THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



29 



Association, will occupy a page, each month, 

 in this magazine, beginning with the May num- 

 ber. This Chapter is one of the most prominent 

 in the Agassiz Association, being of the kind 

 known as Corresponding Chapters. The mem- 

 bers are scattered throughout the United States 

 and as many of them are botanists and writers 

 of repute, their page bids fair to be very interest- 

 ing. Next month we are promised a history of 

 the Chapter. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



One hour in the early morning is worth more 

 to the ornithologist than several, later in the day. 

 Especially is this so, when one is looking for 

 arriving birds. It is pretty evident that most 

 birds sing before searching for breakfast. At 

 day-break the air is ful! of songs. If one does 

 not see the birds, their voices may notify him 

 of their presence. When the morning grows 

 older and its freshness departs, much of the 

 music is hushed for the day; the birds having 

 betaken themselves to feeding. Some birds 

 strike up their songs again at sundown, but the 

 chorus is never so strong and spirited as at 

 dawn. 



Before long we expect to be able to pay our 

 contributors for all the articles we publish. In 

 the meantime we hope, by treating our writers 

 well, to receive a fair number of manuscripts. 

 We aim to pubhsh each article in a style worthy 

 of the author. This should count with those 

 who wish to appear at their best in print. When 

 the contribution is published the author is sent 

 extra copies containing it. In writing for the 

 press the following rules should be observed. 

 Use white paper and black ink. Write on but 

 one side of the sheet, which should never be 

 much larger or smaller than five by eight inches;. 

 Number the pages and carefully punctuate and 

 capitalize the work. It is often necessary to 

 write and re-write sentences and even para- 

 graphs before they become perfect, but the re- 

 sult is usually an excellent article. 



Not only does a thorough love and enjoy- 

 ment of travelling by no means mterfere with 

 the love of home, but perhaps no one can 

 thoroughly enjoy his home who does not some- 

 times travel. — Lubbock. 



Mr. James Hill informs us that his new Direct- 

 ory will be out by the first of April. 



The Maine Ornithologist and Oologist has 

 lately acquired an associate editor in the person 

 of Mr. C. W. Hillman of Canisteo, N. Y. 



A writer in the March number of a prominent 

 journal, speaks of shooting enough rare warblers 

 in one morning to nearly fill a fish-creel. Com- 

 ment is unnecessary. 



On Arbor Day, the school children of New 

 York State will again vote for a State flower. 

 The contest has narrowed down to a struggle 

 between the golden-rod and the rose. These 

 flowers received the most votes last year, but 

 neither got a majority. At present, the golden- 

 rod is ahead by nearly two thousand votes. 



The Kansas City Scientist, for February, con- 

 tains an article by R. W. Shufeldt. entitled "The 

 Study of Ornithology in its Wider Sense" which 

 should be read by everyone interested in ornith- 

 ology. The writer mentions the lines along 

 which a scientific ornithologist should be edu- 

 cated, and points out the difference between a 

 true ornithologist, and others called by that 

 name. 



Among the few books that are indispensable 

 to the working naturalist, Mr. Oliver Davie's 

 " Nests and Eggs of North American Birds " 

 holds a prominent place. The fourth and latest 

 edition of this work, is a handsome octavo vol- 

 ume of 475 pages, in which are described the 

 nests and eggs of all American birds known to 

 breed north of Mexico. The work has been 

 re-arranged according to the nomenclature of 

 the American Ornithologists Union Check List, 

 the numbers used in former editions being re- 

 tained and placed at the right of each species. 

 Although the volume claims to be only a de- 

 scription of the nests and eggs of North Amer- 

 ican birds it is really much more. In addition 

 to the scientific and all the common names, the 

 time of nesting and habitat of each bird is given, 

 together with the pecuUar nesting habits. The 

 present edition is illustrated with ten full-page 

 plates and ends with a comprehensive index. 

 It should be in the library of every ornith- 

 ologist. 



M 



