ure .85x.65, and are of a beautiful cream 

 color, marked chiefly about the larger end 

 -with brown and lavender. My friend in- 

 forms me that before being blown, they 

 had a slight roseate tinge. 



The flycatcher family is represented by 

 several more varieties about here, but the 

 "seven hundred and fifty word limit" cuts 

 me short just as I am getting "warmed up." 



77ie Spa?*roit> Ho?ds t?ie Fort. 



By Theta. 

 Save for the English Sparrow, Chicago 

 is entirely destitute of bird life at this 

 time of the year, and I might say, at any 

 time, for this little vixen is scattered in 

 countless numbers over the 50 square 

 miles covered by this city, which he seems 

 to consider as belonging to himself and 

 brethren; for if any other bird, however 

 travel-worn or weary, should seek a mo- 

 ment's rest in park or private garden, he 

 is immediately mobbed, and given to 

 understand that his room is preferable to 

 his company. 



The sparrow is also ever present in the 

 suburbs, and unless repeatedly driven out 

 will establish himself in the boxes erected 

 for the Blue Bird, or Purple Martin, and 

 once in will "hold the fort" against all 

 save man, even attacking grimalkin 

 should she see fit to interfere. 



It is an interesting sight to visit the 

 freight yards of one of the many western 

 roads having a terminus in Chicago. 

 Here thousands of sparrows gather daily 

 to avail themselves of droppings occa- 

 sioned by the transfer of large quantities 

 of grain. These feeding grounds are 

 often the scenes of hotly-contested bat- 

 tles in which these birds seem to delight. 

 A fight is no sooner started than the 

 noisy rabble gather around the ruffians, 

 and from car and wagon, ground and 

 midair, cheer the combatants on. The 

 sparrows carry on the fight in dead earn- 

 est, and I have frequently seen one catch 

 the other by the top of the head and drag 

 him around in an unmerciful manner, 

 until completely exhausted, it was obliged 



to desist. When one sparrow seems to 

 be bettering his opponent, it is not an un- 

 frequent occurrence for several to join in, 

 then a general melee ensues. 



How long this state of affairs will con- 

 tinue is questionable, as strings of spar- 

 rows are daily exposed for sale in the 

 Chicago markets, and it is the writer's 

 well-founded opinion that they are being 

 served under a different name by some 

 of our best known restaurants. 



Exchanges and Wants. 



Notice of Exchange, Wants, etc., inserted in this 

 column at the rate of 25 cents for 25 words, and 

 one half cent for each additional word. No no- 

 tices inserted for less than 25 cts. 



NOTICE! —I Will Give the first volume of the 

 Golden Days (Now out of print) and the year of 

 1884 for the best offer of bird's eggs with full data. 

 Address, JOHN W. SCHAUB, Ashbourne, Mont- 

 gomery Co., Pa. 



I "W ill -Pay Oasli or give a good 

 exchange for one or more first-class sets 

 of Golden Eagle's eggs. 



T. VEENON WILSON, Austin, 111. 



TAYLOR'S DIRECTORY 

 IS BOOMING! 



Send lOcts. and have your name insert- 

 ed and secure a copy of first issue. Will 

 be issued the first of August. 

 Advertisements lOcts. per line. 

 Exchange notices 1 cent per word. 

 Write for further particulars. Best of 

 reference furnished if desired. 



ZACH. TAYLOB, 



Dunkirk, N. Y. 



nTnTVTT^ Stamp for a copy of my lat- 

 D.D.LN U est catalogue. Bird's eggs 

 and Oological supplies at rock bottom 

 prices. Address, T. Veenon Wilson, 



Austin, 111. 



— Quail are very pugnacious birds, and 

 were trained of old, in the manner of our 

 game cocks by the Greeks and Eomans. 



— Of all months in the year this is the 

 month calculated to make the five collect- 

 or's heart rejoice. 



— Once more the famous Bobolink is 

 enlivening our Western prairies with his 

 cheerful and inimitable song. A right 

 royal welcome to him ! 





