THE OOLOGIST. 



75 



contained four eggs of some species of 

 Warbler, but I can not say what kind, 

 as the liird disappeared before I had 

 a chance to shoot it. 



During all my years of collecting I 

 have seen but this one Cowbird upon a 

 nest. I am positive that it was a. Cow- 

 bird. 



If anyone else has had similar ex- 

 periences, I join with Mr. Alexander 

 and would be pleased to have them 

 related in the columns of theOoLOGisx. 

 W. E. Snyder, 

 Dodge Co., Wis. 



Seeing Mr. R. C. Alexander's query 

 in respect to the Cowbird, I thought I 

 would relate a little experience with it 

 which may be of interest to him. 



On May 20, 1889, I found a nest of 

 the Chipping Sparrow, completed but 

 containing no eggs, as yet. On the 

 23rd, I had occasion to pass that way 

 and was attracted b}- the bird which 

 seemed to be in distress. Remembering 

 the nest previously found, I thought I 

 would take a look into jt; so stepping 

 up, I parted the bush in which it Avas 

 situated and saw a Cowbird sitting 

 upon it. She eyed me an instant and 

 then was o&. 



The nest and its two eggs was after- 

 wards deserted by the parent birds 

 although no Cowljirds' eggs were laid 

 therein. 



W. CoNGEK Morgan, 



Allany, N. Y. 



The Downy "Woodpecker. 



Although tliis bird is rather common 

 in mj' locality, I have only had the 

 opportunity of collecting one set of 

 eggs. A Dryobaies 2nibescens com- 

 menced, last season (1889), the excava- 

 tion of its nesting hole in a dead limb 

 of a cherry tree, near the liouse in 



which I was staying. During the ex- 

 cavation of the future receptacle of 

 eggs, I had ample opportunity of study- 

 ing the habits of this progeny of. the 

 red-headed family. 



It would drum, drum, drum for 

 hours at a time, with unceasing energy, 

 and continue with its work without a 

 moment's intermission. It would some- 

 times be so occupied wjth the work in 

 hand that I could approach clear under 

 the hole, and then I have had to jar the 

 tree before it would become alarmed. 

 In all my observations of this bird I 

 have found it to be very companionable 

 and social in its character; enjoying the 

 society of other birds and not fearing 

 the presence of man. Out of nesting- 

 time it can be found continually cling- 

 ing to the trunk or branches of trees 

 searching for larvae. It also destroys 

 a large number of insects. 



The bird in question would, again, 

 absent himself for a considerable 

 period, until sometimes I would grow 

 alarmed, unless my somewhat frequent 

 interruptions of the good work going 

 on, had frightened it away from the 

 nest. But it would return after its 

 holiday with renewed energy and go to 

 work with more vim and vigor than 

 before. 



After work of excavation had ceased 

 I waited the required time and on May 

 £3d I concluded it time for the set to br 

 completed and to take the eggs. I cut 

 away the bark from around the hole 

 and found it to contain five glossy, 

 white eggs, laid on the bare bottom tj^' 

 the hcjle. When I blew them I found 

 the incubation to be from fresh to ad- 

 vanced. 



Let us hear from other collectors, on 

 the habits of the Downy Woodpecker. 



A. C. LiLLARD, 



Marion Co., Ky. 



