THE NIDIOLOGIST 



noted was frequented by a pair of these birds. 

 Both of the parent birds were woefully dis- 

 tressed at my intrusion — far more so than 

 would have been likely in the incubating sea- 

 son — and, without a doubt, their family of 

 young were scattered about among the long 

 marsh grass. 



As I approached a particular spot the dis- 

 tress of the old birds became very touching. 

 Suspending their bodies in the air immediately 

 over my head and remaining for several min- 

 utes almost stationary and practically motion- 

 less but for the waving of their wings, and 

 within six feet of my hand, they uttered their 

 faint, pathetic little cry, consisting of a single 

 note impossible to express by word and thor- 

 oughly unique in bird language. 



Many times did I seek to grasp one of the 

 pretty creatures in my hand, but, evading me 

 with ease, it did not seem in the least alarmed 

 for its own safety. Occasionally one would 

 alight on the ground near my feet, apparently 

 for rest, and then, after a moment, resume again 

 its peculiar station just over my head. This 

 continued till I considerately withdrew. 



The conduct of these gentle creatures is in 

 strong and grateful contrast. to that of many of 

 their tattling cousins, who, when disturbed, 

 distract by their discordant cries and alarm 

 every bird in their vicinity. / 



To call Coues's Key to account is, possibly, 

 daring for an amateur, and in doing so I have 

 courage only to suggest that the palpable error 

 is that of the compositor rather than that of 

 the distinguished author. Upon jjage 613 (ed. 

 1887) the eggs of the Wilson's Phalarope are 

 given as ranging from 1.20 to 1.35 long by 1.90 

 broad, an apparent impossibility. 



Davies's A^csts and Eggs (third edition, page 

 107) seems to have suffered by contagion, the 

 same average dimensions being given. 



On June 19 of this year I shot a finely col- 

 ored female on the shores of Devil's Lake con- 

 taining an egg about ready to be deposited — 

 absolutely matured except that the shell was 

 not quite hard, though this fact I did not dis- 

 cover till hours after I had cut out the egg and 

 was about to blow it. The dimensions were 

 1.30 long by .90 brocd. 



E. S. ROLFE. 



Minnewaukan, N. Dak. 



I ."VM very much pleased with the Niihologist. 

 Penn Yan, N. Y. Verdi BlfRTCH. 



The " NiD " is indispensable to the Oologist up to 

 the times. M. T. Gleckley, M.D. 



Augusta, Ga. 



I am very much interested in the"NiD,"and wel- 

 come each new number. J. M. Hatch. 

 Escondido, Cal. 





Editor Nidiologist. 



Dear Sir: I intended writing you last month 

 and telling you what I was doing, but circum- 

 stances would not permit. I had a severe at- 

 tack of mountain fever and did nothing for 

 about three weeks. I am now in the best of 

 health, and can travel through the mountains 

 as well as ever. Game at just this time of the 

 year is rather scarce owing to the great number 

 of flies which infest the valley. In the high 

 hills and on the divide you will find all the 

 elk, black tails, and mountain sheep, the an- 

 telope only being now found on the flats and 

 foot-hills. We have had quite an Indian scare 

 in here of late, and troops have been sent in to 

 restore peace. My opinion is that it will not 

 amount to much, and that the scare is all of no 

 use. Most papers have exaggerated the reports 

 a great deal, and, no doubt, people outside of 

 this country are frightened a great deal more 

 than we are. Last Saturday I took a fine set 

 of Spotted Sandpiper |-. They were found on 

 an island in Snake River beside and under the 

 edge of a pile of drift. The old bird allowed 

 me to approach within a few feet of her before 

 she left the nest. The American Osprey can 

 be seen hovering over the ripples of clear water 

 in Snake, and on the lookout for some fine 

 trout that might venture too near the surface 

 of the water. An occasional White Pelican is 

 seen. The Canada Geese are beginning to get 

 a good size, but as yet are unable to fly. 

 Broods of Butter-ball, Red-breasted Merganser, 

 Mallard, Green, Blue-wing, and Cinnamon 

 Teal, and occasionally a Golden-e.ye, are seen. 

 In the mountain lakes I find the American 

 Coot breeding, and a few days ago I took a 

 fine set of twelve fresh eggs of this species in a 

 little lake of about half an acre. Soine hundred 

 feet above the valley I found a Loon had suc- 

 cessfully hatched her eggs. On the shoie cf 

 another small mountain lake, but a short dis- 

 tance from the ranch where I first discovered 

 her, two young Loons were diving and swim- 

 ming about their mother. I did not molest 

 them. To-day I went out on a hunt, and, be- 

 fore returning, bagged a fine antelope. Their 

 meat is now very good eating, and th(;y can be 

 seen at almost any part of the flat ; but they 

 are hard to approach and only a few are killed. 

 To-day I saw a pair of Long-eared Owls sitting 



