G4 
Tilt: bCJENTIST. 
and southwest i^ides of trees, fur the e.i^'g's 
and ]arv;i3 deposited there 1)3' the count- 
less swaruis of summer insects. 'I'liese, 
if snffei'cd to ]-en)ain. would prey uixtn 
the ver}' vitals (if 1 mny su expres-s it) of 
the trees, and in the succeedinii; summei-, 
jjjive birth to myriads more of tlieir race, 
equally destructive." 
Correspoiuleiico 
Eeiinadetta, li.L., M.irch 22u(l, ISO!- 
Editor Scientist : — 
Today the tirst great bii'd wave of the 
season passed up Spoon Iliver valley. 
The birds noted were mainly lied- 
winged Black-birds, Graekies, Robins, 
Brants and Ducks. 
Of the Blackbirds V.w.va was simi)ly 
thousands. At a given point I watched 
them passing for thirty minutes, not in a 
continuous stream, but in separate tlocks 
of from twenty to a hundred or so. Some 
of the flocks would be nearly all Jied- 
wings, others would be largely made uj* 
of the Purple Grackle, or Bronzed 
Grackle iis I believe the A. O. U. Com- 
mittee have determined our western 
species to be. 
Sometimes Grackles, Ked wings and 
Robins would be all mixed up, but all 
going in the same general direction. 
The llelds and fences were also full 
of Meadow Larks and Bhiebirds that 
arrived during the night. 
llundi-eds of Brant Geese were 
winging their way to the lakes of the 
north. 
Many ducks too, were to be seen, and 
notwithstanding the fact that it was 
Sunday, many farmers along the river 
were out with their shotguns, and the 
continual boom bang as 1 rode down the 
river for six miles, reminded me very 
forcibly of war times, and tiring along 
the picket lines. 
Dr. W. S. Strode. 
207 Disappointed ! 
An Indiana girl has taken rhe prize of 
$2< 0 oU'ered by tiu; Cosmopolitan Maga- 
zine for " b( St article of 4000 words de- 
scriptive of farm life, witii sugg(Stions 
as to the best method of making larni 
life attractive and happy,"' oidy farmers' 
daughters beiu',': permitted to enter the 
conii)etition . The design o{ Wx^i Cosmo- 
politan was t • draw out an expression of 
opinion as to tlie important ])robleM's of 
haiti)iness and disc(inifcri on the modern 
farm, and it was so snecessful that 208 
m;uui<eri[)ts. very many utlbemably pre- 
senting nearly every State and Territory, 
wei-e S(Mit ill. The pi'izc. wa< awarded to 
3Iiss Jennie E. Hooker of jMc(Jutcban- 
ville, near Evansville. Ind. Her article, 
appeal's in Api'il Cosmopolitan. '! akiiig 
the prise over so many com[)etitors, 
doubtless Miss Hooker s article will pre- 
sent numerous ideas well worth the con- 
sideration of those who find their happi- 
ness or discomfort within the limits of 
farm homes. — (Ri ice 25 cents. Ccvsniopo- 
litan Publishing Company, Madison 
S(piare, New York. 
Th.; Wisconsin Naluralisl , a inoiil lily iiinga- 
zineof Nalunil llistoi-y. 50 eenlspcr year, 
Saiiii)k! Copit^^ 5e. "DaA-ics Key to Norl h 
Auieritan J>ii tl-i, clot li boniul and llio Wis. 
Naturalist for ?1.60. l'ai)er covered Icey juid 
the AVis. JNUlurulist for one dollar and flf I ecu 
cents. Address Wisconsin ^'aturalist. 
Madison, Wis. 
Carr's Tsatural History Store,— Taxidermy, 
Shells, Corals, Birds Skins, Eggs JNIinerals 
Supplies for taxidermists, oologists, 
entomologists, etc. Live birds, gold 
tisli, etc.— Catalogue forstamp. C. F. Carr. 
12G State Street, Madison. Wis. 
