70 
Iv^eiy 1 
UISBARY TABLE. 
Bird’s \ests. 
ATUornc FOE Mat opens with ^‘Amalfi,’’ a poem by Long- 
fellow, whose pen is now devoted wholly to this magazine. — 
“Alfieri” a biographical sketch of the Italian poet. — “The 
Korthwestem Mnle,” a lively natural history-sketch, some- 
what in the Mark Tw^n veim— “-What is an American ?” 
a saperhcially clever and somewhat sarcastic estimate of the 
American as a social animal. — “Merely a Mirror,” a disjointed 
story with a porcrait gallery of sundry individuals more or 
less typical, met in the South during the war. — “ A Mem- 
orable Murder,” a crime story written with the precision of a 
French proces verbal familiar to -the public and retold for the 
sake, as it would seem, of describing the simple and harm- 
less life of the victims as contrasted with the motiveless 
enormity of the crime — a mystery of the world’s government 
never to be solved. The number is strong in poetry, and 
bf sides Longfellow, gives us Whittier in a poem ’on the Lex- 
.. gton Centennial, which, though patriotic does not stir the 
soul, Aldrich, Sarah O. Jewett and DeForest. — The Appen- 
dix on Art and Literature is the best part of this number- 
in fact the literary notices of the Atlantic are generally to be 
preferred: since they deal with miscellaneous works of general 
value and not with the reprints of the particular publishing 
house to which the magazine is in its notices little more 
than an advertising medium. 
Lipprscorr’s foe M-vt— gives us a second illustrated paper 
on the Parana and in Faraguay, which will renew the satisfac- 
tion our readers have had in Professor Linden’s papers on the 
Amazon in these columns. — “ Overworked Women” a clever 
paper by Alexander Delmar, characterized by his bold state- 
ment and strong argument.— “ How Lady Louisa Moor 
amused herself”— a prose adaption of Locksley Hall, how a 
great lady turned the brain of a lowly worshipper. — Frederic 
Lemaitre by Wirt Sikes an excellent critical paper on the 
great actor, — “Northward to High Asia,” an interesting story 
of Indian travel. — “Behind their Fans” an airy society sketch 
from the French of Gustave Broz — the plans and motives of 
young woman, they have no Impulses now a days, is the moral 
of the talc. — “A Modern Art Workshop in Umbria,” is a very 
pleasant paper, Indicating knowledge of the subject and a 
sympathy with truth in art, — “A Story of American Chivalry” 
tells in a sprightly fashion how the strong may help the weak 
and do knightly d^coir even in these prosaic days. “William 
Earl of Shelburne” a political biography of the days when 
George III was King. — Emma Lazarus gives us one of her 
pretty sonnets in “Spring Joy.” 
Sceibxer’s POE M-^t— T his month’s number gives us “The 
Baltimore Bonapartes,” a sketch of the celebrated Miss Pater- 
son, the wife of Jerome, brother of Napoleon and King of 
Wurtemburg. It is possible that the descendants of an 
American citizen may yet sit on the throne of France. — Fred- 
erick A. Schwab gives an illustrated account of the new Opera 
House at I’aris, the most sumptuous theatre in Europe. — “A 
Farmer’s Vacation,” is an excellent illustrated description of 
the works for drainiog the Haarlem lake in Holland. — “The 
Elder Myths,” is a review of recent investigations iu ruins of 
Ancient Babylon aud Ninevah and their bearing on Biblical 
Narrative. — Several minor essays and poems with contmua- 
tions of “Seven-Oaks” and “the Mysterious Island.” 
Blackwood’s foe April — contains the conclusion of “Alice 
Lorraine.” — Fashions and Tricks of Speech” in which the use 
and origin of various words aud expressions that creep into 
language are discussed, of \>hich irregularities we Americans 
have acquired our full share. The subject is dealt with how~ 
ever, neither wittily nor wisely, although it is a theme on 
which a large store of learning and hnmor might be easily 
employed to advantage. — “Kinglake’s Battle of Inkerman,” is 
a copious and eulogistic notice of the Crimean historian’s last i 
volume. The theme, used to seem a grand one, but it has 
dwarfed somewhat to the imagination by the Titanic struggle 
of our own war, and by the tremendous conflict of the Pms- 
eian-Austrian and Franco-Prussian wars. — “In a Studio,” 
8 the lirst of a senes of conversations on Art and 
Fashion in Art. “ The abode of Snow Kashmiri” elears 
np some ideas of the superlative romance of life in the Hinia- 
lavan paradise. 
