THE NIDIOLOGIST 



19 



and she allowed me to approach within five 

 feet without changing her position. 



Cassin's Vireo. I have seen this handsome 

 blue-headed Vireo in the breeding season, 

 though sparingly, and might infer that it breeds 

 here, as it is known to nest in Contra Costa 

 County. 



The Warbling Vireo is a common summer 

 resident. 



Townsend's Warbler is a casual winter vis- 

 itant, straying down from the north. A few 

 miles north of here they are often met with. 

 ( To he continue J. ) 



Mallard and Cinnamon Teal in 

 Captivity. 



A FEW years ago I obtained five Cinnamon 

 Teal and two female Mallards, all young 

 birds not having attained their full 

 growth. Two of the Teal died a short while 

 afterward, then another followed, when I liber- 

 ated the survivors after clipping a wing of 

 each. For several months they stayed with the 

 Chickens and ate the same variety of food. 

 Finally one of the Teal disappeared, probably 

 having been caught by a cat. This left but 

 one Teal and one Mallard, the former a drake 

 and the latter a female, neither of which at 

 mature age attained its full growth, especially 

 the Mallard, which was only half the size of a 

 wild bird. 



The two soon began to roam far out on the 

 ranch, and finally took up their abode near the 

 cattle corral, where there was water and mud 

 and plenty of wild food. One day the Mal- 

 lard disappeared, and I had given her up as 

 lost, but about two weeks later I discovered 

 her among the Hens and Ducks of a neighbor 

 who lived about a mile from me, adjoining the 

 marsh. He said his boy had been out on the 

 marsh hunting, and had caught the bird alive, 

 aided by the dog. After proving ownership, I 

 took the bird back to its former home to keep 

 the little Teal company, and caught him and 

 cut his wing as well as the Mallard's, so they 

 would fly away no more; but they both soon 

 disappeared, and most likely furnished, in their 

 unprotected condition, a rich meal for some 

 prowling cat. D. A. Cohen. 



Alameda, Cal. 



The manager of the Pan-Handle Natural Science 

 Establishment writes us : " We handle only instru- 

 ments, scientific works, and like supplies. These we 

 will guarantee will always be found to be what they 

 are advertised to be. We will issue a catalogue for 

 general distribution shortly, and will endeavor to 

 please all who patronize us." 



A Thief. 



While out collecting on June 4 of this year 1 dis- 

 covered a nest of California Partridge containing 

 eleven eggs. This being an incomplete set, I left 

 them, and decided to return in a few days and collect 

 the complete "clutch." On June 16 I again visited 

 the nest, expecting to see a nice set of eighteen or 

 twentv eggs, but on looking into the nest I was sur- 

 prised to see fifteen good eg,gs and three with holes 

 in them and the contents removed. 



The eggs seemed to be freshly eaten, so I hid my- 

 self behind a tree to try to see who the robber could 

 be. I waited about five minutes, when I saw a Rus- 

 set-backed Thrush fly into the nest, stick his bill into 

 an egg, and fly away with it. He repeated this per- 

 formance for about ten minutes, when he flew away 

 and did not return. I went to the nest and found that 

 he fiad carried off six eggs. I did not take the re- 

 maining nine eggs, but left them for him to make 

 another meal on, which I suppose he did. 



I know the American Crow and the California Jay 

 eat other birds' eggs (and sometimes their own), but 

 this is the first record I have known of the Russet- 

 backed Thrush eating eggs. CL.-iUDE Fyfe. 



San Francisco, Cal. 



Dicksissel Breeding at Detroit. 



Edmor Nidiologist : 



De.\r Sir : On June 20, 1895, I found a set of foiir 

 eggs of the Dicksissel in an open pasture. As this is 

 the first nest and the first birds I ever noticed in my 

 locality, could any other Michigan observer give any 

 of tlieir notes on the subject ? B. H. S. 



Detroit, Mich. 



* * 



An Albino Crow. 



August 3 I received an Albino Crow that was shot 

 by a friend about three miles from here ; the bird was 

 a young of the year, and had been around for a month 

 when shot. The bird was with a small flock of Crows 

 and was acting as sentinel to the rest. It is not a pure 

 white, but is a light slate color, appearing white at a 

 short distance. It was slightly darker on the head, 

 its bill and legs are blackish, eyes pink. Have also 

 heard of an albino chipmunk near here. 



Warren, Pa. R. B. Simpson. 



* * 



A New Bird for Wisconsin. 



De.\r Sir : Of possible interest to the readers of 

 the " NiD," I would say I shot, October i, iSgs, at Mil- 

 ton, Rock County. Wis., a very fine adult ^ (in mag- 

 nificent plumage) Scissors-tailed Flycatcher (Mihuliis 

 forficatus). This is the first record for Wisconsin. It 

 was very fat. It seemed odd to see this tropical-look- 

 ing bird on a cold, blustering day in October in Wis- 

 consin. I am more than ever pleased with the " N'lD," 

 and wish it all success. Ludwig Kumlein. 



Milton, Wis. 



