THE OSPREY. (f>i^■■^-y^, \<\o% 



sitting crosswise of an old log, with his head drawn down as if asleep. 1 lay 

 on the ground motionless for some time watching the bird, which did not move 

 save to now and then raise his head to look and listen at some slight movement 

 or noise. When about to drum, he would straighten up without really stand- 

 ing up, much as a duck flapping his wings while sitting on the water. Be- 

 ginning with slow short interrupted strokes he would beat against his side, or 

 the air, faster and faster, finally, still fast but with less force, causing the 

 sound to die out in a sort of a faint whirr, when he would resume his former 

 crouching position. This drumming occurred at intervals of 6 to 10 minutes. 

 He did not "strut up and down the log" nor did he strike the log with his 

 wings; he did not even stand up. It seemed to me that the sound was caused 

 by the air being forced from between the wings and the body by the short 

 quick strokes. For nearly an hour I was so highly entertained and so grate- 

 ful to that bird that we ate bacon for supper. 



AUGUST BIRDS OF STONY MAN MOUNTAIN, VIRGINIA. 



By William Palmkk. 



I spent from August 12 to September 1, of this year, on Stony Man 

 Mountain, one of the highest of the northern Blue Ridge Mountains, situated in 

 Page and Madison counties, Va. The season was too late to note the summer 

 birds, a few only remaining, therefore, I can only give some idea of the late 

 summer bird life and such points of interest as I was able to learn during a 

 period not given exclusively to the study of birds. "Deadenings" were many 

 years ago made in the forests of these mountains for clearings about settle- 

 ments, many of which have been abandoned, while forests fires have swept 

 along the mountain sides and effected a change which would have hardly 

 occured if man had left the mountain untouched. It is such influence which 

 affects the bird life, the tendency being to permit several species to ascend to ele- 

 vations which they would probably never reach if natural conditions prevailed. 



The highest point of the mountain is 4,035 feet, and rises as a cone from 

 the general mass which roughly speaking is greatest at 3,500 feet. Except 

 for the several rocky exposed peaks and several other exposures of rough rocks, 

 the mountain is densely forested with deciduous trees with a sprinkling of hem- 

 lock and several species of pines. The resident summer bird life remaining 

 consisted of the following forms: 



The Junco, Junco hyemalis, common, but most abundant about the gardens 

 at 3,500 feet. The young were just beginning to molt the mesoptile plumage. 

 Two nests seen were imbedded in the moss of well shaded sloping rocks with 

 many overhanging ferns. 



