THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



than dark specks against the sky. 



As these birds move southward, they re- 

 ceive dilferent names according to their 

 habits of diet. In eastern Pennsylvania, 

 where they feed on the seeds of the reeds 

 along the rivers, they are called Reed-birds, 

 and in the south, where they feed on the 

 rice, they are called Rice-birds. 



Wintering beyond our boundaries, this. 

 bird enters the Eastern United States in 

 large numbers, and reaching the Middle 

 States about the first of May, breeds from 

 thence northward to the Saskatchawan, and 

 west to the Rocky Mountains. To the 

 eastward, Mr. Smith reports it as breeding 

 adundantly in Maine ; Mr. Chamberlain 

 gives it as a common summer resident in 

 New Brunswick, particularly in the valley 

 of the St. John river, and I found it 

 plentiful last June in the Annapolis valley, 

 Novia Scotia, but did not see it elsewhere 

 in the Province. Mr. Maynard gives its 

 summer habitat between 38 '^ and 40 '^ . 

 Arriving in Western New York during the 

 first week in May, it reaches Maine about 

 the middle of that month, and New Bruns- 

 wick about the last. 



On account of its short, thick bill, this 

 bird was once called a Bunting, but its 

 general structure places it among the Marsh 

 Blackbirds or American Starlings ; and 

 as its white markings are similar to those 

 of a Skunk, it has also been called the 

 Skunk Blackbird. — Eivm Rev. J. H. Lan- 

 gilles "Our Birds in Their Haunts." 



Bachman's Finch. 



Peucsea setsivalis. 



This species, 1 believe, is somewhat rare 

 and but little known, but this season I had 

 the good fortune to find them breeding 

 quite numerous among the rank grass in 

 old fields. They are somewhat shy in their 

 actions when flushed from the nest, run- 

 ning off a little way, beating the ground 

 with its wings and uttering a slight chirp- 

 ing sound, seeming all the time to be in 

 great distress. They build on the ground 

 in a slight hollow; nest composed of dry 

 grass and roots, nest nearly arched over, 

 they lay four white eggs, one-half inches 

 wide by three-quarters long. The first nest 

 I found was on May 18th; incubation far 



advanced, therefore allowing for time of 

 building, laying of eggs, and advancement 

 of incubation, it stands to reason that they 

 commence to build about the last of April. 

 All the nests that I have ever found (and I 

 found nine (9) this season, in which all ex- 

 cept two, had young large enough to fiy) 

 have been in the same field, and in nearly 

 every instance have been near a path, leav- 

 ing little doubt that they are sociable birds, 

 and prefer to breed in company. They do 

 not -rise right off' the nest, but seem to 

 run through the grass a little way before 

 flying, but by standing still and watching, 

 you will soon see the bird sneaking back, 

 and you will find the nest every time, at 

 least I have found it so. Whether they 

 remain with us the whole year or only 

 come from farther south to breed I am at 

 present unable to say. 



T. D. PERRY. 

 Savanah, Ga. , October, 1884. 



Dove vs. Robin. 



Yesterday morning I climbed up an 

 apple tree to get some apples, and a Turtle 

 Dove flew out of the tree. I did not see 

 any nest belonging to that bird, but I found 

 a deserted Robin's nest containing two 

 Dove's eggs. The nest had no lining, but 

 was smoothljr plastered inside with sand, 

 as Robins' nests generally are. 1 did not 

 know that Doves laid their eggs in other 

 birds' nests before. 



Wood-peckers are plentiful around here, 

 and there are a good many half rotten trees 

 for them to breed in. 



The Young Oologist improves with 

 eveiy number, I think, and could not well 

 do without it now. H. E. Deats, 



Flemington, N.J. 



Testimonial. 



Sept. 25, 1884. 

 Mr. F. H. Lattin: 



Deak Sir— I think your paper is a very 

 good paper to insert exchange notices and 

 notices for selling collections, I having put 

 in a "for sale notice" and obtained a sale 

 in tiDo days after issue. Yours truly 

 OTIS T. MOUNT, 

 . Jersey City, N. J. 

 [Mr. M. Informs us that he sold his col- 

 lection in the A. M. and his Y. O. did not 

 come until P. M. This is what we call 

 quick returns. 



