THE OOLOGIST. 



231 



on the wing — the white spot on secon- 

 dai'ies is plainly to be seen. They say 

 that the bird sprung up with more 

 vigor and flew swifter than the other 

 rails. 



This species lays six to nine eggs, 

 which are of a rich buff-brown and are 

 marked with reddish dots at the larger 

 end. The eggs average about 1.09 x.83. 

 The nest is rarely found and the eggs 

 are very desirable; and remarks about 

 the breeding habits will be thankfully 

 received by oologists. 



Morris Gibbs, 

 Kalamazoo, Mich. 



Epitome of "The Young Oologisb" and "Oolo- 

 giflt" from Birth to Dats. 



In presenting this recapitulation of 

 The Young Oologist and Oologist, 

 it is our intention to review briefly the 

 many good things which, in our self- 

 consciousness, we claim to have given 

 to our readers, since the little journal 

 took its origin ; to take, as it were, a 

 sort of retrospective glance at our ca- 

 reer; or in the words of the poet, "to 

 cast one longing, lingering look be- 

 hind." 



As we look back over the seven vol- 

 umes which comprise The Young 

 Oologist and Oologist, we become 

 aware that we are entertaining an al- 

 most unconscious feeling of pride, for 

 which there may perhaps be a reason. 

 The saying: "If a man blow not his 

 own horn, by whom will it be blown?" 

 contains more of truth than of poetry. 

 And so, rather than run the risk of 

 having our horn bespoiled with the 

 rust of dis-use, we proceed to blow it 

 ourselves. As an imitiatory Ijlast, we 

 desire, conceitedly, to Siiy that we be- 

 lieve that the seven volumes now near- 

 ly completed, comprise the most popu- 

 lar magazine devoted to birds, their 

 nests and eggs ever published. 



However, it is not the purpose of 

 this article to sing the praises of the 

 little journal, or to exalt it in any way; 

 but merely to criticise it in a fair and 

 impartial manner as though it were the 

 work of other hands; censuring where 

 censure is needed and commending 

 where commendation is just. 



We proceed directly to speak of the 

 diflt'ereut volumes in detail, listing the 



articles which are of major importance. 



The Young Oologist. 



Volume I and II— Monthly. 



As we look at Vol. I, No. 1 (May, 

 1884) and remember the time when we 

 made "our start," and sent out our 

 first number, we kind of chuckle with 

 the memory of the thing. But, desist- 

 ing from chuckling and noticing the 

 succeeding numbers, we observe a 

 marked improvement in each one, 

 reaching better paper and colored cov- 

 er, and finally culminating in June, 

 1885, at tiie close of Volume II, in an 

 A No. 1 32-page journal, full 

 of excellent matter of great use 

 and benefit to every live collector, 

 and as good an ornithological journal 

 as was published. 



Each number of Volumes I and II 

 had more or less space devoted to the 

 answering of the queries of our corres- 

 pondents. 



In April, 1885, at the close of Volume 

 I, a complete and exhaustive index of 

 that volume, together with title page 

 for binding, was published. 



From out of the many things which 

 Volumes I and II afforded, we take 

 space to mention only the following: 



1 . ' 'Instructions for Collecting Bird's 

 Eggs." By J. Parker Norris. Vol. I, 

 Nos. 1 and 2. May and June, 1884, (con- 

 tinued). Pages 3 and 19. A reprint 

 from The County Oentlenum. 



2. "Great Horned Owl." Editorial. 

 Ibid., No. 1, p. 5. 



3. "Ground Dove" {Ghamcepelia pas- 

 serma). ByT. B.Perry. Ibid. p. 10. 



4. "Eggs of the Virginia, Sora, and 

 Clapper Rail." Editorial. Ibid., p. 11. 

 Notes wherein these eggs differ from 

 each other. 



5. "Painted Bunting or Nonpai-eil."" 

 {Passerina ciris). By Troup D. Perry. 

 Ibid., No. 2, June. 1884, p. 21. 



6. "California Mottled Owl." By 

 H. R. T. Ibid., p 23. 



7. "Notes on the Nashville and 

 Hooded Warblers, and Goklen-wingecl 

 Woodpecker from Dighton, Mass.'" 

 By C. S. P. Ibid., p. 26. Notes a set 

 (?) of 71 eggs of the Gohlen-winged 

 VVoodpecker taken during 73 days. 



8. "Ornitholou-y of the •• Island of 

 Montreal." By W. D. Shaw. Ibid., i^. 

 27. Enumerates a list of 168 species of 

 birds frequenting the island of Mon- 

 treal as observed by Mr. Ernest D. 

 Winter and the writer. 



