June, 1884.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



75 



who't ee. This is its complete strain, consisting of eight 

 notes nttered in pairs, which, however, it rarely gives us, 

 having a habit of cutting it short, or uttering, in a languid 

 manner, hut one or two of these double notes at a time. 



Another was the Great-crested Flycatcher, (Myiarehiis 

 crinitus.) This is about the size of our Catbird, with a 

 brownish back and light yellow abdomen ; is a summer res- 

 ident here and builds its nest in hollows in trees. 



The third was a Black and Yellow Warbler, (Bendrceca 

 maculosa.) This was altogether the most familiar little bird 

 I ever met with; as it frequented the lower limbs I could 

 readily approach to within a few feet of it, and once it di- 

 rected its flight right towards me, and when within twelve 

 or fifteen inches of my head, poised itself on wing for a mo- 

 ment as if no less curious to determine my identity than I 

 was to determine his. This little warbler was a stranger to 

 me, and to place the matter of its identity beyond a doubt, 

 I was obliged to take its life. The upper parts are black, 

 the lower yellow; breast and sides streaked with black 

 spots ; sides of head black, rump yellow. 



Mat 4. Secured three specimens this morning in a neigh- 

 boring wood, viz. the Blackburnian Warbler, (Bendrceca 

 blaekburnice,) the Black and White Creeping Warbler, 

 {Mniotilta varia,) and the Tellow-rumped Warbler-, (Ben- 

 dreeca coronata,) — my second specimen of the last. Also 

 identified in my orchard the Blue Golden-winged Warbler, 

 (Helminthrophaga chrysoptera), and the Black and Yellow 

 Warbler. 



The Blackburnian Warbler is certainly one of the most 

 beautiful of this beautiful family, with its finely contrast- 

 ing colors of jetty black and brilliant orange about the 

 head and neck, and handsomely marked black and white 

 wings. 



The Black and White Creeping Warbler, as its name im- 

 plies, has something of the habits of the Creeper (and Nut- 

 hatch) being mostly employed in running up and down and 

 around the trunk and larger branches, searching for insects. 

 This bird, above and below, is streaked with black and 

 white, belly excepted, which is clear white ; the wing is 

 marked with two white bars. 



The Golden-winged Warbler suffered a sufficiently close 

 approach to enable me plainly to perceive every important 

 characteristic feature without resorting to the gun in hand. 

 These are the yellow-crown, black-throat, black patch 

 through the eye bordered with white, and wide yellow stripe 

 across the slate-colored wing. This little bird is not a pre- 

 eminent vocalist, though the bird itself doubtless has a bet- 

 ter opinion of its abilities. Was amused at its ambitious 

 efforts in the warbling line. It would swell its throat, gap 

 its mouth and cock its head as if it were going to fill the 

 universe with its song, but the only notes that escaped it 

 were tsee, tsee, tsee, and so faint as scarcely to reach my 

 ear at a distance of ten feet. 



The Black and Yellow Warbler I found the same familiar 

 little creature as of yesterday, from which I infer this to be 

 a characteristic of this species, as of the Kinglets. 



Of the above, the Black and White Creeper remains with 

 us during the summer, the others pass on to the north. 



The first Scarlet Tanager, (Pyranga rubra,) of the season 

 could not escape my observation. This, doubtless, is the 

 most "showy" bird in all our woods, and although much 

 less abundant than many other species, has, because of the 

 striking brilliancy of his dress, attracted the notice of every 

 observer of birds, even the most indifferent, by whom it is 

 commonly known as the "Black-winged Red-bird." Its 

 scarlet dress, black wings and tail are its prominent distin- 

 guishing characters. 



Also caught sight of the King-bird, (TyranwuA carolinen- 

 sis,) which everybody knows. 



Also observed this evening a company of at least four 

 White-throated Sparrows, (Zonotrichia albicollis,) following 

 the bushes along the roadside. These birds appear here 

 regularly during the spring migrations, but generally leave 

 us by the middle of this month. They are the largest and 

 handsomest of the Sparrow family. The white throat and 

 longitudinal white head lines will sufficiently identify them. 



Mat o. The Ruby-throated Huuiingbird, (Trorhilus colu- 

 bris,) and the Chimney Swallow or Swift, (Choetura pcl- 

 asgica,) are new names I can add to-day. The latter may be 

 distinguished in air from the Swallow kind by its short tail, 

 and the quick and slight vibrations of (he wings. 



Observed the Catbird and Summer Yellowhird nest build- 

 ing in my orchard. 



Brief Notes. 



Connecticut Warbler. Is it a settled fact that Oporo- 

 nis agilis is as rare as it is said to be by many ornithologists 

 of Massachusetts? Last spring I collected two and on the 

 17th (Saturday last) got two, the 19th one, and yesterday 

 one. I found them all near one locality, and amongst a 

 mixture of scrub oak and birches, in bottom land nearly 

 surrounded by marsh. Those collected last spring were in 

 ground of the same character. IF. W. Castle, Ashland, 

 Mass., May 23. 



The Roetn has been a popular favorite for a period which 

 must be reckoned by centuries, but it has been reserved 

 for a modern naturalist to observe a domestic habit which, 

 as far as we know, is unique. A pet robin built its nest 

 over a pier-glass where the male and female birds brought 

 into the world four young ones. " But now," as our corre- 

 spondent truly says, "was the most curious occurrence. 

 After a day or two, the parents of these little hopefuls in- 

 troduced a third robin, who proceeded immediately to help 

 the other two in their parental duties, even to instructing 

 the little ones in their first infantile flight." It is impossi- 

 ble to discover whether this was some unfortunate, widowed 

 by thoughtless boys of mate and nest, or whether it was an 

 initiation of some youthful robin into the mysteries of 

 baby-feeding, but, be that as it may, we can sympathize 

 with Mr. Schultess-Young when he adds, " I would respect- 

 fully suggest that a systematic gentle study of the inner 

 life of these beings who breathe with us the common air, 

 may reveal natural depths of knowledge, of which the sci- 

 entist in his merciless but barren search for the principle 

 that directs this being can never dream." The London 

 Graphic. 



The Baltj Eagle. I see in a letter from N. A. Eddy, of 

 Bay City, Mich., that he was surprised to find the Bald 

 Eagle so common in that locality. In the year 1879 I passed 

 the summer on the Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron, Cana- 

 da, where I met with large numbers of Bald Eagles, and I 

 found several nests with young in them. In September I 

 cut down a large pine stub with a nest on the top, but the 

 birds being unable to fly, both were killed. I also found 

 one or two Spruce Grouse, (Tetrao canadensis,) also every 

 species of duck known to fresh water. D. A. K., Sturgis, 

 Michigan. 



Monkey Faced Owls. The photograph of the "Mon- 

 key-faced Owls" in a recent number of the O. and 0. calls 

 to mind the fact that in the summer of 1882 a friend of 

 mine told me of a "Monkey Owl" he had recently seen at 

 Socorro, N. M., which was caught alive near that place. It 

 was entirely different from anything I had, he said, and 

 from his description I was at a loss to know what it was. 



