MAINE ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. 



( Continuel from first page,) 

 the eyes, forming a large bo^r. 



The spongy part of the tongue, whicli | mournful chirp. 



ed in the low shrubery,but ever maliiug 

 itself heard by its piercing note or 



envelopes the eartileges is like a worm 

 it can be extended or contracted at 

 pleasure. There is a broad muscle 

 joining the eartileges to the hkull-bone, 

 which by contracting or dilating, forces 

 the eartileges through the tongue, thus 

 forcing the tongue forward and pierces 

 its prey. 



The woodpecker rIso has an intestine 

 th It somewhat differs from that of other 

 bii-ds. The Downy Woodpecker is as 

 common in North America as the 

 Green Woodpecker in Great Britian. 

 It is about seven inches in length, 

 black and white above, drab undcvneath 

 and the male has a bright red spot at 

 the back of the head. She like other 

 woodpeckers, does not build a nest and 

 Jiue it with soft feathers, but pecks a 

 hole in some old tree, sufficiently large 

 for her habitation and to performall the 

 duties of honse-kee))inu in bird-life, 

 liere she lays five or six pure, glossy, 

 white eggs. 



Tliis article Avill be contin-ied in our 

 next, where it will give the number of 

 eggs laid bv iachspecia and many other 

 valuable hints. 



Ihe iieriTiit Th'^'s^sli. 



This is one of our common summer 

 residents, arriving from the south 

 abont the 2ot!i. of April, and immedi- 

 atelv betakes itself tv. its favorite retreat 

 the low and shady swamps. 



It is a very shy and cautious little 



The nest is a bulkyaffair and usually 

 placed in low hemlock or fur trees 

 about three feet from the ground and 

 is generally composed of leaves, strips 

 of bark and twigs loosely woven togeth- 

 er and very deeply hollowed. It is al- 

 ways well concealed, and is easily mis- 

 takened for a buncli of leaves. The 

 bird Avill not leave the nest until the 

 bush in Avhich it is built is disturbed, 

 when it will drop to the ground on the 

 opposite side and scud off in the under- 

 brush so quietly that one must be on 

 the alert to catch a glimps of it. 



The eggs when laid are of a green- 

 ish blue, but on blowing and placingin 

 a cabinet they soon fisde to a pale blue. 

 As I have said befoie these birds 

 are quite plenty in tin's locality. 

 I have often found three or four 

 sets in a tramp of two or three hours* 

 The usvial site is like the Olive-back- 

 ed, a northein slope at the foot of which 

 is generally a stream or pond. 



A few years ago it was a I'are occur- 

 rance that a Hermit Thrushs' nest was 

 found in shrubs, but of lale, for some 

 reason uknnown to me, they have con- 

 cieved the idea of building in trees, and 

 a nest is i ow rnrely found on the 

 Srround. Penobscot Co., Mait^e. 



Dollars WO -th of Nat., 

 hist. Spaci.r.ens for 



We have, placed at our disposal SH»0, 

 woith of birds eggs, which must be 

 sold. Here is a chniice forscme one who 

 wants to start in the Nat. History busi- 

 ness. The coMectiou will be sold for 



creature, always keeping well conceal- only S20. Address, This paper. 



