Bird-Lore's Tenth Christmas Bird Census 253 



great height he attained. This monologue was diffeient from any Eagle note 

 I had ever heard. The two notes expressed by this family have always sounded 

 to me like kee-kee-kee when they are undisturbed, and a sharp kiah-kiah when 

 I have been attempting to climb to their nests. This bird uttered a note that is 

 impossible of reproduction; but it may be likened to the soliloquy of a tame 

 Magpie when he is engaged in some particularly impish bit of mischief. There 

 was something decidedly musical in the note, and nothing harsh, like the usual 

 note of the raptores. 



I have watched smaller birds do air-dances in the nesting season, particu- 

 larly the Bobohnk, but I have never seen these tricks done by the larger raptores, 

 and especially after the nesting season was well over. Nor have I ever seen any 

 bird go about it with such perfect gravity, and perform the action with such 

 mathematical accuracy. I am sure that the bird turned an equal number of times 

 in each direction. 



In discussing the matter with Dr. W. T. Hornaday, he suggested that there 

 had always to be "a first time." I wonder if that is the first time the Eagle 

 ever did that, or am I the first person to see him do it, or has he always done 

 it and many persons have seen him do it, and I never found it out ? 



Bird-Lore's Tenth Christmas Bird Census 



BIRD-LORE'S annual bird census will be taken as usual on Christmas 

 Day, or as near that date as circumstances will permit. 

 Reference to the February, 1901-1909 numbers of Bird-Lore will 

 acquaint one with the nature of the report of the day's hunt which we 

 desire; but to those to whom none of these issues is available, we may explain 

 that such reports should be headed by a brief statement of the character of 

 the weather, whether clear, cloudy, rainy, etc.; whether the ground is bare or 

 snow-covered, the direction and force of the wind, the temperature at the time 

 of starting, the hour of starting and of returning. Then should be given in the 

 order of the A. O. U. 'Check-List,' a list of the species seen, with exactly, or ap- 

 proximately, the number of individuals of each species recorded. A record should 

 read, therefore, somewhat as follows: 



Yonkers, N. Y. Time, 8 A. M. to 12 m. Clear, ground bare; wind west, light; temp. 

 38°. Herring Gull, 75. Total, — species, — individuals. — James Gates. 



These records will be published in the February issue of Bird-Lore, and 

 it is particularly requested that they be sent the editor (at the American Museum 

 of Natural History, New York City) not later than December 28. It will save 

 the editor much clerical labor if the model here given and the order of the A. 

 O. U. Check-List be closelv followed. 



