THE NIDOLOGIST 54 
thologist living today but who devoutly 
wishes that he may live to see his grand 
undertaking completed to his satisfaction, 
and to long enjoy the fame that will surely 
follow as his reward. It seems a pity that 
the volume was not bound in keeping with 
the first part so that the two present 
and subsequent volumes should have simi- 
lar covers. ‘This, however, is not the 
author’s fault any more than it is that such 
unfortunate typographical errors have oc- 
curred as the one seen in the scientific 
name of the Vermilion Flycatcher (p. 322) 
and others. Personally I know these latter 
were not present in his revise proof-sheets, 
and the first noticed feature is doubtless 
some innovation of the Public Bindery. 
Major Bendire has spared neither time, 
pains nor personal supervision to make 
this volume as perfect as possible, and 
this makes it the more annoying that such 
objectionable features, and errors due to the 
carelessness of others, should after all find 
place in the final result. 
Re Wie 8: 
—_—_———+ oe 
Correspondence. 
Epitor oF THE NIpoLoGIsT: — The 
question is opened regarding the exact 
manner in which the Chimney Swift breaks 
off the bits of twigs which it uses in the 
construction of its nest. I should like to 
hear from your contributors on this subject. 
I have always accepted without- question 
the common opinion that the bird swoops 
down at full speed, and twitches off a bit of 
dead, dry twig wth zts bill as it passes 
swiftly on the wing. Now I hear that the 
bird clutches the twig and breaks it off with 
its feet and claws. Several Ornithologists 
with whom I have talked on the subject 
seem to be no wiser than myself on this 
point. Cannot some of your contributors 
settie it? Has any one actually witnessed 
the performance, either with the bill or with 
the claws, under such circumstances of ob- 
servation as left him in no doubt whatever 
concerning the exact way in which it was 
done? 
Hoping that ali goes well with your ex- 
cellent periodical, I remain, 
Very truly yours, 
ELLioTr Cougs. 
=== et +e+s> 
THE BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN has a corres- 
pondent who believes that Ducks commit suicide, 
having found them dead under water attached to 
seaweed by their mandibles. 
TO THE SONG SPARROW. 
VRE winter’s blasts do strident blow, 
And sunshine seldom cheers our way, 
Then from the world of cold and snow 
Is heard thy sweetest, clearest lay. 
Just is the debt we owe to thee, 
Sweet singer of the dreary days; 
And better for thy minstrelsy, 
I gladly give thee praise. 
Aylett, Virginia . HENRY AYLET?. 
-—_o—_— —— 
WILFRED H. Oscoop of San Jose, Cal., infornis 
us that while out walking he noticed a number of 
characteristic pellets of the Western Horned 
Owl. Inthe centre of one he founda large prune 
pit embedded in the usual mass of hair and bones. 
Rather a peculiar diet for an Owl. 
FRANK L,. BurNS of Berwyn, Pa., writes us: 
“Your crusade against all manner of frauds has 
earned you the good will and support of every 
honest Ornithologist in the country.”’ 
GEORGE G. CANTWELL has left Juneau on a 
collecting trip to be gone until June. His address 
will be McLeod’s Post, Houkan, Jackson P. O., 
Alaska. 
REv. P. B. PEABODY writes us: ‘‘You are cer- 
tainly subject for congratulation in the ‘scoop’ 
you have scored in the world of scientific journals, 
in the beautiful and accurate portrayal of the nest 
and eggs of the Western Evening Grosbeak.” 
THE NIDOLOGIST just received and I should call 
it the dest number you have yet issued. The plate 
of the nest and eggs of the Western Evening Gros- 
beak is superfine. Enclosed find 20 cents in 
stamps to pay for one copy of your souvenir, ‘‘The 
Story of the Farallones.’’ I am sure that this 
work should be in the hands of every collector, 
as I know from my past correspondence with Mr. 
Barlow that it would be impossible for him to 
write anything which was not interesting.—Ora 
W. Knight. 
A. A. Forbes of Silver Lane, Connecticut, has 
taken twenty-four eggs of the Red-shouldered 
Hawk, this season. On April 2, a set of two 
eggs of the Great Horned Owl was secured from 
a tree where a pair of these Owls nested ten 
years ago. 
Ralph E. Case of Avon, Connecticut, on June 
5, 1896, found a set of Whip-poor-will’s eggs one- 
half incubated, ondry leaves at foot of small pine. 
One egg has a complete circle of yellowish brown 
spots which give it a beautiful appearance. 
E. B. Sisson, of Canton, Connecticut, took 
on April 5, 1899, a set of three eggs of the Red- 
tailed Hawk frem a nest in a white pive tree. 
One egg is spotted with russet brown and two 
are greenish-white. Also on the same date he 
took a set of three eggs of the Barred Owl from a 
poplar stub in a hole six feet up from the ground. 
Hartford, Connecticut. C. M. CAsE. 
Mr. VERDI BuRTCH writes us that a Murre was 
killed recently at Penn Yan, N. Y.—two hundred 
miles from the sea coast. 
