Tin: II.wvkkye Ornithologist and OoLogist. 



was then actively gleaning among 

 the leaves, and seemed not in the, least 

 alarmed by the many tourists who 

 were passing below. A little farther 

 on, the notes of a kinglet caught the 

 ear; and then several robins were 

 noticed; and the 'cawing' of a number 

 of crows sounded overhead. These 

 were the only evidences of bird-life 

 then observable in that celebrated 

 place. But when my companion and 

 I reached the turning point towards 

 the Horse-shoe Falls, between the 

 island and the Canadian shore, as we 

 gaze,! down the mighty chasm .where 

 the waters of the Niagara tossed and 

 foamed after their tremendous plunge, 

 we saw, unalarmed by the sound of 

 many waters, or the actions of the 

 "Maid of the Mist'" three beautiful 

 ospreys busily pursuing their winged 

 evolutions over the still raging 

 torrent. 



The olive-sided flycatcher is be- 

 tween seven and eight inches in 

 length; and, as its name implies, the 

 plumage on the sides of the body is 

 of a bright olive-yellow hue, while that 

 on the upper part of the body and 

 wings is more of a dusky color. I 

 have never yet seen its nest or eggs, 

 but am informed that its nest is much 

 like that of the kingbird, and that 

 the eggs, three or four in number, 

 are of a creamy-white color, speckled 

 with reddish brown. 



[TO BE CONTINUED.] 



THE WOOD IBIS. 



(Tantalus Joculator.) 

 The wood ibis, a southern bird, is 

 at once remarkable and interesting to 

 the observer. In its size and shape, 

 it much resembles the crane, being 

 about four feet in height and even 

 more when standing erect. It is 

 white in color with wings and tail 



tipped with black. This bird's head 

 is very peculiar, being entirely bald, 

 and is furnished with an enormously 

 thick and heavy bill. 



This bird is in some sections of its 

 habitat called the "gannet;"' in oth- 

 ers it is known as the 'water turkey.' 



The wood ibis is distributed over 

 nearly all the Southern States from 

 the Carolinas to Colorado, although 

 assembling in the greatest numbers 

 along the Colorado and Gila rivers. 

 This habitat is extended eastward to 

 the Ohio river; but the swamps and 

 lagoons of Louisana, Mississippi and- 

 Florida, are their favorite resort. 



They are gregarious in habits. 

 Audubon speaks of their bcriug seen 

 in flocks "composed of several thous- 

 and;" but large flocks are not always 

 the rule, as very often singie individ- 

 uals may be seen flying or wading. 



Their carriage is very firm; walking 

 about very sedately, lifting each leg 

 with the greatest deliberation and 

 precision. They never run rapidly; 

 when alarmed they always take flight. 



They feed entirely upon fish and 

 other aquatic animals, of which they 

 destroy an enormous quantity; fishes, 

 frogs, young alligators and snakes 

 being their prey. Its method of ob- 

 taining food is very singular; as soon 

 as its prey is discovered, it begins a 

 dance, roiling the water so that the 

 fishes, etc., rise to the surface, when 

 it strikes them with its bill. 



The eggs are elliptical in form; a 

 dull white color, without markings, 

 and rather rough to the touch, with 

 a coating of flaky calcareous sub- 

 stance. Two or three constitute a 

 set. 



The young are entirely dusky-gray, 

 with brownish-black wings and bill. 

 The heads is at first covered with a 

 downy plumage, but gradually be- 

 comes bald. About four years are 

 required for. the bird to attain the 

 adult plumage. 



