114 



THE NIDIOLOGIST 



The Nidiologist. 



AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



DEVOTED TO THE 6TUDV OT 



ORNITHOLOGY, 



With Special lletVrence to the 



NlUIFICATION OK NoRTH AMERICAN BiRDS. 



H. K. TAYLOR, Editor and Publisher. 



WE EXPOSE FRAUDS. 



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 " Six Months, SO cents 



Single Copies. 1.5 cents 



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FOREIGN AGENT, H. T. BOOTH, 38A UPCERNE ROAO, CHELSEA, LONDON. 



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 150 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY. 



Entered at the New York Post Office as mail matter of the second class. 



To the many foreign readers of this month's Nid- 

 iologist we would like to remark that it is not only 

 the representative magazine on the American conti- 

 nent of the subject treated of, but is a unique publi- 

 cation of interest everyw'here. Graham W. Murdock, 

 Esq., says in his natural history department of the 

 Yorkshire IVeekly Post (Leeds, England); " The Nid- 

 iologist, unlike the cognate publications of this 

 country and France and Germany, is not insufferably 

 dull. On the contrary, it is singularly bright and 

 attractive ; te.\tually and graphically, and yet strictly, 

 and indeed severely, scientific — in fact, a model pub- 

 lication of the kind." Our field, as will be seen, is 

 not always restricted to America. And we will send 

 the paper anywhere on earth, postage free, on receipt 

 of subscription. 



Dr. E!.mil Holui!, the renowned African explorer 

 and scientist now visiting America, contributes to this 

 number an interesting article and illustration of a 

 most curious African bird. Dr. Holub usually re- 

 fuses to write for the press under any consideration, 

 but he kindly made an appointment with us and dic- 

 tated in our office the article here given. He has 

 promised other articles, with illustrations of rare 

 African birds and nests. 



And the question still is, can you continue to do 

 without the Nidiologist? 



Consider the quality of our articles and illustra- 

 tions, with all the news of the Orniiholcjgicai world 

 which we would like to present to you each month, 

 and you will decide to make our visits regular by 

 forwarding the small remittance required. 



Perhaps your paper was marked " Last Sample 

 Copy?" If so, that is what it means. Your next 

 paper will come as soon as you kindly remit. Sub- 

 scriptions may begin with any number as far back as 

 January, 1894. 



Dr. R. W. Siiukeldt, in the course of his valual)le 

 contribution in this number on " Fort VVingate 

 Reminiscences," gives us a little light on his remark- 

 able imprisonment and trial at that military station. 

 The trial cost the government many thousands of 



dollars and created a great stir in military and scien- 

 tific circles. This is the first time Dr. Shufeldt has 

 written anything on the subject, and his "Reminis- 

 cences " will be read with a wide interest. 



Into the natural history department of Sports Afield 

 cometh W. C. Purdin, of Forest Grove, Ore., with 

 some " Oregon Field Notes," which, he assures the 

 reader, he has " never before seen in print." 



No one who has read the Ornithological note will 

 think of disputing his word on this point. 



Mr. Purdin embarks on his subject without preface 

 or apologv, and makes the most startling statements 

 with a rare ingenuousness, calculated to carry con- 

 viction — to investigators equally ingenuous. 



But to quote Mr. Purdin : "The Yellow-hammer 

 variety of Woodpecker goes to roost very early — be- 

 fore sundown generally — and does so by thrusting his 

 head through a knot hole in a wall or tree, or a 

 crevice, fork of a limb, or such like, and hangs 

 suspended by the head, with its body suspended in 

 the air." " It is very amusing to watch their natural 

 habits," adds Mr. Purdin. 



Also our author says: "Very often they may be 

 seen at foost high up on a wall, vvith body outside the 

 building and their heads inside. They cannot be 

 found in this position in the morning, as they are 

 very early risers." 



How fortunate that they are ver\- early risers ! 

 What a woeful weeping there would be among the 

 birds if they should see the poor Flickers hanging by 

 their necks as a result of a " natural habit ! " And 

 what if it is a suicidal mania, and should spread 

 among all the birds ? 



If Mr. Purdin had realized what consternation his 

 ingenuous remarks would cause among bird students, 

 he would surely have kept the truth from us — as long 

 as possible. 



A spring bird that had taken time by the forelock 

 flew into Central Park, New York, during the recent 

 blizzard. His probable fate is best outlined by an 

 unknown poet in the following pathetic verse : 



'' The first bird of spring 

 Essayed for to sing, 



But ere he had uttered a note 

 He fell from the limb, 

 -A. dead bird was him. 



The music had friz in his throat." 



I.N a recent conversation we had with the chief en- 

 gineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad, an observant 

 gentleman who, from his occupation, has seen some- 

 thing of bird-life incidentally, he described a singular 

 habit of Grouse, which, we believe, has not been here- 

 tofore known to Ornithologists. In Northern Dakota, 

 in winter, the (irouse (species not stated) delve into 

 crevices in the snow, which in many places is soft ex- 

 cept for the frozen crust. 



The birds tunnel for considerable distances under 

 the snow, seeking food and shelter, and when dis- 

 turbed by a man's footsteps they will suddenly break 

 through the snow crust and fly up, right in front of 

 him, never failing to startle the hunter out of all hopes 

 of bagging one, of that particular covey at any rate. 



Erratum, 

 more. 



On page 87 for, " Bullock's " read Balti- 



