

NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 379 
In Vol. I, No. 9, p. 496, Mr. Samuels and Mr. Fowler disagree regard- 
ing the nesting of the Belted Kingfisher and Mottled Owl. My observa- 
tions agree with both in some particulars, and disagree with both in 
the first of June), and when I find a fresh hole, running horizontally, of 
Suitable size and place for a Kingfisher, I carefully introduce the pole, 
ascertain the length of the hole, and by withdrawing the pole, and placing 
iton the top of the ground in the same line and distance introduced, the 
is from ‘eighteen inches to two feet under the 
+ and generally from four to six feet into the bank. I never have 
but one within three feet, and that was in a clay-bank. I have 

7 the end of the excavation without any trouble. In stony ground, possibly, 
3 the bird may find it necessary to deviate from a straight line, but as we 
; 
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workmen at nest-building, especially the owl.” If Mr. F: 
his remarks to the family of Strygidæ, all naturalists would 
Wree with him, so far at least as pertains to the owls of New England. 
Lean Speak from observation of the Great-horned, Barred, Long-eared, 
» and Mottled Owl. Of hawks I have collected nine varieties 
good nest-builders. The Cooper’s Hawk excels in the neatness 
ent of her nest. It would puzzle a Yankee to do it any bet- 
aterials. ‘The Marsh-hawk makes a nest of small 
e grass, mostly the latter. I have found quite a number 
he Without any particular order or plan, any farther than ae em 
~ CBES the damp ground. I believe that they rebuta- 