The Pe>*x MoimiLT fob Mat — Contents: “The Month 
“ National Education IV “Winged Quadrupeds,” an illus- 
trated and highly interesting article by Dr. Coues “ The 
Ancient City,” a review of the social life oMJreece and Rome; 
“Laurent's History of Humanity,” a’ review of one of the 
most voluminous and comprehensive works of this quarter 
centuiy. “Darwin Answered,” — with reviews. 
The GorEAMi, by Theodore Gill, Washington. The rea- 
ders of the Kod and Gux will remember the valuable papers 
contributed by Professor Gill on the natural history of the 
Gourami, (Osphromenus Goramy) an Oriental , fish, and the 
attempt at its acclimatization chiefly by the French natural- 
ists.’ The article are here put together in pamphlet.form. 
Haedlt more! than a stray wisp of snipe have as yet arrived in 
1 • Is locality. A brace were killed a few days since a mile west of 
tue city limit.' near the. Falls..bnmch of the Central railroad and two 
members oCihe Monroe^Coonty Oporumen's club found a few at the 
same point«yesterday,'and the day so nearly ended that but a&olita- 
ry specimen of the liitle beauties was brought to bag. The same 
gentlemen had tried the Coldwater swamp earlier in the day but no 
pipe have yet arrived xhcm.^MocJuster Jjt^mocral 
ET CHABLES C. .ABBOTT, M. D. 
I have had many opportunities of examining the nests of those 
birds habitually breeding throughout central New Jersey, daring the 
past fifteen years, and so, familiar with iho constraction and location 
of inch nests, I found a careful study of the courtship of birds es- 
sential to a proper appreciation of their sBbseqaent habits, and 
learned, not at all lo my surprise, that marriage among birds, as 
among mankind, it not universal, but that both bachelor and tpin- 
Bter birds of every species constitute a fraction of the ornithic popu- 
lation of our woods and fields. 
T reached the above conclusion in this way. Having carefully 
gone over a given extent of ground and noted every nest, say of the 
cat bird, I have then endeavored to learn aoout or precisely the 
number of indiyiduals of this species frequentiug the same extent 
of territory. As birds during the breeding season do not wander 
any great distance from their nests on the one hand, nor from the 
locality whereat they halt on their arrival in early spring; on the 
other hand, it is not very difficult to reach a very close estimate of 
the numbers of each species occupying a locality, any given season. 
Thus, during May and June, 1S73, 1 found eleven nests of the cat- 
bird in a given area. and feel confident that I recognized twenty- 
seven iudividuals of this species. If this is correct, then there were 
five cat birds not nesting, and, I shonld judge, all male birds. It 
will be remarked that I overlooked the nests of these *’extra“ birds. 
This I believe is impossible. By going over a given space— an acre 
at a time— prying into every nook and cranny, climbing every tall 
tree and searching every small one, as well as bushes and briar 
patches, it is hardly possible to overlook auy nest espeeially so 
large and conspicaous a one as that of the cat-bird. The habiu, too. 
of non-nescing birds differ from those then breeding. They are 
much less restless, do not chirp aud twitter, or exhibit oistress 
when elosely followed, as in the case of nesting birds. 
Having carefully examined a bird's nest which .seemed to agree 
most nearly with the published descriptions of such nests. I then 
noted each nest found and marked the amount of variation in the 
construction and position. Take, for instance, the nest of our very 
common robin. Here we have a nest largely constructed of coarse 
twigs and grass, lined with a “cup-shaped fabric of clay or mud," 
this mud again being covered with finer grass, boise hair, and occas- 
ionally a few feathers, Tb s nest is an excellent one to study for 
degrees of variation in construction; and here note these differences. 
During the past spring aud early summer, we found tbirty-two nests 
of tke robin in an area of about four hundred acres. Of these 
thiny-two nests I will speak, princ pally, as to their construction, 
especially with reference lo the care exhibited in the mud lining, 
and refer but incidentally to the positions of the nest. 
