THE OOLOGIST. 



4.7 



elsewhere, and a very few specimens have 

 been taken in Europe. Mr Yarrel cedes 

 it a place among the British birds on the 

 authority of two specimens, one of which 

 was killed, the other captured alive. M. 

 Vieillot says it is seen as far south as Peru 

 and Buenos Ayres. It is a very handsome 

 bird ; its maneuvers in the air exhibits all 

 the ease and gracefullness of the Swallow, 

 and the sheen of its plumage throws a sort 

 of lustre upon its prepossessing appearance 

 as it moves in wonderful gyrations to a 

 great altitude. It feeds while on the wing, 

 seizing grasshoppers, beetles, frogs, lizards 

 and often snakes and quickly mounting in 

 the air. Audubon says with regard to its 

 habits concerning shyness, that "they are 

 easily approached when they have alighted 

 (referring to the migrations), being then 

 apparently fatigued, and busily engaged in 

 preparing themselves for continuiiig their 

 journey, by dressing and oiling their feath- 

 ers. At all other times, however, it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to get near them, as they 

 are generally on wing through the day, and 

 at night rest on the higher pines and cy- 

 presses bordering the river bluffs, the lakes, 

 or the swamps of that district of country. 



When searching for grasshoppers 



and caterpillars it is not difficult to approach 

 them under cover of a fence or tree." 



The nest is constructed of the usual con- 

 stituents of Hawk architectm^e, sticks, in- 

 terspersed and lined with Spanish moss, a 

 few leaves, a little birch or other bark, a 

 small quantity of grass and a few feathers. 

 It is situated in the most inaccessible trees, 

 usually oak or pine. The eggs, according 

 to Audubon and Wilson, are from four to 

 six, greenish-white, wdth a few irregular 

 blotches and spots of umber at the large end. 

 Both male and female assist in incubation, 

 and but one brood is reared in a season. 

 The young attain their full plumage upon 

 leaving the nest, though it exhibits none of 

 the purplish and green reflections of the 

 old ones. 



The Swallows-tailed Hawk is a fearless 

 bird and shows a courageous disposition, 

 fighting with talons and beak when wound- 



ed, either of Avhich applied to advantage 

 are capable of making a painful wound. 

 It has an artful way similar to other Hawks, 

 of striking with the beak when one's atten- 

 tion is drawn away. This is the only spe- 

 cies of the genus Nauderus inhabiting N. 

 A. and is characterized by its long and de- 

 cidedly forked tail and long wings. The 

 color of the upper plumage generally is 

 black, possessing metallic interchangeable 

 blue, purple and green reflections ; the 

 head, neck, base of secondary feathers and 

 under parts, white. Length, two feet ; ex- 

 tent, fifty-two inches. 



Sportiixg. 



Creedmoor. 



/^N the loth and 14th of September the 

 ^-^ grand international rifle match took 

 place at Creedmoor for the championship of 

 the w^orld. Five teams participated in this 

 contest, which was the most interesting ev- 

 er held. These teams represented the ri- 

 flemen of Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ire- 

 land and America. The distances were 

 800, 900 and 1000 yards. 



The contest was very exciting and the 

 shooting skillful, many ties occurring by the 

 best shots. At the close of the match the 

 following score w-as.the result, and the A- 

 merican team proclaimed the champions of 

 the world : 



Americans, 3126 points. 



Irish, ...3104 " 



Scotch, .3102 " 



Australian, 3102 " 



Canadian, 2923 " 



Thus it will be seen that the match was 

 won by 22 points. Mr. Milner of the Irish 

 team, made the remarkable score of 15 suc- 

 cessive bull's eyes at the 1000 yards i-ange. 

 The unique International Rifle Trophy, 

 awarded the successful team, is a beautiful 

 and elaborate piece of workmanship. It is 

 from the hands of Messrs. Tiffany & Co., 

 of New York. It is composed of different 



