Sept. 1884.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



109 



largest of the seven measures .89X-73, the 

 smallest .S3X-73. 



It is probable that both nests belonged 

 to the same pair of birds. 



Several correspondents of the O. and 0. 

 mention that they have found spotted 

 Robins' eggs. These statements remind 

 me that twelve or fourteen years ago I 

 found a Robin's nest containing four eggs 

 marked with fine brown spots. In those 

 youthful days the art of blowing eggs and 

 keeping them in sets was unknown to me. 

 The single egg which I took is now extant 

 and shows the markings distinctly. 



This season I have taken two sets of 

 Indigo Bunting's, (Passerina cyanea), 

 eggs, one of three, the other of four, in 

 each of which two eggs are marked with 

 pale brown and lavender spots. 



I recently shot a Song Sparrow, {Melos- 

 piza fasciata), of which the following is a 

 description : Male. — Underneath, dirty 

 white ; breast streaked with buff. Other 

 parts buff ; back, shoulders and cheeks 

 streaked, and wings and coverts edged 

 with light chestnut. Crown with a few 

 chestnut feathers. Tail buff below, above 

 light chestnut, darkest on outer edges ; 

 with obsolete transverse bars of same. Bill 

 and feet light brown tinged with jiink : iris 

 light hazel. — C. O. 'Tracy. 



The Black and White Creeper. 



(Mniotilta varia.) 



June 16th, I found a nest of the Black 

 and White Creeper containing five young 

 birds, one of them evidently a Cowbird. I 

 was in the woods the day previous with 

 my little son who is very fond of birds, 

 and after showing him several nests of 

 Vireos, Redstarts and Golden-crowned 

 Thrushes, I heard a loud, energetic alarm 

 note repeated over and over again. I soon 

 discovered a pair of Creepers in a very ex- 

 cited frame of mind. I watched them for 

 a few minutes and as it was growing dark 

 I resolved to visit that particular locality 

 the next morning, feeling sure that they 



had a nest there, and that I could find it. 

 Seven o'clock the following morning found 

 me in the woods again, and the birds were 

 also there, apparently as deeply interested 

 in my movements as I was in theirs. I 

 hunted around for an hour or so without 

 success and then retired from the scene of 

 action and waited awhile, hoping the female 

 would return to her nest and that I should 

 be successful in flushing her later. 



They were evidently bound not to be 

 caught napping, for upon my return they 

 were scolding away as earnestly as ever. 

 As I was about to leave them to their 

 chosen solitude, feeling that they had out- 

 witted me, I saw a small dead bird lying 

 upon the ground, "and as I stooped to ex- 

 amine it, I discovered the long looked for 

 nest. It was placed near the top of a 

 gently sloping hill, by the side of the trunk 

 of a young oak, and was quite well con- 

 cealed. It was composed almost wholly of 

 dried grasses and was not a bit too large. 

 The five occupants completely filled it, and 

 the young Cowbird realizing (apparently) 

 that he was an intruder and feeling ashamed 

 of being caught imposing upon such small 

 fry, gave a bound and a lusty chirp, and 

 walked off. The little Creepers followed 

 the example of their big foster-brother, and 

 soon all was confusion. The parent birds 

 hearing the cries of their young were at my 

 side in an instant, chirping piteously and 

 trailing their beautiful wings as if trying to 

 induce me to reach for them. They were 

 within my reach several times, and by their 

 excited actions and droll performances they 

 seemed to say as plainly as if by w r ords, 

 "Please don't hurt our babies. Take us." 

 In all my bird's nesting experience, I 

 have never witnessed a more tender and 

 beautiful exhibition of the love of parent 

 birds for then- helpless young. 



Although my collection of eggs was not 

 enriched by this find, yet the experience 

 was one that will always be pleasantly re- 

 membered. — Chas. JSdw. Prior, Jewett 

 City, Conn. 