Eleven nests were what might be called ‘‘typical,” in the eleven 
nests the mud-lining was complete, extending to within about an 
inch and a half of the rim, or the top of 1 be nest. In fourteen, the 
mud lining was more or less incomplete, although always extending 
over the bottom of the nest, i. e , so much ol the interior surface as 
the eggs and very young birds rested upon. Without an exception 
I believe, the fine grass and hair liniug of the iuterior of each nest 
were in a great amount in proportion as the mud lining was imper- 
fect; so that in some instances, the mad being concealed, the nests 
were very similar to those of other throshes. The remaining seven 
nests were altogether abnormal, “ and noticeably, each of these 
seven nests was in such a position as a robin would not be supposed 
toselect. A careful study of the lurroundings, however, showed 
that there was always some outside advantage, such as proximity to 
abundant food, and this may have had some influence in the choice 
of location. As an instance, one of these seven ne>t8 w as placed in 
a deep cleft in the trunk of an apple tree. It had a southern expo, 
sure, was protected from rain by cbe^trunk and branches of the tree 
and altogether was admirably located. But, as the tree itself bad 
an abundance of branches, and for so many summers had had nests 
npon it, there seemed to be some reason in the location now first 
occupied. What, indeed, was the cause of this chauge from the 
branches to the cleft I could not discover. The nest itself was 
merely a few coarse twigs for extra support of the clay fabric, 
which was placed so as to resemble a modified cliff-swallow's nest 
mere than that of any other bird. If. now, young birds bnild nests 
through imitation, then the young robins reared in this nest will 
seek out somewhat similar situatiocs for their own nests; bnt if 
such a locality did not suit the bird's mate, then a nest in a more ex- 
posed position would be bniil, bnt. I doubt not, w ith some of the 
peculiarities of the nest in which it was reared. 
In comparing the eleven typical nests of the robin, it could not 
bnt be noticed that minor difficulties or peculiarities existed. 
These small variations w%re such as size, which was, in fact, con- 
siderable; in shape, some of the nests being rather oval than circu- 
lar; iu the choice of material for the interior lining, which, 1 am 
sorry to say was. in one instance, suspiciously similar to the lining 
of the nest of the chipping sparrow, and was probably stolen . In- 
deed, smong robins, as well as all other birds, there are iudiridual 
rogues, as well aa cross-grained, scolding wives and husbands. 
Taking a careful survey of the whole thiriy-two nests, they sug- 
gested at once an ordinary village: there were handsome structures, 
such as opolence bnilds. and very modest ones, such as those in 
straitened circumstances are compelled to occupy; and, while the 
same causes fur this variation in dwelling places does not obtain 
among birds as among maukind, causes do exist among the birds, 
in many ways analogous. For instance, there are energetic birds 
and lazy ones. There are plucky birds that will overcome obstacles, 
and despondent ones that are easily cast down: and will not this of 
itself account for a great deal in the variations of birds'-nests? 
Can it be doubted that birds differ greatly in tbeir temperaments? 
Who, that has kept canaries, has not noticed that, while some are 
cross, others are affectionate, others lively, and again, others moody 
— that their disposlcioDS are nearly .as varied as in mankind? If it 
is admitted that variation in dispositions exists among birds, may 
we not go a step farther, and claim also differences in mental abilit/ 
—that, in plain language, the smarter bird will build the better nest ? 
One reason why nesu do not vary more than they do, simply, is— a 
mnd-lined nest being best suited to a robin's welfare — that a bird 
reared in a poody-constructed nest znaT be of greater ability and 
more energetic than ita parenta, and this, joined with the fact that 
the bird's mate may have been reared in a nest of perfect construc- 
tion, of itself woula tend to remedy, in part, the defects its partner 
might allow; these facts together would certainly secure an ap- 
proach to, if not the complete attainment of. a “typical” robin's 
nest. So, as the years roll by. the nest of the robin would remain 
substantially the same, while the amount of variation that now ex- 
ists would be perpetuated, and probably very slowly increased. 
Why, indeed, a robin should line its nest with mud, and a cat-bird 
should not, is probably past finding out, bnt, as changes gradually 
brought about by man's agency have already effected changes in the 
habits of some of our birds, so these changes, ever in progress in 
the haunts of our robin, may cause these birds to gradually omit this 
lining of mad in their nests, and so make them more like the nests 
of other thrushes ; just as the cliff-swallow, with us, no longer places 
a “ bottle-neck" opening to its mud-bnilt nests. There is an insta- 
bility in the whole range of the habits of the birds, going hand-in- 
hand with the undoubted tendency to variation in tbeir anatomical 
details. 
A nest of totally different character, that of the well-known Balti- 
more oriole, was more carefnlly studied by the writer, inasmuch as 
it afforded more marked variations from what may be considered a 
“ typical ” form of the structure. There are two considerations 
worthy of attention, with reference to this bird and the character of 
its nest. In the first place, as the mate bird is much brighter in the 
color of its plumage, would it not require a concealing nest if it as- 
sisted in incubation? Now, does the male bird assist in covering 
the eggs? It unquestionably does. 
