34 



THE OOLOGIST 



near by and watched proceedings. .Just 

 as the Robin had completely pulled a 

 huge worm from his hole, in hopped 

 Mr. Grackle, and with a dash at Mr. 

 Robin drove him away. He then grab- 

 bed the prey and flew to his nest with 

 his enemy in useless pvirsuit. 



Once I witnessed a battle between a 

 pair of Grackles and a half-grown cat. 

 Pussy was intent on capturing a young 

 bird who had just left the uest and 

 landed in the garden among the cur- 

 rant bushes. There was no escape for 

 ^neus for he was hemmed in by a 

 fence, shed, and with a cruel enemy in 

 front, and unlike JEneus, when he elud- 

 ed the Cyclops,* by the open sea, this 

 traveler had no loophole to escape by. 



The cat was crouching and creeping, 

 and I imagine that young variety 

 jEneus was shivering, when up came 

 the old folks fand attacked Mr. Tom 

 Cat. No sooner had they appeared on 

 the scene than the old birds took oppo- 

 site sides of the feline and endeavored 

 to draw the enemy's attention. Then 

 while the cat was looking at Mrs. 

 Grackle behold Mr. G. drew near and 

 gave Mr. T. C. a crack with his wing 

 on the side of the head, which so rat- 

 tled T. C. that he incontinently fled 

 and the family was united in peace 

 once more. 



The Bronzed Grackle is a beautiful 

 bird and a full plumaged male is about 

 as commanding and graceful a species 

 as you will find. He has a discordant 

 series of notes and his voice is always 

 harsh. But for all tliis I like to see 

 these dignified fellows around the yard. 

 They are extremely beneficial, and it?;is 

 evident to all investigators that they 

 should be protected. But they have 

 not protection given to them, and are 

 detested by nearly everyone. 



Morris Gibbs, 

 Kelamazoo, Mich. 



* Strangely enough this cat had but one eye, 

 and we called him Polyphemus. 



The Story of a Find. 



To begin where I left otf in the Oct.- 

 Nov. niimlier, I would like to say there 

 was one mi-stake made, which, if not 

 corrected, might be hard on my repu- 

 tation for veracity, should anyone dis- 

 cover it, for I think I have previously 

 written of finding Wrens' nests in 

 houses The article reads (pj.lfiG, mid- 

 dle of first column), "and I have not as 

 yet found a single uest e.Kc- pt that it be 

 in the timber." It should read, "and 1 

 have not found a single uest except 

 Wrens, but that it be in the timl)er." 



It might not be amiss to say, that, so 

 far as we know, Mrs. P. and myself are 

 the only ones in this or adjoining coun- 

 ties who take any Natural Histor3' pa- 

 pers or are in any way interested in the 

 study of Nature, further than the rais- 

 ing of crops and the killing of anything 

 supposed to be injurious to man or his 

 estate. And while we are alone in this 

 I'espect, we do not lack for good neigh- 

 bors, friends and sympathizers. Of 

 course we have by this time gained 

 some kind of a reputation, and if you 

 can trust me I will try and tell what 

 it amounts to. 



Socially and politically speaking, we 

 were never treated with more respect 

 in the North, and throughout the whole 

 country the straugerisa welcomeguest. 



With some, our work is regarded as a 

 waste of time and I've no doubt hut 

 that they think, "cranks," luit if ihey (i.i 

 they are never impolite enough to ihiuk 

 aloud so we can hear it. 



Mounted birds always attract atten- 

 tion, especially among the county folk, 

 and the power to render such, seems 

 beyond comprehension with many. It 

 is quite amusing to set a large Oivl on a 

 show case in some store and watch the 

 results. Did you ever try to "shoo" an 

 Owl, or to atti'act its attention V Well, 

 that is exactly what nearly every one 

 tries to do,and one man actually thought 

 the bird bit his straw hat when he was 



