THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



53 



reason why they are applied to this 

 shrub, we should be glad to hear from 

 them. 



Mr. Elmer J. Gilletfs article regard- 

 ing the finding of a white-throated 

 sparrow's nest at Barre Centre, N. Y. , 

 has caused considerable discussion since 

 its publication in fliese columns. Mr. 

 Gillett bases his identification on a 

 sight of the birds and says the eggs are 

 smaller than those of the song sparrow. 

 On this point, Mr. Frank H. Lattin, of 

 Albion, N. Y., who has probably 

 handled more specimens in this line 

 than any other American, writes us 

 that he has yet to see a white-throat's 

 egg smaller than an average sized one 

 of the song sparrow. An average egg of 

 the white-throat, sent us by Mr. Lattin 

 is much larger than any song sparrow's 

 egg in our collection. Mr. Lattin says 

 that no nest of the white-throat has 

 ever been found in the county. This 

 statement must be taken as final for he 

 is too well known as an authority in 

 ornithological matters to be doubted in 

 regard to the ornithology of his own 

 county. If Mr. Gillett still thinks his 

 eggs are those of the white-throat, we 

 suggest that he send one to Mr. Lattin 

 for inspection. 



POISONING PLANTS. 



BY E. E. BOGUE, MEMBER OF THE GRAY 

 MEMORIAL CHAPTER. 



This important requisite for the prop- 

 er preservation of herbarium specimens 

 is too often overlooked by the amateur 

 botanist. 



Make a solution of one oz. corrosive 

 sublimate to one quart of pure menthyl 

 alcohol which is much cheaper than or- 

 dinary alcohol. Some prefer arsenic to 

 corrosive sublimate. If water is added 

 to weaken the solution, a precipitate 

 may be formed owing to the presence 

 of lime. 



The plants may be placed on a sheet 



of glass and the solution applied with a 

 soft brush. 



A quicker, easier and more thorough 

 method is to immerse the plants in the 

 solution which is placed in a large, shal- 

 low porcelain dish. 



Handle them with wooden pinchers 

 formed of a crotched stick of some 

 tough timber or by bending the two 

 ends of a stick together. 



Then place the plants between driers 

 so that no parts will overlap and subject 

 them to heavy pressure for 15 or 20 min- 

 utes. If allowed to remain in the first 

 set of dryers much longer than this 

 they will become discolored. An 

 hour or two may be allowed before 

 changing the dryers a second time, 

 alter which lighter pressure may be 

 used. In a day or two the plants will 

 b3 perfectly dry. A thick pile of plants 

 may be put in the press at one time if 

 divided into packets two or three inches 

 thick by means of thin boards. 



A CURIOUS MEXICAN PLANT. 



BY E. V/ILKINSON. 



The plant, Baileya multiloba, is a 

 Composite which grows very abundant- 

 ly in certain portions of Chihuahua. It 

 is from eight to fifteen inches high, and 

 has a woolly ap];earan;-e, especially 

 about the base. The flower is yellow 

 and quite conspicuous, but the notice- 

 able feature of which 1 wish to speak, 

 one I have never seen in any other plant, 

 is that several times I have found two 

 or even three stalks growing together 

 from the roots to the flower which was 

 exceedingly double. Once I found a 

 plant in which four stems had grown 

 together in this way. 



It is singular how many plants in 

 Mexico are sought after and used by 

 the natives for their medicinal value, 

 in fact nearly all of them possess some 

 virtue or healing power in their eyes. 



Even this Baileya multiloba was a 

 boon to the feathered tribe, and I have 

 frequently seen them rooting among 

 the leaves, and shaking up their feath- 

 ers so that the perfume or something 

 coming from the plant might work its 

 way under the feathers and drive away 

 the troublesome parasites. 



