104 



THE OOLOGIST. 



During the next few daj's we suc- 

 ceeded in taking three more setsofeggs,^ 

 two of two eggs each and one of three. 

 One of these sets eonies from Hog 

 Ishxnd, the other two from the Skim- 

 mer colony visited on the 18th, the set 

 containing three eggs being found-with- 

 in a few yards of the tirst nest. 



All the eggs were fresh in spite of the 

 late date, the set-liaek being due to 

 the depredations of tlie eggers, a party 

 of whom had pitched a camp near the 

 Skimmer colony and were robbing tlie 

 nests daily, and a clean sweep they 

 made too, for, although we went o\er 

 the ground carefully, we could find no 

 mcn-e than one or two eggs in a nest. 



Although three was our largest set, 

 we were informed by Capt. C. H. 

 Crumli, of the Life Saving Station, and 

 a thorough ornithologist, tluit he had 

 collected a number of sets of four dur- 

 ing the past few years and, in his 

 opinion, full sets of the tirst laying 

 usually consist of three or four eggs. 



In hunting for the nest Ave at tirst 

 tried following up the birds' tracks, but 

 they crossed and recrossed each other 

 in. such confusion that we soon gave it 

 up and trusted to luck. Watching the 

 parents would seem equally futile, for, 

 like most species laying on the open 

 sand, these birds leave their nest un- 

 covered during the greater part of the 

 day, trusting to the sun's warmth to 

 incubate the eggs, a duty for which the 

 scorching rays are amply competent 

 and, as we tramped over the burning 

 sand, we only wondered that the eggs 

 were not baked on the spot. 



This spring Ave hope to pay a longer 

 visit to the haunts of the Sea CroAv, 

 when, possibly, a more thorough search 

 may add somewhat to our knowledge 

 of the habits of this intei-esting, if 

 s<miewhat eccentric, character. 



Theoboke W. Richakds, 



Washington, D. C. 



The Prairie Horned Lark. 



Sets (JF Five Eggs. 



Mr. Ernest Short, in the February 

 number of the Oologist, asks if any of 

 of its readers have ever found a nest of 

 the Prairie Horned Lark containing 

 live eggs. 



I W(juld like to state that I found ;i 

 nest containing live eggs on May 28, 

 1889. From appearances I thought that 

 she had been sitting some time. I 

 didn't disturb the nest or eggs. 



Close to the mother bird, who Avas 

 sitting on the nest, were four young 

 birds, Avhich were, Avithout a doubt, her 

 tirst brood, fen* they Mcav away with her 

 when I disturbed her. 



Did any of the Oolocjisx's readers, 

 ever notice anything like thatV 



Geouge L. White, 

 Livingston Co., N. Y. 



[A set of five eggs of the Prairie 

 Horned Lark Avas taken in June, 1888, 

 by Ezra J. Botsford, of Medina. Also 

 see description of set No. 1 by E. G.. 

 Tabor, beloAv. — Assoc. En.] 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY. 



In ausAver to an article on the ab<n'e 

 named bird by Ernest Short, of Monroe 

 county, N. Y., allow me to say I have 

 found three nests of this bird as foUoAvs: 



Nest No. 1, contained live fresh eggs. 

 Nest on ground at the foot of agroAving 

 hill of c(n'n; made of grass, roots and 

 lined Avith dry grass blades. Found 

 Avhile cultivating corn. Had three eggs 

 in at time of finding. Nest and eggs 

 taken June 14, 1886. 



Nest No. 2, containeii three eggs. 

 Incubation one-third advanced. Laid 

 by same bird as No. 1, in neighbor's 

 corn field across the road from ours, 

 where No. 1 Avas found. Nest and 

 situation the same as before. Date of 

 collection July 8, 1886. 



Nest No. 3, contained three young, 

 nearly ready to leave the nest, Avhich 

 Avas placed in a meadoAV and was fonn(l 



