98 



THE NIDIOLOGIST 



inches. During the rainy season they are found 

 in large bands, often numbering thirty birds ; 

 but as the breeding season ajiproaches they dis- 

 band and scatter over the country. 



They frequent low lands near water courses 

 at all seasons, and are early breeders. Two and 

 three broods are reared in a season, the first ap- 

 pearing sometimes as early as A])ril i, and the 

 last in July. The number of eggs in a clutch is 

 from 7 to 14 ; color, creamy when fresh, but as 

 incubation advances it often becomes a distinct 

 green. 



This bird, often so fearless, has not to my 

 knowledge been domesticated. My experience 

 on this line has been varied. A male and fe- 

 male, in my possession for over eighteen months, 

 ap])eared to be fearless of me, but when 1 

 turned them loose they were away, never to 

 return. 



Again, I had the jjleasure of studying three 

 pairs in confinement. A large coop had been 

 provided, with wire netting, covering a space 

 20 feet square. These birds made their nests 

 and laid their eggs, but would not sit. The eggs 

 were i)laced under a fowl, and when hatched 

 the chicks were put in with the old birds ; but 

 one after another died, and, fearing that all 

 would die, they were all liberated. They never 

 returned. These had been in confinement for 

 two years. Many other instances could be 

 cited, but I think this sufficient. 



Their nests are found in most all locations — 

 in the stubble fields, jjasture, beside a log, 

 stump, or tussock of grass, but always in the 

 open and clear country. I have never known 

 them to nest in the woods, or even in the edge 

 of thick growth. The nest is simply a hollow 

 in the ground, with ))erhaps a few dead leaves 

 or ferns in the bottom. 



The bird is a close sitter, and will not flush 

 until almost trodden on. I have several times 

 stood within three feet and watched the anxious 

 bird, but not a move — not even a wink of the 

 eye — could be seen. 



It i.s, no doubt, Oregon's best game bird — 

 hard to kill and swift of wing. 



During the winter season, when a fall of snow 

 occurs, with rain and night frosts, these birds 

 can often be caught by hand, as they always 

 roost on the ground. Their long tails freeze 

 fast to the snow and they are not able to rise. 

 A. (;. Prill, M.D. 



Fk.wk H. L.xttin's 0>j/fl<fis/ for Fel)ruary contains 

 a lot of >;ood half-lone portraits (jf collectors — L. 

 Whitney Watkins, C. Harlow. H. M. (iuilford, Fred. 

 W. Parkhurst, G. V. Smith, Rev. P. B. Peabody, and 

 an Owl who has fallen into bad company and got 

 " published without permission." Thus has C. 

 Harlow completely avenged himself on the " Nin's " 

 editor. Poor Owl ! 



Sapsucker. 



{Sp/i\ri7piiiis.) 



S.\PSUCKERS suck sap systematically, 

 seldom seeming surfeited. Surely suck- 

 ing sap serves Sp/iyra/'iti/s sui)port, sup- 

 ])osedly satisfying said Sa])suckers. Season- 

 ally Spliyrapiciis sucks saccharine sap, sputtering 

 stu])endously, seemingly severely starting sap- 

 indaceous saplings. Sometimes Sapsuckers 

 sample sycamore sap, superior sassafras sweets,, 

 spicy, sticky spruce syruj). 



Sphyrapicus stays springs, summers, selecting 

 sylvan situations, swampy sections, securing 

 slugs, silk si)inners, scaraboeids, scolytids. 

 September seventeenth sees Sphyrapicus slowly, 

 silently stealing southward, sj)asmodically stop- 

 ping, searching suitable situations, still selecting 

 seasonal, seasonable sustenance. Seldom secur- 

 ing seeds; starchy substances. Seeking small, 

 secreted swadded sleepers. September .S/^'/nva- 

 piciis stojjs sputtering, seeks southern sections. 



Some statisticians show Sapsuckers serious 

 suspects. Supporters seldom susi)icion said 

 Sapsuckers. Should scientists segregate Sap- 

 suckers, supposing sauro^nathous species sev- 

 erally salutary ? SCOLOPAX. 



Bird Migration. 



THE last Barn Swallow was seen in this 

 vicinity the past season on the 9th of 

 September, and the last Ruby-throated 

 Hummingbird on the 22d. The last Blue- 

 birds were noticed on the 29th of October; the 

 last Purple Grackle and Rusty Blackbird No- 

 vember 3, and the last Robin November 13. The 

 first Snowfiakes were seen here November 14. 

 There were several hundred in the flock. 

 Listowel, Ontario. ^V^L L. Kklls. 



Scientists of Michigan. 



ON December 26 and 27 meetings were 

 held in the Pioneer Room of the State 

 Ca])ital, Lansing, for the puri)ose of 

 forming a Michigan Academy of Sciences. 



A number of interesting papers were read, 

 one of which was entitled, " What Can we Find 

 out About the Birds of Michigan?" by Pro- 

 fessor 1). C. Worcester, of the State University. 

 A division for the study of the birds of the 

 State was formed, and Dr. Morris Gibbs, of 

 Kalamazoo, was elected head of same. The 

 attendance was large, and no doubt some in- 

 teresting facts will be brought out by compari- 

 son of notes among the Ornithologists elected 

 members. It is the intention of this section to 



