122 



THE OOLOGIST. 



Unusual Nesting" Sites of Melospiza 

 fasciata. 



The Song Sparrow in the spring 

 builds her nest on the ground or near it 

 in this locality (northern Philadelphia) 

 but on May 2, 1898, I found a nest in an 

 unusual situation. It was placed in a 

 hole in the wall, inside wall, of an old 

 ruin, roofless spring house, protected 

 from wind and storms except on the 

 northeast. It was over 12 feet from 

 the ground and empty when found, but 

 five days later (May 7) it contained four 

 eggs, which were collected with the 

 nest. Both nest and eggs typical, the 

 nest composed entirely of grass stems, 

 lined with horse hair. 



Later in the season, in late June and 

 July, it is not rare to find second nests 

 six and seven feet up. Why the birds 

 should have chosen the above situ for a 

 first nest I cannot explain. 



Richard F. Miller, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



Potash. 

 I note Mr. Bowdish's article in last 



OOLOGIST. 



When I published my "Directions for 

 the Preparation of Eggs," I advised the 

 use of caustic potash. I was promptly 

 "taken down" by a prominent western 

 ornithologist for being behind the times. 

 He advised the use of pancreatin as a 

 much more satisfactory drug. Since 

 then I have thorougly tried this drug. 

 I do not find it as quick nor as thorough 

 as caustic potash, and it is very expen- 

 sive, while caustic potash is cheap, and 

 can be had anywhere. 



I heartily endorse Mr. Bowdish's pos- 

 ition and still believe in the caustic, com- 

 bined with a steady hand and plenty of 

 patience. 



Ennest H. Short, 

 Rochesler, N. Y. 



How Some Birds Capture Their Prey. 

 (Continued from July Number.) 



his beak. The Great-horned Owls that 

 a friend of mine owned for two years 

 or more, and which he reared from the 

 nest, finally escaped and at once visited 

 a neighboring chicken coop and killed 

 several chickens before they were de- 

 tected. This shows the latest ferocity 

 in predacious birds. 



The Great-horned Owl is an excellent 

 provider for its mate and growing fam- 

 ily. One nest visited held upon its 

 edges the following food supply — re- 

 mains of one Ruffed Grouse, parts of 

 two hares and a Woodpecker, besides 

 the feathers and hair of other birds and 

 small mammals. This Owl is the only 

 Owl that is known to be destructive to 

 game and of no benefit to mankind, and 

 it stands in the list with the Cooper and 

 Sharp-shinned Hawks as a marauder of 

 the worst type. Still I cannot but think 

 that there must be some redeeming fea- 

 tures, for as with the Butcher bird I 

 cannot think that he is as black as is 

 painted. 



The Cuckoos are among the most use- 

 ful birds that we have. Their food in 

 season is largely of caterpillars. I once 

 witnessed a Black-billed Cuckoo attack 

 a nest of the tent caterpillars, tear into 

 it and eat a surprising number of the 

 occupants of the structure. The Cuck- 

 oos also eat grasshoppers and a great 

 variety of other insects and also fruit of 

 several kinds, more especially berries. 

 In following this diet of caterpillars the 

 stomach must be well filled with hairs, 

 and this is so to the extent of having the 

 organ look as if lined with hair. 



Everyone who has studied birds knows 

 of the oddly formed tongue of the Wood- 

 pecker, and it is easy to understand its 

 adaptability in drawirg forth the insect 

 life that is hidden in the decayed wood. 

 The Woodpeckers in the great lake re- 

 gion have mainly the same habit in se- 

 curing food from the cavities which they 



