V 
THE OOLOGIST. 
75 
grasses, the rim being firmly made of wiry 
stems. This may not always he the euse, 
as lichens may be used when attainable. 
Eggs three iu number, and liave a ground 
color of a eream white with a roseate tinge 
before being blown, surroundeil with a 
wreath of purpli.sli and reddish-brown dots 
at the larger end. Size .69 by .53 inch. 
Hah. — High Central Plains ; to the Pa- 
cific ; to Mexico. 
140. TraiWs Flycalrker, 
This bird is closely related to 142, but is 
larger. The eggs are 4 or 5 ([?] three 
eggs is probably the correct number) . white, 
with a roseate tiuge, and marked about the 
large end with purplish-brown dot** aiul 
blotches. Tiiey are oval in shape. Breed 
in June. 
The nests are generally a short distance 
from the ground, iu alder bushes, etc., and 
are similar to those of the Indiy:o Bird in 
construction and material. They are com- 
posed of dried grasses, fine, strips of bark, 
and lined with finer stems and grasses. 
They are usually found in tliieket**, ami 
it is difficult to get a glimpse of the bird, 
as they are very shy. Ovum." 
TO BE CONTIXrjBD, 
i they are nearly worthless, being* dark-col- 
j ored, streaked with blood, and intermixed 
with feathers and dirt. After they are pro- 
cured, they are separated from feathers and 
dirt, are <!arefully dried and packed, and 
are then fit for the market. The best sort 
in China are sent to Pekia, for the use of 
the Emperor. The labor bestowed 
to fit them for the table is enormous : every 
stick, every feather, every impurity, what- 
ever is its kind, is carefully removed, and 
then, after undergoing many wa^diings and 
preparations, tliey are made into a soft, de- 
licious jolly, and they arc likewise served 
up in broths and soup.«. They have the 
reputation of being nutritious and gently 
stimulating. .The extravagant prices given 
for these nastn by the Chinese, make them 
a most expensive aritcle of diet." 
NEST OP THE ESCULENT SWALLOW. 
■ CassePs Popular Natural Hinfory con- 
tains the following on the nest of tlie Escu- 
lent Swallow of the East. The nests, 
formed of a mucilaginous substance, re- 
semble ill-concocted fibers of isinglass, and 
are of a white color, inclining to red ; their 
thickness little more than that of a silver 
8poon, and the weight from a quarter to 
half an ounce. When dry, they are brittle 
and wrinkled, the size being nearly that of 
a goose's egg. The qualities of the nests 
vary, according to the. .situation and extent 
of the caves in which tlicy are fimnd, and 
the time at which they are taken ; if pro- 
cured before the eggs have been laid, the 
neats are of the best kind ; if they contain 
eggs only, they are still valuable ; but if the 
young are in the nest or have just left it, 
j AuHANGKMENT t»F JIoGS. — ucat and 
j priu.'tical method (»f arransing eggs in the 
cabinet, is to place all tliose belonging to 
1 the same together, the smaller ones 
I above the larger ones. Supposing a eab- 
iuet to consist of eight drawers ; commence 
at the upper or shallowest one, and place 
all the eggs belonging to the family of 
Hunimiug Birds in a single tray, or better, 
j in a set of paj»er boxes, iu which they make 
I a very creditable appearance. In the same 
'di'awer — which, if of the ordinary size (a- 
ib<»ut24 >< 16 inches), will contain about six- 
ty varieties of egg»', taking as a standard 
number four eggs of a species, if of the 
I smaller birds — place next, your Warblers' 
I or Titmice's eggs, next your Flycatchers* 
Sparrows', and so on down through your 
cabinet, placing the eggs of the Pelicans, 
Geese, Swans, GuillemotSj C'ranes, larger 
Herons etc., iii the lower drawers. Eggs ar- 
ranged in this m:inner show both scientific 
and ornamental taste, and may be found in 
large collections quicker than if placed in the 
cabinet wth bere a small egg and there a 
large one. 
S^^Read our olfer on the 79th page and 
see if you cannot form a club. 
J 
