104 : THE NIDOLOGIST 
_ FELD 
— @ NOTES. 
A CURIOUS BIRD NOTE. 
While at the ranch in the country on 
October 25, 1896, I heard a peculiar call 
from the o:ks, reminding me somewhat of 
the guank of the Slender-billed Nuthatch, 
and given with unusual energy. Not rec- 
ognizing the note I investigated and tound 
the musician a modest Hermit Thrush (pro- 
bably Zardus aonalaschkae) hopping along 
on the ground. 
There was a flock of about 15 Thrushes 
in the several oaks, all calling loudly and 
with great earnestness. Some were on the 
ground, some perched in the oaks and 
occasionally one would fly over into the 
garden, but all kept up their call, which 
was sharp and vivacious, and which could 
scarcely help but attract one’s attention. 
The day was clear and bright. 
I have never seen this Thrush in flocks 
before, and would be interested to know if 
they often congregate in this manner, and 
if the note described is the usual one. 
C. Bartow. 
Santa Clara, Cal. 
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THE MEXICAN HORNED LARK. 
The heavy markings of black and yellow 
on the head and throat make this bird a 
conspicuous object to most observers. 
These birds are very numerous about Es- 
condido, and breed rather commonly. They 
seem to do very little harm, except what 
is recorded in the account of the Death 
Valley Expedition where is described the 
habit the birds have of following the farmer 
and eating the newly sown wheat at seed 
time. This was true of a large flock which 
ranged over a five acre piece of land near 
my home during the winter of 1894-5. 
They did not seem to be content with the 
grain not covered by the harrow, but would 
scratch up that which had been covered. I 
have seen them several times eating ants, 
but the contents of a stomach examined 
contained grain, sand and small black 
seeds. 
The Mexican Horned Lark mates in 
February. The breeding season extends 
here from March until the middle of June. 
On February 21, I saw one with material 
in the beak for a nest. The nest is com- 
posed ef dry grass, rootlets and straws, 
sometimes lined with feathers. I found it 
took a pair just twelve days to complete 
their nest after they had selected and 
scratched a place for it. ‘ 
My first take this season was a set of 
three on March 16; incubation fresh. On 
the night of May 22 of last year I took % 
of a Mexican Horned Lark by the light of 
Diana’s bow. I found the number otf eggs 
to be usually three, sometimes two and 
very seldom four. 
white in ground color and spotted and 
speckled with brown and drab. Some are 
more heavily marked at the larger end, also 
a few have minute lines of black. 
J. Maurice HatcH. 
Escondido, Cal. 
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A SCREECH OWL ACCIDENT. 
Some time ago a friend of mine, after 
lighting the fire in the morning, heard a 
screeching in the chimney. Not knowing 
what it was he took down the stove-pipe 
and saw a Screech Owl lodged in it. The 
feathers were nearly all burnt off of it and 
it. was unconscious and suffocated with 
smoke. He killed it to get it out of its 
misery. It had apparently gone into the 
chimney to spend the day after making its 
nightly tour. 
HARTLEY JACKSON. 
Milton, Wis. 
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NOTES FROM NEW YORK. 
The Bluebirds are with us this spring in 
their old-time numbers. 
The Loggerhead Shrike is a summer res- 
ideut here, and I have never hitherto noted 
its arrival from. the South until the latter 
part of April or about May 1. March 22 
of the present year I shot a male bird. I 
saw another one on the following day, and 
one on April ro. 
On the morning of April 9 it snowed 
quite hard for a couple of hours. A Robin 
that was building a nest near the house 
continued to carry straw and other material. 
This was the first time I ever saw nest- 
building going on during a snow storm. 
Lansing, N. Y. D. D. STONE. 
They are greenish- 
