THE OOLOGIST. 



241 



gradually melt away as the dew before 

 the adorning sun. 



I would suggest that the Oologists 

 aud Ornithologists of each state unite 

 and form an association for the edifica- 

 tion of professionals aud amateurs. 



Local organizations should also be 

 encouraged. 



Each association should own a muse- 

 um and library. 



By this means we would become bet- 

 ter acquainted with the scientific re- 

 sources of our several states and 

 localities as well as with each other. 



The benefit to be derived from such 

 an organization cannot be appreciated. 

 Yet I sincerely hope that before the 

 sun of another summer; we may be 

 united and working for the advance- 

 ment of Oology Ornithology, the most 

 pleasant of scientific studies. 



R. — Michigan. 



I was rather surprised at the contents 

 of the article Dy Mr. Brotherton, in the 

 last issue of the Oologist, on a gener- 

 al association scientists. I was not 

 aware before that they made themselves 

 so liable to the law. 



I deprecate cruelty and waste very 

 much, but I think such persons as devo- 

 tees aud students of science, should be 

 protected, and agree with him, in advo- 

 cating a genaral association of scientists 



I am a disciple of the doctrine of 

 protection from cruelty, &c. The fol- 

 lowing examples will help to illustrate 

 The Great Auk is thought to be extinct, 

 the Eider Duck has greatly diminished 

 in numbers. The Buffalo has almost 

 gone, the Whale has, and the Seal is 

 suffering &c, and all owing to the right 

 and left slaying of man; but as I said, I 

 Unite with Mr. Brotherton in a call for 

 protection to, and aid in their pursuits, 

 to followers of science by association. 



"In union there is strength." 



Wm. Binghurst, M. D. 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



In the valuable article by Mr. L. O. 

 Dart in October Oologist, the last 

 three Hues should "but what we might 

 gain etc," read instead of ''not &c." 



Nighthawks and Whip-poor-wills. 



I had thought until this year that 

 JSTighthawks and Whip-poor-wills had 

 also left us, not to return again, for 

 years had parsed since I had seen them. 

 But this year the Whip-poor-will has 

 reappeared in eastern Oakland Co., 

 Mich., few to be sure. During a recent 

 trip through southern Lapeer Co. I 

 found both Nighthawks and Whip-poor- 

 wills fairly abundant. 



Wilfred A. Brotherton. 



Bird Nesting in November. 



November 7, 1891. 

 While out hunting squirrel to-day, 1 

 had an occasion to pass through a low 

 swampy tract of ground, overgrown 

 with willow and thorn-apple trees. 



JS ear the center stood an extra large 

 thorn-apple tree, which was conspicu- 

 ous and in passing by, I noticed a nest 

 of the Cuckoo, my curiosity lead me to 

 examine it, and I was somewhat sur- 

 prised to find that it contained two eggs 

 of the Cuckoo (Yellow-billed without a 

 doubt.) 



The nest was well preserved, and 

 made of twigs, leaves and a little mud. 

 The eggs had not been incubated nei- 

 ther were they rotten. The contents 

 seemed to have evaporated about i, the 

 remainder being of the consistency of 

 the yolk of au egg. 



Question. 



What could probably have been the 

 reason for the birds deserting this nest? 



Crows aud Jays are abundant, but 

 did not molest it. 



Has anyone a record of a similar oc- 

 currance V 



Dr. A. G, PRILL^ 



