SOME GENERAL FACTS 

 ABOUT BIRDS. 



The prolongation or crest of the ster- 

 num of a bird accurately determines the 

 degree of power of flight of its possessor. 



The merry-thought, or "wish-bone" is 

 found only in birds that have flight. 



The powers which some birds have of 

 erecting their crests at leisure, is due to 

 the air-cells which extend even to the 

 quill feathers. 



The powerful songs of birds are due to 

 the immense volume of air they are able, 

 by means of these air-cells, to take into 

 their bodies; and expel it at ease, 



In the markings of eggs, circular spots 

 denote deposition of pigment while the 

 egg is at rest. 



Blurred markings show its deposition 

 while the egg is in motion, and this 

 motion would seem often to be at once 

 onward and rotary, as indicated by the 

 spiral markings. 



There arc more markings at the larger 

 end of an egg, because that end is pro- 

 truded first. 



It is a remarkable fact that the surface 

 of some eggs instead of being a convex 

 surface, are sensibly concave sis in some 

 of the Snipes and Plovers. 



One reason why the eggs of some birds 

 arc not in proportion to the size of the 

 parent; is that the eggs of those birds 

 which quit the nest soon after they are 

 hatched, and which are consequently 

 more fully developed at birth, are very 

 large. Also, the number of eggs to be 

 covered at one time, lias some relation to 

 their size. 



Neil F. Posson, Medina, N. Y. 



AN EXCHANGE.— Will have sets of 

 3, 4, 5 and 6 eggs of Brown-headed Nut- 

 hatch to exchange the coming season for 

 all kinds of first-class eggs with data. 

 Send lists. J. W. P. Smtthwick, Sans 

 Souci, N. ('. 



O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL 



— FOR — 



January, Now Ready. 



This is one of the finest publications for 

 Ornithologists and Oologists obtainable. 

 Best edition, 35 cents per copy. 



Popular edition, 25 cents per copy. 

 If you wish to know more about this 

 work send a two cent stamp to the pub- 

 lisher, W. H. FOOTE, 



4:*> Fenn St., Pittsfielcl, Mass. 



Naturalists' Supply Depot. 



I Brewster <i- KvowUon. Boston, 

 Established by- Aldrieh <v Capen. Boston; 



(,A. L Ellis & Co., Pawtucket; 

 Con noli dated. 1884, try Ellis & Webster, 

 Succeeded, ?ept. 1, 1885, by 

 FRANK B. WEBSTER, BOSTON. 

 Dealer in all articles required by Nat- 

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Bird Skins, Birds' Eggs, Curiosities 

 and Stuffed Specimens. 



Sole agent in the United States for 

 Thomas Hurst's Artificial Olass Eyes. 



Send for Catalogue. 



Frank T>. Webster, 409 Washington St., 



Boston, Mass. 



Chas. K- WoPthen, 



■NATURALIST AND TAXIDERMIST,- 



And Dealer in 



Bird and Mammal Skins, 



WARSAW, ILLINOIS. 



Large stock of Native, ami the hand- 

 somest of Tropical Bird Skins on hand. 

 Rare species a specialty. Enclose stamp 

 with inquiries. 



i-a** +-* *-^ * *. 4 ■*, , ■* 4 *>■ We are now 

 JOS PANTING, prepared to do 



all kinds of Job Printing for Naturalists 

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 Address, The American Osprev, 

 Ashland, Kv. 



