THE SUNNY SOUTH OOLOGIST. 



31 



parts of the country. The purpose of the 

 society is to prevent (1) the killing of any 

 wild bird not used for food. (2) The taking 

 or destroying of the eggs or nests of any wild 

 birds. (3) The wearing of the feathers of 

 wild birds. The office is at No. 40 Park Row, 

 New York. 



The society wishes a local secretary in 

 every town and village to secure signers of 

 its pledges; and will upon apqlication furnish 

 circulars of information and pledge forms. 

 Upon the return of the signed pledges certif- 

 icates of membership will be issued. Beyond 

 the promise contained in the pledges no obli- 

 gation nor responsibility is incurred. There 

 are no fees, no dues, nor any expenses of 

 any kind. There are no conditions as to age. 



The promoters of the movement are san- 

 guine of effecting a great change of senti- 

 ment relative, to the destruction of our song- 

 sters and insect-destroying birds for hat dec- 

 oration. 



— -*-♦*- 



For the Sunny South Oologist. 



THE HORNED LARK. 



(Eremophila alpestris.) 



The Horned or Shore Larks have been 

 very plentiful here this winter and I think 

 we can call them an occasional winter res- 

 ident. 1 saw them late in December, 1885, 

 and early in February of this year. 



I have shot several specimens this winter 

 and all of them are nearly uniform in size, 

 the male being always the largest. The 

 average measurements are as follows: Males 

 from 4 to 5 inches around body and 6 to 7 

 inches in length, tip of bill to tip of tail; 

 clear spread 12 1-2 inches. Females 3 to 4 

 inches around body, and 5 1-2 to 6 inches 

 from bill to tip of tail; clear spread 10 1-2 in- 

 ches. 



During the winter the males are of a red- 

 dish color on the shoulders and neck, but in 

 the spring this changes to olive. The males 

 have long tufts on their heads which may 

 lie seen at quite a distance. I have shot sev- 

 eral specimens whose tufts or horns were 

 half an inch in length. The females are not 

 so nicely marked as the males. 



These birds commence to nest about the 

 middle of April, and fresh eggs may be ob- 



tained by the first of May. I found last 

 year, the 2d of May, a nest containing young 

 large enough to fly. 



ARRIVALS . 



Hawks, Bluebirds, Robins, Meadow Larks. 

 Blackbirds, Kingfishers, Song Sparrows and 

 Purple Finches have arrived. Hawks have 

 commenced to build. I found a nest of the 

 Red-shouldered Hawk yesterday (April 3rd) 

 all completed. 



Albert G. Prill, Springville. N. Y. 



[For the Sunny South Oologist.] 



THE EVENING GROSBEAK. 



(Hesperiphona vespertino,.) 



While out wolf hunting in February I 

 went through a ravine which was overorown 

 with w r eeds, and among the weeds was a flock 

 of from fifty to seventy of these birds feed- 

 ing on the seeds. Having nothing but a 

 Winchester rifle with me I passed them with- 

 out taking any specimens. A few days later 

 I visited the place, this time armed with a 

 breech-loading shot gun, and found the birds 

 not in the weeds but spread through a grove 

 of box-alders feeding on the seeds. Securing 

 several good specimens, together with a pair 

 of Red Crossbills and Northern Waxwings I 

 returned home. 



The Evening Grosbeak arrives with us 

 about the middle of January, and remains 

 until the latter part of March, frequenting 

 the lowlands, and feeding principally on the 

 seeds of the box-alder. The only notes I 

 have heard this bird utter is a shrill whistle, 

 which may be heard a considerable distance, 

 also an occasional chirrup. While with us 

 these birds go in flocks and are quite tame, 

 but after a gun has been fired among them, 

 very soon become wild and restless. I know 

 nothing of its nesting habits for it nests much 

 farther north than Minnesota; but should 

 like to hear from some collector acquainted 

 with them in their northern home. In size 

 it is about the same as the Rose-breasted 

 Grosbeak, though appearing slightly larger, 

 from having a thicker coat of feathers. The 

 bill which very is thick and strong is of a dark 

 yellowish color; the wings are black, with 

 two white spots on each; a band of yellow 

 reaches around the neck and under each 



