THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



^1 



We do not want our friends to think we 

 are slighting them, because we do not 

 publish their notes and items. We have 

 such a stack of them on hand, that we are 

 afraid it will be necessary for us to publish 

 a double number soon, in order to run 

 them off. Send them along, we will use 

 them in time. 



The Rev. J. G. Wood has now a serial 

 running in the Golden Days of Phila- 

 delphia, Pa., entitled: "The Boys Muse- 

 um" or "Wharton's Method of Preserving." 

 This article promises to be of value to our 

 friends, especially those interested in tax- 

 idermy. 



Owing, partially at least to the extensive 

 mail business done at the office of The 

 Young Ooligist, the superintendent of 

 money-order system has deemed it advisa- 

 ble to extend the system to Gaines, N. Y. 

 In the future our friends can make their 

 Money-orders and Postal notes payable on 

 that office. 



Cardinal Grosbeak. 



(Cardinalis Virginianus. ) 



Our patrons in looking over the first four 

 numbers of The Young Oologist can- 

 not but admire the sameness (?) of the 

 paper and make up of the four issues. 

 Any one not knowing differently would 

 naturally suppose it was published by the 

 proprietor of a curiosity shop. The re- 

 mainder of Vol. I. will be printed on the 

 same quality of paper that we used in this 

 number. 



Under the date of May 32d, H. S., of 

 Algonac, Mich., writes us, that at Dick- 

 inson Island, on the St. Clair Flats, in a 

 very large tree, about 100 feet from the 

 ground, is an eagles nest, which the old 

 settlers claim has been in use for the past 

 fifty years. At the time of Mr. S's visit 

 to the Island, the nest contained eaglets. 

 AjL this same- Island, on May 1st, Mr. S. 

 saw a Woodcock with her young, and 

 found in the butt of a hollow tree six 

 young and an old Red Fox. He also 

 found a nest of the Green-winged Teal, 

 from which 12 young hatched on May 23th. 



This is one of our resident birds, remain- 

 ing with us all the year and is known by 

 old and young as the Red-bird. They are 

 easily domesticated and are often sought 

 after on account of their rich ijlumage and 

 clear sweet song. Which has gained for 

 them in Europe the name of the Virginia 

 Nightingale. They will live, if taken good 

 care of, to an old age, but are apt to loose 

 considerable of their bright color while 

 kept in close confinement. They com- 

 mence to build early in April. I have 

 found their nest with eggs as early as April 

 25th, incubation advanced. I know they 

 raise two broods during the season if not 

 more, as I have found their nest with fresh 

 eggs as late as July 7th. They build a 

 neat nest, (but somewhat bulky) composed 

 outwardly of cane leaves, moss, and strips 

 of bark, and lined with dry grass. They 

 only lay three eggs. (I have collected very 

 near a thousand in my time, and have never 

 found but three in a nest.) Which almost 

 defy description, as they vary so much in 

 their markings and general appearance. 

 They also vary greatly in size. They will 

 build in almost any kind of a place. I 

 have found them in pine saplings. Myrtle 

 bushes, and in live oak trees to the hight 

 of twelve feet. But as a rule, they 

 generally prefer a low swampy place to 

 build, and there is where we, in the south, 

 have our trouble in collecting. We not 

 only have the scorching rays of the sum- 

 mer sun to contend with, but that dreaded 

 scourge the rattle-snake, is sure to be 

 found and to hear him spring his rattle 

 (it is impossible to tell from the sound where 

 he is) throws a shock through you, and the 

 sound which one hears can never be for- 

 gotten, as I, who have often heard it can 

 assure you. T. D. PERRY. 



Savannah, Ga. 



We have sent out 125 Yucatan Jay eggs 

 as premiums with The Young Oologist, 

 and have no more to offer. Many of our 

 friends can congratulate themselves for 

 obtaining such a desirable and beautiful 

 egg at so slight an expense. 



