THE OOLOGIST. 



19 



if near the coast. The eggs are three, often 

 only two, and are dull white, blotched with 

 umber brown, in most instances about the 

 larger end, though they will often be com- 

 pletely covered. Three specimens collected 

 in lower New Jersey measure 2.38 by 1.75, 

 2.28 by l.Go and 2.25 by 1.70 inches. 



561. American Swan. 



The Swan breeds generally to the far 

 north. It has been found however, about 

 some of our northwestern lakes during the 

 breeding season, which is good evidence 

 that they breed there. The nest is built of 

 sticks and swamp or marsh grass, which 

 often comprises an immense structure. It 

 is placed upon a tussock of stiff grass, near 

 or at the water's edge. The eggs are from 

 two to possibly five and white, generally 

 bearing traces of nest washings, which give 

 to them a buff appearance. Measurements : 

 4 to 4.75 inches in length by 2.50 to 2.90 I 

 in width. The American vSwan was con- j 

 sidered an entirely Arctic bird previous to j 

 the notes made a few years ago by Dr. Dall 

 and Prof. Eyre, who confirmed their ap- i 

 pearance in Alaska and Washington Tei*r. ' 

 during the breeding season. 



683. Royal Tern. | 



The distribution of the Royal Tern is ; 

 quite extensive, and its breeding grounds I 

 likewise widely distributed. It nests upon 

 the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Florida, 

 where it is very abundant. It nests in the \ 

 same manner as the other Sternince^ gen- I 

 erally on rocky beaches, and making noth- 

 ing that would justify the name of nest. | 

 The eggs are oviform, somewhat pyroid ; 

 shaped, light buff and spotted all over with ; 

 well defined markings of sliaded umber i 

 black, thinly scattered and evenly distrib- 

 uted. A specimen collected in 1874 in ' 

 Florida, measures 2.55 by 1.75, which | 

 measurement usually applies to all speci- ! 

 mens. The bird circles and wheels above 

 one's head when flushed from her n^st in 

 the same manner as most other Terns, thus 

 presenting a good opportunity for identifi- 

 cation. ! 



689. Wilson's Tern. 



The nesting habits and eggs are well 

 known to those who live along the Atlantic 

 coast, anywhere from Labrador to Central 

 America. The nest is composed of a few 

 bits of sea grass ; nothing at all is often the 

 case. The eggs are deposited upon this to 

 the number of from three to four. Tliey 

 are dark buff, covered with spots and blotch- 

 es more or less in size and nvmiber, of choc- 

 olate and blackish brown, often forming a 

 circle about the greater end. Two speci- 

 mens measure as follows ; 1.63 and 1.63, 

 by 1.20 and 1.25 inches. Often they are 

 quite squarely elliptical. 



59. Burrowing Owl. 



Dr. Coues says, ''The Burrowing Owl 

 is the only bird of its family inhabiting, in 

 any numbers, the entirely treeless regions 

 of the West, and may be considered char- 

 acteristic of the plains."^ Its habit of breed- 

 ing in the burrows of prairie dogs, and in 

 common with rattlesnakes is almost univer- 

 sal wherever it is found, and as remarked 

 above, it inhabits in abundance only tlie 

 plains upon wliich are found these lioles. 

 Th,ey are diffused throughout t!ie Mississip- 

 pi Valley, more or less abundantly in diff- 

 erent situations. 



It seems peculiar that, though these 

 birds are so abundant and their nests so 

 common, that so feW naturalists ever dug 

 out any of their eggs, and yet it is so. The 

 eggs are comparatively scarce in private 

 collections, and are a desiderata striven for 

 by all naturalists. Dr. Canfield says he 

 once duG' out a nest, which was an enlarg- 

 ed cavity at the extremity of a hole four 

 feet long. He says the cliamber Avas about 

 a foot in diameter and contained seven 

 young birds. 



The eggs are usually five, though they 

 frequently attain to the number of seven or 

 eight, white, nearly spherical and about the 

 size of those of the Belted Kingfisher, from 

 which they may be distinguished by their 

 shine and smoothness. " Ovum." 



TO BE CONTINUED. 



