Dec. 1884.] 



AND GOLOGIST. 



147 



attraction in many a fine bunch of Plov- 

 er whose fall migration was uncere- 

 moniously terminated. On several occa- 

 sions when we were called upon to remove 

 the •■jackets," the request to return the 

 meat indicated the esteem of the epicurean. 



Our first prize was a fine specimen of the 

 Red-throated Diver, ( Colymbus septentrion- 

 idis), with the Eed (?) patch, taken Oct. 

 6th. Although the bird is very common 

 at this season — at least in Rhode Island 

 waters — we never saw one taken in this 

 plumage and believe it to be rare. 



In the early part of October, several 

 Duck Hawks, (Falco peregrinus), proved 

 unwary, but as they are not songsters, we 

 suppose no one will mourn their loss. 



A representative of our national bird in 

 the Pine-tree State settled down to its not 

 uncommon banquet of '"dead useful." How 

 large and strong it seemed as it tipped the 

 scales at 12 pounds ! ! 



A few Wood Ducks cause us to carefully 

 watch the Ducks now coming in, led by 

 Black, Ruddy and Young Mallards. 



We should judge that an unusual num- 

 ber of Pheasants have been imported this 

 season "for millinery purposes" — somewhat 

 lowering the prices. Comparatively few 

 of them are fit for the Cabinet and another 

 season may find still fewer. Looking over 

 a large lot, we found two Reeve's Pheas- 

 ants remarkable for length of tail. In the 

 large millinery establishments, we notice a 

 few stuffed birds, but the prevailing 

 fashions demand that they should be 

 thoroughly dissected. A new feature is 

 the bronzing in Silver, Gold or Copper of 

 the bill, feet and quills of the wing and 

 tail feathers. 



The annual Bird Show closed Oct. 12th, 

 after a short season. Many rare and 

 curious strangers were present. "Poll" in 

 every variety of size, plumage and disposi- 

 tion. Eagles, Hawks. Owls, Pelican, etc. 

 Two exhibits were especially attractive — a 

 Whidah Bird in full plumage, and one of 

 our little Ruby-throats, which regardless of 



our presence, sipped its sugar and water 

 with evident relish. These birds being all 

 alive and well would no doubt have been 

 far more pleasing to Mr. F. A. L. than the 

 exhibit under the auspices of the Am. Soc. 

 of Taxidermists held in the same room two 

 winters ago. 



A novel and not uninteresting business 

 is a Natural History establishment in a 

 large seaport. A sea captain with 60 feet 

 of dead snake which the trip from Africa 

 proved fatal to, Seals from the dime 

 museum. Alligators unclaimed at the ex- 

 press office, Albatross fresh from Cape 

 Town, Travellers from South America with 

 small lots of bright birds that are in such 

 demand that we scarcely take the trouble 

 to identify them. Moths with 10 inch ex- 

 tent of wing. Beetles for a life size sketch 

 of a pair of which a page of the O. & 0. 

 would scarcely afford room Curious 

 specimens of Dried Fish, Shells, etc. Such 

 have been our actual, every day experience. 



Our friend J. M. Wade will forgive us if 

 we mention him as one of the attractions. 

 Were his visits as protrated as those of 

 some of the birds upon our top shelves 

 they would insure us a call from any old 

 subscribers who visit the city. Had the 

 A. O. U. consulted him they would not 

 have required to "circular" the country 

 to decide that the English Sparrow must 

 go.— F B. W., Boston. 



The Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. 



( Panda americana.) 



This beautiful but retired species of our 

 American Warblers has but till lately been 

 well known to the science of Ornithology. 

 Therefore, I take the liberty to pen a few 

 notes and observations taken by myself 

 during the last four years. This is one of 

 the handsomest, if not the handsomest, of 

 our Warblers. It arrives about the 10th 

 of May, but I am not sure about the date 

 of departure. Soon after their arrival the 



