THE OOLOGIST. 



49 



Ornithological Notes. 



Four large Loons or Great Northern 

 Divers have recently been caught in this 

 vicinity. Three of them were caught alive. 

 They were found in small creeks, in shal- 

 low water, and were RctnaWy Jished out by 

 the hands of the capturers. I suppose this 

 to be explained from the well known fact 

 that Loons rise from the water with great 

 difficulty, and are much more expert in 

 diving than in flying, J. A. Skverance. 

 Mexico, A". Y. 



Not long since Mr. F. J. Davis shot a 

 White-bellied Swallow over a pond near 

 this city. The bird fell into the water, and 

 a second Swallow, probably its mate, soon 

 made its appearance, and, after sailing a- 

 bout with loud cries, flew down and bore 

 oflT the dead bird before it could be recover- 

 ed. This is not only an occurrence of which 

 we never before heard, but it is an addi- 

 tional example of the sustaining power of 

 a bird's wings. 



Carnivorous Woodpeckers.— A cor- 

 respondent of the American Naturalist 

 speaks as follows of a novel habit of one of 

 our commonest Woodpeckers: "During 

 that summer a friend raised a large num- 

 ber of black Cayuga ducks. It was noticed 

 that while the birds were still very young 

 many of them disappeared, one after the 

 other, and the bodies of several were found 

 with the brains picked out. On watching 

 carefully to ascertain the cause, a Red- 

 headed Woodpecker was caught in the act. 

 He killed the tender duckliug with a single 

 blow on the head, and then pecked out and 

 ate the brains. Though my friend was an 

 enthusiast in protecting the birds and squir- 

 rels that came about his premises, this prov- 

 ocation was too much." The Woodpeckers 

 were speedily shot. — Forest and Stream. 



This note is of some worth to those who 

 make the food of birds an especial study. 

 A writer in the America?i Naturalist has 

 discoursed the peculiarities of certain Wood- 

 peckers, and makes especial mention of their 

 habit of catching flying insects. 



It is often amusing to observe the ef- 

 forts of young Sandpipers to escape discov- 

 ery, and they will sometimes so completely 

 fatigue themselves that the naturalist, if he 

 has kept the bird in view, can easily cap- 

 ture it. When discovered they will attempt 

 to hide themselves under leaves, decayed 

 timber, and if near the water, will plunge 

 in and swim beneath the surface for a long 

 distance. During the latter part of June, 

 while collecting, myself and a friend came 

 suddenly on four young Sandpipers feeding 

 with the old birds, on the edge of a stream. 

 Not having any other means of escape, they 

 all dove into the water and swam under the 

 surface for the opposite shore, but as the 

 place was shallow and their course easily 

 traced, we crossed the stream, and when 

 they emerged our presence frightened them 

 back. We kept the poor creatures going 

 back and forth under water several times, 

 to find out to what limit they would go in 

 seeking concealment, until one of them, 

 completely fatigued, finally landed, and be- 

 ing scarcely able to stand, suflTered itself to 

 be taken up. The others being allowed to 

 come out of the water, ran for protection 

 under th projecting roots of a tree . Avis. 



Ti-iE Canada Flycatcher was observed 

 several times during the last spring, to re- 

 sort for its food to the blossoms of fruit 

 trees. It evidently destroys the blossom, 

 for an examination of some of the attacked 

 flowers proved their inner portions to have 

 been eaten, or plucked for the purpose of 

 searchino' the base of the blossom. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



E. W. Prentiss. — Yes, many birds which 

 are supposed to perform excellent service to 

 the farmer and gardener, are also noxious in 

 a degree; and many whose reputation for 

 evil is well known, do much good, though a 

 great deal of it is not observed. The only 

 way to arrive at the real good or bad done 

 by a bird, is to make its life a careful study, 

 and to inquire into the nature of its food by 

 examination of the stomach at different sea- 

 sons of the year. We would refer you to the 

 article in the March number by Dr. Brewer. 



