38 



THE OOLOGIST. 



his rare find. But now it is extremely 

 common at some points along the Sound in 

 this county. Maynard, in his Birds of 

 Florida, refers to the all-prevailing music 

 of the Orchard Orioles in Wilmington, May 

 25th, 1872; chaDge the date to the second 

 week in June, 1887, and the place to the 

 fishing village of Noank, in this county, 

 and the description might well apply to the 

 noonday flood of burning summer song 

 poured forth by these birds nearer home. 

 At Groton Long Point where this Oriole 

 breeds plentifully, unlike its congeners it is 

 at peace with all the feathered neighbors. 

 I have seen it breeding on the same tree 

 with the pugnacious Kingbird and twice on 

 same limb with the Parula Warbler. 

 Like other widely distributed North Ameri- 

 can species, it is not so prolific as the 

 Western and Texan races, and three eggs is 

 often the nest complement here. At Long 

 Point, where all the trees are shrouded with 

 usnea, it deftly hides the nest but does not 

 abandon the favorite nesting material of 

 golden grasses, and the yellow cup, draped 

 and hidden by hanging lichen of palest 

 green with the constant orange lining, 

 makes some examples of these nests, when 

 taken in situ, creations of most exquisite 

 beauty. 



A Water Blow-pipe. 



Some two years ago on returning from a 

 long tiresome days trip after eggs, I chanced 

 to pick up an "Oologist" and opening it 

 came across an article headed, ' 'A Water 

 Blower." You may rest assured I devoured 

 its contents with interest, and in less than 

 an hour, had a "Blowpipe," complete and 

 in working order. 



Having that day collected a large number 

 of eggs, I immediately had a chance to try 

 it, and must say, it worked admirably. I 

 think all persons, who have tried it, will be- 

 lieve me when I say, I blew these eggs in 

 the time it took me to blow one before. 



Since that time, I have never been with- 

 out one and also, have never blown an egg 

 by the old method as the new is safer, clean- 

 er, quicker, and by far the easier. 



I have since blown rotten eggs that would 

 turn a persons stomach by the old method. 



For the benefit of those who have not 

 seen or who, having seen, have not heeded 

 the advice of former article, I will try and 

 describe one and how to make one in as few 

 words as possible. 



Procure a one gallon can, six feet of rubber 

 tubing \ inch, one brass blowpipe and 

 a small ring of same kind. 



Make a hole in side of can near the bot- 

 tom, a little smaller than rubber tube, so 

 you will have to squeeze the tube to get it 

 into hole. Into this hole, put one end of 

 tube and into other end of tube, put blow- 

 pipe. 



Now set can on top of a wardrobe, book- 

 case, or something of the kind, to give the 

 water a fall of same distance, and you are 

 read}' to go to work. 



Drill a hole in egg same as you would by 

 old method and, holding over a plate to let 

 water and contents drop into, let the water 

 in at, the hole the same as you do wind. 



In a short time it will be blown and when 

 blown, it is also rinsed and then you need 

 only blow water out and egg is clean. 



You can lay small eggs in the palm of 

 your hand and there is no danger of break- 

 ing while blowing. 



I have also some fine drawn glass tubes 

 for blowing small eggs. 



When eggs are blown, bend rubber tub- 

 ing at the end just behind blow-pipe and 

 slip on ring to keep water from flowing 

 when not in use. 



I hope that everyone of your readers who 

 have not a "blower" already, may see this 

 article, ;f such it may be called, and that 

 not one, who sees it, will fail to make one 

 immediately, for the coming season and 

 having made it, I assure you he will never 

 be without one. E. F. Koch, 



College Hill 0'. 



Collect Sparingly. 



While reading the Oologist I have noticed 



several articles regarding the taking of large 



numbers of Heron, Tern, and other eggs, 



by persons whose aim is, apparently, to 



