THE OOLOGIST. 
71 
KGtiS FOR EXCHANGE. 
70. n. 94. 100, 114, 124, 15^, 169, 
mrH'u2'27, 220, 248, 2^)4, 201, 2rJ8, 
2!(K, :]08, 3-14, oOl, niH, 3HU :5lM>, 400, 
401.1O2. lOll, 404, 40(i, 415. 417, 418, | 
419,421, 434, 4')1, 404, 471, -HUm, 401, 
4!)2, 4D;3, lO.^i, 155, 158, 281, 117, 
m, iWJ, 500, 080, 600, 700. Atl(ke.ss 
Cbiis. N.Tagc, Box 71, Muscatine, Iowa, l 
NEAV MEMBER. \ 
E. L. Iludnut, Llcwollyn Park, Orange^ j 
PUBLICA TWNS EEC El VED. 
A DeHcripdon of Philadvlphia^ Fairmotmi 
Pafhf and Ctntennial liu'ddiurfH — is n 
pamphlet of 22 pnt^es »]ep{*ril)iu_^ tin; a- 
bovt! pliicos ot iutcrcst. Conipohiliou Mud 
tyi)o<^nip]iy good, the lutter vfro excal- 
hns. The piunphlet is arrimgod very 
Utstily, and but for the misplucomcnt of 
some oi'the leuve.s, is equal to the work 
of oxperienced profeysionuls. We. un- 
iler.staud the book i:; lor gratiutons dis- 
triliulion. Address Harry A. Collins, 
Hurliugton, N. J. 
THE AMEEIOAN WOODCOCK. 
Phi} olid a tiiinoj\ 
who can be so fortunate as to make evea a 
respectable bag. In this part of the State, 
(central K. Y.) the low and thickly wood- 
ed phu-es seem to be the pjirtieuhu* resorts 
of this bird, Jiud in snrli ])hu'es, with scores 
of intervening saplings, thick henihx'ks and 
hushes, it is the most diflicult thing in the 
world to make effective sliots. 
Tlunigh Inmted considerably, the num- 
bers of tlie Woodcock have been constant- 
ly increasing, until now there appears to 
be a great abundance of them, especially 
through the central part of this Stnte. In 
muddy places, their ^' borings" are often 
seen, whicl» indicate theii" presence, an<l 
it is by those that sportsmen accrue knowl- 
edge of their whereabouts. The food con- 
sists of earth-worms, clay ants, grubs, and 
other insects found in tlie places they fre- 
quent. They moult about the latter part 
of July or the first of August, at which 
lime they are less diiiicult to shoot, but nut 
iis delicious as a tuble requisite. 
This, one of the most noted of Ameri- 
ca't< representatives of the game bird, is, in 
allprohubiUty, tlic most (lithcult to shoot 
the wing. Not morel)'" in swill-ness of 
l^ijrht, alone, does the dilhculty He ; it is 
in the character of the locality, tliis bird 
generally preferring swampy and tliickly 
l)ni»hod or wooded places, particularly ear- 
fy in the shooting season (July), rendering 
shots very uncertain. It requires a quick 
^ye, a steady nerve, and thorough prac- 
tice to render Woodcock shooting eitiier 
profitable or interesting. With the almost 
jighiuimr-iike rapidity of flight, the similar- 
%of plumage to autumn vegetation, and 
llic suddenness of rising, it is not everyone 
AN INGENIOUS EOBIN. 
A MiL'WAUKEE paper contains the foU 
loAviug : A curious sight was afforded 
by a Robin lately in a yard on the west 
sale of the city. The little fellow was bus- 
ily engaged in gathering material for the, 
construction of a nest. In ^yhi's around 
he discovered an old nest, i'astened to a tree, 
and intertwined in this nest was a long 
string, just wliat he wanted. One end of 
the string floated loosely, while the other 
was fastened in tlie nest. Robin seized the 
striuir and endeavored to ])uil it out. It 
was too tightly fastened for an ordinary pnll, 
and he acconiingiy took a short hold and 
violently threw his head back. Htill it 
Avouldu't come. After apparently think- 
ing a moment he tried a new plan. Seiz- 
ing the end of the string iirmly in his bill 
he tumbled iieavily from the liuil), and a'- 
lowed his full weiglit to pull upon the cov- 
eted article. This he tried over and over 
again, but without avail. At last he en- 
tered the nest and diligently tugged at the 
