THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY 



It often breeds in communities, but more 

 commonly in pairs, selecting, as a building 

 sight, some rocky cliff, hollow log or stump, 

 a cavity in a tree, a cave or even the bare 

 ground. In trees, the eggs are deposited on 

 the bottom, even if it be hollow clear to the 

 ground. Considerable noise is occasioned 

 in going in and out, by the wings, raking 

 against the sides of the tree, and is sometimes 

 heard for nearly half a mile. For three sea- 

 sons I have visited what is known here as 

 "Buzzards cave," in the hopes of securing 

 a set of eggs of a pair that usually breed there. 

 I finally concluded that they knew my errand, 

 and quit going so regular. One day, as I 

 strolled by, I saw two full-fledged young 

 sitting in the entrance sunning. On my ap- 

 pearance, they turned and scampered to its 

 remotest ends and tucked their heads in 

 crevices of the rocks. This year I was 

 awarded for my patience, by a handsomely 

 marked set of two eggs, which further testi- 

 fy to the theory that the eggs are laid in pairs 

 that will hatch male and female, that the 

 two are not the same general shape, or of 

 the same general markings. One is a "roos- 

 ter egg," not laid by the rooster, but will 

 hatch out to be one, and is longer than the 

 other, and has a predominance of the dark 

 brown markings, aggregated near the larger 

 end; while the "hen egg" is shorter, more 

 pointed, has fewer brown blotches and more 

 of the concealed or lilac color, and more 

 evenly distributed over the whole egg. 



Now I will not vouch for the truth in this 

 part of my letter, but it is my candid opinion, 

 and as far as my experience goes, the rule 

 holds eoods. I would be glad to hear from 

 other observers on this point. 



The young of the Buzzard, and also the 

 "squobs" of the Carrion Crow are pure 

 white, in the down, not a dingy yellow, but 

 as clean locking as the driven snow. It is 

 interesting to watch ttiem as they grow, and 

 the black quills appearing one by one, in 

 rows, till the beautiful down has disappear- 

 ed, and oursquab is a ragged, dingy Buzzard. 

 It is several months before the young leave 

 the nest. They are loth to be intruded up- 

 on, and emit the already decayed carrion 

 in self-defense, and to the disgust of the in- 

 truders. 



Two eggs generally constitute a clutch, and 

 are too well described in books to need men- 

 tion here. 



Begging to be excused for being so lengthy 

 in any remarks. I remain, 



Very respectfully yours, 



C. E. PLEAS, 



Clinton, Ark. 



Notes on the Birds of Long 



Island. 



WITH BRIEF DISCRTFriOMS "I EACH 31 



BY W. W. WORTHINGTON. 



O5) 3<?. Stercorarius longicaudus: 

 Long-tailed Jaeger. (699. ) 



Above blackish gray. The lores, crown 

 nape, wing quills, tail and feet are black. 

 Beneath white, with a tinge of yellow on 

 breast. The two central tail feathers extend 

 beyond the others six inches or more, and 

 taper to a point. Length 20 in. 



A rare winter visitor along the coast. This 

 family of birds are parasitic in habits, and 

 may be seen attentively watching the Gulls, 

 and when one is seen to secure a morsel of 

 food the Jaeger immediately starts in pursuit, 

 often obliging the Gull to disgorge, when the 

 Jaeger will instantly swoop down and catch 

 the food Defore it sinks. I have seen the 

 species now under consideration following 

 up their trade along the coast of South Caro- 

 lina in which instances the Herring Culls 

 were the victims of their piracy. Both 

 species frequently came within easy gun-shot 

 of the steamer. 



(16) 40. Rissa tridactyla: 

 Kittiwake Gull, (658.) 



Above silvery gray. Wings tipped with 

 black. Head, neck, and under parts white. 

 Legs and feet black. Bill yellow. Iris red- 

 dish brown. Length 17 inches. 



A regular migrant but not very common. 

 A fine specimen in my cabinet was shot at 

 Ram Island Shoals. They sometimes travel 

 in company with flocks of Bonapartes Gulls, 

 but are somewhat shy compared with that 

 species. Breeds on the coasts of Northern 

 New England, and northward; nests of sea- 

 weeds and grasses on rocky cliffs. Kgc~ - 

 3, yellowish buff, or grayish, spotted with 

 browns, and lilac, and average 2 1-4 x i.6l 

 inches. 



