THE OOLOGiST 



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91 



dealings with these gentlemen have always 

 proven of the most satisfactory nature; and 

 we can not well avoid giving them the kind 

 word they deserve. Their new 20-page 

 catalogue assures the public that thej^ mean 

 business. 



Again the Oologist is late, late, very 

 LATE, in reaching its friends and patrons. 

 This, we can assure you, is no fault of the 

 Oologist, as all blame can be traced direct 

 to its publisher; and the publisher was un- 

 able to spare the time to get it out at an 

 earlier date. The next issue of the Oolo- 

 gist will not be out until December, at 

 which date we expect to be in our new 

 quarters and settled; and not onlj^ this, but 

 from present outlook it seems most likely 

 that the Oologist will no longer be slight- 

 ed, but that a competent person will be en- 

 gaged by its publisher to have entire charge 

 of it for 1888. Should this prove true, we 

 can assure our friends that for the ensuing- 

 year the Oologist will be a monthly publi- 

 cation and on time. 



G. McL., of Austin, Tex., writes: "Does 

 the Swallow-tailed Kite rob the nests of its 

 own species ? It robs the nests of Crows, 

 Hawks, and any other small birds that it 

 can find. I noticed a Caracara Eagle tlying 

 peacefully over, when two Kites gave pur- 

 suit and caught up with him. They robbed 

 him of the food he had for his young ones, 

 and flew off with it to their nest. They can 

 truly be called the 'Arabs of the Air.' I 

 have found one set of one badly incubated, 

 and a set of three fresh eggs, of this Kite. 

 I don't know whether the one was the set, 

 or whether some other Kite had taken the 

 others. When you get within reach of the 

 nest, the Kites will soar perhaps fifty feet, 

 and come at j'^ou like ' greased lightning.' 

 I came very near being knocked out of a 

 tree by one of these infuriated Kites." 



Black-Capped. Chickadee. 



P((,rus Atrieapilhis. 

 While a great deal has been written con- 

 cerning this interesting little bird, but little 

 has been said of its nidification. As it is 



one of our commonest residents, I have had 

 ample opportunity to note its nesting habits, 

 and following give a few notes on the same 

 from this section of the country. 



The nest is in a rotten stump, branch or 

 tree, occasionally in a log or post, but in 

 most all cases in a stump. The height and 

 position range from six inches to thirteen 

 feet, the last noted being in a rotten branch 

 of a willow tree, but is usually from one to 

 three feet. Of every nest, excepting two, 

 of iacarly two hundred examined they 

 have been excavated by the Chickadee; 

 these were in a natural cavity and a hole in 

 a post, thus showing that a nest not exca- 

 vated by the bird is a rare exception — in 

 this locality. The hole ranges from six to 

 twelve inches in depth, either starting from 

 the sides or top of the stump, veiy irregular 

 in its course. 



The nest proper is composed of moss, 

 hair, fur, or most anj^ soft material, but 

 mainly of cow or horse hair, together with 

 more or less moss, this last being placed on 

 the bottom. I have never found any grass, 

 and in only a few cases feathers or fibres, 

 in the construction of a nest. 



The eggs range from five to nine, usually 

 seven, occasionally six or eight ; pure 

 white, the rosy blush being lost in blowing, 

 speckled with reddish spots ranging from 

 the size of a pinhead to that of the point. 

 I have collected several specimens that 

 were without markings. The spots are 

 mostly at the large end, sometimes forming 

 a circle and often a complete blotch. The 

 average measurements are .58 by .47. 



One notable nest found contained four 

 eggs of the Chickadee and one of the Blue, 

 bird {Sialia Sialis). Judging from the nest, 

 the Chickadees had furnished the hole and 

 partly lined it, when the Bluebird took 

 possession, as their usual nest of grass fol- 

 lowed, and had laid one egg, when they 

 were driven away and tlie Clackadees once 

 more were masters. They had then fin- 

 ished with a small amount of hair, and had 

 laid four eggs when 1 secured the set. 



They commence building about the mid- 

 dle of April and have finished laying the 

 first week in May. The young birds nre 

 out of the nest by the first of June. 



James B. Gkeen, Des Moines, J a. 



