THE AUDUBON NOTE BOOK 



FIGHT BETWEEN SNAKE AND BIRD. 



The following curious story is taken from a Cali- 

 fornia newspaper. The bird mentioned is no doubt 

 the small southwestern shrike, a variety of Collyno 

 ludoiiciamis : 



"Edward Perry, of this city, while near Florence 

 on Wednesday, witnessed a prolonged fight between 

 a small butcher bird (about the size of a mocking- 

 bird), and a spotted snake about three feet long. 

 Mr. Perry came upon the combatants, how long 

 after the fight began he did not know, but witnessed 

 its conclusion at the end of an hour. The snake 

 would coil up and strike at him, but without effect. 

 Then the bird would dart at the reptile and strike it 

 on some part of the body. Then the snake would 

 raise its head several inches and keep its forked 

 tongue in motion back and forth for a full minute. 

 This was the bird's opportunity, and he profited by 

 striking the snake on the body. Twice the bird 

 went to a small stream and took a drink, returning 

 to the contest with renewed vigor. At last the snake 

 grew weary, and a sudden dart by the bird at its 

 head caused the loss of an eye. The snake then for 

 the first time tried to get away and writhed in pain. 

 Soon the bird saw another chance, and this time 

 knocked out the other eye. When the bird discovered 

 that his victory was complete it went away, when 

 Mr. Perry went to the snake and saw that its eyes 

 were out." 



MEMBERSHIP RETURNS. 



The total registered membership at close of June 

 was 36,024, showing an increase of 3,354 members 

 during the month from the following sources: 



New York 1113 Kansas 30 



Massachusetts 912 Nebraska 20 



Pennsylvania 222 Vermont 20 



New Jersey 97 Indiana 33 



Michigan 535 Iowa 13 



Illinois 107 Minnesota 3 



Ohio 51 Arkansas 25 



Connecticut 41 Kentucky 22 



Missouri 24 Rhode Island ! 2 



District of Columbia 20 New Hampshire 23 



Mame 30 Wisconsin i 



Virginia i Canada 142 



Maryland 28 England 35 



Colorado a 



3.354 



development, a result due entirely to the well-planned 

 efforts of one local secretary in each State. 



The increase in Massachusetts is confined almost 

 entirely to New Bedford, whose popular local secre- 

 tary, Mr. Edmund Rodman, visited the schools and 

 addressed the )-oung people, in whom he excited an 

 almost universal interest in the question of bird pro- 

 tection. By this means too he succeeded in reach- 

 ing the parents, many of whom were persuaded by 

 their children to join the Society. 



In New York State there have been many workers 

 operating with more or less success, but it is due en- 

 tirely to the organized operations of the local secre- 

 Xzxy of South Brooklyn, Mrs. John Duer, that the 

 Empire State held its lead. Like Mr. Rodman, Mrs. 

 Duer too has been at work among the young people, 

 and not contented with enlisting them has selected 

 from among them a band of assistants, whom she 

 has organized for efficient action, swelling the New 

 York returns by several hundred. 



These results have a deep significance; they point 

 unerringly to the conclusion that our young people 

 are easily interested in the question of bird protection 

 and easily brought into sympathy with the aims of 

 the Audubon Society. What has been done in New 

 Bedford and Brooklyn during the last month may be 

 done anywhere and everywhere throughout the length 

 and breadth of the land. We want only workers. 

 C. F. Amery, General Secretary. 



While most of the States display some relaxation 

 of activity, as is to be expected at this season of the 

 year, it is remarkable that during the month both 

 New York and Massachusetts attain their greatest 



LOCAL BIRD NOMENCLATURE. 



A VALUED correspondent of the AuDUBON Maga- 

 zine, who is engaged in the study of birds, desires 

 to make some investigations as to the local names 

 given to a number of our most common species. Our 

 readers will remember that in the sketch of the 

 golden-winged woodpecker or flicker, which we 

 printed in our June number, a list of thirty-six Eng- 

 lish names applied to this species in various sections 

 of the country was given. Probably few birds have 

 so many names as this, but almost all have several, 

 and to learn what these are and record them is the 

 purpose of our correspondent. 



It is hoped and requested that our readers will 

 carefully peruse the list which we give below, and 

 will take off the names of the birds which they re- 

 cognize, and adding any other names by which these 

 may be known to them, will severally send us their 

 list, marking it at the top "Local Bird Nomencla- 

 ture," and sign it with the full name and address of 

 the locality from which the list comes, giving town. 



