THE OOLOGIST. 
103 
laid with blotches and specks of light 
chestnut and on two eggs a very few 
spots of a darker brown or umber. All 
more or less inclined to form wreathes 
at larger end. Sizes: 73x57; 70x56- 
72x56; 69x54; 72x56. Type of markings 
is very similar to some sets of Black 
and White Warbler but eggs are small- 
er and more pointed than that species. 
The set is now in the fine collection of 
Mr. W. A. Davidson of Detroit, Mich. 
I might also mention the finding of 
nests of Hooded and Cerulean Warbler 
the same day. The former is becoming 
quite common here. 
Ernest H. Short, 
Albion, N. Y. 
Queries Answered. 
In answer to Patronus Avium who 
asks the questions in your September 
number would say: 
1st. Birds have but a single eyelid, 
as with most mammals, but they are 
provided with a nictating membrane 
beneath the regular eyelid. Many spe- 
cies have two membranes making 
three eyelids if you wish to call them 
so. 
2d. The wishbone (clavicles joined) 
is the better form of bony framework 
to get a good wing action from the 
use of the pectoral muscles. 
3d. All the Phalaropes fly, run and 
swim with ease and perfect grace. 
There are others, but none better 
adapted than these in America. 
4th. The Great Crested Flycatcher 
and Blue Grosbeak place cast-off snake 
skins in their nests; the formerin about 
four instances in five; the latter not as 
often. Other birds have this peculiar- 
ity but not regularly. 
5th. Do as you like; but if you adopt 
a style follow it exactly and give the 
Roman pronounciation: oe as i; i as e; 
e as a; a as ah; v as w, etc. Better to 
adopt the English. 
6th. The Wilson's Phalarope (female) 
is in my opinion the handsomest bird 
in America (not gaudy). It combines 
perfection in coloration and blending, 
and as well, necessary to beauty, per- 
fect symmetry and grace in every 
movement. The Blue Jay is the most 
intelligent bird, or perhaps the Canada 
Jay, or else the Black-billed Magpie or 
Crow. One af these four and I prefer 
to name the Jay. 
7th. A matter of opinion with us 
no need of discussion. 
8th. Albinism to any extent is a var- 
iation and hence an abnormality, but it 
is not a disease, for loss of pigment in 
shell or feather may be in evidence and 
the bird remain in perfect health. 
9th. Have repeatedly observed par- 
ent-birds cover their eggs or young 
with spreading wings during a rain 
storm. 
10th. Have never seen Goat-suckers 
transport their eggs, but believe that 
they do do it in some manner. If Au- 
dubon says so, it is so. In-so-far as I 
have followed the great observer he is 
always correct; certainly truthful. 
Titus Andronicus Ornis Maternus, 
Oozamalak. 
A Collecting- Ladle. 
On the 11th of Junn, '92. I had the 
good fortune to find a Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo's nest, but the nest was situated 
on a branch limb of a willow tree, which 
limb of course would split off very easi- 
ly, so I contrived an apparatus, which 
consisted of a baking powder box cover 
tacked on to the end of an 8 ft. stick 
thus making a crude ladle, then climbed 
the tree, reached out with my primitive 
ladle, and in a few seconds bad a set of 
five slightly incubated eggs. This idea 
may be useful to collectors. 
E. H. Fletcher, 
Brockton, Mass. 
Ripans Tabules cure dyspepsia. 
Ripans Tabules cure nausea 
