ii6 



THE YOUNG OOLO(.IST. 



Queries Answered. 



A. F. P., Paw Paw, Mich. —The 

 Western and California Gulls breed on the 

 Pacific coast of N. A., their eggs resemble 

 those of the Herring Gull, and like most 

 of the Gull family, three eggs comprise 

 the complete set. 



In regard to the Leach's Petrel, read ' ' A 

 Day among the Sea Birds of Maine," p. 84, 

 October Young Oologist. 



G. H. — As a rule we cannot furnish the 

 eggs of any species not priced in our New 

 Catalogue. 



Can any of our correspondents tell us 

 the correct name for a southern bird called 

 "thaddy"? 



J. F. C, Mich. City, Ind., and others. 

 — The "Teeter-tail," "Teeter Snipe," 

 "Tip-up," "Water Wagtail," are names 

 by which the Spotted Sandpiper is known 

 in various localities. 



L. A. W.. Newington, Ct. — The Old 

 Curiosity Shop has suspended its subscrip- 

 tion list, has been transferred to Our 

 American Youth, of Middlebury, Vt. 



W. T., La Crosse, Wis. — Your nest is 

 that of the Mourning Dove, this bird is 

 often called "Turtle Dove" and "Carolina 

 Dove." 



A. Van L., Coxsackie, N. Y. — "Hivel" 

 is doubtless another name added to the 

 already long list by which the Yellow- 

 shafted Flicker is knowm. The markings 

 on the eggs of the Ked-and-buff-shouldered 

 Blackbird vary, we have seen eggs of this 

 species in which the markings were entirely 

 absent. 



To MANY Querists. — On account of 

 space it has been necessary to omit the 

 answers to your queries this month. 



Trees injured by Sap-suckers. 



With regard to the query on p. 104, I 

 can positively state that several mountain 

 a.sh trees on my fathers grounds have lieen 

 killed by the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker 

 ( Sphyropicus 'oamis). 



W. L. Scott, Ottawa, Canada. 



Very late Nesting. 



On the 20th of October, 1884, I found a 

 nest containing four fresh eggs. The eggs 

 were like the bluebirds eggs, you could not 

 tell the difference. The nest was built in 

 a bush about four feet from the ground, 

 and was made of sticks lined with grass, 

 and was about the size of a cat-bird's nest. 

 The bird resembled the English Sparrow, 

 but was a little larger. The eggs were 

 blue, I have never before seen a 1)ird like 

 it. Please tell me the name 



Austin C. Stempel, 



Fort Madif-on. Iowa 



Doubtless the Black-throated Bunting. — 

 [Ed. 



C. S. C, of Spencer, Mass., writes : "I 

 have a Bobolinks egg that I found on the 

 15th of September. I was out after 

 minerals and startled a Bobolink from its 

 nest, and accidently stepping on the nest, 

 broke two and cracked one of the five eggs. 

 I also broke one in blowing. Incubation 

 was much advanced ; the nest was in a low 

 field ; it was set into the ground and made 

 of dry grass. The eggs were of a purplish 

 white color, with spots of light and dark 

 brown, and obscure dark purplish." 



This is, indeed, very late for finding a 

 nest of the Bobolink, as that bird generally 

 starts on its journey south during the last 

 of August or September. We are inclined 

 to think that oiu- young friend might have 

 been mistaken in his identity of the bird. 



The most prolific of American birds is 



the English Sparrow, its nest can be found 



during at least tAvo thirds of the months in 



a year. La Grande Southworth, Otsego 



Co., N. Y., writes us, that he found a nest 



containing three young on the 18th of 



October. 



■ ♦ . 



Summer Red-bird. 



(Pyranga cestiva.) 

 This beautiful and handsome species is 

 another of our regular summer boarders, 

 ari-iving amongst us from farther south, 

 where they winter, about the middle of 

 April. The male is of a beautiful rich 



