4 



THE YOUNG ORNITHOLOGIST. 



taking perchance the coveted morsel 

 from his hands. Great numbers ac- 

 company the fleets of fishing vessels 

 on the banks. Ships at sea are fol- 

 lowed great distances in search of the 

 bits thrown overboard bj" the cook. 



From "Our Birds in thbir Haunts." 



THE WOOD PEWEE. 



(^Contupus virens.) 



I found m}^ first nest of the Wood 

 Pewee this spring. The nest was in 

 a large white pine about twenty feet 

 up and 7 feet out from the trunk, 

 on top of a dead limb. I found it 

 July 7th, and succeeded in getting it 

 July 8th, with three fresh eggs. I tied 

 a rope to the limb some ways out, fas- 

 tened it to a limb over it, then sawed it 

 off and pulled it in within reach. 



The nest was covered with moss and 

 lined with fine grass and pine needles 

 2 1-8x1 inch inside measure. 



C. W. Swallow. 



I should like to hear the opinion of 

 collectors in regard to the best article 

 to place eggs on. I have tried cotton 

 and sawdust, neither of which have 

 given complete satisfaction. 

 Also about the best method of ai rang- 

 ing specimens, whether in rows, or 

 in groups, and whether according to 

 the size of the eggs, or the order to 

 which the birds belong. 



c w. s. 



THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOOD- 

 PECKER. 



Can you, or any of your readers 

 tell what other name the bird " Sap- 

 sucker," has? 



It is seen about here in the Spring 



and Fall, in size between the Haii'y 

 and Downy Woodpecker. In spring- 

 head, neck, the upper part of breast, 

 bright red, yellowish tinge on belly. 

 The back resembles the Downy some- 

 what, but the markings do not show as 

 plain. C. W. S. 



BAETEAM'S SANDPIPEE. 



FIELD PLOVER. 



Among the many species of Plover 

 that pass over our State in their year- 

 ly migrations there is the well known 

 Field Plover, known by its queer long, 

 shrill note heralding the early spring 

 and the coming of the pleasant sum- 

 mer. It does not migrate in flocks or 

 companies but singly or in pairs. The 

 duties of incubation commence about 

 May 5th. Selecting a piece of prairie 

 where the grass from the passed year 

 is still remaining, they scratch a slight 

 hollow, lining this with old grass, 

 where four eggs are laid, of a buff 

 color, thickly spotted with umber and 

 lilac, the small ends are all turned 

 toward the centre. When the female 

 is flushed from the nest it gives a cry 

 of distress and flaps along the ground 

 as if lame, thinking the intruder will 

 follow. The 3'oung leave the nest as 

 soon as hatched. The female gathers 

 them under her wings at night and is 

 always with them in the day. After 

 they are full grown these Plovers are 

 seen going north, flying rapidly and 

 close to the ground, and but a few re- 

 main in a company, generally from 

 three to five. About September 1st 

 they return ; they do not stop but 

 keep on their southern journey until 

 their winter home is reached. 



G. F. Brbnninger, 



Beattie, Kan. 



