Ti- 



ll. 



e Ornithologist and Oologist. 



During the coming spring migra- 

 tion, we will publish an extended re- 

 port on bird migration in the Missis- 

 sippi valley. The list of observers we 

 have secured in our county numbers 

 fourteen; the territory consisting of 

 4S0 square miles of greatly diversified 

 surface, attracting wood-land, swamp 

 and prairie birds. During the year 

 1837 our list numbered 183 birds (a 

 good many of the smaller varieties, 

 such as warblers and sparrows, were 

 unknown to our observers). This 

 list embraces about one-half the num- 

 ber of Iowa birds, but with our own 

 observations and those of others on 

 the start, we hope to greatly enlarge 

 this list. All persons are requested 

 to send to us for blanks on which to 

 record their observations, as each ad- 

 dition, however small, will help us in 

 giving a complete record. 



Upon reading Mr. Keifs article in 

 which he describes the pugnacious 

 habits of that rightly named little 

 warrior, the kingbird, we were re- 

 minded of the actions of a pair of 

 these birds that nested in our city. 

 Their nest was in the top of a tall 

 black-oak tree, which grew very 

 near the sidewalk, over which there 

 was considerable travel. From the 

 time their nest was completed till the 

 young had flown, their time was al- 

 most continually spent in warfare 

 upon other birds and all pedestrians. 

 Without the slightest warning what- 

 ever, you were suddenly made aware 

 of their whereabouts by a rush of 

 wings and their war-whoop is sound- 

 ed in your ears; and woe to the pass- 

 er-by who tarried, a peck on the 

 head was liable to be his reward. In 

 fact, they became so troublesome 

 that the more timid ladies and chil- 

 dred. who ordinarily passed under 

 the tree, were compelled to walk on 

 the opposite side of the street, and 

 even then they were not entirely free 

 from attack. "We might also add 

 that for three successive years this 

 has been the nesting site of a pair of 

 these birds, no doubt the same ones 

 each vear. 



-># WIDE W.3M- 



BIRD DISSECTION. 



Taking the pigeon as an example 

 we will give, for the benefit of those not 

 possessing either of the works, a 

 series of articles on the structure of 

 birds, using Coues' Key as authority 

 and following the general plan of the 

 work of Prof. Martin. It will be the 

 intention to present the matter in a 

 condensed form convenient for ac- 

 tual work. 



1 GENEBAL EXTERNAL APPEARANCE. 



Supposing the bird to lie before us 

 we will first notice 



a. The tapering of the body to- 

 ward either end, thus enabling 

 the bird to pass through the at- 

 mosphere with as little resist- 

 ance as possible. 



b. The main divisions of the body 

 and the modification of the fore 

 limbs to form wings. 



c. The feathers covering all of the 

 body but the eyelids, bill and 

 lower portions of the legs. 



2. OBSERVE ON THE HEAD. 



a. The conical bill and the upper 

 and lower mandibles with the 

 mouth opening between. 



b. The mandibles are generally of 

 a hard or horny nature near the 

 head. 



c. The opening of the nostrils, un- 

 der the soft swellings of the pos- 

 terior portion of the upper man- 

 dible. 



d. The tip of the upper mandible 

 overlaps the lower, and is in 

 a slight degree flexible. 



e. The circular eye with its orange 

 or red iris; the opaque eyelids, 

 and the nictitating membrane, 

 capable of being drawn over 

 the entire eye. 



/. The external portion of the ear, 

 found behind the eye by lifting 

 the loose vaned feathers which 

 cover it. 



3. SPREAD THE WINGS AND NOTE 



a. Their comparatively large size, 

 due to the stiff feathers. 



b. The concavity of the wings 

 above, and the convexity be- 

 low. 



