THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



Inquiries and Answers. 



ABHANGING SPECIMENS, &C. 



Prom S. L. W., Grinnell, Ia.— What method 

 of mounting, arrano-ing and classifying, and what 

 sort of a cabinet is preferable for a collection of 

 about one hundred species of eggs? 



Almost every eoUector has a method of his own, 

 whfch, as a general thing, he deems superior to 

 all others. For a cabinet, we consider the spool 

 cabinets, in which our merchants keep thread, 

 quite suitable. The slats which separate the 

 spools can be Easily removed. Trays, such as can 

 be obtained at any paper box factory, should then 

 be placed in the drawer for holding the eggs. In 

 case you cannot or do not care to use the trays, 

 you can evenly cover the bottom of the drawer 

 with a layer of white or pink cotton. (The pink 

 wool cotton can usually be obtained at any large 

 jewelry store, but is rather expensive). The slats 

 which you have previousty removed, can now be 

 replaced in such slots as you may wish, thus hold- 

 ing the layer of cotton securely in place. The ma- 

 jority of our best oologists collect in sets, while 

 a few still save only single eggs or pairs. Young 

 collectors generally save single eggs. We should 

 collect in sets as far as possible, and would always 

 have a well filled data blank accompanyincr each 

 set. In placing the eggs in the cabinet, take the 

 eggs in the order of the names of the birds as they 

 occur in " Ridgeway's Nomenclature," beginning 

 with No. 1, Wood Thrush; place the eggs or seta 

 which you may have of this species in one corner 

 of the drawer. Now place your Wilson's Thrush 

 next, then Robins, Mocking birds, Catbirds, 

 Brown Thrashers, etc., etc., as you may have 

 them. The above Is about the way we would 

 arrange and keep a collection. We would be glad 

 to hear from onr older collectors as to the man- 

 ner in which they Lave arranged and classified 

 their collections. 



SUMMER telloweird; titmouse. 



From W. I. S., Clinton, Wis.— Will you please 

 describe the eggs of the Summer Yellowbird and 

 Titmouse? 



The Summer Yellowbird, or Yellow Warbler, 

 as it is commonly called, lays from four to five 

 eggs of a grayish white ground color, spotted and 

 blotched with brown. These spots, or rather 

 Notches are quite thick at the larger end of the 

 egg. The size of the eggs average about .65x.50 

 in. Fresh sets of the eggs of this bird can be ob- 

 tained from May 20th to June 15th. The nests 

 are usually placed in young saplings, six to twelve 

 feet from the ground. 



The Titmouse, or Black-capped Chickadee, 

 places its nest in an excavated hole, from six to 

 ten inches in depth, in a stump or dead tree. 

 Eggs nnmber from six to eleven, of a pure 

 white, slightly tinged with pink and covered with 

 «mall dots of a reddish brown. Of the two nests 

 of this bird, which we have found, both were in 

 old stumps about two feet from the ground. 



SCARLET TANAGER; OWLS. 



From C. C, Clinton, Wis —Where do the 

 Scarlet Tanager and the Common Field Owl build 

 and when shall I expect to find their nests? 



The Scarlet Tanager generally builds its nest 

 daring the latter part of May. In the past tew 

 years we have found over a dozen nests of this 

 bird, all of which were frail structures, composed 

 of small hemlock twigs and fibrous roots, placed 

 from eight to twenty feet from the ground, on 

 horizontal limbs of hemlock trees, at a distance 

 varying frum two to twelve feet from the trunk 

 of the tree. If we remember correctly, a collector 

 brought us a set last season which he obtained 

 from a nest placed in an apple tree. But from 

 our experience, we should expect to find them in 

 the woods in hemlock trees. The eggs are usual- 

 ly three in nnmber, of a dull bluish green, (same 

 color as those of the Chipping Sparrow) and more 

 or less spotted or blotched with purplish or red- 

 dish brown. The eggs vary in size, but average 

 about .95X.64 in. 



Most Owls nest very early in the season, some 

 species nesting in February, but March seems to 

 be the favorable month. The nests are variously 

 located. Crotches of tall trees, hollow trees and 

 ledges of rocks are places well adapted for their 

 nests. The Mottled Owl nests later in the season 

 and chooses a hollow tree, usually not more than 

 ten feet from the ground. An old hollow apple 

 tree seems to be a favorite receptacle for their 

 nest and eggs. 



SCOOP-NET. 



From S. O. H. A., Burlington, N. J.— Can you. 

 tell how to get birds' eggs out of holes m trees to 

 the depth of a foot or more? 



We have always used, with best of success, a 

 scoop-net made by taking a piece of wire of the 

 required length, bendinar and twisting it at one 

 end so as to form a loop. The loop thus formed 

 should be from one to three inches in diameter 

 (depending upon the size of the eggs which you 

 wish to obtain). Fasten a little bag, made of 

 muslin or mosquito netting, to the loop. For 

 nests in very deep holes, the bag can be attached 

 to a wooden handle or to the rib of an old um- 

 brella. 



BOARD for drying BUTTERFLIES. 



From L. L., N. Y. Citt.— Would you be so kind 

 as to give me the address of a dealer in N. Y. City 

 who keeps drying cages for drying butteiflies? I 

 ask this favor because I have been looking for one 

 a long time, but without success. If you know of 

 no city dealer please send me your prices. 



We know of no dealer in N. Y. City who keeps 

 the boards for drying butterflies, but you can 

 easily make one. Take an inch pine board, of the 

 desired width and length, make a groove, % inch 

 in depth, lengthwise the board. Bevel the edges 

 of the groove and glue a strip of cork in bottom 

 of groove. Your board is now ready for your 

 butterflies. 



