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ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 9-No. 10 



der our observation in an experience extending over nearly 

 four years, and we would be glad if any of your corres- 

 pondents could inform us as to its range east of the Alle- 

 ghanies, and to the frequency of its occurrence in this State. 

 — //. II. <(; C. S. Biimley, Raleigh, N. C. 



Pileated Woodpecker. I had, some years since, an 

 opportunity to observe the habits of a pair of Pileated 

 Woodpeckers, (Bylotomus pileatus,) that made their nests 

 in a dead elm in an old clearing, in an excavation in the 

 main trunk, about forty feet from the ground. One day, 

 after the young birds were hatched, one of the parent birds 

 arrived with a large grub, and alighting on the bare, smooth 

 trunk about fifteen feet below the nest as usual, commenced 

 to ascend after the manner of the Pici, when a pair of Red- 

 headed Woodpeckers attacked it, flying up from below. 

 The Pileatus defended itself courageously by striking up- 

 ward against the air with its wings, and striking its assail- 

 ants with the points of its vectrices, and actually thus beat 

 them nearly to the ground, before one of them dexterously 

 seized the prize and made off to its own nest . I would like 

 to know if similar rencounters have been observed by your- 

 self or correspondents.— Mrs. Margaret Munich, Mount 

 Carmel, Mo. 



The Wood Ibis. Noticing in the current O. and O., that 

 specimens of the Wood Ibis, {Tantalus loeulatar) had been 

 recently taken in Lancaster County, Pa., I recall the cir- 

 cumstance of preparing the skin of a fine large male Wood 

 Ibis at Wiliiamsport, Lycoming County,Pa., in June, 1ST6. 



The bird in question was run over and disabled by a mar- 

 ket wagon in the dusk of early morning, among the hills 

 some six miles north of Wiliiamsport. The driver stated 

 that there seemed to be about a dozen sitting down in the 

 roadway. They were not observed until they rose all about 

 the wagon with loud outcries, frightening the horse badly. 

 On lighting the lantern the injured one was discovered try- 

 ing to escape through the roadside fence. Another speci- 

 men was shot a few days later in a wet cornfield and shared 

 the fate of most large birds killed in country districts. He 

 formed a conspicuous ornament on a farmer's barn for 

 several seasons. The specimen preserved is now in the 

 fine collection of Mr. Aug. Koch of Wiliiamsport.— If. V. F. 

 Du JBois, Pa. 



Kino Birds. I notice in the September Number of the 

 O. and O., the Rev. W. E. Hill, in his diary, speaks of the 

 King Bird being cowardly except towards other birds. 

 While this is the case in general, two exceptions have come 

 under my notice. In 18S2 a pair of King Birds built a nest 

 in a sumac bush which stood in a strip of unbroken land 

 that extended across my cornfield. As I passed near on my 

 way to work, I usually stopped to look at the nest and 

 see how it was getting along, and after the young birds were 

 hatched the parents never failed to object to my approach- 

 ing the nest ; flying around in circles, dashing at my head, 

 scolding all the time, and showing undoubted courage. 

 The second case was this year. A pair built in a scrub 

 oak near my house (at Fridley, Minn.) and they acted very 

 much as the first. 



We allow no one to molest birds on our place and per- 

 haps that made them more courageous.— Court. W. Rans- 

 low, Minneapolis, Minn. 



English Sr arrows Building in Trees, &c— During 

 the past season the English Sparrows in this vicinity have 

 built in trees to a limited extent. I saw two very bulky 

 nests in the upper branches of a young elm, and while out 

 early one morning in June watching a pair of these birds 

 as they were constructing their nest, I was accosted by a 

 good-natured Irishman, who, after he had learned what I 

 was about, said : " Do ye know where the Jabbers build?" 

 I was puzzled to know what he meant by "Jabbers," and 



so intimated. He explained by saying, "Did ye nivermind 

 the birds with the long bakes (beaks) that they be all the 

 time jabbin' into the trees ?" I suggested that he might 

 have seen a Woodpecker, and he said, "Is that the name 

 of 'em ? I call 'em the Jabbers." I think we could forgive 

 the "Jabbers" if they would jab their beaks into a few Eng- 

 lish Sparrows, just for diversion. This last word reminds 

 me of a remark recently made in my presence by an old 

 lady who lives on a farm not many miles away. While 

 scolding about a reckless son, she said, " I can't get him to 

 shoot the pesky Hen Hawks, but he'll go out any time and 

 shoot Chimney Swallows for devotion."— C. E. P. 



Coweied Living with English Sparrows.— I have to 

 report a Cowbird as living and accompanying a flock of 

 English Sparrows, which no doubt had hatched and raised 

 it. It is only noticeable by its larger size and walk, which 

 is not a hop, as is the Sparrow, its color is the same as the 

 female Sparrow. — ,-i. H. Boies, Hudson, Mich. 



Large Sets of Eggs.— This season I have taken a set of 

 6 Song Sparrows, 6 American Gold Finches, 6 Baltimore 

 Orioles, and 2 sets of 5 each Yellow-bill Cuckoos.— C. E. 

 Lincoln, Gilderslecve, Conn. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Correspondents making inquir 

 and to the point. 



ire requested to be brief 



List of Birds Collected at St. Louis, Mo. A cor- 

 respondent (W. O. E.) having called attention to the Snowy 

 Owl and Wild Turkey appearing in Mr. Hurter's List as 

 "nesting," we requested him to give further particulars. 

 Mr. Hurter writes us " I have to state, that the asterisk 

 prefixed to iV. Scandiaca is a mistake and did not think it 

 necessary to correct it as any ornithologist would know 

 better. In regard to M. Gallipaeo, I can only state that 

 the bird is now very rare in this neighborhood. I know of 

 only one bird that was killed within five miles of the city 

 by a friend of mine. Regarding the breeding, I put the as- 

 terisk on the strength of receiving from an old settler a bird 

 in down, which he said was from a wild bird, and knowing 

 the party very well I took it for granted— but as to the nest 

 itself I cannot say anything." 



The Destruction of Birds for MiLLrNERT Pur- 

 poses. To the Editor of the Ornithologist and Oologist— 

 Sir: When W. W. C. has learned that abuse is not argu- 

 ment nor sarcasm fact, it will be time to furnish him with 

 some of the information he so politely requests. Until he 

 can briug himself to use ordinary courtesy I must decline 

 to continue the discussion. Frederic A. Lucas. 



As we go to press, a lengthy reply to " W. W. C." reaches 

 us from Mr. L. M. McCormick, for which we shall endeavor 

 to find room next month. 



Bird Lime. H. G. Smith, Jr., a6ks for a good receipt for 

 making bird-lime. A similar inquiry in our May number 

 did not receive any response. Perhaps some of our read- 

 ers who nse the article will give us their receipt. 



Where are the Pacific Coast Migration Obser- 

 vers 1 How is it that none of the West coast collectors 

 seem interested in the spring and fall migration of our 

 birds ? If each would keep watch upon the migrations in 

 such a climate as California, I am sure much valuable in- 

 formation might be obtained. Look at the ground gone 

 over by the observers in the Middle States. Is the Pacific 

 Coast to drop out of the migration field 1 Many links go to 

 make the chain of observations complete, so let us see 

 what a show we can make.— J. (California) Reader of the 

 0. and O. 



