THE OOLOGIST. 



39 



It is sometimes ascertained that cevtaiu 

 species whose apparent rarity had been al- 

 most proverbial, really occur in remote 

 portions of the country in sufficient num- 

 bers to be called common, and whose breed- 

 ing grounds, previously totally unknown, 

 are found to affiDrd ample means for secur- 

 ing a large number of specimens. The 

 eggs of such species must certainly be val- 

 uable and very desirable, but nominally, 

 they in some cases, are worth less than 

 those of many of our better known, though 

 rare, species. Many of our birds with 

 whose habits and characteristics we are 

 more or less familiar, but of whose nests 

 and eggs nothing is definitely known, nidi- 

 ficate continually in close proximity to us. 

 Such are some of the Warblers, Sparrows, 

 Saudpipei's, etc. ; and probably the eggs of 

 no other birds are as desirable or valuable 

 as of these. The intrinsic and nominal val- 

 ues of such specimens cannot be confused, 

 nor, indeed are they as easily confused in 

 any case, as in that of birds frequenting 

 certain localities and positions in numbers 

 year after year. 



The Black-necked Stilt. 



Some of our subscribers seem to have 

 the idea that our journal is not large nor 

 elaborate enough. To such may we be al- 

 lowed to say that there is no jcHxrnal pub- 

 lished on this or any other kindred scien- 

 tific subject, that gives as large an amount 

 of subject-matter for the subscription price. 

 It is impossible for us to furnish a larger 

 magazine at the terms we now ofi"er, unless 

 we have a sufficiently large subscription 

 list to warrant it. If our readers will aid 

 us in extending our circulation, we shall 

 endeavor to enlarge and elaborate our jour- 

 nal in accordance with the patronage re- 

 ceived. 



We have in process of publication a pre- 

 mium list and table of attractive inducements 

 to subscribers, which will be mailed as soon 

 as issued to those who wish them. 



Do not fail to obtain the September issue. 



HIS handsome bird, though not well 

 known to most young ornithologists, 

 presents many interesting character- 

 istics. It is found throughout the United 

 States, usually commonest about lakes, 

 marshes and ponds, though it is sometimes 

 seen and breeds in flat upland situations, 

 usually, however, not far distant from a 

 body of water or a marsh, to which it re- 

 sorts for its food. Its appearance often 

 strikes the observer as particularly impos- 

 ing among its nearer relatives, and surely 

 its deliberate movements Avould imply a 

 lofty bearing. When alarmed, if not bad- 

 ly frightened it straightens up, earnestly 

 elevating its head, and poising its body for- 

 ward on its long stilt-like legs, in which at- 

 titude all its commanding peculiarities are 

 exposed. Its food consists of the various 

 insects and minute animals found in and 

 near water. 



Dr. Cones, speaking of their imsuspicious 

 nature, draws a vivid picture of the cap- 

 ture of several of these birds. He says : 

 '' Thus I remember to have approached, on 

 one occasion, within a dozen paces of a 

 large flock, with no other artifice than 

 stooping a little and walking quietly and 

 slowly. The'-birds had observed me, of 

 course, as the grass was only a few inches 

 high and the ground perfectly flat, but they 

 stood motionless, looking with more of cu- 

 riosity than fear. It was a picturesque 

 group ; still as statues the birds stood in 

 the water, raised only a little above it, on 

 their firm, though so slender, supports, 

 their trim bodies drawn up to full height, 

 and their large, soft eyes dilated in wonder. 

 In an instant, however, as if they had but 

 one mind in common, a thought occurred, 

 and quick as the thought they were ofi*. 

 A flash — a report — the leaden pellets fol- 

 lowed after ; the thinned ranks kept on, 

 with piteous cries, while the stricken ones 

 dropped heavily into the water and lay mo- 

 tionless, or fluttered helpless with broken 

 wings, vainly essaying to dive. I had to 



