,THE OOLOOIST. 



l^j^cls' JEggs and JSTest^. 



Si'KCiKS mentioned in this issue : — 

 Least Bittern, Wood Ibis, Glossy 1- 

 hiy, White Ibis, Sage Cock. 

 431. Lkast Bitteun. 

 This bird lays an entirely different e<rg 

 in ini the Bittern (iSee suppl. Sept.no.). It 

 iiestsin siniilar places and in the same man- 

 ner ; i. e. in swamps in the boughs of the 

 eypress or cedar, or close to the ground in 

 reeds. Kggs are nearly white, without 

 markings, elliptical, from three to five in 

 ninnber and from 1.2U to 1.2.) inches in 

 leiiirth, by .9(1 to .95 in breadth. In size 

 ;ind shape tiiey are similar to those of tlie 

 Leach's Petrel. They lune, however, a 

 iliieker shell, rounder and less lengthy shape, 

 and have a more robust tint. 



497. Wood Iijis. 



Breeds in Florida, Mississippi, Arizona, 

 (.'olorado and adjacent States. A set com- 

 prises two or tljree eggs, in shape similar 

 to those oflhe other species of this family ; 

 white, with a chalky shell, and without 

 markings. The general measurement is 

 1.80 by 2.75 ; Dr. Cones describes a spec- 

 imen as having a shell "'rough to the touch, 

 ^^ith a coating of sottish, flaky, calcareous 

 substance." 



There are many interesting points con- 

 cerning this bird's habits, which we sohuld, 

 if space permitted, insert. If any of our 

 northwestern correspondents are at all fa- 

 jniliar with the bird, we should like to hear 

 from them. Many conflicting statements 

 have been made, regarding its habit of as- 

 sociating in flocks, which some authors 

 deny. 



500. Glossy Ibis. 



Eggs measure from 1.90 to 2.10 by 1.45 

 to 1.50 inches in length and breadth. In 

 color they vary some from a light to a me- 

 dium slaty green, but minus of markings. 

 TMiey differ from all Herons' eggs in the 

 texture of the shell, which is heavier and 

 more pointed at one end, this not usually 

 being the case with those of the latter, which 



ai'e nearly always oblongly spherical. 

 499. Whitk Ikis. 

 This bird deposits three or four eggs, of 

 a light greenish white, imder artiflcial light 

 tending to bluish. Unlike the eggs of the 

 two last, these are covered with spots and 

 blotches of two or three shades of purple, 

 cinnamon and umber brown, distributed" 

 most thickly about the maxinmm end. In 

 some cases, though rarely, the spots are so 

 pale as to be scarcely dis4,'ernable, and give, 

 to the (i^g an appearance of lia ving been rol- 

 led in the dirt. Florida is their favorite 

 breeding ground, where they are quite com- 

 mon. The eggs do not (lifter materially 

 in size from those of the last. 



462. Sagk Cock. 

 The Sage Cock is an inhal»itant of our 

 far western high plains, where it is to W. 

 I found in considerable numl)ers, especially 

 ■ through tlie region watered by tlie branch- 

 ! es of the Kansas River ; in Utah and Wash- 

 ington Teri'itories and western Kansas. 

 They evidently prefer ban-en sage plains 

 to wooded regions, as most authors note 

 tlieir disappearance in Avoody districts. 

 They are the largest birds of the familv 

 Tetravnidce, are truthfully entitled the Cock 

 of the Plains. The vast seas of sage busli- 

 es found on those high plains fui-nish its 

 main food, from which it derives its name. 

 j The Sage Cock lays a jieculiarly shaped 

 ! egg, it being, as a general thing, long and 

 : rather more pointed than is usual with those 

 I of our smaller Grouse. Plainly speaking, 

 I the egg is brownish white, but with a tint 

 j vai'ied from light olivaceous drab to gray- 

 I ish brown, in some specimens, doubtless a<'- 

 quiring a darker tint than in others. TJiis 

 is covered with a speckling of fine brown 

 dots, more or less thick on various egirs, 

 and as a general occurrence, being of a 

 semicircular, or tri-quarter circular shape. 

 The nest is placed on tlie ground at the foot 

 of a sage bush, in which the eggs, to the 

 number of from 10 to 15 and even 17, are 

 laid. They measure on the average 2.10 

 by 1.50 inches. "•Ovijai." 



TO I!K CONTINUEL*. 



