50 Iowa Oknithologist. 



is usually supposed. He also mentions the late nesting of the Cuckoos, es- 

 pecially the Yellow-billed. He has found its nest with fresh eggs in as late as 

 August 20th. Mr. D. L. Savage brings the date to August 25th and Mr. Brown 

 found in one tree, on September 4th, a Dove's nest containing two fresh eggs 

 and just above it a nest of the Yellow- billed Cuckoo in which were three slight- 

 ly incubated eggs. Mrs. Raun found two young Mourning Doves in a nest as 

 late as September 14th. 



The diet t)f the Shrike was quite thoroughly discussed. Mrs. Triem was 

 not aware of their eating Prairie^Horned Larks, but had seen them catch Tree 

 Sparrows. It was a unanimous decision that the barbed wire fences was a 

 great boon to these birds ; frogs, mice, Tree Sparrows and grasshoppers had 

 been seen suspended from barbs. Mr. Brown finds the Loggerhead at Daven- 

 port in equal abundance with the White- rumped Shrike. There is some ques- 

 tion about his statement. He says this is an opening for systematic investiga- 

 tion, th(^re is room for opinions on both sides. A number of our Wrens and 

 Flycatclicrs should receive special attention also. 



Mrs. Raiitn was very glad that Mr. Wilson brought such an interesting sub- 

 ject befort' us, and she is going to make a list of the birds she finds in the lawn 

 near her home and give to us at the next congress. That will be some syste- 

 matic ^v(lrk. 



In speaking of investigation on birds near town, recalls to Mr. Law some 

 of his early experiences. For a month or more a flock of Evening Grosbeaks 

 fed daily w ithin the corporations of Perry, la. Our ornithologist at that place 

 was very desirous of obtaining a number of specimens, so he would arise before 

 people were awake and shoot once or twice — not often enough to arouse any 

 disturbancf — but continuing this a few mornings, the desired number of speci- 

 mens were obtained. Mr. Brown was not energetic enough to follow the above 

 presoripti( 11. but he, with Mr. Paul Bartsch, de%dsed a scheme which worked 

 successfully in Iowa City. A flock of birds — Redpolls — were feeding on the 

 weeds along <me side of the college campus, Mr. Brown secured an air gun and 

 carefully discharged it at convenient intervals, while his co-worker in an un- 

 concerned manner followed behind picking up the birds. A satisfactory 

 number of Redpolls were secured. Not unfrequently this means was resorted 

 to when rare birds were in the neighborhood and always with success. 



Mr. Brown, while speaking of the rarer birds mentions the Red Crossbill. 

 He thinks that it is possible that this species may be found nesting in the state 

 in some of the wilder sections. Mr. Law saw three females in May at Perry, 

 Iowa, and he has observed them in September ; he also has seen a specimen of 

 Evening Grosbeak in June, in Dallas county, but it was undoubtedly a lost bird. 



The qiiestion is asked, "How many species of Juncos do we have in the 

 state?" There is no positive answer to the question, but a number volunteer 

 to make thorough investigation and undoubtedly this question will be cleared 

 up before another congress. Up to date there are no authentic records of but 

 one species being found — the Slate-colored Junco. 