Secondly, if the bird-concealing nest, a “pendulous and nearly 
cylindrical pouch,” as described by Dr. Brewer, is constructed 
solely with reference to the protection of the parent-birds, would it 
not be within the range of probabilities that, the danger no longer 
existing, the labor of conatructing so elaborate a nest would be 
abandoned. Has this actually occurFed? During the summer of 
1879. 1 found nine nests of the Baltimore oriole within a compara- 
tively small area: in 1873,1 succeeded in finding seventeen nest in an 
area nearly ten times in extent; and daring the present summer 
1874 I found thirteen nests in an area of the same extent as that ex- 
amined in 1S73. These thirty-nine nests 1 classified as follows. Of 
the nine nests of 1874 that I examined, six were so constructed as 
to effectually conceal the sitting bird, and three were sufficiently 
open at the top to give a hawk, hovering above it, a view of the 
bird. Of the seventeen nests of the oriole which I found and in- 
spected during the summer of 1873. eleven of them were “bird-con- 
cealing" in their shape, and the remaining six like the three 1 found 
I in 1872, i. e., open at top. 
During the past sommer, Baltimore onoles were unusually abund- 
ant, and, of the thirteen ne^ts I found, eight were open at the top, 
and five were long, pendulous pouches, that wholly hid from view 
the sitting-bird. Bearing in mind the supposed reason for build- 
ing a nest that would conceal the parent birds when occupying it, I 
noted down the exact location of each of these thirty-nine nests. 
In every instance those nests that concealed the sitting bird were 
at a considerable distance from any house, in uncnltivated parts, the 
larger number on an unfreqaented island, the others on elm-trees 
groNvlng on the banks of a lonely creek. In both of these localities 
Sparrow-hawks were frequently seen — as compared with the neigh- 
borhoods selected for the building of tbe open-topped nests, all of 
which were in willow and elm-trees in tbe yards of farm-houses, 
and in full view of the people continnally passing to and fro be- 
neath them. The conclusion drawn from the study of these nests 
was, that the oriolss, knowing there w'as much less (if not total) 
absence of danger from hawks, therefore constmeted a less elabo- 
rate nest — one which answers every purpose of incubation, and yet 
does not conceal them when occupying it. 
Of the nests that did conceal the sitting bird, eveiy one was re- 
ally open at the top, and the bird entered from above. The weight 
of tbe bird, when in the nest, appeared to draw* tht edges of tbe rim 
together sufficiently to shat out all view of the occupant The rims 
of these nests that, when occupi.'d, eoncealed the birds, were all 
mneh smaller and tbs nest itself deeper than in those nests where 
concealment was not considered in the constmcLion, these latter 
being in every way much like the nests of the orchard oriole, ilcf4- 
rui *]/urius.) 
Original y, in all probability, when its enemies were more nnmer- 
ons. especially the smaller hawks, the nest of the Baltimore oriole 
was perfectly closed at the lop, and with a side opening; but, of the 
many scores of this nost that we have met, we have never seen a 
nest of this bird so constrncted . — Popular Science. 
Th* Carrollton (Dl.) Journal tells a fish culture story. The 
Wild Moss Mills arc situated on the Moss Creek. Owing to the 
stream, which is a mere branch, perhaps not averaging more than 
thirty feet from bank to bank, having l>eea frozen all along its tor- 
tuous meanderings, the fish seem to hare come down in great force 
to the opening at the dam for the purpose of zetling air and light. 
From this place they were drawn off into the mill-run; the water is 
then shat off with the gate, and the fish are left fioandering at the 
bottom, an easy prey to the ready hands which have only to throw 
them OQt on tbe platform. From one run only, we understood Mr. 
La\vton, the proprietor, to ssy, he had taken out seventy-two bushel 
baskets of fish of all grades and kinds. Tbesc are mainly bass, 
buffalo, crappie, perch and a few gars. These fish are in splendid 
condition, being large and fat, the major portion averaging from 
twelve to twenty-fonr inches in length. Sixteen thousand pounds 
had been taken Thursday and Friday last, as estimated by Captain 
Lawton. He had been taking them freely ever since, and we only 
guess at the whole amount to date when we put the toLil dou*!! at 
20.000 pounds. It may run up to .30,000 or zr ore. Tbs captain has 
been disposing of his “ catches " at six cents a poand. He was of- 
fered by a citizen, as we learn, three cents a pound for all, big and 
little, as be might throw them oat. but we believe be declined the 
bid. preferring to ship them himself. Captain Lawton’s mill is often 
actnally stopped by tke mnltitude of fishes which get into tbe wheel, 
and be is often required to stop work anti: be can clear them oat 
and get tbe wheel free. Each year the rush down stream gives biip 
the same work to do over. Two years ago he threw oat about 
15.000 pounds from his dam. 
The first trout of the season, weighing six pounds and a quarter 
wascauFht at Willimaniic, last week, by J. S. Brockway, and sold 
CO the Parker Hoaae, Boston, for $5. 
