384 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
one. It would be very interesting to know where they have gone. Though 
so much has been learned of the distribution, summer and winter homes 
of birds within a few years, their breeding habits, line of travel north 
and south, and from the numerous collectors who have gone to Labrador, 
the fur countries and across the continent; yet not one word is said about 
the Labrador duck, a common bird a few years ago. So good a flyer 
and diver cannot be extinct like the clumsy Alca impennis (Great Auk), 
and any collector who may take a full-plumaged bird, or knows where 
they have gone, by letting it be known in the NATUnALIST, would interest 
many of its readers. — GEO. A. BOARDMAN, Milltown, Me. 
WINTER BIRDS or New Yonk.— [I send you the Serin list of birds 
seen in the vicinity of Utica, N. Y., throughout the winter of 1868-9:— 
Pine Grosbeak (Corythus itiflator), have seen Für flocks in the 
streets of the city. Barred Owl (Syrnium nebulosum), very common. 
Mottled Owl (Scops asio), not uncommon. Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes 
nivalis), very common after a snow storm. Lapland Bunting (Plec- 
s 
Crossbill iota curvirostra), common, though seldom seen out of the 
coniferous forests. hite-winged  Crossbill (Lozia — this 
species, though often seen, is much rarer than the former. Cedar Bird 
(Bombycilla Carolinensis), not common. Lesser Redpoll (Linaria pice 
abundant during mepa and winter. Downy Woodpecker (Picus pubes- 
cens), very common. Hairy Woodpecker (Pins villosus), not very abun- 
dant. Whi ite-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Carolinensis), very abundant. 
Black-cap Tit (Parus atricapillus), the commonest of our winter birds. 
American Crow (Corvus Americanus), common. Blue Jay (Corvus a 
Re 
tailed Hawk (Falco borealis), common. Golden-eye Duck (Anas clan- 
guia), rare, I have seen but one individual this winter.— C. E. IAMS, 
Utica, 
PREP. N OF BD? Eces. — Allow me to suggest a method that I 
now invariably employ. Instead of the two holes to blow the egg by, 
I make one hole in the centre of the side of the egg, always selecting the 
side that is sod least spotted, or the most, or as any particular fancy SUS 
be made by an egg-drill, such as is furnished - 
Sith umi Institution, and at natural history stores. It is like @ car- 
penter's countersink, only much finer. After making the hole, if the egg 
ex 
So 
Scissors. With the syringe all liquid may be drawn nicely. I drew last 
thirty crow blackbirds’ eggs in as many minutes, and did not 
= Is there any objection to ae method ?— BALDWIN Coo- 
; si, ah 


