OOLOG-IST S EXCHANGE. 



be cut off just behind the skull, and 

 must have the eyes and the brain scoop- 

 ed out to preserve it. These will very 

 often identify eggs very well. 



[To be continued. J 

 - * 



North American Birds. 



In this column we shall give each 

 month the nesting places, time of nesting, 

 etc., of our North American Birds, com- 

 mencing with the Thrush Family. We 

 copy descriptions of the first thirty-six 

 from Sunny South Oologist. We hope 

 to be able during continuation of this 

 series to give size, color, etc., of eggs of 

 various species thus making an indispen- 

 sible reference for the amateur collector. 



1. Wood Thrush. — Nests usually 

 found in low, damp woods. Dates of nest- 

 ing, from May 10th to June 15th. 



2. Wilson's Thrush. — The situation 

 of the nest is retired, and often in the 

 depths of woods. Begins nesting about 

 May 20th. 



3. Gray-cheeked Thrush. — Damp, 

 low woods and thickets. Begins nesting 

 about May 1st. 



4. Russet-backed Thrush. — Pacific 

 eoast regions abundant. Begins nesting 

 about May 15th. 



4a. Olive-backed Thrush. — Scrub- 

 by, dry woods. Begins nesting about 

 June 1st. 



5. Dware Thrush. — Thick woods 

 and swamps. Begins nesting early in 

 May. 



5b. Hermit Thrush. — Low, swampy 

 places. Begins nesting June 1st. 



7. American Robin. — Nests made 

 near habitations. Nests from May 1st 

 to July 25th. 



7a. Western Robin. — Nesting habits 

 similar to that of No. 7. 



9. Varied Robin. — Inhabits all wood 

 land. Begins nesting about May 10th. 



10. Sage Thrasher. — Inhabits open, 

 mountainous countries. Begins nesting 

 May 15th. 



11. Mocking Bird. Nests placed in 

 open country, orchards, vineyards, etc. 

 Always near man. Begins nesting April 

 20th.* 



12. Catbird. — In gardens- or clear- 

 mgs of woods, always near habitations. 

 Nests May 15th to July 1st. 



["To be continued. I 



A Water Blow-Pipe. 



BY .r. M. A. IS OOLOGIST. 



I have no doubt but that many of our 

 readers of The Oologist, after a hard days 

 march collecting eggs, feel pretty tired 

 before they get half through blowing 

 their eggs, and wish, from the bottom of 

 their watch pocket, that there was a safe 

 way to blow eggs by steam or any other 

 power. The way I am going to tell you 

 now, I have used with perfect success for 

 two or three years, and I made it at the 

 cost of 50 cents. All you need to make 

 it is an empty tin can, holding about 2 

 quarts, one which has had apples in it I 

 am using, about 10 feet of 3-16 rubber 

 tubing, some glass tubing that will fit 

 tight in the rubber pipe, and some string. 

 The first thing to do is to clean the can 

 thoroughly, then with a sharp pointed 

 awl make a hole about ^ inch from the 

 bottom of the can a little smaller than 

 the pipe, so that you have to pinch and 

 squeeze the pipe to get it in ; then make 

 the glass tubing into blow pipes not more 

 than two inches long, and of different 

 sizes. To go to work, introduce the rub- 

 ber tube into the hole in the can, and in 

 the other end of the tube put one of the 

 blow pipes. Take a small ring of any 

 kind, about \ inch in diameter, and then 

 by bending over the end of the tube near 

 the blow pipe put on the ring over it to 

 keep the water from going through when 

 not in operation. Fill the can about one- 

 half full of good clean water, and put the 

 can on a book case about 10 feet from 

 the floor. By this simple arrangement 

 we have a blow pipe which does not take 

 a bit of trouble to blow any number of 

 eggs, and there is plenty of force to blow 

 any egg. The same time the egg is be- 

 ing blown it is being rinsed, and all you 

 have to do is to blow the water out when 

 it is blown. 



Exchanges and Wa'nts. 



Notices of Exchanges, Wants, etc., inserted in 

 this column at the rate of 20 cents for 25 wards 

 and one-half cent for each additional word. 

 None inserted for less than 20 cents. 



Wanted.— First-class birds' eggs In original 

 sets with data, and Indian relics in good condi- 

 tion, such as tomahawks, pipes, beadwork, per- 

 fect points and spearheads, etc.. in exchange for 

 minerals, shells, curios, etc. Address, Dickin- 

 son & Dlikkee, Sharon, Wis. 



