70 THE NIDOLOGIST 
A Young Ferrugigous Rough=-Leg. 
BY WILLOUGHBY P. LOWE. 
|™ WAS in the Awk (Volume XI, No. 2) 
that Dr. J. A. Allen called the attention 
of Ornithologists to the striking difference 
of first plumages. It is not necessary here 
to comment on his excellent paper, but to 
try to further impress on the readers of THE 
NIpoLocis’ the vast importance of collect- 
ing sufficient material and studying this 
interesting subject. How little we know, 
even yet, about many familiar birds, as to 
the various stages and exact time required, 
for the downy young to develop into ap 
adult bird. For this reason, perhaps, the 
accompanying striking photograph of the 
young of Archibuteo ferrugineus, taken by 
Mr. H. W. Nash of Pueblo, at my house 
last summer, may prove of interest, show- 
ing as it does the large pectoral blotch, of 
rich ochraceous-buff, which as time goes 
on fades into pinkish-buff. This coloration 
extends also up the entire throat. There 
are, of course, many other points of differ- 
ence, but this appears to be the foremost 
and most striking. 
Just how longit takes for this to disappear 
is*not at present known to me, but judging 
from a large number of specimens several 
molts are required before this ezdzrely dis- 
appears, as many birds in breeding plumage 
show traces of buff toward the tips and 
edges of the feathers. 
The bird from which the photograph was 
obtained was kept in confinement several 
months and became an interesting and 
amusing pet. As the habits of this useful 
bird are well known and have been so often 
described, it seems unnecessary to repeat. 
pees as 
Minor Nesting Notes from North Dakota. 
BY EUGENE S. ROLFE. 
N ALL our rides and rambles over the 
blooming prairies the Bobolinks bubbled 
on every hand,yet as we had not chanced 
upon a nest, I had faithfully promised the 
youthful Oologist of the family to assist in 
making a deliberate search, and immedi- 
ately after breakfast on the morning of 
June 17, 1895, we started hopefully. 
Horned and Meadowlarks, Vesper, 
Savanna, Grasshopper, Bairds’ and Clay- 
colored Sparrows, Bartramian Sandpipers, 
Chestnut-collared Longspurs and Bobolinks 
galore were plentifully scattered over the 
almost boundless area that rolledin view, 
and it was plain that the small frame beside 
me could hardly contain the swelling spirits 
that trusted utterly in the paternal ability 
to find anything needed. Yet hour after 
hour had passed, many, many acres had 
been closely, painfully searched, the sun 
stood high and hot in the heavens, legs 
ached and the bounding spirits suffered a 
collapse. Not anest of any description 
had rewarded our search, and when noon 
came and the home loomed two long, weary 
miles away, we turned our lagging feet 
thither all but defeated, when happening 
to glance across the wide stretch far away 
to the right a female Bebolink caught my 
eye, going swift and straight as though 
upon serious business intent. She flew 
full 500 yards and dropped suddenly into 
the grass. When part way thither her 
mate, springing into view mysteriously, 
followed close after, and plumping down in 
the same spot presently shot up into the 
air pouring fortha wealth of bubbling song. 
Altogether this conduct wasa little strange 
and rather suggested a family of hungry 
progeny, but even so it would be most 
cheering to look in upon their retreat, so 
fixing the distant spot with an intentness 
of gaze that fairly made the eyes ache, I 
walked straight till within ten yards and 
then rushed in with a bound. The bird, 
usually so wary, was fairly taken by sur- 
prise, and instead of skulking away through 
the grass, struggled into the air directly 
from the nest. Down among the rank 
vegetation, sank in the ground slightly, 
tairly inthe centre of a tussock of grass was 
the nest—a trifling affair of dried grasses 
and fine dried weed stalks loosely put 
together but well held in place by the stiff 
upright grass stems of the tussock. Tall 
mesh-like culms stood about, such as the 
male loves to perch upon when giving 
utterance to the song which has made him 
famous. Six eggs of the heavily colored, 
clouded appearance so difficult to describe 
showed signs of incubation, and indicated 
that so far as making good specimens was 
concerned our visit was timely. And thus 
was filial confidence in the paternal power 
restored. 
This set went far west in exchange, and 
this past season we sallied forth again, this 
time with drag-rope. In three widely sep- 
arated places we flushed the trim, modest 
female, twice without result and once only 
