past two years. 



In winter they feed much upon the 

 fir buds but as the ground is always 

 bare, they have no lack of food, insects 

 and worms being abundant. 



They nest in April and May, selecting 

 a low lir bush generally, although I have 

 found them in scrub oaks and apple 

 trees, but I have not found them nest- 

 ing in barns and out-buildings the way 

 the Eastern Robin does. They are not 

 inclined to build as near the habitations 

 of man either. 



The nest does not differ r?dically from 

 that of merula migratoria, and the 

 complement of eggs is invariably 3, 

 sometimes 4, but rarely 5. 



Out of some twenty nests examined 

 all, but four contained three eggs each, 

 three contained four eggs and only one 

 five eggs. 



They were in various stages of incu- 

 bation from perfectly fresh to nearly 

 full term. 



The eggs do not vary from those of 

 Merula migratora, but perhaps will 

 average a little larger. 



Dr. A. G. Prill. 



Western New York Naturalists 

 Association. 



Phelps, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1891. 

 A meeting of the Naturalists of West- 

 ern New York was held here Sept. 15th, 

 for purpose organizing an association 

 of same. Though the attendance was 

 not all that was hoped for, yet a suc- 

 cessful and enthusiastic meeting was 

 held, and the Association was started, 

 under the name of the Western New 

 York Naturalists Association. Officers 

 elected were, President.Ernest F. Short, 

 Chili, Monroe Co.; Secretary, B. S. 

 Bowdish, Phelps; Treasurer, E.B.Peck, 

 Clifton Springs. Committee's appoint- 

 ed, executive committee, Neil F. Pos- 

 son, E. Kirk, and T. R. Taylor; Com- 



mittee on Constitution and By-Laws; 

 E. B. Peck, E. Kirk and B S. Bowdish: 

 Committee on incorporation, B. S. 

 Bowdish. Active membership is limit- 

 ed to fifty. Resident in the counties: 

 Wayne, Ontario, Steuben, Allegany, 

 Livingston, Wyoming, Genesee, Erie, 

 Orleans, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chau- 

 tauqua, Monroe, initiation fee, $.50, 

 yearly dues, $25; associate membership 

 limited to residence in North America, 

 no dues; Honorary and corresponding 

 membership left open, subject to fur- 

 ther action. All members wishing to 

 join as active or associate members, 

 are requested to communicate inclosing 

 stamp, with the Secretary. A cordial 

 invitation is extended to all of both 

 sexes to join.' 



B. S. Bowdish, Sec. 



The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 



(Milvilus forjicatus .) 



This handsome bird is common in 

 northern Mexico and Texas, and ac- 

 cording to Davie, is found as far north 

 as Indian Territory and Missouri. It 

 arrives here late in March or early in 

 April, and begins to lay about the last 

 of May. 



Its eggs have a pure white or creamy 

 ground, sparingly spotted, chiefly on 

 the larger end, with dark red and 

 brown, occasionally with black and li- 

 lac. Five is the usual number laid 

 though sets of four and six are not un- 

 common. The eggs measure about .86 

 x .67 in. 



What I consider a typical nest is com- 

 posed of cotton and weeds, lined with 

 cotton. Situated from four to thirty 

 feet from the ground in a tree that 

 stanus alone. 1 have never found a 

 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher's nest in thick 

 woods. 



Milvilus forjicatus is one of the most 

 pugnacious birds in this county (Travis). 

 It will attack and put to flight crows, 

 jays, buzzards and sometimes hawks. 



