THE NIDIOLOGIST. 



135 



which grows about this open space ahiiost 

 like a wall. 



Upon the bare rock lay two white eggs, 

 perfectly fresh. Date, May 27, 1S92. 



Just a year later I returned to this 

 locality, quietly advancing toward the same 

 Yerba Santa bush under which the eggs 

 were found the previous year. It was 

 just as I had anticipated, only a little more 

 so. I saw :uy little bird sitting precisely 

 as she did just a year ago. 



This time my intention was to secure, if 

 possible, both birds and eggs. Throwing 

 my hat, so that it would skim over her, I 

 brought my 38-calibre shot-gun to the 

 shoulder, but fortunately saw in time that 

 instead of two white eggs, two recently 

 hatched birds occupied the place. Replac- 

 ing my gun in its holster, and after ex- 

 amining the 3'oung birds, I left the place 

 empty handed. 



Geo. B. Badger. 

 Santa Cruz, Cal. 



Under recent date Mr. Badger writes us 

 as follows: Again (May 27th, 1894) I have 

 taken a set of eggs of the California Poor- 

 will. This time they were deposited about 

 three feet from the former site. The bird 

 behaved quite differently on this occasion, 

 leaving the eggs while I was yet about ten 

 feet away and flying directl)' into the brush. 

 I flushed the male some fifty feet further 

 on. This pair of Poor- wills habitually 

 spend the day in a clump of Yerba Santa 

 (Erioctictyon glutinosumj growing about 

 300 feet from the nest location. At the 

 latter place I have found them only while 

 breeding. Eggs slightly incubated; one 

 appeared a little more advanced than the 

 other. 



All About Dick. 



DICK is a Black-headed Grosbeak, now 

 (June I, 1894) about one year old. 

 He came to me as a present, and has 

 been little trouble and a jolly good 

 companion ever since. 



I have not had Dick long, hence my ob- 

 servations on his habits in captivity are 

 limited. He is a hearty eater and his tastes 

 are varied . All fruits that I have given him 

 are relished, particularly strawberries and 

 cherries. He is fond of cooked meat and 

 will eat potatoes, bread or crackers, and as 

 for green peas, they are his delight. 



He is very tame, and will eat from the 



hand, and even from your mouth if you 

 would let him. When he first took a pea 

 from my fingers he flirted his tail about and 

 cut up so many antics that one could see he 

 was delighted. Hemp seed he eats liberally, 

 cracking each one and dropping the shells. 

 He is fond of a bath, is Dick, and how he 

 does make the water fly! Then he sits in 

 the sun, a bedraggled-looking object; and 

 as he begins to dry he begins to sing. 

 Dick's whistling song has not the rollicking 

 cadences of the Black-headed Grosbeaks 

 I have heard in their wild state, but his 

 notes are clear and loud, a melody bubbling 

 over with joy; and in places is heard a sort 

 of minor note, a rich little trill which 

 charms every sense as you listen. 



I had been in the habit of bringing 'in 

 Dick's cage every night, partly as a protec- 

 tive from cold (although I doubt not he 

 would enjoy himself better outside) and 

 partly from a fear of bird thieves. His 

 nights were passed on the lower floor, in 

 the room below mine. One night when 

 about to fall asleep I heard a bird song, not 

 loud, but distinct. Surely, T thought, that 

 must be my Grosbeak, singing softly where 

 the moonlight has glinted "in between the 

 blinds. I heard the notes once more, and 

 then fell asleep. Afterward I wondered if 

 some tricksie dream had played with me; 

 but no. Surely I could not have been mis- 

 taken. I resolved to experiment with Dick 

 some night and settle the matter indisput- 

 ably. 



Soon after this there was sickness in the 

 family, and one evening when threatening- 

 clouds were passing athwart the sky I for- 

 got Dick, and left him exposed in his cage, 

 fastened to the side of the house. In the 

 small hours of night I was awakened by 

 heaven's artillerj^ Concussion after con- 

 cussion of the thunder-clouds were followed 

 by lightning and then a heavy downpour of 

 rain. 



In the morning the sun was shining 

 again, and I rushed out with some fear to 

 see what had become of Dick. His cage 

 was drenched and water-logged, but he 

 hopped about on his perch as chipper as 

 could be, twisting his head on one side at 

 me in his knowing way as though inquiring 

 if breakfast were ready. Thunderstorms 

 were clearly a pleasant diversion for Dick. 



I told my wife, who had occupied alone 

 the room above, of Dick's experience. 

 "Why, I heard him in the night, "said she. 

 "He was singing loudly." 



