The eggs are laid between the last of tical in shape and with a smooth surface. 



May and early in July. I have found A typical egg measures one and twenty- 



the usual number of eggs to be four, but hundredths inches in length by ninety- 



sometimes five, and occasionally six. three hundredths of an inch in diameter. 

 They are of a bluish-white color, ellip- Gerard Alan Abbott, 



MYSTERIES IN BIRD-WORLD. 



Queer incidents in connection with The second mate climbed up into the 

 birds, their flights, etc., are sometimes rigging and was fortunate enough to 

 recorded. Birds, whose home is on the capture the handsome bird. Three times 

 wide, limitless sea, occasionally are found he approached the hawk only to see it 

 far inland, under unaccountable circum- leave its perch and soar away, still clutch- 

 stances and conditions. ing its prey. 



Again, land birds sometimes drift hun- Each time, however, the bird returned 

 dreds of miles out on the ocean. Often, to its original perch. Before being cap- 

 no natural reason can be given for these tured, the hawk made lively battle to the 

 strange wanderings in the bird world. plucky "Jap," vigorously using its sharp, 



Recently two sea gulls were seen in the curved beak to advantage in warding off 

 sand and sage plains of eastern Wash- the hands of the second mate. But the 

 ington. They were fitting about in a latter resolutely clung to the swaying rig- 

 sort of aimless, bewildered manner. The ging until the prize was secured, 

 sea-birds were not within 400 miles of The hawk now occupies a place in the 

 the Pacific Ocean, and must have flown crew's quarters on the steamer. It is 

 over the great Cascade Mountains, one of quite tame, and appears perfectly satis- 

 the loftiest ranges on the continent of fied and at home among the men, by 

 North America. How and why they whom the bird is highly prized on ac- 

 were so far from the sea, is a mystery, count of its brilliant plumage and gen- 

 It is possible that these gulls were es- eral graceful bearing, 

 caped captives, or, that they had been While on the same voyage, another and 

 . tdown far inland by some heavy storm, smaller hawk was captured as the Amer- 

 But neither hypothesis is a very reason- ica Maru was steaming across the China 

 able one after all. Sea. The vessel was nearly 300 miles 



Very recently the Japanese steamship off the coast at the time. The little 



America Maru arrived at San Francisco hawk took refuge in the rigging in an 



from Japan. Two singular incidents are exhausted condition. It was easily se- 



reported on the voyage to this port : cured, and is now a great pet among the 



When 600 miles at sea, this side of Japanese crew. 

 Yokohama, the steamer was visited by How it happened that these hawks 



a large hawk which, clutching a half de- came to wing their way so remote from 



voured bird in its talons, alighted on the the friendly shore, is a mystery of the 



foremast as if weary in its long, seaward deep, 

 flight. J. Mayne Baltimore. 



77 



