THE OOLOGIST. 



137 



excursions are frequent to have poison 

 continually on some part of his face or 

 arms. 



Of course there are exceptions: there 

 are those who will not take it only in 

 cases of great exposure; while there 

 others who can hardly go near the vine 

 without receiving ill effects from it. 



There are diverse remedies coming 

 from different sources, but most efficient 

 cure which has come to my knowledge is 

 a solution of 1 part of baking soda in 

 four parts of strong ammonia, diluted 

 with four parts of water. The ammo- 

 nia or soda would each independently 

 effect a cure but the ammonia would 

 cause the parts effected to fester, while 

 the soda would have the opposite effect 

 but with less dispatch. 



The effect of the combination, how- 

 ever, is such that, if the poison is taken 

 when it first appears, will kill it in two 

 or three applications. It is best during 

 treatment not to become over-heated 

 more than is necessary as this is a con- 

 dition very favorable to the progress of 

 the rash. 



Sugar of lead is a remedy which is 

 highly recommended by some persons, 

 but it does not possess the strength re- 

 quired in severe cases. A cure may be 

 effected by cleansing frequently and 

 thoroughly with warm water and strong 

 laundry soap. 



The most difficult organs to treat for 

 this disorder are the eyes. The solu- 

 tion mentioned would be very injurious 

 to the sight; the only resort therefore is 

 salt and water. This should be made 

 weak at first, until the eyes become 

 used to it. They should be bathed fre- 

 quently, and never rubbed. 



Often when they are very much swell- 

 ed a poultice of bread and buttermilk 

 will be found to have a very soothing 

 effect. 



This poison vine grows over a very 

 large expanse of the United States, but 

 if collectors would make it a point to 

 destroy every plant they meet with, it 



would soon become appreciably 

 scarcer. 



Geo. T. Herrington, 

 Lawrence, Kan. 



A Trip After Beach Birds. 



My cousin and I had long been talking 

 of taking atrip to IpswichBeach,in order 

 to obtain some specimens of the Beach- 

 birds. It was on a, Saturday before 

 Labor Day; cloudy dark, and the wind 

 was north-east, when ve boarded the 

 train for Ipswich. On reaching the 

 station, w r e started to walk to the beach 

 Avhich is a long five miles from the town. 

 We had proceeded about two miles 

 toward our destination, when in turn- . 

 ing a bend in the road, w r e came in 

 sight of a large bird perched on an oak 

 tree. By careful managing my cousin 

 secured him just as he flew. He proved 

 to be a fine specimen of a Red-tailed 

 Hawk, (Buteo borealis). 



We reached Lakeman's Beach, as it is 

 called, at about nine o'clock a. m., and 

 immediately dug a pit and set our de- 

 coys. 



It- was a fine sight to see the coasters 

 go by, and watch the waves dash 

 against the hard, white sand, with a 

 noise like a peal of thunder. This place 

 is on the open sea, with no land nearer 

 in the east than Europe. Back of this 

 beach, which by the way is about five 

 miles long, is about half a mile of sand 

 hills, in the hollows of which are pools 

 of water and cranberry beds, and where 

 the Black Ducks are numerous in 

 spring. This is also the place where a 

 specimen of Baird's Sparrow was first 

 taken in the east. Back of these sand 

 hills are miles and miles of marsh land, 

 intersected by numerous rivers and 

 creeks, and dotted here and there with 

 wooded islands. 



But to go on with the trip; we killed 

 fifteen Least and Semipalmated Sand- 

 pipers on the beach, and then went 

 over to the marshes. We obtained a 



